Sporting actually stuck it to Porto, by taking less money. LOL.
Granted, Porto could care less at this time. Anything is a bonus.

Of course, I am ecstatic they are gone. But why would you start them for 4 matches and sell them both? Is Domingos fannying about because he's so confident of winning the league or something? I doubt it. Bojinov's legs always falls off and Rubio is still using a nappy. Typical sporting.

Is there some kind of conspiricy to rid the Portuguese league of all Portuguese players? My interest in following Portuguese football is at an all time low.

I know Helder Postiga isn't a prolific scorer, but he's one of my favorite players and I hope he does well.

As for Djalo, he'g got talent, but he still has to keep working to find consistancy. He may do that yet. Boa sorte!

Just giving you guys more of a transfer update on some not so named players Grimi has also left Sporting on loan to Genk and while i would rather he be sold atleast Sporting dont need to pay his wages anymore.

Also Orlando Sa has signed for Fulham on a free transfer, i doubt he will see much playing time but if he does then i'll be happy.

Lastly also a transfer that obviously has not happened Alvaro has not signed with Chelsea.

Given their poor scoring record, it's not really all that surprising that Sporting would want to send them both on their way. What is surprising is the time they chose to send them both packing. Other than a very young, unseasoned Diego Rubio, who is going to score the goals? I hope Sporting have thought long and hard about that because with the defense they have right now they'll be in need of goals.

I feel a little sorry for Postiga, who is really an admirable player in many respects. He tries so hard and gives so much and just lacks that cutting edge, or else he would be a world class striker. I really believe that. Even so, he has continued to contribute for the Seleccao and he deserves some measure of respect for that.

I think the national team picture won't change all that much. Postiga and Almeida are still the go-to guys at the moment, with Postiga being the frontrunner for the starting position. For Yannick, it's a chance to move on and hopefully develop a little bit as a player. I think it will be good for him, especially since the fans at Sporting have turned on him the way they have.


I wish all the best to Postiga and Yannick.

@Ivo
"My surprise may also have something to do with the fact that transfer fees have escalated into slightly insane territory in recent years, so that anything under 10 million seems like small change, which is sad really."

Nailed it.

Djalo was offloaded to Nice for 4.5 mil, but that was for 75% of his ownership. If you add in the other 1.125 mil, you get a fair representation of Djalo's actual market transfer value. I like the deal. Postiga could have netted more a month ago, but this was the deadline and I think Paciencia had seen enough, and just wanted a clean start.

Are you serious? That may have been the stupidest comment I have ever heard in my life. Who in there right mind would say that Yannick and Postiga are 2 of the best strikers in the world? They shouldn't have been getting much time at sporting nevermind if they went to a bigger club they wouldn't ever see the field.

If Sporting don't pick up a replacement striker by the end of the day I think they might live to regret these sales.

I don't they can rely on ricky van, bodgejob and the 2 young south americans to get them goals this season.

Maybe they have something in the pipeline at the eleventh hour.

I heard Pavlyuchenko could be heading to Porto, but seems like maybe that was a false rumour. Sporting could do with someone like that too.

It makes sense given the Sporting's huge amount of recent acquisitions, but it doesn't make sense given the fact that Paciencia has opted to play them "the vast majority of the Lisbon club’s first five official matches of 2011/12." The team has put itself into the position it is currently in with only 2 points from the first three games, and it really is Paciencia's fault, as he ultimately decides who plays.

It's kind of mind boggling actually. I would have never thought that Paciencia would have made the decision to field mostly players from last season. The whole point of picking up new players was to make a clean break and I've really lost some of the admiration I had for him because its quite obviously a terrible decision. The players from last season proved they were ineffective, so why continue with that when you have a large continent of very promising new talent?

I'm also somewhat surprised by the limited amount of cash Sporting received for Postiga and Yannick, they aren't phenomenal but they do have international experience and have performed relatively well at that level. My surprise may also have something to do with the fact that transfer fees have escalated into slightly insane territory in recent years, so that anything under 10 million seems like small change, which is sad really.

This one took me completely by surprise. On one hand I feel sad for Postiga's departure because as I said in a previous post, I really respect Postiga. He just doesn't stop, he is one of the harder workers I've seen, he is always moving, trying to get into space and trying to take shots. However, he is maddening to watch at Sporting because he literally never scores. I can't remember his last goal, and I watch all their games. So, we are losing a great, hard working professional, but we are opening up an opportunity for someone new.

There is nothing else to say rearding Djalo. NJ said it all, horrible first touch and no ability to do anything once he gets into a space. He has had some very good assists and has created chances, but his greatest contribution to Sporting has been the creation of tremendous frustration and anger for supporters.

When I tuned in to watch the Sporting-Maritimo match this past weekend, I saw Postiga and Djalo take the pitch, I became angry and said, "Oh man, these two guys again, they will do absolutely nothing". Outside of Djalo setting up Izmailov for a goal, the pair did nothing else.

I am glad that Paciencia gave these two a chance, and after a few games of not producing anything, I am happy he has decided to move on. I applaud Sporting's decisive manner in handling this. They probably could have got more money for them if it was earlier in the transfer window, but I beleive that when pre-season started, Sporting's powers that be truly wanted to give them a chance. After not netting any results, today was the cut off day and it was time to make a decision. I'm happy, take the money and run, create a new identity for the team, and give the new forwards and mids a chance to play and hopefully shine.

I have been very critical of both players, especially Djalo.
For me Djalo is a player with pace that has a horrible first touch and has no skills to bypass defense if he can't beat them by pace.
Postiga has shown to be more frustrating than anything else. Too many chances go wayward.

That being said, both players were sold on the cheap.
Djalo brough 4.5 mil from Nice when incredibly his value stood at around 5.2 mil.
Postiga was offloaded for 2.5 mil when his value stood at around 6.5. Granted age and being in the last year of his deal affects that in a negative way for Sporting.

It will be interesting to see how this effects Sportings lineup and formations. A 4-3-3 could be in order with a lot of movement up top.

I really don't see how this hurts the Seleccao.
Djalo was never going to find a place on the team. People treat him as an up and coming kid, but he's already 25 years old. He will probably see more playing time at Nice anyway.
Postiga is going to a club with a desperate need of a striker. Looking at their squad, he should see plenty of playing time.
Let me add that I get people complaining about Almeida wasting opportunities for the Seleccao, but Postiga does the same for Sporting. Granted he's a bit more efficient for the Seleccao.

All in all, we'll have to wait and see if these moves will pan out. What we do know for sure is that attitude and philosiphy is a changing in Sproting land.
Cirious to see if another striker will be brought in now.

I agree this deal seemed to come out of nowhere. Seems management felt with jeffren/capel on wings djalo wasn't needed. Also with arrival of elias there definately wasn't any room for him in the midfield. Also, with postiga gone who the f*** is going to score goals for us?!?! Diego Rubio and van wolfswinkel better step it up!