Tanel

I was hoping to recover from the last month's struggles, but this wasn't as easy. It was yet again an inconsistent, sometimes fantastic and sometimes miserable


The month opener was a vital game for us in my eyes. We had to win this showdown with Santa Clara whatever it takes. I gave the boys some emotional team-talk and made couple of tactical changes to make our play more effective, also making couple of changes in the team starting line-up.

The last month had given me exact realization what and how the players think, therefore getting to see which players have the spirit and qualities, not just on the pitch, but mentally, that I need.

Anyway going to Santa Clara match, we had a completely perfect start. It took us 30 seconds to get the lead through right-back Alexandre's volley from 10 meters. After that it was defensive trouble which we though avoided to make into a conceeded goal and in 57th minute it was Cristovao, who had recovered to his old form after the car accident for this match, who headed in the 2:0 goal. Soon after that Santa Clara got their deserved goal I must admit, but the final word in our home match was to us - substitute Pedro Cervantes sloted in from couple of meters to give us the 3:1 victory.

Back on track againist team that has just lately enjoyed European football and is one of the favourites for promotion was certainly a positive experience and I applaused the fans, eventhough I was constantly scratching my head for tactical mistakes we've made.


The following game was a thriller no doubt. Our next opponents Vitoria Guimaraes were one of the favourites to win the league along with us and get promotion, but they, like us, were having a struggle collecting their points.

Couple of more tactical changes and a very confident mood in media as I found out that there actually is a huge interest in the Liga de Honra doings do, unlike I thought at my first days here. Watching around the Estonian sites, I actually was popular figure around there.

Captain Bruno China returned to boss around in our central midfielder and be our small Gerrard.

The match though started with a cathostrope, conceeding a 2nd minute goal after having lots of trouble holding possession and Vitoria's striker Fabio sent it in from 15 meters with a fabulous strike that bounced in from the post.

More misery was to come, Alexandre failing to make an correct back-pass which goes by his goalkeeper, into his own-goal in the 15th minute. I had that serious look of the CSI Miami character Horatio.


And joy arrived finally with Jorge Duarte brilliantly heading into the top corner after center-back Elvis took our corner-kick few minutes after we had conceeded.

Before the game I was thinking of not playing veteran right-back Alexander who had scored the own-goal and my doubts got even more confirmation as he conceeded a penalty to the opponents from silly situation. Beto failed to save the central shot and it was 1-3.

It was just frustration when Vitoria scored 1-4. Again from Alexander defensive mistake, I was shaking my head as Vitoria was techincally much better than us despite we having lion's share of possession. And it wasn't even half-time.

It went even worse later in second half with substitute Pedro Cervantes picking up a injury and we not having a substitution for him and just minutes after that Cristovao earned a second yellow. It was just 9 our players on the pitch. I was shaking my head, saying to Cristovao that you've let the team down hard. He sniped back at me quite hard and he wasn't going to see any football for long period until he apologizes.

When we had gone down 1-5 and Leandro Tatu left the pitch with an injury I kicked a nearby water bottle as I couldn't stand the frustration and went with Tatu.

After the game ended I had already left the dressing room and was driving home. At home I found out that the game had ended with the same result. Though I was more worried about the next games. We were going to have many players missing probably with injuries.


Our next match was a must win, but it wasn't going to be easy. Our opponents Varzim we're one of the best sides so far, somehow suprisingly though. Their manager was the best last month to get me even more worried. But I needed to be confident and had to recover from setbacks fast if I wanted to get promoted this season.

Pedro Cervantes was out with his injury from last match for longer periods, while Leandro Tatu fought to recover enough to be on bench. Mauro Giliberti made his debut on the right wing.

But the misery continued, Varzim pilled pressure on us from the minute one with us not even getting near their area or the ball and it was 22nd minute when they finally scored through a header.

But it was positive news after that. The goalscorer Mendonca got sent off dozen minutes after the goal. The red card didn't help the cause too much and I had to change something during the half-time to bring up some life to the Varzim defence.

In the end though it was another defeat, we didn't get into the box and only threatened from distance and free-kicks. 0-1 and I got another proof that my belief's of managers life weren't as easy as just shouting at the players what do to and not. It's not like we see as fans, it gives me head-ache and it's complicated.


I was shocked to see our rivals Rio Ave manager getting sacked so early, so I was kind of worried about possible sack eventhough we had an agreement that I will be here for long even when it's not looking good for the team and promotion.

So the match againist Penafiel had a huge importance to me as I losing this one would've been if not vital, then certainly a huge blow to my promotion chances already. And to consider that they had lost just 3 points so far it was going to be a superb chance to make up for the earlier set-backs.

Finally I had a positive start in the game. Attacking midfielder Jorge Goncalves powerfully headed in a perfect Pedro Moita cross.

After two bigtime misses from Leandro Tatu it was Pedro Moita in action again. He had been our only bright light in the couple of last games and he scored a simply fantastic free-kick from the wing into the near corner of Penafiel goal and I was applauding our players and fans after it, but it wasn't a done game yet as soon after the goal half-time whistle went.

Pedro Moita's continuing great performance was good enough to secure that our midfield will keep the possession and the match won't go out of our hands as it ended with 2:0. What a great day it was and hopefully this will be the turnpoint.


Authors Question To The Readers: How do you people like the monthly review system I came up with?