Sporting4ever

Different cases. There's nothing to prevent media arassment, or tapping players. This was a breach of contract on the kid's part. And another thing, this happened in 2007. It's doubtful anything as recent as this year will be resolved that quickly. Identical crimes beeing unpunished only matter if they were reported to FIFA and dismissed. Otherwise, if the clubs didn't complain, it's not FIFA's fault. Like I said, unpunished crimes only have effect if a complaint was made. And another thing, if they use that claim, what stops FIFA from simply saying "Yes, things happened in the past, but they're not gonna happen anymore". FIFA want the precendent set, they want it there, so that everyone knows that from now on, you'll get punished for things like this.

How do you deal with afterwards? A badly called penalty that gives a team 3 points, how do you overturn it? Punish the ref, the diver, but what about the 3 points? You need to deal with that during the game. The game already stops more than once every 10 minutes. Actual play time is little over half of actual game time, so you can't say that there'll be more time lost. Not until you actually TEST it.

Winter market is only good to compensate injuries, and try to get some good talent that isn't getting play time, because otherwise, no club is gonna part with players that play regularly for pennies... But anyways, does anyone know what Everton's transfer policy is? What is available each season, who handles the negotiations, stuff like that? Because I don't see Kenwright doing crap!! It looks to me that there's no clear policy until someone tells Moyes what players he's gonna be able to keep for the next season, and how much he can have for replacements, and then Moyes decides. This in itself seems to take half the transfer season, which is why there's only signings in the later stages. Does anyone else think this is a lousy way to run a football club?

That's the FA's problem... But true, this will set a precedent, that we'll have to see just how much will be followed. Come on!!! Doesn't want to get hurt, so he falls down when the ball is still in his reach? You can clearly see him touch the ball out of bounds AFTER he's started his free fall. He never lost control of the ball, he dived, and kicked the ball out in the process. He was expecting to get tripped by the keeper's hands, and it was only blind luck that his leg was lighly caressed by the kepper's knee. AS for Rooney's, they're not nearly identical, although I wouldn't have given either one. Rooney's only goal is to reach the ball before Almunia. He kicks it so hard he'd never catch it, so his intention is pretty clear, force contact with the keeper, and get the penalty, which is what he did. Eduardo's intention was the same, but he clearly had the time to control the ball, beeing past the keeper, and he chose to dive. Maybe you have a point when you mention the injury. If the keeper had come out decisively, he could have gotten to the ball, and no penalty would have been given. MAYBE that fear made him too conservative, and he went down, but a decent player wouldn't have accepted a penalty kick from that. And I didn't see fear or hesitation when he ran his guts out to get there to force the contact that never came.

The main argument against is simply one: The money that revolves around the post-match debates. Talk shows, radio programs, and tons of papers. That's lots of money that wants things like they are, and they have a lot of power. It's not the job of the tech to do the refereeing. It's there as a tool to assist them in their job. As you pointed out, the game already takes stupid breaks when players roll around on the pitch. Imagine the tech saying "he wasn't hit that hard, or at all", and the ref books him. Players get a casual clip on the shoulder and fall down grasping their faces, wtf is this??? There's lots of pauses in the game, this would only help in that. Clear up penalties, to get Eduardo booked ON the pitch, ammong other things. The ref, just like everyone else on that pitch, is HUMAN. They make mistakes. And what we're seeing more and more is players taking advantadge of the faster pace that gameplay is having, and pushing further and further to force those mistakes. Like Rubecula says, we have the tech. What's the harm in having a assistant for the linesmen, to which they can ask to confirm if a player was offside or not. We've seen numerous instances of the flag going up 5 seconds later, and he was just trying to make up his mind if he gave it or not. With the level of tech we have now, someone could confirm that almost in real time.

For your consideration, benfica up 5-0 (!!) at half time against setúbal...

And how long is it gonna be until Moyes gets fed up with this treatment and leaves? Remember, Ferguson is on the verge of retirement, a couple of years more tops, and Moyes is a fan favorite over there, and a real contender. So unless he has a ambitious project at Everton, backed up by everyone, I'm not so sure he won't pack up and leave...

Mate, this is calm. You should see us when we're fired up And don't sweat it, if we need to exchange barbs, we'll use a proper thread. Really? Seems like a stupid waste of resources, if all they'll be checking is the goal line. I agree. Reminds of the time indoor hockey had the refs behind the goals, which was a real waste, has we've seen since they've been removed. Tech is a much better way to fix a lot of disputes, namely the main time wasters that are diving and theatrics, a real plague in modern football, and we here see it a lot more than in other championships. And the idiot commentators with their "it's part of the game" remarks, grade A arseholes perpetuating unsportsman like behaviors. Late October and early November, it'll depend... Good food, you'll always have, but weather, I don't know.

I'm thorn, rosario... For one, I don't like liverpool, but I'm also not a fan of italian teams, and you guys didn't deserve to qualify, the refereeing in the game here in Lisbon was so biased it looked like he was a viola fan.

We're getting way off-topic here, so we should rap this up, so let me just clear a few things. That thing about your youth training was on your tv, I saw the clip on youtube. As for us not spending, you're probably correct. But that begs the question of just where LFV gets the money for all those new teams every year... As for Angulo, I agree. We have enough attackers, Liedson, Postiga, Yannick, Caicedo, Saleiro, even Vukcevic can play there pretty well. We also have quite enough midfielders, although I'd like at least a winger, like Coentrão, since it looks like Pereirinha is destined to become a right back, because it no matter the ammount of crap that Pedro Silva does, he starts if he's fit... So yeah, I'd take other players over a 32 year old striker which we don't need. Your team is more balanced this year, that's a given, and Jesus is a much better coach than El Queque will ever be. I don't mind a stronger benfica, portugal needs more clubs to step up and represent us, but I do mind a foreign benfica, a benfica filled with brazilians and argentinians instead of portuguese talent like they should. I do mind having my club ran like it's been run for the past 5 to 6 years, led by people with no clue about what Sporting is, that have destroyed the fans beliefs in them, and until that changes, we'll never be anything other than 2nd.

What's the point?? It's been four fucking years!! We've asked for it quite enough, if president Ravanelli doesn't get it soon, PB won't leave and you know it, no matter how much we pressure them. Close to 100.000 members, and less than 30.000 have their quotas in order. You know as well as I that most of us don't see ourselves in the direction these people are taking the club, but try to convince that to the "old men from restelo". To them, Roquette and friends can do no wrong, and so here we are. How many did you win?? And how many CL presences did you have, and trophies won, for all that money spent?? As for bayern, it's not like you didn't get hammered by "giants" celta vigo either... Appart from saviola, you had all those last season... As for them beeing first choice in Sporting, I don't know... Aimar played virtually nothing last season, Cardozo isn't the proper companion for Liesdon, Saviola might be, and Di Maria wouldn't take the spot of either Vuk or Izmailov. And doesn't it bother you that none of your "awesome players" are portuguese? How can you claim to have a better formation than us when you don't use it, and spend millions every year on foreign players? As for Quique, previous knowledge of the league??? Is that why he changed the starting 11 EVERY SINGLE GAME? He was a shitty coach, and knowledge didn't save camacho the year before. Pre-seasons mean nothing, they never did, yet you're always champions at pre-season, "this is the year" and all that jazz. And it never gets you anywhere. Seriously, you should look at the date I joined. I've been here for about a year now, and talked about many different things. The quality of a forum is reflected on the quality of the members and the discussions they have, and I've enjoyed it here. I've gained a deep respect for Everton and their supporters, given that they, like us, do a lot with so little, they've learned that suffering is as big a part of the game as goals, while others just expect to win everything every time (and no, I don't mean benfica in particular, porto are worse, as are fans from the really big clubs, like real, milan and united). So excuse me if I, as a portuguese, like to share my oppinion in a forum about a group where both a portuguese team and team I like and for which I wish the best play in. Wasn't it the world? Guiness record and all that?

The problem is the alternatives they currently have. Saviola, at 27, seems determined to make up for his last season, where he virtually didn't have play time. Cardozo is reaching his top form, and is a dangerous attacker, both in the box as well as with his free kicks. The mid-field is a young one, with Ramires, Di Maria and Javi Garvia along side veteran Aimar, that needs a boost after last season's less than stellar performances. And in addition, there's keirrison, nuno gomes, fabio coentrão and weldon, who doesn't really have a shinning resumé, but whom manager jorge jesus knows very well, and has shown that he's got quality to fight for a place with the rest of them.

Do you realise that what you said in bold is a contradition? And that bit about losing the support from the president, that's a laugh. You're just like the SD in that regard, hired muscle for the president. I thought it was home to the club, not supporter groups... I have lots of friends from benfica, and all of them view our centenial rivalry like I do, healthy. Exchanging banters, making fun when you're down, casual dismissals when you're up, that sort of thing. I've learned a long time ago that I don't need to belong or sit with any given group to cheer and support my club. I won't say that there aren't decent people in those groups, but the truth of the matter is, they're a breeding ground for violence, and all of you know it. Not only "no name", but juve leo and super dragões too. The level of hatred I see bred into a lot of those people is incredible, and I'll have no part in it. Football is a sport, the greatest sport and show on the planet, and the simple fact that people are capable of using that for hurting and killing one another is monstrous. Besides, the real reason no name doesn't want to provide identification of it's members has nothing to do with football. If there's one thing all portuguese here will most likely agree is that we're not big fans of the greeks... that '04 final is still stuck across our throats.

It's not just the police that's agressive. Given the fact that there's lots of violent history involving an (illegal) supporter group tied to benfica, you shouldn't be surprised at the way law enforcement takes them/you seriously.

You sure talk a lot for someone that supports a club that spent over £100 million in the last 4 years and the only silverware you won was because of the "men in black"... You also know full well why we were in this draw instead of yesterday's. Anyways, I'm not saying we're playing well, we're not. We haven't played what we should in the 4 years Paulo Bento has been in charge, be even playing badly we always end up ahead of you... I don't think there are any soccer fans here. Here we're all football fans. Top 5?? Jeez, you guys are always top of the world in the summer... You need to come to grips with reality, and remember that a season isn't defined by what you do before it starts. Besides, don't forget, there'll 8 teams coming from the CL as well, so don't be all over-optimistic. Remember, Shaktar was dropped from the CL to the UEFA or ending 3rd in our group, and we beat them on both games. Good players, but does it hurt you guys that there's only 1 Portuguese player in that 11? I mean, back in the late 70s, early 80s, it was 1 foreigner at best, now it's this... There's decent youngsters that should play, like Amorim, Miguel Vitor and Fabio Coentrão (this boy is gonna be one hell of a player), but what chance do they get?? Well, Portugal needs a benfica that's competitive in europe. Last year was a disgrace, and we'll need points, if we hope to get back to 3 CL teams and 3 Europa teams. We always get 2 or 3 teams kicked out in the knockoff stages, why do they work so hard for qualifying to do what Setubal, Guimarães, Braga (this year), National and all the others do, to get kicked out so stupidly against extremely easy sides? I'm actually surprised National managed to kick out Zenit from Europa, a club that has a budget higher than any club in Portugal, that won the UEFA 2 years ago, and they're out. I don't like National, especially their highly arrogant president, but credit to them, I hope they get us some points too.

It's their offense you need to worry about... Cardozo, Saviola, Aimar, if they're on a good day, they can be pretty mean to defenders...

Wow, it looks like they were reading my mind I'll look forward to having you guys over at our fine city, and though I tend to root for Portuguese teams when they play in Europe, I won't root for "them" against Everton, you guys got my well wishes for both games. All in all, a decent draw. Most groups are decently balanced, at least for the top 3 seeds. To those that didn't see/read/heard, here's the groups: Group A Ajax Anderlecht Dínamo Zagreb Timisoara Group B Valencia Losc Lille Slavia Prague Genoa Group C Hamburg Celtic Hapoel Tel-Aviv Rapid Vienn Group D Sporting Portugal Heerenveen Hertha Berlin Ventspils) Group E AS Roma Basel Fulham CSKA Sofia Group F Panathinaikos Galatasaray Dinamo Bucarest Sturm Graz Group G Villarreal Lazio Roma Levski Sofia FC Salzburg Group H Steaua Bucarest Fenerbahce Twente Sheriff Tiraspol Group I Benfica Everton AEK Athens BATE Borisov Group J Shakhtar Club Brugge Partizan Toulouse Group K PSV Copenhagen Sparta Prague Cluj Group L Werder Bremen Austria Vienn Athletic Bilbao Nacional Madeira

Just like yesterday's draw, today's should be interesting too. The pairings were almost incredible. Real and Milan, plus Barcelona and Inter, after the summer transfers, are amazing pairings. Chelsea getting porto again is also gonna be interesting. Anyways, while I'd like to see you guys come visit us, I'd prefer you teaching our "dear" benfica neighbours a couple of lessons , but most of all I wish you guys good luck on the draw, may we meet each other in the final

Winning the final is 2 or 3 Million. But you're forgetting the rest of the winnings. Qualifying, wins, draws, getting past the groups stage, etc. In all, it's something like 6 or 7, not counting TV and attendances. Exactly. Not CL money, but not bad either. And hopefully it'll improve, if the competition is a success. Well, the simple question to that is, why bother working for a European qualification standing in the league if you don't take advantage of it next season??

Veloso has been playing amazingly these last few games, he's one of the few, however... A lot of people have renewed their interest in him... We'll see if he still goes, he certainly whishes to atract attention. Maybe in the winter transfer season.

Luisão isn't bad, but the other benfica CB, David Luis, is much younger and a very decent CB. He can also play in the sides, but he needs to improve a lot there.

The winners of the current playoff PLUS the loosers from the Champions League playoff will make up the groups for Europa League. Winning the league awards roughly €6M in prize money alone, plus TV and box office. Not quite the Champions League, but not bad either, and if it proves successful, I imagine the values might go up.

Portuguese ref, wasn't it? Doesn't surprise me one bit, they all have a pretty squewered view of the game rules Anyways, great result, guys. After that disaster during the weekend (Everton defending was always rock solid, wtf happened??), a moralizing result was needed and expected, against a clearly weaker side. That's a 99% garanteed qualification, and ~£1M already cashed, for entering the groups stage of Europa.

Yeah... Fast little buggers, aren't they?

Undeserved, for what we did in the Netherlands, but considering the game here, we morew than deserved to go through. Now with Fiorentina, I'm not so sure. I hate playing italian teams. Maybe we'll see each other in Europa groups... Yeah, he keeps showing his class regularly. But Veloso is on great form at the moment, I'm very impressed by his attitude and work rate. Seems he's eager to prove himself so he can move to greener pastures.