Newcastle are struggling to find goals this season, and the reason why is not due to those at the club this season, but rather one man that is not – Ayoze Perez
Perez was a bit of a Marmite player, with fans either loving him, or hating him. But all fans could agree that he was a player who often frustrated them.
His performances always seemed to be hot and cold, with him either being unplayable, or seemingly anonymous. There never seemed to be an in between for the Spaniard.
But now that he’s joined Leicester for £30m, the true effect he had on the side is noticeable as Newcastle struggle to link defence to attack this season.
Joelinton has been isolated up front, and it has seen him manage just a solitary goal, with much of his work being genuine graft to hold the ball up while his teammates attempt to get up to him in support.
Allan Saint-Maximin may fill the gap left by Perez
Until the recent return of Allan Saint-Maximin, there has only been the struggling Miguel Almiron to link the play up, and his form has been nowhere near good enough.
It is that linking role where Perez excelled, with him often dropping deeper for the ball, and setting up chances for last season’s number nine, Salomon Rondon.
Without him in the side to do that this time around, the team looks to be lacking, and badly lacking at that.
From the early displays of Saint-Maximin, he may be the player to fill the gap left by Perez, but as yet, it is too early to say for sure.
Like most other fans, I was often underwhelmed by Perez, but he did always have a knack for scoring vital goals, yet this season, there has not been anyone capable of sharing the goal-scoring burden.
Certainly when he was sold, many fans were happy enough to receive a large fee for Perez, but nine games into the season, his loss is being significantly felt.
So whether you loved him, or hated him, Newcastle are simply not the same team without him.
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