A Sign of Promise

Third tournament this pre-season and third trophy in the bag. I hate the "champion of the pre-season" moniker I have been hearing, but the truth is that compared to our direct opposition, we are well ahead of both.
Off course these games don't really mean anything, as a matter of fact they are for the birds err..eagles, but there's a lot more to be taken out of this pre-season than all of the hardware.


Portsmouth and Guimaraes were the adversaries for this tournament, while the first one wasn't really seen as easy opposition, the most anticipated match was against Guimaraes, which is always the type of team which you can measure how our team is, being that it's the type of opposition Benfica will be facing throughout the year.

Here's how JJ used up the 25 players at his disposal...

Against Portsmouth:
Quim; Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Sidnei and David Luiz from right to left. Javi García, Ruben Amorim, Di María and Pablo Aimar were in the midfield. Cardozo and Saviola were up front.

Also getting minutes were Fábio Coentrão(in at 80'),Carlos Martins (62')Weldon (45')and new boy Keirrison (76').

Against Guimaraes:
Moreira in goal. Patric, Luisão, David Luiz and Shaffer from right to left. Yebda, Urreta, Fábio Coentrão, and Carlos Martins as the midfield quartet. Weldon and Nuno Gomes were the forwards picked.


Also getting minutes were Ruben Amorim (45'),Sidnei(71'),Javi García(68')Di María (45'),Pablo Aimar (45'),(Miguel Vítor (63'),Cardozo(45')and Saviola 45'.

Two very different 11s, you may even say the second 11 is a second line 11, but while the latter might have been a team of players who are fighting for a starting the job, you can still see the same principle of movements and the same ideas on the field. The fact that JJ decided to make a total of 9 changes to the starting team, that mostly resembles the 11 that will start the season, only shows how much confidence he has in how the squad is absorbing his ideas and his vision for this Benfica of 09/10.

Portsmouth...

A high powered Benfica showed up against Portsmouth, quick, engaging, decided and very much knowing what they want. Cardozo was once again on target as he got his first free kick goal of the season with a 2 step walk up, unusual for a player who's range is 4-5 yards back. A powerful, well directed shot which found the bottom part of the crossbar before it slammed into the net. The dominating first half by Benfica would once again bear fruit, when the quickness and intuitiveness of Aimar, Saviola and DiMaria was finished by Cardozo on a tap in at the second post. It looked all too easy for Benfica, and going into the half up 2-0 was perhaps too little for what Benfica did throughout the first half.
In the second half Benfica showed themselves more contained and at a a slightly slower rhythm, even then the team always showed themselves superior to Pompei's side. Weldon got his first with a Benfica shirt and an own goal by the Portsmouth defense closed out the scoreboard. Honestly the only bad thing about this game was the injury to Benfica's iron man Maxi, a knee injury that has been reported as a possible 8 week lay off for the Uruguayan.

Guimaraes...

All Benfica had to do was tie this game to win the tournament in virtue of the 4 goals scored against Portsmouth. Luisao and David Luiz were the only 2 repeat starters from the Portsmouth, the rest of team was made up of players who are trying not too fall behind in the fight for a starting position or even to be one of the first choices off the bench. Yebda who has all of the sudden seen his space limited, was in front of the defense, in a position that is not his, but he is trying his best to adapt. His intentions of playing the ball fast with minimal touches is noticeable, and that's what it takes to play in that position.
In the defense Patric and Shaffer were on the right and left respectively, and the young Brazilian seems to be having the hardest time fitting in. Shaffer seems at a much higher level of adaptation, even if he still trying to catch up with the European style.
In the midfield, Urreta and Coentrao are serious options and while Coentrao might have a lot more chances to play than Urreta in the future, I'd really like to see Urreta stay with the squad. Up front Weldon is still trying to make his impression felt. He might not be the flashy type, but he shows a good deal of humbleness and is a hard worker.

Benfica played a different half from from the Portsmouth game, but the difference is really in the individual quality of the players, because everything else is there. The high pressure, the quickness of play, and especially the quickness to come out of the back is very evident in JJ's Benfica. Benfica's direct play paid off once again as Weldon finished a 3 player combo play to get his second goal wearing the sacred mantle.
Benfica went into the locker room with a just advantage and JJ brought out the big guns at the half. Aimar, DiMaria, Cardozo and Saviola all came into the game along with Ruben Amorim who replaced Patric at right back, as JJ will now need to look for solutions to the right side of the defense.
Again the difference was noticeable, and although i would have liked to have seen Coentrao, Urreta and Weldon get more time on the pitch, the emphasis needs to go to these 4 players and the minutes they log in together, the more the better applies here.
20 minutes into the second half and the Aimar, DiMaria, and Saviola would once again make their mark, this time "el conejo" found Amorim(now playing right mid) at the second post for an easy tap in. The rest of the game Benfica managed the game and touched the ball around.

3 consecutive pre-season tournament wins, second consecutive in this same tournament in as many years.
Benfica continues to ride high and at this time are showing signs of a team that is ready to go with 2 weeks yet to go.
I can't quite remember of a pre-season with such promise. At a time when many teams are still trying to nail down an identity and develop playing routines, Benfica is emerging as a team with a very clear identity, a very different one from last year if i may add, and playing way better than any given moment of last season.
There are clear signs of promise from this team, and many fans can feel it. It's not only the results and the victories, but it is that feeling you feel inside, that this is the year. Off course every pre-season the same thought goes through Benfiquista's minds all over the world, but this year it's different.

There is something in the air, something in the way this team plays that allows us to dream, yet all of our euphoria should be kept in check. Along with the 11 we will face every weekend, there will be many others to battle.
We will fight and claw, but it'll take more than playing well and scoring goals, it will take walking off the pitch every weekend and leave no doubts that despite the non-calls, and the unjust calls against us, we were the better team, and the better team won the game.

FORCA BENFICA!!


#photo Via slbenfica.pt

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