Comments on: Back to the grind http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html Portugal - World Cup 2010 - South Africa Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:25:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Pedro P http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html/comment-page-1#comment-7941 Pedro P Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:59:24 +0000 http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html#comment-7941 Deco and Miguel meet (and clash)... http://www.ojogo.pt/22-216/artigo580738.htm Maniche and Costinha win... http://www.ojogo.pt/22-216/artigo580741.htm Paulo Ferreira is also very good as central defender... http://www.ojogo.pt/22-216/artigo580754.htm Deco and Miguel meet (and clash)…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-216/artigo580738.htm

Maniche and Costinha win…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-216/artigo580741.htm

Paulo Ferreira is also very good as central defender…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-216/artigo580754.htm

]]> By: Carlos http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html/comment-page-1#comment-7841 Carlos Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:39:05 +0000 http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html#comment-7841 There is such a law about foreigners in some ice hockey leagues, and as a result, the NTs play quite good. The Portuguese league is at a high level at the moment (not only because of those Brazilians), and this is an important factor for the national team. Although I like Benfica as well as Sporting, you're right about the youth academy. Without it, Luís Figo couldn't be such a brilliant player and great captain today. We all hope Cristiano's team competencies will improve soon, but it will take a long time until he is an acceptable captain. Now, Costinha is first class, of course, but not for very long. Simão Sabrosa is a quick and intelligent player who always thinks of his team-mates first. I think the world of Maniche (especially after the goal against the Netherlands - sorry if you are a patriot, Pedro) and I hope Big Phil will give him a chance to show his leading qualities. Jorge Andrade is already training busily, and Good Death, how they call Luis, is supported by his numerous fans very much. There is such a law about foreigners in some ice hockey leagues, and as a result, the NTs play quite good.
The Portuguese league is at a high level at the moment (not only because of those Brazilians), and this is an important factor for the national team.

Although I like Benfica as well as Sporting, you’re right about the youth academy. Without it, Luís Figo couldn’t be such a brilliant player and great captain today.

We all hope Cristiano’s team competencies will improve soon, but it will take a long time until he is an acceptable captain.
Now, Costinha is first class, of course, but not for very long. Simão Sabrosa is a quick and intelligent player who always thinks of his team-mates first.
I think the world of Maniche (especially after the goal against the Netherlands – sorry if you are a patriot, Pedro) and I hope Big Phil will give him a chance to show his leading qualities.

Jorge Andrade is already training busily, and Good Death, how they call Luis, is supported by his numerous fans very much.

]]> By: Pedro P http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html/comment-page-1#comment-7837 Pedro P Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:23:05 +0000 http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html#comment-7837 Oldie but goodie... WC coaches http://www.maismundial2006.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=706125 WC systems http://www.maismundial2006.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=706072 POR after WC / Renovation http://www.maismundial2006.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=705779 Here, an interesting issue is brought up... WHO will be the next leader for Portugal...? I mean, some players retired, others are still there but will be too old for the next WC (maybe they'll show up in the EC) and then there's the new generation, already showing up sometimes... BUT... WHO WILL BE THE LEADER? C Ronaldo, R Carvalho, Maniche and Deco, all brilliant and "bosses" of the areas where they play in the team. But none really has (I agree with the article's writer) really what you'd call A LEADER! Costinha does, but he'll be 35 next WC... Simao, who's old enough and got nothing to prove anymore...? Oldie but goodie…

WC coaches
http://www.maismundial2006.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=706125

WC systems
http://www.maismundial2006.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=706072

POR after WC / Renovation
http://www.maismundial2006.iol.pt/noticia.php?id=705779

Here, an interesting issue is brought up… WHO will be the next leader for Portugal…? I mean, some players retired, others are still there but will be too old for the next WC (maybe they’ll show up in the EC) and then there’s the new generation, already showing up sometimes… BUT… WHO WILL BE THE LEADER? C Ronaldo, R Carvalho, Maniche and Deco, all brilliant and “bosses” of the areas where they play in the team. But none really has (I agree with the article’s writer) really what you’d call A LEADER!

Costinha does, but he’ll be 35 next WC… Simao, who’s old enough and got nothing to prove anymore…?

]]> By: Pedro P http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html/comment-page-1#comment-7833 Pedro P Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:14:53 +0000 http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/euro-2008/back-to-the-grind.html#comment-7833 Welcome back, Luis! :-) At the risk of sounding a biased fan (which I am), it must be said that SCP youth academy didn't start yesterday... It was SCP's policy that changed a bit, in the recent past. It's true that during the WC, our dutch blog colleagues stated Portugal doesn't have a youth formation culture, but nothing could be further away from the truth (of people would only bother to check things before they start talking...). I mean, everybody knows about THE Ajax school... I guess everybody should also know where so many good players, surelly not as old as the Ajax school of 20 years ago, came from... Maybe the world only knows 2 of it's most brilliasnt "creations", Figo and C Ronaldo, but the fact remains that some 60% of the talented portugues kids that start playing at top leavel, all come from there... Even if they are sold to Barcelona and later return to the domestic enemy, like Simao, now in Benfica or Quaresma, now in FC Porto. After the Bosman law, portuguese football droped a lot, at international level, simply cos it wasn't possible to compete with the big european clubs anymore. Then everything got globalized... Basicly this means that Portugal is "forced" to sooner or later sell their good players to foreign clubs, usually Spain or England - Italy also but it's a physically too hard league, very defensive, and players end up kinda broken down, unless they are "brick-wall" defenders like F Couto - because they also simply cannot compete with those offers and need the money (badly). What SCP's president is now doing is the novelty... Not so much what the academy is doing - this is my point. This president decided to sell club's property, to raise $, and not sell players. SCP is chronically "bankrupt"... All the tranfers made were at the expense of loans, getting young players, selling some other players. Overall, according to what was stated, SCP spend very little money with tranfers. Essencially, they started doing what everybody has been saying, for the past 10 years, in Portugal - BET ON THE KIDS! I believe a law that would limit the foreigners presence on a given league would always favour the nation's national football. Shortly after the WC, the english started talking about it, fearing the level of english players could be droping, due to so many (excellent) foreigners in their league. Currently, there must be some 50% of foreigners in portuguese football. Almost all are brazillians... ;-) And almost all are strikers... The NT's chronicall problem... Anyway, Scolari managed to give the U21 team a dimension never seen before. SCP's policy is also "sailing" in that direction. Paulo Bento was one of our NT's former def mid and after retiring he became SCP's junior team coach. As soon as he became SCP's main coach he started bringing the kids he knew so well and slowly introduced them in the big team. The results are there to see... ;-) Still, there's always the pressure... http://www.ojogo.pt/22-213/artigo580058.htm Welcome back, Luis! :-)

At the risk of sounding a biased fan (which I am), it must be said that SCP youth academy didn’t start yesterday… It was SCP’s policy that changed a bit, in the recent past.

It’s true that during the WC, our dutch blog colleagues stated Portugal doesn’t have a youth formation culture, but nothing could be further away from the truth (of people would only bother to check things before they start talking…). I mean, everybody knows about THE Ajax school… I guess everybody should also know where so many good players, surelly not as old as the Ajax school of 20 years ago, came from…

Maybe the world only knows 2 of it’s most brilliasnt “creations”, Figo and C Ronaldo, but the fact remains that some 60% of the talented portugues kids that start playing at top leavel, all come from there… Even if they are sold to Barcelona and later return to the domestic enemy, like Simao, now in Benfica or Quaresma, now in FC Porto.

After the Bosman law, portuguese football droped a lot, at international level, simply cos it wasn’t possible to compete with the big european clubs anymore. Then everything got globalized… Basicly this means that Portugal is “forced” to sooner or later sell their good players to foreign clubs, usually Spain or England – Italy also but it’s a physically too hard league, very defensive, and players end up kinda broken down, unless they are “brick-wall” defenders like F Couto – because they also simply cannot compete with those offers and need the money (badly).

What SCP’s president is now doing is the novelty… Not so much what the academy is doing – this is my point. This president decided to sell club’s property, to raise $, and not sell players. SCP is chronically “bankrupt”… All the tranfers made were at the expense of loans, getting young players, selling some other players. Overall, according to what was stated, SCP spend very little money with tranfers. Essencially, they started doing what everybody has been saying, for the past 10 years, in Portugal – BET ON THE KIDS!

I believe a law that would limit the foreigners presence on a given league would always favour the nation’s national football. Shortly after the WC, the english started talking about it, fearing the level of english players could be droping, due to so many (excellent) foreigners in their league. Currently, there must be some 50% of foreigners in portuguese football. Almost all are brazillians… ;-) And almost all are strikers… The NT’s chronicall problem…

Anyway, Scolari managed to give the U21 team a dimension never seen before. SCP’s policy is also “sailing” in that direction. Paulo Bento was one of our NT’s former def mid and after retiring he became SCP’s junior team coach. As soon as he became SCP’s main coach he started bringing the kids he knew so well and slowly introduced them in the big team. The results are there to see… ;-)

Still, there’s always the pressure…

http://www.ojogo.pt/22-213/artigo580058.htm

]]>