BENFICA first pre-season match. Analysis and Review.

Today the Estadio do Restelo hosted the first two games for the tournament for the Taca de Honra.  Naturally I attended to watch my beloved Benfica and assess the new talent.
Here are my thoughts:

Artur - quite shaky.  Benfica can definitely NOT have him as their starting keeper this season.  They must sign a better alternative.  Not only will Artur not "steal" ant points for the team all season, he is sure to personally cost the team several points.  Decent backup, definitely NOT starter material.

Central Defence:  Jardel played average.  Didn't compromise the team at all but was unsteady at times and took some risks that didn't go as well as they would have if it were Luisao who had played.  As for the new signing Cesar, he was solid.  No mistakes.  Showed some bursts of speed and was good in the air.  Showed good awareness and chemistry with his new teammates.

Right Defence - Luis Miguel, the new signing had a good performance.  He doesn't look good enough to bench Maxi.  Joao Cancelo, from the B team looked very good.  He combined solidly with Salvio.  After a few jitters when he first came in, he shook that off and played solidly.  I would say at this point he looks to be a better backup for Maxi than Luis Miguel.

Left Defence - Benito the new Swiss signing played well.  Didn't compromise.  Made the cross that led to the goal and combined well with Ola John.

Wings - Ola John had a very strong game.  He still shows flashes of immaturity in some of his decisions but his cuts and ability to make diagonal runs as well as his solid dribble  would have him at #3 choice for wingers behind Salvio and Gaitan at this point.

Centre of MF - Joao Teixeira from the B team played ok.  He certainly doesn't seem to possess the quality needed to stay on the "A" team.  Nor does Bernardo Silva.  Benfica fans sometimes get too sentimental about players that develop through the club's youth system.  Silva is wayy to small and would have trouble in European matches.  He has quality, but needs to show much more quality than he did today to compensate for his lack of size and inability to win balls in the air.  Teixeira should go back to the B team and Silva may benefit from being loaned to another Portuguese club to get playing time.
Ruben Pinto played.  Not poorly, not great.  Now the new signing Anderson Talisca had a very good debut.  Aside from the goal, he should excellent presence and awareness of the way the coach wants them to play.  He showed good vision, and passing and won many balls in the air.  Talisca will definitely contribute on this team.  If Enzo leaves, he will have big showed to fill but thus far has shown he has potential to do so.  He is better attacking than Enzo.  How he defends against top teams remains to be seen.

Forwards - Cardozo has got to go.  His slowness and overall uselessness on the pitch hurts the team much more than his now rare goals help the team.  Lima played excellent as always.  Derley looks good.  He is a workhorse and very physical with defenders.  He tried to do too much on a good rush where he could have scored.  A combination of Lima and Derley upfront gives good mobility to the attack and will be a nightmare for opposing defences.  As for Franco Jara, he was awful and showed yet again that he has no place on this team.  He will surely be sold or loaned once again.