flipsix3

Thanks muchly fellas



It was a facet of Ed’s personality, a fault in his own eyes, that he would frequently sit at home and worry about decisions made, even those made by others, going over and over the possible outcomes in his mind until he was convinced that the worst would come to pass. One such mental meandering occurred on the night before Pau’s pre-season clash.

To mark his debut campaign as manager Le Coadou had arranged a single friendly before the season kicked off, and he’d arranged for Halifax to cross the Channel to play it. Of course Ed knew that there were no expectations – it was simply a pre-season game, one in which the squad – a number of who would be playing together for the first time - could start to get a feel for the workings of Ed’s formation.

On the morning of the game though, Ed had awoken in a cold sweat, with a quiet corner of his mind assuring him that it was a make or break day, that defeat would put him on the slippery slope. Thankfully, trying to put a level headed slant on things, he had finally buried such concerns (after no small amount of battling with himself) by the end of breakfast and was actually quite looking forward to the game.

It was a gloriously sunny day, just what he had become used to in this part of the world, and both sides enjoyed the run out. Whilst Halifax took the win there were a lot of positives for Ed. Pau had created a number of good chances and, once the team started to gel, he would hope to see more of the capitalised upon – all in all there had been nothing to disappoint.

After the game, with his side looking weary but happy, Ed ran over the finer points of his notes, pointing out where work needed to be done - through the middle of defence - and where they had really shone, particularly the number of telling passes from Bédani from midfield.

flipsix3

Unfortunately things had been left a little late it seemed, and Ed struggled to make any last-minute arrangements for another pre-season run out – added to an injury setback, when Tchami broke his cheek in training – he knew that the early season was going to be an uphill battle.

Driving back home that evening, with the windows rolled down and the car stereo belting out some feel-good rock, the new manager was all smiles despite his concerns over opening day – it was hard not to smile when driving through this part of the country in the late evening’s summer sun. There would be another ten days or so of training, and then he would be ready to lead his side out as they returned to action in the league.

He’d heard nothing, whilst at the ground, from his sole scout. Plans had been set in motion to add a second spotter but, as yet, without success – he called Frédéric Robin to see if he’d managed to turn up any young talent in the quieter towns of the country. Surprisingly the amiable Frenchman had come up with a dozen or so prospects and they decided to meet for dinner to chat them over, Ed showered and phoned through to his favoured local restaurant to book a table for two.

-----

“Ah good evening Monsieur Allen, it has been quite a while since we have seen you I think, will your lovely wife be joining you?”

The question stung him for a moment, had it really been that long since he’d been here? Did they not know? He didn’t want to go into that story right now, instead he apologised that Sonja wouldn’t be dining tonight, and advised the maître d’hôtel that his associate would be arriving presently.

He was enjoying a cool glass of white wine when Robin arrived, they shook hands and ordered their appetisers and main course. Whilst they waited for their food the scout produced the list of names, immediately crossing through two or three of them, and gave Ed a brief overview of each of the remainder.

Ed was looking for a number of factors in young players, but the main thrust was for pace – he wanted to build a team that would pass and move at a rate that, if nothing else, would wear the opposition down. He was content to use what he had for the time being, with so many players already new to the squad – summer transfers that Lévy had arranged – he had no desire to replace huge numbers already, but there were one or two genuinely attractive prospects on Robin’s list.

By the time that dessert arrived the two had whittled the list down to three names, Robin would spend some time looking more closely at a young winger by the name of Jérôme Bergé, and another midfield man. Ed, meanwhile, would make the appropriate calls to offer a trial to Romain Testas, a versatile teenage forward currently plying his trade in the non-league ranks of the French game.

ctreg2

This is excellent ...

(from a sports editor of a national newspaper)

flipsix3

Thanks very much :thup:



Ed quickly had to rethink on Testas once he heard that rival National League side, Bayonne, had put in a bid. A cash offer was put on the table and Ed demanded a rapid response in an attempt to force the youngster’s hand – the gamble paid off and the striker came on board in time for the season’s opener. With Tchami out injured, and Bonnel taking his spot, Ed decided to give the new arrival a place on the bench for the game at home to Raon-l’Etape.

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Closing the door behind him, Ed threw the keys onto the coffee table and made for the kitchen, and the cold beer in the fridge. He poured his drink slowly into a glass before walking out onto the terrace that overlooked acres of farmland behind his grounds.

As first games go he couldn’t have asked for anything more, he’d literally just settled himself on the bench, still fidgeting due to nerves, when Millereau had broken through the visiting defence to give them the most unlikely start. Ed had been, to use a favourite phrase of his father’s, well and truly gobsmacked but he’d still expected it all to come crashing down. His nerves had melted away mid-way through the half though, Millereau had doubled his tally, matching his goal count for the entire previous season in just over 20 minutes, and Pau were seemingly cruising.

Raon-l’Etape had created chances of their own, on paper the tie could have gone either way, but Ed had found himself thoroughly enjoying the game, and even a serious looking injury to Matthieu Aernoudt hadn’t dampened his spirits. The game continued to ebb and flow but it was finishing that was the key and when Cami neatly tucked away a late through-ball from Testas the difference had been clear.

Yes, all things being equal, it had been a great day, Ed leaned back and took a deep swallow of his beer. There was a niggling feeling that there was something he ought to be worried about, but in the afterglow of the game he couldn’t place it and didn’t really care…

The phone rang, making Ed jump. He swallowed the last of his beer and set the glass aside. Picking the phone up his mood quickly disappeared through the floor. He’d forgotten about Aernoudt, as his team had romped to an easy win he’d been swept along with the emotion of the occasion – but now he knew what it was that had been trying to grab his attention. The midfield man had been taken to hospital as a precaution and the verdict was in – a broken leg, and out of the squad for most of the season.

Ed hung up the phone and went looking for a second, less celebratory, beer.

flipsix3

As soon as he arrived in his office the next morning he was on the phone. He was still waiting on a detailed scout report on Jérôme Bergé, but the initial assessment had been very favourable and Bergé played the same role as Aernoudt. He had cover from within, but no-one who had really impressed in training – if he could land Bergé then he’d be killing two birds with one stone, if not then he wasn’t about to panic.

Again he was under pressure, he knew that the youngster had already attracted bids, so he played the deadline card for a second time in the space of a week. Whilst the move produced a rapid, and positive, response from Bergé’s club it quickly became apparent that the youngster was not interested in joining Pau – Ed decided not to push matters, he would fill the spot from the reserves whilst looking around for options in the transfer market.

-----

Mourad N’Zif got the nod for the game at Roye. Ed decided to start with N’Zif and swap at half time, bringing in Noureddine El Yamani – a teenager rated as a very good prospect by the coaching team. After the bitter-sweet result of the opening day Ed was firmly back in his self-induced semi-panic.

It was another strong showing from his side though, they weren’t afraid to get forward and create chances although the finish seemed to be eluding them this time. N’Zif did a job, but far from a great one, El Yamani looked slightly better for around 20 minutes and then Ed’s heart sank as the youngster indicated that he needed to come off.

The necessary change was made and Anthony Gardan, a full-back by trade, was asked to take the mantle of third choice supply-line. 10 minutes later Gardan broke through the defence and fired in a low shot, the keeper parried it well but Millereau pounced to open the scoring.

A late strike from Kangu secured a first win on the road, and it was all smiles from Ed on the coach when he was told that El Yamani would only miss a few days with a slight strain. Once again he’d been fearing the worst, trying not to believe that their season was over before it had begun, and once again he’d been shown that he was blowing things way out of proportion

You’re going to have to kill off this pessimist streak if you want to survive more than a month in this job without suffering a coronary mate! he told himself as he slipped into a doze.

Peacemaker7

Even though Im not a fake sports editor , this is still very good

ctreg2

Peacemaker - I'd have a quiet word with Miles if I were you! Might stop you embarrassing yourself.

It's a cracking story though.

Tyrone the Magazine

Flippers this is a joy to read, I hope FM grabs you enough to keep it going

flipsix3

Thanks, as ever, for the feedback guys - glad you're enjoying the ride



The first two games of the season had, it seemed, been a relatively easy warm up for Ed’s team – both opponents were in the bottom three without a point or a goal to their names, both were tipped as fellow relegation fodder by the French press. That was far from the case with Valence, the hotly tipped promotion favourites had swept past Pau after their 4-1 demolition of Rouen, taking the top spot in the table and Ed spent a good half-hour going over the finer points of containing the opposition as he warmed the lads up for the game.

It was easy to see why Valence were held in such high esteem, they started the game with a pace and ferocity that the Pau players – particularly the youngsters – hadn’t expected, the ball was being passed around at high speed and Ed noted, with concern, that two or three of his lads seemed overwhelmed by the step up from the previous two games. He tried to get his message across – stay calm, watch the ball and not the man, just take deep breaths and pick your moment - sure enough it seemed to do the trick. Instead of lunging in his midfield started to calculate more, biding their time and stripping the ball, playing passes into space.

To Ed’s surprise the breakthrough came from his team. Once they’d settled, and slowed the pace of the game a little, they started to take the initiative – putting the pressure on their visitors the strike partnership forced a poor backpass from Medhi Lacen, the keeper panicked and scuffed his clearance straight to Gael Bonnel who lashed home his first goal for the club. It was hardly a classic, Ed would never argue it’s case as a goal of the month, not even a goal of the week, but that would come later…… for now they were ahead.

What Bonnel’s goal lacked in style was made up by the equaliser. A poor tackle 30 yards out gave Valence a free-kick, whilst the defence tried to decide who the runner was going to be the two thousand or so fans were treated to a spectacular curling drive from Lacen – atoning for his earlier mistake in some style. Ed thought that half-time was going to be a tough-talking session but his team were determined to prove him wrong, they had their backs up now and they started to pile on the pressure and the chances. Bonnel went close again and then, finally, Millereau put one on target after a couple of early misfires.

The second half was one way traffic, Pau had the advantage, they had the home fans, and suddenly they had the momentum. Bédani saw a penalty saved, sending Ed’s confidence plummeting for a few minutes, but there still looked to be no way back for the visitors and the killer blow came when Romain Testas was given the nod to give Bonnel a rest. It would be easy to exaggerate things, to make rash comparisons – Pau were literally, and metaphorically, in a different league to the world’s best - but what Ed saw in Testas was reminiscent of what he, and the rest of the world, had witnessed in Wayne Rooney during that summer’s Euro 2004 matches.

The 19-year-old picked up the ball time after time and ran at defenders, he skipped through challenges and laid on chances that Millereau really should have buried, but in the end the youngster put the icing on the cake himself. With the final whistle looming Anicet Adjamossi spotted Testas making a run toward the 18 yard box, his pass was inch perfect and the forward – marked by two men – received it and turned in one movement, forced wide he took the ball almost to the byline before looking up and forcing a shot between the keeper and the post, a space that Ed would have sworn wasn’t there at all!

binny

Same as everyone else so far

I have to admit that I didn't read some of earlier efforts, but I'm trying to make it up with this one. Best of luck with making Pau into the French equivalent of Wigan