Free-Wheeling Santos Hit Stride

At just about the halfway point of the season, the league is as tight as can be. A mere 3 points separates 1st from 3rd, and three teams are tied with 22 points. Fortunately for Santos, they are one of many teams contending for honours. They continued their run this week, with victories against Yorkshire Amateurs and Marseille. Prolific goal predator continued his successful campaign with two clinical finishes against Yorkshire, while the Ferrari duo combined for 2 goals in a 3-0 win against Marseille. Manager Sean7 knows that complacency has been starting to creep up on the team, as they had a hard time getting through Marseille after a red card in the first half produced nil chances.

‘Many of our remaining games will come against the competing teams, so we have to continue to play hard and work together. Motivation and form is high amongst the squad, but it can all change after one week. We need to keep this momentum going, as Thundercats and AFC Stanley show no signs of letting up.’

Defender Yogender Pragurd, who captained the latest side against Marseille, agrees.‘We will have a hard run coming up, and many of these games will determine who holds the trophy in the end. We’ve been clinical with our chances, and our midfield is winning many of the balls in the middle of the park. But it’ll be the defence’s job to read the opposition, win the balls in the penalty area, and not make crucial errors. This will start with me, and I will try to set an example for the rest to follow.’ With a worthy X11 performance in the latest round, Pragurd’s words will not go unheeded by the rest of the squad.

Indeed, the defence has improved considerably after the dreadful start to the season. The introductions of Goddard and stability in goal with Rodenas has allowed Santos to dictate the pace and flow of the game in midfield. The Brasilians will hope to keep the defence tight, without losing their identity of Joga Bonito.