The Sinergia Rubro-Negra Group (SRN), made up of influential partners from Flamengo, held a meeting last Saturday (7), at the club's headquarters, located in Gávea. The main objective of the meeting was to promote fraternization among the participants, but, inevitably, club politics ended up dominating the discussions throughout the event.

The main topic that emerged during the meeting was the support of the SRN to Rodrigo Dunshee's candidacy for president of Flamengo. Dunshee, who currently holds the position of general and legal vice-president of the club, is a prominent figure in the red-black political scene. The group, made up of members who share an aligned vision regarding the club's management, sees in Dunshee a name prepared to take over Flamengo's leadership, especially considering the upcoming electoral cycle.

During the event, members of the SRN highlighted Dunshee's role in the current administration, remembering that he was a fundamental player in several legal achievements of the Flamengo in recent years. The group believes that his experience and proximity to the club's internal processes make him the ideal candidate to succeed current president Rodolfo Landim, whose tenure ends at the end of his term. 

Although the initial objective of the meeting was a celebration between the partners, it was inevitable that the conversations turned to Flamengo's political future. The club's presidential elections are approaching, and political groups are already beginning to articulate support and strategies. The SRN, being a strong group within the red-black political structure, has stood out for its organization and capacity to mobilize members.

Those present discussed, among other topics, the possible implications of a possible Dunshee's candidacy. His name has been circulating among members for some time, but now, with the explicit support of the SRN, his candidacy is gaining strength. The members highlighted that Dunshee is a name of continuity, someone who is already part of the current management and deeply knows the challenges and needs of the club. This, in the group's view, represents a positive point, as Dunshee could continue the projects started under the Landim administration.

Flamengo continues to debate whether to look for a replacement for Pedro, a striker who is recovering from an injury. The decision is complex, involving several variables ranging from the financial cost to the availability of players on the market. One of the main points under discussion is the high cost of a possible replacement. The club is aware that signing a center forward may require a significant investment, something that needs to be carefully evaluated within the team's current budget.

In addition, Flamengofaces the challenge of downtime of players available on the market. Many of the center forwards who are free for transfer come from long periods without playing, with recent injuries or prolonged absence from the field. This situation represents a risk, as the integration of a player who is not in the rhythm of the game may take longer and be less effective initially.

The club is also considering the limited number of viable options on the market. The scarcity of attackers who meet the criteria required by Flamengo – both in terms of quality and physical readiness – is a factor that further complicates the search for a suitable replacement. 

In this scenario, the management of Flamengo assesses whether signing a new player is the best solution or whether there are viable alternatives to deal with Pedro's absence, such as adjusting the tactical formation or promoting youth players. The final decision is still being studied, and the club needs to carefully consider all aspects before making a decision.

Nicolás de la Cruz is the newest member of Flamengo's squad. The Uruguayan player is already preparing to present himself to coach Tite on January 8th, together with his teammates, on the day he 'returns from vacation'. The Red-Negra Nation is in euphoria with the prospect of seeing the former River Plate (ARG) with the Sacred Mantle, but his arrival could disrupt the life of one of the fans' idols.

One of the One thing the Flameguista should note is that, even though the reality where Arrascaeta and De La Cruz are on the same team is incredible, it could result in some complications for the Fla idol. The two occupy the position of midfielders, which makes it difficult to design with both at the coach's disposal.

Since arriving at Mengão, Tite has applied a positional attack at Flamengo, just as he did for the Brazilian team between 2018 and 2022. The formation he chooses to use for this is 3-2-5. In this way, a full-back acts as a "third defender" when passing the ball, opening the field with two fast wingers and dribblers.

De La Cruz may even be good playing on both sides, but he is not known Due to his speed, unlike Everton Ribeiro and Luiz Araújo, he could not 'replace' them.

The other option would be to use Nicolás as a 'playmaker'. During his career, the coach has already used socks as a winger. One of the most successful examples is perhaps Jadson, at Corinthians, in 2015. In these cases, he would let the star work more freely, placing the 'runner' to act in the middle.

Another option would be to place it in the steering wheel position. Gerson and Pulgar already do this job, when Arrascaeta is also on the field, but even Thiago Maia has already had the opportunity to do the job, and could compete for the spot. In this formation, De La Cruz would be more of an articulator than a finisher. At times, the player would have the freedom to invade the area, but the priority would be to help the ball out, as the current duo of midfielders does.

This formation, however, is unlikely. Therefore, the person most at risk is Arrascaeta himself. The two share more characteristics, which would lead to a dispute for the attacking position within the squad. Tite would hardly be able to place the River player in any position other than that of the fans' idol.