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da apostaganha： Newcastle United fell to another demoralising defeat on Saturday, as they were beaten 2-0 by Watford in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Magpies are 17th in the Premier League and now have no chance of lifting silverware this season, while they have also yet to invest in the January transfer market.
On the chalkboard
Benitez picked a rotated XI against the Hornets, naming Joselu as his lone striker.
The 28-year-old has scored three goals this season, the last of which came in the FA Cup third round victory over Blackburn Rovers. His other two came in August, in defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Perhaps he was picked on the back of his display against Rovers, but there is little about Joselu that marks him out as a first-choice centre-forward.
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Salomon Rondon is first-choice at St James’ Park, and he has netted six times already this season. Indeed, he did not play in the FA Cup and now will not get the chance.
Benitez could well be politicking, choosing to play games as he attempts to convince Mike Ashley, the club’s tight-fisted owner, to finally dip into the transfer market this month.
The Magpies have roundly failed to add to their squad and The Telegraph has reported that the former Liverpool boss will leave if Ashley does not sign two players before the deadline.
Desperate times call for desperate measures
If Benitez really did play politics with the FA Cup, supporters are sure to be furious.
Joselu is not, and has never been, a first-choice striker in English football.
During his spell with Stoke City, he scored just four goals in 27 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.
Never has a stronger message been sent to a boardroom; playing the player so ill-suited to a role that Benitez may well have sent ten men out to face Watford.
And, yet again, Newcastle will not be winning any silverware this season.
It is not Joselu’s fault, of course; he has been told to do a job and continues to try to do his best, but he finds himself at the centre of an apparent power play.
It remains to be seen if that will pay off and whether we will see any new faces arrive at St James’ Park in the next few days.