Portuguese Football 2017/2018

I've caught a few Porto games this year (maybe 3 or 4) and Oliver Torres hasn't seemed to have progressed which is a shame. Brahimi, as ever, is fun to watch.

Sporting have caught my eye a few times. They have a few players I like in Coentrao, B.Fernandes, Acuna, Ribeiro.

I want to try and catch a Rio Ave game soon - they look like a fun team to watch.
 
I think it will be a fight between Porto and Benfica. Sporting has more defensive stability this year but they depend too much on several key players like Bas Dost, Gelson Martins, Bruno Fernandes to make the difference. Porto is the team who plays best football for the moment but they aren't always efficient. Benfica has improved in comparison to the start of the season and will stay long in the race.
 
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Leeuw said:
I think it will be a fight between Porto and Benfica. Sporting has more defensive stability this year but they depend too much on several key players like Bas Dost, Gelson Martins, Bruno Fernandes to make the difference. Porto is the team who plays best football for the moment but they aren't always efficient. Benfica has improved in comparison to the start of the season and will stay long in the race.
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Welcome!

Just like Sporting depends on Gelson and Dost, Benfica depends on Jonas (and Krovinovic who got injured pretty badly) and Porto depend on Brahimi and Danilo. I don't think any of the 3 are above the other right now. Porto have a very thin squad and they have a lot of tough games coming up, this is their next 5/6 weeks.

Porto-Braga
Porto-Sporting (cup)
Chaves-Porto
Porto-Liverpool (CL)
Porto-Rio Ave
Estoril-Porto (1-0 with 45 minutes to go)
Portimonense-Porto
Porto-Sporting
Liverpool-Porto (CL)
Paços de Ferreira-Porto

Then they still go to Benfica, Guimarães and Maritimo in the league and Sporting in the cup. They have been showing signs that they're slowing down so we need that to continue. Benfica have very easy fixtures but playing them in the second to last game gives me confidence. Even if we're 3 points behind them by then we'll still have a good chance.

One thing's for sure, it's going to be the best title race since 2006/07. Impossible to predict.
 
Yagami said:
I've caught a few Porto games this year (maybe 3 or 4) and Oliver Torres hasn't seemed to have progressed which is a shame.
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Being wasted there, he is more suited to possession football, NES or Sergio Conceição football is more suited to transitions, where Oliver doesn't feel comfortable.
Leeuw said:
I think it will be a fight between Porto and Benfica.
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Ah, directly from Sporting forum. Welcome aboard. Don't agree with you. It will be between the 3, even if I don't like the way we play.
 
Leeuw said:
I think it will be a fight between Porto and Benfica. Sporting has more defensive stability this year but they depend too much on several key players like Bas Dost, Gelson Martins, Bruno Fernandes to make the difference. Porto is the team who plays best football for the moment but they aren't always efficient. Benfica has improved in comparison to the start of the season and will stay long in the race.
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Another Sporting fan. Welcome mate. A contributor for the forum and this thread in particular hopefully.
 
SCP said:
Being wasted there, he is more suited to possession football, NES or Sergio Conceição football is more suited to transitions, where Oliver doesn't feel comfortable.
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I watched the Porto-Sporting cup match the other day and I remember waiting to see the game calm down and for Torres to get on the ball and try and dictate things - likewise with B.Fernandes for Sporting. It just didn't happen. The match was chaos! Not that that's bad - it was a fun game I thought.

The other times I've caught Porto they've had more steady possession and I actually thought Torres looked a bit uncomfortable in possession which I wasn't anticipating.
 
With Gelson and Dost out, Estoril away will be a big test. I just hope Dost's injury isn't serious and he's back soon.
 
@Leeuw i just noticed you are a belgian Sporting fan. How did that happen? I bet it was because of Mpenza or De Wilde. Or maybe it was Waseige, that incredible manager :lol:
 
Yagami said:
I watched the Porto-Sporting cup match the other day and I remember waiting to see the game calm down and for Torres to get on the ball and try and dictate things - likewise with B.Fernandes for Sporting. It just didn't happen. The match was chaos! Not that that's bad - it was a fun game I thought.

The other times I've caught Porto they've had more steady possession and I actually thought Torres looked a bit uncomfortable in possession which I wasn't anticipating.
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:lol: Expecting the game to calm down between a Jorge Jesus and Conceição team is like expecting Tony Pullis teams to play tiki taka.

Imo Bruno Fernandes is less suited to pause things and keep control, more suited to chaos and matches were you have spaces for transition football or space to shoot from outside the box.

Imo the most inteligent player we have is Mathieu, sadly he is 34 now.
Sly said:
Or maybe it was Waseige, that incredible manager :lol:
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With the mitical Gil Baiano and Missé - Missé? Mustapha Hadji and Otávio as assistant manager? :drool:
 
SCP said:
:lol: Expecting the game to calm down between a Jorge Jesus and Conceição team is like expecting Tony Pullis teams to play tiki taka.

Imo Bruno Fernandes is less suited to pause things and keep control, more suited to chaos and matches were you have spaces for transition football or space to shoot from outside the box.

Imo the most inteligent player we have is Mathieu, sadly he is 34 now.
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:lol:

You're probably right about Fernandes. He's a very direct player from what I've seen.

Yeah, Mathieu still looks very good. Likewise with Coentrao who I wouldn't mind as an option at LB here if José can't trust Shaw (:().
 
Yagami said:
:lol:

You're probably right about Fernandes. He's a very direct player from what I've seen.

Yeah, Mathieu still looks very good. Likewise with Coentrao who I wouldn't mind as an option at LB here if José can't trust Shaw (:().
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No, unfortunately for Fabio that ship has already sailed. Not that he doesn't know Mourinho, but the physical demand in the Premier League would kill him, he just has rediscovered his pleasure to play again. One good option would be Alaba, don't know if Bayern would sell him tbh...
 
SCP said:
No, unfortunately for Fabio that ship has already sailed. Not that he doesn't know Mourinho, but the physical demand in the Premier League would kill him, he just has rediscovered his pleasure to play again. One good option would be Alaba, don't know if Bayern would sell him tbh...
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Ah, fair enough. I don't think there's a chance of Alaba! I'll just have to hold out hope that José puts his faith in Shaw and that he comes good.

Anyway, Portuguese footy... :D I'm going to try and catch Benfica-Rio Ave on Saturday.
 
Benfica-Rio Ave just started ánd Rio Ave are 1-0 up! Porto-Braga starts right after that.

Going to Estoril tomorrow for the game, no Gelson, no Dost, no Podence and Estoril have bought well in January and are in great form. We'll need as many fans there as possible.

Already prepared for a game where we play horrible football but hopefully we manage to get the 3 points. Estoril are poor at defending set pieces and we've been good at scoring from those so hopefully hat plays a part.
 
Peyroteo said:
Benfica-Rio Ave just started ánd Rio Ave are 1-0 up! Porto-Braga starts right after that.

Going to Estoril tomorrow for the game, no Gelson, no Dost, no Podence and Estoril have bought well in January and are in great form. We'll need as many fans there as possible.

Already prepared for a game where we play horrible football but hopefully we manage to get the 3 points. Estoril are poor at defending set pieces and we've been good at scoring from those so hopefully hat plays a part.
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Too soon in the Benfica match. I was thinking of going but i have to go to a family event. Be careful with the stand :smirk:
 
Benfica and Porto won their difficult games against Rio Ave and Braga and put pressure on Sporting.
 
Peyroteo said:
Benfica-Rio Ave just started ánd Rio Ave are 1-0 up! Porto-Braga starts right after that.

Going to Estoril tomorrow for the game, no Gelson, no Dost, no Podence and Estoril have bought well in January and are in great form. We'll need as many fans there as possible.

Already prepared for a game where we play horrible football but hopefully we manage to get the 3 points. Estoril are poor at defending set pieces and we've been good at scoring from those so hopefully hat plays a part.
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Someone check on Peyroteo, probably trying to take down that stand behind the goal again!

Very impressed by Estoril, can't believe they were bottom when they've played great tonight (had about 10 corners so this wasn't a smash and grab win) and were also leading Porto before the game was called off.

Sporting need to sell Carvalho, it's obvious he doesn't want to be there anymore. Another awful performance. Doumbia was terrible aswell.

Very impressed by how quickly Portugese league checks VAR btw. Two offside goals were both chalked off within 30 seconds after one look at a replay, that's the speed we need in other leagues.
 
Feel like I just spent a fortune to get tortured for 2 hours. Can't believe I made the trip for this shit.

The amount of chances we wasted was remarkable.
 
Only 2 words: JJ out!!!
 
I like how we bought a truckload of players in the january market to prepare next season and risk losing this season. I really hate JJ. Beating my Paulo Bento hatred confortably. He isn't the only who gets the blame. BdC picked the wrong time for his stupid meltdown. You won the elections with 85%. Ignore the freakin Social Media. This club is cursed!
 
The ball didn't roll for us yesterday. I knew that it would be difficult, playing conditions (pitch, wind) were not in our favour and if you don't finish the chances than this can happen. VAR was again very present, probably always right but the second goal of Estoril - they deserved to win because in contrast with Sporting they were efficient - was strange. I said it already in a previous post, porto and benfica are playing better then Sporting.

Up to the next game and hopefully we react but if I'm correct it will be a difficult one against porto.
 
Leeuw said:
The ball didn't roll for us yesterday. I knew that it would be difficult, playing conditions (pitch, wind) were not in our favour and if you don't finish the chances than this can happen. VAR was again very present, probably always right but the second goal of Estoril - they deserved to win because in contrast with Sporting they were efficient - was strange. I said it already in a previous post, porto and benfica are playing better then Sporting.

Up to the next game and hopefully we react but if I'm correct it will be a difficult one against porto.
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According to our Guru Master, Lord JJ of Reboleira "The Wind, Oh the Wind" was the main factor. Yes we play Wednesday the first leg of Portuguese Cup semifinal vs them.
 
I think the wind was a factor, but I would have thought the genius he believes he is should have thought of that and maybe adjust his gameplan.
 
Leeuw said:
I think the wind was a factor, but I would have thought the genius he believes he is should have thought of that and maybe adjust his gameplan.
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No, he also mentioned Gelson, Dost and ... Podence, that's right. Take your own conclusions.
 
Sly said:
I like how we bought a truckload of players in the january market to prepare next season and risk losing this season. I really hate JJ. Beating my Paulo Bento hatred confortably. He isn't the only who gets the blame. BdC picked the wrong time for his stupid meltdown. You won the elections with 85%. Ignore the freakin Social Media. This club is cursed!
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That's one thing that confuses me about you guys, what is with your annual huge turnover of players?

And you still always seem to end up with players like Petrovic who never seem to play.
 
Aboutreika18 said:
That's one thing that confuses me about you guys, what is with your annual huge turnover of players?

And you still always seem to end up with players like Petrovic who never seem to play.
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It's our President trying to appease JJ. When that happens we end up with players like Petrovic or 8 million argentinian duds like Alan Ruiz.
 
Token Sheet said:
Portimonense currently 3:0 up away to Maritimo. Top 10 here we come.:D
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I'm happy that the quality of the team is finally getting wins. I think they have a squad with enough quality to make a 5th am e I'm rooting tu ar they suceed in the first tier, as they are the only team apart from VFC(Setúbal) of the south.
 
SLBenfica1904 said:
I'm happy that the quality of the team is finally getting wins. I think they have a squad with enough quality to make a 5th am e I'm rooting tu ar they suceed in the first tier, as they are the only team apart from VFC(Setúbal) of the south.
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At the start of the season I was hoping just to stay up and think mid table is now attainable. Not sure about 5th though.
I'm over in Portimao in a couple of weeks. Going to Seville v Utd and hoping to get to their home match v Porto following weekend.
Problem is they don't release tickets for the game until couple of days before the match and you have to queue at ground for them. Needless to say when its Benfica, Sporting or Porto you get more people than normal queuing.
 
Token Sheet said:
At the start of the season I was hoping just to stay up and think mid table is now attainable. Not sure about 5th though.
I'm over in Portimao in a couple of weeks. Going to Seville v Utd and hoping to get to their home match v Porto following weekend.
Problem is they don't release tickets for the game until couple of days before the match and you have to queue at ground for them. Needless to say when its Benfica, Sporting or Porto you get more people than normal queuing.
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I don't beliche they will finish um 5th, I think they have quality to be up there with the 5th, the results just did not come. Every game i saw they played good football but somehow managed not to win. Maybe they are now weakened by the transfer of Paulinho, but they still have a very interesting squad, especially Nakajima. I don't know if it just me or some teams are starting to play in a more interesting way, parking fewer times the bus and attacking more, being sucessfull.
 
Just to say that Vitória also won three nill and one of the goals was from the player that all these sporting fans hate, and what a goal. (pity he just get's one in ten, maybe hundred)
 
Bruno Marques said:
Just to say that Vitória also won three nill and one of the goals was from the player that all these sporting fans hate, and what a goal. (pity he just get's one in ten, maybe hundred)
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How could one hate a player who plays the game as graciously as this? :drool:

 
Peyroteo said:
VAR just got stopped by a flag :lol:
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I'm almost sure that this will also happen in a Benfica game in the future. What do you think best Portuguese striker ever?
 
First leg Porto wins 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final of the cup against Sporting. Porto had the best of the game, Sporting only woke up in the last quarter. Far from over but a good result for Porto.
 
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