It's a World Cup year, a year that in the past has spawned many a talent for portugal in recent history, the carrot a chance to play in the biggest spectacle humanity has to offer. I'll come out and say that Bruma will have a defining year and be on the plane and in the first 11 for the A team
Ilori will be there, maybe Cedric Soares at RB. In midfield I pray to God one of Joao Mario, Joao Carlos, and a D-mid like Ca have a breakout year.
Cedric is a player of immense quality and I can't understand how and why sporting dont seem to rate him that highly. IMO he along with Mika, D.Pareira and Oliveia were the players with potential to make the grade.
I think Ilori and Bruma are the only two there. Maybe Mario. Bruma in the starting 11? Who does he replace? Nani? Or Ronaldo up top and play all 3?
Marcos Lopes and Elton Monteiro have been released from the u19s camp due to injury, Bruno Fernandes has also been released due to his impending medical at Udinese. Seems as though Lopes injury is more serious than first thought, explains his exclusion from the 20s.
------------Pacencia------------- Lopes----Fernandes-----Bruma -------Podtawski-Silva---------- Rafa----Tobias--Cardoso--Cancelo -------------Varela------------- All I can say about this team is Wow
Handy options off the bench hahaha, they are both high quality and high to argue against their inclusion
He's 18, there is no such thing. I can see Bruma being an unused sub or come on if we make the WC and are leading late in a game where we already clinched a place in the round of 16. Starting 11? No chance Vieirinha, Ronaldo, and Nani are way better at this moment.
At least we have depth. We all know CR7 will never score a goal against Germany, Spain, italy , France or brazil when it matters
I don't know nearly as much about this generation of players as the one that just played in the U20 world cup. Other than Lopes and Fernandes, I'm lost as to who really sticks out. It seems to me to be a much weaker side than the U20. That said, again, I don't know enough to really have a strong opinion. Outside Lopes and Fernandes, are there any players on this U19 Euro side that really excite? Who should we all be looking for?
I hope so, the kid is one of those players who has maturity beyond his years, he imposes himself on a game and like to dominate opponents which is a trait that most of our midfielders don't have.
I'm really pumped for ths season, I feel as though its been a long time since there's been so many young Portuguese kids at all the top flight clubs fighting for first team football. I sad in these forums a year ago that the B teams was the bet decision the FPF have made in a very long time. I believe my assertions have been validated. Players like Miguel Rosa who looks like joining belenenses, he has the quality to play and start for the NT, Benfica has never given him a chance easily the best player in liga Honra, it has all the hallmarks of Maniche mkII. Can't wait to see him and tiago silva linking up. Josue at Porto is intriguing, he's returning home, he was the revelation of last season, he is a kid who comes from a pretty rough upbringing. Hot headed, arrogant, not a team player, where the accusations thrown his way before last season, what's changed, he and his mrs now have a baby, and the results on field speak for themselves. If he progresses as much as last season I wouldn't rule out NT call from bento. Sporting have Andre Martins, Andre Santos, Adrien Silva, Cedric, Wilson Eduardo, possibly Pizzi and somehow hopefully for their sakes Bruma. All these guys have quality they need to somehow take that next step, I look at sportings squad and see a lot of talent but nothing proven, if Jardim can somehow get these guys belting in themselves sporting will be right up there. Adrien Silva and Andre Santos have had an awfull 12 months but form is temporary, quality is quality, these guys can play but the sporting circus has managed to destroy aloft players confidence in their own abilities. Madeiros and Ponde lve watching these 2 guys play, they don't seem o t much fanfare, but I think their real quality. Benfica is concerning Andre Gomes and Andre Almeida seem to be the only kids who will see the benfica first team squad let alone first 11. Hopefully Silvio can lock down a position. If Rosa can't get game time I don't see much chance of anyone breaking through. Paulo Oliveira at Vitoria looks an imposing player for club and the 21s. Look forward to seeing him and Ilori partnering up for the 21s. Anibal Capel is another player I really like another season long loan at Moreirense will help take him to the next level and have him ready to slide into Bragas centre of defence next season. Sergio Oliveira what can you say about this talented wanker, I hope this guys wakes up and puts in some hard work this season otherwise we can pretty much put a line thought his name that is if you haven't already. Pacos have already revived one Porto talent in Josue can they do the same for Oliveira. I could go on and on but there's a lot to be excited about, I'm sure there'll be more luis netos this season who come out of nowhere but also some more yannick djalos, all I know, is that is gonna be fun to take shit about portuguese football in a World Cup year.
I wish we could bring up this young talent and use them gradually. CR came to the NT when he was 19. I could really see a lot of these young guys being a big asset to the NT this season even if it is off the bench.
Anibal has gone to Academica. Ilori is another one who can have a strong season. Chaby and Ponde have been called to Sportings senior squad. The Rosa situation is pretty depressing, especially since he's probably better than Andre Gomes by a decent margin imho. He and JJ must have had some beef. The situation he's in parallels Maniche's...if he turns out the same quality player then the national team is vastly improved. The guy is an attacking midfielder who has scored double digits in goals..but that was in the liga de honra..lets see how he does in Liga Sagres.
Mesca has been playing well for fulham in pre season, had an ACL injury last year but seems to of not lost his pace. He is nowhere near the level of his brother but would be useful for the 21s at this stage, that is ofcourse if he manages to get some game time.
Chaby has been impressive in training and came on and pretty much won the game for sporting albeit against pretty ordinary opposition. We all know the quality Chaby has but as we saw with Agostinho Ca coming back from a serious injury can derail all aspects of a players game. At this early stage it seems as though Chaby has come back at a similar level which begs the question, why isn't he in the 19s side travelling to Lithuania. Same question with Ponde considering Pacencia is injured and Madeiros seeing as they are resting Bruma. Peixe used Ie as a defensive midfield in place of Tomas Podtawski, we are seriously our own worst enemy when in comes to our young players. You would think after the whole Fabio Paim saga that the clubs and federation would have learnt something, with situations such as the u20 world cup squad on the federations part, sporting allowing Brumas contract situation to eventuate and Porto/Benficas ability to destroy young talent of any sort the system needs an overhaul or at least more transparency. In the past six months there have been some incredible decisions; -Romario Balde was excluded from the 17s squad, hes our best player at that level, IMO the best young player benfica have had on the books since Manuel Fernandes. We missed out on the final championships through head to head Resuls due to an early loss to England followed by a win against Russia who ended winning the final tournament. Russia 3 6 England 3 6 Portugal 3 6 Slovenia 3 0 -Leaving out of Raphael Gurreiro, Joao Carlos Texeira, Marcos Lopes and Bruno Fernandes for the under 20 World Cup. Players who other countries rate more than we seem to, these guys actually have a chance to play for our AA side, the possible future of our national side, that's what should o into the minds of the selectors when compiling a squad. I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist but Jesus Christ there has to be some sort of quota system on who they pick for these youth teams, it's the only explanation I can think of. Bit of the rant, but i just can't understand some f the calls