We asked for your views on whether midfielder Joao Palhinha’s loan from Bayern Munich should be made permanent and why.
Here are some of your comments:
Errol: Signing Joao Palhinha is an absolute no-brainer. Whenever he played we were a much better team than without him. He breaks up play very well, wins his tackles and also scored important goals for us.
Jonny: The Spurs fans are very divided on this matter. Many see Palhinha as one of our reasons for decline this season in possession and chance creation, and so replacing him should be a priority to raising our squad’s technical quality. I’m in the camp of believing that actually we need more experience in the squad and we looked better for having him in the team compared with our floor of young midfielders. Regardless of his passing limitations, having experienced midfielders is a platform for more stability. You’ve got to sort the foundations out after the season we had, and I think Palhinha can work towards that next season.
Richard: Over the years, Spurs rarely have a solid defensive midfielder that can genuinely tackle. Combine that with his commitment and enthusiasm, Palhinha is a player we need. He gives other creative players more freedom.
Colin: No-brainer! He has been our best player by some degree since arriving at Spurs. He proves to be the perfect midfielder, showing flair, aggression and an eye for a goalscoring opportunity. These qualities, over time, can only influence and improve his fellow team members. He must be encouraged to stay.
Ade: Definitely keep him. He was one of the few players visibly fighting to keep the club in the Premier League. We were short of that sort of desire last season and we need it if the club is serious about not repeating the same mistakes.
Patrick: Palhinha showed real passion and determination when it really mattered. His controlled aggression and excellent technique lifted the players and the crowd in vital matches. In my opinion, as a season ticket-holder, he should stay and have a prominent role next season.
Brian: I say bring him back for one more year, perhaps even on loan again if Bayern Munich will agree to it. I sense this is what both Tottenham and Palhinha prefer. He will be on his way back home to Portugal sooner rather than later, but he could be crucial while Roberto de Zerbi builds a more competitive squad, which might take some time.
Will: Palhinha embodies several positive traits, which have proven conspicuously absent from the Spurs changing room in recent years: spirit, resilience and strength of character. His values are also top notch and he appears to contribute to a strong and healthy family ethos – from which he is clearly also a product himself. Given everything he contributed to help keep us up, I’d say he’s worth double his option-to-buy clause.
Ellington: Spurs should sign Palhinha on a permanent deal – 100%. He’s exactly the kind of leader we need in the dressing room. De Zerbi has had a chance to assess who he wants to stay and those he wants to go. Palhinha is one who has to stay. COYS.
Craig: Spurs should make it permanent. He has experience and he proved his worth, especially towards the end of the season. Tottenham should add this to the youth they have in other areas of midfield.
