How will Jorge Jesus set up Portugal?
(My take, based on what he's always done)
Key points:
1) 2 forwards up front:
Jesus has been playing with 2 players up front for most of his career. The target man and the most mobile striker have been present for a long time. Most recently at Al-Nassr, Cristiano was the "target man", with João Félix being the most mobile striker. It has been a constant for Jorge Jesus, since the days of Oscar Cardozo and Saviola at Benfica.
For as long as Cristiano Ronaldo plays at a competitive enough level, Jorge Jesus will bet on him. Maybe not starting every game, certainly not playing 90 minutes every single match, but he will probably be the main man up front – I think Jorge Jesus made that pretty clear in his presentation.
I think Jesus will be fond of Gonçalo Ramos, who isn't mobile enough to play in Luis Enrique's system, but will surely do the job in a double striker partnership – especially considering that he will now be Rúben Amorim's striker at AC Milan, and will probably get better and better at being a mobile striker.
The most likely scenario is what he did at Sporting. He had Bas Dost, a fixed striker who was elite at heading the ball and showing up at the right place in the box, so he signed this guy named Bruno Fernandes from Sampdoria. He played Bruno as this "second striker", but Bruno was really more of a 10 (who would on occasion make some runs in behind, but mostly was the offensive playmaker).
2) The disguised CM
Mostly, Jesus has played with 2 wingers – an explosive one who runs in behind, and an inverted one who comes inside and plays as a number 8 or 10. This was the role of Arda Guler at Fenerbahce. Pablo Aimar did it at Benfica, sort of. Nico Gaitan as well (with a young Fábio Coentrão playing LB and giving the team width). João Mário did it at Sporting, before winning the Euro with Portugal and going to Inter Milan for 45m€. Reinier (remember him?) did this role at Flamengo, before Real Madrid bought him for 30m€.
I can smell Bernardo Silva playing this role 2 months away, it looks like it was made for him.
On the event of Jesus wanting to play 2 pure strikers up front, he will probably move Bruno here. But I don't think that will be the main plan.
I also see João Neves playing in this role, because of his versatility. In fact, I see João Neves more easily starting in this role than as a CM, because…
3) The #6 and the #8
This is my hot take: I don't think the Vitinha x João Neves duo as CMs will keep going regularly in the national team. It doesn't suit what Jorge Jesus has done throughout his career.
There has ALWAYS been a CDM in his teams. Nemanja Matić, Javi Garcia, William Carvalho, William Arão, Yuksek, Rúben Neves, Bronzović. The #6 is a central piece for Jorge Jesus, it's what allows the rest of the team to go forward. It's always paired next to a CM who is allowed freedom to go forward (Ramires, Axel Witsel, Enzo Perez, Adrien Silva, Milinković-Savić).
He will take this to the NT, no doubt. And this is different to what Martinez was doing, trying to force Vitinha and João Neves together without a true CDM, just because that's what they do at PSG.
Jorge Jesus talked about this "best midfield in the world" in his presentation, asking: "Best midfield where? At PSG? At Man United?". This makes it clear he will do things in his own way, instead of forcing what happens in club football just to avoid critics.
I really think he will start Rúben Neves (who he has recently worked with) at CDM, and Vitinha at CM. But I wouldn't even be shocked if he started João Neves instead and left Vitinha on the bench - Jesus will do whatever he thinks is best, with no fear or hesitation.
4) Quick note on Rafael Leão:
Jesus always likes to have an explosive winger, and Leão fits the description perfectly. But he will have to start hustling, Jorge Jesus won't tolerate any laziness. So if Leão doesn't change his attitude, we'll get a few more years of Pedro Neto ball.
I’ve can get this cavoodle dog on gumtree for $1500 as a pup- but my mate says fuck gumtree - buy from me for $3000. 😂. It’s not like I’m buying a greyhound for racing and need special features. It’s just a dog yeah?
@Tripledoublekng@CastTiger Yeah, totally. The club was delusional enough that they bought one player to guarantee them to play finals, and not simply to help them rebuild the culture of the place to turn it in the right direction.
Think people forget just how low the club was when Luai agreed to join. We’d won 8 games in 2 years! Yes he came for 💰 but plenty of others had said no to it
Don’t think we’ve missed a recruitment target since. I’ll always be thankful to him for coming here
So brutal that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have fuck up brothers.
Hugo Ronaldo had a drug and alcohol addiction, Messi's brother Matías survived a gang assassination attempt, and was once found drifting in a blood stained motorboat on the Paraná River before dawn with a broken jaw and facial injuries.
Same parents, same household, they all played football as kids. But Cristiano becomes one of the 5 best players of all time and Messi becomes the greatest of all time.
Hugo Ronaldo was apparently considered a more naturally gifted footballer than Cristiano when they were kids.
So brutal.
🚨 If VAR can call the Ref over to check for Yellow Card Offences Why wasn't the Ref Called When Messi Stomped the foot of Algerian Player from the back with being nowhere near the ball
Why is it that whenever and however it favours Argentina, the VAR and Football Rules are bent
Rams U20's been lively. Chances and corners, needs a goal to set it off. Both sides score and concede tons of goals so hoping they can still squeeze a couple in first half🍀