retired_embartl

the loyalty 'yeah I may only be here for half a year'

Still good work with Cork so far Tanel

retired_puly1364

6th of August

So after the interview. We had a game next day. Suprise, surpise - it was Drogheda Utd! Ofcourse I wanted to get the win, but i was a bit worried after the second half performance we made. I talked players what they need to do, watched last games tape which was kinda bad because it was recorded on one camera only.

Irish Premier Division, Week 20
Cork City 1:1 Drogheda Utd (Ian Fraher)

It was an tough game and they even controlled the match, but we had a bit of luck and the game finished 1:1. Thanks to young striker Fraher's goal. We bringed him to the first-team from U18 squad. We're now second with one less game, but if we win it, we'll be leaders again.

8th of August

While we were getting seasick at North Sea, I recieved a call from Lennox again. He said to me who will we play at Irish Senior Challenge Cup 3rd round. The unlucky team was Derry City, who will have to travel to Turners Cross.

At night we reached to Brann and I gave players a time to check out Norwegians nightlife, but with one exception - they had to be at hotel at 12 PM.

10th of August

This time, we had no problems. Though, some players were late for 15 minutes or so at Tuesday night. But they showed up for training at the right time and didn't look tired. Sawing how Brann did on one training - they really impressed me when comparing to Ireland clubs. But we didn't give up.

Uefa Cup Qualifying Round 2, Leg 1
Brann 2:2 Cork City (John O'Flynn 2)

I was impressed with the result, but not with the game. O'Flynn scored an hattrick, but one goal didn't cound. The referee said that he made a foul. I was very angry with the decision. They asked me to call down or leave the sidelines. It gives us some hope going into the home leg.

11th of August

We reached at Cork for around 7 PM to 8 PM, the management had called us after the game and said how happy they were with the result, but they still came to congratulate us eye to eye. Also there was some media there. I said them not to make big number out of this away draw and that we were lucky to get away with that as Brann was far more dominant.

16th of August

This time it was another home game at league. We welcomed the second half of the table team - Shamrock Rovers. We were clear favourites, despite they're getting into nice form lately. The win was necessary and I told the players to give they're 101 %. We had to keep our possible 1st place.

Irish Premier Division, Week 21
Cork City 2:0 Shamrock Rovers (George O'Gallaghan, Billy Woods)

We did what we wanted and should've win by bigger margin. Over a long time I saw a game that pleased me. O'Gallaghan on scoreboard made me also happy. Got over his score drought. C'mon you Rebels!

retired_puly1364

21st of August

So it was time for the League Cup final. Cork City had won this competition 3 times unlike Shelbourne who had 0 on that line of the history. Odds going into this game were even. I wasn't happy with the training before the match and I said the players to give 100% more than they do in training!

League Cup Final
Shelbourne 3:0 Cork City

OMFG! I was so angry. We got an perfect goal ruled out on 0:0 that probably changed the match. Though the display was nothing really, but surely not worth a 3:0 defeat. Maybe 2:1. But still was angry with the players too. I even said the press to go away.

25th of August

It was a chance to get more reputation. Yes. We had an Uefa Cup match with Brann. 2:2 away leg draw gave us some chance when having a good day. Stadium was all packed up for possible historical even on club history. That bringed it some serious pennys.

Uefa Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, Leg 2
Cork City 0:3 Brann

Total failure. We crashed around 9500-s people hopes who came to the stadium. Awful display, totally deserved result. The performance only could have been better, not worse. I had an seriously long half-time talk with the squad of the team which details I can not tell you.

retired_puly1364

29th of August

We were said that if we win in the 3rd round of Irish Senior Challenge Cup, we will beet Longford in the next round. (quarterfilans)

31st of August

So we had to host a game againist Derry City at home. It was long waited game and I really wanted to progress to the next round of Senior Challenge Cup, but I was worried about our recent form.

Irish Senior Challenge Cup, Round 3
Cork City 0:1 Derry City

I was so angry, we played like little kids. I didn't even had a word with them after the game. I just went straight to home after the game. Some of the players tried to call me, but I switched off my mobile phone. I thinked about everything. I came to conclusions that when the same sceinaro continues in next game I will do some major changes.

3rd of Semptember

Here I was, a perfect chance to get us back the nr. 1 position with that game. Though we had played 2 less games than leaders and 3 less games than 2nd and 3rd placed teams. I tried to tell the players that it's important to find their form now.

Irish Premier Division, Week 22
Cork City 0:2 St Pat's Athletic

I went so mad that I think players got what I meant. They couldn't even win when they got 10 chances! Defensively, they sucked major balls. I told everything into their faces. I told them: "That is not football were doing when we compare it to July & early August. What's wrong with you guys! The season isn't over. Every point is important. I started off good with you guys, I wanna finish good. That means I want the title. We've got no games for 10 days now. If you are tired, then rest a bit, but when we are back - then I want to see the same team like I did when coming here!"

retired_puly1364

14th of September

It was time to get us back again. We played at home againist Bray Wandereres. I hoped that my words helped a bit. In the training they looked much more hungry. I asked Brian Lennox and the chairmans to come into a game. I had reconsidered a lot of things and made a couple of changes in first team line-up.

Irish Premier Division, Week 23
Cork City 1:1 Bray Wanderers (John O'Flynn)

Devastating loss it was. We missed an penalty and dominated. Atleast we got a long waited point. I hoped it will help us to build for the end of the season. After the game. Bray's manager came to us. He said that we played great and they were lucky to escape with a point. According to him, we may finish first and he tries to make sure the opponents lose as much points as possible againist them.

23rd of September

There we were. Hosting a top of the table cracker againist Bohemians. It was surely game of the week and it was perfect match to start the comeback! The players looked very fired up and it was like after a time-out talk in American movie where we are behind and the start an amazing come-back.

Irish Premier Division, Week 24
Cork City 4:3 Bohemians (John O'Flynn 2, Denis Behan, Neale Fenn)

Finally! It was nice to hear like 1000 Cork City fans screaming after the game. That was meant to be a cracker, and it ended like one. Amazing! 3 times we lost the lead, 3 times we restored the lead. Twice with one less player. What a game. It showed we've got some spirit left in us. It was time to dig it out and use the every bit of it in title race! Go Cork!

26th of September

That was imporant day. One of the reasons we were having a bad run was the injury of two wingers. Liam Kearney and Colin O'Brien. This day they finally started to do the full training. They were very important players for us before and for sure they help to rise the moral and the playing quality. It seems it starts going good again!

27th of September

Immediatly, I throwed these two in, because they were too important. I travelled to Longford. They were a mid-table team with up-s and downs. I felt comfortable before the game.

Irish Premier Divison, Week 25
Longford 1:0 Cork City

T o t t a l l y u n d e s e r v e d ! We dominated tha match, but were, again, awful in front of the goal. WE had like 10 clear chances to score. You can only think how angry I was! I told the players that next day we will have an extra training session! We learn to shoot!

1st of October

So I hoped that little shooting experience helped us when we travelled to take on Finn Harps. I really wanted to win this as Finn Harps weren't the strongest team on planet, or either Top team in Ireland!

Irish Premier Division, Week 26
Finn Harps 2:4 Cork City (George O'Gallaghan, John O'Flynn 2, Liam Kearney)

What a second half. Brillliant second half! I said the players at half-time, i'm pleased with ya, you can win this and they replied with 4 goals! John O'Flynn - i'm gonna take that man with me when I leave. Very good striker! Only sad thing is that Colin O'Brien got injuried again. He'll be only back for the couple of last matches of the season.

retired_puly1364

5th of October

Another game where we had to travel. It was strange trip this time. On the same time, not very pleasing. We were travelling with the team bus. This bus had be long serving for 2 decades now, but I think this was it's last trip. Halfway on the road, the players sitting at the back smelled some awful stink. Few minutes later, the bus was smoking. Then we had to stop. Lennox called to the local football league about that, at the same time, I managed to get us on some senior citizen bus. Not nice to say, but it really stinked in there, but thank god, we got there in time so we could have an normal sleep and do some short training at the lunch time. The opponent was top of the table Shelbourne. Not a nice time to those kind of things to happen.

Irish Premier Division, Week 27
Shelbourne 0:0 Cork City

We played most of the match because Gamble wanted to go and play with the water in the dressing room on around 20th minute. But still a very nice effort. Goalkeeper Phil was very good that day and we almost managed to score one chance. So we already had an bus from Cork there. The old was done! So the management had to make a short expense and buy as a new bus very quickly, cause we have to travel a lot in the end of the season.

12th of October

It was time to celebrate my 100th day in charge! The day before the brand new bus game, painted in colours of Cork City with logo on side. It was a nice present. We also had an little party. Rented a place. Some better drinks and food. Nice little evening.

14th of October

We could not try out our bus in the next league game since we had to play at cold & rainy home. Waterford was a easy mission - they were last in the table.

Irish Premier Division, Week 28
Cork City 2:0 Waterford Utd (Roy O'Donovan 2)

Substition Roy O'Donovan scored twice to secure us a well deserved victory. This victory meant that we now have only 1 point to Shelbourne since they had an suprise draw againist Longford.

18th of October

The new bus was rolling on the road smoothly as Derry City tried to hammer our title hopes. Shelbourne was also playing away againist St Pat's Athletic.

Irish Premier Division, Week 29
Derry City 2:1 Cork City (Roy O'Donovan)

Overally - good performance, but unluckily the god of finishing wasn't on our side this matchday. Roy O'Donovan again came from bench and almost rescued us. He earned his place for the next match. Shelbourne luckily lost too. This gonna be very interesting end!

19th of October

After Derry came, I thought we lacked support at away cames. I came up with a good idea. I went with it to Brian Lennox, the club chairman as you know, and told him: "We're having a tough end of the season. Four games remaining, we've got 3 of them away and we need a lot of support. I came up with an idea. Since we've earned a lot of money this season. I think we should rent a lot of buses and get our fans join with us in the away games! With we playing all the expenses." He started to think and I added: "This may look like an very expensive thing, but it may be worth it! Those 100 000 pounds aren't as important as the title. We need the fans, Brian!" As a businessman, he didn't want to wast his money like that, but I managed to convince him to do that. So basically, we've got around 15 buses coming with us to the away games this season. All the expenses paid. To get some childern with us, we also have children buses, which visit the interesting places in the cities!

retired_puly1364

21st of October

So we were on the road again. This time, it was Dublin. We reached there with no problems. U.C.D., club named after University was set to be an hard task which could still be done.

Irish Premier Division, Week 30
U.C.D. 1:2 Cork City (John O'Flynn, Alan McNally og)

A win that thanks to Bohemians putted us into place nr 1. With 3 games to go, it's gonna be interesting race. We can do that! There was around 250 fans from us, who came with 4 buses, so we were basically playing like home. The whole attendance was only 600. :p

1st of November

I was voted as the manager of the month. Yeah, it was an very good month for me. We got up to first place, everything is fine with me and the players after some arguments over the september period.

4th of November

It was our last home match of the season! Twice in short time, we met Derry City. I wanted revenge for the Senior Challenge Cup and the latest loss. It was time to end our home season with style and also bring the title closer to reality.

Irish Premier Division, Week 31
Cork City 4:0 Derry City (John O'Flynn 2, Billy Woods, Denis Behan)

That game reflected what's the situation in the club. The spirit is held high, they really are hungry for the title. It is only few steps away. We've got an 2 point lead over Shelbourne! C'mon lads! C'mon!

retired_puly1364

6th of November

There I was, having a brief interview with Cork's newspaper. I had an long interview, but I will make short of it.

Basically, I said that the morale in Turners Cross is high and we intend to win the title. We got over our rough period which we had from the middle of August to the end of September. The players went simply lazy after the good period and taking the league lead and it's a bit of my mistake too, but those problems were resolved and I really hope that it will not change the outcome of the season. Everyone at the club is enjoying himself and at the moment we're probably the best club in Ireland and travelling to Drogheda this weekend & Shamrock in the next - we should win them all. We are not nervous at all. After they mentioned the move thing again. I told them: "At the moment, I can't think about it. First I win the title, then I've got many months to do that."

11th of November

The game that I was a bit afraid of was the one when we travelled to face Drogheda Utd. They were too much for us earlier this season, though the fact was that the form off their's was sucky at that moment. The hopes were high and when Shelbourne would lose or draw that day (which was very likely) and we would win, then the 1000 fans who were travelling with us would start a mad party!

Irish Premier Division, Week 32
Drogheda Utd 1:3 Cork City (John O'Flynn)

A striker named John O'Flynn wrote his name into the history book of Cork City! We are the champions! After the crowd heard about the result at Shelbourne game (2:2) they went mad! John O'Flynn <- amazing striker. As I said before, he will be coming with me when I move away. Great player. The first title for Cork since 1993! We wanted to return to Cork as quickly as possible to party there! We reached Cork at the night and there were like 100 000 people to cheer for us. That said us what a great achievment it was. The party was mad and I think Lennox bought the team a lot of stuff. That's my gift to the Cork City. Because there will probably be another title under me, unless I rejoin when im 60.

20th of November

So the happy people from Cork where playing without no pressure against Shamrock Rovers. I told players to take it easy and not to risk hurting themself much. Putted on the best line-up of the season.

Irish Premier Division, Week 33
Shamrock Rovers 1:3 Cork City (Denis Behan, John O'Flynn 2)

Despite playing easily, still a great match. 4 point win in the league! John O'Flynn = the best scorer in the league. 23 goals with the second place striker with only 17! Thank you for that great finish guys!

1st of December

November player of the month was John O'Flynn who also scored the best and third goal of the month. I was selected as second in manager of the month, despite winning clearly all the three matches.

3rd of December

Our league win was awarded with 70k pounds. So we got back our money invested in sending fans into away games. That project was succesful.

6th of December

So on that day, the awards were given:

Tanel Tursk (aka me) - "Manager of the Year" (to remind you, i started off from half season)
John O'Flynn - "Young Player Of The Year", "Golden Boot", Selected to "Team Of The Year"
Alan Bennett - Second placed at "Player Of The Year", Selected to "Team Of The Year"
Daniel Murray - Third placed at "Player Of The Year", Selected to "Team Of The Year"
Danny Murphy - Second placed at "Young Player Of The Year", Selected to "Team Of The Year"
George O'Gallaghan - Selected to "Team Of The Year"

I've been looking at the job market too. Only insecure places are in top divisions of France and England. Gonna apply when something goes free, but getting job is highly unlikely at that level. First gotta try Danish or France second.

retired_puly1364

15 of December

Day before my birthday, we finished our last training. I sent players home at 1 PM. I told them to have a good holidays, shouting: "We'll meet again!" After that, walked down the wet side of pitch until I reached my office. The old door made a creeping sounds. I needed to clean up my desk, since there will be some inside renovations in the offices and places, so we could have a bit more modern place when next years Champions League starts. I sat down to my chair. I fell thinking about my last sentence to the players. I was very confused, from what I heard, it was set to be one of the last months in my club, but what I've heard from severale experts, I may have to stay at Cork City for another season before moving away. No, I've got nothing againist this great group. I thought about this for a long time and saw the clock soon, it said it's near 2 PM. Then I had no time for thinking anymore. I had to be out of Cork in 7 PM and had to clean up my department also. When I was just about done, the sanitar game in. He asked me am I done. I told him almost. He helped me a bit. He is a nice guy, an older person who is getting 50 already. He really likes to watch our trainings so sometimes the cleaning isn't done very good. Has been supporting Cork for a long time, doesen't have no bad habbits. We talked about Cork and other stuff, until I had to rush off. I would have helped him to carry some things to outside where car would throw them to some garbage places, but I was very late with my things. I nicely managed to finish the cleaning on time in home, which is around only 5 minutes road by car from the training groud. When it was beautiful day, I started coming earlier because the beautiful park was on the road so I walked in there. It sure did take some time. I planned to reach airport an hour and a half earlier to eat something too, since I didn't have time to eat at my house. Everything was on time and I got home just in the morning of my birthday at friday.

retired_puly1364

2th of January

I recieved an phone-call from Lennox. First he ask me will I continue in the club. Somehow I very happily said yes, though I would have really wanted to move higher. Then he said: "Since you are still with us. I've got some nice news which I think you will like to hear." I replied: "Wonder that they would be?" Then he talked to me that after lenghty negotians, a part which he probably made up because he can get good contracts with few hours, he managed to get Cork a new sponsorship deal, that will bring us around 24 000 pounds in a year, which is very nice for a club in our caliber. Even nicer news came about my great friend John O'Flynn. He got honoured with an Irish 3rd best young player. He was placed after Andy Reid and Stephen Elliot. A great achievment for a player playing in one of the low quality leagues in Europe. That agains proves me why I support him so much. Lennox said that we have to talk about few things when I get back to Ireland, which happens on 4th.

5th of January

After secretly talking all the stuff yesteday, I managed to get an transfer budget of 24k and wage budget which is more than twice as big! 60k. I had no time to sit down this day. We were on lenghty negotiations about the TV rights with our club director Jerry Harris. We managed to squeeze 20k pounds for us, which we thinked was very succesful. Though we wanted a bit more, but you always want more. And few minutes of break and then we got the fixture list that computer made for us. We start away from hom on 17th of March. Then bang from Dublin to Cork, where my assistant manager Dave Hill was waiting for me. We had to meet on a few young players who joined our young teams. I talked to them about my plans and how do I like to play. Dave knows that very well and he uses the same tactics as me with the young teams to assure that everyone is ready when he's is called up to first team. I just told them basics, Dave will talk the rest. We also made a deal, that one day in a week, the youngsters and the first team players do things together. The day wasnt over after that though. Then we had to talk about young Ian Fraher's future in Cork. This went very fast and smoothly and he decided to put a pen on paper which is offical until December 2006. We want to see how he developes.

10th of January

After few days of easier times. I & Jerry had to meet three players & their agents. One of those three players were John McGrath, 23 year old left winger who's got some U21 experience that shows, he's got something in him. This went very good and he was interested of joining the rising club of Ireland & he didn't want to say no to Champions League football too. We had an agreement that he will join in few days.

The second player we met was right winger Gary Curran. A very young player who I think has some future in irish football. Atleast in Ireland top league. He is just 18 year old, but few times our scouts have seen him, he's been good. We managed to lure him to sign a part-time contract, like everyone else has, with us and he wanted 7 days before moving to Cork and officaly signing.

Third conversation ended shortly. We said Shane Bradley, a defender from Finn Harps, to come to us. He said he's willing to come, but he wasn't there. I called him, but couldn't contact him. His agent said that he had an big argument with his girlfriend who lives with him and he tries to resolve the problems, but we decided not to call him anymore. We didn't need possible personal problems here.

25th of January

The team felt in some kind of depress. New players McGrath and Curran had joined the team, but after a robust challenge on training - a awful blow game. No, the team didn't get a blow-job from hookers. Colin Thomas O'Brien broke his foot and will sadly remain on sidelines until september probably. I can't blame Bennett who made that tackle because it was mine bad idea to play a game instead of training. I feel responsible. I sent some flowers for the team into hospital.

In positive news, I made a call to Estonia. I'm trying to get us a young promisin 18 year old Estonian from local top club Levadia. His name is Juri Brõtkin and regulary plays at the U21 squad. Levadia gave me an positive answer that they will probably accept the deal and let me know about the decision soon.