Sandro

[RJ1882]

What does his signing mean for Palacios in the long-term? He has been pretty average for the last 12 months, and I am not sure he is the type of player we will need much anymore.
Playing at home we will play a fast paced, attacking style of football which Palacios cannot really contribute to too often. Against the smaller teams like stoke for instance, whow ill aim to hit the forward line as soon as possible, by-passing the midfield, Palacios' role will again be limited. He could be vitial in games against the like of Arsenal and Man U, teams who try to play football, pass it about - he can hunt the ball down. But with Huddlestone, Modric, VDV, Lennon, Bale likely to start most games for us, there doesnt seem to be anywhere in the side for Palacios to slot in, especially if we think Sandro will feature regularly too.

I was a massive fan of Palacios when he arrived, he wa fantastic in our fight against relegation, but I worry about him now. In most games we play, the role he was bought to play for us is no longer required, and he might see less and less game time if we have a successful season.

 

[mil1lion]

It wont affect 1 player in particular. We need a very strong squad and he will add to that. I'm sure Palacios will return to form soon. He hasn't actually been as bad as people make out. He's been ok mostly, it's just he's making some mistakes that are big ones.

He's also coming off a World Cup following last season where he went away several times for Honduras. So he hasn't had much rest. He just needs to get back up to speed.

It's really the likes of O'Hara and Jenas who could be sold in the near future. Not just with Sandro in now, but also Parrett(who I think will be better than O'Hara), Bostock and Rose coming through.

This Sandro sounds like some prospect though. I'm looking forward to seeing him alongside the likes of Huddlestone and Modric. I also think we lose some of our shape without Huddlestone in midfield, so he could be the solution if we need to rest Huddlestone or he gets injured.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Could he replace Palacios as someone who can get stuck in when we are up against it? Just thinking about how much steel we would have if him and Hudd played together.

He is a bit different to Palacios. He won't press as much and he will really anchor the midfield rather than chasing and harrying the ball. Much of his good positioning and reading of the game is down to him playing with the game in front of him. He is a very good tackler though and his main focus will be to control that area of the pitch in front of the defence.

Sandro, on the face of things, appears to be more of a player who gets the ball back due to his superior positional sense rather than just by getting stuck in. Though he's 6'2 and fairly massively built - so he could be a colossus for us! This is the summer signing I'm most excited about for the long term. He could be a superb foil for Huddlestone (but of course after about 3 games everyone will be convinced they can't play together and that'll be that... I hope not though!)

It might take a while for that pairing to adapt but in theory it should allow Hudd to push forward a little more and get his passing going higher up the pitch. Also when Sandro has one of his breaks forward, Hudd should be able to slot into the position so it should work well. Would be the biggest midfield pairing of all time.

What does his signing mean for Palacios in the long-term? He has been pretty average for the last 12 months, and I am not sure he is the type of player we will need much anymore.
Playing at home we will play a fast paced, attacking style of football which Palacios cannot really contribute to too often. Against the smaller teams like stoke for instance, whow ill aim to hit the forward line as soon as possible, by-passing the midfield, Palacios' role will again be limited. He could be vitial in games against the like of Arsenal and Man U, teams who try to play football, pass it about - he can hunt the ball down. But with Huddlestone, Modric, VDV, Lennon, Bale likely to start most games for us, there doesnt seem to be anywhere in the side for Palacios to slot in, especially if we think Sandro will feature regularly too.

I was a massive fan of Palacios when he arrived, he wa fantastic in our fight against relegation, but I worry about him now. In most games we play, the role he was bought to play for us is no longer required, and he might see less and less game time if we have a successful season.

Palacios will get plenty of games and will still be a vital piece of our squad I am sure. He just seems to be trying too hard when he has the ball rather than keeping it simple. I'm sure he will get back to his best.

 

[Dundalk_Spur]

His signing along with VDV may mean a change of formation with Hudd and Sandro achoring the midfield, Lennon, VDV and Modric supporting a front man.

How sexy does that sound???

 

[Vedi]

His signing along with VDV may mean a change of formation with Hudd and Sandro achoring the midfield, Lennon, VDV and Modric supporting a front man.

How sexy does that sound???

Im afraid not too sexy with what we have as front man options... our attacking midfield is maybe one of the best in europe now, but without that top striker a lot of our chances will go wasted. I hope im proven wrong and one of our strikers has his season of a lifetime :beer:

 

[Darbinho]

Im afraid not too sexy with what we have as front man options... our attacking midfield is maybe one of the best in europe now, but without that top striker a lot of our chances will go wasted. I hope im proven wrong and one of our strikers has his season of a lifetime :beer:

When he gets a chance this will be Pavs season.

 

[brendanb50]

I've got high hopes for Sandro. Redknapp seems to like the look of him as per his interviews when we were first sorting the deal. May take some time to settle but hopefully he'll have some key involvement for us this year.

I noticed on the bluemoon thread a few simple mancs were asking 'how good can a brazilian DM be?' in my opinion, the fact that Dunga seemed to be looking at him and including him in the Brazil squad says a lot to me. Dunga being a top DM/CM in his day knows the sort of discipline, control and temprement needed to fulfil that role.

 

[Dundalk_Spur]

Ah Vedi don't rain on my parade.

 

[mil1lion]

Im afraid not too sexy with what we have as front man options... our attacking midfield is maybe one of the best in europe now, but without that top striker a lot of our chances will go wasted. I hope im proven wrong and one of our strikers has his season of a lifetime :beer:

They have 4-5 months to do so. If worst comes to worst, we keep in touching distance of the top 3 for the first half of the season and sign a great striker in January.

It could give a boost similar to how Bale emerged in the 2nd half of last season.

 

[Bobishism]

Im afraid not too sexy with what we have as front man options... our attacking midfield is maybe one of the best in europe now, but without that top striker a lot of our chances will go wasted. I hope im proven wrong and one of our strikers has his season of a lifetime :beer:

If you create enough chances, someone will score one. I'd always take a top midfield over top forward options.

 

[Raxscallion]

When he gets a chance this will be Pavs season.

Yeah, he just needs to stop playing in wellies and he'll be world class.

 

[tooey]

When he gets a chance this will be Pavs season.

He's had plenty of chances....................It will never be pavs season.

 

[Arazi440]

:rofl:

Yeah, he just needs to stop playing in wellies and he'll be world class.

 

[StartingPrice]

I absolutely agree and have been saying it for a while now. For £6m it is a great signing and I genuinely believe he is going to be the captain of Brasil.
I think he is the kind of player that would enjoy the challenge of things being stacked up against him to be honest. Earlier in the season the press started to get a little negative towards him and he seemed to take it well and hit back on the pitch. He is a guy who doesn't seem intimidated by more senior players and actually looks like he learns from games.

I think you misunderstood me, a bt, Good Buddy:
What I was alluding to was off the pitch 'attention', the Superstar effect. Nothing to do with his performances on the pitch - just that VDV (and his missus) are 'sexy', and Gallas is 'controversial'. Just strikes me as the type of fella who wnats to be left alone when not playing.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I think you misunderstood me, a bt, Good Buddy:
What I was alluding to was off the pitch 'attention', the Superstar effect. Nothing to do with his performances on the pitch - just that VDV (and his missus) are 'sexy', and Gallas is 'controversial'. Just strikes me as the type of fella who wnats to be left alone when not playing.

Then I agree. :wink:

 

[StartingPrice]

Then I agree. :wink:

Then all is well on the good ship SC:grin:

 

[mil1lion]

I disagree with both of you. I think he's a spice boy who will spend his hours partying with Giovani.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I disagree with both of you. I think he's a spice boy who will spend his hours partying with Giovani.

No, I don't see that. Just because he wears his cap backwards and some bling and listens to R'n'B doesn't make him a spice boy. He comes across as very well grounded.

 

[stevenqoz]

It will be Wilson he is competition with not Tom. We play a 'holding/tackling central midfielder' with a 'neutral central midfielder' unless Modric plays in which case Tom and Modric play square of each other both being neutral. VDV sure complicates things. I feel that Wilson and to a lesser extent Lennon will come under pressure to hold their places with the new arrivals.

 

[StartingPrice]

I disagree with both of you. I think he's a spice boy who will spend his hours partying with Giovani.

:rofl:

'Ol Gibbsy, is that you?