Bola Rolando: Operário pays the price for wrong choices

The Operário Ferroviário lost 2-0 to Goiás, in Germano Krüger, in the debut of Alberto Valentim, but it would be unfair to put in the account of the new coach the problems presented by the team. On the contrary: even with the defeat, I liked Valentine’s first participation in the alvinegro command.

The coach has climbed what, at this moment, seems to be the best the Worker can present. He tried to modify the structure of the team, used players who were receiving few opportunities and put on the field a formation that sought to have more presence in the midfield.

The problem is that there is no miracle.

The main deficiency presented before Goiás was not born this week. It is a consequence of a season in which the cast was little used and several players reached the final straight of the Serie B with practically no competitive pace.

Worker had the ball, but Goiás had the game

The Phantom started the match in a 4-1-4-1, with Matheus Trindade in front of the defense and Caio Dantas as offensive reference. There was possession of the ball and, at times, territorial dominance.

But it was an unproductive possession.

The Worker had the ball, advanced through the field, but found it enormously difficult to transform this territorial control into clear opportunities. Meanwhile, Goiás did exactly what he wanted.

The team led by Mozart showed organization, compaction and a well-fitting marking. I didn't have to stay with the ball all the time because I knew where it could hurt the Worker.

And it hurt.

In the first goal, Lourenço took a heavy foul and beat Wagner. In my assessment, it was a fault of the worker's goalkeeper. The ball was practically in his direction and, despite the strength of the pickup, it was a defensible finish.

The second goal was born of another play in which Goiás found space. Lucas Rodrigues advanced on the left and crossed for Lucas Clemente to complete and widen the lead.

Shortly after, Clemente himself still had the opportunity to do the third.

The score of 2-0 could have been even more complicated.

The bill arrived at the final straight

The biggest problem of the Worker at this time is not simply choosing who should start playing.

It is putting on the field players who have spent a good part of the season without sequence.

Zuluaga, Pedro Vilhena, Breno, Dudu and other athletes had few opportunities. When called now, just at the most important moment of the competition, they need to come in and immediately present rhythm, intertwining and tactical understanding.

This doesn't happen from one moment to the next.

A player usually needs consecutive matches to gain confidence, understand the movements of the teammates and achieve a good competitive level.

Only a few games left.

When these athletes are finally more adapted, Serie B will probably be over.

This situation helps to explain why the Worker showed so much difference in rhythm with respect to Goiás. On the one hand, a team used to acting together. On the other hand, players trying to find space just when there is practically no more room for error.

Valentine cannot be held responsible

Therefore, I consider it too early — and unfair — any attempt to hold Alberto Valentin accountable.

He found a cast with worn-out players and others with no game pace.

At the debut, he tried to move.

He climbed athletes who could offer alternatives and modified pieces during the match. Breno, for example, managed to produce some interesting moves and participated in the construction of one of the best opportunities of the Worker in the second half, when Caio Dantas stood in front of the goalkeeper Tadeu and finished out.

The problem with Valentine is not finding out that there are alternatives.

It is to make these alternatives work immediately.

For much of the championship, the Worker used practically a fixed base. I missed the casting more. We have to prepare substitutes. We have to build a real plan B.

Now that absence takes its toll.

The dream was too far away

Mathematically, there is still a possibility of a tear in the last rounds.

But football cannot be analyzed only by the calculator.

The Worker would need an almost perfect sequence at a time when he is still trying to rebuild the team. So for me, the possibility of achieving the goal in this Series B was extremely distant.

And the next challenge doesn't make it any easier.

The Phantom faces America-MG on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Independence on Belo Horizonte.

There may be the impression that facing a team with no higher ambitions in ranking is an advantage. Not necessarily.

I watched America play against Criciúma and, despite the 1-0 loss, it presented a competitive football. It was an organized opponent, who played without the weight of the obligation and could have even achieved a better result.

This is exactly where the danger lies for the Worker.

America-MG can turn into a neck meat

America plays with less pressure and has experienced players. It is a team that can act in a lighter way while the Worker enters the field practically forced to win.

This psychological difference weighs heavily.

Alberto Valentim will now have a whole week to work, get to know his players better and study the opponent.

The possible recovery of athletes can also improve the team’s options. The return of players from the defensive system allows to test new formations and fix problems seen against Goiás.

There is room for evolution.

But there's no time left.

This is perhaps the great legacy of this final straight: Valentine received a group in which part of the holders arrive worn out while a good part of the reserves need to relearn to compete at a high level.

It is not possible to play 38 rounds using almost always the same players.

The long championship requires a cast.

It demands alternatives.

Requires planning.

The Worker is discovering this just as the competition is ending.

And maybe you found out too late.

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