Another very questionable season for Insulares who spent too much time close to relegation spots for the taste of their fans. After 26 rounds, team was standing at a critical 15th place.
Nuno Manta couldn’t resist a poor start, with just 2 wins in 11 rounds. José Gomes was brought in, and Marítimo almost immediately improved, picking a sequence of 5 games without defeats.
However, it didn’t last long, and soon Verderrubros were back at a very irregular pace. Marítimo was only able to definitely get out of trouble zone thanks to a very pragmatic approach after league restart.
The irregular season could be felt on the erratic options on the starting XI. Even in goal, Amir had to incomprehensibly spend some rounds on the bench in favour of Charles.
Talented players like Correa, Pinho, Vukovic or January signing Xadas were mysteriously left on the bench quite often.
Full-back turned winger turned wing-back Nanu was by far the team’s biggest revelation this season. The double assist in the team’s most memorable win of the season (2-0 v. Benfica) may earn him a big move this summer, already.
Pragmatism was very efficient for this last third of the season, but the team will need to step up and find a more solid style if they want to get back at the level they had in previous decades.
