Welcome back to the cork-funded, AI-managed world of Uniao de Lamas. We left the team in mid-table with a slightly negative goal difference. There’s much room for improvement, but with the collaboration between human and AI management, we have the necessary tools!
The first game of the second half saw us leading at halftime, courtesy of an Armando strike. An exhilarating burst of five goals in five minutes had the Comendador’s stadium rocking, yet we had to settle for an electric 3-3 draw.
After all the excitement, we witnessed a New Year’s Eve attendance of over 4,000! Unfortunately, the lads seemed preoccupied with the night’s festivities, resulting in a lacklustre performance as Mr. Darci’s team triumphed 2-0.
As we enter 1998, the streak of poor form persists. Despite an early lead courtesy of Tilico, our defence falters, conceding quickly, and we end up falling 4-2.
Our next game is truly turgid, an early goal from Rochinha enough to see us off.
A trip to Beira Mar sees us hit rock bottom (or so we think!).
With Tavares suspended and Tetradze sidelined due to injury, we made a radical decision for the next game by dropping Captain Pinto. However, this move proved ineffective as our defence continued to concede goals freely.
This marks a crisis point. I turn to Miguel; it’s time for him to earn his Bitcoin…
Upon assessing the squad, it’s evident that we lack experience in defense, while the midfield appears relatively stable. Regrettably, the available defensive options willing to join our struggling club are subpar. Hence, we opt for Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai to aid us in overcoming our current struggles. At 34 years old with 95 international caps, his wealth of experience is precisely what we need.
Welcome to Panic Buy FC Peter!
He steps in immediately for the suspended Silvino, yet our defensive frailties persist. Gama’s sending off offers a glimmer of hope, but despite that, we struggle to secure a victory.
We manage to keep a clean sheet in the first half against Torreense, but unfortunately, our defensive woes resurface as the goals start pouring in again. Despite the return of Tetradze and Tavares, our performance remains disorganized and disappointing.
With nine games remaining, we hold a clean sheet for an impressive 83 minutes against Aves, only to face a customary defensive lapse late in the game. However, our saviour Tilico steps up with two crucial late goals, granting us a much-needed victory! Despite the dwindling attendance, just over the 1,000 mark, those present erupt in wild celebration, chanting ‘Tilico! Tilico! Tilico!’
Miguel, deeply moved by Tilico’s late heroics, is inspired to pen a heartfelt poem dedicated to our remarkable man of the hour…
Very nice Miguel, but let’s stick to the day job mate.
On our next away trip, we travel to the league leaders and put up a decent fight.
Gil Vicente went 4-1 up at half time, but we roared back to gain a 4-4 draw.
A tactical shuffle in defense produces an indistinct outcome as we secure a draw in the ‘Team Name’ Derby against Uniao. However, there’s an ominous tone as the board informs us of their expectation for a higher league position. Realistically, with only five games remaining and an eight-point gap to the next position, meeting this expectation seems nearly impossible.
In a mid-table clash against Estoril, we managed to achieve a rare clean sheet alongside a precious victory. Despite our ongoing defensive struggles, Rufai’s presence has notably bolstered our backline, making a tangible difference in shoring up our defence.
Celebrations continue as we secure back-to-back wins against the lower-ranked Moreirense. A magnificent hat-trick by Juan Carlos Lopes leaves both me and Miguel ecstatic. In celebration of this victory, we grant the players some well-deserved time to enjoy the town.
An unchanged and slightly hungover side takes out bottom team Feirense with another clean sheet.
With just two games remaining, we’ve begun a surprising climb up the table and hold a faint chance at claiming 8th place. However, our finances paint a troubling picture due to consistently poor attendances and numerous seemingly random signings.
We’ve had a lot of players transfer listed all season, but nobody wants them. This is a tough gig Miguel!
A surprise win against promoted Felgueiras gives us a boost! While clean sheets might be a rarity, a solid 3-1 victory going into the last game of the season is fantastic.
The final showdown against Pacos Ferreira turned into a high-scoring spectacle, witnessing a total of 7 goals and even a missed penalty. However, despite the thrilling match, a disappointing defeat means we settle for 11th place in the final standings. It might not have been the ideal finish, but the season certainly provided its fair share of excitement and challenges.
So Miguel, time to take a look at how our debut season co-existing has gone….
11th place in the league isn’t a disaster with no money and a poor squad to work with. Frankly we’re just glad we survived the axe after a dreadful couple of runs of defeats.
Miguel reminds me of our three goals over the three year contract period we’ve currently signed:
- Gain promotion to Portugal’s Top Division by the end of year two.
- Become at least a solid mid-table, top division team by the end of year three.
- Beat our local rivals, the mighty FC Porto, in any fixture, by the end of year three.
To have any chance of a contract extension we’re going to need a busy summer! So let’s dig in to see how the squad has performed:
Goalkeepers: Currently, we’re stocked with five options, including loanee Quim. Rufai has performed admirably since his arrival; let’s hope he remains and doesn’t retire this summer! Securing Quim on a permanent deal is beyond our budget, so our backup will essentially be determined by who remains unsold heading into next season.
Defenders: It’s a mess. Santos has shown decency, and our Russian international Tetradze has been serviceable across various positions. Chalearmsang, our Thai international acquired in a panic buy, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. Malitoli serves adequately as backup; the others are free to depart if they choose. A rebuild in this area is imperative.
Midfielders: Altino, alongside backup Amaro, suffices in the defensive midfield position. Captain Pinto has been passable, but his role was overtaken by the more creative Gabriel toward the season’s end. Tavares and Mbarga have excelled on the wings, proving themselves more than capable to fuel our promotion aspirations in the second season. While additional depth is desired at a reasonable cost, this area isn’t our primary concern.
Strikers: Tilico is the standout performer, netting an outstanding 33 goals within an average team. At 32, next season might mark his final stint leading the attack. Young Armando didn’t quite justify his hefty price tag of 150k, but he presents an improvement over Lopes and may develop further next season. We unquestionably require a quality addition in this department.
Financial constraints limit the chairman to funding a weekend at Butlins. The squad doesn’t seem impressed; this shot by our AI photographer captures their sentiment best…
We can’t count on this diverse group for another 12 months. Join us next time to witness how we steer this ship in a new direction