Valerón - Should be starting more often

Valerón last season
source: marca.com

A player that even Andrés Iniesta is on record of saying he would pay to watch, Juan Carlos Valerón tonight put in another performance showing he still has plenty to offer the Canary Islanders in their quest to stay in the Primera división and their Copa del rey hopes. 

Tonight Las Palmas secured their passage to the quarter-finals of the Copa del rey for the first time since 1996-97, where they reached the semi-finals. Coach Quique Setien opted to field some of those who haven't been getting plenty of minutes in the league in their game with Eibar tonight. Valerón was among those called to duty. Valerón has only started in the Copa del rey games this season with limited cameo appearances in the league. In those Copa del rey games, particularly the last 32 tie with Real Sociedad, he impressed with his unrivaled vision and passing accuracy. Tonight was no different as he found teammates with one touch passing and although not directly involved in the goals tonight, his presence was felt. He opens space up for his teammates and finds them without hassle. 

With this post I am making the argument that he should be starting in the league for Las Palmas. I have watched them a decent amount of times in La Liga this season and while they have improved results wise since Paco Herrera was unfortunate enough to get the sack earlier in the season, they are missing that link between midfield and striker. First choice striker Sergio Araújo works on the edge of the opposing defenses and can get in behind with more accurate through balls, step forward señor Valerón. Currently Quique Setien prefers to utilize Tana in the central attacking midfield role behind Araújo and while he has shown at times promise he lacks that final killer ball that Araújo demands. 

The arguments against are that he simply doesn't have the energy required to close down opponents and mark opposing midfielders but that was never his game. Valerón is very much a foot on the ball, find a teammate and play through eye of the needle passes type of midfielder. Even at 40 he showed tonight why he should be starting for Las Palmas more often. 

In his rather limited time on the pitch in the league this season (he has played 105 minutes in 7 appearances so far) his presence has given the players a lift. Usually bought on in the final ten minutes of games, the former Depor maestro hasn't put a foot wrong. Arguments that he can't last a full 90 minutes are blown by the fact that he has completed 90 minutes in all four Copa games this season. With at least two more Copa games to come he can continue to show why he deserves to be starting for his hometown club in the league in what I hope isn't his final season.