Scout report: Vital Watford on Mariappa

With many thanks to our friends over at Vital Watford, we ask a few questions on our new signing Adrian Mariappa. We look at his strengths, weaknesses and whether he is capable of playing in the Premier League.



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1) In a nutshell, what sort of a player are we getting?

A very good player at a very good price! If you subscribe to the conventional wisdom that you need one big, hulking, horrible centre half and one that is more agile and can tidy up, then Mariappa fits the bill on the latter. During his time at Watford he's often played best alongside a big stopper type, e.g Nyron Nosworthy or Martin Taylor.

2) After spending his whole career at Watford, do you begrudge him this move?

No way, and no Watford fan with a brain cell will. It's always a disappointment to lose 'one of your own' but having made his breakthrough in 2005 he's been a class act and if I'm honest, I can't actually remember a bad patch of form.

If anything, he's the latest success story of our academy setup in as much as he's done well for us before netting us a profit.

3) What are his strengths?

Mariappa is a player with all the tools. He's quick, strong, good on the ground and in the air considering his height. He can read the game well too & is never injured or suspended.



4) What are his weaknesses?

Hard to say - perhaps a lack of top flight experience - he had one season in the Premier League with us ages 17 though.

A lack of height perhaps, not that he can do anything about that!

5) Do you feel he is capable of playing in the Premier League?

Absolutely. I spoke to some Newcastle supporters when he was linked with them in January and I felt that that end of the division was probably pushing it a bit. However, for anyone with expectations or aspirations of finishing outside of the European spots, he'll be an excellent addition.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.