retired_kausar

Just a quick note from the author. I've really enjoyed writing down my experiences and found that it has improved my enjoyment of the game. I also found that I have a much deeper insight into how my team are doing and that by writing everything down the whole things seems more real. I would however be interested to know if anyone is actually taking the time to read all this so if you have, thank you, and let me know what you think.

Finally I am going to start a new thread detailing how I get on for my "difficult second season".

retired_workout4life

I've enjoyed this story and its inspired me to prepare for one of my own. In addition to muy Redbridge story, i'm going to be doing a Getafe one in large due to this.

retired_kausar

New Season, New Start

It seems like only yesterday that we were turning out against Zaragoza in our final game of the season but in fact it has been seven weeks. Whilst the players have been taking a well earned rest (and for some it will be the last significant break they get for two years should they be involved in next summer’s World Cup), I have been busy in the transfer market.

As well as the free transfers of Oude Kamphuis, Robson Ponte and Savio that were sorted out in January, I have picked up talented young keeper Luca Tiozzo from Milan. Experienced centre back Paulo Montero will join his ex-Juventus team mate Tudor to form the centre of our defence. In a swap deal with Liverpool Diouf and Baros join with Fernando Sales going the other way. Exciting prospect Raul Albiol will join us at the end of the month as cover for central midfielder Casquero and I have made an enquiry about highly rated Brazilian keeper Fabio.

All of this is very exciting. However, our disappointing league position from last year means that our only chance of playing in Europe this season is by winning the Euro Vase trophy to get into the UEFA cup. Unfortunately the registration deadline for the competition came before we had made any of the aforementioned signings. The team we are fielding therefore has a familiar feel to it although it is worth mentioning that Bruno Gama, the exciting youngster we picked up from Porto in January will be making his debut. The tie is against Denizlispor and the home leg is first. The team are fairly unfit but I am hopeful that the same is true for them. It’s good to be back…..


Sevilla 3 – Denizlispor 3

Although the players may have just returned from their summer break, they didn’t waste time in getting involved in a full blooded end to end cup tie. With six goals, three dismissals and 11 yellow cards the match certainly kept the onlooker entertained.

Robinho started the ball rolling, picking up where he left off at the end of last season with a beautifully placed shot from a difficult angle on 6 minutes . Four minutes later the Turkish side replied, defensive midfielder Yusuf Cem rolled home after their strike force, having run rings around our defence, left him with plenty of space and not a marker in sight. Deep into added time in the first half their striker Yilmaz Serkan headed in from a good cross and they went in with an advantage.

Things were level again within minutes of the restart, Robinho proving that he is not all fancy flicks and wonder goals by heading in a corner delivered by impressive teenage debutant Bruno Gama. Aitor Ocio was sent off on 83 minutes, a harsh second yellow card for a perceived trip on Volkan. Minutes later Antonio Lopez broke from the halfway line and found the tricky teenage forward Jesus Navas in plenty of space. He took his goal with aplomb. With just a few minutes of the game left you could be forgiven for thinking that it was all over but, in a lesson to all those supporters who leave early to avoid the crowds, there was still time for two dismissals and a goal. Turkish defender Ali Onur was the first to go, again a second yellow card for a trip. Moments later Seville full back David, standing in in central defence brought down Yilmaz Serkan in the area and got a straight red for a professional foul. Volkan scored from the resulting penalty. Deep into injury time, Jesus Navas could have won it for Sevilla but his shot went just wide.

With three away goals and home advantage in the next match , the Turkish side will go in confident but at this early stage of the season it could still go either way.


Denizlispor 3 - Sevilla 5

In footballing sense, a trip to Turkey is always a nerve wracking experience. We knew we could expect a passionate crowd, sweltering conditions and, judging from the first match, good quality opposition. Add to this the fact that we knew we had to score (and almost certainly score more than once) if we were going to advance to the next round.

With just a minute on the clock, Robinho got us under way, breaking clear of their defensive line he blasted a powerful shot past the keeper’s right and into the corner of the net. Minutes later we should have extended our lead, Dario Silva riding a nasty tackle just inside the area stayed on his feet and stroked the ball into the net. The referee meanwhile failed to play the advantage and blew for a penalty. The striker having made the opportunity stepped up to take the spot kick and promptly hit it straight at the keeper who saved comfortably.

On twenty minutes Dario Silva made some amends by putting their defender Baris under so much pressure that he put the ball past his own keeper. A minute later Ali Onur upended Robinho in the area and a second penalty was awarded. This time Robinho stepped up and made no mistake with an unstoppable effort. Just four minutes after that Robinho turned provider, rolling the ball back so that Adrianinho could finally open his account for the club. There was still time for one more before half time, Robinho completing his hat trick with a trade mark goal, beating a defender before chipping the keeper.

At 5-0 down Denizlispor suddenly started to play, three times (the first directly from the kick off) they cut our team to pieces with exquisite interplay of passing using practically the whole team to literally pass the ball into the net. In the end it didn’t matter though and we win this extraordinary tie 8-6 on aggregate.

The draw for the semi final presents us with a very different prospect, German side HSV of Hamburg. It also looks as if we will be missing star player Robinho who suffered a damaged shoulder during the last match and can expect to be out for up to a week.

retired_kausar

HSV 2 – Sevilla 0

As predicted, this game bore no resemblance to the matches against Denizlispor. With both Julio Baptista and Gerardo Torrado both injured I was forced to pair Casquero with Adrianinho in the centre of my midfield. This gave us an uncharacteristically lightweight centre and this was to show from the start. The midfield was consistently overrun as the German team squandered chance after chance. To make matters worse, the very young Bruno Gama, after good performances against the Turks, looked out of his depth. Finally, senior forward Dario Silva looked static in attack and it was left to Jesus Navas, standing in for Robinho, to forage for the ball in those rare moments we had any viable possession.

After a number of good chances, they finally went ahead on the half hour, the lively Emile Mpenza finding himself completely unmarked on the far post after a corner. It was easier for him to score than to miss. Things stayed the same way until ten minutes from the end when Hleb deceived everybody by firing a shot from the edge of the area whilst advancing in the opposite direction.

Whilst it is frustrating that our squad for this competition looks so thin whilst a number of unregistered quality internationals look on. It does however provide us with an interesting challenge. Also, a criticism of this competition is it leads to fatigue later in the season. However with so many likely first team players unavailable this should not be too much of a problem.

As for the return match, it looks like a tall order. We will be keeping our fingers crossed that Robinho and one of either Julio Baptista or Gerardo Torrado return. Even then, HSV look like a typical German side, well organised, strong with touches of quality throughout the team.


Sevilla 1 – HSV 0

In the event both Robinho and Gerardo Torrado returned and as a result the match took on a very different complexion to the one played in Hamburg. In the 9th minute, for the second time in this competition, Robinho headed in a corner delivered by Bruno Gama. That however proved to be the only goal of the match. HSV adopted a policy of defence, spending large periods of the match with all eleven players behind the ball. Although not adding much to the overall spectacle of the match it proved an effective policy and the German side advance at our expense.

Although disappointed I don’t see this as the end of the world. Our players have for the most part acquitted themselves well, we have scored some good goals and, with the new signings can go into the new season proper with some optimism. As we will not have the distraction of Europe so can concentrate solely on our league form although given the choice I would have opted for the prestige and income that comes from a run in the UEFA cup. Finally the board have made some extra funds available for transfers so I am able to actively pursue the signing of talented Brazilian goalkeeper Fapbio, hopefully the last piece in the jigsaw.

retired_bbcarr

a very well deserved story of the week :thup: keep up the good work, alex

retired_tonytranbg79

Congrats

retired_kausar

What a lovely surprise. I've got bad news though I'm afraid, my computer suffered a bad crash over the weekend and as I result I have had to do a full system recovery/start from scratch job on it. This means I have lost all my data (and my tactics). That makes this the end of the story. I will however start a new one soon - any suggestions on what team I should manage?

retired_juneyah

I do not know if you want to stick with Spain or want to try another league.

In CM and FM I always play old glories of the big leagues and try to bring them back to their old status, and right now one of the most exciting challenges can be Saint Etienne from France. They are back from few years of bad second division experience and the tema is young and hngry with a lot of potential.

In case you want to change league, Saint Etienne can be a good team to play.

Cheers

Alex

retired_lindathelu

I know this may seem random, but I've have many a fun game with Mantova in Italy (Serie C1/A, I think), at least in CM 01/02.

retired_lydiadiebolt

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alex Rolfe:
What a lovely surprise. I've got bad news though I'm afraid, my computer suffered a bad crash over the weekend and as I result I have had to do a full system recovery/start from scratch job on it. This means I have lost all my data (and my tactics). That makes this the end of the story. I will however start a new one soon - any suggestions on what team I should manage? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No one has done a story on Cartagonova. Oh wait...

I like continental football, so a story from Spain, France or Italy would go down well with me. Actually, there are few stories that seem to come from Portugal, so a trip there could be alright!

This story was very good, and I know the feeling of having it shut down prematurely by a malfunctioning computer. Look forward to the next one.