So our 2nd pre-season match is against German lower-division side Gutersloh, and we hammered them 10-1. No TV unfortunately, but sounds like the boys are playing really well. Helton, Kadu, Fernando, Rafa and Belluschi were left off the squad due to injury or extra rest, while we have several guys away on international duty. Kleber and Djalma scored in the first half, and we've put in 8 goals in the 2nd. Hulk has scored 3 times (once from the spot), Walter scored 3 times, and both Ruben Michael and Maicon also netted. Sound like Hulk is just dominating, here's the match log if anyone's interested: http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/aovivonew.html This was our starting XI: Beto Sapunaru-Rolando-Tiago Ferreira-David Castro-Souza-James Rodriguez Djalma-Kleber-Varela And 2nd half: Bracali Sereno-Maicon-Otamendi-David Addy Moutinho-Ruben Michael-Kelvin Hulk-Walter-Christian Atsu
Yep, it will get tougher next Saturday when we play Monchengladbach, who are in the Bundesliga. We've also added an additional game on Sunday vs SC Verl, so the squad will obviously be split up so that everyone gets more playing time. Here's a link to our website, which leads to some nice galleries from our first few days of training: http://www.fcporto.pt/Especiais/PreEpoca1112/preepoca1112_galerias.asp --Also, Falcao has scored twice for Colombia in their Copa America match vs Bolivia, and Alvaro scored the only goal for Uruguay in their draw with Chile on Friday.
Yeah James has such good vision and passing range, he can play just about anywhere in attack. A lot of times last year he'd drop in behind Falcao and Hulk to play at the top of a 4-4-2 diamond formation, so I'm sure Vitor Pereira will use him in a lot of different places this year. --But tonight was actually James' final pre-season game with us, as he'll depart to Colombia for the U-20 WC that Iturbe is also participating in. He was able to train with us for about 15 days, so best of luck to him while he's away on international duty! Haha... http://a.yfrog.com/img612/9697/jq9gk.jpg
That's a pre-season tournament for U-21 international squads to participate in. Definitely a nice warm-up for the U-20 WC, which starts on July 29.
Yeah I hate how these international tournaments prevent the full squad from assembling and training together. ---BTW, apparently Christian Atsu had 3 assists tonight and looked really good on the left wing in the 2nd half playing with Hulk and Walter. He's a kid from Ghana who is with our U-19 team, but seems to have cracking potential. I'm really eager to see more of him.
Here's some highlights from the match, Hulk was just a boss. All the guys wear different jersey numbers during pre-season, but you'll probably recognize O Incrivel in the #20 shirt. http://www.tvgolo.com/futebol.php?subaction=showfull&id=1310341885&archive=&start_from=&ucat=02&
Some notes from yesterday: Belluschi and Fernando have joined the squad after recovering from their injuries. They participated in today's second session in the afternoon after working indoors during the morning session. Tiago Ferreira has left Germany to go join up with the Portugal U-20 squad, and James Rodriguez will leave tomorrow to join up with the Colombian squad. Best of luck to both of them in the U-20 World Cup. Jorge Fucile is expected to arrive in Germany today. He was given a few extra days off after having a death in the family.
So we have our first real pre-season test tomorrow vs Monchengladbach, match kicks off from Germany at 10:30 AM Pacific Time, 1:30 on the east coast. Match will be televised, which means that streams should be available to us. And I'm enjoying reading O Jogo every night to hear about how the club is training and preparing in Germany. It sounds like Vitor Pereira is a lot like AVB in his methodical preparation, attention to detail, and demand for excellence. Here's how they described his typical day: 7:30 AM: Get up and read the paper, get ready for the day, etc. 8:30 AM: Meets with all his assistants to discuss the agenda for the first training session of the day. 9:30: First training session for the club. O Jogo made a point of mentioning that VP gets to the field 30 minutes before all the players, to make sure everything is set up and ready to go. 13:00: After lunch, he plans the second workout of the day in detail. 16:00: Meets with his staff for the second time of the day to discuss the agenda for the second training session, which follows. 20:00: After dinner, he plans the agenda for the next day, watches film, etc. 23:00 Final meeting with his staff, to discuss what the team and each individual player needs to improve. And before bed, he watches some of the Copa America matches that he Porto players are involved in.
I know that "Fohlen TV" (BMG pay tv with everything around the club) is going to broadcast LIVE (for the first time, btw.), but didn't know that other tv channels would follow resp. that live streams would be available. NICE for you! Should be an interesting friendly.
Starters: Helton, Sapunaru, Maicon, Rolando, David, Souza, Rúben Micael, João Moutinho, Hulk, Walter e Silvestre Varela. Bench: Suplentes: Bracali, Otamendi, Addy, Fucile, Sereno, Fernando, Castro, Christian Atsu, Kelvin, Kléber e Djalma. --Already I like that VP is up on the touchline shouting instructions like AVB did last year, and we're also displaying the high pressure up the pitch that O Jogo is talking about every night. Good stuff.
We're clearly the dominate side after 15 minutes, but still no breakthrough. Hulk's pace is already starting to draw the attention of 2-3 defenders on the right flank, and that's opened up chances for both Varela and Ruben.
Hulk is active as usual: first he tried an audacious chip of the keeper on a break-away that was nicely saved, then he rocketed a free-kick from about 25 yards out that was well-saved as well, and finally he just tried a bicycle kick off a corner!
So 0-0 at HT, kind of a boring game once Hulk got sent off. As the refs walked off the pitch at HT, a contingent of Porto fans was really yelling at them--I can understand that you don't want to see anyone get sent off in a pre-season match, especially when it looked like a dive from the Monchengladbach player. Anyways, one positive from the first half was the good play of Maicon, who looked strong at the back. Also, Moutinho and Hulk (before he got sent off) looked very good as well, which is always nice to see from your best players. Let's hope for some excitement from the subs in the 2nd half, and maybe a goal.
It seems he got sent off with yellow/red due to insulting the referee. BMG coach Lucien Favre obviously wasn't happy with this decision, since we want to see a real test with 11 against 11. Well, referees can be pretty stubborn sometimes. Let's hope for a better second half now (as far as the terrible weather allows it). PS: wow, 2 huge chances for both teams.
Yeah thanks for the clarification, I missed the play and didn't see any clear replay. Lots of subs now for Porto, including Fucile's first appearance of the season.
Another nice save from their goalie on a Kleber shot, we're trying to pick up the pace a bit. Christian Atsu, Fernando, Andre Castro, Kleber, Fucile, Otamendi and Bracali are all on now.
Djalma just came on and intercepted a pass, dribbled a long way, and made a very nice pass to Fernando, who unfortunately isn't much of a finisher. Still a nice play from Djalma.