Ferreira or Miguel?

Very close indeed. I haven’t had too much oppurtunity to see Miguel in action this year. The minor differences in game fitness, mental fitness and who is in form could end up tilting the scales.

But alas tactically Miguel does add a bit more guile down the flank, while Ferreira not as adventerous does show excellent selection as to when he should join the rush. I think Scolari will chosse Miguel and I would too (with 1st paragraph issues being equal)

Plus Ferreira can be utilized on left if need, so unfortunately his versatility means if its a toss-up then Miguel should start.

I think Miguel is better suited for attacking and Paulo for defending. Miguel formerly played as winger and he is very, very fast. I am one of those who sees Miguel as one of the best right back in the world.

Although Paulo is a right back, as everybody knows he also plays left back. I think he’s actually a better left back than Nuno Valente and certaily than Caneira. But that’s another story…

Both make a 5 star duo to count on. The way I see it, doesn’t really matter who starts and both can give diferent things, which is always a plus.

Posted from  Netherlands

nevermind this. obviously we know who the better man for the job is. ferreira will get it because of the chemestry he has with the rest of the defense. i have something else i wanted to say. Nuno Gomes instead of the ultimate choke artist Pauleta. consider my previous post:

I don’t understand why everyone is so in love with Pauleta. Sure he is the all time leading scorer for Portugal and yes he scored a hattrick and he was the leading scorer in France. but lets Analyze these abit better.

ALL TIME LEADING SCORER
he has scored impressive goals but look at the teams he has scored against. he scores big against the small teams and does diddly squat against bigger teams. proof of that lies in the last EURO. He is the ultimate choke artist. yes he scored a hattrick against who? CAPE VERDE no offense to them but they are no France, Brazil or even England. who cares about these friendlies. WHEN IT COUNTS DONT COUNT ON PAULETA

LEADING SCORER IN FRANCE
ok he i give him that. but dont make it like it was amazing. the french league isn’t much. it is not as competitive as the english or italian league (or portuguese for that matter).

Im just tired of hearing how amazing he is when to me he is the biggest choke artist.

what do you think about it?
also i just wanted to give the heads up that as per the newspaper “Record,” Nuno is practising with no problems.

Posted from  Canada

David, it’s not obvious at all to me who the better man for the job is, as i actually think Miguel is better than Paulo and I don’t see (and never did) any lack of “entrosamento” between him and the others. Just to finish, Miguel’s speed is instrumental to stop fast and skilled wingers like Robben (euro 04) or Overmaars (this one not playing anymore but just to make the point). Just as his attacking “background”, when Portugal plays with one winger (2nd half against Cape Verde – only Simao and a midfield of 5 + 2 strikers), the guys goes up from nowhere and makes the killer cross.

Pauleta was responsible for Salamanca to move from 2nd division to the first and later was the top scorer in Spain, with Deportivo (I think it was Depor). So, it’s not only France… Plus, he’s a guy who takes a lot of defenders with him, even when he doesn’t score. Portugal’s style is also not so dependant on scorers to make goals – he scored 11 but CRonaldo scored 7 and usually the “critical” comes from somebody else.

Nuno Gomes has scored more in decisive momments. Not overall and far from that. Plus, Nuno Gomes doesn’t play the same way as Pauleta. He plays more behind and participates more in buiding. Which is also good as it gives more choices.

No matter what anyone says – cos other groups also have weak teams – before we NEVER scored, remember? Pauleta is a great player and a great striker. For me, at least… He’s not Thierry Henry, but c’mon…

Posted from  Netherlands

David, get blog-hijack police..hehe

Anyway, sure I cannot recall Pauleta getting the all important goals like Gomes or heck even Postiga. But perhaps that is just selective memory issue….any Pauleta freeks care to chime in…. I’ll admit I am partial to getting Nuno into the games, he seems to have the knack of scoring big goals or against tight teams, recall that Gomes did have success in Italy, where you have to be able to score in traffic, not just on the counter ala many goals in French league.

In any case, I think we all can trust Scolari to see the game develop and make the substitution as required. Forca Scolari.

Aside: although if 1 goal event changes who we would start, Costinha would be a lock, he has scored key goal for NT in Euro and has popped a few big ones in for Porto too, keep in mind he scores one goal a year if that, he only has 2 for NT.

Posted from  Canada

David, we are all very aware of Pauleta’s past short comings and I don’t think anyone here has been saying they are in love with him.

The concensus seems to be that he is our best striker and hopefully he can finally put it together this WC.
Scolari’s not stupid and if he thought we had a better striker then I’m sure he’d have him starting instead of Pauleta.

I like Gomes allot also but he’s a different type of striker. This comes in very handy when you want to throw somthing different at an opponent. He’s scored some very important goals for us just because of that.

So you’ve made some very good points all of which are valid but the bottom line is still that you have to go with what you have. You’ve got to play the cards your dealt.

Posted from  Canada

I think the Miguel vs Ferreira issue is a luxury we are lucky to have. As for Pauleta, well he seems to be in top form this year and frankly he has done enough for the NT to deserve a chance to show us he can come through for the big tourney. You can’t always blame Pauleta for not scoring. With a striker like him, the entire team has to play around him. Scolari has made some interesting improvements to the team strategy that will hopefully make Pauleta more lethal. His finishing certainly seems to be lethal right now.

For Portugal to do well, we need at least 1 goal from Pauleta in each group game and we need them in the first half.

Posted from  United States

My point exactly… Furthermore, I don’t know if Pauleta did score before from a free kick. But he did so last saturday, and I might add, quite well. It’s also a luxuary, as we don’t lack quality in that area. But to see the guy going for it and scoring, only makes me happy.:-) If nothing else, it’s alweays good to frighten our enemies…

I don’t know how far we’ll eventually go. But I’m feeling happy with what I’ve seen, in the course of the last months, regarding the NT. FORCA PORTUGAL!

Posted from  Netherlands

Miguel will start in wc.Due to the tactic scolari is using(will use).

To pedro P: pauleta did score from a free kick, once in a friendly game against england in algarve in a preparation game in february 2004 .

Posted from  Portugal

thanks guys for the comments. just remember that just because we have are opinions, they mean diddly squat for the only opinion that matters is scolari. to steal a line from my neighbours to the south “in SCOLARI we trust” (k remedio) lol. keep it up these debates kick ass. lol. forca portugal. vamos a elas

Posted from  Canada

Umm all of u must be out of ur minds… Paulo Ferreira is obviously going to start the first game of the World Cup guaranteed. You know why? Becuz he plays for Chelsea! If he plays a bad game like he did in the first game of Euro 2004, Miguel will probably start after. But Paulo Ferreira is going to start 1st game for sure. And no Daveed, Pauleta is sick not a “choke artist”. If Potugal wins the World Cup, he will win da golden boot.

Posted from  Canada

Paulo Ferreira will get the start. If not on the right, he should get the left atleast, but we wont have to worry about that since Ferreira is like Tyson said: obviously going to win.

Posted from  Canada

I disagree, Tyson. Specially against Angola – where physical power and ability to pressure will be important – Miguel stands a much better chance than Paulo. If Paulo (or any other) starts, I also don’t believe it’s because of the club he plays at.

Posted from  Netherlands