gandycoleuk Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Saturday 7th July 2007 It's been all change at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon this morning as Benfica have seen one manager resign and appointed another straight away. After Jose Antonio Camacho suddenly handed in his resignation to the club chairman Luis Felipe Vieira last night, the club have announced rookie boss and longtime fan Faiz Khan as the new Benfica manager. Khan has put pen to paper on a 2 year contract, earning £5,250 per week. Although this is Khan's 1st managerial job and the media have doubts over his managerial track record, Vieira has stated on the club's website that Khan has the full backing of the board at the Stadium of Light. Vieira has told his new employee that the Bwin Liga trophy must be in the trophy cabinet by the end of his 2 year deal in June 2009. As regards to this season, the minimum expectation for Khan to achieve is to at least mount a serious challenge for the Bwin Liga trophy. To help Khan with his new job, he has been handed a transfer budget of £12.5m with the wage budget standing at £650k per week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Saturday 7th July 2007 Faiz Khan's first day as the new Benfica manager has been interrupted by an injury to one of his talented youngsters. New signing Angel Di Maria has sustained a chest injury after overexerting himself in the weights room during training this afternoon. The 19-year-old left winger, who signed from Central, will be treated at the club by the physios and is expected to be ruled out for upto 3 weeks. This means that Di Maria is a doubt for the start of Benfica's pre-season campaign, which kicks off with a match against Olympique Marseille at the Stadium of Light. Di Maria was said to be very frustrated that his injury is hampering his settling in period at his new club. Khan is likely to replace Di Maria in the side with fellow new signing, Uruguay international Cristian Rodriguez, who was signed from Paris Saint-Germain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Thursday 12th July 2007 Benfica's new manager Faiz Khan has made his first signing of his managerial reign and it did'nt cost him a penny. Russia international skipper Sergey Ignashevich has joined the club from CSKA Moscow on a free transfer. 27-year-old Ignashevich has signed a 4 year contract, worth £15,500 per week at the Stadium of Light. The central defender is said to be ecstatic to have agreed terms with Benfica and is very keen to rise to the challenge of playing for such an illustrious club. Ignashevich is a player who leads by example on the pitch and this quality is underlined by his bravery and desire to help out his team-mates. He is a very consistent performer and is sure to challenge other centre-backs including Luisao, David Luiz and Edcarlos for a place in Khan's starting XI. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Friday 13th July 2007 It's not good for your confidence in your first managerial job when another injury comes along. Benfica official website has confirmed that Nelson has sustained a twisted ankle after taking a very heavy fall during this afternoon's training session. The 24-year-old right-back is likely to be treated at the club by the physios and will be ruled out for upto a month, keeping him out for the full pre-season campaign but should recover in time for Benfica's opening Bwin Liga game with Belenenses at the Stadium of Light. Although disappointed with the injury setback, Nelson declared himself looking forward to returning to action as soon as possible. His place in the starting XI for the pre-season campaign is likely to go to fellow Portuguese right-back Luis Felipe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Wednesday 18th July 2007 He mentioned that signing a striker was one of his priorities and new Benfica manager Faiz Khan has captured one this afternoon. The club have announced the signing of Finnish forward Mika Aaritalo from Turun Palloseura for a fee of £200,000. The 21-year-old former Aston Villa man has signed a 4 year deal, worth £3,900 per week. The uncapped Finnish man is said to be extremely happy to have agreed terms with Benfica and has stated his enthusiasm at the prospect of playing for such a well-supported club. Aaritalo is a player who is very effective in the air and is a real force to be reckoned with in aerial battles. He is also thought to be a player who enjoys the big match atmosphere and therefore helps his performances in these particular matches. Aaritalo will be looking to compete with the likes of fellow new signings Oscar Cardozo and Gonzalo Bergissio and club captain Nuno Gomes for a place in Khan's starting XI. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Friday 3rd August 2007 The draw for the Champions League Third Qualifying Round was made this lunchtime at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Faiz Khan's first competitive game as Benfica boss will be with Russian outfit Spartak Moscow at the Stadium of Light. Here is the draw in full: Zaglebie Lubin/Levski v Fenerbahce Sheriff/Debrecen v Arsenal Sevilla v Rosenborg/Domzale Slavia Prague/BATE v Werder Bremen Liverpool v Dinamo/Sarajevo Elfsborg/Salzburg v Ajax Dinamo Kiev v Grasshopper Zilina/APOEL v Celtic FC Kobenhavn/FBK Kaunas v Lazio BENFICA v Spartak Moscow Pobeda/Besiktas v AEK Sparta Prague v Derry City/Rangers Tampere Utd/Red Star v Steaua/B.Jerusalem Valencia v FH/Genk Toulouse FC v Ventspils/Shakhtar Dinamo Bucharest v Anderlecht Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Friday 3rd August 2007 With the new domestic season just a fortnight away, Skybet have published the odds for the Bwin Liga Title. Defending champions Porto and runners-up Sporting have been made joint 6-4 favourites to be crowned champions of Portugal by May next year. Faiz Khan's Benfica are not far behind with 2-1 odds to win the league title this season and it clearly means that Khan has his work cut out for him if he wants to mount a serious tilt at Porto's Bwin title crown. Here is the list of the favourites for the Bwin Liga this season: Porto 6-4 Sporting 6-4 Benfica 2-1 Braga 14-1 Belenenses 33-1 Boavista 40-1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Monday 6th August 2007 He could have done without this. Faiz Khan will be forced to enter his first season in charge of Benfica without iconic superstar Rui Costa. The 35-year-old attacking midfielder, due to retire at the end of the season, has suffered fractured ribs in an accidental collision during the club's pre-season victory away to Lugo. The club's physios will treat Rui Costa's injury and the midfielder will forced to sit out upto 2 months of the new season. Rui Costa himself was very disappointed to be injured but also very optimistic about returning to hopefully play a part in his final season for the club. His place in the starting XI will now be a fight between Freddy Adu and Nuno Assis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kewell08 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Good start. One tip I might give is to not quote the words used by the in-game news so much - we all play the game and it's very familiar to us But I do like your style, keep it up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Wednesday 15th August 2007 On the morning before his first competitive match as Benfica manager, Faiz Khan was asked about how he was feeling about the club's supporters' protests at his appointment. The supporters were concerned at his lack of experience in management and the journalists were asking Khan if he was starting to feel the pressure already. Khan responded confidently that he knew the supporters were not impressed with his appointment and it was up to him to win them all around, starting tonight with the Champions League Third Qualifying Round 1st Leg against Fenerbahce at the Stadium of Light. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Sorry guys, just realised I'm playing Spartak Moscow and not Fenerbahce. My mistake. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Wednesday 15th August 2007 Champions League Third Qualifying Round 1st Leg Benfica 2-2 Spartak Moscow Faiz Khan's first match in charge of Benfica ended in a frustrating score draw with Spartak Moscow at the Stadium of Light this evening. Vladimir Bystrov's freak goal midway through the second half completed a resilient if undeserved fightback by the Russian outfit to take the away goals advantage into the 2nd Leg in Moscow a fortnight from now. Benfica new boy Oscar Cardozo produced two brilliant strikes to hand Khan's side a dream start inside 8 minutes. Roman Pavlyuchenko pulled a goal back for Spartak halfway through the first half before Bystrov's vital equaliser. From then on, there was a real siege on the visitor's goal but Stipe Pletikosa was outstanding in keeping out the hosts and the home supporters went home feeling frustrated. As well as Cardozo, Khan handed debuts to Sergey Ignashevich and Mika Aaritalo while Spartak coach Stanislav Cherchesov gave Dmitry Kombarov his full debut for the club. On a very dry and mild evening in Lisbon, referee Edo Trivkovic got this European campaign underway. The game was only 2 minutes old when the hosts opened the scoring. Kombarov tripped Freddy Adu on the edge of the area and Cardozo stepped up to dispatch a powerful freekick in off Pletikosa's near post with the aid of the wall's deflection - a goal on his debut and the supporters loved him already! The early goal allowed the hosts to settle down and after 7 minutes, Petit fed Maximiliano Pereira on the right side of midfield and his long range effort was straight into the arms of Pletikosa. A minute later, the hosts doubled their lead in spectacular fashion. Martin Jiranek's poor throw was intercepted by Petit who fed the ball into Cardozo's feet and the Paraguay international turned and smashed the ball past Pletikosa at his near post from 25 yards. The hosts had made a fantastic start to the game but they almost gave a goal away in a criminal way after 17 minutes. Ignashevich's short freekick was cut out by Welliton and the Brazilian youngster was through on goal but luckily for the Russia captain, the striker dragged his effort harmlessly wide of Hans-Jorg Butt's near post. Two minutes later, Petit gave the ball to Aaritalo who drove forward before playing a perfect pass through for Cardozo to hit first time but his shot looped harmlessly over the crossbar. Spartak had been shellshocked by the start to the match but they grabbed the opportunity to pull an away goal back after 21 minutes. Adu was dispossessed by Kombarov in midfield and Welliton played a pinpoint pass through for Pavlyuchenko who had beaten the offside trap to fire across Butt into the far corner - his 1st goal of the season! Three minutes later, the visitors missed a golden opportunity to level this tie up. Bystrov sped past Leo on the right wing where he pulled the ball back for Kombarov to play the ball into the area but the unmarked Mozart missed the target from 6 yards. On the counter-attack, Petit aerial success found Cardozo 25 yards out but this time his effort was pushed out by Pletikosa and the ball was cleared to safety. On 28 minutes, an innocuous challenge on Pereira by Mozart forced Khan into an early substitution, bringing on Gonzalo Bergessio. The hosts were on top at the moment and after 33 minutes, they almost took advantage of a goalkeeping error. Angel Di Maria's pass was too long for Cardozo but the striker put enough pressure on Pletikosa to kick the ball straight to Aaritalo on the right wing but his audacious half volley drifted wide of the relieved Pletikosa's near post. A minute later, a lovely flowing move from Benfica almost brought a third goal. Petit passed the ball inside to Adu who found space with a good ball through to Cardozo whose fierce shot was well parried away by Pletikosa. Three minutes later, Di Maria gave the ball to Adu who instantly played a perfect ball through to Bergessio but Pletikosa came rushing out to produce a fine fingertip save wide for a corner. As the first half drew to a close, it was Benfica on the front foot and looking very likely to add to their advantage after the break. Half-Time - Benfica 2-1 Spartak Moscow The second half had started very quietly in Lisbon with the hosts unable to repeat their bright opening as Spartak kept possession with ease. Just before the hour mark, Di Maria played a wonderful crossfield pass into the path of Aaritalo and he crossed to the back post where Cardozo did well to get his header on target but it was too weak and went straight into Pletikosa's arms. It was a fairly subdued second half and it was partly down to Moscow being much more solid all parts of the pitch. They drew confidence from this and they capped it off by levelling the tie. Welliton went on a run which looked like a blind alley before intelligently pulling the ball back for Bystrov on the corner of the area and his miscued cross looped over the helpless Butt and into the net off the far post - his 1st goal of the season and won't score a stranger one in a long while! Stung by this comeback, Benfica almost snatched back the initiative. Substitute Nuno Assis drove forward before teeing up Petit from 25 yards and his thunderous strike produced a brilliant stop from Pletikosa to force a corner. The hosts were playing with the bit between their teeth and after 76 minutes, Ignashevich's long ball was knocked down by Aaritalo for Petit but his long range shot was easily caught by Pletikosa. Four minutes later, Mozart obstructed Petit on the edge of the area and Cardozo teed up the Portugal international for a fierce effort which Pletikosa did brilliantly to tip around his near post. There was a real crusade on Spartak's goal in the last 10 minutes but the closest Benfica got to winning this 1st Leg was Petit's long range effort taking a deflection, wrongfooting Pletikosa but trickling harmlessly wide of the far corner. Following four minutes of injury time, the referee called for time with Khan's hands on his head in despair. His players had given their all throughout the evening but could'nt get past Pletikosa for a third time. The home supporters acknowledged this and applauded their troops while the visiting support from Russia applauded their players for holding on somehow and will be confident going into the 2nd Leg two weeks from now. Full-Time - Benfica 2-2 Spartak Moscow Match Analysis Benfica - Butt 6, Luis Filipe 7, Leo 6, Ignashevich 7, Luisao 7, Pereira 7 (Bergessio 28, 6), Di Maria 6 (Rodriguez 66, 6), Petit 7, Adu 7 (Nuno Assis 57, 6), Cardozo 8, Aaritalo 6. Goals - Cardozo (2, 8) Booked - Petit Injured - Pereira (28) Spartak Moscow - Pletikosa 8, Jiranek 5, Badyautdinov 6 (Titov 78, 7), Geder 7, Kovac 7, Bystrov 7, Torbinsky 6 (Ryzhkov 89, 7), Kombarov 7, Mozart 7, Pavlyuchenko 7, Welliton 7 (Dzyuba 84, 6). Goals - Pavlyuchenko (21), Bystrov (66) Booked - Torbinsky Man of the Match - Oscar Cardozo - the Paraguay international scored himself straight into the hearts of the Benfica supporters with two wonder strikes on his debut for the club. Was always available and caused plenty of problems for the visitors. Attendance - 36420 Referee - Edo Trivkovic Other Champions League Third Qualifying Round 1st Leg Results BATE 1-3 Werder Bremen Besiktas 4-2 AEK Debrecen 0-5 Arsenal Dinamo Bucharest 0-0 Anderlecht Dinamo Kiev 2-1 Grasshopper FC Kobenhavn 1-2 Lazio Liverpool 4-0 Sarajevo Red Star 2-2 B.Jerusalem Salzburg 0-1 Ajax Sevilla 6-1 Rosenborg Sparta Prague 3-0 Rangers Toulouse FC 0-1 Shakhtar Valencia 0-0 Genk Zaglebie Lubin 1-1 Fenerbahce Zilina 0-1 Celtic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Wednesday 15th August 2007 The look on Maximiliano Pereira's face was a look of resignation and disappointment and his fears have been confirmed tonight. The right winger has sustained strained knee ligaments following his innocuous collision with Mozart during Benfica's Champions League Third Qualifying Round 1st Leg draw with Spartak Moscow at the Stadium of Light. The club's physio will treat Pereira's injury and it has been revealed that the right winger will be ruled out of action for upto 2 months. Pereira is said to be very frustrated that his settling-in period at his new club has been hampered by this injury setback. Manager Faiz Khan was also very disappointed to have lost his only recognised right winger and has already been looking at strengthening that position. Targets include Jeremy Menez, Oleg Husyev, Morais and Ismael Aissati. For now, it looks like Mika Aaritalo will take up the position for the club's opening Bwin Liga game against Belenenses at the Stadium of Light on Sunday evening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Sunday 19th August 2007 Due to international call-ups, Benfica's opening Bwin Liga game with Belenenses at the Stadium of Light this evening has been postponed and rescheduled for Wednesday 5th September. Here are the results from the opening weekend of the Bwin Liga: Braga 2-1 Maritimo Leiria 0-0 E.Amadora Nacional Da Madeira 1-1 P.Ferreira Porto 1-0 Leixoes Sporting 2-0 Naval Vit.Guimaraes 1-2 Academica Vit.Setubal 0-3 Boavista Bwin Liga Top Three Boavista - 3pts Sporting - 3 Acdemica - 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandycoleuk Posted July 12, 2008 Author Share Posted July 12, 2008 Unfortunately, my game has been corrupted and I've had to delete it. For all people who were enjoying it so far, apologies in order. Can a mod come and close this story down please? Thank you for reading. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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