Leave out Rondon for FA Cup tie? Give it a rest, Rafa!
STRIKER NEEDS CONFIDENCE OF SCORING GOALS - AND MUST PLAY AGAINST ROVERS
THE one thing Rafa Benitez will almost certainly do for the FA Cup is ‘rest’ Salomon Rondon. He did it at Liverpool in the Premier League, for goodness sake.
The one thing I would do is play Rondon without question.
Oh, I know that flies in the face of current thinking which is to rest key players in the domestic cups, thus reducing the competitions to sideshows in a full season.
However, I was a centre-forward who knew a few things about scoring goals and drawing on my own experience I would definitely put Rondon on the team sheet against Blackburn Rovers.
Let me explain. Scoring goals is about a flow, not turning a tap on and off. It is a habit you get into . . . or get out of.
No 9’s live by goals and I would send out Rondon, with the backing of as much of a full-strength team as possible, and tell him - get yourself in the groove for Chelsea.
United have a shocking goalscoring record overall in the PL - the second worst to beleaguered Huddersfield - and they need a huge boost to confidence. Rondon and the rest will not get that either sitting in the stand or on the bench today.
When I was playing for Newcastle United Joe Harvey selected me in every match when I was not injured.
I played in the old First Division, the FA Cup, League Cup, Texaco Cup or Anglo Scottish Cup or Anglo Italian Cup, as well as England matches.
I was not given a rest and did not want one.
This, too, on pitches like a ploughed field and against defenders such as Tommy Smith and Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris who would legally cut you in half! Nowadays top stars playing in carpet slippers on bowling greens with the protection of referees apparently need resting.
Well, it could be argued Rondon had a real good rest early in the season when he hardly played because of his fitness levels. In any case I would love United to go out against Blackburn and try to fill their boots. They have a bad enough home record eight defeats in 11 matches - not to want to risk another loss in the Cup. Rondon scored against Championship opposition Nottingham Forest in the League Cup when going on as sub. Let him repeat that effort in the FA Cup but with a different result.
Newcastle were, well, Newcastle against Man U in midweek.
They were well drilled and disciplined and shocked their illustrious visitors - but the moment they went a goal down through an individual mistake we all knew they were beaten.
It happens too often for it to be bad luck.
The Magpies were two up at Old Trafford earlier in the season and ought to have been again but Christian Atsu finished like an amateur and all hope went with his wild shots.
No goals and crucial mistakes. It is becoming a habit and it is costing them big time. What lies ahead fixture wise is horrendous, which is why I would love Benitez to put out a very strong team tonight including Rondon and look to lift a depressing mood.
This is not the time to throw a log on an already roaring fire which is engulfing hope. Miguel Almiron
“They have scouted him for a long period, they know how much they have to pay for him, the MLS season finished two to three weeks ago, he could have been on Tyneside full fit and ready and before the end of December.
“Benitez rates him, Benitez wants him and Newcastle are still just at the negotiation stage, by that I mean don’t making an offer but just in discussions - even though they have been made away of the funds which could and should be enough.
“Miguel Almiron is top of the list of attacking midfielders.
“There are players elsewhere who Benitez has on the list but he was the first one.
“The problem is, if they don’t make a quick decision on whether they are going to go after their first target they need to go into the negotiation stage for those further down the list - and with Newcastle that always takes a heck of a long time.”
No 9s live by golas and I would send out Rondon with the backing of as much of a fullstrength team as possible