Portugal podcast 43: State of play at the halfway stage of Liga ZON Sagres
Review of Euro 2012 and European club draws
With the Portuguese Liga at precisely the halfway stage, the PortuGOAL pod casts its collective eye over the primeira volta, examining the performances of Benfica, Braga, Porto and Sporting and other teams who have caught our eye for one reason or another.
We also take a look at the Seleccao’s daunting Euro 2012 draw and the ties faced by Portugal’s club sides when the Champions League and Europa League resume in February. We end the pod by delving into the mailbag to answer a variety of your questions.
Part One:
Should Sporting’s bright new dawn officially be considered over? Can anyone halt Benfica, the unstoppable goalscoring machine? Is Danilo the man to spark FC Porto back to top form? Can Braga continue to defy the odds and earn Champions League football again?
Part Two:
Special mention goes out to four other teams who have exceeded initial expectations so far in 2011/12: Feirense, Olhanense, Beira-Mar and Maritimo.
Part Three:
Not for the first time, Portugal has been landed in the so-called “group of death” at a major tournament. To make progress the Seleccao will have to finish higher than two of Germany, Denmark and Holland. Can they do it?
In the club competition draws, Benfica will surely feel reasonably pleased with their opposition in the Champions League – Zenit St Petersburg. As for the Europa League, to repeat last year’s historical participation by Portuguese clubs, FC Porto, Sporting and Braga are going to have to produce something special in the next two rounds. We discuss the opposition and prospects for the trio.
Part Four:
The pod ends with the panel chewing over a few posers sent in by our listeners/readers, including differing opinions about the merits of the new B teams to be set up and the lowdown on the potentially damaging ruling by the Portuguese courts to prohibit sponsorship by on-line betting companies in Portugal.
To listen to the podcast click on the play button above. To download right-click on the link below and select “save link as” option.
Could Bryan be silent because all of his complaints fall flat and are proven wrong. Even Jardim is proving him wrong.
Who knows maybe something has clicked. Then again maybe the computer being on the fritz or losing his library card has more to do with it.
Very Good Points Mdot
7
Friday, 20 January 2012 06:39
Understand your viewpoint completely because I too have felt it and like you believe there needs to be some continuity.
Also with JJ's performance this year and improvement I too have recently thought he should be re-signed he has definitely deserved that.
He has developed his tactics and formations that we were all clamouring for. It has made a huge difference against the better teams. It hasn't led to more wins but it has led to less losses and that is definitely a positive step.
I still will grumble about his player selection and player valuations.. but that will only last most until he starts to play the players that most of us value. He does pick some strange bed fellows from time to time.
Emerson for example would make a great sub as he is such a tireless worker.. if he came on late in a game.. when the opposition was a little more tired.. I don't think he would get beat as often.
So hopefully LFV manages to find a great LB or Martins gets in some more games.. so that we can develop him.
Things are looking really good at Benfica at the moment.. with a bunch of money coming soon for players that we already have better replacements for.. that money can be used to strengthen our squad even further.
With LFV's buying prowess over the last few seasons it looks really good especially for Portuguese players as he has been buying some great potential of late. As he stated in many reports over the last year, LFV knows the new UEFA homegrown policy & economic laws will require Benfica to develop players to maintain their level and succeed that is why he has bought so many potential young stars.. so that they could nurture.
Oliveira, Mika, Martins, Simao, Pinto, etc.. are all potential future stars. I hope to see them in more action over the next year.
That is also another area I would like to see JJ improve in.. if you have comparable local talent then they should get the nod and the confidence over a foreigner at the same level or close.
Also I would like to give some praise out.. just realized it today but Bryan has not been posting on Benfica threads any longer. Like JJ he has improved this season.. hats off to him.. sometimes I think he gets too much flak for playing Devil's Advocate.. although we all love to hate him from time to time... lol
I think we should give credit where it is due.. and Bryan has been very good of late on our threads.. I think he gains a lot of credibility in the process.
Hats off Bryan you are having a great season and I am serious and am not patronizing you in any way.. you have done well. Like JJ you are learning.
It is interesting how Bryan who is a Braga fan likes Paciencia but does not like JJ both of who had success at Braga before moving on. Guess he must have his reasons for that.
Well said Mdot
6
Thursday, 19 January 2012 17:09
I agree completely with your point! Continuity and patience and faith in a manager takes a club forward in the long run. The best example being Alex Ferguson at Man United. In his second season with the club back in the late 80s, the team wasn't doing well and he was almost sacked, they didn't sack him in the end and look at what has materialised for that club in the last 20 years!
At Benfica in the last decade, we have had no continuity with managers or players. Finally we have found a good manager in JJ, and they have stuck with him for 3 seasons (hopefully more to follow). The Benfica of old would've sacked him after last season's dissapointment. They wisely stuck with him and the result this season has been the best Benfica team since 1994. We still haven't had continuity with players in JJ's reign (6 or 7 regular players for us this season only joined us last summer)...but these same players have all fitted in fantastically well this season, and that is down to JJ, pure and simple! Like you said so correctly in your post, stability and continuity is what we need...and if we can achieve that, then we are definitely going in the right direction. I am really feeling a bright future for our great club!!!
Orlando Mac
5
Thursday, 19 January 2012 15:32
I get where you’re coming from and by far one of your better posts I’ve read. You did make one point that I tend to look at but you view it differently, which is how badly we fell off in the last 20years. I would love to be back to 30-40years ago where we were always a threat to win the CL but that will take time.
My personal fear with our club was that it was on the verge of financial ruin in the mid-90s. I was honestly scared that if something didn’t change that we would keep losing more money and that one day we would do too much damage just like many other clubs that have won the CL but now have no real shot at winning any other titles.
Pre-JJ, it felt like it was another new manager every season, a new batch of players that cost the club more, and each year we got more into the red. To try to bring back their glory, they would spend stupid sums of money, the team would fail, and crash even harder the following seasons.
Part of the success is not JJ’s but LFV and his improvement in the transfer market but JJ has also done well with the talent he’s had. Each year we have improved our European play, he also could be the first coach to win two league titles with Benfica since god knows when. Could a Mou, Alex, etc… done better? Likely but you don’t get top coaches when your team has been negative for so long. Remember when Flores came in and Cardozo, Fabio, Di Maria etc… were all out of the main squads plans.
The way I see it, we’re coming out of the worst rut in our club’s history. If we can continue to improve each year (European play, transfer market, media attention, financial success, etc…) it will only be a matter of time where we are considered a regular in the knockout states of the CL and start getting some real CL title chances.
Like you I would love to win a European title, I just don’t want to see our club fall into the trap of firing the coach each season and getting back in the negative cycle of buying all new staff/players each season. We really needed the stability that we’re getting at the moment.
Great Podcast Gentlemen...
4
Thursday, 19 January 2012 09:50
I have to say although Andre and I disagree on only one subject.. he is spot on the money with his post.. it is to be expected... as long as I don't mention the initials of a certain person.
It has been a great year for Portuguese Football.. having two top ten squads (Benfica & Porto) in the world rankings is amazing... quite proud of that..
I still believe Porto has been firing on all bad cylinders.. and aren't as bad as they have looked.. saying that they haven't missed many points compared to Benfica who is only a few points ahead.. on a different planet people suggest as most ?
With the current Benfica squad I expected no loss of Coentrao.. even though his replacement is the biggest hole in the squad. The truth is Roberto was so bad last year that even with better defenders all-around Benfica looked weak defensively.
Just imagine if we still had Coentrao & Luis.. with Artur & Eduardo.. I think our goals against would be near nil each game.
JJ has in the last half season changed his tactical formations and has been more successful, although just to balance we have had only a few blow outs.. most of our wins are 1 goal games... with a squad that is heads and shoulders above our league in depth.. this is not a shot at JJ this is realism.
JJ has done well, but he only looks better because Benfica's Managers have been so poor over the last 20 years.
Some people think I am anti-JJ but the truth is I am Pro-Benfica.. JJ means nothing to me.. and if he doesn't select the right squad or tactically fails then I will get on his case even if we are winning.
Some people call it integrity. I am hard on my favourite teams because I care.. and as humans there is always many ways to improve our results. I look for the most obvious first.
So although I have praised JJ for his results.. besides Emerson and couple of others he still is our weakest link.
My goal is a CL & the Liga.. CL first.. if we never won another Liga for 50 years and won two CL's and were competitive every year in the CL I would be over joyed.
Unfortunately a Liga win is so big in most Benfica fans minds.. so barely getting results is considered a bonus after such poor management.
The Liga for me is an after-thought.. sure having the likes of Porto who are stellar.. Sporting who are on the verge of greatness.. once again.. and Braga who continues under their President to be top 4 and lethal.. makes it very fun. I love those games.. but I could care less.. if we won a Europa and went to the CL semis every year.. winning a few.
Having so many good Liga teams.. only helps to bring more international tv deals.. which means better players and more action.
I see the big picture...
That is why I have differing opinions to some very intelligent posters like NJ, Mdot, Andre, etc..
I also have differing opinions to Tom, Ben at times and some other great personalities on this site that I will not name because of length..
I want to win and win the right way.. last years Porto did just that.. it was probably the greatest team result ever in the Liga.. a CL would've been better but a Europa win was amazing.. it is a more difficult tournament to win then the top heavy CL.
I still think that last years Porto would've been in the semis of the CL.. and with Falcao.. might have been able to win a high scoring affair against Barcelona.. 4-3 in the final.. with a many IF's . If the planets aligned.. Porto could've had their most impressive season.
Falcao's importance is evident this year.. he made goals from poor crosses.. but his team mates made him as well. Without Moutinho, Guarin, Hulk, Varela & Co.. he would've been an decent player, with them he was masterful.
As for Sporting ever since they cleared house I have stated that this year is not the year.. they replaced so many core positions that it takes time to gel. When the results were poor early.. and people were flipping I preached calm.. they went on a rampage and I preached calm.. now they have had a mid--season lull and I preach calm.. I guarantee that Sporting will turn it up in the end this season.. and will affect the Liga Crown.. and next year after they have gelled will be a force to be reckoned with.
Rome wasn't built in one day.. and the Sporting of the last few years had to be demolished and rebuilt. It is still too early.. it was a two to 3 year project.. even for a master like Paciencia.
As for the National Team I share the optimism.. we play great against great teams.. but I also know that Bento has a history of pissing off key players.. so even though I think the squad that shows will fight hard and will deserve our praise.. I also know that Bento will exile at least two more key players in the warm up to the Euro.
Some of the ones most likely to come under fire for their personality as well as Bento's are:
Pepe - Bento says Brazilians should not play for Portugal combine that with Pepe's happy go lucky attitude
Nani - has attitude issues and confidence issues that SAR has not been able to fix yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo - two big egos and one must go... this problem will most likely happen during the Euro tournament.. if we lose the first two games which is very plausible excuses will be made this will become an issue guaranteed.
We have so many central mids a few will be upset.. one will get cut and you will hear about it before the tournament.
Anyways under the Cancer.. a little worried about the Euro.. but wish for the best.. and player-wise I am very confident.
The podcasts are great but I think a video version with skype that is edited and then aired would be the best result.
You guys are greater than the package.. that little player with very little controls.. does not really justify your talents.
Thoughts
3
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 23:03
As a Benfiquista through and through, I am delighted with our season so far, it has been almost flawless up to this point, with really the only bad result we've had being the cup loss to Maritimo. I for one was not too bothered by that result - less fixtures for us now, and i grew tired of only winning the Taca de Portugal for the best part of a decade. It's high time we started winning real silverware on a regular basis, we've been a sleeping giant for way too long now! I do not think Porto will give up their title easily and i expect them to push us all the way, but I think we will just pip them to the title in the end, because we have the stronger squad this season. As for Sporting, I thought this season was too soon for them. They will be much stronger next year and have a talented squad and manager. They are capable of winning the Europa League though and should put everything into it now.
As for the Euros, I am quietly confident. The seleccao usually play best against better teams and when there is no margin for error. We have no option but to play at our top level in all 3 matches if we want to qualify from such a tough group. Like others though I am worried about our defence, whatever people say, Ricardo Carvalho is a huge loss to us. There is no better centre-back in world football and I hope he won't be missed too much. Patricio in goal also worries me, he has never won me over, and i can't see him keeping clean sheets against either Germany or Holland, meaning we will have to outscore them. That said, neither of those two have an individual player as good as Ronaldo, and if CR7 can play to his Real Madrid level, we have great chance to qualify from the group....vamos a ver
interesting discussion!
2
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 20:10
Thanks guys for another interesting podcast!
As a Benfiquista, I am very pleased with where we are this season. I just don't see Porto keeping up with us much longer. As you guys stated, they are not as good as Benfica offensively and defensively. I'll only be worried if they pick up a quality striker or 2 in the transfer window.
With regards to the Euro this summer, I am both nervous and excited. I am planning on being in the Azores this July so it will be incredible if I could celebrate a European Championship with my fellow Portuguese! Yes we do have an extremely difficult group, but I think that we have what it takes.
It would be interesting to hear which 23 players my fellow posters would bring to Poland/Ukraine. The whole Carvalho incident has really deprived us of the impressive depth we had in defense. Pepe is the only world class center back we have. Alves is a good partner for Pepe, but after him, we look a bit weak. Rolando on his day can be an excellent center back, but he isn't having a great season for both club and country.
I would highly recommend Apoel's Paulo Jorge. I watched him play many times in the champions league and I was extremely impressed. I have read many articles on many different websites calling him the best defender in the champions league group stages. He is 31 years old and is yet to play for Portugal, but I think that he is the best option we have for the bench.
great
1
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 19:34
Great job guys i loved how you said that JJ really turned benfica around because we were really in shambles before his time i feel as though people are to hard on him he has done great yes he has his mistakes but if it wasn't for JJ i still believe Benfica would be as horrible as we have been before JJ once again great job keep it up
Not for the first time, Portugal has been landed in the so-called “group of death” at a major tournament. To make progress the Seleccao will have to finish higher than two of Germany, Denmark and Holland. Can they do it? 
Who knows maybe something has clicked. Then again maybe the computer being on the fritz or losing his library card has more to do with it.
Also with JJ's performance this year and improvement I too have recently thought he should be re-signed he has definitely deserved that.
He has developed his tactics and formations that we were all clamouring for. It has made a huge difference against the better teams. It hasn't led to more wins but it has led to less losses and that is definitely a positive step.
I still will grumble about his player selection and player valuations.. but that will only last most until he starts to play the players that most of us value. He does pick some strange bed fellows from time to time.
Emerson for example would make a great sub as he is such a tireless worker.. if he came on late in a game.. when the opposition was a little more tired.. I don't think he would get beat as often.
So hopefully LFV manages to find a great LB or Martins gets in some more games.. so that we can develop him.
Things are looking really good at Benfica at the moment.. with a bunch of money coming soon for players that we already have better replacements for.. that money can be used to strengthen our squad even further.
With LFV's buying prowess over the last few seasons it looks really good especially for Portuguese players as he has been buying some great potential of late. As he stated in many reports over the last year, LFV knows the new UEFA homegrown policy & economic laws will require Benfica to develop players to maintain their level and succeed that is why he has bought so many potential young stars.. so that they could nurture.
Oliveira, Mika, Martins, Simao, Pinto, etc.. are all potential future stars. I hope to see them in more action over the next year.
That is also another area I would like to see JJ improve in.. if you have comparable local talent then they should get the nod and the confidence over a foreigner at the same level or close.
Also I would like to give some praise out.. just realized it today but Bryan has not been posting on Benfica threads any longer. Like JJ he has improved this season.. hats off to him.. sometimes I think he gets too much flak for playing Devil's Advocate.. although we all love to hate him from time to time... lol
I think we should give credit where it is due.. and Bryan has been very good of late on our threads.. I think he gains a lot of credibility in the process.
Hats off Bryan you are having a great season and I am serious and am not patronizing you in any way.. you have done well. Like JJ you are learning.
It is interesting how Bryan who is a Braga fan likes Paciencia but does not like JJ both of who had success at Braga before moving on. Guess he must have his reasons for that.
At Benfica in the last decade, we have had no continuity with managers or players. Finally we have found a good manager in JJ, and they have stuck with him for 3 seasons (hopefully more to follow). The Benfica of old would've sacked him after last season's dissapointment. They wisely stuck with him and the result this season has been the best Benfica team since 1994. We still haven't had continuity with players in JJ's reign (6 or 7 regular players for us this season only joined us last summer)...but these same players have all fitted in fantastically well this season, and that is down to JJ, pure and simple! Like you said so correctly in your post, stability and continuity is what we need...and if we can achieve that, then we are definitely going in the right direction. I am really feeling a bright future for our great club!!!
My personal fear with our club was that it was on the verge of financial ruin in the mid-90s. I was honestly scared that if something didn’t change that we would keep losing more money and that one day we would do too much damage just like many other clubs that have won the CL but now have no real shot at winning any other titles.
Pre-JJ, it felt like it was another new manager every season, a new batch of players that cost the club more, and each year we got more into the red. To try to bring back their glory, they would spend stupid sums of money, the team would fail, and crash even harder the following seasons.
Part of the success is not JJ’s but LFV and his improvement in the transfer market but JJ has also done well with the talent he’s had. Each year we have improved our European play, he also could be the first coach to win two league titles with Benfica since god knows when. Could a Mou, Alex, etc… done better? Likely but you don’t get top coaches when your team has been negative for so long. Remember when Flores came in and Cardozo, Fabio, Di Maria etc… were all out of the main squads plans.
The way I see it, we’re coming out of the worst rut in our club’s history. If we can continue to improve each year (European play, transfer market, media attention, financial success, etc…) it will only be a matter of time where we are considered a regular in the knockout states of the CL and start getting some real CL title chances.
Like you I would love to win a European title, I just don’t want to see our club fall into the trap of firing the coach each season and getting back in the negative cycle of buying all new staff/players each season. We really needed the stability that we’re getting at the moment.
It has been a great year for Portuguese Football.. having two top ten squads (Benfica & Porto) in the world rankings is amazing... quite proud of that..
I still believe Porto has been firing on all bad cylinders.. and aren't as bad as they have looked.. saying that they haven't missed many points compared to Benfica who is only a few points ahead.. on a different planet people suggest as most ?
With the current Benfica squad I expected no loss of Coentrao.. even though his replacement is the biggest hole in the squad. The truth is Roberto was so bad last year that even with better defenders all-around Benfica looked weak defensively.
Just imagine if we still had Coentrao & Luis.. with Artur & Eduardo.. I think our goals against would be near nil each game.
JJ has in the last half season changed his tactical formations and has been more successful, although just to balance we have had only a few blow outs.. most of our wins are 1 goal games... with a squad that is heads and shoulders above our league in depth.. this is not a shot at JJ this is realism.
JJ has done well, but he only looks better because Benfica's Managers have been so poor over the last 20 years.
Some people think I am anti-JJ but the truth is I am Pro-Benfica.. JJ means nothing to me.. and if he doesn't select the right squad or tactically fails then I will get on his case even if we are winning.
Some people call it integrity. I am hard on my favourite teams because I care.. and as humans there is always many ways to improve our results. I look for the most obvious first.
So although I have praised JJ for his results.. besides Emerson and couple of others he still is our weakest link.
My goal is a CL & the Liga.. CL first.. if we never won another Liga for 50 years and won two CL's and were competitive every year in the CL I would be over joyed.
Unfortunately a Liga win is so big in most Benfica fans minds.. so barely getting results is considered a bonus after such poor management.
The Liga for me is an after-thought.. sure having the likes of Porto who are stellar.. Sporting who are on the verge of greatness.. once again.. and Braga who continues under their President to be top 4 and lethal.. makes it very fun. I love those games.. but I could care less.. if we won a Europa and went to the CL semis every year.. winning a few.
Having so many good Liga teams.. only helps to bring more international tv deals.. which means better players and more action.
I see the big picture...
That is why I have differing opinions to some very intelligent posters like NJ, Mdot, Andre, etc..
I also have differing opinions to Tom, Ben at times and some other great personalities on this site that I will not name because of length..
I want to win and win the right way.. last years Porto did just that.. it was probably the greatest team result ever in the Liga.. a CL would've been better but a Europa win was amazing.. it is a more difficult tournament to win then the top heavy CL.
I still think that last years Porto would've been in the semis of the CL.. and with Falcao.. might have been able to win a high scoring affair against Barcelona.. 4-3 in the final.. with a many IF's . If the planets aligned.. Porto could've had their most impressive season.
Falcao's importance is evident this year.. he made goals from poor crosses.. but his team mates made him as well. Without Moutinho, Guarin, Hulk, Varela & Co.. he would've been an decent player, with them he was masterful.
As for Sporting ever since they cleared house I have stated that this year is not the year.. they replaced so many core positions that it takes time to gel. When the results were poor early.. and people were flipping I preached calm.. they went on a rampage and I preached calm.. now they have had a mid--season lull and I preach calm.. I guarantee that Sporting will turn it up in the end this season.. and will affect the Liga Crown.. and next year after they have gelled will be a force to be reckoned with.
Rome wasn't built in one day.. and the Sporting of the last few years had to be demolished and rebuilt. It is still too early.. it was a two to 3 year project.. even for a master like Paciencia.
As for the National Team I share the optimism.. we play great against great teams.. but I also know that Bento has a history of pissing off key players.. so even though I think the squad that shows will fight hard and will deserve our praise.. I also know that Bento will exile at least two more key players in the warm up to the Euro.
Some of the ones most likely to come under fire for their personality as well as Bento's are:
Pepe - Bento says Brazilians should not play for Portugal combine that with Pepe's happy go lucky attitude
Nani - has attitude issues and confidence issues that SAR has not been able to fix yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo - two big egos and one must go... this problem will most likely happen during the Euro tournament.. if we lose the first two games which is very plausible excuses will be made this will become an issue guaranteed.
We have so many central mids a few will be upset.. one will get cut and you will hear about it before the tournament.
Anyways under the Cancer.. a little worried about the Euro.. but wish for the best.. and player-wise I am very confident.
The podcasts are great but I think a video version with skype that is edited and then aired would be the best result.
You guys are greater than the package.. that little player with very little controls.. does not really justify your talents.
As for the Euros, I am quietly confident. The seleccao usually play best against better teams and when there is no margin for error. We have no option but to play at our top level in all 3 matches if we want to qualify from such a tough group. Like others though I am worried about our defence, whatever people say, Ricardo Carvalho is a huge loss to us. There is no better centre-back in world football and I hope he won't be missed too much. Patricio in goal also worries me, he has never won me over, and i can't see him keeping clean sheets against either Germany or Holland, meaning we will have to outscore them. That said, neither of those two have an individual player as good as Ronaldo, and if CR7 can play to his Real Madrid level, we have great chance to qualify from the group....vamos a ver
As a Benfiquista, I am very pleased with where we are this season. I just don't see Porto keeping up with us much longer. As you guys stated, they are not as good as Benfica offensively and defensively. I'll only be worried if they pick up a quality striker or 2 in the transfer window.
With regards to the Euro this summer, I am both nervous and excited. I am planning on being in the Azores this July so it will be incredible if I could celebrate a European Championship with my fellow Portuguese! Yes we do have an extremely difficult group, but I think that we have what it takes.
It would be interesting to hear which 23 players my fellow posters would bring to Poland/Ukraine. The whole Carvalho incident has really deprived us of the impressive depth we had in defense. Pepe is the only world class center back we have. Alves is a good partner for Pepe, but after him, we look a bit weak. Rolando on his day can be an excellent center back, but he isn't having a great season for both club and country.
I would highly recommend Apoel's Paulo Jorge. I watched him play many times in the champions league and I was extremely impressed. I have read many articles on many different websites calling him the best defender in the champions league group stages. He is 31 years old and is yet to play for Portugal, but I think that he is the best option we have for the bench.