What I See from Here

With enough time elapsed from the beginning of the season, anyone can make realistic conclusions about the 07/08 Benfica team. A team that has yet to give their fans any type of confidence in achieving any of the objectives that were planned out back in the beginning of June of last year - 2nd round of the Champions League(minimum), Portuguese League, Portuguese Cup.
Champions League, failed. Portuguese League, still mathematically possible, but logically impossible. The Portuguese Cup and the Champions League consolation a.k.a. Uefa Cup are the only competitions in which Benfica is realistically alive, But how Alive?

Truth is that this Benfica team has shown us the bipolarity of their abilities. On any given weekend, Benfica can beat any team in the Bwin, but they can also lose points to a team that has no business to even play on the same level of Benfica. That has been the story this year, inconsistency. We're well into the season, past the half the half way mark, for that matter, and we have yet to see the team play as a unit with unique gameplay.

The squad has had it's deficiencies from the beginning of the season - unbalanced, lacking depth. Shortcomings that could not be solved despite the "truckload" of players that were brought in, which have amounted to nothing. Even in this January's transfer window, Benfica was unable to balance the team. Yes a left back was needed, as we really only had one, and yes a forward was needed, but with the same characteristics as Cardozo? That logic is beyond my reach.

What happened to the right winger we so desperately need? And the supporting forward that could strengthen the attack? Then again if you play in a 4-2-3-1, why would would a supporting forward be a priority? Camacho vows that both Cardozo and Makukula can play together, LOL - more unbalance on the way, as if the lack of winger characteristics in Maxi wasn't enough to unbalance the preferred 4-2-3-1. Laughable to say the least.

As for Camacho, i have been a supporter of his, much because of his first time around with the club, but this Camacho looks like he has been hit with the Senile stick. For one, his body language and his behavior on the bench is nothing like the Camacho that we first saw 2-3 years ago. It's almost as if he is conformed with the team and the ability of his players. There's an angle i consider quiet often, and that is the fact that Camacho pretty much inherited this team, and i give him that benefit of the doubt, but tactically he has been a total disaster, with absurd substitutions, bad game reads, and an authentic mix and match moving around of players on the field (e.g. last game). Not to mention the fact that he might be well on the way to "burning" Freddy Adu. Even so, i am against his sacking, why? because a coach needs time to build a team to his image, and only continuity can bring that.

I think most of the blame for this season's sub-par campaign goes to Luis Felipe Vieira. First, for not having put a football operations director between him and the team(a position that was occupied by Veiga) and second, for the disastrous planning for this season. LFV might have done a lot for the club, when it comes to finances and the creation of infrastructures, but his affinity to run the football operations is non-existant, and the team greatly suffers because of it.

I don't even have to go that far to find examples in which the Club's directive is lacking, look at the Leo and Rodriguez case. Both players undeniable starters and part of the core of crucial players. Leo's contract renewal has dragged for almost a year now. Leo is, in my opinion, the best left back Benfica has had in the past decade. Why hasn't the club renewed his contract? There were rumours of high demands by Leo, but don't tell me that there isn't any room for negotiation, Leo still has a good 2 years in him, one year as a starter, and one year as a transition/mentor for a young player. I can't believe how this situation has turned out, and Benfica's inability to sit with the player and work something out, will most likely result in Leo leaving, which is what it looks like right now.

Rodriguez is another case of poor managing, when Rodriguez came to Benfica, the first couple months Benfica could have very well have signed the player, there was talk about it, he gave everyone proof that he is a worthy investment, today not only are Rodriguez's demands higher,as a result of his performances, but he also has several other clubs interested in his services, including Porto! Are we taking a nap?

On a more positive note, Benfica's youth teams are the dominating teams in each of their divisions, and there's no question that Benfica is putting together a tremendous feeder system that will bear its fruits in the mid to long range future. But until then Benfica is Benfica and it's prestige needs to be kept.