Dixie Flatline

4th of February 2004<P>Copa del Rey - Quarter Final, 2nd round: Cartagonova v Real Oviedo<P>After drawing 0-0 in Oviedo, we’re exposed to the sucker punch from our opponent, so I drill the defenders on the importance of closely marking their opposite strikers. I would like to rest José Redondo for this match, but I quite like our run in the Cup, so he has to pull on the boots one more time. And it is the master blaster who opens the scoring on 15 minutes when Cañizares and Oliver combine to create the opportunity for him. Six minutes later, Cañizares plays a brilliant through-ball into the path of Ismael Ruiz and the debutante marks his first appearance with our second goal for the game. It forces Emmanuel Petit, on the sidelines today after picking up an automatic suspension, into a tactical rethink. They set about attacking Francesc Arnau’s goal with renewed gusto, but the ex-Barcelona keeper is on fire today and won’t let them have even a sighter. On 28 minutes, we grab the sealer when Gustavo Cañizares reminds me of his talent when he caps his day with a brilliant goal from the edge of the area. Oviedo tries hard to peg back the deficit, but Arnau’s defiant attitude preserves the clean sheet and we move into the semi-finals! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]<P>Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Arnau; Heinze (Lacruz 63), Filipescu (c), Ã�lvarez, Ballesteros; Oliver, Ismael Ruiz, Cañizares; Miranda; Redondo (Gabrich 83), Collymore.<P>Real Oviedo (5-3-1-1): Dorronsoro (c); Docando, Roteta, Boris, Soria (Jarni 21), Helio (Iván Ania 30); Pulido, Geni, Dani Borreguero; Juan González; LuÃ*s Lourenço.<P>Final score: Cartagonova 3:0 Real Oviedo
Aggregate: Cartagonova 3:0 Real Oviedo
MoM - Francesc Arnau

Dixie Flatline

Iulian Filipescu picked up a yellow card in the last match which automatically rules him out for the semi-final. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] Gabriel Heinze damaged a foot in the second half which keeps him out for ten days just when he was beginning to put together a good claim for staying in the first eleven.<P>The game sets two records for us. First, it is the highest gate receipts in my three and a bit seasons at the club, while it is our twelfth straight unbeaten game in all competitions, eclipsing the run of eleven unbeaten games set in my very first season.<P>8th of February 2004<P>Primera Liga - Game 23: Cartagonova v Extremadura<P>We’re searching for our fifth victory in a row in the Primera Liga and there is no better team than Extremadura to notch it up against. We get some help when tough defender Rafael Berges needs to be substituted just 120 seconds into the match. We begin the celebrations when Rufete heads Michel’s cross into the net, but the video shows that the winger is slightly off-side. It’s a tight call but we don’t anything to complain about. However, step up José Redondo on 11 minutes to crash home our first goal and his twentieth this season! On 28 minutes, he dances his way through the porous Extremadura defence but his drive thunders into the post rather than into the back of the net. From Rufete’s corner a few moments later, Filipescu tests the reflexes of Belgian keeper Ronny Gaspercic with a wicked header. Finally on 38 minutes, the Michel-Rufete combination does pay dividends as the former provides the cross for the latter to volley into the net! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] Extremadura tries hard in the second half, but Arnau again defies the attackers to earn himself another clean sheet bonus. The way he is going, he will face off against his old club in a week.<P>Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Arnau; Lacruz, Filipescu, �lvarez, Ballesteros; Michel, Couto (c), Rufete; Morán; Redondo, Collymore.<P>Extremadura (3-5-2): Gaspercic; Mata, Luis López (c), Koldo Arce; Berges (Duré 2), Etcheverry, Ayhan (Iván 76), Mild, Robert (Dubecz 24); Lobo, Karanka.<P>Final score: Cartagonova 2:0 Extremadura
MoM - José Manuel Redondo

Dixie Flatline

10th of February 2004<P>Staggering into the office after another great night celebrating my birthday yesterday, I find that an offer I made for Southampton’s Kevin Gibbons, a DM C, is accepted. Fortunately, I already have the contract offer organised so I put it through the fax machine for him to have a gander at. I have competition from Brentford, which is on course for promotion from the second division in England.<P>11th of February 2004<P>By the evening it is a done deal. The English defensive midfielder Kevin Gibbons will join the club when the Spanish transfer window opens on the 17th of June. He should be a good long-term replacement for Couto and Fernández.<P>12th of February 2004<P>The media is salivating currently over the prospect of Barcelona gaining revenge for the 2-0 victory we dished out to them earlier in the season. As a result of this focus upon the weekend’s star match, they begin to speculate upon whether we can maintain our form and mount some sort of a challenge to the title! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek[/IMG] I have to truthfully say that we’re not in the hunt for the title at this stage, though finishing inside the top ten ( [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] ) would be a good result for the club in its first season in the Primera Liga. Trouble is, my forthright response to the media gets me into hot water with both the supporters (capricious bunch!) and the chairman who roundly castigates me for my pessimistic outlook on the club’s chances. Well, excuse me, but I don’t think we’re capable of taking points out of the Nou Camp, Bernabau Stadium, La Riazor or the Mestalla just yet and if we can’t defeat the tenants of those stadiums then we don’t deserve the title.<P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif" alt="cool[/IMG]

Raptor

Good to hear the press now starting to take your lot serious [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]<P>
<P>[IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]

Dixie Flatline

Dear all,<P>Please forgive this baffling break in the updates from the south of Spain. My computer was put in for repair at the end of July and a stunning run of bad luck has conspired to keep it from me for three weeks at least. Hopefully I'll have it back next week and I can pick up from where I left off. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face[/IMG]<P>Bouquets to Raptor and Kazema for writing something nice about the story! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] Brickbats to a major computer hardware company for building inferior products. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]<P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline

Raptor

B@stards [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] Denying you one of CM, that's a very bad crime in my book [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]

pooscalery

Sorry to hear that Dixie [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] I'd been wondering where you were [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG]<P>Anyway, looking forward to when you can return and write [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]

Dixie Flatline

Thanks guys for your messages of support. But you won't believe what I was told by this company yesterday. I'm not going to get my computer back until the start of September because the part needed to repair my computer will not reach Australia until the end of August! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek[/IMG] I am furious about this and I will be writing a strongly worded letter to them over the weekend.<P>Trying to keep the chin up...
Dixie

Dixie Flatline

Thank you B.E. Gaity! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] Are you the person I think you are?! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG]<P>Anyhow, the good news is that I have commandeered another computer from the family, installed CM onto it, have played another game and I have written about it! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]<P>So, here we go! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]<P>Like the phoenix, I rise from the ashes of a dying computer to return!<P>15th of February 2004<P>Primera Liga - Game 24: Barcelona v Cartagonova<P>“…Cartagonova began the season like a house on fire but the biggest result was when Barcelona came to the Estadio Municipal de Cartegena expecting to put the upstarts in their place and reassert the dominance Barcelona has enjoyed in the competition recently. They left Cartagena with their tails between their legs as goals to Fernando Couto and Stan Collymore gave Cartagonova the upset victory. Since then, Barcelona has struggled to juggle Champions’ League commitments, participation in the World Club Championship and the Copa del Rey with their Primera Liga matches and have not been able to rise above seventh. In contrast, Cartagonova enjoyed a long run at the top of the ladder and are on course for a European spot next season in third place. But today is the biggest test of their character as Señor Flatline brings his players to the Nou Camp for today’s match of the day, Barcelona versus Cartagonova…�<P>“… Well, Andy, we could hardly believe when Barcelona came out with a defensive formation when they visited Cartagena earlier in the season and they paid the price for it as they left too much to do to Kluivert and were punished by sheer opportunism by Cartagonova. You couldn’t imagine Señor Ferra Serrer making the same mistake again?�<P>“No, Martin. Barcelona haven’t lost at home this season so far, and I can’t see Cartagonova providing the upset for the second time this season. To be sure, Señor Flatline has assembled a consistent squad illuminated by the skills of José Redondo, but when you pit them against the players at Señor Ferra Serrer’s disposal, like Rivaldo, Kluivert, Alfonso, Verón, de la Peña and Dani, you’d think that they would have the measure of today’s opponents.�<P>“But Barcelona’s weakness is their defence, isn’t it?� asks Martin Tyler. Andy Gray responds, “Yes, I don’t think that Lilian Thuram has been the player he used to be, while Abelardo is functioning on old legs, Reiziger isn’t the player he should have become, while Pablo Paz is unhappy for various reasons. Antonio Prats has displaced Dutruel in goal and I would say he is the best goalkeeper never to play for Spain, but he is a new factor in the Barcelona defence.�<P>“Yet Cartagonova relies heavily on Redondo to provide the goals. Shut him down and you shut down Cartagonova?� inquires Martin. Andy says, “Well, Redondo is a class striker with all the skills to make it into the Spanish squad, I’d say. Seventeen goals from 23 league matches against some of the best club defences in the world attests to his talent and he has a capable partner in Stan Collymore. It would be difficult for Barcelona to keep both of them quiet, because so many others have found it difficult. I think the key to today’s match is the attitude that Barcelona brings to it.�<P>“Well, we’re just about to kick off here in the Nou Camp with over 80,000 in attendance today. We’ll run through the teamsheets on the other side of the break. Stay with us…�

Dixie Flatline

We begin the match brightly with Morán testing Prats with a stinging shot on 11 minutes, but three minutes later we concede a sloppy goal as Gerard finds Alfonso unmarked and the ex-Real Betis striker pounds it into the net. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] But we’re dancing on the sidelines when Rufete’s exquisite cross is converted by Morán… Then disaster as the referee rules that Morán was off-side when Rufete played the ball. It sets us back on our heels and Barcelona takes advantage as Sergi reaches the by-line before cutting it back for Dani to launch a thunderous drive past ex-Barcelona keeper Francesc Arnau. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] It takes us some time to regain our equanimity but to my happiness, we do test Prats with three close chances in the last five minutes of the game only to enter the break 2-0 down.<P>I tell the players they’ve done well and that they shouldn’t worry about the scoreboard. Barcelona’s players seem a little unsure of themselves and if we keep up the pressure we’ll be rewarded. On 67 minutes, with little created however, I gamble by taking off Michel and Morán for Miranda and Esnáider respectively. Miranda sets up the chance for Redondo who had been well held by the centre-halves of Barcelona but his flashing header is well plucked out of the air by Prats. Yet when Gerard fouls Miranda a couple of moments later, Filipescu drives the free kick beneath the wall into the bottom right corner of Prats’ net! It’s a lifeline, and we have three superb chances to rescue a well-earned point. But Prats earns his wage to deny Esnáider, Lacruz and Collymore in a 60 second bombardment. At least we can walk out of the Nou Camp with our heads held high and Señor Ferra Serrer offers me his hand with a relieved smile on his face. He knew that Barcelona escaped with the points today.<P>Barcelona (4-3-1-2): Prats; Sergi, Pablo Paz, Abelardo, Reiziger (Varela 51); Verón (Nano 64), Gerard (c), Donati (Puyol 58); De la Peña; Alfonso, Dani.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Arnau; Lacruz, Filipescu, �lvarez, Ballesteros; Couto (c); Michel (Miranda 67), Rufete; Morán (Esnáider 67); Redondo, Collymore.<P>Final score: Barcelona 2:1 Cartagonova
MoM - Fernando Manuel Couto