Expert's opinion on Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro was at times the best player in the Championship last season and Albion fans are right to be excited by arrival at the Amex.

That’s according to BBC Three Counties Radio sports editor Geoff Doyle, who has covered Watford for ten years and watched Pedro establish himself as the best player at Watford.

“He is a very technically gifted, that becomes apparent as soon as you see him play, you’re struck by it,” Doyle said. “He came over to England from Brazil when he was 18, so he has already played for three years in English football, one of those years was in the Premier League. He has played over 100 games for Watford and he’s only 21.

“His demeanour on the pitch and the way he holds himself is what makes him standout. There are certain players who have just ‘got it’. With the ball at his feet, he glides across the pitch and there’s not many players who can do that – it just seems effortless.

“He’s got so much ability, he’s now got to make that step up. He’s got lots to learn, but if he carries on the way he’s going, he is going to be a serious player.

“I asked Slaven Bilic if he saw him becoming a Brazil international and he said he certainly saw him at that level in the future. Bilic spoke about him being on another level to the other Watford players, that’s no disrespect to the rest of that squad, but that’s just the amount of ability he has.”

Pedro departed the Hornets having made 109 appearances, being credited with 24 goals and nine assists during that time. 

Despite only being 21-years-old, he was handed the captain’s armband on a handful of occasions last season.

“Watford had a few troubles last season and Bilic made him his captain when Tom Cleverley got injured," Doyle continued. "The reason for that is because Joao really cares and it hurts him when the team he is in isn’t playing well.

“A lot of people have judged Watford this season, but Joao was one that really did care and was really annoyed when the team weren’t playing well.

“He’s a winner and I think he was given the captaincy for a good reason. He can develop that role further and maybe it came a bit too soon, but he’s a player that will always give everything, he’d never be faulted for that.”

The former Fluminense forward will have to adapt to his new club Doyle said, with the Brazilian still having a few areas to work on.

“For Watford he played as a nine, a ten, on the left and the right. He also played in centre-midfield as an eight. He needs to nail down which position he thinks he can be the biggest success, but at Brighton he might need to adjust.

“The first thing that will be interesting to see is where he fits into Brighton’s system, he’s got to try and get into the team ahead of some very, very good players. At Watford he was the best player at the club by a stretch, at Brighton he is going to be on a level with all of those top players and he won’t necessarily be the first name on the teamsheet, so he’s going to have to deal with that.

“He might find himself as a substitute at times given that Brighton have a squad capable of finishing in the top six in the Premier League. That will show what kind of attitude he has, I am sure he will fit in, he will improve being around better players and I think that frustrated him last season at Watford. It seemed like players weren’t on the same wavelength as him, he was playing at a higher level. I think at Brighton they will be at that level.

“Bilic had him more last season than any other coach. He wanted Joao to get into the box more, because he wanted to get on the ball as often as possible so he would drop deep. Bilic wanted to see him causing the problems in the box, scoring goals - he needs to score more goals.

“I was surprised when I looked at his stats that he only has four assists this season, for some players stats don’t mean everything but four assists seems low to me for such a good player.

“He needs to work on scoring and creating, as well as with the way the Premier League is now, he needs to work on his defensive game. He still puts in a shift, but he needs to tighten that up. All the players at the top clubs have that nailed.

“You see someone like Jack Grealish, how much he has improved that side of his game and that’s why he gets in the team every week at Manchester City and is one of their best players. He’s great going forward, but defensively now he is fantastic and these top attacking players have realised that they need to be able to do that to get into the top teams.”