Truffles and Carlsberg are being served up in equal measure on the podcast this week as we discuss the merits of the expensive fungus alongside the worth of a League Cup competition sponsored by probably the best lager in the world. All three Grandes have gone through to the semi-finals of the competition, along with Vítória de Guimarães. The draw will take place on Tuesday, 20 January.
As well as the Carlsberg Cup, we’ll also talk about Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira’s 24 years as a fee-paying FC Porto sócio, Sporting president Filipe Soares Franco’s forthcoming exit from the role, and the young and impressive Benfica defender Miguel Vitor’s revised monthly pay-cheque.
Do keep the comments coming; it’s always interesting to get your feedback.
Thanks for listening!
Steve and Phil
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Great Podcast despite there being no league games last weekend, it was nice to see you still made one. Also nice to see that you gave attention to a player who deserves it, Miguel Vitor.
It’s hard to believe this is his first year in the Primeira Liga, he is full of confidence. I usually my full support to any player who is promoted from the Benfica junior team because it used to happen so rarely but I firmly believe Miguel Vitor will be a great player because of the ability he has shown but also due to the fact that he has been given the confidence of his manager at such an age, I remember when Sidnei had to go off in a game and Miguel Vitor was picked to replace him despite David Luiz being on the bench. Good attitude as well, I read an interview where he was quoted as saying he wants to be captain of Benfica one day.
One his salary, I was divided. 10,000 euros a month is a lot for a nineteen year old but compared to others in the league it could be better. I think this might be the board realizing his age and his love for the team and giving just enough to avoid an issue.
Hi Mark, neither of us were quite certain of how old Vítor is but I’ve just checked and as you say he is 19 and I think in the grand scheme of things €10,000 a month is sensible wage for someone so young. He still isn’t receiving the praise you’d expect from the Portuguese media who generally seem blind-sided by the prospect of there possibly being a good Benfica player coming through the youth ranks.
Like we said last night, his composure on the ball combined with his levels of concentration and high work rate appears to prove that this guy can and will play at the highest level. I hope he stays at Benfica forever but if he continues to progress at the rate he is currently doing, I think they’ll have a hard time keeping hold of him.
Steve
Nice work guys as usual. I heard that Beleneses are going to debut over, the 2nd best place runner up. they had the same about of points at Guimeraes but lost on the count back on goals scored, and Beleneses have a better goal difference, which means they would go through. Were there rules set out before the competition started, because i found it unfair that Beleneses are out because they had less goals scored then Guimaraes, and when do u decide on goals socred because i have never seen it.
Who do u think based on their current form will win the Carlsberg Cup
Cheers Carlos
Beleneses are demanding to have the semi-final delayed whilst their complaint with the FPF’s Justice Council is being dealt with. The original rules of the League Cup stated that teams would be divided on a “goal average” where goals scored would be divided by those conceded to give an average. So Belenenses had an average of 2 and Guimarães had an average of 1.5.
However, someone at the League Cup HQ decided the rule was stupid because how can you divide goals scored by goals conceded if goals conceded is 0? So, the goal average rule was abolished but they didn’t bother telling anybody until after they decided Guimarães had qualified.
As I mentioned in the podcast, the organisers are desperate for Benfica to reach the final to maintain interest in the competition and help publicise Carlsberg, It didn’t surprise me at all the Benfica drew Guimarães, who have a habit of letting Benfica thrash them. It doesn’t surprise me either that Belenenses were not permitted to play in the semi final, because they have a habit of beating Benfica in recent years.
Steve
Also, the Liga are claiming that the mention of ‘goal average’ that appears in the regulations for the competition actually means ‘goal difference’ …. “because that is what is normally understood by ‘goal average’ in Portugal”. Go figure!
Phil
Hello, I was amazed to hear Portugal arranges its fixtures around the big Prem and Liga games (meaning I suppose that football there is more a TV phenomenom than a stadium one) and that the news get the biggest viewing figures, not big brother or soaps or football.
Does this mean if you talk to the average Portuguese fan they’ll know almost as much about Spanish and English football as their own? Maybe Brazil and other leagues too?
It also prompted the thought of what media coverage is like there and do you prefer it to English football coverage? For example on British TV it’s dominated by ex pro’s with their lame commentary (a main BBC highlights show and Sky), and the press most people read is pretty moronic and parochial although crudely funny sometimes, but the posh press has the odd insightful piece – my opinions obviously. I think BBC radio provides the best coverage, and podcasts obviously!
When Mourinho was asked about the difference between English and Italian media he said there was no comparison, but Italy was similar to Portugal and Spain. I don’t know about Italian media coverage, other than there’s lots of it! Media access is a lot greater as well I think.
Do you think there it’s more honest, accurate, intelligent, biased etc?
Hi Kt, steve here.
In the restaurant I normally have lunch at, the owner who is a fanatical Benfiquista, will talk just as knowledgeably about English, Spanish or Italian football as he will about Portuguese football. In fact, sometimes I find it shocking how little Portuguese people know about football beyond the big 3 clubs. For example, I can’t recall a time when I’ve had a decent conversation with anyone about the success of Leixões, yet you can find no shortage of people who’ll want to talk about Benfica’s latest victory (when they happen).
Media coverage of football in Portugal is extensive but poorly produced. There is little if no pre or post match analysis. If a game kicks off at 7:45, the coverage will start at 7:40, the commentator welcomes the “telespectatadors”, off to a commercial break, then back for kick off at 7:45. I get really frustrated by people who complain about the quality of Alan Hansen or Mark Lawrenson, at least you get these guys in the UK!!! Also there is no notion of showing edited highlights of a game in Portugal, you either show a replay of a game in its entirety or you show the goals, there is absolutely no middle ground.
Yet football will dominate the main news programmes in Portugal, it has 3 national newspapers devoted to it, all of which are amongst the best selling publications in the country, if no the best selling. I really appreciate nowadays how the British can separate sport from real life, yet its just not possible for the Portuguese and I guess it’s the same in Italy.
Steve
Very harsh words, by the sound of things, from Quique Sanchez Flores about Reyes. What’s your take on things – just a complete waste of space, or a great talent if only it could be teased out of him? … Should never have left Sevilla, if you ask me – he’s probably just one of those guys that has no adaptability to another place that’s more than a kilometre or two from his home town …
He’s a strange player, I’ve noticed he likes to receive the ball on the half-way line and run with it rather than chase balls, so his very presence slows the team down a lot. He has fantastic skill and ability but seems unable to do anything he’s told, I guess that is what frustrates Quique.
But if Quique is complaining about players not earning their keep, he really should take a long hard look at himself. Benfica were a team completely void of ideas on Friday night, with the exception of knocking long balls from defence for Suazo to chase. He seems completely unable to handle the egos of his star players and is building a wall between himself and many of his players with the comments and decisions he is making.
Steve
I was in a taxi in Lisbon in erm 2007 and the driver knew nearly as much about Bolton as me, it was pretty astonishing. The moving of games is really annoying though as you try to book a cheap flight and the game gets moved to Friday or Monday at the last minute.
Well Makakula’s debut was pretty unremarkable, he was the most unfit player to represent us since Jardel. We’ve been linked with Zoro and Veloso this week, I’d rather bring in Wesley myself.
Anyway, I was really impressed with Sougou at Academica last night, do you guys know anything about him?
Cheers,
Carl
Carlos, nice to hear from another trotter!
I also saw Makakula’s debut for us and though he was clearly unfit there were some promising signs. He showed some nice touches and roughing up a Man Utd player always wins friends at the Reebok. Steve’s description of his lack of finishing skills is a worry as Super Kev also has an aversion to goalscoring.
With regard to Veloso apparently we are offering £12 million which based on Phil and Steve’s views on him seems astonishing. What do you think guys?
Carlos, Phil talks quite a bit about Sogou in this week’s pod, which I’ve just added.
Zoro is an okay defender, nothing amazing. He may have possibly worked his way in the first 11 if it weren’t for the fact that he was almost permanently injured.
With regards to Veloso, there’s not much we can add to what we’ve already said. An incredibly overrated player who believes his own hype. The only good thing I can say about him is that he takes a good corner, other than that he’s about as useful on the pitch as a goalkeeper outside his penalty area.
Steve