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| Friday, 07 September 2012 21:13 |
Luxembourg 1-2 PortugalSelecção take home the spoils after uninspiring display After going behind in only the 12th minute, the Selecção dug deep in Luxembourg to come away with all three points in their first qualifying match for World Cup 2014 in Brazil.Portugal’s return to competitive action was marred by a remarkably indifferent opening quarter of an hour. In contrast to their performance against Panama in last month’s friendly, Portugal’s passing game was disorganised and lacked urgency. It should have been perhaps no great surprise when Luxembourg was suddenly in the lead after only 12 minutes. Tom Schnell was allowed far too much space on the right, and his cross found striker Daniel Da Mota, who cut inside Joao Pereira and unleashed a fierce drive that sailed through Patricio’s fingertips as it went into the back of the net. It was a stunning finish considering the lackluster start to the match, and the Selecção immediately responded with crisper passing and sharper movement off the ball. Meireles and Moutinho both squandered half-chances, then Cristiano Ronaldo stung the keeper’s palms with a swerving free kick in the 23rd minute. The Selecção leveled the score in the 28th minute after great work from Moutinho and Meireles. The midfield duo managed to wrestle away possession on the edge of the Luxembourg penalty area and the ball somehow ended up in the path of Ronaldo, who was left with the simplest of finishes for his 37th international goal. The goal proved to be an inspirational boost for Portugal, who laid siege to the Luxembourg goal for the remainder of the half. Cristiano Ronaldo struck the left post in the 33rd minute after an excellent cross over the top of the defence from Meireles. Then, Postiga had two decent chances to score, heading Nani’s cross on target in the 36th minute, and forcing the keeper into another smart save three minutes later with a low drive. Cristiano Ronaldo rounded out the half by hitting the woodwork for the second time with a header. In spite of the late pressure, the Seleccao were left to rue missed chances and a lethargic start to the match as they went into the half all square with Luxembourg. Postiga strikesBento made an uncharacteristic change at the half, subbing out Veloso for the more attack minded Silvestre Varela. Ronaldo found some space in the 49th minute and tested keeper Jonathan Joubert with a low drive. Five minutes later, Portugal was finally in front after Moutinho picked out Postiga over the top with an elegant chipped pass. The Real Zaragoza striker expertly controlled the ball with his head before sliding the ball just inside the right post.
The last half hour of the match was a largely forgettable affair with Braga duo Ruben Micael and Custodio coming on to smother the passing lanes in midfield. All things considered, the Selecção once again did just enough to get the result they came for, but were made to work hard by a determined Luxembourg side buoyed by their early goal. Portugal was perhaps fortuitous that they were not playing against a stronger side, or else the result could have been different. Cristiano Ronaldo will celebrate scoring yet another important goal for his country in spite of the fact he could have notched a hat-trick in the opening half. Portugal will look to secure another three points next Tuesday night in Braga against Azerbaijan. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:15 Lisbon time. by Nathan Motz Luxembourg: Joubert; Janisch, Schnell, Bukovic, Blaise, Gerson, Payal, Bettmer, Daniel da Mota (Deville, 79'), Mutsch, Joachim Portugal: Rui Patrício, João Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fábio Coentrão, Miguel Veloso (Varela, 46'), João Moutinho, Raul Meireles (Custódio, 67'), Nani (Ruben Micael, 81'), Hélder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo Goals: [1-0] Daniel da Mota, 12 [1-1] Ronaldo, 28 [1-2] Postiga, 54 |
It is a magical talent I have.. maybe comments laughing at Voice of Reason's.. self proclaimed name.. might have upset him along the way.
Like really who proclaims themselves such a pompus title like that.. it is attached to some form of psychosis.. more like Voice of Retard..
He comes off almost like he is logical yet as soon as anyone disagrees with him.. his panties get all crunchy.
Yes Retard tell us the news about how great of a job Tom does.. rocket science.. tell us about the obvious.. tell us that have been here since the beginning saying that. Like a big cat playing with a dead mouse.. throw them in the air.. and smack.. right on their face.. although the dead mouse has more intelligent things to say.
Tom doesn't agree with me all the time.. he still posts my comments.. unlike you and your lil Nazi party. If anyone disagrees with you the personal insults start to fly. In the real world I never started any fights.. but I ended them all.
In Tom's world people have a right to speak and no little Stazi sympathizer like you can stop him.
Tom will prove as he can read ip addresses I have only ever used the Orlandomac handle.. you on the other hand.. have at least two that i know of..
Unlike you I have an opinion.. state it.. no matter what the peerless pressure says.. I apologize from time to time.. have been known to admit that I have been wrong.. but you Lord Retard with a dot.. are always perfect.
I was critical of a team that to a man all underperformed.. with a manager that underperformed.. and praised a player that as probably the second greatest player ever gets a ridiculous amount of grief from his own countrymen.. yet Figo who I loved.. and did less.. is lauded over by so many that read brail through loudspeakers... as a 5th language.
Tom's PortuGOAL is not the home of the Stazi, Nazi, Stalin, or even the Chinese Red Army.. this is a home for friendly chat and debate.
Now I will chat friendly with most but if you get personal than you should expect it in return. I am an old testament dude.
You aim and miss for my eye and I will gouge and BBQ yours.. medium rare.. so it still is slightly crunchy.
Unlike some small minded folk I have always believed in the Greater Portuguese Empire.. that travelled the globe.. and has significant pockets of citizens throughout the globe.. we are navigators.. by birth and very few countries can match our exploration.. that is why they teach it in history as far as Canada & the US..
I was taught in grade school about the great explorers.. and only a few of the areas we explored. Some of us read on others who couldn't think for their own did not read on to the other great travels.. and their journey ended there. Also some of the greatest Chops in history never went back to the mainland.. and their seed can be found around the globe. Wouldn't you want some of that power for your national team?
We should be making use of the huge colonial and natural citizenship abroad.. I have always been a massive proponent of this. History proves this.
Of course there are many like MReason and Robbie.. who don't even know that they can have natural citizenship if one of their 4 Grandfather's was a citizen of Portugal.. and we even have been taking colonialists with far less ties.. and welcoming them into our team.
So it is not a matter of if Robbie from Canada my neck of the woods.. it is the matter of the FPF is made of little men.. with little thoughts that broadcast to a bunch of parrots that repeat back to me.
I assure you we have strikers and other players abroad that the homeland does not produce.. that could be associated and introduced into a system of millions.. instead of micro-millions.
Now I know for most it is a love or hate me situation..
I happened to wander on to some other Portuguese sites.. of late and was very well received. They personally requested for me to post there more through PM's having read some of my work here.
But this is my home really.. and with so much Hatorade being consumed.. How could I not keep up the good work for Tom driving in all these extra clicks. My one greatest ability is to move people.. either pro or con.. as a professional writer or niche sport expert that is all you can ask. Put some but's in the seats.. excuse the pun and the t that i left out on purpose.. for Voice of Reason to process easily.
Funny thing with the majority of my most avid Haters is that they support the same teams as I do.. and handle any form of critique to the team poorly, because they can't handle constructive criticism (the definition on google will enlighten many).
The thing PortuGOAL is like a fresh canvas there are many tools you could use to splash some colour..and to generate great work.. unfortunately I never get past the thick brush.
I love a spirited debate.. with an interchange of ideas.. as it creates a much more knowledgeable base to work from. We have ideas to fill the whole spectrum here.. but some unfortunately would only like you to view out of the one window. For this I am reveered and despised.. never said I have ever chosen the easy paper route.
I am a paradox of accomplishment.. The Opposite Theory Disciple.. and a man of change and progress. I accept that not all change is good and sometimes you have to battle to make things look easy.
I am glad I have affected most of you enough to write and fight, and hope this leads to greater accomplisments in your personal life because of the opposite views & reactions I have.
I appreciate very few of the Haters will come back to read this and even less of the others that enjoy reading my posts will have too, but a good journey is never an easy one. So I hope some of you can appreciate that I never take the easy road..
God bless you all for the good and the bad.
Since you're uncomfortable with me rebutting your comments point by point by using pull quotes, I'll try to make this more fluid.
Let me start by saying that there was no hate in my reply. I admire both Figo and Ronaldo as players, but I won't probably know any of the two deeply enough to really feel for them because of something someone writes on a web page. However, what you wrote is so far from the truth that I thought it was better to write something, for Portugal's sake.
I meant that you wrote all that overlooking Figo's career in the national team, from the youth sides until the very end. He did pass the ball, but although I didn't find any page with his assists for the national team, I found an impressive fact: with him playing, the Selecção won 68.90% of the games they played. He accomplished nothing? He is widely regarded as one of the best players ever, and although he didn't win anything with the senior national team, he still won a U-20 World Cup and a U-17 European Cup.
I don't know how you can't understand the next point; maybe you prefer shorter sentences, but the commas are okay and the text is far from dense. The point? Put simply: football is a collective game, it's no use having a world-class attack if your defense is not up to the task. And if things fail, it's everyone's fault, and not the world-class attack's fault for not doing more than they are able to.
Let's remember, again, that I replied because of your false comments on Figo and Ronaldo, not because you think Portugal are loaded with talent but are not delivering.
And finally, contrary to you, I don't bash other people to hurt them (the name thing you tried to pull is pathetic). When I mentioned the children, I was being sincere. I really feel for kids who have to grow up looking up to someone so sore that he immediatly resorts to name-calling when people disagree with him.
This is a great site - THE go-to site for Portuguese football. We are doing the men who put a lot of work into providing us content for discussion a disservice by responding to Orlando's silly and deluded narcissistic ramblings.
Let us instead focus on Tuesday's game - let us get excited, let us celebrate the game, let us believe in the future.
This site has so much to offer us - a place for well informed, well written and well thought out previews from Tom.
We have Nathan's game recaps - thanks for looking on the bright side Nathan.
We have the Liga coverage
Great podcasts...damn Tom, can I call in for one?
Let's discuss the content on the site - we can view things with a critical eye without being over critical.
Guys, the Portugoal guys work hard to give us a good site - let's reward their work with good, informed, well thought out discussions.
Let Orlando Mac (and his alter egos) live in their own fantasy world.
Tom's latest preview is up.
Honestly dude your not a tough guy or intelligent or good looking .....how do I know? well anyone who feels the need to write that stuff on the internet is clearly insecure. When your confident people know it, if you have to tell them your really only trying to convince yourself. Truth is your just a sad little man.
And definetily when talking about Luis de camoes did not had u in mind at all! See I was being sarcastic, Camoes wrote about our heroes and their passion for the country, if Camoes where to write about NT fans he would trow up and get sick. So for tomorrow take a couple of beers and enjoy the game even if we win 1-0!!!
Sadly the times have changed. The training has changed. The diets have changed. The competition is far and beyond anything from Eusebio's days it is a great shame he couldn't be tested in today's competition. In the end he accomplished the same as Figo and even less than Pauleta. In ten years time at this pace the boy who joined Sporting at thirteen years old will be the greatest goal scorer and for all our sake won a trophy. When this is done you will still be on Portugoal crying about the only thing left...how Jorge Jesus ruined your self proclaimed Benfica golden years.
Are these part of your Tuesday night classes.. because I could barely understand your points.
Some were loud and clear but most of the others..
what is this supposed to mean?????
"Said overlooking Figo's brilliant career in the younger teams and both players' immediate impact on the main NT.
"
I feel your hate and want to argue but do not know where to start.. maybe if I get a dumb, retarded inmate, that knows sign language he can translate for you.
When I say dumb I don't mean mute..
I will try to explain my argument.. Figo who was so adored.. missed out on WC's because he never passed... and it was easy to defend mental midgets that are sell absorbed.
I knew those comments would incite a few.. and is why I posted them.. I am tired about hearing how great Figo was.. even though I was a fan.. he accomplished nothing.
His best days were when he was old.. and CR was doing the work for him.
The comments were set to allow people to realize that CR is maturing.. and this is a good thing for our LITTLE country as some would say.
Now I ramble and even with my latest series of Engrish as a Fifth Language I could not understand:
"First of all, there are eleven players in the team, and although Figo and Ronaldo are both legends, there's plenty of talent to choose from on the field, we don't need those two to carry the torch alone. Secondly, everyone's aware of the influence those two have, but caring about numbers alone, did you take a look at their goal scoring record for the Selecção? It's impressive for wingers, and Ronaldo's much more so. Not only that, the majority of the goals both scored were on games that mattered, and not in friendlies."
Which one of my comments did you miss that did not say this is one of the most talented teams on the planet... also which one of my NT post in the last ten years.. did not talk about playing two strikers.. because having wingers shoot from range is not only retarded.. but not very efficient..
The name Pedro means come from rock... pedroso.. etc.. excuse my spelling.. you could be mistaken for dense.. your hatorade did not get past the glasses comment and that is why you regurgitated it..you colour yourself.. and that is your main fault.
Your last statement proves that you have been reading.. we give you style points.. and although you try to offend because I care for kids..my nephews.. all won awards.. for thir play.. two had undefeated seasons.. and they led their teams.. all credited me.. and if I missed a game.. I heard about it..
They love school and perform well.. are discplined for kids.. are in Martial Arts training, 5 different elements including TKD, BJJ, Karate (following my neighbour who is World Champ at the last Pan Am Games), MMA & Wresting. They are good kids and think it is fun it is play time as they are all sub 7.. it is all second nature to them.. my 4 yr old nephew tried to arm bar me the other day as we were playing.
Some would think that is a bad thing.. fortunately I know the escape to his submission because it was deep.. had it been a 200 lb guy.. my elbow would be snapped and I would have to escape the old fashioned way.. with punches to the head until sleepy time.
I love my nephews.. I was asked 20 times this last season to coach.. by parents and officials.. because I was hands on showing what they can do.. to all the kids and coaching them.. it led to record breaking seasons..
My nephew Brayden looks like Axel Witsel with more skill. I train them all to be Strikers or GK's wonder why.. lol
Mr B is a natural winger.. who tracks back well.. we spend hours on quick release.. and positioning..at 6 years old he makes the other kids look silly.
My other two nephews both went with undefeated seasons.. won trophies.. one was the leading scorer in all local leagues.. as a striker the other.. is a DM and didn't allow one shot in the last 4 games... they finished the season undefeated.. with only two goals against in the first match.
Pedro you insult me with kids who I adore and spend hours with every day.. they are a clean slate not like your dumb ass.
I do my part whether they make it or not.. my boys are elite at worst.. they dominate their positions.. and understand their role for the greater good..
Thanks for coming out.. you can have a participation badge.. unlike my boys.
Where do I start... I guess with Antonio.. who lives in one of the nicest areas of the world.. who compares my scribblings to that of Luis De Camoes a poet.. unfortunately I do not have his talents but am able to inspire a post or two... out of some lazy folk.
Besides Bryan who I haven't seen in a while.. hope he is well.. I am the number one talking point on this site.. beyond the teams.. I am glad I spawn so much passion.
This is nonetheless the premier site for Portuguese fans and debaters... that anyone could disagree respectfully on here is beyond most.
Although I empty my bladder on most of unintelligent in here.. Antonio.. I disagree with you.. and even though you almost copied the last paragraph of my first post verbatim which for some doctors would mean ADD and heavy medication for you to cope with regular life..
it is funny considering you were asking me to take a pill.. I appreciate your comments.. and have always read well even when I disagreed with you.
You will not find any posts entitled.. Antonio.. with me as the author.. and I appreciate your backhanded compliment at a writing legend.
Although the only poetic things I ever said.. was while I was punching some random dude in the face.. because I just thought it was some cool shit to say as I was punching them. Kill brain cells while gaining others. Anyways I never started a fight but finished many...
Also I am an older brother to 3 sisters.. say no more..
Some on here take me personally.. this is a board.. with people exchanging thoughts and beliefs.. who needs a pill now Antonio.. you could barely contain yourself with your exclamations..
I agree with you we got the result but complained about the repetitive strain injuries of watching the same thing happen over and over again.
You Antonio and I am signalling out, can not deny that this is a regular occurence, insert any minnow opposition ad nauseum.
Now if you invite me down to your place in Florida.. you will find that I am an extremely hospitable guest, that is not only respectful.. but that graciously shares with you anything that I might have or know.
Some might think of me in a certain way on this site..
But when I travel.. people love me.. and just like I go above and beyond for them.. they do likewise.. contrary to your belief.. and Andre's I am an Ambassador of Good Will... but my pretty looks got me in trouble early and I enjoy a good fight.
Like I said never started one.. but turning off the lights with my overhand left is incredible especially when I am right handed. Few will undertand that comment.
Antonio sorry I upset you.. I enjoy reading your posts.. and wish for us to debate more with time.. in a friendlier manner.
Cheers
Against Luxembourg they play a bad game and won!!!!
Good teams find a way to win even when they have a bad game.
If your passion for Portuguese politics was as much as for futebol we would be the best country in the world, what happen to the days of vasco da gama e luis de camoes??? what would luis camoes right about portugueses soccer fans? I know for a fact wouldnt be a best seller at all!!!!
you speak well and mean well.
I am not a pessimist.. I am a manager by trade.. so improving things.. making substitutions is what I do.. not a soccer manager a business manager.
I am glad my friend that you are happy.. and look brightly... nothing more needs to be said.
You seem very similar amigo. Whether it's SLB or the Selecao, there's always just a focus from you on all the bad points. How crap the manager is, this player shouldn't be playing and that one should, the terrible tactics etc etc. Who said beating Luxembourg 2-1 was a "great result"? I said clearly we should be beating Luxembourg much more comfortably...but all that matters in the end is the 3 points won....it is points that qualify you for a tournament...not talk!
Also show some respect for Luxembourg, instead of repeatedly calling them the worst team in the world. Most international teams are steadily improving, and that's a good thing...it would be boring if these matches were always a guaranteed 3 points for the bigger teams. Competitiveness is a good thing in this game! The fact is I know well that Portugal is capable of beating any side in the world, so I prefer to focus on that rather than how bad the performance was against Luxembourg. This is not hopeless optimism...it is realism....we can beat any team in the world, I know it and you know it. And they proved this in the Euros this summer, after all the pessimism and criticism of Bento and the team in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
One of Portugal's flaws as we all know is they tend to often play at the level of their opponents..and the performance can be very different whether we're playing against Luxembourg or against Brasil! The important thing again is to win, even when you're playing badly...and this is what sets the good teams apart from the rest. Again I state it's always best to focus on the positives, as this enables you to look forward and progress...
Ignorant inflated Value of Self Worth.. I am not the one that calls myself Lord High Executioner.. Tool Boy... LHE you were always missing a pill or two.. take your medication... and sit back down..
"Can't blame them for trying so hard when blowhards like CR say they will try to set a new goal scoring record against Luxy... "
What? Were did you watch that?
"Like Figo before him CR is maturing as he ages.. with his efforts.. and he is the only commendable player on the team."
Said overlooking Figo's brilliant career in the younger teams and both players' immediate impact on the main NT.
"People forget very easily that in Figo's early NT career he was just as wasteful as CR.. early on."
On the contrary, I recall the beggining of both and how both were so important for Portugal's success.
"Figo could not pass well.. unless directed to.. he could not shoot well.. but in his older years.. when he was less selfish.. his game improved immeasurably and our attack improved greatly narrowly missing out on trophies."
Wow, this one takes it to another level. Could not pass well and could not shoot? O.o
"CR is there right now.. sure he is as petulant as ever.. sulking over a missed penalty call when everyone that was not wearing red glasses knew that both of those fouls on CR & Nani were legal."
Someone over here without "red glasses" saw that the tackle on Nani was far far from legal. You cannot run against a player, it's obvious that he will fall; the most you can do is run along and gradually win the ball using the physique. Plus, a strong will to make a good display, score and help the team is far from petulance.
I don't know if you expect people to take you seriously after all what you wrote.
First of all, there are eleven players in the team, and although Figo and Ronaldo are both legends, there's plenty of talent to choose from on the field, we don't need those two to carry the torch alone. Secondly, everyone's aware of the influence those two have, but caring about numbers alone, did you take a look at their goal scoring record for the Selecção? It's impressive for wingers, and Ronaldo's much more so. Not only that, the majority of the goals both scored were on games that mattered, and not in friendlies.
As to the rest, I sincerely hope you're not in charge of young kids. You sound too deranged to be in charge of something so important.
"struggles against minnows in a group full of them.. could result in a missed WC.. in the land we made.. with our seed."
So now we can add delusional and ignorant to an inflated value of self worth????
I don't always agree with NJ.. so this isn't a circle jerk.
Unlike others with pre-determined illnesses.. I watch every game.. expecting the best.. and looking at this match.. there were a lot of techincal and tactical errors before the whistle even blew to start the match.
So when we see the mistakes.. and realize that an equally lack lustre squad in a different formation would've dictated a slightly different game is upsetting.
So I and others were upset with Bento when we saw his starting errors...knowing that a lack lustre team in a different formation would've scored more goals does not help.. and in the end I blame him the most... but let us face facts it is the players that really screwed this match up.
Bento is a tool.. no one listens we are all aware of that..
That Euro great showing was right down to the extremely talented team we have and their will to get results..
It wasn't some technical or tactical masterpiece. It is not like in baseball where teams can manufacture runs with a gameplan.. this is no Italy..playing the offside trap the whole match.. faking dives to get a kick near the box.. and setting up a tactical set piece that catches the other team off guard earning a victory.
All Portugal's games are won on talent.. not tactical ability... a manager with a good set of pom poms wins us games.. the defence is good in major tournies because the players care.. not because Bento had a genuis moment to cover specific players with a double mark that led to a turnover, and a counter goal.
We are one of the worst managed squads on the planet.. if we had India's talent we wouldn't even be a talking point to qualify, it is not like our Manager would set up a gameplan that would get us there.
This isn't no Berti Vogts , Roy Hodgeson, or the Flying Dutchman..
We will not outsmart anyone.. including Luxembourg's manager.. we literally have minnow management.. and a team of WC champions.
So you can be happy with that but I am not.. as many others aren't.
Like Figo before him CR is maturing as he ages.. with his efforts.. and he is the only commendable player on the team.
People forget very easily that in Figo's early NT career he was just as wasteful as CR.. early on.
Figo could not pass well.. unless directed to.. he could not shoot well.. but in his older years.. when he was less selfish.. his game improved immeasurably and our attack improved greatly narrowly missing out on trophies.
CR is there right now.. sure he is as petulant as ever.. sulking over a missed penalty call when everyone that was not wearing red glasses knew that both of those fouls on CR & Nani were legal.
CR finally is dictating for the NT what he should've done years ago.
If he was in his natural position hewould've been facing a different direction and we would be sitting here circle jerking about his ability to not hit the post and score from the craziest of angles.
CR if anything has tried too hard in systems that did not promote his strengths.. he was constantly played in a tactical formation that never addressed his triple marking.. it has literally ruined his standing at the NT level.
He is used to playing with two strikers.. throughout his club level years.. and it creates massive spaces that with his speed and tactical ability make him a record breaker in Euro club goals.
Unheard of for a player that plays on the wings. Messi too.. who I rate slightly above CR at the moment.. is amazing.
The two of them are the best players to EVER play the game. What they have accomplished in the face of 11 men foced to cover them is amazing.
I love Eusebio.. but no one touches CR ever for talent.. and we are wasting the dude.. the team tactics do not favour him in the BEST light. The only reason we look offensive at the moment is because Bento plays without a DM.. he has a deep attacking midfield.. which is ok with the miinows.. but is weak sauce againt the Germans.. and other NT's that play tactically smart. He does so relying on the players talent and will to make plays.. not tactically putting a system in place.
CR with two strikers.. of average ability at best.. would be freed and that space as well as angle would mean monster results.. yet in game in game out the tactics only help to easily mark CR out.. and foolish folk.. see him as the weak link because they don't underatand the other team is marking out the best player ever in our history.. tactically.
They complain that CR is so much better for his clubs than he is for Portugal.. yet he plays tactically in a formation that he rarely sees at club level.. that affords him much more space.
He is at his prime right now.. we have 4 to 6 years.. to win trophies.. by the time Mourinho shows up the CR Gen will be done.. and we could miss out on some major prizes.
Some will say CR is selfish.. and they should strip him of being a Captain but in reality.. he is getting screwed.. and it is not like Nani with the extra space is making use of it. Because he too is being triple marked..
How could that happen you say.. two wingers triple marked.. there should be some open bodies.. but the fact is.. it is an amazing system that every world manager knows.
Portugal is so predictable that you can plan 2 or 3 triple marks without it affecting your offence or defence.
How you ask?
Because what most teams do is leave one man marker on CR.. then they have another in the 5 foot box around him.. the third is 10 feet away.. they overload the side with the ball and force the Portugese to make a good long pass.. which we know they are incapable of doing.
With one striker only commiting one CB, and the DM.. in a real DM system not ours.. it affords other teams to score more as well as triple mark any ball carrier.. that is why average teams in a 4-4-2 have scalped giants and will continue to do so.
The two attackers neutralize the two CB's at the back.. as well as the DM, and force the opposite side FB to leave his technical position... which creates holes on the wing and the overlap.. holes that are available at club level with the majority of our squad that plays with two strikers normally with two strikers an affords CR to score record goals at club level.
I appreciate how counter intuitive my suggestions are.. we have average strikers.. how coud adding more average strikers help our offence when they presently don't ever take their chances well.
The truth is those same players that have club success all play with two up front.. it affords them time on the ball.. more space.. and an opportunity at the win even against superior foe.
Yet our prized pupils show up to the NT.. and are played in a non DM formation.. of 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-1-3-1 forcing the wings to be 10 times more accurate.. to get a cross in, ten times more accurate in a long ranged shot, and ten times more difficult for a lone striker to deal with the GK, with two CB's.. and the DM covering him.
Yet we berate every striker we have that is continually played out of his norm.
*****NEWS FLASH*****
ALL PORTUGUESE STRIKERS AT CLUB LEVEL PLAY WITH 2 UP FRONT.
Yet at the NT level they are magically supposed to prove that with a zonal 4 man mark.. in the back.. they are are supposed to achieve the same results.
It is not rocket science.. actually it is a certain part of the text book.. that Portuguese Managers refuse to look at.
Just imagine Pauleta (the minnow crusher) with Gomes(the Game Changer) as his sub striker.. in our Golden Gen instead of one replacing the other when both at club level succeeded with two up front... sure it would've meant the loss of players like Maniche, Meireles,Tiago, Petit..Fernandes etc.. good box to box guys misplaced at DM..
It would've vaulted players like Costinha, Meira, Pepe to a different stratosphere.
Just imagine those dudes and their abilities at DM in a more DM friendly diamond formation. They would've been the legends our grand tournament trophies were made of.
I have literally watched.. as some of the greatest players ever at NT in their proper local have been wasted.
Postiga never plays alone.. Pauleta never did either.. Almeida struck fear in others with a 2 pronged attack a Werder.. Gomes tandem with Miccoli, Cardozo, etc.. was of legend.. although he didn't play with them much ith JJ or before.
We waste our strikers.. and expect them to cope with quad marking one of which the keeper can get the ball with his hands.
The majority of the teams Portugal plays should be played at a 4-4-2 in the diamond formation with a real DM... we would not only win.. but do so convincingly..and then with the committment to the team.. our results would be astronomimical.
Yet we are forced to put up with petulant managers year in year out.. that only know the 4-3-3.. or 4-2-3-1.. even against the worst sides in the world, when a positive result would've catapulted us to some trophies with a simpe tactical change.
I appreciate that Portuguese managers think the English 4-4-2 is not cool. They avoid it like the plague..but to not have two in the front against Luxembourg is a travesity. It shows the ignorance of these petchulant managers.. who beyond reason.. think they know better.
With Bento & CR calling for an effort that would result in the HIGHEST SCORE EVER both barely scraped out ith a win.
I will also remind you that if Luxembourg had average attackers.. the 6 chances they had in the second half could've resulted in a a 5-2 scoreline.. with us hitting a lot of posts.. against one of the worst teams on the planet.
Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda...
We could've won 5-1 fact is we could've lost 5-2... to one of the worst squads in football history.
In the end the result is that we WON.. against one of the worst teams on the planet on tactical ability.
As usual I make loads of friends.. Andre is happy as usual with losing..or winning with a serated edge.. as I call it.
Realism is not pessimism.. Andre.. beating one of the worst teams in the world barely.. is not a great result it is just a result.
Then we have my friend Robbie from my neck of the woods.. clearly you want to root for him but he is on the wrong route with too many hits of acid talking about chimps and populations..
Picture this Flash Card Boy.. Bento came in and took over from Queiroz an absolute moron.. and was very familiar with all the players and turned things around.. I was always one of his greatest supporters at the time and thought he was the perfect fix.. I was right.
Guess what to make it in... because most of the players knew his formations and tactics.. yet at the end of qualifying he shit the bed and we barely qualified.. that is FACT.. I didn't make that up.. and before the EURO I called for his head tool boy.
During the EURO I was pleaseantly surprised with the results as I thought he would implode and cost us two or 3 other players besides the greatest CB in the game and at the time two of the better backs in Bos and Miguel.. it was no tactical genuis as I have stated he plays the same formation every game with almost the same players bar injury.. THE PLAYERS SHOWED UP.. and contrary to Tony from CA they are magnificent.. and can play with the best on the planet.. because they are some of the best ever.
Then let us bring us to your little mind Robbie... little not in as an insult but your view on Portugal.
Have you never in your history class in CANADA (I will add) heard of the Portuguese Explorers.. they are world famous.. and ther seed extended and spawned many a colony all over the world.
Do you know FACT that Portuguese is the 3rd most spoken first language on the planet.. and was only surpassed by English in the last 15 years... before then.. it was second behind Spanish.. so your little mind of "we are so small" does not fit our history.. of colonizing the world..
You are in Canada because your parents are explorers.. or their parents were.. we did not fill the Luxembourg stadium.. and were forced to to buy two match tickets at 150 to 300 euros each.. to watch Portugal play once because we are small tool boy.
The only people left in Portugal are the folks that don't explore.. that contradict what the whole is.. in Canada alone tool boy there are pockets of millions of Pork Chops..
follow that with the States in the North East and in California.. and your little mentality is weak.
Throw in Europe where there is a huge population of second and third Gen Pork Chops.. even in England where I lived for 5 years tool boy there is a thriving community of long ranged chops.. and that is one of the worst countries.. for Chops.. Paris has over 1 million Portuguese residents in its GMA...
Also I have wriiten all these facts at the end of my post because I know half of my detractors like Robbie have the attention span of a nat.. so this mini novel is dedicated to all the good research being conducted towards ADD.
My wife is a teacher.. and she gets many special cases like Robbie every year. Personally I'm old school I think you beat them enough they get the message.. trust me I too have been a College Head of Faculty.. and teaching dum dums was my specialty.. I could teach any retard.. what to do..
When I say retard.. I am not referring to any physically or mentally challenged person.. I am strictly referring too people like Robbie who have all the skills in the world.. and yet are second rate because of their abililty to read or think.. if there is not a youtube video..or a facebook page.. my friend Robbie is stupified..
Robbie if you want to know more about history than I will be more than happy to charge you for it.. clearly you could not read.. the history of Portugal.. tool boy.
Unfortunately in a 3 paragraph post and with an admitted inability to read beyond that my friend Robbie only merits certain menial positions.. because he has missed all the fine print every time he has been robbed.
FACT: Not all robbers break your window to rob you robbie..
So now tha I have educated you on Portugal's immensity.. it is not like you get pockets of Luxembourgers.. that total a third of the first languages.. maybe your small thing that we know of will not restrict the rest of us that are huge, bigger than the rest mentality.. unlike you I believe there are Portuguese travellers everywhere over a few Gens that would still get in there and win us some games.. right now they have to find the motherland.. tool boy.. when the motherland should be finding them.. considering the wealth of population.
Sporting has started a Academy here in Toronto.. looking to max their school.. I am a Benfica fan.. mostly.. and am embaraased that we haven't realized the greater population first.
You have been educated in Canada and yet even though they talk of Diaz, Vasco de Gama and others.. you think we are a small sess pool of love... tool boy.
I love history.. and I know that last names were not common 500 years ago as there was no need for them when you couldn't travel far.. and I know that in my last name my family comes from warriors that liberated Portugal from the Moors.. two brothers actually that chopped down the doors of a Castelo and freed Portugal.
Da Costa was folks that lived on the coast so Pedro tha Costa was such... Oliveira.. were Olive garden folks..
Robbie you haven't read this far but for all the smart folk.. that do not have ADD.. I have posted in length.
We are a great Nation of Explorers and we have great millions of dedicated fans.. unfortunately like some we have small minded chimps in charge of the Fed.
It was my sisters BDay yesterday.. she turned 40.. and we went clubbing.. some really rude people.. the steroids in the juiced up monkey's did not help (not reffering to black people btw.). I have a way with brawn.. all I got were apologies.
There was a whole group of dudes that had it in for a friend of mine.. who was drunk.. they surrounded him... and then they got a load of me.. one by one they peeled off..
I only say all this.. because I paint a true picture I do not lie.. I do not intimidate people.. it is not in my nature.. but some of the posters on here are downright disrepectful and would not say shit to my face..
Again I do not mean to bully anyone.. but I only say shit to people that are bullies..
In real life I saw people bullied and I did my part.. all over this planet..
I beat people up over bullying others...
I have my issues.. like everyone does.. but have no problem educating the Robbies of this world.. sometimes through knowledge and other times in a more pleasurable way..
I don't want to write a small novel so I will just touch on a couple points you tried making. First you said Bento barely got Portugal into the Euro, you do understand when he was hired Portugal only had 1 point after 2 games, so we he did was actually quite impressive. Second, relax my little brained friend, for WC 2006 Qualifying Portugal struggled to a 2-1 victory over Liechtenstein, what happen the next game? 7-1 over Russia. Third, Portugal has a population of roughly 12mil may be less, compare us to Belgium or Hungary with the same amount of people and you should realize we are over achievers. Portugal is relatively new to the world stage only being consistent, starting in 96 and since then 3 semis and 1 final which is better than most countries.
Everyone wants a trophy I get it, but these tourneys don't happen every year so stay patient and stay faithful.
Postiga has done an adequate job (but is not what I would call World Class).
Almeida has the physical attributes to dominate but his head will not allow him to be great.
Which brings me to Olivera. He seems to be a nice combination of Positiga (efficiency) and Almeida (phyiscal presence). I would argue that Bento should go with Olivera for at least 5 games in a row to see what he can do. He needs to gain more experience and every time a match gies by and he is not in the starting line-up I feel we are running out of time to develop the Striker we need for the WC.
portuguese midfield with the exception of moutinho struggled though and calls for a few changes
PIZZI should replace meireles and CUSTODIO / ANDRE SANTOS should replace veloso for future fixtures
lets go bento....
Yes we should be beating Luxembourg a lot more comfortably and playing better than that. But it's early september, the season's hardly started! And I repeat again, the atmosphere for the match resembled a pre-season friendly, so all that mattered was getting 3 points. And also as Postiga correctly stated in his interview after the match...international matches are rarely easy anymore these days, and even the so-called minnows are improving all the time. Winning the match is what matters most. Many Portugal fans must stop being such whiners and pessimists and look on the bright side of things for a change.
Just chill, and be privileged that you have the chance to witness the greatness of Ronaldo for the national team.
We'll make it to the World Cup, and with Ronny, we'll be serious contenders!
I have been a Manager most of my life so fixing things in the chain of command and improving on yesterdays mistakes and results is second nature for me.
Some others like to whip out the pom poms.. and blindly cheer on their teams.. hoping for the best.. even some that know better.
Sometimes things like Benfica having the best squad and losing every year just isn't good enough.. sometimes a semi in the euro is satisfactory.. if you win it a few times..
the tournie that is.
Right now Portugal unlike what Tony thinks.. is loaded with talent.. all over the pitch.. some really talented players never even make the squad.. some others have been kicked off.. some exceptional ones are played out of position and most are played in formations that they never play at their club.
With the right results Portugal by could be 2nd or 3rd in FIFA rankings in the next couple of years.. unheard of.
But with Portuguese Liga Managers starting Portuguese less who knows what the future holds.. not because we don't have the talent.. just because of foolish folks that would rather waste time with Southern Turds.. we have to strike while the iron is hot.. and struggles against minnows in a group full of them.. could result in a missed WC.. in the land we made.. with our seed.
Nothing better to raise that WC than in the face of our arrogant offspring with Pepe scoring a winning goal.. or two, hopefully in the Final against Brazil.
Anyways.. Bento.. has rode the backs of these talented players.. and the one trick pony.. barely got us to Euro qualifying which is easier than getting into the WC.
So some of you gripe at those of us that are not happy about the recurrent events.. well tough cookies.. this is not the dark side.. it is the right side.. and the right side wants to win. In the end really it doesn't matter how they win but a 2-1 win against one of the worst teams in the world is not acceptable. Any intelligent fan understands that and iss just happy about the result. But to talk about the posts.. most of them were going out.. not in... when they hit the wood work. Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda's don't count.. that is loser talk.
I am tired of predicting Benfica/Portugal are going to blow victories.. and seasons.. tired.. of watching a great crop of players not lift a trophy repeatedly, most of the times because they are out managed not played. They only get outplayed when playing the minnows same is true for Benfica as it is Portugal.
Isn't accepting the same result over and over.. thinking it will change a sign of insanity...?
Personally for me. we need to win some trophies.. tired of watching Italy trip their way to undeserved titles.. and the watching parades of fools..
This is our time.. and if the fans demanded more they would get more.. as the Porto fans do.. and receive.
Some Reds are so detached from winning that they don't know it is an attitude that you breed that gets you through the bad games.. will flying colours, even under the toughtest tests.
I am just guessing but I think Portugal will meet tougher tests on the way to the WC, stumbling over Luxy that will probably bottom the group.. isnn't a result anyone should applaud.
The result was fine, its how we got to it. We didn't even grind out the game. We were just poor. Like I said, we could have won and dominated with a 1-0 win. We didn't do that.
It's not, "the sky is falling" mentality. It's just that we should have looked better. Blame it on the effort, blame it on the manager and his selection and/or tactics. The fact remains, we were poor.
You're right, a 2-1 win vs a nobody will mean nothing come the WC. But we do need to get there first. This performance leads me to believe that it could be as hard a qualification as the Euros, and that's not good.
Like I mentioned, a 1-0 win is fine if the performance is what it should be verse minnows.
I don't think anyone is jumping off the wagon or wish for losses. It's just that we've seen all this before.
The game could have easily have been 5 or 6 to 1 - but I guess the same old posters would be complaining.
With all of the problems we have had early on in qualifiers, one would think most fans would be happy with the win. Not Portugal fans...the tournament is two years away, and the sky is falling - again.
Get a grip fellas, and see things for what they are/were.
1) chances were created - posts were hit.
2) rarely did Luxembourg threaten after that first goal. they had a couple of half chances and one decent one...other than that, nothing.
3) fitness - understand that most of our guys are coming off a short rest after a very long and gruelling 11/12 campaign. A number of Luxembourg's players play in Norway and other leagues in the north - they are in mid-season form and are in game shape. Our guys weren't.
I'm ok with the game - not thrilled, but ok.
Nathan, I think your articles are well written and your posts always have merit...but I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed that you have joined the dark side of this board...never did I think you would include a reference
Portugal was perhaps fortuitous that they were not playing against a stronger side, or else the result could have been different.
That is the last line of reasoning some of the people on this board use to crticize the team.
Cheer up everyone - in 2014, I would hazard to guess that most of us (except for a couple of people here) will forget that we only beat luxembourg by a count of 2-1.
Those who will remember the game are those that revel in our seleccaos failures - because they get to be right.
Bento should play a more natural #10 alongside Moutinho. Ruben Micael is not a world class player, but he offers something different than Meireles. He's better technically, more creative, and he's in excellent form. I still think that when fit, Danny would be the perfect central playmaker in a 4-2-3-1 and Andre Martins will likely be our future starter, but at the moment, Micael is our best option.
Ronaldo-----------------Oliveira----------------------------Nani
------------------------------------------Micael--------------------------
----------------------------Moutinho------------------------------------------
Coentrao-----------------------Veloso-----------------------------Pereira
----------------------Alves------------------------Pepe------------------------
---------------------------------------Patricio--------------------------------------
Postiga will likely start, but Oliveira would be my choice. He's much stronger on the ball, he's got excellent pace, and he can create chances for himself.
I don't think in the first game of qualifying given the poor history you change too much from Euro 2012. There is not enough quality depth on this team to make radical changes.
I thought Varela was okay and good be a decent player as a back up. What other wing option do you have after Varela to replace Nani? Qauresma? Lets be realistic.
Meireles is frustrating but he has been there all those years because there was no one else to replace him. It maybe time for Miceal who is decent but not great. That is not much of an upgrade.
Nani is inconsistent, we know that and at 25 years old you may have to say he is what he is. He will not change Is there someone better?
Postiga is not great but if you notice is our best finisher in tight games around the box when the other team parks the bus. Nelson O is not ready.
I'll stop my rant, but my point is you have to look at the players and adapt the coaching. Once we have more quality than perhaps we can put more blame on Bento for being cautious.
First let me say lets be thankful we start qualifiers verse minnows. It's always tough to play in early qualifiers after the club campaign just got under way. Players have other things on their minds, and this is as much as a distraction as anything else.
Unfortunately for Portugal, their opponents aren't in exactly in top leagues. Playing at home and showcasing them themselves is very important to them.
That being said, Bento has to be smarter. If he's going to say that Portugal was going to come out and play as in the Euros to set a tone, I'm fine with that. What's very troubling is that he was unable to get the players to follow suite. If he's going to trot out the same lineup, with the same players that are in the "Big Leagues", with so much on their minds, he better be able to get them to, dare I say, focus on the task at hand. Unfortunately he wasn't able to do that, and that's very troubling. Trotting out the same lineup, formation and tactics does not equate to the Euros intensity.I for one wouldn't have been upset if a few newbies got a run out.
Why not have Micael start, since he has looked very good in the beginning of the campaign? Meireles hasn't really played.
Nani is in for a world of hurt. People blaming SAF for his troubles is ridiculous. He's a winger who has been told over and over to cross the ball and track back, which he did inconsistently all of the last two campaigns. He is let loose on the field if they are down and need a goal, not from the beginning of the match. Even with this happening he makes crazy demands and is sat down. If Nani is shipped off to a substandard league at age 25, we're going to see a drop in quality.
Varela who hasn't played is the saviour that's called upon?
Cristiano is pouting. By the way it is about the money. He considers himself the best and having Iniesta win the award killed him. With so many players cashing in abroad (China, Russia, etc...) he finds himself not at the top of the money list. He plays for what he considers is the biggest club in the world (he's right) and feels he should be paid as the best. Simple.
In getting back to Bento, I agree with Orlando. In looking at lineup and formation it plays like a 4-1-2-3 or 4-1-5. When Varela comes on, it was a 4-0-6. Why not have the same lineup and force them to play a 4-2-3-1? Why exactly doesn't Nani track back? Because he's in the top 3? Why? I get Cristiano remaining up top to keep wing backs and even wingers honest. But Nani?
Varela comes on, and Nani moves inside? It's one thing is he was being used in this matter, here and there, for his club but he hasn't. In my opinion we weaken two spots with this type of move.
Why do Seleccao managers continually use Portuguese players in their unnatural positions. Attacking mids go out wide, and now wingers to the middle. It's ridiculous.
Lastly, is this the type of substitution pattern that Bento would use if we were playing a tougher opponent? Let's say Russia or even Israrel? If so, we will get shredded at the back and fall further behind.
Let me give Luxembourg credit for their fight and sound play. But if we had maybe a little more hungry players showcasing themselves, and better tactics/formations, we should have put them away comfortably. It didn't have to be a rout, but at least comfortable. Meaning a dominating 1-0 win with our, always, numerous failed chances.
I'm curious to see what Bento does in Braga. Will he start and trot out Braga players? I ask, after this performance, why not? It would be fun for the home crowd.
Or if he keeps it the same, will the intensity be much better? That means, not going down a goal early and keeping the intensity should we go up one early.
The problem with playing the likes of Luxembourg away from home is that there is a "pre-season friendly feel" to these types of matches, in a tiny stadium and on a small congested pitch, and sometimes it's harder for the players to get fully motivated for these types of matches, when we're expected to win at a canter... and we all know that this is one of the Selecao's bad tendencies, to get complacent and play at the level of their opponents. And it happened again last night.
But we all know that against the very best sides, the Selecao usually raise their game substantially. So i am not too worried. In the end we hit the post 3 or 4 times, so could've won a lot more comfortably. Luxembourg were better than expected and they scored a really good goal, we can't take that away from them, that was a good goal by any standards, and I applauded it! What was important was to get the 3 points, particularly after making a poor start to the match, and we did.
I was disappointed in the performances of Meireles and Nani, and the likes of Micael and Varela are pushing to replace those two, if they don't improve. On current form I think Micael is more deserving of a starting place in the next match than Meireles. Would've also liked to have seen Oliveira involved in that second half, perhaps even alongside Postiga, rather than replacing him...we shouldn't be so rigid in always sticking to just one up front, particularly against weaker opposition like this.
But I'm optimistic, we should definitely beat Azerbaijan next week, while Russia will have a tricky match in Israel on the same day. I predict that if we avoid defeat in Russia in our 3rd match, we should really go on to win this group...that is by far our toughest fixture, and it's good we will have it early on in the group. If we end up doing better than Russia in the two matches against them, that should in theory enable us to win this group, and we all know Portugal play better against stronger opposition.
4-1-2-3
Pereira - Pepe - Alves - Coentrão;
Veloso
Moutinho - Danny/Fernandes
Ronaldo - Oliveira/Vaz Tê - Nani
or 4-3-3
Lopes - Pepe - Alves - Coentrão
Moutinho - Veloso - Meireles/Fernandes
Varela - Ronaldo - Nani
But look at the lineup we could have had..
4-1-2-3
Bosingwa - Pepe - Carvalho - Coentrão
Meireles
Moutinho - Nani
Ronaldo - Oliveira/Vaz Tê - Quaresma
My god, he did the same against Netherlands and Czech Republic ... How unlucky can someone get ? He has 5 goals in his last 5 appearances for Portugal and could have had at least six more ! If Portugal can find a world class no. 10 or a no. 9 then they will become true contenders.
The back four are probably the best in the world (largely due to Pepe) and Moutinho is probably the most under rated midfielder in the world ... he is better than Modric because not only is he pure class on the ball - he is amazing when it comes to closing down on others and tackling. Same goes for Meireless and Veloso.
Still, as stated by someone else, if you're going to have an off day, better that it's against a team like Luxembourg. Let's just hope we get a much stronger performance at 'A Pedreira' against Azerbaijan.
I am sure that those comments were blown up and posted on their board all week.
How does your foot in your mouth taste Ronaldo???
JJ learns a formation a year.. Bento is too stupid for that.
Same stupid formation for every game.. he has to be one of the stupidest people in Portugal.. what does a 4-1-1-3-1 or 4-2-3-1 do for a lone striker when a team parks the bus...?
With Portugal's ability to shoot from long range or lack there of.. what kind of stupidness is that.
Before the first whistle I was already cursing Bento.. then as soon as the players took the field with their greater than thou attitude clearly in response to their Captains chirping..
I realized that the players clearly did not give a rats ass about Bento's recent speeches about how they would be taking the minnows seriously.. again the chirping from the squad in the interviews leading up to the game were that things are status quo.. and that already they are tuning Bento out.
Which could come back to haunt us in a bad way.
The players strolled out with their egos.. actually CR was the best of them.. and actually led with his play.. but around him the sheer laziness and over confidence was sickening.
Nani, Moutinho, Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Postiga.. Pereira.. Alves they were all half assing it.. not really running for balls seriously.. especially Pepe because the first goal.. he lazed it back instead of cutting off that man.. and watched as that beautiful goal was scored.. through Patricio's fingers.
Daniel Da Mota the best Portuguese on the pitch.. beyond CR.. scored a wonder goal for the Bourgers...
This game needed to have some rookie guys in the squad fighting for spots.. and should've started with both Postiga & Oliveira up front.. that way they could say if you fail.. we will start others.. a motivation..
Moutinho should've played as the 10.. Veloso should've played as the DM and focused on deep passing and defence only.. Meireles is a waste. in this formation and was the worst man on the pitch today.. out of a squad that played horribly.. it doesn't say much.. and since this has become a repetitive occurrence maybe Bentholes faith in him should be discarded.
Now personally in fairness to Meireles.. I have never thought he was a good DM.. he plays better as an attacking mid.. and scored some great goals.. next to Tiago.. as a late runner into the box and scoring from in close... his long range efforts are laughable as are Moutinho's anyone that looks at one of Moutinho's efforts from great areas could see how retarded he is at shooting..
How these guys are professionals no one will ever know.. by watching them shoot from the top of the box.. it is comedic at best. there are better shooters in my nephews six year old league.. I kid you not.
In the end I was applauding Luxembourgs attempts and if they had not substituted the Pork Chop they might have got a draw out of it.
I always prefer a David vs a Goliath.. especially when the petulant Portuguese were so arrogant in their disdain.
It was embarrassing...
The amount of offsides were ridiculous.. not because Luxembourg was pushing a high line.. simply.. laziness.. at any point.. you would look across the line.. and there were 2 to 3 Portuguese offside.. waiting for the play to catch up to them.. I still think Postiga's goal was offside.. they only showed it briefly once.. and it looked like he once again had lazed the line.. shame on those guys lazing the line.. they cost us many an opportunity..
They were sitting around like the Italian's do waiting for the Linesman to make a favourable mistake on the line.. that would lead to a goal especially they are weak mentally.
Fortunately the Linesman didn't and forced the sleeping beauties.. to wake up slightly.
Varela for me had one of his worst games ever.. although like CR he was one of the few that actually was running.. Bento's subs were stupid.. he even took from JJ.. when he brought on Varela.. pushed CR next to Postiga.. and was running a 2-3-5.
What makes Bento dumber is that.. JJ knows he has to have two strikers to make that formation work against the weak.. CR never players as a true striker and prefers to build from deeper out.. so his formation never commands as many CB's and DM's as two strikers.. who lock 3 defenders in place... allowing more space on the wings for the wingers and the overlap with the FB's..
In this formation Moutinho can do what he does best which is slot passes from a deeper role.. and then we never have to witness him attempt a shot.. Veloso also then has a whole field to spread open passes too.. and can slip in rarely for a long range effort to keep the midfielders honest.
The defence would still be sorted because Pereira or Coentrao would alternate attack and defence.. so that we would'nt have to witness Luxy with only two players in a forward position.. break out and turn it into a 5 attacking vs 4 scenario.. with all the Pork chops lazily out of position.
Can't say I am surprised nothing has changed it hasn't since Antonio Oliveira.. was the manager.. we still have one of the most talented teams on the planet.. but they are so self-inflated.. that technical marking against great squads or simply beating minnows is beyond them.
We will never reach the next level.. until we master this.. maybe we will waste the Platinum Generation.. because Portugal.. if they played the best players... for each position.. would have the greatest squad in their history.. not to mention that the combo Gold Gen and Platinum Gen.. should've won trophies.. but if you played all the best players at each position.. right now.. they should be winning.. period.. by that I mean finals.. euro Semis.. WC.. and a win or two..
Clearly they are not..
The good news after today is although they were sleeping we still got all 3 points.. and good teams find a way to win when they play poorly.. so hopefully this is a good sign.. although.. my gut says.. same old.. say crap.
Our finishing was lacking but nothing new. I expect a better result at home in the next game. Must give credit to Bento for the introduction of Varela, it made a difference. This team is 1-2 impact players short of being better -- not sure where it will come from given the lack of quality depth and players not ready for this stage.
I am concerned about Nani and he almost left Manu U. He is a bit inconsistent and is probably in SAF's doghouse. We need him to turn it around and become more consistent. I have said for years that I don't think ManU is the right club for Nani and he seems to be a whipping boy for SAF. I am sure Nani and his inconsistency is not helping the cause. Player and coach not on the same page. Let's hope Nani can become consistent.
Speaking of the match. I am obviously disappointed but I won't dwell on it since we got the 3 points. Luxembourg played high up and worked really hard to shut down our offence. So it's a case of their solid defensive display as much as it was our poor passing in the early stages.
We know what to expect from Postiga and by scoring the winning goal and having a couple other chances on target, I'd say he had a pretty good game. He usually disappears for long periods of time but he did show up this game.
Nani was poor.. I could forget he was on the pitch.
Varela impressed me with his bursts of speed. He can really run and this compliments CR.
Overall though, awful display from Portugal. Hopefully the next few days will give them the time needed to gel and put in a more convincing performance on Tuesday.
Helder Postiga scored a good goal, but his overall performance was disappointing. As always, he put in a lot of running, but he was frequently pushed off the ball, and too wasteful with his chances. Still a much better player than Almeida, but not as good as Oliveira.
Nani was another player who had a poor game. He actually improved when moved into a more central position, but it was still one of those games for Nani: Some nice touches, but disappointing in the end.
Ronaldo, Moutinho, Pepe, and Coentrao were our best players tonight. I was also impressed with Varela in the second half. Bento's offensive plan B is to put Varela on for a midfielder, and play Nani more centrally. This is great when we need a goal or two, but we need to make sure that at least one midfielder stays deep.
Overall, not a terrible performance, but there's still a lot of room for improvement. I expect a much better performance in Braga against Azerbaijan.
Forca!
Best of luck, and onwards to Rio!