Newcastle may have won on Saturday, but the three substitutes caused quite a stir.
The Magpies’ squad was looking slightly bare due to injuries to Jamaal Lascelles, Jonjo Shelvey and Yoshinori Muto.
That meant that Benitez’s options off the bench were limited. However, the Spaniard had to work with what he had, although some fans were confused by his changes.
Substitutes fail to inspire any confidence
It was another week where Rafa’s subs got people talking. While the three against Watford were enforced changes, the trio that came on against the Cherries were all tactical.
Isaac Hayden was the first to get on in place of Matt Ritchie, then Ciaran Clark entered the fray. The Republic of Ireland’s introduction saw a change of shape as Newcastle looked to hold on.
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The third and final change was another odd one, with powerhouse Mo Diame being replaced by the diminutive Christian Atsu. This decision forced Ayoze Perez to drop deeper, a very unfamiliar role for the forward.
The Magpies were able to hold on for victory, despite the strange substitutes made by Benitez.
Fans react to Rafa’s changes
The subs were a real talking point for Newcastle fans, with some baffled by the decisions, while others respected the judgement of the manager.
