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| Monday, 27 August 2012 21:09 |
Sporting 0-1 Rio AveSporting stunned by Rio Ave at the AlvaladeFootball returned to the Alvalade with Sporting taking on Rio Ave. The game began at a slow pace with little action in the opening minutes from either side. The early lull helped to quieten the Sporting fans early on which benefited the visting club. Sporting's first chance of the game came from Adrien Silva when his long-range deflected effort wrong-footed goalkeeper Jan Oblak but trickled just wide of the post. A minute later and a Khalid Boulahrouz header should have put the home side ahead but the Dutch defender managed to clear the bar from close range. Although Sporting were dominant in possession Rio Ave looked likely to counter when they managed to win the ball in midfield. The first scare saw Esmaël Gonçalves sting the hands of Rui Patrício after Rio Ave had battled to win the ball back in midfield. Edimar puts Rio Ave in frontRio Ave grew in the later stages of the first half and got their goal with just five minutes remaining before the interval. Edimar burst forward from left-back and played a nice pass with Yonathan del Valle before smashing the return ball home with Rui Patrício helpless.
So it was the away side who went into the break with a shock lead. Sporting came out after the break with two changes to the team as André Martins and Zakaria Labyad replaced Elias and Adrien Silva.  There did seem to be more pace about Sporting's game in the second half but still they couldn't find a goal and very few good chances. Indeed, it was Rio Ave who looked more likely to score when they counter-attacked.When Yonathan del Valle's quick counter found forward Braga in space it looked like Rio Ave were to double their lead but Braga shot directly at Rui Patrício. Valentín Viola makes his debutWith little changing three-quarters of the way through the game Sá Pinto made his final change, bringing on Valentín Viola on for Gelson Fernandes to give the Argentine forward his debut for Sporting since transfering from Racing Club in the summer.
Seconds later came Sporting's best chance of the second half. André Carrillo, perhaps Sporting's best player on the night, crossed for Ricky van Wolfswinkel but the misfiring Dutchman's header was straight at Jan Oblak. Sporting tried in vain to find an equaliser and Nuno Espírito Santo will be delighted at how his side bounced back from their recent defeat to Marítimo with a superb defensive performance here. For Sporting this is the worst preparation for the upcoming Europa League game against AC Horsens and it may make some fans wonder if anything at all has changed on the back of recent seasons of disappointment. There is a long way to go in the season, but Sporting will have to improve their performances massively if they want to keep pace at the top of the table. Goals
[0-1] Edimar 40 Sporting: Rui Patrício; Cédric Soares, Khalid Boulahrouz, Marcos Rojo, Emiliano Insúa; Gelson Fernandes (Valentín Viola 72'), Adrien Silva (Zakaria Labyad 45'), Elias (André Martins 45'); André Carrillo, Diego Capel, Ricky van Wolfswinkel Rio Ave: Jan Oblak; Lionn, Marcelo, Nivaldo, Edimar; Tarantini, Wires, Filipe Augusto; Braga (Vítor Gomes 68'), Yonathan del Valle (João Tomás 86'), Esmaël Gonçalves (André Vilas Boas 75') Richard Cole |
Obviously, Sporting need to find a MF who can make the offense work and work well. Hope it is Martins.
I thouht the team would be more cohesive and together to start this season. SPOOOORTING !!!!
Sporting have multiple options in midfield this season: Elias, Adrien, Gelson, Martins, Schaars, Rinaudo, Izmailov. That's 7 quality players, probably all of whom feel they are deserving of a place, for 3 spots. Schaars was excellent last season but has hardly had a look-in this season.
I think Martins' quality will win him a starting berth sooner rather than later.
Sporting is very well know for developing great players at the academy, but I dont know of any great coach coming out of there to the likes of Ronaldo or Figo to name a few.
So by now they should figure out that and hire good coaches and pay them accordingly.
Although being a sporting player bringing and talking about do sangue de leao is not enough it was good for the left games last year but sportinguistas need more at this point believe me I know it for 40 years!
However need to say sporting has been very good at changing coaches very fast and to that i like to say when the fish stinks is from the head!!! and coaches are not the head.
I hope I am wrong but in a few months we will be calling for Sa Pinto and executive offices heads, so we can start to look forward to next year.
This is a horrific result, mainly due to it being at home.
Sa Pinto for me is looking more and more like a rah rah, fire and brimstone type of guy that could get very old very quickly for the players.
You have to win your home matches. If you don't , life will get harder very quickly.
That's why it's so surprising they are dropping points to teams that are expected to be avoiding relegation. I echo everyone else that it's clear their biggest issue is a lack of goals. If they continue to struggle scoring against the weakest sides, they will stand no chance against stronger clubs in our liga.
I think if their EL run ends this week, management should face some serious issues.
Sporting have 2 excellent creative midfielders in Andre Martins and Labyad, but they don't start. Starting 2 box to box midfielders is redundant when you're playing against a defensive-minded side. Martins and Labyad will add the cutting edge they need.
I'm a Benfiquista, but I want to see a competitive league. I'm sick of seeing Benfica and Porto being the only contenders. Braga's improving, but Sporting's slowly turning into a midtable club.
This would be my starting 11:
-----------------------------RVW-----------------------------------------
Capel---------------Martins----------------------Labyad-----------------
----------------Adrien---------Schaars------------------------------
Insua--------Carrico----------Boulahrouz---------Cedric
-----------------------------Patricio---------------------------------
During the last 3 seasons they have finished a shocking 80 points off top spot. All is not well at the Alvalade!
(S)porting's (C)omedy (P)ersists
I'm ashamed.
The ball just isn't going in the net, I am at a loss for words.
I've said it before and will say it again, the biggest issue right now is finishing, especially up front. Wolfswinkel is looking like Torres did at Chelsea last year, he looks nervous and he has to get his head in the game because we need him. I really hope we can sign a striker to provide an extra option in the next couple of days.
There is a lot of football to play, a lot, so I have not hit the panic button, but after two rounds we are behind our three main competitors by three points. I would be ok with that at this early stage, but what worries me is how Benfica dispatched their opposition by 5 goals, Porto by 4 and Braga managed to score 3 this weekend. That doesn't bode well when we couldn't score one, just one paltry goal agaisnt Rio Ave (with all due respect to the Villa de Conde outfit). Our competitors seem to have quite a bit of firepower, which we are lacking. This needs to change immediately.
This is not what Sportinguistas wanted to see at the Alvalade today. Again, a lot of time for a lot to happen, I just want to see the goals! Goals that go in, not wide or off the post, or wherever they go except the back of the net. Let's go Sporting, please!
Elias can make a good through ball on occasion, but Andre Martins and Adrien are both better at dribbling and passing than him. This line up leaves Sporting limited and they continually pass the ball out to the wings and look to play in cross after cross in the box, which is very very predictable and lame. You've got to switch it up! They should go back to the 4-3-3 and play just one defensive mid whoever it is, but they MUST play Andre Martins and Adrien together from the start! That will bring more variety to Sporting's attacking strategy rather than just the same old play it out wide and cross it in strategy.
Wolfs needs to improve his work rate and needs to involve himself in the play more. He's always lacked pace and therefore has limited mobility, but he must still try harder to link up more in the play! Valentine Viola looked sprightly when he came on and is definitely a quick tricky player. I would like to see what he looks like playing up top for us sometime. I've always said we need a player who can be a different type of striker for us compared to the relatively static goal poaching style of Wolfs. We need a player who is pacy and tricky and able to weave through defenses. I believe Valentine Viola was bought for that very purpose. Yes he is young but he has the qualities. I believe he could be a very good striker. He also works very hard. Its just a question of weather his finishing would be good too. Hope Sa Pinto tries him out there sometime. I hope he comes good cause we need that alternative to Wolfs.
I'm a fan of Sa Pinto yes. I've always been supportive, but he must also learn to adjust his strategy and lineup now. He's played the same team for the past three games now and it has not worked. Time for him to switch it up! Andre Martins must start from the beginning in midfield!
It was extremely evident today.. as Oblak was dealing with an injured hand it it was rare that he was challenged in goal.. and had for the most part an easy night.
I was extremely happy for my Sporting friends when Paciencia joined the club last season and predicted that after a couple of seasons they rule the roost.. yet after Lopes collected a strange bunch.. and wiped out almost the whole squad in the process.. he had no patience with Paciencia.. and with half of a season with a full new squad.. axed Pac Man for Sa Pinto.. one of the most over-rated players ever for Portugal.. and a man clearly with some inter-personal difficiencies..of the top four he is by far the worst manager.. and makes JJ look like a genius.
Unfortunately this will harm a great team like Sporting.. with a rich history and tradition.. but like Benfica who needs to rid itself of JJ.. Sporting needs to clean out Lopes.. and hire stable manager.. giving him the reigns to succeed.. until that happens the results will be scattered..
Unlike some other opposing fans I always appreciate a strong and contending Sporting.. partly because I have family and friends that support but also because of the Lions history for excellence.
I feel for the great fans of the club.. for the same reason I suffer at Benfica.. it looks like it will take time before everything is corrected.. look at JJ.. LFV has assembled a squad that is almost idiot proof.. yet JJ is beyond idiot.. and still manages to lose games, and drop points with a monster squad... the problem with the great squads is that he will never look like a complete fool.. the players are way too good and the depth is too deep.. so we suffer with incompetence.. until the wheels fall off.
At Sporting it is similar.. stuck with Lopes till you can rid the team of him.. and then.. the new boss will appoint a new crew and disassemble many of the talent you have to bring in his own crew..
It is a point of transition moment.. unfortunately Sporting's transition point is lower than Benfica's at the moment..but both clubs are suffering greatly and their great fans deserve so much better.
Anyways felt the pain for you today.. Rio Ave is always a difficult club to play against and have scalped many..
Sporting I still believe has a quicker course to achieve great results as a clean of house and good new regime could change everything.. for the better.. and instead of JJ's middling results.. Sporting can hit the top.