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Rebuilding & Reshaping
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I left you all with a (hopefully) dramatic cliffhanger last update. We've approached the new season and it's time to rebuild and get ready for it - but which club for? I can confirm, that those two words I said to Melro were:
"No thanks." This means I'm gearing up for my third season at Oriental!!
For the first time in my career at the helm here, I was given a transfer budget! And to top it off, the wage budget I got was dramatically increased, meaning the chairman had given me the backing to go for a shot at finishing in the top half.
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Transfers In
In order to better our season of last we needed to make the necessary transfer signings and get rid of deadwood that was filling our wage budget. We've been floating in the red for a while now but we've still just about got enough to get these deals through.
We actually got down to business very early, as I looked to tie up deals well before preseason to allow the acquisitions to settle in to the club and life of Portugal and also to integrate easily with their new teammates.
André Sousa - MC
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André Sousa arrives from Moreirense on a free transfer. The 24 year old was part of the side relegated, but I still believe he's more than adequate for this league. His passing, dribbling and leadership were all factors in me buying him. Plus, he still has time to develop at his age.
Pedro Monteiro - ST
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The second signing of the window was the purchase of youngster
Pedro Monteiro, again on a free deal from lower league outfit Candal. Since he was on amateur terms, we easily snapped him up on a two year deal. Monteiro, despite being only 16, possesses a thoroughly professional personality and it won't be long before he becomes an even better player!
Lorenzo Finotti - DC
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Italian centre back
Lorenzo Finotti is another signing for the future. The 18 year old didn't cost a penny and his wages aren't too extreme, either. Finotti has the makings of a very solid centre back in the future. His strengths are definitely his height, strength and decision making, but he lacks the positioning and technique, as well as composure, to be the finished product just yet.
Francisco Ramos - DM
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Signed from FCP B,
Francisco Ramos is another quality transfer on our behalf. At only a mere 20 years of age, Francisco has a long way to go in the game, yet he already displays the attributes of a solid player already. His wages
may be a tiny bit accessive for the role he will play, but I'm sure he can develop into a key player in the next season or two!
Iago - DM
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Brazilian defensive midfielder
Iago is a another fantastic capture for us as a club and a player that has all the makings to be a top quality investment for the club. Yet another transfer that took away nothing from our transfer budget, this could well prove to be quite the bargain. Iago possess many quality attributes, but his marking is a worry. If we can improve that, and build up a bit more muscle, he could well be one of our key men here at the club.
Abdellah Daouadji - AML
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Abdellah Daouadji, our new Algerian winger/striker, was picked up on yet another free transfer and he looks the goods. He possesses great technical attributes for his tender age of 19. What I like best about him is his team work, and how he is more than happy to give the ball to someone else with a better chance. On the negative side, he's not very physically or mentally ready to be our first team winger or striker and he's on high wages.
Cedric Omoigui - AML
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A near mirror image of our signing above,
Cedric Omoigui echoes our fellow Algerian winger/striker in the fact that he's left footed only and possesses great technicals, possibly better than Abdellah himself. Omoigui was never going to come cheap. He was in the B team at Spanish team Mallorca, so the high wages he earns was going to be a certainty. Despite this, I'm also certain he can put those wages to good use!
Rayro - DL
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We nearly went a whole window without spending a cent of our transfer budget!
Rayro, an experienced Brazilian left back, arrives from ABC at the price of
£6.75k, a fairly cheap deal and one that doesn't do our finances much harm. Rayro is an excellent leader and possess great fundamental attributes. For our first every paid transfer, let's hope he lives up to the price tag!
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Transfers Out
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I'm highly pleased to say, our transfer window dealings were done in astonishing fashion. All the players that did leave left only a day before all our new signings were confirmed as Oriental players. To get the business done so quick is a credit to the players coming in themselves, and the management team here.
I feel I must go through the departures, however, as there were some big losses. I made a bold decision in letting
Tiago Mota to leave on a free. The reasons were that Mota was getting on, nearing 30, and he just didn't have the same effect anymore. We needed some fresh legs.
Sergio Mendonça also departed the club, as his contract ended. The midfielder can be extremely proud of his service for the club, but at 33 we needed someone new and Iago and Francisco Ramos have come in to fill his shoes.
We will dearly miss those guys, as they played a pivotal role in sealing the third division title.
Careca and
Raúl both leave the club after disappointing seasons.
The window is not over yet, so there is no point adding a
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at the moment. I need a proper replacement for Tiago Mota, however, and so we will most likely only look to sign one, maybe two more players in the remaining weeks of the window.
Let's hope the signings can fit in and gel well with the remaining squad and we can push on for another successful season!
Next Up...
Preseason 2015-16!
Thanks mate!
Transfers In
Transfers Out
at the moment. I need a proper replacement for Tiago Mota, however, and so we will most likely only look to sign one, maybe two more players in the remaining weeks of the window.