S.L. Benfica [2008/2009]

[Tiago_10]

Why not Nuno Gomes alongside Cardozo? He's great at combining with another striker, especially a player like Cardozo who he can assist and give him more opportunities to score.

Makukula is a total waste of money, 4 M for that ****er, can't even make one decent reception of the ball Yes he's strong but he isn't a prolific goalscorer either, he may have scored a few for Maritimo but he was a really bad choice, especially for that amount.

Oh and we should give more playing time to Adu.

 

[Coruja]

I forgot Nuno Gomes, sorry. You're right, and in the Euro he proved that. I think that Adu must be loaned to some Portuguese club, like Académica, Setubal, a club where he can play more times, Benfica has options so i think it's difficult for Adu to play often.

 

[Tiago_10]

Yeah, I think the loan could be a good option for him to consider. But we have many competitions the liga, portuguese cup, UEFA cup/CL*, taça da liga he should have more time than last season if properly managed.

Although certainly it'd be different if he could play week in week out in another club. However, I'm not sure Adu with be okay with it, as we already rejected some offers for him, and he was the first stating he'd like to remain at the club.


About the Aimar case latest news is that Zaragoza are playing hard, not letting him come to us for less than € 8M. We're offering 6-7 it seems. Let's see how this goes.

 

[Coruja]

I think that Aimar can be considered Benfica player, he wants Benfica, Benfica wants him and the negociation is going well so... but i know that's not enough.

Benfica's defence needs a upgrade, i like David Luiz and Leo. Luisão lacks a lot, he's good but not enough, Nelson does 1 good game in 3. I like the attitude of both players, but we need alternatives. For Nelson spot, i like Vasilis Torosidis instead of the rumored Seitaridis and Belleti. For Luisão spot maybe Thiago Silva. For what i saw about Torosidis and Thiago Silva i think that they are good for Benfica's squad.

 

[Tiago_10]

I have no ideia who the hell is Vasilis Torosidis so I can't comment on him to be honest but I like Seitaridis a lot.

I actually knew him before his spell at Porto so I may be a little biased towards the lad. Still, he's solid defensively and attacks quite well (better than Nélson nowdays). He's also tall for a RB giving him clear advantage in the air.

Besides, he could be one of the players involved in that Simão deal, so it maybe a cheaper option.


Btw Luis Garcia did not sign for the Spurs for those alleged € 12M. This still doesn't mean he'll sign for us, I think he won't 'cause let's face it right now Tottenham can offer more money to Zaragoza for him.

 

[Coruja]

I have no ideia who the hell is Vasilis Torosidis so I can't comment on him to be honest but I like Seitaridis a lot.

I actually knew him before his spell at Porto so I may be a little biased towards the lad. Still, he's solid defensively and attacks quite well (better than Nélson nowdays). He's also tall for a RB giving him clear advantage in the air.

Besides, he could be one of the players involved in that Simão deal, so it maybe a cheaper option.


Btw Luis Garcia did not sign for the Spurs for those alleged € 12M. This still doesn't mean he'll sign for us, I think he won't 'cause let's face it right now Tottenham can offer more money to Zaragoza for him.

The Aimar fever attacks

If Benfica has to pay a approximately value to sign with Garcia, then i hope that the transfer will not happen, 7 - 12 Million for him is to much.

I know that Youtube insn't the best place to see the complete perfomance of a player, but, just have a idea of Torosidis:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kBN3qi-vWXo

 

[Tiago_10]

Thanks for the vid mate

He does look a very interesting player indeed, he integrates himself in the attack very well and seems pretty good at defending.

For granted he must be more consistent than Nélson and better than Luis Filipe aka nódoa, so he's very welcome to Estádio da Luz as far as it concerns me

 

[Coruja]

Jonathan Urretavizcaya arrived today in Lisbon, and tomorrow will make the medical examinations. Hadja-Aissa arrived today as well to make proves in Benfica.

 

[Coruja]

Coentrão cedido ao Feyenoord

O extremo-esquerdo do Benfica, Fábio Coentrão, de 20 anos, vai representar o Feyenoord, da Holanda, na próxima temporada, por empréstimo do Benfica.

O jogador, que trabalhou no Seixal, às ordens do treinador espanhol, Quique Flores, nos primeiros dias de estágio, já não se apresentou ontem no Caixa Futebol Campus, tendo sido autorizado pela SAD benfiquista a tratar dos assuntos relacionados com esta mudança radical na sua vida.

Não obstante ser muito pretendido por clubes portugueses, o facto de o Benfica poder lucrar significativamente com a sua transferência pesou muito no desfecho da situação: se o Feyenoord exercer a opção de compra sobre o passe do jogador, então terá de pagar cinco milhões de euros.​

The Portuguese midfielder returned to Estádio da Luz at the end of the season after spending six months on loan at Nacional da Madeira, where he established himself as an important player.

Coentrão, 20, was hoping he would finally be able to hold down a regular spot at Benfica and even trained under Quique Flores this week but quickly learned that his situation would not improve.

He missed yesterday's training in Seixal after being allowed by the club to take care of personal matters concerning his move to the Rotterdam-based club.

It is further reported that Feyenoord have secured a buying clause of €5 million for the player, who was also being followed by a host of clubs in Portugal.​

I prefer waiting for official news about this, despite of being almost confirmed.

-----------

Tomorrow maybe the "Pablo Aimar Saga" ends, and he's presented officialy.

 

[portugal2167]

Nuno Gome

Nuno Gomes said he wants to stay in Benfica but Olympiakos is interested in him and he said if they give him a good offer he might leave

 

[Coruja]

Quique said in TVI that Nuno Gomes will not be transfered to any club, because Benfica need him, and i think the same way. Despite that, i dont believe that Nuno wants to iniciate a new chapter in his career, i think he wants to finish it in Benfica.

 

[portugal2167]

Estoril vs. Benfica July 19 - 21:00 GTM Friendly

Blackburn vs. Benfica July 25 - 21:15 GTM Guadiana Cup

 

[Coruja]

I had already put the matches in the first post, but thanks.

Some news said that Aimar arrives this night in Lisboa [ RTPN and TSF ]. Im not really convinced of that, but lets see.

EDIT: Well, it was just especulation.

 

[RuiCosta_10]

This Aimar thing is going way to far, I'm sick of it, every day he's at one step of signing, yet it has been like this for almost a month now! It's unbelievable, I honestly don't know what's worse, Benfica's ridiculous negotiations ability, our press that keep saying the EXACT same thing EVERY ******* DAY, or people who actually believe them.

My opinion, if we really sign Aimar we can only believe in it when we see it on the official website, or in the official communication to CMVM, the press knows absolutely nothing.

But, honestly, I could bet my left ball that Aimar isn't signing with us.

 

[Tiago_10]

Also Aimar wether he comes or not, has failed to impress in Zaragoza and was very injury prone. He can still be a good addition I believe, if he stays healthy that is, but I read many comments in spanish websites regarding this and most of the fans were questioning if he'd be the same player.

And again I don't like Zaragoza's president attitude at all. Who the f*ck does he think his club is anyway? Have they won anything that's actually worth caring? Yeah, I don't think so. Hell I didn't even hear about this club before say 2-3 seasons ago. Plus they just dropped to the 2nd division..

I wouldn't pay more than €8 M considering all the issues, if they don't accept well that's just too damn bad for 'em, we have other alternatives you know. I too am really tired about these soap operas every year, FFS.

 

[Coruja]

Putting aside Aimar, the press news ( like always ), throw away a name for Benfica, it was Belleti, but loaned to us. It's really more experienced than Nelson, and better, so if is true, i think it will be a good reinforcement to our defence ( really good reinforcement to our defence ). I dont hear any news of Codina, it was "confirmed".

Back to Aimar.. well.. "Está por horas" since a month ago..

 

[portugal2167]

Im not very convinced Aimar is coming since he went to Zaragosa's practice today, but if he is coming abola said he should be ariving in Lisbon tomorrow

 

[Capela]

zaragoza are trying to make as much money as they can and noone can blame them for that
benfica doesn't have more money so i don't know if we'll be buy him
what i know is that the press knows nothing about and unless i see the officila confirmation of the transfer i won't believen in it

 

[Tiago_10]

zaragoza are trying to make as much money as they can and noone can blame them for that
benfica doesn't have more money so i don't know if we'll be buy him
what i know is that the press knows nothing about and unless i see the officila confirmation of the transfer i won't believen in it

Oh really? Because Benfica had an agreedment with all parts involved (this is confirmed by O Jogo, A Bola, As etc. around 7,5 - 8 M) and all of a sudden another club comes up an interfeers.

It is as if there was no agreedment, he decides to completely ignore it and starts demanding more money, which means the Zaragoza president word means ****. If you think noone can blame him in steping back with his word then that's your call, I guess.


EDIT: if it weren't obvious enough who that other club was, surprise surprise:

FC Porto tenta desviar Aimar

http://www.correiodamanha.pt/notici...hannelid=00000213-0000-0000-0000-000000000213

I swear, he's obssessed with Benfica in such an exaggerated manner it has to be considered a psychopathology. Poor senil oldman.

 

[RuiCosta_10]

Sorry, but that's enough for me...

Stop blaming Porto for everything, it's absolutely unbelievable how we spent about 6 f*cking weeks negotiating with a team on the second division... I mean, it's absolutely pathetic. And even more pathetic, how can Rui Costa and Quique make public statements declaring their interest on Aimar when the deal is no near finished, Rui Costa even said he was one of the best, this is pure incompetence, I mean, I'm still speechless on how f*cking dumb our direction is...

Same happened with Rodríguez, 5 months negotiating, when we should get him before that, and after that, there's Rui Costa again declaring to the press his interest on renewing his contract, yet, we failed to do in 5 months what Porto did in 5 minutes.

Erikson was another brilliant act, and to convince Quique Flores we took ages...

Our transfers so far are... well... they are ALL of unproven value, at least at an high level:

Aissa(or whatever), Urreta, Yebda and Balboa are unknown...

Amorim was nothing more than a good player in Belenenses, and Martins NEVER convinced me, neither in Sporting nor on Huelva.

We lost our two most influential players of last season, Rui and Rodríguez, players that could make the difference, and now we don't have anyone like them, we could've Aimar, but we missed, again!

There's not one more million to offer to Saragoza, but there's 4 for Balboa, oh god...

We need a right back, an offensive midfielder, two wingers for both sides and a forward, I can see the picture, and it's no good at all. With all honesty, only Quique can save this, and it will be sooo hard, and let's see if he doesn't quit before Christmas, since he's a young coach and doesn't want to add a bad experience to his curriculum... Because I believe, if Benfica doesn't give him the players he want, he'll leave, just like Camacho did, because he was fooled like Quique is being now...

My predictions to this season:

3rd place, way behind the second which I honestly can't tell between Sporting and Porto that have both good teams.

Another year without winning a thing, thank god the elections are coming soon, that's what still keeps me paying my "quotas"...