Football Season Guide

Coming from an excellent season; the best ever for the club. Finishing 5th with the biggest amount of points was great especially since the club didn't even make that much of an investment. Of course, for a club like Rio Ave, any new season will bring new challenges: this time club will need to overcome the departure of highly successful gaffer Carlos Carvalhal. The unexperienced young Mário Silva was the choice for the job. The former left-back is at least a promise of attractive football. Nuno Santos and Taremi were arguably the club's best players last season and they both left to join big teams Sporting and Porto. Al Musrati also an important departure. André Pereira came from Porto, signed a permanent deal with Vilacondenses and will have the task of fitting in the shoes of Taremi in attack. Gelson Dala and Carlos Mané will now have more room to shine, now that Nuno Santos is gone. Kieszek will now have a good competitor in Leo Vieira; Aderllan remains the defensive leader; Tarantini's influence will naturally decline, while Geraldes seems determined to be an icon for the club on his second spell. Felipe Augusto and Diego Lopes will try to have a definitive season. Nikola Jambor recovered from a year-long injury and will aim to get near the standards shown on his first year for the club. If he achieves it, he will be a great adding to an already interesting midfield. Ronan returned from loan to add firepower and physical dimension to attack. Team seems to lack a proper replacement for Al Musrati in midfield to provide physical and defensive attributes to balance with the skills of Lopes, Augusto and Geraldes.