Jonathan Viera, at the controls
Even playing in the second division, the 32-year-old is showing he is still one of the top creative players in Spanish football.
It’s no secret that, were it not for his affinity to Las Palmas, Jonathan Viera wouldn’t be playing in the second tier of Spanish football.
After leaving Beijing Guoan last year, returning to Spain had been the logical course — and especially going home to Gran Canaria. Although he could play at the top level, a return to Las Palmas meant there would be no battle for playing time, no dispute on part of the fans, no opposition from the coaching staff and, essentially, no obstacles between his talent in theory and talent on the pitch. Las Palmas have the mere fortune that Viera was born there, and in return the team promise to absorb his game entirely.
The consequence for Viera is the degree of responsibility he inherits. Just a few months ago, he admitted his level of enjoyment on the pitch is not what it once was, and that the external pressure is ever greater. Everyone, from his teammates to the fans, to opposition players and managers, know he that he is the head of the snake. Cut Viera off and Las Palmas are mortal again.
As it turns out, it’s easier said than done.
At 32, and as most would say, playing below his level, Viera is currently occupying the role of second division Lionel Messi (the Barcelona version, to be clear). All matters of possession filter through him, and on the other side, Las Palmas emerge a better team.
Viera is the king of the final pass, but will drift between the centre backs to collect one, or put his foot on the ball 70 metres from goal just to take a panorama of the pitch. His position is the interior in a 4-3-3, but his playing zones have no boundaries. Las Palmas just want the ball at his feet, wherever he is.
It’s for good reason too. The old adage of “you’re happy if he’s receiving the ball there” whenever a striker or attacking player receives a pass near the halfway line was never really that catch-all, but certain players have made a mockery of it in recent years. Like the late-stage Messi at Barcelona, Viera now figures as that positionless footballer who can somehow be detached and attached to his team simultaneously, turning off-script wanders to collect the ball into meaningful attacking play on a collective level.
Creative responsibility
Las Palmas are the most possession-heavy team in the Segunda División (59 percent). That means lots of touches for Viera, but it’s also that way large in part to his presence in the team. They dominate the ball because of him and given his role, dominating the ball is the means by which they extract the best of him.
What is unique about Viera is that he occupies the dual role of being the league’s most active player in terms of touches, as well as its most threatening creator. He averages the most touches (93), receives the most passes (67) and creates the most chances from open play (2.5) per 90 in the division this season. By comparison - and with the obvious caveats - the same rankings applied to La Liga are led by Jordi Alba for touches, Toni Kroos for passes received and Ousmane Dembélé for open play chances created.
The scope of Viera’s role in possession is unrivalled in the Segunda División. Where other teams fill out their midfield with a variety of profiles, Viera is multiple players in one for Las Palmas. He manages the tempo of games, circulates the ball from deep, and figures at the sharp end of attacks with a frequency and quality unlike anyone else. With age and experience, he has learned when and where to intervene even more. And above all, he is the single biggest force of chance creation in the league.
From open play, Viera’s contribution to shot-ending sequences of play is by far the league’s best — both in volume and quality of shots that cap off the sequences. This captures all contributions to spells of play that positively impact attacks, rather than just the final chance created. On a similar note, Viera also leads the league in secondary chances created from open play (2.3 per 90) — the pass to the player who finally assists the shooter. In the art of chance creation, he excels as both the conductor and the provider of the final action.
At 32, the former Spain international has had to reframe his game in recent years. His physical level is not quite what it once was, and requires finer management throughout the season. And so with the passing of the years he has morphed from a wing-based dribbler earlier in his career, to a savant of time and space who no longer has a fixed position. He is free to interpret the game as he sees fit for Las Palmas — whether that’s through drifting into wide areas or managing the centre of the pitch.
Since the arrival of Garcia Pimienta, the former Barça B coach, Las Palmas have only emboldened their attacking style of play; nudging up their possession, shots and xG per game since replacing Pepe Mel. After a difficult start for Pimienta, his use of the 4-3-3 and ‘double eights’ in Viera and Kirian Rodríguez has been able to wrestle back control of their season through a clear offensive identity — and one that’s typically Barcelona-influenced. With the quality of Viera as a centrepiece — a player that Pimienta recently described as world class — some late season synergy is now in place.
Time is of the essence, and Los Amarillos know they won’t be able to drink from the fountain of Viera forever. For now though, little exists beyond this season. If Las Palmas can squeeze into the play-offs, they will be confident of going all the way. 6th or 3rd, momentum or no momentum, they still hold the league’s trump card.
Balones a Viera.