Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is excited at the prospect of Ayoze Perez linking up with Siem de Jong. I looked at Siem with adoring eyes this morning (Tuesday) because those games with packed defences, with him and Perez in the same team, well unlock anyone at any level, so its important he returns in good health. Moussa (Sissoko) can play that No 10 role, and its such an important role in the Premier League. Its massively important. Its a position that can dictate the game. Yohan Cabaye used to do it for us. Cabaye dictates the game from No 10, Moussa can impact the game. Siem is more like Cabaye and will help us control games. Pardew admits Perez, 21, has taken him by surprise since his arrival from Tenerife. I think if you said at the start of the year he would be in this position, I would have said that was unlikely,” he said. His physical improvement has been immense. He was already technically accomplished, which was obvious when he arrived, but his physical attributes and mentality in games have improved massively. He enjoys playing against top opposition as much as lesser opposition, and that bodes well. We have been absolutely reliant on him in a lot of ways. I said at the start of the year we were a striker light and we really needed someone to come through and help us out - and hes done that. Im not talking about the transfer window, but we need another striker if we can get one. Dont get me wrong, I dont want Perez to be a big brute of a player. Hes never going to be that, but there is a strength in holding players off the ball and its something Remy Cabella needs to gain. When he (Perez) first arrived, he looked too light in training and was knocked off the ball far too easily. He didnt hold his own in tight areas. But now he does in training and in matches. Hes not going to grow much bigger and I dont want him to. That wiry strength is a big part of his game. He did a couple of tricks on Sunday that I dont think anybody else on the pitch could have produced. His feet are so fast. Hes been a real asset. Hes not a natural goalscorer, more a natural forward. He can do the other side of the game, a bit like Wayne Rooney. He can mix it in the midfield and score goals.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:46:57 +0000
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