Sofa Manager

Excelent posts by Sergio7. I can confirm every word, and I'm also a Benfica follower. Would just like to add something; Matic was an 8 at Benfica, not a 6, for those talking about a deep lying midfielder. He was (and is) NOT a Makelele player, nor a Javi Garcia (merely in terms of positioning). As Sergio said, he could dominate a 442 midfield like I've never seen before. A classic and quality BOX-TO-BOX. Having said that, obviously surrounded by top quality players (where as in Benfica he WAS the top quality player) I'm thinking his moves will be much more restricted. In theory, he is the PERFECT complement for Ramires.

This is about right. I have been watching him since he went to Benfica, and all I can say to those who don't know him is; Picture a Ricardo Carvalho, only Stronger, Taller, better technique and...23 Years old. He's gonna be a COLOSSAL defender - he already is !

I've seen him play plenty of times for Benfica and a couple more for Brazil. He's and all around good box-to-box midfielder who will adapt easily. Originally nicknamed "Queniano Azul" wich translates to "Blue Kenyan" from when he played for Cruzeiro in Brazil, was rebaptized as simply "Queniano" in Benfica, seen his main quality (besides the obvious physicall resemblence) is his stamina. Runs and runs and runs and runs....you get tired of just watching, eve though he is skinny and light weighted. Besides that he is very versatile. Played on a diamond formation as the interior right, ocasionally as holding midlfider on a 2 holding midfielder system and even as right back on an emergency. He is also very humble, has great team ethics and commitment. Not bad at all on the ball, however don't expect brazillian sambas there. I can't see anyone to compare him with, but, I'll sum it up; the stamina of a marathon runner with decent skills and enormous team work... The blue Kenyan, will be thoroughly missed at Benfica.

He's good and getting better, especially this season. Not injury prone at all - so far. Has plenty of skills, pleny of pace and stamina. On the down side his finalization is rubbish (although getting better) and his right foot is only there to step on the bus - as the brazillians say. Although he's a left winger, can also play on a free role forward.

Having watched Quaresma several, several times, here's my two cents. He's definitly over rated, althought, yes, he's got potential, the problem is, for him, there is no "team", no "us". That's a concept he simply cannot interiorize. He's got tunnel vision and suffers from a disease that prevents him from lifting his head more then 80º. They nicknamed him "mustang". Mourinho thought he could "domesticate" him, or at least make him understand he plays on a team. He can't, no one can. Scolari on the other hand is going to give him all the freedom in the world. I can see Terry/Lampard/Ballack shouting at Quaresma already. He can EVENTUALLY have one brilliant moment, let's say 2 EXCEPTIONALY p/match. The rest of the time it's pure frustration.

I watch him week in week out. He's not ready yet (and don't know when he will be). Has the potential, pace, flair, but lacks consistency, his decision making is - at the very least - disastrous, his shooting is pathetic and needs to learn to raise his head. He played as left winger/wide forward for the Argentine Olympic team and did very well there. However, for Benfica he's been nothing short of a disapointment. He's not and orthodox winger, despite having a precious left foot and in my humble opinion his best spot is as 2nd forward/wide forward/free forward. If you want to have a term of comparison, think of a worse/younger Robben.

Ermmm...Present. :lol: Last year's winner Rheumatic Brigade was sort of...... upgraded.

Same here.

I am (still) convinced he's Noddy's long lost twin brother, given the similarity. Besides, he runs like Noddy too. And watch out ! As a father of a 3 year's old daughter I'm a Noddy expert !

Paulo "NODDY" Ferreira

:D Already ? I'm still jaded from last season's competition.

4141, 433, 43434534543534.....this is turning out to be just a ttttaaadddd....idiotic. :) You and me we're saying basically the same thing. I understand what you're saying and agree. 1 Defensive midfielder, 1 box-to-box, and 1 attacking midfielder ahead. That's Portugal. The basic scheme is triangle, with one player doing a Maka impersonation. For Portugal was Petit, for us, obviously the one and only Maka. THEN a box-to-box a la Ballack is possible. For Portugal was Moutinho (Tiago or Maniche did it before). I understand a 4231 as this: ......4 defenders...... .........X.......X........ ...X........X.......X.... While the 4141 is obviously the same but simply with an inverted triangle. More ofensive yes. .........4 defenders......... ............X............ .......X........X.......

Yes. Exactly. That's why I think the 4231 isn't suited for us, taking into account the players we have. 4 defenders, then 2 Defending midfielders? Who ? Essien and Mikel ? Ballack ? Lampard ? <_< And who would be the other 3 ? Kalou ? Joe Cole ? Ballack ?? Honestly I can't see it working with the players we have now. Could turn out to be a Mourinhoesque scheme. Ballack playing as # 10 or behind the striker. Terrible. Or Lampard. Terrible Part II. You heard it here first. If Scolari has a brain, and with the current players we have, the 433 (or 4141) is the best suited formation. Need a couple of forwards, yes, but that's not exactly a new issue now, is it ? We only have 1 decent purely attacking creative midfielder, that's Joe Cole, and 1 decent forward, that's Kalou. The rest is midfielders (box-to-box mostly) and Strikers.

Keeping in mind those 3 are almost irreplaceble (potential replacements): 1. Torres, Pavlyuchenko, Villa, Klose, Podolsky, 2. Deco, Ballack (replace his role on the whole team) and possibly Modric, V. der Vaart, Fabregas. 3. Heitinga ? Not many defenders standing out. 4. Too many. Stand out players though IMO have been Modric, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko, Villa and a couple more.

I agree with G4. The thought of Lampard/Ballack/Deco playing wide is unbearable. This what were bound to see IMO (At least I hope so): ..............................................CECH.............................. BOSINGWA*................CARVALHO...............TERRY.....................COLE* ...........................................ESSIEN............................... ............................BALLACK...............LAMPARD/DECO...................... ........NOWINGER**........DROGBASPOILLINGIT**.......NOWINGER**..... * Runing like madmen down and up the wings. ** MOBILE forwards - FORGET the concept of wingers runing to the finish line and cross