OTT - The Other Teams Thread (Karaoke Version) [R]

biggest day in 44 years and all they can think about is United.....

let me guess the language berry-air again?

It's kind of hilarious how small they must feel - the greatest day in their club's recent history and their signs are about us. And their club has to issue us an apology.

It's quite amusing.

Money can't buy swag. I mean class.

Portugal squad named for the Euro...has to be one of the most average, weakest squads in years. With the current bottleneck in talent you cant just afford to throw away players like Carvalho and Bosingwa...Bento should have reconciled with them.

-----------------------Patricio-------------------------
--------------Pepe--------------Bruno Alves----------
Joao Periera----------------------------------Coentrao
-------------Meireles-----------Moutinho--------------
Nani---------------Carlos Martins-------------Ronaldo
-----------------------Postiga----------------------------

Ya, this isn't going to be pretty. No one from the starting 11 can afford to get injured with their replacements(bar the reserves in attack) being so average, and the dirtiest Portuguese defending not seen since the days when Pele got kicked in the 1966 world cup will be needed against Holland and Germany. Time for Pepe to turn into Hulk and kick the shit out of everyone, Bruno the caveman Alves to destroy forwards with his flying karate kicks through the back, and Joao Periera to continue looking like a mirror image of a internet troll

Who's Martins?

Ruben Miceal is as average as they come(lol), and he's going to be on the bench. Common Consensus in Portugal is that he shouldn't be nowhere near the squad, replaced by either Hugo Viana or Manuel Fernandes.

Hugo Viana had a fantastic year for Braga(their best player), but Bento claims his style of play doesnt suit the idea of how he wants his midfield to operate(Viana with a bit of a slow tempo, using pinpoint long passes while laying deep)

Manuel Fernandes was absolutely superb for Beskitas(probably wanting to gtfo of Turkey). In terms of pure talent and overall ability in many facets of the game he's easily Portugal's most talented player...but he also completely choked and blew his chance in the Poland friendly that Bento handed him.( struggled to impose himself and tried too hard it seems like, misplacing tons of passes and attempting to force things too much)

Paulo Bento might opt for playing Veloso in front of the back four with Moutino and Meireles more ahead, Moutinho taking responsibility of the offensive role, which he used against Bosnia.

The problem is Veloso has struggled to maintain decent form the entire season for Genoa, a team which barely escaped relegation.

I know, gone are the days of Paulo Sousa, Rui Costa, Maniche, Deco..

There are a few really young players who might come good, but they are a few years away from developing enough to see how they pan out.

Can't believe Quaresma still gets a look in for the NT anymore, should just move on.

Midfield is where an Injury would hurt the most, other than Veloso the back up options (and Martins) are just terrible.

If it weren't for Euro 2004 against England I'd never want to see Postiga in a NT line up again, though it wastes him a bit I'd rather see Ronaldo as a false 9 and Varela line up on the wing

The last few days have turned me off football, I honestly couldn't care about the euros may change in the next two weeks

Yah, Helder Barbosa or Vieirinha could be there in place of Quaresma, but Postiga had a decent year in Spain with 10 goals, a few of them spectacular in quality...playing on a weak team with little to no service he did well.

And honestly, who else is there?

Almeida is a useless tree

Vaz Te scored 21 goals for West Ham/Burnley....but in the English championship

Nelson Oliveira was called, but is third choice and really green.

The strikers England are going to leave at home would start for Portugal..Even Cacau and Keissling etc who the Germans wont even consider taking would be amazing to have hahah.

I agree, for the first time in a while I'm not too excited for a international competition.

As the friendlies happen it'll probably ramp up however.

I just don't understand why Portugal don't produce strikers. Don't kids dream of being the new Eusebio or something?

Why not just play Ronaldo up top? They must have some decent wingers..


I miss this guy:

Probably because Porto seldom produce anyone in the way of youth players, Benfica are getting that way and Sporting's academy have always just been poor at producing forwards yet manage to produce a plethora of quality wingers I'd say it's down to the coaches and Systems used at clubs at youth level.

It all comes down to the way the youth systems are set up, same reason England seldom produce creative types and have coaches focusing more on physical attributes and 442. Only difference is the Portuguese FA wouldn't have the cash the English FA do to throw around at redeveloping youth systems so it becomes engrained.

Football production gets stuck in cycles I guess, Portugal produces few quality forwards thus poor coaching, thus teams adapt to play with less forwards in their formations, then stop depending on youth output, then youth get less chance to develop and as such you produce few quality forwards and the cycle continues.

good bye king kenny

I'd laugh if they got Sam allardyce in and Moneyball it.

Martinez if it happens.

That would be interesting.

Anyone know much about Strootman?

Dubbed the new Roy Keane but actually new Carrick, tall elegant midfielder who can play DLP but probably not as lone DM, not yet atleast, hopefully we will sign him, Milan interested?

Apparently so, possibly just rumours, supposed to be 11M€

Would be a good signing, tremendous if he fulfills his potential, I wish we were interested but we got Scholes

Watching Arsenal West Brom, atleast two goals were Fulop fault, it looked like an amateur keeper was keeping. Conspiracy theories

Looks like a talent. Strong, exerts himself, smart, defensively sound, but with great passing and creativity from deep. I think he can play DM, CM or AM based on his smarts/technique. He's not the kind of guy who will run a midfield by himself, but he seems like he'd be an excellent addition to a solid midfield partner.

Oh, he's left footed.