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(CM03/04, Patched, Small DB, Slovakia, Czech Republic and England with all available leagues, Spain, Italy, Holland, Germany and Scotland with top league only)
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
(Voiceover)
Slovakia. Velvet revolutions and all that. Formed in 1989, and often thought of as the 'less glamourous' part of the former Czechoslovakia, it's one of Europe's smaller nations, with 19,124 Square Miles of land holding just under 5 and a half million citizens. As it is, Slovakian teams have never really done much on the World footballing stage - Slovan Bratislava's 1969 win of the now defunct Cup Winners Cup the only real success of note.
All that's set to change - or not - with the rise of a new name in Slovak football. FC Druzstevnik Bac - more commonly known as Bac, were promoted last season, and have brought with them a new manager. Stuart Fairway arrived in dubious circumstances from England - apparently with a false identity, though neither club nor manager will confirm this, for obvious reasons.
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False Identity so they say? - well they would. Rob Hollis is the real name - had a nasty bit of business in Poland a couple of years back. Truth is, I didn't do too badly there - and when things came to an 'unfortunate' end, and I was holed up in Cuba, I missed football. With no openings - and nobody to create one - over there, it would be back to Europe. I got this one on merit. Either that or nobody else wanted it...
As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted...Fairway's arrival in Bac - also the name of the Stadium his new side called home - was typically understated. He just came in, signed his three-year contract, and got started. He inherited a small squad - 21 players, with 5 of those on loan from other clubs. With no money, four relegation spots in the Slovakian Second Division - and a threadbare backroom team, Fairway would have his work cut out.
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[This message was edited by Peacemaker7 on 09 December 2003 at 14:46.]
Within 3 hours of his appointment, Fairway had done exactly that. Managing in Eastern Europe seemed to come naturally to him - something that immediatley put assistant manager Tibor Nemeth at ease. Tibor had been around the club forever - a former player, his credentials for a backroom position were enhanced the day older brother Eduard bought into the club, and took up his own position of General Manager, under Chairman Florent Albert . He too has a son involved - defender Tomas Albert, given a contract by his old man after leaving Kysucky Lieskovec a few weeks before Fairway's arrival. Fortunatley for everyone concerned, the dynasty-building ends there - neither physio Martin Suchy , nor head (and indeed, only) Scout Stefan Simko pulling strings to get relations jobs at Bac.
Exploiting his English connections early on, Fairway arranged a trip back 'home' as the first Freindly - Non-League minnows Hillingdon Borough, follwed by trips to Slovakian non-leaguers Devin and Cana, a home game against Division One side Petrzalka, and finally another home game, against Tatran Prachatice, a Second Division side from over the border in the Czech Republic. Players too didn't escape his attention - a week's worth of preseason training was enough to produce a squad list on the flight to England - and to circulate a couple of names as available. However, even before then, a local talent got in touch. Vlastimil Benko is a left winger - Fairway's early target position - and came to the Englishman's attention after attracting the interest of rival clubs.
Goalkeepers
1 - Peter Kostolani - Slovakia - 20 - (On Loan from FC Nitra - Season)
13 - Andrej Bombiak - Slovakia - 26
18 - Adrian Porszek - Slovakia - 21
Loanee 'keeper Kostolani is, without any shadow of a doubt, our best shot-stopper. That's both good and bad - we'll have the lad for the season, but it would be better to have him under contract to us, rather than belonging to another club. We'll have to put up with it - Bombiak is an adequate substitute at best, while Porszek is on the loan list, and probably won't make great waves in the World game.
Defenders
4 - Tomas Albert - Slovakia - 23 - DC
14 - Peter Marinic - Slovakia - 25 - DC
5 - Maros Puchner - Slovakia - 26 - DC - (On Loan from Slovan Bratislava - Season)
15 - Marian Nincz - Slovakia - 20 - DC
2 - Ladislav Szijjarto - Slovakia - 23 - D/DMRC
20 - Andrej Cisar - Slovakia - 25 - D/DMR
3 - Pavol Mikulec - Slovakia - 23 - D/DMLC - (On Loan from Slovan Bratislava - Season)
With a 4-4-2 formation about the only real choice at this level, we've again got to rely on a couple of loanees. As is to be expected, Puchner has real ability, and it's a bit of a suprise that Slovan have allowed him on loan. Alongside him is the Chairman's lad, Albert - not just on 'political' grounds, though he'll no doubt have to work hard to convince some of the support on that one. He's certainly better than Marinic - only bench material - and even better still than Nincz , who's gone straight on the transfer list. Choices are somewhat more limited on the right - Cisar slapped on the transfer list, with Szijjarto not likely to pull up any trees, but better than his slightly older squad-mate. If the right is limited, then the left is positivley bare - Mikulec another loanee, and like Puchner, one of real quality.
Midfielders
6 - Marcel Horky - Slovakia - 29 - DMC
7 - Peter Svoboda - Slovakia - 23 - AMC
12 - Jozef Pukalovic - Slovakia - 24 - MC - (On Loan from Slovan Bratislava - Season)
8 - Alexander Meszaros - Slovakia - 30 - AMRC
17 - Albert Balasz - Slovakia - 20 - MR
21 - Arnold Bodrogy - Slovakia - 28 - MR
16 - Ivan Bugar - Slovakia - 20 - MR
11 - Tamas Nagy - Slovakia - 22 - A/ML
With 4 across the midfield, the central midfield positions are crucial - and skipper Horky is certainly good enough to fill one of them. Alongside the defensivley minded midfielder, there's a little bit of creative genius with Svoboda . Though there's not much strength in our central midfield depth, loanee Pukalovic is probably a class above most in this Division. With a small squad on the whole, it's perhaps a little disconcerting to find four right-sided midfielders. Of the four, Meszaros is without a doubt the best, and as the oldest player in our squad, will hold a certain level of responsibility. Young Balasz has bags of pace and potential, with a box of tricks to keep us supplied with other options. Both Bodrogy and Bugar are not seemingly up to the task - and are transfer-listed as a result, though Bugar has age, and a fine penalty, on his side. Four on the left would have been again far too many at this level - Nagy though is as quick as anything, but struggles with his crossing. Another left winger might be a prudent choice for a first signing.
Forwards
9 - Marian Tomcak - Slovakia - 22 - FRC - (On Loan from Inter Bratislava - Season)
10 - Marian Marek - Slovakia - 21 - SC
19 - Ernest Lopu - Slovakia - 22 - FC
Again, we're not really blessed with plenty of options in attack. Loanee Tomcak is without a doubt the best weapon in our arsenal - plenty of all-round attacking ability. Alongside him is something of a contentious issue. Neither Lopu nor Marek are by any means great players - and both will have to work very hard in preseason to avoid early replacement.
With the plane arriving in England a couple of days before the game against Hillingdon Borough, Fairway had some time to chase up potential signings. The first a veteran Scot - Paul McDonald , a former Brighton & Hove Albion, Hamilton and Southampton player offered a deal to provide another option on the left. Fairway had also targeted another striker - and in Shrewsbury's Steve Jagielka , he immediatley fired off a bid to the Salop club. With Benko still potentially in the wings, a busy week drew to a close in the mid-summer English heat - a million miles away from whatever lurked around the corner in Slovakia...
Hillingdon Advertiser - Late Edition - Saturday 28/6/03
'Boro hammered by exotic tourists'
"You don't get a Slovakian side in Hillingdon every day, and as far as Boro's defence are concerned, that's definatley a good thing. Little-known Eastern European outfit Bac brought a team over while English-born manager Stuart Fairway was doing some scouting, and in Hillingdon, found the locals very much to their liking. It took just 48 seconds for Ernest Lopu to put the visitors ahead - he would strike twice more during the game to claim a hatrick. Tormenter in chief though was without a doubt Marian Tomcak - he scored one, made two, and could have had several more. With 125 turning out - more than double Hillingdon's usual attendance - it has to be said, despite the result, this has been a very valuable experience for both sides. Bac manager Fairway was full of praise for 'Boro, telling the Advertiser that he'd been very impressed with some of the home players". The praise was most certainly mutual, with rumours that this fixture could be turned into an annual event.
Hillingdon 0 - Bac 4 (Lopu 3, Tomcak)
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After the euphoria of a first victory, as Fairway and Bac left for home on Monday, a Paul McDonald shaped spanner was very quickly thrown into the works. The Scottish winger - who would have become easily the oldest player in the Bac squad at 35, rejected the contract offer outright. By Monday evening however, there was far better news from England. Conference side Shrewsbury had, as expected, accepted Fairway's bid for striker Steve Jagielka , a 25-year old with a proven track record of scoring goals. Fairway immediatley fired off a contract offer - before hitting the hay for some much needed rest.
With another game on Wednesday, Fairway led his troops through training on Tuesday as he took them over - still 21 players, and no new arrivals. It would all change late on Tuesday evening - left winger Vlastimil Benko signing on a three year, £70 p/w contract. He would go straight into the side for the trip to Non-League outfit SKP Devin - Fairway's first visit to the capital, Bratislava.
SKP Devin v Bac - Friendly
Back home after their English escapades, Bac found things tough going early on against Devin. After a scrappy start, Tomas Kutka got between defender and 'keeper to prod home on 10 minutes. Things got worse on 38 - Peter Svoboda sent off for a second bookable offence - and after the break, the misery continued - Kutka again striking to increase the home sides' advantage. It was the kick up the backside that Bac probably needed - sub Marian Marek heading home a near-post corner from fellow replacement Balasz on 54. The 10 men worked hard - Tomcak denied late on by the impressive home 'keeper - but it was not to be.
Devin 2 - Bac 1 (Marek)
Friday morning, and more news from England. With Steve Jagielka still considering his options, word comes through from Shrewsbury that English Conference side Woking have made an offer to take the striker on loan for 3 months. Fairway was worried by this - if the striker didn't fancy a move to Slovakia, he would probably take the temporary deal - and maybe attract the attention of other clubs. Meanwhile domestically, the whole of Slovakia was gearing up for Saturday's Super Cup game - Last season's Champions, MSK Zilnia playing FK Matador Puchov, 2003's Slovakian Cup winners.
For Bac though, there was a far more important game kicking off at the same time...
FK Cana v Bac - Friendly
With their final away friendly of preseason set to be played in stifling mid-summer heat, it wasn't really much of a suprise that mistakes would be made. Unfortunatley for Bac, it was one of their star men, loanee defender Puchner, who made the first - and biggest mistake of the game. Missing his header, the ball dipped kindly into open space behind the centre half, and Cana star Lubomir Puhak needed no second invitation - firing home an incredible curling shot from 35 yards, the sort you only see in preseason. One quickly became two - Puhak's second a slightly more orthodox shot on the turn from just inside the area. With the scores still disapointing for the visitors at the break, Fairway made his traditional hatful of changes - and still saw his side fail to impress. It finished 3-0 to Cana - one of their substitutes, Stefan Duris, nodding home a corner. It just about summed up a miserable Bac performance - not at the races.
While Cana celebrated, and Fairway deliberated on how to improve his shattered side, MSK Zilnia lifted the first trophy of the new season - The Super Cup going to Pod Dubnom for the first time in it's history - Zilnia beaten finalists in last seasons' first running of the competition. It was a close run thing though - a nervy, 5-4 victory for the League Champions on penalty kicks.
With three friendlies played, Bac had one just once - away to English minnows Hillingdon Borough. The game had been planned as a scouting trip, but with Paul McDonald rejecting the offer, and Steve Jagielka still considering his options, Fairway decided he would have to move fast. With a game on Tuesday against First Division opposition - Petrzalka the first visitors to Bac in preseason - he decided to go for broke on the transfer front. While there was no money to spend, there was space in the wage budget for a few additions, and this provided Fairway with the means to get his men. First up, former Slovakian international veteran Milos Glonek - 34 now, but with 25 international caps under his belt, certainly still good enough for this level. Another, slighly younger, but still approaching the latter years of his career, defender was next. Englishman Rob Ullathorne , a true journeyman with stints at Norwich, Leicester, Sheffield United - and crucially, a season in Spain with Osasuna. Two other offers were by no means permanent. Another left back, 27 year old Erik Szief and a 'keeper, 24 year old Radoslav Gardosik - both Slovaks - had been offered a week's trial each, to prove themselves worthy of a contract offer.
By Sunday, the first 'hitch' had emerged. 'Keeper Gardosik had a more secure offer on the table - fellow Second Division outfit Kys. Lieskovec offering him a permanent deal. If that wasn't bad enough, on Tuesday morning - with hours to go before kick-off against their considerably higher-ranked opponents, Bac recieved a double whammy of rejections. Fairway had expected Rob Ullathorne to turn down his approach - but Steve Jagielka's refusal came as a body blow. With his attack still lightweight at best, Fairway knew that he would again be scouring the lists of Europe's available strikers in the next few days.
Bac v FC Artmedia Petrzalka - Friendly
Coming off the back of a 3-0 thumping against Non-League opposition, Bac manager Stuart Fairway led his troops into their solitary 'glamour' freindly in a rather pessimistic mood. He was soon proved wrong - to an extent. Bac started brightly, and on 17, Marian Tomcak put the ball in the net - finishing well from Svoboda's deft lobbed pass. Unfortunatley, he timed his run a little too soon - referee Ligocky ruling the strike out for offside. In fact, it was Petrzalka who would take the lead - Milan Kusalik netting on 27 minutes with the visitors first real opportunity of the game. Things got worse for Bac four minutes later - striker Tomcak taken off in obvious pain. His replacement, Ernest Lopu , soon got things back on track - slotting home in some style on 42 after a pinpoint cross from Benko. Immediatley after the break, Lopu earnt his side a second - pushed in the box, the striker stood aside to allow Tamas Nagy the chance to make it 2-1 from the penalty spot. Within minutes, Petrzalka were back on level terms. After Soltis had hit a post, Bac scrambled the ball away, only to be hit on the counter on 53 - Ladislav Suchanek swooping to hammer home from six yards out. With the visitors down to 10 men soon after, Fairway's side again looked capable of grabbing a memorable win - but those dreams were shattered with Suchanek's second on 70 to put Petrzalka ahead for the second time of the match. Bac did have one last
chance in injury time - Petrzalka incredibly down to 9 men after a second dismissal - but Benko's cross was blocked and cleared behind, with the full time whistle blown before the corner could be taken. Fairway though will take great heart from the fight and desire his team showed - Peter Svoboda in particular having a fine game in midfield.
"Bratislava-today understands this evening that Inter Bratislava striker Marian Tomcak has been injured whilst playing for FC Druzstevnik Bac , the club he is on loan at for the entire 2003/04 campaign. Tomcak, 22, is set to be out for around 2 months after tearing knee ligaments in the preseason friendly defeat at home to FC Artmedia Petrzalka.
The news will come as a blow to both clubs - Bac manager Stuart Fairway has publically stated that he feels Tomcak is capable of great things - and will be disapointed to loose the striker for a considerable period of time. Meanwhile, back at Inter Bratislava, manager Karol Pecze expressed his disapointment at the news. "Marian is a quality player" he said. "We sent him out on loan this season to gain valuable experience and boost his confidence, so this is a blow for all concerned"
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Thursday morning, and after the disapointment of Tomcak's injury, Fairway recieved a huge boost in the form of a new signing. Experienced defender Milos Glonek , a man with 25 Slovakian international caps and a pedigree of playing for clubs in the upper Echelons of European leagues - Caen in France and Ancona in Italy, as well as two spells with Slovan Bratislava, would be joining Bac on a free transfer. Signing a 2-year deal, the 34-year old will undoubtedly add something to the side, and his signing is quite a coup. The boost turned into a double one in the afternoon - Radoslav Gardosik rejecting the offer of a permanent contract from Kys.Lieskovec to join Bac on trial for a week. He arrived late on Thursday - and made an immediate impact, Fairway immediatley offering him a contract after seeing him thwart goalscoring ambitions in a training match.
In what was rapidly turning into a positive week, after the most disapointing of starts, Radoslav Gardosik became a Bac player on Friday evening, putting pen to paper on a three year contract. He'd not be the only one signing at the same time - club captain Marcel Horky extending his contract until 2007. As ever, there would be a sting in the tail. With the left back position still filled by a loanee, Fairway offered ex-Trinec left back Erik Szief a week's trial at the same time as 'keeper Gardosik. The 27-year old was on touch early on Saturday to turn down the chance - with both Rapid Bratislava and Senec courting him, Szief obviously felt he didn't need a trial to proof himself.
Meanwhile, as preperations for the final preseason freindly drew to a close, Fairway answered a long-distance phone call. English Conference side Farnborough Town had been in touch - and were quite happy to loan young Adam Spicer , a 20-year old striker and graduate of the Boro' youth scheme, to Bac for the season. The young hitman would be asked to consider the approach over the weekend, after being spotted by scout Stefan Simko.
Bac v Tatran Prachatice - Friendly
With new boys Gardosik and Glonek handed their debuts, Bac came into the game with a distinctly stronger-looking lineup than the one who lost to Cana this time last week. Prachatice though obviously didn't read the script - it took a superb stop from 'keeper Gardosik to deny Rozboud after just four minutes, before things settled down a little. With chances at both ends, it was somewhat of a suprise that the opening goal came from a set-piece. After Tobias pulled back Lupo on the edge of the area, Vlastimil Benko stepped up to score a beauty of a free kick, the ball curling over the wall and into the far corner of the net, leaving 'keeper Neumann grabbing thin air. Leading into the break, Bac doubled their lead literally seconds later. 38 to be exact - 38 seconds into the second half, Alexander Meszaros raced onto a glorious through ball from Tomas Albert to slot beat the onrushing 'keeper from the edge of the area. Bac could have scored again soon after - Ernest Lopu looking busy - but in the end, would have to wait until the 76th minute to seal the win. A Meszaros looked to evade everybody, but was trapped by Vlastimil Benko on the edge of the six-yard box. As defenders scrambled to block, Benko turned and fired a shot past sub 'keeper Minar and into the roof of the net. A fourth would be denied - skipper Horky shooting over after beating two - but the win, in Bac's final friendly of preseason, would be greatly welcomed by Fairway.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The RingMaster:
Funny, I just played Bac in my Story game, in my Tour of Slovakia. Small World.
I drew 1-1, yer man Tamas Nagy scored in to me.
Anyway for that reason (and of course the very good start ) I'll be reading.
Good Luck (Except Nagy, hope he breaks his leg)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
So I see - I have my bread delivered - thanks, and good luck with yours too, it's pretty impressive
Don't Look Bac in Anger... 
- Yes, Slovakia :cool:
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