Opinion – PVC: Playing in more than one position surprises and changes the game

The entry of Gabriel Menino as a point guard, replacing Raphael Veiga, symbolizes the tactical work of Abel Ferreira.

The Portuguese coach likes versatility.

Menino could come in as a defensive midfielder and advance Zé Rafael, or occupy the right wing and pull Scarpa into the frame. Abel prefers to have more players with the ability to play in multiple roles.

Menino replaced Raphael Veiga and played in his role. He scored the winning goal.

Versatility is not exclusive to Palmeiras and it doesn’t always work out. Rogério Ceni lost Wellington, tired, there was no Reinaldo, injured, asked Marcos Guilherme to play as a winger and the improvisation gave way to Pedro Junqueira to cross for the equalizer of Goiás, by Pedro Raul, at 46 of the second half.

Knowing how to occupy more than one position is important since Telê Santana played as a winger, sometimes as a center forward or right midfielder. Even if, from time to time, it seems out of fashion in Brazil. “Does he want to play only on the extreme left? I’m also coaching Liverpool.” Do you remember Vítor Pereira’s answer about Roger Guedes?

The Palmeiras of versatility is also the loss of points at home. Assistant João Martins said, after winning São Paulo, at Morumbi, that Abel Ferreira asked the players what it takes to win the Brazilian: “Win at home”, he heard. Of the 18 points lost by the champion of the first round, ten were at Allianz Parque.

It’s different from the original plan.

But the distance at the end of the first round is comfortable. Not as much as that of Corinthians 2017, the greatest of all time, at the end of the first half of the championship. That team of Fábio Carille did two unprecedented things: eight points difference to the runner-up of the shift. It is the team that most played together in Corinthians history, tied with that of Corinthian Democracy: 13 times.

It was unlikely that Cassio, Fagner, Balbuena, Pablo and Arana; Gabriel and Maycon; Jadson, Rodriguinho and Romero; Jô had so much ease in that first turn. As surprising as they played the same number of matches together as Solito, Alfinete, Mauro, Daniel González and Wladimir; Paulinho, Socrates and Zenon; Ataliba, Casagrande and Biro-Biro.

Those eight points of advantage gave breath to a bad second half, won by Chapecoense. The memory gives even more value to this Palmeiras campaign, which analyzes round by round the remaining breath of a team prepared to reach its physical peak in February, because of the World Cup. Even so, it supports the high level required by the exhausting Brazilian season.

At Allianz Parque, Mano Menezes substituted better than Abel Ferreira. Colorado exchanged Wanderson for Alemão, Weverton’s tormentor in the second half.

Abel put Menino as a midfielder and his presence in the area was worth the winning goal. On the other hand, taking out Raphael Veiga and Dudu, the best on the field, was a risk in a classic that already announced itself to be very tough.

Of course Abel calculates the physical part. He missed Ron by a month because he waited five minutes too long to get him out of the Stronghold game. And, with all the difficulties, Palmeiras won a game that could be decisive at the end of the campaign.

Roger’s pain

São Paulo suffered 41 shots, 19 on target and conceded eight goals in the last three games of the Brasileirão. Rogério regrets the record of draws (11) and the easy goals conceded. Of course, this has to do with embezzlement and improvisation. But it has to improve quickly.

Brazilian ascent

Raphinha was the star of Barcelona’s victory over Real Madrid and raises the level of holders in Europe for Brazil’s protagonists in the Cup. It’s not just Neymar at PSG. There’s Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid, Raphinha at Barcelona, ​​Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal.