Guillermo Varela

Really sad. Was also just waiting for him to get his first shot at RB in the first team, I felt he was ready to cover Rafael's injury
 
Has it been confirmed about his parents, or just an internet rumour? If it is then I hope they make full recovery; I'm sure the club will give him all the time he needs.
 
If the rumour about his parents is true then I feel for him, poor lad. Hope that the club does everything they can to help him in those rough times.
 
Can't see us selling him. He's a great prospect. A level above Vermijl and Janko, though to be fair to the latter it's hard to compare an 18-year-old to a 20-year-old.
 
So how has this kid been progressing? Heard mixed reports about him earlier in the season? Would he be near the first team yet? Given our lack of right back options, surely he must be an option for us as a back up.
 
So how has this kid been progressing? Heard mixed reports about him earlier in the season? Would he be near the first team yet? Given our lack of right back options, surely he must be an option for us as a back up.
I think he has mostly done well. At least the times I've seen the U21s. He looked good again today but to be honest he didn't have a lot of defending to do as West Ham struggled to do anything constructive with the ball. He played a part in the first goal and linked up well with the rest of the team. Given our current situation I wouldn't be worried about him playing a couple of times in the Premier League seeing as we most likely won't get in the top four anyway.
 
Other than the "tall" argument there isnt a single reason why he shouldn't be getting a game at rightback instead of Smalling if Rafael isnt fit or picked.

He's a tenacious tackler with a good dribble and likes to push forward. I also like the way when someone plays a long ball towards him in the air he has no intention of just making sure he receives the ball, taking a touch backwards to get it under control. No, he wants to run at full pace and chest the ball down the wing so he can get an early cross in. There's room for improvement obviously, sometimes his runs are a bit basic just straight forward down the line on an overlap rather than making a run wherever the opponent is vulvernable. But he'll learn that stuff. He's another tough character I think
 
So I assume his brief return to Uruguay was only temporary? I know he had some bad news from his family - but it sounded out as if he was completely homesick and wanted to go back for good.
 
So I assume his brief return to Uruguay was only temporary? I know he had some bad news from his family - but it sounded out as if he was completely homesick and wanted to go back for good.

Not what I read but I'm quite sure that's rubbish.
 
Other than the "tall" argument there isnt a single reason why he shouldn't be getting a game at rightback instead of Smalling if Rafael isnt fit or picked.

He's a tenacious tackler with a good dribble and likes to push forward. I also like the way when someone plays a long ball towards him in the air he has no intention of just making sure he receives the ball, taking a touch backwards to get it under control. No, he wants to run at full pace and chest the ball down the wing so he can get an early cross in. There's room for improvement obviously, sometimes his runs are a bit basic just straight forward down the line on an overlap rather than making a run wherever the opponent is vulvernable. But he'll learn that stuff. He's another tough character I think
He pretty much should have had a penalty when doing that today.
 
Given our current situation I wouldn't be worried about him playing a couple of times in the Premier League seeing as we most likely won't get in the top four anyway.
Yes we will probably have 5 games at the end of the season where the league and cl are mathematically impossible so it will be a perfect time to give youngsters a chance to show what they can do
 
Cheers lads, glad to hear he is doing well. Kind of baffling that he hasn't got a look-in given he is an actual natural right back. I have never seen him play live but I have always been impressed by highlights of him.
 
Firstly, his opening few games were ok. Just that.

He was regularly caught out of position and I had doubts about him defensively…although going forward he looked very good.

As he got used to the English game, our tactics, other players etc he started to look much better defensively and seemed to be a very good prospect. He played nine competitive games leading up to Christmas and was quite consistent both in defence and in attack.

Then he went home to deal with his family situation and has only recently returned.

Like most foreign lads it takes a little while to settle (or resettle) so if he regains some of the form he had before the break the coaching staff may well try him out towards the back end of the season.

Certainly one to watch.
 


No more fecking around - when Rafael is injured, play a right back at right back. This guy looks very promising indeed.
 
Looks promising. The most russian looking south american ever, even the haircut.

Would be great for the re-build in the summer to have a backup for Rafael.
 
He's an excellent prospect, and bar a couple of early games, he has impressed every time. Looks a first team player to me. Given that he was actually signed for about £2.5m by all accounts, I don't think we should worry about him nit being given a chance at some point.

My concern was that we would fast track Janko ahead of him on the basis of him being a better athlete. I still wouldn't rule that out tbh, the bosses seem to be doing a lot of work with him and rate him highly it appears.
 
I've only seem him on youtube and we all know how perilous that can be. But what I've seen of him I really like.

Sign him up!
 
We have absolutely nothing to lose by playing him right back this season every time Rafael is injured.- and maybe even when he isn't. The season is gone, and perhaps one minor positive from that is that we can afford a few risks in terms of giving some of the younger players a bit of game time.
Give Varela ten games this season and then at least he will have some experience under his belt ready for the start of next season, and we can actually have a back up right back that is actually a right back.