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Paulinho

AB27

Active Member
Jun 17, 2012
328
558
I've seen a few posts here and there discussing people's opinions of Paulinho, but not a proper thread. I wonder what the opinion of the forum is on our newest Brazilian midfielder now we've seen a reasonable amount of him in action?
 

djee

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2004
624
1,797
The lad will prove to be an excellent acquisition. Scored some vital goals so far but equally missed a few easier chances. I am encouraged though as the positions he takes up are fantastic - just a matter of time before he really starts racking up the goals. Genuinely believe he is a 10-15 goal a season man.

His work-rate is second to none and he is happy / confident deeper in midfield. He is also developing a great understanding with Sandro and Dembele which, in particular seems to be bringing the best out of the latter. Also thought he has combined with Soldaldo well.

Whilst he hasn't been flawless (terrible attempt at a tackle for the Newcastle goal) and gone missing in a few fixtures, I think he has settled very well and is only going to get better.

Would also add that the return of Lennon has helped too as the pitch widens to create space for Paulinho. Very excited to see Eriksen return / Lamela to shine which will hopefully ensure more goalscoring opportunities!
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,800
23,813
A luxury in a 2 man CM.

whether he's a luxury fullstop remains to be seen.

Certainly seen nothing to suggest he's worth what we paid for him, unless we are going by Bent/ley standards then the fee seems about right.


People seem to think that if you are moving then your work rate is great.

He moves slow as shit, he jogs into the box, invariably far too late or early, and shows absolutely no inclination to get back when moves break down, which is shocking for a CM, leaving his partner majorly exposed.
His use of the ball is pedestrian, not sure he even knows what a first time pass is if it's not a flick or back heel. four touches before he even looks up most times, and the wall has been built by then.

Would come last in a race with Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone too. (maybe get a photo finish with Sheringham though...)

Has been given the most chance of all our new signings too, not sure if he has some sort of play me clause but would hope not... But his technique is decent.

Of all the new siginngs he is the one i have been least impressed with...
 
Last edited:
Aug 9, 2008
4,910
8,415
He looks like a steel! i think he plays very well behind the striker, him sandro and debele are the perfect 3, most teams will striggle and Paulinho seems to get up and support well, just unlcky he has been in fiont of goal, over the weekend he changed the tide for at least in th PL in regards to scoring hopefully a god sign and things to come!!!!!
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
I think the key is using him to his best, he may be a box to box type but he'll make more impact advancing than retreating.
Playing him with Dembele is pointless. Neither of them really defend like a Sandro or Capue.
I think the trio formation worked very very well and I'd like to see it worked on more.
Sandro/Capue deep with Dembele between and Paulinho advanced.
 

EastLondonYid

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2010
7,837
16,145
A player that most would only appreciate his value when he is not in the team...not me, and he will improve in a settled side, too many changes cant be helping him...
 

faze_coys

Well-Known Member
Dec 14, 2010
3,138
4,796
A luxury in a 2 man CM.

whether he's a luxury fullstop remains to be seen.

Certainly seen nothing to suggest he's worth what we paid for him, unless we are going by Bent/ley standards then the fee seems about right.


People seem to think that if you are moving then your work rate is great.

He moves slow as shit, he jogs into the box, invariably far too late or early, and shows absolutely no inclination to get back when moves break down, which is shocking for a CM, leaving his partner majorly exposed.
His use of the ball is pedestrian, not sure he even knows what a first time pass is if it's not a flick or back heel. four touches before he even looks up most times, and the wall has been built by then.

Would come last in a race with Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone too. (maybe get a photo finish with Sheringham though...)

Has been given the most chance of all our new signings too, not sure if he has some sort of play me clause but would hope not...

Of all the new siginngs he is the one i have been least impressed with...

completely agree.

his use of the ball and the way he completely slows down out attacks annoys me the most.

His work rate is a myth aswell, the amount of times i have seen him let player JOG past him and hes not even made an effort to track them or put them under pressure is a joke. Cant tackle for shit either.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,355
87,831
Paulinho = Jenas. Decent box to box midfielder, lots of running and athletiscm, decent passing, hopeless in the box but grabs the odd important goal. Wasn't a required signing but due to his price and profile he'll be 1st choice over better and more suited players such as Danny Murphy... Sorry, Sandro.
 

ARMASPUR

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2008
529
3,039
I think he'll score a lot more goals than Jenas ever did. He gets into far better positions than Jenas IMO. I'm happy with him so far and think he'll do really wee for us.
 

SlunkSoma

Like dogs bright
Oct 5, 2004
3,941
3,490
I think he is struggling to settle a bit, but is still grafting and making a difference. A little more confidence and composure and we'll see the best of him. We need someone in our midfield to take control and set the rhythm, currently him and Dembele/Holtby play at difference speeds. We'll see to best of him once our best team is worked out.
 

KILLA_SIN

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2008
7,813
14,455
No player coming to a new league will look great when they have had no summer off. I personally would not even bother having an opinion about a player until they have played a bare minimum of 20 league games and ideally 50 games
 

idontgetit

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2011
14,404
30,804
Paulinho = Jenas. Decent box to box midfielder, lots of running and athletiscm, decent passing, hopeless in the box but grabs the odd important goal. Wasn't a required signing but due to his price and profile he'll be 1st choice over better and more suited players such as Danny Murphy... Sorry, Sandro.

There are quite a few parallels with Jenas, I'd say Paulinho is a class above though. I didn't really get carried away with the love in when we signed him but he performs a very vital box to box role for us and we'd really struggle if we didn't have a midfielder who was happy to get in to the box and score goals. Hopefully a few more games with Holtby and you'll begin to see a lot more of the link up play we had towards the end of the Sunderland game
 

dynamoSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
2,718
895
His English is way better than I expected.

And I like his rucksack style.

But for me, I haven't seen anything great from him tbh.
 

wiggo24

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2013
5,091
36,808
Personally, although I agree we haven't seen anything great from him yet, I think he's still acclimatising.

I watched the Confed Cup in the summer and he blew me away is a fast moving Brazil team, so we know he's got talent.

He'll come good
 

HoltbiusMac

ScroobiusMac
Jun 25, 2013
817
2,222
He's come in to a new league, significantly harder and different from that he was playing in, has played in almost every game without a settled midfield or even attack around him. Yet he's scored or assisted a third of our goals in the league. And some of you are calling him a flop already? Jesus.
 

JUSTINSIGNAL

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2008
15,980
48,500
I think he useful just for the fact he offers such a significant goal threat - something none of our other deep lying mids can boast. He is not the most talented on the ball but certainly not as bad as is being made out. He definitely should have had more goals by now but these chances have only occurred from the excellent positions he has taken up. I'm sure the more he adapts to the league and the team overall starts gelling his goal contributions will help us gain a lot of points.
 

mark87

Well-Known Member
Nov 29, 2004
36,032
114,070
He's played alot of games so far this season and I think that's showing because we seems to fade away after an hour or so. AVB should have given him a 2 week rest at the end of November and bring him back fresh in time for the December/January hectic schedule.
 

Monkey boy

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2011
6,381
17,040
He's come in to a new league, significantly harder and different from that he was playing in, has played in almost every game without a settled midfield or even attack around him. Yet he's scored or assisted a third of our goals in the league. And some of you are calling him a flop already? Jesus.

No not Jesus, Jenas..... Get it right
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,105
47,061
I think he's an excellent player, and I just hope his versatility doesn't count against him.

In recent games he's been played a bit further forward (or at least has been getting further forward) and he looks very good in that position. He's missed a couple of good chances yes (although not as many as some people are making out) but the fact that he's getting into the positions and has been getting quite a few goals is very important.

I suppose the issue is that if we play him as the furthest forward of a midfield 3, that means we're likely to be playing two more defensive players behind him which is arguably not attacking enough in certain situations.

I think that it will be horses for courses though. In certain games I'd like to see three creative players behind the striker, meaning that Paulinho has to compete for one of the two defensive midfield roles (where he hasn't been at his best so far), but in others I'd like to see us with three solid central midfielders meaning that Paulinho can get forward a bit more.

All in all he's a great asset for the squad and I don't understand how anyone can have written him off already. Of our big signings, he's been the best so far.
 
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