Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur’s partnership has been a hot topic for discussion at Tottenham Hotspur and Joe Hart has just made a very interesting point about the pair.
Tottenham Hotspur’s mixed start to life under Thomas Frank has seen the team draw a fair amount of criticism and the midfield pairing are two players who have been questioned.
Many supporters have questioned whether Spurs’ lack of creative spark has been down to playing two rather defensive-minded midfielders in a double pivot.
Now, Hart has been discussing the pair in the middle of the park for the Lilywhites and his assessment makes for rather fascinating reading.
Peter Crouch and Joe Hart hail Tottenham signing Joao Palhinha
Peter Crouch and Joe Hart were both full of praise for the arrival of Joao Palhinha at Tottenham and believe he is exactly the player they needed.
TBR Football understands that Tottenham have been so impressed by Palhinha and are already keen to make his move permanent in January.
Hart told TNT Sports: “Top signing, he’s really got that steel and is the kind of player who’s going to thrive under Thomas Frank.
“Big clutch moments for him, battle in the middle of the park in the Premier League and Champions League is always going to be important.”
“I love him as a player, I genuinely do. I just absolutely love his aggression; he’s found himself going forward now and getting higher up in the top end of the pitch,” added Crouch.
“But this is what he’s good at, just breaking up play, he can play, he’s got a good brain. But the aggression in the midfield, I think that’s what’s been lacking in the midfield for a number of years, really, and this is what he brings.”
Joe Hart assesses Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur’s partnership
Hart does not agree with the notion that Palhinha and Bentancur playing together ruins Tottenham’s creativity in the middle of the park.
The former Spurs goalkeeper is backing the pair to build up their relationship over time and believes they can help the team in a very physical league.
Asked about whether the pairing hinders Spurs’ creativity, Hart claimed: “It doesn’t hinder, they’ve just got to learn to play together, it’s early on in the season. Two top players, and they’re going to try and bounce off each other.
“But him (Palhinha) getting forward, he’ll be one of the two, but you need that strength in midfield, it’s such a physical league with so much going on, relationships need to develop, and he’s got a real opportunity to make himself a big name at Spurs.”