the squad:

Goalkeepers:
01 José Moreira (Portugal)
12 Quim (Portugal INT)
24 Bruno Costa (Portugal) - from Benfica B
31 Marcelo Moretto (Brazil)

Defenders:
02 Tiago Gomes (Portugal) - from Benfica B
03 Anderson (Brazil INT)
04 Luisão (Brazil INT)
05 Léo (Brazil INT)
13 Alcides (Brazil)
22 Nélson (Portugal)
27 José Fonte (Portugal) - return from loan at P.Ferreira
33 Ricardo Rocha (Portugal INT)

Midfielders:
06 Petit (Portugal INT)
07 Marco Ferreira (Portugal INT)
10 Rui Costa (Portugal INT) - from AC Milan
14 Manuel Fernandes (Portugal INT)
15 Paulo Jorge (Portugal) - from Boavista
16 Beto (Brazil)
17 Andrey Karyaka (Russia INT)
18 Manú (Portugal) - return from loan at Amadora
20 Simão (Portugal INT)
23 Gustavo Manduca (Brazil)
25 Nuno Assis (Portugal INT)
26 Giorgos Karagounis (Greece INT)
28 João Coimbra (Portugal) - from Benfica B
32 Bijou (Cape Verde) - from Benfica B
35 Diego (Brazil) - return from loan at Flamengo
36 Kostas Katsouranis (Greece INT) - from AEK Athens

Forwards:
09 Mantorras (Angola INT)
19 Marcel (Brazil)
21 Nuno Gomes (Portugal INT)
30 Fabrizio Miccoli (Italy INT)
34 Nicolas Canales (Chile INT) - from Benfica B

Coaching Staff:

Manager: Farnando Santos - from AEK Athens
Assistant Manager: Jorge Rosário
Assistant Manager: Fernando Chalana
Keepers Coach: Fernando Justino
Physio: Rodolfo Moura
Physio: Bruno Moura
Opponents Scout: Ricardo Santos

The Stadium:

Estádio da Luz - 65.647 seats

http://www.stadiumguide.com/luz11.jpg

The Kits:

http://www.slbenfica.pt/loja/images/SLB_Camisola06-07_120x100.gifhttp://www.slbenfica.pt/loja/images/SLB_A_JSY_100.jpg

we def need 2 get rid of some mildfileders...like BETO lol

Jesus, so much people in the midfield and we're still supposedly interested in Andrés Madrid and Barrientos (that is also a midfielder if i'm not wrong)...

(:/)

Barrientos is a CB, at least that's what some Argentinian of this board (Axolote?) told me when the player was linked with Porto some time ago.

he's supposed to be a good player, but makes a lot of fouls. he's still young though, so time can only make him better ;)

Marcel is a Brazil U23 International

I think Marcel was even Adriano's (the Inter Milan Adriano) substitute at the last Copa America

Miccoli can now be added to the squad list :rockman:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5779/fabrizio7lc.jpg

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9193/mimimiccolu9bl.jpg

This deserves the banana dance

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5559/bananadance9hl4hf8uc5ii.gif

We have easily the best squad of the past 10 years or so...

Even if we sell Simão and even if we don't get another striker.

I've just heard on Rádio Renascença that Manuel Fernandes is probably going to leave to Portsmouth, for a deal worth between 15 and 18 million euros. It's a shame if he does leave, but that's a fantastic deal! :)

F*ck no :(

Manuel Fernandes can't leave, he's our most important player in the midfield, and he will be worth much more in the future... I don't think that deal would be so fantastic considering we could get a bigger amount of money in a few years. I know we have to much players for the midfield, but Manuel Fernandes and Petit are the players that are indispensable in the midfield imo...

hi ruicosta!

nice job on this thread!

Manuel Fernandes should stay for another year.

I don't get why he wants to leave to Portsmouth.. Does he want to fight for not getting his team relegated (even if it is on the premier league) instead of participating in the title fight and champions league, this time with a stronger squad ?

Imo it's too early for him to leave, he's got a fantastic potential and can even be worth more. I highly doubt Portsmouth will be paying 18 million € anyway.

manuel fernandes to portsmouth!?

it's hard to believe! how can a player who knows how great benfica is want to go to a club like portsmouth?

mmmmh... i just don t want to believe it!
maybe we could send beto in disguise, and get the the €15 millions! :P

força slb!

I don't get why he wants to leave to Portsmouth.. Does he want to fight for not getting his team relegated (even if it is on the premier league) instead of participating in the title fight and champions league, this time with a stronger squad ?

Imo it's too early for him to leave, he's got a fantastic potential and can even be worth more. I highly doubt Portsmouth will be paying 18 million € anyway.

Exactly, don't know what's going on his mind... :S

Welcome to the forums darth vader (H), another Benfiquista in the SG comunity

you want to know why? that´s easy. money. porthsmouth has a superb rich owner like chelsea

yeah that's pretty much it.

and he's probably gonna be transfered to one of the big EPL clubs in 1 or 2 years anyway.

He's much better than players like Carrick for instance.

You're absolutely right when you say that for Manuel Fernandes it wouldn't be a great move. But for us, we have to be realistic, it's great! I know that he is one of our most important players and has a bright future ahead of him. He will be missed, but the truth is we have several quality choices for his position this year. Maybe they're not as good, but IF that REALLY is the ammount of money offered, it can't be refused, it's really a great deal, the market isn't as strong as it used to be some years ago, so I doubt we could ever sell him for more than 20 millions (25 maximum and that's stretching it a bit, I think), even two years from now if he's doing good at the CL and is a NT starter. We have to look at it from a financial perspective as well, as much as we've been economically healthier in the last few years, we still need all the money we can get and, once again, IF this is true, it's a very good ammount of money, not 8 or 10 millions (in which case I would obviously say: NO F'NING WAY!).

true

maybe they could toss in Pedro Mendes in the deal (H). He was quality as Interior Midfielder when Mourinho played the 442 diamond at Porto.

Manuel Fernandes to Portsmouth for 18M€ is an excellent deal. his position is the most filled in our squad. i know he's from our youth schools and he's a very promising player but it's a lot of money. this is the view of the club perspective. for Manuel Fernandes personally i doubt it's a great deal, but if he prefer a large wage it's his business. well he will play in the EPL though. the only good thing i can see for him.

and Miccoli again on loan! :lui:

what a great pass by il Maestro Rui that led to Karagounis goal :rockman: :rockman:

great job on getting Miccoli agian, i really hope manuel doesnt leave, then beto will probally stay :nape: :nape: :rolleyes: (6)

yeah benfica won 2-0...the 2 geeks scored lol i mean greeks...can anybody get the link 2 the goals

You're absolutely right when you say that for Manuel Fernandes it wouldn't be a great move. But for us, we have to be realistic, it's great! I know that he is one of our most important players and has a bright future ahead of him. He will be missed, but the truth is we have several quality choices for his position this year. Maybe they're not as good, but IF that REALLY is the ammount of money offered, it can't be refused, it's really a great deal, the market isn't as strong as it used to be some years ago, so I doubt we could ever sell him for more than 20 millions (25 maximum and that's stretching it a bit, I think), even two years from now if he's doing good at the CL and is a NT starter. We have to look at it from a financial perspective as well, as much as we've been economically healthier in the last few years, we still need all the money we can get and, once again, IF this is true, it's a very good ammount of money, not 8 or 10 millions (in which case I would obviously say: NO F'NING WAY!).

Still...

:(

BTW, do we own 100% of his "passe"?

No, only 50%. Apparently they offered 15 M €, so in case we'd accept that, we'd only receive 7,5 M €, which is clearly underpaying a player like M. Fernandes. But it seems LFV & Veiga aren't interested in letting him go now. According to "A Bola" if he does leave, it's not for that amount, and it's in January.

I'd definitely be happy with a Pedro Medes exchange, every Portsmouth game I saw later in the season he was always one of the best players on the pitch. The rest of the team is crap though

No, only 50%. Apparently they offered 15 M €, so in case we'd accept that, we'd only receive 7,5 M €, which is clearly underpaying a player like M. Fernandes. But it seems LFV & Veiga aren't interested in letting him go now. According to "A Bola" if he does leave, it's not for that amount, and it's in January.

There's another reason for him not to leave now...

YESSSSSSSSSS!!!

according too the press agence reuteurs, laurent robert signed for 2 years to levante, spain!!! :bob:

another great new after mimimimimiccoli!!! :bob:

may the force be with us!
força SLB!!!

infortunately, i think that simao OR manuel fernandes will leave.

and i don't know why, but i think that it's more probable that manuel fernandes leaves than simao...

:Bow: :Bow: Rui Costa

awesome pass and outstanding finish of Karagounis :rockman:

honestly i'm starting to like very much of our team this year in this new tactic (funny because it's the system i always use on FM :p). Katsouranis made a great game too.

I think our base line up will be this:

---------------- Moreira --------------------

Nélson ---- Luisão ------- Anderson ----- Léo

------------------Petit----------------------

------ Karagounis ----------- Katsouranis

---------------- Rui Costa ----------------

----------- Miccoli -------- Nuno Gomes

Your forgetting Manuel Fernandes in that line-up... He's still our :p and a great player.

EDIT

ARGENTINO DIZ SER REFORÇO ENCARNADO

Pablo Barrientos, médio argentino de 21 anos do San Lorenzo de Almagro, garantiu hoje à imprensa que já chegou a acordo para representar o Benfica, clube que não confirma o negócio.

Barrientos terá sido comprado por uma verba a rondar os 2,5 milhões de euros, numa transferência que não deixou nada satisfeita a equipa argentina. É que "Pitu" Barrientos assinou recentemente um novo contrato com o San Lorenzo e os dirigentes do clube estão desapontados com a falta de lealdade do jogador.

No entanto, Barrientos não parece muito afectado com o descontentamento dos responsáveis do San Lorenzo: "Estou contente porque é uma boa oportunidade para a minha carreira. Terei um contrato muito interessante com o Benfica e a transferência foi também muito boa para o San Lorenzo."

"Também estou contente porque terei a oportunidade de jogar numa das maiores equipas de Portugal", disse ainda Barrientos ao site da "Sky Sports".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

What? :confused:

San Lorenzo's president has denied the deal.

infortunately, i think that simao OR manuel fernandes will leave.

and i don't know why, but i think that it's more probable that manuel fernandes leaves than simao...

It's almost a fact that Simão is gonna leave.

Honestly I'd prefer he'd leave to Athletic Madrid so we could have Kezman plus the 17 M € (H)

San Lorenzo's president has denied the deal.

Portuguese giants Benfica have completed their capture of Pablo Barrientos from Argentinian side San Lorenzo.

The midfielder joins Benfica for £1.9 million, in a transfer that has left his old side far from happy.

Barrientos recently signed a new deal with San Lorenzo and the club officials are believed to be disappointed with the player's lack of loyalty.

However, Barrientos seems unfazed by his previous club's discontent.

"I am happy because this is a good opportunity to improve my career. I have agreed a very interesting personal contract and the transfer has been very good for the club," he said.

"In addition to that I am also happy because I have the chance to play for one of the biggest teams in Portugal."
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=402917&CPID=99&clid=251&lid=19&title=Benfica+seal+Barrientos+swoop

Record says M.Fernandes will leave to Portsmouth afterall, after the pre-season we "only" getting 8M :nape:

You never know though, Record once assured Robinho was coming.. :boohoo:

It's Record, they send millions of "bitaites para o ar", eventually, they get one right...

does anyone here have video of the goal Karagounis scored?

Nuno Assis já pode jogar
FEDERAÇÃO ARQUIVOU PROCESSO DE DOPING

O Conselho de Justiça da Federação Portuguesa de Futebol arquivou hoje o processo de doping ao médio Nuno Assis, do Benfica, que se encontrava suspenso por seis meses, tendo cumprido mais de cinco, anunciou o organismo.

Suspenso desde 3 de Fevereiro, o futebolista tinha acusado 19-norandrosterona, num controlo antidoping realizado no final do jogo com o Marítimo, da Liga portuguesa, a 3 de Dezembro de 2005.

Com o apoio jurídico do Benfica, Nuno Assis recorreu, alegando que tal substância em causa podia ser produzida pelo organismo, além de apontar algumas irregularidades nos procedimentos técnicos de recolha das análises.

O CJ da FPF veio agora dar razão ao futebolista, apontando que "o procedimento disciplinar (...) pautou-se pela violação das garantias de defesa" de Nuno Assis.

O organismo federativo concordou com a defesa do atleta, que invocava a nulidade da acusação por falta de factos, uma vez que não lhe imputava qualquer acto consciente que tivesse levado ao resultado da análise.

Para o Conselho de Justiça, houve ainda um erro processual, uma vez que foi refeita a acusação, depois de a Comissão Disciplinar da Liga de Clubes ter reconhecido a existência das nulidades apontadas por Nuno Assis, algo que não está previsto nos regulamentos da LPFP.

we lost 3-2 today.. Vintage goal from rui costa, almost had another one late in the game, hes playing great

Rui Costa is our Zidane. Poetry in motion...

Lets hope he doesn't headbutt anyone... :p

marcal gotta get the **** out of benfica...this guy does not no how 2 finsh...sion wouldnt have scored there 1st goal if marcal shot went in...he is so horrible...as for rui costa...all i can say is he is the **** :rockman:

Yeah, Rui Costa played amazing, he as class all written over him, it would be awesome if he could keep this form during a big part of the season, and this confidence also. What a player!

O plantel sénior do Benfica vai treinar pela primeira vez no Seixal esta segunda-feira à tarde. A nova casa do futebol encarnado será estreada, de manhã, pela formação de juniores


:rockman: :rockman: about time to get to the new training center!

and the official name is Centro de Estágio Caixa Geral de Depósitos :fool:

and the official name is Centro de Estágio Caixa Geral de Depósitos :fool:

:rofl: :rofl:

Dunno why, that one just cracked me up.

sh*t!!

manuel fernandes really leaves to portsmouth! it is just hard for me to even accept it.

not because only because we loose a fine player, but also because i cannot understand how can he be so cleverless?

he could stay in lisbon for 1 or 2 more years (after all he is only 20 years old) and maybe then go out to a better team like man. utd. or chelsea.

but now he is going to a minor team, and can be a forgotten-young-promise, like edgar or hugo leal... i think it is a very bad move for him (but maybe not so bad for benfica)

what a shame! :kader:

Sooo, they're saying a new forward will be revealed against Bordeaux this weekend...

Let the speculation begin...

sh*t!!

manuel fernandes really leaves to portsmouth! it is just hard for me to even accept it.

not because only because we loose a fine player, but also because i cannot understand how can he be so cleverless?

he could stay in lisbon for 1 or 2 more years (after all he is only 20 years old) and maybe then go out to a better team like man. utd. or chelsea.

but now he is going to a minor team, and can be a forgotten-young-promise, like edgar or hugo leal... i think it is a very bad move for him (but maybe not so bad for benfica)

what a shame! :kader:

Yeah, i agree with you, i just don't know if it's a very good move for us (financially talking), i wanna know the official values of the transfer.

Sooo, they're saying a new forward will be revealed against Bordeaux this weekend...

Probably the same bullsh*t of every year again..

LFV said he would be world class :jambo:

LFV said he would be world class :jambo:

...ah, so I guess it'll be the return of Karadas, some random Greek, or yet another Brazilian "craque" :funny:

DIEGO TRISTIN maybe ?

Crespo????

omg i have a feeling its the Athletic deal of simao for cash and Kezman.,. better not be Kezman as a world class striker


maybe we got rudd? :rofl:

ugh, I hate Kezman... really hope it's not him. He rejected us once before back when he thought he was a superstar. Now that his career is going into the sh!tter, maybe he thinks he's Benfica material? F*ck that guy...I'd even take a coke-head Jardel over him anytime.

ye i hate kezman to.. guys i know who it is..

its saviola!

Check out this article from july 17.

Portugal could be the next destination of Barcelona striker Javier Saviola.Saviola's agent, Alfredo Cabrera Brizuela, was in London last week for talks with interested clubs, but both Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger ruled out moving for the Argie over the weekend.

Sporting Lisbon and Benfica have both made tentative enquiries in the last 24 hours about taking Saviola on-loan.

i think its him were getting

at least Saviola + Miccoli would be hilarious when we tried to cross the ball.

But no way we would win the league with that attack front, they're both good players but they can't play together as we need an aerial threat upfront.

Plus the wage issue and no way it will happen I'm affraid.

Is Carew a possibilitie? I always liked him a lot.

dont think so, Houllier rotates him with Fred and in pretty much every game they both play some minutes.

Kezman and the direction of A.madrid have stated that he's staying so he isn't an option.


someone like Julio Cruz might be more realistic if Inter get Trez or Ibra.

at least Saviola + Miccoli would be hilarious when we tried to cross the ball.

We won't play wings with F. Santos... just Rui and Karagounis trying to put some great opportunities for Micci Mice and (if confirmed) Saviola to get unmarked. Can allow us some penalties during the season for Katsouranis to score. :)

someone like Julio Cruz might be more realistic if Inter get Trez or Ibra.


they already got Luca, are they getting Trez too?

Like someone said in other forum, it would be the Shire attack (H)

they already got Luca, are they getting Trez too?

is that official?

is that official?


you're correct, not official yet, but lots of rumours even from before the WC stated Inter's interest on Toni, now there is Real Madrid interested too.

i heard ibrahmovic is already at inter

lol what if its trez? :rolleyes:

we couldn't afford half of the wage Trezeguet makes, much less pay what Juventus wants for him.

anyone seen this Eusebio comp?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuKTTxdTLRM&search=eus%C3%A9bio

not a lot of footage but his freekicks in that video are absolutely orgasmic

its going be DEL PIERO lol

that video was OUTSTANDING

anyone seen this Eusebio comp?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuKTTxdTLRM&search=eus%C3%A9bio

not a lot of footage but his freekicks in that video are absolutely orgasmic

Sh*t, that's unreal!

anyone seen this Eusebio comp?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuKTTxdTLRM&search=eus%C3%A9bio

not a lot of footage but his freekicks in that video are absolutely orgasmic


:rockman: very impressive
this video reminds us that eusébio has not the place he deserves in the football memories... :nape: when you see people talking about old football superstars, they talk often about pelé, maradona, cruyff, and usually forget the black panther. :nape:

Thanks a lot for the Eusébio video, it's fantastic! :)

On another note, I have the feeling Manuel Fernandes won't pass the physical tests at Portsmouth... Hope I'm wrong!

anyone know what time the game against Bordéus is? ...and if RTP will televise it?

Why won't he pass the medical???

anyone know what time the game against Bordéus is? ...and if RTP will televise it?

21.15 GMT. I don't think it will be RTP that will televise it. Maybe RTPi will dunno.

I was going to post this a while back but i forgot, anyone who lives in the US in Massachusetts and goes to Gillette Stadium to see a Revs game they have put up the 2nd Eusebio statue made at the same time has the one that at the "Luz" but kept in storage till this past May.

http://soccernet-att.espn.go.com/design05/mediaUS/20060517/soc_a_eusebio_195.jpg

21.15 GMT. I don't think it will be RTP that will televise it. Maybe RTPi will dunno.

Thanks..

RTPi is what I have actually, hopefully they show it

:amika:

according to the site maisfutebol (portuguese) (link: http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=709453&div_id=1456),
manuel fernandes didn't pass on the medical tests.
he returned to lisbon to do more medical tests, and will do again the medical tests in portsmouth next month :amika:

could they pay the same price for beto and buy him instead manuel fernandes? :amika:

hey RuiCosta_10, thanks for the sig! you're the best :jap: :amika: (Y)

I have the feeling Manuel Fernandes won't pass the physical tests at Portsmouth...


Bruxo!

Nakamura u f*ker :lui:

you have some pretty freaking feelings, maybe manuel can actually think now and try to go to a better team

he'll just come back and treat his injury before signing. Sucks really bad for Benfica who needed the money to buy some players.

anyone know what time the game against Bordéus is? ...and if RTP will televise it?
dude my father just told me that SIC will broadcast the match, thought you'd wanna know.

good stuff, Porto at 6 and Benfica at 9 :corn:

Diego Tristán Decision Today

It appears that the Diego Tristán soap opera may reach a conclusion today as Depor President Augusto César Lendoiro revealed that the centre-forward had rejected the Celtic option and that Sporting Lisbon could be his destination – although he also threw the name of crosstown rivals Benfica into the mix.

Diego Tristán may be closer to Sporting, but that doesn’t mean that Lendoiro is willing to part with the unsettled tongue-poking goalgetter at any price. The new revelation of a supposed Benfica interest could be just a ploy to get the Leões to make a definitive and higher offer for the striker, with any Encarnado confirmation or denial being eagerly awaited.

With Depor about to leave for their Huelva pre-season – their flight leaves the Galician Capital at 10:30 – any absence of the wayward centre-forward will be interpreted as a clear sign that the player is heading to Portugal; most probably to Paulo Bento’s Sporting, but possibly to Fernando Santos’ Benfica in a sudden about-face that could cause fireworks at Alvalade.

dude my father just told me that SIC will broadcast the match, thought you'd wanna know.

good stuff, Porto at 6 and Benfica at 9 :corn:

Ah crap, I don't have SIC.. My parents do at their house, but they live over an hour away. I'd miss the whole first half even if I left right now. Oh well :(

thanks for the info though..

wooo benfica 2-0 baby lol...we scored some nice goals 2day...cant believe marcal scored off a header lol

anyone have the highlights? I searched on YouTube, but no luck yet..

EDIT: Nevermind, just found the goal videos. Nice header from Marcel, let's hope he doesn't turn into a useless tit again once the season starts (Y)

:Bow: :Bow: :Bow: MICCOLI

great display yesterday. Katsouranis, Anderson, Miccoli, Alcides all did a great game. the team is promising a lot. we are playing great football :rockman:

here's the updated numbers and squad for 06/07 after the presentation yesterday:

Keepers:
01 José Moreira (Portugal INT)
12 Quim (Portugal INT)
31 Marcelo Moretto (Brazil)

Defenders:
03 Anderson (Brazil INT)
04 Luisão (Brazil INT)
05 Léo (Brazil INT)
13 Alcides (Brazil)
22 Nélson (Portugal)
33 Ricardo Rocha (Portugal INT)

Midfielders:
06 Petit (Portugal INT)
07 Marco Ferreira (Portugal INT)
08 Kostas Katsouranis (Greece INT)
10 Rui Costa (Portugal INT)
14 Diego (Brazil)
15 Paulo Jorge (Portugal)
16 Beto (Brazil)
17 Andrey Karyaka (Russia INT)
18 Manú (Portugal)
25 Nuno Assis (Portugal INT)
26 Giorgios Karagounis (Greece INT)

Forwards:
09 Mantorras (Angola INT)
19 Marcel (Brazil INT)
21 Nuno Gomes (Portugal INT)
23 Gustavo Manduca (Brazil)
30 Fabrizio Miccoli (Italy INT)

i wonder how our goal keeper postion is going to be like

Quim would be my bet. He's the most reliable keeper we have.


Tristan is going to Porto, you heard it here first.

Btw Punkt I think Nelson is a Portuguese INT aswell, didn't he play for the U-21 team a couple of times?

Yes U-21 international

Di Vaio and Miccoli would be orgasmic

new rumour popped out 15M€ + Di Vaio permanently + Hugo Viana on loan :D

Nah, that's to much... i don't believe it...

new rumour popped out 15M€ + Di Vaio permanently + Hugo Viana on loan :D

i just got hard, to go to be true :lui:

you can call me a dreamer, but i still hope that simao will stay... i know he wasn't on the presentation game, and i have already read the news of that slimmy newspaper that says he is really going out to valencia, but i have seen tranfers called "garanteed" abort so many times (simao was close to go to liverpool, man utd, chelsea, atletico madrid, etc), that i think "why not once more?". and maybe there isn't offers for him that reaches what slb want to earn.
maybe we won't need him like we did in other seasons, but he is still a good value.

If Simão stays, he'll be in Benfica against his will. IMO it's better to get some money for him now, then wait for him to start playing s*ity and lose the value he has.

Btw Punkt I think Nelson is a Portuguese INT aswell, didn't he play for the U-21 team a couple of times?

yes he have played in the U21 Euro. I only counted the "A" Internationals.

the press today says that Valencia have offered 1 of this 4 players: Fiore, Aimar, Regueiros or Di Vaio. Hugo Viana and Caneira were offered too but Benfica rejected.

Aimar if we could pay his wage (H)

no way that will happen though.


I'm confident the deal will be wrapped up this week.

if that's true I say Benfica should pick Aimar with no hint of hesitation.

we can't afford the wage of a player like Aimar, period.

Even if his marketing impact would be massive, it would cause unrest in the dressing room.

Benfica's returning hero

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/footballeurope/FootballEurope/425031_MEDIUMSQUARE.jpg

Twelve years after leaving Lisbon for Italy, Rui Manuel Costa is back at SL Benfica pledging "everything he still has to give to football". Thousands of supporters gathered at the Estádio da Luz on 25 May to welcome their returning hero. Now, they are eagerly awaiting the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round to see one of the club's favourite sons back in action.

'Desire'
They are unlikely to be disappointed. New coach Fernando Santos has been granted a trump card as he bids to wrestle the title back from FC Porto and he is not going to miss this trick. "We want the team to follow Rui Costa's example, to work as hard as him at least," he said. "His skill is another matter, but we want a team with the desire to win every game." Benfica striker Nuno Gomes played alongside Rui Costa at ACF Fiorentina, as well as for Portugal. He knows better than most what to expect from the player A Bola newspaper described simply as the Maestro. "It's a dream come true," he said. "As well as being one of my best friends in football, he's a great player and this has been a long-term wish of Benfica fans. I'm very proud he’s back at the club."

Swagger
Rui Costa may now be 34 with his best days at Fiorentina behind him, but back in the red of Benfica he has already been showing the form that suggests Porto could face a real fight to reclaim the title. Benfica’s step has regained its swagger and it’s not just their fans taking note. "His return will help put the Portuguese Liga back in the European spotlight," Sporting Clube de Portugal striker Liedson said. "He's an excellent player and has proved that at every club he has played for.” Notably Benfica, where he provides a vital link to an illustrious past.

Eusébio role
It was Eusébio, then youth coach, who first alerted Benfica to his talents at the age of nine. His progress was rapid, and he was soon carrying a weight of expectation. In the summer of 1991 he helped Portugal win the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring the decisive penalty in the shoot-out in the final against Brazil in front of 127,000 at the Estádio da Luz. The young prodigy quickly settled into the Encarnados side, and won the Portuguese Cup in 1993. A financial crisis engulfed the club the following season, and though Paulo Futre, António Pacheco and Paulo Sousa all left, Rui Costa remained, and at 22 led Benfica to the title. Benfica could not afford to keep him, but rather than join FC Barcelona as he had hoped, Rui Costa was sold to Fiorentina for a then record €6m. "Barcelona only offered half that," Manuel Damásio, the then Benfica president, recently told A Bola. "But Benfica needed his sacrifice."

Benfica goal
In seven seasons with Fiorentina and five at Milan, Rui Costa won the UEFA Champions League, the Scudetto, and the Coppa Italia twice. He carried the flag for Portugal, never losing sight of Benfica. "My dream is to finish my career there, but only if I know I have something to give." While its golden son was shining in Italy, light was fading fast on the Lisbon club. Benfica all but vanished from the European stage while FC Porto usurped their place as Portugal's pre-eminent club. The sócios longed for Rui Costa's return.

Portugal dream
He was never far away, returning often for the national side as he amassed 94 caps as part of Portugal's Golden Generation, even scoring a magnificent goal against England in the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2004™ at the rebuilt Estádio da Luz. He ended his international career at his "home" ground just a few days later in a disappointing defeat against Greece. The Luz now owed Rui Costa, but it wasn’t money the playmaker was after.

Blank contract
"He asked me to give him a blank contract and said I could decide how much I wanted to give him," Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira said. "That's how Rui’s arrival was agreed, without him knowing how much he would earn." Rui Costa, who still had a year on his contract with Milan, was just grateful to be back. "I'm thankful to AC Milan for letting me fulfil my dream of ending my career at the club of my heart,” Rui Costa said 12 years after regaining Benfica's No10 shirt.

'Pride'
Despite winning the title in 2005 and reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions league last season, Benfica are still looking to their glorious past. Rui Costa hopes to revive it. "My team-mates want to win again after some difficult years," he said. "I want to give the club back what I received ... to the people who always supported me. I’ve always known my home was here."


uefa.com

Aimar is impossible...

smoove, fantastic sig, love how you took of the PT logo...

thanks very much rui, yours is stylish,too...

i'd actually prefer fiore over divaio, excellent player, and a decent replacement for simao...

LOL

the tvi channel is trying to have more audience talking about the simao's transfer, when they don't even know sh*t. they say "simao don't know where he will play next season, for sure he won't stay in benfica" . what a sh*ty new. they don't even know where simao goes, but they 'll talk about.... so tired of this crap :nape:

let's wait and see

well, portugese media has been like this as long as I can think of...why ever bother to care?

yeah... just like i was expecting... only speculation, nothing real

well, portugese media has been like this as long as I can think of...why ever bother to care?

yes, you're right, but i just can't use to it... :nape:

Juan Soler, presidente do Valencia, negou hoje ter feito uma oferta para adquirir Simão Sabrosa, admitindo antes o interesse noutro internacional português, Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Informaram-me que a imprensa falava de uma oferta de 15 milhões de euros mais o Di Vaio, mas posso garantir que não há absolutamente nada com Simão", declarou o dirigente espanhol, na apresentação dos reforços Del Horno e Morientes.

O Valencia, terceiro classificado na última edição da Liga espanhola, conta nas suas fileiras com Miguel e Hugo Viana, além de Caneira, emprestado na última época ao Sporting.

"Sempre disse que é difícil, mas não há impossíveis. Até que nos digam que não umas quantas vezes, não vamos atirar a toalha ao chão. Neste momento, trata-se de uma prioridade. Até 31 de Agosto temos tempo. Primeiro queremos chegar a acordo com os ingleses, depois com o Cristiano Ronaldo", concluiu Juan Soler.


wtf is with this guys.

PODE ficar definida hoje a saída de Simão Sabrosa para o Valência. Amedeo Carboni, director geral do clube espanhol, chegou ontem à tarde a Lisboa para dar início às negociações com Luís Filipe Vieira, com quem se encontrou à noite, e com o jogador, o que deverá acontecer esta manhã. A SAD pretende ser ressarcida apenas financeiramente, mas os espanhóis pretendem envolver jogadores situação que os encarnados não desejam. Esta manhã prosseguem as conversações. Da primeira ronda não saiu fumo branco.

Amedeo Carboni, director geral do Valência, chegou a meio da tarde de ontem a Lisboa e à noite teve uma primeira reunião com Luís Filipe Vieira, presidente do Benfica, para apresentar formalmente a proposta de aquisição por Simão Sabrosa. Do primeiro encontro, mediado pelo empresário FIFA Jorge Mendes, e no qual marcou também presença o administrador da SAD benfiquista Rui Cunha, terminou já de madrugada e ao que tudo indica sem fumo branco. O líder encarnado, acompanhado de Rui Cunha, deixou a unidade hoteleira onde decorreu o encontro à 1.17 horas sem proferir comentários. Foi, tudo indica, um encontro preliminar onde nada de concreto acabou por ser discutido. Para hoje de manhã ficou agendada nova reunião. Se surgir desenlace positivo, Simão Sabrosa será chamado para integrar as reuniões.

in A Bola


I don't get this, one minute this Valencia guys say something, the next second the say something diferent... :nape:

gotta love the media :corn:

I see Simão going to a team other than Valencia in a sudden move....some team (Liverpool?) puts the right amount of cash on the table and there, the soap is over.

there are reports that the deal for Simao is done.

18 Million € and we still keep 15% of his pass for a future sale.



Not a bad deal but I would have prefered 16M + Di Vaio


Unless Chelsea or some other team does a sudden 20M€ offer for him, he'll be a Valencia player tomorrow.

Valencia may be very interesting to watch this season.

Valencia is close to signing Benfica captain Simao Sabrosa.

The club has offered the Portuguese side $22.7 million for Simao, who would sign a four-year contract, Spanish news reports said Wednesday.

Valencia reportedly raised its bid after Benfica rejected a cash-plus-player package, which would have included Patrick Kluivert, Marco Di Vaio or Pablo Aimar.

well eventhough ~35Mio € is a ****load of money, it still sucks to see my 2 favoutite players leave the club within a week...

35 million €??
that can't be true :|

it's almost that value if this is true 18M from Simao, 15M from Manel (9M+6M).

but we lose our two best players of the past seasons :(

that's what I meant, massive. 18M + 15M

yeah but you know we'll spend it all on players like Marcel, Karyaka or worse.

ah ok my bad, for a moment there I thought Valencia were reported to be offering 35 million € for Simão...

I fear that losing Simao is really going to hurt us if we don't find a very decent replacement :( ...just thinking about how many goals he scored and others he set up over the past few seasons.

well like João Alves said, if Fernando Santos still betting on this 4-2-2 diamond, Simão will not fit in the squad.

I have absolutely no doubt he'd do a better job as a left interior midfielder than someone like Nuno Assis.

but if he'd stay obviously F.Santos would change back to 4x3x3.

But barring a major last minute uspet, he's leaving for sure and probably has already signed

Mexican player is going to be transfered to Benfica, will post name in a bit....

Kikin Fonseca it is

Well, i also believe he would fit well in the team, playing as a left midfielder or even behind the striker...

Let's hope LFV/Veiga can get someone to that position... I'm not to confident, novelas atrás de novelas and the CL is right there...

Mexican player is going to be transfered to Benfica, will post name in a bit....

Kikin Fonseca it is

:O Source?

Mexican tv channel tv azteca, who transmits Cruz Azul's games said that there are only minor details for Cruz Azul to accept the transfer but that it is basically a done deal....

just the kind of player we need if the deal goes through (Y)

Don't know if i should be sad or happy, can you tell me how is he?

I wasn't able to see the Portugal - Mexico game, was working at that time :kader: ...

Is it true?

Mark my words "this tranfer will be confirmed before the day is over."

Don't know if i should be sad or happy, can you tell me how is he?

I wasn't able to see the Portugal - Mexico game, was working at that time :kader: ...

well i think he is a good forward. has alot of goal in him considering that in the Mexican national team he has scored about 15 goals in 20 something games and at that pace he will probably break Borgetti's record of beign the highest scorer for the Mexican national team. Fonsecas style I would say is pure heart, he will fight every ball, good header, and when he is in front of goal he will do his best to score. The only weakness i see of him is that he is not very technical although he does have a few tricks up his sleeve that he uses to go past defenders....

:O Source?


here is a link confirming Kikins transfer to Benfica:

link (sorry its in Spanish): http://www.mediotiempo.com/noticia.php?id_noticia=23414

if it's not expensive it's a good deal, although I'm a bit disappointed once more because LFV had promised a Top player which Fonseca clearly isn't


"La información fue confirmada por el vicepresidente del equipo celeste, Alfredo Álvarez, en exclusiva para la cadena Estadio W, y confirmó que se va venta defintiiva y con un contrato de tres años."

It's confirmed.

I dont think it was expensive probably 3 - 4 million euros but I guess will find out tomorrow when he will be presented with his new club, Benfica....

here is another link confirming the transfer, sorry also in Spanish....

link: http://www.oem.com.mx/esto/notas/n7340.aspx

Fonsecas style I would say is pure heart, he will fight every ball, good header, and when he is in front of goal he will do his best to score.

great! just what we are needing... a portuguese television said the player is expected to be travelling tonight. who knows if he can make it to the game tomorrow night? :)

i doubt he would play even if he would make it to game.

I would like to announce that from now on I will be rooting for Benfica in the Portuguese League for obvious reasons, lol.....

VIVA Benfica!!!!

hes a good player, but i hope its not the forward that our president said was a top star player

i doubt he would play even if he would make it to game.


of course he won't play, i wasn't referring to that, but as a chance for him to get a taste of a big derby.

the fee is said to be around 3,5M€ :(. There goes 1/5th of Simao's transfer money.


and we still need a midfielder to play LCM and a defender to play LB.

the site Sportugal talk about a possible comeback of Jorge Ribeiro (6)

oh no :(

well that site is garbage anyway.

a defender to play LB.

Leo? or im i missing something

perhaps he means another one.

according to Mexican channel Kikin Fonseca will be presented tomorrow and he will be using # 17....

and the tradition "I have scored against Portugal in a big competition and went to Benfica" is growing: Poborsky, Karagounis and now Fonseca. :ewan:

the site Sportugal talk about a possible comeback of Jorge Ribeiro (6)

Please no, and that site is just way to ridiculous...

Apparently, they just want to buy a player for the left wing now, that can defend and attack, and not two players for the LB position and midfield position... Can't think of anyone with that characteristics, only Miguelito... Although Bola Branca said it wouldn't be him.

I'm happy with our current squad, pretty happy actually...

the fee is said to be around 3,5M€ :(. There goes 1/5th of Simao's transfer money.


and we still need a midfielder to play LCM and a defender to play LB.

Actually, there's still some contradiction over this, as "O Jogo" says the fee was around 1,5/2M€.

Fonseca seems like a very good signing to me. A very hard working player and a good header, which we definitely needed. Hope he does well here!

We definitely have plenty of options in our squad this year, so much that I'm certain that at least 2 or 3 players that were presented Saturday will still be dismissed. I just hope Diego and Manu stay, because I've heard their names as possible candidates to be dismissed by Fernando Santos (more Diego than Manu).

hes a good player, but i hope its not the forward that our president said was a top star player


i think he surely is the forward that our president said was a top star player. we now have nuno gomes, mantorras, miccoli, fonseca and marcel. i don't believe that we will buy another forward. but i hope fonseca will be a good player here. may the force be with him!

Apparently, they just want to buy a player for the left wing now, that can defend and attack, and not two players for the LB position and midfield position... Can't think of anyone with that characteristics, only Miguelito... Although Bola Branca said it wouldn't be him.


apparently the fee for Fonseca is between 1,5M and 2,5M, great buy then. I think he's worth more than that.

that's just stupid, I dont think there's any player available that can play LB and Left Central Mid, dont forget it's not LB/Left wing. A pure winger doesn't fit the 4-4-2 diamond system.

I think we still need 2 players really bad.

With Manuel Fernandes gone, I don't think Nuno Assis, Diego, Karyaka, Beto are good enough to start if Petit/Katsouranis/Karagounis/Rui are injured.

as for the LB spot Ricardo Rocha does a good job defending but is crap going forward. We need a true young LB that is happy to sit on the bench but can provide more offensive depth.

fonseca is an ace signing for us, especially for that amount of money. look for him to score 8+ goals in the superliga even if he'll come off the bench most of the time.

I still think we need to get one player of top of the line international quality, as we lost two such players this offseason.
players i'd love to see at benfica are pascal feindouno of saint-etienne or jonathan de guzman of feyenoord.

Personally I think the Fonseca transfer was a steal! He should fit in well, asuming he adapts to the pace and tough style of play in Portugal.

Images of Fonseca's presentation:

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3943/23832dj2.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2451/23830cd9.jpg

what an absolute rubbish first half.

We need to drop Nuno Assis, Alcides and Mantorras asap.

Mantorras is good coming off the bench and he should stick to that.

great signing there.

More pics of Kikin Fonseca:


http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6886/5741ds9.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2143/5742zb3.jpg

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/554/5743qe3.jpg

http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/3779/5744qn9.jpg

we played like **** yesterday. very disturbing display IMO. honestly i'm starting to think we need a right-back too and please put the best keeper in the team: QUIM

yeah both Alcides and Nelson were crap, although Alcides broke the sh*tness scale yesterday, must have been like 30 wrong passes.

we will play austria vienna.
so it will be austria-slb, first match in austria

not the best draw, but not a bad one.

indeed.
we will have to play and run (or even "fight", in the good meaning of the word) much more than yesterday... :rolleyes:

They should be pushovers but their season starts about 6 weeks earlier so they are in good shape.

yeah just saw that. They played 2 games already and had bad results, a draw and a loss. Hope they can keep that up (Y)

besides having the advantage of an early season, they'll be very physical too wich might be tough to deal with for us without a lot of real match fitness...

benfica can get passed this team and move on 2 the group stage...hopefully they dont choke and mess up like they did against lazio and anderlact in the past

sh*t

moretto is back to screw us!!!

what a shame! one more stupid goal! :taz:

damn! one more game lost... i am starting to getting worry by these performances. and one more time i am getting tired to see the best hero of our opponents: moretto. :kader:

does anyone even think he can be the first option this year? :nape:

QUIM is going 2 step up and be the # 1 goalie...he going start in goal on tuesday against AEK...game is at 1 and is going 2 give on SIC if any1 wants 2 no

I keep trying to give FS the benfit of the doubt, but he's starting to remind me of why we all though he was such a bad option for coach.. :(

Eriksson in October? :) :rolleyes:

I'm not too optimistic going into the new season. sure we have some of the bext individual players in the league [luisao,simao,miccoli,rui costa,karagounis] but I don't think FS will be able to form a unit out of them. porto already have a proven team and will prolly sign another big name striker, sporting have a young and exciting team and the most lethal finisher in the league and even braga are a strong side witht he signing of joao pinto...I can't see us winning the league, and it will even be hard to finish ahead of sporting...

hey, smoove, you did weel to take off the wings on simao on you sig, so now he just can't fly away to valencia :amika:

"saudações benfiquistas"

for god sakes, why we will have difficulties to be ahead of Sporting? we are just in the pre-season. i remember us making outstanding pre-seasons (remember win 4-0 against Lazio and defeat Sporting in Switzerland?) and fail completely in the season. just because Sporting made 2 good matches they are invincibles now? I think we have the best roster in Portugal and with time i trust FS will put the team playing football. material for that we have a lot. yes we made a terrible game against Sporting but we had a great display against Bordeaux, so why only remember the bad?
==

Fernando Santos choices to face AEK in Greece:

Guarda-redes: Quim e Moreira.

Defesas: Nélson, Alcides, Luisão, Anderson, Ricardo Rocha e Léo.

Médios:: Katsouranis, Karagounis, Petit, Nuno Assis, Paulo Jorge, Diego e Rui Costa.

Avançados: Nuno Gomes, Fonseca, Manu e Mantorras

2 things: Moretto out and it must mean that we will be the 3rd choice and Beto out of the list too, so Diego must stay in the squad. (Y)

i can't remeber calling sporting "invincible". why we will have diffculties finishing ahead of sporting? mabybe because we fail to do so nearly every year? i'm not being pessimistic here. it's just realistic. porto are favourites to win the league, sporting are 2nd and we 3rd in my book. If our team gels, and FS finds the right tatcic we could give porto are real fight for the title,tho.

Sorry, but i can't agree with you smoove

why we will have diffculties finishing ahead of sporting? mabybe because we fail to do so nearly every year?

C'mon, apart from last year we always rape their asses, and specially in the last games, wich gives a special taste ((H))...

And we all know how Sporting is overrated... Their players, their coaches, everything, João Moutinho is probably the best young player of the world, Paulo Bento is probably the next Mourinho, Djaló, well, he's a superstar because he scored an offered goal, and another on rebound... Ok, i admit Sporting give great players coming from their youths, but they way the press overrate them it's just to much, example, Manuel Fernandes is by miles a much better player than Moutinho...

porto are favourites to win the league, sporting are 2nd and we 3rd in my book. If our team gels, and FS finds the right tatcic we could give porto are real fight for the title,tho.

Can't agree with you there also,

We have imo, the best squad of the three clubs, and if Simão stays, well, then for sure we have. Although Fernando Santos could not lead them to a good team, at the start, and on paper, we are favourites in my book, at most alongside Porto, but Sporting are never ahead of us...
So, until FS show us he can't manage the team with the results they should have, i'm optimistic, and i will believe that the game against Sporting was just a bad day

hey, smoove, you did weel to take off the wings on simao on you sig, so now he just can't fly away to valencia :amika:

(H), i still can't believe Simão is staying, it's just too good.

well we dont know if he is staying for sure

@rui
if simao stays we'll have a big problem to fit him into the squad anway.
as I said I do believe that we can finish the season as champions. but we shouldn't hang our expectations too high.

Nah, Simão is as good as gone. Which isn't a bad thing us getting 18 M €. If he doesn't leave now, I don't think we'll get that sort of proposals later on.

About the tactics, I don't personally like to play without wingers. The good thing is we finally have 2 strickers upfront. It's not so bad as some press are saying, in the game against Sporting it was us who offered the goals to them. The only thing that worries me is that the players seem exausted already! They don't move on the field, run into space.. Like I said they seemed really tired already. Should've been in a better shape by now considering the match against Austria Vienna isn't that far away.

It's not so bad as some press are saying, in the game against Sporting it was us who offered the goals to them.

I don't get this excuse you guys are using a lot.
Aren't 90% of the goals result of an opponent error?

I don't get this excuse you guys are using a lot.
Aren't 90% of the goals result of an opponent error?

maybe, but some errors are just too much. the first goal is offered by a loss of rui costa in a forbidden zone of the pitch, the second is quite normal, but still is an error of the defense position and passivity, and the third is very weird.

I don't get this excuse you guys are using a lot.
Aren't 90% of the goals result of an opponent error?

Oh c'mon, look at the third goal. I never saw anything like that. Sporting were better, that's not in question, but Benfica players made it easier for them to score.

You seem to care too much about these pre-season tournaments, though. But it's true, Sporting seems to have nice pre-seasons, didn't you win Taça Amizade or something last year as well ? Enjoy you're Guadiana Cup then.

You seem to care too much about these pre-season tournaments, though.

Didn't get it. It was the first time I said something about the game or the tournament.

You said it was an excuse as if the result would be in doubt, therefore you care about it.

But nevermind.

Looks like it's time to pull a Del Neri and get rid of Fernando Santos before the season even begins..

:ewan:

:rockman:

i doubt we'll beat Austria Wienn as bad as they could be, playing like this.

We're just too bad to be true.

It's time for the journalists and socios to start raising hell, if we keep playing like this, when the season starts then we'll be out of the title race in less than 2 months..

FS is crap, always was, always will be...just because he had some minor success in Greece :nape: I don't know what's up with this club's directors, they can't make one good decision ffs.

Eriksson... Where are you ? :rolleyes:

This is ******* AEK, no disrespect meant.. Every team can beat us, we just make it too easy for others to win.. :nape:

Santos :kader: :kader:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AAYDOY.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Sh*t!










































:O :sb9: (N) :nape:

I almost fell asleep watching this game... Wtf is wrong with us...

Looks like it's time to pull a Del Neri and get rid of Fernando Santos before the season even begins..


I don't know what V&V saw on this guy... We always said he sucked and here he his proving us wright... Let's go spend some money on Eriksson and win the league, we have the squad for it...

I think it's time for a tactical change mr. Fernando Santos... urgently. our midfield don't work. period. :nape:

MoM was Manu IMO.

:funny: we played most of the match in 4x3x3 and things didn't really change.

It's the players fault not the tactic.

a 4-3-3 without wingers. that is the problem. our wingers cannot be Karagounis and Petit for christ sakes :fool:

Probably no one gives a f*cking sh*t, but did i just saw Rui Costa with Nike boots?

a 4-3-3 without wingers. that is the problem. our wingers cannot be Karagounis and Petit for christ sakes :fool:

no, we played 4-3-3 with Manu and Paulo Jorge as the wingers most of the game.

Probably no one gives a f*cking sh*t, but did i just saw Rui Costa with Nike boots?

Petit was using Vapor's and Leo was wearing Total 90. Nike invasion (Y)

i was in total shock when paulo jorge scored...he can score off a cross with his head but not with his foot...wtf is up with that...o and benfica def need 2 buy some wingers...maybe we should go after carvalho from cska or joaquim from betits

im always wondering why isnt daniel carvalo in a bigger team? i would love him on benfica, dont no if we can get him

no, we played 4-3-3 with Manu and Paulo Jorge as the wingers most of the game.

and we played a lot better with Paulo Jorge.

and we played a lot better with Paulo Jorge.


why, because we created ONE goal chance?

I saw AEK giving up fighting for the game and even so they had chances to score.

but maybe my TV was broken.

im always wondering why isnt daniel carvalo in a bigger team? i would love him on benfica, dont no if we can get him


well, bordeaux' s manager ricardo gomes is interested too...

i was in total shock when paulo jorge scored...he can score off a cross with his head but not with his foot...wtf is up with that...o and benfica def need 2 buy some wingers...maybe we should go after carvalho from cska or joaquim from betits

yeah, why not? Maybe CRonaldo #17!!!11

^ hehe

oh man, I wanted to wake up this morning, open up Ojogo.pt and see a big headline saying Fernando Santos had resigned :(

no luck..

Apparently FS wants to change the tactic, so i suppose he will try to play with wingers like he did with AEK with Paulo Jorge and Manú...

So, we have only Paulo Jorge and Manú for those positions, basically, we're totally ****ed...

And considering Veiga said that the squad is closed, so no more wingers, and also considering we're gonna change the tactic in the first official game...

The picture can't get any worse for me.

well, F. Santos ruined one of the best Porto squads ever, looks like he's doing the same here.. I can't beleive it took him a month to realize that his tactics weren't working, now we're forced to make new experimentations when the games actually count, great. I don't know why he made the changes he did in the first place, all we needed to do is get rid of the weak links (Beto, Marco Ferreira, Marcel, etc..) that Koeman insisted on keeping, and getting a couple good signings which we did with securing Miccoli and Fonseca.

It's not looking good, at this rate is it an exaggeration to say Austria Viena is probably the favourite now? :nape:

Benfica Plan B IMO:

-------------- Quim -------------------

Nélson --- Luisão - Anderson - Léo

------- Petit ------- Katsouranis----------

------------ Rui Costa --------

-- Miccoli --------------- Fonseca

------------ Nuno Gomes ------------

or put Manu and take off one of the strikers. Dunno if Miccoli and Fonseca would result in that positions tough. we need 2 wingers at least :rolleyes:

what do you think?

Jorge de Brito, ex-presidente do Benfica, faleceu na noite desta terça-feira. O antigo dirigente, que era o sócio nº 88, presidiu ao clube da Luz entre 1992 e 1994.

Sócio desde 1935, Jorge de Brito esteve desde cedo ligado ao clube e em 1973 foi condecorado com a «Águia de Ouro», já depois de ter oferecido à Luz a pista de tartan, durante a presidência de Borges Coutinho. Em 1989 foi eleito vice-presidente e em 1992 chegou a presidente. Deixou o cargo em Dezembro de 1993, depois do «Verão quente» que ficou marcado pelas saídas de Paulo Sousa e Pacheco.

O Benfica anunciou no seu site que as bandeiras do clube estão a meia haste em memória de Jorge de Brito, que estará em câmara ardente na Igreja de Santo António, no Estoril, a partir das 17 horas. A missa de corpo presente realiza-se amanhã às 11h, o corpo será sepultado no Cemitério dos Prazeres.

MaisFutebol

RIP

Benfica Plan B IMO:

-------------- Quim -------------------

Nélson --- Luisão - Anderson - Léo

------- Petit ------- Katsouranis----------

------------ Rui Costa --------

-- Miccoli --------------- Fonseca

------------ Nuno Gomes ------------

or put Manu and take off one of the strikers. Dunno if Miccoli and Fonseca would result in that positions tough. we need 2 wingers at least :rolleyes:

what do you think?

that's the problem right there, we secured two exellent players in Miccoli and Fonseca, but now they won't really fit into the formation. This could be a huge waste :(

I don't know what to say... We're tottaly screwed..

I think Miccoli whould do a good job playing in the wing... Can't say the same about Fonseca, I don't know him very well though, I saw him more like a striker playing for Mexico, not a winger. Maybe Karagounis could play there, he was one of our best units in the pre-season it whould be a waste to bench him again. Manu is a good option too... If we play like this we're gonna miss Simão big time...

I was really looking forward to finnaly see Benfica playing with 2 strikers... Why can't we use a 4-4-2 with wingers?

FS :kader: :kader:

In that 4x3x3 formation Miccoli can play more as a left winger, moving to the middle, a bit like Simão did and managed to score lots of goals. Manú would be the right winger I suppose. I don't know Fonseca so I can't tell if can play as a winger, he looks more of a stricker to me.

Even so, Paulo Jorge is not a decent replacement nor is Manduca. We defenately need two more wingers if we're to play in that formation. Now I see selling Geovanni was just plain stupid. The whole planning of the season was. What is this? One week from now we have a decisive match for the season and it all looks a mess. :rolleyes:

what do you guys think about the 15 million € + Kuivert for Simão possibility?
I reckon Patrick is quality dispite his injury-proneness, but you have enough strikers already...

Kluivert was top quality 6 years ago. His career has finished long ago.

I'd be happy with 15M + Fiore, we definitely need more quality in that midfield with M. Fernandes gone.

We defenately need two more wingers if we're to play in that formation. Now I see selling Geovanni was just plain stupid. The whole planning of the season was. What is this? One week from now we have a decisive match for the season and it all looks a mess. :rolleyes:

so true, the planning of the season has been an absolute disaster! ...and what's with Viega getting involved and going to tell FS that the system isn't working, I thought FS was supposed to be the one in charge of the team? Don't get me wrong, I want to see tactical changes, but to me it seems like FS is out of ideas already or just doing what he's told in order to save his job. What a nice pile of sh!t this is turning into...

Personally I think FS's job will depend on the Austria Vienna matches, if we fail to reach the CL I'm willing to bet he'll be out soon after..

quality was top quality 6 years ago. His career has finished long ago.
true the quality part, but I think he could still be useful when given the right amount of motivation...
a good midfielder is definitely prioritary though.

we will have Kluivert sporting rights but only to sell him to another club, if the deal Simão go through. he will not stay.

we will have Kluivert sporting rights but only to sell him to another club, if the deal Simão go through. he will not stay.


that's what I heard, as well. Even more stupid. Who's gonna pay more than 1M€ if that much for such a has been?

really, what the f'ck is up with that :|

I doubt that deal could happen...

It was accepted by V&V. Thing is Simão wanted and wants 2,5 M € per season. It was Valência who didn't want to pay him that much. I doubt any Valência player receives that much to be honest. Right now, considering the current situation I hope that deal or any other doesn't go through. But he wasn't put in the list of players that will play next week for the CL, so it seems he won't stay..

But he wasn't put in the list of players that will play next week for the CL, so it seems he won't stay..
here says otherwise: http://www.ojogo.pt/22-163/Artigo569889.htm

http://www.record.pt/getimage.asp?tb=IMAGENS&id=102493

Oh yeah baby, Simão is in! :rockman:

In the other hand, Miccoli is injured... again :(

I wouldn't bet on him being used, it's just a way to pressure the interested clubs in moving in quickly.

in the "maisfutebol" site (http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=712631&div_id=1456):

Fernando Santos tem cinco dias para mudar o sistema de jogo do Benfica, decisão tomada depois de uma reunião com José Veiga. A presença dos capitães também foi noticiada, mas fontes contactadas por Maisfutebol não a confirmam.

O encontro deu-se ainda em Atenas, logo após mais uma derrota, desta vez frente ao AEK. As exibições e os resultados da pré-temporada foram analisados e ficou claro que não existe adaptação ao sistema que o treinador anda a trabalhar há mais de um mês.

Embora ninguém saiba explicar exactamente porquê, a verdade é que a forma de jogar da equipa está longe do ideal.
De acordo com fontes do clube da Luz, a conversa foi «franca» e caiu bem que Fernando Santos aceitasse discutir o assunto de uma forma «aberta e construtiva».
O novo sistema vai possibilitar a entrada na equipa de extremos como Manu e Paulo Jorge, jogadores mais inexperientes, mas os responsáveis estão «confiantes» de que o Benfica dará uma boa resposta já frente ao Austria de Viena, no dia 8.

O momento que a equipa atravessa já levou José Veiga a dizer que «não haverá mais contratações». Por resolver continua a lista de dispensas. O único nome de peso garantido é o russo Karyaka, desde que haja alguma proposta.


i am so amazed :nape:
if it's true, that leads us to think: it was not even FS that suggested or decided to change the tactic system (even after all those bad results). in this case, just like i have always suspected, there is other persons (probably veiga?) that decides tactical and technical matters, and not only the coach, like it is suppose to be. so now we can also think that veiga(?) prefers to hire someone like FS who don't give a f*ck to give up on his ideas, since it pleases the boss. that's why they won't hire men with strong convictions like camacho anymore. a little sheep like FS is easier to control...

note: i'm not blaming FS for thinking about changing the system (and throw away all the pre-season work), because it's not working. but it's his responsability, not anyone else! so that means other persons in the staff see more clearly than him...

the possible 3 names or the training center:

– Caixa Academia de Futebol
– Caixa Centro de Talentos
- Caixa Futebol Campus

now the supporters will choose

yeah....

why not "caixa de pandora"? :rofl:

i don´t like any of them...but the i prefer caixa futebol campus :rolleyes:

here says otherwise: http://www.ojogo.pt/22-163/Artigo569889.htm

Yeah, that was after the list they sent before. He won't be used anyway.

Shame about Miccoli being injured again. He will be missed in that match :(

Just read on maisfutebol that Manduca will go to AEK in a loan deal.

So, now we only have Manú, Paulo Jorge (sucks), Marco Ferreira (sucks) and Simão(?) for the wings..

This is getting better and better :rolleyes:

If Simao isn't staying this is a big WTF.

As some of you have already said, this season's planning has been a complete disaster. From the players chosen to the sales and culminating in the fact that FS for the whole f'ning pre-season and now, DAYS away from the first game of the season and one of the most important ones, he decides to change the system. WTF? This is plain incompetence! I'm getting really worried about what lies ahead for us in this season.

I just hope they don't waste any time in getting rid of FS when we start losing official games, or at least before it's too late. ...it only takes one bad month to ruin a season.

hey guys... can i ask you smth?
whats up with player Manduka? (the one that transfered in A.E.K Athens) is he good? is he a striker or midfielder?
is he good for the Greek Super Liga?
Thanx in advance... :)

Nope, I'm sorry, Manduca s*cks. :ewan: I'm glad we got rid of him, despite the fact that we are in need of wingers cause FS wants to change tactics one week before a really important match...

He plays as a second striker or a winger.

why did AEK need him anyway? That Brazilian Left winger/forward that played against Benfica looked pretty good.

I kinda liked Manduca when he was at Maritimo, but at Benfica he's been crap. I think he's just one of those small-club players, looks good when playing beside other average guys but in a bigger team he's nothing special.

Liga de Honra!


(6)

j/k :P

That Brazilian Left winger/forward that played against Benfica looked pretty good.
that's Julio Cesar, he played in Estrela da Amadora and Gil Vicente some years ago...go figger :|

João Coimbra will stay in the squad. I think it's a good decision of FS because we need a back up to Rui Costa and he seems to be a very good player. the best we have of our schools lately.

as we are all waiting for this important match on tuesday against austria, i'd like to propose the following topic:

which would be your "best-benfica-team-ever"?

the only criterium that i propose is: you must remember and have really seen playing each player you choose (for example, you can't choose eusébio if you are under 35 years old).

so, my team would be:

..........................................preud'ho mme.............................................


veloso..........................mozer............. ...ricardo gomes.................schwarz


...............................................kul kov............................................... ..

......................................rui costa............................................. ..........


.................................................. .....joao pinto....................................

...........simao.................................. .............................................isaía s

.................................................y uran.............................................. ..


:S i know this team is eventually too offensive, and playing with only one defensive midfield is dangerous for the defence, but...... i had to fit in both rui costa and joao pinto :p

so... send your "best-benfica-team-ever"!
:rockman:

Rui Aguas or Magnusson over Yuran for sure :| Paulo Futre in there for sure too somehow, otherwise looks about right..

you may be right for rui aguas, but magnusson rarely scored on matches against great opponents (scp, fcp, or european great teams). and the only great performance futre did in SLB that i remember was the cup final against boavista... :)

A Bola says Simão is willing to accept Valência's new proposal.

Futre's still a legend though (I'd put him on the sub bench at least of a best-ever team), he also scored the winning goal against Sporting on his Benfica debut.. great memory that one :)

EDIT: That cup final vs. Boavista you mention was an amazing game too, too bad we don't see games that entertaining anymore in Portugal. That Benfica team at that time with Paulo Sousa, Rui Costa, Futre, etc played the most attractive football I've ever seen our team play IMO :( Sad when you compare it to today...

It cus you don't have players with that kind of class at the moment. Entertaining football requires team cohesion, which unfortunately, I don't see happening with Benfica at the moment.

Futre's still a legend though (I'd put him on the sub bench at least of a best-ever team), he also scored the winning goal against Sporting on his Benfica debut.. great memory that one :)

EDIT: That cup final vs. Boavista you mention was an amazing game too, too bad we don't see games that entertaining anymore in Portugal. That Benfica team at that time with Paulo Sousa, Rui Costa, Futre, etc played the most attractive football I've ever seen our team play IMO :( Sad when you compare it to today...

yeah, that's true. and when you see the defensive football of the last world cup, that's a clear sign that entertaining football becomes more and more rare... :(

I was reading a few pages back and there was some discussion about what positions Fonseca can play. Obviously he can play as a striker, but he can also play a little behind the striker right in front of the midfiilders. The position hes played the most though is, in fact, right winger. This is the position that earned him a place on the Mexican natl team in 2003, where he was then used as a striker. One of the plays he loves doing the most is slowly dribbling towards the out of bounds line and quickly cutting into goal.

Cool. I only knew Fonseca from the World Cup playing as a striker, but according to you we have another winger for FS's new last minute wonder "The 4-3-3".

Something like this would be ok I guess

--------------Rei Costa--------------
Fonseca------------------------Miccoli
---------------Gomes----------------

So we didn't have to start such a youngster as Manu (who seems not to suffer from the big club sindrome) all the time or even worse the new Hugo Porfirio aka Paulo Jorge. :rolleyes:

If Manu keeps playing like he is now, i'm satisfied, he's definitly not suffering the big club sindrome as you call it.

i think it's too harsh call "Porfirio" to Paulo Jorge. actually i think he's making a decent pre-season and he will be a very useful backup to the squad.

I was just refering to his Porfirio like tackles.

I have to admit he's a classy player, the way he aimed for Joao Alves's knee, can only be matched by few. :)

To be fair, in terms of football ability Porfirio had much more than Paulo Jorge, IMO of course. Thing is his discipline, or the lack of it basically screw his career.

But I agree, if Paulo Jorge stops doing those stupid tackles then perhaps he can be a usefull backup player.