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You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women?
Dear Diary,
28 December 2005: Guess what?!
It’s strange what a turn of events can do to a person. Like being male and writing a diary. Oh.
Anyway, you’re probably wondering what it is that has made me to make you. Not like in the Godly sense, although I wouldn’t mind you thinking of me in those terms, but rather the cause of my writings.
Well, as you know, I have been touring the world since my tenure in the army finished, as I haven’t got the foggiest what I want to do with my life. To be honest, I still don’t know, but I seem to have landed myself a job.
I’m currently in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, located in the north-east of the country. Specifically, I’m currently in one of the larger towns in the region, São Lu*s. As you know, Brazil is known for it’s footballing prowess, and I was taken by some of the locals to a training session of one of the local sides.
I’m no expert when it comes to football, but I could clearly see some of the failings of this squad, and it was obvious why they would never succeed at any level, even if they did play with the smiles and flair that are so well-known amongst Brazilian players.
It later turned out that I wasn’t just talking football to my hosts, but I was gesticulating quite vociferously as well. I guess it goes with the territory of being Jewish!
My point is that a guy by the name of Manoel Ribeiro suddenly took an interest in our conversation, and was apparently quite interested in my ideas. It of course turns out that he’s the chairman of the team we’re watching; Sampaio Corrêa.
He started babbling on about the history of the club and how he’s had to get rid of his previous manager as he didn’t put in the same passion that Mr Ribeiro apparently required from a manager. I didn’t understand everything he was saying; my Portuguese leaves a lot to be desired; but it wasn’t long before he cut to the chase.
“You look like you have passion for the game, and I want to offer you the job as manager here.” He had to repeat his request, as I didn’t believe him first time round. But once he’d said it a second time I took out a pen and signed a one-year contract on the spot.
01-09-2007, 09:52 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #2
I’m just getting ready for the New Year’s party this evening, but I’ve got a few minutes so I can fill you in with what’s been going on.
Apparently I’ve been quite lucky by joining in the close season; the first game of the season starts in about 3 week with the State Championships.
I spent the first day just getting acquainted with my surroundings. The chairman picked me up and we were met at the ground by Geografia and Aurino Vieira, the club’s director of football and general manager respectively. The ground that we play our home matches in called Nhozinho Santos, and apparently can accommodate upto 20,000 fans. Somehow I don’t think we’ll be getting close to filling that many seats.
The ground though is shared with our fierce rivals Moto Clube, and I was told that the other team the fans most want to see victory over is the imaginatively-named Maranhão. So, we travelled to the reserve stadium, where our training and youth facilities are based, along with the club office.
The Parque Doutor José Carlos Macieira is only a few miles away from the matchday stadium, and I had my first opportunity to meet the backroom staff.
We have just the one scout in Thiago Barroso, and Adelson de Souza Lopes carries out the physio duties. Eduardo Soares is the goalkeeping coach, whilst looking after the outfielders is Eduardo Antônio Martinez, Alexandrew Ramos and José Francisco de Lima. We’ve almost finished signing the contract that will officially promote Martinez to assistant manager status. He’s the best of the bunch for the job, and as we have a transfer pot of less than £6,000, we have had to promote from within.
I took my first training session today. There are some very able players in the squad, although I guess I am comparing with my own (non-existent) standard! Of more concern is the lack of strength in depth. For example, our only senior goalkeeper and two of the three senior strikers are on loan deals at the club, and we have literally four players who are primarily defenders. Thankfully we have a left-back, a right-back and two centre-backs in those four, although Joel is still only 16.
I’ve managed to line up one friendly game before the season gets underway. It’s a tough one with us hosting Remo, who won the Third Division last season. But it will give me a chance to see the team in action for the first time.
01-13-2007, 10:55 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #3
Well, the season is almost upon us, and we’re going to start with the Maranhão State championship. There are 8 of us contesting it, and we play each other twice. But rather than crowning the side who finish top after all of the league games, the competition is split into Opening and Closing Stages.
The winners from each stage meet in the final, although that won’t be necessary should the same side win both stages.
One player we’ll be without is Rony. The versatile midfielder was injured early in the second half of the friendly game with Remo, although we were 3-0 down by that stage. We had also started the game without our first-choice goalkeeper, Luciano, and our second centre-back, Joel, both through injury. Neither though should be out for long.
The game wasn’t a classic, but no-one shone in particular, and no-one played a howler. But at least I got to see them in action, although I do need to find a left-sided midfielder to cover for the injured Rony.
I’m off to bed now, the excitement is starting to get to me.
01-20-2007, 10:05 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #4
It’s been 10 days since I last wrote to you, and I suppose I should update you on what’s been going on.
We began our Maranhão State campaign with a home match against a side called Comerciário. They’re playing in the lower leagues this season, so we knew that it should be a good start to the season.
With Luciano, our only senior goalkeeper, only fit enough for the bench, I decided to go with Rinaldo in goal ahead of Rodrigo. I would have played a standard 4-4-2, but without a proper left-winger, I decided to go with a diamond formation whilst my search continued.
Ricardo Araújo was the defensive midfield player, with former international Ar*lson taking the role just behind the strikers.
Both front men, Araújo (our captain) and Márcio Carioca both got on the scoresheet, as did Ar*lson as we completed a pretty easy 4-0 win.
Ahead of our next match, a trip to non-league Juventude, I managed to side two players on loan. Antônio Alex will give us some more strength in central midfield, and Cajuru will probably be deployed on the right wing, although he can play up front as well. They came in from São Raimundo and Ma*lia respectively.
Both players came in to the side as I risked played only 3 at the back, but it didn’t really affect us too badly, especially in the first half. Márcio Carioca and Araújo both hit braces before half time, and there was no further scoring in the second half. We did though have Barão sent off, although that didn’t prevent me bringing on 16 year old striker Marciel for the last quarter hour.
Oh, and if that’s not enough, I raided São Raimundo this afternoon again for another loan signing, as André came in to provide competition for Vieira in the right-back position.
01-23-2007, 09:40 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #5
6 February 2006: From the sublime to absolutely awful
I knew it would happen at some point, but that doesn’t make taking defeat any easier.
It’s been a tough few days, as we’ve only managed to add one point to our tally in the two games since I last wrote to you.
Our first real test was a home tie with Imperatriz, who we’ll also be facing in the Third Division later in the year. Luciano was fit enough to play in goal for the first time this season, and I moved back to a standard 4-4-2 formation; 16-year-old Joel fitting back into central defence alongside Ramires.
Ar*lson was asked to play on the left wing, although more on that position later. Other than that, we were unchanged.
But, things didn’t go to plan, and come half time we found ourselves 2-0 down to goals from Clayff and Rubsen; the latter hitting us in the penultimate minute of the half.
It certainly wasn’t what I had hoped to be facing prior to the game, but I tried to gee the team up and encourage them for the second period. Twenty minutes in Ar*lson pulled a goal back, and nine minutes later we equalised through a Nogueira own goal, to save us a point.
The game against Imperatriz prompted to me strengthen the team even further, and no fewer than four players came in, all on free transfers. Everaldo is no youngster, but ends my search for a left-winger. Further, Diogo will compete for the goalkeeping jersey, and Cassiano and Antônio Carlos Júnior will provide extra cover for the centre-back spots.
Of the four, only Diogo started on the bench; the other three started the match against Moto Clube. The game was in our home stadium, but this was technically an away match.
I guess the new players, having only arrived a day before the game, didn’t have enough time to get used to our way of play, and it showed as we struggled to make passes and create much going forward. It’s not that anyone played particularly poorly, but no-one really stood up to be counted.
Moto Clube did show some passion, and it finally showed as they scored through Valdo just a few minutes into the second half. We had not reply, and it’s back to the drawing board for us as we look to bounce back next week when we face our other fierce rivals, Maranhão.
01-23-2007, 11:30 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #6
Good stuff binny, I like the innovative style of using a diary and how you've used it to tell the story and your (or the character who's witting the diary's) own insight.
And yes diaries are for women Keep Up The Good Work!
01-24-2007, 11:21 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #7
Originally posted by Chonner:
Good stuff binny, I like the innovative style of using a diary and how you've used it to tell the story and your (or the character who's witting the diary's) own insight.
And yes diaries are for women Keep Up The Good Work!
Thanks Chonner :thup:
Haven't written a story for ages. Hadn't played much FM until recently due to exams, but now that they're over, I have a bit more time.
And a diary was a style that I haven't tried yet.
01-28-2007, 11:28 AM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #8
Last time I wrote to you, I was a little despondent after the ineffectual play against Moto Clube.
I spent the week in the build up to the derby match at home to Maranhão telling the players that their performances in the big games hadn’t been up to scratch, and we needed to show a bit more passion.
Although I was disappointed with the performance, I only made one change to the line-up, and that was to promote Diogo to the goalkeeping spot ahead of Luciano. The first half was a quiet affair, although the visitors did have their captain, ironically named Maranhão, taken off injured midway through the half.
Four minutes into the second period the real action began as Dilton put the visitors ahead. Spurred on by the crowd, we surged forward, and on the hour equalised through a fortuitous own goal from Ricardo Henrique. Things started to turn a little sour after that with tackles flying in everywhere.
Ar*lson, only on the field of play for twelve minutes, was first to be shown the way to an early shower, but Arcinho levelled things up four minutes later when he was shown another red card. And with the game opening up, Everaldo stole in to score the winner with his first strike for the club nine minutes from time.
The next match was a trip to Chapadinha, and I could probably write a blow-by-blow account of the game. Antônio Carlos Júnior was injured during training, and so Ramires was called upon to deputise. Cajuru was rested to give Barão a game on the right of midfield.
Fifteen minutes into the game, we were already 2-0 up thanks to strikes from Márcio Carioca and Ricardo Araújo. But we’d also made our first substitution, André Lima having to come on for injured captain Araújo up front.
Chapandinha pulled a goal back through Hugo soon after the restart, and more problems were to ensue when André Lima had to be stretchered off. Cajuru came on to replace him up front, promptly scored our third, and was then sent off. And all in the space of 16 minutes!
And as if that wasn’t enough, we ended the game with just nine men on the field of play thanks to Antônio Alex seeing red in the last minute. But a 3-1 win was just what we needed.
The final game of the opening stage was a home tie against bottom-of-the table Santa Quitéria. André Lima’s injury didn’t prevent him from replacing Araújo up front, whilst Ronnie was asked to deputise in midfield for the suspended Antônio Alex. Barão continued on the right-wing now that Cajuru was forced to miss the game through suspension.
Santa Quitéria are a poor side in comparison to ourselves, and so Cassiano decided to give them a helping hand by getting himself sent off with just 10 minutes on the clock. We were though a goal up by that stage; Ramires heading in from a corner in just the second minute of the game.
Márcio Carioca was clinical up front today as well, scoring two more quick goals before half time, and completing an impressive hattrick on the hour mark.
The visitors also ended the match with ten men when they had Silva sent off early in the second half, and further goals from a Gonçalves own goal and Marcelo Souza wrapped up an easy 6-0 rout.
The result through was not enough to win the opening stage of the Maranhão State; Moto Clube booked their place in the final by completing a 100% record.
March saw the start of the second half of the Maranhão State championship, and we know that we must get some results if we want to make the final.
We began with a trip to Imperatriz, and the only change to the line-up saw Joel come in at centre-back for the suspended Cassiano. We fell behind early on again once more to a Rubsen strike, but by half time, goals from Ronnie and André Lima had us in control.
We looked even more favourites to win once Ralf was sent off for our hosts with twenty minutes to go, but we couldn’t turn our numerical advantage into another goal. And with three minutes left, Rubsen equalised for Imperatriz to leave us shattered.
Our next match was a trip to Comerciário, and making his debut was free-transfer signing Alysson. He replaces Everaldo on the left-wing, and will provide some much needed cover in that position. Everaldo is the better player, but at 32 years of age, he’s just not able to play a full 90 minutes every single week.
We were also able to welcome back into the line-up our captain, Araújo, who replaced André Lima up front. But come half time, we found ourselves a goal down to Rodrigo’s strike on the half hour. A stern talking too at half time did the trick, as within a minute Araújo had us level. From then on, it was a case of when, not if, we scored a second. And sure enough, Márcelo Carioca provided the finishing touch to cap an unmemorable performance to see us through to the collection of all three points available.
Still, a win is a win, and a least that’s something.
02-05-2007, 10:12 PM
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? Post #10
These last two weeks could well be a turning point in our season.
We started with a home game against Juventude. Diogo was suffering from a slight injury, and although Luciano was available, he was only fit enough for the bench in my opinion, and so Rinaldo wore the goalkeeping jersey. Not that he had much to do mind.
We also welcomed back Cassiano, Cajuru and Antônio Alex into the line-up following suspension, with Joel, Barão and Ronnie dropping out of the starting XI.
Cassiano likes an early bath though, as ten minutes into the second half, he saw red on his return from suspension. He’s a fool for it, and know it. And he had to accept my fine of one weeks’ wages as well.
By that stage, Márcio Carioca had us a goal to the good, and although Juventude never really threatened us, we didn’t kill the game off until the last six minutes when Márcio Carioca and Araújo both scored to give us a 3-0 win.
That win set us up nicely for the “home” tie against Moto CLube. Other than the suspended Cassiano and the injured Antônio Carlos Júnior, we were pretty much at full strength; Diogo returned in goal and Joel partnered Ramires at centre-back. Everaldo also returned in place of Alysson.
The game was played in exactly the way you’d expect from a derby match, and one particularly nasty challenge saw Joel taken off midway through the first half. With no other central defenders in the matchday squad, Ronnie had to come on, and Ricardo Araújo moved into the defence; not his accustomed position.
We hang on in there though as the game stretched out, especially in the second half. But just as it looked like a 0-0 draw, up stepped captain fantastic Araújo to score the winning goal to send the fans, myself included, into wild celebrations.
Suddenly, a final spot could be ours for the taking.
You're writing a diary? Surely they're only for women? 
Keep Up The Good Work!
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