It’s that time of year again, another season has flown by. A season that started with Sousa Cintra and José Peseiro but fortunately did not end in that way. Instead a Taça de Portugal, a Taça da Liga and some fairly middling league form. Vamos.
Goal of the Season: Bruno Fernandes vs. Benfica (Link) – This really should be called the Bruno Fernandes award. This is a ridiculous freekick from a ridiculous distance that turned out to be a hugely significant goal over the course of both legs. And it was against Benfica.
Runners Up: 2. Nani vs. Qarabag (Link), 3. Jovane Cabral vs. Rio Ave (Link)
Bonus: Bruno Fernandes vs. Benfica (Link), Jérémy Mathieu vs. Nacional (Link), Bruno Fernandes vs. Braga (Link), Bruno Fernandes vs. Villarreal (Link), Bruno Fernandes vs. Boavista (Link)
2018: Bruno Fernandes vs. Tondela (Link)
2017: Gelson Martins vs. Paços de Ferreira (Link)
2016: João Mário vs. Vitória de Setúbal (Link)
2015: Nani vs. Gil Vicente (Link)
2014: Carlos Mané vs. Marítimo (Link)
2013: Ricky van Wolfswinkel vs. Braga (Link)
2012: Marat Izmailov vs. Rio Ave (Link)
Worst signing of the season: Bruno Gaspar – Not Bruno de Carvalho’s finest signing. Gaspar has been an obvious weak point in the team whenever he’s played and has not looked anywhere good enough to be a Sporting player. Unfortunately, due to Stefan Ristovski’s ability to get sent off for minor infractions, he has had to be called up fairly often this season.
Runners up: 2. Marcelo Ferreira (quickly sent packing to America), 3. Abdoulay Diaby (had a good game, once)
2018: 1. Seydou Doumbia, 2. Rúben Ribeiro, 3. Mattheus Oliveira
2017: 1. Luc Castaignos, 2. Lazar Markovic, 3. Elias
2016: 1. Hernán Barcos, 2. Michaël Ciani, 3. Bruno Paulista
2015: 1. Simeon Slavchev, 2. Naby Sarr, 3. Ramy Rabia
2014: 1. Gérson Magrão, 2. Welder, 3. Iván Piris
2013: 1. Khalid Boulahrouz, 2. Danijel Pranjic, 3. Gelson Fernandes
2012: 1. Valeri Bojinov, 2. Luis Aguiar, 3. Elias
Best signing of the season: Luiz Phellype – For €500,000 this is now looking to be like quite the bargain for Sporting. Coming in from the Segunda Liga after his transfer from Paços de Ferreira, Luiz Phellype initally looked way out of his depth. Having to fill in for the struggling Bas Dost he looked more like Hernán Barcos. However, he found his feet eventually and scored 8 goals in the last 10 games of the season as well as cooly slotting home the final penalty in the shoot out against Porto in the Taça de Portugal.
Runners up: 2. Cristián Borja (a competent left-back), 3. Stefan Ristovski (decent when not sent off)
2018: 1. Bruno Fernandes, 2. Jérémy Mathieu, 3. Cristiano Piccini
2017: 1. Bas Dost, 2. Beto, 3. Gelson Dala
2016: 1. Jorge Jesus, 2. Bryan Ruiz, 3. Bruno César
2015: 1. Paulo Oliveira, 2. Nani, 3. Ewerton
2014: 1. Leonardo Jardim, 2. Islam Slimani, 3. Jefferson
2013: 1. Fabrice Fokobo, 2. Marcos Rojo, 3. Zakaria Labyad
2012: 1. Stijn Schaars, 2. Ricky van Wolfswinkel, 3. Emiliano Insúa
Most under-utilised player: Francisco Geraldes – Loaned out against the wishes of just about everyone (along with Matheus Pereira, João Palhinha, Domingos Duarte) the midfielder’s time in Germany was ruined by injury and he didn’t manage to get a single game. Unfortunately, even when he returned appearances where hard to come by. Geraldes is unlikely to get in the team ahead of Bruno Fernandes but Marcel Keizer decided against bringing him on from the bunch more often than not. Unfortunately, it looks like he may not be part of the plans for next season.
Runners up: 2. Miguel Luís (promising start but confusion about his future), 3. Jovane Cabral (excellent start but an inconsistent 2019)
2018: 1. João Palhinha, 2. Wendel, 3. André Pinto
2017: 1. Paulo Oliveira, 2. Ricardo Esgaio, 3. Matheus Pereira
Sub-23 player of the season: (Formerly the B Team player of the season) Paulinho – The Brazilian has been an ever-present figure in the Sub-23 side this season. Paulinho has been loan from Fluminense for the last season but this summer well decide his fate, dependant on whether Sporting and Fluminense can negotiate a fee. Should it happen Paulinho will be looking to make the step up to the first team next season, or a loan to another Primeira Liga side could be an option. However, the arrival of Mateus Nunes from Estoril may mean Paulinho will stay in Brazil.
Runners up: 2. Bruno Paz (unfortunate to the end the season with a bad injury), 3. Pedro Mendes (improved leaps and bounds)
2018: 1. Rafael Barbosa, 2. Pedro Marques, 3. Ivanildo Fernandes
2017: 1. Gelson Dala, 2. Leonardo Ruiz, 3. Ivanildo Fernandes
2016: 1. Daniel Podence, 2. Francisco Geraldes, 3. Matheus Pereira
2015: 1. Wallyson Mallmann, 2. Gelson Martins, 3. Ryan Gauld
2014: 1. Ricardo Esgaio, 2. Iuri Medeiros, 3. Wallyson Mallmann
2013: 1. Ricardo Esgaio, 2. Eric Dier, 3. Bruma
Young player of the season: Wendel – It’s easy to forget that Wendel is just 21-years old. The Brazilian midfielder initially struggled and found game time difficult to find under Sousa Cintra and Jorge Jesus but Marcel Keizer has made him a fixture in his midfield since then. There is still lots of room for Wendel to mature and improve and should he do so he could be an excellent all-round midfielder.
Runners up: 2. Raphinha (was instrumental in the early part of the season), 3. Jovane Cabral (raw talent, may need a loan move)
2018: 1. Bruno Fernandes, 2. Gelson Martins, 3. Rafael Leão
2017: 1. Gelson Martins, 2. Daniel Podence, 3. Matheus Pereira
2016: 1. João Mário, 2. Gelson Martins, 3. Carlos Mané
2015: 1. Paulo Oliveira, 2. João Mário, 3. Carlos Mané
2014: 1. William Carvalho, 2. Carlos Mané, 3. André Carrillo
2013: 1. André Martins, 2. Eric Dier, 3. Tiago Ilori
2012: 1. Ricky van Wolfswinkel, 2. André Martins, 3. André Carrillo
Player of the season: Bruno Fernandes – Christ. What a season, and what a player. A historic season for Bruno Fernandes in which he become the highest top goalscorer from midfield in a single season.
After the events of last summer, the resigning of Fernandes meant he had a lot to win over some fans, especially after being made captain. There was a lot of scepticism but Bruno Fernandes became a match winner, scoring big goals and brilliant goals and dragging the team forwards. Probably the best player the club has had in many years. He’ll be off in summer, of course, but this season he was a joy to watch.
Runners up: 2. Jérémy Mathieu (how does he do it, the old smoking Frenchman?), 3. Marcos Acuña (never gives up)
2018: 1. Bruno Fernandes, 2. Rui Patrício, 3. Gelson Martins
2017: 1. Bas Dost, 2. Gelson Martins, 3. Sebastián Coates
2016: 1. Islam Slimani, 2. Adrien Silva, 3. João Mário
2015: 1. André Carrillo, 2. Nani, 3. Adrien Silva
2014: 1. William Carvalho, 2. Adrien Silva, 3. Cédric Soares
2013: 1. Rui Patrício, 2. Diego Capel, 3. Fabián Rinaudo
2012: 1. Rui Patrício, 2. Stijn Schaars, 3. Ricky van Wolfswinkel
Worst Signing of the Season: Seydou Doumbia – Doumbia was signed to alleviate the pressure of Bas Dost as our main goalscorer and to add extra dynamism going forward. Doumbia did none of those things.
Best Signing of the Season: Bruno Fernandes – Sporting paid €8,500,000 for the midfielder from Sampdoria in what must be the bargain of the century.
Most Under-utilised Player: João Palhinha – There were times throughout the season when William Carvalho looked either injured or disinterested. Mostly through the latter parts of the season he looked disinterested. At times Rodrigo Battaglia played in his role but his skillset isn’t quit the same as William’s.
U23 Player of the Season: Bruno Fernandes – It’s amazing to think he was only 22 when Sporting signed him. Not only because he looks older but because his maturity and intelligence on the pitch defies his relative inexperience.
B Team Player of the Season: Rafael Barbosa – The final B Team Player of the Season award as the team was relegated from the Segunda Liga but will be scrapped anyway in favour of a U23 team.
Player of the Season: Bruno Fernandes – Well, it’s a clean sweep for Bruno Fernandes. A player the club must hold onto despite everything that has happened off field in recent weeks.
Goal of the Season: Gelson Martins vs. Paços de Ferreira (
Worst Signing of the Season: Luc Castaignos – It’s been a difficult choice to pick just one player out to be the worst. You have Elias, Lazar Markovic, Marcelo Meli, André, Joel Campbell and Radosav Petrović. There can be a case made for each of those players. However, Luc Castaignos is the only one of those players who made it past January, and I can only assume that is because no other club wanted to take him of our hands. The once promising Dutch forward had an excellent chance to reignite his career in Portugal but could barely even get into a scoring position when given the chance. On the rare times he did get into a good position for a chance it inevitably went high and wide. A total dud.
Best Signing of the Season: Bas Dost – It was always going to be tough to fill in for the departing Islam Slimani. Bas Dost came in form an average season in Germany with Wolfsburg but was quick to settle in to life in Portugal. Under Jorge Jesus his link up play has improved greatly as the season progressed. His aerial presence and strikers instinct are what was helped him racked up the goals all season long. Currently, he’s looking even better after forming an exciting and mildly amusing Arnie / DeVito tribute act. If he can replicate this form next season it will be something.
Most Under-utilised Player: Paulo Oliveira – Although Sebastián Coates was solid all season, Rúben Semedo was hot and cold. When he was good, he was excellent however when he was poor he was a massive liability. Paulo Oliveira however has always been an assured player and perhaps suffers from his relative lack of size and strength in comparison to Semedo, something Jorge Jesus seems to value in his centre-backs. He’s an intelligent defender and it would be a shame for him to leave in summer whilst pursing game time, especially after the signing of André Pinto from Braga.
U23 Player of the Season: Gelson Martins – When times have been tough this season there has always been something to admire in watching Gelson Martins play. His game is natural which can mean he occasionally does something that looks stupid, however, it also means he can do outrageous pieces of skill and become our most powerful creative force. Hopefully Gelson (rumoured with every big club) sticks around for at least one more season to really develop further as a player.
B Team Player of the Season: Gelson Dala – Yes, he only arrived in January but when he came Sporting B were struggling in a relegation scrap and it looked like perhaps the first team would all have to chip in to prevent a disaster. However, with the arrival of Gelson Dala there seemed to be a player who was a level ahead of everyone else. It was no surprise he was pushing for the first team by the end of the season after his fantastic goal scoring record and eye-catching performances.
Player of the Season: Bas Dost – As stated above, what a signing Bas Dost has been. He was even chasing Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot, no mean feat.
The latest squad selections for the Portuguese national teams have been announced and, as ever, Sporting are greatly represented.
The draw for the Taça de Portugal has been made and Sporting will face FC Famalicão away from home on the 16th October.
Sporting B returned to winning ways in style with a 5-1 thrashing off Cova da Piedade. A brace from Leonardo Ruiz and goals from Pedro Delgado, Matheus Pereira and Bilel Aouacheria gave Sporting the win.
Sporting had a comfortable night in the Alvalade against Legia Warszawa. Bryan Ruiz and Bas Dost’s first half goals were enough to seal the win.
Sporting B were denied a much needed win by a last minute Gil Vicente equaliser in Alcochete.
Sporting’s squad that travels to Spain to face Cristiano Ronaldo and friends tomorrow has been announced.