Lucho is working hard in training to get caught up to speed so he can start on Saturday against Sporting.

Many reports indiciate Jesualdo will go with a starting XI featuring none of the new signings as he wants the chemistry to be at a high for this game.

Helton
Bosingwa - Pedro Emanuel - Bruno Alves - Fucile
Paulo Assuncao
Lucho Gonzalez - Raul Meireles
Lisandro Lopez - Adriano - Ricardo Quaresma​

That will most likely be the line-up provided nobody gets hurt and Lucho is up to par physically and tactically.

 

with a few of our key players leaving in the off-season and still some rumours about Quaresma and Lucho, a win against Sporting will give us a massive boost for the new season. Sporting have also lost Caneira and Nani, so they're probably in the same boat as us. time for Bruno Alves, Meireless, Lisandro and Assuncao to really establish themselves.

very important match.

 

pun, you've forgotten one of the main reasons Sporting came so close to us and that is Ricardo. Stojkovic is a good keeper and I admit I don't know enough about him to go in-depth, but Ricardo was the best keeper in our league and I can't help but feel they've downgraded there.

 

By the way, here are the squad numbers for this season. Helder Postiga is not registered which is a clear indication his sale is being negotiated. Tarik makes the team after a fantastic pre-season, and the most curious part... the #10 jersey left open. Now, there are strong rumours we are close to capturing Carlos Eduardo from Gremio, an extremely highly ranked youngster, even moreso than Leandro Lima. He would likely get the #10.

Here they are:

1 Helton
2 Bruno Alves
3 Pedro Emanuel
4 Milan Stepanov
5 Marek Cech
6 Paulo Assunção
7 Ricardo Quaresma
8 Lucho Gonzalez
9 Lisandro Lopez
11 Mariano Gonzalez
12 Bosingwa
13 Jorge Fucile
14 Joao Paulo
15 Lino
16 Raul Meireles
17 Tarik Sektioui
18 Mario Bolatti
19 Ernesto Farias
20 Leandro Lima
21 Luis Aguiar
24 Hugo Ventura
25 Przemyslaw Kazmierczak
26 Andre Castro
28 Adriano
29 Edgar
30 Rui Pedro
33 Nuno Espirito Santo

 

Jesualdo has decided Lucho is not in form yet and has not included him in the team selection. The big absentee is Stepanov. I have no idea why Jesualdo did not include him.

Goalkeepers: Helton, Nuno

Defenders: Bosingwa, Bruno Alves, Marek Cech, Fucile, Joao Paulo, Pedro Emanuel

Midfielders: Bolatti, Kazmierczak, Leandro Lima, Paulo Assuncao, Raul Meireles

Forwards: Adriano, Edgar, Lisandro Lopez, Mariano Gonzalez, Quaresma, Tarik

 

pun, you've forgotten one of the main reasons Sporting came so close to us and that is Ricardo. Stojkovic is a good keeper and I admit I don't know enough about him to go in-depth, but Ricardo was the best keeper in our league and I can't help but feel they've downgraded there.

:dielaugh:

 

What's so amusing, Filipe? I did not insult or give any unfair opinion. I voted for Ricardo as best keeper in our league in the votes we did. He's a great keeper in my mind. It remains to be seen what Stojkovic does in Portuguese football. For now you would have to give the nod to the guy who perennially owned his position in our league.

 

What's so amusing, Filipe? I did not insult or give any unfair opinion. I voted for Ricardo as best keeper in our league in the votes we did. He's a great keeper in my mind. It remains to be seen what Stojkovic does in Portuguese football. For now you would have to give the nod to the guy who perennially owned his position in our league.

All this because of a simple laughter? Chill out man...I know you're nervous about tomorrow and plus Real keeps playing crap but you don't need to get so edgy. :nono:

 

That's not edgy, I'm curious to know why you laughed. I also want to know why you would always praise Ricardo but are now saying Stojkovic is a better keeper and better for Sporting. That's a total joke and a slap in the face to somebody who helped your team get a massive accomplishment of 2nd place behind Futebol Clube do Porto.

 

That's not edgy, I'm curious to know why you laughed. I also want to know why you would always praise Ricardo but are now saying Stojkovic is a better keeper and better for Sporting. That's a total joke and a slap in the face to somebody who helped your team get a massive accomplishment of 2nd place behind Futebol Clube do Porto.

You know how much I like Ricardo but I am not blind. I can remember the great saves he did while playing for us but I can also remember the flops that kept us out of the CL and gave the title to Benfica.

Being 2nd behind your gang is only a big accomplishment when looking at the budgets available for both teams to spend because in terms of class your boys still need to eat a lot of francesinhas to reach the heels of the mighty Lions. :stuckup:

 

Did any of you guys figure out why Stepanov was left out of the squad for the Portuguese Super Cup match vs Sporting. Perhaps he got into an argument with the coach?

 

Did any of you guys figure out why Stepanov was left out of the squad for the Portuguese Super Cup match vs Sporting. Perhaps he got into an argument with the coach?

The manager clarified that today and said he felt Shanghai wasn't really the best of opponents and didn't think Stepanov was ready yet. I personally disagree as he's no doubt a huge improvement on Pedro Emanuel while Joao Paulo is pretty good. We'll see what develops of this but I'm sure he'll be in the squad when the season starts against Braga.

 

The manager clarified that today and said he felt Shanghai wasn't really the best of opponents and didn't think Stepanov was ready yet. I personally disagree as he's no doubt a huge improvement on Pedro Emanuel while Joao Paulo is pretty good. We'll see what develops of this but I'm sure he'll be in the squad when the season starts against Braga.

Thanks for the info. I guess the coach just thinks he's not match fit yet. It would be a shame if this is a sign of bad things to come becuase I and alot of other Serbian soccer fans have high expectations for Stepanov.

 

So with Lucho's absence, Jesualdo has chosen the giant Kazmierczak in our midfield, and Pedro Emanuel will start, along with the usual other nine starters.

This will be our line-up according to OJogo:

Helton
Bosingwa - Pedro Emanuel(c) - Bruno Alves - Fucile
Paulo Assuncao
Raul Meireles - Kazmierczak
Lisandro Lopez - Adriano - Ricardo Quaresma​

Subs: Nuno, Joao Paulo, Marek Cech, Mario Bolatti, Leandro Lima, Mariano Gonzalez, Edgar

I would have liked to seen Leandro Lima or Bolatti start instead of Kaz but Jesualdo has chosen to go with the more physical presence in the midfield. I also would have preferred Joao Paulo instead of Pedro Emanuel who I don't think is fully match fit yet after missing a full year of action.

None the less, I think we can win this game and will do just that and win our 16th Candido de Oliveira Super Cup. roud:

 

OJogo was wrong and it will be Marek Cech playing in the midfield instead of Kaz.

 

0-0 at half-time.

We've had more of the ball in possession, more shots on goal, and have hit two posts so far, both from Quaresma. Unfortunate to be 0-0. Pedro Emanuel and Paulo Assuncao have yellow cards as well.

I hope to see Leandro Lima in the second half!

 

Well, luck wasn't on our side today.

Despite hitting 3 posts(2 from Quaresma and 1 from Kaz), we couldn't score and Sporting won 1-0 off a magnificent shot from Izmailov. Congrats to them and let's hope the ball starts going on the right side of the post for us very soon.

 

I really think playing Cech in midfield was a bad decision, good performance and unlucky. Congrats to Sporting. Also we really need a true stiker, I'm sick of below par Adriano all the time.

 

[. Also we really need a true stiker, I'm sick of below par Adriano all the time.[/QUOTE]


I have been saying this for ages but figo doesnt believe:rollani:

 

No, you think Eddie Johnson is the answer which is silly.

I've always said I would love a Fernando Baiano player or somebody like that, not EJ though.

 

when i told you FIG that a player like Baiano would tear defences apart in the portuguese league,you started your patriotic fanfare and attacked me for underestimating the portuguese league.i may not like this league,but reality stands:a player coming from the La Liga,mind you banging goals there regularly,will find it easier to score goals against the Beira Mars and the Setubals rather than the Mallorcas or the Villareals of this football world.

 

Beira Mar plays in the second division and if Ernesto Faria, who was our most expensive signing, starts scoring goals once he's fit then we're fine.

 

Josh, this is just a question, don't take it in a bad way...

What's your feeling about watching Wason Renteria scoring a brace for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on his first game of his loaning period from Porto while your striking force is not exactly beaming quality and quantity?

PS: Try not to mention Fernando Baiano on your answer p

 

That's certainly a legitimate question.

I'll start by saying that I like Renteria. He has alot of power both in his shot and in the way he engages with the defenders. He's great athletically and even has alot of pace for a guy of his size.

However, Renteria arguably more than any player in recent history for us, was really having a hard time adapting to the game in Portugal. There were even articles in March saying he was having problems outside the pitch, just getting used to Portugal. It's rare for the South Americans to struggle adapting to our country but this was one of the cases. Renteria also did not show well at all for us in his appearances and this obviously weighed into Jesualdo's decision.

Much like Ibson, Renteria is a player who I don't think is disregarded for the future but rather loaned to get playing time. I don't like the fact that we loaned him to a French team when there were Portuguese teams interested, most notably Academica. It would have been better for him to adapt to our league playing for a smaller team where he'd get alot of playing time.

While it can certainly be said that a player like Edgar on loan from Beira Mar, for example, is definitely inferior to Renteria, I think the club has high hopes for Renteria and would rather him playing alot instead of being on the bench or not even selected to the squad.

We certainly do have quantity though, so that part's not accurate. Farias, Adriano, Lisandro, Edgar, and Tarik all play/can play striker. It's enough depth there. Finally, I would not gather too much from one game like you are doing but I certainly hope he continues to score goals so that he can be an important player for us next year.

 

That's certainly a legitimate question.

I'll start by saying that I like Renteria. He has alot of power both in his shot and in the way he engages with the defenders. He's great athletically and even has alot of pace for a guy of his size.

However, Renteria arguably more than any player in recent history for us, was really having a hard time adapting to the game in Portugal. There were even articles in March saying he was having problems outside the pitch, just getting used to Portugal. It's rare for the South Americans to struggle adapting to our country but this was one of the cases. Renteria also did not show well at all for us in his appearances and this obviously weighed into Jesualdo's decision.

Much like Ibson, Renteria is a player who I don't think is disregarded for the future but rather loaned to get playing time. I don't like the fact that we loaned him to a French team when there were Portuguese teams interested, most notably Academica. It would have been better for him to adapt to our league playing for a smaller team where he'd get alot of playing time.

While it can certainly be said that a player like Edgar on loan from Beira Mar, for example, is definitely inferior to Renteria, I think the club has high hopes for Renteria and would rather him playing alot instead of being on the bench or not even selected to the squad.

We certainly do have quantity though, so that part's not accurate. Farias, Adriano, Lisandro, Edgar, and Tarik all play/can play striker. It's enough depth there. Finally, I would not gather too much from one game like you are doing but I certainly hope he continues to score goals so that he can be an important player for us next year.

Thanks for your good answer. You may be right about the need of loaning Renteria but I just have the feeling that your club's loaning policy in the last couple of years have been slightly odd.

I know how you feel regarding the Diego affair and I disagree with you on that so we're not going over that one again but for example how is it possible that Porto managed to loan a guy like Hugo Almeida?