Definitely - it helps to have an actual coach. But the whole squad just looks like they're having much more fun.
Great performance by Bruno Fernandes he did awesome, and was very altruistic at encouraging team mates who are having a hard time eg Carlos Mané. It was very classy of him to offer his first goal to the minnow Miguel Luis when he clearly could have played it selffish. The results under Keizer have been good but it's soon to really tell how much the team has improved since all the opponents have been lightweights so far.
True most have been easy but I wouldn't call rio ave away lightweight and we beat them convincingly. But yes its when we have a sterner test is when we will see how the team perform. I think we have Porto is in a month which will be the big test for this team, so building up good performances and assimilating the coach's ideas until then will be crucial. With our new attacking philosophy we might struggle against Porto's high pressing.... or we might be successful too. Its all about getting around their pressure.
The way we've been playing is the perfect counter to Porto's high pressure. We don't hold on to the ball for long. We've been playing 1-2 touch and pass. Porto love to press high and if we can successfully make these quick passes out of our zone, we should have some odd man breaks. Midfield will be key, and loosing a guy like Wendel will hurt us he's quick and has vision. If we rely on Bruno Cesar, we're doomed.
True, but remember that first half vs Aves? They put real pressure on us and we started relying on long ball. Hopefully that doesnt happen again. I have a feeling Keizer liked what he saw from Miguel Luis. He combined well with Bruno Fernandes. Maybe we will see him start in the league. Guys like Bruno Cesar, Misic, Petrovic, even Carlos Mane who looked awful yesterday need to go. Doubt it happens all at once in january.
Mane had a couple good chances, but he got caught offside so many times and just looks like that injury set him back so much. But I guess as a squad player its not bad to have him as a back-up. Petrovic just makes way too much money for what he produces.
We weren't group winners so we were bound to get a tougher team. Still we avoided heavyweights like Chelsea, Napoli, Inter. Should be a really good match, it will be interesting to see how this team is playing and with which players come February.
B/ Cesar was horrible yesterday. With Wendel out, we have no choice but to drop Bruno Fernandes back into the midfield and play Miguel Luis or someone else in Dost's shadow. I hope Santa brings a LB, a midfielder, and a Striker for Christmas. Coentrao, Adrien Silva, and Slimani would fit the bill rather well.
Europa League is back! We play tomorrow vs Villareal at home. They haven't been good at all this season so they could go all out in the Europa League. I expect a tough game considering our recent form. Surprisingly no Borja for this match. Miguel Luis called up. Acuna will likely be LB again. Lista de convocados do Sporting: Guarda-redes: Renan e Salin Defesas: Bruno Gaspar, Ristovski, Coates, Ilori e André Pinto Médios: Gudelj, Wendel, Bruno Fernandes, Acuña, Miguel Luís e Petrovic Avançados: Raphinha, Diaby, Bas Dost, Jovane Cabral e Luiz Phellype.
Petrovic - Miguel Luis/Wendel would be my pick for the midfield. It will probably be Gudelj - Wendel though. Phellype vs Bas Dost will be another interesting pick. I'd lean towards Bas, but he needs to step his game up.
I've heard rumors about Miguel Luis refusing to renew, which lead to his recent benching. Is there any truth to that.
Seven changes in the starting XI. Miguel Luis gets a start. Salin; Bruno Gaspar, Sebastián Coates, André Pinto, Marcos Acuña; Bruno Fernandes, Petrovic, Miguel Luís, Raphinha, Jovane, Bas Dost.
So within 5 minutes we concede a goal from Acuna's side and he gets his standard yellow card for acting like an idiot.
We have so many problems when we have the ball at the back. Coates or Pinto has the ball and they have no passing options. None of the midfielders drop back. And then we're forced to play long balls. Bruno Gaspar seems to have pulled a muscle. Im not one to be happy with injuries, but if this means I don't have to see him play for us again, then so be it.