Liga Portuguesa 2022/2023

SportingCP96

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LIGA BWIN 2022/2023



PORTO: The new season kicked off last night with the defending champions Porto beating Tondela 3-0 and winning the Super Cup in convincing fashion. Porto saw their team lose a lot of key players in Vitinha, Fabio Vieria, Mbemba, Sergio Oliveira and young talent Francisco Conceicao along with losing Luiz Diaz and Corona the previous window means that they look significantly weaker with not a lot of investment done in the squad as of now. Their most notable signing has been Gabriel Veron (LW) from Palmeiras and David Carmo (CB) from Braga. However with Sergio Conceicao they have a competent coach who should still be able to keep Porto as the team to beat. Evanilson and Taremi should still give them a lot of goals.

BENFICA: New look this season with Rodger Schmidt as head coach and some decent signings such as Bah (RB) from Slavia Praque , Joao Victor (CB), promising central midfielder Enzo Fernandez from River Plate and they biggest signing being David Neres. Benfica have of course lost Darwin Nunez and also Everton and Seferovic as well as club legend Pizzi but they have done good business. Schmidt has implemented a high pressing 4-2-3-1 and they have been scoring many goals this pre season. Goncalo Ramos and Henrique Araujo have been leading the line and have looked quite decent so far. I expect Benfica to be stronger this season than last. Benfica have also been trying to acquire Ricardo Horta from Braga which would be a huge signing for them.

SPORTING: Ruben Amorim has lost two key players in Joao Palhinha and Pablo Sarabia who returned to PSG however those losses were thought about in advance and replaced accordingly though it is yet to be seen if their will be a drop in quality. The worrying news is I am not sure Sporting have replaced the goals and assists Sarabia brought and besides Pedro Goncalves its worrying in terms of where the goals are going to come from. Sporting have continued to invest in the talents in our league as well as Portuguese talents. Japanese central midfielder Hidemasa Morita was brought in from Santa Clara and has looked good along with acquiring Rochinha (LW) from Vitoria. The most notable signings have been Jeremiah St Juste (CB) and Portuguese talent Francisco Trincao who reunites with the coach that he excelled under in Braga. Sporting will also be with Antonio Adan who suffered a injury in training which will keep him out for 2 months and propel new back up keeper Franco Israel to the starting position. Sporting have also signed Fatawu a huge Ghanian talent who is in our first team.

BRAGA: New coach Artur Jorge has lost David Carmo to Porto but so far has still been able to hold onto Ricardo Horta but have added some talent in former Famalicao striker Banza as well as Mexican talent Diego Lainez from Betis. Braga have done some excellent work in their youth academy and have a host of young talent in their squad. I don't expect Braga to break into the top 3 just yet but they look promising.

BIG TALENTS IN THE LEAGUE:
Pedro Goncalves (Sporting), Matheus Nunes (Sporting), Pedro Porro (Sporting), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting), Trincao ( Sporting), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), David Neres (Benfica), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Evanilson (Porto), David Carmo (Porto), Gabriel Veron (Porto).

SEASON EXPECTATIONS: On paper Sporting look to be the strongest side this season. they have kept the squad together who have played together for 3 years and already have their team dynamics and shape along with adding more talent to the fold. The worry for Sporting is with Sarabia gone and Amorim stubbornness on not wanting another striker to back up Paulinho it is worry some where the goals will come from. Sporting's season will likely be defined by how they survive a very difficult start to the season with away games to Braga and Porto in the first 3 games of the season. Porto is A LOT weaker this season but I am always weary of counting them out and Benfica have looked promising so far and they have a easy schedule to propel them to a great start and build confidence among their group.

First league game of the season is Friday August 5th with Benfica taking on Arouca at home with Sporting playing away to Braga on Sunday August 7th being the big game of match day 1.


TOP 3 PREDICTIONS:
1.
Sporting CP
2. SL Benfica
3. FC Porto

* This is the first time I have predicted Sporting to win the title to start a season but I believe they have lost the least amount of players and have the core of the championship winning team in tact. Granted the results of the first 3 games will heavily determine if I keep this take.

** Benfica look good and have the second strongest squad in the league. I think Schmidt style of play will surprise a lot of teams.

*** Porto lost waayyyy too many key players, I just cant see that squad winning the title. Their best player is a 40 year old Pepe (still a beast all things considered).
 
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do.ob

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Someone has to do it: Bwin = Benfica win?
 

VP89

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Good thread. Portugese football on the up?
 

SportingCP96

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Good thread. Portugese football on the up?
Hopefully Benfica make the CL and we will have all three clubs competing in the group stages !
 

SportingCP96

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I updated the OP and added the biggest talents in the league in case people like to scout or keep an eye out on certain talents.
 

VP89

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Hopefully Benfica make the CL and we will have all three clubs competing in the group stages !
Yep. Also Liverpool I think hired some guy who is close to the Portugese talents from a transfer perspective. You better not turn any English allegiance the wrong way!
 

maniak

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I was trying not to pay attention to domestic football, thanks for making me remember Académica will play in league 3 this season :(

From beating Atlético in Madrid to division 3 in 10 years, feck me.

As for the league, just looking at the squads Sporting seems the strongest, but the league is so weak, that probably is going to be european football to make the difference. If one of the big 3 gets KOed early, they'll have an advantage.
 

SportingCP96

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I was trying not to pay attention to domestic football, thanks for making me remember Académica will play in league 3 this season :(

From beating Atlético in Madrid to division 3 in 10 years, feck me.

As for the league, just looking at the squads Sporting seems the strongest, but the league is so weak, that probably is going to be european football to make the difference. If one of the big 3 gets KOed early, they'll have an advantage.
It’s sad what’s happened to Académica, they belong in the first division.
 

maniak

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It’s sad what’s happened to Académica, they belong in the first division.
I'm going to restelo for the first match, it's so weird seeing a Belenenses v Académica in league 3. Also Vitória there, so many fans being wasted in this tier.
 

SportingCP96

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I'm going to restelo for the first match, it's so weird seeing a Belenenses v Académica in league 3. Also Vitória there, so many fans being wasted in this tier.
Like you said the quality of the league has dropped a lot and not having those historic clubs their is Part of the reason.

Good luck for the season!
 

chicha14

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LIGA BWIN 2022/2023



PORTO: The new season kicked off last night with the defending champions Porto beating Tondela 3-0 and winning the Super Cup in convincing fashion. Porto saw their team lose a lot of key players in Vitinha, Fabio Vieria, Mbemba, Sergio Oliveira and young talent Francisco Conceicao along with losing Luiz Diaz and Corona the previous window means that they look significantly weaker with not a lot of investment done in the squad as of now. Their most notable signing has been Gabriel Veron (LW) from Palmeiras and David Carmo (CB) from Braga. However with Sergio Conceicao they have a competent coach who should still be able to keep Porto as the team to beat. Evanilson and Taremi should still give them a lot of goals.

BENFICA: New look this season with Rodger Schmidt as head coach and some decent signings such as Bah (RB) from Slavia Praque , Joao Victor (CB), promising central midfielder Enzo Fernandez from River Plate and they biggest signing being David Neres. Benfica have of course lost Darwin Nunez and also Everton and Seferovic as well as club legend Pizzi but they have done good business. Schmidt has implemented a high pressing 4-2-3-1 and they have been scoring many goals this pre season. Goncalo Ramos and Henrique Araujo have been leading the line and have looked quite decent so far. I expect Benfica to be stronger this season than last. Benfica have also been trying to acquire Ricardo Horta from Braga which would be a huge signing for them.

SPORTING: Ruben Amorim has lost two key players in Joao Palhinha and Pablo Sarabia who returned to PSG however those losses were thought about in advance and replaced accordingly though it is yet to be seen if their will be a drop in quality. The worrying news is I am not sure Sporting have replaced the goals and assists Sarabia brought and besides Pedro Goncalves its worrying in terms of where the goals are going to come from. Sporting have continued to invest in the talents in our league as well as Portuguese talents. Japanese central midfielder Hidemasa Morita was brought in from Santa Clara and has looked good along with acquiring Rochinha (LW) from Vitoria. The most notable signings have been Jeremiah St Juste (CB) and Portuguese talent Francisco Trincao who reunites with the coach that he excelled under in Braga. Sporting will also be with Antonio Adan who suffered a injury in training which will keep him out for 2 months and propel new back up keeper Franco Israel to the starting position. Sporting have also signed Fatawu a huge Ghanian talent who is in our first team.

BRAGA: New coach Artur Jorge has lost David Carmo to Porto but so far has still been able to hold onto Ricardo Horta but have added some talent in former Famalicao striker Banza as well as Mexican talent Diego Lainez from Betis. Braga have done some excellent work in their youth academy and have a host of young talent in their squad. I don't expect Braga to break into the top 3 just yet but they look promising.

BIG TALENTS IN THE LEAGUE:
Pedro Goncalves (Sporting), Matheus Nunes (Sporting), Pedro Porro (Sporting), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting), Trincao ( Sporting), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), David Neres (Benfica), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Evanilson (Porto), David Carmo (Porto), Gabriel Veron (Porto).

SEASON EXPECTATIONS: On paper Sporting look to be the strongest side this season. they have kept the squad together who have played together for 3 years and already have their team dynamics and shape along with adding more talent to the fold. The worry for Sporting is with Sarabia gone and Amorim stubbornness on not wanting another striker to back up Paulinho it is worry some where the goals will come from. Sporting's season will likely be defined by how they survive a very difficult start to the season with away games to Braga and Porto in the first 3 games of the season. Porto is A LOT weaker this season but I am always weary of counting them out and Benfica have looked promising so far and they have a easy schedule to propel them to a great start and build confidence among their group.

First league game of the season is Friday August 5th with Benfica taking on Arouca at home with Sporting playing away to Braga on Sunday August 7th being the big game of match day 1.


TOP 3 PREDICTIONS:
1.
Sporting CP
2. SL Benfica
3. FC Porto

* This is the first time I have predicted Sporting to win the title to start a season but I believe they have lost the least amount of players and have the core of the championship winning team in tact. Granted the results of the first 3 games will heavily determine if I keep this take.

** Benfica look good and have the second strongest squad in the league. I think Schmidt style of play will surprise a lot of teams.

*** Porto lost waayyyy too many key players, I just cant see that squad winning the title. Their best player is a 40 year old Pepe (still a beast all things considered).
I really hope that Trincao can have a similar impact that Sarabia had. Pote had a good pre-season and hopefully he can carry on his form from the title-winning season. I think Marcus Edwards will get more game time and be a real goal threat.

I am a huge fan of Palhina's and I was gutted to see him go but last season he was not at the level he was the season before and I fully expect Ugarte to step up!

Porto have lost a number of key players so I do not think they will hit the heights they did last season.
 

SportingCP96

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I really hope that Trincao can have a similar impact that Sarabia had. Pote had a good pre-season and hopefully he can carry on his form from the title-winning season. I think Marcus Edwards will get more game time and be a real goal threat.

I am a huge fan of Palhina's and I was gutted to see him go but last season he was not at the level he was the season before and I fully expect Ugarte to step up!

Porto have lost a number of key players so I do not think they will hit the heights they did last season.
Trincao won’t match Sarabias numbers but he is your typical skillful winger who can provide a moment of magic along with push the opposition defense back.

As for Palhinha I love the guy and I think we could have really used him this season but the only reason Sporting sold him is because Ugarte has been being groomed for the Position since last season and I believe he will do well!

My only worry with Sporting as I stated above is the lack of goals in this team if Pote is having an off day.

As for Edwards I’m sure it was frustrating to see us buy a big talent in his position but it will only make him a better player! I’ve also enjoyed what I have seen from Fatawu in pre season.


*** Back to Trincao I fully expect him to show all the quality that earned him a move to Barcelona ;)

 

SportingCP96

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My ticket for the Braga game has been secured and I hope to leave the Estádio AXA a happy man :)
 

André Dominguez

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Will try to add some more content to this topic during this week. Coming back from vacations, so a lot of work stalled waiting for me.
 

SportingCP96

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Will try to add some more content to this topic during this week. Coming back from vacations, so a lot of work stalled waiting for me.
Cant wait to have your input in this thread just like every year, cheers!:D
 

SportingCP96

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Rumors that City is going to offer 60M for Matheus Nunes. Pep is keen on the young Sporting midfielder and is looking for someone to play in the midfield with Bernardo Siva's imminent departure.

Awful news if we lost Nunes in the early parts of the season.

EDIT: If the deal goes through Sporting will look to hijack Ricardo Horta from Benfica.
 

André Dominguez

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I thought Jota Silva was still in Casa Pia. Great transfer by Vitória, I think he's a bright prospect. Dunno about his ceiling, but last season he was Segunda Liga MVP IMHO
 

SportingCP96

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I thought Jota Silva was still in Casa Pia. Great transfer by Vitória, I think he's a bright prospect. Dunno about his ceiling, but last season he was Segunda Liga MVP IMHO
The Portuguese Grealish was really good in his debut for Vitoria in the Europa league. I will be following his development for sure.
 

SportingCP96

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David Neres is in his bag tonight for Benfica's first official game of the season. Looking like the Neres from Ajax.

EDIT: Neres rinses another defender and provides his second assist to Goncalo Ramos. Neres is going to rip up the league.
 
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SportingCP96

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Credit to Benfica, Neres, Enzo and Ramos were unplayable.

Final result 4-1 but I am not joking when I say Benfica should have won 7-0 and Ramos should have had 5 goals at the very least.
 

Charlie Foley

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Great OP @SportingCP96 . One of my favourite leagues in Europe.

hoping for a proper Lisbon title race this year. Favourite city in the world. Benfica have been poor to watch the last two years, they messed up CL qualification 2 years ago which had the knock on effect of selling Dias when they did (how did that impact United’s title “challenge” that year…) and last year other than the CL run and Darwin they were really poor to watch. Based on tonight’s CL qualifier they look in better shape but who knows. Sisto (I swear whenever anyone does anything for Midgetland it’s him)grabbed a lifeline with the penalty.
 

SportingCP96

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Great OP @SportingCP96 . One of my favourite leagues in Europe.

hoping for a proper Lisbon title race this year. Favourite city in the world. Benfica have been poor to watch the last two years, they messed up CL qualification 2 years ago which had the knock on effect of selling Dias when they did (how did that impact United’s title “challenge” that year…) and last year other than the CL run and Darwin they were really poor to watch. Based on tonight’s CL qualifier they look in better shape but who knows. Sisto (I swear whenever anyone does anything for Midgetland it’s him)grabbed a lifeline with the penalty.
I do believe Sporting and Benfica are the strongest of the three this year because Porto got gutted but I am not counting Porto out just yet.

The Danes are lucky to have any lifeline because it should have been a historic scoreline.
 

SportingCP96

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Highlights for those who care about the twats.
 

sglowrider

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I do believe Sporting and Benfica are the strongest of the three this year because Porto got gutted but I am not counting Porto out just yet.

The Danes are lucky to have any lifeline because it should have been a historic scoreline.
Its amazing the turnaround with Sporting. It was only 2-3 seasons ago you were all depressed about your club and how its itn its depths of hell.

What turned it around?
 

André Dominguez

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Credit to Benfica, Neres, Enzo and Ramos were unplayable.

Final result 4-1 but I am not joking when I say Benfica should have won 7-0 and Ramos should have had 5 goals at the very least.
We were facing a very fragile team though. When everything alligns in these kind of matches, there's usually battering. The question is: can they win at Madeira on a winter foggy night? :D
 

André Dominguez

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Great OP @SportingCP96 . One of my favourite leagues in Europe.

hoping for a proper Lisbon title race this year. Favourite city in the world. Benfica have been poor to watch the last two years, they messed up CL qualification 2 years ago which had the knock on effect of selling Dias when they did (how did that impact United’s title “challenge” that year…) and last year other than the CL run and Darwin they were really poor to watch. Based on tonight’s CL qualifier they look in better shape but who knows. Sisto (I swear whenever anyone does anything for Midgetland it’s him)grabbed a lifeline with the penalty.
Be aware that Porto hired a problematic wonder kid named Gabriel Veron. If they manage to make him a disciplined footballer he's going to be a huge problem for any team in Europe, because his potential is huge.
They also hired David Carmo who IMO has the potential to become a top class center back and Eustáquio might well blossom after doing a pre-season with the team.
They still need to reinforce the creative part of their midfield, they lost their two most creative players (Vitinha and Vieira).

Sisto is actually a good player, not sure why he preferred to comeback to his former club a few seasons ago because he had offers to continue in Spain.
 

André Dominguez

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Its amazing the turnaround with Sporting. It was only 2-3 seasons ago you were all depressed about your club and how its itn its depths of hell.

What turned it around?
In order to fight for the title in a "level 2" league like ours, where you don't have a super team like PSG, you basically need a solid team plus 3 or 4 outstanding players to give you the edge. That's why a lot of times there's a team outside the "big three" that manages to challenge for a top 3 position (usually just Braga now, but before it was between Braga, Guimarães, Boavista and Marítimo. Boavista and Marítimo lost a lot of funding, so they lost competitivity and Guimarães is in the middle of a war for power in the last 4 seasons so their long term planning is non-existent atm).
Sporting took a gamble on Amorim to move forward. I think the idea was to win the title in the long term (and even Sporting fans I know were already accepting that), but things started to align earlier than expected.
They had a tight criteria on hirings trying to get those highly potential players who are in the market shade. The strategy worked overall, with a few failures but every team in the world have players that flop every season.

IMO Sporting was the team who had better criteria this year, reinforcing positions that needed more quality.
Benfica on other hand despite bringing quality players, some key positions are still not properly covered (GK, midfield options).
 

sglowrider

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In order to fight for the title in a "level 2" league like ours, where you don't have a super team like PSG, you basically need a solid team plus 3 or 4 outstanding players to give you the edge. That's why a lot of times there's a team outside the "big three" that manages to challenge for a top 3 position (usually just Braga now, but before it was between Braga, Guimarães, Boavista and Marítimo. Boavista and Marítimo lost a lot of funding, so they lost competitivity and Guimarães is in the middle of a war for power in the last 4 seasons so their long term planning is non-existent atm).
Sporting took a gamble on Amorim to move forward. I think the idea was to win the title in the long term (and even Sporting fans I know were already accepting that), but things started to align earlier than expected.
They had a tight criteria on hirings trying to get those highly potential players who are in the market shade. The strategy worked overall, with a few failures but every team in the world have players that flop every season.

IMO Sporting was the team who had better criteria this year, reinforcing positions that needed more quality.
Benfica on other hand despite bringing quality players, some key positions are still not properly covered (GK, midfield options).
Thanks. That's the great thing about this forum. Can always learning from others
 

SportingCP96

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Its amazing the turnaround with Sporting. It was only 2-3 seasons ago you were all depressed about your club and how its itn its depths of hell.

What turned it around?
It was the huge gamble on Amorim followed by incredibly good scouting. Had Amorim failed in a time where we had no money (he cost 10M) I have no idea what would happen.

The idea with Amorim was for it too be a long term investment but In his first full season he won the title in incredible fashion. Sporting began attacking the market in a different manor and returned to its roots building through the youth academy. In the title winning season we had 10 youth academy players that were consistent features in the team and 5 who were consistent starters. As for the transfer market in the last 2 years Sporting began focusing on talent that was hidden in other teams in our league (a strategy Porto did very successfully in the Mourinho era) picking up guys like Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Reis, Hidemasa Morita, Bruno Tábata, Marcus Edwards, and some more experienced guys in our league like Paulinho and Esgaio. We mixed youth with experience with guys like Antonio Adan and feddal which was very important as well as paying attention to young talents who were not being developed properly in other clubs like Pedro Porro and Trincao.

Sporting have somehow managed to hit on almost every Single transfer. Either they became starters or were valuable squad players. Then CL two years and a row and the natural sale of talents like Nuno Mendes and João Palhinha, Sporting have managed to turn things around and be the most competitive they have been since the Jorge Jesus era.

The key figure in this is Amorim. He changed the club around in a way I’ve never seen before. I truly believe that once he inevitably leaves, the club will return to being a non factor in the title race.

Sporting now have already build routines and a great foundation that allows for players to slot in rather seamlessly. They have a good system under Amorim that players in our league want to play for. The relationship between the players is fantastic and due to the CL money and big money sales Sporting have been able to keep the core of the team that won us the title.

- Sold Nuno Mendes, replaced him with Matheus Reis (free transfer) who then won defensive player of the year in the left back position last season.

- Allowed Joao Mario to leave and made Matheus Nunes a full starter. He he now worth 60M and coveted by the worlds top clubs.

- Sold Joao Palhinha but groomed Ugarte ahead of time to prepare for that loss.

These moves of preparing players to replace the starters who left has been very effective for the club.
 
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SportingCP96

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Be aware that Porto hired a problematic wonder kid named Gabriel Veron. If they manage to make him a disciplined footballer he's going to be a huge problem for any team in Europe, because his potential is huge.
They also hired David Carmo who IMO has the potential to become a top class center back and Eustáquio might well blossom after doing a pre-season with the team.
They still need to reinforce the creative part of their midfield, they lost their two most creative players (Vitinha and Vieira).

Sisto is actually a good player, not sure why he preferred to comeback to his former club a few seasons ago because he had offers to continue in Spain.
Speaking with many Palmeiras fans they don’t think he will make it due to his off field issues and we’re quite happy to sell him for that some. As you said though Porto has a great track record with these South American kids and I don’t doubt that they can figure it out. Carmo as well was a great signing.

Porto in the last 2 transfer markers have lost way too much quality that I think may be happy to replace. However their are other factors at play when it comes to winning our league so you never know.

As for Sisto he is clearly talented and could be better then he is but I think what has always held back his progression is the last of end product.


Side not * Just imagine if Benfica has kept Jota on the left wing wirh Neres on the right….feck me that would something.
 

sglowrider

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It was the huge gamble on Amorim followed by incredibly good scouting. Had Amorim failed in a time where we had no money (he cost 10M) I have no idea what would happen.

The idea with Amorim was for it too be a long term investment but In his first full season he won the title in incredible fashion. Sporting began attacking the market in a different manor and returned to its roots building through the youth academy. In the title winning season we had 10 youth academy players that were consistent features in the team and 5 who were consistent starters. As for the transfer market in the last 2 years Sporting began focusing on talent that was hidden in other teams in our league (a strategy Porto did very successfully in the Mourinho era) picking up guys like Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Reis, Hidemasa Morita, Bruno Tábata, Marcus Edwards, and some more experienced guys in our league like Paulinho and Esgaio. We mixed youth with experience with guys like Antonio Adan and feddal which was very important as well as paying attention to young talents who were not being developed properly in other clubs like Pedro Porro and Trincao.

Sporting have somehow managed to hit on almost every Single transfer. Either they became starters or were valuable squad players. Then CL two years and a row and the natural sale of talents like Nuno Mendes and João Palhinha, Sporting have managed to turn things around and be the most competitive they have been since the Jorge Jesus era.

The key figure in this is Amorim. He changed the club around in a way I’ve never seen before. I truly believe that once he inevitably leaves, the club will return to being a non factor in the title race.

Sporting now have already build routines and a great foundation that allows for players to slot in rather seamlessly. They have a good system under Amorim that players in our league want to play for. The relationship between the players is fantastic and due to the CL money and big money sales Sporting have been able to keep the core of the team that won us the title.

- Sold Nuno Mendes, replaced him with Matheus Reis (free transfer) who then won defensive player of the year in the left back position last season.

- Allowed Joao Mario to leave and made Matheus Nunes a full starter. He he now worth 60M and coveted by the worlds top clubs.

- Sold Joao Palhinha but groomed Ugarte ahead of time to prepare for that loss.

These moves of preparing players to replace the starters who left has been very effective for the club.
Wow. I am happy for you. I remember how down-trodden you were just a couple of years ago.

It's funny that it took a Benfica legend to turn things around at Sporting. Its funny how life works.
 

SportingCP96

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Wow. I am happy for you. I remember how down-trodden you were just a couple of years ago.

It's funny that it took a Benfica legend to turn things around at Sporting. Its funny how life works.
I’m not sure I would call Amorim a Benfica legend but more so a long time servant of the club as he was a decent player at best.

Happens all the time though, for example Jorge Jesus and his family were Sporting fans growing up and he is probably the most successful coach in their history. Sergio Conceição was also a Sporting fan but I reckon he has changed allegiance.

Just like Amorim and the way he speaks of the club and even his little boy is now a Sporting fan I have no doubt Amorim heart has turned green ;).

Also thank you. I have lived some tough times with Sporting and this is the best spell I’ve seen from Sporting in my lifetime and I hope it continues with a couple more championships !
 

André Dominguez

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Quite surprised nobody moved for André Franco. He made a very solid season (second in a row), I would expect Braga or Guimarães to come for him at least.

Let's see how Banza will do at Braga. I thought he would be the usual french striker who phisically bully the defenders, but he was actually quite skilled.
 

SportingCP96

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Quite surprised nobody moved for André Franco. He made a very solid season (second in a row), I would expect Braga or Guimarães to come for him at least.

Let's see how Banza will do at Braga. I thought he would be the usual french striker who phisically bully the defenders, but he was actually quite skilled.
Andre Almeida is another guy to keep a eye on but I think he might be headed to Porto.
 

SportingCP96

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@SportingCP96 do you think Roger Fernandes will "explode" this season? At 16 he seems to have what it takes.
It’s hard to tell, I don’t like to bet on 16 year especially attacking players because its very hard to speculate. I think the last guy I saw at 16 that I was sure would be a hit was Martin Odegaard and even he had some seasons where it was starting to seem he might not work out.

I think Braga have done an incredible job in their youth academy in recent years, just look at what they have produced….Pedro Gonçalves, Trincao, Pedro Neto, Carmo etc.

Roger, and Rodrigo Gomes are two guys who I think are quite talented in Braga but I have not formed a solid opinion on them just yet in terms of what I feel their ceiling may be but it looks like Braga has two very talented young players.

I feel the same way about Dario Essugo. I think for his age he is really good and physically he is already a monster but it’s still early to determine where he could be.

But in short, no I do not think this year will be the season he “explodes”, I think he is still very green but at 18-19 once he fills out more and has these couple of years experience of first team football then we can start to see a real player in our hands.