Newcastle fans aren’t exactly the most optimistic bunch, and it’s not hard to see why. Despite being given a home tie against Championship Blackburn, the Geordies could only manage a 1-1 draw, and the fans were fuming with Rafa Benitez as he refused to bring on their top goalscorer Salomon Rondon, instead opting to throw Ayoze Perez into the fold.
78' – Ayoze Pérez is Newcastle's final change of the game, with the forward on in place of Sean Longstaff. Danny Graham is replaced by Ben Brereton in Rovers' second change of the evening. 0-1. #NUFC
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) January 5, 2019
At the time of the Perez change, the Magpies were trailing 1-0 to a Bradley Dack header, and it looked like they’d be falling to their 8th FA Cup 3rd round defeat in 13 years, with the other five years seeing the club only make it one round further before elimination. However, Perez did show his worth as he won the Magpies a penalty which Matt Ritchie was on-hand to convert.
That won’t convince the Newcastle fans, though, and they’re still not happy with Rafa Benitez. Whilst the true enemy of the club will always be Mike Ashley, the fans have been left frustrated by Benitez before, and it was the same yesterday as the negative changes and failure to go for it by bringing on either Rondon left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Magpies.
You can read the Newcastle fans’ frustrated thoughts on the Perez change here:
Spurs willing to put on Harry Kane up 6-0 and Solomon Rondon can’t/won’t play 10 minutes for #NUFC
— Mortimer (@mmort22) January 5, 2019
Oh aye, he'll be a game changer for sure….(if he is just pretend I'm not being sarcastic)
— Maximus (@MaximusRH1997) January 5, 2019
Given up completely then.
— Elliot (@Zurrbs) January 5, 2019
Says it all when our top goalscorer isn't brought on when we are 1 down
— David Proud (@proudy888) January 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/dedwards1892/status/1081629825205522434
It's games like this that we should play sorensen and Roberts. Rafa has got this wrong.
— Steve Ellis Talks (@SteveEllis90) January 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/Baberton33/status/1081629150455218176
Going out
— Chris Cossey (@Cosseycj) January 5, 2019
So no rondon then? Rafa plz leave us your clueless and your 451 is crap and boring plus we lose
— kparry (@Kenp75) January 5, 2019
The Magpies were fuming with Rafa and his final change, and will, hope the Spaniard can turn things around sooner rather than later.
