retired_Andrea

(With all fairness I really meant your old manager, you don't hoof as much now that he's departed down to Peterborough)

retired_Andrea

My Vice

My brother was a gambling addict, and I sometimes thought long and hard about what my vice was. Was I addicted to Luca, to his welfare and wellbeing? Maybe I was addicted to really bad gossip stories as I was always on Vivid.Ro? Possibly even to fame, I enjoyed the media limelight. Then I realised that my vice was all of these, it was football.

Football is not a game, football is a culture. It brings people together, divides people, creates fights, creates marriages. It is the personification of masculine hard work but also of trivial gossip, the creator of joy, pain, heroes, villains and everything inbetween.

How did I save Luca from cancer? Football.
Why did I break up with Mika? Football.
How did I become a star? Football.
Why did I break my legs? Football.

The game had brought every major up and down in my life, I was definitely as addicted to it as my brother to his cards. If I wasn't managing, I was watching it, if I wasn't watching it, I was reading about it. If I wasn't reading about it, I was trying to stir the media up for our advantage.

Caracal were the next visitors that we would entertain in Galati. We would need to be at our best to defeat them as they weren't a team that conceded many goals, having let only seven in in nine games. Equally, they didn't score many, only one every three games.

CARACAL AT HOME
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Paraschiv (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Kravchenko (AMR), Simic (AML), Martinovic (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Mijanovic, Izvoranu, Enescu, Somodi, Sighiartãu.

UNIREA LINEUP: Lung (GK), Bãcilã (DR), Neacsu (DL), Alexa (DC), Ene (DC), Visan (MR), Szentlaszoi (ML), Onicas (MC), Adamovic (MC), Pîrse (FC), Roszel (FC); Drecin, Filip, Han, Petre, Pleniceanu, Soporan, Zaharia.

I expected a win, and made that very clear in my Pre-Match team talk before sitting down, without Luca as he was in Bucharest recieving treatment. I grinned to myself, 'the curse' better not strike again. "The Curse" was something my assistant had joked about, as we always seemed to lose when Luca wasn't there.

On eight minutes, Martinovic proved that he didn't believe in the curse, turning to volley Simic's cross into the back of the net off the leg of Ene. I couldn't believe it was given as an own goal!

Caracal played some dirty football, picking up a fair few bookings in the next period for shoving and dirty tackles. We continued to possess and create chances, I was shouting at my players not to respond to Caracal's dirty play.

Half-time was positive, I reminded the players not to get complacent because Caracal were looking dangerous on the break, but also encouraged saying that we'd had the better play and another goal should put the game beyond them as they'd scored only three in nine.

Caracal's keeper denied us a few chances, and the referee was very lenient with two of their already-booked players in the early second half, which I was unhappy about, but we were definitely the better side until Pîrse drew the visitors level with a thirty yard wonder goal, the ****er shouldn't even have been on the pitch.

Izvoranu came on for Kravchenko and Sighiartãu for Martinovic, but I was ****ed that we'd allowed Pîrse that kind of room to shoot. Schwartz's free kick took a lucky deflection in just as I thought the game was over, I was jubilant. Luck? **** off, dunno how they still had eleven men!

Two-One to the football team, sprung to mind, as in injury time they picked up two more yellow cards for shoving, bringing them to a grand total of seven. The better team won but it'd been far too close for comfort.

Attendance: 9,547.
Otelul Goalscorers: 2; Ene og8', Schwartz 89'.
Caracal Goalscorers: 1; Pîrse 61'.

I gave Luca the biggest hug he'd ever seen when he came back the next day, he was delighted with the score as we were the only team except Dinamo to have put two goals past them this season, and were sitting top of the league with four consecutive wins. Steaua had a game in hand though, so we might not be top for long.

Next up was the televised home game against FC Arges. Another winnable game in my opinion if we played well. The Newspapers were starting to talk about 'Otelul for the title' but I shrugged it off, we'd only played ten games. Steaua won later anyway to knock us off the top.

I won the Manager of the Month award for September after four straight wins in the month, which I was proud of but also worried about the dreaded 'Manager of the Month Curse'. Don't laugh, it's real!

The UEFA Cup draw was the next event I was looking to though, not the game. We were seeded fifth, unsurprisingly. We were drawn into Group B with Atlético Madrid, Monaco, Anderlecht and AZ. ****. That was a nasty draw.

We could potentially upset Anderlecht and AZ, third was not impossible to reach, which would see us progress, but it was a big ask. Dickhead Martinovic decided to ask for a transfer because we weren't big enough for him, but with a four year contract, he was going nowhere fast.

If we beat Conpet in the Romanian Cup, our next fixture would be Poli away, decided by the draw on Thursday 18th October 2012. Ceran finally returned to full training, and I put him in the B Team to regain match fitness. Our new next fixture was going to be Monaco at Home, possibly the biggest home game of the season, so I was planning to enjoy it.

MONACO AT HOME
UEFA Cup Group Stage - Group B

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Paraschiv (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Kravchenko (AMR), Simic (AML), Martinovic (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Mijanovic, Izvoranu, Cistean, Somodi, Sighiartãu.

MONACO LINEUP: Dreyer (GK), Miguel (DR), Givet (DL), Massa (DC), Pecorini (DC), Israel (MR), Maurice-Belay (ML), Appiah (MC), Markel (MC), Davids (FC), Nimani (FC); Carrasso, Gakpé, Perrin, Pisani, Plasil, Verbauwhede, Zaїri.

I told the players to go out and enjoy the match. We were very unlikely to win and I didn't want a resounding loss to kill our strong morale and belief. Credit to the boys, Monaco outplayed us for the first thirty minutes but we had our chances as well.

We weren't lying down and taking it, we were giving Monaco a real game and defending like soldiers. What they had in class we were matching in sheer determination and in our possession we passed as well as they did, perhaps lacking their talent in the final third to sweep it around.

Half-Time: 0-0 against the might of the French giants! Eighty minutes in and it was still 0-0 but we were looking ragged and Tãnasã was having to pull off wondersaves. I took off the knackered Kravchenko for Izvoranu and switched him with Simic.

The final whistle went. I couldn't believe it, we'd just taken a very very good point against Monaco. Luca hugged me whilst saying a prayer under his breath, he was awed. I shook hands with manager Laurent Banide, who remarked that we had been "a great adversary". I told him they had been the best team we had played.

Attendance: 13,392.
Otelul Goalscorers: 0.
Monaco Goalscorers: 0.

The gate receipts from the huge attendance were apparently a club record, which was the icing on the cake. Marius threw a massive bash after the result he claimed was "the best in the club's history!" I knew I had outdone even my massive expectations. This DRAW was bigger to the Otelul fans than winning the Dutch Cup had been to Feyenoord. I realised, I loved this club...

retired_Andrea

The Days Go By...

Well next up, good old Vaslui, a potential banana skin for my high-flying team as they were laying low in the table in what I perceived to be a false position. The players would have to do a professional job to beat Vaslui away.

There seemed to be a lot of nerves in the camp, Martinovic and Tãnasã the main dvocates. I decided to grant Sighiartãu his first start since he looked more confident than Martinovic, and deserved a run in the team for his committed training.

VASLUI AWAY
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Kravchenko (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Enescu, Somodi, Martinovic.

VASLUI LINEUP: Hãisan (GK), Chivu (DR), Seroni (DL), Neacsu (DC), Vrâncean (DC), Prepelitã (MR), Ciortan (ML), Spiridon (MC), Chimir (MC), Frunzã (FC), Ivan (FC); Anghel, Costache, Dinu, Dragomir, Jovanovic, Kovacs, Tãnase.

We came into this match high-flying after the draw against Monaco, Luca bravely predicting a little bit ambitious 17-0 win to the media. I told the players I expected a professional win here, to go second in the league.

Forty minutes went by with very little but high-tempered Vaslui defender dropped Kravchenko in the box. Sighiartãu took the spot kick with composure to put us 1-0 up heading into the break.

I took Mijanovic (who was looking a lot better) off with a knock, for Paraschiv, and told them to carry on doing that they were doing. Vaslui started the second half brighter than the first, but we were still the team creating more chances.

Anghel drew them level, I expected the flag to go up! "ARE YOU ****ING BLIND REF?" I grimaced, "Luca calm down!" We carried on pressing until the end, but it wasn't to be. 1-1 the final score.

Attendance: 10,648.
Vaslui Goalscorers: 1; Anghel 73'.
Otelul Goalscorers: 1; Sighiartãu p41'.

One Vaslui player stood out for me, Ovidiu Dragomir, and I submitted an enquiry after him. The twenty-year old right winger looked like a worthwhile buy to me if we could get him at a reasonable price, to replace want-away Ceran.

The FA decided not to charge me for declaring the goal offside. It was a total joke and cost us dearly. Vaslui offered Dragomir for €350,000, which I thought was a bargain price.

Our next game was in the cup against Conpet, an opportunity to rest a few players and also for others to get into the first team reckoning. Conpet would be looking to cause a potential upset and it was my job as manager to ensure that it didn't happen.

CONPET AT HOME
Romanian Cup - Fourth Round

OTELUL LINEUP: Marinescu (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Enea (DL), Cistean (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Dantes (MC), Milosevic (MC), Schwartz (MC), Kravchenko (AMR), Somodi (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Bors, Paraschiv, Daminutã, Szabo, Ivanovic, Simic, Martinovic.

CONPET LINEUP: Istrate (GK), Stanciu (DR), Popescu (DL), Iordache (DC), Lonca (DC), Nicolitã (MR), Petre (ML), Pastor (MC), Dutu (MC), Bãrbuceanu (FC), Curcan (FC); Covrig, Cozma, Dinu, Militaru, Sava, Soó, Teusan.

I made sure the artillery was on the bench in case things turned sour, but was confident in the team I'd picked to do a professional job. Twenty-five minutes of pressing before Sighiartãu put us 1-0 up, even the away supporters applauding his clinical finish.

Thirty nine minutes and he made it two, switching to his left foot and firing into the inside wall of the net. At half time I said I was pleased, replacing Mijanovic with Ivanovic at centre-back.

In the second half Conpet probably could have got a goal but it ended 2-0 to the better team on the day.


Attendance: 17,960.
Otelul Goalscorers: 2; Sighiartãu 25', Sighiartãu 39'.
Conpet Goalscorers: 0.

I decided that man of the match Sighiartãu would keep his first team place for the game against Farul in the league based on his cup performance, and top scorer Martinovic would have to wait.

I offered Ovidiu Dragomir a contract as a rotation player, but he was probably going to be in the first team if he joined as he was a more well-rated player than Kravchenko and my scouts believed he was on Simic's level.

FARUL AT HOME
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Kravchenko (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Somodi, Martinovic.

FARUL LINEUP: Vlas (GK), Marcu (DR), Rusu (DL), Andronic (DC), Patriche (DC), Dolha (MR), Maxim (ML), Botezatu (MC), Apostol (MC), Iordache (FC), Moldovan (FC); Anghel, Coman, Florea, Matache, Prãcuraru, Stanca, Suteu.

I told the players to do it for the fans, I knew it'd be a long drive to Bucharest that night if we didn't win. Nowadays the hospital only kept Luca overnight for monitoring and tests and gave us more pills to keep his systems fighting any possible return.

The first half hour was fairly even, neither team really creating anything. Iulian Apostol gifted us a spot kick on thirty eight, which Sighiartãu slipped away elegantly. 1-0 at half time, I was pleased. Farul weren't an easy team to beat.

Simic should have put us 2-0 up in the first twenty seconds of the second half, but failed to control the fast moving ball, volleying harmlessly into the side netting. Seventy-three minutes in, I switched Milosevic out for Izvoranu and Sighiartãu for Martinovic to provide us some fresh legs up front.

On eighty-nine minutes, Simic nodded in Kravchenko's cross to put the game beyond doubt.

Attendance: 12,894.
Otelul Goalscorers: 2; Sighiartãu p39', Simic 88'.
Farul Goalscorers: 0.

Second in the league, four points behind Steaua with a game in hand. I shouldn't have a care in the world, right? Wrong. Luca had spent most of the second half of the game complaining of stomach pains and nausea, and threw up all over the inside of my car on the way to the hospital.

We rushed in and I told the doctors of his complaints. He had a high fever, they said it could be a malreaction to the new bone marrow in which case he would need a much stronger injection of a drug with vicious side effects.

I couldn't sleep until they told me what was wrong, eventually they came back with a verdict that it was an acute respiratory tract infection, caused by the weakened state of his immune system, otherwise known as pneumonia. I was worried but the doctors assured me that it was very rarely severe, and usually passed with antibiotic treatment.

They prescribed him with some amoxycillin as well as the regular pills, and also some ibuprofen to take the pain away. He slept quite well at about three after the pain subsided. I kissed him on the forehead gently then slept on the floor beside his bed, the media would pay for a picture of this... just played Monaco and sleeping on a hospital floor with no blanket.

retired_Andrea

To Reconsider?

I paced around wildly outside, speaking on the phone with Marius. Luca had woken up feeling worse than the night before, and the staff were busy rediagnosing him. "Marius, this is some bad **** brother. He's really ill at the moment and it's kicking me while they're working out what it is."
"Matt you've got two days until the Anderlecht game in Belgium and you are NOT missing it."
"Marius-"
"If you miss that game, you are FIRED, do you hear me?"
"Yeah, I'm sure that'll go down well with the fans Marius, second in the league and fired."
"They'll soon forget you if I invent a story good enough Matt."
"Bastard."
"I'll get over it, you better be in Belgium."

He hung up, I swore, 'I have never met someone so infuriating as him!' I thought to myself, 'Well except Alex Ferguson... oh and José Mourinho, but no one I'd been forced to work WITH.' Just then, the nurse stepped outside. "It's bad news, Mr Doughty, because of the weakened state of Luca's immune system he has contracted an H. influenzae based acute meningitis infection..."
"Meningitis?"
"Yes, meningitis."
"Holy **** - I'm sorry, didn't mean to swear."
"It's OK Mr. Doughty, he will be in hospital for a while."
"But he'll be OK?"
"Meningitis is rarely fatal when caught early, Mr Doughty."

I rung Marius and explained the situation, he was unsympathetic. "Matt, you can't miss a ****ing UEFA Cup game, end of story." He hung up on me again, I thought to myself. Then I came up with a crazy idea that just might work. Robert Elek was out injured with a fractured rib, maybe he could come stay with Luca while I took on the might of Anderlecht...

"Robert."
"Gaffer?"
"Listen, I'm in a bit of a jam, Luca's in hospital with a bad infection, but I have to go to Belgium in two days for the match..."
"Yeah, I'll be right there gaffer. Marius is always like this, doesn't give a **** about him gaffer." I finished the call and managed a grin. At least someone knew what I was putting up with.

I left Luca with a heavy heart, he was sleeping a lot of the time when not in pain, and I planned to fly from Belgium straight back to Bucharest to relieve Elek of his duties. A tear welled up in my eye but I forced it out, I had to be strong, the players were counting on me.

ANDERLECHT AWAY
UEFA Cup Group Stage - Group B

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Kravchenko (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Somodi, Martinovic.

ANDERLECHT LINEUP: Zwinkels (GK), Lugano (DR), Djukanovic (DL), Jansen (DC), Sturgis (DC), Kaya (MR), Bikey (ML), Paap (MC), Elia (MC), Worm (FC), Alexandre (FC); Velthuizen, Fangzhuo, Martens, Sterk, Vanmaris, Nguyen, Dorst.

Cristean hadn't seen me since I'd gone to Bucharest, and took the opportunity to tell me that Ovidiu Dragomir had agreed terms and would move as soon as the transfer window opened.

The game started as a scorcher, end-to-end stuff, we went ahead on seventeen minutes, Sighiartãu slipping the ball past the 'keeper after warding off the defenders. He had broken the offside trap marvellously. I was surprised he avoided a booking for overexuberant celebrations though, as he jumped into the travelling fans.

BetRomania didn't have us as favourites, but at half time we were 1-0 up and looking to have edged in as the better team. Anderlecht's manager had obviously had a word at half-time, because they came out of the blocks fast and furious.

On the sixty-seventh minute I told the players to go for the counter-attack, and put Martinovic on for Kravchenko. Despite Anderlecht having had all the attacking play in the second half, it was us who went 2-0 up through a short-ranged goal from Sighiartãu, rather than them equalizing.

Anderlecht continued to press, but we took a 2-0 win back to Romania, now topping the group if I was correct, if only temporarily.

Attendance: 20,998.
Anderlecht Goalscorers: 0.
Otelul Goalscorers: Sighiartãu 17', Sighiartãu 82'.

I phoned Elek, who put Luca on to hear the score. "Two nil to us, Luca, and I'll be there as quick as I can, OK?" He weakly giggled and murmered, "Yay, come fast! I missed you." Bravery wasn't us on the pitch, it was him sitting there without his father or his guardian waiting for a magical phone call, but the team had done him proud.

I dedicated the win to him in the post match press conference, stating, "If it wasn't for Luca I could never have pushed as hard as I have in the UEFA Cup this year. He kept me believing when we looked to be down and out against St Mirren. I can't dedicate the players' efforts to him, but my part in this competition is derived from his love of the club and of me."

retired_Andrea

The fight goes on...

I spent all the time I could with Luca at his bedside, he was in pain, I had to hide my weeping from the media who kept trying to get inside. The hospital staff were good at keeping them out but they would take pictures through the back windows. Aryss didn't help matters by saying it was my fault for taking him around the stadia in the newspapers.

The hospital staff assured me the virus wasn't from a football stadium, if anything it was from a cooling tower at home, but probably just from the air. Luca had always been home-tutored by Aryss and I had to take over that task, sharing with a man I hired to do one day a week, Igor Vivic. I was no teacher, Igor was a professional home tutor, specialising in Mathematics and Sciences.

Luca got me listening to the music of a pair of twenty-year-old twins, called 'Prussian Blue', and made me promise to get him tickets to their concert. I said I'd do one better and get them to play at Otelul Arena in Galati. I had to leave again only three days after the Anderlecht game for the Craiova away match, at their 35,000 capacity arena.

ANDERLECHT AWAY
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Simic (AMR), Ceran (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Somodi, Martinovic.

U CRAIOVA LINEUP: Bornescu (GK), Scutaru (DR), Constantin (DL), Mardare (DC), Toma (DC), Muresan (MC), Lazãr (MC), Pop (MC), Brdar (AMC), Goga (FC), Bistriceanu (FC); Badea, Bãnicã, Brãtianu, Costea, Gãman, Stroescu, Tadic.

I was hoping for a win, but this was a tricky place to get results and Craiova were in good form. The first few minutes were very even and attacking, both teams having great chances, I could see that we could be in for a cracker of a game. Unfortunately, what supporters see as a cracker, managers see as a nailbiter, and since I'd spent most of the last few days in a hospital with a very uncomfortable and unwell Luca, I didn't have much of my nails left.

Tãnasã was having a very, well, Tãnasã-ish game, saving a lot of close range efforts and commanding his area well, he was possibly the best player I'd brought in since coming to Galati. Half time at 0-0 I brought Martinovic on for Sighiartãu, finding that my striker hadn't really split the defence well enough and Martinovic was a pacier forward.

Craiova came out well in the second half, and I was finding a lot of our attacking play was coming from opportunist counter-attacking. I yelled at the lads to "pick it up!" On seventy-seven minutes I brought a breathless Daminutã off for Izvoranu to try to add more legs to the midfield.

Ninety-one minutes it took, Simic crossing for the returned from injury Ceran to net a winner for Otelul. I was elated, going back to Bucharest with another win. What a result in front of the fifteen thousand gathered.

Attendance: 14,982.
Craiova Goalscorers: 0.
Otelul Goalscorers: 1; Ceran 90'.

My hope was to only have one more game without Luca there, Poli in the Cup. After this we had a ten-day break before playing Forex. So far, our top scorer was Martinovic with eight and top assister was new-boy Simic with ten assists in fifteen appearances.

I told the media gathered that I was delighted with Simic, I knew they wanted to know what was wrong with Luca, but that was one thing I never understood about the media. Why did they CARE what was wrong with Luca? Why was he important enough news to interest the public? He was the nephew of a Divizia A manager, not a celebrity, I know if I picked up a paper and the front page said 'Wenger's Son Has The Flu' I would take it to mean there was no real news!

FCU POLI ON NEUTRAL GROUND
Romanian Cup - Round Five

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Schwartz (MC), Simic (AMR), Ceran (AML), Martinovic (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Somodi, Sighiartãu.

FCU POLI LINEUP: Bornescu (GK), Scutaru (DR), Constantin (DL), Mardare (DC), Toma (DC), Muresan (MC), Lazãr (MC), Pop (MC), Brdar (AMC), Goga (FC), Bistriceanu (FC); Badea, Bãnicã, Brãtianu, Costea, Gãman, Stroescu, Tadic.

Martinovic was starting this game. I sat in the dugout relieved that Luca was progressing, he was likely to be discharged from the hospital in four days or so, that weekend. The bitter cold wednesday night air got into my nose and ears, I was glad I had a tracksuit on.

The first half hour was strange, despite us dominating possession, Poli had looked the more likely to score. Martinovic looked very isolated up front on his own, and this was something I'd need to take a look at at half time.

I decided to go 4-4-2 at half-time, pushing Ceran into the striker role that he seemed to enjoy in training. I told the team they needed one goal. Our defense could hold out. Three minutes into the second half and I got my goal, Martinovic firing a spilled blast from Ceran into an unguarded net.

Oprea soon drew Poli level though, taking advantage of a defensive lapse in our back four that left me stunned. Badoiu put them ahead from a good free kick. "****!" I exclaimed. "What the **** was that defending?"

I put Sighiartãu on with the mission to save the day, going to a 4-3-3, Ceran making way. Twice we hit the bar but it wasn't to be. The cup dream was over for this year, but the league and UEFA cup were still on.

Attendance: 19,994.
FCU Poli Goalscorers: 2; Oprea 50', Bãdoiu 54'.
Otelul Goalscorers: 1; Martinovic 48'.

retired_paulajh

KUTGW! Still throroughly enjoying this read!

retired_Andrea

Thanks for the comment

As The World Turns

Luca was finally discharged from hospital after a horrendous ordeal, he was very light from all the throwing up and desperately needed some TLC, but otherwise OK. I think in the end he was just relieved that he'd get to go to the next game. I was still cursing my brother for making me travel when he was sick, but that's the pressures in football compared to the rest of life.

People resent me for my pay packet, but how many of them would have to leave their sick child to drive hundreds of miles around the country? How many of them, every other weekend, have to travel across shitty Romanian roads at the crack of dawn? How many of them have their every action scrutinised by the media, the board, the fans? The expectation levels as a manager are perfection. You can't **** up.

How many of them hold the financial expectations of a multi-million euro operation squarely on their shoulders, as well as the passion of four to eight thousand people? I love the job but I hate the resentment people have. If they want to be football managers and try to rise to the top I have no problem with that, so why do they hate me for my success?

The sort of songs opposition fans throw at you is horrendous, not the "You're a ******" types, those're just fine, it's the "We don't care if your little boy dies" and when they chant at Luca. They always have to make everything personal, it's never left inside football with them. I'd heard some horrible ones about Luca showing a total lack of respect since I'd stepped foot in Romania. They didn't see him as a young boy enjoying the football, they saw him as something dirty because he was the manager's nephew.

FOREX BV. AWAY
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Paraschiv (DC), Milosevic (MC), Daminutã (MC), Izvoranu (MC), Simic (AMR), Ceran (AML), Martinovic (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Mijanovic, Schwartz, Cistean, Somodi, Sighiartãu.

FCU POLI LINEUP: Constantin (GK), Cristea (DC), Streangã (DC), Chernyshev (DC), Bilia (WBR), Senin (WBL), Mandzyuk (MC), Tarãlungã (MC), Voicilã (MC), Coman (FC), Franiov (FC); Cãlin, Cîtã, Marcu, Pereny, Radu, Radu, Somfãlean.

This was our chance to put the cup disappointment behind us. Luca had brought a blanket because it was so cold. I smiled at him as I waited for kick off. We started brightly, Forex were defending deep, our fans were whistling them from the first minute for their negative play.

Half time came, I put Sighiartãu on for Martinovic, who'd been firing blanks all first half. We overran them in the second half again but they proved very hard to break down, Sighiartãu going close in the seventy fourth minute.

I subbed Somoli on for Ceran, hoping to inject some life into our forward play on the seventy-fifth minute, but nothing was doing, Forex's negativity spoiling a game we'd come to try to win.

Attendance: 3,123.
FCU Poli Goalscorers: 0.
Otelul Goalscorers: 0.

Still second, and with a game in hand, six points behind Steaua, at this early stage in the season we were looking like contenders, and with Dragomir coming in January it could only get better. Meanwhile, Elek had resumed full training, so I decided that Ceran would be dropped for him if he kept playing poorly in the next couple of games.

Next up was the big one, Atlético at home. If we could win or even draw this we were in with a good shot at the knockout stages. Paraschiv decided that it would be a good time to skip training, so I told him plainly that he was dropped, and fined him a week's wages for good measure.

retired_Andrea

The Big'un and beyond...

By Thursday Luca was in much better spirit, constantly chatting about the big game against Atlético. I couldn't really let him know that I was scared ****ing shitless about it could I? I didn't think we had a hope, Atlético were a massive side and it was going to be a very tough game. I decided to try to stifle their game plan, going with a 4-1-4-1.

ATLÉTICO MADRID AT HOME
UEFA Cup Group Stage - Group B

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Paraschiv (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Milosevic (MC), Izvoranu (MC), Simic (MR), Ceran (ML), Martinovic (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Mijanovic, Schwartz, Cistean, Somodi, Sighiartãu.

ATLÉTICO LINEUP: Ochoa (GK), Iraola (DR), López (DL), Pablo (DC), Tews (DC), Gutiérrez (MC), Gabi (MC), Paim (AMC), Jurado (AMC), Santos (AMC), Torres (FC); Arzo, Delgado, Elviro, Parra, Quintana, Schäfer, Thiago.

Five minutes, it took Torres to put the visitors ahead, but I wasn't down. I knew this wasn't a game we were pressured to win. We kept playing well and trying to carve out chances but their superior pace showed.

At half time it could well have been 1-1 but we failed to make a good ten minutes of dominance tell. I put Schwartz on for Ceran and moved Izvoranu out onto the left, I wasn't displeased with the first half, despite the score.

Milosevic decided to let the team down, getting sent off in the first minute of the second half for kicking Gabi. That was pretty much the game when we lost a man, I knew it. Luca knew it too, as his head hit his hands. "****ing moron!" He shouted at Milosevic.

Torres put the visitors 2-0 up a few minutes later, I was so ****ed off with Milosevic. He'd thrown away a great chance in a minute of stupidity. Then it was three, but the boys still refused to give up, creating good chances and showing a will to play for the shirt.

Attendance: 13,468.
Otelul Goalscorers: 0 (Milosevic sent off 46').
Atlético Goalscorers: 3; Torres 5', Torres 54', Torres 66'.

This discipline problem was not going to rear its ugly head again, we needed eleven men on the pitch, especially in games like that. I gave Milosevic about three hours of shouting the next day, "You've let me down, you've let the fans down, you've let the ****ing team down and most of all son you've let yourself down!"

Martinovic was someone else I was losing confidence in, he was in a big goal drought and I decided that Sighiartãu would replace him and Elek would replace Ceran, allowing Simic to move to his favoured left side.

PANDURII AT HOME
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Elek (MR), Simic (ML), Milosevic (MC), Schwartz (MC), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Tãnase, Martinovic.

PANDURII LINEUP: Guso (GK), Luchin (DR), Sydorskyi (DL), Suteu (DC), David (DC), Constantinescu (MR), Mitu (ML), Mãjer (MC), Cozea (MC), Vranjkovic (AMC), Cristean (FC); Bãlan, Gheorghiu, Iancu, Lãzãreanu, Pop, Rãzlog, Vidakovic.

The first half was very unspectacular, the ball being held up in the midfield a lot, both teams had chances but really it wasn't something you'd want to pay to watch. I told the lads to get out there and put a smile on the fans' faces. We were fast slipping down the league out of the top two, and we needed to put it right.

The second half picked up where the first had left off, both teams worried too much about not losing and not enough about winning. I would need to sort this slump out as we'd lost our scoring touch.

We had the players to go forward so I was confident it would pick up, but it would have to be quick if we wanted to prove the bookies wrong about the outside shot at a European spot. I began drawing up plans for a more attacking version of the 4-1-4-1.

Attendance: 10,479.
Otelul Goalscorers: 0.
Pandurii Goalscorers: 0.

Next up, the old enemy. Not Otelul's; mine. AZ Alkmaar were a team I'd battled for every honour during my Feyenoord days and their git of a manager, Mario Been, would like nothing more than to put me out of the UEFA Cup. I told Luca about my old rivalry with Mr Been, he said that we would end the goal drought against AZ.

AZ ALKMAAR AWAY
UEFA Cup Group Stage - Group B

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Kravchenko (MC), Schwartz (MC), Elek (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Enescu, Martinovic.

AZ LINEUP: Molenaar (GK), Steinsson (DR), Braafheid (DL), Gubkin (DC), Donk (DC), Cziommer (MR), Wisse (ML), Gülner (MC), Sandoval (MC), Parada (FC), Lens (FC); Al-Harthi, Bonevacia, Cifu, Luna, Marengo, Medunjanin, Zwarthoed.

This was a big game, because a win was a catapult up the table and a loss was a massive blow to our qualification hopes and the lucrative sum we'd get if we got through to the knockout stages. Obviously they weren't budgeted for but they were definitely something you couldn't complain about if you got.

Been's team definitely knew they were favourites, and only some fiery defending kept them out at the start as they were bombarding us with waves of attacks. Parada put them ahead from an obvious offside position and I groaned as the referee gave it.

To say that I was unhappy with the first half performance would be akeen to saying that the Empire State Building was 'fairly tall'. I put Martinovic on for Elek and went to a 4-3-3, demanding that my players produced the goods. "Don't you want to play in Europe you ****ers?"

To say we were better coming out would be an understatement, Sighiartãu levelling the game from close range after the hour mark. It was definitely a game of two halves, finishing at a fair 1-1 scoreline. Qualification was ours, and it tasted sweet.

Attendance: 17,240.
Otelul Goalscorers: 1; Sighiartãu 62'.
AZ Goalscorers: 1; Parada 24'.

I took Luca around Alkmaar the next day, showing him the café I had used when I used to come to this ground in the Eredivisie. We had a nice lunch there and proceeded to the airport to plan for the next three fixtures.

This was a nasty run which we could potentially stumble on: Rapid at home, followed by Dinamo at home, followed by Steaua away. The flip side, of course, is that if we did well, we could find ourselves really starting to challenge for the top spots.

It would be two weeks before we knew if AZ, Anderlecht or Monaco would come with us through into the UEFA Cup Knockout Rounds, Atlético having already booked their place with a game to go. Milosevic's ban was lengthened at a hearing, extending to the next two European games as well, so first and second

RAPID AT HOME
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Enescu (MC), Schwartz (MC), Martinovic (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Kravchenko, Elek.

RAPID LINEUP: Coman (GK), Sãpunaru (DC), Kaika (DC), Mot (DC), Popescu (MR), Dumitrescu (ML), Burlacu (MC), Tãnase (MC), Tkachuk (AMC), Mazilu (FC), Rusescu (FC); Lucian Cigan, Dinu, Enciu, Marc, Plesan, Simion, Surdu.

I gave Daminutã the unenviable task of keeping Tkachuk out of the game, considering him the main dangerman and playmaker for Rapid. I was fairly confident based on Rapid's poor form that we could take something from this game, but we'd have to play well because the quality of their players was there for all to see.

It was marvelous football, like I hadn't seen us play in a long time, we were running rings around Rapid, Enescu playing like he'd never get another try. Sighiartãu slotted cooly past Coman on twenty minutes to start what I was hoping could be our revival.

Rapid had their chances but the 1-0 lead could have been more at half time. I was pleased so far but reminded the lads that we couldn't become complacent with only a single goal cushion. Rapid came out bursting with life but Burlacu let them down badly, getting sent off for a karate kick on Schwartz.

Eighty minutes in, Martinovic killed the game from a Simic cross, Otelul were back. I took Enescu off for Kravchenko and Sighiartãu for Elek to rest some tired legs, and watched on with a José-like grin as we kept another consecutive league clean sheet.

Attendance: 13,066.
Otelul Goalscorers: 2; Sighiartãu 20', Martinovic 80'.
Rapid Goalscorers: 0 (Burlacu sent off 57').

'Otelul are one of the elites' stated the Bucharest Herald, which I read while Luca spoke to the doctors. I was almost beginning to believe that we were really, but one season didn't make you elite. Qualifying for the UEFA Cup knockout rounds was an alltime high, and sitting second in the table with a game in hand was certainly going to do our confidence no harm after having thrashed Rapid.

One of the supporters' trust was quoted as saying, "Doughty is a great of Otelul." Comments like this meant the world to me, not only did they feed my ever-increasing ego but they gave me a feeling of being wanted at a club. The last time I'd really had that feeling was Lazio. Their fans had cried when I retired and they had taken five thousand supporters to my first competetive game as a manager, at Bristol City.

I was always welcomed with open arms at the Olimpico, and I did plan at some point to manage Lazio if I was ever given the chance again after leaving Otelul and taking a break. Luca finished speaking to the doctors, took some pills in a pot, and led me outside to the car, still thinking of the Olimpico and my distant but successful past and of the present, where with this club I could mimic my successes at Lazio.

retired_Andrea

The Christmas Cracker!

Fast coming up to the Christmas break for 2012, and fast needing it. I'd now been at the club for nearly a year. The next team to be entertained at the Otelul Arena was the old enemy Dinamo. We needed a win because a win would put us way clear of them in second, and a loss would draw them back into the title/CL race.

DINAMO AT HOME
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Enescu (MC), Schwartz (MC), Martinovic (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Kravchenko, Elek.

DINAMO LINEUP: Gaev (GK), Popovici (DR), Radu (DL), Popa (DC), Vasiliu (DC), Cristea (MR), Vãdana (ML), Herea (MC), Mocanu (MC), Dogrãu (FC), Alexe (FC); Florea, Gheorghe, Goian, Matache, Predescu, Ropotan, Stanic.

Luca was more confident than I was, I have to admit, it's not that I didn't believe in the lads but Dinamo looked up for it. If the first few minutes were anything to go by though, my worries weren't warranted, we were playing Dinamo off the park.

Dinamo soon calmed down though, and started really laying the pressure on. It was then our turn to dominate, and Sighiartãu really made it count with a beautiful curler after taking on two defenders.

I had grown up watching Dinamo and loving them, my brother had too. It was only when he bought Otelul that his allegience switched, where mine changed to Lazio after the times I'd spent there as a player. Half-time came, we were still 1-0 up, it'd been very even and very fast paced.

Shortly after half-time, we won a penalty after Popa brought Enescu down in the box. The 'keeper went the right way but Martinovic used enough power that it didn't matter, smashing the ball into the roof of the net. Luca slid across the director's area on his knees, cheering.

The away support booed, and shouted offensive comments at him which just made me grimace, but he didn't seem bothered. I took Enescu off for Izvoranu as he was looking tired on seventy minutes. Simic giftwrapped the points on eighty-six minutes, volleying in Mijanovic's through ball from close range. The Dinamo fans were singing "You're not fit to wear the shirt" at their players at this point. Otelul maybe really were becoming one of the greats!

Attendance: 13,480.
Otelul Goalscorers: 3; Sighiartãu 38', Martinovic p55', Simic 86'.
Dinamo Goalscorers: 0.

Whatever next? We were getting record attendances, on an unbeaten league run since God knows when and sitting second in the league, six points above Dinamo in third with a game in hand. It was Steaua and Arges, then the Winter break, during which we would do some tours and try to promote the brand around the world.

I told Marius that once again the training facilities and youth facilities should be improved. My ultimate objective wasn't just to compete this season, but to leave Otelul in a position to compete for honours and expand long after I had left.

STEAUA AWAY
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Enescu (MC), Schwartz (MC), Simic (AMR), Milosevic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Martinovic, Elek.

STEAUA LINEUP: Hutan (GK), Ionascu (DR), Nesu (DL), Goian (DC), Nicular (DC), Pãtrascu (MR), Dicã (ML), Rãdoi (MC), Ninkovic (MC), Badea (FC), Pãun (FC); Cocis, Iacob, Ignatenko, Lia, Paraschiv, Silaghi, Torje.

Steaua... top of the league at their place, a true test of our resolve. In front of Romanian National TV as well, we'd have to be at our best to take anything from this one. Wishing the players luck, I took my seat in the dugout in the grand stadium.

Simic could have and should have put us ahead after seven minutes, firing wide when it was easier to score. Pãun didn't make the same mistake three minutes later for the home side, netting from two yards out. The next goal was inexcusable, Badea blasting in from all of forty yards. "WAKE UP!" I yelled at Tãnasã.

We had some great play but we didn't finish well enough, I brought Enescu off for Martinovic and swapped him with Milosevic. We could still win this thing. Even when we did put the ball in the net, the referee continued our bad luck, ruling it offside when it blatantly wasn't.

I was unhappy with the result but I couldn't fault the performance. In any other ninety minute period I felt with our fifty five percent possession and nine shots to their seven, we'd've won that one.

Attendance: 25,840.
Steaua Goalscorers: 2; Pãun 11', Badea 12'.
Otelul Goalscorers: 0.

Still, it wasn't the end of the world. If you'd've offered me six of the nine points in those three matches I'd've bitten your hand off for them. Arges at home was the next challenge, and after that game we'd also know who was coming through the UEFA Cup group stage with us.

Caracal beat Dinamo on the 9th, which left them six points and a game behind us, really pressuring them. We were relegation candidates and comfortably putting one foot in the next year's Champions' League draw at Christmas, with over half the season played.

FC ARGES AT HOME
Romanian Divizia A

OTELUL LINEUP: Tãnasã (GK), Rãdoi (DR), Szabo (DL), Ivanovic (DC), Mijanovic (DC), Daminutã (DMC), Enescu (MC), Schwartz (MC), Martinovic (AMR), Simic (AML), Sighiartãu (FC); Marinescu, Bucuricã, Paraschiv, Izvoranu, Cistean, Milosevic, Elek.

FC ARGES LINEUP: Chitu (GK), Ganea (DR), Costescu (DL), Oprea (DC), Drescã (DC), Vãtavu (MR), Costea (ML), Panait (MC), Ionescu (MC), Tãnasã (FC), Negru (FC); Bazzi, Dinu, Ganea, Lupu, Olah, Popa, Stancu.

A loss in this game would be unacceptable, Arges weren't as strong as we were and we were playing at home. The first half had little to talk about, we controlled two thirds of the possession, and all the shots, but had nothing on the scoreboard to show for it.

Teams, by this point, were beginning to set out at our place, to frustrate us, they were becoming happy with a point against Otelul, where maybe at the start of the season they'd've wanted three.

Sighiartãu took the sitting back option off them, surging through their whole defense and then planting home from just inside the box just before the hour. A solo masterpiece. "That's how to hit 'em!" Luca exclaimed.

Arges actually looked better than we did when they decided they wanted to score, and I told their manager after the game that if he'd set out to play to win, instead of just to stop us winning, he may have picked up a result.

Attendance: 11,867.
Otelul Goalscorers: 1; Sighiartãu 59'.
FC Arges Goalscorers: 0.

Monaco, Atlético and us would progress from Group B of the UEFA Cup. Not bad for a fifth seed, eh? We would play Scottish giants Rangers in the knockout round, which would be a great tie, and if we won that it was Trabzonspor or Atlético in the next stage.

Christmas time was looking to be very jolly for us, Marius even had the nerve to joke that he wished he'd set me a "real challenge" for my bonus after seeing us storm the league like that. ******.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Steaua | | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 5 | +22 | 48 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Otelul | | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 28 | 13 | +15 | 40 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Dinamo Buc. | | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 31 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Gloria | | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 29 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Forex Bv. | | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 29 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Caracal | | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 28 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | FCU Poli | | 19 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | CS Otopeni | | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | U Cluj | | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 27 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Rapid | | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 27 | 15 | +12 | 26 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | FC Arges | | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 26 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | U Craiova | | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 26 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Unirea Urziceni | | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 24 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Farul | | 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 26 | -6 | 23 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Pandurii | | 19 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 23 | -11 | 13 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | SC Vaslui | | 19 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 22 | -14 | 12 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Auxerre Lugoj | | 19 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 26 | -17 | 12 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | FC Brasov | | 19 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 31 | -21 | 12 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

retired_sterlingprianna

Thoroughly enjoying this story. Congratulations and thank you.