He just doesn't work hard enough. The BBC commentary used the phrase 'Paulinho caught dawdling ' yesterday and I thought it very apt. He ambles through games and whilst he's a goal threat, neglects too many other responsibilities for it to be worth it. Offers very little in the middle of the park which is ironic for a midfielder. We can't afford to carry a player for an 8-10 goals a season return.
Paulinho
- Thread starter chrissivad
- Start date
I agree that he was absolute quality in the first half of that game, but that was the only good performance I can remember from him. One half of a home game against Stoke. Bearing in mind the other much more consistent midfield options we have, Paulinho doesn't make the first 11, and would struggle to make the subs bench imo.
Sweech
Ruh Roh Ressegnon
- Jun 27, 2013
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He wasn't caught dawdling though. Veronghen played him a poor pass and he had absolutely no time to do anything with it. It wasn't as if he was dawdling about ala Kaboul against West Ham and someone caught him from behind for a break.
Fair point but I was referring to the phrase being apt more than anything. He does dawdle when he tracks back and I can remember seeing him jogging back into position like it's a Sunday stroll on numerous occasions when we conceded last season. Our demolition against Liverpool a prime example.
Strikeb4ck
Well-Known Member
- Aug 8, 2010
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Yep. That goal was entirely Vertonghens fault. Gave it away twice.
Vertonghen to be kind looked very rusty.
I don`t think Paulinho should be played in a midfield 2 he should be played in a 3 so he is free to make forward runs....... or he played behind the strikers... I don`t think he offers much from a deeper position as he can`t tackle, he doesn`t keep the ball and he is not a great passer... But I think further forward he can be a threat..
He's looked that way since after the game at Anfield in march 2013.
Spurs Lodge Kittens
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- Aug 31, 2012
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he dawdled on the ball in the first 30 seconds and lost possession - and it only got worse from there. he could have done a lot better under pressure for their goal too.
if someone came in with a £12m bid I'd take it and accept the £5m hit tbf
if someone came in with a £12m bid I'd take it and accept the £5m hit tbf
archiewasking
Waiting for silverware..........
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I'm not a fan. Have struggled to see what he really can consistently offer every time I've watched him. For both us and Brazil in the WC.
DaSpurs
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See herein lies the problem for me. It is because of his deep position he manages to do the crucial thing he does well, those runs into the box as you mention. When starting from a deep position, he doesn't have a marker and so is less likely not be followed into the box, and thereby find the space he is so good at exploiting. If he plays an advanced role, he would have a designated marker from the opposition's holding players, and then wouldn't be able to find space as often as he does.
And I agree with what you say, he struggles to influence the game as a deeper lying midfielder should. He's not a great tackler, he's poor in the air (25% aerial duel success rate), and does not drive the ball forward with his passing or a dribbling ability.
Someone on this board once described him as "the deepest lying striker in the world." I think that description is brilliantly spot on. He scores goals as a result of his position, but as a midfielder he just doesn't do the things a Prem midfielder is required to do to make his team successful from his position.
So to me, either he sacks up and adjusts his game, or I hope we move on and especially given his worth. But moving him forward on the pitch is not the way to do it, as it would eliminate the only standout advantage he does provide.
I guess I mean free him from the level of defensive responsibility when he plays in a 2... I think he could be useful when we play against a Man City or Liverpool who are very strong in attack... I could see something like a 4231 where in front of say Capue and Sando one of the 3 could be Paulinho to give a bit more protection from further up the pitch but he can also join in attacks... Either side of him I would then play the more attacking players.. like Lamela and Lennon that way we could be extremely solid and still retain a goal threat.
So a front 6 something like this against the top sides would give us a chance
Sando Capoue
Paulinho
Lamela Lennon
Adebayor
DaSpurs
Well-Known Member
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Yeah I get the idea, and I don't think it's a poor one given that goal contribution, but even in that free role he would be more advanced than he is regularly and thus is more likely to be marked upon his ventures into the final third. And if he's too reserved to avoid this marking, you've cut off a source of quick supply to the forward attacking players (no CAM). If he is to be the CAM, he is not creative enough to supply the attack and is certainly not worth removing Eriksen for regardless of the opposition. This formation could work in a counter-attacking format, but then again as we both agree Paulinho is not a driving forward type and with the other two midfielders being primarily holding mids, it also isn't in their game.
So IMO, he can only work in the position he's played, and we can only hope for him to adapt in it rather than moving him around.
THFCSPURS19
The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
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Barry Mead
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If Paulinho was in a midfield three of say Sandro, Lika and himself he'd really shine but his best strengths are making the runs off the ball to give the player with the ball a constant passing option. Far too often Luka suffered for lack of a player making an intelligent run for him and instead of playing a defence opening pass he was forced to play a safe one for lack of options
Sadly we have no Luka anymore nor any player with real playmaking quality and the likelihood of playing a 2 man central midfield. Taking that into account and our midfield number we could find ourselves better off selling him and buying a quality player better suited to how we presumably will be playing
Sadly we have no Luka anymore nor any player with real playmaking quality and the likelihood of playing a 2 man central midfield. Taking that into account and our midfield number we could find ourselves better off selling him and buying a quality player better suited to how we presumably will be playing
HobokenSpur
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- Dec 7, 2006
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I would also switch Ade for Bobby if Lamela's on the Left. and yes Ericksen. and talking about ROI for 8-10 goals for Paulinho, what is the bar for Lennon. I loved him 3 years ago. Now? Not so much...
St José Dominguez
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- Jul 15, 2014
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Capoue
Paulinho Eriksen
Lamela Soldado Chadli
Still utterly convinced that this would work in numerous games. At home I'd still be very surprised if against the bottom half teams we have two players sitting. We aren't Soton and teams will sit back.
Away from home different story and I see as things stand Bentaleb or Dembele in CM with maybe Adebayor and a pacier choice than Chadli.
I want options and variances in how we line up. Pochettino at Soton consistently changed types, sometimes Wanyama, sometimes Cork, or Ward Prowse. Saw games with Osveldo playing out wide.
Personally I've seen Paulinho more than most at a level we've yet to see at Spurs. He needs to get certain aspects of his game back to those levels. But the thing is he is not the only one who will need to improve aspects and where there is question marks. Imo if you are to play Eriksen and Lamela you have to have runners beyond the striker. At home to have two players sitting and then these two interchanging in number 10 role if you don't have a Paulinho running beyond striker the centre is going to become so cluttered. I think Capoue has it in his game to control the middle, he is such a good passer of the ball. Use Eriksen and Lamela to link with, Chadli or Townsend using space and Ade/Soldado and Paulinho getting in box imo it makes sense.
Paulinho Eriksen
Lamela Soldado Chadli
Still utterly convinced that this would work in numerous games. At home I'd still be very surprised if against the bottom half teams we have two players sitting. We aren't Soton and teams will sit back.
Away from home different story and I see as things stand Bentaleb or Dembele in CM with maybe Adebayor and a pacier choice than Chadli.
I want options and variances in how we line up. Pochettino at Soton consistently changed types, sometimes Wanyama, sometimes Cork, or Ward Prowse. Saw games with Osveldo playing out wide.
Personally I've seen Paulinho more than most at a level we've yet to see at Spurs. He needs to get certain aspects of his game back to those levels. But the thing is he is not the only one who will need to improve aspects and where there is question marks. Imo if you are to play Eriksen and Lamela you have to have runners beyond the striker. At home to have two players sitting and then these two interchanging in number 10 role if you don't have a Paulinho running beyond striker the centre is going to become so cluttered. I think Capoue has it in his game to control the middle, he is such a good passer of the ball. Use Eriksen and Lamela to link with, Chadli or Townsend using space and Ade/Soldado and Paulinho getting in box imo it makes sense.
So you think Eriksen must play in every game??? no matter the tactics and the opposition? I think I can safely say much better players than Eriksen have been left out of teams for tactical reasons...
