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Everything seems against me.....(at relegation battling Newcastle)
After spells as Doncaster, Birmingham (failed to save them from Prem relegation), Luton and Everton (stabilised them, but was unable, largely due to their huge debt to meet the ambitions of the board)....
i was given the chance to replace Sven (whom after a successful period at Man C, had taken the poisened chalice at St james park), who had left them 6 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
The squad was poor; at least Shay Given was there. But so was Emre, Babyaro, Geremi…all on HUGE contracts, playing badly.
Five games until January transfer window, allowed me to move up to 18th with three wins a draw and a loss to Arsenal. It was time to make changes.
Out went the trio above (although babs would only go out on loan (Verona!)), and the similarly money grabbing Loban Kisiashvilli (sp). Man City sold my ex centre half Steve Taylor to Chelski, and the sell on clause pocketed me a nice 14m.
Let the changes begin.
In came;
William Jidayi – 250k – Everton (performed well for me when I was there)
Stuart Giddings -1.5m- Norwich (to replace Babayaro at LB)
Alvaro Recoba- 14k- Osasuna (hoped he’d do a job, not a big outlay if not)
Curtis Obeng – 250k – Brighton (promising centre half)
Luke Steele – 100k – West Brom (cover for Shay)
Kevin Hofland – 4m- Wigan (despite have Oleguer, Bramble was still causing problems at the back)
Pavel Nedved – free- Juve (couldn’t resist)
Matt Derbyshire- 1m – Blackburn (pace and finishing, a gamble though)
Fabi (sic) Miccoli – 4.5m – Everton (just about the only consistant performer from my Everton squad
Leon Osman – 2m – Charlton (milner was crocked, and needed a decent right mid)
Gary Docherty- 3m – Norwich (promoted Norwich had got the best out of him, and he appeared to be a steal given his amazing defensive attributes.)
Robert Guana – 2m – Palermo – (a steal from Palermo for my new defensive lynchpin.
After these signings my first team appeared to be shaping up.
Formation – Phoenix v2
GK – Shay Given
DR – Oleguer
DL – Stuart Giddings
DC- Gary Doherty
DC – Kevin Hofland
DMC – Rob Guana
MC – Scott Parker
AMR – Leon Osman (Milner when back)
AML – Damien Duff
FC – Fabi Miccoli
FC – Carlos Vela (they’d signed him on loan for season.)
However matters out of my hand were the dirth of shocking refereeing decisions against my team.
3-2 up against Everton, A Johnson two yards offside, scores, Giddings incensed, gets sent off. Final score 3-3.
Next game – 1-0 up against Arsenal away, (Derbyshire!), The Doc goes in a tad hard on Van Persie, I’m thinking yellow card. Nope. Straight red. Free kick taken before Bramble (the sub def) is ready. Gallas. 1-1.
Hanging on, Derbyshire put through by Osman, slots past David Marshall, YESSS!..wait….****in ‘ell lino…..disallowed…for offside. Grrrrr!.
THEN….van persie bursts past Bramble (who wouldn’t have been there is it wasn’t for the ref) Nudged by Hofland. Pen. Freddy (CK) Ljungerger, 1-2. Robbed.
The season continues like this. I seem to be having great fun with 1-1 draws. Drew against, Leicester, Villa, Charlton…all after being 1-1 up, sure it’s a conspiracy.
Just looked at fixtures…..11 games left, my next four???
Man U (A)
Arsenal (H)
Chelsea (A)
Liverpool (A)……great!
Wish me luck.
I shall return with an end of season update.
08-28-2007, 04:59 PM
Everything seems against me.....(at relegation battling Newcastle) Post #2
Just when it seemed there was no chance for Newcastle...
...could it be...a revival?
Old Trafford v a full strength united side, Rooney, Ronaldo, Evra, Anderson, Vidic, etc.
28 mins 1-0 down. Rooney. Derbyshire gets injured, so on comes Fabi Miccoli (on bench due to poor fitness).
A empowering team talk from myself at half time, and the game was on.
48 mins - Anderson hits the bar with an overhead kick....little does Fergie know what is in store for his team.
52 mins - Osman lays through a sweet ball through to Miccoli, cracking the Man U offside trap, with Vidic and Rio desperately trying to gain ground...Miccoli rounds Tomas Kucsack (sp) (John Kusack!?!?!?) and slots home. The travelling geordies erupt. Game on. 1-1
58 mins- Substitue midfielder William Jidayi (with a heading rating of 20) recieves a Giddings long throw, unmarked on the penalty spot, and nods a (fletcher v chelsea-esue) header over TK and into the back of the net.
the Geordie faithfull strike up an improptue version of Robbie Williams Rock DJ in homage to Jidayi ("Aye doornt wanna rock Jidayi...etc")......1-2
67 mins - Evra (yellow) clatters into Osman, and recieves his summons to the showers. Man U are really on the ropes. Fergie sends on Nani, as Man U switch from 442 to 433.
76 mins- Titus Bramble (Doherty suspended) clears a Rooney volley off the line. 1-2.
77 mins, Newcastle break and Jidayi sends a looping ball over Vidic towards Ameobi, who nods it down for Miccoli to fire into roof of the net. YESSS!!! The crown go wild. 1-3
82 mins - Man U demoralized commit suicide when sub Craig Cathcart feeds a ball back to TK, ball is intercepted by mom Miccoli who fires low and hard past TK for his hattrick. 1-4. Amazing.
The Toon are back boyo!!!!
Board congratulate me, fans buy me enough drinks to swim in, a great day had by all in black and white. (Except Notts County who get beaten 2-0 by Swindon!)
The fans hum the tune from the Great Escape, i tempt fate by setting it as my ringtone. Well, ive never believed in fate anyway.........................
Everything seems against me.....(at relegation battling Newcastle) 
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