I've criticised Layun a lot lately, but I do feel sorry for the guy. He looks way off the pace and seems to be struggling with everything from his role to the physical demands of this league. And then to see his replacement come on and immediately create a goal, it must be frustrating. Parades (who I thought was excellent) should be Layun's benchmark moving forward - JCP has struggled at times this year but has looked very assured of late. One big difference between the two is that Parades is very athletic and strong, and thus is probably better suited to the challenges of the Championship than Layun. I've mentioned this several times, but the thing that confuses me about Layun is that he appears neither particularly strong nor fast. And he doesn't seem to have the technique or awareness of a Michael Carrick type player. So I'm actually perplexed as to what kind of player he actually is.
Right here's my problem with Layun: 1. He is an INTERNATIONAL left wing back but looks completely lost in that position. Barely ran at the defence, or down the wing, Hoban made more attacking runs than Layun. Anya came on and played the best he has in a long while, was great to see because I've been his biggest critic. But anyway, Anya did what Layun wasn't doing. He hugged the touchline, was an option to pass to, made numerous runs into the box, past/round the defender, put balls in the box, was an option on the wing to receive the ball from Deeney/Iggy/Hoban/CM's. He was always available. Layun is often in no mans land, he stands marked so nobody can pass to him, he gets it and gives it sideways but not in the effective Carrick method. So he brings nothing towards the attacking side of the team. 2. He's very weak so he offers very little defensively and he was little help to Hoban. Anya comes on and helps Hoban with the doubling up, something which Layun only did a few times. To Layun's credit, he did make two good tackles high up the middle of the pitch in Birmingham's half which set us off on attacks. Twice. So that was promising. 3. He doesn't seem very quick with the ball at his feet. He showed pace when chasing the ball down early in the first half but when dribbling he's not vey quick. 4. He's not full of tricks or effective dribbling which would see him be able to beat a man. 5. He hasn't got a Toszer style of passing. So what does he actually do? He's a LWB by trade who looked a little better in CM, looks like he wants to play CM because he kept drifting there but didn't really do a lot as a CM? Has the build to play CAM but doesn't seem to have any of the attributes? Fessi is better in the attacking hole, Toszer is better in the defensive hole, Anya is better out wide. So there's nowhere for the kid to play and I don't want to see him play again this season because he really does do nothing. That being said, he's overcome adversity before as we all know and he just has to be able to do something because the Mexicans love him. I would love to say this division is too quick for him but he doesn't seem to need time on the ball? He just needs to get involved more I think. There's a good player in him, he's moved clubs, moved country, changed climate, changed league and possibly left family behind. Big big move for him. I'm sure he'll come good if he's still here next season
If/when we go up I really hope we're ruthless with our squad next season. We really can't afford 'passengers'..to survive such a tough league we need quality and few question marks hanging over our players. Mostly through necessity we had too many of those the last two times we went up. And the lack of quality caught up with us eventually both times. It's always hard breaking up promotion winning sides, and not giving everybody who got you up a fair crack of the whip, but the experiences of last season's promoted sides shows us all how tough and unforgiving the PL is. I'm sure, if/when we clinch promotion, we'll all spend the next few weeks debating which of our squad is PL class (quite a few, in my opinion) and I think we'll all have our doubts over certain players too. Personally, on what I've seen of Layun so far, I wonder if he'd be better suited playing for Granada?
At the same time as this there is a thread about what happens to Doyley. He will certainly go. I reckon Layun will get next season to prove himself.
I think the nice thing with our set up is, rather than transfer listing players who they feel might not be able to make the step up, there are now 'second homes' for them at our sister clubs. So it's easy to shift somebody now.
Don't worry, I'll support your view, Parades was pants again, as against Millwall. A neutral friend came along with me yesterday and said as much, unprompted. Anyone who thought he played great is blind, he is a true liability. Anya and Pudil are still my first choice full backs, although Pudil doesn't even make the bench anymore. Thought Deeney and the three centre halves were our best players yesterday. On to Brighton!
I honestly don't understand how anyone with even the slightest football knowledge could have watched that game and thought Paredes was poor, he is absolutely incredible both tactically and physically.
Hate playing Brighton, love the place, and I lived there for a few years, it always has a soft spot in my heart - would have loved to see them thrash arch-rivals Bournemouth, in an ideal world Watford and Brighton to go up, but that certainly isn't going to happen...but always a Horn first so it's gotta be Watford of course next Saturday!!!
In what way was he a "liability"? He didn't cost us the game or even look like doing so. And with respect to your neutral friend, how would he be in the best position to judge, when he hasn't been seeing us play week in week out, and therefore can't fully appreciate Paredes' contribution in the bigger context to the team? Sometimes I feel there are certain players that will never do any right in some fans' eyes, no matter how good/improved their performances.
Liked even though I'm not certain it isn't a whoosh. FFS, are we so spoilt that we have to pick apart excellent players like Paredes (and to a certain extent) Layun? Would you rather have Lee Hodson? Maybe certain players aren't quite as stellar as others, but it's like slagging off the BMWs in the car park because it is otherwise full of Ferraris and Rollers (and in TD's case an 18 wheeler juggernaut)
Absolutely, and I have been guilty of this as well - I could never see what the fuss was about Battochio. However, I never felt the need to go on a witch hunt.
No I genuinely think he's superb, if he could cross he certainly wouldn't be in the ****ing Championship.
Exactly. Athletic, strong in the tackle and is an ideal wing back. Can be frustrating in the final third but so are Anya, Pudil and Motta!
He gives the ball away a lot and can't cross, or pick a decent pass. My neutral friend would be in a better position than most to judge, as he holds no bias or pre-conception on the player. His simple view was that he looked a weak link. Your second point is the equivalent of sulking, I am commenting on his last two performances only. For some reasons unknown to me, many would disagree that Pudil is a better bet than Parades, but that's my view.
I could have sworn that he linked pretty well with Deeney, not to mention that pass to him that forced the corner that eventually lead to our goal after it was only half cleared, but maybe that's me. Well, if your friend supports a top 4 Premier League team/mainly watches top flight football, I could understand if he found Paredes to be a bit crap, but down here and at Watford our standards aren't quite so high, our recent investment and on-the-pitch improvement notwithstanding.
He needs to learn how to whip a ball in, but defensively at least v Millwall and Birmingham he's been superb, especially 1v1. Travis, you can't dismiss something as patronisingly as "many, many lols" when the large majority disagree with you. Even saying you think he had a mixed game is fair enough, but saying he was "pants...again...a liability" is utter nonsense imo.
On a different note, we're 2 matches away from going an entire season without a 0-0 draw. I wonder if that's ever happened before in our history?
In defence of Layun he is the opposite of McGugan and Dyer. He deserved to come with a massive ego because he was one of the best players in the Mexico national team, he didn't and instead turned up realising that he was pretty ****.
WTF was a Baggie supporter doing @ the Vic, when Wotfud supports can't get tickets for love nor money? Should of told him to boing boing!
Lol. Trouble is, nobody would ever post any stats if anybody ever worried about the next match breaking them!
I think Paredes is excellent considering he's spent his career to date in the Ecuadorian league. Pace, power, guile, and capable defensively. People first got on his back during the manager turnover when he had to play as a right back. Four managers and not in his beat position. Those people never cut him any slack for that. When he plays as a wingback, he plays very well 80% of the time. I do often question whether the people who believe he's dreadful are actually watching the games.
