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It was sunday morning following MVV's final game before the winter break. Gomez was beginning to acclimatise a little (remembering the Parisian winters past with a warmth and comfort of home) despite the daily ritual composing layer over continual layer until he could venture down to the local cafe for the papers, coffee and some local input on who should really have played left wing on saturday. This morning as he checked his emails (as he did twice a day with contempt) he saw what he had expected for months now - the message was from a random free mail address with the username "costaromeo22" which meant nothing to Gomez, however it was clearly written by his long time friend of Paris - Florent De Sousa - an algerian immigrant who had trained his mind with Gomez in the Paris of the late 1970's. In the past thirty years Florent was only 'friend' who'd always been there. He was the link to his past and the ticket to his future, the only man who knew why Gomez took up this risky offer. The only man who knew what had happened to Gomez's family just twelve months previous.

Florent sat across from the large ukrainian who would only ever be known as 'Boris' and watched his face as Gomez entered the cafe and walked towards them confidently. Like two boys - grown up - nothing had changed, Boris observed two who he knew he could trust with his life. There was no important business going on today it was merely a meet and greet, after all these were the men with whom he had entrusted the most important part of the plan. Boris schmoozed the boys and they were encouraged by his trusting demeanor.

Florent would act as the runner, essentially the middle man. Gomez would be the manipulator - the creator. Upon meeting with the boys Boris could now watch from afar whilst the initial stages of the plan were implemented. After all the weather in Ios is much finer than the continent, not to mention the views.

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12.01.05

Player Profile - Leonardo

DOB - 21.8.1976 (24 years old)

Nationality - Brazilian

Position - FRC


Coaches report - Benour Gomez

Leonardo joined MVV from ADO Den Haag at the end of last season, a journeyman since he left Groningen in 2001 spending time at Feyenoord and De Graafschap before joining Den Haag. He provides the experience and versatility which is essential when managing a relatively small squad - a right sided midfielder with a real taste for scoring goals. Leonardo and Houssain seem to work really well together and I plan to utilise this combination as the driving force behind MVV Maastrichts claims for premier division status. Personally I am Leonardos biggest fan (and he lives next door also) however his temperament is slightly in question at the moment but this does nothing to diminish his importance to the team.

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Winter Break - Transfer News

At MVV the january transfer period has seen Park Joo-Young and Jos Hooiveld come in permanently with Lars Nilsson on loan for the rest of the season. Park is a young striker (only 19) from Korea University, if the club can harness his potential he could be anything a quality finisher with good speed and with the addition of Nilsson they should help to fix the striker problems. Nilsson is very quick, a strong young striker with a good right foot. Hooiveld has been brought in at the cut-price cost of 16k (euros) and he is a smart defensive midfielder who will sure up the middle of the park and help out the back four.

Transfers In
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Date | Person | From | Fee (euros) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9.1.2005 | Park Joo-Young | Korea Univ. | €40K | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24.1.2005 | Hooiveld, Jos | Heerenveen | €16K | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14.1.2005 | Nilsson, Lars | Heerenveen | Loan | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

The club has released Lorenzo Wouter to Eindhoven after he's failed to crack the first team at a club with numerous wide options already.

Transfers Out
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Date | Person | To | Fee | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22.1.2005 | Wouter, Lorenzo | Eindhoven | €75K | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Gomez
I am very happy with the players we gained over the break, we have been looking at Park for the last six months and at the price we payed I believe he can play a crucial role for us immediately even at such a young age. I hope that Park has a great career with us but realistically he will move on to bigger and better things. The plan now is to play Leonardo in a midfield role with Park and Nilsson up front for the remainder of the season.

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MVV Fixtures 4.12.04 to 5.3.05

A VVV 4-2

A Helmond 3-3

H Emmen 1-1

H Veendam 2-2

A Excelsior 1-2

H Haarlem 4-1

A Heracles 1-0

H Sparta 2-1

A Telstar 1-2

H Zwolle 2-0

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Dutch Division 1 - Period 3

The christmas period began with a flurry of goals for MVV however it was the indifferent defensive efforts which left them with only one win from the first five matches in this period. By march this form had been corrected to 5-3-2 however it was not enough to gain the much wanted play-off place which went to the surprising TOP OSS. Ouichou has been sensational for this period scoring eight goals and setting up just as many, whilst the new South Korean recruit Park scored four in his first five matches. Nilsson has added much needed pace to the attack while Molhoek and Hooiveld are working nicely in the centre of midfield.

Period 3
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Pl | TOP | | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 20 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Helmond | | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 19 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Heracles | | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 19 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Dordrecht | | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 19 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | **MVV** | | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 18 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Volendam | | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 10 | +5 | 17 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

As the race for promotion heats up TOP OSS have claimed the third of six play-off places, joining Excelsior and Fortuna Sittard. With just eight matches to go it looks like the final three places will come from Volendam, Veendam, Helmond, Dortrecht and MVV. But with the winner of this period immediately gaining a place it is still wide open.

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Gomez had been receiving constant updates via Florent (costaromeo22) as to the greater plan since the initial meeting with Boris. There has been no major change in the plan to worry about - the only thing Gomez has to worry about is getting his team on the park and racking up some wins.

The screen glowed illuminating Gomez's weary face as he patiently tapped away at the keyboard. Earlier today costaromeo22 had forwarded a blueprint for the coming seasons and a status report request on the Maastricht reclamation. As the room gradually filled with light so did Gomez's spirit. Send. Now he can rest before training at 1600.


NSC Blueprint 2005

Step 1 - Win the Dutch First Division by 2006/07 at the latest - this is the easiest piece of silverware available therefore do not gain promotion via the play-offs in 2004/05 only the championship will do. If this is not achieved take any promotion option knowing that by 2006/07 at the latest a trophy must be taken to advance the plan.

Step 2 - Build a squad that can take the Dutch Premier Division Title and Cup (potentially twice) by 2008/09 at the latest. If this is not achieved the plan will fail.

Step 3 - Look beyond the Netherlands towards the next target nation. France and Scotland have been targeted initially.

Boris
To help you with this I will try to free up funds for MVV over the coming years however this will not be easy as i cannot become suspicious to the people of Maastricht and the Netherlands. There is not much money in this league currently and i will find ways of making your campaign more possible. I have already lined up a young Ukrainian centre half who will join you in the summer from Shaktar Donesk - he was easily encouraged as I still carry some weight in my homeland - at Shaktar especially where they know they cannot accomplish their European dreams without my backing.
This season i hope that you continue as you are and if the title becomes winable then take it. However if only a play-off place is available i do not want you to gain promotion without the much needed trophy, i expect you to continue the rebuilding process and next season we will reassess the promotion issue. That is if of course you do not succeed immediately - which i would not discount knowing how driven you are Gomez.
Good luck my friend - you are the key.


Status Report

Gomez
At the season's end I will provide a full club assessment. For now you will have to be content with this installment outlining the current status of the playing group.

First Division - With a handfull of games left this season we will gain a play-off place however I can assure you if we do not win the title we will not be extending ourselves during the play-off series. The title bid is mathematically possible but realistically i have started planning for another season in the first division.

Players - I am happy with my current group and believe that with a couple of additions we will be dominating this division by this time next year. Park is going well but I will need to nurture him and I would love to secure Nilsson on a permanent basis, there is of course a bit of dead wood however the summer will see this situation ammended swiftly.

Finances - This has become my sticking point with the club. I hope your transparent input will be felt sooner rather than later here in Maastricht. I have noticed that the club sponsorship is up for grabs at the end of the seaon - any ideas?

I appreciate your help with players but it would be greater appreciated if you can run them by me first in the future. Not that I don't trust your judgment - you chose me after all - i just like to know what's going down.

Your comrade.

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9.4.04

Injury Report

In the run-in to the final month of the division one season MVV have now lost young winger Tom van Bergen to a devastating broken leg and will miss him for at least six months. Van Bergen joins reserve midfielder Angelo Martha on the sidelines - in January Martha suffered a similar injury ruling him out for up to eight months. Questions have come to head over manager Gomez's training technique after losing two players for long periods in tough tackling drills. Gomez has not warranted a comment.

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MVV Fixtures 13.3.05 to 22.5.05

A Volendam 1-0

H TOP 0-1

A Cambuur 2-0

H Go Ahead 1-0

A Einhoven 3-2

H Dortrecht 1-1

A Fortuna Sittard 0-0

H VVV 1-0

A AGOVV 3-0

H Helmond 3-0

A Emmen 2-0

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With the division 1 title race down to just three teams and two matches remaining the form sides for the first and second halves of the season respectively Volendam and Helmond are being challenged by the fast finishing MVV. Just two weeks ago Helmond had the title in the bag eight points clear from both MVV and Volendam however crucial points lost at Veendam (losing 3-1) and Excelsior (1-1) left the clash away with MVV as the title clash. If Helmond can win they will seal the title, a draw will mean they can win or draw the final match against lowly Haarlem to claim the title, if MVV take the three points they will then need to beat Emmen away or rely on Helmond losing for the title to go to Maastricht. Volendam simply need to keep winning and hope that both sides slip up.

14.5.05 (MVV v Helmond, Volendam v Go Ahead)
With nothing to lose MVV came out firing against league leaders Helmond knowing that only a win would give them any real chance of claiming the title, four strikers took to the pitch and it was no surprise when the swede Nilsson found himself behind the Helmond defence and putting MVV 1-0 up after 16 minutes. Following a vibrant comeback by Helmond the sides went in at half time with just the one goal margin - in Volendam wasted chances left the first half scoreless. The second half in Maastricht saw a reinvigorated MVV continue to attack in search of a second goal and they found one, on 76 minutes Park Joo-Young got onto a delightful ball from Ouichou and had no trouble beating the valiant Strijbosch in goals for Helmond for 2-0. Meanwhile a dull 0-0 draw was being played out by Volendam and Go Ahead. Helmond and Strijbosch's day only got worse in the 90th minute when Nilsson was chopped down in the box by the Helmond keeper who was subsequently red carded. Leonardo slotted the penalty for 3-3 and the whistle blew for full time.

MVV 3-0 Helmond
Volendam 0-0 Go Ahead

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The final saturday of the season and the title race was now down to two. After last weeks 3-0 victory MVV knew that a win away at Emmen would bring the title to Maastricht for the third time (most recently being 1997), a draw could still see MVV victorious depending on the Helmond result. Simply Helmond had to win and hope that MVV didn't.

21.5.05 (Helmond v Haarlem, Emmen v MVV)

All the early action was in Helmond where the home side set about destroying the unfortunate Haarlem and clinging on to their fading title hopes, at half time Helmond were up 2-0 though van Bakel and van Dijk. In Emmen the first half was scoreless but not without chances, twice Emmen could have snuffed the MVV title bid but Wintjens was too good in the MVV goal thwarting both clear chances. The procession continued in Helmond after 73 minutes it was 5-0 with goals to van Dijk, van Bakel and Nijssen - and with the 0-0 scoreline in Emmen it was becoming a nervous afternoon in Helmond with the title edging back their way. Visibly frustrated MVV manager Gomez threw on all his attacking options on 78 minutes Caracciolo joined the centre half Kruijer up front with regular strikers Park, Nilsson, Leonardo and Ouichou. Constant long balls and crosses were deflected by the Emmen defence - all players well behind the ball at this stage - then on 86 minutes Emmen on a rare foray forward turned the ball over and Bryssinck hit Park with a delightful through ball, Park was closed down as he entered the penalty box but managed to get clear enough to cross towards the deep run from Nilsson - the swede beating the stranded keeper and making no mistake 1-0. Hearts sunk in Helmond as the title was wrenched from their grasp. With all their players behind the ball now MVV were just playing for full time. From the kick-off Emmen managed to turn the ball over to Brncic, Balci's run down the left was found and following a low cross to the near post Caracciolo turned the ball into the net, 88 mins 2-0 and the title was going to Maastricht!

Helmond 5-0 Haarlem
Emmen 0-2 MVV