retired_curlgirl

Sharapova... Wishfull thinking...

Great story, one remark though:

You always write an instead of a.

-an is only used when the next word starts with a,e,i,o,u and sometimes h(when it's not pronounced)

so it has to be: a house, a car, a woman

and: an opportunity, an ass, ...

Hope you don't mind the remark, as I said, this is the good stuff...

KUTGW

retired_aurie

Why don't you try to get O'Flynn to your new team?

You used to work well together in the past didn't you?

retired_puly1364

28th of August 2008

I had to select an Russian squad for the qualifyer againist Italy. Oh, and our group - Italy, Macedonia, Slovakia, Wales & Andorra. Only one get's through. This group is basically decided.

I included a new guy Michael Tsibizov - an striker from CSKA.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Club | Height | Weight | Age | Value | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | GK | | Igor Akinfeev | GK | CSKA Moscow | 185 cm | 81 kg | 22 | £6.5M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S2 | | Vyacheslav Malafeev | GK | Zenith Peterburg | 185 cm | 83 kg | 29 | £1.6M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S3 | | Veniamin Mandrykin | GK | Mainz | 188 cm | 84 kg | 26 | £1.5M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Sergey Ignashevich | SW, D RC | Newcastle | 186 cm | 82 kg | 28 | £2.1M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DC | | Vasily Berezutskiy | D RC | CSKA Moscow | 189 cm | 83 kg | 26 | £1.9M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DR | | Vadim Yevseev | D RL | Lokomotiv Moscow | 180 cm | 80 kg | 32 | £140K | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DL | | Alexey Berezutskiy | D LC | CSKA Moscow | 190 cm | 82 kg | 26 | £1.9M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S12 | | Dmitry Sennikov | D LC | Lokomotiv Moscow | 183 cm | 76 kg | 32 | £550K | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S4 | | Evgeny Krstev | D C | Roma | 180 cm | 78 kg | 22 | £1.5M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S5 | | Gennady Nizhegorodov | D C | Dinamo Moscow | 181 cm | 77 kg | 31 | £325K | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S6 | | Eugeny Aldonin | DM | Brescia | 179 cm | 73 kg | 28 | £2.1M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | DMC | | Alexeï Smertin | DM | Man Utd | 174 cm | 70 kg | 33 | £1.8M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MR | | Vladimir Bystrov | AM R | Spartak Moscow | 173 cm | 69 kg | 24 | £2.5M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S8 | Ret | Rolan Gusev | AM R | CSKA Moscow | 180 cm | 75 kg | 30 | £1.6M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | AMC | | Andrey Arshavin | AM RC, F C | Shakhtar | 172 cm | 68 kg | 27 | £4.6M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S7 | | Anatoly Gerk | AM RC, F C | CSKA Moscow | 179 cm | 76 kg | 23 | £3M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S9 | Wnt | Marat Izmailov | AM LC | Lokomotiv Moscow | 169 cm | 68 kg | 25 | £1M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S1 | Ret | Andrey Karyaka | AM LC | Benfica | 180 cm | 74 kg | 30 | £1.2M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ML | | Yury Zhirkov | AM L | CSKA Moscow | 178 cm | 72 kg | 25 | £3.9M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S10 | | Dinijar Bilyaletdinov | AM C | Lokomotiv Moscow | 179 cm | 73 kg | 23 | £2.5M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Igor Semshov | AM C | AZ | 170 cm | 69 kg | 30 | £1M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Michael Tsibizov | AM/F C | CSKA Moscow | 180 cm | 74 kg | 18 | £1.4M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | - | | Dmitry Bulykin | ST | Dinamo Moscow | 190 cm | 85 kg | 28 | £975K | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | FC | | Alexandr Kerzhakov | ST | Shakhtar | 175 cm | 70 kg | 25 | £4.5M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | S11 | | Sergey Pravosud | ST | CSKA Moscow | 185 cm | 82 kg | 22 | £575K | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | AMC | Wnt | Dmitry Sychev | ST | Lokomotiv Moscow | 175 cm | 71 kg | 24 | £2.6M | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

29th of August 2008

I had an very though away game againist high-flying Sete who were just above us in the table. For this beautiful late-August night match I could select from full list and I hoped for the best like always.

French Second League, Week 5
Sete 1:3 Valenciennes (57. Sebastien Heitzmann, 70. Haykel Gmamdia, 80. Fabrice Levrat)

This game as an total shock result for me. Great performance from the guys. Every line was awesome. Though a lot thanks to a last man foul that one Sete player did. Heitzmann is one of the top scorers in the league with 5 goals. Gmamdia is close there too with 3.

1st of September 2008

I'm very pleased with my first two months and had another bunch of players chosen for the Team of the Week. This time 3! Raio Piiroja, Yannick Fisher (both defenders) and Benoit Cheyrou (defensive midfielder).

League Table after 5 weeks:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Toulouse | | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 15 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Nancy | | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 12 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Valenciennes | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 10 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Nice | | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 9 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Sète | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Grenoble | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Le Havre | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Lille | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Ajaccio | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Reims | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Sedan | | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Istres | | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 7 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Amiens | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Laval | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Le Mans | | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 5 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Créteil | | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 4 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Boulogne-sur-Mer | | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 4 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Libourne St-Seurin | | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 3 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Toulon | | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 3 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Romorantin | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 16 | -12 | 0 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

3th of September 2008

Authors Note: I skipped the press-conference part since I had to leave soon during the writing.

I had all my best possible players at disposal for the cathastrophic match in Delle Alpi, Turin. It was 14 degrees out there in a match whistled by Erol Ersoy.

World Cup Qualifying, Game 1
Italy 4:0 Russia (4., 30. Andrea Caracciolo, 7. Daniele De Rossi, 15. Andrea Pirlo)

Russia Akinfeev; Yevseev, Ignashevich, V. Berezutskiy, A. Berezutskiy (45. Sennikov); Smertin; Bystrov, Zhirkov; Arshavin, Sychev (45. Tsibizov); Kerzhakov

Gazeta.ru
Valenciennes players in action for their countries:

Raio Piiroja & Vladimir Voskoboinikov were very decent in their game againist France with Estonia.

Lorenzo Davids made an good match for Dutch U21.

Erik Lund earned his second cap for Sweden by playing a good 90 minutes.

retired_puly1364

Thank you guys.

hilditch - I'd like to manage a club like Inter for sure, but what is my biggest mention is becoming the best coach in the world in the hall of fame and I'll try to win much titles with different clubs in differenct countries.

FM Beigem gaat het maken - I don't remind that remark. Sharapova. Fantasy world rules you know!

axeman - I've tried to lure him here, but after he's latest refusal I'm not trying anymore. He wants to stay in Ireland. Have to respect it! But no doubt he worked well! I dont like that new coach in Cork. He's benching all the players I build my wins on and now he has 0 titles!

zipman

Poka Rossija

retired_puly1364

9th of September 2008

I had an easy home match with Romorantin. They are even more failure than Cherbourg who I managed for brief time 2 years ago. They have collected only 4 goals, let in 16! 0 points. Must win game and also with a win we would have move up to the second place already.

French Second League, Week 6
Valenciennes 3:2 Romorantin (13., 70., 90+4. Sebastien Heitzmann)

Sebastien Heitzmann last minute hat-trick goal rescued us from a shocking result. They had only 3 chances! I was suprised to see Denis Petric ruin 2 of them. Otherwise, we created loads of chances and stuff. Heitzmann last goal was just wonderful. Overhead kick, winning goal, 94th minute! My teams seem to have that problem againist weak teams that we can't score or either let in goals with few chances.

12th of September 2008

Just 3 days later, I had an total rock to crack. Toulouse, the 1st placed team, has been unbeattable this season and we've been lucky to be up there actually. I just hoped we will not lose any ground to them and rather fall third and draw than lose an fall 4th. I had my selection avaible. It is suprising how injury-free this season has been. Otherwise I've always enjoyed loads of problems.

French Second League, Week 7
Toulouse 0:0 Valenciennes

Great result. We managed to hold on and the defence looked tight enough. Only had couple of cances and they had 10% more posession, but the results counts and we are still on our unexcepted way towards promotion.

retired_puly1364

17th of September 2008

L'Equipe

This time, in the interview - we managed to get an words from a one of the most promising young managers out there. He is ambitious, clever, surpising and managing Valenciennes. It is 31-year old Tanel Tursk from Estonia. I strongly should reccomend you to cut out that interview, put that in a place you open often, because in year 2015 this information is worth a lot.

He is already well know out there in the football and sports world due to Maria Sharapova & also his Russian "heroics". He has guided 4 teams before Valenciennes. One of them, Cork City, to 2 league titles, 1 league cup and 1 All-Ireland Cup. After that, he's career started to go downwards. After awful spell in Cherbourg, where he only earned few points and a good display againist Sochaux, he resigned, but got a new job quickly. He signed for the manager spot of Russia! At the same time, he did not manage to save Danish team NFA from relegation due to bad run in last games. After another resignal, he's career started to go upwards, thanks to Russia. He started off the European Championship qualifying section, with 9 points away from the spot! But quickly, he turned it all around, became second in the group and got an ticket with Italy. He got some negative response to his tactic not to play any games before the WC, but it paid off with a quarter-final place, where they lost 1:0 to later winners, Italy. The same team forced him to resign his job this month - by winning the game againist Russia 4:0.

That was short introducion to his career. Now let's go off to the story, where he says off a lot of reasons and things public don't know about him or his resignals.

He had invited me to his house. Or should I rather say villa? It was kind a enormous for a football manager who is coaching the second league team touted for relegation. We sat down in his living room. It was just showing Valenciennes game againist Toulouse in reply.

Tursk enjoying his time in Valenciennes training ground and stadium

First of all, Valenciennes is doing absolutely great in the league. How did you manage to get off with a so nice start?

"If you want me to be honoust on this one. Some of our players are just ass-savers! Sebastien Heinzmann goals and Denis Petric saves - without them we would be thinking down in the relegation zone and thinking what's wrong. I've got no disrespect towards other players, but at the moment, I could replace every other player except them."

Yes, but what's gonna happen when they will get injuried?

"Ofcourse, I have all my back-up plans and buys made for it. But he is an top-notch scorer, but with other players we've got - I can't be sure about us scoring goals!"

How do you get the team play well and beat the odds every week?

"It has happened before, at Cork and Russia. This aura will only develope once the team has no pressure of relegating. We can play at our game, we will not get relegated this season for sure, we give 100% and fun keeps us playing well! And we're got no pressure on our backs to get promotion either, but that has never been a problem to my players."

How did you manage to make Haykel Gmamdia stay?

"I promised to him - stay that one season here. When we don't get promoted. I let you leave. He has been valuable asset to us this season. No extra money paid or something."

Does that mean you're thinking about promotion?

"Once we're there, we need to think about it. If we manage to hold ourselves injury-free, there is every chance of getting the promotion. If we managed to play that well at the moment - we could also do it till May-June."

This is the first professional club you've worked for in your career. How are the board and management different?

"If I'd compare them to my Cork job. Only diffrence was the members of the office people. We had many players with full time contract in Cork. But also, it is nice to know, that I can all the players at my disposal at trainings. Though, in semi-professional clubs, I have had a lot of problems with players not to show up in the trainings.

Staff itself is really nice and they have really given me full backing so I don't have to worry about that prolem either at the moment."

Also, despite this interview being in English. How is your French?

"I've been learning it for 3 months now. I've got all the basics. Now I'm on more complicated thins. I can speak up to 1000 words. A lot of them are football related ofcourse, but since we've got very international club in here - I can also speak some English when don't make myself clear in France. My assistant manager does the game-plan talk for me."

Dreaming of being a manager since early age

How did you get into managing anyway?

"I was inspired once I was little kid. I saw some clubs struggle and some of the managers to do wonders with they're team. I wanted to become a manager myself soon. I already had taken over the commanding figure in games with my friends. I'm otherwise a quite man, but once I put my feet on football stadium - I would bet some guys would like to but a napcin into my mouth."

So when you made your final decision?

"Once I had finished university. I already we're taking some courses. I decided it finally in around 1995 or something like that. Soon after I finished the courses. I was given an opportunity to become an assistent manager in an club named Levadia."

What was your first real managing experience? By that, I actually want you to talk all your pre-Cork career.

"In 2001, I was appointed to become manager of the Narva Trans. I took them to 2 suprising league titles in 2002 and 2003. (Actually Flora & Levadia won those titles I think) Then I was noticed in some countries, but I chose myself to gain some experience with Valerenga, being their assistant manager."

Why that last decision?

"I felt I was not ready for full-time foreign job. They had an well respected manager to teach me and at the same time, I also we're learning an UEFA manager's "school" to get myself top-class licenses."

Strong personality set to take him far

So, it has put on doubt by many people. Are you a confident person?

"Yes, I am very confident person. Sometimes, even too confident of my abilities. I do intend to give up sometimes, but that's the reality. Every team is not meant for me or either for their respective leagues. Referring to the Cherbourg and NFA, there was no chance of them getting saved from the start. I'm no miracle-man. I just wanted to see what can I do with them."

So you took them as toys, to test your abilty?

"Take that as you want. I did not think about them as the toys, but I was there just to test my abilty. It could have been 8th world wonder, if I would have saved those teams for relegation."

What are your weakest and strongest places?

"I'd say confidence. I said that before. I am very confident in my abilities and try to make them pay on football pitch, but at the same time - I can make wrong decisions because of that."

But in the game your teams play?

"What makes my teams strong is the attacking style. That is always plus. In financial part at fun part. It takes more and more people to watch us and at the same time with great play, we also have some great wins."

Now, going back to yourself. What are your sights in your career?

"I want to become an world's best manager. I want to win Spanish Primera, English Premier Division, Italian Serie A, Champions League, France Ligue 1. More and more... It is my sight and I'm working just for it."

Are you an total football 24/7 guy or you also do some other things?

"When in Estonia in summers - I take part of a lot of public games there. Like marathons and stuff. Before my free day, I usually take Maria and we go hit some clubs when she is home. Othewise, I take couple of beer's and watch some good films or football. I also do some things in home as we did not want anybody living in our house except the family. We will have cleaning companys coming over at the weekends while I'm on football match and Maria is either with me or playing tennis."

Married with an top tennis-star

It is hard for two sport related persons to live together. Can you spend enough time together with Maria?

"Yes, we can spend a lot of time together. She is in home for a long time, since he only goes to selected Grand Slams and stuff. Don't ask me to talk about tennis though, I only know very little of it. Much less than she knows about football. And we spend 300 nights in year together and that's enough for me. She is training in France."

Have you and her got any specific plans about the future?

"Yes, once he finishes tennis, which will happen in few years - we are planning some youth in the house. She just isn't ready yet. But one thing I'm proud to say she is ready for - we're getting married in October. During the World Cup qualifyers. That's one of the reasons I resigned from Russia. It is the only time we can spend whole day together with her."

A lot of celebrity marriages run to the shore. Aren't you afraid of this?

"First of all, I'm no celebrity and we really love eachother."

How does your and her parents thinkg about the marrige?

"They are totally behind us. I asked Maria's parents for their agreement. Her and mine parents know very well how we feel for eachother despite being away for home for "a long time". We're not the only ones who see future for this love."

Despite being so much in love with Maria. Have you ever looked at other womens?

"Who hasn't? Ofcourse I admire some women, but she is my mrs. "Perfect" and despite other women being beautiful too - I have no intention to hop in bed with them."

Supports...

As you said before, you're watching football from TV. Who do you like to watch?

"Inter. For their last season, I had an season ticket and I visited most of the games. They have been again very unlucky recently by losing 2 CL finals."

So here comes out your big dream. Right?

"Ofcourse, I would not mind getting myself a managing position in Giuseppe Meazza. Or should I say "want to" insteand of "not mind". I'd like to bring them glory days. I've talked to Javier Zanetti on couple of occasions, but never with management. With Zanetti, not about managing the team ofcourse. He has let me known about the spirit in Appiano Gentile and stuff."

You must be happy this season then. You are doing great, Inter first in table.

"Yes, after their last year misery, I'm very pleased with me finally finding myself again and Inter has the same case I think. Brazilian striker-pair Adriano-Kerlon is just awesome! Not to talk about the other talents they've got in the team. If they wont win the title, it's 20 years without it!"

retired_puly1364

19th of September 2008

I had an though game againist Nancy team. I was hoping that the loyal fans of Valenciennes bringed their confidence down by throwing eggs at their bus! Those morons asked us for thousands of pounds, but hey, they could not prove that those were our fans just because they wore Valenciennes shirt's. Their bus was kinda nice with yellow pieces off egg rotten on it!

French Second League, Week 8
Valenciennes 2:1 Nancy (52. Haykel Gmamdia, 75. Sebastien Heitzmann)

Great win for sure. It was evenly balanced match and we were decisive in the box. On the scoresheet were our top 2 scorers. Heitzmann is leading scorer of the league.

22th of September 2008

Lille 2:0 Toulouse. Yippeee! We're first on goal difference. Absolutely great day, I had an little champagne bottle opened as we watched the gme with chairman Borloo and some other team members like Heinzmann and Estonians.

26th of September 2008

We had an trip to Amiens. They were decent side, but we surely wanted to win it. Their team was placed in second half of the table, but were nothing special. I had all my squad at my disposal again.

French Second League, Week 9
Amiens 2:4 Valenciennes (35. Sebastien Heitzmann, 45. Vladimir Voskoboinikov, 57. Haykel Gmamdia, 88. Jonathan Perot)

Great job in front of the goal. We are unbeatten for 8 matches now and this day was even more sweeter, when we heard of the news of Toulouse home-draw with Lille. For Perot, our summer buy, it was his first goal for the club.

28th of September 2008

In that lovely day of my life - me and Maria finally got married and we were off to an 1 week wedding trip to luxious UAE. I didn't take my phone with me since I wanted no football in that week. We did have no games until the 13th of October.

6th of October 2008

I got an raport of what happened in the club during the holidays.

Toulouse is really good at it! They lost to Laval, who moved into same points with them and is 2nd now with me getting chance to have an 5 point lead soon!

Vladimir Voskoboinikov scored an goal in international match and was otherwise good. So was another Estonian Raio Piiroja.

Erik Lund is now regular in Sweden squad and made another start and good display on 4th of October.

8th of October 2008

Voskoboinikov scored another goal for Estonia, who lost to Serbia due to last minute goal. Piiroja did not have an good match.

13th of October 2008

So I had an chance to re-conquer my first place as Valenciennes had to skip 2 gameweeks due to international call-ups. In my 10th match of the season, I met with Libourne St-Seurin, who are struggling at the bottom of the table. Win was the only possible result for us in that home game.

French Second League, Week 10
Valenciennes 5:1 FC Libourne St-Seurin (12. Michel Gafour, 19. Benoit Cheyrou, 30., 36. Haykel Gmamdia, 61. Vladimir Voskoboinikov)

Great win. Should have scored even more. I really hoped to see Heitzmann score after that amazing first half, but as always, my teams only have the scoring mood for one half of the game. Or they either have an limit. But great win anyway. Gmamdia scored his 7th goal of the season, Voskoboinikov has been nice too this season, scoring in 4th game in a row. (including Estonia matches)

League Table after 10 games:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Valenciennes | | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 11 | +14 | 23 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Laval | | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 21 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Grenoble | | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 21 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Le Havre | | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 20 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Reims | | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 18 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Toulouse | | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 18 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Lille | | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 18 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Nancy | | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 18 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Nice | | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 17 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Istres | | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 14 | +2 | 17 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Ajaccio | | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 16 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Amiens | | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 15 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Sedan | | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 14 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Le Mans | | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 17 | -2 | 13 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Toulon | | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 12 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Créteil | | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 10 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Sète | | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 8 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Libourne St-Seurin | | 11 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 29 | -16 | 6 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Boulogne-sur-Mer | | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 25 | -17 | 6 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Romorantin | | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 28 | -20 | 1 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_puly1364

16th of October 2008

I had to re-meet Libourne in a cup game. I had Deruda off for 1 month due to the injury he suffered on Monday. I decided not to play with my first team squad and gave many people a day off.

French League Cup, Preliminary Round
Libourne St-Seurin 0:0 Valenciennes
4:2 on penalties

Really we should have got through, but I'm not really concetrating on that cup. I will try a bit more in French Cup though. We had 20 shots and it is just hillarious that without Heitzmann we couldn't score even with 20 shots. Anyway, while other teams in our league are playing cup games, we can rest.

20th of October 2008

I had 9 players in Team of the Week. (Picture: 9!)

24th of October 2008

I had an away travel againist Toulon. The squad missed 2 guys - Gmamdia out on cards, Deruda still injuried. Toulon is an nice average Ligue 2 side, who we should beat with ease. They had no outstanding players either.

French Second League, Week 11
Toulon 3:5 (12., 19. Vladimir Voskoboinikov, 45. Lorenzo Davids, 55. Jonathan Perot, 62. Sebastien Heitzmann)

Great match for sure. We always holded on from 2 goal or higher lead. They scored twice in the last 10 minutes, but we were totally dominant. 5:1 should have been more than fair. Vosko now moved into the first 20 mans in the goalscoring charts, where we already had Heitzmann and Gmamdia.

26th of October 2008

My French Cup 7th Round draw got us a team named La Roche-sur-Mer.

27th of October 2008

Another couple of players in Team of the Week. Sebastien Heitzmann and Lorenzo Davids, who scored his first ever Valenciennes goal againist Toulon.

28th of October 2008

We had an relatively easy match againist Boulogne-sur-Mer, who are down in the relegation zone. This away match was definately an must win situation to keep our brilliant lead. Deruda was still injuried and is out for around month. Gmamdia came back from ban though.

French Second League, Week 12
Boulogne-sur-Mer 0:2 Valenciennes (53. pen. Erik Lund, 72. Sebastien Heitzmann)

Another play scored his first even Valenciennes goal in Erik Lund. He's been absolutely up to the expectations I had on him when I bought him for "record-breaking" sum of 2,7 million pounds. Swedish-man has been great defensively, but awesome in attacking point of view. He's long balls are just like clock-work, does some great runs down the wing. As I said buying him - "The Next Big Thing!"

After the match, I said: "WTF if we have game on Friday, tonight, I want to party all night long, celebrate the start of the season!"

The players agreed on me and we had an very wild night! Ofcourse, I did hold my manhood in my pants and not even hit on another women! Just dancing, drinking... The party itself was top-notch also. Great fast beats, hands up high!

retired_bbcarr

Been one of your silent readers until now, Tanel. But this remains an enjoyable and well written tale :thup: