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Player João Palhinha

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We have this habit of overrating players off the back of one decent game or when they are out with a long term injury. No denying, he was an absolute juggernaut yesterday, but lets not forget he's been utter gash for most of the season. He will be 31 in July and I wouldn't be paying the 30m euro option. Maybe for 10m-15m I might be willing to take a chance on RDZ getting more out of him than the previous incumbents. But there is no way I'm paying 30m.

Gash this season? Sorry what? He's been one of our best players.
 
This is where I am at in terms of, if RDZ wants him, sign him. But I find it interesting the snobbery people have about his technical ability. He had a great shot Sunday that hit the post from range, also he scored a fantastic goal from distance against Wolves. He even scored a fucking bicycle kick this season.

How many of our other more "technical" midfielders do you see do that for us? None of them that's what. Some of them can't even shoot from distance. This lack of technical ability is a load of nonsense. He's got plenty of ability on the ball. He's not Xavi, but that doesn't mean he's poor on the ball.

His strength obviously isn't fast pass and moving in the middle of the park, but there's still a place for a player with his profile. Particuarly as he offers a goal threat which hardly any of our other CMS do, and he is excellent off the ball and defensively.

Our best midfield is Bentancur, Palhinha and Gallagher. Gray and Bergvall are far too raw and nowhere near ready yet.
 
This is where I am at in terms of, if RDZ wants him, sign him. But I find it interesting the snobbery people have about his technical ability. He had a great shot Sunday that hit the post from range, also he scored a fantastic goal from distance against Wolves. He even scored a fucking bicycle kick this season.

How many of our other more "technical" midfielders do you see do that for us? None of them that's what. Some of them can't even shoot from distance. This lack of technical ability is a load of nonsense. He's got plenty of ability on the ball. He's not Xavi, but that doesn't mean he's poor on the ball.

His strength obviously isn't fast pass and moving in the middle of the park, but there's still a place for a player with his profile. Particuarly as he offers a goal threat which hardly any of our other CMS do, and he is excellent off the ball and defensively.

Our best midfield is Bentancur, Palhinha and Gallagher. Gray and Bergvall are far too raw and nowhere near ready yet.

His passing is limited, with the odd decent ball. He doesnt turn well, take it on the half turn well, or have the feet to handle tight areas/being pressed.

Generally, a RDZ midfielder - one of those two that come to the CBs and initiate play - I think Palinha is limited in the technical areas specific to this role.

Bissouma is levels above in this specific position technically (shame he doesnt have Palinhas mentality)

Palinha is decent when facing play. And his strength obviously being an unreal talent for ball winning. (Because of these - I really liked him when at CB on those odd occasions)

The genius thing RDZ did against Villa was to have Porro and Palinha rotate, specifically to play to each's strengths/mitigate their weaknesses.

All the things he would ideally want in a MF in that role Porro was offering, not Palinha.

Which is not to say Palinha didnt play well or anything like it. My overriding point really is just that I think he is the wrong profile/skillset for that role. Instead of having to accomodate someone, I would rather someone in there who can just excel in the ways needed.

Though, as Ive also said - if we wanted Palinha in as a squad/bench option, used for specific scenarios - Im fine with that. My objection is only really in him being a first 11 buy (and we need to consider next season will be a 1 game a week sort of season, so a very settled 11 and smaller squad most likely).
 
This is where I am at in terms of, if RDZ wants him, sign him. But I find it interesting the snobbery people have about his technical ability. He had a great shot Sunday that hit the post from range, also he scored a fantastic goal from distance against Wolves. He even scored a fucking bicycle kick this season.

How many of our other more "technical" midfielders do you see do that for us? None of them that's what. Some of them can't even shoot from distance. This lack of technical ability is a load of nonsense. He's got plenty of ability on the ball. He's not Xavi, but that doesn't mean he's poor on the ball.

His strength obviously isn't fast pass and moving in the middle of the park, but there's still a place for a player with his profile. Particuarly as he offers a goal threat which hardly any of our other CMS do, and he is excellent off the ball and defensively.

Our best midfield is Bentancur, Palhinha and Gallagher. Gray and Bergvall are far too raw and nowhere near ready yet.
Great post. He's not Vitinha so hes shit, that's how some people seem to think it is. If we had a team like PSG then yes, he would be a bench player or maybe not even needed, but we don't, we are a million miles away from that. Players like Palhinha are vital for us in our current state as hes going to be doing the work the likes of Maddison can't do to free maddison up so he can do what he's good at. That's where we are, it's called balance.

On top of using Palhinha for what he is good at on the pitch, he's clearly a man and a very good personality to have at the club, one that is going to lead by example for the likes of Bergvall, Gray and Vuskovic.
 
This is where I am at in terms of, if RDZ wants him, sign him. But I find it interesting the snobbery people have about his technical ability. He had a great shot Sunday that hit the post from range, also he scored a fantastic goal from distance against Wolves. He even scored a fucking bicycle kick this season.

How many of our other more "technical" midfielders do you see do that for us? None of them that's what. Some of them can't even shoot from distance. This lack of technical ability is a load of nonsense. He's got plenty of ability on the ball. He's not Xavi, but that doesn't mean he's poor on the ball.

His strength obviously isn't fast pass and moving in the middle of the park, but there's still a place for a player with his profile. Particuarly as he offers a goal threat which hardly any of our other CMS do, and he is excellent off the ball and defensively.

Our best midfield is Bentancur, Palhinha and Gallagher. Gray and Bergvall are far too raw and nowhere near ready yet.
Fantastic post mate. Totally agree with all of that.
 
This is where I am at in terms of, if RDZ wants him, sign him. But I find it interesting the snobbery people have about his technical ability. He had a great shot Sunday that hit the post from range, also he scored a fantastic goal from distance against Wolves. He even scored a fucking bicycle kick this season.

How many of our other more "technical" midfielders do you see do that for us? None of them that's what. Some of them can't even shoot from distance. This lack of technical ability is a load of nonsense. He's got plenty of ability on the ball. He's not Xavi, but that doesn't mean he's poor on the ball.

His strength obviously isn't fast pass and moving in the middle of the park, but there's still a place for a player with his profile. Particuarly as he offers a goal threat which hardly any of our other CMS do, and he is excellent off the ball and defensively.

Our best midfield is Bentancur, Palhinha and Gallagher. Gray and Bergvall are far too raw and nowhere near ready yet.

Ultimately though with no Europe, and despite our injuries, we can’t sign Palhinha and keep all the others. We 100% need a good couple of technical midfielder who can pass through the lines. In order to get that we will have to sell a couple to bring him in. Sarr the obvious one to be sacrificed. I have a feeling DZ might sell Spence and use Gray as a right back actually. He did similar with Caicedo and Milner at Brighton.

Give me experienced ready to go pros in the middle of the park over potential any day though. I’ve said it all season and our best results came with him and Bentancur in there despite their limitations.
 
Ultimately though with no Europe, and despite our injuries, we can’t sign Palhinha and keep all the others. We 100% need a good couple of technical midfielder who can pass through the lines. In order to get that we will have to sell a couple to bring him in. Sarr the obvious one to be sacrificed. I have a feeling DZ might sell Spence and use Gray as a right back actually. He did similar with Caicedo and Milner at Brighton.

Give me experienced ready to go pros in the middle of the park over potential any day though. I’ve said it all season and our best results came with him and Bentancur in there despite their limitations.
We need to offload Biss and Sarr and sign Guimeres or someone like him
 
I get this. I really do. I think I just have a more old fashioned way of looking at players.

I want my 6 to break up play, get the ball back and give it to the closest player who is more skilful than he is. I don’t care if he can make a defence splitting pass with the outside of his boot after dropping the shoulder past three opponents. We should have other players who do that.

It’s in the same area for me as “goalkeepers need to be good with their feet”. Why? I’d prefer they were good with their hands. Stop goals going in and roll or throw the ball to another player. Or hoof it halfway into the oppo half.

Also see wingers who track back. No. Fullbacks who can attack effectively. No. Strikers who press. No.

A defence that stops goals, a midfield that sets them up and an attack that scores them. Very Big Sam, but I do fear we over-complicate what is a rather simple game.
I agree with you to an extent. It’s not as simple as that in elite European football like Spurs (supposedly) or even a bit below that. Can’t have a clogger FB like Lee Dixon anymore who’s only job is to defend.

SPL teams have more rounded full backs. Wasn’t Falkirk’s LB playing in Scottish L1 a couple seasons ago? Some of their other players too. They’re a little bit more fluid and don’t play a traditional 6. Have done Aberdeen over this season multiple times though? 🤭

I do agree that players should be good in their “role”. We have 60 midfielders who are average at everything, Palinha at 6, Mads and Simons at 10. Wingers with zero flair bar Kudus. 2 strikers who work hard but don’t score.
 
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