Let's start this off with some exciting news: Vitor Pereira has been named the new manager at Futebol Clube do Porto, replacing AVB. He was an assistant to AVB, last managed Santa Clara, and knows Porto very well. Rather than hiring a foreigner, I'm happy with this decision and confident that we'll move forward next year with Vitor and achieve Great success! http://web3.cmvm.pt/sdi2004/emitentes/docs/FR34469.pdf
So here's the deal: All of AVB's coaching staff had 2m release clauses in their contracts, except for Vitor Pereira who was just named the new manager. Anyhow, AVB is taking two staff members with him and Chelsea have paid the 2m for each of them: Joao Mario (a fitness coach) Daniel Sousa (scouts the opponents) So... AVB - 15m Euro Mario - 2m Euro Sousa - 2m Euro 19m to take our manager and all the money has been paid. --As for Vitor Pereira, here's an assessment of his qualities from a poster on another forum who knows him well: He is a bit different to AVB but shares alot of the same traits for his teams. He is an advocate of the constant pressuring without the ball and rapid attacking movements. AVB said throughout the year how Vitor was focusing on quick ball movement in training sessions and would emphasize that to all players. From a fitness level, he is much more rigid in training regimes. While Jose Maria Rocha, out main fitness coach, focus alot on cardio work, Vitor emphasize alot of the strength workouts. He is a strong believe in having powerful, strong footballers which then lead to us matching other countries in the physique department. Tactically, Vitor had the responsibility for producing the scripted training itineraries that are distributed Sunday evening to all players for the upcoming week. I am sure AVB had the biggest input into the training plans for each week, but Vitor was accountable for putting these in place and issuing the instructions to the players. Most importantly, this is a manager, like AVB, who understands the club and the demands of success here. The transition should be relatively smooth, without much disruption or modifications to tactics and training.
so the assistant of mourinho's ex assistant automatically = epic wins? if he does turn into another AVB or Mourinho, while Portugal seems to have pretty damn good coaches these days
Never said he automatically "= epic wins," just that I'm happy with his appointment as manager considering the disappointing departure of AVB. I don't know how VP will do at Porto, but I'm definitely encouraged by his work as an assistant last year, and excited to see how he does as the #1.
AVB is taking Falcao with him cause he knows they were shit without him. Money talks! But I can't help but think this is good for Porto with the money they're getting, plus you guys have J.Rod, an exceptional talent.
AVB? He had a 15m euro buyout clause, which Chelsea activated, and he decided that he wanted to move there. Definitely a shock to all of us, I don't think anyone saw it coming. Falcao obviously was a fan of AVB, so it seems logical that he'd want to follow him to Chelsea.
Actually 19 million, if you add the 2 million each that Chelsea will pay for AVB's fitness coach (Joao Mario) and top tactical coach (Daniel Sousa) to join him at Stamford Bridge. While it's great business, I definitely think most Porto fans are sad and a bit hurt that AVB has decided to leave after just one year. He had been vocal about his love for Porto and his desire to experience the CL with the club, so the last 48 hours have not been pleasant at all.
Futebol Clube do Porto will begin training for the 2011-12 season next Thursday, which is a good thing given all the hoopla of the last 48 hours. Like last season, we'll start with a match vs lower division side Tourizense from our training ground, then move on to Germany to train and play a couple friendlies in July. We'll then return home for our presentation game to the fans, which will be vs Uruguayan side Penarol, who are in the Libertadores Final this year and were our opponents in the Intercontinental Cup all the way back in 1987. Should be a fun match, as they sound eager to come over to Europe. Last year we also played 2 matches at the Tournament of Paris on July 31 and August 1, so we'll see if these matches are added. June 30: The squad meets for training--Falcao, Guarin, Fucile, Alvaro and Cristian Rodriguez should be in South America for the Copa Libertadores from our current roster, and James Rodriguez, Juan Manuel Iturbe and possibly Kelvin might be in Colombia for the U-20 World Cup. July 6: Porto plays Tourizense, a lower-division side, from the Centro de Treinos e Formação Desportiva PortoGaia, which is one of our training grounds where the youth team plays. July 10: Porto play in Germany vs FC Gütersloh 2000, a lower-division German side, from the Heidewalstadion. July 16: Porto play Borussia Monchengladbach, a Bundesliga side, from the Niederrheinstadion in Oberhausen, Germany. July 24: Porto hosts Penarol in the presentation game to the fans. August 7: Porto plays Vitoria Guimaraes for the Portuguese Super Cup from the Municipal de Aveiro. August 13: The first round of the league; don't think the schedule is out yet. August 26: UEFA Super Cup vs Barcelona from Monaco.
VP needs to make sure that we have a good pre-season, everybody needs to be on the same page in this aftermath of AvB's move to Chelsea.
I'm really looking forward to beating these pricks again. August 7: Porto plays Vitoria Guimaraes for the Portuguese Super Cup from the Municipal de Aveiro.
http://www.fcporto.pt/Noticias/Futebol/noticiafutebol_futtreinomanha_300611_62508.asp http://www.record.xl.pt/multimedia/fotos/interior.aspx?content_id=705047 So most of our players have returned from their short breaks and are training with the first team and the new manager. 2 of the new signings are here (Bracali and Kelvin), along with several youth team players and 2 guys who were on loan last year (David Addy and Andre Castro). Only players absent are Falcao, Guarin, Cristian Rodriguez and Alvaro Pereira (Copa America), Juan Manuel Iturbe (U-20 World Cup), Moutinho, Rolando, Fucile and Varela (extra rest) and Djalma and Kleber (deals yet to be finalized). GK: Helton, Bracali, Beto and Kadu. DF: David Addy, Maicon, Rafa, Sereno, Otamendi, Sapunaru, Tiago Ferreira and David. MF: Belluschi, Andre Castro, Fernando, Ruben Michael and Souza. FW: Christian, Kelvin, Hulk, Walter and James Rodriguez. --Obviously several of these players might be sold, loaned out or sent back down to the reserves before the season starts.
Also, 2 pre-season games have been added, as expected. After returning from Germany, we'll play Rio Ave on the 21st of July, and then play Lyon on the 31st in Geneva, Switzerland. Updated schedule: July 6: Porto vs Tourizense July 10: Porto vs Gutersloh from Germany. July 16: Porto vs Monchengladbach from Germany July 21: Porto vs Rio Ave July 24: Porto host Penarol in the presentation game to the fans July 31: Porto play Lyon in Switzerland.
Yeah, but before that we'll have to play the Super Cup and the first round of the league. Here's the complete league schedule for this season, BTW: http://www.lpfp.pt/liga_zon_sagres/pages/clube.aspx?epoca=20112012&clube=fc_porto --So we host Benfica on week 6, play at Sporting on week 14, go to Benfica on week 21, and host Sporting on week 29. Obviously times still TBD.
http://www.ojogo.pt/27-182/artigo934345.asp According to O Jogo tonight: --Djalma is expected to join Porto today for his first training session, as his contract with Maritimo officially expired on the 30th of June. I'm excited about this guy's potential and think he will be a solid player for us. --Kléber's contract with Maritimo also expired yesterday, and today he will sign a 4 year contract with the club with a 30m euro release clause. Finally. --Moutinho, Rolando and Varela will be given 4 more days off, before joining the team. Interestingly, Fucile wasn't mentioned; he is still getting over an injury and wasn't called up to Uruguay's NT for the Copa America, so we'll have to see what's up with him and whether or not he stays with the club. --Kadú will be our 3rd keeper this year behind Helton and Bracali. Beto is still training with us but will be sold very soon, and Kieszek was released. --David Addy, Andre Castro and young winger Christian are the 3 players who are being watched very closely by new manager Vitor Pereira. Addy, a LB, will probably be loaned out again, but the club is worried about Emidio Rafael's slow recovery from his gruesome leg injury last year, and Alvaro obviously won't be back until the end of July because of the Copa America. Castro is a very talented midfielder who did well on loan to Sporting Gijon during the 2nd half of last year, but the problem is that our CM is stacked with competition. And Christian impressed the club with his performances for the reserves last year, and is rated highly. --Youth team defenders David and Tiago Ferreira will train with the club through the trip to Germany, before re-joining the juniors.
So Kleber's deal is actually a 5 year contract with a 40m euro release clause, and he will join the team for training on Monday. So much BS and controversy over his contract during the last year, but he really looks like a talented footballer from what we've witnessed at Maritimo, and he and Walter will have a chance to impress the new manager during training. Looks like Falcao will still be sold unfortunately, but there is no question that Kleber and Walter both have tremendous natural ability. http://www.ojogo.pt/27-183/artigo934472.asp Here's a neat video of Kleber's time at Maritimo, demonstrating a wide range of technical skills and the fact that he's clearly a very active, dynamic forward. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27TmINpMdlY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27TmINpMdlY[/ame] --Also, yesterday was Djalma's first training session, and it's interesting to note that he's primarily listed as a right-winger. O Jogo explained that he is very eager to impress the new manager, integrate with his new team-mates, and fight for playing time in what will obviously be a crowded attack.
So a couple things from today: --Belluschi trained with the team for the first time, as he had just been doing some individual gym work with Emidio Rafael as the pair try to recover form their injuries. Belluschi is definitely a player who will need to impress the new manager since there is so much competition in MF, so this is good news. --Sapunaru has been away from the club for the past 2 days, as apparently his father passed away. He continues to be linked to SS Lazio, who just sold their RB to Juventus, so these are uncertain times for the player. --Apparently Kelvin showed up to training like 20-25 minutes late, and it was revealed that he was logged on to facebook at 4 AM the previous morning! Obviously we don't know anything about the player yet, but let's hope he doesn't turn into this season's party boy like Walter last year.
Don't know if any Porto fans are watching the Copa America like me, but Guarin assisted on Colombia's only goal today in their victory over Costa Rica with a nice through-ball from deep in midfield just before the half. It was a pretty boring match in all honesty, but Guarin is fun to watch because he enjoys a lot of possession and takes all their set-pieces. Falcao headed a Guarin corner off the bar as well, and was subbed out with about 15 minutes left. Here are the highlights: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7nqkAsXfuE&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7nqkAsXfuE&feature=related[/ame]
So we beat lower-division side Tourizense 7-0 in a closed-door practice match tonight at our training ground. Hulk scored twice, and Maicon, Kelvin, Kleber and James Rodriguez also found the back of the net (last goal was an own-goal). This sounds like it was really more of a training session, but still nice to get off to a good start, and great to see Kleber score in his first game. Tomorrow the club travels to Germany to continue training, and we'll then play Gutersloh on Sunday, which should be streamed. http://www.fcporto.pt/Noticias/Futebol/noticiafutebol_futjogotreino_060711_62678.asp