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| Thursday, 26 January 2012 18:31 |
Liga Orangina: sixteen rounds inPortugal's second tier as unpredictable as ever After sixteen rounds of action, and a razor-tight primeira volta, the 2011/12 Liga Orangina season is hurtling towards a thrilling conclusion. Ben Shave assesses the current state of play in Portugal’s second tier.
In the six rounds that have passed since my last Liga Orangina update, the anointed champions have fallen away, and another side from greater Lisbon have replaced them as the leading candidates to prevail come May 13th. Funded in large part by the player agency Traffic, Estoril have emerged as the Liga Orangina’s most effective (if not necessarily the most entertaining) and consistent outfit. Led by talismanic, Toronto-born centre back Steven Vitoria, Marco Silva’s side have not tasted defeat since early October. Of the six victories contained in that spell, five have been achieved by a one-goal margin, which illustrates Estoril’s primary strengths: organisation (just nine goals conceded this season), mental strength, and excellent levels of fitness throughout the squad. It is these qualities that have left them well placed for promotion.  Below them lie the division’s entertainers. Moreirense have scored 27 goals whilst conceding eighteen, and in Jorge Casquilha, appear to have a coach who is willing to accept some defensive porousness, provided that the likes of Fabio Espinho and Wagner make up for it up front. Moreirense only won one of their five opening matches, but have hit their stride during the winter months, and a well-earned draw at Sporting recently outlined their credentials to a wider audience. Three points below Moreirense sit Desportivo Aves, another side who have hit upon the vital formula for consistency. Unbeaten since late November, the northern side marked themselves out as ones to watch over the summer when they appointed Paulo Fonseca, the 38 year-old former defender who made his name when he steered Pinhalnovense to the 2010/11 Taca de Portugal final. Fonseca showed great promise during that fairytale run, but he also looks to have what it takes over a 30-game season. Aves also made a shrewd signing on the pitch during the off-season: Pires. The veteran winger currently has eight goals, including five in Aves’ last five matches.  One point back from Aves are Atletico, fresh from their derby defeat at the hands of Belenenses. A glorious autumn has turned into a testing turn of the year for Joao Deus, with key players Leandro Pimenta, Laurindo and Tiago Caeiro losing form or falling prey to injuries. The Lisbon side have just one win from their last seven outings, and tonight’s trip down the coast to Estoril promises to be another tough assignment. That said, meetings with Santa Clara, Trofense and Arouca bring up the prospect of a more kindly February, and provided Deus can rally his troops, Atletico should stabilise themselves in the top six. If Deus fails to do so, there is no shortage of contenders poised to seize the initiative. Leixoes (24), Naval (24) and Penafiel (23) are all within touching distance of the top two, and a string of victories could catapult them right into the promotion mix. After their 2-0 win over Leixoes at the Estadio Mar, Naval (who have the division’s lowest average attendance of 378) appear to have finally found their feet under Daniel Ramos, although much still rests on the form of Bolivia and Roberto up front. Leixoes looked to be finding form after a poor October, but two points and a single goal from their last three outings have seen Litos’ men concede ground once again. It is beginning to look as if the same inconsistency that ruled out an instant return to the top flight last season will haunt them once more.  Last season’s surprise package, Arouca, are now enduring a campaign more typical of newcomers to the second tier. Despite the appointment of the wily Vitor Oliveira as coach, the rural side still miss Jeremie N’Jock up front, and simply lack the guile to be anything more than mid-table spoilers. But for a club that averages around 500 spectators per home game, that is no bad thing. Whilst the gaps in the top half are beginning to widen, the distance between Arouca in 8th and Trofense in the first relegation spot is just four points. The likes of Oliveirense, Santa Clara (who are sinking like a stone having picked up just one point from their last eighteen) and Sporting Covilha (the only side yet to make it into double figures for goals scored this season) are beginning to look nervously over their shoulders; particularly with Freamunde and Belenenses having picked up vital wins against Oliveirense and Atletico in recent weeks.  The form of 36 year-old Fernando Bock remains as vital as ever for Freamunde: the man who joined Porto as a twelve year-old in 1987 now has nine goals for the season, eight of which have come in his last seven matches. If Bock continues to find the net, Freamunde will inevitably climb up the table. The story is similar for Belenenses: a well-timed run of form has seen the pressure ease on Jose Mota, and the Belem side ease themselves away from the bottom two. Goals remain a major problem (only Covilha have scored less after sixteen rounds), but three straight matches without conceding suggests that Belenenses can at least find a way to stay up – though that Liga return, so crucial financially, will have to be postponed for another season. The relegation dogfight has also begun in earnest, with Uniao Madeira, Trofense and Portimonense looking like they will be the key protagonists. The appointment of Predrag Jokanovic has improved the outlook for the former somewhat: the Serbian has secured draws with Aves and Atletico, as well as a priceless win at Portimonense, and has also instilled a sense of fighting spirit that was sorely lacking during the first half of the season. The forced sales of last season’s entire back four has had predictably catastrophic results at Trofense, who have conceded a division-worst 25 times thus far. Former Rio Ave coach Joao Eusebio has become the latest man in the hot seat – an unenviable task to the say the least.  At least the man tasked with saving Portimonense (twelve points, four straight losses and 24 goals against) is appropriately named. Lazaro Oliveira replaced Carlos Mozer in Portimao earlier this month, and will surely require all of his namesake’s good fortune (not to mention divine intervention) to prevent the financially stricken Algarve club from making it back-to-back relegations. Ben Shave To keep up with all the goings-on in the Liga Orangina this season, stay tuned to PortuGOAL.net, and follow Ben on Twitter: @cahiers_dusport |
It saddens me that Atletico's form as dip, but I also need to be realistic. Promotion to the SuperLiga just might be the worst thing to happen to Atletico. Revenue will increase, but the overall expenses and pressure will increase. I truly feel that they would be better off growing slowly. Sadly that might not be possible, because if they have any stars, they'll get poached.
Seeing Estoril sitting up to brings a smile. I know the area well and love it. Sorry for being nostalgic, but I do love sitting beach front having a Sagres.
Question; Any team based out of Cascais?
Navals attendance numbers were shocking, yet it they shouldn't be.
Belenenses are a mess financially and it's sad to see. Maybe a bit of a run in the Liga de Honra would help get the house in order. Or maybe even force it to.
Let me add that Setubal could find itself in the very same boat, should they get relegated. Then again a drop might force some cleaning up.
Only six of the teams are on the plus side in goal differential. Wow.
I also wanted to mention Boavista. They're currently sitting 3rd, six points back of leaders Tondela in 2nd Div Zona Central. very tight race in that division, with plenty of teams bunched up.