17 September 2007

Your Say: Is Pauleta being treated fairly?

PSG striker reduced to bit-part role

Pauleta

For the first time since he began his hugely successful spell in French football back in 2000, Pedro Pauleta saw his ability questioned last season at Paris Saint-Germain.

However, despite criticism that he was past it and slowed the team down, Portugal’s all time record goalscorer made the detractors eat their words as he finished Ligue 1’s top goalscorer.

During the summer, the veteran striker reaffirmed his desire to see out the final year of his deal at the Parc Des Princes and retire at PSG, but the new campaign has brought a bitter decline in his status at the club from the capital.

Pauleta has started just two of PSG’s eight league games so far this season, and has failed to even make it off the bench on three occasions, the most recent during Sunday’s match at Monaco.

The 34-year-old, who one year ago turned down a lucrative move to Lyon, has suggested that non-footballing reasons are behind his omission from the team, while it has been claimed that he shares a frosty relationship with manager Paul le Guen.

Nevertheless, Pauleta has pledged to remain at PSG and play a reduced role. But is the Azorean being treated fairly by a club to which he has given so much? Should he look to move on in January and make the best of what it left of his career, or stick it out at PSG?

Give your opinion using the form at the bottom of the page.

Your comments
  • VictoriaDosSantos, Bermuda...Azores
    03/07/2008 21:32
    Pedro Pauleta is the greatest striker EVER! There is no one better and never will be! As far as being a over all footballer, he is tops. PSG just used his ability to pull themselves out of the ****pool and then not even ask him to stay. Forget them! I wanna see Pauleta play for one of Portugal's top teams. He deserves the chance to make a comeback. He is not too old at all! Acoreanos are tough and strong and full of pride and passion, and Pauleta is one of the best Acoreanos there has ever been!! We love you and support you always!!!
    Your Acoreana fan in Bermuda :-x
  • Bruno, Portugal
    12/05/2008 20:28
    To all those with short and/or cloudy memories, Pauleta scored a hat trick against Poland in a world cup where Portugal left in shame. He scored against Holland in that qualifying, he even scored against Brazil (yes this is the smallest of all teams indeed!) on a private match. If you bother to look you will find other big names in this mix too. Honestly, the stats do not lie and the only reason why he is not loved by all portuguese is because he never played for any of the 3 big clubs. Pauleta is and was one of the all time greatest portuguese players of all time!
  • TCosta, Washington, DC, USA
    14/03/2008 20:17
    I just looked. Pauleta has only started 9 of the 28 league matches, and was subbed in in 9 more. Still he has the 2nd highest scoring, on the team, trailing by only 1 goal. Why has he been relegated to the bench? He should have made a move, a long time ago.
  • Ja Toauro, Doha, Qatar
    14/03/2008 11:36
    the bottom line is... pedro is and has always been too good for psg. he should have moved to a better club in the past. he has been their only true world class player. and his record speaks for himself.
  • Pedro, London
    03/11/2007 00:28
    100 goals in four and a little years. He may not be world class but you cant argue with that record in a good league like France.
  • Virgilio, Toronto
    29/10/2007 17:54
    Luis ..... are you kidding me?? he has missed more chances than he has converted. What did he do in the last Euro and World Cup? If not for Nuno Gomes we would not have qualified out of group stage of Euros. His goals have mostly come against the Azerbajans and Belarus' of the world.
  • Luis, Dublin, Ireland
    29/10/2007 17:10
    Virgilio, your mindless comment tells us more about you than about Pauleta. Everyone knows he's no Ronaldo, Adriano or Vieira, but he has managed incredible goalscoring achievments and is one player u can say made the very most of his ability. And a great and proud servant for his nation. See how Portugal has struggled for goals since he retired...
  • Virgilio, Toronto
    29/10/2007 12:53
    He stinks .... and will always stink.
  • MOID SID, KARACHI/PAKISTAN
    18/10/2007 17:51
    i think pauleta shud play at ateltico madrid or any epl side
  • Tony, Malta
    13/10/2007 16:14
    Pauleta for me is THE MOST PERFECT STRIKER THE PORTUGESE NATINAL TEAM EVER HAD...MANY GOALS, GREEAT SHOOTS...and i think he is old but he gives his 100% in the gamne so i think its unfair for him not playing @Paris :S
  • Orlandomac, Canada
    27/09/2007 12:47
    In all fairness JP we could have used him this time around.. since the National Team has had a hard time scoring against the minnows too.. He scored 3 against Poland in one shot and we could have used that a few times.. in qualification..
  • jp, toronto, canada
    27/09/2007 11:14
    Pauleta himself said in an interview that Eusebio is the greatest of all time. You must really read his player profile right here on this web site. I'm Portuguese/Brazilian but raised more Portuguese. I just believe in giving credit where credit is due no matter where a player comes from.
  • Orlandomac, Canada
    26/09/2007 12:41
    JP Sao Miguel I guess... I'm from the Azores too but that doesn't blind me to the fact he never scored a goal in a national game vs a good team.. when Malta was in town he was good for a treble.. as for the Greatest Scorer of all time that is still EUSEBIO who did it in far less games in an injury shortened career.. hes still considered with the Best of the Best of all time.. Pedro who?
  • jp, toronto, canada
    23/09/2007 00:20
    I've read both positive and negative things about the man. Most of the negative comes from those who are prejudice about the fact that he is from the Azores. But let me tell you he wears that red jersey with pride, sings the Portuguese national anthem with pride, and plays with pride. That's why he is Portugal's all time leading goal scorer. Sure he didn't score in every game.

    But when you build a reputation for scoring goals, you become a marked man by opposing team defences, as is what happened at euro 2004 and world cup 2006 to Pauleta. That doesn't make him any less great. I'm sure the 47 goals he scored for Portugal, the 53 for PSG, and the 65 for Bordeaux weren't mere flukes. Let's throw the prejudices aside and accept that he is Portugal's all time leading scorer
  • alcino, perth
    18/09/2007 06:20
    the man who scored no goals at euro 2004 should leave and play for braga or another team out side the big 3 dont think any of them need him or even want him
  • Chris, Fort Myers, USA
    17/09/2007 21:52
    Pauleta is one of the great goals scorers of all time but I believe he has lost a step. The French League is no place to try and energize a career on the downward slope. He should return to Portugal where he could play for several more years. If he can't sign with one of the top 3 clubs he should take on the challenge of Braga or Boavista.
  • Trevor, Washington, DC
    17/09/2007 19:27
    His skills are not being utilized, at PSG. I think he is not too old to still do some good elsewhere. Perhaps, he may not be as versatile as Figo, but I believe he can still do good things.
  • Ramos, toronto, canada
    17/09/2007 14:36
    I think Pauleta should expcept his role at PSG or ask for a transfer come january, he's getting up there in age and this shouldn't be unexpected.
  • Lawrence, Rhode Island, USA
    17/09/2007 14:17
    He definately should leave PSG, the man is getting older and should make his last hurrah either in the Portuguese league or even take a crack at the MLS. Also, with the nightmarish campaign Portugal is having in Euro 2008, Scolari should call him up, Postiga hasnt done nothing and Scolari isnt crazy about putting either Nani up front.
  • Orlandomac, Canada
    17/09/2007 14:10
    He made some bad decisions... so he has to accept the role he gets... He could have moved on... He is a great league scorer... but lived off his goals on Luxembourg & Lichenstein in the Inter Game... I don't ever remember him scoring a goal against any good team ever... in International play... truly over rated... I hope he goes to Sporting... w/Derlei it is exactly what a Benfica fan wants...
  • george, rhode island, U.S.A
    17/09/2007 13:55
    pauleta should leave psg. he should either go back to portuguese liga or come to USA play for mls league its a goog choice. he is getting old. right now is the right time to play for other team he wishes to play for. rui costa did but a bit late. figo didn't he should have but now hes to old.
  • Tiago, Switzerland
    17/09/2007 11:55
    He should move on, PSG is a bad place to be in France, always in turmoil and its amazing he did anything there at all.
  • Paulo, Amsterdam
    17/09/2007 11:36
    I am a fan of Sporting and I would like Pauleta to play for Sporting after January. I think he woud score more goals than Purovic or Yannick and can be good for Liedson.
  • Sol, Australia
    17/09/2007 11:26
    Leave & come play in portugal.


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