Talented and frustrating – striker who divided opinion
UNITED’S SPANISH STAR WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
FRUSTRATING, inconsistent, under-appreciated... these are just some of the contrasting words used by Newcastle United fans to describe Ayoze Perez’s five-year spell on Tyneside.
It was this time last year the Spanish forward played his final game for the Magpies, netting in the four-goal rout of Fulham at a sun-soaked Craven Cottage.
The thumping final-day win in the capital came to symbolise the hope among United fans about the club’s trajectory under Rafa Benitez.
Instead, it proved to be the final hurrah ahead of a summer of discontent which saw Perez follow his countryman out of the St James’ Park exit door.
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers hailed his £30m signing as a “wonderful signing” who he tipped to excite the King Power crowd.
Perez departed Tyneside as the club’s ninth all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, racking up 48 strikes from 195 appearances in black-and-white.
Yet for a £1.5m signing fasttracked from the second tier of Spanish football, there is still a sense the forward never truly won over the Toon Army.
Perez’s fingers in the ears celebration was a response to criticism from Magpies’ supporters – but why did the former Tenerife man become a target for fans’ frustrations?
Season-ticket holder Craig Wilson, a presenter on The Magpie Channel, points to the 26-yearold’s inconsistency as the main complaint from supporters.
He said: “For much of the time at Newcastle he just did not look Premier League quality. Even up until his final season at times it still looked as if he hadn’t yet adapted to English football.
“He would take way too long making his mind up what he wanted to do with the ball, dilly-dallying in possession before a brute defender like Robert Huth would show up and smash him back to Los Cristianos. “Some days you had to question if he won his professional contract in a Kellogg’s pack or if he was secretly Rafa Benitez’s step-son. That £1.5m looked over priced. “But on another day, particularly toward the latter end of a season, he would look like £30m well spent.”
Kris Wallace, founder of fan channel Gallowgate Shots, believes while Perez was often a victim of the defensive demands placed upon his shoulders, he could let himself down with his application. Kris added: “Perez had his flaws like many other players, he reminded me a lot of Yoan Gouffran who was expected to drop into any attacking position and perform to his highest ability despite where he may be playing on the field. “Having said that
despite his hard work the majority of the time, there were times where Ayoze didn’t cover himself in glory. For lack of a better word he seemed uninterested at times. “
The work-rate question was one often levelled against Perez, as well as the frustration the forward would score in bursts and conversely suffer lengthy goal droughts.
Indeed, it was one of these blistering bursts which saw him net nine times in his final 12 United appearances to pip Salomon Rondon to the honour of the Magpies’ top scorer.
True Faith podcast contributor Norman Riley believes the technical attacker suffered on Tyneside as a result of the frequent managerial changes.
He said: “There were times where Perez drifted in and out of games, looked lost and perhaps didn’t close space down and lost the ball too easily.
“However, what has to be factored in is that he spent a significant amount of time being ‘coached’ by Alan Pardew, John Carver and Steve McLaren which I imagine must have been an absolute culture shock to him.
“I don’t think criticism levelled at him in hindsight was fair but when he was part of the teams cobbled together by the three managers mentioned above I can see why he got it. He flourished under Rafa in terms of his goals, off the ball work and his ability to win free-kicks. The period before he left where he had the opportunity to play alongside [Miguel] Almiron and Rondon was a joy to watch at times.”
So weighing these frustrations over inconsistency and work-rate against his overall record, were these criticisms against Perez fair?
Chronicle columnist John Gibson – who admits Perez has done himself no favours with his now-trademark goal celebration – believes the forward is ‘much more talented’ than he was ever given credit for. He added: “Ayoze is an elegant player who prances rather than ploughs. He appears to glide over the surface of the grass. A good touch and an awareness of players around him make him a clever player.”
For Gallowgate Shots’ founder Kris, Perez is a player that will always divide the United fanbase.
Kris said: “Many didn’t appreciate Ayoze and will never give him the credit he deserves, then others wont have a bad word said about him.” While Perez had long been tipped to return to Spain, the forward caught many Magpies’ supporters by surprise when his transfer to the Foxes was announced.
The 26-year-old cited the “project” at the King Power Stadium and the influence of Rodgers as huge factors in his decision to bid a final farewell to the North East.
Perez surpassed the likes of Obafemi Martins and Craig Bellamy in United’s all-time Premier League goalscoring chart, and clearly remains a divisive player among fans. The attacking woes Steve Bruce’s side have endured this season further emphasised just how important Perez and Rondon were under Benitez.
But how will the forward who arrived as an unheralded prospect and left as an established Premier League star – netting the club a tidy £28.5m profit in the process – be remembered?
Kris said: “I don’t think he’ll be forgotten any time soon by Newcastle fans, he was a decent play on the pitch and a great lad off it too.”
Ayoze is an elegant player who prances rather than ploughs. He appears to glide over the surface of the grass
John Gibson