[Josué]

Today marked the beginning of pre-season for the back-to-back-to-back Portuguese champions.

We've had several changes to the squad, and anticipate many more as well. This thread will serve to discuss training reports, friendly games, etc. but not for transfers which has it's own thread.

So, here is the full list of players who will participate in our pre-season training.

Goalkeepers:
Helton (Brasil, 29 anos)
Nuno Espirito Santo (Portugal, 34 anos)
Hugo Ventura (Portugal, 20 anos)

Defenders:
Jorge Fucile (Uruguai, 23 anos)
Pedro Emanuel (Portugal, 33 anos)
Rolando (Portugal, 22 anos)
Bruno Alves (Portugal, 26 anos)
Milan Stepanov (Sérvia, 25 anos)
João Paulo (Portugal, 27 anos)
Bernardo Tengarrinha (Portugal, 19 anos)
Nelson Benítez (Argentina, 24 anos)
Lino (Brasil, 31 anos)

Midfielders:
Mario Bolatti (Argentina, 23 anos)
Fernando (Brasil, 21 anos)
Raul Meireles (Portugal, 25 anos)
Lucho Gonzalez (Argentina, 27 anos)
Tomás Costa (Argentina, 23 anos)
Kazmierczak (Polónia, 26 anos)

Wingers:
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal, 24 anos)
Tarik Sektioui (Marrocos, 31 anos)
Mariano Gonzalez (Argentina, 27 anos)
Cristian Rodríguez (Uruguai, 22 anos)
Alan (Brasil, 28 anos)
Daniel Candeias (Portugal, 20 anos)
Bruno Gama (Portugal, 20 anos)

Forwards:
Lisandro Lopez (Argentina, 25 anos)
Ernesto Farías (Argentina, 28 anos)
Rabiola (Portugal, 18 anos)

Manager and Staff:
Jesualdo Ferreira
Rui Barros
José Gomes
João Pinto
Will Coort

NOTE - Lisandro, Quaresma, Raul Meireles, Bruno Alves, and Nuno were not present today as they are still on holidays after being away on international duty and missing the usual squad break.

NOTE - Tarik and Mariano were not present today either, as both had personal matters to take care of. They were given clearance by the club to miss today's session, but both are expected back tomorrow.

NOTE - Kazmierczak was present at training, but his loan to PAOK is nearly finalized and he will not be with the squad as of Friday. Joao Paulo was also present at training, but is awaiting confirmation on his loan to Rapid Bucharest.

--

Here is the list of players who did not come to the pre-season training and are either going to be sold, loaned out, or unlikely stay with the squad:

Marek Cech, Leandro Lima, Ibson, Paulo Machado, Hélder Barbosa, Cláudio Pitbull, Adriano, Bruno Moraes, Wason Renteria

 

[Josué]

Fredy Guarin passed his medical exams and will be signing today. Cristian Rodriguez arrived in Porto today, and will be presented tomorrow. Christian Sapunaru will be arriving this weekend, and is to be presented on Monday.

Also, we played Ribeirao in a little warm-up game. The game lasted 60 minutes, and the score was 8-0 for Futebol Clube do Porto. Farias(2), Candeias(2), Tomas Costa, Lino, Bruno Gama, and Mariano scored the goals.

 

[Josué]

Today, the team leaves for Germany for the real pre-season training.

The internationals arrived yesterday(Quaresma, Lisandro, Bruno Alves, Raul Meireles, Nuno), as well as Cristian Rodriguez and Fredy Guarin. Sapunaru will join the team in Germany once he passes his medical in Porto and signs the contract.

Here is the list of players travelling with the team:

Goalkeepers
-----------
Helton
Nuno Espirito Santo
Hugo Ventura (youth player)

Defenders
----------
Jorge Fucile
Cristian Sapunaru
Bruno Alves
Pedro Emanuel(C)
Milan Stepanov
Rolando
Nelson Benitez
Lino

Midfielders
----------
Mario Bolatti
Fredy Guarin
Tomas Costa
Raul Meireles
Bernardo Tengarrinha (youth player)
Lucho Gonzalez
Fernando

Wingers
--------
Mariano Gonzalez
Ricardo Quaresma
Tarik Sekitoui
Cristian Rodriguez

Strikers
-------
Daniel Candeias (youth player)
Lisandro Lopez
Ernesto Farias

---

Another youth player, Rabiola(winger/striker), has stayed behind in Porto to keep recovering from his injury he suffered in the second last week of the season.

 

[The Jackal]

I can't believe Hélder Barbosa isn't in Germany with the club. This can't bode well for his future.

 

[Josué]

We had our first friendly yesterday, defeating the German amateur team FC Gutersloh by a score of 4-1. Farias, Lisandro, Lino, and Candeias got the goals. None of Quaresma, Lisandro, Raul Meireles, Nuno, Rodriguez, Bruno Alves, or Guarin participated in this game as they just recently joined up with the squad.

The next friendly is this Wednesday against Fernando Santos' PAOK team.

 

[Josué]

Our game with Panthanaookosiis(sp) has just kicked off.

Here's our starting XI as Jesualdo continues to shuffle and give players opportunities:

Nuno
Fucile - Stepanov - B.Alves - Benitez
Bolatti - R.Meireles
LUCHO
Mariano - Lisandro - Rodriguez​

 

[Josué]

Oh, and it takes just 3 minutes for us to score.

Lucho with the goal. 1-0 Futebol Clube do Porto.

 

[Josué]

Game over and we won by the same 1-0 scoreline.

Two wins in two games so far. Let's see if we can match last summer's 8 wins in 8 games streak.

 

[KingLuther]

the name is PAOK.not "Panthanaookosiis".....................and what was that all about?

 

[Filipe Reis]

Game over and we won by the same 1-0 scoreline.

Two wins in two games so far. Let's see if we can match last summer's 8 wins in 8 games streak.

nope

 

[Josué]

So I'm back from the cottage and I see we tied our last two friendlies, both of them 1-1, against Hannover and Bochum.

I watched highlights of the games and while those tell me almost nothing, it is obvious how poor Stepanov looks and how many times he's cost us already like last season. I hope he's loaned out as Rolando is already a superior player to him.

 

[pun]

Cristian Sapunaru has been a disappointment as well, it's like he's 30 years old the guy has no pace or skill.

Freddy G has impressed me quite a bit.

 

[Josué]

I feel the total opposite of you, and have been impressed with Sapu while disappointed with Fredy. I don't feel Guarin is covering nearly enough ground when he's playing as DM. He looks alot better when either of Bolatti or Fernando(looks awesome) are behind him so he can get forward and unleash those vicious shots. As for Sapu, I've been particularly impressed with his passing out of the back as it's been extremely accurate. It's only normal that a Romanian player coming from the Romanian league has to adjust a bit to the higher technical aspect of our game.

 

[Josué]

We are not even at half-time of our friendly against Cagliari and we are up 3-0 on two goals from Lisandro Lopez and one from Ernesto Farias.

The team's playing great, moving the ball very quickly and looking dangerous on every attack.

 

[Josué]

4-1 final, and Hulk scores his first goal for Futebol Clube do Porto. :thumbsup: He rounded the keeper and put it into an empty net.

Now I'm off to go and watch my Toronto FC hopefully score even one goal. p

 

[pun]

Rolando Delighted With Call-Up

FC Porto central defender Rolando has spoken of his delight at being part of Carlos Queiroz's national squad plans.

The former Manchester United assistant manager has released a provisional call-up list for the friendly match against the Faroe Islands on the 20th of August.

Rolando, who joined the Dragons from Belenenses this summer, had been a regular presence in the under-21 squad but has now been given the chance to earn his first cap for the Portugal main squad.

The Porto man did not hide his happiness with being included, saying: "It's just a provisional list, but I am very proud. That was one of the reasons that brought me to FC Porto. I also want to play for the national squad, despite knowing the strong competition there is in my position."

On his new challenge, Rolando said: "FC Porto are even bigger than I expected, I am very surprised. Here, the group makes the difference."

Although Rolando will face strong competition from Bruno Alves, Pedro Emanuel and Stepanov for a starting role at Estádio do Dragão, the ex-Belenenses man is confident that he has "the quality to claim a spot in the squad."

The 22-year-old defender further added that FC Porto are ready for their first big challenge of the season, which will be the Portuguese Supercup against Sporting on the 16th of August.

"We are at an acceptable level, but we want to be even better for our first official game. We still have some work to do. Then, the result will say if we are really doing well or not. Anyway, anything can happen because it's a final," he added.

 

[Velocirapter]

Rolando?

LOL

what a ****ing joke.

 

[Josué]

Rolando?

LOL

what a ****ing joke.

What do you know about this player and how many times did you watch him command Belenenses' as well as the Portuguese U-21's backline?

 

[Sebastian50]

Is Steven Vitoria still in your system?

 

[Josué]

Is Steven Vitoria still in your system?

Yes, he is. He is on loan at Olhanense in Liga Vitalis, which is Portugal's second division. Too bad he chose Portugal over Canada, as he likely won't ever make it to the full NT with Portugal, but would've with Canada as only Hainault and Edgar look anything close to reasonable at CB for the future.