retired_destiny1124

29.9.07
Rodez (1) Calais (1)
Rodez- Alexandre Bonnot 24
Calais- Tiago Mota 66
MOM- Guillaume Gauclin, Rodez

"I don't know why they gave Gauclin the MOM," complained Faramir. "We only managed to put 4 of 17 shots on net- it was our own play that killed us."

"Well, they couldn't figure out who else to give it to. Their offense was worse than ours- even though they managed a handful of shots."

"We can't afford to waste good chances like we did today."

***

2.10.07
Martigues (0) Calais (5) League Cup Preliminary round
Martigues- None
Calais- Cedric 13 Fabio Ceschi 15,45 Hugo Viana 39 Joao Paralta 53
MOM- Justin Phillips, Calais

"Excellent play in a match that I was a bit worried about," stated Faramir.

"Cedric's left side run really set the tone for the match. We had them off their game early on."

"Justin (Phillips) showed even more today- he is a splendid midfielder. Best of all though is the fact that we were able to gain 300K for advancing into the Cup competition- that helps the bottom line tremendously."

retired_destiny1124

5.10.07
Calais (4) Louhans (1)
Calais- Mounir Alkhatib 57 Tiago Mota 64,71,83
Louhans- Yoann Tapella 59
MOM- Tiago Mota, Calais

"Nice to see Tiago finally break loose, he had been close several times before," commented Gond.

"Did you realize that Hugo Viana *already* has broken the Calais season record for assists. His two today give him 12 for the season so far."

"Between his passing and superb corners- that doesn't surprise me that much."

***

9.10.07
Dijon (2) Calais (2)
Dijon- Thor Inge Jonsdal 58 Pascal Camadini 74
Calais- Joao Paralta 26 Kim Jung-Woo 85
MOM- Pascal Camadini, Dijon

"Camadini sure didn't play like his age. 35 and still with that much verve," offered Gond with a shake of his head.

"We could have had a win here if we had played better on the backline. We started out fine, but then fell apart in the second half. If Cees (Paauwe) doesn't play well, we don't even get the draw."

"You're still committed to transferring Kim (Jung-Woo)?"

"If I can get his minimum fee release of 500K- yes. He is our highest wage player and Kevin Brown has proved that he can play the role- so it makes sense to lessen the wages and try and get a little more in the transfer fund for midseason."

retired_destiny1124

13.10.07
Calais (2) Bourg-Perronas (2)
Calais- Mounir Alkhatib 73 Kevin Brown 90
BP- David Sauget 10 Laurent Goretta 36
MOM- Justin Phillips, Calais

"It was a wonderful comeback, but another match we should have won," flatly stated Gond.

"Ian's (Ritchie) poor play again put us in a hole. Fortunately we were able to equalize- I wasn't sure we were going to get that 2nd goal the way Yoann Sanchez was playing for them- he was superb."

"It was a sensational pass from Justin (Phillips) that set up Kevin (Brown) for the goal, he really has a lot of offensive talent in the midfield."

***

27.10.07
Niort (1) Calais (1)
Niort- Limberg Percy Pizarro 89
Calais- Mounir Alkhatib 76
MOM- Mounir Alkhatib, Calais

Faramir was fuming, "I still can't believe Durgham (El-Bawi) wound up taking and missing that penalty. I am very unhappy about the miscommunication that likely cost us a win."

"I know. I heard you yelling that you wanted Joao (Paralta) to take it."

"Durgham is about the last player I wanted taking it. A wasted match! Good offensive work all match and then we let down defensively- it was a disappointing result in my book."

retired_destiny1124

3.11.07
Endoume (0) Calais (4) French Cup 6th round
Endoume- None
Calais- Thomas Heed 9 Cedric 27 Baptiste Lafleuriel 49 Kim Jung-Woo 70
MOM- Kim Jung-Woo, Calais

"That was a fun trip to Marseille," chuckled Barry Gond.

"Much better than if facing the big side," agreed Faramir.

"Now you are *sure* we need to get rid of Jung-Woo?" asked Gond.

"So far- yes. I may have to change my mind if he keeps playing like today though."

***

9.11.07
Calais (2) Laval (3)
Calais- Fabio Ceschi 18 Joao Paralta 27
Laval- Sylvain Prat 39,79 Pierre Renard 54
MOM- Sylvain Prat, Laval

"Another wasted match," muttered Gond.

"Back to the practice pitch on defense. We can't afford to give away two goal leads- in a match that we should have won."

"Our defensive inconsistency is a bit maddening."

retired_destiny1124

17.11.07
Le Mans (0) Calais (3)
Le Mans- None
Calais- Joao Paralta 3,56 Thomas Heed 34
MOM- Joao Paralta, Calais

"Nice to get back on the winning track," said a relieved Gond.

"Have to agree with you there. This was a much better overall effort- both offensively and defensively."

"We could easily have had several more goals. Mounir (Alkhatib) was snake-bit today, he missed some golden chances."

***

24.11.07
Montferrand (2) Calais (1) French Cup 7th round
Montferrand- Phillipe Lima 35 Sebastien Keita 87
Calais- Filipe Morais 5
MOM- Filipe Morais, Calais

"I can't be too unhappy- we played a solid match overall- but it was disappointing to give up that late goal," lamented Faramir.

"Julien Frobert played superbly in their net. Filipe had so many good chances, I can't believe he only got that one goal."

retired_destiny1124

27.11.07
Amiens (0) Calais (1)
Amiens- None
Calais- Mounir Alkhatib 8
MOM- Joao Paralta, Calais

"Maybe that Montferrand result was good, we certainly turned the tables on Amiens today," smiled Gond.

"We certainly provided a nice upset. We weren't given any chance at all against a Division 1 side after that loss to Montferrand, but they failed to realize we had gone with our 2nd unit against the smaller side."

"Lille is next. I doubt they take us so lightly."

"Very true. Still, we got another nice payout for advancing to the next round. That will help our bottom line a lot."

***

1.12.07
Brest (1) Calais (2)
Brest- Lilian Guenot 38
Calais- Antti Makela 16 Fabio Ceschi 45
MOM- Frederic Trigo, Brest

"This shouldn't have been such a tough win- but it was," ruefully commented Gond.

"You're right Barry, but with Trigo showing what a smart veteran keeper he is and the referee ruling off two goals on us- well, I think we were fortunate to get the win."

"That is true on the offsides- although they were both a bit obvious calls. It was nice to see Ian (Ritchie) finally play a match like we both know he is capable of."

retired_destiny1124

8.12.07
Calais (2) Paris FC (0)
Calais- Mounir Alkhatib 13,29
Paris FC- None
MOM- Mounir Alkhatib, Calais

"That was a nice way to head into the winter break," stated Gond.

"It wasn't our best match, but Mounir (Alkhatib) earned us the win with those pair of dazzling goals."

"At least we can get some of our injured players healthy again."

***

"One coming, one going," commented Gond.

"We are getting the better of the swap overall."

Calais Cashes Cointe, Picks Prats
Calais sold one midfielder on transfer and then promptly picked up another to replace him. Leaving the coast is Benoit Cointe, who was sold to Dijon for 45K. Coming to France for the first time is 26 yr old AMR Jordi Prats. Prats is a Spaniard arriving from Spanish side Burgos. Burgos, which failed in their attempt to re-sign Prats, was happy to allow him to move to Calais for the reported cost of 10K.

***

"It's an old friend..." hinted Faramir.

"Sorry, still can't think of who it would be," replied Gond.

Calais Buys Macdonald
Calais purchased 31 yr old Scot DMC Billy Macdonald from St.Johnstone. The reported purchase price was only 20K for the unhappy midfielder. According to comments, Macdonald was happy for a chance to reprise his role as anchor midfielder for his former Manager.

retired_destiny1124

5.1.08
Lille (3) Calais (3) League Cup 2nd round (Calais advances on Penalties)
Lille- Diope 25,56 Sebastien Mace 41
Calais- Hugo Viana 21,40 Thomas Heed 30
MOM- Diope, Lille

"Cees (Paauwe) could have made this a much easier win, if he had played better in regulation," observed Gond.

"He certainly made up for it in the penalties- saving 2 of their first 3 shots. That made it easy for us to win the shoot-out."

"Billy (Macdonald) sure made his presence known, he could be our key addition."

"Considering he is pretty much our only addition, other than Jordi Prats, yes, he qualifies. Having him makes a big difference for us. Kim Jung-Woo is smooth, but he doesn't challenge like we need him too in that role."

***

12.1.08
Calais (3) Valenciennes (0)
Calais- Tiago Mota 31-P Mounir Alkhatib 45 Laurent Henry OwnGoal- 71
Valenciennes- None
MOM- Mounir Alkhatib, Calais

"We bombarded Gin Yangbo, but until that penalty I was wondering if we were ever going to get one by him," offered Gond.

"At least he called the penalty. I wasn't sure he would. We were good offensively today, but Ian (Ritchie) came up with some big stops when they were trying to rally."

"Thomas (Kleine) and Linvoy (Primus) both looked a bit slow today- they might need a rest."5.1.08
Lille (3) Calais (3) League Cup 2nd round (Calais advances on Penalties)
Lille- Diope 25,56 Sebastien Mace 41
Calais- Hugo Viana 21,40 Thomas Heed 30
MOM- Diope, Lille

"Cees (Paauwe) could have made this a much easier win, if he had played better in regulation," observed Gond.

"He certainly made up for it in the penalties- saving 2 of their first 3 shots. That made it easy for us to win the shoot-out."

"Billy (Macdonald) sure made his presence known, he could be our key addition."

"Considering he is pretty much our only addition, other than Jordi Prats, yes, he qualifies. Having him makes a big difference for us. Kim Jung-Woo is smooth, but he doesn't challenge like we need him too in that role."

***

12.1.08
Calais (3) Valenciennes (0)
Calais- Tiago Mota 31-P Mounir Alkhatib 45 Laurent Henry OwnGoal- 71
Valenciennes- None
MOM- Mounir Alkhatib, Calais

"We bombarded Gin Yangbo, but until that penalty I was wondering if we were ever going to get one by him," offered Gond.

"At least he called the penalty. I wasn't sure he would. We were good offensively today, but Ian (Ritchie) came up with some big stops when they were trying to rally."

"Thomas (Kleine) and Linvoy (Primus) both looked a bit slow today- they might need a rest."

retired_destiny1124

26.1.08
Valence (2) Calais (1) League Cup 3rd round
Valence- Cedric Kante 45 Joao Emanuel Cadete 68
Calais- Kevin Brown 77
MOM- Cedric Kante, Valence

"Two shots on goal, both of them in- we lose," grumbled Barry Gond.

"It wasn't Cees' (Paauwe) best match, but remember he got us here in the first place. We actually played much better than they did overall, but we didn't take advantage of our chances."

"Our shooting was certainly off the mark today."

***

2.2.07
Calais (5) Viry (0)
Calais- Justin Phillips 2 Filipe Morais 17 Fabio Ceschi 58 Hugo Viana 63 Joao Paralta 90
Viry- None
MOM- Filipe Morais, Calais

"I think all that extra training time paid off," said a happy Gond.

"We executed superbly today, both offensively and defensively."

"Filipe (Morais) was excellent filling in for Mounir (Alkhatib) today. We really do have a lot of midfield depth."

retired_confal2

Pity the League Cup run had to come to an end. Still, you've taken the National by storm. Best of luck -not that you need it :thup: