Full name: Joao Pedro Pereira Silva
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: 21 May 1990
Birthplace: Vila das Aves, Portuga
Joao Silva’s imposing physical stature complements his never-say-die attitude. Combined with a keen eye for goal, these attributes came together to enable Silva to make a huge impact in his first season as a professional.
Still a teenager, he was given a chance at the start of the 2009/10 season at his hometown club Desportivo das Aves and never looked back. He ended up playing every game, scoring 14 goals in 30 league matches for the Liga Vitalis team (Portuguese 2nd-tier).
Nevertheless, it came as a surprise when Premier League club Everton made a swift move to purchase the striker. After signing for the English side at the end of 2009/10, Silva was asked if he imagined making such a move at the start of the season. His reply is enlightening: “Did I imagine at the start of the season I would be signing for Everton? No, I imagined I’d get to play one or two games in the Liga Vitalis.”
His physical prowess should stand him in good stead in the more muscular English game, and big things are expected of the player.
Although he has only played one full season, many Portuguese pundits are already championing Silva as a striker with a glittering future for Portugal. Some have gone as far as to say he could be the “new Pauleta”.
Pauleta is Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer (88 caps, 47 goals) but did not play a single game in the country’s top division. Is Joao Silva set for a similar career path?
by Tom Kundert (31/08/2010)
Comments (38)
Strikers
38
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 12:46
OrlandoM
What about Orlando Sa? Is this João Pedro Pereira Silva really that good? We will never win a Euro or World Cup without the proper team.
I mean having a great manager, a scary offense with a consistent striker, a solid defense making their wall impenetrable...that's how you win.
Pauleta was great but we failed to shine in World Cup 2002 and 2006. Our moment was Euro Cup2004 and look what happen.
We will never win without have the proper team...a consistent team.
Bluelad, Blueboy
37
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 12:16
johnieoooooooooo
Everton have never won anything.
A couple of FA cups & a cup winners cup, never won the premiership.
I am sure Porto have a better record than this.
They are not even the best team in Liverpool.
some good points
36
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 10:46
Nathan/USA
Interesting discussion....for the most part. Some poo flinging, but I guess that's bound to happen on an internet chat board discussion.
Suffice it to say that I will be really hoping that all of our young strikers abroad, including Joao Silva and Bebe will be trained well so they can fill that void at the top of Portugal's formation that Eusebio left behind so long ago.
Not too sure about that
35
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 08:01
alex/slb
I went to see everton during the summer and they didn't use joao silva at all. It was a friendly yet he didn't even get a minute of playing time. He's definitely low on the preference list for everton. If anything bebe has a better chance of being a world class striker for portugal, although sir alex ferguson has said that he will be played on the wing.
Great Debate guys..
34
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 04:32
Orlandomac
Full respect to all.. very informative and constructive arguments.. I was highly entertained reading them all..
We can all agree though that Pauleta was a good player for Portugal who put up great numbers.. world class or not.. a great gentleman.
Thanks for the great posts though.. I truly appreciate all your comments.
Strikers
33
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 03:20
John/Canada
Miguel from MADRID and DAVID porto...you are the ones full of stupidities....clearly everyone but you two understood that I was refering to the fact that all of Portugal's past top strikers have not been from the mainland you IDIOT!!! Learn to properly dissect messages being written here. The "colonies" was a simple reference to the many worldwide portuguese speaking territories. Despite my youthful age (34) I am very versed in Portuguese and world football. Perhaps you should do the same. Thank you Steve and others that can read a comment and intelligently discuss it. Also of note and learning.... the great pre-Eusebio era portuguese striker Peyroteo was also not from the mainland (he was born in Angola)
Since I sparked the conversation here.....I will end it by saying: Portugal will not be champions of the World or Europe until they develop a striker. Hopefully this Joao Silva youngster can become something worth discussing in the near future.
Finally
32
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 00:42
Patrick, New York
This debate could go forever, but to finally put this to rest - Portugal don't have any other world class striker after Eusebio, period.
David/Porto
31
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 00:38
Fresh/Canada
The Portuguese Footballer of the Year award rule changed after the year 2000 because they were only going to give the award to players who play in Portugal only instead of just Portuguese footballers. Since Pauleta has never played top division in Portugal it was impossible for him to win but he was able win some individual honours in France.
He has became Ligue 1's top goalscorer three times (2001-02, 2005-06, 2006-07) and French League Footballer of the Year twice (2001-02 and 2002-03). Also, I would like to add Pauleta was named one in the Top 50 list for 2002's Ballon d'Or list.
the topic
30
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 23:59
california
I wonder if he was black, if they would call him the next eusebio was he born in the acores too. They also mentioned something about his imposing physical stature ,but those words don't come to mind when i think of pauleta. I don,t think we should call anyone the next anyone because it never happens please someone tell me when it has. I mean come on they called quaresma the next figo sorry monah not gonna happen he's way behind the ball on that one .Oh maybe i will go off topic so Steve/DC are you trying to tell us that comparing pauleta with fernando gomes is ridicules because by your reasoning pauleta is better than Eusebio because the highest level Eusebio ever reached was the portuguese first division were he only played against semi pro teams from villages nobody has ever heard of.
@Steve/dc
29
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 23:35
nobody
hey come to my village that no one has ever heard about please ;)
What were we talking about?
28
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 23:00
Steve / D.C.
I could have sworn the topic of conversation on this thread was whether Joao Silva could be the next Pauleta... and then some people on here began to criticize Pauleta... and suggesting that Fernando Gomes was a better striker for Portugal. I am sorry, but Fernando Gomes scored 13 goals for Portugal in his entire career. Period. Nothing more to say about him as an international striker - he scored 13 international goals. Those are not incomplete stats... that is a fact. Comparing him to Pauleta just boggles the mind... and pulling club stats from the Portuguese Liga back when it had 18 and 20 teams in it!!! Are you kidding me??? The Portuguese Liga is barely competitive with the current 16 teams... back in the 1970s and 1980s when there were 18 and 20 teams in the league - you want to count goals scored against semi-pro teams from villages nobody ever heard of??? Ridiculous.
Pauleta
27
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 22:28
jon/usa
I will admit that I am only 17 years old and I have only followed futebol since the world cup in 2006, but since then I have learned a lot about the legends of portuguese soccer from my grandfather and from the internet and I have to agree with Orlandomac.
My family comes from the tiny island of Graciosa and we are extremely proud of our azorean hero Pauleta, but I would not call him a world class striker. He was great for Portugal in qualifiers and was a legend for PSG, but calling him world class is a stretch in my opinion.
Eusebio was the greatest Portuguese striker of all time, but the only other striker who could be considered world class is Fernando Peyroteo. As Miguel said, he has the highest goals to games ratio of any player in history and he was part of the legendary sporting team of the 40's. But due to WW2, he and the other great players of that sporting team were never able to compete in the world cup in their primes.
Joao Silva vs Pauleta
26
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 22:24
Miguel - Madrid
First of all, I would like to say that Pauleta was a very good player that I've appreciated, but he NEVER was a world class player. To me, and just looking some years behind, world class strikers were Ronaldo (brazilian), Van Nistelrooy, Shevchenko, Thierry Henry, Marco Van Basten, Eric Cantona...
And today world class strikers are Didier Drogba, David Villa, Wayne Rooney...
World class portuguese striker? Only one. Eusebio.
So try to tell me, when Pauleta reached this level? First of all, he always failed to make the "big jump" from french league to 3 top leagues (he had a passage on Deportivo de la Coruña). He suffered of Mario Jardel syndrome, only with the deferece that when Pauleta was matching more harder teams and defenses, Pauleta rarely scored. Can you tell me how many goals he scored on Euro cups and World cups?
I don't want to discredit Pauleta, especially to their countrymen or background countrymen, but I think he's best trophy was the "best foreign player on french league" in 2004 or something like that. He never one a french league.
I agree with Fresh / Hamilton, some times I also prefered Nuno Gomes over Pauleta, especially when it came the tough matches, I can remember great goals by Nuno Gomes against France, Germany, Holland, England, Spain. Fortunately he always played better on NT than in Benfica eheh.
I really would like to have seen Fernando Gomes, Jordão or Nene playing on last two generations side by side with Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, Paulo Sousa, Sergio Conceiçao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maniche. I'm sure that especially Fernando Gomes, the idol of Nuno Ribeiro (aka Nuno "Gomes" from SLB) would be a terrifying scoring machine and would had more chances to play on top 3 leagues.
To number 15 John. I really don't care about ages from 8 to 80. But I think you had no right to insult some users. By the way, since long time I haven't seen such big stupidities like things you wrote:
"All the superstar goalscorers and future stars come from the former colonies (i.e - Eusebio, Pauleta, Ronaldo, Nani, Quaresma -segano, Djalo, etc.)"
Tell me please from which colony came Pauleta, Ronaldo and Quaresma ("cigano" - gypsi...gypsiland? or we are entering now on delicated ethnical subjects?), Fernando Gomes, Nuno Gomes, Simao, Danny, Hugo Almeida, Joao Silva, Saleiro, Diogo Salomao, Orlando Sá, Tiago Correia (Bebe)...
Ok, the argument that Pauleta's problem was his birthplace on Açores make me laugh a lot... and Cristiano Ronaldo are from where? Lisbon? Mars? Isn't he from Madeira islands?
Back to the report, I think that Joao Silva will have his chances on Everton, a team with a great youth academy with a really investment on young talents. Remember Wayne Rooney, came from there.
And I hope he will be better than Pauleta.
@Steve/DC
25
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 22:22
David/Porto
You can't rate a player only on his performances for the National team. Considering that players play a heck of a lot more for their club teams it would be more correct to judge their performance by looking at that. It is more consistent.
F. Gomes scored 330 goals in 432 games and if we include the National team statistics it is 343 goals in 470 games = 0.73 per game. He was the European golden shoe winner twice.
Pauleta scored 212 in 425 games and never won the Golden shoe award. If we include International games it would be 259 goals in 513 games = 0.50 per game.
The statistics speak for themselves.
Gomes was also a winner of the Portuguese footballer of the year which Pauleta never got.
He won the Champions League and other European trophies which Pauleta never did.
Now, about your incomplete statistics (which only include the National team), Pauleta played with the Golden Generation, Gomes did not, and that's all I have to say about that.
RESPECT THE PORTUGUESE
24
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 22:18
george/ usa
acores thinks they better than the mainland, mainland thinks they better than the acores. stop the DISCRIMINATION bs. i respect pauleta and nuno gomes for what they did for portugal, but for me i dont see them has a world class striker but average goal scorers. the problem with them is their speed a bit too SLOW. pauleta scored lots of goals only against weak teams when it comes facing powerhouse teams pauleta can not even pass the defense. nuno gomes didnt score has many goals like pauleta but he did score lots of important goals in major tournaments knockouts when needed. just dont forget there were other players that were not strikers that scored has many, like figo, joao pinto, ronaldo.
@ David/Porto (again, cuz it's fun to "school" the "experts")
23
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 21:55
Steve / D.C.
Since I just can't let the blasphemy and slander being spit out at the great Pauleta... its time to cut through the bullshit and expose the nonesense being offered by Miguel - Madrid and support by David/Porto...
Fernando Gomes - 48 apps / 13 goal... thats right folks, 13 international goals in his ENTIRE CAREER. 1 goal every 3.6 games. David, this is not a world class striker.
Nene - 66 apps / 22 goals. 1 goal every 3 games. Not a striker to put fear in the hearts of international comp. Not world class.
Rui Jordao - 43 apps / 15 goals. 1 goal every 2.8 games. Respectable, but by no means a world class striker.
And now... drum roll please...
The great Pauleta - 88 apps / 47 goals. Thats worth repeating... 47 goals. That comes out to 1 goal every 1.8 games. A truly world class striker... and I'm not even going to go into his numbers at Bordeux and PSG because, like Fernanado Gomes, Nene, and Rui Jordao, club numbers are irrelevant to this discussion.
Portugal has had only 2 world class strikers: Eusebio and Pauleta. I like Nuno Gomes... but if he makes the list its at #3, well behind the great Senhor Resendes (aka Pauleta).
I'm with Veetor
22
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 21:35
Orlandomac
Hey John & Steve.. it was very evident from the start that both of you have a background from Sao Miguel.. but this not a case where continental people are being ignorant... it is based on fact.
They cheer on Eusebio to this day.. he wasn't from the mainland.. it is because he scored important goals in important games especially in the world cup.
Pauleta has never scored a goal on a quality side.. he was talented enough to score goals on inferior teams but when it mattered most he failed!
Was his service weak..? It always is in a 4-3-3 but he did have Portugal's best ever crosser in Conceicao, a Figo, and a Rui Costa.
I too like Veetor am from the islands but was calling for him to be benched in major tournaments throughout his playing days, not because we are biased but because of his record.
He never was anywhere near a world class player, a world class man maybe but he shouldn't be considered in any light similar to Eusebio. Although he was one of Portugal's best that is not saying much, as that has always been the achilles heel of the squad.
As for Joao Silva it is still too early on.. he has a lot to do.. many have failed.. in the EPL and in Portugal.. so let us walk before we run. We wish him the best.
Everton is a great club, but I think our friend with the Mersey Blue glasses is as blind as the guy he insults.. the reference to the minnows of the Portuguese League which have the biggest club supporter wise in the world in Benfica, followed closely by the huge support of the Sporting & Porto.
One wrong comment doesn't deserve another.
@John from Canada
21
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 21:27
David/Porto
Hey, could you tell me who Fernando Gomes usually lined up with in the National team when he played? Do you even know? Did you know who Fernando Gomes was before you had to check him up on wikipedia?
I suppose you don't even know that Nuno Gomes isn't even "Gomes" at all but rather that he is named after "the great" Fernando Gomes?!
the numbers speak for themselves
20
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 21:22
Jerrold/ Canada
No Name Goals Caps Avg First cap Latest cap
1 Pauleta 47 88 0.53 August 20, 1997 July 8, 2006
2 Eusébio 41 64 0.64 October 8, 1961 October 13, 1973
3 Luís Figo 32 127 0.25 October 12, 1991 July 8, 2006
4 Nuno Gomes 29 77 0.38 January 24, 1996 October 10, 2009
5 Rui Costa 26 94 0.28 March 31, 1993 July 4, 2004
6 João Pinto 23 81 0.28 October 12, 1991 June 14, 2002
Cristiano Ronaldo 23 76 0.30 August 20, 2003 June 29, 2010
8 Nené 22 66 0.33 April 21, 1971 June 23, 1984
Simão 22 85 0.26 October 18, 1998 June 29, 2010
10 Rui Jordão 15 43 0.35 March 29, 1972 January 25, 1989
Peyroteo 15 20 0.75 April 24, 1938 March 20, 1949
[edit]
@ David/Porto
19
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 21:13
Steve / D.C.
David - I'm not sure what my age has to do with any of this... but since you seem to be so fixated on people's ages, I am 34. But that's it OK, I am a heterosexual (nothing against homosexuals, I'm just saying I'm not one) so don't ask me anymore personal questions because I'm just not into you...
Now, back to futbol... Miguel from madrid listed 3 of what I'll call "legends of the Portuguese Liga" - but um... not sure how to break this to you, but those guys never established themselves on the international scene. They are not world class strikers, and do NOT even belong in a conversation about the selecao and Eusebio etc. How many INTERNATIONAL GOALS did that trio score for the selecao??? Like I said, they were not word class strikers.
Now, for those mentioning Nuno Gomes - I'm a huge fan of his, especially for all those clutch goals he scored in the euros... but in my book he ranks behind (well behind) Pauleta. But this is arguable, I'll give you that, especially since Nuno Gomes is SLB, and I know how all you benfiquistas love to swear everything associated with SLB is the best... in any event, IMO Eusebio is all time Portugal great, Pauleta is (in terms of a pure striker) the only other truly world class we've ever had. He's the all time leading scorer (yes, as part of the GG but so what) and he is a legend at PSG having owned Ligue 1 for many years.
On a side note - I love how all you "closet experts" think you know the Portuguese game better than anybody, and somehow claim age as a qualifying credential. Strange...
Pauleta's respect
18
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:39
Fresh/Canada
My dad is from Sao Miguel just like Pauleta is from but for me to say he was the best striker since Eusebio? It's tough to say. Don't get me wrong I appreciate everything that Pauleta has ever done with the national team but when it came to the bigger teams Pauleta disappeared when it came to the major competitions and we played the better nations thats why I was preferred Nuno Gomes over him but the management always chose Pauleta simply because they thought Nuno was injury-prone. When it came to the tough nations it was clutch Nuno Gomes scoring against the tough nations (ie. England, France, Germany). Pauleta will go down as one of Portugal's greats doesn't matter where he's from but to quote he's the best since Eusebio is not the best way to put it.
We don't need to put too much pressure on Joao Silva he hasn't made a impact at Everton yet and compare him to the legendary Pauleta.
portugal
17
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 20:03
Mike/ Canada
i believe nuno gomes deserves to be on that list of portugals greats strikers. he scored alot of important goals for portugal throughout his carrer. it doesnt many the quantity of goals he scored but the quality and importance of them. this is my opinion.
@Steve/DC
16
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:18
David/Porto
Miguel from Madrid has already replied with the answer and he couldn't be more correct.
Steve, you clearly know very little of Portuguese football and that is something worth being embarrassed about considering the seriousness with which you take yourself.
Fernando Gomes was twice the striker that Pauleta was. As a matter of fact, he's in a different class! Gomes didn't play in a Selecção of the "Golden generation" where he had an array of talented players to make things easier.
Steve, how old are you? 18,19?
Thanks Steve!!!
15
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:16
John/Canada
Clearly you were the only person that understood my comment correctly........NT and club teams are in fact 2 different things....too bad David and Miguel are the REAL immature ignor-anus' on this site. As for the whole Acores thing......I am a proud son of Portuguese parents from the island of S. Miguel, Acores. Perhaps there is some truth in the underappreciated value of Pauleta due to his birthplace, or perhaps because he flourished without ever playing a game in the campeonato de portugal. Just a side note to all the haters.....as far as the seleccao goes, the truly great and the potentially future great goal scorers of PORTUGAL have not been from the mainland, with the exception of L. Figo. All the superstar goalscorers and future stars come from the former colonies (i.e - Eusebio, Pauleta, Ronaldo, Nani, Quaresma -segano, Djalo, etc.) When will the provincias finally produce a star striker of their own?..........LOL Regardless, I support all that is Portuguese- mainland or not!!! Forca Seleccao!!!!!
Many Hero's but only 1 true prolific striker for Portugal
14
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:10
Veeeeetor, Toronto Canada
Good luck to Joao Silva in Everton and as to the conversation your guys are having Portugal has had only 1 true stiker .... Eusebio, And being from the same region as Pauletta , as much as I admire the hero, or any of the other players mentioned in the conversations no one is as well rounded and has much of an impact player as Eusebio was and untill someone can come up and match the stats then well they can have their name there also.
joao silva
13
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 18:58
bluelad. liverpool/ uk
hahahaha the next pauleta dont knuw who you are but you are the biggest k***head in footballing terms as the so called shittest club you refer to us as being has one of the biggest fanbases world wide because we actually are famous unlike the minnow team that you probably support. shouldnt say bad about our club as you have not got any cause doing so you have no connections to everton the mighty blues so going spout your evil tongue on your own club eh ,
Bright future
12
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 18:57
Patrick, New York
I don't see the need for him be loaned out. Let him settle down in Merseyside. Unlike Bebe of United, I don't think it will take long for him to break into the squad. Let him sit on the bench for a while and even come in on the second-half. Seeing his last year performance in the Liga Vitalis, he has all it takes to become an impact player in England. Lets just hope his progression goes sky-high...
silva/pauletta
11
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:59
blueboy
johnieooo
you truly are a p****..when did everton become a shit team ??
pauleta
10
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:58
roger/south africa
What are you people smoking?Pauleta world class!Give me
a brake,so he scored lots of goals for the national team against also-rans,thats right also-rans.Hatricks agains no name brand teams.When it counted in world cups and Euros,where was his goals?He flopped everytime when it really counted.Reminds me a little of a famous MR Ronal..hmm
@Steve / D.C.
9
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:53
Mdot
I would have to back your comments. If Pauleta was from Lisbon or Porto people on here would be going on how he was on of the best in the world. There is a dumb attitude in the mainland when it comes to the Azores. I was born in Lisbon but half of my family are living in the Azores and I have seen so many times below how dumb people can get over any accomplishments they add to Portugal.
Just like every other young Portuguese striker, I wish him well. You never know, Everton does not have much depth and they have a good history of running short of players due to injuries. He may get a shot at a couple of EPL games and maybe do well. All it takes is a couple of games to get him some more playing time.
Hahaha the next pauleta
8
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:30
johnieooooooooo
He isnt going to play a single minute at Everton.
He is going to ride pine or spend time in the reserves.
He should be loaned out to a 2nd or 3rd division team in england or another country altogether.
So he scores 14 goal in portugal's tier 2, gets picked up by a shit english team & hes the next pauleta, wtf?
Miguel / Madrid
7
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:08
Steve / D.C.
You've dropped some names, that good (uch better than that other guy). But those strikers arent world class... Gomes, Nene, Jordao would not have started on a top five world cup team in their prime... therefore they are not world class. They were good, but not great. You seem to be confusing club performance with the selecao... all the statistics you drop are irrelevant to the conversation of the selecao... how many apps and goals someone scored in an SCP or SLB camisola is completely irrelevant to what we are discussing here, which is the selecao das quinas...
@ David/Porto
6
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:56
Steve / D.C.
What a stupid comment. John/Canada said Pauleta has been the only true striker since Eusebio - I agree. Without a doubt Portugal has had only two, thats right, TWO world class strikers... I challenge you to name a third or a fourth!!! Obviously there have been many players to play the position for the selecao, but only two have been truly world class. Now, how can you say John/Canada knows nothing and just leave it at that - YOU HAVE TO DROP SOME NAMES TO BACK UP YOUR CRITIQUE!!! I am Portuguese, I love the Selecao, and I lament the fact we have only had 2 true world class strikers, I'm waiting for the third, and hopefully Joao Silva is it (who knows). But dont come on here and criticize someone's comments without backing it up b/c that makes you sound like a fool... or maybe you sound like a fool because you are a fool... I'm not sure which... and justin from rochester - man, dont even get me started on your comment! How dare you try an knock Pauleta!!! He is our all-time leading goal scorer, a true professional and gentlemen of the game - because he is from the Azores he doesnt get the credit he deserves - if Pauleta was born in Lisbon they woud have erected a statue in his honor. Shyt. Dont get me started...
John/Canada
5
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:49
Miguel - Madrid
"How dare you undervalue the work of Pauleta!!!....Portugal's only true striker since Eusebio"
Ok:
Fernando Gomes (mid 70's and 80's FCP star) Apps- 432 Gls- 330
Nené (old SLB star) 422 (263)
Rui Jordão (old SCP star)
Fernando Peyroteo (30's 40's SCP star, before Eusebio), he has the best goals per game ratio in the history of football (2.17 goals per game)
Just to mention some...
@John from Canada
4
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:06
David/Porto
"Portugal's only true striker since Eusebio."
You should be banned from commenting on this sight for saying something like that. You just gave yourself away as someone who knows nothing about Portuguese football.
What, are you like 18 years old and started watching Portuguese football when you were 10? That's how it appears.
he needs to be loaned out
3
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 15:19
torpiano, uk
I find it hard to get excited about a player that isn't going to be playing much in the coming season.
It's transfer deadline day and I haven't heard of him being loaned out but it would be very beneficial for him if he gets loaned out to a Championship club to get some playing time.
Otherwise it will just be a season in the reserves and he could become the next Amaury Bischoff. He is 20 years old, not 16 or 17, so he needs to be playing soon!!
Justin critique
2
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 14:20
John/Canada
How dare you undervalue the work of Pauleta!!!....Portugal's only true striker since Eusebio. Might I point out that those so called "qualifiers" you mention are what got Portugal to the Int'l tournaments. You make it sound like this isn't the case for any forward. Every great team plays lowly nations like Cyprus, Macedonia, Malta, etc., even Eusebio scored against N. Korea. Pauleta is second only to Eusebio IMO because it took him more games to achieve the goals. He was used many games inappropriately as a lone striker that never got decent service from many of his teamates. Respect the Portuguese Aguia Goal Scoring Machine and hope that any up and comer can be half as good.....Portugal will only then be in great shape.
Please
1
Tuesday, 31 August 2010 13:47
justin from rochester
Please be better then pauleta and live up to the national team standards.and not just qualifiers and club achievements. God if you look at the players we have on paper and if they can come together and figure it out we truly are a top 3-5 team in the world.
"Real Madrid played the best football in the world this year, even though we didn't win a European competition. They (Real Madrid board) have confidence in me and believe I'm the ideal coach for this team until 2016."
José Mourinho(Real Madrid coach, after signing contract extension at Real Madrid)
Full name: Joao Pedro Pereira Silva
I mean having a great manager, a scary offense with a consistent striker, a solid defense making their wall impenetrable...that's how you win.
Pauleta was great but we failed to shine in World Cup 2002 and 2006. Our moment was Euro Cup2004 and look what happen.
We will never win without have the proper team...a consistent team.
A couple of FA cups & a cup winners cup, never won the premiership.
I am sure Porto have a better record than this.
They are not even the best team in Liverpool.
Suffice it to say that I will be really hoping that all of our young strikers abroad, including Joao Silva and Bebe will be trained well so they can fill that void at the top of Portugal's formation that Eusebio left behind so long ago.
We can all agree though that Pauleta was a good player for Portugal who put up great numbers.. world class or not.. a great gentleman.
Thanks for the great posts though.. I truly appreciate all your comments.
Since I sparked the conversation here.....I will end it by saying: Portugal will not be champions of the World or Europe until they develop a striker. Hopefully this Joao Silva youngster can become something worth discussing in the near future.
He has became Ligue 1's top goalscorer three times (2001-02, 2005-06, 2006-07) and French League Footballer of the Year twice (2001-02 and 2002-03). Also, I would like to add Pauleta was named one in the Top 50 list for 2002's Ballon d'Or list.
My family comes from the tiny island of Graciosa and we are extremely proud of our azorean hero Pauleta, but I would not call him a world class striker. He was great for Portugal in qualifiers and was a legend for PSG, but calling him world class is a stretch in my opinion.
Eusebio was the greatest Portuguese striker of all time, but the only other striker who could be considered world class is Fernando Peyroteo. As Miguel said, he has the highest goals to games ratio of any player in history and he was part of the legendary sporting team of the 40's. But due to WW2, he and the other great players of that sporting team were never able to compete in the world cup in their primes.
And today world class strikers are Didier Drogba, David Villa, Wayne Rooney...
World class portuguese striker? Only one. Eusebio.
So try to tell me, when Pauleta reached this level? First of all, he always failed to make the "big jump" from french league to 3 top leagues (he had a passage on Deportivo de la Coruña). He suffered of Mario Jardel syndrome, only with the deferece that when Pauleta was matching more harder teams and defenses, Pauleta rarely scored. Can you tell me how many goals he scored on Euro cups and World cups?
I don't want to discredit Pauleta, especially to their countrymen or background countrymen, but I think he's best trophy was the "best foreign player on french league" in 2004 or something like that. He never one a french league.
I agree with Fresh / Hamilton, some times I also prefered Nuno Gomes over Pauleta, especially when it came the tough matches, I can remember great goals by Nuno Gomes against France, Germany, Holland, England, Spain. Fortunately he always played better on NT than in Benfica eheh.
I really would like to have seen Fernando Gomes, Jordão or Nene playing on last two generations side by side with Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, Paulo Sousa, Sergio Conceiçao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maniche. I'm sure that especially Fernando Gomes, the idol of Nuno Ribeiro (aka Nuno "Gomes" from SLB) would be a terrifying scoring machine and would had more chances to play on top 3 leagues.
To number 15 John. I really don't care about ages from 8 to 80. But I think you had no right to insult some users. By the way, since long time I haven't seen such big stupidities like things you wrote:
"All the superstar goalscorers and future stars come from the former colonies (i.e - Eusebio, Pauleta, Ronaldo, Nani, Quaresma -segano, Djalo, etc.)"
Tell me please from which colony came Pauleta, Ronaldo and Quaresma ("cigano" - gypsi...gypsiland? or we are entering now on delicated ethnical subjects?), Fernando Gomes, Nuno Gomes, Simao, Danny, Hugo Almeida, Joao Silva, Saleiro, Diogo Salomao, Orlando Sá, Tiago Correia (Bebe)...
Ok, the argument that Pauleta's problem was his birthplace on Açores make me laugh a lot... and Cristiano Ronaldo are from where? Lisbon? Mars? Isn't he from Madeira islands?
Back to the report, I think that Joao Silva will have his chances on Everton, a team with a great youth academy with a really investment on young talents. Remember Wayne Rooney, came from there.
And I hope he will be better than Pauleta.
F. Gomes scored 330 goals in 432 games and if we include the National team statistics it is 343 goals in 470 games = 0.73 per game. He was the European golden shoe winner twice.
Pauleta scored 212 in 425 games and never won the Golden shoe award. If we include International games it would be 259 goals in 513 games = 0.50 per game.
The statistics speak for themselves.
Gomes was also a winner of the Portuguese footballer of the year which Pauleta never got.
He won the Champions League and other European trophies which Pauleta never did.
Now, about your incomplete statistics (which only include the National team), Pauleta played with the Golden Generation, Gomes did not, and that's all I have to say about that.
Fernando Gomes - 48 apps / 13 goal... thats right folks, 13 international goals in his ENTIRE CAREER. 1 goal every 3.6 games. David, this is not a world class striker.
Nene - 66 apps / 22 goals. 1 goal every 3 games. Not a striker to put fear in the hearts of international comp. Not world class.
Rui Jordao - 43 apps / 15 goals. 1 goal every 2.8 games. Respectable, but by no means a world class striker.
And now... drum roll please...
The great Pauleta - 88 apps / 47 goals. Thats worth repeating... 47 goals. That comes out to 1 goal every 1.8 games. A truly world class striker... and I'm not even going to go into his numbers at Bordeux and PSG because, like Fernanado Gomes, Nene, and Rui Jordao, club numbers are irrelevant to this discussion.
Portugal has had only 2 world class strikers: Eusebio and Pauleta. I like Nuno Gomes... but if he makes the list its at #3, well behind the great Senhor Resendes (aka Pauleta).
They cheer on Eusebio to this day.. he wasn't from the mainland.. it is because he scored important goals in important games especially in the world cup.
Pauleta has never scored a goal on a quality side.. he was talented enough to score goals on inferior teams but when it mattered most he failed!
Was his service weak..? It always is in a 4-3-3 but he did have Portugal's best ever crosser in Conceicao, a Figo, and a Rui Costa.
I too like Veetor am from the islands but was calling for him to be benched in major tournaments throughout his playing days, not because we are biased but because of his record.
He never was anywhere near a world class player, a world class man maybe but he shouldn't be considered in any light similar to Eusebio. Although he was one of Portugal's best that is not saying much, as that has always been the achilles heel of the squad.
As for Joao Silva it is still too early on.. he has a lot to do.. many have failed.. in the EPL and in Portugal.. so let us walk before we run. We wish him the best.
Everton is a great club, but I think our friend with the Mersey Blue glasses is as blind as the guy he insults.. the reference to the minnows of the Portuguese League which have the biggest club supporter wise in the world in Benfica, followed closely by the huge support of the Sporting & Porto.
One wrong comment doesn't deserve another.
I suppose you don't even know that Nuno Gomes isn't even "Gomes" at all but rather that he is named after "the great" Fernando Gomes?!
1 Pauleta 47 88 0.53 August 20, 1997 July 8, 2006
2 Eusébio 41 64 0.64 October 8, 1961 October 13, 1973
3 Luís Figo 32 127 0.25 October 12, 1991 July 8, 2006
4 Nuno Gomes 29 77 0.38 January 24, 1996 October 10, 2009
5 Rui Costa 26 94 0.28 March 31, 1993 July 4, 2004
6 João Pinto 23 81 0.28 October 12, 1991 June 14, 2002
Cristiano Ronaldo 23 76 0.30 August 20, 2003 June 29, 2010
8 Nené 22 66 0.33 April 21, 1971 June 23, 1984
Simão 22 85 0.26 October 18, 1998 June 29, 2010
10 Rui Jordão 15 43 0.35 March 29, 1972 January 25, 1989
Peyroteo 15 20 0.75 April 24, 1938 March 20, 1949
[edit]
Now, back to futbol... Miguel from madrid listed 3 of what I'll call "legends of the Portuguese Liga" - but um... not sure how to break this to you, but those guys never established themselves on the international scene. They are not world class strikers, and do NOT even belong in a conversation about the selecao and Eusebio etc. How many INTERNATIONAL GOALS did that trio score for the selecao??? Like I said, they were not word class strikers.
Now, for those mentioning Nuno Gomes - I'm a huge fan of his, especially for all those clutch goals he scored in the euros... but in my book he ranks behind (well behind) Pauleta. But this is arguable, I'll give you that, especially since Nuno Gomes is SLB, and I know how all you benfiquistas love to swear everything associated with SLB is the best... in any event, IMO Eusebio is all time Portugal great, Pauleta is (in terms of a pure striker) the only other truly world class we've ever had. He's the all time leading scorer (yes, as part of the GG but so what) and he is a legend at PSG having owned Ligue 1 for many years.
On a side note - I love how all you "closet experts" think you know the Portuguese game better than anybody, and somehow claim age as a qualifying credential. Strange...
We don't need to put too much pressure on Joao Silva he hasn't made a impact at Everton yet and compare him to the legendary Pauleta.
Steve, you clearly know very little of Portuguese football and that is something worth being embarrassed about considering the seriousness with which you take yourself.
Fernando Gomes was twice the striker that Pauleta was. As a matter of fact, he's in a different class! Gomes didn't play in a Selecção of the "Golden generation" where he had an array of talented players to make things easier.
Steve, how old are you? 18,19?
you truly are a p****..when did everton become a shit team ??
a brake,so he scored lots of goals for the national team against also-rans,thats right also-rans.Hatricks agains no name brand teams.When it counted in world cups and Euros,where was his goals?He flopped everytime when it really counted.Reminds me a little of a famous MR Ronal..hmm
Just like every other young Portuguese striker, I wish him well. You never know, Everton does not have much depth and they have a good history of running short of players due to injuries. He may get a shot at a couple of EPL games and maybe do well. All it takes is a couple of games to get him some more playing time.
He is going to ride pine or spend time in the reserves.
He should be loaned out to a 2nd or 3rd division team in england or another country altogether.
So he scores 14 goal in portugal's tier 2, gets picked up by a shit english team & hes the next pauleta, wtf?
Ok:
Fernando Gomes (mid 70's and 80's FCP star) Apps- 432 Gls- 330
Nené (old SLB star) 422 (263)
Rui Jordão (old SCP star)
Fernando Peyroteo (30's 40's SCP star, before Eusebio), he has the best goals per game ratio in the history of football (2.17 goals per game)
Just to mention some...
You should be banned from commenting on this sight for saying something like that. You just gave yourself away as someone who knows nothing about Portuguese football.
What, are you like 18 years old and started watching Portuguese football when you were 10? That's how it appears.
It's transfer deadline day and I haven't heard of him being loaned out but it would be very beneficial for him if he gets loaned out to a Championship club to get some playing time.
Otherwise it will just be a season in the reserves and he could become the next Amaury Bischoff. He is 20 years old, not 16 or 17, so he needs to be playing soon!!