Remember him...? What does his future hold..?
CHRIS WAUGH ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS NEWCASTLE SUPPORTERS ARE ASKING
NEWCASTLE United have now suffered three disappointing 1-0 defeats on the road, and in all three of them the Magpies underwhelmed in attack.
As a result, a section of supporters have been questioning some of Rafa Benitez’s selections – which is understandable following three losses in which Newcastle have failed to score, even if United’s home form is excellent.
In particular, some fans are puzzled by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s lack of gametime, by the decision to persist with Joselu up front, with Ayoze Perez continuing as a No 10, and with Chancel Mbemba’s recent omissions.
Here, NUFC Writer Chris Waugh attempts to answer some of supporters’ questions and explain what he believes is Benitez’s rationale behind his recent decisions...
Where is Aleksandar Mitrovic?
Ever since Mitrovic first signed for Newcastle, there has been a section of Magpies supporters who have championed the Serbian’s cause.
The 23-year-old’s outward passion and cult-hero status means he is, on an almost weekly basis, chosen by supporters using our team selector to start up front.
In a Chronicle Live poll this week, 77 per cent of supporters also opted for Mitrovic to start against AFC Bournemouth.
Yet, in Newcastle’s 10 Premier League games so far this season, Mitrovic has started precisely none of them. True he was suspended for three matches but, since then, he has only made the bench once over the past few weeks.
Evidently, Mitrovic is Benitez’s third-choice centre-forward at the moment – yet he appeared to have leapfrogged Dwight Gayle to become Joselu’s deputy at the start of the campaign.
However, his subsequent suspension only appears to have reinforced Benitez’s belief that Mitrovic cannot be trusted to maintain his discipline and, perhaps even more importantly, follow specific instructions.
The Serbian’s return of 10 goals in 36 Premier League appearances might not be too bad, but Benitez has never been convinced by Mitrovic’s suitability to his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.
The truth is that Benitez would likely have sold Mitrovic in January and last summer had a decent offer arrived and a replacement been identified. Nothing appears to have changed in that regard, either.
Why is Rafa persisting with Joselu?
For all the reasons why Benitez is not selecting Mitrovic, the opposite applies to Joselu.
Trust is key for Benitez, and the Newcastle boss firmly believes that if he gives Joselu specific instructions to follow, then the forward will do so.
Joselu does not appear likely to score 15-plus goals this season, but he will chip in with a few, and Benitez thinks the striker can offer Newcastle a platform from which they can win games.
Also, remember that Joselu was Benitez’s buy. The United manager knew the Spanish forward’s limitations before he acquired him – yet he made the decision to sign him anyway.
Benitez believes Joselu offers a focal point to his side, and he also sees a forward who will listen to him and who can be developed further.
Gayle, meanwhile, is not necessarily suited to the 4-2-3-1 system in the Premier League and does not hold up play as well as Joselu.
What’s more, Gayle’s fitness problems over the last eight months have seen his form dip – so he is hardly forcing Benitez’s hand to ensure he leapfrogs Joselu into the side either.
Newcastle are ninth in the table and performing well at home, so Benitez’s decision to start Joselu alongside Perez is working overall.
What is Ayoze Perez offering as a No 10?
Perez will not have been impressed with his own performance on Monday – but neither will the vast majority of Magpies on display.
Yet it was the Spaniard’s mistake which ultimately led to Burnley’s winner, and it has only led for further calls for Perez to be replaced in the side.
But only three players have started all 10 of United’s Premier League games so far this season, with Perez being one of them – and that alone shows that he is very much Benitez’s man at the moment.
Perez has impressed Benitez so far this season with his workrate, clever movement and his link-up play with Joselu. He very much sees them as a pair – so, as long as one plays, the other appears likely to as well.
Another reason why Perez is playing as a No 10 is that United aren’t exactly blessed with options there. Jonjo Shelvey, Mikel Merino, Mo Diame and Matt Ritchie have all been cited as potential alterna-
tives – but none are outand-out No 10s. It is for those reasons why Perez is currently a key member of the Newcastle XI.
Why is Chancel Mbemba struggling to get a game at the moment?
A fourth-straight match without Mbemba getting a single minute has surprised many supporters, but the defender has yet to truly win Benitez over – and there are other options the United boss currently prefers. The Spaniard recognises the defender’s strengths, and used Mbemba as a makeshift left-back earlier in the season. Yet he will also not look beyond Mbemba’s flaws – and he still does not believe the DR Congo international listens to instructions closely enough or communicates sufficiently on the field with his teammates. We will see Mbemba again soon enough, but he now appears to be fourth-choice at centre-back, and a back-up option at left-back.
Mo Diame against Burnley – where did that come from?
Even with Merino unavailable – the Spaniard has suffered a back injury and it is highly unlikely he will face Bournemouth on Saturday – Diame did not appear the natural starter alongside Shelvey in holding midfield at Turf Moor.
But there were a couple of reasons why Benitez opted for the Senegalese midfielder. First of all, Isaac Hayden had been struggling during the week in training with a niggle, and Benitez did not feel he was fit enough to start.
Second of all, given that Diame is powerful midfielder who covers a lot of ground, clearly Benitez opted for strength and workrate against a Burnley team renowned for their doggedness. It did not pay off, but that appears to be Benitez’s thinking as far as Diame’s selection was concerned.
When will Jacob Murphy get a run in the side?
Jacob Murphy’s lack of gametime so far this season appears curious to many, particularly given that at £10million – possibly rising to £12m – he was Newcastle’s most-expensive summer acquisition.
But the winger was always seen as a player who would need time to develop before becoming a firstteam regular.
Murphy remains raw – last season was his breakthrough campaign – and Benitez is working with the winger on the training pitch to ensure he improves his defensive understanding, as in attack he is direct and exciting.
The news last week that Benitez has promised Murphy he will get his opportunity is encouraging – and, during the second half of the campaign, I’d expect the winger to start getting greater gametime.