Benfica kicked off the preseason with a match in Toronto against PSG. We can properly assess the first half where the probably starters played as a unit. For the first game they exceeded expectations. Some notes or observations I can add are as follows:
1. Silvio is being given an opportunity to show he can be the starting right back. Based on yesterdays performance he isnt showing that he deserves that place. He will need to improve a lot over the next few preseason games or else Benfica will likely go to market and upgrade at that position.
2. Talisca showed renewed signs of life in an attacking midfield role (alternating from wing to centre). If he continues to perform that way he may be a starter when the season kicks off.
3. Ola John played few minutes in the second half but showed to things clearly: he cotinues to lack objectivity and decision making near the opposing goal; he also showed a much better effort at defending and playing for the collective than he has in years past.
4. Samaris - best player on the field.
Some of the B team debuts went badly - Lindelof, Teixeira were awful; Oliveira was too but that is to be expected from him. I dont know why Nelson Oliveira is even being given playing time. NO player has ever been given more opportunities with more clubs over more years to show that he has some quality than him. He has wasted every single chance of the many he has been given. Its time to cut him and not waste any more playing time on him.
Overall a good first match. Lots of points to work on for the next match against Fiorentina on friday. I expect a much better performance now that RV has had a chance to observe the team in competition and knows what details he must work on and improve.
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Sunday, 19 July 2015
Sunday, 21 September 2014
Big win over Moreirense
The fan support and team confidence were key factors in todays win. As I indicated a few months ago, Talisca offers this team a lot as he learns the processes of the coach. He made many great touches and passes all game. Eliseu once again shows how he is a big improvement over Siqueria. Lima is beginning to be a concern. He continues to get ample opportunities every game and can't seem to buy a goal. This may be a problem with confidence. He definitely works hard and makes smart plays all game. He is very valuable to the team. But he needs to start being more efficient.
Jardel continues to concern me. I would like to see JJ give Lisandro Lopez an opportunity.
One problem I see from the standpoint of using all the players available is JJ is once again using the same players over and over. This will have very problematic effects at the end of the season if it continues. There is no point having a plantel of over 25 players if you only use the same 13 or 14 every week. When will Enzo or Luisao or Maxi get to rest ? Is Gaitan gonna have to play 90 minutes every game ? For a club who wants to win several competitions, this is simply not sustainable.
I hope this situation improves.
Jardel continues to concern me. I would like to see JJ give Lisandro Lopez an opportunity.
One problem I see from the standpoint of using all the players available is JJ is once again using the same players over and over. This will have very problematic effects at the end of the season if it continues. There is no point having a plantel of over 25 players if you only use the same 13 or 14 every week. When will Enzo or Luisao or Maxi get to rest ? Is Gaitan gonna have to play 90 minutes every game ? For a club who wants to win several competitions, this is simply not sustainable.
I hope this situation improves.
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Benfica Supporters: Simply the Best
Last night's Champions League match in Lisbon's Estadio da Luz pitted Europe's top 2 clubs against one another. Benfica vs Zenit. Benfica suffered an early goal and red card and as a result was down 2-0 and a man short very early in the game. Still they managed to dominate the remainder of the game and create numerous scoring opportunities that with some better finishing would certainly have been goals. Not to mention two clear penalties against Salvio and later Enzo Perez.
The Benfica players never gave up and sought the goal until the last minute. Not oblivious to the incredible effort and work ethic the players put in, their supporters did something I have never seen before in sport.
At the 89th minute, they began a chant, and standing applause while chanting it. The stadium burst into chant for at least 10 minutes (well after the match was done). They chanted "Ohhh ohhh ohhh, Eu Amo o Benfica" (which means I love Benfica).
The coach and president of the club made statements lauding this incredible spontaneous manifestation of love for their club. This is the kind of thing money just can't buy. The passion, the understanding of the game and the effort of their players, the commitment and the love of club from the No Name Boys who started the chant and the rest of the supporters generally who joined in and sustained it. Its a beautiful thing to see. Here is the longest clip I have been able to find on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rbh5mrZvzo
Also here is the statement of the President:
The Benfica players never gave up and sought the goal until the last minute. Not oblivious to the incredible effort and work ethic the players put in, their supporters did something I have never seen before in sport.
At the 89th minute, they began a chant, and standing applause while chanting it. The stadium burst into chant for at least 10 minutes (well after the match was done). They chanted "Ohhh ohhh ohhh, Eu Amo o Benfica" (which means I love Benfica).
The coach and president of the club made statements lauding this incredible spontaneous manifestation of love for their club. This is the kind of thing money just can't buy. The passion, the understanding of the game and the effort of their players, the commitment and the love of club from the No Name Boys who started the chant and the rest of the supporters generally who joined in and sustained it. Its a beautiful thing to see. Here is the longest clip I have been able to find on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rbh5mrZvzo
Also here is the statement of the President:
17-09-2014 10:45
Mensagem do presidente
Luís Filipe Vieira: “Obrigado a todos”
“Há momentos que nos marcam por serem tão genuínos e tão intensos que ficaremos agarrados a essa memória por muitos anos que passem. A manifestação de benfiquismo que se viveu ontem no Estádio da Luz foi impressionante pela dimensão que assumiu.
Os que estiveram em campo honraram a camisola, os sócios e adeptos engrandeceram o Clube num momento único que não deixou ninguém indiferente, dentro ou fora do Estádio. Manifestações como as de ontem transformam tudo, dão-nos a dimensão de quem verdadeiramente somos.
A gratidão é um dever quando temos a felicidade de viver um momento como o de ontem.
Podemos falhar e de certeza que vamos falhar. Podemos perder e em alguns momentos vai acontecer, mas o que nunca nos pode faltar é entrega, empenho, determinação e isso nunca faltou aos nossos jogadores dentro de campo. Perdemos um jogo, ganhámos uma nova vida e uma nova alma.
Vivi cada um daqueles minutos finais como se de um título se tratasse. São momentos como este que me fazem sentir um tremendo orgulho por liderar este Clube.
Obrigado a todos e a cada um dos sócios e adeptos que ontem estiveram no Estádio e que mostraram ao mundo de que fibra é feita o Sport Lisboa e Benfica.”
---
Also, Benfica's coach (the best in the world), Jorge Jesus confirmed nothing like this has ever been seen:
http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=904863
---
And finally here is another video angle of the great ovation to the club by the supporters:
http://www.record.xl.pt/multimedia/videos/interior.aspx?content_id=904968
Saturday, 13 September 2014
Benfica win 5-0 and confirm all my predictions
I would first like to apologize to all my readers for the hiatus. I have had some important projects on the go and haven't get up with the blog. Yesterday we saw Benfica blowout Vitoria Setubal away. Talisca got a hat trick.
As I documented months ago, Talisca had the raw talent and needed time to learn the system. It seems that time has begun to bear fruits. After a couple of solid games he exploded on to the scene yesterday with 3 goals. More importantly though, I noticed him making much less intakes He is learning the positionings that JJ wants him to.
The trio of Gaitan, Talisca and Salvio playing behind Lima is really starting to gel. Our defence with its 3 pillars from last year staying the same (Maxi, Luisao and Jardel) are enhanced by Eliseu which I have always maintained here is a BIG improvement on any of our left backs last year.
Samaris played cautiously as he should in his first match for the club and I liked how he communicated well with Luisao to ensure he was in the right places at the right times.
I liked how JJ made the early double substitution to give the boys some rest for the match against Zenit. Cristante came on and got a few touches. He confirmed his love for the long pass. We didn't see enough of him to draw any conclusions yet. Furthermore it was at a point in the game where it was no longer really a competitive match as Benfica was winning 5-0.
The Talisca match shows how brilliant they were to keep him and get rid of Bernardo Silva. Many clamoured to let Silva play that position but Silva is a second division calibre player and could never have done what Talisca did.
Lets hope for a good result against Zenit. As I predicted all along, the team is fine and will have another dominant year.
As I documented months ago, Talisca had the raw talent and needed time to learn the system. It seems that time has begun to bear fruits. After a couple of solid games he exploded on to the scene yesterday with 3 goals. More importantly though, I noticed him making much less intakes He is learning the positionings that JJ wants him to.
The trio of Gaitan, Talisca and Salvio playing behind Lima is really starting to gel. Our defence with its 3 pillars from last year staying the same (Maxi, Luisao and Jardel) are enhanced by Eliseu which I have always maintained here is a BIG improvement on any of our left backs last year.
Samaris played cautiously as he should in his first match for the club and I liked how he communicated well with Luisao to ensure he was in the right places at the right times.
I liked how JJ made the early double substitution to give the boys some rest for the match against Zenit. Cristante came on and got a few touches. He confirmed his love for the long pass. We didn't see enough of him to draw any conclusions yet. Furthermore it was at a point in the game where it was no longer really a competitive match as Benfica was winning 5-0.
The Talisca match shows how brilliant they were to keep him and get rid of Bernardo Silva. Many clamoured to let Silva play that position but Silva is a second division calibre player and could never have done what Talisca did.
Lets hope for a good result against Zenit. As I predicted all along, the team is fine and will have another dominant year.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Jornada 1 Recap and New Signings
Well Porto won 2-0 but still showed they lack a full understanding of the system the coach wants them to play. Positive notes for Quaresma and Brahimi. Benfica played a Pacos de Ferreria who played quite well. Benfica did not play too well but still managed to win 2-0. Its important to win when you don't play well. Luisao was dominant and Gaitan was magical. Sporting lost points as expected. They are a mediocre bunch and nothing more than poor results should be expected of them.
NEW SIGNINGS:
Sporting signed Nani who is definitely a credible player upfront. They lose Rojo which means they now have no credible defenders save and except for Cedric. Cedric is also hurt now. As good as Nani is I don't consider him good enough to get a starting role if he were to play on Porto or Benfica but he will surely start at Sporting. What does it change ? Not much. Sporting will improve their attack but will suffer many more goals with the loss of Rojo who was the heart and soul of their defence. All the move will do for Sporting is sell them a few more tickets as fans will want to watch Nani play.
Julio Cesar - a goalie with a storied career, it remains unknown if he will play at the calibre he did at Inter Milan. I don't envision him walking into the starting role though. Artur, as much as I don't like him, has had two consecutive shutouts in official games and stopped 4 penalty shots in those two games. Given his history with the club and "mistica"related attributes he will continue to start until he messes up. Essentially Julio Cesar is a warning to Artur to step his game up or he will be benched. In that sense alone it is a positive signing. Should Cesar end up getting opportunities to play I see no reason to believe he will play any worse than he did at the World Cup -- where he performed brilliantly. He was the second reason (after the referee in the Croatia game) that Brazil made it out of the first round. Didn't cost Benfica a penny in transfer fees either which is positive.
NEW SIGNINGS:
Sporting signed Nani who is definitely a credible player upfront. They lose Rojo which means they now have no credible defenders save and except for Cedric. Cedric is also hurt now. As good as Nani is I don't consider him good enough to get a starting role if he were to play on Porto or Benfica but he will surely start at Sporting. What does it change ? Not much. Sporting will improve their attack but will suffer many more goals with the loss of Rojo who was the heart and soul of their defence. All the move will do for Sporting is sell them a few more tickets as fans will want to watch Nani play.
Julio Cesar - a goalie with a storied career, it remains unknown if he will play at the calibre he did at Inter Milan. I don't envision him walking into the starting role though. Artur, as much as I don't like him, has had two consecutive shutouts in official games and stopped 4 penalty shots in those two games. Given his history with the club and "mistica"related attributes he will continue to start until he messes up. Essentially Julio Cesar is a warning to Artur to step his game up or he will be benched. In that sense alone it is a positive signing. Should Cesar end up getting opportunities to play I see no reason to believe he will play any worse than he did at the World Cup -- where he performed brilliantly. He was the second reason (after the referee in the Croatia game) that Brazil made it out of the first round. Didn't cost Benfica a penny in transfer fees either which is positive.
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