Albania
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Scotland
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
Wales
Home 
World
Portugal
Queiroz: should he stay or should he go?
Comments(181)
In the aftermath of the game against Spain a lot has been said and written on Queiroz and his choices. His choices when selecting the team for South Africa but most of all his choices before and during the eight-final game against Spain.
Some believe he should be replaced. The name Scolari often pops up in comments. Either to compare or ask for his return. Names for the job are already heating discussion.
Nothing dampens my spirit when it comes to supporting our Selecção. That is why I took up this blog when I saw it unattended. When it comes to soccer a Selecção das Quinas excites me most. Perhaps that is why I didn’t like to see a “foreigner” get the appointment. Perhaps because I was also a big fan of Victor Baía and thought it was an incredible injustice the way Scolari treated him (recognizing it was a terrible injustice what Oliveira did to Ricardo at the 2002 WC placing Baía ahead of Ricardo who had deserved it so much more). I’ll admit Scolari did advance the team to the next level. There is merit to be had by the man. But I also think that door is closed. He closed it himself. His chapter has been written. In gold or plain ink has been subject to debate by many that understand Jack-shit of the game and many that actually make a living from it. In the end we have to continue to support the team whomever is at the helm and of-course respect each-others opinions.
I understand the frustration with Carlos Queiroz. I think he could have done better. Today everybody is a coach. Everybody is saying they wouldn’t have replaced Almeida. Everybody is saying they wouldn’t have played Costa as right-back. Nobody has any praise for him now. He could have taken the team to the final playing the way they played and lose and still be the sole one to blame for us not leaving South Africa crowned world-champions. Nothing satisfies the crowd. Nothing.
One minute he was being heralded for providing us with a team capable of supreme defending, a solid foundation to build a great team on and the next he took us back decades to when a time Portugal was as harmless as NK this wc. Pleasing Greeks and Trojans is a daunting task.
What bugs me now the most is he seems unwilling to accept any responsibility for the game’s outcome. He refuses to admit perhaps he did fuck-up his initial 23-men draw. He took 2 right-backs to South Africa and ended up improvising a 3rd? At least he’d have to admit his choices were screwed up to start with.
I refuse to join the band-wagon that’s crucifying Queiroz. I am willing to see him do 2 more years. Prove he too has learned and evolved with this cup. If he did the next tournament should be something truly awesome. Even Ferguson had a drought period with Man.Utd but he endured to do so much more! If nobody is allowed mistakes this would be a cruel world indeed. This does not mean I pledged my allegiance to CQ. If a better option is available I’ll be open-minded enough to consider it. Currently I can only think of 4 names that could possibly fill the shoes: Mourinho, Jorge Jesus, Van Gaal, Hiddink. These are all great coaches in my book. All taken.
I have lived for 10 years in the Netherlands. I think it enforced my pride of being Portuguese and everything that is Portuguese. Above all my “club” is the Selecção.
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 181 comments.
Read the rest of the comments
Oops, when I said “But I undestand it will be difficult him”, I meant “But I understand it will be difficult for him (Jorge Jesus)”.
Posted from 
Portugal
I just think we have enough quality players to top the euro group qualifier, to fight for the semi´s and maybe fight for the cup. But this needs time and a lot of work, no matter how good your players are. We desperately need a coach, cuz CQ is clearly not the man. There´s not a lot of options, we´re running out of time and CQ´s wasn´t even fired yet (could you believe it)…
Posted from 
Netherlands
we’re aiming for the stars while our feet are still firmly stuck to the ground, we can’t win any euro or any wc like this,we need to start from the bottom and move to the top ….. it’s a long long ride, and i don’t think we can start seeing results by the time the euro comes, the fpf should start a 4-5 year plan to reach the best portuguese formation, and by that i mean we must be able to teach our youth before punishing our professionals.
http://www.ionline.pt/conteudo/70700-queiroz-demissao-nao-estava-na-cabeca-mas-saiu-lhe-pela-boca
Posted from Netherlands
If he had a little class, he’d resign. It’s all about a few million euros now. sad…
Posted from 
United States
if he had class, he’d kill himself
These are surely good news. Before all this process I thought we would be stuck with him until Euro 2012 for sure.
And yeah, some of the comments there are pretty stupid. Scolari, volta? Humberto Coelho? António Oliveira? What!?
We need something different. Someone like Slaven Bilic from Croatia, who’s a young manager and pumps his team to attack would be good. He got a very high winning rate with the NT, despite not qualifying for the World Cup.
An older, experienced coach would be good too.
Hmm, now that I think about it, this must be the reason FPF didn’t schedule a friendly for the 12th of August. July is ending, and we still don’t know who’ll be managing Portugal for the Euro 2012.
Posted from Portugal
It’s a shame Mourinho isn’t a fan of multi-tasking. I’d prefer a part-time Mourinho, over any other candidate at 100% focus. He’ll never do it though. He’s no fool and won’t want to risk his plans to coach the NT on his own terms some day.
The FPF is tight on money and top coaching talent with Euro and WC pedigree costs lots of $$$. If we had the cash, I would try pull Hiddink from Turkey, but not much chance there.
I know, I know. We all want a domestic coach but the landscape looks dismal.
Posted from United States
Luis, I´d go for that half-Mourinho option and I think thee whole country would too…
Betweeen Hiddink and M José, M José with my eyes closed… I simply don´t think Hiddink is better, though he has more visibility, fame and status, etc, and of course all that counts…
Posted from Netherlands
@Alex
Dude…there’s nobody on the planet quite like Mourinho. 
Nuff said, but I’m curious what a Hiddink might be able to do with our talent pool. Semis at least I’m sure. For me, that’s enough and many times better than what we have today.
Posted from United States
In over three hours we will know the truth.
As for possible replacements I’m going for Aragonés or Klinnsmann
Posted from Netherlands
Delayed until they hear CQ’s side of things.
Posted from United States
How long is the delay going to the last? I’m reading nothing about it any more in the news.
Posted from Netherlands
I guess there aren´t any…
Rumour has it that FPF´s board wasn´t brave enough to fire CQ, after the “present” they were given on a silver platter (the stuff about insults with the doping people, etc…), that´d in principle be enough to fire CQ with just cause, thus avoiding to pay him the monumental amount of $ required, should he be simply fired.
Like somebody has already said, both Queiroz and Madaíl should go together on holidays and upon arriving, simply present their resignations… But that won´t happen.
I think it´s just a matter of time till CQ is kicked out. The machine is moving now, it seems…
The 3 possible replacements so far ventilated are: P Bento, M Cajuda and Aragonés. P Bento is cheap and has FCP´s blessing (?). Aragonés is expensive. Cajuda is somewhere in Africa or Asia and his resignation clause isn´t too high.
I´d still vote for M José… P Bento needs to mature, Cajuda is technically good and some CV but somehow, call it a hunch, he doesn´t have what it takes. Aragonés… OK, he´s got on the plus side the fact he won the euro, on the minus side the fact he´s expensive.
Posted from Portugal
Apparently CQ needs to send a letter of apology by Monday and that’s it!
Ugh FPF are so incompetent, not only don’t we have a friendly next week we’re stuck with a coach no one wants.
Posted from Netherlands
I read that he was supposed to present his side of the events in question by Monday. The FPF probably will keep him to save a few million euros.
Posted from United States
Carvalho to Real Madrid8m Euros apparently and a two year deal.
Posted from 
Czech Republic
carvalho’s move is great!!! now we’ll have three portuguese on the same team, that should benefit the national team in one way or another forca!!
Posted from 
Lebanon
Unfortunately he’s 32 already…
Posted from Portugal
zaniti and giges and scoles ,… already older than him!
He can do it if he want.
Posted from Czech Republic
Just saying that he’s not in top form anymore. Yes, I agree that he can still compete.
Posted from Portugal
His body has more wear and tear for sure, but his strength has always been his poise on the ball. His timing and intelligence is usually impeccable. He is one of the most economical defenders, I’ve ever seen.
Posted from United States
Comments are closed
MORE EUROPE BLOGS
CATEGORIES & ARCHIVES
Now, if you let me writing the paragraphs in your stile, Alex (thanks for allowing me)
Eu não diria que jogaram rigorosamente “zero”. Mas isso devia ser dito ao Carlos Queiroz. Acho que foi perto disso.
Of course, the sad thing is that Portugal only scored against N. Korea. We could have scored against anyone, and that’s judging by the lackluster games we had against Ivory Coast, Brazil and Spain.
Not only we were weakened by many injuries (the Nani case is very questionable now) of our important players, but also the fact that Queiroz didn’t encourage the players to attack when the others’ defense were looking shaky. He certainly wasn’t pushing them like “Now go and KILL them! (in a good way, of course)”. The players most likely weren’t motivated by his lack of leadership. He was just saying in the lines “be VERY, VERY careful there in the back and… try to score”.
After a nil-nil draw he must have been saying “Too bad, it was bad luck, next time it will come”.
I feel like Portugal could have done so much more in this tournament… Also, the fact that we were placed in a much more difficult half of the tournament, than say, Netherlands, who mostly had an easy(ier) way towards the final didn’t help.
Not only that, but the fact that Spain, despite overall playing much better, was still hugely helped not only with an offside goal, but also with countless fouls almost always going in their favour, not to mention the pathetic send-off R. Costa got. And speaking of him, Carlos Queiroz did a mistake alone by putting Costa in the line-up and then replacing a controversial, but surprisingly productive Hugo Almeida by Danny.
If you combine all these handicaps and remove them, everyone can see a “what could have been”. I think reaching the semi-finals, at least. But of course, it’s no use talking about whatifs. Better speak about the mistakes that should be fixed, and Carlos Queiroz seemed satisfied (!) with the Portugal’s performance in SA and relaxing on the beach. How!? You have no pride in the country!
Note: Scolari didn’t do any better in 2008. It’s just the fact that in a Euro, after the group stage you go to the quarter-finals right ahead. Check our results with him after the best players in our history (that he coached) left. The results in 2006-08 are horrible.
If the Carlos Queiroz’s replacing turns out to be successful, I don’t see Manuel José taking on the role, seeing as FPF won’t let him. Who will? Jorge Jesus? He’s an excellent tactician and always with an attacking display in the mind. it’s not impossible, since we know how Guus Hidding coached Russia and Chelsea simultaneously (albeit for a short time). But I undestand it will be difficult him, and chances of that happening are low.
Posted from
Portugal