Farense-Benfica

[Razor]

Well, well, well...no road win since February of 2001 for Benfica? If my heightened sense of smell fails me not...I detect the end of that sad streak.

Even without Srs. Zahovic, Sokota, Diogo Luis (remember him?!) and Julio Cesar, I'm expecting a 2-1 win tomorrow in Faro; courtesy of a goal a piece by the Angolan Marvels.

I read this morning that Toni is adamant against using two strikers. Now I know we've all discussed ad nauseum how much that drives us nuts/how he's too dependent on his 4-2-3-1, but it's tough to argue with him given the players he has at his disposal, no?

Anyway - per his comments, Drulovic will most likely start (healthy or not?!), as will JMP (Cesar's most likely suspended). This leaves us with:

GK: Enke
D: Cabral, Argel, Joao Manuel Pinto, Pesaresi
DM: Meira, Ednilson
M: Simao, Miguel, Drulovic
F: Mantorras

Razor's Key To The Game: Fernando Meira

As goes Meira, so goes Benfica. After a very forgettable eight games, his key goal last week versus Gil Vicente may be just what the doctor ordered in the confidence department. His having a good game is all the more critical this week with two "cold" central defenders in Argel & JMP (still, they presumably work well given their time together at Porto).

If he plays well, a win is a very likely outcome.

BTW - this game is on tape-delay at 7:00 PM EST Friday on RTPi for us non-Joisey/SIC folk!

Forca Benfica!

[Pila]

With Drulo back, my key player of the game is Simao (I almost said Sabry:rolling:). He's had two good game in a row and the third is inminent. 2-0 Mantorras and Simao. The latter is due.

[england66]

isn't this game on SportTV. My ROI on my 350 on the package is creeping into negative numbers. Watching Sporting every weekend doesn't do it for me.

If not on Sport TV, where is the New Jersey Mob meeting up? I know it is Friday but what is more important, work or Benfica?

[LadyEagle]

Yeah...the game is on Sport TV :)

[Pila]

I will eave early if you can confirm that it's on KBS!

[Razor]

Yep, my error. I meant to type "SporTV", not "SIC".

Either way - it's still on tape at 7:00 on RTPi...

"Benfica fan" - do we know you from another life? I have a guess based on your sentence structure/smiley ratio...

[RedEagle]

Excellent analysis Razor! :)

Why isn't Caneira playing as a Central Defender? He's been our best defender so far.

This morning I read an article about how Benfica scores more and suffers less goals playing with two strikers than with one...but Toni will still stick with the one striker mentality.

Farense is in worse shape than they were last year! This game is very winnable. I am also looking for a win this weekend.

Key to the match: The back line
They need to shut out Faro...for us to win 1-0! :cool:

[LadyEagle]

Yeah...it's on KBS for sure.

Razor...maybe you guys do do know me. I'm very famous, you know? ;)

[england66]

Pila,

as requested I just turned off the Italian cup game to watch the scrolling crap on SportTV. They have some Nelson Ned type music playing in the background. I love this channel.

Confirmed - Friday, 10-26, Farense - Benfica 1600EST, 4pm for you non-army types.

They now have the sports report going. Does Toni always sound drunk when he talks?

[Razor]

The bad part is that as I think this through a bit, this game & roster have the capacity to drive us all into fits as Toni starts to make substitutions.

He's already said that Mawete won't start, yet Drulovic will most likely only play the first half and some change. Depending on the score, who will he put in?

Scenario One: Benfica's up one goal at the half

We all know that Toni will pull out Drulovic and put someone like Andersson in there in an effort to (gulp) - play defensively. We then end up with a tie or worse.

Scenario Two: Benfica's tied or down a goal at the half

He'll probably bring Mawete in for Drulo; but that will leave us vulnerable to the counterattack with an unproven defensive backfield should Meira and/or Ednilson be playing up in an effort to advance the play upfield.

I agree with you Red re: Caneira. I'm not sure why Toni doesn't put him in central defense. He seems intent on keeping Caneira on the left flank; and even then, he's supposedly starting Pesaresi in that position tomorrow instead.

Maybe this is another topic altogether, but what do you guys think of all this Abel Xavier talk this past week? His Hairness could be effective in the Liga in his traditional spot on the right side, allowing Cabral to shift back to the left where he started the season. Then you could put Caneira in central D with Cesar and make Meira a DM once and for all alongside Ednilson.

What do you guys think? I know Xavier's been junk ever since the France friendly, but a return home could be just what he needs?

[Pila]

I think Abel would help. We need height at that central defense that continuously suffers headers.

[Razor]

Originally posted by Benfica fan
Yeah...it's on KBS for sure.

Razor...maybe you guys do do know me. I'm very famous, you know? ;)

Ahhh...benvindo nossa querida :)

[Pila]

Is this our very own piece 'ass?

[Razor]

Incredible! Pila's been here for all of 180 seconds and he's already got 22 posts!

The man is my template :)

[RedEagle]

Is Benfica fan "me lady"? ;)

As far as Xavier, he would be an interesting pick up...he's a diehard Benfiquista, he brings a certain "flair" to the defense, but he's played like me for the past 12 months.

But we do need help defensively...btw why doesn't Toni give the kid Jorge Ribeiro a shot at the left spot with Caneira in the middle?

[england66]

my starting back four would be Cabral, Caneira, Julio Cesar and Pesaresi. Even though Caneira is fine out on the left, he is a better player in the middle.

Abel could definitely add some photogenic qualities but I don't think he is better than Cabral.

What ever happened to Rojas:)

[Razor]

Originally posted by england66
my starting back four would be Cabral, Caneira, Julio Cesar and Pesaresi. Even though Caneira is fine out on the left, he is a better player in the middle.

Abel could definitely add some photogenic qualities but I don't think he is better than Cabral.

What ever happened to Rojas:)

I think Rojas poured my coffee this morning downstairs at the coffeehouse :)

[A X P]

Originally posted by Razor


I think Rojas poured my coffee this morning downstairs at the coffeehouse :)

Were Bossio and Michael Thomas making a fresh batch of muffins in the kitchen?

[LadyEagle]

Originally posted by A X P
Were Bossio and Michael Thomas making a fresh batch of muffins in the kitchen?

:eek: No! They're still scrubbing toilets.

[DognerDJ]

:D

[LadyEagle]

The game is about to start...

Forca Benfica!!!
It's going to be our first win away! :cool:

[england66]

benfica fan,

are you watching? what is this damn music? is it that girl who sang Luka? Suzanne Vega?

[LadyEagle]

I missed the music...at least it's not that Trio de Mira song no more. Freaking Madalena! :mad: ;)

[england66]

is it me or are we starting 3 trincos?

Enke,Cabral, JMP,Julio Cesar, Caneira, Meira, Andersson, Ednilson, Simao, Miguel, Mantorra.

Do you have anyone on this team who can play offensive center mid? In the B, in the Juniors, Juvenis, Brazil, MLS, Newark Commerical League. Some team has to have one we could borrow.

[LadyEagle]

Damn it!!!:mad: Wake up Benfica!

[england66]

For a second there I thought we were going to have another caso polemico for Dr. Prof. Snr. Poncio to discuss on jogo falado. Plus he would be pissed because they wouldn't show the plays he would want to see. That guy is the best TV personality since Joao Baiao.:)

[LadyEagle]

I love him. Monday nights wouldn't be the same without Poncio. ;)

The Sportinguista, is doing a good job as well.

Damasio is just too calm and not insulting enough. :(

[RedEagle]

You guys are watching the game? Damn and I'm still stuck at work...this sucks. :mad:

I gotta get outta here...there's a replay on RTPi tonite, right??

Is it at 7?

[england66]

razor said the RTP time was 7pm but the sporttv replay is at 7.30.

i am home from work this week so i am watching the game.

[LadyEagle]

It says 7:20...so it'll be between 7:00 and 8:00. ;)

[england66]

holy cow!!

[england66]

yes 1-0, miguel.

[LadyEagle]

Golo!!!!!
Miguel

[england66]

we are playing more like a 4-3-3 and seems to be working. Anderson is doing well on the right and meira on the left. JMP is on fire.

[england66]

2-0 simao

[LadyEagle]

Simao... :cool:
Great goal!!

And now we're 2 points away from Boavista....:cool:

[Pila]

I called it! Simao's golo! He's starting to come on big time. Miguel also had a really good game! Meira is starting to look good too, as is JMP.

[LadyEagle]

What did I tell you guys about Simao??

Give him time...give him time.

[DognerDJ]

How did SupaZaho play ?

[LadyEagle]

Originally posted by DognerDJ
How did SupaZaho play ?
He didn't.

[england66]

Simao and Miguel both had quality games but both missed clear scoring chances which could have been game turners if Farense were a little luckier. The first 10-15 minutes of the second half were disappointing. Toni changed the structure of the team and Faro took advantage of it. Both Meira and Anderson starting to play more in the middle of the pitch which left the flanks a little weakened.

I enjoyed the first half quite a bit and Mantorras, Miguel, and Simao make an awesome counterattacking trio.

Pesaresi should start at left back but Caneira shouldn't be benched because I think he deserves a spot. I am also very impressed with JMP's play. I thought he might be the weak link but he is handling himself pretty well.

Enke made a few remarkable saves early in the second half that could have been our downfall had they got in.

[Pila]

That save he made on the free kick was fantastic! Dude's got quicks!

[Xxmaster99xX]

Thats the way guys!!!!


Now that we have finally won away hopefully we can get a winning streak going away and at home!!

Just one thing, Mantorras is due for a goal or two, hes been playing really good but the goals aren't there!

[RedEagle]

It was a nice game...although we gave Farense too much space, we were able to create enough opportunities to win the game, but only when we pressed.

I thought a couple of players played really well. Joao Manuel Pinto, had an effective game and Mantorras is a god, but the MOM imo, was Ednilson. I thought he was all over the midfield...the guys must have won some 25 balls the entire match, and delivered pin point passes on most of them. He also set up Simao's goal.

Man if we lose Enke in December...we're going to be in deep doo-doo. There aren't many goalies who can do what he does for Benfica. Another spectacular game!

Two brilliant saves, one on the free kick and the other on Hassan, after Meira let him get through.

Caneira and JMP have righted the defensive ship. Toni should stay with it.

[LadyEagle]

Damn!:(

Where's my mano SLB to disagree with everything we say! ;) :(