4th July 2006
I looked around my office for the first time, in front of me was the fixture list, various coach reports for all the players in the squad, and my assistant’s opinion on the first choice XI and overall strength. Our first fixtures would be:
Manchester United (H)
Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Liverpool F.C. (H)
Hardly an easy start but at least we would face Man Utd and Liverpool at home. I had also arranged a series of pre-season friendlies, they would be:
Lanciano (A)
Martina (A)
Salernitana (A)
Siena (A)
Coventry (A)
Fiorentina (H)
Blackburn (H)
I felt that these fixtures would prepare the players for the gruelling season that is to come. The Assistant manager’s report reflected my feeling almost exactly. It was obvious that we needed a true right midfielder, with no-one of real quality in the current squad who could play there and fit into my 4-4-2 or 4-4-2 diamond which I liked to play. I also felt that we were a little weak in the centre of defence especially with Laursen known for his injury proneness, right back was an area that would need improving as well with Aaron Hughes the only player good enough to play well there, as Mark Delaney was out with a long-term injury. I would be aiming to bring in a few future prospects, this would, after all, be a long-term project. I sorted out the players who’s time at the club was up from the coach reports and my own opinion from watching the team train together, and Patrik Berger, Liam Ridgewell, Jlloyd Samuel and Lee Hendrie were transfer listed and information was faxed to all clubs. Gary Cahill, Adam McGurk, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Craig Gardner and Robert Olejnik were all listed for loan and offered to clubs, as they were not, in my opinion, ready for first team action just yet. Meanwhile I had identified a young players who would be worth pursuing purely by reputation alone. I had offered a contract to Lille right back Omar Benzerga, I would have to pay £300,000 in compensation, this was a small sum to pay as this kid had real potential. I also made enquiries for young Osasuna prospect Garikoitz Aldeondo who my scouts had been raving about and I have to say, I was really excited about him after seeing him play in a friendly against Fenerbahçe, hopefully Osasuna would not be over the top with their valuation. I gave my newly hired scout Jack Chapman instructions in the league BBVA of Spain for a right midfielder who could dribble and cross the ball well, not to forget that he must also possess a bit of pace and some good passing skills. Ian Storey-Moore was then sent in search of a centre back and right back preferably under the age of 25 in Italy were apparently teams were pretty good at defending? I was in search for some good coaches as well, knowing very well that there is no point in having good players if they are not properly prepared or trained and I placed an advert for a coach, scout, fitness coach.
5th July 2006
I was at the club as early as 7:30am to start work and pursue some more players. I had been using DVDs prepared by a few player’s agents to scout players, recommended to me by a certain former England manager, although not like seeing the player with my own eyes or those of my scout, it saved lots of time and money and helped me sort out the crap from the decent players who would improve my squad. I had put in a bid of £7.5M for Newcastle defender Steven Taylor who I rated a lot as a player and as a professional and at only 20 he was bound to improve.
As I was watching and helping with the training I was very surprised to see 56 year old scout jack Chapman running and shouting and with a strange look of self-satisfaction on his face when he finally came to a halt in front of me.
“Lee! You’ve got to come and see this lad! He…is…BRILLIANT!”
“Hold on a minute Jack, slow down. Who exactly are you talking about?”
“Pedro Leon is his name, plays for Real Murcia in the Spanish second division. A right winger, just like you wanted, eh? And… He’s only 19 but he’s gonna be big, one of the world’s best! I can just tell!”
“When can see him?” I questioned.
“He’ll be playing a friendly against Boca Juniors on the 6th, and I bought you a DVD from his agent, believe me, once you’ve seen him play you won’t think I’ve gone mad!”
I booked a flight down to Spain first thing when I got back to my office for me, Jack and my assistant, then settled back in my chair to watch the DVD. I had to admit, Jack was spot on. The kid had it all: pace, flair, great dribbling ability, a mean cross, a thunderbolt of a shot, and above all, he had a great engine on him and never stopped running, something I valued greatly in a player, plus he was a set-piece specialist, something that was lacking in the team at the moment. But he was not yet the finished product, he had a tendency to be easily knocked off the ball, his final decision making needed to be improved, something I hoped some of the older heads could help him with and he was also rather wasteful in front of goal, but overall I was certain I had found my man and immediately put in a probing bid of £5M.
I heard a knock on my door.
“Come in!” I called.
It was coaching duo Steve Burns and Bryan Jones.
“We have both received excellent offers from Liverpool who are a big club, we will be leaving the club shortly” said Steve looking down at his feet, ashamed of his disloyalty maybe?
“bugger off then” I replied through gritted teeth, resisting the urge to kick him in the shin from under the desk.
They both skulked out of the room.
Another knock.
In came another coaching duo Jimmy Hendry and Tony McAndrew who were important in my plans.
“Umm…” Began Tony, I knew what was coming.
“Well… we’ve received good offers from Chelsea and have accep…”
“Oh for ****’s sake! What do I have to ****ing to do to keep hold of my bastard coaches! I’m trying to make this ****ing club successful goddammit! Now just **** off out of here before I get bloody angry!” I screamed at them in a rage, making my office even more of a mess in the process.
I just hoped some of my adverts got some answers.
Meanwhile, I had set my sights on Southampton left-back Gareth Bale to help out Bouma with the left back position as Jlloyd Samuel was not part of my plans. I sent my assistant (can’t for the life of me remember what his name was) to watch him in a couple of games, although I already knew all about him. I decided to test Southampton’s resolve with a bid of £2.5M.
That evening I packed my bags to get ready for my flight over to Spain to see wonderkid Pedro Leon in action.
I type so slow, hopefully I’ll be faster after finishing this story.
Breaking the Villains out. 
) to have learnt from my mistakes. I am no rookie but I still have my drive which keeps me determined and willing which I believe will help motivate the players and indeed the entire club to do well. I think that a strong mid-table position is a realistic target but if lady luck smiles on us, a place in Europe is not out of the question." I said confidently.
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