jwinked90

this is crap, read 'Me and My Crewe' instead.

retired_rachie

don't, this CATONAISGOD is by far one of the best storytellers on the bored, i hope after this season you do one on FM please!!!

retired_jkat116

Thanks Grohyt, glad you’re enjoying reading I'll definately have a crack at an FM story if I ever get round to buying it !

Monday 19th April

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Sky Sports News

Juve announce Leeds enquiry

Juventus Director and General Manager Luciano Moggi has today announced that Leeds United have contacted the Serie A giants, over Andrea Gasbarroni’s possible move to the Yorkshire outfit.

Moggi told Sky Sports News that although no deal has been agreed, Dan O’Brien has expressed an interest.

“It is true that Leeds want to sign Andrea,” he said. “But it was only a phone call, nothing more.”

“We are happy to continue talks, but at the moment we are only concerned in preparing for the Scudetto finale this year. We will talk more later.”

Leeds United have not yet commented on reports that Gasbarroni could be on his way to the Premiership, but we’ll bring you more when we hear, on your first for football, Sky Sports News .

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

retired_jkat116

Wednesday 21st April


The level of performance certainly hadn’t been reflected in our 1-0 victory over Blackburn, a scoreline which would seem to suggest a far tighter affair than it actually was. But thankfully we got the result and some great football to go with it. Kevin and I were encouraged at what we had seen, and the mood in the camp was extremely upbeat as we prepared for our visit to Bolton. Not only that, but an Adrian Mutu inspired victory over Manchester United ensured we were now level on points with the Reds, only goal difference pegging us back as we remained in fourth place.

The only negatives from the week were the injuries to James Milner and Alan Smith during training. It meant that James would be ruled out of the fixture at the Reebok the following Saturday, with Alan an uncertainty.

retired_jkat116

Saturday 24th April

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

BBC Sport

Bolton 2 – 2 Leeds United
Match Reports, Saturday 24th April 2004
Mario Jardel’s first goal for Wanderers earned a point for the home side in a keenly contested Reebok affair

An early goal from Michael Bridges after 43 seconds had put Leeds in front, when Morgan’s cross-come-shot was diverted into an empty net for Bridges’ tenth of the season.

It was some time, however, before the next clear opening of the match.

But when it came after twenty-six minutes, Kevin Davies was on hand to level things up. Jay-Jay Okocha’s long ball unsettled Lucas Radebe, as Davies’ strength was enough to find a yard of space and provide a neat finish under the legs of Robinson.

The ineffective Lamine Sakho was hauled off after 64 minutes, and it was a tactical switch that paid dividends for O’Brien. With fifteen minutes remaining, his replacement Alan Smith rose higher than Bruno N’Gotty to bury a sweet in-swinging corner from Morgan, who had been instrumental throughout.

But Leeds drifted 2 points behind rivals Manchester United as Jardel swivelled and hit a looping shot over Robinson, with merely four minutes remaining, to leave the scores at 2 a piece.

“I thought attacked well enough to win today,” O’Brien said. “But if you don’t defend well, you've got to expect teams to punish you, and Bolton did that today."

Leeds will be looking to bounce back with a win in ten days time over Everton at Elland Road.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

retired_jkat116

Saturday 24th April

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Match of the Day

Garth Crookes : Dan, a decent performance, a draw away from home, happy?

ME : Not really Garth, no. You summed it up today, we were ‘decent,’ that was all. There was no real ingenuity to our play from midfield. Our centre forwards looked dangerous and sharp, but we were let down at the back today, we were inept.

GC : 2-2, Bolton side, 20th in the table – a game you should be winning?

ME : Yes, it is, and that’s no disrespect to Bolton but we expect to be putting in better performances and winning games. To be fair to Sam though, they’re a better side than their position gives them credit for. But nevertheless, I’m disappointed as we could have won today had we been anyway near our best.

GC : Liverpool now within two points, you still have to play Arsenal – too much to ask?

ME : Certainly not Garth, certainly not. When we’re on our best we’ve no-one to fear. Unfortunately we turn in performances like this which rock the boat slightly. They’re quite annoying (though not as annoying as his interviewing ‘statements with occasional intonation’ technique, I almost added).



Back to the studio

Gary Lineker : Dan O’Brien there slightly disappointed with that result at Bolton, Jardel’s late strike leaving the top of the Barclay’s Premiership looking like this:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Chelsea | | 34 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 69 | 20 | +49 | 81 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Arsenal | | 34 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 62 | 33 | +29 | 73 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Man Utd | | 35 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 51 | 20 | +31 | 63 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Leeds | | 35 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 52 | 37 | +15 | 61 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Liverpool | | 35 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 59 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Newcastle | | 35 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 53 | 46 | +7 | 57 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>



GL : Alan, do you still maintain the Champions’ League will be too much for Leeds?

Alan Hansen : Well, it’s not often I’m wrong, I’m gonna stick to my guns on this one, Liverpool have an easier run-in. All their remaining fixtures are against sides in the bottom half, and I think they’ll come good. As for Leeds, maybe next year, but not for me this time round, UEFA Cup definitely though.

GL : Mark?

Mark Lawrenson : I have to disagree, Gary, that was just a blip today as far as I’m concerned, Dan’s managed to pick them up before, and he’ll do it again.

GL : Thanks gentleman, well that’s all from us for this evening, on a day where the irrepressible Chelsea stretch their legs at the top, Bolton still prop up the rest despite a good performance; against a Leeds side, who are feeling the heat. A win for Leicester City though grins , ensures they’re still out of the drop zone. For now. Goodnight.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

retired_jkat116

Monday 26th April

The splodge of jam on my desk that had fallen off my superbly made sandwich that morning compounded my woes in what had been a crap day so far. My assistant Kev had phoned in with a bad dose of flu, and Juve had been in touch with a hefty £6 million response to our Andrea Gasbaronni enquiry. My left sock was on inside out, and I stubbed my toe racing to the toilet and back playing ‘beat the toaster,’ at home. Then to top it all of, my already wet and dirty scout reports of France had received a coating of Tesco’s best strawberry goodness, reducing the excitement and anticipation of the sarnie’s first bite.

Once I had devoured the remains of what had become a merely average snack, I laced up the boots and took to the training pitch. My day was about to get worse

‘One touch…Now turn!’ I barked at the lads performing a routine exercise feeding the ball to a colleague before turning swiftly and making a run for goal. Up next, Seth Johnson. Laying the ball off to Gary Kelly, Seth swivelled and legged it. He only made ten yards however, before a pathetic groan and he was on the floor, clutching the back of his leg. Uh-oh.

The medical room was never a good place to be heading at the best of times, especially when going to hear the news on your star midfielder. I was told what I came to be told, and left, slamming the door behind me. I was depressed at the news that Seth had done his hamstring in, missing the rest of the season probably.

And crap , I thought: I didn’t get my toe checked out.

Mike..

Now that is a high quality little update

retired_jkat116

Thanks Flip, glad to know you’re reading

Thursday 29th April

It was a truly memorable strike. Having turned the chair in the Dining Room a la Cruyff, my small sponge ball rolled in front of me as I drove forward away from my marker. A sneaky one-two with the door frame resulted in a teasing ball trickling into the study, begging to be hit. Head over the ball, I struck through the ball like a dream, and with the table as the makeshift keeper well beaten, I watched as the ball cannoned off the inside of the lamp-come-goalpost and nestled into the back of the alcove at the end of the room.

I reeled away to the section of my supporters, cunningly disguised as the mirror, arms held high, as the ‘ding’ of the microwave signalled not only that my delightful finish was to be the last kick of the game, but that my Pop-Tarts were ready.

My celebrations were cut short however by the shrill ring of my house-phone.

“Hello,” I answered, now incredibly upbeat.

“Hey Dan, it’s Dave,” replied Mr Hancock, the physio. “Some good news about Seth.” I lowered my arms from in front of the mirror as I was intrigued by what he had to say.

“Looks like Seth will be back for the Arsenal game,” he continued, “Not as bad as we first thought.”

“Fantastic, thanks for that Dave, I’ll be in later to have a word, see you then.” I ended the call, delighted at what I had heard.

The phone call had brought me back to reality. The study no longer resembled the Satiago Bernabeu Stadium, the table’s Dino Zoff characteristics had somehow disappeared, and the table I had turned minutes before was suddenly not quite as Maldini-esque as I had previously imagined. I had discovered a new hope since Monday, now that the all important game on the last day of the season would not be as hard with Seth in the side. However, we needed to do the job in the two games before that, an issue I was fully aware of.

retired_embartl

The final few games to go and anything can happen - good luck

I'm sure you'll clinch the CL spot though