RealGM

I'm really curious on what foreigns think about portuguese soccer.

Our main squad:
2000 Euro Cup - Semi finals
2004 Euro Cup - defeated in the final
2006 World Cup - semi final
2008 Euro Cup - quarter finals
2010 World Cup - defeated in the 1st playoff round vs Spain
2012 Euro Cup - defeated in the semi finals against Spain in the penalty shootout.

We defeated England (2000, 2004, 2006), Netherlands (2004, 2006, 2012), Germany (2000), Spain (2004). This are our biggest wins in the biggest national team competitions.

Our clubs:
Porto won the UEFA cup in 2003 and in 2011. Champions League in 2004.
Sporting Clube de Portugal played the 2005 UEFA Cup final. Was defeated in 2012 in the semi-finals.
Sporting de Braga played the 2011 UEFA cup final.
Boavista was in the semi-finals in the 2003 UEFA cup.
Benfica played the UEFA cup final in 2013 and went to the UEFA Cup semi finals in 2011.

Just in this last years our squads have eliminated:
Manchester United;
Liverpool;
Newcastle;
AZ Alkmaar;
Lyon;
PSG;
Celtic;
Lazio;
Manchester City;
PSV.

Where do you think our league ranks in Europe?

EPL
PD/Bundesliga
Serie A/Ligue 1
Russian PL
Primeira
Süper Lig
Eredevise

I see them as great businessmen

But seriously, it's hard for me to rate the whole league because I've only really watched Porto and Benfica in the CL last few seasons and those two, while very good, rarely seem to lose in their domestic league. My guess is it's just below Ligue 1 which has been a much more competitive league lately.

I have a favorable opinion of POR soccer. I see both the NT and the league in the #5-6 range in Europe. I like their combo of "European" efficiency and "Brazilian" 1-vs-1 skills, and especially FC Porto is notorious for acquiring talent, making them into stars and sell them for a gazillion Euros... only to acquire the next batch of talents and get even richer

IMHO the Portuguese NT is a bit haunted. Just like us (Germany), they have a supremely talented team that never wins anything. That 2004 EC finals loss vs Greece at home with all the big guns (Figo, Couto, Deco, Carvalho, CR7 etc.) really hurt.

(Note to self: BL has the "talent" of acquiring Portuguese stars way past their prime. Petit was ok but on his way down, Hugo Almeida never got comfortable, Abel Xavier was a train wreck and Maniche one big disaster.)

5DOM wrote:I see them as great businessmen

But seriously, it's hard for me to rate the whole league because I've only really watched Porto and Benfica in the CL last few seasons and those two, while very good, rarely seem to lose in their domestic league. My guess is it's just below Ligue 1 which has been a much more competitive league lately.

Porto's business model >>>> I'd love for Antero Henrique to come work for Liverpool in a MD/Technical Director role.

porto's business model is making the third party agencies rich, not themselves.

portugal league has only two good teams with third teams sparingly having some success, i would put them 6-10 group with couple other leagues. nt should've won something by now with the talent they had past decade or so, i am usually disappointed how they fare in tournaments.

Point forward wrote:IMHO the Portuguese NT is a bit haunted. Just like us (Germany), they have a supremely talented team that never wins anything. That 2004 EC finals loss vs Greece at home with all the big guns (Figo, Couto, Deco, Carvalho, CR7 etc.) really hurt.

(Note to self: BL has the "talent" of acquiring Portuguese stars way past their prime. Petit was ok but on his way down, Hugo Almeida never got comfortable, Abel Xavier was a train wreck and Maniche one big disaster.)

Well Maniche was past his prime. Hugo Almeida was never a good striker, Petit was a good player.

What about Fernando Meira? I think he did good in Germany.

Don't even mention that final against Greece... How could that be a loss?! After eliminating great teams like Spain, England and Netherlands...

El MyLittlePony wrote:porto's business model is making the third party agencies rich, not themselves.

portugal league has only two good teams with third teams sparingly having some success, i would put them 6-10 group with couple other leagues. nt should've won something by now with the talent they had past decade or so, i am usually disappointed how they fare in tournaments.

Actually in Portugal we see it more of a 3 team competition, with Porto being always the main favorite to win and then it alternates with Benfica and Sporting.

But I can understand your vision, since 2009 Sporting hasn't been a real candidate. But this year it looks like a diferent story

Next Coming wrote:

5DOM wrote:I see them as great businessmen

But seriously, it's hard for me to rate the whole league because I've only really watched Porto and Benfica in the CL last few seasons and those two, while very good, rarely seem to lose in their domestic league. My guess is it's just below Ligue 1 which has been a much more competitive league lately.

Porto's business model >>>> I'd love for Antero Henrique to come work for Liverpool in a MD/Technical Director role.

Porto is very good at making business. But they're not the only ones:
- Porto sold Hulk and Falcao for a lot of money. Also Moutinho and James Rodriguez, or even Anderson (who didn't live to his expectations in Manchester United);
- Benfica sold Witsel for a lot of millions and looking at how he's playing it looks like he was really overpriced.
- Sporting didn't make the same amount of money in sales but from their academy just in this last years they created CR7, Moutinho, Veloso, Nani (he was valued in 25 million €) and believe some other greats are coming. Even Simão and Quaresma (stars of Benfica and Porto were initially Sporting players).

Winger factory of europe... Figo, Simao, Quaresma, Sergio Conceicao, Ronaldo, Nani... Bruma looks like the next one...

Speaking of Portugal and Sporting, has anyone seen Freddy Montero play? The dude was far from special in Colombia, how the hell is he tearing up over there? It really leaves me scratching my head

J-Mezzy wrote:Speaking of Portugal and Sporting, has anyone seen Freddy Montero play? The dude was far from special in Colombia, how the hell is he tearing up over there? It really leaves me scratching my head

Well he's rarely missing. Whenever the team gives him a chance he's delivering. I didn't know him but I'm very impressed!

Scored two more goals yesterday.

He has actually got great technique, he's a good header and he has cold blood close to the goal. At least he looks that way so far... 7 games, 9 goals!

Javanar wrote:Winger factory of europe... Figo, Simao, Quaresma, Sergio Conceicao, Ronaldo, Nani... Bruma looks like the next one...

Only one did not start in Sporting! But to be honest Quaresma was quite disappointing at the greatest clubs of Europe.

Good to hear about Montero. He's definitely been a surprise for all of us that saw him play since his youth.

How's Juan Quintero looking? I know that he gets limited play time, but is he productive?

J-Mezzy wrote:Good to hear about Montero. He's definitely been a surprise for all of us that saw him play since his youth.

How's Juan Quintero looking? I know that he gets limited play time, but is he productive?

He scored tonight. He doesn't have enough minutes yet for me to tell if he will live to the expectations but so far Porto supporters are excited about him. Are you from Colombia?

I don't ever see the teams in league play, but just based off the talent that passes through and the clubs performances in europe they seem to be in the same tier as the russian league, right in between Ligue 1 and Serie A, and the Eredivisie and Turkish league.

El MyLittlePony wrote:porto's business model is making the third party agencies rich, not themselves.

That's spot on! I just recently saw some numbers how much money they actually get for their talents. Not much is left for the clubs like Porto.

Joao Saraiva wrote:

J-Mezzy wrote:Good to hear about Montero. He's definitely been a surprise for all of us that saw him play since his youth.

How's Juan Quintero looking? I know that he gets limited play time, but is he productive?

He scored tonight. He doesn't have enough minutes yet for me to tell if he will live to the expectations but so far Porto supporters are excited about him. Are you from Colombia?

Yes I am. I try to follow the league., but it's hard due to no coverage in the u.s.

cgf wrote:I don't ever see the teams in league play, but just based off the talent that passes through and the clubs performances in europe they seem to be in the same tier as the russian league, right in between Ligue 1 and Serie A, and the Eredivisie and Turkish league.

Sorry but Porto is way above ANY russian team. Easily. Also our teams have had more success in Europe than Russian teams... not even to mention the national squad. Even Zenit who spends a lot of money will probably lose against Porto, Benfica or Sporting if they meet in Europe.