Why Joao Palhinha could be a fitting replacement for Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a] captain had, apparently, made it clear that he saw his future elsewhere, prompting a severe and sustained backlash from supporters who've idolised him over the past few seasons.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruno-guimaraes/xtyKanzU/"]Guimaraes[/a] set to jump ship[/h2][p]One can't blame the Brazilian, though, after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a] moved on last summer, then [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] landed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] before the World Cup, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a], a team that only just survived relegation on the final day of the 2025/26 season, signed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tonali-sandro/fmQVO5TQ/"]Sandro Tonali[/a].[/p][p]After a lowly 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season, guaranteeing the Magpies would have no European football in 2026/27, Guimaraes could be said to be well within his rights to desert what's fast becoming a sinking ship.[/p][embed guid="834a9ae2-9862-4f24-899e-45d39122e460" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2085114769938256219" social-type="twitter" /][p]There's little point in Newcastle stewing over the situation either, given that the new campaign begins shortly, and they urgently need reinforcements.[/p][p]One player who has been mentioned as a potential replacement for the Brazilian is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palhinha-joao/vFArGMai/"]Joao Palhinha[/a], who spent last season on loan at Spurs from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a], and scored the vital goal which guaranteed the North Londoners their English top-flight safety for another season.[/p][h2]How does Joao Palhinha compare to Bruno?[/h2][p]At 31 years of age, the Portuguese is three years Guimaraes' senior, but how do the two compare in terms of numbers?[/p][p]Taking last season as the sample size, the Brazilian took part in only 41 games due to injury, with Palhinha turning out on 45 occasions for the Lilywhites.[/p][image alt="Bruno Guimaraes radar graphic - Premier League 2025/26" id="eb06fc12-f1b9-4645-bf90-504d659e9f7b" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="590956e7-fd90-4ebf-a2b0-d8decf93569c" original-width="1508" original-height="1132" /][p]Given their respective positions on the field, the ability to win back the ball and distribute is paramount, and 432 one-on-ones contested by Guimaraes gave him top billing in this regard at Newcastle, even if his 49.54% success wasn't the best in the squad.[/p][p]192 ball recoveries were only exceeded by those players who had made more appearances than the captain in all competitions during 2025/26.[/p][image alt="Joao Palhinha radar graphic - Premier League 2025/26" id="58c517a2-8937-4e56-9beb-aa06012a83b7" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="973bd3b5-bb33-449f-af6c-48b861ca814b" original-width="1510" original-height="1130" /][p]For Palhinha, 406 one-on-ones contested was only just shy of Bruno's output, but his 60.84% success overshadows the Newcastle man by a distance. 122 ball recoveries are, however, a mammoth 70 fewer. [/p][p]Moving to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] will require Guimaraes to be on top of his game in terms of passing, and an 85.68% showing last season was one of the best in the Newcastle squad. Creating 62 chances across the campaign couldn't be beaten either.[/p][h2]Brazilian is more attack-minded than the Portuguese[/h2][p]The Portuguese has never really been known as a creator of goals, which might represent an issue, and his 11 created last season is way off his contemporaries' output.[/p][p]At least his pass completion of 83.62% - in a team battling relegation, let's not forget - is on par with Bruno's.[/p][image alt="Bruno Guimaraes attacking carries - Premier League 2025/26" id="7b63faf7-0039-49e0-8731-308199292cd0" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="4b554368-ea9e-4a99-aa3d-61846b38e3f6" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]51 of 76 tackles won by Guimaraes gave him a healthy 67.11% success, which is again favourable when compared to Palhinha's 57.55%.[/p][p]Although the attacking side of the game for both players isn't necessarily what they would be judged on, the Brazilian's 57 shots at goal were the fourth-most of any Newcastle player last season.[/p][image alt="Joao Palhinha's attacking carries" id="f6f26ccf-8d1f-4d16-ae05-5f4c7b7eeade" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="42808396-d682-4cba-bd37-36e31d06cfec" original-width="768" original-height="576" /][p]Nine goals scored were only bettered by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/woltemade-nick/4YDUd1at/"]Nick Woltemade[/a], Gordon and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barnes-harvey/Wjj9WTTi/"]Harvey Barnes[/a], and Bruno's seven assists were the most by anyone in the first team squad.[/p][p]By comparison, Palhinha took just 38 shots in total, scoring seven goals and also providing three assists.[/p][h2]Will to win and desire are something both players share[/h2][p]If there's one area of their game where they're both similar, it's their incredible will to win and desire to drag their teammates along with them.[/p][p]Sometimes, when things aren't going for you, you need that one player to stick their head above the parapet and produce the type of performance to galvanise the squad.[/p][embed guid="9031eb58-fe37-494f-ba54-1bcea04ec7b7" url="https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2058659474068377674" social-type="twitter" /][p]In the case of Guimaraes and Palhinha, no quarter is asked or given, and supporters can always be assured that they will give everything that they have for the cause.[/p][p]Particularly where Newcastle's Toon Army are concerned, they will readily accept the shortcomings of those who pull on the famous black and white striped jersey, as long as they see 100% effort and commitment in return.[/p][p]Palhinha might not be in Bruno's class, but if the Magpies do decide to bring him in as the Brazilian's replacement, the St. James' Park faithful are likely to be pleasantly surprised.[/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]