Where’s the Midfield?

May 15th, 2006 | By: WC Bob | 4 Comments »

Now that we’ve had some time to digest Angola’s selection, we can spend a little time analyzing Goncalves’ choices. Overall, I think the coach did an excellent team picking the best players that are healthy and available to play for the Palancas.

The one exception is in the midfield where the team is thin thanks to the injury of Gilberto and also because Goncalves only selected six midfielders. The choice of Titi Buengo as a sixth forward tells me that the coach is hoping to play an attacking style during the World Cup, possibly with three forwards.

I have no problem with that, but I think he would have been better served selecting another attacking midfielder rather than a sixth forward who is somewhat marginal and unlikely to contribute much in Germany.

So do you think that Goncalves’ planning to play something like a 4-3-3 and hoping that the attacking style will be able to overcome a thin midfield?

Tags: Angola, midfield, roster, titi buengo

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Comments

By Kiko | May 15th, 2006 at 1:12 pm

Unless Goncalves tells us that Titi Buengo is able to play in midfield, I am confused about him taking 6 forwards. What if Figueiredo gets injured, will there be a plan B? What if we pull up an upset and reach the second round, will there be enough fit midfielders? I Just hope the manager knows what he’s doing

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By Nick | May 15th, 2006 at 4:18 pm

I did notice that there seems to be too many forwards. From what I saw at the African Nations, Angola is not a very offensive team either. Apart from the Nethelands, I dont recall seeing another team including six forwards in their World Cup squad.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Pedro P | May 15th, 2006 at 6:44 pm

Hi Nick. Portugal´s taking 4 wingers and 3 strikers, so 7 forwards…

By DonDadda | May 18th, 2006 at 9:58 pm

I think Coach is planning to play 4-4-2. Mateus is an attacking midfielder. I know we haven’t heard much of him until the Cosafa tourney, in which he scored some 2 goals in 1 game.

Expect to see Mateus, figueiredo, Edson, and Ze Kalanga starting in the MF.

Posted from United States