^ Hugo almeida is injured its almost certan Portugal will play 4-4-2 losango in this game by what the press reports have been indicating. The only CF's to choose from is nuno gomes and liedson. Ronaldo and Simao will likely partner one of them up front. Id bet on Liedson and Ronaldo starting up front personally, but well see what happens on saturday.
We have to play a 4 - 4 - 2. Or something like it. We know for sure Bosingwa will be the RB, LB will be Duda, and the DM will be Pepe. That means that that Carvalho and Alves will likely partner the CB position. Levezinho is indeed going to start, because we are indeed desperate. Ronaldo though, needs to start in behind him. Throw Simao and Nani out on the wings and get a big, strong, midfielder in there beside Pepe. However with the way Veloso has been playing lately, I want him to play the DM position and put Pepe back in beside Carvalho. Then I would slot in Tiago or Maniche beside Veloso....
Personally Pepe should be the one to make way if Veloso starts, he hasnt played a competitve fixture for wuite some time, but IMO the best option would be to play Veloso at LB and keep Pepe at DM. Nani has to play, he has already been playing competitive football for a month now, Patricio should start, he is excellent at set pieces and crosses, something which our other keepers struggle with. Anyone who doesnt have Carvalho in their starting lineup is a fool, he IMO is still the best CB in the world. Portugal and Chelsea are different teams with him, he should wear the captains armband!!!! --------------Patricio---------------- Bos --Carvalho -- B.Alves -- Veloso Pepe --Nani ----- Deco ------- Simao -- Ronaldo -- Liedson --
I want to see Nani in too. We NEED players who generate threat. We have good players, we just have to find a way to use them.
Not a bad line up. Nani and Simao better be prepared to run their tails off and play some defense. I don't think CQ has done a good job yet with our team. I hope he can make some changes for this game that will show us we're heading in the right direction. I never wanted Liedson, but now that he's here, he is hands down our best striker. Here's what I would do. ------------------ Beto -------------- Bosingwa---Carvalho---Alves----Veloso ----------Meireles-----Tiago------------ ----------------Deco----------------- Nani----------Levzinho-------Cristiano Call me boring, but I like having two midfielders holding up the rear. Tiago and Meireles can be dangerous coming up. I hate leaving Pepe out of the game, but he's not a midfielder. Perhaps use Pepe instead of Alves. I know a lot of folks on this board don't think Alves is that good, but he scored a huge goal for us in the last game I have no problem with him.
I'm just so amazed that some people actually want or expect that our most consistant defender Ricardo Carvalho won't start this game. Bruno Alves saved our asses in Albania but please the guy is no where near as good as RC. For me three things are deffinitely needed in this game. #1. Ronaldo to care and not go all sucky as he has this whole campaign. #2. Offensive minded lineup, the second we turn into Italy circa 1990's we concede a goal. #3. Maniche. Say what you want about his attitude and club perfomances this guy pulls the NT together on the field and delivers when it's needed and it's most clearly needed. what we don't need. Small trincos wasting space (although I love it when they play Braga) Ronaldo as a sole striker, the idea that a draw in Denmark is a good result.
Well the other option is an Offensive minded DM(*Veloso), and when hes on his game hes very good defensively and sprays some wonderful balls as well. I actually want him to start...
Ok, I didn't realize Almeida was hurt. I was going by the "convocados" list at the beginning of the thread. Did Almeida actually stay in Germany or he is simply not 100%? So, yeah, in that case, I agree Liedson will have to start. Which is really a less-than-ideal situation for the reasons I mentioned before. Re: Carvalho. I love the guy. Probably my favorite player on the NT for the last 5-6 years. Highly underrated/ relatively unknown world-wise. 2-3 years ago I would say Terry + Carvalho were hands-down the best CB pairing in the world. I could write a book about great he is. However, Carvalho was injured _a lot_ last 1.5 years, and he looked a step slow when he did come back last year. He hasn't been playing and he has aged. He has become a question mark in my mind specially as we have Pepe + Alves as alternatives. Both guys are much younger, very strong in the air, and really pretty good physically - though I agree nowhere as calm or smart as Carvalho (I can remember only 1-2 bad decisions from Carvalho in dozens of games I have watched him play - he's one of the most reliable/solid/calm CBs I have ever seen). But, physically, he _might_ be a liability right now, especially as he has not played much (has he even played for Chelsea yet this year?). Midfield: pick you poison. I say that if we play a 4-4-2, no matter who we pick to play in CM, we are going to be vulnerable over the middle of the field and Denmark has shown they can explore this at will (especially at home) - so, I agree wholeheartedly that Nani and Simao in the wings will have to hustle a hell of a lot on Defense - which will hinder them going forward and guarantees that one/or both won't be able to play the full game. On the other hand, if we play the more conservative 4-2-3-1, we have shown that we have a really hard time scoring, and we kind of need a win, right? My new predictions: I think it's possible CQ, since he's playing away against a dangerous team, will pick to start with a 4-2-3-1, with someone (who??) + Pepe as DMs (a short, hustler, likely Meireles, maybe Maniche + the physical, big Pepe) followed by Ronaldo, Deco (experience over youth, i.e. Nani) and Simao (experience over youth, i.e. Nani), and Leidson up top. Then, if we need a goal, he'll have to drop one of the DMs + Deco + Simao (if he's tired), and bring in Tiago (for Deco), Nani (for Simao, maybe), Veloso (maybe, b/c of good start to season and good left foot on crosses, dead ball/etc). The reasons to NOT start Tiago, Nani and Veloso are primarily to have young guys in the bench ready to spark-plug the team. Simao and Deco would start the game to provide leadership/experience at the beginning of a game where the team is _going to be very nervous_ (a lot more pressure on Portugal than on Denmark). There's really a lot of ways to go about this game. If this were a video game, I would say this is a very interesting game b/c of all the different strategies one might consider as a coach - unfortunately, it's a real game, and a very tough game that might dictate the end of our chances to qualify for a WC, that, on paper, we should definitely be part of. This is Queiroz's defining game. He has a lot of options to consider and he really needs to keep the team focused through the entire 90 minutes - we've had several great starts to games, that have unraveled by the 2nd half - always a sign of poor coaching. Given his record, I am less than optimistic - this is his last chance to save his lousy record with the NT.
moutinho does not play as trinco and hes playing well and so is veloso who actually is a trinco. they are two of our most in-form players.
I like Mountinho but to be honest, at times (and depending on who we are playing) he can be knocked off the ball physically a little too easy at times. Veloso, on the other hand can be a very effective player for us. I like how he has changed his attitude both off and on the field. He (at least for now) has impressed me alot.
A Bola reports that the lineup is likely (based on training) to be the same as against Litch., except Ronaldo for Almeida, which I believe would make it: Eduardo Bos-Carvalho-Alves-Duda Pepe-Meireles Tiago-Deco-Simao Ronaldo What probability do you give this as a starting lineup?
When he is on the NT he is a trinco, where ever his position he is always killing the attack by hanging 10-20 yards away from the opposition box like an idiot. He is playing very well for me, he was amazing vs Braga couldn't even tell he was on the field. For me that was perfect. BTW Carrico is another over rated joke. Veloso seems better then last season I guess he found out he wasn't going to Arsenal after all.
If Ronaldo plays as the lone striker, you can forget about winning this game. he will be marked out of the game. Meireles needs to be benched, move Tiago to his spot, Ronaldo opposite wing of Simao, bring in Liedson as the striker, allow Ronaldo and Simao to roam the pitch and switch with each other.
Liedson isn't going to do anything by himself up front either. He really should be partnered with Ronaldo. Simao and Nani on the wing...
With some of the repies i hear i wonder if anyone actually watches football. Deco, Carvalho, Bosingwa and Nani In the EPL have all been excellent and close t the stand out performers in their respective teams. Bruno Alves has been solid and i love his aerial ability, this is invaluable for portugal considering that we have lost the last three tournaments due to Headed Goals. Which is why Patricio for me should also start, he is the best aerially out of the called up keepers. Veloso has been sporting best performer this season IMO, his goal against the Viola was beautiful his ability to deliver quality ball into the box and his obvious defensive qualities make him a very good candidate for the LB posi or his preferred DM. Pepe has good energy in the DM and i think the defensive diamond of --------------Patricio------------ ----Carvalho---------Alves------ ----------------Pepe------------- will be extremely difficult to penetrate and there is enough experience in the CB to offsett Patricio's inexperience. When you add the both attacking and defensive qualities of Veloso and Bosingwa the defense looks very strong. Fullbacks are so important in terms of attack in modern football both of these boys are hard working on the pitch which is perfect. -------------------------Patricio------------------ ---------------Carvalho---------Alves------------ Bosingwa----------------------------------Veloso ---------------------------Pepe------------------- When you add Deco who for me defensively is so underated you have a man whos pass can open up any defence. Simao and Nani you have two genuine crossers of the ball and also 2 hard workers -------------------------Patricio------------------ ---------------Carvalho---------Alves------------ Bosingwa----------------------------------Veloso ---------------------------Pepe------------------- ----------Nani--------------------------Simao---- ---------------------------Deco------------------- Ronaldo and Liedson should start up front Ronaldo is a good finisher so is Liedson, Ronaldo will not track back if on the wing and thats a liabilty so up front atleats he will attract the attention of 2 defenders created space for his strike partner and also for the inoming midfielders -------------------------Patricio------------------ ---------------Carvalho---------Alves------------ Bosingwa----------------------------------Veloso ---------------------------Pepe------------------- ----------Nani--------------------------Simao---- ---------------------------Deco------------------- ---------------Ronaldo-----------Liedson--------- When Danny regains fitness. ---------------------Patricio------------------ -------------Carvalho---------Alves------------ Bosingwa--------------------------------Veloso ------------------------Pepe------------------- ----------Nani------------------------Simao---- ------------------------Deco------------------- -------------Ronaldo-----------Danny----------
Liedson AND Nuno Gomes will be starting! I actually cant wait to see them play together upfront! Veloso is in great form so he needs to start. I would like to see Veloso and Pepe starting, but would Veloso really play as good as he has been at LB? So that Pepe could play at DM? And then Alves could go to CB? -----------------Beto----------------- Bosingwa----Carvalho----Pepe----Duda ----------------Veloso---------------- Ronaldo---------Deco-----------Simao --------Liedoson-----Nuno Gomes------ or -----------------Beto----------------- Bosingwa----Carvalho----Alves----Veloso ----------------Pepe---------------- Ronaldo---------Deco-----------Simao --------Liedoson-----Nuno Gomes------
you know what, I did not actually watch the full SCP-Braga game so i wont comment on his performance. but we all know here you dont like moutinho. everyone else even ppl who like rival clubs usually likes moutinho and carrico it seems so ill leave it at that. wher did you get this info? if liedson and nuno gomes (or ronaldo) play up front we will score if we play with a lone striker esp if its ronaldo we wont be scoring.
Nuno gomes? Seriously? He's like 5th in the pecking order at Benfica and he's going to start for the NT? Bullshit.
almeida and postiga are injured all we got available is gomes and liedson. unless we bring up yannick, orlando sa (think hes injured) and some other random. Edinho??? I still think they will end up starting Liedson and Ronaldo upfront!
You really think that? He's the strongest link in Sporting's defense for me. The guy has to pair with an inconsistent Polga and 2 average/bad side defenders. Even a known Fiorentina forward said after the CL playoff that he was "fortíssimo".