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Player João Palhinha

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Loved his attitude more than his ability.

When we play him, I think his style of play dictates the way we have to set up in midfield and this holds us back.

A top quality DM IMO could combine his and Bents roles to some degree freeing up a place in the team.
 
The counter to this and it’s a big one. RDZ disagrees.

We will 100% spend the summer improving our play and RDZ couldn’t have been clearer. He wants Palhinha back.
I think you are severely underestimating RDZ and just how ruthless he is. He knew he needed Palhinha these past few weeks to help us surivive. We weren't playing the RDZ way but instead playing to survive and we needed warriors like Palhinha to get us through. He had to keep him onside. It would have been poor management if he told him that we were unlikely to keep him.

I don't see where Palhinha fits into RDZ's plans for next year if he wants to instill his own style on the team. He'll want ball playing midfielders rather than ball winners. Palhinha would be a very useful squad member but do we pay a fee to get him and keep paying his 200k a week wages? I don't think we do. That money could go towards a superior midfield target which RDZ would prefer imo.

Lets see what happens. My guess is we won't make him permanent and it'll be RDZ who makes the final call. I'll think he'll pass up on him if he gets the impression that the club are willing to go bold and try to get Wharton or Scott this Summer. I think Palhinha's insta story yesterday validates my opinion too - it sounded very much like a fairwell.
 
I think you are severely underestimating RDZ and just how ruthless he is. He knew he needed Palhinha these past few weeks to help us surivive. We weren't playing the RDZ way but instead playing to survive and we needed warriors like Palhinha to get us through. He had to keep him onside. It would have been poor management if he told him that we were unlikely to keep him.

I don't see where Palhinha fits into RDZ's plans for next year if he wants to instill his own style on the team. He'll want ball playing midfielders rather than ball winners. Palhinha would be a very useful squad member but do we pay a fee to get him and keep paying his 200k a week wages? I don't think we do. That money could go towards a superior midfield target which RDZ would prefer imo.

Lets see what happens. My guess is we won't make him permanent and it'll be RDZ who makes the final call. I'll think he'll pass up on him if he gets the impression that the club are willing to go bold and try to get Wharton or Scott this Summer. I think Palhinha's insta story yesterday validates my opinion too - it sounded very much like a fairwell.
Wouldn’t he do the job Baleba did for RDZ at Brighton?
 
Surely we get him if we can? The bloke is class and better than Gallagher or Bentacur. Can’t understand some of you being so blazé
He is a totally different player to Gallagher and Bentancur.

But yeah, I think we should get him if the money is right. His mentality is clearly a massive asset and in games that we know we're going to be under it, or with 30 minutes left of a game we need to see it out he'd be great. But he shouldn't be starting games for us regularly as he has his limitations.
 
Wouldn’t he do the job Baleba did for RDZ at Brighton?
He could if we are just happy to finish midtable next season. But if the goal is to target Europe then I imagine he'll want a top midfielder instead.

Without Europe we don't need a bloated squad. Gray, Sarr and Bergvall won't be sold so they'll all be options. If we are signing Wharton or Scott then I don't see us making Palhinha perm.
 
He has the right attitude, he fights, lets keep him around. Might not be the perfect profile player wise but clearly good to have him around and important to set the new standards regarding determination and spirit.
 
He could if we are just happy to finish midtable next season. But if the goal is to target Europe then I imagine he'll want a top midfielder instead.

Without Europe we don't need a bloated squad. Gray, Sarr and Bergvall won't be sold so they'll all be options. If we are signing Wharton or Scott then I don't see us making Palhinha perm.
Why will Sarr not be sold? I think he needs to move on as I can not see where he should play next season.

Sell Sarr and Bissouma, keep Palhinha and add one player who can dictate play and actually pass the ball effectively.
 
He's got a good mentality, De Zerbi seems to like him and he can chip in with goals.

Not the best passer but a lot of De Zerbi's attack is based on pattern plays anyway so you don't need to be the best technically to execute them.
 
Why will Sarr not be sold? I think he needs to move on as I can not see where he should play next season.

Sell Sarr and Bissouma, keep Palhinha and add one player who can dictate play and actually pass the ball effectively.
He's only 23 and offers a unique profile in midfield. I'd argue he's a very useful squad player and it makes sense to keep him for that imo. You only purchase Palhinha if he's a starter and I don't think he will be if the club are serious about targetting Wharton or Scott.

If we make Palhinha perm then my guess is we won't be signing Wharton or Scott.
 
He's only 23 and offers a unique profile in midfield. I'd argue he's a very useful squad player and it makes sense to keep him for that imo. You only purchase Palhinha if he's a starter and I don't think he will be if the club are serious about targetting Wharton or Scott.

If we make Palhinha perm then my guess is we won't be signing Wharton or Scott.
What use is his profile though that makes him useful for us? I'd start Gallagher, Bentancur, Palhinha, Gray and Bergvall over Pape. Maybe we can generate some funds letting him go. Just can not see him getting many minutes with us. Very telling he couldnt make some match squads under de Zerbi who clearly rates Palhinha higher.
 
He's only 23 and offers a unique profile in midfield. I'd argue he's a very useful squad player and it makes sense to keep him for that imo. You only purchase Palhinha if he's a starter and I don't think he will be if the club are serious about targetting Wharton or Scott.

If we make Palhinha perm then my guess is we won't be signing Wharton or Scott.

He's played 130 odd games for us and the only unique profile I've see is mediocrity other than on very rare occasions.

If it's a choice between keeping Palhinha or Sarr, then Palhinha every day of the week.
 
RDZ's comments made it quite clear he's staying. A cut price deal will be found.
One thing I do worry about without Levy around is the ability to get good value from deals like this. We all know he would haggle and draw out negotiations to make things difficult, but in situations like Palhinhas it would be worth doing that so we get that cut price deal done.

I just can't see that same negotiation stubborness from Lange who seems like a total wet blanket to me. Hopefully he's not the type to pay over the odds when we don't need to.
 
One thing I do worry about without Levy around is the ability to get good value from deals like this. We all know he would haggle and draw out negotiations to make things difficult, but in situations like Palhinhas it would be worth doing that so we get that cut price deal done.

I just can't see that same negotiation stubborness from Lange who seems like a total wet blanket to me. Hopefully he's not the type to pay over the odds when we don't need to.
Bayern may agree to a cut price because they want to keep us sweet in case we have another player they'd like to sign in the future. In particular a young CB.
 
Yeah my concern with him is it will be diminishing returns. As his final big move he'd probably want a 3 year deal on decent wages and if his quality drops we're kinda stuck with him.

He's been a great loan and after the goal on Sunday he's my player of the season but next season I think De Zerbi will want us to be a lot more progressive qnd risky in possession which isn't really Palhinha's game.

For me another loan would be ideal but otherwise I think we'd be better off looking to buy our own long term solution in that position.

Ive a great deal of affection for Palhinha, for obvious reasons, but do agree.

I dont think he is good enough to be a mainstay in the team we want to be, never have, and that hasnt changed.

Were we to get him in as a bargain buy, for the squad, for his mentality benefits and for closing out games? Absolutely fine by me.

But as a first 11 every week player? No, no thanks.


I think you are severely underestimating RDZ and just how ruthless he is. He knew he needed Palhinha these past few weeks to help us surivive. We weren't playing the RDZ way but instead playing to survive and we needed warriors like Palhinha to get us through. He had to keep him onside. It would have been poor management if he told him that we were unlikely to keep him.

I don't see where Palhinha fits into RDZ's plans for next year if he wants to instill his own style on the team. He'll want ball playing midfielders rather than ball winners. Palhinha would be a very useful squad member but do we pay a fee to get him and keep paying his 200k a week wages? I don't think we do. That money could go towards a superior midfield target which RDZ would prefer imo.

Lets see what happens. My guess is we won't make him permanent and it'll be RDZ who makes the final call. I'll think he'll pass up on him if he gets the impression that the club are willing to go bold and try to get Wharton or Scott this Summer. I think Palhinha's insta story yesterday validates my opinion too - it sounded very much like a fairwell.

I said as much weeks ago, dont put too much stock into RDZs comments when he is managing a very compromised squad through a crisis.

Last kick of the season, immediately we can see how ruthless he is

I FUCKING LOVED RDZs post match press conference. No basking in the glory of staying up, an immediate "We have 10-12 players actually good enough, the work starts tonight...."

I do think he likes Palhinhas mentality, and I do think RDZ is looking a few steps ahead in our squad building - so I can see him wanting to keep Palhinha around as "the right sort of guy"

All of which is to say I basically agree with you, but can see a version of things where we do keep Palhinha as well
 
Why will Sarr not be sold? I think he needs to move on as I can not see where he should play next season.

Sell Sarr and Bissouma, keep Palhinha and add one player who can dictate play and actually pass the ball effectively.
because then we are still left with a lot of players for a season with no europe.

Palhinha, Benta, New (scott) Gray, Bergvall. We have Gallagher too who can play there, it does seem like overkill. I think in that scenario likely Bergvall gets loaned.
 
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