Being a striker can be a lonely position.
Like a goalkeeper, it is a role that can be easily quantified - and therefore ruthlessly judged.
Rodrigo Muniz has been judged in the last year and a half. I include myself in that. His post-match interview after he scored his first league goal in 15 months showed - starkly - how sometimes we should take a step back before casting our aspersions.
We knew our samba striker had surgery last season - and upon his (rushed) return he wasn’t quite the same player. We obviously didn’t know about what was going on in his private life - and nor should we, of course.
I was delighted for Rodrigo during our celebrations for his equaliser - and I’m even more delighted now. It must have taken a huge amount of courage to reveal that personal heartache and I send all my love to him and his wife, Jady.
His introduction against Newcastle was exactly what we needed. Gonzalo, for all his positive attributes - many of which I pointed out last week - just wasn’t where we needed him to be. We needed a focal point up top; someone we could put balls into and have them be in the box where they could make things happen. Muniz wasted no time in putting himself about, hassling and harrying and generally being a nuisance.
His finish was far from easy too. It reminded me of the (rapid) evolution of his all-round game after the purple patch that announced his arrival as a first-team regular. His positioning and eye of goal, even in the narrowest of chances, were the elements of his game that made us desperate for him - and the club - to reject the advances of Atalanta last summer.
That, and the fact that he is such a loveable character. That doesn’t get you any points on the board, I grant you. But in a sport - and, frankly, a world - where they are increasingy hard to come by, I love the fact that we have players like Rodrigo who are easy to get behind, even when things might not be going their way on the pitch.
Muniz, buoyed by the fantastic news that he is set to become a father - looks and sounds ready to push on. And that is great news for everyone. He’s such a different striker to Gonzalo, and having him firing on all cylinders can only be a good thing for the Spaniard, in terms of pushing him to be his best.
But as far as Man City after the international break goes, it has to be Muniz leading the line. You can’t stifle the momentum and confidence that comes from a moment like Saturday, and from the feeling that “everthing’s coming up Muniz”.
I, for one, am delighted it is.
Wonderful and well written piece Drew! I hope after everything Rodrigo has gone through in the last 15 months this can be the start of something very positive especially for Muniz and for the team, if AA allows it. I really do still believe that a healthy, and "mentally positive", Muniz can be a 10 to 20 goal striker given steady starts and time on the pitch.
Great piece. The pure joy that was emitted from the Hammy End summed up everything about our club & our Muniz. He was really needed because their centre backs were having an easy time of it & needed to be got at. Muniz did that immediately & then they knew they were in a game. I like the way AA gave him 30 minutes rather than 5-10 & that for the first time the subs were coherent & straightforward. COYW!