Welcome to our Christmas, New Year, last of 2009 and last of the noughties footballportugal podcast special! With 3 special parts, each more festive than the one before.
In Part 1 we concentrate on one of the most special Portuguese football fixtures of the year: the Benfica v Porto clássico. As ever, it was a tight game, fought tooth and nail between the two rivals, but the result was a little different from normal: Benfica won! It was their first victory (1-0) in this fixture for 4 years, the winner scored by Saviola.
In Part 2 we focus on all the other games in the league this weekend, which weren’t quite as special as the clássico but which all had their interest. Nacional fought Académica and fog to win 4-3 in a game which was delayed for a total of over 55 minutes. Braga failed to impress against Paços, but still got the three points. And Sporting narrowly beat Naval in a game that was so awful it was perhaps … special. Setúbal beat Marítmo with two goals from Keita, who looks a bit special. And Belenenses manager João Carlos Pereira was sacked after Belenenses lost 0-1 in a tight game away to Leiria. You can’t be feeling very special if you lose your job just before Christmas, so our best wishes go out to Pereira, who comes across as being quite a nice chap.
In part 3 we concentrate on “bits and bobs” as Phil likes to call them [edit: Thanks, Steve ...]. The bits are reports from the lower leagues and news on clubs in crisis, like Atlético de Valdevez and Boavista. The bobs are our mid-season awards, including player of the year so far, best buy, worst buy, most impressive team and most disappointing team.
Please let us know your opinions, especially regarding the mid-season awards we gave. We both hope you have a very special Christmas and an even more special New Year.
Steve and Phil
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Great analysis of the classico chaps. The only thing I’d differ on was Saviola. I thought he was outstanding, very nearly dancing through on goal on a couple of occasions with his incredible fast dribbling with the ball always glued to his feet – almost Messi like – but what also really impressed me was the way he often dropped deep to help initiate Benfica’s attacking play.
Spot on about Carlos Martins. It was perhaps the best game I’ve seen him play. Also agree on Garcia, who would get my vote as the signing of the season. There is not a top team around nowadays that doesn’t have that midfield enforcer and Garcia plays the role to perfection.
Anyway, I’ve got to stop now. As a Sporting fan all this eulogising on Benfica is killing me.
I wish you a Merry Chrimbo and more excellent podcasting throughout 2010!
Cheers,
Tom Kundert (portugoal)
Cheers Tom, merry Christmas to you too.
Saviola’s performance was below par in comparison to some of his performances so far this season imo, which goes some way to underlining just how good he’s been. I think he struggled without Aimar (and to some extent Di Maria) to link up with, but his linking play with Ramires and Maxi on the right was still fantastic.
Martins has had two great games this season replacing Aimar, this one and the game against Paços. In both he had to leave early, so his fitness is always in doubt but as a second string player, he’s an excellent asset.
There’s a story in the Bola that Javi Garcia could be leaving Benfica, hence the desire for Benfica to sign Airton from Flamengo. If there’s any truth in the story, I hope the money is good because like you say, he’s a priceless player who Benfica can rely on in every game.
Thing shouldn’t be too bad for Sporting if you sign Ruben Micael, but with Liedson out until February, the move might not be so tempting.
After watching the classico I agree that Benfica were by far the better team on the night.
I would like to differ on the legality of the only goal in the game however. The so called “passive” offside rule has gone crazy if an attacker can sit on the goal line and somehow not be interfering with play?
Benfica on balance of play deserved to win but if it was Porto that had scored in this way the Jornais in Portugal would have been very scathing of this sort of non decision.
Good luck to Benfica though, they do seem to have a great team after many years of mediocrity
Matt
Yes, the replay of the goal has been endlessly repeated on Benfica TV and there’s no doubt that having Javi Garcia sitting on the goal line distracted Helton initially. However, it was such a fluke pass from David Luiz that I doubt Helton could’ve done anything more than he did to prevent the goal. In fact, his reaction to get off his line as the pass was made was excellent.
From a refereeing point of view, Benfica were the team with more to complain about, a clear penalty in the second half and an assault on Urreta in the first which possibly deserved red.
Hi Guy’s , season’s greetings.
The thing that stood out for me the most in the Classico was Porto’s inability to grab the game by the “horns“ against a depleted Benfica squad. I think that FCPorto usualy replace transfered players very well but this season I think that loss of Lucho , Lisandro etc have started to show. There seems to be something missing on that team and they better find soon for their sake.
On the other hand Benfica are finally well managed and seem to have finally bought well and can actually afford to sell players like that “prat“ DiMaria who is constantly talking to the media telling them he dreams of playing for XYZ. Good riddance and don’t let the door hit ya on the way out !
The question is will Sporting Braga be able to endure a whole season , do they have the depth to last …
regards
Rob
I believe nuno gomes still should have a place in the national team. With his winner against Olhanense and his great pass today to assist Saviola in the Benfica’s 1-0 win over Nacional he merits at least a bench spot on the national team. Especially a team short on forwards period. I know he doesnt score like he used to but he could come on to help portugal late in a game in a 2 forward system and create up top.
An off topic question.
Steve mentioned a book on the history of portugues futebol in a recent podcast.
Can you give me the name and authour please ?
And Happy New Year/Feliz Ano Novo to you both.
Donal
Donal, the book is called “A Paixão do Povo – História do Futebol em Portugal” and it’s written by João Nuno Coelho and Francisco Pinheiro.
It’s more of an encyclopaedia than a book, it’s has 700 + enormous pages and only comes in hardback. It costs about €60, published by Edições Afrontamento. It’s written in quite a light and readable style by Portuguese standards, although I doubt I’ll ever get through all of it, although I’m giving it a good go. It’s a pity a more readable paperback version with smaller page dimensions isn’t available.
A quick hello to Eddie, thank you for making you first post! I like Nuno Gomes a lot and he seems to be playing a great role as impact substitute this season. Not only that, but I think a lot of the publicity and community work he does at Benfica takes a lot of the weight off of the other players. There’s no reason why he can’t do the same for Portugal in the World Cup and his name still has an impact in world football. But I’ll wait until the end of the season before passing judgement, like you say, there aren’t many players to choose from so probably the best solution for Queiroz is to choose the Portuguese strikers who have scored the most goals this season. The choices would be Liedson, João Tomás, Makakula, Nuno Gomes, Hugo Almeida, Edson, maybe Saleiro and a very long shot with Orlando Sá or even Tiago Cintra at Leixões if he continues to develop as he currently is.
Thanks Steve, I had a feeling it the giant orange masterwork ! It is a great book with great photos ( only bettered by Lisboa – Um Ciudade de Futebal in my opinion )and reasonable stats as well.
It cost me a fortune in Madrid about 3 years ago but it has a place of honour on my bookshelf !
Welcome Eddie
I agree with you and Steve – Nuno Gomes can be very useful and has the international experience that others lack. Unfortunately, Queiroz has given few signs that he’s interested in him, and certainly if he only gets ten minutes every other week for Benfica, he’s very unlikely to get the call.
But stranger things have happened …
Cheers
Phil
Braga 1-0 Nacional at half time … Braga were impressive in a flurry at the start and at the finish – Vandinho’s header was good, and Mossoro has had a few delightful touches, though they perhaps scored a bit too early for the neutral viewer. Nacional don’t look bad, but don’t look like they have much punch up front to get back into it, either.
Braga 2-0 Nacional at the end … A job well done for a very polished Braga. Nacional’s night ended after three minutes, to be honest … I don’t like Hugo Viana – skilful, for sure, but seems to have a nasty, narky, complaining streak. The type of player who’ll score a wonder free kick to win a semi-final, then get sent off for dissent and lose you the final. Perhaps Braga’s the place for him rather than a top-line European team …
Nacional’s defence were very disappointing, especially after being so impressive against Benfica last week. I could see the first goal coming about 10 seconds before Hugo Viana’s free-kick, the positioning of defenders for the set piece was shocking, you basically had one defender covering 4 Braga players. Braga didn’t have many chances, but when they struck they cut though the Braga defence like a hot knife through butter.
Good game from Filipe Oliveira imo, replacing the departed João Perreira.
Porto 2-1 Leiria at half time … Porto surely won’t let it slip now after recovering from the equaliser. Varela and Belluschi my favourites again. Dodgy goalkeeping from Helton for the Leiria goal; should’ve been braver and stronger.
3-2 in the end … Porto made hugely heavier weather of that than they should have … Poor Ronny and poor Djuricic …