Hopefully, we can draw a very weak opponent in the opening UEFA Cup. If not, we could be seeing a tough opening month. :depress:

 

Me too, but I get the feeling we'll be drawing another Scandi team or a midtable team from somewhere like Belgium. It won't be easy because Portugal no longer commands the top seeds. I seriously doubt we'll be getting the Cypriot runner-up.

 

Hello guys, can any of you living in Australia give me a tip about any Portuguese bars in Adelaide? I wanna watch Sporting in action. There might not be any here, but I am crossing my fingers. So if any of you have any info, please do let me know. Thanks.

 

I think Couto5 is from Australia ask him!
Info: We will be playing Real Madrid on the 31st of this month and than Barce on the 3 of next month
So Sir Figo and maybe toss Simao maybe back at Alvalade

 

Those games are gonna be held In Nyon,Sweden.Were also playing Celta de Vigo aug 21 or 22.

 

Porto-Sporting on tv?

I know it's on RTP1, some relatives from the old country are here right now...but as far as i can tell it doesn't seem to be on RTPi. So what's the deal with this? Where can I watch it? My uncle and his sons are big Sporting fans, so the trash talk has started, but I think they'd swim back if necessary if it's not on tv here....anybody know???

 

New Season Predictions!

Since the new season starts Sunday against Porto I'd like to hear some prediction for this year! Anything you can think of!

For Example:

Niculae will be tops in our league in scoring!

Boloni will be our first Real coach and actually last the whole season but so many new offers come in for him to coach big clubs he takes off after 1 season with SCP!

Quaresma will be absolutely nasty this season breaking dudes ankles who are playing defense against him!

We will have our best ever showing in the Uefa Cup!

 

I'm almost convinced the title will be between Benfica-Sporting because Benfica only has one title to worry about (I.E. no european play), but my only prediction is that the leader will be a new face almost on a weekly basis with 5 teams fiercely competing.

 

I hear that! It should be a good season this year plenty of competition going on with the big dogs and i'm including Boavista in the them big dogs but also Giumaraes who I think will be a tough team this year with Inacio as coach and Braga!

 

I wasn't impressed with either Porto nor Boavista in that boring Super TAca. Granted, the players really don't give a crap about it, but I didn't see much.

So, I also think Benfica and Sporting will be the top two, although I refuse to ever count Porto out. If Benfica are for real, and not merely the usual hype that Benfica generates, then I think they could be very tough

Quaresma will be the rookie of the year, so to speak, and will score something like 5 or 6 goals, but his wing play will be huge for Niculae. I'm not sure if I'm ready to declare him top goal scorer or not, but I think he'll either be a monster scorer or a flop. Needless to say, you know which I'm hoping for.

The real key will be to see if this team sticks together and Boloni lasts. If Sporting aren't winning by the new year, then old habits could be hard to break and the morons who run our team could get ansty. :nervous:

I personally believe that this team is getting put together in a professional manner unseen in the Avalade since maybe when Malcolm Allison or Bobby Robson ran things. But, even Robson got hosed, so cross your fingers, sportinguistsas. :hopefull:


On a purely emotional level, I am extremely excited about this team because it has enormous potential. Plus, my boy Quaresma has probably earned himself a starting spot. roud: So, my heart tells me great things could happen. A league title for sure and maybe a decent showing in the UEFA Cup. I don't know if we can win a european event yet, but who knows?

To me, it all comes down to December and whether the board is happy with the team. If we aren't in close battle for the title and still competing in Europe, then Boloni and the team could be in trouble.

 

We have a lot of new people in important positions:

Niculae-striker
Nelson-goal
Rui Bento-DM
Quaresma-wing
Boloni-coach


So many new people make for uncertainty. I am very happy with all these players, yet it still remains to be seen how they gel over a long season in the pressure cooker of Lisbon.

Also, we need to see what happens with Beto and Quiroga. Beto is of special importance. If he stays, our back is secure. If he bolts during the winter, then it all becomes less sure.

I think we'll lose one of these guys, but obviously hope otherwise. Beto would make more money for us now, but losing Quiroga hurts us the least.



Oh, is it obvious by now I am not one of those pom-pom waving cheerleader fans, but the intensley analytical one?

I really feel good about this club, but I'm also not going to jump around pretending we're going to win the UEFA cup or something. Yeah, it could happen, but it would be a heroic effort. A miracle, if you will. :angel:

 

The new season is coming, and I am getting very excited! :excited:



Now I can get to know the team again, after all the to-ing and frow-ing, and slowly things are winding up for the start of the new season.













GO SPORTING!:heart:

 

guarded optimism....that's I will say! :hopefull:

I am refusing to get excited, because then I know they will then break my heart again. :depress:

We've got the coach and we've got the players...it's time to GET IT ON!!!!!

 

Too true, Pen. That's the curse of being a Sporting fan. We're contenders until Christmas, then we panic and sell players. At least, that's how it used to be until the last two years. I guess I still find it hard ot forget our sorry past.

 

Niculae to miss the Porto match?

I have heard an unsubstantiated rumor that Niculae may miss the Porto match due to commitments with the Romanian national squad. Has anybody heard or read anything to back this up? I sure hope it's not true.

 

It's a possiblity. It's already been brought up in the Daily papers. Also, Porto may lose Paredes for the same reason.

I don't think he will, though. Boloni made a comment that the Romania game is on Wednesday and the Sporting game is on Sunday. Therefore, he intends on having Niculae, just like he will count on all the Portuguese internationals who will also be playing on Wednesday (against Moldova.)

 

Yeah, that's the news I had heard, too. Paredes will have WC commitments, I believe, so that's different. I'd hate to lose Niculae for our huge season opener just because of some friendly.

 

Portuguese internationals are different....cause the Moldova game will be played in Portugal so there is no travel time.

 

The Record Newspaper has Manolo Vidal saying Niculaue will definitely play because of some 48 hour rule.He said they don't even have to worry what the Romanian Team say because he will be their 48 hours before the game.

 

It would be crazy if Niculae didn't play the season opener for his new team that payed allot of money for him especially against Porto!

There shouldn't even be a question of him playing and it's not like it's an important game it's a friendly that Romania has! Niculae will play against FCP!

 

Good news. This game is very important and can set the tone for the first few months of the season. It's essential to put our best team forward.

 

Penguin, I can see that Boston attitude coming out, bro! Your last post is the same exact thing I say every year about the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, and SCP! I feel your pain brother I feel your pain.....1918!


Today in the Record Boloni described SCP as a mix between Porto and Benfica! Sounded strange but he explained himself by saying that the media says Porto is a team with heart and Benfica is a team full of talent! So Boloni is saying that SCP is a talented team full of heart!

Coach has confidence in his players from the sounds of it and that is a good sign! This should motivate the players knowing that the coach said that about them! I know it would motivate me cuz I wouldn't want to let down the coach after he said that the team was full of heart and talent!

So lets hope he's right and Viva O Sporting clube de Portugal!


Then again Boloni man ain't gonna come out and say No my team blows and sucks ass at the same time and we will be horrible!

 

I saw the Highlights yesterday from the Benfica-Fiorentina game and Benfica looked real good.I see them fighting neck and neck with us till the end.I also can't count out Boavista because of their rough rugby style play(did you see them against Porto).However they might have the tailor made team for the Portuguese League because more often than not with the little teams they don't allow you to play a wellplayed skillful match.
The little teams rather hack away.I was impressed last year though with our little teams.
Porto,I'm not really worried about them.They haven't made any significant changes and their fans will probably use their champions league play to justify their 3rd place finish

Sporting,We added a much needed striker who will be in the top 3 if not 1st in scoring.
We have a 17 year old superstar in the making(If Figo was as good as this kid at 17,he would have been named player of the year 5 years ago).
I think our midfield is very solid and strong physically which is important in our league.
I think our defense is very good if Quiroga and Beto could play together.I think its our weakest point but still good.
Oh and my guess for player of the year on our teamis JVP.He has shown his brilliance from his Boavista days again.

I think we will be in the top 2.VIVA SPORTING!!!!

 

I agree. I think JVP will be our most important player. He's our playmaker and creator. If he only could finish better he'd be unstoppable.

Oh, somebody who's suddenly been lost in the shuffle is Barbosa, but I have a feeling he'll be needed at some point. He finished the previous season very strong. He and JVP would play nicely right behind Niculae. With Quaresma and Sa on the wings, it could be interesting. Obviously, that means the midfield blah blah blah and probably won't happen, but I'd hate to see Barbosa get wasted on the bench. If Sa doesn't provide offense from teh right side, he could fit in there.

 

Yes Mr Barbosa,I did forget about him.He was playing great ball also.Too bad he is injury prone,but when he comes back our offense is super potent.