A player I’ve mentioned on here a couple of times, a DM having an absolutely outstanding season at Sporting, who are still unbeaten in Liga NOS and top the table, eight points clear of Porto.
Whilst the spotlight has understandably shone most brightly on Pedro Gonçalves, who has picked up for Sporting where Bruno left, delivering 18 goals and assists from midfield, Palhinha has arguably been the more important player for the Leões.
Palhinha is a strong, aggressive, ball-winning DM. His stature is reminiscent of Matic’s, and he’s powerful in the air and on the floor. He’s quick, he reads the game well, and for me one of his most important assets is his desire to move the ball forward quickly when he wins it back for his side. He’s launched a host of counterattacks for Sporting this season having tackled or wrestled the ball back in his own half.
Leeds apparently enquired about his availability earlier this season before he was linked pretty strongly with Leicester. And the Portuguese press are now touting a move to City billing him as the replacement for Fernandinho. (I thought that was supposed to be Rodri?)
I’ve posted this article up for a few reasons.
Firstly, because we need a replacement for Matic and I think Palhinha is a player. He’s the kind of guy who you’d throw in in the double pivot alongside Pogba to allow Paul to go do his thing roaming about the opposition’s final third and not worry about cover. He’s got fantastic range, spots danger early and knows how to break up counters. Pep is probably an admirer of his tactical fouling...
Secondly, he can play at CB too. With Lindelof and Maguire our only reliable centrebacks at present, even if we’re to bring in an upgrade on or competition for Lindelof in the summer, having an extra player in the squad who can fill in there might be very useful. We’ve absolutely walked a tightrope this season having had two or all of Jones, Bailly and Tuanzebe unavailable for selection more than once.
He might also be relatively affordable. His new contract has a EUR60m release clause, but Sporting might be persuaded to part with him for a bit less. Despite cashing in on Bruno, Wendel and Raphinha last season, their finances are still in a mess and they’ll want to hang on to Gonçalves for another season if they possibly can. A circa EUR40m fee might not be out of the question.
Finally, he’s best mates with Bruno, and their games would really suit each other. Palhinha likes to get to the ball early, win it, and, as I’ve mentioned, get it up the pitch to his forwards quickly.
A couple of negatives for balance:
With the season he’s having, there’s a chance that interest from multiple clubs might see suitors needing to meet his release clause to get to speak to him.
And although for me he has a half decent range, his passing has been singled out as an inconsistency in his game throughout this career.
Rosso’s verdict: Pah, who doesn’t want to see us playing with a massive, aggressive DM smashing his way about the pitch, a shiiiit-eating grin plastered across his face as he wipes out opposition forwards? GO GET HIM, MURTOUGH
Anyone have any other suggestions/preferences for cheaper alternatives to Rice? Camavinga? Sander Berge? Zakaria?
João Palhinha
posted on 10/4/21
All sounds good. I can't say I've ever seen this guy play, but I do agree we need a proper defensive midfielder with a bit of mobility and that has to be very high on the list of priorities for the summer. Not just to win the ball back and protect the defence, but as you've stated in the OP, also to free up who ever is picked alongside him in the middle of the park. It's okay to have a couple of sitting midfielders if you have wing backs flying forward and creating chances galore ala Liverpool at their best. But that isn't the case for us, certainly with AWB
posted on 10/4/21
Good article Rosso about a player I know nothing about.
I notice he's nearly 26 though, and reason he's not been more prominent before this?
posted on 10/4/21
5 MOTM in his last 7 league games.
posted on 10/4/21
This is a player I've wanted us to buy since I read this article five minutes ago.
posted on 10/4/21
comment by TheSpecialWUM (U9028)
posted 42 minutes ago
Great article, watching those highlights he does look like a good fit for us at DM, and transfers from Sporting have worked out well in the past.
Will have to keep an eye out for him at the Euros.
If Leicester are interested in him as well, maybe they are willing to let Ndidi go ... although I'd hate to see United paying upwards of £60m for Ndidi and Leicester picking up Palhinha for £40m.
Declan Rice appears to be most strongly linked at the moment.
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With Ndidi and Tielemans performing so well it’d seem a bit of a luxury signing for Leicester. It’d give them incredible depth in midfield though.
I expect we’ll instead see them investing elsewhere.
posted on 10/4/21
When's the last time someone from that plodders league worked out for us? Stop embracing mediocrity.
posted on 10/4/21
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 41 minutes ago
We need a DM so that we don’t have to play Matic or either of McFred there.
My hope is the the manager can also see than none of those are good enough in the role.
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I quite like the McFred partnership for some fixtures, and I think the two of them have developed a decent, and growing, understanding.
We will need a partner for Pogba if he’s to stay and play in the midfield though, and it’ll need to be a player with a better range than Matic.
McT can just about do the job, but really Pogba needs a specialist DM next to him.
posted on 10/4/21
comment by Robbing Cromwell - agent of the hierarchy. (U6374)
posted 32 minutes ago
Good article Rosso about a player I know nothing about.
I notice he's nearly 26 though, and reason he's not been more prominent before this?
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Yes.
He was touted as one to watch coming through at Sporting, then ended up getting bumped about on loan, and it was only really last season at Braga when he started to stand out.
Braga wanted to keep ahold of him because he was a large part of the reason for their overachievement last term (they finished fourth I think, which wasn’t a huge surprise, but they played some good stuff).
Sporting wanted him back though and he’s made a huge difference for them.
posted on 10/4/21
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - A Beekers Dozen (U2958)
posted 12 minutes ago
When's the last time someone from that plodders league worked out for us? Stop embracing mediocrity.
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posted on 10/4/21
Never seen him play tbh but we do need a quality DM.
McTominay is not a DM, Fred has not kicked on from the promise he showed last year and while he has his qualities he’s too erratic to be trusted to be anything more than a squad player.
We made a mistake giving Matic a 3 year deal last season imo.