Curious to see the lineups versus Croatia and Italy. Every coach loves to have this problem but it is a bit of a problem, trying to figure out what the best lineup is going forward. Is Ronaldo up front as a loan striker or do you have Silva beside him, or is Ronaldo up front along with two wingers. Who starts in midfield alongside Carvalho. Bernardo should be central so who is the best fit to pair with Carvalho? Right now I would say give Neves a shot. I'd go with Carvalho Neves and Bernardo, and Guedes Ronaldo and Martin's up front.
Patrício Semedo - Pepe - R.Dias - Guerreiro Danilo - R.Neves Gelson - Bernardo - Guedes Ronaldo Lopes Cancelo - Fonte - Leite - M.Rui William - Moutinho Bruma - B.Fernandes - Quaresma A.Silva Others: Joao Mario Rony Lopes Adrien Silva Ricardo Pereira Joel Pereira Diogo Jota Renato Sanches Cedric Edgar Ié Xadas Gil Dias Kevin Rodrigues Andre Gomes Pizzi Sergio Oliveira Ricardo Ferreira Rafael Leao Diogo Dalot Rúben Vinagre Xeka João Carvalho Discarded: Nani Eder Bruno Alves Neto Beto Eliseu M.Fernandes Whatever other old dinosaurs FS likes
FYI, Fernando Santos will announce the squad for the Croatia and Italy matches tomorrow (Friday) at 13:00 local time.
What a clearout!!!!!! I never expected to see so many changes but it’s the right thing to do. Gedsons call may be a bit premature even though he has world class potential
Guarda-redes: Beto (Goztepe), Cláudio Ramos (Tondela) e Rui Patrício (Wolverhampton); Defesas: Cédric Soares (Southampton), João Cancelo (Juventus), Luis Neto (Zenit), Mário Rui (Nápoles), Pedro Mendes (Montpellier), Pepe (Besiktas), Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), e Rúben Dias (Benfica); Médios: Bruno Fernandes (Sporting), Gedson Fernandes (Benfica), Pizzi (Benfica), Renato Sanches (Bayern), Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton), Sérgio Oliveira (FC Porto) e William Carvalho (Bétis); Avançados: André Silva (Sevilha), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruma (Leipzig), Gelson Martins (Atlético Madrid), Gonçalo Guedes (Valência) e Rony Lopes (Mónaco).
This I what I love about Santo's. He has no problem with out with the old in with the new if he feels they can take over. I would have loved to have seen Leite called up as well but he has only played a few games with Porto so you can understand why he hasn't received a call up, but if he continues to start and play well its only a matter of time. Surprised Nani wasn't called up, thought he may be used by Santo's in the Quaresma role of late. But again Santo's isn't messing around, he knows the team must evolve to properly put the best team forward to defend the euro title. I hope Neves and Sanches take this chance to lock down a spot on the team moving forward, as well as Rony Lopes. If Dias and Leite continue to develop and become key players by the time the euro comes around, all of a sudden the Centreback problem could be solved for both the short and long term.
I havent had a chance to watch a ton of Leite.. so i propose the question to you and others who have.. how does he compare to Dias (someone i have watched a lot more)? What are his strengths? and weaknesses? I still think if Pepe is healthy.. and in form.. he starts with Dias..
I agree with thespecialone.. what a clear out.. How do you guys envision this team lining up? -------------------------------------Patricio -Cancelo----------------Pepe---------------------Dias-----------Guerreiro ------------------------------------William ---------------Sanches------------------------Lopes -B.Silva---------------------------A.Silva--------------------------Guedes
So many headaches for Santos.. I honestly do not know where all that talent in the midfield/upfront gets placed.. a lot of quality will be sitting on the bench..
This call-up shows that a new era has started: the post-CR7 era. His role with the NT will only go shrinking from now on, same goes for Quaresma, Nani and Moutinho (thank god he wasn't called up, he's hella slow), and it's time to find new protagonists.
Cedric over Semedo? Rui over Ricardo? In what world? We are leaving out one of our top fullbacks (Ricardo) who can play both sides in favor of one dimensional mediocrity. Ricardo should be starting over Raphael. Why are we opting to continue to waste time with Raphael at fullback when it's not the position he is a regular at when it comes to his club? Did we not learn anything at the World Cup? Semedo should be backing up Cancelo. Not Cedric. But first, let's hope we aren't starting Cedric still. I am tapping out if that is the case. ----- Yes, there have been plenty of positive changes but Santos evidently still has a foot stuck in his own concrete when it comes to the fullbacks.
Funnily enough, Moutinho's playing excellent for Wolves right now next to Neves. He's never been fast or quick, he just makes the right/smart play basically all the time. I wouldn't mind seeing Neves and Moutinho next to each other in the Portugal shirt at some point before he's done with international duty (and I don't think he's done). He was never going to thrive next to the likes of Joao Mario, Andre Gomes, Adrien Silva, William Carvalho, etc.
If you're dead set against playing Guerreiro at LB because he's in the midfield for his club (about which I don't disagree), you certainly shouldn't want Ricardo there now. Ricardo is neither playing on the left side nor even playing fullback for Leicester City (right side, midfield). And at least Guerreiro has proven himself at fullback in a Portugal shirt. Santos stuck with him at the World Cup because he'd already helped Portugal to a trophy and made the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament.
I have a feeling Vinagre is having a breakout season and will solve that issue by Euro 2020. Kid is an absolute freak
Through 3 league games it looks like Gelson Martins move to Atletico Madrid appears to be a bust. He hasnt started one game and remained on the bench today with Atletico losing 2 0 and using 3 other substitutes. Thats a shame.
Its becoming clear sporting can't produce talent anymore everyone and there grandmother knew Gelson was a shitty hyped sporting player. Benfica shit out players like Gelson they aren't even part of the discussion because they aren't near good enough to compete with our top talents. edit except for thespecialone, he jizzes over everything. His analysis is cringe and potentially pedophilia related.
Hilarious how now that benfica is clearly the best academy in Portugal that you can’t handle it. Just like when you were jizzing over the like of Gelson, Joao mario etc etc who clearly are not good enough. I always gave sporting credit but you are one salty little bitch and are everything that is wrong with Portuguese football. Are you sure your not related to BDC
Wishing a serious injury on any player is the lowest of the low, i know you like to overreact and throw insults about at players you have a problem with but that’s just too far
Benfica produces bench warming dog shit like Nelson Bench-medo, Renato Benches, etc. Bernardo I-cant-do-shit-outside-of-a-stacked-man-city-team Silva was goddam embarrassment to his country at the World Cup. And where Andre Gomes again? GTFO here with that dumb shit
Seirouy tho I don't give a shit about your opinion. I hope Gelson tears both his ACL. Same with Podence and Patricio. F*ck em.