retired_jdupont

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> who’s laughing now PMLF?’. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am glad Romário is playing so well although I would never sign a playwer that is so old.

I am also glad you qualified your team to Copa Libertadores. The groups will be announced on January 15th. :thup:

retired_roxysunny101

*PMLF: First of all, great to have you still reading along and hopefully enjoying the story. Wouldn’t usually sign 37 year olds myself, but needs must, and América (MEX) have a surprisingly weak squad, he’s just a stop gap really (although a very good one at the moment). Also, I actually think I have one more phase of qualifying for the Libertadores to go: where América (MEX) and winners of Group B, Tigres go into a group with two Venezuelan teams, and the top two go through to the Copa. At least now I know when the draw for it is - just hope I’m in it. Keep enjoying, views and comments are alwayd appreciated. :thup:


August 2003

Zander Zitero really should be on top of the World at the moment; he is just off the back of an emphatic 6-0 win and his managerial career has started better than most people would have imagined. However, there is one aspect where our legendary friend has displayed naïveté - and that is when dealing with the foreigner situation.

In a match squad for a Mexican league you are only allowed 5 foreign players; and with Rojas, de la Cuesta, Esteche, Romário and Navia that represents all the spaces taken up. Hence Zander cannot put any foreigners on the bench - which is why you have not read much about players like Franky Oviedo this season, until now.

Zander Zitero has taken the difficult step of Transfer listing Franky Oviedo, Oscar Ariel Gonzalez and even recent signing Luiz Carlos. Zander Zitero has also terminated the loan contract of Montevideo Wanderers forward Sergio Blanco. The obvious thinking behind these decisions being that there is no point having these players if the laws of the division mean they cannot even get on the bench.

We can be assured that this will not mean that a zero-foreigner policy will be implemented from now on as, for example, Rojas (temporary replacement for Davino) and Romário are not long term first team players and the eventual moving on of them will free up space in the future for real quality foreign players to join América (MEX); but they’d have to be real quality, a stipulation the previous managers have not adhered to, and as a consequence facilitated this clear out.

In the mean time it will give even more chance for young Mexican players like Christian Zepeda, Diego Encarnación and José Raymundo Valencia to shine. The real future of América (MEX).

retired_jdupont

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> *PMLF: First of all, great to have you still reading along and hopefully enjoying the story. Wouldn’t usually sign 37 year olds myself, but needs must, and América (MEX) have a surprisingly weak squad, he’s just a stop gap really (although a very good one at the moment). Also, I actually think I have one more phase of qualifying for the Libertadores to go: where América (MEX) and winners of Group B, Tigres go into a group with two Venezuelan teams, and the top two go through to the Copa. At least now I know when the draw for it is - just hope I’m in it. Keep enjoying, views and comments are alwayd appreciated. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In CM 03-04 the Mexican teams (as like in real life don't need to play a preliminary rounds against the Venezuelan anymore. You go straigth to the Group Stage.

Too bad you have too many foreigners and have to sell some of them (especially Oviedo).

retired_roxysunny101

That's good to hear mate, and ta for setting me straight. And, yeah, it is a shame I have to sell quality players like Oviedo - let's just hope I get a good price.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

Considering the last match América (MEX) played was 6-0 victory Zander Zitero should really have spent this week in something of an euphoric state. It is unfortunate that this was the week he had to learn how ruthless you have to be to be a football manager. Breaking the news to 4 people that they don’t have futures at one of the biggest clubs in Mexico - only months before participating in the biggest continental competition around - is tough stuff, and to be honest Zander Zitero had not enjoyed it one little bit.

One piece of good news had gone someway to balancing out his mood, news from the *ahem* Mexican Football Federation is that the two group winners of the PrePre Libertadores phase - Tigres and América (MEX)- will go straight into the Copa Libertadores; as oppose to having to go into a 4 team group with two Venezuelan teams - of which the top two would make it into the Libertadores, as was the way in the past.

Once more, however, we - and Zander Zitero - must put the Copa Libertadores in the back of our minds; as must we put those unfortunate transfer listed players, because América (MEX) have been on their travels, and we find ourselves in Pachuca.

Pachuca’s Estadio Hidalgo beckons us inside. We can see that the player’s have already congregated in the tunnel area. As we look at the players in the dark blue and white kits there are not too many household names - Harald Lozano would probably be the best known player outside Mexico, but there can be no doubts that Pachuca have quality sprinkled all over the pitch; whether household names or not.

Pavel Pardo leads out América (MEX) for the second game running after Cuautémoc Blanco stated he had instructed his agent to find him a more suitable (£) club and was stripped of the armband, nonetheless the enigmatic forward is two or three players back in the line, waiting to once again fill his ‘hole’ position. In fact the team is unchanged from the last match - as has been the case for much of the season; with Zitero clearly believing a consistent line-up to be the key to success this season.

As the two teams emerge to a deafening reception we would soon see if Zitero’s consistent line-up could get a result in Pachuca.


24/8/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #5)/ Pachuca Vs América (MEX) / Estadio Hidalgo, Pachuca

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 2nd | | América (MEX) | | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 9 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 14th | | Pachuca | | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 4 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo (c), ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco; SC - Romário, SC - Navia

The opening spell of this fixture was certainly an eventful period, although none of the events would have particularly pleased Zander Zitero. Pachuca came out of the block by far the quicker, as you might expect from the home team, and took only 2 minutes to come close to breaking the deadlock. Marinho Ledesma finding himself free in the box about 10 yards out - but from a tight angle he could only hit the side netting.

A few long range efforts came and went for Pachuca before América (MEX) suffered a real loss - with Reinaldo Navia having to be stretchered off. It will only be known after full time or not whether the injury is serious, but is certainly a big loss for the next 80 minutes of this game. It was nearly a double blow as only 2 minutes after Zepeda replaced Navia Pachuca nearly scored; Harold Lozano getting a free header from a corner and flashing wide from 5 yards when he really should have scored.

There was no doubt relief from Zander Zitero when América eached 20 minutes without conceding; and there must have been comparitive orgasmic joy when the men in yellow actually made it out there own half. Indeed, a ten minute spell of pressure followed where Blanco and Zepeda had decent headed chances, both from Chuy Mendoza crosses and Pardo shot over he bar from the edge of the box.

However, right at the end of this period of sustained pressure the breakthrough finally came. América (MEX) scarcely deserved it but if you don’t take you’re chances when you are on top you pay for it - Pachuca had just had those sentiments re-affirmed. It came through another great free kick from Esteche, perhaps bettering the one he nailed on opening day at the Azteca - from around 25 yards Esteche showed great composure in the hostile atmosphere to calmly curl the ball over the wall and past the statuesque figure of Miguel Calero.

For the rest of the half América showed limited ambition, choosing instead to make sure they got to half time ahead - which they succeeded in doing. But there would be no celebratory atmosphere in the away dressing room yet; the players and manager alike had seen enough in the half to suggest that this game was far from over.

This opinion that the match was not over was emphasised in the first ten minutes when Pachuca got in three very handy efforts - all on target; the best of which came from Eduardo Oetling, who curled the ball beautifully towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box and forced a stunning save from - now undoubtedly - the América (MEX) no.1 (he’s no.12 actually, but you know what I mean) Alberto Becerra.

With Pachuca at the height of their pressure you would presume that América (MEX) would be looking to hang on for their life - but no, when the opportunity came the men in yellow were counter attacking with all their vigour; and that is how the most unlikely 2nd goal came about, only minutes after Becerra’s wondersave. The swift counter attack came after Rojas nicked the ball away from Ledesma well and fed Pardo; Pardo’s nice ball up to Blanco put Zepeda and Blanco in a 2 against 3 situation and they worked it beautifully; with Zepeda making the perfect run and Blanco finding the perfect pass to put the 18 year old clean through; and the rest was always a forgone conclusion - this kid is a natural finisher and lashed the ball past Miguel Calero.

So far this performance was straight out of the ‘away performance textbook’ and Zitero clearly thought this game would now be a case of hitting Pachuca on the break; and so he brought on the sprightly, pacy young Diego Encarnación for Romário who had played 7 consecutive games for the full 90 minutes and one can only assume he must have been starting to feel the burn by now.

Pachuca continued to press forward and push more and more men up the field - and América continued the clever tactic of having Blanco, Zepeda and Encarnación always up the field as an out ball and a great opportunity for counter attacking. The willing Ledesma came close a couple of times from the edge of the area, but in all honesty not much came close to actually piercing the narrow back four, with Mendoza and Esteche acting as wingback, and with Pardo in front of the backline.

4 minutes from the end, with Pachuca’s desperation most evident, América’s counter attacking tactic worked to a tee. Blanco and co. found themselves 3 on 3 with the same poor three players that were sliced open by Blanco and Zepeda on 55 minutes; and they were to be shredded again. Blanco played Zepeda through at an angle at about the edge of the box; a little dink in to the box would have found Encarnación free around the penalty spot, but Zeped decided to have a shot; his shot was rather clumsily parried by Calero - straight into the path of Diego Encarnación who, from 12 yards, grabbed a dream debut goal.

Pachuca 0 - 3 América (MEX) (Esteche 30; Zepeda 55; Encarnación 86)


Considering the shot count read 10-6 in favour of the home side, many would suggest this was a slightly fortuitous victory for América; but, in truth, this was a tactical battle which Zander Zitero won hands down. He had his side well drilled from the start to keep a clean sheet, and when they got the break through he made his side even harder to break down while keeping the capacity to counter attack, and, hence still score goals.

For the first time Zander had shown the tactical know-how to show he could make it in Europe. One day.

retired_roxysunny101

August 2003

While América (MEX) are in good form, and looking like they’ll be challenging high up the table we should perhaps looks a little bit closer at the structure of the league: Basically there are two stages - an Opening Stage and a Closing stage, both comprising of 19 games, and to be honest you’re best to just consider those two stages as two different Championships, so in theory every year you have two chances to win a championship - whether it be opening or closing stage (It may seem like a foreign concept but it‘s dead simple - instead of one big championship in a season, á la Europe; in most countries in this part of the Word they have two littler Championships). To win the league it is not as simple as just coming top - oh no. The top 8 teams in the league go into a knockout tournament, and the winner wins the league.

While we’ve been gibbering over the structure of the league, time has been racing on and - only three days after their textbook away win against Pachuca - América (MEX) are back in Mexico City; back in the Azteca to host Jaguares.

Given América (MEX)’s recent form and their barnstorming performances at the Azteca so far this season not too many people were betting on Jaguares to leave the mighty Azteca with anything other than a sound beating. That, however, is not a sentiment being echoed by Zander Zitero as we drift quietly into the home dressing room. As we look at the blackboard we can see that the team will line-up with the usual diamond formation, a tactic that has seemed to work very well so far this season. As we look at the Starting XI scribbled up on the board we see that Number 44 - Christian Zepeda has been given his first start of the season (one look into the Directors box and we’ll see Reinaldo Navia in a plaster cast after being stretchered off against Pachuca, he‘ll not be back for a month).

There is also plenty of respect being given to the Jaguares side in this dressing room, as we bring our eyes along the blackboard, past the América (MEX) formation and starting eleven, we can see that players like Salavador Cabanas and Lucio Filomeno have been singled out - we can also see the probable Jaguares 4-4-2 formation on the blackboard. All precautions to make sure América (MEX) don’t slip up when they emerge from the tunnel any moment from now.


27/8/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #6)/ América (MEX) Vs Jaguares / Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 2nd | | América (MEX) | | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 7 | +12 | 12 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 5th | | Jaguares | | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 10 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Rojas ; DMC - Pardo (c), ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco; SC - Romário, SC - Zepeda

América (MEX) started the game in surprisingly sluggish fashion, with none of the swashbuckling football our the reader has come to expect from Zitero’s side. Nevertheless they did create a couple of chances; one cutback from Mendoza to Blanco was hit straight at the keeper; and the ever-willing-to-shoot Pavel Pardo smashed and effort just wide of the post.

With América (MEX) clearly not firing on all cylinders Jaguares began to gain in confidence and after a lull in the game they came back the strongest; Cabanas played a lovely one-two with David Rangel which brought Cabanas into the box; his subsequent shot had Becerra beaten, but not the post, and the ball bounded out of the danger area - with América (MEX) shaken in the knowledge they were the width of a post from going behind.

Jaguares’ pressure seemed to spur América onto one last pr-half time push and they really should have went in ahead. A beautiful through ball by Esteche found Romário in space in the box, and with the defenders charging to close down the shot the Brazilian used all the experience of his years to fake the shot and cut the ball along to Zepeda, and in acres of space only 8 yards out the youngster dragged the ball horribly wide.

América (MEX) continued to dominate the second half and create the odd decent chance, but it was clear they were missing that flair, that exuberance that had defined their previous matches; and as time dragged on a 0-0 looked on the cards.

On 60 Minutes Zitero replaced the ineffective Zepeda with Encarnación, after the youngster failed to build on the promise of his substitute appearances on his first start. Zitero’s hope was now that his other young forward could inject a bit of life into the game.

In all honesty Encarnación was well marshalled and didn’t really get a kick until the closing stages when a Romário shot was deflected over to him on the angle of the box; Encarnación hit a sweet strike but it was straight down the throat of Omar Ortiz, who had played very well in the Jaguares goal, dealing with whatever has come his way.

As injury time approached it would take a very brave man to bet on either side winning it; it would take a crazy man to bet on Jaguares winning it considering América (MEX) were the only team pushing forward. There are now a lot of wealthy inhabitants of insane asylums. It all comes about because Israel Martinez gives away a stupid free kick near the corner flag when the Jaguares player is going nowhere; the Brazilian substitute - Tiba swings in a great ball and big right back Omar Rodriguez heads Jaguares into 88th minute lead at the Azteca. Sorry, was that a pin dropping?

As had been the case (although the stats showed 8 shots on target) all through the night: América (MEX) just did not have the creativity in injury time to steal back a point from a match they most definitely should not have lost and they succumbed to their first home defeat of the season.

América (MEX) 0 - 1 Jaguares (Rodriguez 88)


A quick peek into the home dressing room after the final whistle and we can sense a cross between dejection and disbelief; ‘there is no way we should have lost that match’ is the general consensus in the dressing room; with the players’ mood not being helped by the vague sounds of Jaguares players celebrating moving up to a very impressive 3rd place for a team noticeably absent of many star names.

Nevertheless the good thing is that there will be no time to dwell; at this time in the season the games come thick and fast, and in only three days time we shall bring the curtain down on the month of August with Zander Zitero and his América (MEX) side in the Ironically named Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla.

retired_gopanthers15

This is great, very impressed :thup:

retired_brittni10

Just caught up with this and I have to agree with SI.

Enjoying this alot

retired_jdupont

Thirded. It is a very good story. :thup:

retired_roxysunny101

SI, Wag & PMLF: Thanks a lot to all three of you guys, it’s always nice to get good feedback and I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

August 2003

Zander Zitero is quite a forward thinking person, and it is because of that he can take a bad result and not panic too much. Indeed, in the three days prior to the match in Puebla, Zander Zitero’s reasoning has deducted that the loss against Jaguares could actually be a good thing; something of a wake up call to temper the excitement caused by some of the great performances by Zitero‘s side, because the fact of the matter is: América (MEX) do not have a good squad. That is illustrated by the match against Jaguares: one injury to a striker and they were relying on a youngster; facts like these make it obvious that Zitero has a long job on his hands to make América (MEX) a real force in Mexico and in South American continental competition - and in the mean time any success is simply a bonus.

Then after he has achieved that success he can look to rebuild his name in Europe; but’s lets halt, we’re digressing.

As we mentioned earlier, Christian Zepeda came in for Reinaldo Navia in the last game and did not play very well; it is perhaps the case that he is not quite ready for a starting berth; that is certainly what Zander Zitero thinks as he has put the transfer listed (but still undeniably quality) Franky Oviedo into replace Zitero (with Navia out, there is a foreigner space). Also evident on the dressing room bench, ready to head out on to the Estadio Cuauhtemoc turf is Raul Salinas who replaces the suspended Ricardo Rojas in defence.

The culmination of August has seen several fixtures played in extremely close succession, and as both teams make their way out onto the park they will no doubt be looking to end the month, and go into an 8 day gap without a game, with a good win.


30/8/03

(Mexican First Division, Opening Stage, Match #7)/ Puebla Vs América (MEX) / Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Puebla

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 4th | | América (MEX) | | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 8 | +11 | 12 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|| 19th | | Puebla | | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 4 || ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

America (Mex): (4-1-2-1-2) GK - Becerra, DL - Martinez, DR - Castro, DC - de la Cuesta, DC - Salinas ; DMC - Pardo (c), ML - Mendoza, MR - Esteche, AMC - Blanco; SC - Romário, SC - Oviedo

After the match against Jaguares the last thing Zander Zitero would have wanted to hear would be ‘América (MEX) are favourites’, nevertheless they were favourites, and playing the team 19th in the league - away from home or not - the travelling América fans, as well as the ones sitting at home expected a handsome win.

América (MEX) showed some of that attacking verve that was missing against Jaguares straight from the kick-off; with a nice interchange between the two front men culminating in Romário having a decent shot on goal after only 36 seconds.

Oviedo was linking up well with Romário and Blanco, and looking very handy indeed; in fact after the 6th minute you could replace ‘handy’ with an even more flattering term as the Colombian internationalist opened the scoring. Romário played a nice ball down the wing to Esteche; and the Paraguayan wing-King swung in a great ball which Oviedo leapt majestically to head in.

América (MEX) were looking a lot more like the side we witnessed before the blip at home to Jaguares, with the men in yellow playing all the football and creating all the chances; with Oviedo, Romário and Esteche all having chances in the first quarter of the game. This dominance was finally illustrated where it counts after 25 minutes with a second goal for América. This one coming from - the criminally ineffective in the last match - Cuauhtémoc Blanco after the number 10 was fed the ball on the edge of the box; the playmaker simply shifted the ball onto his left foot and finished with admirable composure.

If América (MEX) had just tightened up for 10 minutes and preserved that 2 goal lead there would have been no problem; but one can only assume América underestimated the home side and decided they weren’t a threat to get a goal back. This turned out to be a bad decision and within 2 minutes of going to up they were pegged back by a Luis Ignacios Quinteros header from a great cross by Venezuelan star Juan Arango. After pulling one back Puebla gained the momentum from that point onwards and in a remarkable turn around América (MEX) were the happier to hear the shrill half time whistle of Senor Francisco Javier Caspeta.

In the immediate minutes after the break Puebla continued to be in the ascendancy, pushing América (MEX) backwards, and generally looking the more likely side, without creating too many clear cut chances. However, the direction of the game changed when América won a corner; Esteche swung it in and Chuy Mendoza was bundled over in the box, leaving the referee no choice but to blow for the penalty. At the beginning of the season there was no real order of penalty takers, but young de la Cuesta seems rather keen on the job and seems quite good at it; and our Colombian penalty taker dispatched the ball nicely out of the reach of Oscar Duatt who, to his credit, guessed the right way.

At this point we, for the first time to be fair, evidence of why Pueble are second from bottom of the table; the heads dropped and for the next 5 minutes they let themselves get absolutely pummelled by the wave of yellow attackers; so much so that it was actually rather merciful when Romário blasted in from close range to make it 4-1.

América (MEX) eased off the gas a little bit, although in the remainder of the half the could have feasibly had another 4 or 5 goals against the dejected strugglers, with Romário missing two good chances, Oviedo having a shot well saved, and Esteche hitting the bar with a free kick.

Never mind all that though. The real excitement came on the 90th minute when Puebla striker Eudalio Arriaga - presumably because he was so bored after 90 minutes of not seeing the ball - decided to punch Chuy Mendoza in the face and was sent off; and it was even such a good punch it provoked one of the commentators to proclaim “it was a great punch, too!!”, gee, in that case, well done Eudalio.

Puebla (Quinteros 27) 1 - 4 América (MEX) (Oviedo 6; Blanco 25; de la Cuesta pen 52; Romário 57)

One look in the away dressing room of the impressive Estadio Cuauhtémoc come full time will tell us the players were celebrating the return of an old friend: attacking, free flowing football, and goals.

However, if we focus on Zander Zitero we can see - as he so often is - he is in deep concentration; we can only guess what is going through his mind; but if we follow Zander’s line of sight across to the Number 8 clutching his bottle of extremely well earned champagne we can presume that he is giving yet more consideration to the future of man of the match winning Colombian Franky Oviedo; a man who’s performance today has dictated that his future might not be so clear cut after all.