[retired_bethx]

Mid-Season 2006/07

The board gave me £1.1M (:cool to battle against relegation. The bookies rated me at odds of 80-1 to lift the title.

The team, mostly composed of last years squad members, are currently leading the second division. I have splashed out on a forward/winger type and a midfield general. I have picked up a decent full-back for peanuts and a wide midfielder who previously played for Barcelona for free. I sold a utility midfielder/forward (didn't know where to play him ).

Castellon are out of the Spanish Cup, and recent form suggests that it may be asking too much too hold onto a promotion spot. Have to give it a shot though .

[retired_priyaa_00]

Cups sack ass anyway, don't you know.

KUTGW in the league though, you never know whats going to happen come last day of the season:

With Bradford PA lost out on playoff by 1 goal, two seasons latter got promotion from 3rd by 1 point, both on the last game of the season

[retired_bethx]

2006/2007

Castellon are champions of the Second Division. The board have agreed to expand the stadium and upgrade the training facility (again).

The gap between 2b and 2 does not appear to be that great.

The board said some embarrasingly complementary things about me, which made me feel a tad guilty as I applied for five jobs (without success) through the course of the season.

[retired_bethx]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> You mean (1 shot - 1 goal) will only happen against you 2 out of every 3 games now? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't mind so much when Division 2b teams pull off the occassional win against the run of play, but Barcelona and Valencia, give me a break .

[retired_bethx]

Mid-Season 07/08

8 games in with Castellon top of the first division, admittedly having played an extra game, Zaragoza offered me a job.

Zaragoza were in 19th place, but had a good squad, and a bigger stadium, reputation etc. therefore it was time to leave Castellon.

The financial position was not great at Zaragoza (£4M in debt, with less than £1M transfer funds). The players were better than 19th place (and 2 points on the board).

At first things went swimmingly, and Zaragoza climbed into the top half of the table, they even beat Castellon. The introduction of three loan signings during the transfer window disrupted the squad for a time results went against us.

The team have just about recovered to 9th place, but unfortunately went out of the cup against Gramenet (2nd Division B).

Castellon are lying 4th with an imminent stadium improvement, I may regret the decision to leave if I cannot turn the financial situation around at Zaragoza.

[retired_bethx]

End of Season 07/08

A remarkable turnaround saw Zaragoza finish 2nd, behind Barcelona, in the First Division.

One of the loan signings suffered a long-term injury, hence the players I inherited did the business.

Champions League football beckons, but with the club nearly £10 million in debt something may have to give. I have not helped the situation by exceeding the wage budget whilst refreshing the squad with free transfers.

[retired_bethx]

I am a passenger

[retired_sargent]

Debt, who cares about debt when you're in the CL. You will be swimming in money soon.

KUTGW!

[retired_priyaa_00]

I never quite get to CL get stuck at UEFA and bum out in the semis at best.

2 clubs I left managed to win CL within 3 seasons of me getting the boot

[retired_bethx]

Mid-Season 08/09

The board expectations are for a respectable league position. I was hopeful of slightly more, but the board have it about right.

Zaragoza are currently lying 5th, a distant 13 points adrift of Betis at the top. I have shifted some players out, and introduced some free transfers, including two of the loanees from last season.

The team has no depth in the centre of defence (partly due to injury) and on the left flank. The defensive shortfall has been covered by loaning a Belarusian from a German club.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Sevilla occupy the places ahead, so Champions League qualification will be hard fought. Incidently I had to qualify for the group phase having finished 2nd in the league .

Zaragoza are still competing in the Spanish Cup and Champions League. The financial situation is improving, Church was spot on, although swimming in money is stretching it .