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footballportgual Podcast – 22/03/10

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

We’re back after a week on the sick bed (Steve, that is) and we’ve got a special Taça da Liga podcast for your listening pleasure.

Sadly, the Final of the Carlsberg Cup itself was a big let-down both on and off the pitch, with running battles between Porto supporters and police before the match, disturbances inside the ground, and Bruno Alves deciding a career in professional wrestling might have more legs in it than football currently does. We talk about all this and more in the first part of the podcast.

In part 2 we focus on a mixed couple of weeks of European action. A terrible performance from Porto saw them crash out of the Champions League at Arsenal. Sporting put up a good fight against Atlético Madrid, but indiscipline in the first game was perhaps the main cause of their losing on away goals over two legs. Benfica, on the other hand, never cease to amaze lately, and their fantastic last minute victory over Marseille in the Europa League has brought the international glory days back to the Luz once again.

Thanks for all the comments over the last couple of weeks, and please keep them coming. We’ll be back next week, reporting on the all-important Liga game between Benfica and Braga this weekend at the Luz.

Thanks for listening,

Steve & Phil

footballportugal Podcast – 01/03/10

Monday, March 1st, 2010

There’s one team that dominates our podcast this week and that’s Sporting Clube de Portugal. The incredible turnaround in this team’s fortunes makes us wonder whether they’re the world’s first bi-polar football team.

Part 1 is largely dedicated to their two fantistic victories in the space of four days, beating both Everton and FC Porto 3-0. We’ll also look at Benfica’s thrashings of Hertha Berlin and Leixões, thanks in no small part to the brilliant recent form of Angel di Maria.

In part 2 we talk about Braga and how they make winning look so effortless. We also review all the other games which took place in the league, especially the incredible 5-3 victory for Paços versus Vitória de Setúbal. And can you tell us whether Paços are beavers or the little wheels you put under furniture?

Finally, in part 3 we talk about the Selecção and Rúben Micael being overlooked by Carlos Queiroz; happy news for Boavista (for a change); and Sporting’s shaky finances.

Keep the comments coming. We hope to be back next week … Steve’s teeth permitting …

Steve and Phil

footballportugal Podcast – 15/02/10

Monday, February 15th, 2010

We hope you’re all still with us after our unexpected break. We return with a three-part podcast which will hopefully fill you in with most of what’s been happening in Portugal over the last couple of weeks.

In part 1 we concentrate on Sporting’s spectacular collapse in recent weeks. From looking like a handy little outfit rejuvenated under Carlos Carvalhal’s mysterious post-Christmas spell, they’ve turned into a sorry bunch of losers, one of the sorriest in the history of this famous club. We ask why in part 1.

In part 2 we concentrate on the three clubs who are leading the way in Portugal: Braga, Benfica and Porto. The latter dropped points but both Braga and Benfica won, Braga doing so with a severely depleted starting line-up.

Finally, in part 3 we review the rest of the weekend’s games, including Kazmierczak’s “Half Scorpion” for Setúbal against Leiria. Watch it on this link . We also give a blow-by-blow account of Carlos Quieroz’s punch-up in an airport waiting lounge.

Keep your comments coming and we’ll be back for more next week,

Steve and Phil

footballportugal Podcast – 18/01/10

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Another podcast from Steve and Phil, those English senhores of Portuguese football knowledge and opinion.

It’s back to the traditional three parts this week as we let you know about this weekend’s round of games. In Part 1 we focus on the contrasting fortunes of Porto and Sporting; the former are looking very ordinary as they drop points at home to Paços de Ferreira, while the latter look red hot as the rejuvenated Lisbon team beat Nacional 3-2 thanks to 2 excellent Liedson goals.

In part 2 we focus on a familiar old topic, dodgy refereeing. Benfica definitely benefitted from some outrageous refereeing decisions as they smashed Marítimo 0-5 in Madeira. Braga were also fortunate to get a dubious penalty as they broke André Villas Boas’ impressive 100% home record in charge of Académica to come away with a 0-2 victory.

Finally, in part 3 we focus on the other games we failed to cover in the earlier parts. Setúbal are impressing Steve without actually winning games, Castro might be Olhanense’s answer to Steven Gerrard, Belenenses are awful again and Rio Ave really missed Fábio Farias and the player André Vilas (with one ‘l’) Boas as Ronny-tastic Leiria beat them 0-2.

Please do leave us some comments and let us know you’re out there and listening. It was very sad for us to have nobody to talk to but ourselves this weekend!

Thanks for listening,

Steve and Phil

footballportugal Podcast – 07/10/09

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Another midweek podcast before a two week tense international break. This week’s podcast comes in 3 parts:

Part 1 – Are there still 3 “grandes” in Portugal? With Sporting lacking funds and their supporters deserting them and those who remain spending all their time booing them, can we still consider them as one of the big teams in Portugal? Whilst they struggle to draw at home with Belenenses, their neighbours Benfica are making mincemeat of Paços de Ferreira and Porto are easing their way past Olhanense. 10 points in front of Sporting are another Sporting, this one being Sporting Braga, who beat Setúbal 2-0 at home with an impressive display from Hugo Viana. Nacional climb up the table beating Guimarães 2-0 thanks to two penalties from Edgar and an impressive performance from Ruben Micael. The defeat leaves Guimarães manager Nelo Vingado out of a job, the sixth manager to be sacked so far this season. Also, Naval’s Kerrouche scores his forth goal in two games.

In part 2 we analyse the “Benfica Stars Fund” and also talk about the amount of players Porto loan to other teams in Portugal.

Finally in part 3 we preview Portugal’s vital games against Hungary and Malta and also talk about our visit to Atletico Clube de Portugal.

Keep the comments coming and we’ll be back in two weeks time.

Steve and Phil