With Dwight Gayle scoring for West Brom over the weekend, Newcastle United fans are starting to question loaning him out.
In sports, fans often overreact to good things and bad things. A new third baseman strikes out twice and you’re ready to trade him. A new running back scores a touchdown in his debut and you want him signed to a long term extension. Soccer is absolutely no different. It is important to keep things in perspective.
With Dwight Gayle scoring for West Brom over the weekend, some members of Toon Army are starting to question the club’s decision to loan him out to bring in Salomon Rondon. Please, relax and think about this logically.
The first and most important point to remember is that Dwight Gayle is playing in the Championship with West Brom. He was unmarked and scored from close range in a 7-1 win over QPR. Look back to the 2016/17 campaign when Newcastle United were playing in the second division. Gayle scored 23 goals in 32 appearances to help carry the Magpies to a title and promotion. How did he fare in the Premier League last season where Newcastle United compete currently? He scored six goals in 35 matches. For everyone that’s tweeting this week questioning the choice to loan him out, did you delete all of your tweets from last season asking why Rafa kept him in the lineup and criticizing him after a lot of his poor performances?
Next, we haven’t had a chance to see a full performance from Rondon yet. The powerful target man is still getting adjusted to the new system and squad. But, you can expect he will take over as the first choice striker when he’s ready. If he struggles mightily for most of the season, you are more entitled to question the switch than you are now.
Don’t overreact, Toon Army. This will likely be one of the swap deals that benefits both teams. Just because Gayle scored in the lower division and Rondon didn’t appear vs. Cardiff doesn’t mean it was a bonehead move by Newcastle United. Remember, it’s in Newcastle United’s best interest that Gayle performs well. If he does, they get a player with renewed confidence again or they can bump up the asking price on him in transfer talks next summer with West Brom or another club.