Football Season Guide

Goias EC

In


Juan Pintado (def) Juventud, URU - on loan; Luiz Gustavo (def) Vasco - on loan; Caju (def) Braga, POR - on loan; Vidal (def) Juventude; Sandro (mid) Genoa, ITA; Ignacio Jara (mid) cobreloa, CHL; Daniel Bessa (mid) Verona, ITA - on loan; Marcinho (att) Sport Recife - return from loan; Keko Villalva (att) Veracruz, MEX; Lucão (att) Fluminense; Henrique Almeida (att) Chapecoense; Kevin Quevedo (att) Alianza Lima, PER; Victor Andrade (att) Chapecoense; Mike (att) Atletico GO;

Out


Marcos (sp)(gk) Paraná - on loan; Paulo Ricardo (sp)(def) Figueirense; Kevin (sp)(def) Tombense - return from loan; Marcelo Hermes (sp)(def) Cruzeiro - return from loan; Geovane (sp)(mid) CSA; Yago Felipe (r)(mid) Fluminense; Alisson Taddei (sp)(mid) Criciúma - on loan; Jean Carlos (sp)(mid) Caxias - on loan; Giovanni Augusto (sp)(mid) Coritiba; Marlone (sp)(mid) Corinthians - return from loan; Renatinho (sp)(mid) Mirassol - return from loan; Leo Sena (k)(mid) Atlético MG; Alan Ruschel (sp)(mid) Chapecoense - return from loan; Dudu (sp)(mid/att) CRB; Giovanni (sp)(att) Guarani; Leandro Barcia (r)(att) Sport Recife (on loan from Nacional, URU); Rafinha (sp)(att) Botafogo SP; Michael (k)(att) Flamengo

Goiás had a surprisingly solid season last year. The final midtable position was the evidence of the strong performance they had in 2019. Much stronger than what was expected, as the squad seemed quite fragile in the beginning of the season, which proved to be false. 'Esmeraldino' will count on Ney Franco to keep the good work he had made at the end of last season. Franco employed a strong 4-3-3 that adapted to each game, but usually made use of direct football, exploring the good wingers Michael and Barcia. Those two wingers are big losses for 2020 together with key playmaker Leo Sena. Michael was one of the league's revelation in 2019 and signed with big sharks Flamengo; Sena's influence wasn't unnoticed by the big spenders Atlético MG. Victor Andrade, an eternal promise that is yet to confirm his potential, was brought in to replace Michael as the source for creativity coming from the wing. Henrique Almeida was also brought to attack and is a promise for goals. Former Tottenham midfielder Sandro signed in to be the team's reference in the middle. Caju, Daniel Bessa, Quevedo, Jara, Lucão, Keko and Mike all seem good improvements for this season, and the squad seems stronger than last campaign, at least in terms of depth. At the back, Sanches recovered from big injury and is almost as a big new signing. Last chance for Lucão Cavalcante to get back on track and live up on the constantly frustrated high expectations put on him a few years go.

Target


Goiás may be expected to be involved with relegation fight, but seem well equipped to have another mid-table finish, just like last year.