Date: Saturday September 16th Time: 8:30 p.m. Local Time | 3:30 p.m. ET | 12:30 p.m. PT Location: Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisboa Television: Sport TV 1 Acestream: ArenaVision 17 Web Stream: TBD
Gonna be another defensive team at home, need to be patient and smart in possession to open their defense up.
Yeah I feel like this is one of those under the radar important type games. Dropping points here could make a world of difference, but take them lightly and that may just happen. I've caught bits of a couple Tondela games this year and they look a different team. 8 goals scored already, 4 on the road. I'd run with the same squad, make sure you get the victory, main guys can rest on Tuesday
They were the team we dropped points against two years ago that ultimately cost us the league. Albeit, we dropped those points via a handball they scored that was allowed and an offside goal, but dropped points nonetheless.
Other than that it was a good press conference. JJ has had worse slip-ups in pressers. But "let them eat cake"
Just to add, i like how he answered the last question about whether we'll see at some point a duo of Dost / Doumbia (Double D) He said they need to train more to know what spaces they have to occupy when on the pitch at the same time, but he's hopeful that in time we'll see it happen. As for potential line-ups, I think it makes sense to give a break to 1-2 players, not make wholesale changes but smart changes while keeping the core. We have a busy schedule until the next int'l break with games every 3-4 days: Sept. 16 vs. Tondela Sept. 19 vs. Maritimo (League Cup)\ Sept. 23 at Moreirense Sept. 27 vs. Barcelona Oct. 1 vs. Porto I think for this game we should play: Patricio; Piccini, Coates, Mathieu, Coentrao (if fit; play for 60 minutes then sub off for Bruno Cesar if games is going well) William, Battaglia, Gelson, Iuri (rest Acuna whose looked fatigued and Iuri deserves a shot) Bruno Fernandes, Dost (not sure if Podence is recovered from a broken hand, if so sub him on in the 2nd half) Then on Tuesday for the league cup we make more changes, Salin, Ristovski, Mattheus Oliveira I think should get a run while we preserve our players for Moreirense away, Barca and Porto.
Podence still isn't ready from what I've heard. Coentrao should be good to go, but yeah I'd probably limit his playtime if things are in hand. I'd be tempted to give Piccini a rest. Dude's played with no sub the entire season. But I agree, no wholesale changes. Save it for Taca da Liga.
I had a feeling Iuri would start. Gelson hasn't had a break and has looked gassed. Hopefully Iuri steps up. Not thrilled to see Alan in the first XI but I can understand that Tondela are likely to be defensive and a player between the lines like Alan could work CUE the Ronaldo to SCP rumours!
Alan Ruiz tries one from outside, Claudio Ramos makes an egg of it and Bruno Fernandes laces the rebound off the post, although it was offside