retired_puly1364

7th of November 2012

In our next league game, we met Atalanta at home. I was hoping to build on the confidence we got from derby and wanted to go into international break in good mood. Everyone was available.

Italian Serie A, Week 12
Inter 5:1 Atalanta (14. Gianpaolo Pazzini, 55., 63., 77. Adriano, 68. Erminio Rullo)

Great victory for us again. We could've avoided the goal, but we still did well. Adriano did awesome job once again and so was Rullo who came on as a sub, but won himself a place in our next game, which is againist - Juventus!

17th of November 2012

We returned from 10 days international break to play againist Juventus in the league. This match was in Delle Alpi after we had played 4 consecutive home games in league and Europe. It was suprisingly full house out there.

Italian Serie A, Week 13
Juventus 2:2 Inter (80. Gianpaolo Pazzini, 89. Obafemi Martins)

Againist my hated team, we came off with a late draw. It was a bit unlucky occasion and our perfect record in the league was broken thanks to Gigi Buffon and goal-post and the first bad performance of Gianluca Curci. He had let in an easy freekick and I was very suprised, but luckily we recovered and hit the post until we started to make some real big chances that we made into goals with just 10 minutes remaining in game. We almost scored another goal after Oba's one, but Juventus player got there right on time to clear the ball from the line.

22nd of November 2012

I continued my European campaign finally and I wanted to make my qualification 75% sure with a win in Portugal as we played an away game againist Braga. I had to do without Leandro Gioda and Adriano who were out on international duties.

UEFA Cup Groupstage, Matchday 3
Braga 0:2 Inter (38. Gianpaolo Pazzini, 58. Obafemi Martins)

The same pair of strikers got us a victory in Portugal. We played a nice game, though we gave a bit too much away in second half. I gave my second choice goalkeeper a chance to shine as I'm planing to give him 5 games in a row. (2 UEFA Cup games, 1 Serie A game and 2 Coppa Italia games)

25th of November 2012

In my next Serie A game, we met Cesena, who earlier this season had beatten Juventus. I was sure they'll wont repeat the same trick and I could promise Gioda and Adriano the rest they wanted since they were tired from flying and tight schedule of games.

Italian Serie A, Week 14
Inter 3:1 Cesena (9. Obafemi Martins, 45., 72. Gianpaolo Pazzini)

Another nice victory for us. The same pair scoring in 3rd concsecutive game. Though, Pazzini has already scored in 5 consecutive games. 6 goals in them. He's really finding his form now as Adriano needs some rest. Though in bad news, we lost Carlos Mango for 2 months and it's a huge hit as we've only got mediocore Carmelo Carioti as back-up for him.

29th of November 2012

I wanted to secure my place in next round of UEFA Cup as we met Serbian outfit Zeta at home. I picked almost the same team as againist Cesena except that Adriano started in place of Martins and I decided to use pure left-back Rullo on right-back.

UEFA Cup Groupstage, Matchday 4
Inter 4:0 Zeta (38. Gianpaolo Pazzini, 49. Erminio Rullo, 57. Arjen Robbem, 77. Daniele De Rossi)

Very good game from us and we did great to scure the place. Rullo justified my choice in picking him as right-back, while Arjen Robben made a god-like performance once again. And De Rossi scored a great screamer.

retired_puly1364

2nd of December 2012

We started our cup road. I picked pretty much second string squad with Arjen Robben and lots of other players on bench. Gianpaolo Pazzini wasn't even on bench, since I decided to rest him for those two games as it was pointless to risk with an injury as we had very though Serie A games ahead. But John O'Flynn started in front of 48 000 people in Giuseppe Meazza.

Coppa Italia 1st Round, Leg 1
Inter 2:1 Cagliari (52. Arjen Robben, 75. Adriano)

It took a substitution in half-time to get our game going as Robben scored the first goal. We also made couple more subs to live up the game and it worked after Daniele Russo's awful error in goal gave us a small heart-attack. Adriano finally scored after he "returned" from tiredness. John O'Flynn was decent and played whole 90 minutes.

6th of December 2012

I decided to make a bit more first-team like team in second leg as I only choosed 4th and 5th choice strikers - Graziano Pelle & John O'Flynn. I hoped for a nice victory, though I doubted we would crush them like 3 or 4:0.

Coppa Italia 1st Round, Leg 2
Cagliari 0:1 Inter (18. John O'Flynn)

Finally it happened! John scored and made another nice performance. He got an assist from Robben, though I'd sacrifice that goal and make the scoreline 0:0 to get Arjen Robben back. Cagliari's player did what I feared from those Coppa Italia games and they injuried Robben who will now be out of football for nearly 2 months.

8th of December 2012

From Irish Daily

zipman

John is back and even scoring for mighty Inter ...

retired_aurie

I would be tempted to offer him a long term contract and let him finish his career as a bit part player at Inter. Sort of as a "thank you for everything and good luck for the future" move.

Good going Tanel
KUTGW :thup:

zipman

Id love to see a screenshot of John. He sounds like a young version of my Federico Lauria

retired_puly1364

Lol, young. He's 30-years old. His stats have all went like 5 levels lower than they were in Cork.

retired_aurie

With enough training he can get back up there Tanel, especially with the much higher level of coaching you have available at Inter

retired_nadiya

Brill stuff tanel! I knew he could do it!!!

retired_puly1364

16th of December 2012

It was my birthday and I was hoping that we would celebrate it with a great victory over Palermo as we started off our journey of 3 consecutive away trips where we had to drive to Palermo, Lecce and Parma. It was important to get a win since that would boost our confidence and we needed that without Carlos Mango and Arjen Robben.

Italian Serie A, Week 15
Palermo 1:2 Inter (35. Rey Volpato, 51. Adriano)

In the end we managed to win despite falling down in firsit half thanks to defensive mistake. Both goals very easy ones, but overall we played good, espescially considering the fact, that we played 2/3 of second half with 10 men thanks to the red card of Carl Medjani.

19th of December 2012

Schedule was very tight before christmas and next up was Lecce. I hoped to win againist them, though they were a strong outfit and had some players who are hard to handle. Their striking pair is great Chevanton and some youngster named Raedelli or whatever. They almost beated Milan, but in the end played down 2:0 lead and lost 2:3. And it was very hard with injuries we had - Carlos Mango, Leandro Gioda & Arjen Robben were all injuried + Carl Medjani was suspended. It gave us very limited defensive choices and I had to put in La Rocca - Samuel defensive pair.

Italian Serie A, Week 16
Lecce 0:2 Inter (14. Gianpaolo Pazzini, 84. Obafemi Martins)

Our defence was rock solid and we got well-deserved victory. Though another injury "arrived". Soon after his goal, Pazzini got injuried and will remain out of our next league game againist Parma.

22nd of December 2012

So we wanted to give Inter fans a nice christmas-gift by beating 5th placed Parma in a tough away match. Medjani returned while Gioda, Robben & Pazzini were out. Mango was good enough to be on bench finally.

Italian Serie A, Week 17
Parma 1:6 Inter (11., 42., 65., 88. Adriano, 13. Daniele De Rossi, 15. Obafemi Martins)

Fate of this game was decided in 15 minutes. Adriano secured his place in top of Serie A Capocannoniere standings as he now has 19 league goals! Though, it was pretty easy job for him, as we had to face shittiest goalkeeper my eyes have seen. Even in Ireland there were 2x better keepers! Guy wanted to run out all the time, but since he barely got the ball, we had to send the ball into empty net all the time. 4 goals were his mistakes.

2nd of January 2013

Another new year started with a game againist Reggina. Inter was given a loud applause after we entered Giusepppe Meazza, since they finally felt proud of their team. Mango was back in starting line-up, so was Pazzini and Gioda. Only Robben had to fight with an injury and he will be back in 2 weeks time too. Though I've got a busy schedule as I've got 2 games per week in next 3 weeks.

Italian Serie A, Week 18
Inter 1:0 Reggina (42. Gianpaolo Pazzini)

Pazzini also continued where he left off againist Lecce. Only their goalkeepers good day prevented us from scoring much much more. We played another great match and made sure the gap between me and Milan remains 7 points!

6th of January 2013

So we finished off the first half of the season in front of home fans as we played relegation canditates Catania who had come to Giuseppe Meazza all the way from Sicilia. Robben was once again our only injury problem, but the opponent wasn't though so we were supposed to do well even without him.

Italian Serie A, Week 19
Inter 3:2 Catania (12. Adriano, 40. Daniele De Rossi, 90+3. John O'Flynn)

The good old Cork days! Brilliant Cork days come back! John was hero in Giuseppe Meazza and saved us from embarassement. I was pretty sure we're going to win this match when I put him on as we were leading 2:1 and there were 20 minutes to go, but then Catania had the ball for like 5 minutes and they scored. That got me in difficult situation and without Adriano or Pazzini on pitch, I wasn't sure could I score, but then John raises above everyone else with just seconds away from final whistle and he hits it with his back of head and trademark goal once again!

retired_puly1364

The Legend Returns

It's been a long story, I've coached more than 100 players, but there's one who outshines them all. Legend of this story is and will remain John O'Flynn. It was great to be with him in Cork, 2 league titles, lots of smaller or as big achievements. Here's something for those who hadn't seen it from start:

Those are his goals under my guidance. Though, some things tell much more.

"John O'Flynn - i'm gonna take that man with me when I leave. Very good striker!"

"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. "

"John O'Flynn = the best scorer in the league. 23 goals with the second placed striker with only 17!"

"November player of the month was John O'Flynn who also scored the best and third goal of the month."

"John O'Flynn - "Young Player Of The Year", "Golden Boot", Selected to "Team Of The Year" "

"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. "

"Cork certainly has to sign some contracts and you're star player John O'Flynn is one of the members of the team who runs out of the contract at the end of the year. Are you in negotiations with him?

Yes, we are very interested in signing a new contract with him. The negotiations are on the peak and we would like to resolve this problem in few weeks. He wants an small pay-rise which we can't promise him right at the moment, but next year.

He indeed was sensation in Irish football last season, there must be some intrest in him. Have you got any offers?

No, no straight offers, but we've recieved some calls from Premiership. He knows it, but I've convinced him to stay here. I think he needs to establish himself and then think about moving. His young and he's got time to remain in Ireland for 1-2 seasons. John is a great friend of mine and I'd like to take him with me once I'm not in the club."

"Atmosphere at dressing room was good and when we left. I shouted: "John! (to O'Flynn ofcourse)" He looked back and I told him: "Promise me that you will score today!" He replied: "I will score a goal, my friend!" "

"John was finally on his last year level. After the hat-trick, I told him: "Forget about the contract row at the moment. We will discuss it when it's time for it." He seemed to agree me and he looked very hungry to score more and continue this form. I hope he starts Flying again! "

"John O'Flynn back scoring again! He's doing wonders in that cup for sure. Oo Fly'n!"

"Since then the club started to rise, including with numerous new stars with them. One of those stars was man, once a great prospect, John O'Flynn, who was set to be the star of the show again tonight."

"Dan: "Great play by Cork City."

Jack: "Now it is veteran Billy Woods with the ball."

Dan: "Crosses in.."

Jack: "1:1! John O'Flynn with his head."

Dan: "Who else? He did it again. "

Jack: "It was surely heading for 1:0 in half-time, but that's why you must have John O'Flynn in your squad." "

He did it! Again! John O'Flynn is back at his best it seems. He scored his 5th league goal of the season and 15th goal in all competitions (9 goals in All-Ireland Cup).

"Little comments from an Derry City fan in some football forum:

"bigger margin. John O'Flynn should move abroad, his an great talent and a material for Ireland! By the mile best stiker the league has got." "

"With this game – a player called John O’Flynn made sure that he’s name will remain in Cork City history forever."

" "How to score an hattrick with 12 minutes" by John O'Flynn. Nice, his first hattrick in the league. Now he's got 17 goals and leads the goalscoring charts with 5 goals. Doubt anyones gonna catch him. Another "golden boot" is his."

Those things say what he was made off. The awards he got after first season. Including 3rd best Irish youngster talk lot about where should he be. He was Premiership material atleast, but now Shelbourne ruined him and I will never forgive them that. He's on his way back though and we'll work hard on him!