Welcome back to part nine of the Uniao de Lamas AI adventure! Despite blowing a load of cork money on half a new squad, Diogo and Miguel have only reached sixth place at halfway in season three. But form is decent, Savio is banging them in like an ex-Real Madrid starlet, and the Comendador’s stadium has been rocking of late. Let’s see if it continues.

First up it’s time for a tweak. Diogo lets Miguel’s AI brain take the reins, and it’s time to pass our opponents into oblivion!

We’ve reinforced the left side with additional depth. Unfortunately, Festus Agu, the solicitor turned player, hasn’t performed up to par, so we’ve brought in Orlando to offer some Cape Verdean competition. As for Deesan-Tea, his skills seem limited to halftime brews. Although this signing seems like a stretch, only time will tell how he contributes to the team!

First up is a comfortable home win against the league leaders! Willy gets two, debutant Orlando shines bright, and it’s a clean sheet to boot!

Next up is the one you’ve all been waiting for. Maybe. It’s the big Miguel-fooling friendly against the ‘English Porto’, good old Pompey. Which turns out to be a damp squib, as Aloisi and co cut through us like a knife through butter.

Ok, back to sanity and the league.

Hagi takes an early bath, but we hang on to gain a point at Penafiel.

Next up we rock down to Rio Ave, and quickly find ourselves 3-0 up before half the crowd have sat down! The remaining 83mins are a slog, but we scrape home.

Varzim’s keeper plays like God, ours plays like he has no hands. A big defeat at just the wrong time. Momentum gained is now momentum lost.

We’re woeful next up at Chaves. Back-to-back defeats, with injuries piling up. It’s looking like the third straight season where we falter down the stretch Manuel.

Next up second bottom Branco get all fiery and end up with nine men. We run out comfortable, if late, 2-0 winners.

Prunea takes an early bath, and we get destroyed. On the plus side we did win the second half somehow, despite having Willy Vincent as a makeshift goalie! Rufai is injured, so we’ll need to get someone in for Prunea’s suspension.

Next up Savio pretty much does it solo, and we run out comfortable 2-0 winners.

Coming towards crunch time we decide to pick up a highly rated young Brazilian striker. Tilico and Willy V have both been pretty goal-shy recently, so it’s time to gamble.

Loanee keeper Artur Jorge also joins for a couple of games whilst Prunea serves his suspension.

Man alive! Our next game against clay court wizard Pacos Ferreira is a crazy one. Our loanee keeper plays horribly, as does new striker Nene, but everyone else has a hand in five second half goals. This feels like a BIG win!

We’d been giving regen Andy Townsend a chance at CDM, but he now jets off to Estrela courtesy of his big-club release clause.

Backup right winger Neira also leaves us due to his clause, but we receive both cash and a passable centre back in return. Good business.

Disaster then strikes as our star man Savio leaves in the same manner. For 300k less than we paid for him, thanks tribunal!

We lose one, win one of the next two games. This was the better effort!

With six games to go it doesn’t look good. We’re in sixth, eight points away from promotion. Time for inspiration Miguel!

So this….

Led to this….

Will a team paintballing session get our lads to shape up and get promoted?! Find out next week….