Season 2012/2013
Several people left for big money again in the close season, but all were players for which I already had a young and talented understudy who was pushing for a first team spot, while several other talented players came in on free transfers or for little cash, and I felt that I had a solid team that could build upon the second half of last season. With all the cash generated by selling players over the seasons I had built up quite a war-chest too, and I set out to attract a player that had that little bit of extra class that could help lift the team a level higher. But no matter what I offered none of my ‘big’ targets had the slightest intention of joining us despite our performances over the last seasons, so I set out for another season of consolidation and youth-development. Meanwhile the stadium expansion was once again blocked by local opposition.
In Europe we were once again drawn against a strong team – Middlesbrough this time – but to my great delight we were 3-0 up after 18 minutes in the home leg… only to give it all away again, and conceding the 3-3 close to the end of the game. A lucky goal in extra time meant we still had clinched our first European win ever, but after being 3-0 up the final score line was a big disappointment. The return leg started well once again, with an opposition player red-carded after hauling down our broken-through striker, and a goal from the resulting free-kick. And yet we didn’t manage to hold on, being totally dominated and conceding twice against 10 men to be eliminated on away goals.
Frustrating!!
League play went better, with my youngsters (19 from my 26 registered players were 22 or younger) settling right into the slipstream of leaders Porto. After 10 games we even jumped over Porto to the first place (For the first time in the team’s history we top the league. Hurray!) though that only lasted for 10 days. A small slump after new-year saw Porto pull away a bit (to a maximum of 8 points), but we managed to hold on to second place, finishing 4 points behind Porto, producing some very nice football, to the delight of fans, pundits, and the manager alike.
In the cup we were drawn against a strong Braga side at an early stage and eliminated after a hard-fought 2-1 defeat.
Highlight: The last day of the season saw us travelling to Sporting, who were still involved in a battle for the 3rd place against Braga. 35000 fans saw their favourite team succumb to a humiliating 0-6 defeat at the hands of a rampant Uniao de Coimbra side. :thup:
Pl 30 W 20 D 6 L 4 F 76 A 31 Pts 66 2nd
9 players in for 1.5M€
14 players out for 14.25M€
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