Manchester City

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has the longest name to appear in the Champions League and has been involved in the longest running transfer story of the summer here in Portugal. He plays for PSV Eindhoven, but - If the Portuguese press is to be believed – will at some stage soon become FC Porto’s big summer signing. The resonance of such a move is not lost on the locals. If Porto pulls off the signing, they will be bucking a very long and well-entrenched trend, that Portugal is a seller of talent and not an importer of it. Porto’s tenacious following of Hesselink makes interesting news, therefore, to supporters used to making do with the crumbs from the big boys’ table…
We have already acknowledged that City will face a Porto side on August 12th in the Thomas Cook Trophy game unrecognisable from the Champions League final team of three short years ago. That is not to say that Porto do not have a very useful side, however. Less audacious than the earlier vintage, this Porto side is more workmanlike, more practical in its outlook but is still likely to be set up in quite an attacking formation.

Like City, the blue and whites have been employing two separate sides either side of half time in most games, but a first team is beginning to take shape. However, after their disastrous showing in the Amsterdam Tournament, where they lost both their games (“this will act as preparation for Europe”, said Adriaanse beforehand) the likely formation may be further tinkered with but is likely to be more or less as follows, probably set up in a 3-4-3 basis, i.e. the one used to win the Portuguese title, but which brought a very meager return in the Champions League

There are no longer any doubts about the goalkeeper: the Brazilian HELTON has proved himself very safe and agile and has succeeded in relegating the most iconic Porto player left on the staff, Victor Baia, to a bit-part role. As their shape is an attacking one, it demands rapid defenders, who can pass the ball accurately. Therefore, PEPE will marshal the defence, next to RICARDO COSTA and MAREK CHECH (who is relied upon for his excellent crossing technique). Pedro Emanuel also plays from time to time but will probably be left out against a City team, which Porto will expect to find swift and direct in comparison to their usual Portuguese league opponents.

The four midfielders will probably be PAULO ASSUNÇÃO, another Brazilian, who defends the spaces very well and rarely tires, the Argentinean LUCHO (fresh back from a good World Cup and probably the best player Porto have), RAÚL MEIRELES (plays in the under 21 national team) or IBSON (Brazilian and a candidate to be a surprise hit this year).

The up and coming star to look out for, however, is yet another Brazilian, ANDERSON, only 18 years old, with flowing dreadlocks and one of the most promising young players around. He is the captain of the Brazil youth team and considered to be their best player. People here are beginning to say that he might be the next Ronaldinho Gaúcho, having played originally for the same team in Brazil and he will wear the coveted number 10 this season.

The Brazilian striker ADRIANO will be served by RICARDO QUARESMA (pictured) and new signing TARIK (bought from AZ Alkmaar, where Adriaanse coached before arriving in the north of Portugal). Quaresma was considered the most valuable player in the league last season and was thus somewhat surprised to miss out on a place in the World Cup squad for Germany in June. He was famously plucked from playing football in Gypsy camps on dirt pitches and is now a skilful and unpredictable handful on the flank for Porto.

Expect a team easy on the eye, comfortable in possession with an alert and fast moving forward line. However, as Adriaanse said after the humiliation in Amsterdam, “if we do not secure a decent striker before the start of the season, we will continue to play pretty and lose”.