idgamerd

Cartagena were up next, and another away day for Almansa. Tiredness and a few injuries to personnel going forward were starting to be shown now, so we had players filling in in unaccostomed positions, such as left winger Irazoki being used as a sub striker. With the players we have, I don't currently feel like there are a lot of goals in us as we have a squad full of young kids and players without much league experience. Some of them are indeed raltively talented, but you shouldn't have to rely on 18 year olds every week.

Still, Cartagena are a side in a similar position to ourselves and we were hopeful that we could get a result on our travels. To be honest though, as the first half unfolded, what I witnessed was the most dour midfield battle of the season so far with barely any chances falling to either side. It was no surprise therefore to go in at the break with a 0-0 scoreline.

I tried a few things to attempt to get us moving forward more effectively, as I feel that most teams are more fit than us and we tend to be more under pressure as we tire. In every game therefore I feel we need to have a lead going into the last 20 minutes. This didn't however prove to be the case as the midfield battle again proved to be the way forward. On 65 minutes, I introduced 2 sets of fresh legs into our tiring middle, and that gave us the impetus to go on and secure another away point.

It was a dull 0-0 draw, but when every point is vital, the odd draw is not such a bad thing. Our last 3 games, 2 draws and a loss, have seen us slip down slightly behind the mid-table scrap. We are still clear of relegation thankfully, but we could do with some maximum 3 points if we are not to start to get dragged into a real bun fight. With the next 2 games being against bottom 4 sides, we have to look for 6 points, or at least 3.

idgamerd

I sent to boys out away to Aguilas knowing that they had to start picking up wins to make the season a successful one. We were now into November, and the run up to the Christmas break would prove crucial in our race to stay clear of relegation.

The lads responded well, and with left winger Irazoki filling in up front from the start along side Javi, we looked creative going forward. Aguilas were bottom of the league and were playing like a side with no confidence, and chances kept coming our way. Our poor finishing and some commendabe goalkeeping kept the scores level though until the 38th minute when Irazoki was sent clear by Charly and he blasted the ball past the home goalkeeper. More chances followed but again poor finishing let us down, half-time 1-0 Almansa.

With us dominating the game but only having 1 goal to show for our efforts, I challenged the lads to perform even better in the second half. If we eased off it could be fatal. The lads responded well, but our finishing and decision-making in the final third was our downfall. Thankfully, Aguilas offered littel as an attacking force and rarely posed a threat to our goal. As we moved into the last 10 minutes, I found myself counting down the minutes left. We had tired, and were getting a little ragged in midfield, but Aguilas didn't seem to have the wherewithall to punish us. Injury time beckoned and Aguilas mounted an all out assult on us, throwing everything forward to try to salvage the game. To my relief though, after 4 agonising minutes of injury time our goal had not been breached and we had triumphed 1-0.

This result could prove crucial in the run-in to Christmas, giving us some much needed confidence. If we can start finishing effectively, sooner or later we are going to get a hatfull against someone. I only hope it can be sooner rather than later.

idgamerd

Linares were the next opposition for my Almansa boys, with us playing host. This is yet another game that we must look to get a result in, although Linares are no mugs.

I brought in the recently recovered Carvajal up front for the stand in striker Irazoki, hoping that his better arial prowess could serve us well. The game started evenly, but it was a open game with chances falling to both sides in a frenetic opening period. Javi, Carvajal and Oscar Rico blazed high wide and handsome for us, with the visiting attackers faring no better. Gradually, our midfield began to stamp their authority on the game though, led by the holding player Piombo who has been outstanding this season so far. Both defences managed to hold firm though and the half finished 0-0.

I tried to tell the lads that we needed to be more compact in defence, and not create such an open game, but it was clear that they wanted to go for the jugular. Just 3 minutes into the second half, Javi popped up with a back post header from an Oscar Rico cross that nestled nicely in the back of the net and sent the modest crowd into raptures. We now needed to be more solid, and after another frenetic 10 minutes, I introduced 2 more defensively minded midfielders to try to shore up the middle of the park. Whilst this did seem to work defensively, it limited our attacking ambition and chances became few and far between. Again I was left clock watching as the final whistle appraoched, and again we managed to hold out for a slender win.

After 4 matches without conceeding any goals, but only scoring 2, it was becoming clear where the squad needed to be improved. There were obviously pressing squad inadequacies like the need for another goalkeeper, but to really go forward we need a striker that'll work the goalkeeper more often than not. With only 4 games to go until the winter break and Christmas, we had to start looking around for the players that would hopefully join us and enhance the playing staff.

idgamerd

Our defence this season has been the rock that has allowed us to perform well above expectation. With Javi at right-back (again not the young striker), captain Septien at left-back, and a central defensive partnership of Antinio Rumbo and Luis Lopez we had a strong defensive unit. Utility player Juan Carlos provided the backup for all the defensive potitions, but had so far not been used often.

We have 4 games left now until Christmas, and 3 of them are potentially winnable, which were the next 3 games. Baza away were the next opponents and I wanted to follow up our 4 match unbeaten streak with a good perfomance and 3 more points. Something must have gone awry in the preparation though, as we failed to get out of the blocks at all and were very subdued. Surprisingly though, we managed to take the lead on 28 minutes through a magical own goal from the Baza centre-back who paced a bullet header past his own keeper under pressure from striker Javi. I could barely believe it, but starnger things have happened! Baza came back strong though and equalised 11 minutes later, and should have had the lead before half time save for an excellent piece of goalkeeping. We limped through to half time at 1-1.

The half-time team talk I gave was supposed to be rousing, to hopefully shake off whatever was on the lads minds stopping them performing. Unfortunately we turned in an abject second half display though, the only saving grace being Baza's inability to score. They did though on 70 minutes, and not even a late charge from our lads as they finally realised that they were in a game could save this one.

A 2-1 defeat that could have been much worse was the result on a dreary day at Baza. We would have to pick ourselves up if we were to turn this around, but I was disappointed to end November this way as it had been a good month for us.

idgamerd

With the disappointing defeat away to Baza now firmly behind us, a home game against Consequense who were around us in the league was the perfect opportunity to bounce back. We were now just into December, and with only 3 games left this year we had to get some more points on the board. I decided to make some shanges, rejigging the forward line and midfiled, with Eloi and Javi partnered up front, Charly, Oscar Rico and felipe would make up the midfield.

The first half was even, with chances few and far between but falling to both sides. We still seemed to have some of the lethargy that dogged us against Baza the previous week, and couldn't impose ourselves on the game enough to break the deadlock. Neither could our opposition Consequense though and the first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

I have said before that I feel other sides are fitter than us, so I again tried to get the boys to put a big 20 minutes and try to take the game away from Consequense. This worked to an extent, but we couldn't seem to be able to hit a barn door with an axe so the game entered it's final stages with no score on the board. We then began to tire, and started to sit deeper in defence. The last 5 minutes came and I was praying for someone to find some spark and break clear to score an Almansa winner. Sadly this didn't happen, and Consequeses late pressure eventually told when a defensive lapse let their striker though for an easy finish. We failed to raise ourselves after the goal and lost meekly in the end 1-0.

Another set back, but if you had given any Almansa fan the option of taking our current position before a ball had been kicked, they would have bitten your arm off. I therefore find it hard to be angry that two lacklustre performances have taken some of the shine off an otherwise very positive season so far. Nevertheless, I called the lads in for some extra training to hopefully shake the lethargy from them once and for all.

retired_brianrt

good start, and well done on the success so far
KUTGW :thup:

idgamerd

Villanueva away was our penultimate game of the year on December 11th. This was a must win game after the disappointments of the last fortnight. I have also now come to the conclusion that we often perform better away from home. This I ascribe to the old adage that you must win your home games to do well, meaning that I think the players feel the pressure at home too much. After a strong weeks training, I now felt we were ready though to face the struggling opposition.

Disaster early in the game, forward Carvajal picked up an injury that forced me into a 4th minute sub, throwing Irazoki on to fill in up front. This threw my plans into somewhat of a confusion, but the lads seemed to be up for the game and were performing admirably. We took the lead on 11 minutes through sub Irazoki, and kept the pressure on afterwards. Oscar Rico arrived at the edge of the box on 23 minutes, and reminiscent of Lampard struck a full blooded drive past the Villanueva keeper for 2-0. We had the opposition on the ropes now, and I wanted to go for the jugular and kill the game off early, but somehow Villanueva managed to hold out until half-time without conceeding any more.

My half time team talk was full of bluster and urgency, we couldn't let the first half display dip or we would lose all the momentum we had built up.

When the lads got back out, it took them a while to get going again, but in the 64th minute, Javi notched again to add to his growing reputation. We were now 3-0 up and cruising. Villanueva then crumbled and lost all shape, and with a desperate last ditch challenge on Javi 3 minutes later bringing a penalty and a red card, Rumbo stepped forward from the back and slotted home low to the keepers right. The game was in danger of becoming a rout now, and I wanted the lads to finally dish out the hammering that I thought had been coming for a couple of months. On 80 minutes, an ill advised handball from the opposition full back meant we had another chance from the spot to extend the lead further. Rumbo stepped up again and notched his second of the game. We failed to score again despite having all the pressure, but I didn't mind too much.

A 5 star performance from the lowly Almansa boys was just what the doctor ordered, and I was absolutely delighted with everyone involved. The chairman came to my office the following day to congratulate me personally, and tell me that he was delighted with the way the team had been performing this season. I passed this onto the lads and they were equally ecstatic. One game to go now until Christmas, but a really difficult affair it will be. At least we know we will be several points clear of trouble whatever the outcome of the next game.

idgamerd

Thank you! Another reader! I've actually got quite a bit of catching up to do, but I'll try to get at least to the winter break today. Writing these at work is tricky though, but I have sent myself all the match details from home so I can do so.

The things I should have put in an intro at the start though are the following:

Leagues loaded:
England (conf N/S and above)
Spain (Div 2b and above)
Scotland
Italy
France
Germany
Holland (I think)
I think I also loaded some of the players from a couple of scandinavian countries too.

Started game as unemployed, with the aim to go through the ranks to become a top level manager.

idgamerd

We journeyed to Sevilla for our last game of 2005 to play the cities B team. Knowing we were in for a rough ride, I decided to make the midfield more solid and used our quickest players in the attacking positions.

Sevilla B predictably started the game in the ascendancy, with their players oozing the quality that we just could not provide. It was going to be a war of attrition for us, and the longer we could hold out the more they might become frustrated and hopefully make some mistakes. 19 minutes was all we could manage though, as Sevilla B swept through our defence to notch past our helpless keeper. Sevilla B's pace and flair was showing all over the field as we were second to every ball and being thoroughly outplayed. Their second came on 36 minutes, and after that they seemed to visibly relax and ease their feet off the pedals.

A bit shell shocked, I consoled the players at half time, encouraging them not to allow what happened the previous week to our opponents to happen to us. The lads responded well, and with Sevilla B largely in second gear, the game was petering out to be a 2-0 win. Our sub midfielder Felipe hadn't read the script though and scored from a set piece on 85 minutes to set up a nervous last period for the home side. We pressed for an equaliser but Sevilla B were equal to everything we threw at them.

A 2-1 loss was actually a decent result given the disparity between the two sides, what we wouldn't give for some of Sevillas money, fans and players. Despite the loss, I took the lads out for a meal after the game to congratulate them on a job well done so far this season.

With the winter break now here, I knew that I had a few weeks to really get cracking on finding some new players for the squad. With the backroom infrastructure now established, I also knew that this task should be easier now than it had been in the 21 frantic days I had in the summer. I also had to respect that there was interest in a not inconsiderable amount of my players, so would hopefully be able to fend off some predatory approaches, while getting the best possible price for the offers we couldn't refuse.

idgamerd

Almansa Winter Break Report

We have played 17 games, and lie in 13th place. We have been as low as 18th, but as high as 8th in the 20 team league. Relegation places are the bottom 4 automatically relegated, and the 16th placed side requiring a playoff to survive. It is certainly easier to be relegated from this league than it is to be promoted, but it is the wrong endof the league we are likely to be more concerned with.

We have had various great performances consistently all over the park. With Aranda in goal, Luis Lopez and Antonio Rumbo in the middle of the back 4, and Javi and Septien at right and left-back respectively. Piombo the Argentinian national with a Spanish passport has been a revelation at defensive central midfield, and Charly and Oscar Rico have been impressive in the middle of the park, and others have chipped in when required. Up front, the best performers have been youngster Javi and on loan player from Levante Eloi.

Our record stands as the following:

P_____W____D____L____F____A____PTS
17____6____3____8____20___21___21

I am relatively pleased with the record we have. There have been games that I feel we should have got something oputof, but conversely there are also games we could easily have lost where we either won or drew.