Think of the possibility of being able to have a say in making decisions for your favorite team in the world. All of a sudden they pick you at random and decide to contact you. In my case, I daydream of receiving that call on my cell from Benfica Director of Football Rui Costa. He would ask me several questions regarding the organisation and what ideas I can contribute towards the 2012/13 season. It seems surreal and not realistic, however that is the whole fun of imagination and following a sports team. The what ifs.
If my Benfica Soçio card or Rui Costa granted me the power to make reasonable decisions throughout the 2012/13 campaign, I would do the following:
First and foremost I would do everything in my power to make Benfica this years League Champions, and Portuguese Cup Champions and UEFA champions (I know 3 for 3 are high hopes but maybe 1 of 3). If it means that a few people have to disappear on an opposing team or teams (I.E. a certain person at a certain blue team is run down in a Benfica parking lot) then so be it.
First and foremost I would do everything in my power to make Benfica this years League Champions, and Portuguese Cup Champions and UEFA champions (I know 3 for 3 are high hopes but maybe 1 of 3). If it means that a few people have to disappear on an opposing team or teams (I.E. a certain person at a certain blue team is run down in a Benfica parking lot) then so be it.
In the past 20 years (1992 - now) FC Porto have won 1 UEFA Cup + 1 UEFA Champions League. Benfica 0. FC Porto have won 15 League titles. Benfica 3.I'm not making excuses but let's not forget Benfica did have a period of time when they were almost broke during 1994 - 03. If we had greater finances and maybe a better President (Go to hell Vale e Azevedo) things might of gone differently. Also, FC Porto President Pinto Da Costa is just as corrupt and powerful than any other Soccer figure in the world (Research Apito Dourado). I can go on and on.
How does Benfica compete with FC Porto?
Currently in this year's campaign both teams are tied for first place. I strongly feel at this moment what will decide this year's title will be the head - to -head games (It doesn't help that Benfica's second last game of the season is at at The Estádio do Dragão) Benfica's adapted LB Melgarejo has done a decent job filling in the position. However, I feel James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez are going to run right through him.Benfica still needs a proper LB. My first order of business is to find a strong, experienced, LB during the January transfer window. This is the missing puzzle on this defence.
So who? Well, I would try to bring back Coentrão and keep him until he is done (lets face it, Benfica have not had a decent LB since he left) but, that is just a dream. At one point there were talks that Coentrão was frustrated at Real Madrid and would welcome the return back to The Luz. The reality is Coentrão signed a 6 year deal with Real Madrid worth approximately 30 million euros which also involved Garay and for him to return to The Luz would cost Benfica a lot of money. Something that Benfica shouldn't do so freely being a half of a billion dollars in debt. With that being said all of the big teams are in debt and big signings is a constant trend in the soccer world. So, I would go ahead and take some of the money we made on Witsel and Garcia and bring back Coentrão. There were many names that were rumoured in the summer transfer window. Fabio (Manchester United now QPR) Ziegler (Juventus) Angel (Roma), Rojos (Now signed with Sporting, poor guy) and most promising Eliseu (Because he was Portuguese) and a few others.
Another missing factor is Benfica needs to tighten up the mid. Yes, we all miss Witsel and Garcia but they are gone. We have better chances seeing Coentrão put on that jersey again then those guys. Matic has been a decent holding mid throughout the campaign. He defends by attacking the opposition. During the Celtic game he was one of Benfica's best players. He is also not scared to come up and take s shot on goal. He is great but still lacks something. I can't say its confidence, and he is still young so maybe he lacks a bit of experience. I feel if he was paired up with a more experienced midfielder it could help Matic become a stronger, more confident midfielder. The other option is to bring in someone to start as a number 6 and them have Matic come off the bench.
Who? Granero (QPR) would be great. He is 25 at his prime.I feel he would do well at Benfica is Spanish and came from Real Madrid. Let's face it anyone coming in from Real Madrid or Barcelona always has an impressive track record. Not realistic because he just left Real Madrid in the summer and signed a 4 year deal with QPR.
If you want to keep it Portuguese. There is a few names that come to mind. Custódio has been at Braga since 2010. If Benfica is buying the 29 year old they might have to raise their price a bit. I'm sure Braga is getting annoyed at Benfica stealing their players over the years. (Artur, Lima, but it's ok that we sold them Nuno Gomes and loaned out Ruben Amorim)
Adrien Silva (23-Sporting) is another name that comes to mind. I don't know how much better of a job he would do playing with or competing against Matic. He is someone Benfica may be able to get on the cheap. Even though Sporting is in shambles, I can't see them selling one of their key players right now especially to a rival team.
Like him or hate him Miguel Veloso would look good in a Benfica jersey.(Benfica told him at one point that he was too fat to be a soccer player) This is not because of who Antonio Veloso was to Benfica and what he meant for Benfica. In his heart Miguel Veloso was always Benfica. I`m sure when he was a kid he would watch his Father play and would dream of the day that he put on that shirt. The press this guy would get returning back to Portugal and playing for Benfica as opposed to his youth team Sporting, all of the Sporting fans would be outraged that he did not come back and play on their soon to be demoted team. At the press conference him and his dad would be hugging and crying and expressing their love for Benfica. It would be awesome!
Veloso is a good midfielder and he can play well. Don`t get me wrong I would take Witsel and Garcia over Veloso any day. This past summer he had a decent performance for the National team. Since he left Sporting in 2010 he played for Genoa in the Serie A and is currently at Dynamo Kiev. Let's face it, it's too cold over there he will want to come back.
Who? Granero (QPR) would be great. He is 25 at his prime.I feel he would do well at Benfica is Spanish and came from Real Madrid. Let's face it anyone coming in from Real Madrid or Barcelona always has an impressive track record. Not realistic because he just left Real Madrid in the summer and signed a 4 year deal with QPR.
If you want to keep it Portuguese. There is a few names that come to mind. Custódio has been at Braga since 2010. If Benfica is buying the 29 year old they might have to raise their price a bit. I'm sure Braga is getting annoyed at Benfica stealing their players over the years. (Artur, Lima, but it's ok that we sold them Nuno Gomes and loaned out Ruben Amorim)
Adrien Silva (23-Sporting) is another name that comes to mind. I don't know how much better of a job he would do playing with or competing against Matic. He is someone Benfica may be able to get on the cheap. Even though Sporting is in shambles, I can't see them selling one of their key players right now especially to a rival team.
Like him or hate him Miguel Veloso would look good in a Benfica jersey.(Benfica told him at one point that he was too fat to be a soccer player) This is not because of who Antonio Veloso was to Benfica and what he meant for Benfica. In his heart Miguel Veloso was always Benfica. I`m sure when he was a kid he would watch his Father play and would dream of the day that he put on that shirt. The press this guy would get returning back to Portugal and playing for Benfica as opposed to his youth team Sporting, all of the Sporting fans would be outraged that he did not come back and play on their soon to be demoted team. At the press conference him and his dad would be hugging and crying and expressing their love for Benfica. It would be awesome!
Veloso is a good midfielder and he can play well. Don`t get me wrong I would take Witsel and Garcia over Veloso any day. This past summer he had a decent performance for the National team. Since he left Sporting in 2010 he played for Genoa in the Serie A and is currently at Dynamo Kiev. Let's face it, it's too cold over there he will want to come back.
OK, the Veloso thing is more of a tabloid fantasy. I`m all about sticking it to the FC Porto and Sporting fans (no pun intended) The smartest and logical thing that Benfica can do with their mid is continue to build on it`s B squad and Junior squad. Watch out for up and coming midfielders like Leandro Pimenta, and most obvious captain Miguel Rosa to explode onto the senior team.We also have guys like Ruben Amorim (Braga loan) who can play as a 6 and also Airton (Flamingo loan) who like André Almeida (now signed until 2018 with a 30 million euro recession clause) may just need a chance to shine.
It appears JJ is doing a better job this year in rotating squad. One can`t help but to believe that it has something to do with the recent Presidential elections. Rotating squad means a healthy squad which also means less frustrated players on the bench which is also good for morale. As long as Benfica can continue to stay healthy and confident and not give up points and most importantly defeat FC Porto (at least at The Luz) there is no reason why they can`t win the season.
Again, this is my imagination running wild as a passionate Benfica fan.(If I could I would get married at The Luz and have Rui Costa be the priest) The reality is if Benfica does acquire any new players they will do what most Portuguese clubs do best and that is buy cheap south American players, develop them, and then sell them for profit. All one can do is dream.
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