I have managed to dig out my old Pentagon Challenge from my Recycling Bin last night and I have decided to use that save as a follow-on story to take over Ralph Johnson's first ever club, Luverdense EC. He had an extremely successful time at the Brazilian First Divison side winning 4 titles in his 2 year reign, the Brazilian First Division, Brazilian Cup, Mat Grosso State Championships and The biggest of all, the Copa Libertadores. This time I am returning to Luverdense who have had a rocky history since Johnson left being a yo-yo team for many years in and out of the First Division and Second Division. Currently Luverdense are in the First Division after finishing 2nd in the Second Division. Luverdense's stadium has been expanded since I left, from a 4,000 capacity to 35,000 capacity and we are currently in the process of this seasons Mato Grosso State Championships. Since I have left, many players have left, or retired to become a member of staff at Luverdense or on the rare occasion, still playing in the reserves at Luverdense, but one thing I wasn't happy about was the sale of Adílson. In the summer of 2013, I bought a striker from Corinthians. His name was Adílson and he came when we needed him most. We were sat 6th place in the Third Division, miles off of getting promoted. Adílson's arrival was unexpected but turned out to be a star for us, winning us promotion single-handedly with 20 goals in 24 games. He then played for us up until 2018 where his record is as follows:
2013: 20 goals in 24 games
2014: 25 goals in 40 games
2015: 15 goals in 58 games
2016: 15 goals in 48 games
2017: 19 goals in 42 games
2018: 2 goals in 4 games
He was sold for FREE to Atlético Goianiense just before my arrival where he hasn't made an appearance so far, Adílson was Luverdense's top league goalscorer with 76 goals to his name. Now to another Luverdense legend. Gílson. Gílson was at Luverdense when I first arrived, he was only 22 and Luverdense signed him up after impressing in a Brazilian amateur match in 2012. Gílson is still at Luverdense, at 28 years old he holds Luverdense's highest league appearances with 188 appearances for the club. He was loaned out to Third Division side Remo in 2015 by a different manager. He has only scored 9 goals for Luverdense but his still hailed a legend with 188 league appearances but 217 altogether. I am glad Gílson is still at Luverdense as I feel I have a good relationship with him. I have signed one player who only spent one season with me but in that season he was our hero, scoring 18 goals in 19 games. I would of kept him for longer but that wasn't possible as an offer from Botafogo came in, it was too good to turn down. After a long, hard think me and the chairman decided to let him go and be able to sign more players with the transfer funds that Botafogo offered us. It was a £2,100,000 offer but he wasn't even near as successful at Botafogo than he was at Luverdense, scoring 14 goals in 48 appearances for Botafogo in a 3 year spell and was released in 2017. He was now in football wilderness, wishing his time at Luverdense was much, much longer than it had. All he ever wanted to do was play football. Luverdense promised that with this player. He flicked on the radio. "Just your normal news" he thought. Not really listening, the name 'Ralph Johnson' was mentioned on the radio and the players ears said to his brain he knew this man. He was trying to remember where he had heard this name... "Ralph Johnson voltou ao Luverdense EC para uma segunda passagem para o lado recém-promovido" (Ralph Johnson has returned to Luverdense EC for a second spell at the newly promoted side). That was it! 6 hours later, the players agent rang up the player. "Ouça, Talles, você sabe Ralph Johnson voltou a Luverdense?" (Listen, Talles, you know Ralph Johnson has returned to Luverdense?) "Sim?" (Yes?) the player replied. "Ele quer falar com você agora" (He wants to talk to you now) "O quê? Sim!" He knew what coming... "Hello Talles" Johnson said.
"Hello Ralph! How are you?"
"I'm fine thanks you?"
"A little bit upset I have no club but apart from that great!"
"That's what I want to talk to you about. You know that I have gone back to Luverdense yes?"
"Yes..." The player said in hope
"Well I wanted to know if you want to return?" Johnson said, grinning
"Yes! Absolutely! Definitely!"
"I'll meet you at the training ground tomorrow"
"Thank you so much Mr Johnson!"
"No problem mate"
"Mate? What does mate mean?"
"Doesn't matter haha" Johnson laughed
That player was called Talles Cunha. Scored the winning goal in the Copa Libertadores Final in 2014 for Luverdense.
2013: 20 goals in 24 games
2014: 25 goals in 40 games
2015: 15 goals in 58 games
2016: 15 goals in 48 games
2017: 19 goals in 42 games
2018: 2 goals in 4 games
He was sold for FREE to Atlético Goianiense just before my arrival where he hasn't made an appearance so far, Adílson was Luverdense's top league goalscorer with 76 goals to his name. Now to another Luverdense legend. Gílson. Gílson was at Luverdense when I first arrived, he was only 22 and Luverdense signed him up after impressing in a Brazilian amateur match in 2012. Gílson is still at Luverdense, at 28 years old he holds Luverdense's highest league appearances with 188 appearances for the club. He was loaned out to Third Division side Remo in 2015 by a different manager. He has only scored 9 goals for Luverdense but his still hailed a legend with 188 league appearances but 217 altogether. I am glad Gílson is still at Luverdense as I feel I have a good relationship with him. I have signed one player who only spent one season with me but in that season he was our hero, scoring 18 goals in 19 games. I would of kept him for longer but that wasn't possible as an offer from Botafogo came in, it was too good to turn down. After a long, hard think me and the chairman decided to let him go and be able to sign more players with the transfer funds that Botafogo offered us. It was a £2,100,000 offer but he wasn't even near as successful at Botafogo than he was at Luverdense, scoring 14 goals in 48 appearances for Botafogo in a 3 year spell and was released in 2017. He was now in football wilderness, wishing his time at Luverdense was much, much longer than it had. All he ever wanted to do was play football. Luverdense promised that with this player. He flicked on the radio. "Just your normal news" he thought. Not really listening, the name 'Ralph Johnson' was mentioned on the radio and the players ears said to his brain he knew this man. He was trying to remember where he had heard this name... "Ralph Johnson voltou ao Luverdense EC para uma segunda passagem para o lado recém-promovido" (Ralph Johnson has returned to Luverdense EC for a second spell at the newly promoted side). That was it! 6 hours later, the players agent rang up the player. "Ouça, Talles, você sabe Ralph Johnson voltou a Luverdense?" (Listen, Talles, you know Ralph Johnson has returned to Luverdense?) "Sim?" (Yes?) the player replied. "Ele quer falar com você agora" (He wants to talk to you now) "O quê? Sim!" He knew what coming... "Hello Talles" Johnson said.
"Hello Ralph! How are you?"
"I'm fine thanks you?"
"A little bit upset I have no club but apart from that great!"
"That's what I want to talk to you about. You know that I have gone back to Luverdense yes?"
"Yes..." The player said in hope
"Well I wanted to know if you want to return?" Johnson said, grinning
"Yes! Absolutely! Definitely!"
"I'll meet you at the training ground tomorrow"
"Thank you so much Mr Johnson!"
"No problem mate"
"Mate? What does mate mean?"
"Doesn't matter haha" Johnson laughed
That player was called Talles Cunha. Scored the winning goal in the Copa Libertadores Final in 2014 for Luverdense.
