Why Tottenham must build around Joao Palhinha — Not replace him

Debate around Joao Palhinha has intensified in recent weeks, but the Tottenham priority with Joao Palhinha remains far more straightforward than many are making it. His critics, including Jamie Carragher after Spurs’ limp defeat to Chelsea in November, have focused heavily on what the midfielder cannot do. But Tottenham did not sign the 30-year-old for progressive passing, Hollywood balls between the lines, or technical orchestration. They signed him on loan because he does something almost nobody else in Europe does at such a high level: dominate midfields physically.

Carragher had questioned whether Palhinha was good enough to start for Thomas Frank’s Tottenham, arguing his on-ball confidence and incisive passing were lacking. Palhinha’s response was as sharp as his tackling.

“Some people need to speak about another to be on the screens. It’s embarrassing sometimes. He should have seen more games. I think I’m doing a top season.” — Joao Palhinha

It was classic Palhinha — aggressive, unapologetic, and rooted in self-belief. But beneath the back-and-forth, the real issue is simpler: Spurs never bought a conductor. They bought a disruptor.

This season Palhinha has made 61 Premier League tackles, at least ten more than any player in the division. Only Elliot Anderson and Neco Williams have won more duels. These are not the numbers of a deep-lying playmaker — they are the numbers of one of Europe’s most destructive ball-winners.

In August, he dominated Manchester City’s midfield, producing a performance that immediately justified Tottenham’s decision to bring him in from Bayern Munich on loan with a £27m option to buy. For the first two months, he was widely viewed as the club’s best signing of the summer.

His dip in public perception has coincided not with a decline in his core strengths, but with criticism of Frank’s approach. Safe passing, caution in possession, and a lack of verticality have become fan frustrations — and Palhinha, by association, has been pulled into that narrative.

Some concerns are legitimate. His partnership with Rodrigo Bentancur has been overly stodgy in home games where Spurs expect to dominate the ball. The pair simply do not progress play quickly enough as a duo — not because they are poor players, but because their skill sets overlap too much.

Bentancur wants to recycle and stabilise. Palhinha wants to destroy. Neither naturally wants to break lines with early passes or carry through pressure.

That is why Frank has turned to Archie Gray, who has started the last two matches. Gray carries the ball, plays into Xavi Simons between the lines, and speeds up Tottenham’s transitions. With him alongside, Palhinha is liberated to do what he does best: cover ground, win duels, and screen the defence.

The question is not whether Spurs should worry about Palhinha’s limitations — it’s whether they build around his strengths. For £27m, Tottenham will not find a midfielder who wins duels at his rate and offers elite progression. Those players cost triple that fee and are practically unobtainable.

Spurs’ priority is pairing Palhinha with the right midfield profile, not turning him into something he isn’t.

Having covered this Tottenham side closely, the idea that Palhinha should be criticised for not being a progressive passer misses the obvious: he is elite at what the team otherwise lacks. Few midfielders in Europe combine his physicality, reading of danger, and defensive timing. In our view, he isn’t the problem — he’s the anchor around which Spurs must build the solution.

A counterpoint is valuable here: yes, there will be matches where Tottenham don’t need a destroyer and should instead lean on more technical options. But that’s a question of flexibility, not Palhinha’s suitability.

In our view, Spurs must avoid the trap of judging Palhinha by standards he was never meant to meet. Although some pundits are pushing the narrative that Tottenham need someone more adventurous, the truth is more balanced. They already have that player in Archie Gray. They already have creators in Simons and Maddison (Injured). What they lack is a defensive presence when Palhinha is not on the pitch.

From my experience covering Premier League midfielders, squads that undervalue destroyers tend to collapse under pressure late in the season. Tottenham have the opposite issue — an elite destroyer who simply needs the right partner.

There will be matches — especially away at top-six grounds — where Palhinha’s presence becomes non-negotiable. But at home against low blocks, Frank may choose more adventurous options and use Palhinha to close out leads. Flexibility will matter.

Tottenham travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the Premier League, where Palhinha is expected to start again. All eyes will be on who partners him — a decision that may shape Spurs’ midfield identity for the rest of the season.

👉 Spurs fans — is Palhinha the problem, or is he being judged by the wrong standards?