Oriental Lisbon - One Step Closer

Solid Foundations

As I mentioned at the end of my preseason update, I'm going to have to squish around three months of results into the one update. The only way I can do that is to quickly change, maybe somewhat revert to a different style of writing in order to make it easier for me and you.



Five months into the new season and we're doing really well. As you can see we've had a fairly good run of results and we're getting points on the board more often than not. The first two months were a little up and down, with a 3-0 win at Olhanense followed up by a 3-0 loss to Belenenses in the league cup only two weeks later.

The next two months were our best so far. Despite losing to Vitoria Guimarães on my birthday, we bounced back in the best fashion possible with a 2-0 win over neighbours Sporting... in front of their own fans and a big television audience.

We were really close to turning over the deficit against Belenenses but it wasn't to be, and that meant we promptly exited the league cup in less than brilliant fashion. However in the Taça de Portugal we're travelling really well with wins over Estoril and Naval.

Three wins out of three to begin December was brilliant form and we were only stopped by the force that is FC Porto, and I think our confidence was a little shot coming into the Gil Vicente game, which was one we could've easily won.


After five months we're in fourth position! Incredible considering it's only our second season in the top flight. Our impressive form in November and December really helped and despite some losses here and there we're five points clear of Marítimo who are fifth!

Player of the Season (So Far)

This screenshot was taken in August, but there's no doubt that Sergio Liparoti only hit true form in November. And that continued on to December, too. You may have noticed the 4-1 win over Arouca, well, guess where those four goals came from?



Other than Liparoti, captain Hugo Grilo has also been as ever-present as usual and prior to November managed to become Oriental's leading appearance maker, surpassing former player Sergio Mendonça's tally of 174.

Season Review (So Far)

All I can say is: amazing. We're fourth and confidence is high. We're playing to our strengths and the players are putting in their shift week in, week out. Liparoti has been in inspired form and his teammates around him have also been nothing short of excellent.

Next up, I'll finish off season five. I should be nearly up to speed then and be able to update normally and give you guys some good reading to do!

A very good start, metinete the same in the second half of the season, and you can climb the leaderboard.

Even though you're fourth...I knew you'd lose to Benfica

Very impressive results, 4th place in the league is fantastic too!
Man, if the second half of the season is like this that would be some achievement
Nice writeup as well

Wow! Great position in the league, I hope you can retain the performance level from the first half of the season!

bebero, pompeyblue, ASR Thanks guys, it's all about consistency now!

Nealão Shoosh, you

Oriental On Course

By Luis Paíva

Heading into the new year, Oriental have defied everyone's expectations, even their own, to sit in fourth place before the start of the new year. If they can sustain their current position, then European football could be on its way.

After finishing ninth in their first ever Primeira League campaign, Oriental have only gone on to make even bigger strides. Swatting away suggestions that they could be prone to 'second-season syndrome', the little boys of Lisbon are showing up their critics.

"It's been our best season yet," exclaimed Daniel Almeida, head of the supporters' association and supporter spokesperson. "We've shown ourselves to be much more competitive than what others thought, and we're pushing bigger teams to results."

Almeida, who lives nearby the club's 8,500 capacity Estádio Eng. Carlos Salema, is positive about the second half of the season, too. He insists the club, under the leadership of Vitor Martins, will not drop in form due to complacency.

"He's showed us before that he's capable of keeping the boys' focus," 34-year old Almeida said. "He just needs to make sure the team maintains the level of performance from the first few months, not to drop off."

The general mood around supporters is great, with attendances at an all time high, thing look bright for the club. At their home encounter with Sporting CP they managed to completely sell out all 8,500 seats.

Chairman André said, "We're getting people into the stadium and that's generating some fantastic money for the club to build on. The rise in attendances have really been great for the club."

Aside from the money, however, Silva commented on how Oriental were building their own identity. "We're in fierce competition with Sporting, Benfica among other clubs for fans. In order to lure people here, we have to create an identity and I think that's exactly what we've done.

"We're from Lisbon's east, the more working class area of the city. Nowadays, people from there are Oriental. That side of the city is maroon and that's exactly what we've wanted to see," explained the new owner of the club.

On the football side of things, manager Vitor Martins is yet again being lauded. Despite not playing a particularly pleasing brand of football, the 41-year old has achieved extremely commendable results.

"You know what you're going to get from Vitor," said pundit Rui Pedro. "He's a cautious manager, and will always want a cushion for his team. For him, it doesn't matter how his players do it, just as long as they do do it!"

Oriental will face Académica in the Taça de Portugal 5th Round in a week's time before going onto face Benfica and then Académica again, this time away, in the league to begin February.

Keep pushing for the European places, you can do it!

You're progressing so well with Oriental Walter, unbelievable first half of the season too! Good luck against Academica
Quick question by the way as I am not so familiar with the Portuguese leagues, is fourth spot a Europa league qualification spot? I'm sure 3rd place is, so if 4th isn't hopefully you can make a bigger push and go one better!

Justice Let's hope so!

Aaron Thanks for the comment Aaron - 4th place is Europa League playoff place, and Portugal only has two UCL places due to their coefficient slipping. Also, 5th gets a UEL Qualifying Phase place. Hope that explains it.

Hopefully you can continue this great form and hold your spot at 4th. Good luck Walt.

Some great updates here, shame I haven't been able to follow it properly from the start

Feliks, tallery Thanks guys!

Season Five Part Two

I showed you part one of season five a couple of updates ago, now it's 2018 and a new year and a new challenge: continental football. We're currently in fourth place, enough for a Europa League playoff. We need to stay there and then we'll have taken another big step in this club's history.




A positive end to the season in my eyes and in our attempt to secure Europa League football. The four game winning streak in January and February put us on the right foot before a terrible, terrible defeat the hands of our Lisbon rivals Sporting.

We went on to March and it began with another crushing defeat, this time at the hands of mega-rich Vitoria Guimarães, our main threat at European football. We bounced back with two wins before narrowly missing out on a draw against Nacional.

Another little two game winning stand, including a 5-1 mauling of Arouca, before we crashed down to earth again, this time against Paulo Fonseca's Porto side, who were running the show league-wise.

The season finished in typical fashion - two wins. These two were especially important due to the fact that we the race for that elusive Europa League slot was so close. Two away wins meant we got 6 important points to beat off our competitors.

League Table

In the end we got their comfortably, five points clear - and therefore qualified for the Europa League Playoff for the first time in our history!!! This is a huge leap for us and not only will the experience be amazing, but the financial rewards will help this club prosper!


There were a few other notable achievements over the course of these few months. One for myself and one of my players, the ever-reliable Argentine: Sergio Liparoti! He duly picks up player of the season after a record-breaking season.




For myself, well, back in March in the loss to Vitoria Guimarães I happened to reach my 200th game in management! This is a big achievment for myself and I could never have imagined the adventure I'd go on when I joined in 2013...



Well, I'm glad that's wrapped up. I've been able to get through season five quickly and now I'm a bit more up to date with my in game progress. I hope this was still able to be presented with enough detail and information, and here's to another season of success!

Congrats on the Europa League qualification! Great achievement with such limited material!