Football is a becoming a young man’s game, more and more with each passing day. At the very top, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be north of 30, but overall, the best is expected much, much earlier than that.
Both of those icons have produced consistently from a very young age, rather than blooming late on. The fact they have continuously dominated the sport both individually and in their respective teams until this point in their careers is more a testament to them than the overall state of football. For mere mortals, and even other legendary figures, it is tough to stay at the highest level for more than few years; the earlier the rise, the earlier the decline, so to speak.
Because football is so quick and dynamic, fitness and energy are vital whatever the role. Those two things come hand-in-hand with youth, meaning the days of a steady rise throughout a career before hitting a peak at, say, 28 are gone. In those days, early 20s were seen as development years, but now the pressure is even bigger, arriving even sooner.
Take Ayoze Perez, the Newcastle striker, by way of example. When he arrived in the summer of 2014, he was a real commodity; he’d scored 16 goals in 34 games aged just 20 and the Magpies had reportedly beaten off competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona and FC Porto to sign him for £1.5million. Originally, he was expected to be part of the development squad, but he proved too strong for that and, after a lot of deliberation, forced his way into Alan Pardew’s plans. He was everything Newcastle fans have come to like in a striker; skilful, brave and entertaining, but more importantly he had the attributes to tackle the modern game, even if he wasn’t blessed with huge upper-body strength.
In the circumstances, seven goals in 36 games was a solid return for his debut season. Pardew had departed for Crystal Palace and under his temporary replacement John Carver, Newcastle hurtled towards relegation at breakneck speed, only saving themselves on the final day. A year later, six in 34 wasn’t enough to save the team under Rafa Benitez following Steve McClaren’s short and ill-fated reign.
During these two years, Perez’s game evolved. It soon became clear he wasn’t potent or physical enough to lead the line for Newcastle, but his slight frame, close control and excellent technique suggested he’d thrive in an attacking midfield role. Interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur was often fleetingly mentioned, but Perez stayed for the Championship battle. The Spaniard was expected to thrive, just as he had in his homeland, but instead, he began to face real questions for the first time, questions he must answer soon.
Physicality would be even more of an issue lower down, but he was still expected to swim because of his energy. Eight goals in 35 games, though, suggested little development in front of goal, and the fact he wasn’t a regular starter when Benitez was crying out for a player in behind the striker said a lot. Mohammed Diame was utilised in that position, but more often than not, he flattered to deceive. Perez rarely provided a better alternative.
Newcastle have lacked strength for quite some time now, both physically and mentally. Perez’s desire and commitment to the cause can hardly be questioned, much less his talent, but as Benitez looks to build a new, more robust side ahead of the new season, the 23-year-old is in danger of being left behind.
Florian Lejeune and Jacob Murphy have already signed, and now Benitez is on the hunt for a striker. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in the pre-season draw at Preston North-End at the weekend, while Dwight Gayle, as top-scorer in the Championship, is currently the first choice up front. Perez may think of himself more as an attacking midfielder, but Siem de Jong has featured heavily in the preparations for the campaign and could be ahead of him, failing to mention Diame. Perhaps most concerning is the fact Benitez has said he may have to sell to make room for another arrival, putting a number of players at risk, not least Perez.
Links to Manchester United and Tottenham have disappeared for many reasons, but mainly because Perez is entering the phase of his career where, if he were good enough to play at those clubs, and in the Champions League, he would be showing it week in, week out at St James’ Park. Other than some moments of genius here and there, that patently has not happened. Inconsistency is fine for a developing player, but 23 is not developing anymore; soon Perez will be at the best he will ever be, no longer able to hide behind the word potential.
Talent and value will still be on Perez’s side as long as age is. There isn’t an argument suggesting 23 is old, but the xpectation is greater now because football suits players with his attributes. That is where the sense of Newcastle’s transfer policy pre-Benitez came from, but buying young has its risks and after an initial wave of excitement when he first joined, there has been little to suggest he will build on that promise.
Far too often, Newcastle looked to the future and forgot the now. The entire idea of a signing was to sell them on for a profit. Benitez’s ideology is focussed on the present and thinking about the future later.
Ayoze Perez has held the tag of future star for his entire stint on Tyneside, but sooner or later he must deliver. Is his time at Newcastle doomed to failure? Certainly not, but football is a demanding game, and coaches expect much more much younger; this season is make or break for the boy from Tenerife.
