The Gelson / Gonçalo Paradox

For the fans of the beautiful game and sports writers alike, football boils down to one thing once the final whistle has blown - opinions. The result is consigned to the history books, how we got there is now the point in question. Usually those who shout loudest and to the widest audience control the narrative. Whilst many may genuinely agree at what's being said, many will equally not, but they don't feel confident enough to put themselves into the firing line.

There's nothing that says opinions need to contain any element of truth. Don't be mistaken into thinking that bringing facts to a battle will stand you in good stead. I've oft made that mistake in the past. Sometimes you're simply better off talking to the wall. Whatever you say will be counterattacked with nonsensical waffle. Boxing fans will often shout about how one fighter was robbed following a loss om points and yet they've not scored each of the 12 rounds, their opinion is formed by their expectations of what they think the result should have been, or it may be down to loyalty for the losing fighter, moreover it'll be down to one or two key talking points during a fight. Recency bias is the hardest of all to shake especially if one boxer started slow and then finished on top. Football fans are no better. Often the two are one and the same person so I guess it's hardly surprising. 

I recently read online one particular Sporting fans disappointment at how Paulinho has been overlooked for the Seleção during this round of internationals. I'm not Portuguese and I don't pay attention to international football as a general rule of thumb. Jingoism isn't something you'll find coming from me. I do however know enough to have been surprised at the sentiment shown. I looked at the list of forwards in the initial squad and maybe other than Ricardo Horta there wasn't one player who I thought Paulinho should be ahead of in the pecking order. Because I don't actually care I can also be honest and say he doesn't even rank above Horta but that's the crux, it's s just an opinion. My opinion is worth no more or more less than the next persons. Sure you'll find a 'next persons' who thinks different. To be fair there are instances where one persons does count more than others but this isn't open heart surgery and no one's lives are on the line. No one's relying on you to identify whether it's the left or right ventricle to save a patient's life with your medical training consisting of watching half a dozen episodes of Casualty because there was nothing else to watch on TV. I mean that's qualification enough for some to believe they could make the call but we're above such nonsense here aren't we.

For those still reading thank you, one does so love a waffle ridden opening diatribe. I don't actually expect to find an audience for this dribble, this really is just me clearing my mind and filling in time before I die. Anyways …

The above has been leading up to the point I'd like to make which is simply this - the current alleged clammer to sign Gonçalo Inácio - I don't get it. He doesn't pass my eye test and neither did Gelson Martin. Hence - The Gelson / Gonçalo Paradox. It's paradoxical because I know I'm in the minority but as we've ascertained football is a game of opinions and those are mine laid bare. Am I watching a different game to everyone else? Am I in a parallel universe? I refuse to think I can be the only one who doesn't rate either player. I mean in fairness with Inácio I know I can't be the only one because despite all the links to moves to clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle … he can't force his way into the starting XI for Portugal. Sure he started against Luxembourg, he even scored … twice … in a 9-0 rout. You wouldn't pin your life to that as a prime example of his abilities. As the late Avicii would say - Levels. His performance wasn't convincing enough for him to start against Slovakia in the next game. Even when Slovakia scored twice they didn't turn to him to come on off the bench and bring stability and assuredness to the back line. Since his first call up in August 2021 he's made a total of 3 appearances of the 28 games played in all competitions. Yet this is the defender that is expected to be able to step up to Premier League level? Surely if you're that good you start for your national side as well as your club side, especially if another club is expected to shell out €60m for your signature.

I mean sure at the time of writing his current pass completion rate of 89% this season for Sporting is impressive … as a stat in isolation. Put an * next to it though. That's the same 89% seen from Coates. 1% behind Diomande. How many of those passes made were between the trio or with Adán, without an opposition player within - let's say a minimum of ten yards distance to any of them? 20%? 40%? 50%? Someone will know. Once you water it down it doesn't taste the same. I could compare a multitude of stats but if you've made it this far I don't want to lose you now.

Coates looks like a man dragging around a caravan whenever he runs and yet you only need to watch the Atalanta game to see the difference he makes to the side. If I'm correct in saying the centre of the three is the conductor in the orchestra then you may surmise that the first 45 was spent with Inácio looking at the stick in his hand going "What is this thing again? Which end is which? And you say I need to point it, but where, at what, why?"

Half time Coates says "Gonçalo give me the baton."

"What's a baton?"

A natural leader of men he's not. I also suspect there's not much going on between his ears. That however I cannot substantiate so if it turns out he has an IQ 140 plus I'll… well I'll probably die of shock.

He looks like he's always got a mistake in his game. If you're an opposition player you'd start the game thinking I can ruffle his feathers and get under his skin, his temperament lacks maturity. A friend of mine once said to me "he's our Harry Maguire," and it wasn't meant as a compliment. That is to say he wasn't suggesting he is capable of become the world's most expensive defender at some point in his career As a betting man I'd wager good money that Geny has him on toast in training every day. That kid is like a marathon runners bollocks, he's the very definition of constantly fucking moving all over the place and I don't think Inácio gets close to him 7 times out of 10. Most likely 9 but who needs to be overly spiteful.

All being said he's young and time is on his side; He can grow, learn, mature. Look at Coates now, he's a leader of men, however the Premier League ate him for breakfast and spat him out and that's from a time when the league wasn't blessed with some of the same pace and trickery players have now. Also he probably didn't run looking like he was pulling a caravan as he does now.

If Sporting sell Inácio for his release clause it'll be akin to a legal crime. I'm of the opinion the Premier League is too big a step up for him. Certainly in January, certainly next summer. Facing the winger from Casa Pia or Estrela is one thing. Facing some of the world's elite is totally another. A player worth €60m he most certainly is not.

We've been here before. I never got the hype over Gelson Martin. Sure he was rapid over 30 yards but he could only run in a straight line. He couldn't cut inside to beat a man. He certainly couldn't cross a fucking ball. See I'm still angry and yet he was a fans favourite. You could feel the love pouring down from the stands every time he got possession of the ball. Whilst from me he just produced unprecedented levels of anger. He didn't pass my eye test. And where is he now? Can you tell me without checking? I mean I clearly had to check. I won't spoil it. I would guess that no one is sat thinking as a Sportinguista - if only we'd kept him, especially as I imagine the majority wouldn't be able to tell you who he now plays for if their lives depended on it.

So what are clubs paying for? Ultimately potential and not much more. There's no guarantee of fulfilment. There's no real guarantee of anything in this life. I might be wrong. For his career, I hope I'm wrong. I've nothing against him personally. Only time will tell if I'm right in thinking the gulf in class is too great for him. I thought when Adrien Silva came to the Premier League that he would be the same midfield maestro that he'd been for Sporting. I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried. Sure I can make excuses, point to how he was forced out of football for months because of a late signature on a form past the transfer deadline. That this would test any players mental resilience. Blah, blah, blah… End of it all went horribly wrong for the lad.

I also said Bruno Fernandes has one good half of a season and one bad and that Raphinha was the reason he looked as good as he did at points for Sporting and that his petulance would cause him issues wherever he went. He's now captain of Manchester United and has a goals to game ratio for them of just under 1 in 3. I mean he's captain of a piss poor United but he's still captain of one of the largest teams in world football.

It could also be paper talk. Or would that now be website chat? Hmmm. Basically wherever the rumours are coming from that everything we read should be taken with a punch of salt. But when Fabrizio Romano is putting it out into the stratosphere that he's on United's list I don't dismiss it as conjecture on his part. You would however be forgiven for thinking everything else above is however conjecture on my part. And you'd be entitled to think so as well. As I say time will tell.

Let this stand as a reference point. And if in five years you're googling what club is Gonçalo Inácio playing for don't say I didn't warn you years before in the here and now.