Football Season Guide

AVS

In


André Ferreira (sp)(gk) Benfica B – return from loan; Bruno Jesus (def) São José, BRA; Adi Mehremic (def) Karpaty, UKR; A. Dzwigala (def) Wisla Plock, POL; Bruninho (def) Tombense, BRA; Afonso Figueiredo (def) Rio Ave; Leandrinho Marques (mid) Fremad Amajer, DEN ; Enzo Zidane (mid) Lausanne, SWI – on loan; Bruno Xavier (mid) Nacional SP, BRA; Zidane Banjaqui (mid) B team; Estrela (mid) Varzim; M Touré (mid/att) Oliveirense; Mehrad Mohammadi (att) Sepahan, IND; Peu (mid/att) Fluminense, BRA – on loan; K. Yamga (att) Verona, ITA; Ruben Macedo (mid/att) Chaves; M. Kahraba (att) Zamalek, EGY; Welinton Jr. (att) Coritiba, BRA

Out


Carlos Ponck (r)(def) Basaksehir, TUR; Jorge Fellipe (r)(def) Damac FC, SAU; Diego Galo (r)(def) Chaves; R. Defendi (sp)(def) Estoril; Vitor Costa (r)(def) Inter de Lages, BRA; Rodrigo (k)(def) PAOK, GRE; Vítor Gomes (k)(mid) Omonia Nicosia, CYP; Luis Fariña (r)(mid) Cerro Porteño, PAR; Bruno Braga (sp)(mid) Leixões; Luquinhas (k)(att) Legia Warsow, POL, Derley (r)(att) Muangthong UTD, THA; Mama Baldé (k)(def/mid/att) Sporting –return from loan, Bruno Gomes (sp)(att) Estoril – return from loan

After a disastrous first half of the campaign, Aves produced an amazing recovery after January, when Augusto Inácio was appointed. The experienced coach changed the team completely and his straightforward counter-attack approach saved Aves from relegation. Things are expected to be very different this time around. Goalkeeper Beunardeau and midfielder Falcão aside, the whole starting eleven and more used reserves are gone. It’s hard to build expectations when the likes of Vitor Gomes, Balde, Luquinhas, Galo and Ponck aren’t around anymore. Inácio’s approach may be hard to apply, even if he had an entire pre-season to prepare the team, this time around. Most players are debutants in Primeira Liga and therefore there’s a feeling of a big gamble surrounding the team. Afonso Figueiredo and Rúben Macedo are known and safe calls (the former was even already elected captain); Welinton Jr. has good references from Brazil and made already an impact in preseason matches. The other new singings are completely unknown in the country. If Inácio manages to maintain the team’s strategy and sharpness with the new players, Aves may be having a more stable season this time. The huge amount of new players makes it sound like a very hard task, though.

Target


Aves is expected to be fighting for survival in the last weeks of the season.