Paulinho to start against Sunderland

Tottenham host Sunderland in the Premier League this afternoon with the side looking to build on the 4-2 comeback victory over Burnley in the FA Cup.

The side found themselves 2-0 down in the early exchanges against Sean Dyche’s men, but battled well to get back into the game and progress to the next round of the competition.

One of the key factors in Spurs turning the game around was Paulinho’s influence, with the Brazil international putting in one of his more-assured performances since signing from Corinthians last summer.

The South American midfielder scored the first of his side’s four goals before contributing to the next two and as such will be pushing for inclusion in the starting XI against Gus Poyet’s men today.

With Ryan Mason unlikely to be included due to injury and Nabil Bentaleb away with Algeria at the African Cup of Nations, Mauricio Pochettino has decisions to make in the centre of the park.

Mousa Dembele was unconvincing against Crystal Palace last weekend and as such the French pairing of Benjamin Stambouli and Etienne Capoue could well be in line to start the fixture.

Paulinho played in a more advanced role against Burnley, taking Christian Eriksen’s position in the number ten position, but there is certainly an argument to suggest that he could start from the centre of the park against Sunderland.

Stambouli and Capoue certainly offer more aggression and fighting qualities in the boiler room than the Brazilian, but for Spurs to take the initiative to the visitors today and commit men forward when in possession, Paulinho would be the more bold option alongside one of the French battlers.

There is no doubt that Paulinho has not been convincing since moving to White Hart Lane and done nowhere near enough to justify the hefty transfer fee the club shelled out to bring him to England.

This season he has not started a Premier League fixture and only had 135 minutes of collective action in seven substitute appearances.

However, in midweek the former Corinthians man looked like the player that Spurs fans expected to see week-in, week-out and as such he deserves a chance to show that he is good enough to step out for the side.

Rumblings in the media are suggesting that Juventus are interested in making a move for the Brazilian this January, with most of the White Hart Lane contingent urging the club to cut their losses on Paulinho.

Whether his performance against Burnley was in an effort to get back into the side on a more regular basis or to impress potential suitors who could look to sign him this month is not important; playing a seemingly newly-motivated player from the start against Sunderland could give a bit of drive and forward thinking from the centre of the pitch that has been missing in Mason’s absence.

Given Dembele’s poor performance at Selhurst Park, Paulinho will surely feel aggrieved if the Belgian is reinstated, while an opportunity to start his first Premier League game of the season today could well be the last chance for the Brazilian.

 

Its an interesting one. I'd be tempted to start him and if he does badly, take him off just after half time. Hes had long enough now, either he puts the performances in or he goes

 

Paulinho will not let anyone down.In fact none in the squad. I think it closebetween Chiriches and Walker. Prefer Davies to Danny for this one. Danny could come off the bench but thet are pushing each other which is brilliant. Soldado and Townsend could share this game, whatever Mauricio can lead us and I have full faith.

 

Absolutely tragic that we are actually discussing letting this guy anywhere close to the starting X1.
The guy is like the 'Invisible Man' when out on the pitch - Fulham will testify to that when last season they totally forgot he was on the pitch. He got sent off against Liverpool last season and then tried the same kung-fu kick against Chelsea the other week after being on the pitch only a few minutes - that was the only time he was visible.

 

Paulinho is the worst midfielder to ever put on a Spurs shirt. In most games he does absolutely nothing. He may now be trying harder, in order to get a lucrative deal at another club.

He is not good at doing anything. He cannot dribble, pass the ball forwards, create anything. His tackling is poor and most of his shots are way off target. He is not even capable of taking a corner.

Why some Spurs fans are still giving this guy a chance is beyond belief and delusional.

 

He's garbage. A half decent performance against Burnley reserves changes nowt

 

Any bets that Defoe scores on debut ?????