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That concluded the qualifying games for 2004. Friendly matches at home to canada and away to norway offer a chance to try and improve creativity before the competitive games resume.

Cyprus has still to play Israel in November whilst the other nations are also engaged in friendly encounters. Thus, at this stage in proceedings, we lie 125th in the world rankings and 4th in the Group:

Nation pld/points

France 4/10
Ireland 4/10
Cyprus 4/4
Faroe Islands 4/4
Switzerland 3/3
Israel 3/0

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And so onto the friendly matches. Although hardly swamped with an embarassment of riches which allows any real degree of experimentation, these friendlies did offer a chance to try out a few new players and tactical options. The most critical aspect that needed improving (based on the last few games) was creativity - goals were becoming harder and harder to come by!!

Once again for this double header the squad was largely unchanged. Jon Roi Jacobsen did depart through injury, and a swift recall was offered to Ennigaro.

First up, Canada came calling to Torshavn.

Faroe Islands 0 Canada 2
Saturday 13th November 2004
Ref: Florian Meyer

There was a small amount of tinkering with the starting 11, with first caps under my regime being given to Arnold Joensen and Kurt Mokore. This was supposed to inspire a more attacking performance, but in truth we never really got going. Kristian Hansen (sent off in the France game) continued his misfortunes by giving Canada the lead after 22 mins by scoring an own goal, with Canada sealing the victory in the 78th min with a goal by Franks. This was a bitterly disappointing performance, with once again creativity going forward being the biggest problem. Food for thought for the trip to Norway...

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Norway 5 Faroe Islands 1
Wednesday 17th November 2004
Ref: Herbert Fandel

Absolutely obliterated!!! Despite some fair amount of optimism in the press (believing a victory was on the cards), and squad tinkering kept to a minimum (Knudsen got his first 45mins in goals and Julian Johnsson was introduced) to try and ensure some consistency within the playing staff, we were played off the park. I did think this was going to be a much sterner test than the Canada game, but I had hoped that the team would show a bit more fight and determination that was displayed.

In truth, it was a hammering. Norway went in front after 15mins through an Andresen penalty, although the travelling Faroes support has something to shout about once a Borg levelled the scores after 21 minutes. Unfortunately, the next 16 mins were a disaster. First, Andresen scored again on 28mins, followed by a quick fire double by Carew on 35mins and then Hoseth on 37. Carew completed the scoring after 50mins, and for the next 40mins, the game was just played out as both teams went through the motions offering little.

Despite only scoring once and conceding 7 in these two games, quite a bit has been learned and hopefully the squad will be able to put this into practice when the real matches start again in earnest. Until then, there are a few more friendlies in the pipeline giving an opportunity to try and recapture the stunning form shown in Switzerland.

Other result:

Cyprus 2 Israel 1


At the end of 2004:

Pld 6, W 1, D 1, L 4, GF 5, GA 16, PTS 4

This leaves us sitting 132nd in the world rankings, which is unfortunately a slide back down the rankings after recent months had seen us hit the 125th mark.

European Zone Qualifying Group 4 stands as thus:

Team----------Pld/Pts

France 4/10
Ireland 4/10
Cyprus 5/7
Faroes 4/4
Switzerland 3/3
Israel 4/0

Oddly enough, Im quite looking forward to the games against Israel.

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And so on to 2005. Christmas, Hogmany and New Year was spend back in Scotland courtsey of the direct flights linking my adopted country and my home country. This was a typically boozy time of year, but on the flight back to Vagar, i found a crumpled napkin still in my pocket, with a detailed sketch of a new 4-4-1-1 tactic devised whilst 'slightly' under the influence in an attempt to revitalise the ever-so-slightly flagging performances of late. What would my Brazilian assistant think of all of this - a man from the land of skill and grace attempting to put into practice his boss's hungover musings!!

However, time does not stand still, and two home friendlies awaited in February and March against Tunisia and Kazakhstan respectively. And so, after having a few weeks of scouting and looking at the national squad afresh, I announced the 26 men that I hoped would take me through 2005 - or at least form a strong backbone with others dropping in and out as injuries and suspensions required:

Goalkeepers:

Jakup Mikkelsen (Huddersfield)
Gunnar Nielsen (Frem)
Jens Martin Knudsen (NSI)

Defenders:

Jan Andresen (KI)
Poul Ennigaro (GI)
Hans Frooi Hansen (Padova)
Jens Kristian Hansen (B36)
Johan Byrial Hansen (AC Horsens)
Johannis Joensen (MB)
Simun Joensen (KI)
Oli Johannsen (Not attached)

Midfielders:

Frooi Benjaminsen (B68)
Hallur Danielsen (HB)
Ossur Hansen (B68)
Rogvi Jacobsen (HB)
Claus Jorgensen (Oldham)
Allan Morkore (B36)
Petur Oli Samuelson (Vikingur)
Mikkjal Thomassen (Besancon)


Attackers:

Jakup a Borg (B36)
Hjalgrim Elttor (KI)
Andrew av Flotum (Fremad Amager)
Arnold Joensen (KI)
Todi Jonsson (FC Kobenhavn)
Kurt Morkore (HB)
Barour Mortansson (B36)

Not massively different from the first squad i selected in 2004, but one or two new faces.

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Football returns to Torshavn.

After having spent the vast majority of matches in 2004 on the road, it was with great delight that my opening two friendly matches of 2005 were in front of the native fans, who would hopefully turn out in healthy numbers to support the team.

Incredibly, the game against Tunisia was quickly beset my injuries and call offs. The biggest blow was the injury to top scorer a Borg. He was replaced by Vinjard Dam (GI) who many thought could struggle to fill the large void left by a Borgs absence. Av Flotum pulled out the day before the game, but it was now that the media circus began and the first testing moment of my stewardship of the Faroes.

John Pedersen was my preferred replacement for Av Flotum. However, as he wanted to be named in the original squad, he snubbed the opportunity to be a replacement and refused to join his comrades at the training camp outside Torshavn. This was the first sign of dissension in the ranks, and was quickly snapped up by the media. Not ideal preparation before a friendly against one of the African giants.

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Faroe Islands 0 Tunisia 3
Wednesday 9th February 2005
Ref: Alain Sars
Att: 9977

This was always going to be tough against a team that were steam rolling their way through the African qualifiers to Germany 2006, and so it proved.

The starting 11 was again relatively settled with Mikkelsen in goals, S Joensen J Joensen J Hansen and H Hansen making up the defence, the midfield comprising Mortansson, Jonsson, Thomassen and Benjaminsen, with Dam and Elttor up front.

Although defending steadfastly and with determination, the deadlock was broken on the 35th minute with Hosni scrambling home a goal after the ball bounced around in the box. Benachour scored in 55 and Zouaoui finished the tie off in 66 mins. After this however, there was a far more settled look about the team, with a good few shots on goal and more passes finding team mates. The last 25mins or so was definitely encouraging.

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And so the media circus continues. After the farcical refusal of a call up, the national media of course demanded answers. Would Pedersen be called up again? Would he ever play again? Wanting to quell any dissension in the ranks, and being a bit of a disciplinarian when it comes to matters of this sort, a brief, but to the point statement was issued by myself: "The matter may be beyond an apology", I explained to the media "Pedersen has shown disrespect to me and to the team. It is unlikely he will ever be picked again". If nothing else, this certainly got the papers talking, although mercifully it seemed they were more inclined to take my side on the matter.

6 weeks later the next international squad had to be picked, and true to my word, Pedersen was nowhere to be seen, although that was more to do with the return of a Borg and Av Flotum than any other agenda. Morkore was dropped for now quite simply being to old and Jacobsen was injured. Once again the talking point in the media was the Pedersen scenario, with headlines such as "Pedersen enters international wilderness" being commonplace. The next day, Pedersen intimated that he would be retiring from international football. A sensible move, and one that put the issue to bed before a friendly that I hoped would be morale boosting and a must win match.

Results from Sat 26 March:

France 4 Switzerland 0
Israel 1 Ireland 3

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Faroe Islands 1 Kazakhstan 0
Wednesday 30th March 2005
Ref: Metin Tokat
Att: 8983

Staring 11: Mikkelsen; S Joensen, J Joensen, J Hansen, H Hansen; Mortansson, Jorgensen, Thomassen, Benjaminsen; a BOrg, Elttor.


With the Pedersen problem out of the window, this was a chance to boost morale ahead of the visit of Switzerland in June. And what a boost it was. Although my no means was it like watching Brazil, there was a greater confidence and much more creativity shown than there had been in previous matches. Jonsson was dropped from the midfield and a Borg was to return, giving the supporters who turned out in such force something to hope for.

Despite totally dominating this game, the only goal of the game came courtesy of super sub Jonsson who replaced a Borg in 72 minutes and prompted scroed the opener in 74 mins - a goal that lifted to roof off the stadium. Some lovely passing moves and shots on goal augers well for the future, as did the very resolute and solid defending in the last 8 mins when Kazakhstan went to a 424 all out attack style formation. A clean sheet and a victory was a just reward, and a proud moment given all that had gone on in the media before.


Other results:

Israel 0 France 1
Switzerland 1 Cyprus 1

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nice one.like the stories where you take on the big ones with the weaker sides.
kutgw

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And so on to a qualification double header, with two home games against Switerland and Rep of Ireland. 2 games which were going to be testing, but for the first time in a few matches, the squad were going into this game with their heads held high and morale boosted. Unfortunately, preparations were hampering as the squad quickly became ravaged by injury. Gunnar Nielsen was the first to go, and was replaced by Magnus Poulsen (B36). Jacobsen was to return from injury, but Ennigaro was yet again to withdraw through injury and his replacement was HB's Hans a Lag. Ossue Hansen was the next to fall, and Jann Ingi Petersen of Vikingur took his place. Lastly, veteran centre half Hans Hansen failed to pass a fitness test, which was probably the biggest loss of them all, and was replaced by uncapped Aslakur R Petersen (EB/Streymur).

The media was cautiously optimistic in the lead up to this match, with former internationalists and keeper Mikkelsen all trying to put a bit more pressure on Switzerland. I, myself, was hoping for my first competitive home victory.