bruno

The latest fine results we had produced were not exactly helping my cause. Eddie Gray was more liked than ever both amongst the fans and by the board. I needed him to start producing bad results with the team. But I knew it wouldn’t be very likely, not with the players he had at his disposal. Drastic measures such as selling players would perhaps be the solution. No, probably not. And as much as I despised Eddie, I could neither do it against the club nor the fans.

With both Andrés D’Alessandro and Jermaine Pennant injured (nothing major) and Lúcio suspended perhaps my lucky break would come against Liverpool. All I could do was hope. And hope I did.

goodfella

how did u get the cash all the way up to 500 million? it only lets go up to 75 million

bruno

Not if you use MCM03/04 real time editor

bruno

Leeds United vs. Liverpool – Elland Road
Premier League – Friday 26th December 2003

Squad: Gianluigi Buffon; Carles Puyol, Ian Harte, Dominic Matteo, Walter Samuel; James Milner, Francesco Totti (c), Jody Morris, Jermaine Jenas; Adriano, Ronaldo

Dominic Matteo, James Milner and Jody Morris slotted into the open positions in the starting XI. And to a start they played very well, I was almost terrified that they could help the team to a win.

And with Vladimir Smicer being injured in the 21st minute my fears of a win became even higher. Adriano didn’t exactly calm me down either when he scored early in the second half to see us take the lead with 1-0.

But we suffered a total meltdown after Adriano’s early second half goal. Salif Diao sidestepped Gianluigi Buffon before scoring the equaliser. However Buffon was our guardian this night. Or so it seemed until the 90th minute. Emanuel Petit stepped up and struck a fine free kick but it cannoned of the crossbar. Michael Owen wasn’t late to apply the finish.

Leeds 1: Adriano 50’
Liverpool 2: Diao 56’, Owen 90’

Attendance: 40,197

bruno

After the match I had an urge to speak to Eddie Gray, so I called him up.

EG Hello?

PC Hello Eddie…

EG Hello Campbell. What may I help you with?
I could hear the sarcasm in his voice

PC A bit sarcastic are we?

EG You said it, not me.

PC Nice performance out there tonight. Especially in the second half.

EG Hell, we can’t win all the time. Sometimes it’s good to loose. Then one comes back stronger in the next game.

PC That’s one way too look at it. But you better start winning soon again or else you’re not going to be at the club for very long.

EG It’s not up to you to decide that Campbell, is it now? And I know what stunts you’re trying to pull on the board, you know. But it won’t work.

PC What makes you so sure about that?

EG Oh, I have my ways of making things work out in my best interest. And this will be no exception.

PC Don’t be so sure about that…

EG Oh, I’m sure alright. Well, it’s been nice chatting with you but I’ve got more important issues to get to, so if you don’t mind…

PC No not at all… I’ll let you get to whatever piece of devilry you were doing when you answered the phone.

EG Why thank you, Mr Campbell.


In time for the FA Cup match against Manchester City, Riccardo Montolivo joined us. We had promised him some playing time in the first squad but that wouldn’t be very likely after my recent fall outs with Eddie Gray.

bruno

Leeds United vs. Manchester City – Elland Road
FA Cup 3rd Round – Saturday 3rd January 2004

Squad: Gianluigi Buffon; Carles Puyol, Ian Harte, Lúcio, Walter Samuel; Jermaine Pennant, Francesco Totti (c), Andrés D’Alessandro, Jermaine Jenas; Adriano, Ronaldo

And just as I thought, Riccardo Montolivo wasn’t even on the bench. Eddie Gray had given him the reason that he needed to settle down in England before playing for Leeds.

On various occasions this season, we had managed to get off to a flying start, but not tonight. We struggled hard with a defensive City but we wore them down gradually. And before the interval we had a 2-0 lead, after one goal from Ronaldo and one from Jermaine Jenas.

The second half started in the way the first ended, with us scoring. Adriano put us up 3-0 before Ronaldo headed in his second of the match from a corner. Skipper Francesco Totti rounded off the scoring 6 minutes from the end with a great free kick.

The result saw us go through to the next round of the FA Cup where we will face Sheffield United on Bramall Lane.

Leeds 5: Ronaldo 26’, 59’, Jenas 35’, Adriano 53’, Totti 84’
Man City 0:

Attendance: 40,170

bruno

Leeds United vs. Manchester City – Elland Road
Premier League – Wednesday 7th January 2004

Squad: Gianluigi Buffon; Carles Puyol, Ian Harte, Lúcio, Walter Samuel; Jermaine Pennant, Francesco Totti (c), Andrés D’Alessandro, Jermaine Jenas; Adriano, Ronaldo

For 45 minutes we had the better of the game, and should've scored twice. But this night we didn’t, much due to the fact that Tim Howard put in a trustworthy and rock-solid performance. And with Carles Puyol being sent off in the 37th minute after shredding Ryan Giggs shirt into pieces it didn't look good.

Our lack of creativity up front was devastatingly decorated as both Ronaldo and Adriano played inadequately. Alan Smith was on the bench and with 20 minutes to go he replaced Ronaldo, but not too much use really. He played, if possibly, even worse than Ronaldo and Eddie Gray could not be very happy with that substitution.

Regardless of playing well, Gianluigi Buffon was unable to keep a clean sheet, much in view of the fact that a poor and jittery Leeds defence let the Devils dictate the terms. Late in the game Man Utd slowly but surely forced us to surrender.

John O’Shea scored on the corner in the 83rd minute before Louis Saha tantalizingly chipped Gigi Buffon from 20 yards to round off the scoring. This defeat saw Man Utd and Liverpool draw nearer in the league, now only 8 points behind. 2 league matches ago they were 14 points behind. Would we be doing just as Arsenal had done last season?

Leeds 0:
Man Utd 2: O’Shea 83’, Saha 90’

Attendance: 40,160

bruno

Eddie had so far been riding on a high, with a marvellous start to the season. But now, after 2 straight league defeats, he weren’t a happy chap. And that, the players had to pay for in training; Eddie drilled them like a mad man. In particular “my� signing Riccardo Montolivo, who apparently didn’t like Eddie very much either.

RM Hey Mr Campbell.

PC Hello Riccardo. What business has brought you to me?

RM I’ve got a feeling you know what I mean.

PC Eddie?

RM Exactly.

PC Yeah, I’ve seen that he’s been giving you a hard time. However I can’t help you.

RM Why? I thought this was your club.

PC It is but my hands are tied at the moment. I need the boards consent when firing him, and I haven’t got that yet. But if this string of bad results continues then he’ll be out of here sooner than later.

RM I take it you don’t like him either?

PC Spot on. I’ve been trying for a while now to get rid of that prÃ*ck but the board hasn’t exactly been supportive of my suggestions so far. But I won’t stop trying until he’s gone, take my word for it. Until then just try to hang in, will you?

RM Sure… So, from what I’ve gathered he’s giving me a hard time just because you signed me and not he? What a fecking gÃ*t.

PC I agree, but as I said, he’s safe. At least for the moment.

RM Tell me if there’s anything I can do to help you with this issue. I’ll do anything.

PC I appreciate your offer but I’ll take care of this pleasurable business of my own.

retired_curlleigh

read half yesterday and half today

keep it up, mate :thup: :cool:

bruno

Cheers... I'll keep it up, at least for a season or two. You never know, I might even keep it up for a decade or so. But then yet again I might not. We'll just have to see how the story develops. Will try to add a few twists to it, although at the moment I'm not sure what the twists will be.