As West Bromwich Albion supporters seethed in the wake of Monday’s dismal defeat at Fulham, one question rang out louder than others: why, many fans demanded to know, had Matheus Pereira not been used in his “best position”? The Brazilian’s optimal position, in the eyes of many, is in the No 10 role.
For most of this season, Slaven Bilic has favoured a system without a conventional No 10. And it was the same at Craven Cottage as Bilic remained loyal to his 4-3-3 system, meaning a wide-right starting position for Pereira.
Having moved Pereira to a more central role in the second-half improvement at Brighton & Hove Albion in their previous game, it was always going to be a brave call.
It ended up becoming a stick for people to beat Bilic with after his side produced their most insipid display of the season in losing 2-0 to a previously winless Fulham side.
But is Pereira’s position as simple an issue as many fans…
