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.
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Sunday, 21 September 2014
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.”
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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
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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.
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