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he wanted to replace Speed, a box to box player, with a playmaker who would sit deep and pick the ball up and spray it about. Speed couldn't quite do that. I think the idea was to turn Jenas into the all-round box to box midfielder and have Viana behind him with Dyer as a roaming ATCM or advanced forward behind a CF. Basically 4-1-3-1-1 without traditional wingers. Ambrose was signed to be a non traditional winger

 

Dude, this is such a load of shit I don't know where to start.

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It was quite a coup for us at the time to sign him. I don't think anyone was to blame for the way it worked out. He got an awkward injury, a dislocated shoulder which had to be pinned back which takes way longer to heal, then it popped again if I recall correctly.. he never really recovered and he never had a long enough run in the first team to adjust to the English game.

 

Could have been one of the nufc greats if things had gone his way. A sublime passer of the ball and a similar vision to the likes of Cabaye.

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Mostly on point about Viana being played out of position. SBR sticking him on the LW as a sub didn't help his game. He also just wasn't quick enough at times for this league I think, maybe if he'd had more games to settle into in the center of the park, he would've found a role in the team a bit better. I always wondered why we'd signed him as he was never a left winger.

 

^ edit, this was in reference to HTT's unfairly maligned (as usual) post.

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A wasted talent. I remember seeing him play for Portugal, I think it was against England, and he was sensational. He sat deep in midfield and effortlessly dictated the play, very much like Valderrama.

 

Under 21s? If so that's the game I watched and he looked head and shoulders ahead of anyone on the pitch. It was an u21 tournament and he bossed it.

 

It was a senior match, a friendly in 2002 that finished 1-1. He came on for the second half with Portugal losing and, like with the u21s, he bossed it and set up the equaliser.

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A wasted talent. I remember seeing him play for Portugal, I think it was against England, and he was sensational. He sat deep in midfield and effortlessly dictated the play, very much like Valderrama.

 

Under 21s? If so that's the game I watched and he looked head and shoulders ahead of anyone on the pitch. It was an u21 tournament and he bossed it.

 

It was a senior match, a friendly in 2002 that finished 1-1. He came on for the second half with Portugal losing and, like with the u21s, he bossed it and set up the equaliser.

 

This is correct. He was awesome that 2nd half.

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Didn't Paully on here have a Hugo Viagra on a toon top, with a picture of Viagra printed on it?

 

Feel like he's a forgotton man, but scored a couple of crucial goals. Against Birmingham to confirm our CL spot, Feyernord. Think he scored a nice free kick at the Hawthorns a week after the Brum one when we had a love fest with the WBA fans.

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Didn't Paully on here have a Hugo Viagra on a toon top, with a picture of Viagra printed on it?

 

Feel like he's a forgotton man, but scored a couple of crucial goals. Against Birmingham to confirm our CL spot, Feyernord. Think he scored a nice free kick at the Hawthorns a week after the Brum one when we had a love fest with the WBA fans.

 

:lol:

 

Jesus, I had forgotten about this! Young and daft  :D

 

I thought he was technically superb but he just wasn't cut out for the rigmaroles of the Premier League! That slide ball through for Bernard at home to Chelsea in the 2-1 win though - magic! A few magic free kicks too! To think we had him, Robert, Nobby and Shearer for free kick duty back then!

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Viana was undoubtedly one of the best young players in the world when we signed him, however he never quite had the mental or physical aptitude to succeed in England despite having the football ability. That said, he didn't get the rub of the green at times and was played out of position mostly. It showed SBRs football brain though, he wanted to replace Speed, a box to box player, with a playmaker who would sit deep and pick the ball up and spray it about. Speed couldn't quite do that. I think the idea was to turn Jenas into the all-round box to box midfielder and have Viana behind him with Dyer as a roaming ATCM or advanced forward behind a CF. Basically 4-1-3-1-1 without traditional wingers. Ambrose was signed to be a non traditional winger and I'm positive SBR was looking to phase out Shearer and how we played with him as the focal point. 4-4-2 worked, but it wouldn't make us title winners or CL winners which is what SBR would have been aiming towards. Gary Speed btw looked after Viana like an uncle or father and Viana credited him after he left us as a huge positive influence on him. Those were good days where we as a club were constantly looking to become a force.

 

I have doubts about whether there really was a masterplan behind his signing. I suspect it was a product of the lack of co-ordination between Sir Bob and Freddie Shepherd, who was getting far too involved in the selection of players to target for transfer. Viana had a good Under 21 tournament, was being talked about as the best young midfield player in Europe, and Freddie got over excited. I think it was him who gave the lead to it, rather than Sir Bob.

 

I'm not saying that he was signed without Sir Bob's agreement, but it was presented to him as a 'yes or no' option.

 

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Obviously we all love a mercurial talent but if he was so great, why was he shipped back to Sporting after two seasons? He hardly had a great career thereafter either.

 

My final memory of him was that absolutely laughable attempt at winning a header costing us a goal in the semi final against Marseille.

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I remember watching the game between Sweden and Portugal in Gothenburg. I was sitting there watching him closely with a grin on my face feeling so proud. He was absolutely ridiculously class and his passing was out of this world. I was sitting in a good seat quite close to the pitch but i still had a really good overview of the game. Even from this position he made God knows how many passes which had me thinking "how the hell did he see that pass, hell i didnt even see that option ", i mean the boy didn't just see it on the pitch he also played it inch perfectly time after time. People around me had no idea who he was and all of them were asking each other who the hell is this player? He was the best player on the pitch by a mile, and players like Figo and Rui Costa were playing as well. When he went off to be replaced by Figo i remember him just shaking his head and smiling, applauding him off. It was ages ago but somehow this was one of those performances that you wont forget.

 

I absolutely adored him but for various reasons it didn't quite work out for him as it should have. I don't know if it would have gone any differently but i've wondered so so many times what he could have become if he had went to a top club in Spain instead. Maybe it was a too big change of scenery, culture and style going to England at his age. Maybe he would have adapted better and being more suited taking that big first step in Spain instead, we'll never know. Loved watching him play! So so talented...

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he wanted to replace Speed, a box to box player, with a playmaker who would sit deep and pick the ball up and spray it about. Speed couldn't quite do that. I think the idea was to turn Jenas into the all-round box to box midfielder and have Viana behind him with Dyer as a roaming ATCM or advanced forward behind a CF. Basically 4-1-3-1-1 without traditional wingers. Ambrose was signed to be a non traditional winger

 

Dude, this is such a load of shit I don't know where to start.

 

How's that? I always remember being frustrated that Bobby talked about him playing as a holding midfielder, at the time I thought he was far better suited to being the playmaker and being used further forward. In the end he probably ended up being too fragile to play in centre midfield at all, especially considering players got a lot less protection back then. You could probably put him in the same bracket as Thauvin and Cabella, loads of talent, just didn't relish the physicality of the English league.

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Viana had more talent in his left foot than thauvin's whole body. 

 

Viana.  Injuries didn't help but he looked like he had something special in his first season.  Glimpses tbh.

 

Don't think he ever had the mental or physical attributes for the division at the time. Even if Speed was out for long periods I don't think Viana would've made it. Great player to watch on form. He and Jenas in midfield while a talented pair, wouldn't have worked long term.  Would've played some teams off the pitch on their day though. 

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Viana had more talent in his left foot than thauvin's whole body. 

 

Viana.  Injuries didn't help but he looked like he had something special in his first season.  Glimpses tbh.

 

Don't think he ever had the mental or physical attributes for the division at the time. Even if Speed was out for long periods I don't think Viana would've made it. Great player to watch on form. He and Jenas in midfield while a talented pair, wouldn't have worked long term.  Would've played some teams off the pitch on their day though. 

 

Viana.

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Remember a game home to Blackburn where he came off the bench at left-wing and was brilliant. Seem to remember a class assist for Hughes?

 

Just checked that game, wasn't Hughes, and he was only on 13 minutes, but I definitely remember one class first time cross that game from him.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/24/match.sport12

 

Ah man just reading that. 3 points off the top with 7 games left and a title 6 pointer at home to Man Utd to come. We're never getting that close again are we. :lol:

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A wasted talent. I remember seeing him play for Portugal, I think it was against England, and he was sensational. He sat deep in midfield and effortlessly dictated the play, very much like Valderrama.

I remember a few times it was billed as a battle between him and David Dunn as to who would go onto the biggest things. Worked out well for both but Hugo had Dunn's life whenever they met with the 21's

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Remember a game home to Blackburn where he came off the bench at left-wing and was brilliant. Seem to remember a class assist for Hughes?

 

Just checked that game, wasn't Hughes, and he was only on 13 minutes, but I definitely remember one class first time cross that game from him.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/24/match.sport12

 

Ah man just reading that. 3 points off the top with 7 games left and a title 6 pointer at home to Man Utd to come. We're never getting that close again are we. :lol:

 

Bellamy side-foot finish at home to Blackburn 5-1 I think?!

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