Either one would be a great addition to the midfield, we know we desperately need a player like Anderson or Manny after losing both Witsel and Javi. What's ManUtd asking for Anderson? Assuming Manny would be much cheaper. And pretty sure Manny would choose Benfica>Besitkas any day.
Anderson would probably be in the area of 10 - 15 Million Euro's I think. He's only 24. Personally, I think Manuel Fernandes is more talented, but he would need to play either a straight CM, or in the CAM role. Manuel Fernandes would prob be anywhere from 5 - 10M.
Kardec demoted to the "B" team. He's not happy about it. http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=777588 Luisao will learn his punishment fate this week http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=777443
Obviously Kardec isn't happy about it. He was a on & off starter for Santos in the Brasil. Again, bad management from Benfica. Andre Gomes, the 19 year old 6'2 CM has been called up from the B team. He has 2 goals in 2 games for the B team so far this season. I like it.
Witsel: "Zenit is better than Benfica" You can love your new club as much as you want but don't insult the club that put you on the map asshole. Even with more money Zenit will never be Benfica.
Benfica sign new "Mantorras".....Joaozinho (18yr old Angolan winger) http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=777745 Record reports that he was about to sign for Man City but the transfer fell through due to bureaucratic issues.
Yeah I understand saying something to pump up your new team's fans but he could do it in a way better than belittling Benfica
What's comical and boggles the mind is how Benfica was able to sell this guy for all that cash. Don't get me wrong, the kid has talent. However, I believe the kid was only at the team for like a season. So, why couldn't his former club sell him for as much. Are you telling me that the kid learned so much at Benfica in one season to boost his market value that high??? You gotta give Benfica credit for finding these punks and then hyping them up big time....
Benfica didn't have to do much hyping at all. If I remember correctly someone in Europe had said that Witsel was going to become better than Zidane!!! There was already a lot of over-hype on him.
Luisao gets a 2 month suspension. Let the flood gates open. Ref states that Luisao knocked him unconscious and that he was diagnosed with a concussion at the hospital. A bunch of BS from the ref if you ask me but Luisao gets what de deserves for being an idiot. What a great leader he is for hurting his team.
Come on, he didn't really even do anything. The ref dived like nothing else. He lost his cool a bit, but it was a gross exaggeration from the ref. How can you defame someone who has given the club so many good years, and so much loyalty. Some of you benfica fans are a joke.
I'm a joke???!! why, because i'm able to remove my Benfica goggles every once in a while. Are you serious? It was a freakin friendly!!! There was no need for him to "bump" the ref. It's obvious the ref exaggerated it but the point is that Luisao still bumped him, which is against the rules. The evidence is clearly there. I love Luisao but it was a stupid move on his part especially with him being the leader of this team and his stupidity has clearly hurt the team. Hopefully it doesn't cost us any victories but time will tell.
I agree. Ref was a jackass but thats synonymous with being a referee. Luisao shouldn't have bumped into him, not sure what he thought was gonna happen by doing that. The ban has been extended by FIFA worldwide, meaning no CL and no WC qualifying for Brasil.
Hey fellow Benfica fans, Hoping for some titles and competitive glory, keep dreaming....Here comes greater mediocrity. I got a laugh when he said the team will have to focus on forming players and internal development. The club keeps screwing over much of our young Portuguese talent. "Quem pensa que pode continuar a viver como até há alguns anos atrás está redondamente enganado, quem persistir nesse erro vai acabar mal. Vender, comprar menos e formar mais. Vender e baixar a massa salarial, mesmo que isso signifique sacrificar a nossa competitividade", disse, num jantar após a inauguração da nova imagem da Casa do Benfica de Almada." - LFV
what was the point of spending $9mil on Ola John if he doesnt even have room as a sub on this team??!! I think LFV, RC and JJ all get together and throw darts at pictures of potential purchases to determine who they will waste money on next.
Absolutely agree. I talked about this issue with my dad a few days ago. We paid 9million not for a bench warmer, but for a player to watch the game in the stand with the fans. Its embarassing. Sometime its better to pick a proven talent who has already made a name for himself than to waste it on "potential talent" and we could have definitely spent that 9 million much wiser. I've seen Ola John in the preseason and he had 1 bad game, the rest he was faily impressive. It's honestly probably a case of JJ simply not liking the player and nothing to do with his talent. We all know JJ has his favorites and than those who can never even get a chance at Benfica like Shaffer, Urreta etc.
which makes you think, does JJ even have any input in the transfer market??!! I mean I remember before JJ was named head coach LFV/RC were already buying players even without a head coach in place.
Yeah I'm pretty sure they don't even ask JJ who he wants. For example, Capdevila, JJ said he never asked for him and therefore Capdevila never played. So if we're just going to buy players without approving from the coach, what good is that? On the other hand, the Witsel signing was all JJ. He went to Belgium himself to watch Witsel play and requested him and got him. Pretty sure if JJ was more involved in signing the players, we'd be better off. Witsel was a pure gem. Just feel like LFV, Rui Costa and JJ are all on complete different pages.
Yeah there isn't much synergy between JJ and management I don't think. Ola John, I don't rate him much.