retired_Brenniepooh

Madrid’s first game in October saw them face newly promoted Gimnastic away at the Nou Estadi. Smith’s team had been made favourites for the match but with his opponents lying 9th in the table he knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy match.

He met up with his assistant manager Pepe Grande to go over the tactics or the match. Gimnastic liked to pack out the midfield and had a pacy forward in Gil and he knew that if they were to come out winners they would have to stop him getting chances in front of goal.

The team were pumped up after comments made by the oppositions manager that he didn’t believe Madrid would be title contenders this season, stating that Smith’s inexperience would be their shortcoming.

In the dressing room before the match Ashley reminded them of his comments to the media, telling the players to go out there and prove them wrong..

Gimnastic 1 - 3 Real Madrid
Magellan (pen 48) Cassano (69)
V.Nistelrooy (70)
Guti (81)

Although it looked a comfortable win on paper Ashley was far from pleased with his teams first half display. Gimnastic had looked the better team and with them going ahead from a penalty conceded by Cannavaro just after the half time break and things were looking bleak. It was only after the inspired substitution of Nistelrooy for Ronaldo in the 48th minute and a change of formation Madrid looked like winning the match. The Dutchman setting up Cassano in the 69th, then getting on the score-sheet himself a minute later whilst the home team were still trying to compose themselves after conceding. Guti finished also finished the match with a goal after the Gimnastic keeper lost the ball in his own area and the Spaniard slotted what would probably be the easiest goal he’d ever score. The downside to the result was seeing Cassano come off late on in the game after a horrendous challenge from one of the home teams defenders which saw him leave the pitch with a two inch gash down the front of his shin. Ashley was up in arms about this and thought it warranted a straight red, but the ref had kept his cards in his pocket.

retired_sesmith0116

just wanted to add my seal of approval. you spin a good yarn my friend! hope for more soon.

retired_aloramin

keep goin cuz its a great story

retired_sesmith0116

Disappointed this hasnt been added to for a bit. I'm bumping it in the hope it doesn't get neglected. It's an excellent story.

retired_Brenniepooh

The next day the physio report landed on Smiths table regarding Cassano. He was going to be out for the next 2 weeks. He was far from pleased.

There was now a break in the domestic season for the upcoming International fixtures. 12 players had been called up for the games and Ashley hoped that all 12 would return fit as the last thing he needed would be injured players coming back and not being able to face next opponents Valencia.

The Friday night saw the draw of the Spanish Cup Fourth Round fixtures. Real were drawn with Spanish second division B1 side Racing Club de Ferral S.A.D. He was upbeat with the draw as he knew his side should have no trouble progressing against the club from the lower league.
He traveled back to England the next morning to attend the England/Macedonia qualifier. It had been his first return back to England since taking the Madrid job and it was nice to come back home.

It was a mild day at Old Trafford which saw England run out 3-0 winners. Lampard, Crouch and surprise call up Bent all getting on the score sheet. He had also watched Beckham come on as a second half substitute but the former captain had come on to late to have any real effect in the match.
After the game at the post match drink he approached Sir Alex Ferguson with a cheeky question about selling Cristiano Ronaldo. Although he knew he didn’t have the funds to prise the young Portuguese star away from Old Trafford he thought he’d ask anyway, and he already knew the answer which was just confirmed by the Scotsman with a firm no chance.

He made his way back to his flat in Brighton after the match. It was late when he arrived back and as usual he spent 10 minutes trying to find a parking place. Bloody permit parking he thought to himself. He had decided to spent a few days catching up with friends and family whilst he was over here. The opportunity the international break had given him wasn’t one he was going to miss.

The next day he made the various visits to his friends, catching up on current events and talking about the good old days. Up until a few years back the group he’d had since his school days had been close but in more recent times only a select few of them had kept in contact, the rest of them going their own ways.

retired_Brenniepooh

On the Monday he returned to Spain, meeting up with the players that had returned back from International duty. He assessed the players that had been involved in the matches, trying to make his mind up who would be playing in the upcoming match against Valencia.

The weeks training sessions went smoothly, no injury’s and the players were looking good. Particularly Nistelrooy who hadn’t been involved in the weekends fixtures. Maybe he had a point to prove the Dutch manager that he should have been involved.

Valenica 1
Albiol (84)
Juan s/o (90)
Real Madrid 2
V.Nistelrooy (47,90)
Beckham s/o (76)


The match against Valencia had proved to be a tough one with no less that 50 fouls, 12 Yellow cards and 2 red. Both teams had ended the match with 10 men with both David Beckham and Juan being sent off with the latter being sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down Nistelrooy in the box resulting in a 90th minute penalty. The Dutchman calmly stepped up and slotted the ball past the keeper, giving Madrid the win. Ashley was happy with the performance of the team in general, even if it had taken them until the 90th minute to win the match. He wasn’t however happy with Beckham, letting him know in no uncertain terms that he needed to stop diving into tackles.

The victory against Valencia moved Real up from 6th to 3rd in the league table. However the fallout from the match was plastered all of the mornings papers., commenting on the amount of cards dished out by the referee and an apparent denial of a penalty for Valencia. Ashley was asked to comment on the incident, but with fresh reminders of the warning he had been given earlier in the season he stated that he had not seen the incident so could not make a fair comment.

retired_fitnessnewb

Brilliant story!

keep it up...

retired_Brenniepooh

Glad to hear you're all enjoying the story. Really encourages first time story writers to continue with what their doing. So, thanks for the all the positive comments guys


The trip out to the Ukraine hadn’t got off to a good start as the team flight being delayed by two hours due to a baggage handlers strike. The flight out there hadn’t been pleasant either, with the plane hitting turbulence Ashley felt like his stomach was going to fly out of his mouth, and was relieved when they finally touched down.

He had decided to drop Beckham for the match against Shahktar, playing Cardenas from the off. The young Colombian had been impressive in training and he hoped he would carry his enthusiasm into the game. He’d also decided to start with Cassano upfront, partnering Nistelrooy. The two of them looked good in training, working well with each other.


Shahktar 1
Marica (90)

Real Madrid 3
[i]Cassano (14, 67)
Cardenas (65)[/i

Madrid had never looked like losing the match against the team from the Ukraine and with a comfortable display they ran out 3-1 winners. The selection of both Cassano and Cardenas had paid off with the two of them getting on the score sheet. The only downside to the match was the injury to Reyes in the 12th minute. After a sprint for the ball he pulled up with what was later confirmed as a groin strain. On came Smith’s only signing of the summer Francia, who after not being picked in recent matches made his claim for a place in the first team line up with the assists for both Cassano and Cardenas.

Ashley was happy. With Madrid sitting top of the table in Champions League Group B, and being unbeaten in the last 5 matches it looked as if the early season blip was over.

retired_Brenniepooh

On his return back to Spain Ashley sat in his office looking over the various reports that the clubs scouts had come back with. There were a few players that he liked the look of, but two stood out to him more than the others.

Gonzalo Higuain was an 18 year old plying his trade for Argentinean side River Plate. He was a striker that was also happy playing behind the front two as an attacking midfielder and with 10 goals in 15 appearances he was certainly proving himself as a competent goal scorer. With only 3 million in the transfer kitty he knew that if he was going to capture his signature he would have to structure some sort of deal to bring the young Frenchman to the Bernabeu that wouldn’t leave him with nothing to work with.

Also listed was a young 18 year old Brazilian by the name of Kerlon Moura Souza, better know as Kerlon. He was another striker although with only one goal in nine appearances he wanted to get some more information on the player before making any decisions.

retired_Brenniepooh

With Reyes out injured and Roberto Carlos picking up a knock in training Ashley made two changes to the team that would face Racing Club. In came Francia for Reyes, and Raul Bravo would replace Carlos at left back. Smith was looking to maintain the recent unbeaten run, and kept the partnership of Cassano and Nistelrooy upfront.

Real Madrid 6
Cassano (35,60)
Nistelrooy (pen 40)
Francia (51)
Cardenas (65)
Robinho (84)

Racing 0
Alfaro s/o (39)
Ruben s/o (49)

A superb result for Madrid as they ran out 6-0 winners. They had dominated the match from the off and with Racing being reduced to 9 men they ran riot. The partnership of Cassano and Nistelrooy was paying off with both getting on the score sheet. Ashley was also happy to see Francia getting his first goal for the club. What pleased him the most was the performance of Sherman Cardenas. The 17 year old really was proving the playing at such a high level wasn’t phasing him, and Smith was quick to sing his praises in the post match press conference With the upcoming match against Ferrol he couldn’t have asked for a better result.