Internationals September (Nations League + Friendlies)

The rule is if it’s handball and the arm is in an unnatural position then it’s a penalty. His hand was in an unnatural position. Hence it was rightly given as a penalty.

Similar to how we got the penalty against PSG.
His hand was wrapped to his body there. In our case vs PSG, his hand was above his shoulders
 
What's your argument? He's one of the most coveted defenders in the game.
He is very overrated mate. If you don’t like Iindelof you for sure won’t like Ruben Dias who is worse.
 
Sorry but that’s not true. Lindelof at Benfica was a much superior player then Ruben. Ruben is lot terrible but not a world beater either. He is a stepping stone for other talented CB coming through eventually. He is a starter because no one else can be at this stage. Hence why pepe still plays.

Ruben was already pushing for his starting position the year Lindelof had more tackles per game, more passes per game, more interceptions per game, created more chances per game, and won more headers per game.

Lindelof at that stage did affect the game in the middle and final third more than Ruben did, but during a pretty horrid time Benfica had I always thought Dias looked very good. The 4 or 5 times I seen him in person when I was dating a Brazilian girl in Lisbon he always reminded me of Rio Ferdinand in how he covers ground.
 
Understand on Ronaldo but what about someone to finally let Pepe rest. :lol:

Surely Portugal have some talent to challenge him?
We have some talent coming though for sure. 2 kids are making there way into Sporting now (Quaresma and Inácio) and Ferro if he can find his form as well but for now Pepe has to play. No one else is remotely ready.
 
Based on him being one of the most coveted defenders in the game. Us, City, Barca, and Lyon were all sniffing around, and he'll definitely be moving on next summer. Based on him having those attributes on the ball, but also being much better in the air than Lindelof, much more assertive in the tackle, and also is a mainstay in one of the best international teams in the world.

So based on nothing then. Why is he 23 and heading into the season with Benfica who arent even the league winners in portugal if he's one of the most coveted defenders in the game. You've made it up after playing football manager.

Theres no reason whatsoever why he wouldnt be signing for a top club right now for a huge fee if he was one of the most coveted defenders around. And if he had been for years, he would have probably moved a year ago. He isnt.

Benfica have no need to sell Ruben this season, after the amount of money they've made in the last 24 months, so his new contract suits both sides, but he will move on and he will be a world class defender. Really not sure why you'd bother arguing that.

Because you're acting like Mystic Meg, making shit up and ignoring the reality of whats actually happened before
 
He is very overrated mate. If you don’t like Iindelof you for sure won’t like Ruben Dias who is worse.

I love Lindelof, I'm by no means saying I don't. I just think there's a level of dominance to Rubens game, that even at Benfica Lindelof didn't, and his physicality would suit the EPL.
 
He is very overrated mate. If you don’t like Iindelof you for sure won’t like Ruben Dias who is worse.

I don't think Dias is worse than Lindelof at all. Won a league title playing with Ferro as his CB partner... should have got an extra medal for that.

He's not as good on the ball as Lindelof but he's more agressive, better in the air, more imposing physically. You're underrating him. He's not one of the best defenders in the world but he could play for a top team and do fine. His performances for the national team have been faultless so far.
 
Ruben was already pushing for his starting position the year Lindelof had more tackles per game, more passes per game, more interceptions per game, created more chances per game, and won more headers per game.

Lindelof at that stage did affect the game in the middle and final third more than Ruben did, but during a pretty horrid time Benfica had I always thought Dias looked very good. The 4 or 5 times I seen him in person when I was dating a Brazilian girl in Lisbon he always reminded me of Rio Ferdinand in how he covers ground.
Like I said I don’t think he is “horrible” but he will never be a starting caliber CB at a top team. Too many mental lapses in game and he gets away with tackles in Portugal that would get him a red card in any other league.

Because it’s Benfica and the hype they generate I am sure he will be sold eventually but there is a reason no one has Bit the bullet on him. He is not worth money at all.

Go through every top team in the world and he would never start. Maybe like a mid table team like an Everton or wolves or something would be a good move for him.
 
We have some talent coming though for sure. 2 kids are making there way into Sporting now (Quaresma and Inácio) and Ferro if he can find his form as well but for now Pepe has to play. No one else is remotely ready.

Ferro's determination is questionable.:angel:

FM player may understand that one
 
We have some talent coming though for sure. 2 kids are making there way into Sporting now (Quaresma and Inácio) and Ferro if he can find his form as well but for now Pepe has to play. No one else is remotely ready.

Quaresma and Mendes both look pretty great. Those are the portuguese defenders I'd be keeping an eye on because they're already doing well at 18
 
I don't think Dias is worse than Lindelof at all. Won a league title playing with Ferro as his CB partner... should have got an extra medal for that.

He's not as good on the ball as Lindelof but he's more agressive, better in the air, more imposing physically. You're underrating him. He's not one of the best defenders in the world but he could play for a top team and do fine. His performances for the national team have been faultless so far.
I was saying in comparison to Lindelolf at Benfica.

He was a superior player to Ruben imo.

Ruben is not a horrible player but he is not a world beater either. Would fit a mid table team in England or something along those lines I Reckon!
 
Quaresma and Mendes both look pretty great. Those are the portuguese defenders I'd be keeping an eye on because they're already doing well at 18
Watch Inácio as well. Gonçalo Inácio has been good in pre season so far. Very good on the ball.
 
Carvalo and Terry were a fantastic centre back pairing, maybe we could have the same.

I'm talking about liking Lindelof and then wanting Benfica's replacement for Lindelof. Carvalho and Terry were great, I feel bad for mentioning Lindelof or Dias in the same sentence
 
Sporting you’re very hypercritical of your own players they aren’t that bad :)
I don’t want to make it seem like they are haha just you see a lot of overrating that he is one of the best young centerbacks in the world when I personally don’t think he would start in any top team.

With that being said though he is a deserved starter for Portugal and today for example has been very solid this whole game.
 
I'm talking about liking Lindelof and then wanting Benfica's replacement for Lindelof. Carvalho and Terry were great, I feel bad for mentioning Lindelof or Dias in the same sentence
Sure your own stats even say Dais is better
 
I was saying in comparison to Lindelolf at Benfica.

He was a superior player to Ruben imo.

Ruben is not a horrible player but he is not a world beater either. Would fit a mid table team in England or something along those lines I Reckon!

Yeah I think he'd be great for a Wolves/Arsenal/Spurs but maybe not enough for a team challenging for the title. As of now I reckon he'd start for Chelsea and United too though.
 
Scary

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I don't know Dias at all but pedant that i am i will point out that those per game stats are worthless. Show a % of successful actions or actions adjusted per possession if you want to compare defensive stats
 
I don't know Dias at all but pedant that i am i will point out that those per game stats are worthless. Show a % of successful actions or actions adjusted per possession if you want to compare defensive stats

I'll pass, you do that and tell Real Madrid fans they should sign all the players that do well on that. Thanks
 
So based on nothing then. Why is he 23 and heading into the season with Benfica who arent even the league winners in portugal if he's one of the most coveted defenders in the game. You've made it up after playing football manager.

Theres no reason whatsoever why he wouldnt be signing for a top club right now for a huge fee if he was one of the most coveted defenders around. And if he had been for years, he would have probably moved a year ago. He isnt.

I don’t have any issue with central defenders waiting for a big move. Rio was 24 when joining United, Vidić 25. The best thing for a CD is to be playing games and learning. Of course you’ll always get some players that can handle it from a younger age, but I definitely think a lot of defenders move too early, and end up not recovering from their mistakes.
 
Yeah I think he'd be great for a Wolves/Arsenal/Spurs but maybe not enough for a team challenging for the title. As of now I reckon he'd start for Chelsea and United too though.
Ya a wolves, Spurs, Everton, Leicester would be great for him to get his foot in.

United need better quality if they Want to take the next step in competing.
 
I don’t want to make it seem like they are haha just you see a lot of overrating that he is one of the best young centerbacks in the world when I personally don’t think he would start in any top team.

With that being said though he is a deserved starter for Portugal and today for example has been very solid this whole game.
I understand everyone is always looking for the next big star, when you watch them more you can pick fault in them..
 
Quaresma and Mendes both look pretty great. Those are the portuguese defenders I'd be keeping an eye on because they're already doing well at 18

Almost creamed my pants yesterday watching Nuno Mendes make his debut for the U21s. It's way too early to say this but he's going to be a special player, much better than Quaresma imo who is still very green.
 
I don’t have any issue with central defenders waiting for a big move. Rio was 24 when joining United, Vidić 25. The best thing for a CD is to be playing games and learning. Of course you’ll always get some players that can handle it from a younger age, but I definitely think a lot of defenders move too early, and end up not recovering from their mistakes.

Rio was already playing in the premier league and already had a big move at a young age. Vidic was in a league that didnt get much exposure.

Wolves alone scout Portugal more than premier league clubs were scouting Red Star and Spartak Moscow
 
Almost creamed my pants yesterday watching Nuno Mendes make his debut for the U21s. It's way too early to say this but he's going to be a special player, much better than Quaresma imo who is still very green.

Thats why you keep an eye on them. They're 18, you dont expect them to be the finished article but they are at a good stage. When a player is 23 you are expecting much more from them
 
Almost creamed my pants yesterday watching Nuno Mendes make his debut for the U21s. It's way too early to say this but he's going to be a special player, much better than Quaresma imo who is still very green.
Mendes is a left back yet every time he gets on the ball I get beyond excited.

He will 100% be the starting left back for Portugal in due time.

Also doubt he will stay n Sporting long either!
 
Portugal v Croatia looks like men against boys
 
Deschamps' France as boring as ever.

If there was at least an exciting player upfront who'd take on players like Dembele for example I could enjoy it a bit more but Its really boring when we play small teams
 
Feck me Seb Larsson is still playing? Feels like he has been around forever.