Oriental Lisbon - One Step Closer

Signing On

I had always been a bit on the edge about my situation at the club. José had been giving me updates on the board's confidence in me every month, and in the last few weeks it had somehow been leaning towards insecurity. Just the fact that my contract was only a one year one meant it wouldn't take much money to kick me out of the job, something he hadn't forgotten to remind me about in the confidence update.

Three months remained on my current deal. I won't lie... I was worried. My job security was in the balance because the chairman did not understand the system. This was not how I had it planned out!

If I was to lose my job, I don't know where I'd go, let alone the thought of if anybody would actually want me. I don't know how the chairman could possibly sack me, however, as he understood my passion to make this club big.

It was after the 2-0 win to Sporting Ideal, however, when I got the message, and I didn't waste a second to agree to a new deal, thankfully. My only problem is it is only a one year deal and I would desperately like to stay for the long term, I guess I'll just have to prove myself yet again...

February & March: The Challenge Begins

The Month Ahead

This is the first half of our promotion stage. Prior to the opening game versus Pinhalnovense I scheduled a friendly for us to host them before the competition started. The positives of that were that our match fitness was partially retained, as well as momentum, and we managed to get a 2-0 win!

We face them first again, before a two-game tough streak versus Fátima and Leiria. Our next opposition was our National Championship - G compatriots Casa Pia. The month is completed with fixtures versus Naval, a tough team, and the two "easy-beats" of the group - Louletano and AD Nogueirense.

The Results

What can I say? We've been incredible! Absolutely incredible. We really grinded out the tough results, with three draws against the toughest opposition. Our form is partly down to the morale-boosting 4-0 win over Pinhalnovense, in which we showed lethal finishing.

We were very lucky versus Fátima to claw back like we did and we actually played quite well versus Leiria despite them being favourites for promotion, in my eyes. The win versus Casa Pia was good and meant we didn't drop two points again. Naval was a match we could've won in my eyes, as they are not the side I predicted them to be.

The last two games were ones where we couldn't afford to drop points. Balack was the saviour as his late header sealed a win versus Louletano and we were clinical in the final match of the two months with a 3-1 victory over AD Nogueirense.

The League Table

Those three draws were absolutely vital and I am incredibly surprised we are undefeated right now. Wins against the lowly teams are key because we are at risk of dropping points against our nearest challengers, meaning we could drop out of that automatic spot. Going through a playoff is not something I’m interested in because the less time we spend down here the better for me!

The fatima result looks vital now!

The Hound That's the aim

jasonvilla4eva That and the Leiria result they could be pivotal in the promotion push!

Doing well

Contract Talks

The Manager's Office

Sebastião Nogueira: Hey boss, what can I do for you?

Vitor Martins: Good morning, Sebastião , how are you?

Sebastião Nogueira: I'm good thanks. Was there anything you wanted?

Vitor Martins: I was here to talk about your contract. Now, your current deal is running out soon and I invited you here to talk to me about agreeing on a new deal. So, do you have any demands? Wages.. anything?

Sebastião: Well, I'm going to be honest with you, Vitor. You are a great manager and are doing great things with the club ... but I do not seem to be part of your plans. I haven't had enough game time and you have been playing me out of position so I don't think I want to extend my contract here at the club.

Vitor Martins: Okay. I understand where you're coming from. I admire your desire to play not sit on the bench. Unfortunately you've got stiff competition and you have to fight for your place.

Sebastião: Well if that is the case, I'm not going to sign a new contract. I think I deserve playing time, so I do not want to sign on and sit on the bench. I'll be going now, see you at training.

Nice little update, it'll be a shame if he goes but you've done the right thing.

i like that little update it is very original and a nice conversation

Should Sebastião Nogueira Be Starting?

Portuguese Football Messenger:
In our National Championship special last week we recently ran a poll on Oriental's Sebastião Nogueira, and the big dilemma his manager Vitor Martins faces - should Nogueira be starting or not?

Nogueira himself has publicly stated his desire for more game time and has recently turned down a contract extension offer from the club to leave in order to find more game time.

Furthermore, another reason for Nogueira's perceived unhappiness is the fact that he has, when he has come, been played in an unfamiliar position - central midfield. Martins has previously highlighted he sometimes comes on to replace Sergio Mendonça in the middle of the park because of his remarkable defensive attributes.

"Sebastião [Nogueira] is someone who can tackle the ball well and his marking is very good, too. I try to use him as something of a ball winning midfielder - where Mendonça usually plays."

Despite this, Nogueira maintains the notion that he doesn't want to be restricted to out of position substitute appearances, and may well be leaving the Carlos Salema at his contract's end.

We put it to Oriental fans out there to cast there vote - and what did they have to say?

Wow, lots of fans disagreeing with you... Nice update Walter, well worded.

Joshx2 Thanks and yeah, I was surprised by their reaction. He's got competition with Tiago Mota who has about 20 assists though, lol

Jason Thanks

Such a fan fav, Walt.

2014-05-21 14:12#175889 Pauker : Such a fan fav, Walt.

Not a manager fav, however

Such a good story, really enjoying it

April & May: The Thirst Is Real

The Month Ahead

It's the same fixture list as before. This time draws have to be turned into wins. We're flying high, with great morale. We had most of our home games in the last few games which could well make the difference. If we can keep complaceny away, we could all but make the step up!

The Match Results

The return fixture versus Pinhalnovense was a closer one but we scraped over the line and kept intact our 100% record. Next we played our toughest opposition Leiria. A point would be enough to keep us on top and a point was what we got! A splendid away performance from my boys and it really, really increases our chances of going up.

Next was the game that, in my eyes, set us on our way. Fátima were easily brushed aside as we delighted our home fans with a comprehensive 4-1 win over our other promotion rivals. We again scraped a result, and we used our form and momentum from the previous game to get the result against Naval, where we turned a point into three, exactly my aim!




Luckily for us, the three last fixtures were all against the "easy-beats", as explained in the previous post. And in absolutely identical fashion, we won all three games by the exact same scoreline as last month (confusing me hugely while writing this update) and secured promotion to the Liga Revoluçao!!!

The League Table

In steamrolling fashion, we only lost two games for the whole season, title-winning form. The team did absolutely brilliantly and our team spirit was one of the main contributors to our success this season! But it won't stop there... the minute promotion was sealed I began extensive planning for the Liga Revoluçao, where we'd come up against the likes of Academica and Rio Ave.