Rondon finally proves his true worth to Rafa
SO this is why Rafa Benitez spent the summer boiling over, refusing to cool on his desire to sign Salomon Rondon amid a series of heated exchanges with Newcastle’s hierarchy.
He was too old approaching 29 and too expensive argued the money men on the say-so of owner Mike Ashley. Benitez countered the £16.5million it would have taken to activate his release clause from West Brom was a steal for a player of his experience. A truce was finally called and a compromise met as Rondon arrived on loan with just days of the window to spare, Dwight Gayle heading in the opposite direction. As of 3pm yesterday, Gayle had eight league goals and Rondon none, the latter having seen more of the treatment room than the dressing room. What a difference 90 minutes makes. Three points, two goals and one heroic performance later and Ashley, like the rest of those who doubted the wisdom of the manager’s insistence, was on his feet in appreciation of their new No 9.
Rondon had been unplayable. At both ends of the park he headed the ball further and harder than most mere mortals can kick it. He scrapped as if survival depended on the outcome of this one contest. Oh, and he scored the goals which proved the difference between Newcastle spending the international fortnight outside the bottom three as opposed to back in it.
All that was missing was the hat-trick, and only Asmir Begovic’s toe denied him that in the 89th minute.
Supporters have struggled to accept the notion of Rondon as Benitez’s top summer target, preferring instead to believe he was a last resort. Well, they now know why he refused to give up on the Venezuelan powerhouse.
‘We knew he could give us something different,’ said Benitez. ‘And, for this price, to get a player of his experience is not easy. When we signed him (on loan) we spoke about a striker who could win the ball in the air, hold the ball and had mobility. So I am delighted for him. And he can still improve, he is getting stronger.’
That should sound as a warning for Premier League defences in the coming months. For as Bournemouth centre-backs Nathan Ake and Steve Cook will testify, any stronger and you would want to wear shoulder pads as well as shin pads against a player whose biceps are as bulging as the average man’s thigh. Rondon opened the scoring on seven minutes, pouncing on his own rebound after Begovic blocked his initial poke. His second, just before half-time, was so good that he even paused to watch a replay on the big screen. Ki Sung-yueng spread the play effortlessly to Kenedy, who wasted no time in whipping towards the penalty spot. Rondon muscled across Ake and flashed home a header of such power that Begovic barely had time to react.
But Bournemouth hit back instantly, as Ryan Fraser’s delivery was met by the head of, Jefferson Lerma who nodded past Martin Dubravka.
It ensured a nervy second half and the Cherries should have levelled when Jordon Ibe smashed over from close range.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said: ‘It really looked as if that goal was going to come.’
But Newcastle held firm and Rondon was denied his treble when his shot clipped the boot of Begovic and rolled inches wide.
Had that gone in Ashley may well have been checking on the terms of that release clause.