shannon2007

Settling In

I have no idea whom the Albanian authorities actually had been expecting, if indeed they had really been expecting anyone at all. I know for a fact I had not applied for this job, and I was still totally confused as to how I had gotten here. No doubt in the fullness of time I would find out, but trying to contact people on the outside had not been easy, and those I had managed to phone were not willing to admit their part in this whole fiasco. Fiona, my now ex-fiancee, refused to talk to me when I phoned her, and I eventually had to give up. Perhaps I would eventually be able to get back to Wrexham, and speak to her face to face, but the more I thought about it, the more I began to realise that perhaps I had had a lucky escape. And the young receptionist in the hotel I was staying at more than convinced me I was better off single.

My first matches in charge of the national side were still some way off, and for now all I could do was try to settle in, and get used to being in this strange but often quaint country. Chatting up the women was far from easy, and Albania is a mostly Moslem country, but I found my ways to entertain myself to pass the time. I was also able to fill myself in on the history of the game here, and establish for myself just what sort of task I had here. I figured that at the end of the day, it wouldn’t be that much harder than managing a League of Wales side.

My main worry was the expectations of the Albanian FA. Armand came across as a jovial sort of chap, but unless my interpreter had been taking liberties, his expectations seem to be a bit high. He didn’t expect us to reach Germany 2006, even he wasn’t that insane, but it was clear he expected results building on the previous European Championship qualifying, and that he would not be happy to come bottom or even second bottom of the group this time. I worried about the consequences should I fail, but in the end I could only do what I could, and the consequences would take care of themselves.


The football season soon got under way, and looking to see who might impress me and earn a call up to the national side, I would of course be taking in the European games involving Albanian teams, starting of course with the Inter Toto Cup. That would probably not be very many games, as Albanian sides rarely lasted long in Europe. Two Albanian sides took their place in the Inter Toto first round, hoping to progress as far as possible, although it was unlikely they would reach the UEFA from here, and for Teuta that was to be the case for sure. A 2-1 home victory over Romania’s Gloria 1922 Bistrita was a decent performance, and the 2-1 defeat in Romania in the 2nd leg was no disgrace either, but Teuta found no luck and were edged out in the penalty shoot out.

The other Albania side, Vllaznia, had drawn a possibly easier tie against Estonia’s Narva Trans. They too though secured a 2-1 home first leg win, but that result was not greeted with much praise. In Estonia though, Trans could not overcome the deficit, Vllaznia winning there also by 2-1 to progress to the 2nd round, where they would play Zlin of the Czech Republic. Once more the first leg was at home, but the 2-1 scoreline this time went against the Albania side, and they would now have a nigh impossible task to stay in Europe. A 1-1 away draw in Estonia wasn’t a bad result when taken as a stand alone, but it wasn’t enough and Vllaznia’s interest in Europe was over for another seaso
n.

retired_jgirl87

Albania, eh? The only Albanian player I know of is Igli Tare who plays in the Italian Serie A, but I don't recall for which team at the moment.

Looking forward to a cracking story PM, just as your stories always seem to be. :cool:

shannon2007

Thanks Spav.

Tare was the only player I knew as well. He plays for Bologna. I'm pretty sure I've signed him in a previous CM game cos it does ring a bell.

shannon2007

Some More Europe

SK Tirana had drawn a reasonably tough tie against Icelanders KR in the Champions League, and would need to get a good home result. Albania though is not the easiest place to travel to, and even big clubs have found it tough here in the past. Fifteen minutes into the match though, KR were ahead, and seven minutes later won a penalty which was converted and now SK had a proverbial mountain to climb. Altin Rraklli did pull them a goal back on 26 minutes but it was not to be enough and SK were halfway out of the Champions League. None of their players had really stood out, which from my point of view was a little bit depressing.

In the UEFA Cup, Partizani were at home to Bosnian side Modrica Maxima. This was one of those matches that could go either way, and it was the Bosnians who took the lead with a 21st minute penalty. Less than a minute later, Mateo Metani levelled things and four minutes after the break Ardit Beqiri sent Partizani into the lead. Hopes of taking that lead to Bosnia though were dashed eight minutes from time, and although a far from impossible task, it will take a lot of guts for the Albanians to come through now.

For Dinamo Tirana though, things were to go a lot better in Macedonia, and finally some good news for Albanian football. Sloga Jugomagnat were their rather strangely named team, which is probably rich coming from a Welshman. Left back Luan Pinari sent Dinamo ahead after 7 minutes, and had a good all round game. Finally I was getting to see some players who might just be able to get into my first squads. Fjaton Ymeri scored the second on 33 minutes, but although he played ok, he doesn’t quite look international class and I have to believe there are better strikers available to me. A great away win, which gives Dinamo a chance of reaching the next round.


In Iceland, SK needed an early goal to have any real chance, and they certainly couldn’t afford to lose one. Just three minutes in Mahir Halili didn’t do his international chances any harm with a fine goal, and it was just the start SK needed. They were of course still trailing on the away goals rule, but they were playing well, and it seemed just a matter of time before the second goal came. And indeed, four minutes into the second half Indrit Fortuzi. capped 26 times already showed he can get a few more caps with a good goal, and now SK were ahead on aggregate. The Icelanders though, who had seemed lethargic so far, suddenly woke up to the fact they were on their way out of Europe, and with ten minutes left they took the match the Extra Time. SK’s Geri Cipi was sent off a minute after the goal, which was a huge blow. With the match heading to penalties, Eldorado Merkoci fired in a shot from a corner and SK were into the second round. It was a great come back, and their reward was a match with Sparta Prague. That would certainly be a whole lot tougher.

In the UEFA Cup, the second legs could not have been in any more contrast. Partizani were ripped apart in Bosnia, going down 3-0 on the night, and out on a 5-2 aggregate scoreline. It wasn’t the best of nights for them, and it would be a depressing trip back home. Meanwhile, in Tirana, Dinamo were having a party as they cruised past Sloga 4-0 for a 6-0 aggregate, a superb performance. They would face Serbian’s Partizan Belgrade in the 2nd qualifying round.


It would need a huge performance from SK to overcome a Sparta Prague team who were clearly superior in ability. Yet the great thing about football is that ability can often be overcome with determination. Just two minutes into the match and the Czech side were ahead, yet some of that determination needed by SK came to the fore, as just three minutes later they were level through Rezart Dabulla. It took only eight minutes for Sparta to restore their lead, but SK were not being outplayed, and a 2-1 away defeat wouldn’t be disheartening. As the match wore in though, Sparta’s superiority grew, and it was no surprise when they added a third with sixteen minutes left to play. A tough, but not impossible task for SK in Tirana. On the night though it was to prove a bridge too far, as Sparta were to win 2-1, and SK were the latest Albanian casualties in Europe.

Dinamo were the last hopes of having some extra success this season, and an Artan Poci penalty on 41 minutes gave them a narrow 1-0 lead to take to Belgrade, but at least they hadn’t lost an away goal, which can often be the deciding factor these days. After a good first half in the return leg, Dinamo gave away two goals in two minutes, and found themselves trailing on aggregate. Eight minutes from time though, Sokol Ishka grabbed that vital goal, and not losing one at home did indeed prove to be so crucial as Dinamo entered the 1st round proper of the UEFA Cup. Standing in the way of their entry to the group stage would be Portugese side, Maritimo.

enjikari

Igli Tare nearly signed for Watford once, three/four seasons back, but I think he failed the medical in the end.

Nice start. KUTGW :thup:

retired_confal2

Fine start, like the format and the tone :thup:

Had to take a look when I saw the title -throws me back to an ill-advised drive around Kukes, back when I was working in Kosovo...

Never met any Albanian called Armand, by the way, and I was surrounded with them when living in Pristina, but a little suspension of disbelief is never a bad thing I suppose

shannon2007

Just for you Dave

http://www.uefa.com/FootballCentral/...n=2/index.html

shannon2007

The Squad Selections

Finally, the waiting was over and I had the chance to pick my first squads as Albania manager. Having accepted my fate, I was quite looking forward to it in a way, and with no money for a decent sized coaching staff, I would have to manage the Under 19’s and the Under 21’s myself. But then, I had plenty of time to do so, there isn’t really much to do as an international manager on a day to day basis, and don’t let them kid you otherwise.

I wasn’t entirely alone though to take care of the three teams. I had two coaches, and three physios. That was just as well, because I wasn’t a doctor by any stretch of the imagination. My coaches, both Albanians, were 50 year old Medin Zhega and 43 year old Sulejman Starova who was on the coaching staff also at SK Tirana. The three physios are unimportant really, I mean who ever heard of a physio?

Having two Albania coaches was useful, because I had hardly picked up a word of the language. The problem was, neither of them could speak a word of English. Nevertheless, we managed to communicate somehow, and eventually were able to name our squads, that we hoped would carry us to glory. Some hope.

Albania vs Greece/Georgia World Cup Qualifiers, 4th/8th September 2004

Goalkeepers

Blendi Nallbani GK (33) SK Tirana (16 Caps)
Arjan Beqaj GK (28) Ionikos (13 Caps)
Elvis Agolli GK (22) Partizani (Uncapped)

Defence

Paulin Dhembi D/DMC (25) Dinamo (3 Caps)
Nevil Dede SW/DC (29) Elbasani (16 Caps)
Luan Pinari D/DMLC (26) Dinamo (5 Caps, 1 goal)
Arjan Pisha SW/DRLC (27) Dinamo (Uncapped)
Rezart Dabulla D/DML (24) SK Tirana (5 Caps)
Elvin Beqiri DRL (23) Metalurg Donetsk (7 Caps)
Geri Cipi SW/DC (28) SK Tirana (30 caps)
Julian Ahmataj DRC (24) Elbasani ( 1 Cap)
Elton Fani D/DMRC (26) Elbasani (Uncapped)

Midfield

Ervin Skela AMLC (27) Bielefeld (16 Caps, 3 goals)
Altin Lala DM (27) Hannover 96 (33 Caps, 2 goals)
Devi Muka AMRC (27) SK Tirana ( 5 Caps)
Ervin Bulku DMRC (23) SK Tirana (3 Caps)
Klodian Duro AMC (26) Bielefeld (22 Caps, 1 goal)
Saimir Patushi DMRC (27) SK Tirana (Uncapped)
Sokol Bulku DMC (26) SK Tirana (1 U21 Cap)
Edwin Murati AMLC (28) Iraklis] (13 Caps, 2 goals)
Gentian Gjondedaj DMC (24) Flamurtari (Uncapped)
Armando Zani AMLC (28) Augsburg (Uncapped)

Forwards


Florian Myrtaj FRLC (27) Parma/Verona (6 Caps)
Igli Tare (30) SC (30) Bologna (36 Caps, 4 goals)
Bledi Shkembi SC (25) Kamen Ingrad (3 Caps)
Skerdilaid Curri AM/FRC (28) Aue (Uncapped)

A mixture of experience and inexperience. There are are a fair few player who play their football outside Albania, and their experience is very valuable to the squad. Florian Myrtaj and Atlin Lala are probably our best players, and a lot is expected of them. The standard of player here is actually not too bad. Some of these players would not be out of place in a lower EPL side, and some might even make the squads of the top clubs. Of course, the depth is lacking as you would expect, but Albanian football is on the rise as reflected by the Under 21 squad, which contains one or two players who will be knocking on the door of the full squad soon. I hope.

Albania U-21’s v Greece U-21’s/Georgia U-21s European U-21 Championships Qualifiers 3rd/7th September 2004
Squad

Goalkeepers

Dorian Ethemi GK (20) Teuta
Armando Paro GK (21) Erzeni
Sokol Spaho GK (21) Lushnja

Defence

Debatik Curri DRLC (20) Barcelona
Enri Ndreka DRLC (21) Partizani ( 2 Caps)
Armend Dallku DRC (21) Elbasanip (2 U21 caps)
Alert Sejdini DRC (21) Elbasani
Bledar Shima DL (20) Teuta
Erogen Brajovic DC (21) Vllaznia
Altin Mateli DC (21) Erzeni
Artur Xhyra DC (20) Shkumbini
Ilir Kalari D/DMR (20) Laci

Midfield

Gentian Besha DMC (20) Bylis
Lorik Cana DMC (21) Paris SG (6 Caps)
Fatjon Karamani AMLC (21) Tomori
Marenglen Kule AMC (21) Apolonia
Ergys Shameti AMC (20) Erzeni
Migen Taipi[/i] AMC (21) Erzeni
Krenar Vokshi AMC (21) Villarreal
Forwards

Sokol Kacani AM/FLC (20) BW Linz (1 cap)
Arben Ahmetaj SC (20) Bylis
Klajdi Albrahimi SC (21) Elbasani
Leonard Muzha SC (20) Apolonia
Parid Xhihani SC (21) Dinamo

The U-21s are unlikely to reach the European U21 Championships, but there are one or two very promising players in the squad. Debatik Curri and Armend Dallku in the defence along with Lorik Cana, who already has six full caps and Krenar Vokshi in the midfield could all probably hold down a place in the full squad. Our real weaknesses seem to be in goal and up front, and at the end of the day that is what will cost us success.

Albania U-19’s v Cayman Islands U-20’s/Belarus U-19, Friendlies 2nd/6th September 2004

Goalkeepers

Gerti Sharra GK (16) Dinamo *
Gledis Sharra GK (19) SK Tirana *
Glend Tafaj GK (17) Unattached

Defence

Saimar Hysa DR (17) Shkumbini
Xhevahir Sukja DR (16) Vllaznia
Tefik Osmani DRC (19) Partizani (3 U21 Caps) *
Gjon Gjergji DL (18) Segesta
Mark Gjini DL (19) Besa
Florian Ristani DL (19) Partizani
Erjon Bajro DC (19) Elbasani
Andi Canaj DC (19) Partizani *
Aldo Guna DC (19) [i]Flamurtari
Erald Pustina DC (19) Lushnja

Midfield

Arben Prelaj DMLC (19) Beselidhja
Rudolf Nurja DMC (19) Dinamo
Artur Qerolli MRC (19) Besa
Andi Lila MC (18) Besa *
Florian Manastirliu MC (19) SK Tirana
Enio Samarxhi MC (19) Partizani
Behar Hoti AMRC (16) Egnatia
Adonis Shala AM/FRC (15) Egnatia *

Forwards

Krenar Kosumi FRC (18) Velez *
Taulant Ismailaj FC (17) Luftetari
Arber Abilaliaj SC (18) Flamurtari
Mario Bytyci SC (19) Unattached

The goalkeepers Gerti and Gledis Sharra both look very promising, and other players to keep an eye on for the future are Tefik Osmani, who already has U-21 caps, Andi Canaj, Andi Lila, Andonis Shala who is only 15 and yet is good enough to play at this level, and Krenar Kosumi who has amazingly just signed for Argentinian outfit Velez. Whilst I would expect us to do well against the Caymen Islands, the depth of the pool really isn’t that great and we will struggle against better class sides.

shannon2007

Albania Under19’s v Cayman Islands Under 20’s
Friendly
Selman Stermasi, Albania
1421

Albania (4-1-3-2): Gledis Sharra; Xhevahir Sukaj, Tefik Osmani, Aldo Guna, Mark Gjini; Rudolf Nurja; Andi Lila, Andonis Shala, Florian Manastirliu; Krenar Kosumi, Arber Abilaliaj Subs: Gerti Sharra (GK), Enrik Dafa, Erjon Bajro, Arben Prelaj, Artur Qerolli, Taulant Ismailaj, Behar Hoti, Mario Bytyci, Erald Pustina

Cayman Islands (4-4-2): MWalker; D Rose, M Howells, V Reeve, R Huddlestone; P Cooke, J Little, S Bell, B McDonnell; N Rushbury, M Wright Subs: P Lovell (GK), J Toner, D Wild, D Donaldson, P Moran, A Marshall, J McGuire, M Jenas, D Benjamin

My first chance to see the future of Albanian football in action, and I hope to see one or two players who would impress me enough to gain promotion soon to the full squad. It was only a friendly, but there was a lot at stake for these players, and I wanted them to go out there and put on a show against the older Cayman team. There was only one withdrawal before the match as Andi Canaj was replaced by Enrik Dafa (SW/DLC (19) Teuta)_


The match started quietly in front of a small but vocal home support. Indeed it took 12 minutes before the first real bit of action, when Shala worked some magic to set up the first real chance of the match, but the Cayman keeper held the final effort from Abilaliaj. Nevertheless, it was encouraging play and the youngsters seemed full of confidence. A couple of minutes later, the Cayman’s Davies was booked for a trip on Kosumi and it was he who took the resultant free kick, but it went disappointingly high over the bar.

It was fully 28 minutes before the visitors threatened our goal. Rushbury was fouled on the edge of the area by Guna, but McDonnell’s free kick was also high over the bar. It was a warning though that we musnt take this team lightly. Guna was in trouble a few minutes later for another trip on the dangerous Rushbury, and received a stern warning from the referee. Once again though, the free kick failed to trouble our goal.

The half pettered out, with little real chances from either side, and all in all it had been quite a disappointing display of football, with little to get the crowd excited about. We could only hope the second half would be better. I didn’t make any changes at half time. I believed we had started with our strongest 11 and I really wanted to give them as long a workout as possible. It was important to see that they could, and there would be time for experimenting later if needed.

The second half started as the first had ended, and there was real fear the crowd would get up and leave. This was boring stuff. Just after the hour, the Caymans madse a few changes, and perhaps they would no try to open up a little bit more from their stuffy defensiveness so far. With sixteen minutes left, we built up our first penetrating move of the half. Sukaj picked up a poor clearance just inside his own half, and played a neat one two with Lila before sending the ball forward to Shala. Shala found Kosumip on the edge of the area, but he was being crowded by two defenders and knocked the ball back to Lila who was unmarked outside the area and hit a first time shot from 25 yards that totally beat the keeper and went in off his right hand post. It was a well worked, and well deserved goal.

The Cayman’s had created very little, and just two minutes later we punished them again. After some more fine build up play, Shala latched onto a through ball from Manastirliu and we were 2-0 ahead. After that the match died again, and the only real happening was an injury to Shala almost on full time. Ismailaj came on, but he didn’t get to touch the ball before the referee blew for full time.

At the end of the day, a pleasing result, and although the match at times was an utter bore, both our goals were well taken. There were some decent performances, and our next match against Belarus will surely be a much tougher test for the kids.

How they Played:

Albania : Gledis Sharra 7; Xhevahir Sukaj 7, Tefik Osmani 7, Aldo Guna 7 Mark Gjini 7; Rudolf Nurja 7; Andi Lila (1) 7, Andonis Shala (inj 90) (1) 8, Florian Manastirliu 7; Krenar Kosumi 7, Arber Abilaliaj 7 Subs: Gerti Sharra (GK), Enrik Dafa, Erjon Bajro, Arben Prelaj, Artur Qerolli, Taulant Ismailaj (on 90) 6, Behar Hoti, Mario Bytyci, Erald Pustina


Cayman Islands : M Walker 6; D Rose 7, M Howells 7, V Reeve 7, R Huddlestone 7; P Cooke 6, J Little (MoM) 8, S Bell 7, B McDonnell 7; N Rushbury 5, M Wright 7 Subs: P Lovell (GK), J Toner, D Wild, D Donaldson (on 62) 7, P Moran (on 62) 7, A Marshall (on 74) 7 J McGuire (on 74) 6, M Jenas (on 62) 7, D Benjamin (on 62) 7

retired_confal2

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peacemaker7:
Just for you Dave

http://www.uefa.com/FootballCentral/...n=2/index.html <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I stand corrected :o

And you even have an 'Armando' in your senior team, and another one (as well as an 'Armend') in your under-21s...

Should have known you'd done some proper research on this. Nice one