I know it was only preseason…

[CoolClaret]

… but that game had a feel of Huddersfield away last season.

On first glance of our team sheet I was expecting well, a trouncing.

I think we’ve gone a level up again… Very exciting times to be a Claret

[4midable]

The clarets are staying up
Top 10 finish playing like that

[Hipper]

It didn't seemed to be played like a friendly, at least it almost didn't.

There was a lot of energy and organisation about both teams and we in particular seemed quite physical in the first half. No player from either side seemed to relax.

Very enjoyable.

[Claretmisterg]

We were brilliant. I was particularly pleased that we coped a lot better with the half time changes than Benfica did with theirs, which implies good depth to our squad. Superb display.

[Tricky Trevor]

It was very good against a very good team but don’t get over excited. I’ve just watched the extended highlights package on youtube and they wasted so many really good chances. Some were down to good defending but others were wasteful.
It is only pre-season.

I will add I was pleased to see the second half improvement. A carry over from last season. VK certainly knows how to re-organiseat HT.

[Clovius Boofus]

Aye, let's not get too carried away. A handful of poor EPL results on the trot and this place will be in meltdown, as per.

I'll been over the moon if we are safe and not involved in a relegation battle going into the last few weeks of the season. For me, this would be a massive achievement.

[blackburnturfite]

Agree with all the above comments, both teams playing with something to prove, dont like to mention any favourites but Townsend looked first class!

[Pickles]

Great performance. But just as we can't be too down after losing to Genk, can't be too high after last night. Results in pre-season don't mean much. But, to come full circle, the performance was pleasing in many ways and that's more important.

[AlargeClaret]

I wouldn’t get too carried away . An under strength 1st half BF ran rings round us at times and Muric was excellent. They swapped the whole side 2nd half and it evened it up . It’s good for the young players and a good confidence boost though .

[Lisbonclaret]

Excellent result and good to watch, even the first half as we were under the cosh a little. 2nd half different animal, we had more movement about us and Benfica were cold having replaced almost all of the 1st half eleven.
Some really interesting placements of players that bode well for the flexibility need we will have during a long season.
Make no mistake we will entertain and amongst a few older members of this board anti cardiac measures will have to taken

[Jakubclaret]

At this juncture the signs are encouraging for sure & it can only be a positive that the team are starting to gel & churning out some good individual performances, you can't ask for much more than that.

[martin_p]

I’m paying as much attention to this result as a did the Genk one. A good training exercise (although it’s always nice to win).

[Quickenthetempo]

I wouldn’t get too carried away . An under strength 1st half BF ran rings round us at times and Muric was excellent. They swapped the whole side 2nd half and it evened it up . It’s good for the young players and a good confidence boost though .

How understrength were Benfica? I can't say I know much about their team.

[Rowls]

You guys are all off script.

Last night was all about the result and the result was

Benfica 0-2 Burnley

I've lumped a tenner on us to beat Citeh and a tenner EW to win the league.

Definitely something to get carried away about.

Oh, OK, maybe it was a bit about the fitness too.

[Quickenthetempo]

It was a cracking game for the lads. Played at 5 a side pace for 90 minutes. Most friendlies are snail pace.

It's a good thing our keeper had a good workout and came through with flying colours.

[bf2k]

If I did have a "concern" from the game was how easy it was to get in behind down our left (second half as I didn't see the first half). Taylor had the ability to recover most of the time but against a better player I think that could be an issue.

Apart from that probably one of the best pre-season games I've watched. Very entertaining and against a half decent team (Benfica are not what they used to be). Atmosphere sounded good when the commentators shut up for a few seconds.

[Darnhill Claret]

Well Rowls, I've also done a few quid each way. Shame it's only 1st and 2nd though. They wouldn't let me put as much on as I wanted to though. So I put the rest on a top half finish. Down from 8/1 to 11/2. Got 4/5 not to be relegated 2 weeks ago but that price has been slashed as well.

[Darnhill Claret]

Got 2/1 not to lose against City. But if we do the odds to finish top half will go back out a little especially as we don't play on game week 2.

[spt_claret]

How understrength were Benfica? I can't say I know much about their team.

The Portuguese league isn't much outside of the big 3, and even those 3 aren't what they were from the little I've seen.
Benfica have a few players who were quality but are getting old now (Otamendi and they've just signed Di Maria. Other than RFA Silva and João Mario (who aren't young either) the only player I really know of theirs is Goncalo Ramos, the lad who scored a hat trick in place of Ronaldo in Qatar.
I think they'd be around 10-12th place in the PL, to be honest. Top of the bottom half, on a par with a Palace, Wolves etc. Could be wrong though as I'm mostly just going off their squad and occasional European game I've seen.

[Quickenthetempo]

The Portuguese league isn't much outside of the big 3, and even those 3 aren't what they were from the little I've seen.
Benfica have a few players who were quality but are getting old now (Otamendi and they've just signed Di Maria. Other than RFA Silva and João Mario (who aren't young either) the only player I really know of theirs is Goncalo Ramos, the lad who scored a hat trick in place of Ronaldo in Qatar.
I think they'd be around 10-12th place in the PL, to be honest. Top of the bottom half, on a par with a Palace, Wolves etc. Could be wrong though as I'm mostly just going off their squad and occasional European game I've seen.

When the poster said they were understrength, I presume they meant 6 or 7 of their best players not available.

[Swizzlestick]

When the poster said they were understrength, I presume they meant 6 or 7 of their best players not available.

It was certainly the same front four that played against Inter in the UCL. Joao Mario will have started too. Plus they had Di Maria last night. Might have been some changes at the back but hardly a scratch team.

[Lancasterclaret]

Its important not to get carried away, but its also important to recognise that we played very well against a CL European team

Lots of positives should taken on board for the coming season from that

[claretonthecoast1882]

The Benfica starting 11 had their 1st choice keeper, 3 of last season back 4 apart from Jurasek who they have just paid around 10m for, midfielder Kokcu has signed for around 20m, Di Maria & Neves & Ramos and other 2 were regulars Aursnes and Joao Mario.

[claretbob]

For comparison on the Ai scout website the transfer value for Benfica’s starting lineup was €237m and for ours €30m. It was a hell of a win and I am adopting the Rowls approach. Benfica are 9th in the European football club rankings ahead of Man Utd and Chelsea and we are 126th. It’s a statement win and should give the boys plenty of confidence.
I checked out the Porto v Wolves game and that was played in the Algarve with barely a crowd. It had a very different feel to our game. Without understanding a word I thought the Portugese commentary was ace and their passion for Benfica added to the viewing experience.

[Rowls]

It's important that the team don't get carried away.

However, as fans, we're allowed to get carried away for a full 24 hours.

Now is the time to text your non Burnley mates and tell them how we're going to be playing in the Champions League next season.

[Rowls]

You have until 8pm tonight folks, don't waste this precious time.

[ClaretLoup]

Let’s not forget that Di Maria scored in World Cup Final and is a current pick for the World Champions, having said that he is also the type of player who only turns up when he fancies it as his only appearance at Turf Moor would testify to.

[NewClaret]

Agree with the OP.

I thought exactly the same last night: “this is like watching the Huddersfield game”.

Although not sure why, we didn’t do anything last night we didn’t do all last season. But we did look fitter, sharper, faster at it to me. To do it against Portuguese champions and CL QFists was just brilliant.

Tough start for us but hope we can at least start like this with the intensity of our pressing and speed of play.

[Juan Tanamera]

If it's okay with you lot, I think I will get carried away a teensy weensy bit.
But thanks for your advice.

[claretbob]

On a wage bill comparison Benfica’s latest salary figure was £41m so on a par with Everton and certainly more than we will be paying.it’s fair to say they get better value for money than the Toffees. Leicester paid nearly £80m in wages to get relegated!

[Quickenthetempo]

On a wage bill comparison Benfica’s latest salary figure was £41m so on a par with Everton and certainly more than we will be paying.it’s fair to say they get better value for money than the Toffees. Leicester paid nearly £80m in wages to get relegated!

I think your info is way off.

Everton's wage bill is around £160m

[FCBurnley]

The really encouraging thing from last night was that even with a lot of personnel changes you could see the team slotting into the Kompany system We were able to create space especially on the wings that Benfica could not prevent VK must have been delighted. Taylor must have staked a big claim.for the lb position and Townsend looked class

[CoolClaret]

For comparison on the Ai scout website the transfer value for Benfica’s starting lineup was €237m and for ours €30m. It was a hell of a win and I am adopting the Rowls approach. Benfica are 9th in the European football club rankings ahead of Man Utd and Chelsea and we are 126th. It’s a statement win and should give the boys plenty of confidence.
I checked out the Porto v Wolves game and that was played in the Algarve with barely a crowd. It had a very different feel to our game. Without understanding a word I thought the Portugese commentary was ace and their passion for Benfica added to the viewing experience.

Exactly that - last nights game had an intensity to it that I haven’t really seen before in a preseason game - I think Benfica wanted to blow us away and our lads have stood up and accepted the challenge.

Reasons why I’m comparing to Huddersfield - well we saw an other new system and saw players like Al-Dakhil perform a different role and really dominate in doing so which is highly impressive, Dara O’Shea looked like he’d been here all last year and some of our movement/pressing up top really caused them problems.

Of course they had chances but that’s not the point - it was more now a heavily rotated team still looked locked in.

Worth noting as well that they’re a lot further ahead in their preseason schedule, having played and beaten- Southampton, Basel, Al-Nassr & Celta Vigo.

[Vegas Claret]

I wouldn’t get too carried away . An under strength 1st half BF ran rings round us at times and Muric was excellent. They swapped the whole side 2nd half and it evened it up . It’s good for the young players and a good confidence boost though .

they were no more under strength than we were

[claretbob]

I think your info is way off.

Everton's wage bill is around £160m

The Planet Football website for one lists the wages paid for 22/23 and Everton are 12th with 43m. No idea how accurate these figures are but they do allow a comparison between different clubs.

[dsr]

The Planet Football website for one lists the wages paid for 22/23 and Everton are 12th with 43m. No idea how accurate these figures are but they do allow a comparison between different clubs.

Everton's gross wages for 2021-22 were £141,390 (excludes NIC). This is for all staff, but I'm sure that players got the lion's share.

https://resources.evertonfc.com/everton ... s-2022.pdf
It's on page 28.

[Lancasterclaret]

The Planet Football website for one lists the wages paid for 22/23 and Everton are 12th with 43m. No idea how accurate these figures are but they do allow a comparison between different clubs.

Everton wouldn't be in financial trouble if that was the case

[claretonthecoast1882]

If Everton had a wage bill of around 40m that would put most of the squad on around 30k a week and nobody else would get in a wage including the manager

[AlargeClaret]

How understrength were Benfica? I can't say I know much about their team.

First half they only had Ramos from last seasons general champs league line up ,but with Morato, Di Maria etc no shortage of talent in the starting XI .All in all a good workout and result .