SL Benfica [2011|2012]

[Tiago_10]

Agreed.

They've beaten Ajax recently for the Supercup, and nearly grabbed the title last season. Clearly they are a good team.

We should be able to beat them, though.

 

[Coruja]

Benfica 2 - 1 Arsenal

- Aimar
- Nolito


Nice friendly game overall.

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

Yep good game, and finally Capdevila played is first game

 

[kp41]

Coruja, you count friendly goals as well?

 

[Coruja]

Nop.

 

[kp41]

I think you were right about Nolito, he played decent matches so far but what do you think about your defense?

 

[Coruja]

We have a nice defence, i think that we need a good back-up CB. Our left side is pretty nice with Capdevila and Emerson ( who im really liking to see ), then we have Luisão and Garay as main CB, i dont know what will Jorge Jesus do with the "bench players" but i can agree with Jardel and Miguel Vitor as backup CB's, if things go wrong that way we have january to buy a nice CB. Our right side we have Maxi Pereira, for his back-up... well.. Ruben Amorim is playing there sometimes but his position is in the midfield, so i dont know... we loaned Wass to Evian and we have Andre Almeida ( a youngster ) but i think he's kinda green to be a good backup, so i can dig Ruben Amorim as a back-up for Maxi Pereira.

So in a resume, im very confident with our defence, and this year we have a really damn good midfield who supports the defence pretty well.

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

Still i would prefer a right back, but now it's not really the time.
André Almeida went to União de Leiria, i hope he plays there, because he didn't had to much chances to play.
For CB maybe someone would come, but Jardel isn't so bad for backup and Vítor is better than him so i think we can handle it.

Now the question is which formation we should use.
4-5-1, 4-1-3-2, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3

For now i would go for the 4-5-1, probably will get Cardozo to the bench but that one so far worked well for us.

 

[Coruja]

And 4-2-3-1 ?

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

And 4-2-3-1 ?

Forgot that one
There is a rumour about Martins leaving, hope he doesnt, we lack in portuguese players and there isnt much players with enough quality for us, of course with the budget we have.

 

[Tiago_10]

For now i would go for the 4-5-1, probably will get Cardozo to the bench but that one so far worked well for us.

And 4-2-3-1 ?

It's the same tactic I think, with Witsel playing a little above Javi on a more box-to-box role, relegating Cardozo to the bench and freeing Aimar who can play near the box. Or you mean 4-5-1 with both Aimar and Witsel as free attacking midfielders?

Anyhow, it has worked well so far, I'm guessing it will depend on the opposition. For most liga matches at home my bet will be on the 4-1-3-2 but it's probably too early to tell. In any case this will only benefit the team, with the coach having more solutions.

I agree with you Coruja, our midfield is much stronger this season. About Carlos Martins I don't know, I like him but even with Aimar not being able to play 90 mins every game not sure if he would still have enough playing time to be satisfied.

 

[Coruja]

If C. Martins leaves, i can accept that if David Simão gets to stay in the team as a valid option, the kid has what it takes to at least play in Aimar position when games are somewhat controlled, the best way to learn is staying with players like Aimar and stuff, training with them and playing some minutes or 90 minutes in cup games or so, the kid needs to grow with Benfica. Everytime he played did so well, i cant understand why he gets so few minutes in pre-season. I dont like Jesus as a coach but come on, David Simão showed in every club that he played that he deserves a spot in this team.

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

Yeah about Simão you're right, but i think we will waste him, only if he plays in the Cups and scores a bunch of goals or get a bunch of assists.
But Martins was selected for the CL list, so this means that he wont leave.

 

[Tiago_10]

Not necessarily, Cesc is also listed in Arsenal's CL squad whereas there's still the possibility of him leaving.

David Simão won't have many minutes most likely, it's a waste. Players like him, André Pinto, Nélson Oliveira, etc. should be given more chances.

 

[Coruja]

They dont speak the same language as JJ. Thats why they'll never play here. Hope that they'll be sold to some nice team and show their potential.

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

For me they would be loaned again to Paços de Ferreira, they would play there at least.
Just more 2 days for the 1st league match, just hope it goes well, we don't win the 1st match a couple years ago.

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

First match today against Gil Vicente, we have to break the curse of not winning the first league match.
I would go for a 11 like this

 

[Coruja]

Yup, its the best option.

On another note, Jesus is really getting on my nerves about Urreta and Capdevila situations. Urreta as shown that he deserves to be on the squad but like always, he just dont care about him. Now Cap situation, damn, even if hes right about his condition, who will he put on the pitch if Emerson get injured or something? Fábio Faria? Seriously, Cap came late but he's not that bad in terms of condition. Jesus is just being the typical prick who wants to make a statement of putting aside a world and european champion. Yeah Jorge youre the best arround.

 

[Master Pi a Gi]

Yeah about him not playing for now i agree, but dont get in CL league list its a mistake if Emerson get injured or get sent off we dont have a LB, FF isnt a LB and hes only reasonable at CB.

 

[coxlenox]

Cardozo is injured???