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| Monday, 25 July 2011 15:47 |
Braga to select trio as 2011/12 captainsAlan, Hugo Viana and Mossoro get the nod According to a report in today’s A Bola, Leonardo Jardim has selected a trio of senior players to lead Braga in his first season at the Quarry: wide man Alan, midfielder Mossoro, and deep-lying playmaker Hugo Viana.The trio will replace last season’s senior duo of Moises (who departed for Al-Rayyan in January) and Vandinho, who has yet to announce his 2011/12 employers after his contract with Os Arsenalistas expired.
After a summer in which Braga’s usual revolving door policy has been in full effect, Jardim has been left with just five of the starters from May’s Europa League final, and of those five, the two longest-serving squad members are Alan and Paulo Cesar – who left for Brazil after the final declaring that he wanted to bring the curtain down on his time at the club – not exactly captaincy material.
Like Alan (who was signed from regional rivals Guimaraes), Mossoro joined the club in the summer of 2008, from Maritimo. Viana followed a year later, after an indifferent three years at Valencia. All three have been pivotal figures during the club’s much-documented rise to the top table of Portuguese football, and few would quibble at their appointment, which is expected to be confirmed by the club in the coming days.
If playing time last season is any indicator, Alan is likely to be handed the armband when all three are in the starting eleven. The Brazilian started 45 matches in 2010/11, compared to Viana’s 31 and Mossoro’s 19 (though this figure would perhaps have been higher had Mossoro been fit for the entire campaign).
Not that Jardim need rush any decision over who his leading captain (as it were) will be. This time last year, Braga were preparing to meet Celtic in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League, but their first competitive fixture of the 2011/12 campaign is not until the weekend of August 13th/14th, when they travel to Rio Ave for the opening round of the Liga ZON Sagres.
Instead, the new coach can concentrate on trimming his squad further – Marco Ramos, Nuno Valente and Angelo Pena are likely to be released; whilst centre-back Palmeira will be loaned to satellite club Vizela. Also expected to depart on loan is Yazalde: the wide man is currently recovering from knee surgery, but with a surfeit of forwards at his disposal, Jardim is unlikely to find room for the 22 year-old, who impressed on loan at Rio Ave last season.
Ben Shave |
Keep us posted.
What did Figo do against Netherlands in 2006? OHHHHHHHHHH MY EYES meanwhile the Netherlands player didn't even touch him in the face, let alone his eyes.
Pretending Figo is a clean man is inaccurate.
I'll say it once and I'll say it again Alan is Braga's Figo.
I dont believe he's captain material anyway....
Mossoro is in Sevilha signing the deal of a lifetime for 6 million...
So that leaves Hugo Viana who is a natural leader if he can stay fit..
Imorou is going to the player to watch this season... attacking and defending I believe theres very big things ahead for this player..
a few other players have impressed but its far too early to say
I hope Guilherme stay... the kid is electric.. still need to learn a lot but has fantastic feet..
Pizzi will go by the end of August I reckon... if not the January backdoor will be his last stop in Braga...
It would be like when you say Meyong is a great finisher, and you added he was your CR7 (you haven't said that).
Please leave Figo out of it.
Wait a leader that gets fouled/knocked down/barely punched on the chest, yet rolls around on the ground as if he was hit on his head. Even Busquets was proud.
I forgot, its ok when our favorite teams do it. Braga was that for you since they were facing Benfica.
Does anyone have tried IPTV before? I would like to know about the quality of the channel.
As a football fan, I've been thrilled with the reemergence of Sporting fans. Since Sporting/Paciencia has been so active, you can see SCP fans coming back and providing comments and info. l Like it.
Porto fans have always been active.
Sadly, even the one supposed mighty Braga fan, hasn't even commented on this article.
No thoughts on selection of captains or even current squad.
The silence is deathening.
There's still a Braga tab up top?
PS Sorry, I forgot about Karl (I think that I got it right) as well. Karl can you help us out with some info. I didn't want to have to go and research Braga.
I have Direct TV due to the NFL package, but the only Portuguese channels they provide are Brazilian.
Fios/Verizon in NJ offers RTPi
Dish Network offers a LUSO Pack
- Benfica TV
- Euro News
- RTPi
- SIC Noticias
- Sport TV Americas
- SPT
I hate the Dish Network, and don't want another Dish on my roof. I was upset that benfica TV signed exclusive rights with Dish, but it made sense due to the Dish Network providing the most Portuguese coverage.
ESPN3 is a great outlet for games. I was wondering if it will continue showing Benfica games, due to BenficaTV.
I also wanted to point out that some Football Club channels have made deals with other US cable channels instead of the providers themselves.
As for examble, Arsenal games is on the YES network. They usually show the game on Tuesday's, but you at least get to watch the match if it wasn't on FSC. Hate Arsenal.