Start from the start with episode 1
I know what you’re thinking.
“I can’t wait for you to box Vilafranquense’s ears again Franjo!”
“I can’t wait for the Caldas matches, you’ll really show them this time!”
“I have a tattoo of your half-robot face on my thigh!”
But no! You’re mistaken and confused. That’s just not how the Portuguese Championship, or my readers, roll. Our opponents for this first phase will be drawn randomly out of the pool of 80 clubs. We’ve been dropped into Group G. Here are our new friends:
Aljustrelense
From: Aljustrel
Ground: Estádio Municipal de Aljustrel
First Phase Position (Out of 10): 6th in group H
Relegation Stage Position (Out of 8): 3rd in group H
Predicted: 6th
Rivals in Group G: N/A
Amora
From: Amora
Ground: Estádio da Medideira
Last Season: Promoted from 4th tier
Predicted: 9th
Rivals in Group G: Barreirense (Competitive)
Barreirense
From: Barreiro
Ground: Campo da Verderena
First Phase Position (Out of 10): 3rd in Group G
Relegation Stage Position (Out of 8): 3rd in Group G
Predicted: 3rd
Rivals in Group G: Amora (Competitive), Fabril do Barreiro (Historic, Fierce), Pinhalnovense (Local)
Despertar
From: Beja
Ground: Complexo Desportivo Fernando Mamede
Last Season: Promoted from 4th tier
Predicted: 8th
Rivals in Group G: N/A
Fabril do Barreiro
From: Barreiro
Ground: Estádio Alfredo da Silva
First Phase Position (Out of 10): 7th in group H
Relegation Stage Position (Out of 8): 5th in Group G
Predicted: 7th
Rivals in Group G: Barreirense (Local, Fierce), Amora (Local)
Juventude Évora
From: Évora
Ground: Estádio Sanches de Miranda
Last Season: Promoted from 4th tier
Predicted: 10th
Rivals in Group G: N/A
Moura
From: Moura
Ground: Estádio do Moura Atlético Clube
First Phase Position (Out of 10): 8th in group H
Relegation Stage Position (Out of 8): 2nd in Group G
Predicted: 4th
Rivals in Group G: N/A
Pinhalnovense
From: Pinhal Novo
Ground: Campo de Jogos Santos Jorge
First Phase Position (Out of 10): 3rd in group H
Relegation Stage Position (Out of 8): 1st in Group H
Predicted: 2nd
Rivals in Group G: Barreirense (Local)
Sp Viana Alentejo
From: Viana do Alentejo
Ground: Campo João Branco Núncio
First Phase Position (Out of 10): 10th in group H
Relegation Stage Position (Out of 8): 6th in Group G, Beat Malveira 5-2 in Play-off 1st Round and Sernache 2-1 in 2nd Round
Predicted: 5th
Rivals in Group G: N/A
You’ll notice that I’ve included these clubs’ predicted positions for the phase ahead. You’ll also notice that one position has been omitted. That’s because it’s our position. It’s because I, Franjo, am widely expected to lead our Heróis to a 1st place position in the first phase.
Am I apprehensive? Yes.
Will I relish the challenge? Yes.
Do I back us to pull it off? Fucking right I do.
It’s an interesting position to be in because I’ve so far been in charge of the massive underdogs and relegation favourites in Vellinge, and then a bit of a big fish in a small pond, dropped into the relegation stage by no fault of my own in my first half season here. Now a brand new season is dawning, and we’ll achieve anything we achieve off our own backs. And if we fail there will be absolutely nowhere to hide.
And I don’t want to pile more pressure onto myself, nor do I want to play down any future achievements, nor do I want to tempt fate. But I’m going to do all 3.
This is a weak group. 3 of the teams have just been promoted from the 4th tier and you’d expect them to be cannon fodder. Sp Viana Alentejo only survived relegation after dragging themselves through the play-offs. Barreirense and Pinhalnovense are the teams to beat as they narrowly missed out on going to last season’s promotion stage, but apart from them, our opponents all had pretty poor seasons. I will expect a series of very, very good performances from our team this year.
Episode 27 >
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