Football Season Guide

Porto had a disappointing season, last year, having struggled to keep up with Benfica. Porto had a very good final third in the season, including a win against their biggest rivals, but they dropped too many points in the initial part. Dragões missed Vitinha and Fábio Vieira’s technical skills and had recurrent injuries in some important players like Evanilson or João Mário. After Vitinha and Fábio Vieira left, coach Sérgio Conceição returned to his most recognized hard-working football, less technical and less possession oriented. With that battling, at times confrontational style, Porto is a very competitive side in big games, but they also tend to drop points against weaker sides that defend with compact defensive lines. Diogo Costa will be having his third season as Porto’s man in goal. Diogo is one of Porto’s strongest assets. He’ll either be giving Porto a big sum in a season or two, or he’ll become a big icon for the club. Diogo is in fact the only high-profile man for the back, which is otherwise the most questionable area for Dragões. Pepe will be 41 during the season; Marcano was never a consensual figure at the club, and surely he won’t be at 36. David Carmo had horrible first season with the club. Zaidu and Wendell aren’t the most reliable players on the left side. In the middle, Porto lost their biggest reference in last seasons. The Colombian Uribe left without giving Porto the chance to cash in a single euro. Luckily, Porto found a very decent replacement. The youngster Nico Gonzalez is just what Porto needed for that no. 8 role. Otávio is a complete midfielder and Porto’s most iconic player these days; Pepê is perhaps the biggest talent (provided he stay out of injuries); Galeno is an important source of skills and pace on the wing. Evanilson and Taremi are a high-quality duo in attack, and they will now be covered by the prolific Fran Navarro who had 2 impressive seasons at Gil Vicente. Porto’s lack of financial resources, these days, means that they will have to do with a few questionable reserve options. Besides David Carmo, André Franco, Gabriel Véron and Fábio Cardoso failed to prove last season that they are worthy to wear of a big shirt like Porto’s, but they have shown quality in previous clubs and will have perhaps their last chance to prove it with the Blue and White jersey.