Football Season Guide

Serie A
Brazil
Serie A
2019
Santos FC
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Santos FC

In


Éverson (gk) Ceará, Felipe Aguilar (def) Atletico Nacional, COL, Felipe Jonathan (def) Ceará, Jorge (def) FC Porto/Monaco, Orinho (def) Ponte Preta – return from loan, Christian Cueva (mid) FK Krasnodar, RUS – on loan, Jean Lucas (mid) Flamengo – on loan, Jobson (mid) Red Bull BR; Yeferson Soteldo (att) Univ. Chile, CHL

Out


Vladimir (sp)(gk) Avaí – on loan, Dodô (r)(def) Cruzeiro – on loan from Sampdoria, Robson Bambu (r)(def) Athl. Paranaense, Daniel Guedes (sp)(def) Goiás – on loan, Renato (sp)(mid) retired, Leo Cittadini (sp)(mid) Athl. Paranaense; Gabriel Calabres (sp)(mid) released; Vitor Bueno (sp)(mid) Dynamo Kiev – on loan, Gabigol (k)(att) Flamengo – on loan from Inter Milan, ITA; Bruno Henrique (r)(att) Flamengo

After last season rollercoster ride, Peixe will want a steadier run and a better place on the table. Despite a couple of surprisingly heavy defeats, the first months of 2019 have been slightly encouraging, as the team seems to have material enough for major improvement. Bringing the highly reputed Jorge Sampaoli to lead the team, this year, was a great move, and the Argentinean seems to have already installed a great dynamic of high pressing football and fast tempo attack. Last season’s biggest attacking references Gabigol and Bruno Henrique have joined rivals Flamengo; however, the wonderkid Rodrygo seems ready to have his definite affirmation, and his lightweight and pacey profile seems ideal for Sampaoli’s free-flowing attacking model. Cuevas joined in to provide some much needed creativity on the playmaking role. The very reliable Vanderlei in goal and the strong midfield formed by Pituca, Alison and Sanchez will provide some stability and identity on the transition from last season. Coach Sampaoli has repeatedly mentioned that the team is lacking a proper centre-forward. The attacking trio averages a height of 1.67m. The squad still seems vulnerable in terms of second choices, and they do have a few players highly prone to injuries.

Target


With the competent Sampaoli at the helm and most of last season’s backbone kept untouched, Santos has everything to make a challenge on the top-6 or even top-4 positions. Asking for the title seems too farfetched, though.