Cuiabá Esporte Clube - Brazilian Heroics

Cuiaba are pleased to announce relatively unknown Leandro Costa as their new manager. All that is known about him is that he was born in Cuiaba, MG, Brazil, and he has some background in physical fitness. Costa said that he has incredible ambition and would like to take the club and get it promoted to Brazilian Serie A.

Cuiaba was founded in 2001 by former footballer Gaucho. However, his dissatisfaction with the state FA and financial problems led Cuiaba to close its football department in 2006. It reopened in 2009, and Gaucho's shares in the club were bought out.

More Information

- Playable countries: All North and South American countries, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Holland, and Portugal
- All figures listed in Euros to help contextualize transfers with European transfers, and most of you are familiar with that currency so it's easier for you to understand.

Interesting, never heard of this club.

Good luck with this... strange... species of football club

Good luck!

Brazilian Heroics 1.02 - Squad and Tactics

The Squad

Luckily, the squad is conveniently aligned with my interests. There are almost no out and out wingers, and I prefer to play wingerless football. What you see is what you get, with only one player in the reserves/under 20s, the third goalkeeper, Willian.

Tactics

My favorite tactic, the narrow 4-4-2 diamond. This version is kind of ambitious, but it worked well before, so it should be able to work well here. Control the center of the pitch, possess the ball, when out of possession press and flow to the ball and cut off shorter passing routes and force ineffectual long balls.

Brazilian Heroics 1.03 - Friendlies

I only had one friendly against Fluminense Reserves so I assigned two more friendlies.

Transfers

In:
- Signed free agent center back Elias.

Out:
- Terminated center back Luiz Eduardo's loan, he looked like rubbish. (12/23/2013)

December 28, 2013
Brasiliense 0 - 1 Cuiaba

A boring match, although our tactic started to take form here. Marcelo Toscano found some space, and three passes after a free kick in attacking territory, he gets the final ball to score the only goal of the match.

January 4, 2014
Confianca 1 - 2 Cuiaba

This time, a much more dominant game even though the scoreline was narrow. We got our gains after the backups shifted in. Washington scored on a corner, although Confianca equalized soon after when Eron volleyed in a free kick. However, Ellonar Bombinha came through, scoring off a low cross from the byline to win the match for Cuiaba.

January 12, 2014
Cuiaba 4 - 1 Fluminense Reserves

This was a complete demolition job as Yuri's goal was the only blemish on this otherwise perfect performance.

The next update will revolve around the beginning of the Mato Grosso State Championships. As you may or may not know, Brazilian teams play two leagues, one for their state and one for the country. These state championships are a result of Brazil's huge size compared to other countries, although they're a bit of a pain in the ass.

Good luck with Cuiabá. Very obscure team but an interesting choice, too. A good start in the friendlies, too!

Brazilian Heroics 1.04 - January 2014

The beginning of the MG State Championship!

Transfers

In:
- 18 year old striker Lourival on a free season-long loan from Bahia (1/15/2014)
- 19 year old right back Lucao on a free season-long loan from Corinthians (1/17/2014)
- 20 year old left back Fernando on a free season-long loan from Fluminense. By executive decree, since there's already a Fernando on the roster, he will be nicknamed "Fernando José" and referred to as such as long as he is on the team. (1/23/2014)

Out:
- No transfers out.

January 14, 2014
Cacerense 0 - 3 Cuiaba

This match was just 2 days after the final friendly against Fluminense's reserves, and despite the squad being crocked and being reduced to 9 men through injury and a second yellow for dissent, Cacerense could never touch Cuiaba and the gulf in quality was very evident. Washington was the man of the match. Sadly, however, Grafite will miss two months with torn ankle ligaments.

January 19, 2014
CEOV 0 - 3 Cuiaba

Lourival and Lucao had solid debuts for the club, but the biggest story was Careca's hat trick. Also, Ernani suffered strained knee ligaments and will be out 2-3 months. Injuries have been piling up for Cuiaba.

January 21, 2014
Cuiaba 6 - 0 Rondonopolis

Careca had 4 goals and an assist, and Marcelo Toscano had 2 goals before going off due to injury, thankfully he won't miss any time. This was the first competitive match in our new stadium, Arena Pantanal. It is so massive, holding over 40,000, but that is because it was built for the World Cup.

January 25, 2014
Cuiaba 4 - 2 Luverdense

This was a surprising result since Luverdense are a league above us nationally. We got off to a hot start, 3-0 lead, before Luverdense pulled one back just before halftime. We got lax in the second half, and Luverdense's Gilson was an offside goal away from making a comeback, but after a save, Daniel Tijolo ran the ball into his own net to seal the victory for us. Another injury, as Eder Sciola will miss roughly a month with a gashed lower leg.

Couldn't ask to a better start, we're undefeated, undrawn, first place, and it looks like we could run away with this thing.

A very confident start to your state championship campaign. Lourival looks very talented for this level and the whole team seems to be performing as well, too. Let's hope for more of the same.

Brazilian Heroics 1.05 - February 2014

Transfers

In:
- No transfers in.

Out:
- Goalkeeper Gatti's loan terminated (see below)

February 1, 2014
Sorriso 1 - 2 Cuiaba

A complete domination on the stat sheet that seems a lot closer on the scoreline, Fernando Jose scored his first goal and it seemed like another shutout, but he suffered a dead leg and Sorriso got a consolation penalty late in stoppage time, but that's all it was, a consolation.

February 5, 2014
Cuiaba 3 - 0 Mixto

Another demolition, Lourival picked up a brace, including a goal where the ball was tackled by a Mixto player seemingly right to him to finish for the goal.

February 9, 2014
Uniao Rondonopolis 0 - 2 Cuiaba

Fernando injured, but thankfully was just knocked out of this match and won't miss any time. We won 2-0, but it felt kinda lackadaisical.

February 12, 2014
Copa Verde 1st Round 1st Leg
Sao Raimundo 0 - 5 Cuiaba

The opposition was so pathetic I basically treated it as a U20s match for getting some of my players fit after recovering from injury. The scoreline is no shock, and this one is effectively over.

February 16, 2014
Cuiaba 7 - 0 Cacarense

A typical lopsided state championship scoreline. Elanardo picked up a hat trick, and Lucao scored his first goal.

February 19, 2014
Copa Verde 1st Round 2nd Leg
Cuiaba 1 - 0 Sao Raimundo (6 - 0 on aggregate)

Complacency clearly affected the team as I had to change the front three to try to avert a draw, and we did, but only a penalty saved it from being a draw. Still, we advance to the next round.

- Left back Ruan suffered a chest injury on February 22 and will miss 4-5 weeks.

February 23, 2014
Sinop 0 - 0 Cuiaba

Our first non-win, which is very disappointing, since we had so many chances but didn't do well with them. Even worse, midfielder Washington pulled his hamstring and will miss 5-6 weeks.

- Goalkeeper Gatti suffered a sports hernia on February 26 and will miss 2 months. His loan has been terminated. I don't need him since I have two other goalkeepers and his loan is paid so it just makes sense.

February 26, 2014
Copa Verde Quarter Final 1st Leg
Cuiaba 2 - 2 Remo

This match was kinda frustrating since they were a level below us and got to a 2-0 lead. We came back and drew it, but we'll have to do better in the away leg.

Campeonato Mato-Grossense Table

Another good month, although it tailed off at the end. I almost did February in two parts, but I will likely do March in two parts since there are just so many matches.

A very solid month, despite some annoying draws in there. You're still ahead in the State Championship, but I still have no idea what the Copa Verde is lol, so I don't know what's going to happen there.

Brazilian Heroics 1.06 - March 2014 (Part 1)

Transfers

In:
- No transfers in.

Out:
- No transfers out.

- Right back Lucao suffered a chest injury in training and will miss 4-5 weeks. (3/2/2014)

March 2, 2014
Rondonopolis 1 - 3 Cuiaba

In the first half we made lots of gains down the flanks which led us to a 3-0 halftime lead. At halftime, they changed to a 4-4-2 and were harder to break down, and got a goal, but couldn't catch up.

March 5, 2014
Copa Verde Quarter Final 2nd Leg
Remo 1 - 2 Cuiaba (3 - 4 on aggregate)

We got two goals early on, but Remo pulled one back after we gave away the ball cheaply in our territory. Still, we were able to see the result out and advance to the next round.

March 9, 2014
Cuiaba 2 - 0 Sorriso

Leonardo Costa could've let complacency overwhelm the team, but the call for professionalism paid off and we got a boring but important 2-0 win. It was a fan day and there was a bumper crowd, which might portend increased attendences in the future.

March 12, 2014
Cuiaba 2 - 0 Mato Grosso

It looked like we would never get the breakthrough, after we had 2 offside goals early and struggled, but we got 2 late goals to win the match. With this win, we've already qualified for the semi-final.

March 14, 2014
Luverdense 0 - 1 Cuiaba

It looked like we might lose, but we held firm and Ellonar Bombinha broke through for the winning goal, with two wins over Luverdense we should not be caught on the table.

Campeonato Mato-Grossense Table

Barring some results we've about wrapped it up, although after this we will have playoffs to contend with.

Brazilian Heroics 1.07 - March 2014 (Part 2)

Transfers

In:
- To provide cover for the injured Andre, Cuiaba has gotten Botafogo's goalkeeper Marlon in on a free season-long loan. (3/24/2014)

Out:
- No transfers out.

- Right back Lucao suffered a chest injury in training and will miss 4-5 weeks. (3/2/2014)

March 16, 2014
Mixto 2 - 3 Cuiaba

I had to play Boge out of position due to lack of fit right backs. We started off slow, but got 3 quick goals in the second half. We got complacent, and Mixto came back to within one goal of tying it up, but they just ran out of time.

March 19, 2014
Copa Verde Semifinal 1st Leg
Cuiaba 0 - 1 Brasiliense

We were too nervy and bottled the first leg. Eder Sciola did a desperate two-footed tackle from behind to concede a penalty and lucky he wasn't carded at all, let alone not getting a red. There was a whistle after a foul when we had the ball in the box but instead of a penalty striker Marcelo Toscano got his second yellow, which was very frustrating.

March 21, 2014
Cuiaba 3 - 1 Uniao Rondonopolis

Another slow start but dominant finish. The bigger story is goalkeeper Andre strained his groin during the match, was able to finish it thankfully, but will miss 4-5 weeks with it.

March 23, 2014
Mato Grosso 0 - 5 Cuiaba

Careca picks up another hat trick and his 20th goal of the season as we get a big win and momentum heading into our second leg against Brasiliense. However, Diego Torres twisted his knee and will be out at least a month.

March 26, 2014
Copa Verde Semifinal 2nd Leg
Brasiliense 0 - 2 Copa Verde (1 - 2 on aggregate)

Marlon had a spectacular debut as we came back from a 1-0 deficit quickly, going up 2-1 at halftime. Brasiliense had some good chances to equalize but couldn't get it done and we knocked their last chance corner away to seal a spot in the final against fellow Serie C team Paysandu.

March 28, 2014
Cuiaba 2 - 0 CEOV

A boring win but it seals our place on top of the table.

Tactical Update

My main tactic is working fine but I always like alternative options so I'll be trying this in meaningless matches, it's a hybrid of the narrow tactics I like to run and the 4-2-3-1 I'm running in another save:

March 30, 2014
Cuiaba 9 - 0 Sinop

I might be onto something here with this tactic! We would've had 10 goals if not for a missed penalty, Lourival was on fire after being on a cold streak for a while, notching four goals here. It might be too attacking for regular use, but I like this tactic.

Campeonato Mato-Grossense Table

We finish unbeaten and on top of the table. This does count for the Invincibles achievement, so managing in Brazil can be a cheap way to get it with the right team.

Quite the turnaround in the Copa Verde against Brasiliense, especially away from home. And you've really smashed the State Championship, I wonder if that will translate over into the nation-wide league.

Brazilian Heroics 1.08 - April 2014

Transfers

In:
- I got attacking midfielder Victor Esquerdinha on a free loan from parent club Atletico Paranaense:
- I also got striker Giva on a free loan from Santos. (4/20/2014)
- Defensive midfielder Diego Oliveira was signed to a new contract that runs through December 2015.

Out:
- No transfers out.

April 2, 2014
Copa do Brasil 1st Round 1st Leg
Cuiaba 1 - 2 Atletico Paranaense

It's tough when you get drawn against a top tier team in the first round, we fell behind 2-0 early and got a goal to respond but it was ruled offside. We got one in the second half but we're behind the 8-ball for the second leg.

April 6, 2014
State Championship Semifinal 1st Leg
Mixto 0 - 3 Cuiaba

After an early scare in which a Mixto goal is disallowed for handball, we run off to a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the second leg.

- 4/9/2014: Almost immediately after getting Victor Esquerdinha on loan, he pulls his hamstring and will miss 5-6 weeks. So annoying!

April 9, 2014
Copa do Brasil 1st Round 2nd Leg
Atletico Paranaense 4 1- Cuiaba (6 - 2 on aggregate)

We were no match for our parent club, even before Bosco got sent off for a bad tackle.

April 13, 2014
State Championship Semifinal 2nd Leg
Cuiaba 3 - 1 Mixto (6 - 1 on aggregate)

The first leg deficit was too much for Mixto to overcome and we cruise into the final.

April 16, 2014
Copa Verde Final 1st Leg
Cuiaba 3 - 2 Paysandu

Washington and Fernando Jose scored great goals to give us a 1 goal lead heading into the second leg but Careca tore his hamstring and will be out 3-4 months.

April 20, 2014
State Championship Final 1st Leg
Luverdense 0 - 1 Cuiaba

There was an early scare when Reinaldo's goal for Luverdense was whistled offside. Marcelo Toscano scored a wonder goal for distance. Luverdense almost equalized with a great dribbling move, but the shot was saved and knocked away, and we hold on for a 1 goal lead heading into the second leg.

April 22, 2014
Copa Verde Final 2nd Leg
Paysandu 1 - 3 Cuiaba (3 - 6 on aggregate)

Paysandu had a terrible performance in the final, the most comical play being one center back trying to pass the ball laterally to the other, Giva intercepting and scoring easily.

April 27, 2014
State Championship Final 2nd Leg
Cuiaba 5 - 1 Luverdense (6 - 1 on aggregate)

Cuiaba are state champions after this demolition job of a team that are in Serie B! Jailton had two goals disallowed for offside, and Giva had the best goal, receiving a long pass after a Luverdense center back missed his interception, he made them pay by scoring.

Brazilian Heroics 1.09 - May/June 2014

Transfers

In:
- No transfers in.

Out:
- No transfers out.

- (5/01/2014) Ernani suffered a sports hernia in a reserve match and will miss 7-8 weeks.

- (5/17/2014) Victor Esquerdinha suffered a twisted ankle and will miss 6-7 weeks, which is even more frustrating considering he just came off an injury and was working back into fitness in reserve matches.

May 27, 2014
ASA 2 - 4 Cuiaba

An early goal for us and an early red card for a bad tackle for ASA set the tone for the match, as we went out to a 4-0 lead on the back of Giva's hat trick. Elanardo conceded two penalties late and had to be subbed off, but thankfully it just marred the scoreline, we still get a great win.

June 1, 2014
Cuiaba 2 - 1 Paysandu

Lourival grabs two goals in this come from behind victory. In the final seconds Paysandu's Yago Pikachu sends a free kick into the box but Marlon claims the ball to seal our victory.

June 7, 2014
Aguia de Maraba 0 - 3 Cuiaba

Lourival continues his prolific scoring ways notching another 2 goals en route to a more comfortable win this time. Center back Samuel is making a case for more playing time with an outstanding defensive performance.

- Naturally, Santos extends Giva for another year after seeing how prolific he is here.

June 15, 2014
Salgueiro 0 - 0 Cuiaba

A bore draw, at least to one of the other top teams of the table. We didn't play well enough to score although we had a few chances.

June 21, 2014
Cuiaba 2 - 0 CRAC

I felt like a change of tactic was needed to spark the attack against the bottom of the table team, and it worked out well.

June 28, 2014
Cuiaba 1 - 1 Botafogo

A very disappointing performance all-around, after going behind 1-0 we only salvaged a draw when Victor Esquerdinha, finally making his debut for us, scored right before he was scheduled to be subbed off.

Brazilian Serie C Table

We've had a very good start to the season so far, could be better, but could be a lot worse. We only need to make top 4 in our group to make the promotion playoffs, so we're in very good shape at the moment.