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Your Host For This Evening…

March 19th, 2008 | By: Greg | 12 Comments »

host Is me. I figured I would maybe do a perfunctory introduction to those who aren’t familiar with me from my previous (and now restarted) bloggings over at the Portugal Offside. Quickly, I’m 26, married, and live near Manhattan in scenic New Jersey. I’m Portuguese, Brazilian, and English and I (somehow) never got any higher than High School level soccer. I plan to give you something new as often as is reasonable, but International football tends to lend itself to being less frequently newsworthy than the good ol’ club competitions. If you want to know what to expect out of me, head over to the Portugal BWINLiga Offside through the link, peruse the archives, and you’ll get to see how I’ve bared my soul over the Internets for everyone’s viewing pleasure. On to a few quick words on the team Scolari put out yesterday to take to the friendly against Greece (BOOOO!) in Morph, Morph from Dusseldorf (A+ to those who are on with the Disco Biscuits reference)

It might help if I list who Scolari’s taking on the bus to Bundesliga land on the 26th, so let’s start there:

Two Guys Quim is Arguably In Better Form Than: Ricardo and Rui Patrício

Deeefense!: Bruno Alves, Fernando Meira, Jorge Ribeiro, Pepe, Miguel, Caneira, Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho

Portugal’s Second Largest Export Behind Cork: Carlos My Favorite Martins, João Moutinho, Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Quaresma, and Simão

“Strikers”: Hugo “Tony” Almeida and Nuno No Goals

This match is most definitely more important for the players that are on the cusp of being called into the team for the tournament. This is not the group of convoked ones that Scolari will be taking up, up and away into the Alps come this summer. Hopefully Big Philly will take advantage of the more lax substitution rules in a friendly and get a number of players a genuine run out. Among those players I’d like to see more of this time around are “Portuguese” like Deco fullback Pepe, Bruno Alves, Maniche’s brother Jorge Ribeiro, Carlos Martins, Miguel Veloso, and Hugo Almeida. I hope Scolari gives the majority of playing time to these players who have been called up only a handful of times between all of them. If the game were to get out of hand with a largely inexperienced lineup (which I doubt it would), he can always call a number of players off of the bench who are more experienced and capable of plugging any potential holes.

I’m disappointed that Scolari didn’t bring Quim and split the game between him and Rui Patrício. I’m also disappointed not to see Makukula in the fold, as Nuno Gomes is absolutely worthless to me at this point and he has nothing more to prove (he has already proven he is past his prime and can no longer impose himself up front). Although, maybe since he’s relatively old and slow now, he can take advantage of his handicapped placard and park himself closer to the net as a result.

Don’t get too crazy over the result or how much the established convoked ones play, this match isn’t for either of those aspects of the National Team. Be sure to watch those aforementioned players (assuming Scolari uses this as a whittling-down match) and judge them on their own merits. Força Portugal!!

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Comments

By Steve | March 19th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

Veloso is the one who really needs to show his worth, because when he is inform he’s the best trinco we have by far.
I hope Carlos Martins plays well, as does Moutinho, so both of them will light a fire under Deco’s ass when he isn’t hurt, hopefully some competition for his spot will give him some motivation.

By Greg | March 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Steve, I’m super high on Veloso, I rate him as strongly as you do. In regards to incendiary devices under Deco’s buttocks, this team has suffered from complacency in the past and now that we’re an established contender, just being in tournaments is no longer an accomplishment. So, the fire under every established player’s ass will be a welcome challenge.

Posted from United States

By Ceasar | March 19th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Hey Greg

Don’t feel bad about only getting as high a high school soccer. I’m sure there are allot of other things you suck at also. haha

I agree with Steve about Deco’s posterior temperature. We not only need to raise it 10 or 20 degrees, but also find a real 100% percent alternative to him. We are lucky to get 1 good game out of 10 from Deco.
And boy I hope we have found the solution to our striker situation in Almeida.

Posted from Canada

By Steve | March 19th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

I agree Ronaldo as captain has to spread some of that desire of his to other members of the squad!

By Ceasar | March 19th, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Steve, you bring up a good point. Do you think Ronaldo is too young to be captain? I know he’s a leader, and would eventually be captain anyway, but a captain also needs to be able to be a calming effect on team mates nerves etc. Plus he has enough pressure put on him at such a young age. Placing the added burden of also being captain might be a bit much? Just putting it out there for thoughts and ideas.

Posted from Canada

By Pedro | March 19th, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Jorge Ribeiro has been playing very well and right now, for me, he´s an excelent option for left-back.
M Veloso is very good but he´s comming out of a minor injury and agree, if he´s not too busy showing off, he´s our best #6.
Carlos Martins couldn´t really make it with Sporting, but since he´s in Spain, he´s been very good. He´s got a lot of potential but unfortunatelly that didn´t show much in the past. Let´s hope this time he does it, cos Deco is the only one we have for that spot and in the past century he´s not been doing much.
Moutinho and Meireles have been solid.
One word for Bosingwa, who took the right-back spot from Miguel but is currently with a minor injury.
All in all this selection messes around the midfield, which is what hasn´t really been working latelly. It´s been defense and wings and nothing in front of goal…
BTW, Hélder Postiga, the Baby, didn´t play much in FCP, but it seems he´s doing well in Greece. I wonder why Scolari didn´t call him.
Playing Italy and Greece is also a good idea, to expose the teams fragilities (the italians certainly did) and also cos both play the type of game that always makes PT suffer (the anti-game)…
They are also THE reigning world and european champions…
Although this counts for peanuts, to beat Greece would be sweet…
FORÇA PT!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Steve | March 19th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

I have always said and still think Ronaldo shouldn’t be captain it should be Carvalho. IT IS a lot of responsibility for him and he doesn’t seem the type to bring the best out of others, because he has such a strong personality and self belief I guess he doesn’t see the need to boost up others.

By Andrew | March 19th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

I loved Deco when he was in his prime but I agree with all of you that he hasn’t been producing much lately. João Moutinho has quickly been gaining favor in my eyes so I’d love to see him get more opportunities. After Scolari’s choices for the Italian game (and their performance) I hope that isn’t what we can expect this summer. I’d like to see him switch some things up and use some of those older players as subs rather than starters.

Posted from United States

By Greg | March 19th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

Is that my dawg Andrew from back in the old days? Good to see you, man!

Posted from United States

By Andrew | March 19th, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Good to see you too! Your return has made my week!

my comments on the Portugal Offside got marked as spam again but I’ll keep commenting on it anyway haha

Posted from United States

By Pedro | March 20th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2266681,00.html

Posted from Netherlands

By Pedro | March 20th, 2008 at 8:19 pm