man, Benfica have been complete shit recently. everytime they get a good result they follow it up with a home tie against middle of the table clubs, and everytime they have a chance to take first place or at least put serious pressure on the leader they fuck it up: this year they lost at home to Porto, last year they tied at home to Porto and two years before they lost at home to Sporting. in all 3 games besides home advantage they even came from good results, like many consecutive wins or the away win at Anfield Road (lol Hellraiser) 2 years ago.
i don't know why, something always goes wrong.
anyway, Benfica need to take a good, hard look at themselves. we still have the most titles, but since 1995 we've won only 1 champ., 1 cup and 1 supercup or something. Porto, on the other hand, have been absolutely DOMINATING, taking all but 4 champs. since 1995.
the current management deserves the hats off for the incredible financial work (the club was close to bankruptcy) but the signings policy is absurd. they didn't increase Simao's salary, instead selling him off, then signed two unnecessary/shit players who receive fortunes (Butt and Zoro, respectively). the management is either bowing to player manager pressure or simply being stupid, neither of which is good for the club.
Rui Costa is likely to retire after this season (i'm praying he changes his mind) and there's no one at the club who can fill his shoes, at least not right now, and they don't want to renew with Leo the left-back, arguably our best left-back since Antonio Veloso from the early 90's. apparently they forget that in the last 15 years we had maybe 3 good right- or left-backs (seriously).
i have a real fear that Benfica may end up like Nottingham bloody Forest. knock on wood...