Oriental Lisbon - One Step Closer

Almeida's Analysis: January Review

It's now 2017! A new year and a new month of football! I would of course be attending every game in my role as spokesperson for the club and I'd be sending regular reports to the chairman. The upcoming month was yet again an important one as we continued on in our journey to avoid relegation.

January Results

We hosted Vitoria Guimarães again however this time we were playing in the Third Phase of the League Cup. It's not a competition I believe the manager was entirely focusing on and we could tell this in the lineup - a slightly weakened squad. Due to that, we lost clearly 2-0. A poor performance yes, but we were up against stiff opposition and it is the League Cup.



We're back to the league, and still at home. This time, however, we hosted Funchal-based side Maritímo. We went down early but the boys responded very well, our Argentine sensation Sergio Liaproti finding himself on the scoreboard. However we soon fell behind once again. Uruguayan Guillermo Mendez was brought on late by the manager, and it looked to be an inspired move as he scored with 8 minutes remaining! However the team suffered from a lapse of concentration and we conceded very late on to Pedro Emanuel's side. Two points lost, you could say.



In our third home game in a row we hosted Moreirense in another League Cup game. After losing our first game if we were to stand any chance of qualification I feel we'd need to get a win out of this fixture. I think the manager took this as more of a scouting mission, learning how they play and getting ready for our league fixture which was less than three weeks away. Hugo Grilo scored from a corner early in the second half but we were quickly put back on level terms and that is how it finished.



We'd passed the halfway mark of the season and it was now time to do it all over again. Gil Vicente, who we'd beaten on the opening day of the season in a tight affair. I knew this one would be no different and so I hoped we could grab another win over this side. The boys started the game with pace and energy and only four minutes in we grabbed a goal to put us in the lead, through Sergio Liparoti. Unfortunately, the Barcelos side equalised and we were forced to go in search of another goal. With 17 minutes remaining it was none other than Sergio Liparoti who tucked away another chance to send the home crowd into raptures! We held on in the final minutes of the game and celebrated our first win in a while.



After so many home games, it was weird to be sitting in a different stadium. But by now I'd gotten used to going to away games at the Estádio da Luz to see our Oriental side take on giants Benfica. For the second time we met the big boys on their turf and for the second time we managed to let in four goals... the only difference this time was that we managed to score ourselves through Stefano Franchi just under half an hour in. He gave us a slight chance in a contest no one expected to win. This means we are out of the League Cup but I cannot say I'm disappointed as we have to focus on the league!



An away game at Moreirense was a great chance to get some vital points and after the set back last game I'm sure the boys were extremely motivated to get back to winning ways. We've never really had much success versus this team and it was the same today as we could only get a point. I guess it was an away game against a team at about our level. A draw was probably a fair result on the day but we'll look to get wins here in future.

January League Table

Well, what can I say other than we're doing well for a team of our size. Remember, we've been predicted to finish dead last.. so to be in 11th position over halfway through the season is pleasing. We're still clear of relegation and that's all I can ask.

Player of the Month

Sergio Liparoti was in tremendous form throughout this month and he was rewarded with four goals in a row. He's turning into our talisman slowly but surely.

The Fans' View

It was back to the pub to talk football! We're all pleased we've got a good win at Gil Vicente but we acknowledge it's tough for the team to get wins against tough opposition like the ones we've faced in the past two months. Hopefully we won't let our position slip!

The Month Ahead

I see potential wins. The best possible outcome is a full month of wins but I doubt that will happen. I think we can get three wins there and that's 9 important points. There are some teams we are competing with in terms of relegation battles that we'll come up against next month so to beat them will be brilliant for our season!

wtf is going on?!?!

Another tough run of results but at least you managed to get the vital win against Gil Vicente!
As you say, hopefully you can pick up a lot more points next month with easier opposition on the cards, and make sure you get clear of the threat of relegation.

#MartinsOut

Congrats on your SotM (joint) victory

Pauker ??

pompeyblue Yeah, those wins in the middle of a bad run of form could prove vital!

Josh_MU y u do dis

Justice Thanks Justice!

Almeida's Analysis: February

It was a fantastic opportunity in February for the boys to be getting some wins on the board. After a difficult couple of months this was our chance to really boost confidence and stay clear of relegation!

February Results

Arouca, who beat us earlier in the season, hosted us this time and the fans were hoping we could get a point out of it. Thanks to a brace from Nigerian Cedric Omoigui we managed to get a good result - a draw. A point is great for this match, as Arouca are performing above expectations. On a side note, the fans turned up to the Estádio Municipal de Arouca and we were surprised about the low number of home fans. Together the attendance totalled to 591.



Last month we hosted a Funchal-based team, and we were set up to do just the same thing when Nacional da Madeira came to Lisbon. It was going to be a tough fixture, one which we didn't look to be getting anything out of when we went down in the first half. I don't know what happened in the second half, however. The manager must have given one hell of a team talk or made an astute tactical change, because we were a completely different side after the break. Cedric Omoigui found the equaliser late on and only two minutes later the influential China put us ahead against all the odds. Five minutes after that youngster Pedro Monteiro got in on the act, completing a swift seven minute burst. Omoigui, who opened the floodgates, made sure they couldn't be closed with a rampant finish on 89m inutes - what a turnaround!!



Relegation-threatened Belenenses were welcomed to the Estádio Carlos Salema, and they were in poor form coming up to the clash. For Oriental fans, this was a must-win clash. But the players obviously didn't think so, as their first half performance was considerably under par. The fans were unimpressed, we wanted a win. It wasn't long before we hit our stride, we finally looked fluid and impressive and we were rewarded with an equaliser through man of the moment Liparoti on the hour. China duly made it 2-1 only four minutes later. Pedro Monteiro put the game to bed in the dying minutes, completing a fantastic turnaround. The players only had the manager to thank for the comeback.





We were once again on the road and I joined the fellow travelling fans on the short journey to Estoril, a team we knew we could cause an upset against. It only took half an hour, but we got the solitary goal that was needed to win us the game through Sergio Liparoti, whose fine run of form has been exactly what we needed this month!



Febraury drew to a close, but not before we were hosted by Paços Ferreira, a tough side to beat but one we'd want to get a win over in our fight to stay clear of relegation. Sergio Liparoti grabbed out first goal seven minutes in, but it took 36 more minutes to score again through the penalty spot and the ever reliable Hugo Grilo. With the scores locked at 2-2 Pedro Monteiro score yet another late goal to give us a vital three points.

February Table

Twenty-two points clear of the relegation places with eight games to play. In just a few games time we can secure safety in the top flight and build on the remarkable progress we've made. We've jumped up to tenth too after an incredible month.

The Fans' View

February was our month - we took advantage of some easier fixtures and got an excellent collection of 13 points in our fight against the odds. The fans were pleased with how strongly the team was able to come back from defeat and setbacks, plus the goalscoring of this month, too. Sergio Liparoti impressed us all and Pedro Monteiro is getting into first gear, too.

The Months Ahead

The home stretch. It will be tough, but I know with a little luck we can do it! If we can keep morale up and also maintain our stellar form, anything is possible, certainly safety. #InMartinsWeTrust!

That month was amazing! Unbeaten run, very good! Hopefully you can also finish the season on a positive note, good luck!

Great update and MUCH better results! #MartinsIn

Fantastic month Walter!
An unbeaten run, plenty of points and survival almost confirmed. Hopefully you can end the season just like how you played during that month, that really would be fantastic!
As you know I love the updates too, keep em coming

ASR-PSV Thanks Yeah it was, I think that was the form we needed right now!

Josh_MU Oh now you jump on the bandwagon?! Only kidding, good to see you have faith

pompeyblue Thanks pompey It would be brilliant but will be tough!

That month was God level. Awesome way to steer clear of the drop. Defeating Nacional 4-1 is never easy for any club, especially when they're flying high.

Great stuff Walt!

P-KIDDY I don't know what happened in the second half, but we just turned on the fire power and I think they must have been a little complacent or something, because the goals just kept coming! The Belenenses game was the same - we just switched on or something, it was weird

Griffo thanks mate!

Oriental Chairman Threatening To Pull The Plug

Portuguese Football Messenger
After a long period of stagnant talks, current Oriental chairman José Nabais has threatened to pull the plug on Jose Manuel Lopes de Castro's proposed takeover of the club, after several rejected offers.

de Castro, from the town of Póvoa de Varzim, first interested Nabais early on in the season and the Oriental chairman called a transfer embargo on his club during the talks. At times the takeover looked to be going ahead but now that seems a distant possibility.

Nabais spoke to the press, saying "This lack of progress is really hurting the club. Vitor [Martins] has showed great patience but I fear if this takeover isn't completed it will hurt him in the transfer market."

Nabais said if the deal isn't completed the takeover will be off, signalling for de Castro to speed up his next offer. It remains to be seen whether the takeover can still be completed, rumours suggesting any possibility is well and truly gone.