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.
Everything seems against me.....(at relegation battling Newcastle) 
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