Dixie Flatline

It’s the first time we’ve been outclassed by our opponent and it’s probably not the last, since we’re still to play Real Madrid and Valencia. But I’m deeply unhappy about the timidity in which we approached our opponent today. Vidal was exposed too many times, and the full-backs didn’t do their jobs at all properly. I particularly have a strong word with Ismael, who doesn’t seem to have made the transition from Segunda to Primera Liga football like I thought he would. Michel also played terribly and they both receive official warnings. They make no comment, with fills me with even more anger because not only should they be apologising to me, but also to their teammates. Then again, only Margas and Filipescu can hold their heads up high today.<P>We drop to second after today’s match as Deportivo wins 3-0 at Tenerife. I have six days to turn it around because our first time on national television in the Primera Liga awaits - Cartagonova v Osasuna, live on Sky Sports!<P>6th of December 2003<P>Primera Liga - Game 12: Cartagonova v Osasuna<P>Despite the match being shown live on television around the country, this is the first time under my reign that the stadium manager has to post the ‘full house’ sign, as 18,000 fans cram into the Estadio Municipal de Cartagena to greet former goalkeeper Veiga and his new mates, the boys from Osasuna. From our debacle against Villarreal, I drop Ismael and Margas to accommodate the return of Ballesteros and Couto. Keith O’Neill is also replaced by Roberto Sosa, making his first appearance in a Cartagonova guernsey since joining the club back in the summer.<P>It is a very cautious start from both sides and it isn’t until Osasuna gives away the free kick within the range of Esnáider, and the Argentine midfielder tests Veiga’s reflexes with a bullet free kick. The Portuguese keeper disappoints his former adoring fans by turning the ball aside, but Filipescu flights the corner just so for Esnáider to rocket a header past Veiga! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG] And that wraps it up for the first half. In the second half, things get a little more lively when Collymore dribbles his way through the Osasuna defence, but the crowd groans when his shot is closer to the corner flag than the net. Still, when Couto and Esnáider combine to spring Redondo, the prolific marksman makes no mistake on 61 minutes to make it 2-0 to the home team. Only now does Osasuna’s forwards wake up with Oktay and Gershon trying desperately to bring their team back into the contest, but we shut up shop to earn Vidal another clean sheet bonus.<P>Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal; Lacruz, Filipescu, �lvarez, Ballesteros; Michel, Couto (c), Morán; Esnáider; Redondo, Collymore.<P>Osasuna (4-4-2): Veiga; Ibán Pérez (Lledó 67), Saavedra, Josetxo (c), Luci; �ngel Luis, Rousel, Alfedro, Callejas (Munteanu 56); Gershon, Oktay.<P>Final score: Cartagonova 2:0 Osasuna
MoM - Juan Eduardo Esnáider

Dixie Flatline

7th of December 2003<P>Deportivo takes back top spot in the division after easily accounting for Mallorca 3-0 at the Riazor. Mista opened the scoring on 4 minutes, while Dutch international Roy Makaay added a brace in an 8 minute burst. They lead us by dint of goal difference - Deportivo has +17 in the goal difference column, while we have +15 in ours. Real Madrid threatens to push us down to third, given that they have one game in hand, trail us by 3 points and have a slightly better goal difference. <P>10th of December 2003<P>Copa del Rey - 1st Round: Toledo v Cartagonova<P>Today’s opponent in the first round of the Copa del Rey is battling for promotion from D2B, group 1. I choose this match to give a few of the fringe players an opportunity to push their names forward, but of course the focus is upon winning the battle and booking for ourselves a spot in the second round.<P>Redondo almost puts us in front on 5 minutes after Morán dazzles his way through the Toledo defence. From the goal-kick, Morán tests the reflexes of Márquez with a bullet shot that the Toledo keeper turns aside for a corner. In fact, we have the best of the opening exchanges as we dominate inside the Toledo half. And we finally make our pressure count on the scoreboard when Morán tees up Filipescu to volley home on his left foot on 17 minutes. It’s no more than we deserve, but we slacken off slightly and Toledo’s players have the time to regroup. Yet, we’re doing enough to keep the Toledo defence busy and focused upon keeping us out rather than threatening our goal.<P>So it comes as a shock when immediately after kick-off in the second half, Roberto’s accurate cross is bicycle-kicked home by Juanma. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] It opens the floodgates because Morán restores our lead five minutes later, smashing home Lacruz’s beautiful cut-back. Morán has a hand in setting up our third goal, feeding the ball to Fernández, who slides it through the Toledo defence to where Redondo is waiting, and the striker slams it home on 61 minutes. But our players are over-confident and when Afash skips through the tackles of Lacruz, Fernández and Ballesteros, he sees the unmarked Fran �lvarez screaming for the cross, and the striker is left with a simple headed goal to complete. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] But we go back on the attack and four minutes from time, Fernández picks up the rebound from Morán’s powerful shot.<P>Toledo (4-4-2): Márquez; Marc (Chechu 90), Nono, Sergio, José Antonio; Nieto (Melgarejo 9), Fran �lvarez, Roberto, Afash; Quini (c), Juanma.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal (c); Lacruz, Filipescu, Prieto, Ballesteros; Fernández; Jofre (Box 72), Miranda; Morán; Redondo, Sosa (Gabrich 63).<P>Final score: Toledo 2:4 Cartagonova
MoM - Fernando Morán

Dixie Flatline

12th of December 2003<P>So much for an easy progression through the early rounds in the Copa del Rey. We draw Valencia for the second round clash. The only bright spot is that it is at home on New Year’s Eve, so we should have a big crowd in attendance.<P>14th of December 2003<P>Primera Liga - Game 13: Espanyol v Cartagonova<P>We’re in the capital of the Catalan region to play the second side from Barcelona, Espanyol, who is eleven places below us in 13th position. It should be an opportunity to gather another three points, but when Sebastián Abreu is given the chance to break through our defence, he converts the chance expertly inside sixty seconds of kick-off. It’s a sloppy start made worse by our inability to properly test Esteban, the Espanyol keeper, although Filipescu and Redondo go close inside the first ten minutes. It’s a frustrating first half as I see chance after chance go begging that on other days we would have buried without a second thought.<P>I demand more commitment from the players at the break and I urge them to make their own luck in the second half. Esnáider responds by thundering a rocket past Esteban, converting Morán’s good pass just forty seconds into the second half. But after that moment of brilliance we again fail to capitalise on our midfielders’ good work. It seems like both sides, but particularly us, are affected by the mediocrity of the play and the match tamely peters out to an inconclusive draw.<P>Espanyol (4-4-2): Esteban; Juanma, Tasevksi, Rotchen (Ayala 55), Soria; Porras, Galca (c), Morales, MartÃ*n Posse; Abreu, Tamudo.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal; Lacruz (Dacosta 73), Filipescu, Ã�lvarez, Ballesteros; Couto (c); Michel, Miranda (Box 73); Morán; Redondo, Esnáider.<P>Final score: Espanyol 1:1 Cartagonova
MoM - Esteban<P>The draw lets Deportivo slip two points away from us, while Real Madrid closes to within a point, still with a game in hand. We’re off to Málaga next weekend before we host Real Madrid in a fortnight. Should be a lot of fun! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek[/IMG]

Dixie Flatline

Thanks, Ell_G! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG] Sorry I did not see you there before, but better late than never, hey! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="roll eyes[/IMG] <P>Cheers,<P>Dixie

Dixie Flatline

15th of December 2003<P>The Spanish transfer window opens again, which means that three new players need to be introduced to the rest of the squad:<P>Marcelo Moya (24 y/o, ARG, D RLC): Signed from Argentine second division club Los Andes for £400,000, he is untested at the highest level of club football in Argentina and therefore is a speculative proposition in the Primera Liga. But from what I’ve seen of him on the tapes from his club, I think he has a bright future at Cartagonova. A strong, tough-tackling player who is equally adept on the ground and in the air, he is certainly next cab off the rank if for some reason any of the current back four are suspended or injured. Perhaps the only major concern is a relative lack of pace, but I think he has enough to be a good purchase for the club. Even without playing a game, his value has more than doubled on the transfer fee.<P>Stephen Tetteh (23 y/o, GHA 9 caps, D R): This player is another good pick-up for the club. Signed for free he has been keeping himself fairly fit in anticipation of slotting straight into the first eleven when he arrives, but Ballesteros has something to say about that I’m sure. Again, perhaps a little short on pace but in all other areas, he is a good full-back, with high marks for tackling, strength, marking and anticipation. And he’s not too bad at the offensive side of the game, with a good long shot, good passing and crossing and fair creativity.<P>Mariano Fernández (25 y/o, ARG, D C): Signed from Belgrano for £350,000 he is perhaps the weakest of the three new faces at the club, but he is still an impressive sight. He again looks more than just a competent centre-half, although Filipescu and �lvarez have worked pretty well in those positions so far this season. Started his career at Lanús in the first division in Argentina, but made his way at Belgrano before coming to Spain to join my club. I doubt if he’ll make much of an impression this season, but he is still handy cover to have, just in case.

Dixie Flatline

Unfortunately, Pontevreda fails to come up with the dough to afford Misrad Hibic, so I have to again hawk him around the leagues of Europe, looking for a potential suitor. The wage bill still needs to be trimmed, especially with three new faces at the club, so I review the situation. Pedro Alberto must have been signed when I was on the massive bender at the end of last season, because I have no use for him. He is placed on the transfer list, but nobody at this stage seems interested in an old codger like him. <P>Lawal’s contract is up for renewal at the end of the season and so far he isn’t interested in starting negotiations. So he is placed on the list and begins to attract some interest. I’m further guaranteed of a move, because he thinks I’ve treated him unfairly. I briefly toy with the idea of listing Keith O’Neill who hasn’t settled in Spain so far this season and doesn’t look capable of holding down a regular spot in the game day squad, let alone the first eleven. I also tell David Ferrara that he should clean out his locker, because he gets the joy of a free transfer.<P>16th of December 2003<P>The bidding war for Misrad Hibic begins in earnest this morning, as Osijek offers me £275,000 for the defender. I demand £500,000 after six months. Caracas also offers £275,000, and again I want £500,000. Liga is the third club to offer me £275,000 for the defender and I demand £500,000

Dixie Flatline

17th of December 2003<P>Primera Liga - Game 14: Málaga v Cartagonova<P>Another match on the road and it comes just three days after our last game, so wholesale changes just to find eleven relatively fit players to take the pitch at the opening whistle is needed. I think our opponents have identified that Redondo is our chief threat and whenever he gets the ball, he is quickly surrounded. But it doesn’t stop him from testing Contreras on 28 minutes. The keeper spills it but before we can react, Zepeda hoofs the ball away. Just before half-time, Redondo forces Contreras into conceding the corner, but Miranda’s header from Filipescu’s cross is wayward.<P>In the second half, Stan Collymore gets in on the act, firing off a quick shot at Contreras, but the keeper again pushes that shot aside. Miranda again fails to force Contreras into making a save from the corner, while Edgar takes the goalkick and marches up the field to test Vidal with his own arrow. Suddenly, I’m on my feet on 69 minutes when we believe DarÃ*o Silva crudely and illegally tackled Collymore in the box, but the referee doesn’t see it our way. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG] But a single lapse in concentration allows the Turkish midfielder Tayfun to nutmeg Lacruz and hold off Filipescu before slamming a thunderbolt past Vidal. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG] Coming just a minute before the end of normal time, it is a killer and we don’t have the heart to come back.<P>Málaga (1-2-5-2): Contreras; Ramón (López 85); Zepeda (c), LarraÃ*nzar; Agostinho, Edgar, Estay, DarÃ*o Silva, Tayfun; Gomez, Ismael.<P>Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal (c); Lacruz, Moya, Ã�lvarez, Ballesteros; Filipescu; Michel (Sosa 78), Miranda; Cañizares; Redondo, Collymore.<P>Final score: Málaga 1:0 Cartagonova
MoM - Ramón

Raptor

At long ****ing last [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]<P>Caught up with the story again, even if I missed a few bits.<P>So Dixie, at this rate, Catagonova will be in the Champions League come May! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek[/IMG]<P>Shame about the odd unlucky result. Good to see Stan the Man still in the starting XI. I knew his retirement threats were idle [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG]<P>[This message was edited by Raptor on 22 July 2001 at 16:22.]

Dixie Flatline

As you might have noticed, Moya makes his debut immediately after joining the club and I can say with some pride that he didn’t look out of place in the defence. Hopefully his acquisition will strengthen the back-line, but I am growing somewhat concerned that the goals have begun to dry up for our forwards. Collymore has not looked like adding to his five goal tally for a while, and Sosa disappoints, although with few opportunities.<P>The defeat allows Deportivo to slip five points away at the top of the ladder. Real Madrid lost to Barcelona 2-1 in the Bernabau stadium and next weekend, we host the giant Spanish club.<P>18th of December 2003<P>A week before Christmas, Yugoslav club Radnicki Kragujevac offers me £375,000 for Lawal. I want £525,000 now and £100,000 after ten internationals. The same club also makes a bid of £500,000 for Misrad Hibic. I try for £600,000 for the defender.<P>I demand a week’s delay from Caracas, Liga and Osijek for their bids for the defender. Only Caracas agrees to allow me to explore other avenues in selling this player. <P>In the evening, I place a collect call to Glasgow to discuss the future of Alan Stubbs with the Rangers defender. I know from my scouts in Glasgow that he has rejected Rangers’ new contract, and I hope that I can swoop on the 32 year old English defender. He might be aging, but I think he still has the ability to offer something to our cause next season. I also contact Fabián O’Neill of Udinese about coming to Cartagonova and leave his disappointing spell in Italy behind. He is interested in joining up the club, so I leave him to mull over a contract I fax to him.

Dixie Flatline

20th of December 2003<P>Strasbourg joins the chase for Lawal, our Nigerian midfielder, offering me £525,000 for him. I decide that this is a good sum for the player who hasn’t had much of a run recently, so I allow my counterpart the opportunity to coax the player to France. <P>Interesting news from Scotland as News of the World reports that Celtic has signed Inter Milan and Italy striker Christian Vieri for £16.75 million. It is the latest in the long line of high-profile signings under Martin O’Neill’s reign, including Ariel Ortega, Silvinho, Frank Lampard, Pavel Nedved, Steve McManaman, Gareth Barry and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. In fact, the transfer fee brings Celtic’s spending to £48 million this season already, breaking the barrier of £42 million set last season. In contrast, Celtic has recovered only £1.7 million from the sale of Paolo Vernazza this season, while mortal enemy Rangers has spent just £6 million this season.<P>Radnicki offers me the terms I wanted for both Lawal and Hibic so the Yugoslav club has the chance to tempt both of them away from Cartagonova. <P>21st of December 2003<P>Levski makes a late lunge to sign Lawal, offering £525,000 for the Nigerian. I want £150,000 after ten internationals added to the bid. CSKA Moskva also offers £525,000 and I decide to go for broke, demanding £750,000 now and £150,000 after ten internationals. <P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline