OPINION
Newcastle United showed very promising signs during the first half against Bournemouth on Saturday bar one player who was a cause for concern.
The Magpies went 1-0 up within 10 minutes as Salomon Rondon took his chance to fire home a rebound and give Magpies supporters something to cheer about.
The summer recruit then doubled his side’s advantage by scoring a beautiful header to make it 2-0 at the break.
However Bournemouth pulled a goal back just before the half-time whistle to make it 2-1.
Following this, several Magpies players looked full of confidence and several looked set to put in their best performance in recent weeks.
Unfortunately for Ayoze Perez he wasn’t among this group of players as he looked to be showcasing the same weaknesses in his game that have plagued him all season.
The attacker, who earns £45,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac), looked easy to dispossess and unable to contribute to his side’s good performance.
Given that the Cherries are going to push further forward as they chase an equaliser in the second half, this means the Magpies have to be careful in possession.
Yet Perez, who was easily muscled of the ball on several occasions in the first half on Saturday, is a mistake waiting to happen as clearly he is too lightweight and this will see the Cherries have a chance to get the ball back anytime the 25-year-old is given it.
While Benitez doesn’t have fantastic options on the bench, due to the poor transfer window in the summer, he must act after witnessing the attacker’s first half display.
There are clearly players more capable of holding onto the ball and if he doesn’t yank Perez off at half-time you fear that he will make a costly mistake which will cost his club vital points.
