It’s true that Renato Augusto almost didn’t play this year, but he was recovered from his injury and playing very well. After recovering he turned into a key player. Marcinho is not the kind of player I like. He is always looking for trouble, but he was scoring lots of goals and that is what I want in a striker. Souza is just like Marcinho: trouble. But Flamengo playes on high speed and counterattacks, so he was a key player too, holding the ball and waiting the other players to get in position to score our create chances.

Now we only have Éder, Maxi and Obina. Nobody is sure about Éder. He had very few opportunities, but he is a lion on the trainings, scoring everytime, and on the last games he played very well. Maxi is an argentine and that says a lot of things about him. He is always running, on every corner of the field and he is Messi’s cousin (we soccer to be explained by genetics). Obina is the fans’ favorite player. I do not like him at all, but all the other fans think he is like a luck amulet.

So, as you can see, we cannot count with them only. We need backup. We do need reinforcements.

It’s been said that Vandinho, the second Brazilian 2008 season top scorer, will be joining us. The only fact that can ruin the negotiation is his actual team, Avaí. They say the player is not for sale, but his agent already said that the player’s will is going to prevail and everybody wants to wear the scarlet-black shirt.

Today, the sports newspapers notified that Vágner Love can join us. It this rumor turns into true it would be great news. The CSKA Moscow foward is one of the greatest strikers I can imagine joining Flamengo. He proved everyone that he can be a top scorer here in Brazil while he was playing for Palmeiras. Besides that, he is just like me: a Flamengo fan.

These two players would be part of a great attack. With them the team will continue playing as it is right now (speed and counterattacks). As I read today, substituting Souza for Love is six of one, A DOZEN of the other.

On the attack zone, Love is all we need. Now we got to work on our new attacking midfielder.

Marcinho is first on scoring list and it was said he could leave us any moment. Although leaving the club right now, during a competition, he said, and I quote, “I’ll be back by the end of this year to celebrate the title”.

I really hope he comes back only to celebrate and not to play. I am not a big fan of his playing style, he does not pass when there is a chance to creat a scoring opportunitie. Between me and my friends, he is known as sheriff, because he never lets the ball free.

It is common sense we need to go after some substute players. One for his place and other to cover Renato Augusto leaving. I am out of common sense. Flamengo is knwon by his good young players. To cover Renato we already have Erick Flores, a 19 year-old midfielder, and as the board likes to call him, the greates young player on a long time. To cover Marcinho we have Diego Tardelli, Maxi and Eder. Two fast foward players.

The first one, with some quality, but we don’t know what he can really give us. When he played for São Paulo, he created some problems and after doing some great games he used to disapear. The second, is a short argentine foward, also knwon as Messi’s cousin. He is a really fast man and has raça (race – i’ve already explained that). And last but not least, we have Eder. A 21 year-old scoring machine. He came from Guarani and the other players call him the “Training Scoring Man”. Even not having too many opportunities, we still hope he will show his quality soccer.

Now is time to seat and wait.