Football Season Guide

Despite having escaped embarrassment and ended in a relatively respectable 5th position, Corinthians had a poor season, last year, and were only able to find a decent ending thanks to other rivals having had poor runs in the second part of the season. 2022 didn’t start as the fans would have hoped. Coach Silvinho didn’t last long, having been sacked after some poor results in Campeonato Paulista. Portuguese Vítor Pereira arrived surrounded with high expectations, but he lost the all big Derbies so far, and ‘Timão’ were knocked-out from State Championship on the semi-finals. The club kept last season’s line of work in the transfer market, bringing two high-profile but aged players, striker Júnior Moraes (34) and club’s idol Paulinho (33). Ivan is a great new adding for goal and should be Cássio’s replacement in the long term. Róbson Bambu will challenge Gil and João Victor for a place in the back duo. Timão managed to keep most of their important players from last season. The promising but still reserve Gabriel Pereira joined the MLS and that was it as far as significant departures. The two experienced new signings for midfield and attack will join the fantastic-four that arrived last season and had a massive impact on the team: Giuliano, Renato Augusto, Roger Guedes and Willian. Timão will now have a short but very respectable group of players to attack the new season. Vítor Pereira should use his preferred 433 system, with Roger Guedes alternating between the wing and a mobile-9 position. Willian will be the man for the creative left-winger role. Renato Augusto, Paulinho and Giuliano will form a high-standard midfield, even if one of them may start the games on the bench to bring a more defensive and energetic unit to the side. Advanced age of almost all important players and lack of depth on the squad may be problems for the long run. (Latest signings: hot name, holding midfielder Maycon returns to the club. Should be a strong contender for the XI.)