FLAMENGO'S DEFENSE HAS ANOTHER DIFFICULT TEST AT ALTITUDE AGAINST ONE OF COLOMBIA'S BEST ATTACKS

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.

Flamengo has not been going through a good phase in the 2024 Brazilian Championship. Last Sunday (18), Rubro-Negro was beaten 4-1 by Botafogo, which meant that Tite's team reached a bitter milestone in the competition. With 25 goals conceded in the Brasileirão so far, the Rio team owns the worst defense of the G4 teams.

Currently, Botafogo, Fortaleza, Palmeiras and Flamengo make up the G4 of the Brasileirão. Of these teams, Rubro-Negro was the one that conceded the most goals in the competition so far, with 25 balls in the net. At the same time, Alvinegro were leaked on 24 occasions, Fortaleza on 20 and Palmeiras, with a less leaky defense, conceded just 19 goals.

With Palmeiras' last-minute victory over São Paulo, Alviverde reached the same 41 points as Flamengo but is ahead due to goal difference (12 against 11). Rubro-Negro was only overtaken due to the defeat they suffered. If they had lost by one or two, the team would have remained in third place.

Despite still having a game in hand in relation to Botafogo, the Rio rival opened a five-point gap over More Dear in the classification. Just like Flamengo, Fortaleza, who is in second, also has a game to play.