Bryan, I am not making any comparison, I'm just staying what several sites currentlly have Pizzi and Ukra stated as.

Ukra (23 yrs old): His value is being listed at 2.7 million euros as of right. It has actually increased a lot since he's been on loan with Braga. He was previously on loan to Olhanense.

Pizzi (21 yrs old): His current value is listed at 4.6 million euros. His value has also increased considerably while on loan to P ferreira.

I apologize that I had originally posted that Ukra's value was around 4.5 mil. I was actually looking at Alan's (4.2 mil). They are listed right next to each other.
I however, never stated that Ukra was as good as Pizzi. I haven't seen enough of either.
All I was stating was the value posted on several sites. I just wanted to show how silly a rumored offer of 16 mil looked.
As for Porto wanting Pizzi, it wouldn;t surprise me. Even if they don't sell this season, they will next season. Pizzi could fit right in, especially if he continues to play well. I am interested to see how well he will do with Braga. Different expectations.

To go as far as to say Ukra is as good as Pizzi... your nuts completely. Ukra is not even comparable to Pizzi and Pizzi is 2 years younger. Ask anyone who they'd rather have on their team between Pizzi or Ukra theyd pick Pizzi. For the love of God don't compare Bebe to Pizzi... your embarrassing yourself...

Whats next ? Are you going to compare Nolito to Hulk? LMFAO!

I 100% agree with your point about Nuno Gomes. JJ never gave 2 sh*ts about Nuno and JJ was made to look a fool. He is a moron. I'm still upset about him not getting fired last year. He makes the stupidest substitutions in crunch matches which will lead to our downfall if we make it anywhere in the champions league.

As for Braga, they lost alot of pieces but I think Nuno Gomes will keep them adrift the mid table and maybe give a shot against Sporting.

I still can't figure out why Man United payed 9 mil for Bebe.
It was the biggest waste of money, and they got completely fleeced on the deal.
When Bebe actually played, he looked completely lost and looked as if he didn't belong anywhere on the field, and this was versus lesser competition.
I believe that Bebe came due to a Queiroz reference, but it's still incredible at how high they paid.
Even if Bebe turns it around, which his knee injury will hamper that a great deal, they still paid too much.
Keep in mind that I think that none of this is Bebe's fault. He got hyped through no fault of his own, and somebody pocketed a lot of money due to it. By the way, Guimaraes hasn't used any of that money on player purchases.

If anything Bebe's deal would make foreign teams leary of paying too much. It could actually hamper a Pizzi deal instead of helping.
Several sites have Pizzi with a market value around 4.8 mil. The same as Ukra by the way. The supposed 16 mil offer would be stupid.
Even if Porto loves Pizzi's potential and have given up on Ukra, it would be the same for them to just let Ukra go and pay the 4 to 5 mil for Pizzi.

I'm with Casanova. Stop the long as comments. You're not that important.

Pizzi had one good year and some of you believe he is valued at 10mil? You've got to be out of your minds. He's a great young prospect but lets be realistic here. No 16mil offer was ever made.

You make a very solid and logical argument.

But truth is it is JJ that makes the team look one dimension and weak. That team last year with only a couple of missing players and some of his own hand picked solutions was so horribly wrong.

His ability to select talent is his worst ability. Followed up closely by his stubborness, and his own penchant for trying to make himself look like a genuis on the largest stages.. and has done everything but.

Although I agree with NJ in the manager should select the best squad and the majority of that would not be Portuguese.. NJ has clearly proved multiple times that he has selected players far inferior to the Portuguese quotient.

He hand picked Roberto over two Portuguese before him and after all the Frangos that put us out of the running in the first two months.. he continued to play him even though Morieira's form was better than Cesar and the Super Flying Frango.

Fortunately besides Porto the opposition in the league was so bad... that we didn't have a complete failure.. actually only fortunate for JJ as we will suffer again in the future before they finally finish what should've been done last year. How he survives getting blown out so badly by Porto.. I will never know. If I was the Chairman I would've axed him on the spot. That way all future managers would know their ass is on the line and blow-outs are unexceptable at that level you think PDC would've allowed it to happen?

Look at Aimar who has a good game every 4... he starts almost every game, Saviola who has been so horrendus over the last season and is the reason Cardozo's tallies are off is now his number 1 striker ahead of a guy who scored 3 times more than him. Ahead of others that are on the bench better than him.

I will also remind you that prior to last season JJ had not only DiMaria ahead of Coentrao.. he also had Peixoto ahead of him on the depth list. Try to rationally explain that one.. I will admit offesively DiMaria will always get more goals.. but will rarely pass and never covers back defensively.. Peixoto can't do either..

A lot of people give JJ the credit for bringing through Ceontrao but most know Coentrao was forced on him. He was supposed to be a Portuguese 3rd stringer which is what every Portuguese player is to him.. even though in preseason he had played better than all. It was only through Quieroz's (who I hated at the NT but is a great youth manager) insistance after Peixoto's injury that he was included in the squad at Left Back.. and then the team went from a losing start to barely winning the league in a year they should've walked off with it like Porto did last year.

Coentrao outplayed everyone in that pre-season.. by far.. and was only rated as a bench player at best.

Then look at Nuno Gomes full 90 mins of play and 6 goals.. yet I don't think he brought him into any game that we actually needed a goal.. that was left to Kardec.. who was continually run-out to failure. This is the stubborness that I talk about. Now surely if Gomes was on form coming off of the bench.. tactically is that not the player you run out in all those games we drew and lost last season?

Wouldn't that be the sensible thing to do until he failed?

No, instead he made a mockery of Nuno and brought him in with less and less minutes in games that were finished so that he could fail and it would shut up the fans. Then he could point to him not scoring and go back to the regularly scheduled program. Guess he made everyone look stupid.. as Nuno continued to score.

Like NJ I don't think Nuno is the answer for 90 mins.. for any team.. but when he was firing on all cyclinders as a sub.. and that is exactly what we needed.....?

Then he has an inability to inspire any confidence whatsoever in his team which creates many issues with his players.

Who wants to play for a guy who is out of control on the sidelines screaming every two seconds that you are not doing it right? No wonder the team plays tight and makes mistakes especially on the largest stages when everything is magnified even more.

Do you like it when your boss is sitting behind your back constantly saying yes, no, too slow, pick it up, don't be a loser, that is not what I told you... etc etc

A real manager lays out his plan and is calm in his success.. the best aren't jesters entertaining the court.

They rarely show emotion.. JJ is just an embarrassing clown that should've been banned for life for punching a player. Fact is he doesn't trust in his own decisions, tactics, and formations so has to scream constantly as the game goes on.

So Paulo you are entitled to your own opinion and it definitely is an educated one.. but we will have to agree to disagree on that subject.

Hey JJ can prove me wrong.. he could go and win a major Euro trophy this year.. or smoke a fully strong Porto in the league by 10 points or 5 goals in a game.. but I think we all can agree that isn't going to happen.

If it was true we already know. I don't think it's posible this transfer, cause as braga fan Pizzi is much better then Ukra, and we will see that this season..

.... nobody wants to see 1500 word dissertations on here fellas... keep it short and simple...

5LB did a nice job this summer, and i think Nolito and Witsel are players to be reckoned with... that being said... Porto ran away with the league by 21pts, and for now no one's left... FCP's still the prohibitive favorite... I also think Sporting's back this year and will make the league interesting, but they're not challenging for a title yet.

@Bryan, I think you're gonna see Braga come back down to earth this year....

Bryan thank you for the insight into Pizzi.
That's more like it.

I do have to question the Zenit supposed offer of 16 mil. Pizzi is rated below 5 mil at this point, so that kind of offer would be crazy to pass up. Granted if they already had a deal in place with Porto, it wouldn't mean much. What I am positive of, is that Porto isn't going to pay anything near 16 mil for Pizzi.
Ukra is rated just about the same as Pizzi right now.
Either way, Pizzi has impressed, so I would prefer him to continue getting playing time at Braga, instead of sitting at Porto. Then again, I think he's already better than Belluschi.

Thank you Paulo.
All your points make a lot of sense.
Everyone condemned Benficas season last year, but they easily finished second easily and went to Europas Semis.
It obviously was disappointing after the previous season and no silverware. Braga beating them in the semis, and Portos run really hurt.

Just a quick word to say that I disagree with the all the JJ bashing going on here and add my dissenting voice.
I actually think he has done pretty well, brought some good players in, got the best out of Aimar, did an incredible job with Fabio, granted messed it up last year, but everyone at the club did, and if you talk about tactics well last year he had no choice, he didn't have the players to change it much and when he did, even with the same formation they disappointed. I mean who wouldn't have struggled with losing Di Maria and especially Ramires who really was the lungs of the team, then lose David Luiz half way through the season?

This year, the signings have been much more astute, and already we are seeing that he might well steer away from the old 4-1-2-1-2 to a a much more fluid 4-2-3-1 where Aimar might actually last a bit longer. I think people are wrong, I think Garay is an excellent defender and will prove it, Witsel looks like another incredible find. My main worries, unlike everybody else, are actually the same as last years, who can replace Maxi on the right? Losing Danilo to Porto was a big blow. And the left back position is not feeling me with confidence, Emerson doesn't quite look ready but I could be wrong, and Capdevilla is a good player but slow, i think he will start most games but against better teams it concerns me.
I think we will see JJ be a lot better this season for two main reasons essentially: one is that he has a lot more options in the squad and talented ones, and second is that Benfica aren't favourites, he would have learnt his lesson from last year and be a lot less complacent. I know he's come out and said that Benfica are going to win, but these are soundbites, he has to say those things, for the fanas, after all every manager at Benfica is expected to win, regardless of how of how irrational they may be.

A couple of thoughts;

I love how everyone overestimates their own talent.

I for one think that Porto is loaded, but please let's be real. Loaded for the Superliga, not European play. Everyone seems to be worried about Porto's centerbacks, but they better hope their midfield doesn't stink it up again. Moutinho has never fared well in Int'l play, and by that I mean he's just ok. He's always been much more the product of the team, instead of a difference maker. Porto better hope that Micael establishes himself. By the way, I think he will. Guarin is also a must stay, due to Belluschi being poor.
We'll see how these players react to Pereira. Will they feel that they know what to do already or abide by the rules/tactics/methods.
By the way, Porto went out a spent a fortune on two guys that won't be available until january. That is never good business.

As for Benfica, a good preseason does not make a season. Nolito and Witsel have looked great, but there's still issues. Nico still roams inside, Aimar will still get to tired playing at this pace. Will Cardozo be able to integrate himself with this bunch? In crunch time, will JJ be able to adjust? How will everyone be kept happy? All fair questions in which rooting interest allows for controversy.
For me, this Benfica has done nothing, and still has everything to prove. And that's a good thing.

By the way, just because a player does great in one squad it doesn't make himgreat in another. It's all about the squads needs, formation and make up.

Sporting has done a good job, but there's work to do. Godinho has said it himself; "It's hard starting from zero". Paciencia is the right man for the job, so they will only get better.

To think or believe that Braga is going to be anywhere near as good as they've been, people are crazy. They have lost players and their inspirational leader, Paciencia.

I believe that the "Big Three" are going to be well represented again, but Benfica and Porto will be far ahead of Sporting by years end. Maybe not 20 points ahead, but let's say 10 to 12.
That being said, I feel that Sporting will finish third very comfortably ahead of the 4th place finisher. Another 15 or so points ahead.
As for 4th, their will be a slew of teams fighting for it. Inconsistency will once again befall the clubs. Braga could and should probably nab it, but that's as good it will get for them.

You see Bryan, I may be a quook for Benfica, but I am also a realist that may hope for the best, but recognize the present.
For you to put Benfica at 4th or 5th, you might as well have them at 10 or 11th. It would mean the same thing which is that you're just not that knowledgeable about football in general. Nevermind Benfica or Braga.
And yes, I do consider myself a bit of a football snob, when it comes to European leagues.

3? I think Benfica will trail Braga and finish 4 or 5. I actually say that with confidence too and a straight face. Braga has another solid team this year and if anyone has seen the game against Aston Villa you'd know exactly what I'm talking. If our defense improves we'll challenge for the title and I'm not kidding. Plus, it's already tradition for Braga to beat Benfica at least once a year.

@Orlando. You can argue that Nolito is good but he is nowhere near Pizzi's level or Jeffren's level. Sorry. If Nolito was that good Porto would chase him and hed join Porto over Benfica. I'm not trying to be mean but that's reality with Luis Felipe Vieira. Yet my friend works for the jornal Record in the Porto section and he is claiming Porto and Braga have a pre-acordo deal for Pizzi. That's why Braga didn't accept the 16 million offer for Pizzi. Yep, and Im not kidding either but I wish I was obviously. It's going to be interesting to see what happens with the Pizzi situation but he is top class.

I'm not going to comment on Garay or Axel because I know nothing about them but I can assure you Nolito is over rated and he's almost 25 LOL.

@orlando mac... i dnt really think that garay is that good... u paid 5.5M for half of garays pass but i think with that sort of money you could have bought better from south america.... as for nolito, he has no place in the squad, and probably not on the bench either... falcao is miles better and kleber was just as, if not more, impressive in the pre season... and with hulk varela and rodriguez on the flanks there is not place for him... and whos spot would witsel take? moutinho? fernando? guarin? unlikely... maxi yes, luisao perhaps.. and a player like cardozo isnt welcome anywhere near porto...

Tom with your point of view which you made great points.. a few of the Benfica players would start for Porto..

Luisao, Maxi, Garay, Axel, Nolito would all start for Porto.. maybe Cardozo on the bench.. but only Paciencia could make the Porto squad.. and possibly Pereira or Santos.

Had Sporting played well in pre-season I might even agree with you but the truth is Benfica has advanced.. and our boy Paciencia needs just that some patience from the fans. Paciencia's second year will much better.

Like you all I believe this season will be a right cracker.. and you are entitled to your opinion although the way pre-season ended it was confounding the Sporting selection. We all agree Porto should still win.. unless they go on a selling spree.

Sell Falcao & Guarin and maybe we have a different conversation.. this Benfica is much stronger with great depth. It is JJ proof.. LFV has been exceptional with his signings.. in the last year.

As for Eduardo until he fails he will start for the Seleccao.. and I personally believe that Eduardo will once again make JJ look like an amateur and take over.. as the number one.. even when I like Artur as a keeper. Benfica is bar far the best between the pipes this season.

Great podcast..