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I was intently keeping my eyes on the draw for the Champions League, I was hopeful of an easy draw so we could progress into the group stages, but with some top quality teams in the competition I was also worried about being taken apart by much better sides than ourselves. The press were talking about contenders for the title, and while the usual names like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool were mentioned, I was pleased to see that we were not. This meant that there was no pressure on us, and we could relax and just play our normal game without having to worry about the press hounding.
The squad were really gelling well together, and our next game against Zaglebie proved to be our third easy game of the pre-season, as we ran out 3-1 winners. We did fall behind though, Golinski giving his side a 14th minute lead, but Greath Bale's free-kick levelled things up just before the half hour mark. Two goals in two minutes in the second half, from Clint Dempsey and Zlatan Ljubijankic, sealed the win and continued the good start.
...
The next few days was spent worrying about things other than football, Mel's 29th birthday coming up on July 21st, so I was busy looking for a present and trying to find a decent restaurant for dinner. Once that endeavour had been finished, I could concentrate on training, at least for a few hours until that night anyway.
..
"Hey you. I've booked a restaurant for tonight. Table for 8. Do you want to go for drinks first?"
"..."
"Ok well I'll get a taxi to pick you up from yours and then we'll head for the bar first. That OK?"
"..."
"Yeah sure, that's fine. I'll see you later on then. OK, bye"
It had been more than 5 years since I had even considered being with another woman. It's different with Mel though. I feel comfortable, like I've known her for years. It's easy this dating lark really, once you get into it anyway...
Mel's birthday dinner had gone well, we had a nice meal, few drinks and a long chat, and as we ordered a mini-cab to drive home I asked her if she had wanted to come back for a drink. Completely inncoent on my part, just a drink was all I had planned, but imagine my surprise when she had not only stayed for a drink, buit she had stayed the night. This had led me to wake up in the morning with a smile across my face, a smile so wide I hadn't replicated it for a while. After dropping Mel off at her house, I arrived to the ground in a continued cheerful mood. With another friendly against Belchatow later that day, I was concerned with business, but I wasn't overly concerned with how the team played or the result of the game. All I could think about was Mel...
...
16 minutes into the match, my smile had disappeared, as I watched us go two goals behind thanks to goals from Kaczmarek and Sacha after 4 and 15 minutes respectively, but Italian Giovanni Torre's brace sent us in level at half time. We controlled the game in the second 45 minutes, Torre and Ljubijankic both missing good chances, and as it was neither side found the net and the game finished as a 2-2 draw
With just two pre-season games until we got down to business, I was beginning to feel nervous. I hadn't felt like this last season, but I knew there was more pressure and expectation this time around. We finally managed to face English opposition as we travelled to Conference side Hereford United for our penultimate friendly. Another early goal was in the offing, although this time it was Brazilian Dagoberto who headed home O'Neil's cross in the 5th minute. We had to wait until more than 20 minutes into the second half to secure it, Esposito's 67th minute volley enough to secure the win and keep us on track to start the season well.
A home game against French Ligue 1 side Rennes was scheduled to finish the pre-season, and once again we secured another simple win, although this was in a game I expected a much tougher test. Another brace from young Italian Torre, his goals coming on 16 and 57 minutes, was enough to secure the win and send us roaring into the campaign with a top class squad, who were playing well together and adapting to my style of play
The squad I had to choose from for my second campaign in charge at Fratton Park was stronger than the previous season, when we had finished third in the Premiership and runners-up in the F.A Cup. I had strenghtened in many areas, and with European experience in the team I was confident we could surprise many people.
In between the sticks it was competition between Igor Akinfeev and Vincent Enyeama, with David James as back up, although he wouldnt play many games
The defence was a bit more competitive, with an exceptionally strong back line the key to success in any team. Gareth Bale and Matthew Taylor would be fighting for the left full back slot, while Garry Bocaly and Linvoy Primus would compete with young American Danny Szetela for the right hand spot. In the middle, Sol Campbell, Cesar Arzo and Jack Hobbs were the contenders for the two slots
The holding role in front of the back four would be taken by Leon Andreasen with Pedro Mendes as his back up, while Manuel Fernandes was the sole occupant of the free role. The wingers were Gary O'Neil, Fabian Estoyanoff and Clint Dempsey on the right, while Croatian Niko Kranjcar and Andres Guardado would fight it out for the left hand slot. Another attacking player was a necessity that I was looking for.
The strikeforce was strong, with Benjani and Gonzalo Higuain the main two, although Eddie Johnson was currently injured and would be in the team when fit. Mauro Esposito and Zlatan Ljubijankic would provide excellent back-up
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The squad was excellent, and I was confident that the lads could do what they did last season and shock everybody. The season opener in the Premiership was a trip to the North East, but before that we had the small matter of Champions League qualifying to progress through. The draw had thrown us up in a battle of Britain, Scottish league champions Celtic our opponents. The first leg of the tie was north of the border in Glasgow, and I knew just how crucial away goals would be. The strongest team available to me was put on the pitch with the clear instructions to attack. These instructions paid off, Zimbabwean international Benjani heading home Guardado's cross on the quarter of the hour. Celtic came back into the match, and got their reward on the stroke of half time, Kenny Miller slotting the ball home underneath Akinfeev to level things up. The second half provided chances for both sides, Nakamura and Miller missing Celtic's best while Benjani and Higuain were our culprits. The game ended in a one all draw, a result that suited us thanks to the away goal, and we would go into the second leg with the advantage.
I wanted to go into the opening game with a full squad, but that plan went out of the window after the chairman accepted a £13M offer from Tottenham for Manuel Fernandes. I wasn't too happy about losing our Portuguese midfielder, but he quickly agreed terms with the North Londoners and completed his move before the league campaign
The league opener saw us visit the North East and newly promoted Sunderland. Keane's side had won the Championship, and the former Man Utd and Ireland captain had really got his side playing well last season. I expected a tough game at the Stadium of Light, and the holding role would be key to our result. The first twenty or so minutes were even, but we took the lead on the half hour, Gary O'Neil collecting the loose ball and firing low and hard across Darren Ward to put us in the lead. We should have been well clear going into the last 5 minutes, but due to our inability in front of goal we paid dearly for it, Giannis Okkas firing home from 10 yards out. We managed to claim all three points two minutes later, substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic racing clean through and slotting home to secure a good start to our campaign.
With Fernandes gone, I had to start looking for a replacement for him, and the perfect candidate seemed to be Osasuna's Spanish midfielder Raul Garcia. With money in the bank I didn't hesitate to offer his minimum fee release clause of £14.5M, an offer that they had no choice but to accept. I managed to offer terms to him on the morning of the return game in the Champions league, hopefully in time for the next league game after that.
Celtic visited Fratton Park for the return leg in the Champions League, and we held the advantage thanks to Benjani's goal in Scotland. This was a similar game, both sides trying to find the goal that would assure their passage, but going into half time we were all square with no goals. The only goal of the match, and the one that sealed our passage through into the group stages of the competition, Dagoberto heading home on the hour mark past Artur Boruc. Celtic's misery was compounded with Derek Riordan's sending off 4 minutes from time, but I was delighted that we would be playing in the Champions League proper
Raul Garcia joined us in time to go into the squad for the final game of the month, with Manchester City the visitors to the South Coast. Once again, we started slowly, but Gonzalo Higuain's first goal in Portsmouth colours gave us the lead, one which was doubled by Gary O'Neil's stunning volley on 77 minutes. City found time to pull one back, South Korean Lee Chun Soo ramming home Barton's rebounded shot, but we held on to claim an excellent win and maintain our good start to the season
August 2007 (Premier Division unless stated)
Celtic 1-1 Portsmouth(Champions League 3rd Round qualifier, 1st leg) Miller (45) : Benjani (15)
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