Dixie Flatline

Now into my fourth season at Cartagonova, we've reached the Primera Liga in what has definitely been a roller-coaster ride. Before I take you along for the ride again, it's probably the best time to recap where we've been.<P>In season one, I found the club down on its luck and the club found me also down on my luck after I needed to leave Seville and a legal scandal far behind. After trials and tribulations, Cartagonova was promoted. Find out how, here:<P>In 2001, in Spain, the Rain still falls mainly on the Plane!<P>In season two, I tried to establish the club as a potential promotion challenge and after a slow start we climbed our way up the ladder. But internal divisions, inevitably sparked by player ambition, cost us eventually a tilt at promotion so we had to be satisfied with the upper table. However, with better players, hopefully season three would see a real promotion tilt!<P>May too far away<P>And so in season three, adding a class striker, some good defenders and switching players around unearthed some real gems. But still the internal divisions wouldn't go away and when Stan Collymore starts moaning, you soon know about it. Would it derail our attempt to win our first trophy and give Tenerife the chance to snatch it away dramatically? Find out here:<P>When Sunday Comes<P>Now, we're ready to begin... [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif" alt="red face[/IMG] <P>21st of June 2003<P>Officially the new season starts today as I’m called into the chairman’s suddenly spacious office ( [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] ) to be briefed about the directors’ expectations for the coming season. Quite obviously, the board expects me to deliver them from the spectre of relegation from the best league in the world. To help me, they authorise that I can spend up to £6.75 million, mainly generated by £5 million in TV rights. I also discover the fixture list has been released. We start the war with a battle at home against Sporting Gijón on the 24th of August 2003. Next, we host Real Vallodolid on the 14th of September 2003 before our first away match takes us to Extremadura on the 21st. Then the big match - Barcelona at home on the 28th of September. I hope everybody is making plans early! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG] We visit the defending champion on the 22nd of October and the club I spurned to remain at Cartagonova, Deportivo, on the 2nd of November.<P>I start spending the money immediately, offering Real Betis £1 million for Romanian international defender Iulian Filipescu. He is a well-rounded defender and at 29, he would actually reduce the average age of the back-line! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG] I have some competition from Guingamp, but the French club doesn’t know I’ve stolen a march on them, and I hope that the lure of remaining in the Primera Liga would be sufficient to attract the player (Real Betis was relegated at the end of the last season). <P>I also make a loan bid to Feyenoord for 23 year old striker Niels Kokmeijer. I don’t really have much more room for a striker (although two left the club at the end of last season), but this man has all the attributes to be a truly great striker, except perhaps a yard of pace. But he is an excellent shot and can dribble his way through a packed defence, while he is also pretty good at set-pieces.

Dixie Flatline

22nd of June 2003<P>Real Betis agrees to the bid I make for their Romanian international and allows me to talk terms with the defender Filipescu. He wants to be merely in squad rotation, but I believe he would anchor the defence this season and therefore I offer him important first team player role. He wants £10,000/week and a signing-on fee of £190,000, and mindful that Guingamp might get a scent of what is happening, I up that to £11,500/week and £250,000 to ensure I well get my man.<P>23rd of June 2003<P>Old boy Alberto Rivera has still not made the grade properly at Real Madrid, though he does chip in occasionally, playing the odd game or two. But today he is made the subject of bids of £3.9 million from Real Zaragoza and Malága. I’d love to match their bids, but I feel that the amount of money is too much for my club.<P>Feyenoord’s striker Niels Kokmeijer tells me bluntly that he has no inclination to join Cartagonova on loan for the season. Far enough.<P>In the evening, I am contacted by Iulian Filipescu who says that he is delighted to join the club. I tell him to have a couple of weeks off and report for pre-season training in a fortnight. In the meantime, I make notes to get down to the club facilities manager and organise for a number ‘4’ guernsey to be made up for the Romanian international. I also spent some time this morning organising a three-game trip to France in the lead-up to our first match of the season. We visit second-division Nice and top flight Lens and Monaco after we host Manchester United at Cartagena on the 6th of August! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG] While Man United isn’t the champion club it has been in the recent past, I still think the name alone will bring the fans through the turnstiles!<P>The day is complete when the coaches inform me that a young player by the name of Francisco �lvarez is good enough to start training with the first-team players. Taking a look at the videos of him playing in the youth team, I can see where my coaches are coming from. Playing in the anchor role in front of the back four, he shows a willingness to pound over every blade of grass on the pitch with some ability. At 17, he’s not going to get a match this season, but I’ll leave him in the capable hands of Dunga, Enzo Francescoli and Luis Sosa. They’ll need to work on his strength, because I do notice he consistently gets bumped off the ball.<P>24th of June 2003<P>Iulian Filipescu joins the club this morning and I introduce him to the club staff and Fernando Couto who is in the town as I’m negotiating a contract extension with him.<P>I learn in the evening that Couto has decided to reject my contract offer. He wants almost double the wages I am prepared to offer somebody of his age, and he tells the press that he is unhappy with me. It’s the first I’ve heard of it, because so far he’s been very civil with me in our negotiations and I’ve come to rely upon him in some of the preparations for the games.<P>Luis Sosa retires from his playing career. He actually never played a game for the club, but he is a good assistant.

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25th of June 2003<P>On the day full-back José Ramón Dacosta joins the club, I learn from Romário that the great Brazilian striker, currently player-coach with Granada, will join Cartagonova as soon as possible. I’ve been chasing him for a while and even though he is 37 years old he has certainly looked after himself and I can definitely find a use for him on the field, the least of which is scaring all Manchester United fans if he is in the starting lineup for that match! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]<P>Pablo Box signs a new three-year contract that increases his min. release clause to £3 million. He is followed by Ismael who also puts his signature to a three-year contract with a minimum release clause of £2 million. Gustavo Cañizares is delighted to put pen to paper on a contract that sees him take home £6,750/week for three years plus a £2.5 million min. release clause. Not so willing to sign contracts is my assistant Luis Sosa and the young rookie Francisco �lvarez.<P>30th of June 2003<P>Roberto Sosa arrives at the club and immediately comes into my office to introduce himself. I note how slowly he walks and I hope that my coaches can do something about that.<P>1st of July 2003<P>Several more players walk through my door to introduce themselves again. I direct Ballesteros to the defenders in the club because he will be working closely with them, Ismael Ruiz, our new defensive midfielder, has a chat about the nightlife in Cartagena with �lex Fernández. Gabriel Heinze is a little late to catch up with Ballesteros, but I send him down to the club rooms to snag a locker for the coming season. Rufete preens himself and catches the eye of the receptionist on his way in. I merely grin to myself as I can see the player’s arrogance exude through every pore. And finally Juan Eduardo Esnáider walks nonchalantly through my door, throws down his bag and offers me a big Argentine hug for taking him out of the nightmare that is Juventus.<P>The board contacts me in the evening and asks me around for a couple of drinks to get my feeling on how the squad is shaping for the difficult season ahead. After they listen to me politely spout rubbish about all the great signings I’ve brought to the club in the last couple of weeks, they floor me by saying that they think Fernando Couto should not be a member of the squad. I’m stunned by this attack on one of the club’s leading defenders and after a moment spent sipping the beer to catch my thoughts I spring to the Portuguese’s defence. But I do see the board’s point of view. His contract is up for renewal at the end of the season and he wants more than £10,000/week. We’re still a small club and that is big money for an aging warrior even with the quality of Couto. Much as I don’t want to admit it, it might be wise to get some money now rather than risk losing him to a rival club for free.<P>6th of July 2003<P>After Vidal and Jofre refused to sign the new contracts I presented with them, I am much happier to hear that Ballesteros and Rufete both put pen to paper on their improved deals that will tie them to the club for at least three seasons. I’m sure both of them will be an integral part of our fight against relegation this season.<P>Osasuna’s Shimon Gershon is again on the transfer list for approximately £3 million, which is a considerable investment. But given his ability to play almost anywhere down the spine and his innate talent, I might just throw down the money, assuming he is interested in joining the club. Another player who might be tempted into coming to the club is Mallorca’s Lluis Carreras, who has again fallen out of favour with his manager and is available for about £1 million. I’m also monitoring Dundee’s Walter del Rio who is looking to move to a bigger club. I’m sending scouts to Dundee to run their eyes over the player as his club takes on Manchester United. The final defender I’m closely monitoring is the Norwegian Per Vener Rønning who is with Segunda Liga Levante. At 20 years of age, he is already quite talented and can play anywhere in the left or centre of the pitch.

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8th of July 2003<P>Czech international defender Tomas Votova was released by 1860 München during the summer and after Zeleznic approaches him about joining that club, I immediately authorise the club’s lawyers to fax a contract to the player and I follow that up with a personal phone call trying to convince the player to join the club. <P>11th of July 2003<P>Gonzalo del Bono is a player who grew up under the River Plate youth system and after spending the last Argentine season on loan with Almirante Brown, a second division club in Argentina, decided to leave River Plate and seek his fame and fortune elsewhere. I hope he’ll see the light and come across the Atlantic to join Cartagonova, but there are some Argentine clubs after his signature, so the battle for him could be bloody. But I think it’s worth it, because at 22 years old, he is already an above average midfielder.<P>14th of July 2003<P>The start of a new working week sees Dunga knock on my office door. I usher the Brazilian into the room and ask him what’s up. He tells me that Sabadell has offered him the position of assistant manager at the club. I ask him whether he really wants to join a Segunda Liga club that really doesn’t have that much of a chance of moving into the Primera Liga, or remaining with a club that has a solid future.<P>To tell you the truth, Dunga isn’t the most effective coach going around and I don’t think I’d be that tempted to stop him leaving the club. I’m already lining up possible replacements, including Stefan Effenburg and Ed de Goey who have taken the FIFA coaching course and are apparently quite good at the coaching side of the game. <P>18th of July 2003<P>Unfortunately, Tomas Votova decides to remain in Germany, joining Borussia M’gladbach, which is not the first time that club has stolen a player that I’ve been interested in away from me! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]<P>In the evening, Dunga contacts me to inform me that he has decided to move to Sabadell as its assistant manager. I’m not going to stand in the way of him, even though I think he is making a mistake. But then again, I believe Dunga needs Cartagonova more than Cartagonova needs Dunga.<P>19th of July 2003<P>A lazy Saturday morning is interrupted by the ringing of the phone. It is the manager of Treviso, Signor Gianfranco Bellotto, who is inquiring after the availability of Alessandro Birindelli and is willing to throw £220,000 away, erm, at me to capture the full-back. Since that meets his min. release clause (he is one of the few players I haven’t bothered to negotiate a new contract with), I’m obliged to allow Treviso to talk turkey with the defender, but I wouldn’t have blocked it anyway.<P>Dunga leaves Cartagena for Sabadell and once I see his car leaving the town, I leap into my office and contact Stefan Effenburg about a player/coach role at Cartagonova. Unfortunately he wants a lot of money to sit around and supervise training, but even his very name would be an excellent attraction at the club so I dream up some type of contract and e-mail it through to him.

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20th of July 2003<P>Real Madrid released its heart and soul of the club over the past few seasons, Hierro, in the summer. I’ve been waiting until he is desperate enough to come to the club before making an approach, but the hated Real Zaragoza short-circuits my plans and I’m forced to offer Hierro, the former Spanish captain, a very nice contract, especially since he is already 35 years old. <P>In the Copa America, Paraguay upsets Brazil with a 1-0 victory in Buenos Aires. Derlis Soto of Argentine Primera Liga side Huracán netted after 49 minutes to spark wild celebrations in Asunción. Bolivia captured third place yesterday on penalties against Mexico after the two countries drew 1-1 in Buenos Aires. Chile dropped out at the quarter-finals after being defeated by Bolivia. Javier Margas didn’t play a game thanks to a knee injury he suffered just before the start of the tournament, although he did sit on the bench for the quarter-final.<P>Birindelli is delighted to leave Cartagonova for the less pressured environment of the ambitious Treviso, who is also looking to capture Brazilian icon Leonardo after he was released by Barcelona. I agree with alacrity to the transfer and we bid farewell to the former Juventus full-back. As a club, we take a loss of almost £600,000 on him after I paid £850,000 to Juventus for him two seasons ago. His fact-file: Alessandro Birindelli (D/DM R, 28 y/o, ITA): 50(3) apps, 2 assists, av. rate: 6.38.<P>23rd of July 2003<P>My scouts enjoy themselves in Dundee but do remember to go to the friendly between Dundee and Manchester United. After United defeated the home side 1-0, my scouts report that Walter del Rio is a fairly good player. From the videos I saw, I reckon he is slightly better than they give him credit for - playing as a right-back, he completed half his tackles and was an effective outlet in defence for the home club. <P>Reported interest in Iván Vidal by Espanyol forces me to call a meeting with the player and his representative as I try to tie him to the club for a considerable period of time. A current release clause of just £300,000 is far too low for a goalkeeper of his calibre and if I can increase it to something more substantial, I will be rather happier. The trouble is, Vidal obviously regards himself as the club’s established keeper and demands a wage packet of £9,500/week which is slightly more than double his current wage of £4,200/week. I claim that the club could not let him go for less than £3 million, so both sides in the negotiations make their positions clear.<P>Bad news filters through from Argentina as Gonzalo Del Bono obviously believes he isn’t yet ready to make the grade in La Liga, opting for Huracán instead.

Dixie Flatline

25th of July 2003<P>More bad news as Hierro opts for Real Zaragoza. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif" alt="mad[/IMG]<P>26th of July 2003<P>Finally some good news as Iván Vidal puts pen to paper on a contract that ties him to Cartagonova for three years, unless somebody can come up with £3million to meet his new min. release clause.<P>29th of July 2003<P>I continue to sign up the players to long-term contracts and the latest is Michel, who has his wage packet raised to £9,750/week with a minimum release clause of £5 million. <P>30th of July 2003<P>Stefan Effenburg reveals his lazy side as he decides to cross the town to join 1860 München, saying that he can’t wait to work with manager Werner Lorant. I wonder what reception the former Bayern captain will receive when the cross-town rivals meet?!<P>In the evening, Jofre decides finally to append his signature to the contract I’ve presented to him. He signs on board for the typical three year run, believing that I will help his career flourish. He now earns £7,250/week with a min. release clause of £3.5 million.<P>After losing Dunga to Sabadell, Effenburg going to 1860 Munich and Ed de Goey going to Inter Milan, I move in for the kill for the young Brazilian coach Toninho who looks a very well-rounded coach. After interviewing him via video conference from his base in Sao Paolo, I offer him the job. He goes away to think about it, and then tonight replies that he would jump at the chance of being part of the backroom in a Primera Liga club.<P>31st of July 2003<P>Two names go onto the transfer list this morning. I decide that Adrián Carretero just has not pushed on like he should have and I think he really would be better off in a lower league. Therefore, he’s on the list for £350,000. Similarly, Sietes has not been the player I thought he would be and with other left-sided defenders now at the club, I think he has fallen so far down the hierarchy that there’s not much point keeping him. Interestingly, I see that Málaga is apparently preparing a bid of £500,000 for him. Perhaps I’ve made a mistake?

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2nd of August 2003<P>The first bids for Sietes arrive on my desk this morning. Espanyol offers me £500,000 for the defender. I raise the stakes to £850,000 up-front plus £250,000 over twenty league matches. Caracas also offers me £500,000 for the left back, and I respond by demanding £850,000 over six months.<P>3rd of August 2003<P>Big scores are recorded in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup held this time in Brazil and Argentina. In the first semi-final, played at Brazil’s spiritual home, La Maracanã, Argentina breezed past Nigeria 3-1 with goals to Roma’s Walter Samuel, Fiorentina’s Cristian Bardaro, and Juventus’ Ariel Ortega. Nigeria’s goal came from Adebowale Ogungbure. But the more interesting result came from the second semi-final where Italy obliterated a hapless France 5-1 in Fonte Nova. Braces to Gianluca Zambrotta of Juventus and Lazio’s Lamberto Zauli plus Filippo Inzaghi’s late goal slaughtered France who only had Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to show for their work.<P>I defy my bosses by negotiating a new contract with Fernando Couto that sees him put pen to paper on a three-year deal worth £1.5 million. That works out to £10,000/week, which makes him the second-highest paid player at the club. I sure hope that we stay in the Primera Liga else there will be a fire-sale next season just to balance the books!<P>I’m beginning to become very worried about the future of Stan Collymore at the club. He is still not happy despite helping to guide the club into the Primera Liga and to make matters worse he tells me that he is homesick. Apparently the arrival of Keith O’Neill has sparked fond memories of home and he may start seeking a return to England sooner rather than later. Given that his contract expires at the end of the season and I’m not likely to sign up the player for any longer, I may have to transfer-list him in order to get some money for him. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif" alt="frown[/IMG]<P>4th of August 2003<P>Granada offers me £110,000 for Carretero. I raise those stakes to £150,000 plus a 10% sell-on clause.<P>Espanyol’s manager returns with the numbers I like to hear - £850,000 plus £250,000 after 20 league matches for Sietes. Caracas also responds with the bid I wanted from them, but I’d rather Sietes sign for Espanyol because we would receive more money for the defender. Hence, I ask for a delay from the Venezuelan club. It turns out that I need not have worried, because by the evening, the deal is done and Sietes prepares to leave the club. His fact-file: Sietes (D/DM L, 29 y/o, ESP): 36(6) apps, 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 MoM, av. rate: 6.58<P>Keep smiling! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG]
Dixie Flatline

Dixie Flatline

Thanks, Ell_G and Kazema! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif" alt="smile[/IMG] Hopefully this story will be entertaining! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG]<P>My most important pre-season continues...<P>5th of August 2003<P>I’m interrupted in the morning by some more transfer bids. This time, Málaga’s manager VÃ*ctor Manuel GarcÃ*a Ruiz latches upon Misrad Hibic as a player that should join the club, so he offers me £130,000 for the Bosnian international. He is completely foolish if he thinks I’m going to accept that bid for the defender! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] Salamanca’s manager, Aad de Mos, also offers me £130,000 for the same player and I can’t wait to tell him exactly what to do with the transfer bid.<P>Premiá has its sights set on the right midfielder Javi, who has suffered in his own private nightmare for the last season and just hasn’t progressed like he should. Given that the bid of £200,000 meets his min. release clause, I accept the bid.<P>Ponferradina offers me £150,000 for Carretero, and I try to push that up to £200,000 before I agree to let them speak to my player.<P>I’ve been chasing Ourense’s defender Óscar Ã�lvarez for about a month now, and the price has been steadily increasing. Finally I get some positive response from my counterpart at Ourense, but the counter-offer is rather steep: £2 million up front plus £750,000 after 10 internationals. This is double his nominal value and I’m not sure whether I want to pay that much for a player who does not always play for his current club. I offer Ourense £1.3 million plus £800,000 after 20 internationals.<P>France’s porous defence lets Nigeria score four times against Les Bleus with goals to Ifeani Udeze, Mutiu, Emmanuel Olisadebe and Abdul Sule. Nicolas Anelka again was on the scoresheet for France, but it was too little, too late.

Dixie Flatline

6th of August 2003<P>Dos Hermanas offers £220,000 for Carretero, which is a value I can live with for the midfielder. Hence, I accept the offer. I take a risk and turn down Granada’s £170,000 deal for the midfielder, hoping that Dos Hermanas can put together a package that entices Carretero sufficiently.<P>Unlike previous matches, the final of the Confederations Cup between Argentina and Italy is a tense, low-scoring affair that is eventually resolved in the Azzurri’s favour when Gianluca Zambrotta finishes off the Argentines in extra-time with the golden goal.<P>Javi decides that Premiá’s terms are good enough to join the D2B club so he prepares to leave the club before the imminent arrival of Manchester United for this evening’s friendly. Javi’s fact-file: Javi (M R, 24 y/o, ESP): 4(7) apps, av. rate: 6.36<P>Friendly - Cartagonova v Manchester United<P>It’s the first time we’ve kicked a ball in anger since early June 2003, and I’m sure some of the players will be a little rusty. But I still think this is a good opportunity to check out just how good some of the players I’ve signed really are. I mix in regulars with some of the new players, but obviously I can’t try out all the players I’ve brought into the club at once and some sit on the bench, while others miss out altogether.<P>Noel Whelan (those two words should tell you just how much Man United have fallen since Ferguson left the club) tests Vidal early on but we take the lead on 19 minutes when Collymore’s cross is headed home by Filipescu and I’m rather happy! [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] But Manchester United have played a few more games than we have at the start of this season and they begin shifting up the gears. Their pressure is eventually rewarded with an equaliser on 43 minutes to Whelan but at half-time I’m happy with what we’ve done. I make some changes through the course of the second half and one of them, Esnáider for Morán, should have brought a goal on 71 minutes when the Argentine midfielder heads over the bar from Redondo’s inviting cross. But Giggs hits the post late on with a delicious free kick, reminding people that before Beckham emerged, Giggs was the player responsible for set-pieces.<P>Final score: Cartagonova 1:1 Manchester United
MoM - Stan Collymore

Dixie Flatline

7th of August 2003<P>Club Marino joins the chase for Carretero by making a bid of £240,000 for the midfielder, split into £180,000 now plus £65,000 after 20 league matches. Ponferradina offers me £200,000 straight for him.<P>8th of August 2003<P>Salamanca renews interest in Hibic, offering me £150,000 for the Bosnian international. Needless to say, I don’t give the offer a second thought before I turn it down.<P>Carretero picks his destination - it is Dos Hermanas, which means we receive £220,000 for the midfielder. I’m broken-hearted with his departure. No, really. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big grin[/IMG] His fact-file: Adrián Carretero (M RC, 25 y/o, ESP): 1(4) apps, 2 goals, av. rate: 6.8<P>9th of August 2003<P>Again I cannot complete the reading of the Saturday newspapers without being interrupted by the telephone. This time it is Wim Jansen looking to buy Misrad Hibic from Cartagonova for the laughable sum of £180,000. Good luck next time, matey, because I’m not selling you one of the better defenders for such a small amount.<P>10th of August 2003<P>We’re in the lovely Riviera town of Nice preparing for our match against the town’s local football eleven when I’m contacted again by Wim Jansen who today offers me £220,000 for Misrad Hibic. Again I take no time at all in turning down the bid. After all, there’s a sun-tan to be had out there on those beautiful (?) pebble beaches! I really should turn the mobile off but he’s been leaving messages everywhere and I can’t just escape this mad Dutchman.<P>Friendly - Nice v Cartagonova<P>I swap the team around for our match against Nice in our first match of our tour of France, and Luis Prieto, Ismael Ruiz, Oliver, Roberto Sosa and Magno all have the chance to showcase their talents for the first time this season. Magno sets up our first goal with a powerful shot that the Nice keeper pushes into the path of Ruiz, who tucks it away. We’re the better team in the first half but on 52 minutes, Nice replies with an equaliser scored by Konan-Kan, the Ivory Coast international striker. However, we take the lead back on 75 minutes when Rufete’s corner is headed home by Luis Prieto. We again hammer away at Nice’s goal but can’t find the third goal to ensure our victory, but in the end it doesn’t matter.<P>Nice 1:2 Cartagonova
MoM - Jean-Gabriel Padovani - the Nice keeper and captain did a sterling job against some strong strikers including Magno, Roberto Sosa and Juan Eduardo Esnáider.