Sportnet's headline reads "Sport Agrees to Terms with Six Athletes" and then goes on to say that the club will announce their names only after they have signed the contracts. As you may remember from a little while back, Sport had supposedly already signed seven players, not one of whom has yet put pen to paper.
Carlinhos Bala has, according to Globo, accepted Botafogo's proposal. However, also according to Globo, Cruzeiro has transfered four players to Botafogo, Weldon among them. Globo, once more, reports that Weldon's arrival precludes that of Carlinhos Bala. Weldon's agent, according to Globo, says that his client has yet to agree to a salary, and that he won't necessarily go to Botafogo. Globo prefers novelas to soccer, and this saga must be delighting the company's executives.
terça-feira, 30 de dezembro de 2008
terça-feira, 16 de dezembro de 2008
Elections Today
So, Homero Lacerda reconsidered and ran for president after all. And apparently he lost a resounding 75%-25%, so maybe he is gone for good. Why that would be a mixed blessing is worth understanding.
Homero Lacerda was president of Sport Club do Recife when the team won its only Série A title. That was his only term as president, but he has served in various other capacities, including director of football and vice-president of football. What is clear is that he understands the game, he can identify good players and coaches, and can bring them to the club. What isn't clear is whether or not he can continue the development of the club as a whole, something that Milton Bivar has done to great success. The supporters love him because of the 1987 championship, and he was Director of Football when the team returned to the Série A after the 2006 season. However, his personal honesty is suspect, and perhaps more importantly, there was no clear reason why he thought it important to challenge Milton Bivar for the presidency.
Perhaps as a result of Homero Lacerda's challenge, Milton Bivar (who succeeded his brother, Luciano, as president) sought a different position, and chose Sílvio Guimarães to succeed him as president. At one point, a week ago, the two slates were known as "The Situation" and "The Opposition", but, perhaps to underscore the amicable nature of the dispute, the names were changed to "Work and Continuity" and "Union and Everything for Sport". ("Pelo Sport Tudo", translated as "Everything for Sport" is a phrase that the supporters use to express their love for the club.)
Roberto Neto wrote, on meusport.com, a series of questions for what was then known as The Opposition. He asked them, first, what is was that they were opposing. Second, while they criticised the projects undertaken by the other slate, they offered no proposals of their own -- what was their project? Third, they spoke of renovation but the slate was composed entirely of poeple with twenty years or more of association with the club's administration, so what was the renovation of which they spoke? And finally, they criticised the lack of experience of the current administration, an administration which had cleaned up the club, balanced the books, and gotten the club out of the hole dug by many of the participants of The Opposition. After considering these questions, the only explanation that remains is that Homero Lacerda wanted some of the glory of the Copa do Brasil victory for himself.
Homero Lacerda has done, and hopefully will continue to do, great things for Sport Club do Recife. That said, the club is moving in the right direction, setting itself up to be the equal of the best teams in the country, and Homero Lacerda was not the right man for the moment. He knows football, and would make an excellent director (or vice-president, a position created specifically for him) of Football. But not president.
Homero Lacerda was president of Sport Club do Recife when the team won its only Série A title. That was his only term as president, but he has served in various other capacities, including director of football and vice-president of football. What is clear is that he understands the game, he can identify good players and coaches, and can bring them to the club. What isn't clear is whether or not he can continue the development of the club as a whole, something that Milton Bivar has done to great success. The supporters love him because of the 1987 championship, and he was Director of Football when the team returned to the Série A after the 2006 season. However, his personal honesty is suspect, and perhaps more importantly, there was no clear reason why he thought it important to challenge Milton Bivar for the presidency.
Perhaps as a result of Homero Lacerda's challenge, Milton Bivar (who succeeded his brother, Luciano, as president) sought a different position, and chose Sílvio Guimarães to succeed him as president. At one point, a week ago, the two slates were known as "The Situation" and "The Opposition", but, perhaps to underscore the amicable nature of the dispute, the names were changed to "Work and Continuity" and "Union and Everything for Sport". ("Pelo Sport Tudo", translated as "Everything for Sport" is a phrase that the supporters use to express their love for the club.)
Roberto Neto wrote, on meusport.com, a series of questions for what was then known as The Opposition. He asked them, first, what is was that they were opposing. Second, while they criticised the projects undertaken by the other slate, they offered no proposals of their own -- what was their project? Third, they spoke of renovation but the slate was composed entirely of poeple with twenty years or more of association with the club's administration, so what was the renovation of which they spoke? And finally, they criticised the lack of experience of the current administration, an administration which had cleaned up the club, balanced the books, and gotten the club out of the hole dug by many of the participants of The Opposition. After considering these questions, the only explanation that remains is that Homero Lacerda wanted some of the glory of the Copa do Brasil victory for himself.
Homero Lacerda has done, and hopefully will continue to do, great things for Sport Club do Recife. That said, the club is moving in the right direction, setting itself up to be the equal of the best teams in the country, and Homero Lacerda was not the right man for the moment. He knows football, and would make an excellent director (or vice-president, a position created specifically for him) of Football. But not president.
sábado, 13 de dezembro de 2008
New Signings Announced Before Their Contracts Are Signed
Let's hope none of these deals have been jinxed. According to Sportnet, Sport has "practically signed" seven players: Paulo Sérgio (right fullback, most recently with Grêmio), Aislan (central defender, São Paulo), Daniel Paulista (volante, Rapid Bucharest), Fernando (volante, Goiás), Renan (volante, Vitória), Enzo Guitierrez (midfielder, Rangers of Chile), Gastón Cellerino (forward, Rangers of Chile). The only areas of the team that don't need strengthening are goalkeeper and central defender. Supposedly Aislan is young and talented, but if São Paulo lets him go then there's no reason to be confident. Of course, it remains to be seen how many of these seven actually sign.
While seven may sign, eight have left the team in recent days. Junior Maranhão, Cássio Lopes, Fábio Gomes, and Dudé have been released. Enílton and Francisco Alex have been returned to their clubs (Palmeiras and São Paulo, respectively). Finally, Bia and Lúcio have been made available to other teams, and will soon leave on loan.
While seven may sign, eight have left the team in recent days. Junior Maranhão, Cássio Lopes, Fábio Gomes, and Dudé have been released. Enílton and Francisco Alex have been returned to their clubs (Palmeiras and São Paulo, respectively). Finally, Bia and Lúcio have been made available to other teams, and will soon leave on loan.
Bafo do Leão Turns 36
Sport's oldest organized supporters group, Bafo do Leão (The Lion's Breath), this afternoon celebrated the 36th anniversary of its founding. O Bafo can be found at midfield, opposite the member's section, at all home games, and is represented at away games as far as Rio. Presumably, although this is yet to be confirmed, the Bafo will have a presence at Sport's Libertadores games outside of Brazil.
segunda-feira, 8 de dezembro de 2008
Sport Ends the Season With a Win
It was ugly. In fact, it looked a lot like two amateur teams playing to see who would buy the beer after the game. Sport won 4-3 (see the goals here), but maybe Sport's second (and it was a messy goal) and fourth goals, and Coritiba's third, were the kind of goals you expect to see in a first division game. The others just showed that none of the players took the game seriously.
In particular, Sport's third goal was one of the worst of the season. It was so ugly, so improbable, such a complete failure on the part of Coritiba's goalie, that it didn't even feel right to celebrate. Sport suffered more from a few bad players than from a bad group, but Coritiba didn't look at all like the team that played so well all year.
Cléber was an important part of the Santa Cruz team that finished second in the Série B in 2005, but he isn't the same goalie today. He doesn't play with confidence, and while it's difficult to blame him for Coritiba's goals, I can't honestly say that he had a good game. He looks slow and somehow soft.
Marcelo Goiano looked like the player I expected him to be against Atlético Mineiro. He had a couple of nice moments in the first half, but overall looked slow and not at all committed to the cause. On the right side, Sidny looked like a man who does not want to play for Sport in 2009. He was directly responsible for Coritiba's first two goals. He did pass the ball to Wilson for Sport's third, but that was such an embarrassingly bad goal that he gets no credit for it -- if Coritiba's goalie had been interested in the game then it wouldn't have been a goal. At least he managed to get the ball to his own team on throw-ins, something he couldn't do against Atlético Mineiro, but that's a small comfort. Goodbye, Sidny.
César and Durval were okay. Durval erred on Coritiba's first goal, but scored the best goal of the game to put Sport ahead for good. Andrade was another player who showed more interest in leaving than in playing. He was terrible. He wasn't responsible for any goals, but he made too many mistakes, and if he stays with Sport it will certainly be as a backup. Junior Maranhão was fine, as always. Not spectacular, but competent. A part of the supporters will never accept him, because he once played for Santa Cruz, but he has been a good player for Sport for a year and a half now. He'll be a fine player to have on the bench for the Libertadores.
Moacir was played out of position today, as a more offensive midfielder instead of his normal segundo volante position. He made the pass to Wilson for Sport's first goal, although it is debatable whether or not he meant to pass or shoot. He was competent, no more. Juninho came on for him at the start of the second half and played the way we have come to expect -- almost very good, but ultimately not very effective. Juninho is fast, hustles, dribbles well, and almost passes very well. He is young, and hopefully he'll get a lot of chances in next year's Campeonato Pernambucano. Kássio had a decent game. He hustled a little more than usual, which is a good sign. He has gotten much better over the course of the year, and next year should be an important part of the team.
Ciro didn't have the best of games. He didn't play poorly, but he got a bad red card early in the second half. He made an ill-advised challenge, and the referee (who had previously ignored far worse fouls) gave him a straight red card. The greater part of the blame lies with the inconsistent referee than with Ciro, but it was an unnecessary tackle and all that Ciro can do is learn to play with more control. When he stops trying to do everything and plays more within the flow of the game he will be a very good forward. Wilson scored three goals without playing well. He is not a good forward and Sport needs, desperately, to sign better forwards for next year.
I'm very happy to see the season end. Sport never had a realistic chance of winning the Brasileirão, and never had to worry about relegation. The last five months, since winning the Copa do Brasil, have been alternatingly frustrating and boring. When Sport won it was usually without playing very well, and when Sport lost it was through lack of effort and concentration. The team is capable of playing very well, but without any motivation they were just going through the motions for the majority of the season. Next year should see an improved team, and hopefully that will mean much improved performances.
In particular, Sport's third goal was one of the worst of the season. It was so ugly, so improbable, such a complete failure on the part of Coritiba's goalie, that it didn't even feel right to celebrate. Sport suffered more from a few bad players than from a bad group, but Coritiba didn't look at all like the team that played so well all year.
Cléber was an important part of the Santa Cruz team that finished second in the Série B in 2005, but he isn't the same goalie today. He doesn't play with confidence, and while it's difficult to blame him for Coritiba's goals, I can't honestly say that he had a good game. He looks slow and somehow soft.
Marcelo Goiano looked like the player I expected him to be against Atlético Mineiro. He had a couple of nice moments in the first half, but overall looked slow and not at all committed to the cause. On the right side, Sidny looked like a man who does not want to play for Sport in 2009. He was directly responsible for Coritiba's first two goals. He did pass the ball to Wilson for Sport's third, but that was such an embarrassingly bad goal that he gets no credit for it -- if Coritiba's goalie had been interested in the game then it wouldn't have been a goal. At least he managed to get the ball to his own team on throw-ins, something he couldn't do against Atlético Mineiro, but that's a small comfort. Goodbye, Sidny.
César and Durval were okay. Durval erred on Coritiba's first goal, but scored the best goal of the game to put Sport ahead for good. Andrade was another player who showed more interest in leaving than in playing. He was terrible. He wasn't responsible for any goals, but he made too many mistakes, and if he stays with Sport it will certainly be as a backup. Junior Maranhão was fine, as always. Not spectacular, but competent. A part of the supporters will never accept him, because he once played for Santa Cruz, but he has been a good player for Sport for a year and a half now. He'll be a fine player to have on the bench for the Libertadores.
Moacir was played out of position today, as a more offensive midfielder instead of his normal segundo volante position. He made the pass to Wilson for Sport's first goal, although it is debatable whether or not he meant to pass or shoot. He was competent, no more. Juninho came on for him at the start of the second half and played the way we have come to expect -- almost very good, but ultimately not very effective. Juninho is fast, hustles, dribbles well, and almost passes very well. He is young, and hopefully he'll get a lot of chances in next year's Campeonato Pernambucano. Kássio had a decent game. He hustled a little more than usual, which is a good sign. He has gotten much better over the course of the year, and next year should be an important part of the team.
Ciro didn't have the best of games. He didn't play poorly, but he got a bad red card early in the second half. He made an ill-advised challenge, and the referee (who had previously ignored far worse fouls) gave him a straight red card. The greater part of the blame lies with the inconsistent referee than with Ciro, but it was an unnecessary tackle and all that Ciro can do is learn to play with more control. When he stops trying to do everything and plays more within the flow of the game he will be a very good forward. Wilson scored three goals without playing well. He is not a good forward and Sport needs, desperately, to sign better forwards for next year.
I'm very happy to see the season end. Sport never had a realistic chance of winning the Brasileirão, and never had to worry about relegation. The last five months, since winning the Copa do Brasil, have been alternatingly frustrating and boring. When Sport won it was usually without playing very well, and when Sport lost it was through lack of effort and concentration. The team is capable of playing very well, but without any motivation they were just going through the motions for the majority of the season. Next year should see an improved team, and hopefully that will mean much improved performances.
domingo, 7 de dezembro de 2008
Sport - Coritiba Preview
Dorival Júnior returns to the Ilha do Retiro this afternoon, in command of Coritiba. Coritiba has a good team this year and qualified for the Copa Sul Americana with ease. Neither team stands to gain the slightest advantage by winning the game today, so both teams will probably field young teams.
Cléber, Sport's backup goalie, will make his second appearance of the year, along with Sidny, César, Durval, Márcio Goiano, Andrade, Moacir, Júnior Maranhão, Kássio, Ciro, and Wilson. Wilson arrived on loan from Genoa and was expected to take over for Roger, but he has been a disappointment. This afternoon's game might be his last chance to show that he should stay with Sport next year.
Cléber, Sport's backup goalie, will make his second appearance of the year, along with Sidny, César, Durval, Márcio Goiano, Andrade, Moacir, Júnior Maranhão, Kássio, Ciro, and Wilson. Wilson arrived on loan from Genoa and was expected to take over for Roger, but he has been a disappointment. This afternoon's game might be his last chance to show that he should stay with Sport next year.
terça-feira, 2 de dezembro de 2008
Maybe Carlinhos Bala Will Stay After All
Sportnet is now reporting that Carlinhos Bala is willing to receive less money than he is promised in his contract with Cruzeiro, and may stay with Sport. Sport's president, Milton Bivar, will travel to Belo Horizonte in the next few days in order to discuss the player's future with the Cruzeiro directors.
Homero Lacerda Ends His Presidential Candidacy
Homero Lacerda, Sport's president in 1987 and more recently Director of Football in 2006 and Vice-President of Football in 2007, announced today that he will no longer seek the presidency in this month's club elections. Homero had formed a ticket that included Luciano Bivar, ex-president and brother of the current president, and had once again plunged the club into an extremely mild sort of crisis. In 2006 he also considered running against Milton Bivar, Luciano Bivar's hand-picked successor, but decided against the run at the last minute. He accepted, instead, the newly-created position of Vice-President of Football. At the end of last year he stepped down from that position, citing a desire to spend time with his family and to pay closer attention to his business interests.
Milton Bivar has surpassed all expectations as president, laying the foundations for the club's long-term success. He has invested heavily in the youth program, bought two training centers (one for the professionals, one for the juniors), renovated the stadium grounds, and retired the significant portion (INSS debt is not considered significant) of the club's debt. This blog would have endorsed his candidacy later this month, and may still do so, but it appears that no endorsement is necessary.
Milton Bivar has surpassed all expectations as president, laying the foundations for the club's long-term success. He has invested heavily in the youth program, bought two training centers (one for the professionals, one for the juniors), renovated the stadium grounds, and retired the significant portion (INSS debt is not considered significant) of the club's debt. This blog would have endorsed his candidacy later this month, and may still do so, but it appears that no endorsement is necessary.
Globo Spreads Rumors; Bad Players Leave Sport
"Durval Doesn't Guarantee He Will Stay With Sport" reads Globo.com's headline. No, he doesn't. He says that he has received proposals from other teams, but that nothing concrete has materialized. He also expresses enthusiasm for playing in the Copa Libertadores. Sport isn't cooperating with news organizations -- there are no rumors, leaks, or scandals, and the team has nothing left to play for. All that Globo can do is try to create controversy because otherwise stories about Sport take the form of "The sun rose in the East, set in the West yesterday."
Enílton and Francisco Alex have left Sport, never to return wearing Sport's jersey. No one will miss them.
Enílton and Francisco Alex have left Sport, never to return wearing Sport's jersey. No one will miss them.
segunda-feira, 1 de dezembro de 2008
Carlinhos Bala Is Unlikely to Return
Sportnet is reporting that Carlinhos Bala is almost certainly not going to play for Sport in 2009. Sport will still discuss with Cruzeiro the possibility of reducing the player's salary for 2009, but Cruzeiro is unlikely to be willing to pay a part. Sport is unwilling to pay his R$83,000 monthly salary in full, nor is Sport willing to pay a high fee to renew his loan. He has declared his desire to continue playing for Sport, but he has also said, in a local radio interview, that he would not accept a pay cut to stay with Sport.
domingo, 30 de novembro de 2008
Sport Sends Portuguesa to the Série B
Sport has a history of being kind to the teams languishing at the bottom of the standings. Sport gave two goals to Vasco da Gama when Vasco last came to Recife, couldn't manage to put Náutico away, and today went to São Paulo to play Portuguesa. Sport scored first, fell behind 2-1, and then tied it -- a result that sends Portuguesa back to the Série B.
Globo decided that all of us in Recife would prefer to watch Fluminense play against São Paulo, and nobody was streaming the game, so I have no idea what it was like. All I know is that Sport finally did the minimum necessary against a team that was struggling for its life: Sport put a foot on Portuguesa's neck. I have no particular ill will toward Portuguesa, so today's result represented no particular happiness. I do, however, wish ill upon Vasco da Gama, and fervently hope that the point Vasco managed in Recife won't save them. Today's results look good -- Náutico is all but assured of survival, and Vasco needs to win and then hope for favorable results. It looks like all of the relegated teams will be from the South and Southeast -- as are all of the teams moving up from the Série B, so it's important that no teams from the Northeast fall.
Globo decided that all of us in Recife would prefer to watch Fluminense play against São Paulo, and nobody was streaming the game, so I have no idea what it was like. All I know is that Sport finally did the minimum necessary against a team that was struggling for its life: Sport put a foot on Portuguesa's neck. I have no particular ill will toward Portuguesa, so today's result represented no particular happiness. I do, however, wish ill upon Vasco da Gama, and fervently hope that the point Vasco managed in Recife won't save them. Today's results look good -- Náutico is all but assured of survival, and Vasco needs to win and then hope for favorable results. It looks like all of the relegated teams will be from the South and Southeast -- as are all of the teams moving up from the Série B, so it's important that no teams from the Northeast fall.
Sport - Portuguesa Preview
Once again, Sport has nothing to play for. Portuguesa has a slim chance of avoiding relegation -- if Portuguesa beats Sport today, beats Cruzeiro next week in Minas, and the three teams in front of Portuguesa all drop points, then Portuguesa will be in next year's Série A. Some of Sport's players are playing for their positions next year, and that's all we can hope for as far as motivation.
Nelsinho hasn't announced the starting lineup, although he will stick with the 3-5-2. Magrão, Cléber, Sidny, Dutra, Márcio Goiano, César, Durval, Elias, Sandro Goiano, Fábio Gomes, Júnior Maranhão, Moacir, Fumagalli, Kássio, Roger, Carlinhos Bala, Ciro, and Wilson have made the trip. Igor is suspended, so we will get our first look at Elias since January. He is 20 and looked decent when he played in the early stages of the Campeonato Pernambucano. Nelsinho tried Márcio Goiano as a midfielder in traning this week, but I hope Kássio gets to play. The game is meaningless, so it would be nice to see the younger players get a chance to play the entire game. Nonetheless, Ciro will almost certainly start on the bench, probably right next to Kássio.
This probably won't be a very good game, and it doesn't look like Globo will show it here. I'd like to criticize Globo, but the evil network has probably made the right decision regarding today's games -- of the ten games, almost all will probably be more interesting than this one.
Nelsinho hasn't announced the starting lineup, although he will stick with the 3-5-2. Magrão, Cléber, Sidny, Dutra, Márcio Goiano, César, Durval, Elias, Sandro Goiano, Fábio Gomes, Júnior Maranhão, Moacir, Fumagalli, Kássio, Roger, Carlinhos Bala, Ciro, and Wilson have made the trip. Igor is suspended, so we will get our first look at Elias since January. He is 20 and looked decent when he played in the early stages of the Campeonato Pernambucano. Nelsinho tried Márcio Goiano as a midfielder in traning this week, but I hope Kássio gets to play. The game is meaningless, so it would be nice to see the younger players get a chance to play the entire game. Nonetheless, Ciro will almost certainly start on the bench, probably right next to Kássio.
This probably won't be a very good game, and it doesn't look like Globo will show it here. I'd like to criticize Globo, but the evil network has probably made the right decision regarding today's games -- of the ten games, almost all will probably be more interesting than this one.
Last Sunday's Goals
For some reason, Globo wouldn't show Durval's goal in full. Here you can see Durval dribble past two defenders before scoring with his right foot (Durval is a lefty). Ciro's second is impressive, too. The way he got away from the defenders to receive the ball is important -- it's been a few years since Sport has had a forward who knows how to do this. The future is looking good, until some European team buys him.
sábado, 29 de novembro de 2008
Rapid Bucharest Pays Daniel Paulista
Daniel Paulista has received his salary for September and October, so he will not be returning to Sport on a free transfer. Apparently he is still unhappy with the situation in Bucharest, and one of Sport's directors (Álvaro Figueira) will meet with the player's agent this afternoon to discuss a possible loan deal.
It's a shame that his return would be only temporary, but however it may happen it would be the best possible addition for Sport's Libertadores campaign. His departure left a void in the midfield that still hasn't been filled, and his return would make everyone else on the team a better player.
It's a shame that his return would be only temporary, but however it may happen it would be the best possible addition for Sport's Libertadores campaign. His departure left a void in the midfield that still hasn't been filled, and his return would make everyone else on the team a better player.
Carlinhos Bala Argues With Ciro
Carlinhos Bala lost his temper with Ciro during yesterday's training session. Carlinhos has expressed his desire to stay with Sport, but Sport hasn't given any indication whether or not the club will negotiate with Cruzeiro to extend his stay, and the supporters have largely lost patience with him. He doesn't have the speed that he had last year -- maybe because he needs a rest, maybe because it's gone for good. He is a useful player, willing to do anything to help the team, but he doesn't score goals like he used to and he hasn't done anything impressive in since scoring against Corinthians back in June.
Carlinhos Bala is surely feeling pressure to deliver in the last two games. Ciro has been scoring and is beloved by the supporters and Carlinhos was Ciro's reserve in the training game. Rumors have circulated for some time regarding the difficult personality of Carlinhos Bala -- supposedly he tries to intimidate the less established players on the team to better secure his position as one of the team's leaders. It's difficult to believe that Nelsinho and the club's directors are unaware of this, and it will factor in their decision to negotiate Carlinhos Bala's return.
Carlinhos Bala is surely feeling pressure to deliver in the last two games. Ciro has been scoring and is beloved by the supporters and Carlinhos was Ciro's reserve in the training game. Rumors have circulated for some time regarding the difficult personality of Carlinhos Bala -- supposedly he tries to intimidate the less established players on the team to better secure his position as one of the team's leaders. It's difficult to believe that Nelsinho and the club's directors are unaware of this, and it will factor in their decision to negotiate Carlinhos Bala's return.
quarta-feira, 26 de novembro de 2008
Sport's Group in the Libertadores
Yesterday CONMEBOL held the drawing for next year's Libertadores, and Sport didn't get an easy group. Sport's group will include LDU, the defending champions, the eventual champion of Chile's Torneo Clausura, and the winner of a play-in match between the fourth-placed team in this year's Brasileirão (either Flamengo, Palmeiras, or Cruzeiro) and a Bolivian team. Sure, things could be more worse, but the group certainly could have been easier.
Nelsinho Batista commented, "Even without knowing who the specific teams will be, it's possible to analyse the group we will confront. LDU is a known quantity, and Chilean teams are fast, technically skilled, and don't play violent football. And we could have a Brazilian opponent, who will play against a team from Bolivia."
Nelsinho continued, "In a group like this, we will need to win all nine points at home and look for points away to classify for the second round. We are thinking about bringing quality players [to Sport], but above all athletes in good physical condition. We need to maintain balance between these characteristics."
Nelsinho Batista commented, "Even without knowing who the specific teams will be, it's possible to analyse the group we will confront. LDU is a known quantity, and Chilean teams are fast, technically skilled, and don't play violent football. And we could have a Brazilian opponent, who will play against a team from Bolivia."
Nelsinho continued, "In a group like this, we will need to win all nine points at home and look for points away to classify for the second round. We are thinking about bringing quality players [to Sport], but above all athletes in good physical condition. We need to maintain balance between these characteristics."
Early Vacationers Announced
Sport has announced the list of twelve players who will begin their vacations early -- after Sunday's game against Portuguesa. Originally the club had suggested that the players would begin their vacations after last Sunday's game against Atlético Mineiro.
Some of the names, like Magrão, Igor, Durval, Dutra, and Sandro Goiano, are unsurprising. Others are extremely surprising. Why would Sport send Enílton, whose loan ends at the end of the year, on an early vacation? The only possible answer is that the team intends to bring him back. That's a depressing thought -- he doesn't belong anywhere near a Libertadores team. Francisco Alex will also start his vacation early-- he has played in nine games out of seventy this year. He has barely played, so why would Sport be interested in renewing his loan deal? Luciano Henrique is on loan with Sport until the end of December. He also has a contract with Santos until the end of December. He will be a free agent at the end of the year, he is good when healthy but almost always hurt, and there has been no news of negotiations with Sport. Carlinhos Bala, too, will start his vacation early. Does this mean that he and Sport have reached a deal regarding his return to the team? He said that he would only accept an early release once he knew what his situation would be next year, but there has yet to be an announcement regarding his possible return.
The full list:
Magrão (goalie)
Igor (central defender)
Durval (central defender)
Dutra (left fullback)
Bia (volante)
Sandro Goiano (volante)
Fumagalli (midfielder)
Luciano Henrique (midfielder)
Francisco Alex (midfielder)
Enílton (forward)
Carlinhos Bala (forward)
Wilson (forward)
Some of the names, like Magrão, Igor, Durval, Dutra, and Sandro Goiano, are unsurprising. Others are extremely surprising. Why would Sport send Enílton, whose loan ends at the end of the year, on an early vacation? The only possible answer is that the team intends to bring him back. That's a depressing thought -- he doesn't belong anywhere near a Libertadores team. Francisco Alex will also start his vacation early-- he has played in nine games out of seventy this year. He has barely played, so why would Sport be interested in renewing his loan deal? Luciano Henrique is on loan with Sport until the end of December. He also has a contract with Santos until the end of December. He will be a free agent at the end of the year, he is good when healthy but almost always hurt, and there has been no news of negotiations with Sport. Carlinhos Bala, too, will start his vacation early. Does this mean that he and Sport have reached a deal regarding his return to the team? He said that he would only accept an early release once he knew what his situation would be next year, but there has yet to be an announcement regarding his possible return.
The full list:
Magrão (goalie)
Igor (central defender)
Durval (central defender)
Dutra (left fullback)
Bia (volante)
Sandro Goiano (volante)
Fumagalli (midfielder)
Luciano Henrique (midfielder)
Francisco Alex (midfielder)
Enílton (forward)
Carlinhos Bala (forward)
Wilson (forward)
domingo, 23 de novembro de 2008
Sleepwalking and the Complete Failure of the Marketing Department
Friday a guy at my gym asked me if I was planning on going to today's game. I said that yes, I was, because there were only two games left and I had no reason to save my money. He said that he was going, too, but only to "maintain his anger at the team." That's about right. Sport's apathetic play has made all of us angry, and there was no reason to think that today's game would be different.
It's been a long time since Sport has had anything to play for. The team secured itself against relegation a week or two ago, but there was never any question that the team wouldn't stay in the Série A. Sport never really had a shot at winning the Brasileirão, either. The last two months have been full of meaningless games. So, of course, Sport has kept ticket prices as high as they were immediately after the Copa do Brasil victory. What kind of an idiot (other than me, of course) would pay R$30 to watch a disinterested team play because the game is on the schedule and the players are obligated to take the field? Whatever kind of idiot (other than me) that is, there aren't many in the category. Only 13,000 people went to see Sport play Atlético Mineiro this afternoon, down from the 25,000 to 30,000 that were going to games back when they meant something. It doesn't take a genius to see that Sport plays better when the stadium is full, and the same non-genius can also easily perceive that it's easier to fill a stadium for an unimportant game if the tickets are cheap. So why would Sport's marketing department (this is what marketing departments do, right?) decide to price the tickets as if the game were important? In general, Sport is a very well-run team, but this was a real failure on the part of the management.
Sport made some half-hearted attempts at attacking in the first half. The players didn't seem very interested, and Atlético never looked threatening. Sport left the field to well-deserved jeers and whistles. Ciro came on for Carlinhos Bala when the teams came back onto the field. The second half started the way the first ended, and then got worse. Sport couldn't do anything right. Ciro, the young forward who is going to conquer the world, was a joke. When he wasn't offside, he was dribbling the ball straight to a defender, or kicking it out of bounds when there was a teammate open. I was ready to come home and write that Ciro isn't the future star that I had thought he was, and then he scored two goals. First, in the 37th minute of the second half, Durval dribbled past a defender and scored on a low shot into the corner. Durval! He looked like an assured forward, not a central defender. Then Ciro scored on a rebound from Roger's shot, and then again when Roger gave him a good pass. Maybe Ciro is a future star after all. Sport certainly didn't deserve a 3-0 score, and probably didn't even deserve the win, but Atlético didn't play well enough to deserve a tie, either, so I can't can't complain about the result.
Sandro Goiano returned to the lineup and played with purpose. The three defenders, Durval, Igor, and César, all played well, even if they didn't have a whole lot to do. Fábio Gomes was his normal self -- present but nothing extraordinary on defense, and always ready to pass the ball sideways or backwards. Márcio Goiano was a revelation on the left side. Objectively speaking, he wasn't spectacular, but he had never impressed me before and this afternoon he was good. Sidny, on the right, was nothing short of rancid. He was bad in every way possible, and if there was any error he didn't make it was only because he didn't get the chance. His contract with Sport runs until July of 2009, but I hope Sport can find someone to take him off their hands. He played like a man who did not want to remain with the team.
Fumagalli was the supporters' hero when he left in June of 2007. He had helped Sport win two consecutive state championships and promotion to the Série A. Sport sold him to a team in Qatar for a nice amount, and it looked like his 18-month passage with Sport had been beneficial for both. Since his return (for free), he hasn't shown much of anything, and the supporters are losing patience with him. He hurt his back while training with the team, and it seems like he hasn't played much. Looking at his statistics, he has actually appeared 16 times this year, but none of those appearances were memorable. Usually he has been competent, but not the star that people expected. Today he was atrocious. I have heard whispers that his back injury is worse than he and the team are letting on. Something is wrong, and he needs to work it out quickly. This has not been a happy homecoming for him.
Carlinhos Bala wasn't particularly bad, but he wasn't particularly good, either. He needs a rest. He doesn't have the speed, or the acceleration, that he used to have. He can't get free of the defense to get his shot off, and he hasn't offered the team anything in the last two months. He is still better than Enílton (which isn't a compliment), but that might not be enough to stay with the team. His loan ends at the end of the season, and Sport might not be interested in renewing with him. Roger was decent today. Nothing extraordinary, he still hasn't learned how to trap the ball, but he dribbled better than I knew he could, passed well, and helped the team. He'll never be anything special, but competent is better than Sport has had in a while.
Kássio took Fumagalli's place in the second half, and the improvement was dramatic. Kássio is good and getting better, and he and Ciro will play a large part in Sport's future (until some European team buys them for peanutes). Kássio is still slow, but he is creative and his passes created chances, something that cannot be said for anything that Fumagalli did this afternoon. Júnior Maranhão also made an appearance, but he didn't distinguish himself.
It was nice to see a 3-0 win, but saving the money and staying home would have been nicer. There's one more home game left this year, and I'll be there. It will be expensive, and meaningless, but I'll be there. Sport can count on suckers like me.
It's been a long time since Sport has had anything to play for. The team secured itself against relegation a week or two ago, but there was never any question that the team wouldn't stay in the Série A. Sport never really had a shot at winning the Brasileirão, either. The last two months have been full of meaningless games. So, of course, Sport has kept ticket prices as high as they were immediately after the Copa do Brasil victory. What kind of an idiot (other than me, of course) would pay R$30 to watch a disinterested team play because the game is on the schedule and the players are obligated to take the field? Whatever kind of idiot (other than me) that is, there aren't many in the category. Only 13,000 people went to see Sport play Atlético Mineiro this afternoon, down from the 25,000 to 30,000 that were going to games back when they meant something. It doesn't take a genius to see that Sport plays better when the stadium is full, and the same non-genius can also easily perceive that it's easier to fill a stadium for an unimportant game if the tickets are cheap. So why would Sport's marketing department (this is what marketing departments do, right?) decide to price the tickets as if the game were important? In general, Sport is a very well-run team, but this was a real failure on the part of the management.
Sport made some half-hearted attempts at attacking in the first half. The players didn't seem very interested, and Atlético never looked threatening. Sport left the field to well-deserved jeers and whistles. Ciro came on for Carlinhos Bala when the teams came back onto the field. The second half started the way the first ended, and then got worse. Sport couldn't do anything right. Ciro, the young forward who is going to conquer the world, was a joke. When he wasn't offside, he was dribbling the ball straight to a defender, or kicking it out of bounds when there was a teammate open. I was ready to come home and write that Ciro isn't the future star that I had thought he was, and then he scored two goals. First, in the 37th minute of the second half, Durval dribbled past a defender and scored on a low shot into the corner. Durval! He looked like an assured forward, not a central defender. Then Ciro scored on a rebound from Roger's shot, and then again when Roger gave him a good pass. Maybe Ciro is a future star after all. Sport certainly didn't deserve a 3-0 score, and probably didn't even deserve the win, but Atlético didn't play well enough to deserve a tie, either, so I can't can't complain about the result.
Sandro Goiano returned to the lineup and played with purpose. The three defenders, Durval, Igor, and César, all played well, even if they didn't have a whole lot to do. Fábio Gomes was his normal self -- present but nothing extraordinary on defense, and always ready to pass the ball sideways or backwards. Márcio Goiano was a revelation on the left side. Objectively speaking, he wasn't spectacular, but he had never impressed me before and this afternoon he was good. Sidny, on the right, was nothing short of rancid. He was bad in every way possible, and if there was any error he didn't make it was only because he didn't get the chance. His contract with Sport runs until July of 2009, but I hope Sport can find someone to take him off their hands. He played like a man who did not want to remain with the team.
Fumagalli was the supporters' hero when he left in June of 2007. He had helped Sport win two consecutive state championships and promotion to the Série A. Sport sold him to a team in Qatar for a nice amount, and it looked like his 18-month passage with Sport had been beneficial for both. Since his return (for free), he hasn't shown much of anything, and the supporters are losing patience with him. He hurt his back while training with the team, and it seems like he hasn't played much. Looking at his statistics, he has actually appeared 16 times this year, but none of those appearances were memorable. Usually he has been competent, but not the star that people expected. Today he was atrocious. I have heard whispers that his back injury is worse than he and the team are letting on. Something is wrong, and he needs to work it out quickly. This has not been a happy homecoming for him.
Carlinhos Bala wasn't particularly bad, but he wasn't particularly good, either. He needs a rest. He doesn't have the speed, or the acceleration, that he used to have. He can't get free of the defense to get his shot off, and he hasn't offered the team anything in the last two months. He is still better than Enílton (which isn't a compliment), but that might not be enough to stay with the team. His loan ends at the end of the season, and Sport might not be interested in renewing with him. Roger was decent today. Nothing extraordinary, he still hasn't learned how to trap the ball, but he dribbled better than I knew he could, passed well, and helped the team. He'll never be anything special, but competent is better than Sport has had in a while.
Kássio took Fumagalli's place in the second half, and the improvement was dramatic. Kássio is good and getting better, and he and Ciro will play a large part in Sport's future (until some European team buys them for peanutes). Kássio is still slow, but he is creative and his passes created chances, something that cannot be said for anything that Fumagalli did this afternoon. Júnior Maranhão also made an appearance, but he didn't distinguish himself.
It was nice to see a 3-0 win, but saving the money and staying home would have been nicer. There's one more home game left this year, and I'll be there. It will be expensive, and meaningless, but I'll be there. Sport can count on suckers like me.
O Galo Comes to Town
Today Atlético Mineiro (O Galo -- the rooster -- to the team's supporters) plays Sport in Recife. Atlético Mineiro won the Série B in 2006, when Sport finished second. Both teams have won the Série A (Atlético won the first edition, in 1971, and Sport won it in 1987), and Dadá Maravilha played for both teams.
Rumor has it that Atlético hasn't paid the players in four months (a sadly common occurence in Brazil), so the visiting players probably won't be particularly motivated. Rumor also has it that Ciro will be on the bench for Sport this afternoon, and that is a good thing. He has had problems with his ankle in the last month (although some people believe that this is an excuse to bring him along slowly) and has featured sparingly since debuting with a goal against Ipatinga on July 31. Fábio Gomes will be a starter, and that is a bad thing. He is a defensive midfielder who isn't very good at defense, nor offense, nor does he dribble, or shoot, or do much of anything very well. Sandro Goiano will be a starter, and that is a wonderful thing. He wins, that's all he does. Sport should get the three points today.
Rumor has it that Atlético hasn't paid the players in four months (a sadly common occurence in Brazil), so the visiting players probably won't be particularly motivated. Rumor also has it that Ciro will be on the bench for Sport this afternoon, and that is a good thing. He has had problems with his ankle in the last month (although some people believe that this is an excuse to bring him along slowly) and has featured sparingly since debuting with a goal against Ipatinga on July 31. Fábio Gomes will be a starter, and that is a bad thing. He is a defensive midfielder who isn't very good at defense, nor offense, nor does he dribble, or shoot, or do much of anything very well. Sandro Goiano will be a starter, and that is a wonderful thing. He wins, that's all he does. Sport should get the three points today.
quinta-feira, 20 de novembro de 2008
The Case of the Can
Sport has been absolved by the STJD, after the referee in the October 8 game against Vasco da Gama charged that a supporter threw a can of soda onto the field. Absolutely no one in the stadium saw this can except for the referee, who was supposed to be watching the game. The STJD's decision surprises no one, but it's a shame the referee in question (Wilson Luiz Seneme) hasn't had to answer for his bizarre accusation.
terça-feira, 18 de novembro de 2008
Nothing Happening
How meaningless are these last few games for Sport?
So meaningless that Sport's page at globo.com has more links regarding women in bikinis than regarding the team itself.
January isn't too far off...
So meaningless that Sport's page at globo.com has more links regarding women in bikinis than regarding the team itself.
January isn't too far off...
Weldon Again?
Globo reports that Cruzeiro has denied that Weldon will be joining Sport for next year's Libertadores. Weldon has already played for, and left, Sport twice. He isn't as good as Leandro Amaral (who may or may not come to Sport), but he's far better than Roger and Enílton. His contract ends on February 28 of next year, and negotiations regarding a contract extension with Cruzeiro have broken down. According to Globo, Weldon has decided to wait until this season ends before reopening negotiations.
If the negotiations fail, Cruzeiro will possibly look to sell him. Sport might pay R$100,000 or so to get him at the beginning of the year rather than wait, and Cruzeiro might prefer that small amount of money to losing a decent forward for free.
Weldon has performed well for Sport in his two spells in the Ilha. He is a tall forward capable of playing in the area and out of it. There are questions regarding his attitude -- last time he was with Sport he was asked by a reporter if he intended to be the leading scorer in the championship and he replied, "No, I just want to score a few goals and move on to a bigger team."
I didn't witness this exchange, and to me this sounds like sarcasm, but it did alienate the supporters. No doubt he would be welcomed back, because he would be a significant improvement over the present attack, but the supporters will be quick to criticise him if he doesn't perform to expectations.
If the negotiations fail, Cruzeiro will possibly look to sell him. Sport might pay R$100,000 or so to get him at the beginning of the year rather than wait, and Cruzeiro might prefer that small amount of money to losing a decent forward for free.
Weldon has performed well for Sport in his two spells in the Ilha. He is a tall forward capable of playing in the area and out of it. There are questions regarding his attitude -- last time he was with Sport he was asked by a reporter if he intended to be the leading scorer in the championship and he replied, "No, I just want to score a few goals and move on to a bigger team."
I didn't witness this exchange, and to me this sounds like sarcasm, but it did alienate the supporters. No doubt he would be welcomed back, because he would be a significant improvement over the present attack, but the supporters will be quick to criticise him if he doesn't perform to expectations.
segunda-feira, 17 de novembro de 2008
Embarrassment
I would prefer not to write about Saturday's game, but my sense of responsibility cannot be overcome. Ipatinga will play in the Série B next year. This is not a mathematical certainty, yet, but it will happen. Sport will play in the Libertadores next year. Sport has no excuse for losing to Ipatinga. It was obvious to all informed observers that Sport would have trouble scoring goals, but not that the defense would fail so completely.
The game was not broadcast on open TV, I have no cable, and the internet feed wasn't working, so I didn't see the game. I saw highlights last night, and it looked like the game was all Ipatinga. Sport had a goal by Fumagalli ruled offside (the replay that I saw looked like Fumagalli was onside when the ball was played), but that would have tied the game at 1-1. Sport had already started poorly, and didn't create many more chances. Maybe the players are already looking forward to Nelsinho's promise of early holidays.
Sport is in twelfth place, six points behind Goiás. If Sport had shown the necessary concentration against Vasco and Ipatinga, a little bit of luck at home against Santos, and Sport would have six more points. That's a bigger problem than the forwards (and the forwards are a big problem), and it's something that Nelsinho will have to address. Maybe the problem is that Sport has nothing to play for at this point, and really hasn't had anything to play for since June. Part of the problem is that Sport hasn't found a replacement for Daniel Paulista. In any case, the excuses don't matter -- this weekend was an embarrassment.
The game was not broadcast on open TV, I have no cable, and the internet feed wasn't working, so I didn't see the game. I saw highlights last night, and it looked like the game was all Ipatinga. Sport had a goal by Fumagalli ruled offside (the replay that I saw looked like Fumagalli was onside when the ball was played), but that would have tied the game at 1-1. Sport had already started poorly, and didn't create many more chances. Maybe the players are already looking forward to Nelsinho's promise of early holidays.
Sport is in twelfth place, six points behind Goiás. If Sport had shown the necessary concentration against Vasco and Ipatinga, a little bit of luck at home against Santos, and Sport would have six more points. That's a bigger problem than the forwards (and the forwards are a big problem), and it's something that Nelsinho will have to address. Maybe the problem is that Sport has nothing to play for at this point, and really hasn't had anything to play for since June. Part of the problem is that Sport hasn't found a replacement for Daniel Paulista. In any case, the excuses don't matter -- this weekend was an embarrassment.
sexta-feira, 14 de novembro de 2008
Carlinhos Bala's Possible Early Vacation
Carlinhos Bala has expressed his support for Nelsinho's early vacation plans, but has said that he will refuse an early vacation until he knows what his future holds. Carlinhos has a contract with Cruzeiro until May of next year, and both Corinthians and Palmeiras have expressed interest in his services. In January he said that he wanted to finish his career with Sport, and my understanding was that Sport had agreed to terms with Cruzeiro to buy the player, but apparently not. He is an important player, even if he doesn't score goals like he used to. He keeps himself in perfect physical condition, he does whatever it takes to help the team (including playing fairly well as a right fullback in a couple of games), and his interviews are the source of merriment. Finding a way to keep him on the team would be an excellent start to Sport's Libertadores preparations.
quinta-feira, 13 de novembro de 2008
Trouble on Saturday
Carlinhos Bala is suspended. Ciro is hurt (at least that's the excuse the team has given). That means that Roger and Enílton will start against Ipatinga on Saturday. And it seems like a good reason to discuss the two, as promised.
Roger was, at one time, one of the hotter properties in Brazilian soccer. He began his career with Ponte Preta, where he looked like a born goal-scorer. São Paulo bought his contract, and he has since been loaned to Palmeiras, back to Ponte Preta, and now to Sport. He has never had the same success he had his first time at Ponte Preta. He is a decent finisher as long as all he has to do is put a foot or forehead on the ball. He cannot dribble, he cannot pass, he cannot create opportunities for himself, he cannot get open to receive the ball except on counter-attacks. He also cannot trap the ball, something you would expect to be the end of a center forward's career. Not so with Roger, who receives balls to his feet by knocking them two or three meters away from him and then chasing. Unfortunately, he has been Sport's best forward this year and is the team's leading scorer. He is only 23, but if he hasn't learned basic ball skills yet then he probably never will.
Enílton is 31, so he can't use youth as an excuse. He has had a long and not particularly successful career. According to wikipedia the only season he has ever scored more than one goal every two games was in 2005, when he scored seventeen goals in twenty-five games for Juventude. In 1998 he won the Swiss championship and Swiss Cup with Sion and in this year he won the Campeonato Pernambucano and the Copa do Brasil with Sport, his only titles so far. He is a frustrating player. He is quick, and dribbles well but fruitlessly. He also makes odd mistakes at bad moments. If I had ten cents for every time I've seen him dribble past two or more defenders, only to shoot weakly at the keeper or fall down on his own when a goal looked certain then I'd have one real or so. He has scored eight goals for Sport this year, including the goal that won the Copa do Brasil (according to Carlinhos Bala), but he is one of the main reasons why Sport's attack has been so anemic this year.
This pair promises little for Saturday's game against all-but-relegated Ipatinga except to make the more interesting than it should be. The game should be a likely, if not easy, win for Sport, but Roger and Enílton will make it close. The only good news is that there are only four games left after Saturday, and then neither of these players will ever play for Sport again.
Roger was, at one time, one of the hotter properties in Brazilian soccer. He began his career with Ponte Preta, where he looked like a born goal-scorer. São Paulo bought his contract, and he has since been loaned to Palmeiras, back to Ponte Preta, and now to Sport. He has never had the same success he had his first time at Ponte Preta. He is a decent finisher as long as all he has to do is put a foot or forehead on the ball. He cannot dribble, he cannot pass, he cannot create opportunities for himself, he cannot get open to receive the ball except on counter-attacks. He also cannot trap the ball, something you would expect to be the end of a center forward's career. Not so with Roger, who receives balls to his feet by knocking them two or three meters away from him and then chasing. Unfortunately, he has been Sport's best forward this year and is the team's leading scorer. He is only 23, but if he hasn't learned basic ball skills yet then he probably never will.
Enílton is 31, so he can't use youth as an excuse. He has had a long and not particularly successful career. According to wikipedia the only season he has ever scored more than one goal every two games was in 2005, when he scored seventeen goals in twenty-five games for Juventude. In 1998 he won the Swiss championship and Swiss Cup with Sion and in this year he won the Campeonato Pernambucano and the Copa do Brasil with Sport, his only titles so far. He is a frustrating player. He is quick, and dribbles well but fruitlessly. He also makes odd mistakes at bad moments. If I had ten cents for every time I've seen him dribble past two or more defenders, only to shoot weakly at the keeper or fall down on his own when a goal looked certain then I'd have one real or so. He has scored eight goals for Sport this year, including the goal that won the Copa do Brasil (according to Carlinhos Bala), but he is one of the main reasons why Sport's attack has been so anemic this year.
This pair promises little for Saturday's game against all-but-relegated Ipatinga except to make the more interesting than it should be. The game should be a likely, if not easy, win for Sport, but Roger and Enílton will make it close. The only good news is that there are only four games left after Saturday, and then neither of these players will ever play for Sport again.
Early Vacations
Brazilian law requires that all workers receive one month of vacation each year, soccer players included. This presents a problem for Sport (and Náutico) this year, as the Série A ends December 7, and next year's Campeonato Pernambucano begins January 11. This would allow just four days of practice before the season's start. Nelsinho Batista's solution is to send some players on early vacations, before the penultimate game of the season (November 30, against Portuguesa in São Paulo). That's a good solution, since Sport's situation is already defined -- Sport has qualified for the Copa dos Libertadores through the Copa do Brasil, and can no longer be relegated. The problem is that not all areas of the team have adequate cover, so some key players won't be ready to start the next championship.
Sport has five central defenders on the books (a sixth is on loan with a Série C team). Gabriel's loan contract with Sport ends in December, so he will surely be playing in the last game of the year. That leaves Durval, César, Igor, and Elias (at 20, a product of the youth divisions who has barely played this year). Most likely Nelsinho will send Durval and Igor on early vacations, start Gabriel and César, and put Elias on the bench.
Sport has exactly four fullbacks on the team, so if Nelsinho sends Sidny and Dutra away, he is left with Márcio Goiano (unimpressive in three appearances) on the left and Cássio Lopes (anonymous in two) on the right, and not one fullback on the bench. Volantes (defensive midfielders) are not a problem in terms of numbers (seven, and Sport normally plays with two on the field), although the quality at this position is suspect.
Sport has five offensive midfielders -- Francisco Alex (mediocre in his few chances) is on loan from São Paulo and almost certainly will not be returning next year, so Nelsinho has no reason to worry about his vacation. Luciano Henrique is on loan from Santos, and may or may not return, but he has been injured for most of the last three months, so he may not be an option. Fumagalli is one of Sport's most important players, and will surely receive an early vacation. Kássio and Juninho are young, under long-term contracts, and exactly the type of playes who should see serious playing time in the state championship, so if they leave early, Sport is left with Francisco Alex and maybe Luciano Henrique. Juninho hasn't played as much as Kássio, so maybe the last two games will be his chance, as Kássio may be considered too important to miss the start of the Campeonato Pernambucano.
Sport has seven healthy forwards. Enílton and Roger (more about them in a couple of days) are on loan from Palmeiras and São Paulo, respectively, and barring disaster neither will return to Sport next year, so they are the obvious options up front. Carlinhos Bala has played in over 90% of Sport's games this year (at times deputizing as a midfielder or right fullback), and Nelsinho will almost certainly want him to be available at the start of the year. Ciro is young, has shown a talent for scoring goals, and doesn't yet have the body of a professional soccer player, so he will surely start his vacation as early as possible, returning at the end of December to continue his physical training. Joélson, Lúcio, and Wilson are the remaining forwards, none of whom has seen much playing time.
That doesn't seem too bad -- Sport has adequate players to field a full team, but who will be the reserves for Sport's last two games? Sport has one central defender, no fullbacks, and at most one offensive midfielder for the bench. The only good news for Nelsinho is that the last two games won't matter at all to Sport, so he could fill the bench with forwards and volantes and it wouldn't really make a difference.
Sport has five central defenders on the books (a sixth is on loan with a Série C team). Gabriel's loan contract with Sport ends in December, so he will surely be playing in the last game of the year. That leaves Durval, César, Igor, and Elias (at 20, a product of the youth divisions who has barely played this year). Most likely Nelsinho will send Durval and Igor on early vacations, start Gabriel and César, and put Elias on the bench.
Sport has exactly four fullbacks on the team, so if Nelsinho sends Sidny and Dutra away, he is left with Márcio Goiano (unimpressive in three appearances) on the left and Cássio Lopes (anonymous in two) on the right, and not one fullback on the bench. Volantes (defensive midfielders) are not a problem in terms of numbers (seven, and Sport normally plays with two on the field), although the quality at this position is suspect.
Sport has five offensive midfielders -- Francisco Alex (mediocre in his few chances) is on loan from São Paulo and almost certainly will not be returning next year, so Nelsinho has no reason to worry about his vacation. Luciano Henrique is on loan from Santos, and may or may not return, but he has been injured for most of the last three months, so he may not be an option. Fumagalli is one of Sport's most important players, and will surely receive an early vacation. Kássio and Juninho are young, under long-term contracts, and exactly the type of playes who should see serious playing time in the state championship, so if they leave early, Sport is left with Francisco Alex and maybe Luciano Henrique. Juninho hasn't played as much as Kássio, so maybe the last two games will be his chance, as Kássio may be considered too important to miss the start of the Campeonato Pernambucano.
Sport has seven healthy forwards. Enílton and Roger (more about them in a couple of days) are on loan from Palmeiras and São Paulo, respectively, and barring disaster neither will return to Sport next year, so they are the obvious options up front. Carlinhos Bala has played in over 90% of Sport's games this year (at times deputizing as a midfielder or right fullback), and Nelsinho will almost certainly want him to be available at the start of the year. Ciro is young, has shown a talent for scoring goals, and doesn't yet have the body of a professional soccer player, so he will surely start his vacation as early as possible, returning at the end of December to continue his physical training. Joélson, Lúcio, and Wilson are the remaining forwards, none of whom has seen much playing time.
That doesn't seem too bad -- Sport has adequate players to field a full team, but who will be the reserves for Sport's last two games? Sport has one central defender, no fullbacks, and at most one offensive midfielder for the bench. The only good news for Nelsinho is that the last two games won't matter at all to Sport, so he could fill the bench with forwards and volantes and it wouldn't really make a difference.
terça-feira, 11 de novembro de 2008
Daniel Paulista
The latest rumors say that Daniel Paulista, who was sold to Rapid Bucharest in August, might be returning to Sport. Rapid Bucharest had 800,000 Euros to pay Sport, but Daniel alleges that he hasn't received any payment at all from his club since his move. He has petitioned FIFA to nullify his contract, which would free him to return to Sport and play in the Copa dos Libertadores.
Corinthians loaned Daniel to Náutico in 2007, and he was instrumental in Náutico's survival in the Série A. His contract with Corinthians ended at the end of the year, and he signed for Sport for free. He was one of Sport's best players in the Campeonato Pernambucano and in the Copa do Brasil. When Sport received a bid from Rapid Bucharest, Daniel told the directors that he wanted to move on, so the two teams agreed to a fee and off he went.
It looked like a good deal for both teams -- Sport got nearly R$2,000,000 and Daniel got to play in Europe -- but Daniel hasn't been paid, and Sport hasn't managed to replace him. Andrade arrived and looked good for a few games, but has been terrible since then. Daniel's positioning is excellent, and he frees the segundo volante to play more offensively. Andrade has been bad enough that Sandro Goiano's action has been limited -- he can't cover enough territory to make up for Andrade's failures, so he has to spend most of the game on the bench.
When he was with Sport, Daniel was the best primeiro volante in Brazil. Andrade is obviously not the answer, and finding a quality replacement was one of Sport's most pressing needs for the upcoming Libertadores campaign. If Daniel were to return it would make Sport's Libertadores prospects much brighter than they look right now.
Corinthians loaned Daniel to Náutico in 2007, and he was instrumental in Náutico's survival in the Série A. His contract with Corinthians ended at the end of the year, and he signed for Sport for free. He was one of Sport's best players in the Campeonato Pernambucano and in the Copa do Brasil. When Sport received a bid from Rapid Bucharest, Daniel told the directors that he wanted to move on, so the two teams agreed to a fee and off he went.
It looked like a good deal for both teams -- Sport got nearly R$2,000,000 and Daniel got to play in Europe -- but Daniel hasn't been paid, and Sport hasn't managed to replace him. Andrade arrived and looked good for a few games, but has been terrible since then. Daniel's positioning is excellent, and he frees the segundo volante to play more offensively. Andrade has been bad enough that Sandro Goiano's action has been limited -- he can't cover enough territory to make up for Andrade's failures, so he has to spend most of the game on the bench.
When he was with Sport, Daniel was the best primeiro volante in Brazil. Andrade is obviously not the answer, and finding a quality replacement was one of Sport's most pressing needs for the upcoming Libertadores campaign. If Daniel were to return it would make Sport's Libertadores prospects much brighter than they look right now.
domingo, 9 de novembro de 2008
A Return to Winning (New Blog Included)
Inspired by Matt's Inter blog, I've wanted to start this for a while now. The only problem was that Sport just wouldn't cooperate. Since the 5-0 win against Figueirense (which would have been 8-0 if Sport had competent forwards) had gone eight games without a victory. It wouldn't do to start a new blog with a post about a disappointing 2-2 result against a pathetic Vasco team, would it? Today's game, a 2-1 victory over Goiás, wasn't anything to get excited about, but at least the result was positive. September 14 was the last time anyone has been able to say that.
Sport dominated the first thirty minutes of the first half, with César scoring in the 22nd minute and Roger in the 25th, and it looked like we were going to have a party in the stands. And then the team lost its edge, stopped passing with any sense of purpose, and Goiás worked their way back into the game. Goiás never looked likely to score a second goal, but neither did Sport look likely to score a third until the last ten minutes of the game.
I wish I could celebrate the glorious victory, but Sport hasn't given me anything to celebrate since that 5-0 win over Figueirense. I should have celebrated the stylish manner in which Sport dispatched Vasco to the Série B, but Sport gave Vasco two goals and may have helped Vasco stay in the first division. I should have celebrated an easy win over Náutico, but Roger missed three easy chances in the first half, and Sport only got one point. Looking back over the last few months, Sport hasn't given me much to celebrate since winning the Copa do Brasil, but maybe I have become jaded by the experience.
On their day Sport can beat any team in Brazil, and probably any team in South America. On their off day, Sport can lose to any team, anywhere. Today Sport showed maybe 40% of what they can do. Sadly, that's more than anyone has seen from them in a long time.
Lineup: Magrão; Igor, César, Durval; Sidny, Junior Maranhão, Andrade (Sandro Goiano), Fumagalli (Fábio Gomes), Dutra; Carlinhos Bala (Enílton), Roger
Sport dominated the first thirty minutes of the first half, with César scoring in the 22nd minute and Roger in the 25th, and it looked like we were going to have a party in the stands. And then the team lost its edge, stopped passing with any sense of purpose, and Goiás worked their way back into the game. Goiás never looked likely to score a second goal, but neither did Sport look likely to score a third until the last ten minutes of the game.
I wish I could celebrate the glorious victory, but Sport hasn't given me anything to celebrate since that 5-0 win over Figueirense. I should have celebrated the stylish manner in which Sport dispatched Vasco to the Série B, but Sport gave Vasco two goals and may have helped Vasco stay in the first division. I should have celebrated an easy win over Náutico, but Roger missed three easy chances in the first half, and Sport only got one point. Looking back over the last few months, Sport hasn't given me much to celebrate since winning the Copa do Brasil, but maybe I have become jaded by the experience.
On their day Sport can beat any team in Brazil, and probably any team in South America. On their off day, Sport can lose to any team, anywhere. Today Sport showed maybe 40% of what they can do. Sadly, that's more than anyone has seen from them in a long time.
Lineup: Magrão; Igor, César, Durval; Sidny, Junior Maranhão, Andrade (Sandro Goiano), Fumagalli (Fábio Gomes), Dutra; Carlinhos Bala (Enílton), Roger
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