The PSG Beating & Saving The 2013/14 Season
Benfica traveled to Paris for Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group stages to face PSG. Benfica starting 11 looked like this:
Although on the previous Talking To The Doll Benfica podcast I suggested a lineup that left out Enzo Perez and Oscar Cardozo, I was wrong (at least with leaving out Cardozo) Enzo although acustomed to playing on the 8 role alongside Matić last season has now taken over for an injured Salvio to his original position on the right wing. He is a great player and (listen to last weeks pod)
Going back if I can make changes to the PSG game my 11 would look like this
Going back if I can make changes to the PSG game my 11 would look like this
Even if we kept the same starting formation but altered a few of the players we may not of got the win but perhaps could of pressed on for the tie. Markovic and Djruicic have chemistry together and regardless of who plays the 10 and who plays the wing between the two of them, they should both be in Benfica's starting 11 especially in every important game period. Ola John came from Holland and is familiar with these Serbs and their style of play as he played against them several times during his time at FC Twente.
I hate to bring in Fifa 14 into this but hear me out. A healthy Benfica 11 should have the usual suspects in the back. A Matic, Enzo combo in the mid (because if Salvio is healthy there is no need for Enzo to play the wing) Salvio on the right Markovic and Djuricic one on the LW the other as a 10 and if you want to start Cardozo that is fine. John or Sulejamani can rotate the wings, Gaitan also but I would not rely on him too much because he is not consistent but can also play as a 10. You rotate the 6, 8 between Matic, Enzo, Fejsa, Amorim and maybe Gomes. The way this team is set up unfortunately it is so deep now that guys like Gaitan may have to get their minutes elsewhere or settle as a "Off The Bench" or "Play maker" kind of player.
As much as I want to solely place the blame on JJ I can't. Yes we have players playing out of position and yes JJ's formation did not work for this particular game (JJ has mentioned that a 4-3-3 does not work but yet championship winning teams like Ajax, Barcelona, FC Porto use it constantly) the players still have to maintain integrity to the club and need to play for themselves regardless if they have given up on the coach.
Fejsa though praised in the past looked slow and burnt out this game. Gomes 20 years old still young had an admire able performance. He tried shooting on net and was able to keep up alongside Matić
Djuricic looked great as a 10. Although Benfica were unable to score, Djuricic was trying to score or create chances when he could behind Cardozo. If Markovic had been playing on the wing or playing as a 10 and Djuricic on the wing their chemistry would be more successful then Gaitan and Djuricic. Gaitan is inconsistent and does not compare to the talent that our Serbians have. Gaitan can come off the bench and be a game changer but starting over Djuricic or Markovic is absurd.
Although he did not play because of injury or just not in JJ team plans Ola John ( who used to play in the Dutch league) would be able to gel better with the Serbs then with Gaitan.
This champions league performance was horrible. Some would even compare it to the days of Fernando Santos. The talent pool is definetly evident at PSG Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi, veratti, etc. If we want to talk about Seth Blatter's financial FairPlay rule, PSG lineup is nowhere near "Fair" regardless if captain Thiago Silva is in the lineup or not.
The group stages have just begun. Although we are hosting the final this is still not enough motivation to change this team into a worthy contender for a successful champions league run. JJ needs to fix this team and find a way to get them back on their side (clearly no one wants to play for him) before he is axed.
If he is axed then we can dismiss the 2013/14 season as a failure. Something in which could of been avoided had LFV come to his senses in May and not renew JJ's contract for 2 more years.
It's time for a change before it's too late. The squad is deep enough and good enough to be a championship winning team we just need the following:
1) Motivation from the fans
2) self confidence in the players
3) support from the Benfica organization
If the Benfica organization is allowing JJ the opportunity every week to run this team in a manner that is not producing winning results then the organization needs to step back and re-evaluate themselves. Perhaps the people above JJ need to be removed as well?
Fejsa though praised in the past looked slow and burnt out this game. Gomes 20 years old still young had an admire able performance. He tried shooting on net and was able to keep up alongside Matić
Djuricic looked great as a 10. Although Benfica were unable to score, Djuricic was trying to score or create chances when he could behind Cardozo. If Markovic had been playing on the wing or playing as a 10 and Djuricic on the wing their chemistry would be more successful then Gaitan and Djuricic. Gaitan is inconsistent and does not compare to the talent that our Serbians have. Gaitan can come off the bench and be a game changer but starting over Djuricic or Markovic is absurd.
Although he did not play because of injury or just not in JJ team plans Ola John ( who used to play in the Dutch league) would be able to gel better with the Serbs then with Gaitan.
This champions league performance was horrible. Some would even compare it to the days of Fernando Santos. The talent pool is definetly evident at PSG Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi, veratti, etc. If we want to talk about Seth Blatter's financial FairPlay rule, PSG lineup is nowhere near "Fair" regardless if captain Thiago Silva is in the lineup or not.
The group stages have just begun. Although we are hosting the final this is still not enough motivation to change this team into a worthy contender for a successful champions league run. JJ needs to fix this team and find a way to get them back on their side (clearly no one wants to play for him) before he is axed.
If he is axed then we can dismiss the 2013/14 season as a failure. Something in which could of been avoided had LFV come to his senses in May and not renew JJ's contract for 2 more years.
It's time for a change before it's too late. The squad is deep enough and good enough to be a championship winning team we just need the following:
1) Motivation from the fans
2) self confidence in the players
3) support from the Benfica organization
If the Benfica organization is allowing JJ the opportunity every week to run this team in a manner that is not producing winning results then the organization needs to step back and re-evaluate themselves. Perhaps the people above JJ need to be removed as well?
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