World Cup 2010: Your Portugal 23 - man Squad Thread [R]

Yeah, that's something where he is very underrated. Also, I think that he is our best near-the-box passer; meaning = those short passes on the ground that split the CBs and spring somebody behind the defensive line. He's got pretty good soccer IQ + tactical awareness. Too bad he's not a little faster on his feet and not a scoring threat.

But I was actually thinking defensively. Tiago must have played as a DM with Assuncao? To hold back that Barca. midfield to few shots and even fewer goals (and a bit of a fluky one at that) is a great achievement.

 

I don't understand. Who/what's red?!?
Either way, I am not necessarily advocating that Tiago should start. I am saying that he could be an important piece of the puzzle - as a versatile sub who can play defense or offense or as a starter in a long tournament when somebody gets hurt, tired, suspended etc... I see Tiago as potentially filling as a DM or CAM, or sometimes even as RM/LM in a diamond formation.

I don't understand this either. Do you mean He OR Raul Meireles? Danny/Pepe/Raul and Tiago cannot all play at the same time.
Also, don't forget that I think CQ imagines Tiago mostly as a replacement for Deco as a CAM. In my mind, a healthy, in form Danny would be our top CAM. Micael doesn't get a shot at it probably b/c he has zero experience on the NT, regardless of his talent. I am still hoping he makes it to the squad as a bench player, especially with Deco in such sketchy form and Danny as a complete question mark (how long has he been out by now?!?).

The mind reels at the idea of Portugal playing without Wingers. We are THE nation of Wingers. I suppose you are talking about the Diamond formation we utilized sometimes during Qualies. We actually weren't terrible playing it - we actually dominated midfield possession and played very up-tempo - but I don't remember us scoring once form that setup. There's no way we would try that against Brasil and it's unlikely we would try it against IC (in both cases I think we will play 4-5-1, with 2 DMs, to start).

 

Assuncao was spectacular....

He still wants to play for Portugal..just saying the possibility is out there.

 

Ah, ok - I had a feeling. He's a good DM.

However, I have to say that earlier in the year he made 2-3 really boneheaded plays that resulted in goals against Atletico.

That being said, I would still welcome him to the NT with open arms (if Spain can have a Spanish DM, why can't we have 2?! (Pepe and Asunc.)?

Lol..nah Paulo is alright, but I don't think he would bring much much quality to our side.

 

I didn't write that. Very, very weird. Or did I? I am talking to myself now?!

Joel - did you break into my account??

 

Yeah, I liked it too. For one thing, we had a lot more movement and we were less predictable. Against Sweden, instead of Liedson, Deco and Nani we had Tiago, Danny and Simao. Ronaldo, Danny + Simao kept trading places and Sweden was having a hard time adjusting. That was actually one of Tiago's best games (we played much worse once Deco came in for him and we switched back to a more typical formation).

But ultimately we were playing at home - to win - against Swe, hardly an offensive juggernaut. In the WC, against Brasil, can you see us start 2 strikers? Would that be genius or madness? (it would certainly surprise them - but no way CQ has the balls for that).

 

Anyone watch the Atletico Madrid vs Barca game yesterday?
Simao was playing incredibly.

 

didn't see the game. but i saw the highlights and Simao's goal was nice.

 

Ruben Micael, Silvestre Varela and Fabio Coentrao appear to be headed to South Africa.
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1337234


http://www.videos.iol.pt/consola.php?projecto=27&mul_id=13221091&tipo_conteudo=1&tipo=2&referer=1

 

i started a new thread on this Força_Portugal, but i probably should have just kept it in this 23 man squad thread ...thanks for putting the news in its proper place ..

either way, very nice to see these 3 get some recognition, especially Varela and Micael ..

 

This is great. Varela & Ruben have really earned it.

One thing I really like is that by June they'll hopefully have been playing together for 6 months. Add Bruno and Rui to the equation and we could actually have some guys on the team that have been playing as a team. When was the last time we had that?

Of course, as 1st timers, highly unlikely they'll get a start but...

 

We gotta bring in young blood to soak up the experience. Their work ethic/energy is valuable and a must if Portugal wants to succeed. Rather have players who are in form and ready to play whenever called upon.

 

They might not be in the 1st team but it's great to have Varela and/or Ruben on the bench

 

has danny started a match yet? its march in a weeks time i rather have micae

 

Deco has once again been seeing very limited action with Chelsea the past 3 or 4 matches (actually no action at all) ..apparently re-occuring knee problems..

Danny has yet to see a live match in almost 9 months if im not mistaken ..

Ruben may be our only legit threat come June .. he's in pretty fine form, and the move to Porto seems to have been a tremendous move for his prospects of making the NT. I was a bit worried that Ruben made a mistake going to Porto over Sporting, but he's fit in like a glove.

this talk and prognostication is obviouly all very preliminary, since so many things can change over next 4 months before World Cup.. but this could be a very interesting development

i will be very curious to see what CQ does for the China friendly on March 3rd .. only few weeks away!

 

What he said! That is why we fail at the Euro/WC, Portugal never takes chances or even consider bringing players who are in top form. Varela is that type of player that can create and play hard. You need that.

 

I'm hoping for Micael to play well in some friendlies before the WC and then Deco to get a small painless injury that will force him out of the starting XI

 

Here is hoping that Coentrao/Micael and Varela get atleast 45 minutes in the friendly and more importantly all confirm their place in the WC squad. It seems just when I thought Coentrao/Micael and Varela would not have a chance to get into the squad the more realistic option Danny is in peril. Come on Danny (thanks CQ for looking at some of our Squad selections .)

It does look like Micael is the one most likely to actually play in the WC as has been discussed above. Then Varela due to our striker problems and Coentrao who I like the most is the least probable as he has to compete with Simao/Nani/Ronaldo and Varela/Danny? The worst thing that could happen to Coentrao is that he plays LB makes a epic mistake use him to help the LB without being the LB. LW or DM/Inside Left, he needs more time at LB in order to risk it in competitive games.

Goalkeeper (take your pick)
Miguel Carvalho Meira Veloso
Mendes Coentrao
Danny Micael
Liedson Varela

a formation I would try out against China whilst noting there are no restrictions on substitutes. A very attacking formation with Veloso/Coentrao/Michael/Varela on the left and Miguel/Mendes/Danny/Liedson on the right. Veloso/Coentrao/Miguel can push forward and Danny can play behind Liedson/Varela in front of Michael or go to the wings, Varela can stay up front or play the wings.

We have to see how the players that are in contention but are not definate or probable starters fare.

 

Varela has underrated speed, and skill.... he needs to play in the friendly.

 

Ronaldo was amazing this morning, the best performance in a real madrid shirt.