2025-09-12, 03:13 PM - Word count:
Miguel Oliveira, a promising right back in the Stockholm IK academy, has struggled to make the impact many hoped for at the start of this season. Once praised for his lightning-fast pace and solid tackling, Oliveira has found consistency elusive over the opening weeks, and the results on the pitch have reflected that. Defensively, Oliveira has been caught flat-footed multiple times: poor positioning has allowed opposing wingers too much space, particularly in one match where a cut-back from the byline led directly to a goal. On the offensive side, he has been hesitant to overlap, often opting to play safe rather than contribute forward, limiting his team’s width down the right flank. Several crosses that might have stretched the opposition have failed to hit teammates, while others have fallen short altogether. Physical sharpness also appears to be an issue. Oliveira looks sluggish in recovery runs and has been beaten in pace more than once, especially in transition situations. His timing in challenges has suffered too, lunging tackles that once won the ball cleanly are now mistimed, drawing fouls or leaving gaps. Mentally, the burden of expectation seems heavy. Confidence dips are visible in his decision-making: when under pressure, Oliveira has been slow to pass out of tight spaces, sometimes turning the ball over rather than seeking better options. The good news is that an academy season is long, and there’s ample time to bounce back. With dedicated coaching and sharper focus in training, Oliveira can still reclaim the trajectory many believed he was on, it’s just that this start has shown he has work to do.
