Football Season Guide

Rio Ave is coming from an excellent season. In fact, Rio Ave is coming now from a considerable series of great performances on top flight football, having established themselves as a solid club within Portuguese league. After having been a considerable force for the previous five seasons, Rio Ave achieved a great 5th place last year, and all of that playing an uncompromised attacking and attractive football. A style that Rio Ave have become associated with since the times of Luís Castro as their manager, and that was elevated to a whole new level with Miguel Cardoso’s excellent command, last season. However, there are big questions marks pointed out to this season, as Miguel Cardoso left the club after only one year in command, to join French club Nantes. José Gomes is the new man in charge and there are some doubts that he possesses the adequate profile to properly replace Miguel Cardoso. More worrying, however, is the fact that there was a big exodus of players and not only Miguel Cardoso has left. After starman Rúben Ribeiro had left in the middle of last season, the rest of important men eventually left in the end. Key defender Marcelo joined Sporting, talented midfielders Francisco Geraldes and João Novais had also found other clubs, the highly influential Pelé joined Monaco, iconic goalkeeper Cássio is gone as well, and finally the goalscoring man Guedes had also left to sign a lucrative contract in middle Asia. Full-back Yuri Ribeiro returned to Benfica after his loan contract ended, as did so the useful reserve midfielder Oscar Barreto, to Colombians Millionarios. With the exception of captain Tarantini, there aren’t many players that can be making a sof switch from last season’s principles to the current one. And that will definitely be a problem, besides the departing talent that is also an unquestionable fact. Matheus Reis (who never was able to establish at Moreirense), Joca (who was never able to establish at Paços de Ferreira) and Galeno (who never established himself at Portimonense) were brought in, and fans are concerned they will be need to re-adjust their expectations this time around into more of a mid-table team. The fans hopes are that the likes of Gabrielzinho and Gelson Dala can explode this season and become new talents within the national scene.