Looks as though Merino has the right attitude and commitment. Quotes from interview with Newcastle tv. http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/05/3...-after-constant-talk-of-a-move-back-to-spain/ Would like him to stay as did show a lot of promise in early part of last season. Think if he grafts he will be a very good player.
Great interview that. I like this lad a lot. It sounds like Rafa may be trying to mould him into our number 10 the way he is talking about his attacking skills? I would be happy to see him stay. I've said a few times that first year is crucial for foreign players. I hate it when we give up on them early. As I always say, remember Solano. Gash for 18 months then linked with Real Madrid within the next 12 months. Patience is a virtue. I know he wasn't everyone's cup of tea but I do wonder how Thauvin would have done if we'd stayed up and kept him for another year.
Like the idea of him at No 10 - great feet and good vision Central midfield/attack of him, Shelvey and Diame sounds quite interesting Wonder if Rafa is considering using Perez as a CF next year as his best performances seemed to come when he was pushed further forward
I think as an AM he would give us a bit more in games against the top 6 instead of Ayo running himself ragged as he tried to get back in to help defend but then also get up alongside the striker. Merino is a bit more physical and technically better with the ball at feet.
This lad got me really excited at the beginning of the season but Rafa's treatment of him as been really frustrating. Diame and Jonjo's form has been incredible the latter part of the season so it was hard to play him in the central pairing but why not put him in a central 3 and drop Ayo for a few games. I wonder if his back injury has just been reoccurring and not being physically 100% fit can get you down mentally too so his head might not have been in the right place.
I get your point but I think Perez showed his importance towards the end of the season particularly. The way he unsettled oppo's defences this season could not have been replicated with Merino or a 3-man midfield. I'm hoping next season the style in play can change so he's not as integral to the team mind. I like Merino, and was pissed to see him benched, but can't be annoyed at Rafa when we look at Diame's form retrospectively. We need that kind of competition with our CMs and Merino will have to get back in on merit rather than potential.
I thoroughly agree, I can't really see where he could have played him during our winning streak... I've called for Perez's head so many times, and at the beginning of the season he was woeful, but his contribution when we needed it most couldn't be questioned. It would have been nice to have seen some game time given to Merino after our winning streak once we were safe, it just seemed odd Rafa gave game time to players like Manquillo but Merino wasn't even on the bench
Honestly, if it weren't for the fact he never really wanted to be here, he definitely would have adapted after the initial season. Not to the ridiculous stats he's hit in the pussy little french league, but an attacking improvement on say Ritchie I hear ya mate. I want to believe it's something to do with injury as you said, because I remember Hayden was getting game time over him last match of the season. Atsu has come out and said he agreed, on survival being confirmed, to have an operation he'd needed for the past 2 years. He'd been managing through injections beforehand. Maybe something similar occured with Merino. I think we'll be seeing more of him next season either way though. Rafa knows if we get to Jan and he's still seeing little first-team football, he'll be agitating to leave.
I've seen a few clips for Spain u21's where he has got himself into that 10 position and he is good in close situations with the ball at his feet.
I think Rafa sees Merino and Shelvey as playing for the same place in the team and Shelvey was undroppable. Merino has also had injury problems through the season. It's also Merino's first year and he's one of those who needs to settle in to football in this country. I also think a lot of fans have hyped him up too much tbh.
I agree about the over-hyping. We need to lay off him or we risk him not developing into the better version of Zidane I just know he will be.
Nooo ..its the ultra over hyping that will make him Zidane 2.0 ..it worked for Diami 2.0 (or was that the rubbishing? I forget which)
Jon Dahl? Oh my word, I don't care that he went on to play for AC Milan he was gash!! He was unlucky regarding Shearer getting injured and having to play as a striker with Asprilla rather than behind the main man and/or coming off the bench but that doesn't change the fact he was incredibly poor in what was still a very good team. Next we'll be feeling sorry for the "perfect foil for Shearer" that was Andreas Andersson, whose only goal I recall whilst being a Newcastle player was for Sweden against England when he kicked it against Tony Adams arse and it then went into the net.
