Scandal and controversy are the main themes of this week’s podcast, with phone taps, bribes, prostitutes, punch-ups and mass brawls taking the headlines in the Portuguese football newspapers.
But we’ve still got some football to report and report it we shall! In part 1 we give the once over on another Braga win which was blessed with as much good fortune as it was stoic defending. Porto’s new signing Rúben Micael makes an impressive debut at his old club Nacional but in their 0-4 they had a bit of help from the referee. Benfica impressed at home to Guimarães, especially Carlos Martins, who must’ve eaten three Shredded Wheat for breakfast that morning.
In part 2 we talk about Braga allegedly attempting to bribe Leixões; Hulk and Sapunaru going ape in the Benfica tunnel and getting caught on camera; Pinto da Costa getting his phone tapped and calling Sporting’s kit man “a retard”; and Sá Pinto choosing a well placed punch on Liedson’s face over a career as Director of Football for Sporting,
Please keep your comments coming. Say anything you like, but just let us know that you’re listening and hopefully that you appreciate what we’re doing.
Thanks for listening,
Steve and Phil
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i certainly appreciate it. it’s inspired me to consider starting my own!
That’s great cristovao, but can you please maintain our tradition of not planning the podcast until the last minute and having regular pauses of up to 10 minutes whilst trying to remember players’ names (Carlos Paredes last night – finally remembered with the help of Record’s 07/08 season guide) because we don’t want to be shown up for being amateurs
Also, I mention in the podcast that Ruben Micael is cuptied for the game against Sporting today. Well, he isn’t.
That update/correction is a bit professional by our standards, Steve. Careful!
another great podcast guys, raised a couple of points in my mind…
how quickly do the wheels of justice turn in portugal, are porto likely to lose any more players to suspension this season?
steve, how did you come into contact with pedro barbosa at work, are you a football agent?
nice goal from izmailov just now….
oh and i saw this story today, have you guys heard anything about it?http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/02/garry-mann-appeal-extradition-portugal-football-violence
Wow … Super Super Porto!! Beating a dizzy Sporting 3-1 at half time, quarter-finals of Taça de Portugal. What a difference Rúben Micael has made to that team already! On that showing, it’s bye bye Arsenal, I think!
(Stunning goal by Izmailov, though – Sporting’s first shot at goal practically.)
Fantastic match. Roll on the second half!
Phil
Nothing so exciting I’m afraid Ben. I’m an English teacher, Barbosa did a course a few years ago at our place and by all accounts was a really nice guy.
Nice goal indeed by Izmailov, but Sporting are being ripped apart – commmentator reckons it’s the best Porto performance all season.
Big news today is Vandinho’s 3 month suspension for the incident in the tunnel during the Braga Benfica game. They’ve just bought Oberdam, so I reckon they must’ve had had a suspicion this would happen. Even so, it’s a shock, Mossóro is out for 3 games too.
I think you’re watching the game, too, ben. Best Porto have played all season, imo. What do you reckon?
Didn’t know about that story, ben – thanks for the link!
Phil
Thanks for clearing up the great tunnel mystery guys – i’ve been a bit miffed that nothing was said about the incident involving Sapunaru and Hulk, and wondering where the hell they had gone. However there is no excusing that behaviour and the club would be better off without them. There actions contributed in some way to the clubs recent slump and when Porto eventually bounce back – they can do without those two muppets affecting the teams equilibrium.
I was surprised to here Neca’s name being mentioned – A few years ago while playing for Belenenses he was featured in World Soccer magazine – in their Talent Scout section, predicting big things. What happened? Just another player with unfulfiled potential – like Postiga, Dani, Quaresma? etc. Oh well – keep up the good work.
Hi Jeremy, from what I remember, Neca had a bad injury in his last season at Belenenses and didn’t play much. It says in Wikipedia that he was transferred to Guimarães in 2006, but I can’t remember that so clearly. He then went to Turkey and dropped off the radar a bit in Portugal. I think the general feeling is that he’s good but never really fulfilled the early promise.
Great listening as usual.
Hilarious description of Kleber’s wife, especially as you were spot on. I couldn’t stop laughing. She should ditch the Brazilian and hook up with Sá Pinto – what a pair they’d make!
Anyway, back to football, WTF has Jorge Jesus done to make Carlos Martins play like that? I watched dozens maybe hundreds of his games at Sporting and he’d only play like that for about 10 minutes every season. Now he’s at last showing his undoubted talented on a consistent basis. A real two-footed player – got a brilliant shot with left and right. Agree with you though about the Selecção – too much of a discipline liability to take to South Africa.
Cheers,
Tom Kundert (PortuGOAL)
i’d probably agree phil, that’s the best i’ve seen porto play this season. interesting that they managed it without some big names. i was particularly happy to see mariano playing so well, he’s a guy i’ve always enjoyed watching.
with arsenal looking a bit dodgy at the mo, porto must be wishing the game at the dragao is next week.
Bang goes your tip for the Cup then, Steve!
Great performance by Chaves … Paços looking a bit jaded.
I wonder what price Porto will be for the Cup now. 1/3, something like that?
One word – wow. Look forward to the analysis of Sporting and Benfica’s performances.