Dixie Flatline

26th of December 2004<P>Primera Liga - Game 16: Cartagonova v Atlético Madrid<P>Our supporters have the chance to work off their Christmas celebrations with a home match against the bottom club in the league. I send out my players expecting them to bring back another three points and for a while, Toni is the only man who stands between us and a goal as we rip apart the Atlético Madrid defence time and again. Eventually, we make our pressure count when Morán skips past two Madrid players before powering a rocket into the top corner of the net! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] But apart from Livermore’s late effort, we don’t create anything else and I’m rather unhappy at the break.<P>And for good reason. Atlético Madrid’s players come out to create options in the second half after their woeful first 45 minutes and they conjure an equaliser when Córcoles slips the ball inside to Borja and the striker levels the scores for his club. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] But we immediately wrest back the lead on 75 minutes when Rufete’s corner is brilliantly headed home by Michel. Esposito and Kokmeijer have opportunities to make the points safe, but in the end their misses don’t matter much as we control the game to the final whistle.<P>Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal; Lacruz, Ã�lvarez, Livermore, Jaliens; Michel, Couto (c), Rufete; Morán; Esposito (Vucko 84), Kokmeijer.<P>Atlético Madrid (4-4-2): Toni (c); Santis, Wome, Samuel, Manuel Pablo; LardÃ*n, Albelda, Serban, Córcoles; Artigas (Borja 68), Tevenet.<P>Final score: Cartagonova 2:1 Atlético Madrid
MoM - David Livermore

Dixie Flatline

27th of December 2004<P>Elche joins the party, offering me £2.8 million for Marcelo Moya. This is coming dangerously close to his min. release clause amount of £3 million, but I can’t do much more than keep rejecting these offers for the talented defender.<P>28th of December 2004<P>As I expected, Elche returns with an offer that meets his release clause amount and I, against my will, turn over his agent’s details to the Elche manager. Elche has diced already this season with the bottom three and obviously sees Moya as the ideal signing to stop the goals against column haemorrhaging too severely from now on. Trouble is, I also see him in that light and I don’t want to let him go! Then I realise that that nice piece of little known Spanish contract law comes into play here. The money isn’t to be paid all at once, but rather over six months, and that gives me the loophole to reject the offer. So I pounce on that immediately.<P>30th of December 2004<P>Elche again returns with the same bid and once again, I use the loophole. But this time, I decide to negotiate the offer, wanting £5 million for the player. This is just as much as to placate Moya, who has become unhappy with me not letting him move on, as it is to encourage Elche to continue pursuing him.<P>Celta Vigo manages to recoup some of the large amount of money it has splashed around this season as Real Madrid signs up Uruguayan international forward Andrés Olivera for £14.75 million now and £900,000 more if he plays a league season for Real Madrid.<P>1st of January 2005<P>To add further torture to a head already aching with a large hangover from the previous night (happy new year, by the way), Getafe re-enters the chase for Moya, offering £3 million now for Moya. That knocks out my loophole and I’m forced to accept the bid for the Argentine defender. At least on the bright side, it will be a record signing for the club and represents a profit of £2.6 million (less wages) in just over one year at the club.<P>2nd of January 2005<P>“…The demise of the attraction of the Italian lire has been greatly exaggerated with Roma and Juventus recording big transfers today. Roma, a point behind league leader Parma, looked to bolster its attack with the double signing of Christian Vieri from Celtic and Filippo Inzaghi from Juventus for a combined total of £26.5 million while Juventus immediately used the money generated by selling Inzaghi to swoop on Lazio’s Hernan Crespo with the Argentine international moving to Turin for £20.5 million."

Dixie Flatline

Primera Liga - Game 17: Espanyol v Cartagonova<P>It’s a wet and windy day that greets us this afternoon in Barcelona, a day not suited to our style of play. It’s little wonder that we defend for most of the match with our backs against the wall. Sebastián Abreu, Óscar and MartÃ*n Posse are Espanyol’s most dangerous players and Iván Vidal is by far the most busiest player on the pitch as they rain down the shots from all angles on his goal. But the keeper stands up to the onslaught and we earn a valuable point on the road at the second-placed club. We hardly create a thing in front of goal, but that’s not the point of today’s game (well, it is, but as soon as I saw how the wind and rain were lashing the stadium, I knew that we would struggle up forward). I’m comfortably happy on the way back to Cartagena, where I have a big decision to make - how much attention do I pay to the Copa del Rey?<P>Espanyol (4-1-2-1-2): Esteban; Juanma, Pochettino (c), Rotchen, Soria; Sergio; Quiñónez (Sietes 87), Nacho (Porras 55 (Molnar 81)); MartÃ*n Posse; Abreu, Óscar.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal; Lacruz, Ã�lvarez, Livermore, Jaliens; Couto (c); Michel, Rufete (Vucko 58); Morán (Clegg 87); Esposito, Kokmeijer.<P>Final score: Espanyol 0:0 Cartagonova
MoM - Iván Vidal<P>3rd of January 2005<P>Marcelo Moya agrees terms with Getafe and tells the assembled media that his departure is partly motivated by a clash of personalities with me. I’m still sorry to lose him, but not if he is going to exhibit that type of attitude towards me: Marcelo Moya (25 y/o, ARG, D RLC): 31(6) apps, 2 goals, 1 MoM, av. rate: 6.95<P>4th of January 2005<P>Sevilla offers me £1.7 million for Oliver. That’s double his nominal value, but Oliver is willing to continue fighting for a spot in the team. I’ll see if they go for £2.5 million plus £750,000 after ten league matches.<P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline

Dixie Flatline

One last update for the weekend<P>5th of January 2005<P>Copa del Rey - Second Round, Sporting Gijón v Cartagonova<P>This is going to be a really tough match, and to make it tougher, I throw in some of the younger players in order to rest Couto, Morán and Rufete. The barrage on Vidal’s goal begins early, but he has had plenty of practice. We also try to open the scoring on 10 minutes when Kokmeijer tests Bizzarri and then two minutes later, Clegg almost opens up his Cartagonova account. But Sporting gain a penalty when the referee judges Vidal to have clipped Da Silva in the area. I hold my breath as I see the referee reach for his notebook. He pulls out… a yellow card. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek[/IMG] Anyway, Vidal doesn’t have a chance stopping González’s penalty and it looks like we’re set for an early exit. But then Sporting proceed to hit the bar, spray their shots wide and occasionally test Vidal and on 37 minutes, Esposito breaks free of his marker to test Bizzarri who concedes a corner. Gibbens swings it over and Kokmeijer jumps highest to power home a header for his tenth goal of the season! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] That goal spurs Sporting into action and Vidal pulls off an absolutely stunning save to deny Peter Madsen and then another to stop Pavlovich.<P>The siege continues into the second half, and I decide that I cannot bear to watch Vidal pull off miracle saves time and again. So off comes Livermore for Stubbs while Miranda takes Vucko’s spot. The substitutions steady the ship and on 66 minutes Esposito spies Clegg sneaking into the box unattended by a Sporting player and the Italian fires the ball across the box for the Englishman to head home! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] Once again, Vidal is tested like never before as Sporting control the play around our defensive third of the match but like before, he can’t be beaten from open play and we upset the home club to move into the third round of the Copa del Rey!<P>Sporting Gijón (1-2-5-2): Bizzarri; Sergio; MartÃ*n Rivas, Ettien; Quique MartÃ*n, Calvo, Madsen, Luis González, Babangida; Pavlovich, Da Silva.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal (c); Curro Torres, Ã�lvarez, Livermore (Stubbs 53), Jaliens; Gibbens; Michel, Vucko (Miranda 53); Clegg; Esposito, Kokmeijer.<P>Final score: Sporting Gijón 1:2 Cartagonova
MoM - Iván Vidal<P>6th of January 2005<P>Sevilla calls to say that they no longer want to pursue their interest in Oliver.<P>7th of January 2005<P>“… Finally to news from the Copa del Rey and today’s draw by the Spanish Football Association in Madrid pitched together the finalists of last season’s competition. Next Wednesday, Cartagonova will host Barcelona at the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena, while the second leg will be played a week later. Barcelona defeated Cartagonova 4-3 in extra time in last season’s final after Cartagonova led 3-1 mid-way through the second half. Barcelona easily defeated Burgos 3-0 while Cartagonova came from behind to take Sporting Gijón 2-1.�<P>That’s absolutely fantastic, that is. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] Looks like I’ll be able to concentrate on our other campaigns a lot sooner than I expected.<P>In better news, I announce to the media that we will sign former Italian international, Simone Inzaghi, from Lazio on the 1st of July 2005. The 28 year old striker has fallen out over a contractual dispute with Lazio and I swooped upon him before they could reconcile their differences. Prior to this season, he had scored at least ten goals in the Serie A three seasons in a row, so he should be a good addition to the squad.<P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline

Dixie Flatline

A very quick update<P>9th of January 2005<P>Primera Liga - Game 18: Cartagonova v Athletic Bilbao<P>It’s going to be a tough match to take three points out of this time around, with Athletic Bilbao riding high in third position before we kick off. I make a couple of changes to the team that drew with Espanyol, with Redondo rushing straight back into the side while the fans are surprised to see Ballesteros back in favour - he slots in at centre-half. We should have a goal after 5 minutes when Couto’s headed cross is headed powerfully by Kokmeijer, but wide of the target. We’re given a break when dangerous striker Jorge Barbarin is forced off the field with an injury, although Vidal does well to push away a free kick a minute later. Nine minutes before the break, we open the scoring when Morán threads the ball through to Kokmeijer and the Dutch striker fires home a brilliantly executed shot! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] Two minutes before the break we extend our lead when Morán crosses into the box looking for Redondo and from five yards out he makes no mistake! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] The crowd cheers that goal long and lustily as the favourite son equalises Stan Collymore’s league record goals of 54 goals. It’s been a long time coming, but I caution the players not to get carried away with the euphoria in the second half.<P>My words of caution seem to go unheeded when Karanka’s free kick on 74 minutes finds the unmarked Jorge Pérez and the midfielder gleefully halves our lead. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] Ten minutes later, he again breaks from deep and causes my defence all sorts of problems but fortunately his drive rockets into the post and goes wide. I try to burn up a few minutes by swapping Redondo and Rufete for Esposito and Vucko but we’re indebted in the end to Vidal who pulls off a string of stunning saves to deny Athletic an equaliser deep into injury time. Corner after corner sees Athletic Bilbao players test the young keeper but his superb reflexes and agility allow him to push away each shot. Still, it’s a relief when the final whistle is blown and we can put the three points in the bag.<P>Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal; Lacruz, Ã�lvarez, Ballesteros, Jaliens; Michel, Couto (c), Rufete (Vucko 91); Morán; Redondo (Esposito 91), Kokmeijer.<P>Athletic Bilbao (5-2-1-2): Imanol EtxeberrÃ*a; Lambea, Karanka, Roberto RÃ*os, LarraÃ*nzar, Óskar Vales (Solaun 31); Felipe, Jorge Pérez; Joseba EtxeberrÃ*a (c); Barbarin (Kaiku 24), Arteaga. <P>Final score: Cartagonova 2:1 Athletic Bilbao
MoM - José MarÃ*a Lacruz

Dixie Flatline

“… Cartagonova supporters are stunned this evening when news was leaked from within the club’s higher echelons that captain, Fernando Couto, has asked for a transfer on the basis that he needs a new challenge in his career. The 35 year old Portuguese international has captained the club for the last two seasons and is the league appearance record holder. It is not known whether boss, Señor Dixie Flatline, has granted the transfer request tonight, but we will continue to follow this sensational story as it develops over the next few days. Turning to other matters in football…�<P>I still need Fernando and I turn the request down, but the Portuguese player isn’t happy with that and asks again. I again refuse his request, but he is now very unhappy and I’m sure that will do nothing for the morale of other players at the club. I guess I should transfer list him, but I don’t want to lose the biggest influence on the club’s playing personnel and I think that his cover, Kevin Gibbens and Francisco �lvarez, aren’t ready to take over his demanding position. It also has the effect of strengthening the board against him and therefore me as I continue to defend him against their efforts to have him excised out of the squad. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] Ahead of a huge clash with Barcelona, this is precisely what I don’t need.<P>10th of January 2005<P>I have a much better job to attend to when several Dutch papers contact me about reports emanating from Amsterdam that Niels Kokmeijer will soon be called up to the Netherlands’ senior squad after his rich vein of scoring. I of course, add my voice to the chorus calling upon Louis van Gaal to select the striker in his next squad. In a private meeting, the striker thanks me for my words.

Dixie Flatline

12th of January 2005<P>Copa del Rey - Third Round, First Leg: Cartagonova v Barcelona<P>“…Welcome to the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena where this evening we bring to you what promises to be a fantastic match between the host, Cartagonova, and its opponent, the current holder of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona. These two clubs slugged it out in an unforgettable match in front of 75,000 people in the final of the competition last season as Barcelona broke the hearts of all Cartagonova supporters and indeed most neutral Spanish fans by coming back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 in extra-time. This adds an element of revenge for most Cartagonova supporters and I’m sure they will be willing their players to dispose of Barcelona in the first leg to set up an easy path through to the quarter-finals. Add to this the sensational development over the weekend that Cartagonova’s captain, Fernando Couto, has asked for and been denied a transfer, and you’ll get a match that’s worth staying up for…â€�<P>Indeed it turns out to be another cracking match. After his histrionics over the weekend, I drop Couto completely (well, I actually rest him because he is rather tired), while Redondo who was rushed back from injury is rested to recover from his injuries. That gives George Clegg the job to do at the pointy end of our formation. Things start wonderfully well for us when Davids’ block on Kokmeijer sees the ball roll to the feet of Pablo Box and he thunders a low drive into the bottom of the net! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] But Barcelona’s captain for the day, Juan Verón, replies for his club on 27 minutes, picking up Davids’ pass and splitting our defence with his strong run. But we manage to make it to the break on level terms, despite the fact that Alfonso tries to defeat Vidal with a strong shot.<P>After the break, Morán again puts us back in the lead when he takes Kokmeijer’s lovely pass before slaloming past Astudillo and ramming a drive past LaÃ*nez. I decide that the time is ripe to throw Dennis Bergkamp in for his first match of the season and the veteran Dutch striker opens his account with practically his first touch of the football by picking up Miranda’s beautiful pass and launching a rocket into the top corner, just to show that the ‘old man’ still has it! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] But we lose sight of Alfonso once too often and he sets up the return leg nicely for our opponents on 74 minutes when he skips through Ballesteros’ weak challenge and hitting a high shot above Vidal’s finger-tips. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]<P>Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal (c); Lacruz, Ã�lvarez, Ballesteros, Jaliens; Oliver (Miranda 66), Box, Vucko; Morán; Clegg (Bergkamp 66), Kokmeijer.<P>Barcelona (4-3-2-1): LaÃ*nez; Sergi, Pablo Paz, Abelardo, Thuram (Varela 66); Davids, Astudillo, Gerard; Verón (c), Dani (Rivaldo 55); Alfonso.<P>Final score: Cartagonova 3:2 Barcelona
MoM - Juan Sebastián Verón<P>After the match I decide that I don’t really need an unhappy Couto who will do nothing to help us, so I put him officially on the transfer list. There’s no sign of his mood brightening, but there are some interest from a couple of Japanese clubs.

Dixie Flatline

16th of January 2005<P>The Spanish transfer deadline passes for the second and final time this season, so let’s take a look once more at the players I signed for the club in the one month the window was open:<P>Axel Wingård (23 y/o, SWE, D C): As I remarked above, I think that the Swedish defender could be a powerful player in the future and more than justify his comparatively small transfer fee of £450,000. Yet to play a game for the club, but I’m sure that he will play plenty over the next few seasons. I’m very happy to have him at the club and if he can learn the language quickly enough, he will get plenty of time on the pitch.<P>Gavião (24 y/o, BRA, DM C): Signed for free from Grémio, he comes into the club because I think that Kevin Gibbens and Francisco �lvarez aren’t ready to step up to replace Fernando Couto if the big Portuguese player has indeed played his last game for Cartagonova. I agonised over whether I should take the Brazilian instead of Gonzalo Colsa, with whom I’d agreed personal terms with just hours before. But Gavião looks like a very polished player and when he learns Spanish, he will be a very influential player. His only problem is a lack of pace, but we can tailor our game plan to accommodate that, I’m sure. I look forward to working with him.<P>George Clegg (24 y/o, ENG, AM/F RC): 2(2) apps, 1 goal, av. rate: 6.75: Hasn’t yet really shown us the talent that I see in him every afternoon on the training pitch. Began well on his debut, but playing him off the bench gives him only a limited time to impress. Did well against Barcelona, though, until I substituted him. He has some way to go to force his way into the first eleven on a full-time basis and will have even more competition from next season, but I think that he will be a good bet to pay off his rather substantial transfer fee of £2.5 million.<P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline

Dixie Flatline

Primera Liga - Game 19: Deportivo La Coruña v Cartagonova<P>With Fernando Couto now on the outer, I rush my new defensive midfielder Gavião into the starting eleven, while Axel Wingård replaces Juan Carlos Castro on the bench. I also switch back to the regulars, so Michel and Redondo return to the first eleven, but Vucko keeps out Rufete. We get an early inkling of what’s coming our way when Mullor escapes my defence to test Vidal after just 120 seconds of football. On 11 minutes, Turu Flores hits a shot over the bar while Redondo returns the compliment, hitting Morán’s pass well over the crossbar. Vidal then beats away Mista’s fierce drive a few moments later. On 20 minutes, Deportivo opens the scoring when David Cano’s pass is taken by full back Washington Tais who turns Lacruz inside out before smashing a shot across the bows of Vidal’s goal into the top corner. Redondo almost brings us level when he runs into the box with the ball at his feet but Molina is equal to the task. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] Just after the half-hour mark, Deportivo extends its lead when Tais sets up Turu Flores and the veteran striker heads home his first goal of the game. Eight minutes later, he has his second as my defence falls apart allowing him a run and shot on goal. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]<P>I launch a rocket around the changing rooms at the break, hoping that it will spur the players into some type of response. My defence has been cut apart in the second half and I feel it’s time to throw Axel Wingård into the deep end - he replaces the poor Ballesteros. On 58 minutes, I then take off the ineffective Michel and the diabolical Jaliens and go to a 3-3-1-2 formation, looking for a miracle. We win a corner, and Morán’s floated cross is headed powerfully home by debutant Gavião to breathe some life back into the contest. But that slight breeze is immediately snuffed out when Turu Flores converts a soft free kick from 20 yards to complete his hat-trick. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek[/IMG] [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] The ultra-attacking formation puts some pressure on the under-exercised Deportivo defence in the final few minutes, but we have absolutely no chance of getting back into this game.<P>I’m furious.<P>I curtly shake the hand of my Deportivo counterpart before stalking back into the dressing rooms, ready with a tongue-lashing for each player as they walk through the door. The rant lasts all the way back to the bus taking us back to Cartagena.<P>Deportivo La Coruña (4-1-3-2): Molina; Arruabarrena (Aranzábal 66), Amaya (Godino 71), Naybet (c), Tais; David Cano; Mullor, Di Lorenzo (Boris 71), Valerón; Mista, Turu Flores.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal (c); Lacruz, �lvarez, Ballesteros (Wingård 46), Jaliens (Esposito 58); Gavião; Michel (Miranda 58), Vucko; Morán; Redondo, Kokmeijer.<P>Final score: Deportivo La Coruña 4:1 Cartagonova
MoM - Mista

Dixie Flatline

What a way to enter the second leg of the third round of the Copa del Rey against Barcelona! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] I officially warn Jaliens and Michel about their poor performances, but they say nothing to indicate that they’ve taken my frustrations on board and are going to do something about it. At least Verón and Alfonso, the two players who tormented us last time out, are injured and will sit in the stands - but that brings back Luis Enrique and Patrick Kluivert. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]<P>Interesting, on a head-to-head comparison, we’ve actually sneaked ahead with the last victory - we’ve taken two wins, a draw and two losses from five games (as have had Barcelona), but we’ve outscored them ten goals to nine! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]<P>17th of January 2005<P>“… AC Milan manager, Signor Oscar Ruggeri, announced this afternoon that his club will sign one of Italy’s hottest properties, Udinese striker Vincenzio Iaquinta, on a Bosman free transfer this summer. He will replace the outgoing Yugoslav international striker, Savo Milosevic, who is resigned to leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. Recently, the powerful forward has been linked with moves to Cartagonova and Dutch club AZ. AC Milan fought off the attentions of Lazio to attract Vincenzio Iaquinta to them, but Oscar Ruggeri’s squad is struggling to escape �<P>19th of January 2005<P>“… Associated Press reports this morning that Cartagonova defensive midfielder, Fernando Couto, wants to leave the club in a £140,000 move to Deportivo La Coruña. Apparently also interested in the Portuguese veteran is Real Vallodolid. Fernando Couto and manager, Señor Dixie Flatline, fell out the previous weekend after the midfielder requested a transfer away from the club. Couto was left out of Cartagonova’s 4-1 loss to Deportivo on the weekend, but club officials, speaking on behalf of the manager, deny that any rumour of an imminent transfer deal was the motivation for the influential midfielder being overlooked. Señor Flatline could not be reached for comment about the story…�<P>Bástard. Couto has now alienated a couple of players in the squad, including the influential player/coach Romário, who is happy that I’ve taken action against him.