[Drewcorp]

Season: 2008
Club: EC Noroeste

Transfers In:

Bruno Octavio (50k)
Fausto (free)
Fabio Baiano (free)
Helinho (free)
Luis Paulo (free)
Neto (free)
Rafael Sandes (free)
Tiago Cavalcanti(free)
Marcelo (loan)
Uelliton (loan)

Transfers Out:

Marinho (250k)
Eder (150k)
Eder Monteiro (150k)
Julio (150k)

Transfer Round Up:

With limited transfer funds the majority of my signings arrived on free transfers. Promising midfielder Bruno Octavio signs for the only transfer fee of 50k. Tiago Cavalcanti has a proven goal scoring record at this level. Whilst the likes of Fausto and Fabio Baiano bring experience to the side.

The club had a very large squad and subsequently a relatively large wage bill for this level. It was necessary to offload high earners like Marinho and Eder Monteiro. Their transfer fees also helped keep the club on a stable financial footing.

Starting XI:

GK - Fernando Vizzotto
DR - Max Carrasco
DL - Claudio
DC - Alemao
DC - Anderson Marques
MR - Fabio Baiano
ML - Joao Marcos
MC - Fausto ©
MC - Uelliton
FC - Helinho
FC - Tiago Cavalcanti

Top Scorer: Tiago Cavalcanti (28)
Top Assister: Joao Marcos (25)
Fans Player Of The Year: Joao Marcos (Goals 9 - Assists 25)
My Player Of The Year: Fausto (Goals 16 - Assists 2)

Sao Paulo State:

http://i30.tinypic.com/bdqoli.jpg

Playoff Semi Final

EC Noroeste 1-5 Sao Paulo (on agg)

1st Stage Division 3 :

http://i32.tinypic.com/2z5rudz.jpg

2nd Stage Division 3:

http://i32.tinypic.com/2rhbs6w.jpg

3rd Stage Division 3:

http://i32.tinypic.com/2zhpi6f.jpg

Final Stage Division 3:

http://i31.tinypic.com/oieo7l.jpg

Season Review:

As the dust settles on a long and drawn out season fans of EC Noroeste will fondly look back on the season as a tremendous success. Throughout the season the club has shown great ambition and the ability to play some impressive attacking football.

Not much was expected as the club headed into the Sao Paulo State Championship. However, the club managed to string some impressive results together including a 5-3 victory over eventual winners Sao Paulo and beating Palmeiras to a place in the end of season play offs. We succumbed to Sao Paulo in the semi finals suffering quite a heavy defeat but it did not take away from our achievements. The club as a result has qualified for the Brazilian Cup next season.

Division 3 was a lot harder than anticipated. A long season over four stages meant that my squad and strength in depth was tested to the max. Tiago Cavalcanti impressed, his goals firing us to promotion whilst the experience of Fausto and Fabio Baiano proved essential. Joao Marcos showed himself to be a player of real quality and he has subsequently attracted a lot of interest from First Division clubs.

The club is on a sound financial footing and the squad would appear to be strong enough to be competitive in Division 2 next season. With a couple of signings we should be able to impress and hopefully challenge for back to back promotions.

[João]

Looking good Drew. Impressive to beat Palmeiras into the play offs. This success might come back and bite you on the bum if you perform badly next time round.