Former Newcastle player Steven Taylor has drooled over Rafa Benitez and Salomon Rondon, labelling the manager as “phenomenal”.
The Magpies currently sit in 17th place in the Premier League on 24 points, just above the relegation zone – but because the club have Benitez and Rondon on the books, he thinks that his old side will secure safety this season.
He also drooled over the impact of Newcastle’s loanee forward, remarking on his pitch presence and the way he can be a real menace for the opposition.
“I think they’ll be OK. Rafa is phenomenal and in Salomon Rondon, they have a great physical presence. I love watching him play, he’s a proper number nine, a real handful,” Taylor said, as quoted by the Chronicle.
OPINION
Taylor is right, if there are going to be two people who will help Newcastle avoid relegation this season, it is Benitez and Rondon. Many of the fans know that the club would not be where they are now with their limited financial resources without the Spaniard, so he is spot on to label him as “phenomenal”. No other manager would have been able to achieve what Benitez has with hardly no money – who knows where they would be with somebody else in charge – so fans will have their fingers crossed that Taylor is right in his prediction. As for Rondon – he has been the striker that Newcastle have been crying out for. He may not be the most prolific of forwards, but like Taylor highlighted, his physical presence is what makes him a right handful at times. There have been times this season where he has produced moments of magic, and supporters will be looking for more of those moments as the season goes on.