Adu: AC Milan v. Benfica 9/18 [R]

[FirstStar]

http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/preview?id=228755&cc=5901

Well . . . someone had to do it. Here's the matchday thread for Benfica's Champions League Group D opener against AC Milan. Did Freddy even make the trip?

[schrutebuck]

no he wasn't included - from planetbenfica



AC Milan x SL Benfica Squad List

After a casual morning training session and lunch at the stadium, the Benfica committee made way to the airport and will travel to Italy for the Champions League (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?36) group opener against AC Milan.

The main surprise was the inclusion of midfielder Gilles to replace Petit (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?11). Nélson (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?31) also returns to Camacho's list for San Siro after coming back from an injury. Moreira (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?28), David Luíz (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?18), Luisão (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?25), Zoro (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?51) and Mantorras (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?16) continue their recovery process, whilst Adu (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?26) and Miguelito (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?17) were left out by option.

The «showdown» with the European Champions will take place this Tuesday at 19:45 GMT (20:45 local).

The 19 players called up:

Goalkeepers: Quim (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?29) and Butt
Defenders: Edcarlos (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?50), Luís Filipe (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?19), Léo (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?27), Nélson (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?31) and Miguel Vítor (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?49).
Midfielders: Romeu Ribeiro (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?48), Gilles, Katsouranis (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?13), Rui Costa (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?24), Maxi Pereira (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?53), Nuno Assis (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?14), Fábio Coentrão (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?23), Di María (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?40) and Cristian Rodríguez (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?52).
Forwards: Cardozo (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?20), Bergessio (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?21) and Nuno Gomes (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?22).

[wooglin12]

Adu (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?26) and Miguelito (http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?17) were left out by option.

Benfica hates soccer!

[mtizzle]

Di Maria has left Adu in his wake, it seems. :(

[FC Tallavana]

Di Maria has left Adu in his wake, it seems. :(


He has been lousy tonight imo.

[DaPrince84]

Di Maria has left Adu in his wake, it seems. :(
they don't even play the same position... and the positon Adu is trying to break into is Rui Costa's...

[novastar400]

anybody got the an online feed of this game that doesn't have to be downloaded???

[FC Tallavana]

anybody got the an online feed of this game that doesn't have to be downloaded???


I'm watching it on tv so I'm no use.

And I'm about to switch over and watch Porto/Liverpool or Chelsea/Rosen. as Milan are cruising at this point.

[sidefootsitter]

http://www.goalvideoz.com/leagues/Champions-League/video/839-ac-milan-benfica-flippo-inzaghi-goal/

Pirlo to Pippo.

[novastar400]

It seems like porto is fairing a lot better...

[60611]

Di Maria has left Adu in his wake, it seems. :(

Quim too. Freddie is going to have to up his game if he wants to overtake Quim.

[Tigerpunk]

Just looking at the soccernet.com gamecast, it looks like Benfica is lucky to be down only 2. AC Milan has 18 shots - 14 in the box - to Benfica's 9 - only 2 in the box.

[Tigerpunk]

Without knowing more, its hard to know exactly what Adu is doing wrong? Di Maria is only a year older.

I assume the comparison to Quim is a joke - and while Di Maria and Adu are not competing in any real sense of the word, it is curious to determine why Adu's progress is markedly different than Di Maria's.

[DoctorD]

Only one thing can get Adu playing time now: he has to declare his allegiance to the Ghana National Team.

Seriously, we would have been totally surprised to see Freddy getting significant minutes in a CL game. And his appearance against Kopenhagen was therefore remarkable. But we all expected some time in league games and it looks like he's frozen out there.

[mtizzle]

they don't even play the same position... and the positon Adu is trying to break into is Rui Costa's...

I'm talking about his general progression as a player adapting to the European game. I know they don't play the same position. :o

[DirtyJerzey]

I'm talking about his general progression as a player adapting to the European game. I know they don't play the same position. :o

Or it could be that Di Maria is getting playing time because he's the heir apparent to Simao (who's gone) and Adu is still training because he's the heir apparent to Rui Costa (who's still Benfica's best player).

Seem's like Camacho's a level headed fella. Seems like Adu's doing fine in training. I really think its a matter of squad depth. I can't wait for the Domestic Cup competition to see where Adu's at.

[dannytoone]

I'm talking about his general progression as a player adapting to the European game. I know they don't play the same position. :o

Di Maria had already had good progression in his time in Argentina. His performances were praised since his first year, and was a target for teams like Arsenal and Boca. Not to mention the Argentine league has been proven for preparing players for competition in Europe.

[dannytoone]

Or it could be that Di Maria is getting playing time because he's the heir apparent to Simao (who's gone) and Adu is still training because he's the heir apparent to Rui Costa (who's still Benfica's best player).

Seem's like Camacho's a level headed fella. Seems like Adu's doing fine in training. I really think its a matter of squad depth. I can't wait for the Domestic Cup competition to see where Adu's at.

It makes sense, except that typically it is Nuno Assis that subs for Rui Costa. Adu is third in the pecking order...although he might make a few appearances on the right wing, or as a forward.

[Bolo]

There is something about Freddy (Mary). CL day, lots of great games and he still gets 3-4 threads on a day he didn't even make the game day squad.

Not pointing fingers, heck I'm a big fan of the kid and probably posted in each of those threads but there must be something about him because we all seem to care.

It's a very, very interesting phenomena.

[dilmo22]

Well... nothing much to say here.
The result does not translate the game; it could've been 5 or 6-2.
So we're lucky they slowed down after the early 2-0.

We got a ball hitting the post, and a last minute goal with no other repercussion than looking better then 2-0 on the news lol.

Too many injuries in defense, the center backs Luisão, David Luiz, Zoro and the man we missed the most, the Defensive midfielder Petit... even with full team it would have been difficult, Milan plays with such perfection I'll bet on them to win the Champions League again this year.
They know each other so well, that they could play with their eyes closed :eek:
Benfica players are too young, and far too inexperienced this year to try anything against this.

ps: Oh, and Rui Costa got a standing ovation when he was sub'ed. Allways nice to see that, they appreciate Rui almost as much as we do :D