Portuguese League

[caparica007]

I really am, I love the beginning of each season, my team is not yet behind and there is still hope for the title! Since 2002 has been escaping from us, but who knows if this year we don't make a surprise?

 

[chikadinho]

I envisage you running around the street topless to celebrate Sporting's triumph in the League.

 

[caparica007]

Who knows? Day one and we are top of the table, 5-1 win over Arouca, what a dream start!!! Benfica already falling behind, lost at Madeira with Maritimo 2-1.

 

[AshleyHughes]

I had wondered what had happened with Sporting Lisbon the last few years as they were a force to be beckoned with in Europe with great players such as Luis Figo, João Moutinho, and Miguel Veloso to name a few.

Fantastic to see Sporting are having a great start to their season for you

 

[caparica007]

Thanks! Moutinho and Veloso were two others that forced to leave...

We have just drawn with Benfica 1-1, but that cannot be considered a bad result. We bossed the whole game, it was an unfair result.

 

[AshleyHughes]

You're welcome - It was a shame for them to leave as they were fantastic together in tandem (I remember Manchester United were looking at Veloso when Keane retired back in the day) as he was a great defensive midfielder who could pass the ball as well as mark a zone effectively

1-1 against Benfica is not the worst result considering Benfica are up there with Porto and Braga from memory, but it's looking like the team is showing promise this season.

 

[caparica007]

It is indeed, we sold and loaned our best players because we can't afford high wages, but the new president, coach and our youth players are really making a great start. Let's see if we can keep it up...

 

[AshleyHughes]

That's understandable but it's great to see that they are hungry in each game and are getting the results to show for that, It's kind of the same model in Germany where younger players are getting the experience and increasing in skills as the season goes on, it's a shame that doesn't happen in England.

 

[caparica007]

That is exactly what is happening, these new kids are hungry, they want to play and to show themselves, they are not the old "fat" players with deep pockets, they really want to show their value.

 

[AshleyHughes]

It'll be beneficial for the league in the long run and will benefit the club too with the young kids getting their chance to shine and gain experience. Much as the 'old' players were good, eventually they'll get deep pockets which is probably why they may have been transferred and replaced with younger players

 

[caparica007]

We really had no choice, we had to do it because we are broke and we are not even in the European competitions this year. Clubs in the Champions League prefer to buy players that offer other security, but so far this season is going pretty well...