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Author: Danielos
Date: 07-09-2005, 14:36

My team Halmstads BK from Sweden will play against Sporting Lissabon in the UEFA Cup First Round. I just want to ask the football-experts here if you could fill me in a couple of things about Sporting:

1) Who are the stars of Sporting?
2) Any players from national teams?
3) What is the attendance of the matches that Sporting play?
4) Which is the most popular team in Portugal today?
5) Has Sporting became better or worse in recent years?
6) What are the team?s strengths and weaknesses?
7) How good is the portuguese league?
8) How good is the economy of Sporting and portuguese clubs?
9) Which club in Portugal do you consider to be best?
10) What are our odds?

Author: nolan
Date: 07-09-2005, 15:17

Well, being from the opposition I'll refrain from answering 4 and 9 as to not cause eventual upsettings. However:

1- Currently, the brightest stars of Sporting are Liedson, the brazilian striker, extremely dangerous in the area, holds the ball very well, good header and has an uncanny ability to get a shot on goal from seemingly impossible situations (2 or 3 players on top of him). There's Moutinho, emerging portuguese talent, a very smart player, good passing, creative and good shooter too. Then there's cameroonian winger Douala, this guy is in tremendous form, really, really fast, very hard to stop.

2- For Portugal, Ricardo, Beto (sometimes) and Moutinho, Douala for Cameroon, Pinilla and Tello for Chile, Polga played WC2002 for Brazil but hasn't been there since.

3- Usually around 30000 people, a bit less on "lesser" matches and 40 to 50000 on bigger games.

5- Well that depends, they were champions in 2002, haven't won the league since, in that aspect they're worse, but comparing with 2003 and 2004 they were in the title contention last year, went to the UC final, look reasonably strong for this year despite elimination from CL.

6- They're a very attacking side, lots of possession in the midfield, ball circulation with a lot of creative players with a very fast winger and a deadly striker. This also proves to be their downfall sometimes, as they seem to easily succumb to "sneaky" teams who get goals past them in the counter. It seems if the other side can get the ball in their half with 2 or 2 quick movements, their defense rarely holds it together. (if you saw the UC final you'll know what I mean)

7- That depends I guess, I would say it ranks somewhat below the dutch league and above the belgian, but opinions might (and will) differ on that.

8- Basically, except for Porto, with the CL money from 2004 (and sales of that dream-team) teams in Portugal have to sell their talent to turn profit. Sporting is no exception, however since they have by far the best scouting and youth program in Portugal their strategy is to launch new players from youth squads into the team every year to replace the sale of 1/2 players per year.

10- I can only guess Halmstads strenght, but from their 12th in the swedish league I'd say their chances are limited. Furthermore nordic style doesn't strike me as the most effective against a team like Sporting, they would have more trouble against an eastern like team, with quick passes who can go from a defensive situation to having 2 or 3 players up there fast. Maybe 75-25 our 80-20.

Hope it helps