Orksrule40k Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 New Beginings It's a new season at Arrowhead and changes have been enforced. In from perenial champions DC United is willy olde CJ Brown, to marshall the backline and teach the youngsters how to win. Danny Califf also joined from the LA Galaxy after coach Omer exposed him in the supplemental draft. Former first round pick, David Cota, left the Fire's moody lockeroom after being told that his contract won't be renewed. To bolster the attack, we traded our upcomming second round draft pick to LA for promising USMNT player Greg Campbell. Then we had a major free agent signing, Canadian International Julian De Guzman left his Spanish club, Valencia, and was persuaded to come and ply his trade in the MLS. In a bit of sad news, Peguero was released to make for De Guzman and he ended up back on the Dallas roster. You see, since we ended the career Preciado by Shalrie Joesph badly breaking his legs they needed a striker, and it's so ironic since before last season we traded Preciado for Peguero. In the draft we picked up a young defender with our first pick, Steve Payne and we hope to turn him into a rugged centre half. Our second pick was used to snag young Canadian DM C Kevin Dugas. He had been previously drafted by San Jose in 2008 but was later cut, by reliable source says he's potentially the best player in the draft. So as the season begins we are looking to improve our defensive record and firmly establish either Alex Gray or Sean Kouzmanis in goal. Goals will be hard to come by as we lack talent but hopefully we can sneak a playoff berth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orksrule40k Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 KC Open Cup Hope The Kansas City Wizards cruised into the Semi's of the US Open Cup. They hosted the enigmatic MetroStars at Arrowhead stadium in the Quarters. Coach Lung V is a brilliant spotter of talent, he has found a few great prospects from Asia Ryan Ng, Chen Tao, Hang Xie ect...However, when it comes to tactics he's really ineffective this is evident by his teams having no clue on that big green thing out there. Just look at his poor history against the Fire and DC United. This tactical ineptitude was on display as his side failed to create chances against inferior opposition. The Wizards don't have the talent to change a game with one kick, but they make up for that with spirit and by being 110% committed to the cause, which are areas the Metrostars are left wanting in. KC were playing their typical defensive 4-5-1 formation and were quite happy with 0-0 at halftime with neither side managing a shot on goal. In second half, Adam Rodriguez scored. It was a beautiful freekick and the lackuster Metros didn't manage any response before the final whistle blew. If I was the Metro's manager the team would have much to answer for after a display like that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanmt Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Quakes Anxious for Postseason The San Jose Earthquakes wrapped up their 2010 MLS regular season campaign with a victory over the Columbus Crew. The season thus far will likely be seen by most as successful, with the Quakes headed to the MLS playoffs and also set to participate in the U.S. Open Cup final against the Kansas City Wizards. A place in the Cup final was achieved only after prevailing in a tight contest in the semifinals, again against the Columbus Crew. The Quakes had actually found themselves trailing in the game, but recent South African signing Gift Leremi leveled it up with a goal later described by Crew manager Lee Smith-Bryan as "scrappy". After both 90 and 120 minutes, the score still read 1-1, leading to the penalty kick lottery where San Jose prevailed 4-2. In the MLS Western Conference, the Earthquakes battled it out down the strech against rivals L.A. Galaxy. The two teams' point totals were comfortably higher than any other MLS squad and the race for the Western Conference was close till the last moment. In the end, Los Angeles narrowly won the conference and the top Western seed in the playoffs. As for San Jose, their second place finish means they'll meet third place finishers FC Dallas in the playoffs first round. Between the pipes, San Jose goalkeeper Steve Henderson seems to have been able to wrestle away the starting position back from teammate Brian Brown. Both keepers had their moments, but Henderson seems to be manager Ryan Thompson's first choice headed into the playoffs. The three defenders in front of Henderson continues to usually be John Joy, Andre Muri, and Anthony Vanden Borre. In midfield, both defensive midfielders David Lagos and Brian Williams have been regular starters. Out wide, first round draft pick Joe Davis has surprisingly become first choice over Steve Tucker on the right flank. The rookie took advantage of his opportunities and early season struggles by Tucker. On the left wing, Zenia Sankovich remains the regular, but Chris Levesque has provided creativity from the position when called upon. Earlier in the season, veteran Hungarian midfielder Zoltan Boor was released to clear a roster spot for the South African Gift Leremi. Said Thompson on Boor's release, "We hated to have to do it, but Leremi was out of contract from his previous club and a decision had to be made quickly. We had had our eyes on Leremi for some time now, and Zoltan's SI roster spot was needed to bring him in. It didn't help Zoltan's case that he had started the season very slowly, and we just felt that the younger Leremi would be a better option for us. Leremi is probably not as creative or as natural a playmaker as Zoltan, but he is a good athlete with a fine passing touch and is a threat to score from any range with either foot." Finally, enough cannot be said about the attacking tandem of Bulgarian Vladislav Zlatinov and Guatemalan Jose Manuel Mendoza. The two have been the most prolific partnership in MLS this year, which is remarkable when considering that Zlatinov only joined in midseason. Both forwards have to be considered amongst the elite goal-scorers of MLS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 A return home in the books for De Paula? LA have finished the regular season at the top of the MLS standings and secured home field advantage for the Western Conference Playoffs en route to another possible visit to the MLS cup. With De Paula proving to be a hit in America, he is rumored to have attracted interest from several Brazilian clubs who are aiming to secure his services. A cup winning season would be a great way for De Paula to finish his tenure in the MLS and certainly the LA fans would be delighted to become the team that ends D.C. United's dominance of the MLS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Saga Coming to an End? The Relegation Fighters have taken the MLS to new levels in the past six seasons, producing a champions cup trophy for the league. With the relegation fighters pulling out of the MLS after this season let's recap on some of the highlights of the previous 6 seasons. The MLS Cup has been won by 4 different teams. Let's recap the winners: 2004 - Los Angeles (Tom) 2005 - Colorado (Greg) 2006 - DC United (Omer) 2007 - Columbus (Lee) 2008 - DC United (Tom / A.I.) 2009 - DC United (Tom / A.I.) 2010 - ? Going into the 2010 playoffs, the teams still in contention are: Columbus, Chicago, DC United and MetroStars from the Eastern Conference and Los Angeles, San Jose, Dallas and Colorado from the Western Conference. It remains to be seen who will become victorious in this final season Certain players have also made a mark on the MLS following the arrival of the Relegation Fighters. Who can forget the unstoppable Carlos Fernando Figueroa as he led DC United to MLS cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup glories. Sergio Alejandro Galvan Rey scored goal after goal for the San Jose team that unfortunately became competitive only after his retirement. Brian West of Columbus came out to play in important matches and scored the goals that led the underdogs Columbus to the MLS cup. U.S. born Brede Paulsen Hangeland was a rock in the Chicago defense that has been difficult to penetrate all these years despite failing to secure an MLS title in his tenure. Dwight Pezzarossi will mainly be remembered for his MLS cup winning performance with Colorado but the prolific goalscorer also excelled with San Jose and New England, despite making it a habit to miss penalties. The only light at the end of the Metrostars tunnel of horror was a young goalkeeper by the name of Libis Andres Arenas, who pulled off some amazing saves to keep the Metrostars in contention for the elusive final playoff spot for several years. It takes more than words to describe someone like Ronnie O'Brien who has remained a consistent performer in the MLS for almost a decade. Despite missing out on major trophies with FC Dallas, Ronnie has been the envy of many managers in the MLS. Daniel Montenegro also brought much flair to the New England side becomeing a key contributor. Despite the drastic dip in form for the New England side, Montenegro has remained lethal and still posesses the ability to change the score instantly. The skilled keeper of Kansas City, Alex Gray has managed to win the hearts of fans of any team with his exemplary attitude as well as amazing the entire league by winning the goalkeeper of the year award in his rookie season. He fell short of adding a trophy to his cabinet however as the Wizards fell to DC United in the MLS Cup final despite Gray's seemingly superhuman efforts. The Galaxy of Los Angeles have seen some big name players in the past, but a recent addition to the club has perhaps made the biggest impact. Dan Richards, the determined playmaker who led LA to the MLS Cup final and won the Rookie of the Year award and came in second in the MVP voting. With European clubs knocking on his door, his stay in the MLS probably would not have been much longer. I am sure the MLS will miss the Relegation Fighters and the 7 years of memories that have been left behind. But a new challenge awaits and the Relegation Fighters are yet to shy away from a challenge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanmt Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Thompson to Resign? The San Jose Earthquakes triumphed in the U.S. Open Cup, holding off a late chage by the Kansas City Wizards to win 4-3. San Jose had never lifted the Open Cup before. In the MLS playoffs, the Quakes prevailed in the two-legged tie with FC Dallas, then slipped by LA Galaxy thanks to two great Mendoza goals in a highly anticipated Western matchup. In the MLS final, however, Ricky Lung V's Metrostars continued to send shockwaves throughout the league by finishing off their cinderella playoff run with a 3-0 victory to win the 2010 MLS Playoffs. Said Thompson, "I'm very happy for my players that we won the U.S. Open Cup and had a nice run in the playoffs. But I must admit that I'm bitterly disappointed to not have finished what we started. The pain is unbearable and I do not think I can face my players or the San Jose fans any longer, whom I feel as if I have failed. I therefore am resigning from my position immediately and will probably leave the country." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Coach Smith-Bryan Approached by un-named Brazilian club! When asked about this walking to his car after a training session, coach refused to answer any questions. However, he was overheard yelling "Suckers!" at the top of his voice as he drove away... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 2010 Playoff Conference Semi-finals Announced ..........Vs.......... #1 Columbus Crew .......... #4 NY/NJ Metrostars ..........Vs.......... #2 Chicago Fire ..................... #3 DC United ..........Vs.......... #1 LA Galaxy ............... #4 Colorado Rapids ..........Vs.......... #2 SJ Earthquakes ................. #3 FC Dallas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 2010 Playoff Conference Finals Announced ..........Vs.......... #2 Chicago Fire .......... #4 NY/NJ Metrostars ..........Vs.......... #1 LA Galaxy ............... #2 SJ Earthquakes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 2010 US OPEN CUP: SJ Earthquakes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 2010 MLS Cup Finalists Announced ..........Vs.......... #4 NY/NJ Metrostars ............... #2 SJ Earthquakes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 2010 MLS CUP: NY/NJ Metrostars SAY FAREWELL TO MLS The Relegation Fighters are going to move to Brazil and start a new page after 7 memorable seasons in the MLS league. It ended in a dramatic fashion. The Metrostars, a team which only made one playoff appearance going into the seventh season, never ranked higher than third in the final standing, had pulled off the upsets, completed the cinderella story to win the 2010 MLS Cup. The Metros lost their top goalscorer Alva a week before the playoff. So they have to rely on their Chinese star Chen Tao to get them on the scoresheet. Tao has really come to life after he was moved to the striker position during the last month of the regular season, he scored 4 goals in that span. They faced the Columbus Crew in the semi. Both teams combined for 230 minutes of boring football. The Crew had the upper hand in both leg but could not set up any close chances. They were level and needed to decide by the kicks. Arenas saved the first three kicks, and the Crew busted the fourth one to give the Metros a 2-0 penalty kick win. In the conference final, they faced the Chicago Fire. The Fire was pounding the Metros from the start and finally scored one at the 70th minute. After the goal, the Metros' coach Lung V just realized that the conference final is going to be decided in one game, so he changed to a more attacking tactic. Cummins levelled the game at the 85th minute when he scored a deflected goal at the top of the area. Meyer gave the Metros the lead when he scored an empty net after a mistake by the Fire's goalkeeper. The win really fired up the team. Everyone's morale was superb going into the MLS Cup. At the end, they dominated the game, and won the game 3-0. They prevented the Quakes from doing the double. The most memorable moment in Metrostars' seven-year history comes when captain Lizarazo lifted up the MLS Cup trophy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 The Relegation Fighters off to Brazil After a short vacation, the Relegation Fighters Clan are finalizing preperations for a move to Brazil. It is rumored that the clan will be taking over mid table teams in the first division and teams will be allocated to the managers with a random draw. With the plethora of talent available in Brazil, this advenure promises to be an exciting one for the North American based clan. Managerial openings are still available to those who with to join. Applications are accepted here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 .................................................. .................................................. RELEGATION FIGHTERS CLAN: FUTBOL BRASILIERO EDITION THE RELEGATION FIGHTERS ARRIVES IN LATIN AMERICA! Brazil ND1 has invoked some serious changes to the managerial ranks ahead of the 2005 season. All new managers are part of the same Managers Association, known as the Relegation Fighters Clan, a US-based managerial clan. After seven years managing the MLS, the whole clan moved south, they are ready to take charge of the mid-table or bottom-table teams of the Brazil National First Division. Every manager will fight bravely throughout the season and try to finish around mid-table or fight bravely to avoid relegation according to the teams' expectations, but all managers from the clan are capable of bringing out the full potential of their teams and challenge for the title. We will see how things will unfold during the time the clan is here. Here's the way the new-look ND1 shapes up, after the managerial changes. A.I. Teams Atletico Mineiro...........Gremio..........................Sao Caeatano............... Corinthians...................Internacional...............Sao Paulo...................... Cruzeiro........................Palmeiras......................Vasco............................ Flamengo......................Santos........................... Human Teams Atletico Paranaense: J.........................Guarani: Et.................................................. Botafogo: Ricky....................................Juventude: Nick......................................... Coritiba: Omer......................................Parana: ........................................................ Criciuma: Denis....................................Paysandu: Sam......................................... Figueirense: Ryan................................Ponte Preta: Russ....................................... Fluminense: Stu....................................Vitoria: Lee.................................................. Goias: ..................................................... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 A NEW START IN BRAZIL After capturing the last MLS Cup, coach Ricky Lung moves south with his fellow managers of the RF Clan. Botafogo has allocated to coach Lung through a random draw. According to media prediction, they are going to be relegation bound for the upcoming season in first division. The State Championship is coming to an end, Botafogo came out the gate very slow. They can only managed 3 draws and 3 losses for their first 6 games. Though they won 4 of their last 5, they were a few points short of advancing to the semi-final of the Rio State. Now, they are getting ready for the first division. Stay tune for more all the lastest updates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Renan Ferreira de Souza Named Coxa-Branca Manager Giovani Gionédis named the unknown manager Renan to lead the club into the 2005 Paraná State Championship in a suprising move. Renan was a promising defender in the Flamengo youth system but injuries cut his career short. After being released from Flamengo at the tender age of 21, he played several years in the lower leagues but failed to fully recover from his injuries. After several years in the shadows, working on his coaching certificate, Renan held jobs in lower league clubs as coach and assistant manager until the Coxa-Branca decided to gamble on the former prodigy. Time will tell how much of an impact he will make on the mid table team from Curitiba (PR). Paraná State Championship With little time to prepare for the Paraná State, new Coritiba manager Renan started his career by sending out scouts to bring in reinofrcements as well as asking the coaches to rate each player on the books. The coaches had these to say about the first team players: GK - Fernando - 26 year old keeper is has great reflexes and posesses the qualities of a solid keeper. GK - Vizzotto - 27 year old is a good backup, though he may see himself as more than that. D - Flávio - 28 year old defender is a rock in defense. D - Miranda - 20 year old defender will partner Flávio in the centre, his high technical ability will allow Coritiba to build up the game from the backline. D - Rafinha - 19 year old right back has much promise and looks to be one of the best youg full backs in the league. D - Ricardinho - 20 year old left back, is not as crafty as Rafinha but looks to have a bright future. D - Rondinelli - 21 year old centre back has much to learn before being ready for first team football. D - Tiago Soler - 22 year old centre back is a good backup is unlikely to crack the first team anytime soon. D - Romeu - 28 year old determined centre back can provide cover for Miranda and Flávio. D - Gilvan - 22 year old will provide cover for Ricardinho on the left side. D - James Dens - 19 year old doesn't look ready for first team football but may get chances if Rafinha gets injured or called up for the national team. DM - Reginaldo Nascimento - 30 year old hardworking midfielder brings much needed composure to the position. DM - Reginaldo Vital - 29 year old crafty midfielder will be the primary backup. DM - Márcio EgÃdio - 21 year old is a crafty hardworking defensive midfielder, he should make the position his own in the next few years. AM - Jackson - 30 year old experienced midfielder will also serve as the team captain. AM - Pepo - 23 year old hardworking midfielder can create chances in attack with his unselfish style. AM - Laércio - 20 year old skilled midfielder is strong on the ball but his selfishness could prove to be a problem. AM - Vicente - 21 year old promising midfielder was brought up from the reserves and will be given the opportunity to prove himself. AM - Rodrigo Batatinha - 27 year old attacking midfielder should be allowed to leave to make room for the young players. AM - Massai - 20 year old midfielder has good footballing sense but will likely find himself on the fringes of first team football. F - Negreiros - 24 year old creative forward should take a first team spot when healthy. F - Odair - 23 year old determinded forward fails often in front of the net but is able to penetrate defenses in counter attack. F - Luiz Carlos - 24 year old influential striker will be a good backup. F - Bruno - 20 year old striker shows promise and should be given first team opportunities to prove his worth. F - Alemão - 21 year old on loan forward should be purchased and will add depth to the squad. With the coaches outlining the lack of experience in attack, the scouts searched for a striker who could come in to help immediately. Márcio Mixirica was identified up as a potential signing and we wasted little time convincing the strong striker to join the club. The Paraná State Championship ended much like it started with matches against Londrina. Winning all 8 league matches against the weaker opposition, we got a chance to see the players in action conceding one goal and scoring 19 goals during the league stage. We got past União Bandeirante in the quarter finals, and eliminated Paraná with 2-1 wins in both legs of the tie. Facing Londrina in the finals was a suprise, as they eliminated the heavily favoured Atlético Paranaense in the semi finals. A 3-1 win at home in the first leg of the final, set up an uneventful second leg as we were able to win the Paraná State Championship for a third year running. and for the 33rd time in our history. Brazilian National First Division Before the start of the season, the coaching staff were in agreement that depth in the attacking midfield spots were necessary to get through the long season. The scouts identified 22 year old Atlético Mineiro attacking midfielder Ewerton as a potential candidate as well as 19 year old Fernando of Palmeiras. Both players came at small fees after being left out of their respective squads. After 4 matches into the season, Coritiba sit second in the league with two wins and two draws. Home wins against Vitória and local rivals Atlético Paranaense and away draws draws against Vasco and Figueirense Brazilian Cup Coritiba have progressed to the 6th round of the cup, after eliminating Cruzeiro (RO) and Cabofriense in the 4th and 5th rounds. Facing Náutico in the 6th round, we go into the second leg at home with a 3-1 lead after the first 90 minutes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orksrule40k Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 Ponte Preta appoint Foroya boss After a quite a few days of debauchery and bodliy abuse, I awoke to Samba music and the smell of Carnival in the air. Using my sharp perception skills I gathered that I'm in Brazil and according to the local paper I got the Ponte Preta job. I don't even remember applying, one minute I was in Kansas City relaxing with an old friend Jason Gazzola, the next i'm in the land of the Samba. Oh well, a job's a job and at least it's a full time gig. So it does appear that I'm the first person from the Faroes to coach in Brazil heck maybe even visit it, none of the locals know where it is , and I'm begining to miss the frigid temperatures already. Note to self talk to the board of directors about bringing in a snow and wind machine. :twisted: Currently, we are lying 21st after 4 matches with a single point. But, we did have a decent Sao Paulo State Championships run bowing out at the QF stage. The side appears to be strong at the back but in general we lack depth and quality. The objective in this transitional season is safety, and we will have a death grip on 22nd place. My name is Rókur av Tór-Bárður Þanæðssón but you guys may call me Coach Rok Tor and I can't wait for Olaifest. :wink: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orksrule40k Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 "We will stay up!!!" Coach Rok Tor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Lung Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 BOTAFOGO MID-SEASON UPDATE Around mid-way through the season, Botafogo had managed to stay at a safe mid-table position. Coach Lung was asked about his team performance through the first half of the season. He said, "We are playing decent so far, but we should have achieve more based on the plays we have shown. One word can sum up our first half performance, inconsistent." State Championship Botafogo finished 4th in their state championship (Rio State). They did not win until their 7th game, but they won 4 of their last 5. Brazilian Cup They have gone all the way from the third round to the quarter without any problem. But during the quarter final, they lose to second division Remo, which they should have won easily. They lost both leg. First Division So far, Botafogo are sitting in the tenth place with eight wins, five draws, and 7 losses. They cannot find a streak which can help them move close to the top group. If they win two in a row, then they will drop two straight. At the transfer market, they have added a few members, which allow them to have more depth. Let see how they will do during the second half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 New Juventude boss Nick Gutierrez has been relatively quiet in the media this season. His side has had a rather mediocre first half of the season, although preseason predictions of relegation look somewhat unlikely. A season-ending injury to creative midfield maestro Lopes has been a shocking blow to the team, and they have struggled to score goals since that injury. Not that it was an easy go to start with. Juventude have played stubborn, aggressive defense so far this season, and while the attack certainly hasn't been up to the standard one might expect, Gutierrez is insistent on the idea that 0-0 is good enough... for now. "If we do nothing but play 0-0 draws from this point on, it will mean that we avoid relegation. That will be a positive result from this season, and I will be happy. However, needless to say, we must look for future glory, and that will only come when we find ways to score." Loanee EnÃlton has been the club's most prolific scorer this season, but even he hasn't exactly had the touch of King Midas. Over his past three matches, he has had one on one chances with opposition goalkeepers at a rate of one per match, managing to put all three shots directly in the chest of the opposition keeper. This is the sort of inefficiency that must change if Juventude are to make their way up the table. "When we get a clear-cut chance, we must convert," said the boss. "We aren't bad at getting out on the counter-attack and into space, but once that happens we need to make the final pass and knock it home, and this is the part of our game that is sorely lacking at this moment in time." At this point, he seemed to remember his earlier insistence that 0-0 was a positive result. "Draws are ok, but it is better to win," he concludes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanmt Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 Figueira climbing Brasileirão ladder The recent 8 game winning and 10 game unbeaten streak of Figueirense FC surprised even its first year manager, Ryan Thompson. Said the young American, "the good run was better than anything we could have reasonably hoped for. We made a lot of progress in the table and some of the guys have played extremely well. Still, the closest we ever got to (leaders) Palmeiras was 10 points. When you have to win 8 games in a row just to get to within 10 points, you know things are going to be tough because you can't expect to keep on winning forever. And of course when we finally did lose to Corinthians, Palmeiras' lead over us grew to 13 points, which will take a miracle to overcome with the season winding down." Since taking over, Thompson has overhauled the look of the team. Several veterans use to playing have been demoted to the reserves or even released outright. Goalkeeper Edson Bastos has been ever-present in the defense as well as a team leader. Unfortunately for Figueira, Edson Bastos has spoken recently to the media about his desire to move to a larger club. "Its unfortunate that Edson Bastos evidently feels this way," says Thompson. "I really believe he is one of the most talented keepers in Brazil, so it would hurt if we did have to lose him. Still, he is a Figueirense player for now and I expect him to give his all until that changes." Thompson signed young defenders Vagner Leonardelli and Ricardo, and the two have played with veteran Eloi in a 3-man defense, or alternated in a 4-man back line. Wingbacks Felipe and Filipe have filled in well for the departed leftback Triguinho, though rightbacks Everton Gilio and Paulo Sergio have only recently begun performing better, perhaps coinciding with a tactical switch by Thompson. "We had been playing with my favorite 3-5-2, or 3-2-3-2, and my preference for it has not ceased. But we lack some true wingers and our wingbacks are simply more comfortable further back, so I've switched to a 4-1-2-1-2 for the time being. Of course, it was after this switch that we went 10 games without defeat, though perhaps this was just a coincidence." Playmaker Lucio Flavio was signed with some of the money gained from the Triguinho sale, and has played well, even scoring several goals in addition to his expected assists. Striker Nene was the other big signing, and he competes with the youngster Roberto, a true revelation of the Brasileirão season, and veteran Wagner, the surprise league leader in goals, for playing time. "I'm thrilled with how well the team has played lately," says Thompson. "Thats not the best part though. Some fans have approached me and told me that, having seen bits of the North American game and finding it dull, they were concerned at having an American in charge at their club. But they tell me they've been pleased to see that the team now actually plays with even more of the entertaining flair that they love. To me, being told this is the ultimate complement." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
perpetua Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Summer vacations, other commitments and finally the start of the new semester has not been in the best interest of our progress thread. While a few of us are still continuing the game in Brazil, it is unlikely that we will have regular updates in here until a new game starts with FM 2006. With that said, those who are in North America, and wish to join the game in Brazil should e-mail me for further info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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