In this week’s podcast we review the penultimate games of the 2007/8 Portuguese league. Porto’s defeat at home to Nacional was one of the big surprises of the weekend; the 0-3 victory meant that Nacional got the double over Porto this season. On-loan Benfica player Fabio Coentrão got 2 great goals but it wasn’t enough to stop us passing our highly valued criticism of his terrible haircut.
Benfica dropped points yet again with a 0-0 draw away to Estrela Amadora, their 13th draw of the season. Sporting won 1-0 against the run of play at Paços and Guimarães drew 1-1 away to Belenenses but they’ll be somewhat dismayed at how on earth Belenenses left-back Rodrigo Alvim managed to stay on the pitch after a horrific 2 footed tackle on Carlitos earned him only a yellow card whilst poor Carlitos left the pitch and the game on a stretcher.
Setúbal and Marítimo both secured their places in next season’s UEFA Cup, with 2-0 victories over Leixões and Leiria respectively. We also give the latest on the unfortunate events that occurred between Guimarães and Leixões supporters at a service station on their way back to the north after games in the south of Portugal.
In Part 2, we report on Trofense’s promotion from the Liga da Honra, Penafiel’s relegation and Steve attempts the impossible by trying to explain the procedure to decide which two teams from the various Division II leagues will be promoted to the Liga da Honra.
Finally in Part 3 we talk a little bit about two players whose stars are ascending and descending: Cristiano Ronaldo and Mário Jardel. We also give our opinions on the recent form of Deco and Manuel Fernandes.
Keep the comments coming – either leave them here on the site or e-mail us at: info@footballportugalpodcast.com
Thanks for listening.
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This podcast has now been removed
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I must’ve been the only portista who wasn’t angry at the team this weekend. Terrible game and people have the right to demand much more from the team but honestly I didn’t really care. The only good thing about that game was the 2nd goal, it was really good.
All in all this season was terrible, not just in the portuguese league. Apart from Man Utd, most teams were so irregular or rather “regularly bad”, the italian teams were in shambles, the spanish teams were average to say the least, the portuguese league was a joke from beginning to end…And I don’t think the Euro will be terribly exciting neither. Some excitement was missing this year. I blame the absense of Mourinho
Jardel, I’m sorry he’s a mess, but I hope no portuguese club is dumb enough to sign him even for a week. When the person has no self-respect and uses their own addiction and, worse, their own kids to get money…who could trust him?
As for Ronaldo, it’s fantastic how he managed to turn around his public image in England, after so many (UNFAIR) attacks. His enthusiasm in playing is contagious, I agree. But I wish the portuguese press would tame their constant praise and chauvinism just a little bit. Please.
Good stuff lads, really enjoying the podcasts, especially the little insights into Portuguese culture.
Looking forward to hearing your insight into the Boavista problem that has arisen recently
Thanks very much for the comments, just uploading the new podcast now to satisfy all your Boavista concerns!
Agree completely with blue83’s analysis of the Jardel situation, he was on the news again the other day, live from the exercise bike at the gym, cutting a very sorry figure.