retired_srobertson

This certainly is good stuff, especially if you read the loads of sh*t written by the other rookies. Keep up!

retired_roxysunny101

cheers for the support haze.13 & superwalli


As if the fantastic victory over a Premier Division side wasn’t exhilarating enough, there was more good news to come in the following days as against all odds we managed to get a couple of new faces into the club with no money to spend.

Georg Birgisson (DR, 33 y/o, Icelandic): Georg is an extremely strong tackler and looks to be very comfortable when going forward with the ball. Rightback was my key concern going into this season, and I now feel I can put that worry to bed as I have a quality, experienced campaigner filling that role. Best Attributes: Work Rate & Tackling

Ingólfur R Ingólfsson (AM/ F C, 35 y/o, Icelandic): I’m honestly not sure how I’m going to use Ingólfur at the moment, but such a deadly finisher and clean striker of the ball is sure to come in handy, the only problem is his chronic lack of pace. Nevertheless I’m happy to have him on board and am sure he will be important this season. Best Attributes: Long Shots & Finishing

We did suffer disappointment regarding our negotiations with Afturelding, the non-league side demanded an up-front fee for all three of our enquiries, which was a shame as they were very good young players who could have slotted into the side very well.

However, we continue our enquiries. After twisting Mr Eyjólfsson’s arm a little he has released the funds to allow scouts Freyr Kristinsson and Audunn Eiriksson travel Iceland and the rest of Scandanavia respectively, so we are very hopeful that in their travels they may stumble across a couple of undiscovered gems in the lower leagues.

Nevertheless, it’s great to get those two players on board, and they’ll get a run out in a few days when we face non-league Huginn. In fact, that whole line-up will probably be slightly experimental. Since there is little chance of getting torn apart by Huginn I may as well let some other players stake a claim as the beginning of the season approaches.

retired_roxysunny101

Huginn Vs Breiðablik Friendly, 18th Jan 2005, Seyðifjördurvöllur Stadium

Breiðablik: (4-4-2 Diamond) GK: Pétursson, DL: Sveinsson, DR: Birgisson, DC: Arnarson, DC: Gunnarsson; MR: A. Einarsson (K. Einarsson 45‘), ML: Baldvinsson, DMC: Sverrison (c), AMC: Ingólfsson (Bjarnasson 15’); ST: �sgeirsson (S.Pétursson 45‘), ST: Pétursson

In front of the comparatively mammoth audience of 135 people in the Seyðifjördurvöllur I was expecting my players to go for the jugular immediately, but that is simply not what happened, in fact what happened was simply a dirge. The first piece of action was on 15 minutes when the unfortunate Ingólfsson fell awkwardly after a challenge and was forced to limp off. Not a debut he - or anyone - will want to remember.

The only two chances of note came within five minutes of each other towards the end of the half. Firstly �sgeirsson was played through on goal but proceeded to fire wide under pressure from a Huginn defender.

Then, minutes later Ólafur Pétursson pulled off a stunning save from a point blank header to really stake his claim to be number one goalkeeper at the club.

Changes needed to be made at half time. I decided to give our captain Hakón Sverrison the attacking midfield role and let Bjarnasson hold, and also bring on Sævar Pétursson for �sgeirsson with Baldvinsson going up front and Sævar Pétursson going on the left. I also swapped Einarsson twins. All in the hope of some fire in the second half.

The early signs in the second half were certainly promising. Within five minutes Kristján Einarsson managed to wriggle his way to the bye-line, before firing in a low cross towards Baldvinsson, who managed to hook the ball towards goal, however the Huginn keeper fairly comfortably pushed wide. But at least there were signs of invention and movement up front, that’s what I’m looking for.

We continued to control the game up until the hour mark, with Hakón Sverrison going close twice, however when we failed to make the pressure count I feel our players tired, plus Huginn began to punctuate the game with substitutions which made it difficult to maintain any kind of rhythm.

The game looked like it was on course to fizzle out as a 0-0 as the minutes ticked away, but we were playing some nice football and I felt we had one clear chance left in the tank.

That was indeed the case, as in the 91st minute Sævar Pétursson picked up the ball with space to drive into. He clipped in an absolutely stunning ball which begged to be nodded in at the back post. Yet somehow Bjarki Pétursson managed to head onto the bar from 6 yards out to ensure the game would finish scoreless.

Man of the Match: Baldur Sviensson (Huginn GK) (7)

Huginn 0 - 0 Breiðablik

retired_roxysunny101

If there was one thing made clear by the bore draw against Huginn it was the real need for some fresh blood in the midfield. Ingólfsson - one of my two recent signings, and great hope for attacking midfield - hobbled off after 15 minutes, looking every inch the broken down 35 year old that I truly hoped he was not.

So in the days following that match I decided to peruse some of the profiles that my chief scout, Freyr Kristinsson, had e-mailed me back from his travels of Iceland. It came as a pleasant surprise to me that he had found some fairly suitable candidates for bids, and I sent a few faxes expressing an interest in players, an even sent a few concrete bids out.

However, it became increasingly apparent that persuading clubs to let go of players suitable for this standard of football, with no fee involved, was going to be incredibly difficult. A series of negotiations and flat out rejections from clubs came our way and it seemed as though the current Breiðablik squad would be the one I would be starting the season with.

Just when it seemed as though our transfer dealings were completely futile, solace came in the form of a young man called Hafsteinn Ingvar Rúnarsson. In the run up to our friendly against strong Icelandic Premier League side Grindavik in we managed to successfully negotiate terms with his club, Reynir, and we then agreed terms in a matter of minutes - it was great to see such enthusiastic reaction to joining up with this club.

Hafsteinn Ingvar Rúnarsson (AM LC, 21 y/o, Icelandic): Hafsteinn, I feel, is a great signing for this club. He was a great spot by Freyr, and I firmly believe he will be a real force in our midfield this season. Although he can comfortably operate in the attacking midfield role I am so keen to fill, I see his on the left of midfield - allowing Baldvinsson to operate in attack where he looked so promising against Huginn. Either way his versatility and quality will be key. Best Attributes: Work Rate, Pace & Free Kicks

Such was the speed in our negotiations with Hafsteinn that he only just missed out in playing against Grindavik, but he was paraded ahead of our friendly, and watched from the crowd as we attempted to punch well above our weight.

retired_roxysunny101

Breiðablik Vs Grindavik Friendly, 21st Jan 2005, Kópavogsvöllur Stadium

Breiðablik: (4-4-2 Diamond) GK: O.Pétursson, DL: Sveinsson, DR: Birgisson, DC: Hansen (Gunnarsson 77‘), DC: Podzemsky; MR: Guðmundsson (K.Einarsson 77‘), ML: S.Pétursson, DMC: Bjarnason, AMC: Sverrisson (c) (Sigurðsson 45‘); ST: Baldvinsson, ST: B.Pétursson (�sgeirsson 77’)

The game began rather scrappily with both sides jostling for superiority in the middle of the park. However, I was pleased with the level of commitment from the side, and we did look more likely in the early stages - which was underlined when Bjarki Pétursson headed just wide from an in swinging Hakón Sverrisson cross.

We then managed to put together a stunning move which sliced through our Premier League opponents. Sverrisson tenaciously won the ball in midfield before knocking it across to Bjarnason. He showed some of that old class I had been looking for, showing fantastic vision to clip a 40 yard cross-field ball to Sævar Pétursson, who, in turn, slipped a perfectly weighted ball down the channel to Marel Baldvinsson. His delectable dink into the box was met perfectly by Hakón Sverrisson, who had began the move, but the ball flew just wide of the post.

Despite how promising that move was, it really should have been converted, and it acted as something of a wake-up call to our more illustrious opponents.

From the 20 minute-mark onwards Grindavik began to run the show, and as the half went on they had numerous goal scoring attempts, with Scott Mckenna Ramsey, Paul McShane, and Egill Atlason all coming close to breaking the deadlock. But a mix of good goalkeeping by the retained Olafur Pétursson and wasteful finishing meant we were still in a decent position as I went in to give my half time team talk.

Matters were not helped with a slight injury to our captain Hakón Sverrisson, and he was replaced in the adventurous midfield role by Sigurðsson. All in all, however, we weren’t in too bad a position, and after a few tweaks and some encouraging words I sent the players bad out for the next 45’.

The second half began in exciting fashion, with an exchange of chances 5 minutes in. First of all Bjarnason latched onto a Bjarki Pétursson knock-down on the edge of the box, only to fire just over the bar. That was followed by Scott Mckenna Ramsey flashing a shot just past Olafur Pétusson’s post from 25 yeards. However, the signs were that a goal was on it’s way.

And so it proved. 5 Minutes later Grindavik launched a long diagonal ball up field which Ramsey managed to knock down for Johann Benediktsson, his vicious shot was well blocked by Hansen, but it fortuitously deflected straight to Egill Atlason on the penalty spot, and he clinically fired home to put the visitors in front.

The game continued to be brisk, entertaining fare after the goal and we had a great chance to equalise just after the hour mark when Sigurðsson did brialliant to work a shooting opportunity inside the box, only to see his shot parried across the face of the goal by the keeper - and no-one was following in to capitalise!

Our deserved equaliser was only delayed however, and with ten minutes to go Marel Baldvinsson brilliantly controlled a Georg Birgisson cross inside the box before wheeling clear of a defender and sliding the ball into the net. It was a great goal, and no more than we deserved for our afternoon’s showing.

Football, however, is a cruel beast, and our elation lasted only 10 minutes, as when the clock struck 90 minutes big centre back Sinisa Kekic rose highest to nod in a towering header at the back post to earn a win in a highly entertaining contest for Grindavik.

That was my first defeat, and a bit of kick in the teeth, but the performance certainly gives me hope as we approach the start of the competitive season.

Man of the Match: Sinisa Kekic (Grindavik CB) (10)

Breiðablik (Baldvinsson 80‘) 1 - 2 Grindavik (Atlason 55‘, Kekic 90‘)

retired_roxysunny101

Suffice to say that despite that defeat I was not too down heartened by the match against Grindavik. We were playing a very good side and I felt we equipped ourselves very well and played some very good stuff. Indeed, the pre-season as a whole gives causes for optimism around the place for the coming months: 3 games, 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss is not a bad record and we looked - at worst - competent in all those games.

However, it seems that form hasn’t been overly impressive in the eyes of the local bookmakers. When returning home from his traditional pre-season punt on Breiðablik to win the league, he swung by the cottage to inform me that Vikingur and KA had been made 4-6 Pre-Season favourites, with us just behind them on Evens. To be honest I was relieved the pressure was off, plus I now had a point of reference regarding which teams I was competing against for promotion.

However, the biggest cause for optimism, in my humble opinion, was sitting in the crowd watching as we faced Grindavik. Hafsteinn Ingvar Rúnarsson was in training the very next day, and he looks every inch the player we hoped he would be when we made strides to sign him. And he will be straight in the team as the League Cup campaign kicks off in earnest next month.

Ahhh, the League Cup campaign. Sveinn was good enough to come over to the cottage the other night and explain the format of the Icelandic season. From February to May the football season revolves around the League Cup - the League campaign does not start until the 15th of May!

The participants of the League Cup are split into 2 Groups of 8 teams initially. Those teams play each other once, and the top 4 teams in each group advance to the quarter finals and so on and so on - and that is what we do in the first 3 months of the season. Our group for the League Cup shapes up like this:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 1st | | Breiðablik | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 2nd | | FH | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 3rd | | Fram (ISL) | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 4th | | Fylkir | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 5th | | KA | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 6th | | KeflavÃ*k | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 7th | | Valur | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 8th | | Völsungur | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

In FH, Fram, Fylkir, Keflavik and Valur we have five Premier Division teams in our group and so it will be very, very tough to finish in the top 4. Nevertheless, we have been playing some good stuff in pre-season, and we have a few weeks to get up to speed with training and tactics, and we may even add another new face or two to boost our chances. Come February 20th we’ll be ready for the fight, that’s for sure.

retired_roxysunny101

Given the horrific rate of success me and Svienn have had thus far in the transfer market (3 players is not too great when you consider the amount of enquiries we have made) the last thing we expected was for our scout, Freyr to uncover a great little player and for the negotiations to move so swiftly and satisfactorily.

Icelandic central midfielder Gunnar Rafn Borgþórsson was another player spotted playing for non-league Afturelding - which is proving a goldmine for cheap Icelandic talent, if only I had money with which to pillage them. We made our usual offer, and to our surprise Afturelding were willing to accept, and within a matter of days we had our man.

Gunnar Rafn Borgþórsson (WB L/M C, 23 y/o, Icelandic): I have been whingeing ever since I came to terms with my role as manager of Breiðablik about a need for quality in the midfield, and let me tell you this: I have a great feeling that the captures of Rúnarsson and this man may represent that quality. Gunnar can hold, pass, run and score goals - all of which will no doubt prove very useful as the season progresses! Best Attributes: Finishing, Influence & Work Rate

More good news followed as the clock ticked over into February, as Guðmundur Örn Guðmundsson signed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2007. Guðmundur had expressed some displeasure with his £40 per week contract, and after some discussion we beefed it up to £70 with a £10 assist bonus and our first choice right winger should now be here to stay for the foreseeable future.

The mood was soon to turn sour though. Firstly, as Hans Froði Hansen trudged back into training after captaining his country in a demolition in a friendly by Paraguay he was naturally very down.

As harsh as it sounds: Hans is used to being on the wrong end of hammerings with the Faroes, and a wee arm around the shoulder will sort that. However, then popular centre back Kjartan Antonsson snapping his leg in a freak training ground accident. It was a horrific moment, and everyone in the camp is feeling really low after seeing him carted off in the ambulance with an oxygen mast over his face. The big man will be out for at least 7 months.

Kjartan’s injury put a dampener in what was a buoyant mood in February, but it was important that we bounced back. Our League Cup opener away to FH was fast approaching, and we would need to be at our very best to have a prayer. But I knew we still had a chance; we could do this - do it for Kjartan.

retired_roxysunny101

FH Vs Breiðablik League Cup Grp B, 20th Feb 2005, Kaplakriki Stadium

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 1st | | Breiðablik | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 2nd | | FH | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Breiðablik: (4-4-2 Diamond) GK: O.Pétursson, DL: Sveinsson, DR: Birgisson, DC: Hansen, DC: Podzemsky; MR: Guðmundsson, ML: Rúnarsson, DMC: Sverrisson (c), AMC: Borgþórsson; ST: Baldvinsson, ST: B.Pétursson (Ingólfsson 45’)

Considering how tough and draining our home friendly against Grindavik was, we could only imagine how tough our first competitive match - away to League Cup holders, FH - would prove to be. Pre-match odds of 9-2 against suggest we would find it tough against our Premier Division opponents.

I named 3 new signings in my line-up for this game - Birgisson, Borgþórsson and Rúnarsson - and once again Olafur Pétursson got the nod between the sticks.

I was looking for my side to whether the inevitable early pressure from the home side, however the sad fact of the matter is that sometime quality just reigns over all the good planning in the World. When Baldur Bett picked up the ball 30 yards out there was no danger; nothing on for him….so he decided to simply rocket the ball into Olafur Pétursson’s top corner, undoing much good defensive work in the early stages - yet you still have to admire a goal of that calibre.

The important thing was to steady the ship and not concede any goals in the next 15 minutes, however, we were again undone by some magic by the ex-Aberdeen youngster Bett. He found some space in the middle of the park and threaded a greet ball to Tryggvi Guðmundsson, who had slipped free of Podzemsky, and the man with 9 goals to his name for Iceland slotted the ball passed Pétursson.

The fact of the matter was we were now facing damage limitation against a side who were superior in every department to us. We held out to half time, before having a goal by half time substitute Ingólfsson harshly ruled out after the break for offside.

That disallowed goal seemed to wake FH from their comfort zone, and within minutes of the Ingólfsson strike they had notched two goals. One was another fine strike by Bett, curling home from the edge of the ‘D’, before Armin Smári Bjornsson headed home a fine FH corner kick to make the game absolutely safe.

Jón Stefánsson rubbed salt in the wounds, and added gloss to the scoreline with five minutes remaining. Breaking clear of an exhausted Breiðablik backline, he ran clear on goal before blasting past a shellshocked Olafur Pétursson.

Despite the gulf between the two teams our performance was simply unacceptable, and I would have to let them know that in training tomorrow! “Abysmal Breiðablik Battered By Brilliant FH� is what I would’ve unmercifully proclaimed back in my journalist days! It was a lot tougher on this side of the typewriter.

Man of the Match: Baldur Bett (FH MC) (9)

FH (Bett 12’, 49’, Guðmundsson 22’, Bjornsson 52‘, Stefánsson 84’) 5 - 0 Breiðablik

retired_roxysunny101

It seems as though when you grant one request, suddenly everyone is beating a path to you’re door. Despite our team being in the midst of trying to pick ourselves up after a devastating beginning to our League Cup campaign, Olgeir Sigurgeirsson decided that it would be a good time to follow in Guðmundur Örn Guðmundsson’s footsteps and demand a raise. However, he is simply not of the same standard, and it was very, very poor timing, so I think I showed admirable restraint in politely explaining to him that the club could not afford it. This did not sit well with Olgier and he left my office having placed himself on the transfer list.

Olgier Sigurgeirsson’s strop aside, morale in the camp was not too bad as we prepared to face Fylkir. The players all knew that the display against FH was not good enough and there would have to be a huge increase in our level of performance - and probably three points against Fylkir - if we were to have any hope of progressing into the finance boosting, reputation boosting quarter finals.

As the clock ticked towards the Fylkir game, and as I and Svienn worked with the players throughout the week, we had some decisions to make regarding team selection. However, there was no need for a cull after one defeat to a very good FH side, and the main thing we needed was a wholly different performance from the same group of players this weekend.

retired_roxysunny101

Breiðablik Vs Fylkir League Cup Grp B, 27th Feb 2005, Kópavogsvöllur Stadium

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 6th | | Fylkir | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 8th | | Breiðablik | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 || ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Breiðablik: (4-4-2 Diamond) GK: Hafliðason, DL: Sveinsson, DR: Birgisson, DC: Hansen, DC: Podzemsky; MR: Guðmundsson, ML: Rúnarsson (Ingólfsson 61‘), DMC: Sverrisson (c), AMC: Borgþórsson; ST: Baldvinsson, ST: B.Pétursson (S.Pétursson 90‘)

The Party Line in the lead-up to this game was that it was the performance that was all-important. The result was an aside, we were building a team and we wanted a good performance today. But the truth was that we needed three points if we wanted our League Cup adventure to go on past the group phase. The side I put out to keep that dream alive was identical to the side thumped last week - except Olafur Pétursson relinquished the gloves.

I was looking for an immediate impact from my players, as were the 545 spectators who turned out to cheer us on. And the players looked very much up for the fight. The early stages were all about us on the attack, with us forcing several corners and with Petr Podzemsky heading just wide after 10 minutes from one of those corners.

However, in my short time as a football manager I had learned you had to make the most of your chances when on top, so I was desparate for my boys to break the deadlock while we were enjoying such supremacy. My wish was granted by my livewire new signing Gunnar Rafn Borgþórsson, who picked up the ball unmarked inside the box after a good exchange between Birgisson and Sverrison, before thrashing the ball low into the Fylkir net.

From that point onwards we should have had the wherewithal to keep hold of the ball and take firm control of the game, however we didn’t and Premier League Fylkir began to come more and more into the game. Firstly knocking the ball around nicely, and then even coming close to an equaliser with efforts from Viktor Arnarsson and Christian Christiansen.

Half time could not come quick enough, as I desperately had to get my team in the dressing room and turn them back into the team that owned the first 25 minutes. However bay the time I had them back in the dressing room we no longer had a lead to defend. In stoppage time a somewhat hopeful ball was flighted into the penalty area from the left wing by Gislason, and Fylkir right winger Christian Christiansen managed to out jump Hans Hansen at the back post to level the scores going in at the break.

The half time break was all about regrouping, and I could only hope the team that emerged in the second half was more like the team that began the first.

The second half in all was a more scrappy affair, with both sides - after a bad first fixture - all too aware of the importance of the next goal. My heart made it’s way into my oesophagus twice as the hour mark approached, as Helgason twice found himself through on goal only to be foiled by the on rushing Hafliðason, who was justifying my faith in him.

Hafliðason was not to be the only hero, as 5 minutes after those two saves Georg Birgisson found himself free on the right wing, before swinging in a great ball for Gunnar Rafn Borgþórsson to arrive unmarked once more to nod in his second goal of an incredible game and make himself a two goal cup hero.

As soon as we had that lead I all-of-a-sudden could not care less how scrappy the game was - If the ball never left the penalty area for the next half hour I would be the happiest man around! However it did, and chances presented themselves for both sides. Thankfully for us, none of the chances were taken and we battled through to record a fantastic win.

Man of the Match: Christian Christiansen (Fylkir AM R) (9)

Breiðablik (Borgþórsson 19‘, 61‘) 2 - 1 Fylkir (Christiansen 45‘)