Sam Allardyce: Matheus Pereira can get even better with one change at West Brom
Sam Allardyce has claimed that West Brom playmaker Matheus Pereira must do everything quicker to succeed in the Premier League.
The Brazilian has scored five goals and delivered three assists, but improvements are still demanded despite topping each category at The Hawthorns.
Allardyce believes that Pereira could improve both those numbers if he sharpened up his movement as well as his actions on the ball.
Speaking to the Express and Star, Big Sam singled out what Pereira must do in order to become more of a success in the Premier League.
“I think he needs to do what he is trying to do quicker – because the Premier League is a lot quicker in terms of you thinking and you moving. It’s not like that down in the Championship,” he said.
“I think if he can sharpen his movement up and sharpen his delivery up and move the ball a little quicker he will get a lot more joy in the final third.
“He will get more joy with the number of assists he gets and hopefully a lot more joy with his shots at goal.”
There is no doubting that Pereira could improve, but so could 95% of this squad with the exception of the likes of Okay Yokuslu.
Allardyce also needs to take into account that the 24-year-old is being played out-of-position on the wing, rather than his central playmaker role where he can be very effective.
No one has completed more key passes per game in the entire squad according to WhoScored, with only Mbaye Diagne having more shots on goal since his arrival.
We have all seen the quality that Pereira has when on the ball, but if Big Sam is correct and he can get even better with one subtle change, he could be the main cog behind this survival push.
The Baggies need to something special, can the new-look Pereira be just that?
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