Recently on episode 91 of the Benfica "Talking To The Doll" podcast we raised the questions as to whether or not Benfica would be able to advance without Matić, Gaitán, and Cardozo. Well, what do you think?
There is no doubt in the Benfica Nation that Óscar Cardozo is without a shadow of the doubt one of the all time best Benfica strikers of all time. His numbers speak for himself 110 goals in 123 league appeareances. 65 UEFA appeareances and is Benfica's second best all time goal scorer in UEFA. However, if you look back as to when Cardozo arrived (except for maybe the year under Quique Flores) at the club until now, the same consistent factor is evident, Benfica has always had a srong enough midfield. For a striker to score consistent goals it's because the team must have a strong midfield. Cardozo has been fortunate to have the likes of Enzo Perez, Ramires, Rui Costa to help him set up goals and that is just in the midfield let's not forget such worldclass wingers as Salvio, Di Maria or fellow strikers Saviola, Nuno Gomes, and I bet you have not forgot about Pedro Mantorras (I just had to)
For Cardozo to leave Benfica in January there are a few factors to be considered:
1) Benfica must be out of Champions League
- I can't see Benfica selling one of their top goal scorers especially if they continue on in the Champions League on a year in which they are hosting the final. (we're still in)
If they do manage to advance from the group stages, with consistent players and formation they can go far in this tournament. Cardozo has been a key player responsible for the team's success in UEFA competitions.
2) An above average offer must be indicated.
- Then again if Cardozo getting offers of 15-20 Millon, Benfica should capitalize on his worth. A player of Cardozo's passion (he should still push JJ everytime he scores) and capabilities of scoring multiple goals is hard to come by. He is a true striker and does his job well. This whole argument that Cardozo is old, for a striker he is still prime. He is a true CF and does not do much running. He does his job well and that is scores goals. For 30, I would give him another 3 maybe 4 seasons (unless injured) at 15-20 goals a season who would not want Cardozo on his team?
What happens to Benfica without Cardozo?
If these last few games was any indicator, Benfica has talented, unitilized players. Although Lima looks to be back in form at the moment, will he continue to be consistent throughout the rest of the season? Everyone forgot about Rodrigo and has proved to himself and to his team that he is worth a chance. A recent game winning goal against Anderlecht and a goal against Rio Ave, Rodrigo deserves more minutes. Any player who falls to their knees crying passionately because they scored the winning goal for their team deserves a chance. Rodrigo as discussed numerous times in the past just needs a little love, and support from his team, coach and needs to be pushed when given the minutes.
Players always play better when they know that their position is up for grabs. If a player like Rodrigo or Lima can come on every game and score or contribute to a goal when the minutes present itself, then a player like Cardozo should not always expect to start. A good point was raised on episode 91 of the Benfica "Talking To The Doll" podcast in which Alfredo stated that "Strikers are creatures of habit and need to constantly play." This is true especially if a striker needs to keep their form. However, I personally feel that each team needs to rotate their squad to allow individual players to flourish. Lima last season, scored 20 goals whereas Cardozo scored 33 goals. Rodrigo has potential to have a 20 + goal season but will fail to do so due to his spot down in the pecking order.
Someone needs to leave by the beginning to next season, if Nélson Oliveira
will be able to have an opportunity to play at Benfica. Cardozo and Lima are older then Nélson, and Rodrigo and to me Nélson should be the poster boy for Benfica. He stays at the team until he retires to become one of the all - time goal scorers. A homegrown Portuguese hero.
For Matić to leave Benfica in January there are a few factors to be considered:
1) Benfica need to be out of Champions League
- In a year in which Benfica is hosting the final, if we do get out of the Group stages (yes, I still believe) wouldn't it be great to see a run and who better to contribute to the team's success then Nemanja Matić
2) A Back up plan
- When Javi Garcia left for Manchester City towards the end of the summer transfer window, Benfica had no real back up plan or maybe there was? but we just did not see the potential of Matić. I have a feeling this time around that Benfica will be unable to replace Matić with a quality box-to-box midfield. Fejsa looks decent but besides being Serbian, he has nothing in common with Matić. Players like Amorim, Gomes, and even Steven Vitória can be filler but Benfica would have to go out and buy a quality 6. Perhaps, you offer Garcia his old job back? instead of him starting the occasional game at Manchester City.
The other option is JJ plays a more offensive formation without Matić. For example; Enzo, and Djuricić can start in the mid or you start Fejsa as the 6 with Enzo and Amorim or Gomes in the mid as well to continue 4-3-3 formation.
There is one player who I would like to see in the Benfica jersey not because I think he is a great player but because of what it would mean to have him in the Benfica jersey. When Simão joined Benfica in 2001, he had spent almost a decade playing at Sporting through their youth system and main team. He went on record saying that even though he played for Sporting Lisbon, Benfica was always in his heart and that he was happy playing at Benfica. Picture the same scenario but with Miguel Veloso. Miguel and his dad crying into each other's arms and even though Benfica told Miguel at a young age that he was not good enough to play for Benfica, that motivated him to work hard over the years so that he can eventually get another chance at Benfica.
The reality is Matić will not go cheap. If a Real Madrid or a Dortmund are willing to pay 40 even 30 million, Benfica will sell. We were almost certain in the last transfer window that he was going to leave but he ended up staying. In a year in which Benfica look a lot better then FC Porto, in order to win the League this year Matić must stay because he is a pivotal part of Benfica's midfield.
For Gaitán to leave Benfica in January there are a few factors to be considered:
1) There are enough players to fill in his position
- Ola John, Miralem Sulejmani, Lazar Marković, Ivan Cavaleiro, Enzo Pérez, Filip Djuricić. Except for Enzo, these are players who are valuable and have a lot to offer Benfica. It's frustrating to hear that Ola John may go on loan to Ajax in January. John is 21 years old and will go on to bigger clubs in the future. Benfica needs to capitalize and build John's value by playing him. Unless JJ has a personal issue with John, it makes no sense that Gaitán starts over John.
Gaitán is a great player when he is consistent and for the most part this season he has been consistently bad. His biggest downfall was when there was talk of him going to Manchester United in the previous seasons which made him feel star struck, giving him a bit of an ego which clearly has affected his performance on the pitch.
2) His Value
- Gaitán is only 25 years old and is contracted at Benfica until June 2016. His worth is rumoured to be anywhere from 18M onwards. If a club is willing to pay 12-15M for Gaitán then Benfica should take the money and move forward. I can't see Gaitán doing very well in a tough league like the EPL, or Bundesliga however he is a definite playmaker who has contributed to many of Benfica's goals. He would do well in Serie A or even La Liga.
With or without Gaitán, he will not be a huge contributing factor to Benfica hopefully winning the 2013/14 season.
