SL Benfica - Bringing back the Golden Times

[Deslandes]

View attachment 67642
Jesus gets Fired

After saying he would accept an offer to train FC Porto, Luis Filipe Vieira, Benfica chairman, decided to fire the coach he had just signed in May.​

Jesus is with his head in places where it shouldn't be. A manager who says he could train our biggest rivals isn't worth of the place he had. I'm sorry about the mistake I made, but I can grant the supporters that the next manager will bring the glory days back to our club.

And then names started to show up, with Giovanni Trappatoni, Fernando Santos and Jose Antonio Camacho being the most likely successors, due to their achievements in the club. In a poll before the anouncemment, the results were:​

G Trappatoni - 47%
F Santos - 15%
J Camacho - 38%​

I have the pleasure to announce that the man who will lead our team to victory is...

 

[Ronan]

Good luck nice start

 

[EvertonianChriss]

Good opening, I'll follow despite your favourite/2nd favourite team

 

[dean1903]

Jesus gets Fired

Had to laugh at this

Good luck !!!

 

[belz]

OMG, only in fantasy stories JJ would admit he would sign for Porto!

Although you got JJ fired :'( i'll surely follow this

 

[Deleted member 79730]

Good luck, you seem to like portugease football like i do, best of luck

 

[belz]

He is portuguese, has to like it... or not

 

[dazdazdaz]

good luck mate

 

[Deslandes]

View attachment 67648
Shocking News
Benfica hires unskilled Pedro Castro as the new manager ​

After the surprising sacking of Jesus, Benfica chairman LF Vieira announced an unskilled manager to take the reins of the club for 2009/10.​

I know that this is a surprising decision for everyone but I must say that I am really confident in Castro's abilities and work. I have no doubt he will bring back the victories to this club, and I just hope that everyone accepts this decision and trusts the new manager as they would support anyone who might have come

First of all, I'd like to clarify that I am as capable of achieving good results as any manager in the world. For example, the beloved Jorge Jesus as exactly the same skills I have, but he didn't have one thing: loyalty. And that will be my motto for the rest of my stay at Estadio da Luz. I will be loyal to the club, loyal to the players, loyal to the supporters. As long as I have contract, I will have my head 200% in the club. Many people ask about what I will make and the players who will leave and come. I just have one thing to say. Those who aren't worth of the club they're at, will leave. Everyone who doesn't have the requirements I want won't stay, doesn't matter the story or reputation of the player. In the competitions field, I want to win an European title in the next 4 years in the club, and that will always be the priority. Benfica is sufficiently fixed in Portugal, we have nothing to prove nationally. However, we will always fight for the win in every single game and competition, and I will buid a squad capable of winning every competition we're at. Concluding, I want to win one national title this season, either cup or league. But to make this possible I need means to build a strong team

 

[Deslandes]

View attachment 67674
Castro cleans the house and holds the stars

In his first day as Benfica manager, Castro decided to prove he wasn't kidding when he said he would dismiss every player who doesn't fits his requirements. Players like Nuno Gomes, Luisao, Mantorras, Carlos Martins and Quim were put in the transfer list, along with 14 other players. Castro also sent 21 members of his staff away and purposed new contracts to his diamonds: Di Maria, David Luiz, Cardozo, Saviola and Aimar.

It is the beggining of a new era at Benfica. Those who don't fit what I want will leave, just as I said in my first press conference. The players who I put in the transfer list may have history, but we need players with talent, not history. Our priority is to make a capable squad, not an emblematic one. However, they're not free and will only leave if the required value is paid.

 

[Deslandes]

View attachment 68076
Castro wipes out the market
Transfer In:​

Vincent Enyeama (H. Tel-Aviv) 1.3M​

We were in need of a quality keeper to secure our defense, and Enyeama was a really good deal, due to his quality and low price. Of course I will give priority to good deals, but when I have to, I will spend what I have to spend.

​

Marco Verratti (Pescara) 575k​

One of the best young talents in the world, and with the most affordable price. I can't assure Verratti a place in the 1st team, but he will be considered as a key player to our club, and I count on him to the future of the club.

​

Marquinhos (Palmeiras) 3M​

Marquinhos is in the same situation as Verratti, but he will give his best now and in this season. He is a quality player and, in 5 years, I'm seeing Marquinhos and Verratti shining at Estadio da Luz.

​

Luca Antonini (AC Milan) 275k​

I have to admit that Antonini will have to work to assure a place in the 11, but I think he can assure Maxi Pereira and Nelson secure exhibitions.

​

Dentinho (Corinthians) 8,5M​

Probably the most important signing of this transfer window. Dentinho will provide the team a really good attack by the right side, in the AMR position, where there is lack of quality. Despite the price, I think he will fully justify these values.

​

Javier Garrido (Man. City) 2,2M​

Garrido will make a quality job for us, competing for the left side of the back line with Cesar Peixoto. His price was also quite good when we put it next to what he's capable of doing.

​

Thiago Neves (Al-Hilal) 7M​

I'm glad I managed to sign Neves, and I just hope he performs well at Portuguese football. He might have been expensive but I think he will proove that we should have paid much more to grant him.

​

Nelson (Betis) 1,8M​

Nelson always did a nice work at Benfica and I don't know what went through Quique Flores' mind when he decided to sell him. He is one of the best portuguese RB that we can afford, and he will start the season in the 11, but when Maxi returns, he will have to show me who is the best RB in my squad.

​

Mathias Jorgensen (FC Copenhagen) 3,1M​

Mathias Jorgensen is definitely one of the more promising stars rising in Europe, and Benfica granted with this signing a defender who will defend his colours with will, and his goalkeeper with even more.

​

Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield) 5,75M​

Otamendi is surely one of the best young defenders in the world and did a really good job at Velez. He is the right player to make the supporters forget Luisao. He has some argentinean guts, one of the things that makes him a really good and secure central defender.

​

Nacer Barazite (Arsenal) Loan​

Barazite is one of the best young attacking midfielders Europe counts on. I hope I can rely on him for many years, and I have just signed him on loan due to the amount of attacking midfielders and because Arsenal doesn't want to let him go. However, we have agreed a 4,5M price during the time he is loaned, and I intend to activate that clause. He has the potential to replace Di Maria if he leaves in the end of the season.

​

Transfers Out:​

Quim - Man. City (Loan)
Jorge Ribeiro - Paris St Germain (2M)
Marcel - O. Lyonnais (3M)
R. Amorim - O. Marseille (2,5M)
Sidnei - O. Marseille (6M)
Carlos Martins - St. Etienne (Loan)
Moreira - Southampton (1,2M)
Fellipe Bastos - AC Milan (2,5M)
Luisao - Man. United (10,5M)
Nuno Gomes - Birmingham (2,2M)
Mantorras - Genoa (2,7M)
Eder Luis - Vit. Guimaraes (Loan)
​

Amount Spent - 34M
Amount Received - 33M​

 

[Average Joe]

Looking good mate, I'll follow ^^)

 

[Deslandes]

Pre-Season Results​

Benfica 2-1 Steaua
Karamyan 26'
Saviola 47'
Dentinho 51'​

We started really bad, Steaua overwhelmed us easily at the first half. However, at halftime I understood that something had to change and made several tactical adjustements. At 2nd half the only thing I have to say is that we could have scored more goals. A decent exhibition by our team, but we know we can do better, and until the beggining of the season we hope to discover what failed during the first half so that it doesn't happen again. Besides, Dentinho had a fantastic debut, scoring on his first game, and granting the victory. I just hope he continues with this exhibitional level.

​

CFR Cluj 1-3 Benfica
Cardozo 6'
Saviola 19'
Peralta 40'
Saviola 56'​

A really good exhibition by our team, showing a solid defense and a deadly attack. We completely dominated Cluj, and the goal we conceded was a result of a lack of attention. We will work in these details so that they rarely happen, and I think that with this philosophy we will go far.

​

Benfica 4-2 Levski
Otamendi 25'
Joaozinho 38'
Dentinho 41'
Di Maria 52'
Markov 74'
Kardec 88'​

Putting our victory aside, this game was mainly a great game of football. The teams did everything they could to achieve a victory but after all our quality excelled and granted us the win. We are in a really good winning streak, and the team doesn't fear any opponent. With this mentality controlled, we will win every competition we'reat. if we get too much confident, we are really exposed to an harsh morale break.

​

Beijing 0-3 Benfica
Di Maria 13'
Aimar 14'
David Luiz 25'​

Once more the team showed an high defensive concentration and massive attack. Beijing is obviously a team with less quality, but the goal difference shows more than that, it shows that the winning team is fighting for the victory in every front.

​

Benfica 2-0 Ceara
Neves 13'
Di Maria 76'​

This game was supposed to be against V. Guimaraes so that we could test our skills against a portuguese team and to predict how will our football be like this season. However, due to the Europa League 3rd k.o. round, they weren't able to come. So, we gave our best shot against Ceara, and managed to get a good result, I trust in a good season, and grant the supporters that they will see Benfica being champion in the next few years.

​

EUROPA LEAGUE
4th knock-out round draw​

BENFICA - LARISSA​

 

[jbolas]

I'm half Portuguese & my dad supports Benfica so I will follow this; Good luck against Larissa

 

[Deslandes]

LIGA SAGRES​

Benfica 5-1 Maritimo
Saviola 6'
Tikhonov 22'
Cardozo 24' 54'
Aimar 69'
Cardozo 89'​

I couldn't imagine a better beggining of the season. Everyone can see that we are a very attacking team, but we continue suffering stupid goals. The team must remain focused in the game, or we won't win anything. A great exhibition by Cardozo, with a fabulous hat-trick. Now we will concentrate at Thursday game against Larisa, an opponent we can't underestimate.

​

EUROPA LEAGUE
4th knock-out round​

Benfica 3-2 Larisa
Cousin 22'
Cardozo 35' 37'
David Luiz 44'
Cousin 58'​

I'm not satisfied with this result. We won, but we got into a really fragile situation. We have to give our best in the game in Greece if we want to move forward in this competition, which is, as I said before, the priority for this season. Cardozo showed his attacking skills again, and I just hope he continues scoring until the end of the season.

​

LIGA SAGRES​

V. Guimaraes 1-2 Benfica
Neves 36'
Moreno 57'
Cardozo 77'​

A decent exhibition, but we could and should have won more comfortably. However, we are showing a good spirit of fight, as in these first three games our opponents drew matches but we always managed to finish winning.

​

EUROPA LEAGUE
4th knock-out round​

Larisa 2-3 Benfica
Simic 7'
Cardozo 25' 42'
Simic 45+1'
Cardozo 47'​

I'm glad we managed to qualify for the group stage of Europa League, and I have to congratulate all the squad for that. However, we cant overreact, as not achieving the group stages would be a major failure. We played quite well, and deserved a bigger win. However, I'm glad with the team's effort. My only fear is that we don't recover until Sunday. We have lots of games and we have to do our best so that we don't stumble.

​

LIGA SAGRES​

Benfica 1-1 V. Setubal
Vava 27'
Cardozo 61'​

A really poor game and exhibition. We didn't deserve to win and Setubal didn't deserve to lose either, so I think that this is, unfortunately, a fair result. I just hope the supporters don't give up and continue supporting the team, as they are one of our biggest trump. If they give up, the team will feel that and follow their attitude...

​

FRIENDLY​

Benfica 1-0 S. Clara
Neves 40'​

We scheduled this game during an international match week to give opportunities to our bench and reserves, so this result is acceptable. However, I hope that this is the only reason. We are in the edge of the abyss and we can't make the step forward. And I hope that this step back is taken against Belenenses.

​

LIGA SAGRES​

Belenenses 0-4 Benfica
Aimar 4' 8'
Dentinho 23'
Aimar 51'​

A fantastic result against a really though team. Maybe the best exhibition since the beggining of the season. Aimar did very well today, as well as Dentinho, who played in his natural position due to Saviola poor exhibitions lately. My biggest wish is that this is not only a very good exhibition but also the beggining of a winning streak.

​

LEAGUE TABLE
View attachment 68606​

EUROPA LEAGUE
GROUP STAGE DRAW​

GROUP B
SL Benfica
LOSC Lille
Levski Sofia
NAC Breda

​

 

[Matti-M]

good start to the league mate, i like the layout too.
keep it up

 

[sass101]

Oh oh oh laming my title a bit ???

Still very nice story and layout (H)

 

[Deslandes]

Oh oh oh laming my title a bit ???

Still very nice story and layout (H)

OMG, I'm so sorry! I swear that it wasn't intentional. Do you know how to change a thread name?

Cheers mate, sorry again

 

[NunoPeixinho]

i will follow only because you are portuguese mate

and i must say that genoa are idiots

 

[Deslandes]

good start to the league mate, i like the layout too.
keep it up

i will follow only because you are portuguese mate

and i must say that genoa are idiots

thank you all, will update ASAP, have an harsh philosophy test wednesday.

cheers