retired_manpk1

March 2007

We started back with a trip to Szczakowianka. Ten minutes in Kowalczyk put us ahead, and six minutes alter Gyan headed in a second. We could have added to that score throughout the game, but we seemed content with the 2-0 scoreline.

A trip to Wisla Plock was next up for us, and after a quiet opening, Kowalczyk put us ahead ten minutes before the break. We had the upper hand early in the second half, but soon our hosts started to come at us. We defended well, but two minutes into injury time Jelen come in to equalise and we had thrown away two points.

The last game of the month was a disgraceful display at home to Polonia. We dominated the first half, but couldn’t find the target. Five minutes before the break a disgraceful decision saw Lukasz Gorszkow sent off, and in injury time Dubicki put the home side ahead. With only ten men we found it difficult to mount an attack, and twenty minutes from time Sztylka scored a second and we lost again.

We’re lacking any sort of form at the moment. I think that injuries and suspensions are starting to affect us adversely, but I don’t really want to make excuses. We’re simply not good enough to compete at the highest level in Poland.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Lech 18 10 4 4 33 20 +13 342nd Amica 18 9 5 4 33 21 +12 323rd Wisla 18 9 2 7 26 21 +5 294th Radomsko 18 8 5 5 37 18 +19 295th Jagiellonia 18 8 3 7 28 25 +3 276th Groclin 18 7 6 5 29 23 +6 277th Pogon 18 8 3 7 25 21 +4 278th Leczna 18 6 8 4 21 20 +1 269th Legia 18 7 5 6 32 26 +6 2610th Widzew 18 5 7 6 21 21 0 2211th Wisla Plock 18 5 6 7 20 19 +1 21-------------------------------------------------12th Szczakowianka 18 5 4 9 15 33 -18 19-------------------------------------------------13th Polonia 18 4 5 9 14 30 -16 1714th Gornik Zabrze 18 2 3 13 13 49 -36 9</pre>

retired_manpk1

April 2007

A trip to Pogon was first up for us, but we found ourselves behind after just four minutes to a Moskalewicz strike. Three minutes later though Lawa equalised, and six minutes later Wojtkowiak turned into his own net to give us the lead. Gyan added a third ten minutes before half time, and although Malecki was sent off early in the second half, we were never really in trouble. Blazejewski even missed an 88th-minute penalty, sending it straight into the arms of Majewski.

Leczna put us under pressure straight away as they came to visit, and goals from Nikodem and Bajera had them 2-0 up inside 13 minutes. We started to play a bit better after that, and six minutes before half time Lasocki pulled one back for us with his first goal for the club. We kept the pressure up in the second up, and seven minutes from time found an equaliser through Morawski.

Wisla came to town in the first leg of the FA Cup semi final, but with 14 minutes played Pawel Brozek had scored. And when Zurawski added a second from a dodgy penalty, we were basically down and out. Just to make sure, Pawel Brozek added a second midway through the second half and a second successive cup final looked highly unlikely.

Things didn’t get much better for us as we travelled to Widzew. A penalty from Blachnio and a Wlodarczyk strike had us trailing, although Morawski pulled one back with a free kick before half time. The home side had Bruno sent off early in the second half, but they then just defended and we fell to yet another defeat.

Kowalczyk gave us a slimmer of hope as we travelled to Wisla, putting us ahead on 13 minutes. We had our chances to get another, but we couldn’t take them, and were vulnerable to the break. The inevitable came on 56 when Kaczor equalised on the night and completed a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Kowalczyk had us ahead after just five minutes away at Amica, but the home side soon got into their stride and Kryszalowicz equalised ten minutes later. They pounded us for much of the rest of the match, and on 33 Tusitala put them ahead. It was a question of how many they would get in the second half, but we somehow held out until 73 when Kryszalowicz added a third. Five minutes later though Kowalczyk pulled a goal back, and in the fifth minute of injury time Tomasiak somehow scored an equaliser.

A season that had promised so much early on is threatening to end in relative failure, and there’s still the possibility that we won’t make the European spots. We’ve got only four matches left, and we know what we have to do. We’ll be going all out to do it.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Lech 22 12 5 5 44 23 +21 412nd Amica 22 10 7 5 40 27 +13 373rd Groclin 22 10 7 5 35 25 +10 374th Wisla 22 11 3 8 32 25 +7 365th Jagiellonia 22 11 3 8 34 30 +4 366th Radomsko 22 9 7 6 46 26 +20 347th Legia 22 9 5 8 41 35 +6 328th Widzew 22 8 8 6 26 22 +4 329th Leczna 22 6 10 6 23 26 -3 2810th Pogon 22 8 3 11 29 37 -8 2711th Polonia 22 6 7 9 22 34 -12 25----------------------------------------------------12th Wisla Plock 22 6 6 10 22 25 -3 24----------------------------------------------------13th Szczakowianka 22 6 4 12 19 40 -21 2214th Pl Gornik Zabrze 22 3 3 16 16 54 -38 12</pre>

retired_manpk1

May 2007

We began the final run-in with a home tie against league leaders Lech. We gave them a good game, and four minutes before the break Morawski made a mazy run and ended it with a lovely goal. Twelve minutes after the break Malecki got in to double the advantage, and things got even better when Gojtkowski was sent off for the visitors. In the final minute Janecszko scored his first goal for the club and we had a good 3-0 victory.

It was backs-to-the-walls stuff as we travelled to Legia. Ten minutes before the break we cracked as Kielbowicz put the home side ahead and soon after half time Saganowski added a second. Kowalczyk scored what seemed to be a consolation on 77, but in injury time Kowalczyk scored a second and we had somehow scraped a draw.

The home tie with Jagiellonia was disappointing as we were never really in the game. In the end, a strike from Kobeszko six minutes from time was enough to settle the tie.

The last game of the season was a trip to Wisla and we were under pressure for much of the game. We did manage to break on occasion, but as the game wore on it seemed that it would end 0-0. But it wasn’t to finish that way as Kowalczyk won it for us in injury time.

The last-gasp win at Wisla saw us leapfrog them into a final spot of 4th, and that means that we’ll be playing in the UEFA Cup next season. :thup:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st C Amica 26 14 7 5 48 29 +19 492nd Lech 26 14 5 7 50 30 +20 473rd Jagiellonia 26 13 3 10 38 36 +2 424th Radomsko 26 11 8 7 52 29 +23 415th Groclin 26 11 7 8 37 30 +7 406th Wisla 26 12 4 10 36 31 +5 407th Pogon 26 11 3 12 36 41 -5 368th Leczna 26 8 12 6 29 28 +1 369th Polonia 26 9 8 9 27 35 -8 3510th Legia 26 9 7 10 45 42 +3 3411th Widzew 26 8 9 9 28 28 0 33---------------------------------------------------12th Wisla Plock 26 8 7 11 27 28 -1 31---------------------------------------------------13th R Szczakowianka 26 7 4 15 20 44 -24 2514th R Gornik Zabrze 26 3 4 19 19 61 -42 13</pre>
Despite not scoring since early April, Baffour Gyan still managed to claim second spot in the top goalscorer charts, and also claimed third place in the Player of the Year awards. Unsurprisingly, the fans at the club named him as their Player of the Year as well. Young goalkeeper Pawel Majewski was recognised for his fantastic season by winning the Young Player of the Year award, and our good league position saw me finish 3rd in the Manager of the Year award.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Name Apps Conc Cln MoM Av RAdamski, P - - - - ----Dylewski, J - - - - ----Iwanowski, P - - - - ----Lech, A - - - - ----Majewski, P 33 39 10 1 7.48Prole, V - - - - ----Wroblewski, R - - - - ----Name Apps Gls Asts MoM Av RBalecki, R - - - - ----Berensztajn, J 1 (11) 2 0 0 7.25Budnyk, A - - - - ----Chelidze, L 24 1 0 0 7.17Choi Jin-Chul 24 0 1 1 6.67Czerbniak, Z 0 (4) 0 0 0 6.00Drag, T 0 (3) 0 0 0 6.33Dudka, K - - - - ----Dziuba, D - - - - ----Faltynski, M - - - - ----Folc, M 18 14 5 3 8.00Godras, M - - - - ----Gorszkow, L 2 (22) 1 0 0 6.63Gyan, B 32 23 11 5 7.50Janeczko, M 13 1 1 0 7.08Jarecki, T - - - - ----Jozwiak, B 0 (1) 0 0 0 7.00Kazimierowicz, T - - - - ----Klos, R 32 0 2 2 7.75Kolodziejczyk, M - - - - ----Kowalczyk, R 13 (9) 10 2 2 7.27Kowalski, A 0 (3) 0 0 0 6.00Kulig, P 18 (9) 0 2 1 7.30Lasocki, R 32 1 1 0 6.88Lato, J - - - - ----Lawa, B 33 1 17 1 7.67Lines, A 15 (1) 1 4 0 7.69Malecki, P 12 1 1 0 7.08Morawski, M 13 3 2 2 7.85Mrozek, D - - - - ----Pluta, P - - - - ----Pluta, S 0 (5) 1 1 0 7.20Sikorski, P - - - - ----Sokolowski, T 20 0 3 0 7.15Szlapa, A 20 (3) 1 4 1 7.35Tomasiak, S 3 (4) 1 1 0 6.14Wicher, D 3 (2) 0 0 0 7.00Witkowski, A - - - - ----Zelasko, W 2 (2) 0 0 0 6.75</pre>
One player that had really impressed me this season is Robert Klos who has been fantastic at left back this season. And with Marcin Folc expected back as preseason comes to an end, things are looking hopeful for the coming season.

retired_manpk1

Preseason 2007

There was a bit of transfer action around the club, but such is the financial situation in Poland that there was very little money flying around. Zelasko, Jozwiak and Czerbniak all retired from playing the game, and Przemyslaw Pluta moved onto Polonia. The only other transfer out of the club was that of Darius Mrozek, on loan to Odra Opole for three months.

We had no fewer than 12 youngsters coming through the youth ranks, and most of them will spend the season with the youth and reserve squads. We signed defenders Dariusz Dudek and Mariusz Mowlik from Legia and Lech respectively, as well as defensive midfielder Marek Walburg from Widzew. More interestingly though was the signing of former Portuguese international Dani from Sporting, and Nigerian hotshot striker Julius Aghahowa from Ukrainean side Shakhtar.

Preseason began with a trip to Slovakia to take on Trencin. Lawa had us ahead after just five minutes and Aghahowa scored twice inside the next five. Gyan added two more before half time and completed his hatrick soon after the restart. Kowalczyk added a seventh on 85 and we had an excellent start.
Aghahowa and Gyan scored in the first half as we travelled to Miedz, and midway through the second half Szlapa added a third. We conceded two goals late on, but held on to win 3-2.
A trip to Odra Wodzislaw proved to be difficult, but just before half time Chelidze gave us the lead. Gyan got a second ten minutes before the end, and the home side pulled one back in injury time.
Goals from Janeczko, Aghahowa and Gyan in the last 15 minutes of the first half had us in control at non-league Gryf, and Godras added a fourth early in the second half as we cantered to an easy win.
Our only home tie of the preseason was against Belgian outfit Antwerp, and with six minutes gone Aghahowa had us ahead. Gyan added a second before half time, but we then had Lasocki sent off. Lawa got a third early in the second half and we held out for a 3-0 win.
The final game was a trip to Zaglebie S. Gyan and Dani scored within five minutes of each other early on, and Gyan scored a third just before the hour. Three minutes from time Pluta added a fourth, following up after seeing a penalty parried.

We’ve had a decent preseason, and I’m confident that we can repeat our mid-table achievement of last season. With odds of 20-1 to win the league, that’s 6th-favourites, we know that it’s expected of us as well. The UEFA Cup Qualifying draw pitted us against Danish opposition again. This time we’re up against OB, and will be in Denmark for the first leg.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Adamski, P GK Dylewski, J GK Iwanowski, P GK Jankowski, T GK Lech, A GK Majewski, P GK Prole, V GK Wozniak, A GK Wroblewski, R GK Kowalski, A SW/D C Mowlik, M SW/D C Budnyk, A D R Chelidze, L D RC Choi Jin-Chul D RC Drag, T D R Dudek, D D/DM RC Faltynski, M D RL Klos, M D/DM R Kowalczyk, J D RC Kulig, P D/DM R Markovic, I D R Marzec, P D/DM R Mrozek, D D RC Gorszkow, L D LC Klos, R D L Lasocki, R D LC Witkowski, A D/DM LC Dziuba, D D C Sikorski, P D C Walburg, M D/DM C Kalinowski, T DM RC Kovalchuk, V DM R Lines, A DM LC Wicher, D DM LC Godras, M M R Lato, J M L Balecki, R AM RC Janeczko, M AM RL Sokolowski, T AM R Lawa, B AM/F L Lewandowski, A AM L Pluta, S AM/F L Baran, J AM C Berensztajn, J AM C Dani AM C Szlapa, A AM C Aghahowa, J F RC Gyan, B F RC Kowalczyk, R F RC Tomasiak, S F C Dudka, K S C Folc, M S C Jarecki, T S C Kazimierowicz, T S C Kolodziejczyk, M S C Kowalczyk, P S C Socha, T S C </pre>

retired_manpk1

August 2007

The season began with the traditional FA Cup tie, travelling to Podbeskidzie in the second round. Aghahowa and Gyan scored within a minute of each other to get the ball rolling, and Aghahowa scored a third on 19 minutes. The Nigerian completed his hatrick just after half time, and Walburg scored a cracker to mark his debut. Folc came off the bench to add a sixth as we cruised through to the third round.

The third round took us to Odra Wodzislaw, but we started poorly, conceding twice to Maslowski inside the first 22 minutes. Lasocki was sent off ten minutes before the break and things looked ominous. The turning point came midway through the second period when the home side had their goalkeeper taken off injured, and having used all three substitutes, they resorted to putting a defender in goal. Folc came off the bench to pull a goal back on 76, and six minutes later Folc equalised. Four minutes from time Gyan scored a third and we scraped through to a quarterfinal tie with Wisla Plock.

The league campaign began with a trip to Legia, and it began perfectly as Gyan scored twice inside the first four minutes. Legia regrouped and on 18 pulled a goal back through Saganowski. They might have equalised soon after, but we held on and just before the break Gyan completed his hatrick. The second half saw Legia prod at us, and with 19 minutes to play Javi Sánchez pulled a goal back. Within two minutes though Dani cracked in his first goal for the club and we won the game 4-2.

The trip to OB in the UEFA Cup qualifying round was difficult for us, and with their first attack of the game the Danes scored through Lund. They were in control after that, and just before the break Jacobsen doubled the lead. They somewhat eased up in the second half and we have it all to do in the second leg.

The home tie Wisla started brightly, but our dominance in the first half wasn’t rewarded by a goal. Early in the second half we were punished as Pawel Brozek scored two quick-fire goals, and although we tried to get back into the game, Pawel Brozek completed his hatrick in injury time.

Sebastian Tomasiak was allowed to join Odra Opole on loan for three months ahead of our trip to Amica. The game was poor from our perspective, starting badly as Kryszalowicz put them ahead after just three minutes. We never really recovered, especially when Chelidze was sent off ten minutes before the break. Kryszalowicz punished us two minutes later with a second, and they pummelled us for a third in the second half. Gyan pulled one back midway through the second half, but we never really threatened an equalised. Eight minutes from time Klepczynski scored his first goal for Amica to wrap up a 3-1 victory.

Ahead of the return leg against OB I allowed Damian Wicher to join Aluminium on loan for three months. We needed an early goal against the Danes, and we got it after 7 minutes when Folc cracked home a free kick. Eleven minutes later Folc scored a second and the aggregate scores were level. Robert Klos put us ahead for the first time in the tie with his first strike for the club early in the second half, but we knew that an OB goal would see them go through on the away goal rule. Nine minutes from time Kulig headed in his first goal for the club as we wrapped up a 4-0 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The first round draw had pitted us against Slovakians Slovan Bratislava, and we will travel to their place for the first leg. We must though use our result against OB to springboard our league campaign that has started poorly.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Amica 4 3 1 0 9 3 +6 102nd Wisla 4 3 1 0 8 2 +6 103rd Ruch Chorzow 4 3 1 0 6 2 +4 104th Legia 5 3 0 2 11 10 +1 95th Jagiellonia 4 2 0 2 9 6 +3 66th Leczna 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 67th Lech 4 2 0 2 6 7 -1 68th Groclin 5 1 1 3 6 8 -2 49th Arka 4 1 1 2 6 9 -3 410th Polonia 4 1 1 2 3 8 -5 411th Pogon 4 1 0 3 7 7 0 3-------------------------------------------------12th Radomsko 3 1 0 2 5 8 -3 3-------------------------------------------------13th Widzew 4 1 0 3 3 7 -4 314th Wisla Plock 4 0 2 2 1 5 -4 2</pre>

retired_manpk1

September 2007

We began the month with a trip to Pogon. It wasn’t pretty, but as the game progressed the home side took the initiative. Just past the hour Keska put them ahead, but we responded well, equalising through Aghahowa seven minutes later. Three minutes later though Keska scored a lovely goal, and we slumped to yet another defeat.

Midweek we played our catch-up game at home to Leczna. With 27 minutes gone Aghahowa put us ahead, and ten minutes into the second half Kowalczyk doubled the lead as we claimed a good victory.

We began well at home to Widzew, but on 13 we were caught at the back and fell behind to a Rybski strike. Nine minutes later Kulig found an equaliser, but we shot ourselves in the foot seven minutes from time, conceding a penalty that Rybski converted. We made all the running in the second half, but couldn’t find an equaliser.

We were under the cosh from the off at Groclin, and on the half hour Zajac gave them the lead. How we kept it at 1-0 was beyond understanding, but eight minutes from time Aghahowa got through to earn us a point.

A trip to Bratislava to face Slovan in the UEFA Cup was next for us, and after competing well early on we fell behind to a Vittek strike ten minutes before the break. In injury time we conceded a second to Sestak and it looked ominous. We came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, and ten minutes into the second period Seman deflected Aghahowa’s shot into his own net. Gyan equalised twelve minutes later and it was level again. Eight minutes from time Gyan put us ahead, and Aghahowa scored a fourth to give us a good lead to take back to our place.

The trip to Polonia started poorly as Dubicki put them ahead inside four minutes, but nine minutes later Gyan equalised from the penalty spot. Four minutes later though Mazurkiewicz restored their lead, and ten minutes before the break Dubicki scored a third. Aghahowa gave us hope of a comeback on 63, but we never threatened it, and five minutes from time Kakietek made sure with a fourth for Polonia.

It’s been a poor month for us as we’ve struggled to find any sort of form in the league. We’re doing well in Europe though, we just have to try to play like that against domestic opposition as well.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Ruch Chorzow 8 6 2 0 13 5 +8 202nd Amica 8 5 3 0 17 8 +9 183rd Wisla 8 5 1 2 15 10 +5 164th Legia 8 5 0 3 17 12 +5 155th Widzew 8 4 0 4 9 10 -1 126th Lech 8 3 2 3 14 15 -1 117th Groclin 8 3 2 3 9 9 0 118th Wisla Plock 8 3 2 3 10 10 0 119th Arka 8 3 1 4 13 17 -4 1010th Pogon 8 3 0 5 13 12 +1 911th Polonia 8 2 2 4 10 16 -6 8-------------------------------------------------12th Radomsko 8 2 1 5 12 17 -5 7-------------------------------------------------13th Jagiellonia 8 2 0 6 15 17 -2 614th Leczna 8 2 0 6 3 12 -9 6</pre>

retired_manpk1

October 2007

We hosted Wisla Plock in the first leg of the FA Cup quarterfinal. It was a tight game, and seemed as if it would end goalless. But seven minutes from time Dani struck and we had a slim lead to take with us.

Arka came to town in the league, and soon put us under pressure. Holc and Dzienis scored within four minutes of each other to put them 2-0 up at half time, and just before the break Donicik scored a third. Six minutes later though Folc pulled a goal back, and the comeback was on when Aghahowa made it 3-2 on 69. A minute later though Donocik scored another for Arka and that was it. In injury time Chelidze was sent off, although Folc did pull another goal back.

Wisla Plock came to visit on league duty, and after a poor first half we took the lead on 48 through Lawa. Wisla Plock woke up after that, and although we defended well, Jelen found an equaliser five minutes from time.

The return leg with Slovan Bratislava saw us look to take the lead. We couldn’t though, but Slovan didn’t really threaten us either. That was until the hour when Vladimir Bednar put them into the lead on the night, but fifteen minutes from time Gyan scored an equaliser, and we were through to the second half 5-3 on aggregate. Slovan also had Polgar sent off in the last minute, and we will take on Italian side Chievo Verona.

The trip to surprise league leaders Ruch Chorzow started well as Folc put us ahead on 9 minutes, and seven minutes before the break Aghahowa had us two goals up. Folc made it 3-0 on the hour, and although Giza pulled a goal back, we held on for a crucial victory.

The return FA Cup quarterfinal tie at Wisla Plock began well for us, with Folc putting us ahead on the night after nine minutes. Romuzga equalised soon afterwards, but we held on well. The pressure told three minutes from time when Jelen struck, but we progressed through to a semi-final meeting with Belchatow on the away goals rule.

The last game of the month was a poor affair at home with Jagiellonia. There were few chances, and the game was settled by Kobeszko’s goal on 16 minutes.

I don’t know why we haven’t been able to convert our good cup play into league action. Things are going to be decidedly tight for the rest of the season.

retired_manpk1

November 2007

We travelled to Lech and gave them a good game. Gyan put us ahead on the half hour, but in first half injury time Slusarski scored a cruel equaliser. We kept going in the second half, and on 57 Janeczko restored our lead. A minute later though Klos was sent off, and we had to defend deeply. We held on for ages, but deep into injury time Slusarski hit us with another equaliser and we had no time to hit back.

Chievo came to visit on UEFA Cup duty, and with just eight minutes gone Pellissier put them ahead. We played well, and had a few chances to get back into the game, but couldn’t take them. Our best chance fell midway through the second period. Moro was sent off for felling Gyan in the box, but the Ghanaian saw his penalty saved by the goalkeeper.

Pawel Brozek put Wisla ahead after just minutes as we travelled to them, and things looked decidedly dodgy for us. Somehow they didn’t manage to get a second, and we slowly got back into the game. Twenty minutes from time Folc equalised, and six minutes later Gyan had us ahead. Gyan added a third seven minutes from time and we had another much-needed victory.

The home tie with Legia started well. They had Magiera sent off after just two minutes for a professional foul, and Folc cracked in the free kick. We couldn’t get another though, and four minutes before the break Saganowski equalised. It didn’t get much better in the second half, and midway through the second period Javi Sánchez headed home a winner.

Our last match before the winter break was the trip to Verona to play Chievo in the UEFA Cup. We battled well early on to no avail, and early in the second half Barzagli and Franceschini scored two quick goals to kill the tie. Carignano scored a third on 71 as Chievo progressed through to the third round 4-0 aggregate winners.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Legia 15 10 0 5 34 18 +16 302nd Amica 15 8 5 2 26 13 +13 293rd Ruch Chorzow 15 9 2 4 28 23 +5 294th Wisla Plock 15 7 4 4 22 15 +7 255th Groclin 15 7 4 4 26 17 +9 256th Wisla 15 7 2 6 23 21 +2 237th Polonia 15 6 5 4 23 21 +2 238th Widzew 15 7 0 8 14 19 -5 219th Leczna 15 6 2 7 12 17 -5 2010th Pogon 15 6 1 8 24 21 +3 1911th Radomsko 15 4 3 8 25 29 -4 15-------------------------------------------------12th Lech 15 4 3 8 20 29 -9 15-------------------------------------------------13th Arka 15 4 1 10 22 44 -22 1314th Jagiellonia 15 4 0 11 20 32 -12 12</pre>

retired_manpk1

Winter Break 2007-8

I had spent December and the early part of January trying to decide how I was going to keep Radomsko outside the bottom three. I had though been getting disillusioned with life at the club, and with the Russian season in its’ close season, I looked eastwards for a new job. In the end, I was offered the job at newly promoted First Division side Znamya Truda Orekhovo-Zeuvo. The first part of the side’s name is also the name of the 6000-capacity stadium in which they play and the second part of the side’s name is the town in which they play. The season kicks off in March, and our aim for the season is clear – steer clear of the bottom five of the 22 sides. The top two sides at the end of the season get promoted, but I can’t see us getting there come the end of the season. The squad is small, but well covered in most positions.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Makarov, A GK Sitchikhin, O GK Veselov, D SW/D RC Smirnov, I D RC Timashov, V D R Kozmin, K D L Kulak, K D L Kanipov, R D C Roschin, V D C Polovinchuk, D M RC Shestakov, I M R Kravtsov, A M L Ponomarev, K M L Valiev, M M L Borzenkov, A AM/F RL Filimonov, A AM/F R Kireev, A AM R Shevchenko, S AM RC Umerov, R AM RL Yakimov, K AM/F L Nikishin, K AM C Busurin, R F RL Kuznetsov, N S C</pre>
One area of the squad that needed the most strengthening was the backroom staff. I moved quickly to sign Russian Victor Derbunov and Belizean René Wiltshire as coaches, and former Polish international Dariusz Adamczuk joins as assistant manager. I did make a few signings as well before the season began. Young striker Valdimir Kulik came in on a free transfer and Fakel allowed us to take striker Sergey Gorokhov on loan for the season. Arsenal Tula defender Roman Dumanskiy and Sergey Stepanenko, a goalkeeper from Terek, also came in on loan for the season. The only other signing was that of Bosnian midfielder Ahmed Hosic, who joined on loan for the season from Polish side Szczakowianka.

We played five warm-up games, as I tried to see what this side was capable of. Gorokhov and Kulik both scored as we held Spartak Moscow to a 2-2 draw, and a last-minute strike by Busurin gave us a 2-1 vicotry against Torpedo Moscow. We had earlier taken the lead through Kravtsov.
Kulik scored a consolation as we fell to Fakel, and a fantastic last twenty minutes at non-league Irtysh saw six goals shared between the two sides. Our goals came courtesy of Kuzentsov, Nikishin and Busurin.
The last game was a home tie with Rotor, but they outplayed us and we slumped to a 2-0 defeat.

We showed enough to give me hope of a mid-table finish, and with odds of 80-1 to win the division, that seems to be a realistic target for me.

retired_manpk1

March 2008

The season got under way with a home tie against Dinamo Stavropol, and we began well. It took us a few chances to get our bearings right, but on 33 Gorkhov finally found the net to put us ahead. A fantastic strike from left back Kulak doubled our lead early in the second half, but within two minutes Kuzmin had pulled a goal back for the visitors. We kept up our assault, and our two-goal advantage was restored twenty minutes from the end thanks to a second goal from Gorkhov. Busurin came on and added a further two as we ran out 5-1 victors.

Our first away match of the season was at Volgar, and we started confidently. Kulik gave us the lead after 15 minutes, and we had a few opportunities to extend the lead. As the game progressed Volgar started to get back into the match, and we were defending desperately. We couldn’t quite hold out, and we had to settle for a point when Nikolaev equalised three minutes from time.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts1st Arsenal Tula 2 2 0 0 5 2 +3 62nd Khimki 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 6----------------------------------------------------------------3rd Kristall Smolensk 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 44th Orel 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 45th Znamya Truda 2 1 1 0 6 2 +4 46th Tom 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 47th Mashuk 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 48th Anzhi 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 49th Kuban 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 310th Neftekhimik 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 311th Amkar 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 312th Spartak Nalchik 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 313th Gaz-Gaz 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 314th Ural 2 1 0 1 2 4 -2 315th Fakel 2 1 0 1 1 3 -2 316th Metallurg Lipetsk 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 217th Volgar 2 0 1 1 2 4 -2 1----------------------------------------------------------------18th Metallurg Krasnoyarsk 2 0 1 1 1 4 -3 119th Dinamo Peterburg 2 0 0 2 3 5 -2 020th Torpedo-Metallurg 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2 021st Rotor 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 022nd Dinamo Stavropol 2 0 0 2 2 7 -5 0</pre>