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Just 1 month ago, Roman Abramovich went on holiday, to Italy. That was at the end of the 2004/05 season.

As he returned, he announced that he no longer wanted Chelsea, the toy was no longer any fun. All the shares went to a fan base, they didnt feel that they had a good enough spokesman, so they tured to former Chester City coach Jim Hackett who was a friend of one of the higer members of the fan group.

As all this was happening Jose Maurinho resigned feeling insecure. Without Roman the club was going to go into heavy depts and Jose didnt like the look of the situation. Jim Hackett however managed to bring back Gianluca Vialli to Chelsea.


There were rumours about why Roman left Chelsea, the most common in papers was that he was going to bid for one of the Milan clubs.

Then in the early days of july the daily mail found documents in an Italian cafe after Abramovich and another man left, they had left an important document about prices of tickets.

On it they found a logo and breif history of Cagliari, they had found the proof. They brought it back to England leaving Chelsea officals red faced.

2 days later Roman Abramovich confirmed the deal and sacked the manager. This spurned more rumours, mainly in Italy. Everyone thought that Abramovich would go for his Portugesse mate Jose Maurinho.


However just a few days later a shortish skinny man with dark hair and bluey-green eyes arrived in the building. Roman Abramovich announced he had appointed an inexperianced 25 year old Scottish manager to take on what many seen as a hardest ever job.

Chelsea on the other hand, things looked bleck. They announced dept and npbody had the money to pay the wages, a clear-out must be soon.

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At a press conferance the next day July 10th.

Donald, where i your current strongest position?

well i think we are ok going forward, but i want to be better, this club aint going anywhere with these players?

Suazo is rumoured to want to go to a bigger club, what is your view on this?

Well he can go, not because he wants to, but because nobody is bigger than Cagliari.

Who are your main transfer targets?

Well i would like to bring Craig Gordon over from Scotland, however there is others i am looking at and i do not want to name any other names, however the team will go through a re-shuffle

You are now in a job that while pile heaps of pressure onto you, what is your view on this and can tyou cope with it all?

Well i dont see it as a job i see it as somthing that going to be fun to do and that i will enjoy doing. I plan to win the Seria A by the end of my second season here, i think im putting myself under more pressure than the media and Roman is, so i am not feeling it, infact i am confident i will do it better than anybody else.

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Roman Abramovich and Donald Campbell today announced this years Cagliari back-room staff team.

assitstant manager
Jimmy Nichol

coaches
Gianpiero Ventrone
Billy Thomson
Alain Sutter
John Stephenson
Antti Muurinen
Oleg Malyukov
Jens Bagsbo

Physios
Gianni Nanni
Rodrigo Lasmar
Patrik Johansson
Steve Devine
Silvano Cotti

Scouts
Erik Mykland
Jupp Heynckes
Scott Brown
Svien Bakke

It sees just 2 Italians and a number of Brit in it, which suggests Campbell is getting what he wants. Aberdeen were devistated to lose Jimmy Nichol but said that they hope they can get an equally good replacement.
Also there is former Nottingham Forest player Steve Divine who plans to make his name as a physio, although it wasnt his ideal career path he said that Cagliari had perswaded him that he could be the very best in the business.

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14th July

Cagliari confirmed their firsr signing today, its young Argentinian attaacking midfeilder Dario Conca. However due to circumstances Campbell wont get his 22 year old £30k signing till July next year. This is due to Dario's loan deal with Universidad Catholica in Chile.

However the River midfeilder does hope to move to Italy sooner rather than later so her can make his name, he has always felt that he hasnt been able to prove himself. He now hopes the with Cagliari and Itallian football that he can make his name and get into the Argentinian national side.

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In going into the first friendly agaisnt Union SG, Cagliari had been rejected by more players than they could count. However with the state of Chelsea they were still hoping to get Essien. However they didnt think they had a hope.As of yet they hadnt signed anyone. So Campbell lined up his side and both teams wet out.

Cagliari went 2-nil up by half time through to good goals from Alessandro Agostini. Campbell oviously felt happy and made all his subs to give others a chance. However his plan backfired with Laurent Le Meyer scoreing straight from a move from the kick-off. Theon the 86th minuted Union SG scored to make it a 2-2 draw.

This angered Campbell who said, "I knew changes were needed, i under-estimated the task, its going to be very difficult to fix this team."

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18th of July

Roman Abramovich and Donald Campbell have confirmed their first signing that will move immedietly. They have signed Fulham striker Collins John for an undiscosed fee.

Cagliari defender Francesco Bega praised the signing, he said, "Ivwe seen Collins on tv in England and he was magnificant. I dont think we can ask for a much better striker to come to Cagliari and i think that he can go to a much higher level."

Campbell praised his new signing with pritty much the same words as Bega. When he was told he said that if Bega kept that optimism he'd become a great manager one day.

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20th July

Cagliari have signed 2 new hot prospects today. Eddie gaven is an American youngster with 2 caps and moves in from MetroStars for around £4.5 million.

Also comming in is Sten Are Edvarsson signs from Tornado Maloy for £7k. Sten Are is considered to be one of the best prospects in the world.

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21st July

At the Sant'Elia, Cagliari have unvalied a brand new signing. Its their second major one and their second from Fulham. Steed Malbranque.

The Frenchman was unhappy at Fulham and wanted to move, Cagliari quickly came in with the asking price of £9.5mill. He will add valuble experiance for Eddie Gaven, who is a similar player.

Campbell said, "Steed is a hreat player, he will help here at Cagliari. He will also help Eddie improve."

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The next game ws Genk. Not a mug team but not a great team either. Malbranque starts down the middle and Gaven on the right. Also is Collins john upfront.

It was Collins John that got the first chance when he stole it off a defender, however he managed to cross it to their goalie. The first goal came after 30mins, Agostini made a cross and Esposito volleyed home. However Genk pulled back straight away.

Campbell didnt make any changes as he wanted to get the team used to eachother.

The first chance was made by Gaven he skinned two players and set up Esposito but he shot wide. Cagliari scored from a corner, Malbraque took it and Collins John got up and headered home. Later on Esposito made a run and took the keepr out, made a cross for John but he shot at the diving keeper. Later on John spun a man golt space and threaded in Esposito who scored a magnificent goal.

final score 3-1 the new signings looking sharp and good.

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28th July

Another signing was on the cards, once again it as an attacking one. This time is was Cadiz left winger Sesma. He signs for £3.9million and would add somthing going down the other wing.

The side now needs to re-shape the defence abit and maybe elsewhere.