Struggling In Scandinavia - Welcome To Iceland

[neilhoskins77]

FM'14

Experience set as Sunday League Footballer

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So once again, I have to start over. I can only apologise at the demise of the saves that were in progress, I literally can't explain what happened. I'm going to stick with FM'14, and return to a club that I had one of my favourite ever saves with. Iceland intrigues me. The country, and the football. Iprottafelag Reykjavikur (IR) are one of the smallest clubs in the Icelandic capital. A small stadium, holding just 1,300 people, it has just 300 seats, and is named Hertz vollurin. Over 100 years old, they have never dined at the top table of domestic football. I had three full seasons with them in a previous save, and failed to get them promoted, before leaving for Exeter City.

Since then, the club have suffered a relegation, and with the aid of the expansion pack, this save will begin in January 2013 with the club in the Second Division, which is actually the third tier of Icelandic football. It's a 12 team Division, the top two are promoted up to the second tier, the bottom two go down to the fourth tier. Operating at a semi-professional level, with a bank balance of just £5k, managing this club is pretty challenging. The squad has plenty of bodies, but not much in the way of talent. The Board want a mid-table finish, but are offering no transfer budget, and a weekly wage budget of £350, which they are already over-spending on. Of the 25 players in the First Team squad, three are on loan, and another eight are playing on non-contract deals. Staff wise, I've got an Assistant Manager, a Director of Football, a Scout, a Physio and a Head of Youth Development. We also have a Player/Under-19's manager. My contract runs through to October only, one season to prove I can do a job here.

We won this League in 2008, winning it this season will be a tough ask. A few of these players won't last the week, a clear out is needed right away, and some new players need to be brought in. With no money to spend, it will be necessary to utilise the free agent and loan markets. We go through the players available to us with a fine toothcomb, and offers are made for 13 players. 2 amateur players are released right away, a goalkeeper and a midfielder. Another 4 are transfer listed, hopefully we can get a couple of quid for them, or at least get them moved on to free up some wage room.

[CFuller]

Another story, Neil? Are you having horrible luck with your saves or something?

As per usual, I'll be following this one closely. Hopefully it will run for a lot longer...

[neilhoskins77]

Yeah, I don't know what happened mate. Couldn't get the Rangers save to load yesterday, wouldn't let me start a new game either. Tried uninstalling both games and Steam, and got it back to the point where it worked, but all the saves are gone. That shouldn't happen, no idea what's gone wrong. Not very happy about it, but it'll teach me a lesson, as I hadn't backed any of the saves up.

[CFuller]

Yes, you really should try to backup your saves as often as possible, ideally on an external source.

Am I right in remembering you posted an Iceland story on here before, but that one didn't get past the opening post?

[neilhoskins77]

I did. It was with an expansion pack that I hadn't tested, and I was getting fatal errors every couple of days I simmed.

[neilhoskins77]

If you're not in the top 2 Divisions, the start of the football season in Iceland is very much a false start. You begin playing friendlies in late-ish January, and continue with them through to mid-ish February. You then sit there for 3 months until the League season begins in mid-May, while the teams in the top 2 Divisions compete for the League Cup. There is the Icelandic Cup, but the First Round doesn't get drawn until the 1st April. A bizarre set up to say the least. This schedule means the squad could alter quite a lot between now and the start of the seasons competitive games. So we'll have a short report on the friendlies, and then introduce the squad before the real action starts.

Magnus Por Magnusson is the senior goalkeeper at the club. In my very humble opinion, he's not good enough, and is transfer listed. He comes to the office, insisting he's good enough to be our number one here, and saying he doesn't want to leave the club. I've got a couple of irons in the fire as far as goalies go, but I challenge Magnusson to show he can have a future here, and he accepts. He has to play in the opening friendly, primarily because we don't have another senior keeper to challenge him right now. There are several new faces when we take on non-League side, Hviti Riddarinn. We were disjointed to say the least in the -7 conditions. One of our new lads, 30 year old Serbian striker, Milan Djurovic, netted the opener inside 10 minutes, but we quickly shipped an equaliser. A full team change at half time apart from the keeper, and we went back in front on the hour, sub striker, Reynir Magnusson found the net. But once again we couldn't hold on to that lead, and finished with a 2-2 draw that will have impressed nobody, not that there was many there to impress, an attendance of 12.

Our best player is an amateur, left winger Kristjan Ari Halldorsson. The 25 year refuses to enter into negotiations for a part time contract, and is a wanted man by clubs higher up the pyramid. A club from our own Division, Grotta, offer him a contract. With very little in the arsenal to try and keep him, I ask him to mentor one of our new signings. Time will tell whether that does the trick. We get a new 1 year deal with a kit sponsor, which swells the coffers by a whole £9k. We play our second friendly game, a home fixture with Premier Division side, Stjarnan. The gulf in class was clear for all to see, and we take a 7-0 drubbing. It's clear when we have the ball that the players bedding into the side are not even close to being on the same wavelength as some of the better players in the team. Both of Stjarnan's strikers bag hatricks, at least they brought a decent amount of away support with them to put some money in the bank. Right after the game, we find out that Halldorsson is leaving. He has agreed to sign for Divisional rivals, Grotta, on a 3 season deal for £80 a week. We can't even compete financially with the teams in our division. It could be a long season.

[tenthreeleader]

Technically, you're violating the seven-day rule here but since it's due to a corrupted save then it's no harm, no foul.

Just glad to see you writing away.

[neilhoskins77]

Apologies tenthree, I forgot about the 7 day rule. Rules re-read and refreshed.

Some more players arrive at the club, including two new goalkeepers, but crucially, they are on a non-contract basis. This leaves us in the unenviable position of a player potentially turning in some good performances for us, and being poached by other teams. We didn't have much time to ponder on our hammering from Stjarnan, as our next friendly quickly arrives, a trip to Third Division side, Kari. We have one of the new goalkeepers in for this one, and mix a couple of the more experienced and older players into the lineup, as our squad is a pretty young one. We win 3-0, taking the lead after just 62 seconds, and looking reasonably comfortable throughout, though we should have got more goals against a pretty weak looking Kari team.

The bookies have us at 6/1 to get promotion back to the second tier at the first time of asking. That makes us 7th favourites. Much like the Board, they believe a mid-table finish is the best we can achieve. Our penultimate friendly is home to city rivals, and Premier Division side, Knattspyrnufelag Reykjavikur (KR). A better attendance of 189 brave the snowy conditions, and are rewarded with a significantly improved outing from us, in fact, maybe even cause for optimism going forward. The difference between the sides was English striker, Gary Martin. The 22 year old bagged a hatrick, and was quite simply, a class apart. Milan Djurovic produced a great finish to get our goal in a 3-1 defeat. The following week, during a training session, midfielder Olgeir Oskarsson tears a hamstring while sprinting and will be out for between 3 and 4 months.

Monday 18th February brings our final pre-season friendly, hosting another Premier Division side, IV. With what we anticipate will be our full strength side, we really have a go at the more illustrious visitors, and get a very credible 4-4 draw with them. While it might seem a bizarre thing to say after shipping 4 goals at home, our defensive work was pretty good, and we actually could have won it at the end, but the sub striker slammed the ball into the side-netting. A lot of players are on a non-contract basis, so it will be hard work to keep them all here. The elections for a new chairman/person are upcoming, the current incumbent has already announced her intention to step down. Maybe the newcomer might have a connection in one of the oil rich Arab states? Seems unlikely.

[tenthreeleader]

No need to apologize. If you want your other story closed please drop me a PM. There's a special circumstance in your case.

[neilhoskins77]

We get another Coach in to help the players out, 31 year old Pordur Valsson, who undoubtedly should be at a higher level. I'd make him my Assistant Manager if I thought I could find another Coach who would do the job. The ticket office confirm that we've sold 145 season tickets for the coming season, so a bit more cash in the coffers for now, but this long period without a game but still paying out wages is going to hit the clubs finances hard. The elected chairman, by a comfortable margin, is Porhallur Asgeirsson, who thanks me for my patience, assures me I have his backing, and he informs me he has taken out a loan of £1.5k to help with day to day costs. So basically, if I ask for a new sofa and TV for my office at the Stadium, his loan is spent.

The First Round of the Icelandic Cup is drawn, and we're not in it. We don't enter the competition till the Second Round, and that's not even drawn until the 5th May. Finally, we reach the day of the draw, and we get a home tie with Third Division side, Augnablik. That game is arranged for Saturday 11th May, taking the place of our opening League game, which is now rescheduled for Tuesday 21st May. The Icelandic FA could do with a League Secretary to get some better organisation. Anyway, we're now less than a week from finally getting our season underway, so it's time to introduce our squad.

Goalkeepers :

Logi Asbjornsson. 28yrs old. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'2. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Likely to be our number one keeper heading into the season, has experience in the First Division.

Porsteinn Einarsson. 28 yrs old. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'2. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Will push Asbjornsson hard for the starting spot in goal. Was released by the previous management after 6 seasons at the club, jumped at the chance of a return.

Magnus Por Magnusson. 29 yrs old. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'5. 3 year Contract, £30 a week. Transfer Value - £2.4k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Was transfer listed, but doesn't want to leave the club. Formerly of Premier Division side, Vikingur Reykjavik, he has only just arrived at the club after 4 years with Norwegian Third Division side, Tornado Maloy.

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Defenders :

Ivan Razumovic. 27 yrs old. D(C,R). Croatian. Uncapped. 5'7. 2 year contract, £20 a week. Transfer Value - £600

Signed since the start of the save. Has been in Iceland for 2 seasons with Divisional rivals, Aegir, and has previously had a season in Canada after a career in his homeland.

Eggert Rafn Einarsson. 23 yrs old. D(C,R). Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'1. 2 year contract, £25 a week. Transfer Value - £975

Signed since the start of the save. Possibly the best signing, and has been named as Club Captain for the season. Has 4 seasons Premier Division experience with KR, and has also played for Leiknir Rejkyavik and KV.

Arnar Mar Runolfsson. 19 yrs old. D(L,C), DM. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'4. 3 year contract, £35 a week. Transfer Value - £1.4k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Spent last season with our feeder club, Leittir. A great prospect, and will get game time with us this season.

Bjarki Brynjarsson. 22 yrs old. D©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'2. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Previously on the books of Premier Division club, Valur. Spent last season with non-League side, KH.

Sindri Snaefells Kristinsson. 18 yrs old. D©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'1. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. One for the future maybe, but he'll be around the First Team scene this year. A member of the IA development squad for 3 seasons, Sindri has yet to make a senior appearance.

David Mar Stefansson. 21 yrs old. D©, DM. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'3. Amateur.

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Been an IR player since the age of 16, but has been back and forth between the First Team squad and feeder club, Lettir.

Halldor Hrannar Halldorsson. 19 yrs old. D©, DM. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'0. 3 year contract, £20 a week. Transfer Value - £950

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Another very inexperienced player, who didn't even get a much of a game at Lettir last season.

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Midfielders :

Atli Gudjonsson. 25 yrs old. D,M©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'0. 2 year contract, £35 a week. Transfer value - £1.4k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. His second spell with the club, made 11 appearances for the club last season, may find it more difficult to get a start this season. His wages may be better spent elsewhere in the squad.

Ivar Saevarsson. 23 yrs old. M®. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'10. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Had 2 seasons in the First Division with IA, but then spent 2 seasons in non-League football, and didn't play at all last season. No risk to us as we are not paying him a wage, could be a wild card for us this season.

Gudmunder Gunnar Sveinsson. 20 yrs old. M(L). Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'6. 2 year contract, £20 a week. Transfer Value - £1.3k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. About to enter his third season with the club, 9 appearances and a goal to his name up to now. Probably the best left footer at the club, but he looks suspiciously injury prone, currently in his third period in the treatment room already.

Gudbergur Baldursson. 26 yrs old. M(L). Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'0. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Played 7 seasons with KFR, and is one of our most experienced players with 80 senior outings. Not as quick or deadly with his crossing as Sveinsson, but might be seeing a bit of playing time if Sveinsson can't stay fit.

Njordur Steinarsson. 34 yrs old. M©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'10. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Very much the old man of the squad, one of only two players over 30. His second spell with IR, playing here between 1999 and 2001, making 47 appearances. He left to go to Arborg, and got 14 goals in 15 outings the next season, but has never repeated that form.

Gudjon Elfarsson. 19 yrs old. M©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'10. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Elfarsson has been out of football for 2 seasons after an unsuccessful loan spell with Premier Division club, Grindavik. Again, not really a risk as he is playing without a contract, has flair and could be a useful asset.

Olgeir Oskarsson. 24 yrs old. M©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'10. 2 year contract, £20 a week. Transfer Value - £450

Signed since the start of the save. Previously with First Division club, Fjolnir. Most of his senior football was on loan with non-League side, Bjorninn. Had last season out of the game, could be the standout midfielder in our squad this year on his return to the game.

Johann Arnar Sigurporsson. 18 yrs old. M©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'9. 2 year contract, £20 a week. Transfer Value - £1.7k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Don't be fooled by Johann's age, I believe this lad has a bright future in the game. 14 appearances for the First Team in the last campaign, he could be important to us again this season.

Styrmir Erlendsson. 19 yrs old. M©, Striker. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'10. On season long loan from Fylkir.

Loan already agreed before the save started. The lad is a grafter, and has made 6 outings in the Premier Division over the last 2 season's for his parent club, returning 1 goal as well.

Marteinn Urbancic. 19 yrs old. M/AM®. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'8. On season long loan from Haukar.

Loan already agreed before the save started. Quick, and a great crosser of the ball. He only has 4 senior appearances since joining his parent club, but looks like he possesses the ability to be very effective at this level. He's out of contract at the end of the season, and a few good showings would make him a likely target of us.

Julius Orri Oskarsson. 19 yrs old. M/AM®. Icelandic. Uncapped. 5'9. On season long loan from Fjolnir.

Loan already agreed before the save started. Likely to find his chances to play limited by Urbancic's presence. The teenager has a respectable return of 5 goals from 14 senior outings, and has a bit of First Division experience.

Kristjan Andresson. 26 yrs old. M/AM(L). Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'1. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. A product of Premier Division side, Fram. He's been playing non-League football for the last 4 seasons, and is very adept at finding the net, notching 22 goals in 41 games.

Alexander Kostic. 20 yrs old. M/AM/Striker©. Icelandic/Serbian. Uncapped. 6'4. 2 year contract, £30 a week. Transfer Value - £1.7k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. A huge lump of a lad, who signed on a free transfer from KR at the start of last season. Netted once in 7 games during his first season with IR, more will be expected from him this season.

Haraldur Arni Hrodmarsson. 25 yrs old. AM,Striker©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'2. Amateur.

Already an IR player at the start of the save. An experienced player, but he's never settled at a club long enough to make any real impact. Had 2 seasons in the Danish First Division previously, this will be his first season with IR having signed from Bi/Bolungarvik, but I'm not sure the lad has a real future at Hertz Vollurin.

Gudmundur Eiriksson. 21 yrs old. AM/Striker©. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'0. Non-Contract.

Signed since the start of the save. Another player who has been out of the game, it's been two seasons since he was on the books of Premier Division outfit, Selfoss. Seen as an alternative in the attacking midfield role to Kostic, he's a big lad who can play a role this season, but will have a fight on his hands with more established players in front of him.

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Strikers

Orn Ulfarsson. 23 yrs old. Striker. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'0. Non-Contract.

Signed since the save began. IR were actually Ulfarsson's last club, he left at the end of the 2011 season after making 6 appearances that campaign. He didn't have a club last year, but could be one of our `go to' strikers this season, though he doesn't yet have a senior goal to his name.

Reynir Magnusson. 20 yrs old. Striker. Icelandic. Uncapped. 6'2. 2 year contract, £20 per week. Transfer Value - £850

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Spent last season with the club on loan from Breidablik of the Premier Division, before signing for a free transfer when his contract expired. Made 8 appearances last season, but will be further down the pecking order this year.

Milan Djurovic. 31 yrs old. Striker. Serbian/Icelandic. 5'11. 1 year contract, £15 a week. Transfer Value - £75

Signed since the save began. The most experienced player in the squad, Djurovic has 62 goals from 142 outings in his career. He first came to Iceland in 2004, and apart from one season back in Serbia, has been here ever since, and is now an Icelandic citizen. Vice-Captain of the club this season, the pressure will be on him to score the goals to get us into the promotion hunt.

Viktor Smari Segatta. 20 yrs old. Striker. Icelandic. 6'2. 2 year contract, £40 a week. Transfer Value - £4k

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Spent last season on loan with First Division club Haukar from Premier Division side, FH. Signed on a free, and this will be his first season at IR. Yet to score his first senior goal, but is highly thought of. The highest paid player at the club.

Daniel Saeberg Hrolfsson. 21 yrs old. Striker. Icelandic. 6'2. Amateur.

Already an IR player at the start of the save. Been with the club since 2008, but has spent the majority of his time with the feeder club at Lettir. Has returned 7 goals from 14 appearances with them, and could be a good option late on if we need a goal.

[neilhoskins77]

Mikael Nikulasson is the opposition manager for my first competitive game in charge. He said in his press conference that he was excited to be playing against us, as his club rarely get to play such illustrious opponents! I think he finds the team names in Iceland as confusing as I do, and he has us mixed up with another club.

Saturday 11th May 2013 - Icelandic Cup, Round 2

Hertz Vollurin, Reykjavik

IR (1) 1 Augnablik (0) 0

Scorers : Orn Ulfarsson (37)

Attendance : 499

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; G.Elfarsson (O.Oskarsson 71), J.Sigurporsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; A.Kostic (G.Eiriksson 71); M.Djurovic (V.Segatta 71), O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Alexander Kostic (IR)

Eight debutants for the club in this game, and at times it showed. We weren't quite there with the passing, and the players still have a bit of work to do with getting to know each other and the movement. However, there were plenty of positives, we looked good from set pieces, and our back three settled well. We don't find out who our next opponents will be until midweek. In fact, Wednesday will be a particularly busy day, as we have a League game, the transfer deadline, and the Cup draw. That Cup draw is made at 1pm in the afternoon, as we prepare for our evening game away to Grotta. The draw throws up a home tie with the Premier Division team who battered us in pre-season, Stjarnan, and that will take place at the end of the month.

Wednesday 15th May 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Grottuvollur, Seltjarnarnes

Grotta (0) 4 IR (2) 4

Scorers : Alexander Kostic (15,49), Milan Djurovic (25), Orn Ulfarsson (63)

Attendance : 268

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt - H.Halldorsson 68), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; G.Elfarsson, J.Sigurporsson (O.Oskarsson 68), G.Baldursson (G.Eiriksson 82), M.Urbancic; A.Kostic; M.Djurovic, O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Alexander Kostic (IR)

The media and fans are pleased with our draw away to a team considered a step above us. In reality, I'm furious we chucked away a three goal lead. Kostic puts us ahead with a close range finish, and Djurovic confidently picks out the bottom corner after being put in one on one. Kostic bags a second early in the second half, and we're flying. It falls apart quickly after that, we ship two goals within 5 minutes, and we're back in a tight game again. Ulfarsson nets, their new Spanish keeper, who refused to sign for us, should have stopped that one. The same could be said for Logi Asbjornsson, made worse by the fact that is was his team-mate of not so long ago, Kristjan Ari Halldorsson who beat him from 25 yards. To add insult to injury, he gets another to level the game up. A point is a decent start, but we have work to do defensively, and learn some composure to see out games when we have a healthy lead.

[neilhoskins77]

The transfer deadline passes with no further comings or goings at IR. We spend our few days between our next game tinkering with the formation very slightly, bringing the two wide midfielders back into wing back role's to try and help out the defence a bit more, while keeping the ability to stretch the opposition with our wide play. Our first opportunity to try it out was the first of a home double header, with Hottur the first visitors.

Saturday 18th May 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 2 Hottur (0) 1

Scorers : Alexander Kostic (5,58)

Attendance : 273

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic (B.Brynjarsson 75), H.Halldorsson; J.Oskarsson, K.Andresson; O.Oskarsson, J.Sigurporsson (inj - S.Erlendsson 45); A.Kostic (G.Eiriksson 75); M.Djurovic, O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Alexander Kostic (IR)

A couple of changes are made for this game, 3 games a week doesn't sit well with part time players, especially ones who haven't had a game for 3 months. We go at the opposition from the start, and Kostic fires an unstoppable volley from 10 yards out. When the visitors press forward, the ship seemed a lot steadier than it did at Grotta in midweek. Neither of the wing-backs are naturals in that position, but both Andresson and Juluis Orri Oskarsson who had been brought in for today's game, did admirable jobs for the team. Just before the hour we got a crucial second, Oskarsson found Orn Ulfarsson, his shot struck the post, but Kostic buried the rebound. Andresson conceded a late penalty, handling the ball in the box, Logi Asbjornsson goes the right way, but can't get a hand to the penalty kick. We manage to see out the final few moments to pick up our first League win of the season. Some teams have yet to start their League campaigns.

Tuesday 21st May 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (2) 5 Sindri (0) 2

Scorers : Viktor Smari Segatta (3), Alexander Kostic (4), Milan Djurovic (59,86), Bjarki Brynjarsson (70)

Attendance : 235

L.Asbjornsson; B.Brynjarsson, S.Kristinsson, H.Halldorsson (D.Stefansson 85); M.Urbancic, G.Baldursson; G.Elfarsson, S.Erlendsson; A.Kostic (N.Steinarsson 68); M.Djurovic (capt), V.Segatta (G.Eiriksson 68).

Man of the Match : Milan Djurovic (IR)

More squad rotation is required, with the skipper and one of main strikers among the rested players. A blistering start as we're two up within 5 minutes, Baldursson playing a superb ball from the left wing to set up the opener. We still hold that lead at half time, and just on the hour, Djurovic makes it a 3 goal advantage. Once again, it looks like we're about to blow it, Karason walking through the defence, and then Baldursson bringing down his man in the box, and it's 3-2. This time we reassert ourselves, sub Njordur Steinarsson on his first outing of the season, setting up two goals from corners, Djurovic's second was the most ridiculous scramble in the box, I think they kicked it off the line three times within 10 seconds. We go top for now, but we're one of only two teams that have played three games so far.

[neilhoskins77]

The press pick up on the fact that in each of our League games, a member of the opposition has picked up an injury. The manager of the last opponents, Sindri gaffer, Oli Stefan Floventsson, comes to our defence, suggesting that a combative style is part of our game, and that he has no problem with it. A look at our disciplinary record shows we're anything but `combative'. We've picked up just 3 yellow cards in our 3 League games to date.

Saturday 25th May 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Porlakshafnarvollur, Porlakshofn

Aegir (1) 2 IR (1) 1

Scorers : Eggert Rafn Einarsson (34)

Attendance : 242

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), B.Brynjarsson (I.Razumovic 77), A.Runolfsson; G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; G.Elfarsson, J.Sigurporsson (O.Oskarsson 77); A.Kostic; M.Djurovic (G.Eiriksson 77), O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Haukar Olafsson (Aegir)

An early season meeting of the top two means little at this stage, particularly as others have games in hand. We brought back most of our first choice players, but never really got going in this one. We gave away possession cheaply, and made life hard for ourselves. The only resilience we showed was after going a goal down, levelling from a set piece, the skipper, Eggert Einarsson scoring with a powerful header from close range following Marteinn Urbancic's corner. The defeat is disappointing, but it's early, and we've shown we have enough in the squad to be competitive this season, so we're not too disheartened by the setback.

Our 38 year old Player/Under-19's Manager, asks for his contract to be terminated as its clear he will get no game time at all, we didn't even have him training with the First Team squad, and he is let go. Serbian striker, Milan Djurovic, who was signed on a one year deal, agrees to extend that deal by another season, at the same terms.

Tuesday 28th May 2013 - Icelandic Cup, Round 3

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 1 Stjarnan (1) 2

Scorers : Milan Djurovic (31)

Attendance : 739

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; O.Oskarsson, N.Steinarsson; A.Kostic (S.Erlendsson 79), K.Andresson, M.Urbancic (I.Saevarsson 79); M.Djurovic (inj - G.Eiriksson 45); O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Halldor Orri Bjornson (Stjarnan)

Clearly we don't want to get humiliated by this lot as we did in pre-season. I don't think we can go into this game with our standard formation, we could get a hiding again. We change up a bit, retaining the three centre backs, but have two defensive midfielders right in front of them, along with a centre midfielder, two wide midfielders, and one striker, supported by a shadow striker. We set up to frustrate our Premier Division visitors, but it only worked for 7 minutes, Jafetsson blasting into the top corner. Aside from that, the plan was working to a degree. The players made life very difficult for Stjarnan, and we were successful in forcing them to shoot from range. When we got the ball, we kept possession well, and the players did a good job of moving the ball around. Milan Djurovic equalised with a superb finish, twisting between the defenders, and lofting ball beyond a back-pedalling keeper. Moments later, he thumped another effort against the cross bar. Djurovic took a knock and was replaced at half time, but the players stuck to their task. Orn Ulfarsson rattled the bar early in the second half, and a little while later, cracked another shot against the post. We looked like we were going to get to extra time, but with 5 minutes remaining, Bjornsson beat Logi Asbjornsson with a free kick. It was a kick in the teeth, but I'm proud of the boys effort, and the tactic is a keeper for tougher games to come in the League. Djurovic's injury is a twisted ankle, and will keep him out for up to 2 months.

[neilhoskins77]

The bumper attendance for the Cup match has certainly improved our finances a bit, getting us back in the black, for now at least. The lads spend the week training on a more defensive formation, one that can be implemented during the game without the need for wholesale changes, making the adaption easier, important in this League as you can only name three substitutions.

Saturday 1st June 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 2 Hamar (0) 0

Scorers : Ivan Razumovic (44), Styrmir Erlendsson (90+3)

Attendance : 275

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson (B.Brynjarsson 80); N.Steinarsson; O.Oskarsson, K.Andresson (inj - G.Elfarsson 80), M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic (G.Eiriksson 80); O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Ivan Razumovic (IR)

Some slight modifications to our normal tactics, one off the centre midfielders dropping back into a defensive midfield role, and one of the strikers pushed back into an attacking midfield role. A first half blighted with unforced errors from both teams, the difference from a set piece right at the end of the half, Hamar allowing Urbancic's corner to bounce in the 6 yard box, and Razumovic stole in unmarked to half volley the opener. We created very little in the second half, Hamar having the best of the chances, cutting us open far too frequently. An injury with 10 minutes left to Andresson gave us an opportunity to put some fresh legs onto the park, and we took the chance to deploy the defensive formation. It looked like it might backfire, Hamar coming at us again and again, but with seconds left in injury time we broke, Ulfarsson holding the ball up, and finding Erlendsson who dug the ball out from his feet and found the top corner. A good win against a decent team. Kristjan Andresson will be out for 2 weeks, he has bruised ribs.

Wednesday 5th June 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Dalvikurvollur, Dalvik

Dalvik/Reynir (1) 1 IR (1) 1

Scorers : Orn Ulfarsson (32)

Attendance : 198

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt - A.Runolfsson 74), I.Razumovic, B.Brynjarsson; G.Elfarsson; J.Sigurporsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic (N.Steinarsson 74); S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson (G.Eiriksson 74).

Man of the Match : Orn Ulfarsson (IR)

I think we had more fans in the stadium than they did. Once again, the top two in the Division clash, but once again, it's probably a bit too early to be of any significance just yet. We find ourselves behind inside 10 minutes, but find the equaliser shortly after the half hour, Kostic finding Ulfarsson with his downward header on the edge of the box, and the striker fired across the keeper and inside the far post. Both sides looked reasonably happy with a point in the second half, with chances at a premium. A draw is acceptable today, I'll take a point in the away games as long as we can win our home matches.

[i][u]Icelandic Division Two - Thursday 6th June 2013[/u][/i]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   |       | Dalvík/Reynir |       | 6     | 4     | 1     | 1     | 14    | 9     | +5    | 13    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
[b][i]| 2nd   |       | ÍR            |       | 6     | 3     | 2     | 1     | 15    | 10    | +5    | 11    | [/i][/b]
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | Ægir          |       | 5     | 3     | 1     | 1     | 6     | 2     | +4    | 10    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | HK            |       | 6     | 3     | 1     | 2     | 8     | 6     | +2    | 10    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 5th   |       | Hamar         |       | 6     | 3     | 0     | 3     | 7     | 6     | +1    | 9     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 6th   |       | Grótta        |       | 6     | 1     | 5     | 0     | 12    | 10    | +2    | 8     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 7th   |       | Höttur        |       | 5     | 2     | 1     | 2     | 12    | 12    | 0     | 7     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 8th   |       | Afturelding   |       | 5     | 1     | 2     | 2     | 10    | 13    | -3    | 5     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 9th   |       | Sindri        |       | 5     | 1     | 2     | 2     | 5     | 8     | -3    | 5     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 10th  |       | KV            |       | 4     | 1     | 1     | 2     | 4     | 8     | -4    | 4     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 11th  |       | Reynir S.     |       | 5     | 0     | 3     | 2     | 4     | 7     | -3    | 3     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 12th  |       | Njarðvík      |       | 5     | 0     | 1     | 4     | 5     | 11    | -6    | 1

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 8th June 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (2) 2 HK (0) 0

Scorers : Alexander Kostic (10), Orn Ulfarsson (15)

Attendance : 299

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; G.Elfarsson; J.Sigurporsson (B.Brynjarsson 86), G.Baldursson, I.Saevarsson (O.Oskarsson 69); G.Eiriksson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson (V.Segatta 86).

Man of the Match : Gudbergur Baldursson (IR)

Probably our most complete performance of the season so far. A good start with two early goals, and we should have got more. Baldursson's free kick drifted to the far post, the defender's attempted header away only going right into the crowd of players, Kostic lashing home the loose ball. Baldursson set up the second, beating his marker and crossing to the near post, and Ulfarsson clipped it past the keeper. We continued to make chances, while looking solid in defence. The clean sheet will hopefully be a good confidence boost to the defence. The only negative was Ulfarsson getting a booking late on for diving. I substituted him right away, and would have fined him given the option. That's a big no no in my teams. Dalvik/Reynir are thrashed 4-1 at KV, so we go top of the League.

Julius Orri Oskarsson asks for his loan spell to be terminated. The winger has seen Urbanic and Saevarsson take the right wing berth in front of him, and his request is accepted, he is sent back to Fjolnir. With the League now in full swing and settling down, we'll be mostly playing on just Saturday's now, so unless we hit injuries, there's no need to have three players for that one position. Our next 4 matches are all against the teams occupying the bottom 4 places in the League. If we can get a nice consistent run going, we could cement our place as promotion contenders going into the second half of the campaign. 26 year old Sigurdur Gisli Gudjonsson accepts the job as our Under-19's manager, effectively ending his playing career. Gudjonsson will prove to be a valuable pickup for us, he has scouting knowledge of ten countries which may improve our options in the transfer market.

Saturday 15th June 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Varmavollur, Mosfellsbaer

Afturelding (0) 0 IR (0) 2

Scorers : Gudbergur Baldursson (56), Gudmundur Eiriksson (62)

Attendance : 129

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson (inj - B.Brynjarsson 15 (inj - O.Oskarsson 45)); G.Elfarsson; S.Erlendsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; G.Eiriksson, A.Kostic (inj - V.Segatta 80); O.Ulfarsson.

A tense game that didn't look like going our way for the best part of an hour. Despite being in the relegation zone, Afturelding really gave us problems, including injuring two players in the first half. Runolfsson limped off to be replaced by Brynjarsson, who only lasted half hour before needing to be replaced himself. We got a break, Gudmunder Mete felling Alexander Kostic just outside the area. Mete didn't even bother waiting for the referee to produce the red card, he knew what was coming. Gudburgur Baldursson made it a double punishment. There was no finesse about his free kick, he blasted it into the top corner from 25 yards out, his first goal for the club. Just over 5 minutes later, and we punished them a little further, Gudmundur Eiriksson getting credited with his first goal for the club, but I think it was an own goal, Eiriksson's shot hitting the underside of the bar, and appearing to bounce off the keeper and into the net. The hosts still had time to make it a treble of injuries, Kostic the latest victim. He's going to miss up to 5 weeks with a knee injury. Brynjarsson has a damaged ankle and he'll miss around 2 months.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 22nd June 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (0) 0 Njardvik (0) 0

Scorers : None

Attendance : 289

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; G.Elfarsson; S.Erlendsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; G.Eiriksson (inj - K.Andresson 68), V.Segatta (inj - O.Oskarsson 47); O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Arnar Mar Sigurdsson (Nyardvik)

Its top of the table versus bottom of the table. The injuries cause some further changes to the lineup, but today would only add to that list. Njardvik come with an attacking looking formation, and have the ball in the net early on, but it was waived off for an offside. The game had a bit of needle in it, the ref booking two players from each side in the first half. Just after half time, the injury bug hits once more, Segatta taken off, and it gets worse midway through the second half, Eiriksson also needing to be replaced. His replacement was Kritjan Andresson, and he comes closest to breaking the deadlock, thumping a free kick against the cross bar. Segatta is going to miss up to 2 weeks with bruised ribs. Eiriksson though has a thigh strain, and is going to miss up to 5 weeks.

The chaos up front doesn't get any better when Reynir Magnusson and Jonatan Hrobjartsson both come to the office on the Monday morning asking to leave the club due to a lack of First Team football. I offer them both loan moves, which they both reject. They are both told they can leave the club once a buyer is found. Both have contracts through until the end of next season. They are joined later in the week by Daniel Saeberg Hrolfsson, who also wants to First Team action. In this case, there is very little I can do, he's on an amateur contract, so I can't offer him a loan. I tell him he's a backup and shouldn't expect to be in the lineup right now, which he accepts, but wants to go elsewhere to get a game. He is pushed into the squad for the next game though.

Saturday 29th June 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Sandgerdisvollur, Sandgerdi

Reynir Sandgerdi (2) 2 IR (0) 2

Scorers : Orn Ulfarsson (49), Styrmir Erlendsson (76)

Attendance : 88

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson (S.Kristinsson 72); G.Elfarsson; J.Sigurporsson (O.Oskarsson 72), G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; K.Andresson (D.Hrolfsson 72).

Man of the Match : Porsteinn Porsteinsson (Reynir Sandgerdi)

A trip to 11th placed side, Reynir. With almost our entire first choice front line injured, and some of the squad players too, young amateur Daniel Saeberg Hrolfsson sits on the bench for the first time. 18 year old midfielder, Johan Sigurporsson, is reinstated to the team. The backroom staff keep insisting the lad is the best midfielder we have, personally, I don't see it, but he gets another shot. A really bad first half, a brace from Porsteinsson gives the hosts a two goal advantage. The team talk at half time was straight to the point, and left the lads knowing they had not been good enough in the first 45 minutes. They certainly upped their game in the second half, keeping the ball, better movement giving the man in possession options. Ulfarsson fires a dipping shot from 20 yards to bring us back into the game, and slick passing later on sends Erlendsson into the box on the right, and he finds the far corner to earn us a point.

[neilhoskins77]

A few weeks ago, our upcoming match with KV had a very different look, as they were sat near the foot of the table. Now after a great run of results, they sit just a point behind us in second place. Their manager, Pall Kristjansson, was asked in his press conference if he thought IR and myself were over-achieving, given the clubs stature and finances. He didn't think so, predicting we would come crashing back down the table sooner rather than later, and his side intended to start that procedure on Saturday. He's effectively just taken my team talk for me.

Saturday 6th July 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Frostaskjol, Reykjavik

KV (1) 1 IR (0) 2

Scorers : Orn Ulfarsson (51,63)

Attendance : 359

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; G.Elfarsson; N.Steinarsson (V.Segatta 70), G.Baldursson (G.Sveinsson 70), M.Urbancic; K.Andresson (inj - M.Djurovic 81), S.Erlendsson; O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Orn Ulfarsson (IR)

Our biggest game of the season, a cross city derby with KV. We had a few injured players return, three of them on the bench as we look to have attacking options on standby...and we needed them. Talented young left winger, Gudmundur Gunnar Sveinsson has missed all the action so far, and needs to build up match fitness. Viktor Smari Segatta and Milan Djurovic are both also fit for the bench today. The first half went in KV's favour, a very harsh penalty awarded against Baldursson, and Asbjornsson goes the wrong way. At half time the players get another ear bashing, told their season could depend upon this half of football. They respond well, Erlendsson's main fault is that he takes too long to realise he has a shooting opportunity, and always wants another touch. This time he was tackled well, but the loose ball rolled beyond the remaining defenders and goalkeeper who came off his line, and Ulfarsson was left with a tap in to level the game. Ulfarsson got a 63rd minute winner, good passing between Andresson and Erlendsson playing him in, and he put enough power into his shot to beat Jonsson despite him getting a hand to it. We stay on top, this is a big win for the season.

[i][u]Icelandic Division Two - Sunday 7th July 2013[/u][/i]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| [b][i]1st   |       | ÍR            |       | 11    | 6     | 4     | 1     | 23    | 13    | +10   | 22    | [/i][/b]
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   |       | HK            |       | 11    | 6     | 1     | 4     | 16    | 11    | +5    | 19    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 3rd   |       | KV            |       | 11    | 5     | 3     | 3     | 15    | 14    | +1    | 18    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   |       | Dalvík/Reynir |       | 11    | 5     | 2     | 4     | 19    | 20    | -1    | 17    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 5th   |       | Afturelding   |       | 11    | 4     | 4     | 3     | 19    | 18    | +1    | 16    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 6th   |       | Ægir          |       | 11    | 4     | 3     | 4     | 16    | 13    | +3    | 15    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 7th   |       | Hamar         |       | 11    | 4     | 2     | 5     | 13    | 16    | -3    | 14    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 8th   |       | Reynir S.     |       | 11    | 3     | 4     | 4     | 15    | 14    | +1    | 13    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 9th   |       | Sindri        |       | 11    | 3     | 3     | 5     | 11    | 16    | -5    | 12    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 10th  |       | Höttur        |       | 11    | 2     | 5     | 4     | 16    | 18    | -2    | 11    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 11th  |       | Grótta        |       | 11    | 2     | 5     | 4     | 18    | 23    | -5    | 11    | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 12th  |       | Njarðvík      |       | 11    | 1     | 6     | 4     | 9     | 14    | -5    | 9     | 
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Another Monday morning visitor to the office not happy with his lack of First Team football. This time it's amateur striker, Haraldur Arni Hrodmarsson. He's told he can leave after refusing to accept his backup status. Mixed news on the injury front. Alexander Kostic returns to training, but keeper Logi Asbjornsson could miss up to a week with a bout of food poisoning. Can't see Come Dine With Me Iceland catching on after that.

Saturday 13th July 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Sindravellir, Hofn

Sindri (0) 1 IR (0) 1

Scorers : Orn Ulfarsson (90+2)

Attendance : 92

P.Einarsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; G.Elfarsson; N.Steinarsson (inj - M.Djurovic 68), G.Baldursson (K.Andresson 80), M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Gardar Mar Gretarsson (Sindri)

Our first choice keeper, Asbjornsson, doesn't make it back from his illness for the game, so it's a first game for Porsteinn Einarsson. Alexander Kostic returns to the lineup. A pretty lifeless first half, with the hosts having the best of the small amount of chances. We start to turn the screw a bit in the second half, creating chances and dominating the play. Then we get caught. Urbancic's attempted cross is blocked, and with two passes the ball is out to their right flank and Gretarsson is on goal, opting for power and smashing his shot into the far top corner with 20 minutes left. We make our final attacking change and pour forward. With it looking like a job not done, Ulfarsson fires a hopeful shot from outside the box. The keeper makes a real hash of it, trying to push it over, and only pushing it onto the underside of the bar, and having to watch as it bounces over the line, not even reaching the back of the net. We steal a point at the death, and with every game apart from one finishing as a draw, it might turn out to be a decent point too.

[gavrenwick]

I've storied from within Iceland before, and the names are the worst part! Still following this Neil, it's very easy and good to read.

[neilhoskins77]

Thanks Gav. Appreciate the kind words, and glad you're enjoy the read.

Monday 15th July, and the transfer window reopens. The Board ask if I wish to reconsider my target of a top half finish for the season. There seems very little benefit, the Title or even promotion are far from guaranteed, and other than an extra £25 a week in wages to win the Title, there's nothing more to be gained, so I stick with the top half finish promise, and hope to over-achieve. 36 year old Bosnian midfielder, Almir Cosic, signs on a free transfer from KFR, where he had been on an amateur contract. He joins us on a non-contract basis, and although he's not hugely better than the midfielders we have, it's hoped that having someone experienced around the centre of the park may help out the younger lads in the squad. With good experience in the Premier Division and First Division during his near 10 years in Iceland, hopefully Cosic can add something here. He's joined by Skuli Jonsson, a 26 year old attacking midfielder who we have stolen from KV. He had a good game against us, which put him on the radar, and we secured his signature on a part time contract, he had also been playing as an amateur. He'll be paid £15 a week with us, and will be contracted through to the end of next season. Jonsson also has some Premier Division experience, and will challenge for a starting spot.

Saturday 20th July 2013 - Icelandic Second Division

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 2 Grotta (0) 0

Scorers : Alexander Kostic (15), Milan Djurovic (90+3)

Attendance : 380

P.Einarsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic; G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson (inj - S.Jonsson 24), M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson (M.Djurovic 78).

Man of the Match : Gudjon Elfarsson (IR)

Our new Bosnian midfielder, Almir Cosic, comes right into the side, going into the defensive midfielder role, with Gudjon Elfarsson moving into central midfield, and Njordur Steinarsson losing his place for now. Skuli Jonsson is on the bench. Grotta have dropped down the table after being winless in 5 games, and a League this tight will quickly see you fall down the standings with that kind of form. They didn't seem to have the ability to trouble us today, and we were comfortable throughout the game, Porsteinn Einarsson making just one save of real note. The first goal was a victory for passing football and a patient build up, with everyone on the park involved in a move containing 20 or so passes, and eventually releasing Kostic into the box on the right, and while the angle looked tight, he fired right across the goal and inside the far post. Baldursson was forced out of the game with an injury, which forced a reshuffle. Skuli Jonsson came on for a debut, Erlendsson moving out to the left wing to accommodate his arrival. Baldursson has become a bit of a target for the boo boys at Hertz Vollurinn, but I've stood by the player in the press, and I still think he'll come good. Milan Djurovic added the second goal with almost the last kick of the game, having all the time he could wish for after being put clean through on goal, and picking his spot. Baldursson will miss a week or so with a dead leg.

Magnus Por Magnusson leaves the club, the Director of Football arranging a mutual termination of contract with him, agreeing to pay him £2k. That's probably £2k that we can't really afford right now, but he won't be the last to leave. Reynir Magnusson quickly follows him out, paid £500 to terminate his contract. Both Haraldur Arni Hrodmarsson and Daniel Saeberg Hrolfsson leave too, they were on amateur contracts so don't cost us any money. I firmly believe in asking for a new deal while the club is doing well, strike while the iron is hot if you like. Ideally, I wanted a 2 year deal, but the Board are physically unable to offer anything more than a deal through to the end of next season. I get a pay rise up to £400 a week, a bonus to secure promotion, and a 20% increase if we get promoted, and the same decrease if we suffer a relegation. I've also got a new scout in through the doors, 36 year old Gunnar Gislason.

[neilhoskins77]

With the deadline a week away, we get two more players in through the door, likely to be the last of the new recruits. The first is an Englishman, a free transfer move for Selfoss' 6'5 centre back, Andrew Pew. He's made 11 appearances so far this season for the First Division side. Pew has been back and forth between English and Icelandic football for 10 years. He signs through until the end of next season, with a weekly wage of £15. He's joined by striker, Bjorn Vilhjalmsson. The 27 year old joins from Third Division side, Vidir, on the same contract as Pew. He has 5 goals from 11 League outings so far with them, and will act as cover for now. Aside from one season at Keflavik as a teenager, he has been with Vidir his whole career, making 134 appearances and registering 65 goals to date.

Saturday 27th July 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Vilhjalmsvollur, Egilsstadir

Hottur (0) 1 IR (0) 2

Scorers : Styrmir Erlendsson (68), Orn Ulfarsson (90)

Attendance : 83

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic (S.Jonsson 82); G.Elfarsson, G.Sveinsson (M.Djurovic 82), M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Eggert Rafn Einarsson (IR)

Hottur are firmly entrenched in the relegation battle, and we knew they would be no pushovers today. Logi Asbjornsson returns in goal, Gudmundur Gunnar Sveinsson takes over from Baldursson on the left side of midfield. Neither side was able to find the net in the first half, Almir Cosic coming closest, stinging the fingers of the home goalie with a powerful free kick that was held at the second attempt, Kostic wasted a glorious close range opportunity, but skewed his shot wide when he should have netted. It took until midway through the second half for the deadlock to be broken. Erlendsson made ground down the left after Sveinsson played him into space and he slung the ball towards the 6 yard box. Ulfarsson was closing in on it, and the keeper anticipated him shooting and prepared himself to stop his close range effort. But Ulfarsson didn't get there, the ball bounced between him and the goalie, and bobbled into the net. We made some changes in the last 10 minutes, replacing weary legs. But two minutes later, Razumovic attempted a long ball from the left back spot, and Aegisson had time and space to move into the box and find the net with a low shot. A draw wouldn't have been the end of the world, but as we approached time added on, Urbancic released Ulfarsson on the edge of the box. As the defence converged on him, he kept his composure and fired low past the keepers feet to restore out advantage. The home side were furious, complaining bitterly to the officials. For us, that's another great performance away from home, and with 8 games remaining, we're four ahead of KV, and six ahead of third placed HK. Our unbeaten run in the League is now at 10 games, yet the media still think we'll crack and miss promotion. We'll see.

Bjarki Brynjarsson is on the way back to action after recovering from his injury, while youngster Hilmir Orri Helgason signs a contract at £5 a week to turn professional after being on a youth contract. The 17 year old striker then heads off to feeder team, Lettir. He's held in high regard by the backroom staff, so lets see what the youngster can do while away on loan. Transfer Deadline day brings a bid from Vidir for Atli Gudjonsson. A deal is quickly tied up, and he moves to the Third Division side on a free transfer, getting his £35 a week off the wage bill is compensation enough for us.

Saturday 3rd August 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (0) 0 Aegir (0) 0

Scorers : None

Attendance : 413

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic (inj - A.Pew 89); G.Elfarsson, G.Sveinsson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson (S.Jonsson 77), A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson (M.Djurovic 77).

Man of the Match : Arnar Mar Runolfsson (IR)

We fail to exact revenge on the only team to beat us in the League so far this season. Neither side registered a shot on target as two stubborn defences controlled the game. There really isn't much to report on this game, Andrew Pew came on late in the game for his debut. KV win, so the lead at the top is cut to just two points, but the lead back to the 3rd placed side increases slightly to seven points now.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 10th August 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Gryluvollur, Hveragerdi

Hamar (0) 1 IR (2) 3

Scorers : Styrmir Erlendsson (35), Alexander Kostic (42 pen, 48)

Attendance : 124

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic (A.Pew 74); G.Elfarsson, G.Sveinsson (inj - S.Jonsson 45), M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson (M.Djurovic 74, inj - 86).

Man of the Match : Alexander Kostic (IR)

A good performance against a team struggling to keep pace with the mid-table teams, and starting to get their heels snapped at by the two teams currently occupying the drop zone. Erlendsson could have given us an early lead, played in by a wonderful pass from Cosic, he isn't blessed with pace, but his decision to try and square the ball to Ulfarsson who was behind him, and marked, was a strange one. He made amends ten minutes before the break, running onto Urbancic's diagonal pass, controlling the ball on his chest and taking it away from a defender, and firing across goal into the far corner with a powerful shot. Moments before half time we added a bit of comfort on the scoreboard, Kostic tripped in the box, and the ref awarded the penalty despite the big lad trying to stay on his feet. He took the penalty himself, sending the keeper the wrong way. Sveinsson departed at half time, having been carrying a knock for a while in the first half, Jonsson came on with Erlendsson moving out to the left, but it didn't seem to break our rhythm, Kostic played in down the right and getting into the box, with everyone expecting a cross, he fired between the keeper and the near post. We used the players on the bench, and Hamar got a goal back, Asgeirsson unmarked from the corner to connect with a powerful header. Our biggest concern was the last 5 minutes or so, Djurovic, having come on as a sub, then came off, leaving us to finish the game a man short. He's fractured a wrist and will miss around 2 months, so we won't be seeing him again this season. Gudmundur Sveinsson has a bruised rib, and he's going to be out for 2 weeks, leaving Baldursson and Andresson to fight over his spot in the team.

The unbeaten run is stretched to 12 games, which is a Club and Division Two record. Another two players come to the office asking about their futures. The first is 28 year old Sigurdur Hoskuldsson. The fact he has been with the Under-19's all season tells you all you need to know about my opinion on his future with the club. He's on an amateur contract, and I don't even do him the courtesy of having the chat, I just release him on the spot. He's followed by David Mar Stefansson. He's also with the age group team at the moment, though I'd like to keep him around, he's also on an amateur contract, therefore free to do as he wishes. The chat doesn't go well, we both dig our heels in, and the situation is a stalemate. Our new intake of Youth Players arrive, with the pick of the bunch being a 15 year old right winger who the staff think could force his way into the First Team with some nurturing.

Saturday 17th August 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 2 Dalvik/Reynir (0) 1

Scorers : Styrmir Erlendsson (26,52)

Attendance : 410

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic (A.Pew 76); G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic (S.Jonsson 76); O.Ulfarsson (B.Vihjalmsson 76).

Man of the Match : Styrmir Erlendsson (IR)

A home fixture against a team clinging on to an ever more faint hope of getting promotion. Gudbergur Baldursson is the option we go for on the left, Bjorn Vihjalmsson sits on the bench for the first time with Djurovic out. Asbjornsson was tested early on, a dangerous cross from the left looked like it may drop straight in, the keeper showing good agility to acrobatically push the ball over the bar. Erlendsson's move from the centre of the park up to a attacking midfield role has been a feature of our good run over the second part of the season, and he opens the scoring here, collecting the ball on the edge of the box, and keeping his left footed shot low on the turn. He got the second too, shortly after the break. Ulfarsson held the ball up well and played Erlendsson into space in the box, and his dinked finish over the keeper was perfect. We didn't create a great deal more, other than Kostic blasting into the side netting when he probably should have tested the keeper. We gave them a way back into the match with 10 minutes left, Eggert Einarsson's throw to Razumovic should have been straightforward, but he let the ball run past him, and Gudbjornsson had a free run into the box and fired home from the angle. Sub and debutant, Bjorn Vihjalmsson could have made an immediate impact in injury time, but after doing the hard work, he blasted his shot over the bar. We held out for a vital three points, but in the changing rooms after the match, I told the lads that we were lucky to get away with the points today, and we'd need to up our game a bit in this crucial part of the season. There were some unhappy faces looking back at me after that particular speech.

 Icelandic Division Two - Sunday 18th August 2013

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

|[b][i] [color="#000080"]1st   |       | ÍR            |       | 17    | 10    | 6     | 1     | 33    | 17    | +16   | 36    |[/color] [/i][/b]

| 2nd   |       | KV            |       | 17    | 10    | 4     | 3     | 28    | 18    | +10   | 34    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
| 3rd   |       | HK            |       | 17    | 9     | 2     | 6     | 26    | 19    | +7    | 29    | 

| 4th   |       | Reynir S.     |       | 17    | 7     | 5     | 5     | 26    | 22    | +4    | 26    | 

| 5th   |       | Afturelding   |       | 17    | 6     | 6     | 5     | 28    | 27    | +1    | 24    | 

| 6th   |       | Ægir          |       | 17    | 5     | 7     | 5     | 21    | 18    | +3    | 22    | 

| 7th   |       | Dalvík/Reynir |       | 17    | 6     | 4     | 7     | 25    | 27    | -2    | 22    | 

| 8th   |       | Njarðvík      |       | 17    | 3     | 9     | 5     | 17    | 22    | -5    | 18    | 

| 9th   |       | Sindri        |       | 17    | 4     | 6     | 7     | 19    | 26    | -7    | 18    | 

| 10th  |       | Hamar         |       | 17    | 5     | 2     | 10    | 23    | 33    | -10   | 17    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 11th  |       | Höttur        |       | 17    | 3     | 7     | 7     | 23    | 29    | -6    | 16    | 

| 12th  |       | Grótta        |       | 17    | 2     | 6     | 9     | 20    | 31    | -11   | 12    | 

[neilhoskins77]

Keflavik of the Premier Division, win the Icelandic Cup for the fifth time in their history. The beat First Division side, Haukar, in the Final by 2-0, picking up the first prize of nearly £6k, and a place in the Qualifying Rounds for next years UEFA Europa League.

Friday 23rd August 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Korrin, Kopavogur

HK (1) 1 IR (1) 1

Scorers : Almir Cosic (21)

Attendance : 840

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic; G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic; O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Almir Cosic (IR)

Our biggest game of the season is a Friday night fixture away to HK. They have a 1,500 capacity stadium, almost all seats except for a standing section for the away fans right in the corner with a restricted view, and this stadium has a roof too. A win today against the third placed side would all but assure our promotion this season, as they would be ten behind us with just four games left. Viktor Illugason caused us problems all afternoon with his movement across the forward line, and he opened the scoring in the 12th minute, running off Eggert Einarsson and picking a spot just out of Asbjornsson's reach with his left foot finish. We levelled with ten minutes, a free kick routine out on the right from Baldursson and Elfarsson eventually saw the ball come to Almir Cosic at the near post, and the Bosnian veteran clipped home from close range for his first IR goal. With us being happy with a point, and HK scared of being picked off on the break, a draw was always likely, and the second half was lacking in goalmouth action. On the Saturday afternoon, KV are beaten at Dalvik/Reynir, so the lead stretches slightly to 3 points.

Icelandic football gets a much needed shot in the arm, with Premier Division side, FH, going into the Europa League group stages. They beat HJK Helsinki of Finland in their Champions League Second Qualifying Round tie, before losing on aggregate to Austria Vienna to fall at the last hurdle of reaching the Champions League Group Stages. They are not exactly blessed with a kind draw in the Europa League either, getting drawn into Group F with Real Sociedad, Dynamo Kiev and AS Saint-Etienne. However they have been paid in excess of £350k for reaching that stage of the Champions League, and are looking at £86k per draw and £169k per win in the Groups of the second tier of European club competition.

Saturday 31st August 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (2) 2 Afturelding (1) 2

Scorers : Gudbergur Badldursson (27), Alexander Kostic (43 pen)

Attendance : 422

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Pew; A.Cosic (B.Brynjarsson 82); G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, A.Kostic (inj - S.Jonsson 82); O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Helgi Sigurdsson (Afturelding)

Another big day in the League, we take on 4th placed Afturelding at home, while 2nd and 3rd also meet, KV at home to HK. Razumovic hits the self destruct button by attempting a ridiculous headed backpass from a full 35 yards from goal, getting nothing on it whatsoever. The last person in the League you want to give that to is Afturelding striker Helgi Sigurdsson, who might be 39, but is the top scorer in the Division and still has his legs. He's on it in a flash and fires past Asbjornsson and in via the underside of the bar. We get back level quickly, Baldursson with a left footed free kick gets it up and over the wall, and enough dip to bring it into the top corner. As half time approach, Kostic is taken out on his way goalwards, and from the spot, he comfortably finds the bottom corner. With a half time advantage, I tell the lads not to get complacent. Kostic took a knock in the penalty incident, but stays on the park until the 82nd minute. By that time, we're looking to hold out, but that man Sigurdsson finds the net again in the 88th minute, and it's a draw. The other game finishes 1-1, with HK rescuing a point with a stoppage time leveller. One more win will guarantee promotion for us. Kostic's injury is a twisted ankle. He'll miss the remainder of the season unfortunately.

[i][u]
Icelandic Division Two - Saturday 1st September 2013 [/u][/i]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

[b][i][color="#000080"]| 1st   |       | ÍR            |       | 19    | 10    | 8     | 1     | 36    | 20    | +16   | 38[/color][/i][/b]    | 

| 2nd   |       | KV            |       | 19    | 10    | 5     | 4     | 30    | 21    | +9    | 35    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3rd   |       | HK            |       | 19    | 9     | 4     | 6     | 28    | 21    | +7    | 31    | 

| 4th   |       | Afturelding   |       | 19    | 7     | 7     | 5     | 33    | 30    | +3    | 28    | 

| 5th   |       | Dalvík/Reynir |       | 19    | 8     | 4     | 7     | 30    | 28    | +2    | 28    | 

| 6th   |       | Reynir S.     |       | 19    | 7     | 6     | 6     | 27    | 24    | +3    | 27    | 

| 7th   |       | Ægir          |       | 19    | 6     | 7     | 6     | 23    | 20    | +3    | 25    | 

| 8th   |       | Höttur        |       | 19    | 5     | 7     | 7     | 26    | 29    | -3    | 22    | 

| 9th   |       | Hamar         |       | 19    | 6     | 2     | 11    | 27    | 39    | -12   | 20    | 

| 10th  |       | Njarðvík      |       | 19    | 3     | 10    | 6     | 19    | 26    | -7    | 19    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
| 11th  |       | Sindri        |       | 19    | 4     | 6     | 9     | 21    | 32    | -11   | 18    | 

| 12th  |       | Grótta        |       | 19    | 3     | 6     | 10    | 24    | 34    | -10   | 15    | 

[neilhoskins77]

I thought I'd spotted an opportunity to progress my career in Scandanavia, as HJK Helsinki, the soon to be dethroned Finnish Champions, have sacked their manager. I sent my application in, but unfortunately I'm too late, the interview process is over. In all likelihood, I would be aiming a little too high, too quickly, in trying to get that job. This week, it's HK who are playing in the Friday night game, beating Sindri 2-0 at home. This result has no impact on us really, a win in our weekend game will secure our promotion, and if KV lose too, we'll be a point away from the Title with them visiting us next weekend. The National Team keep their very slim World Cup Qualification hopes alive by beating Norway 1-0 in Oslo.

Saturday 7th September 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Nyardtaksvollurinn, Reykjanesbaer

Nyardvik (2) 2 IR (1) 1

Scorers : Skuli Jonsson (15)

Attendance : 367

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt), I.Razumovic, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic; G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson (G.Eiriksson 78), S.Jonsson; O.Ulfarsson (B.Vilhjalmsson 78).

Man of the Match : Styrmir Fjeldsted (Nyardvik)

It's hard to be angry with the team as this is only their second League defeat of the season, but the timing was appalling. It wasn't even that we didn't show up, more that Nyardvik were just a bit better than us today. Fjeldsted gave them the lead with a header from a corner, but we levelled up within minutes, Skuli Jonsson notching his first goal for the club with a great finish. But before the break, Gardar Sigurdsson netted from close range and ensured we would be the ones having to chase the game in the second half. We couldn't get the breakthrough, and are beaten. The only silver lining was that KV are also beaten. We finish with two home games, with KV up next. Victory over them next weekend will make us Champions and secure promotion. It's going to be a big game!

The weekend wasn't a total washout. A few weeks back, Iceland Under-21's played a game against their counterparts from Gibraltar. I was nosing through the game stats to have a look at a few players I was keeping an eye on, and I happened to notice that Gibraltar's age group teams don't currently have a Manager. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I declared that I was interested in the Under-21's and Under-19's roles. I'd heard nothing about it, and assumed I'd been overlooked, but the morning after the defeat to Njardvik, I'm offered the Under-19's role by the senior team Manager, Allen Bula. It's a great opportunity to build my reputation, get a foothold in International football, and of course, get a closer look at some more players who may be interested in joining at club level. The job is accepted. I'm thrown right into the deep end, travelling straight to Gibraltar to look after the Under-19's for a friendly with Liechtenstein. This match won't really offer much info, as the squad only has 3 players that are not `greys'. The Qualifiers for the European Under-19's Championships start next month, and we have a group containing Israel, Greece and Wales.

Monday 9th September 2013 - Under-19's International Friendly

Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 0 Liechtenstein Under-19's (0) 2

Scorers : None

Attendance : 228

Man of the Match : Stefan Schurte (LIE)

I can't really tell you too much about the game, because there wasn't much to be learnt from this. I got appointed in the role too late to pick my own squad. The National Pool was pretty bare once the Senior and Under-21's had been selected. That being said, there are plenty of players that can be added to the pool and we can start giving the young players of Gibraltar some actual International experience in the future, and maybe make this team competitive. We kept the visitors out until the 76th minute, when they were awarded a penalty for a push in the box following a free kick. Schurte converted, and then got himself a second a few minutes later. The next game is a competitive Qualifier, we'll actually play 3 games in a 5 day spell in the first group phase. But before that, it's a flight back to Iceland, and the important business of making sure the IR squad are ready for the vital final games of the campaign.

[neilhoskins77]

The senior International results on the Tuesday evening were not particularly encouraging. In their vital World Cup Qualifier, where only a win would keep them in the hunt, Iceland lose 3-0 in Albania. Meanwhile, back in Southern Europe, Gibraltar are soundly beaten by their Caribbean visitors, Bonaire, by 4-1. In domestic matters, I sack my assistant manager, Halldor Sigurdsson. His contract is due for renewal, and he is asking for his wages to be doubled. I find a much more capable person for the job, Sveinn Por Steingrimsson. He signs a contract through until October 2015. The war of words hot's up in the days leading up to the match with KV. Their manager Pall Kristjansson insists he is the better manager, and has the better team. He says he is still furious after I questioned his ability when we beat them in our meeting earlier in the season, and says he is out for revenge on the weekend. In the Friday night game, HK are held to a 2-2 draw by Hottur.

Saturday 14th September 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (3) 4 KV (1) 2

Scorers : Styrmir Erlendsson (7,13), Orn Ulfarsson (25), Gudmundur Eiriksson (84)

Attendance : 577

L.Asbjornsson; E.Einarsson (capt. inj - A.Pew 77), I.Razumovic, A.Runolsson (inj - G.Eiriksson 77); A.Cosic; G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson, S.Jonsson; O.Ulfarsson (B.Vilhjalmsson 85).

Man of the Match : Styrmir Erlendsson (IR)

Finally, we get across the line. And we did it in style too. We tore KV's defence to shreds right from the outset, and didn't look like getting beat today. Skuli Jonsson held up the ball, turned, and picked out the run of Erlendsson in the left channel. He's getting better and better in this role, taking the ball into the box, and guiding it past goalkeeper and defenders challenge to open the scoring. Just over five minutes later, and makes a similar run, and Almir Cosic finds him with a pass from the halfway line, and once again the finish is a cool one. Back come the visitors, Kuld playing a through ball into the path of Vidisson, and he finds the bottom corner. Their comeback was brief, Jonsson picked out Ulfarsson with a short pass, the striker rolling his marker and hitting it from 20 yards beyond the keeper, celebrating in style in front of the visiting fans for good measure. With a good lead at half time, I tell the lads to keep their composure and concentration, not usually a team talk that goes down well, but today, they listened without taking offence. We hold them at a safe distance in the second half, but with Runolfsson already hobbling, we're forced into changes when Eggert Einarsson goes down too. With only one defender on the bench, Cosic is forced into a defensive role, Elfarsson and Jonsson all step one space back, and Eiriksson comes on with Pew. And Eiriksson doesn't take long to make a mark, getting the fourth. I'd wanted to replace Ulfarsson, as he was once again booked for diving. As the change was being prepared, Erlendsson and Ulfarsson combined to play Eiriksson in down the right. His pace got him past the covering defender, and his shot left the keeper helpless. There was still time for KV to get another goal back, Kuld again the supplier, this time finding Sigurdsson, his shot lofted over Asbjornsson and in off the underside of the bar. The fight was gone from them, it was never more than a consolation. The final whistle saw the players raise their arms and start the celebrations, we're Icelandic Second Division Champions!

The result means more than `just promotion'. We'll participate in the League Cup next season, bringing us some competitive matches with Premier Division clubs that will improve the finances. Next season will be a tough one for the club, survival will be the name of the game unless some money is brought into the club and the squad see's some real investment. The win is worth 11 hall of fame points, putting me 9th in the Welsh Manager's listings, which I think says more about the calibre of Welsh Managers over the years than it does about this achievement. Eggert Einarsson has a twisted knee, the club captain will miss the final game of the season, but we've been presented with the trophy, so he has had that honour. Grotta have been relegated. They will be joined by one of Hamar, Sindri or Njardvik.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 21st September 2013 - Icelandic Division Two

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 1 Reynir Sandgerdi (0) 0

Scorers : Orn Ulfarsson (34)

Attendance : 1,064

L.Asbjornsson; A.Pew, B.Brynjarsson (S.Kristinsson 81), A.Runolfsson. A.Cosic (capt); G.Elfarsson, G.Baldursson, M.Urbancic; S.Erlendsson (inj - G.Eiriksson 81), S.Jonsson; O.Ulfarsson.

Man of the Match : Bjarki Brynjarsson (IR)

The curtain comes down on the domestic season, just as the main Leagues are all getting into their stride. With the Title sewn up, we have little to play for in theory, but with a bumper crowd at Hertz Vollurinn, it would be nice to finish the season with a flourish. Einarsson is injured and Razumovic is suspended, so Pew and Brynjarsson both come into the side, and Cosic is captain for the day. The opposition have nothing to play for, other than pushing themselves a little further up the League, but they can't get promoted, or be relegated. We bossed the game from beginning to end, the biggest surprise was that we only got one goal. It was Ulfarsson who netted it from close range, his 10th League marker of the season, profiting from some good work by Skuli Jonsson down the left, and his cross was perfectly weighted too. It's KV who take the second promotion space, so we'll be continuing our fledging rivalry with them next season. They win 3-2 at home to Njardvik, while HK are beaten 2-1 away to already relegated Grotta. A win for HK would have seen them go up on goal difference. They sack their manager right after the game. Hamar join Grotta in the drop zone, they lose away to Aegir. The squad are paid out a bonus of £1k between them for their successful season.

Icelandic Division Two - Final League Table

| Pos   | Inf   | Team          |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

[b][i][color="#000080"]| 1st   | C     | ÍR            |       | 22    | 12    | 8     | 2     | 42    | 24    | +18   | 44    | [/color][/i][/b]

| 2nd   | P     | KV            |       | 22    | 11    | 5     | 6     | 36    | 30    | +6    | 38    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3rd   |       | HK            |       | 22    | 10    | 5     | 7     | 33    | 25    | +8    | 35    | 

| 4th   |       | Dalvík/Reynir |       | 22    | 10    | 5     | 7     | 35    | 30    | +5    | 35    | 

| 5th   |       | Afturelding   |       | 22    | 9     | 7     | 6     | 39    | 36    | +3    | 34    | 

| 6th   |       | Reynir S.     |       | 22    | 8     | 7     | 7     | 30    | 26    | +4    | 31    | 

| 7th   |       | Ægir          |       | 22    | 7     | 8     | 7     | 27    | 25    | +2    | 29    | 

| 8th   |       | Höttur        |       | 22    | 6     | 8     | 8     | 32    | 33    | -1    | 26    | 

| 9th   |       | Sindri        |       | 22    | 6     | 6     | 10    | 28    | 36    | -8    | 24    | 

| 10th  |       | Njarðvík      |       | 22    | 4     | 10    | 8     | 24    | 33    | -9    | 22    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
| 11th  | R     | Hamar         |       | 22    | 6     | 2     | 14    | 29    | 47    | -18   | 20    | 

| 12th  | R     | Grótta        |       | 22    | 4     | 7     | 11    | 28    | 38    | -10   | 19    | 

[neilhoskins77]

With matters done in Iceland for the moment, and pre-season due to start on the 6th January 2014, attention turns to the European Under-19 Championship Qualifiers that begin in just over 2 weeks time. The last senior squad contains half a dozen teenagers that could have played for the Under-19's, and then another ten are named in the Under-21's. There's plenty of players that haven't been added to the National Pool, so I do it for them, and hopefully they'll pick enough of them that I won't be selecting from just leftovers when I pick my squad, and can try and make this squad competitive at the very least.

While waiting for the squad selection date, I get some contracts renewed at IR. The Director of Football, Head Physio and Head of Youth Development have all signed new deals at the same terms as their previous contracts. The new budget for next season hasn't yet been arranged, which is a shame, because we're missing out. Selfoss are in deep financial issues, and have just been relegated from Division One. They seem to be having a firesale, and a lot of players who would improve our squad are leaving, but we just can't put together a package good enough to attract them here.

The day comes to name Gibraltar Under-19's squad for the trio of Qualifiers starting in 6 days time. The Under-21's have already named their squad, and again, they have selected a number of players who would have been eligible to turn out for us....fourteen of them actually! We have managed to name a squad of sixteen, that was everyone available to us, and we only got that amount by selecting a few players who were in the last Senior squad, and they don't name their squad for another few days. So, here's the guys we have for our upcoming games.

[b][i][u]Gibraltar Under-19's Squad for European Under-19's Championship, First Qualifying Phase[/u][/i][/b]

| Name                | Position      | Club            | Height  | Weight       | Age     | Value   | 

| William Britt       | GK            | Bognor Regis    | 6'2"    | 13 st 9 lbs  | 18      | £3.1K   | 
| Tom Lavelle         | D (R)         | Sporting (GIB)  | 5'5"    | 9 st 12 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Aidan Schembri      | D (RC)        | Lions Gibraltar | 5'11"   | 12 st 3 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Francis Picardo     | D (R)         | St. Joseph's    | 5'7"    | 10 st 7 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Stephan Catania     | D (R)         | College Pegasus | 5'9"    | 13 st 9 lbs  | 16      | -       | 
| Jason Oton          | D (C)         | Sporting (GIB)  | 6'2"    | 13 st 5 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Gino Balloqui       | D (C)         | Leo Parrilla    | 6'4"    | 14 st 9 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| Nick Naughton-Rumbo | D (C),DM,M(C) | Hound Dogs      | 6'0"    | 12 st 3 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Ricky Almeida       | D/M (L)       | Lions Gibraltar | 5'7"    | 10 st 1 lb   | 17      | -       | 
| Giovanni Villa      | DM, M (RC)    | Lincoln (GIB)   | 5'8"    | 9 st 1 lb    | 17      | -       | 
| Alan Parker         | M (LC)        | Lincoln (GIB)   | 5'10"   | 10 st 5 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Liyle Barcelo       | M (C)         | Lynx FC         | 5'10"   | 11 st 13 lbs | 18      | -       | 
| Scott Ballantine    | M/AM (L)      | Manchester 62   | 5'6"    | 10 st 7 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Lython Marquez      | ST (C)        | Manchester 62   | 6'1"    | 13 st 5 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| Jamie Coombes       | ST (C)        | College Europa  | 5'9"    | 11 st 4 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| Brad Power          | ST (C)        | College Europa  | 6'0"    | 11 st 13 lbs | 16      | -       |

William Britt is currently on loan to Bognor Regis from Southampton, and has already got 5 full caps. Alan Parker and Giovanni Villa have also been plucked from the Senior squad, and have 6 and 7 full caps respectively.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 6th October. Back in Iceland, IR announce they have a tax bill of £3.5k to pay, but on the plus side, we have a new kit sponsor, who will pay £11.25k for the pleasure. They also announce the wage budget, which is considerably higher than expected, at nearly £4k a week, that's more than 10 times what we had to spend on wages last season! I'm shocked at the amount I'm given to spend on wages, there is no transfer budget to spend. I get on the phone from Gibraltar and start working on the IR squad for the coming season, while escaping the incoming Icelandic winter, one of my more shrewd moves I think.

The first Qualifiers arrive, with all the games taking place in Gibraltar, we do at least get `home advantage'. It's going to be strange managing a side against my own homeland. That doesn't bother our keeper, William Britt. He lays straight into the Wales camp, and tells them that the pressure is all on them as they're expected to win by a landslide.

Wednesday 9th October 2013 - European Under-19 Championships, First Qualifying Phase, Group 12

Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 0 Wales Under-19's (1) 3

Scorers : None

Attendance : 555

William Britt; Aidan Schembri, Gino Balloqui, Nick Naughton-Rumbo; Giovanni Villa (Jason Oton 73); Alan Parker (capt - Lython Marquez 73), Ricky Almeida, Tom Lavelle; Scott Ballantine (inj - Liyle Barcelo 17), Brad Power; Jamie Coombes.

Man of the Match : William Abbotts (WAL)

The difference in class was clear to see, more so as the game went on and the Gibraltar youngsters started to tire. The Welsh side included youngsters from Manchester City, Manchester United, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Sheffield United to name a few. We did well to limit them to just the one goal in the first half. After the match, I told the lads I was proud of their efforts, but they didn't really seem to be listening. If we're looking for a positive, we had 57% of the possession in the game, so there is something to work with. In the other group game, Israel beat Greece, also by a scoreline of 3-0.

The following day, I hear from my Director of Football, and he passes on some good news. Senegalese left winger, Sidy Sow has signed his contract, and will join the club next week. He has been out of the game for a season or two since being released by Selfoss. The 23 year old is quick, and a real step up in quality on what we currently have at the club. He'll be joined by another man who can play wide left, Englishman, Joe Tillen. He's one of the players that Selfoss are trying to move on due to their current plight, and the 26 year old will be a great addition at Hertz Vollurinn. He made 11 appearances for them last season, only the second season the former Chelsea and MK Dons man has spent outside the Premier Division during his 7 years in Iceland. A third signs later in the day, and he will also arrive from Selfoss. This time it's a centre midfielder, Croatian 22 year old, Lukas Jagacic. Possibly the man who will be the playmaker for us next season, this lad can really pass a football. He made 12 appearances for Selfoss last campaign, his first in Iceland. Kristjan Ari Halldorsson, who left us last pre-season to join Grotta, is now desperate to leave them, and we held contract talks with him. An agreement was reached, but with Sow and Tillen signing their contracts, we have no requirement for another left sided winger and pull the plug on the deal. Halldorsson is furious, telling the press that we have behaved poorly towards him. He wasn't quite so fussed when he left for a `bigger club' last season, and they're now in the Third Division.

Friday 11th October - European Under-19 Championships, First Qualifying Phase, Group 12

Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

Greece Under-19's (2) 4 Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 1

Scorers : Scott Ballantine (82)

Attendance : 1,773

William Britt; Aidan Schembri, Gino Balloqui, Jason Oton; Nick Naughton-Rumbo; Alan Parker (capt - Liyle Barcelo 70), Ricky Almeida, Giovanni Villa (Tom Lavelle 70); Scott Ballantine, Brad Power (Lython Marquez 70); Jamie Coombes.

Man of the Match : Charis Charisis (GRE)

Another gutsy effort from the lads, but we were well up against it today. The lads fitness levels were mostly around the 70-75% mark before the game even started. The Greeks managed 24 shot on goal, 14 of which were on target. William Britt had a really good game, but the Greeks got a couple of very well worked goals. Our problems come predominantly when we cross the halfway line, where we seem to have little in the way of creativity or ideas going forward, and possession is all too often given away at crucial points of the build up. We had the lions share of possession again, but never greatly troubled their keeper. Alan Parker came close with an improvised shot from the edge of the box following a corner. We got a reward with 82 minutes on the clock, Coombes played in Ballantine, and his left footed shot found it's way past the keeper. We have a final game to go against Israel on Sunday, but with few options to rotate the squad, it will be another tough day.

[neilhoskins77]

The morning of our final Qualifier with Israel was, quite frankly, pretty disastrous. Gino Balloqui has fractured his ribs, and will be out for between 2 and 3 months. One of his defensive colleagues, Aidan Schembri, has a sports hernia and will be out for around 6 weeks. And then striker, Jamie Coombes, was revealed to have a lower back stress fracture, and will be out for a couple of months. Oh dear.

Sunday 13th October 2013 - European Under-19 Championships, First Qualifying Phase, Group 12

Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 0 Israel Under-19's (2) 3

Scorers : None

Attendance : 402

William Britt; Tom Lavelle, Francis Picardo, Jason Oton; Nick Naughton-Rumbo; Alan Parker (capt - Liyle Barcelo 73), Ricky Almeida, Giovanni Villa (Stephan Catania 73); Scott Ballantine, Brad Power; Lython Marquez.

Man of the Match : Naor Zafran (ISR)

 [b][u]European Under-19 Championships, First Qualifying Phase, Group 12[/u][/b]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team      |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

| 1st   | Q     | Israel    |       | 3     | 3     | 0     | 0     | 8     | 1     | +7    | 9     | 

| 2nd   | Q     | Greece    |       | 3     | 2     | 0     | 1     | 5     | 4     | +1    | 6     | 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3rd   |       | Wales     |       | 3     | 1     | 0     | 2     | 4     | 3     | +1    | 3     | 

[b][i]| 4th   |       | Gibraltar |       | 3     | 0     | 0     | 3     | 1     | 10    | -9    | 0     | [/i][/b]

A disappointing finish to the campaign, as we're unable to register a goal. We huffed and puffed a bit in the second half, having a good spell that nearly produced one, but Israel looked very good counter attacking too in that spell. Naor Zafran and Shalom Cohen were particular dangers for them, and this win gets them through to the next phase, alongside Greece. For us, there are two home friendlies next month, which I'm looking forward to, and hopefully we can make a bit of progress, but the campaign has been an enjoyable experience. For now, it's back to Iceland, and continuing the preparations for the upcoming season with IR.

The work starts on the IR back line for next season, and we sign 33 year old centre back, Milos Glogovac. The 6'0 veteran has dual Serbian and Icelandic nationality, and signs on a free from Aegir to become our fourth new signing. He played 18 times last season for the Second Division side, and the coming season will be his 10th in Icelandic football. He has Premier Division experience too. The fifth signing is labelled as a midfielder, but it would be more accurate to describe Arni Por Armannsson as a utility player. The 6'2, Icelandic, 27 year old, can literally play in every outfield position, but is particularly accomplished either as a defensive midfielder, or across the midfield or attacking midfield slots. He signs on a free from Third Division side, Vidir, where he scored twice in 14 games last season. He has had three seasons experience of the First Division with previous club, Njardvik. Number six arrived within days, another Icelandic player who would maybe fall under the tag of a utility player. Gudmundur Steinarsson was a Player/Assistant Manager at Nyardvik, the 34 year old is a specialist striker, but he'll likely play as an attacking midfielder for us, where his flair and physical play will be best used, He got three goals in 7 outings last season, so is capable of finding the net for sure. Capped 3 times at a senior level for Iceland, and over 200 games in the Premier League, if we get involved in a relegation dogfight, Steinarsson's experience could be vital to the club.

One player who won't be coming to the club, is Marteinn Urbancic. His loan finished, and he wasn't interested in discussing a deal with us, and has signed for Grotta instead. We need a right sided winger, and have a couple of guys we're keeping an eye on. I'd also like to get a prolific striker, and maybe do some more work on improving the defence too. Chief Scout, Gretar Gunnarsson is refusing to discuss a new contract, and as we reach the end of October, and his contract is expiring, he's let go. His replacement is 33 year old, Bjorgolfur Takefusa. Yep, Icelandic/Japanese. With extensive knowledge of a dozen countries, he starts work right away, and immediately points us in the direction of some players who could help out.

[neilhoskins77]

With new players arrived, and more potentially on the way, we have to move on some of the players who are no longer required at Hertz Vollurinn. Amongst those to leave are Ivar Saevarsson, Gubergur Baldursson, Njordur Steinarsson, Olgeir Oskarsson, Kristjan Andresson, Milan Djurovic, Viktor Smari Segatta and Haflidi Haflidason. There could be more to follow.

Veteran Scottish defensive midfielder, Paul McShane, arrives on a free transfer. He spent last season in a Player/Coach role for Icelandic Cup winners, Keflavik. The 35 year old has spent 15 seasons in Iceland, the bulk of it in the Premier Division. He wanted a backroom staff role, but there is no space for him to do that right now, but there's every chance that in the future, the Scot will be found a role. 25 year old Aron Steinporsson signs on a free, the winger can play on either side, and is going to be very much a squad player who is costing us little. He sat out last season, he was previously a regular for KV. We get ourselves a new goalkeeper, the one we tried to get last season. Spanish keeper, Sergio Lloves, signs a two season contract. 26 years old, standing at 6'1, he didn't have a great season last year with Grotta, though they did get relegated, so he was obviously in a struggling team. The next signing is likely to be our first choice right sided winger, 26 year old Icelandic flyer, Hilmar Geir Eidsson. He can play anywhere across the front line and attacking midfield or midfield roles, he's quick, and has an eye for goal, netting five goal in 15 appearances for Haukar last season as they just missed out on promotion from the First Division.

Friday 8th November arrives, and it's time to name the Gibraltar Under-19's squad for the upcoming friendlies with Liechtenstein and FYR Macedonia. With the Seniors and Under-21's also having fixtures, and a multitude of injuries, there are just eleven players available to select from. 1 goalkeeper, 2 defenders, 4 midfielders and 4 strikers. Here are the players who will be on duty for their country.

 [b][u][i]Gibraltar Under-19's Squad for Friendlies against Liechtenstein & FYR Macedonia[/i][/u][/b]

| Pkd     | Inf     | Name              | Position | Club              | Height  | Weight       | Age     | Value   | 

| -       | Inj     | Ethan Jolley      | GK       | College Europa    | 6'2"    | 12 st 6 lbs  | 16      | -       | 
| -       |         | Francis Picardo   | D (R)    | St. Joseph's      | 5'7"    | 10 st 7 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | Kai Soithongsuk   | D/WB (L) | Mons Calpe        | 5'11"   | 11 st 6 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       | Inj     | John-Luke Olivera | DM, M (C)| Hound Dogs        | 5'11"   | 12 st 6 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | Daylian Victor    | M (R)    | College Europa    | 5'11"   | 11 st 13 lbs | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | James Castle      | M (L)    | Hound Dogs        | 5'8"    | 10 st 5 lbs  | 16      | -       | 
| -       |         | Jose Mari Ruiz    |AM(RL),ST(C)| Lynx FC         | 5'7"    | 9 st 12 lbs  | 16      | -       | 
| -       |         | Jason Lee Olivera | ST (C)   | Gibraltar Phoenix | 5'10"   | 12 st 3 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | Lython Marquez    | ST (C)   | Manchester 62     | 6'1"    | 13 st 5 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Nick Castle       | ST (C)   | Hound Dogs        | 5'9"    | 11 st 11 lbs | 18      | -       | 
| -       | IPR     | Jesse Moonilall   | ST (C)   | Hound Dogs        | 5'9"    | 11 st 11 lbs | 17      | -       | 

As you can see, it's threadbare to say the least, but I'd rather play a few players out of position than pick `greys', so we'll see what we can do. Two of those selected are carrying knocks, but hopefully they'll be fit in time to play in both games.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 10th November brings great news, we finally bring in the striker we needed. 22 year old Icelandic front man, Elvar Sigurdsson is 5'10, quick, calm, a team player, and surprisingly good in the air. He's been here before, a loan spell in 2012 where he netted three times in 14 games. He was a regular in the Premier Division for Breidablik last season, and I'm really hopeful this lad can get the goals that will keep us out of danger. The defence is also strengthened, with the signing of 34 year old Spanish centre back, Juan Povedano. At 5'11, he's a little shorter than most of the centre backs we were looking it, and his pace isn't what it once was, but there is no substitute for experience, and his positioning will stand him in good stead in a League of this level. He played for, yep, you guessed it, Selfoss, last season. If we weren't higher up the pyramid than them, we might be getting called `Selfoss B' this season. I hope these players brought in from them don't suffer the ignominy of two successive relegations. He's joined by Rafn Markus Vilbergsson, who was so keen to join IR, that he gave up his Player/Manager role at Vidir. The Icelandic 30 year old, who is 6'4, is a specialist centre back, but can also play a role as an attacking midfielder or striker. Vilbergsson is known for being very loyal to his clubs.

By the time we reach matchday for the Gibraltar Under-19's, five of those called up have left the squad. Some have suffered injuries, or failed to adequately recover from injuries they already had. Others have been called up into the Senior or Under-21's to cover for players who have been withdrawn from those squads. So we're left with just six `players' for the fixture with Liechtenstein.

Thursday 14th November 2013 - Under-19's International Friendly

Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 0 Liechtenstein Under-19's (2) 2

Scorers : None

Attendance : 243

Ian Danino; Marc Reoch, Jordan Grech, Leigh Perez; John-Luke Olivera (Chris Pons 69); Christian Garro (Gareth Parody 69), James Castle (capt - Nick Ocana 82), Daylian Victor (inj - Richard Chipolina 69); Lython Marquez, Brad Power (Kaylan Duarte 69), Jesse Moonilall.

Man of the Match : Egon Flatz (LIE)

A game that could have been so different. We lacked a cutting edge up front, and again gave away the ball needlessly. Both of the visitors goals were conceded in the opening 20 minutes, and this was the first game I'd had in charge where we didn't give away a penalty. These are the types of sides that we need to start competing with and ultimately beating, especially in competitive fixtures. Monday night's game will be an even tougher fixture for us, and with no opportunity to call up any reinforcements, we'll struggle to learn a great deal from it either, it's a real wasted chance. After the game we hear that Brad Power has a twisted ankle. We're allowed to call up a replacement, I was hoping I could add a few players to the squad, as a few had now overcome their injuries, but one was all I was allowed, so Hound Dogs striker, Nick Castle, who was in the original squad, now returns, and will play for the Under-19's for the first time. The Under-21's fair a bit better, they draw 0-0 at home to Liechtenstein. The Seniors didn't, getting thumped 6-0 in Albania.

Monday 18th November 2013 - Under-19's International Friendly

Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 0 FYR Macedonia Under-19's (2) 3

Scorers : None

Attendance : 238

Danny de la Rosa; Dan Reyes, Giles Perez, Dion Casciaro; John-Luke Olivera; Lee Chiappe, James Castle (capt), Daylian Victor; Lython Marquez, Jesse Moonilall; Nick Castle.

Man of the Match : Filip Dzeladini (MAC)

Once again our patchwork side toil against a superior opponent, but the rewards are thin on the ground. We fall behind after just 30 seconds, and it looked like a hiding was on the cards. James Castle came close to getting us on the scoreboard, hitting the post with a close range shot. If I keep saying that I think things will improve if we can get a full squad, will people start believing me? An even 50% of the possession, only one shot less than the opponents, I'm clinging to optimism, because I have very little else in this job. The next game isn't until March, so the attention turns back to Iceland and IR. The Under-21's lose 5-1 in Montenegro, the Seniors also lose, 2-1 in San Marino.

[neilhoskins77]

Alexander Kostic was voted last season's Fan's Player of the Year, and signs an extension to his contract to cover the next 2 seasons at the same wage as before. The Board are only looking for the club to avoid relegation this season, so we go with that as our season goal. There was a higher wage budget to be gained by aiming for a slightly higher expectation, but as the wage budget is already pretty generous, we go with survival, as it's always tough to say how competitive the squad we have will be at the higher level. The draw is made for the Group Stages of the Icelandic Higher League Cup. We're put into Group B with five Premier Division clubs (FH, IV, KR, Leiknir Reykjavik and Por Akureyri), and two other First Division sides (Haukar and Tindastoll). KR are the current holders of this Cup. The teams play each other once, with the top two automatically going into the Quarter-Finals, along with the two best third place teams from the three groups.

The club are given £8.5k for First Division TV rights for the coming season. Five more new players arrive at the club, and unless anyone massively capable of improving our squad comes along, the recruitment is done for the winter now. Einar Marteinsson is a 24 year old Icelandic centre back, also capable of covering the defensive midfield and central midfield positions. He stands 6'1 tall, and has signed a 2 season contract at £110 a week. He has some Premier Division experience with Valur, and First Division experience with HK, but has spent the last three seasons in the Second Division with Njardvik and Afturelding, and he arrives on a free transfer. Wentzel Steinarr is a 25 year old Faroese Islander. The uncapped 5'9 attacking midfield can also cover central midfield, and left wing. He has a two season contract at £220 a week, and signs on a free transfer from IA, where he made 11 Premier Division appearances last season, netting once. His entire career before that was spent with Afturelding. Quick and determined, he has a decent return of 27 goals in 135 career games. Jean Stephane Yao Yao is a central midfielder from the Ivory Coast. What he lacks in stature at 5'3 and weighing less than 10 stones, he makes up for in passing ability and pace. Capable of playing an aggressive ball winning game too, he signs for 2 seasons at £275 a week. He has been out of the game for several seasons, last playing in 2010 at this level for Selfoss, scoring 7 goals in 24 games, his first campaign in the country after two seasons in Norway with Lyn. The fourth signing is someone we had been chasing for almost the entire year. 22 year old Senagalese striker, Ibrahima Ndiaye is 5'11 and is yet another former Selfoss player. His only season in senior football was with them in 2011 at this level, netting 5 times in 18 games. Not known for his bravery, he has the pace and flair to beat a marker, and is deceptively good in the air. The final signing will be no stranger to IR fans, it's Styrmir Erlendsson, who spent last season on loan with us. We're paying the lad next to nothing, and while he faces a hell of a fight to get a game, we know if he plays, he'll do the job. With our shopping done, some players in the squad are no longer required. Now third choice keeper, Porsteinn Einarsson is on a non-contract agreement, so is asked to go to the Under-19's as one of their over-age players, and is joined by centre back Sindri Snaefells Kristinsson. Croatian defender, Ivan Razumovic leaves on a free transfer, as not only is he well down the pecking order now, but he is a fifth non-EU player, and the matchday squad can only contain three. Midfielder, Johann Arnar Sigurporsson is also demoted to the Under-19's, while the backroom staff love him, I seriously doubt he's cut out for this higher level. Orn Ulfarsson is released too. While the striker go plenty of vital goals for us last season, he is on a non-contract deal, and his diving irritated me last season. One of our more promising youngsters is 17 year old centre back, Gudjon Orri Karlsson. One of our rivals from last season, HK, want him on a free transfer, but there's no way that's happening. However, we do offer him to them on loan for the season, it would be good for the 6'0 teenager to get some First Team experience at a decent domestic level.

The club have cut the tie with feeder team, Leitir. They believe it has no significance to us now, and they are no longer capable of producing players that would be of interest to us. The media assess our prospects for the coming League season. They comment on our large squad, and that we have good firepower up front. They are predicting we'll finish 10th and stay above the dotted line this season. Right now, I'd take that. Three friendlies have been arranged for our pre-season schedule, the first of which is away to Third Division outfit, IH, on Saturday 25th January 2014. A whole raft of friendlies have been arranged for Gibraltar Under-19's for this year as well as there doesn't appear to be anymore competitive games on the horizon. Remember, Gibraltar are not currently FIFA members, only UEFA recognise the country in football terms at the moment. So we couldn't enter any age group World Cups for example.

[neilhoskins77]

Attention turns to hiring more backroom staff to deal with our larger squad, and help the players meet the requirements of playing that this higher standard. 41 year old Saudi Arabian goalkeeping coach, Mohammed Al-Deayea, was capped 178 times by his country, and arrives at IR on a two year contract. He played at four FIFA World Cups, and will be of great assistance to our group of goalkeepers. The club has a fitness coach for the first time, Marc Cahill, a 35 year old Welshman. 30 year old, Njall Reynisson and 37 year old Andres Sigurdsson will be the clubs new scouts. Dadi Steinsson is the new Under-19's assistant manager, and Gudjon Johannsson is the age group team's new coach. Another three members of the Under-19's squad go to Second and Third Division clubs on loan deals.

Saturday 25th January 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Schenkervollurinn, Hafnarfyordur

IH (0) 2 IR (0) 1

Scorers : Finnbogi Llorens (58 o.g)

Attendance : 27

S.Lloves (L.Asbjornsson 45); E.Einarsson (capt - M.Glogovac 45), E.Marteinsson (R.Vilbergsson 45), J.Povedano (A.Runolfsson 45); L.Jagacic (A.Cosic 45); JS.Yao Yao (G.Elfarsson 45), S.Sow (J.Tillen 45), A.Steinporsson (A.Armansson 45); W.Steinarr (S.Erlendsson 45 (inj - P.McShane 89)), G.Steinarsson (A.Kostic 45); I.Ndiaye (E.Sigurdsson 45).

Man of the Match : Matthias Olason (IH)

After an off-season that seemed to take an eternity to arrive, even with the trips to Gibraltar for International duty, we finally hit the pre-season, it wasn't worth the wait! Hilmar Geir Eidsson misses out with a sprained wrist, but he's the only injury concern going into the game. IH are a Third Division club, albeit one of the better ones, but still, there are now two Divisions between us. The first half was a quiet one, our team in particular taking a little while to settle in with so many new players on show. That cohesion won't have been helped by changing all eleven players at the break. We did go in front just before the hour, Elvar Sigurdsson was put in on goal, but met a sliding tackle just as he was about to pull the trigger. Unfortunately for IH, that tackle came from behind, and only served to knock the ball past their own keeper and into the net. The equaliser in the 73rd minute was disappointing from a defensive point of view, Tomasson allowed the space to wander into the box, and Logi Asbjornsson would feel he should have done better too. We had to make another change as we got towards the end, Erlendsson took a knock and not being able to continue. Three minutes into injury time, and Matthias Olasson's free kick got over the wall, and while Asbjornsson got both hands to it, he couldn't get enough on it to keep it out, and we're beaten. Erlendsson has a sprained ankle, he'll be out for up to two months.

Saturday 1st February 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Bessastadavollur, Gardabaer

Alftanes (0) 0 IR (0) 1

Scorers : Alexander Kostic (71)

Attendance : 107

S.Lloves (L.Asbjornsson 45); E.Einarsson (capt - M.Glogovac 45), E.Marteinsson (R.Vilbergsson 45), J.Povedano (A.Runolfsson 45); L.Jagacic (A.Cosic 45); JS.Yao Yao (G.Elfarsson 45), S.Sow (J.Tillen 45), A.Steinporsson (H.Eidsson 45); W.Steinarr (S.Jonsson 45), G.Steinarsson (A.Kostic 45); I.Ndiaye (E.Sigurdsson 45).

Man of the Match : Alexander Kostic (IR)

A trip to the non-League amateurs, Alftanes. Everyone was expecting a landslide, particularly the bookies, quoting us as 1/20 for the win. We got the win, and while the performance was pretty dominant, the scoreboard really didn't reflect that. We play a very patient, possession based, slow build up kind of game, and maybe we're being too patient. It took until the 71st minute to break them down, though it was worth the wait, last season's star, Alexander Kostic blasting home from all of 22 yards. My new assistant manager is a bit of a motivational genius, and it was him that stopped me kicking off in the changing rooms after the game. Clearly he thinks we should be building confidence before the competitive action starts. The guy has a fair point.

Thursday 6th February 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (0) 2 Fram (0) 1

Scorers : Skuli Jonsson (77, 90+2)

Attendance : 155

S.Lloves (L.Asbjornsson 58); E.Einarsson (capt - M.Glogovac 58), E.Marteinsson (R.Vilbergsson 58), J.Povedano (A.Runolfsson 58); L.Jagacic (A.Cosic 58); JS.Yao Yao (G.Elfarsson 58), S.Sow (J.Tillen 58), A.Steinporsson (H.Eidsson 58); W.Steinarr (S.Jonsson 58), G.Steinarsson (inj - A.Kostic 58); I.Ndiaye (E.Sigurdsson 58).

Man of the Match : Skuli Jonsson (IR)

Our final pre-season friendly is a visit from one of Iceland's most successful club, and city rivals, Fram. It's been nearly 25 years since they were last National Champions, but they are a huge club on this island. We were huge underdogs, but on this day, with nothing on the result, we rolled them over. It was an even first half, Ndiaye having the best chance, and finding the net, but he was a yard offside. Just before the hour, Steinarsson is forced from the field with an injury, and we change everyone around at that point. We fall behind two minutes later, Astvaldsson looked just offside to me, but the flag stayed down. We got ourselves level in the 77th minute, Skuli Jonsson finished off a move heavily involving Kostic and Sigurdsson. And Jonsson got the winner too deep into injury time, Sigurdsson setting him up with an angled through ball, Jonsson running across the defender and keeping his shot low. A really good confidence booster as we head into the League Cup games.

[neilhoskins77]

The draw is made for the 2016 European Championship Qualifiers. Iceland have some Scandanavian company, they are drawn with Russia, Sweden, Estonia and Faroe Islands. Any group was going to be difficult for Gibraltar, they get paired with neighbours Spain, Serbia, Finland, Albania and Malta. The bookies have backed up what the media say about IR's prospects for the upcoming First Division campaign, and have us pegged to be nowhere near the promotion chase, and just about avoiding relegation. Promotion has done nothing at all for the season ticket sales, they have stayed the same as last year at 145.

1/3 favourites - Breidablik

1/2 - Fylkir

4/5 - Vikingur Reykjavik, Grindavik, Haukar

6/4 - Bi/Bolungarvik, Prottur Reykjavik

3/1 - KA

8/1 - Tindastoll

10/1 - IR

16/1 - KV

33/1 - Volsungur

Saturday 15th February 2014 - Icelandic Upper League Cup, Group B

Saudarkroksvollur, Saudarkrokur

Tindastoll (0) 1 IR (3) 3

Scorers : Ibrahima Ndiaye (23,41), Gabriel Ingi Ormasson (25 o.g)

Attendance : 101

S.Lloves; E.Einarsson (capt), E.Marteinsson, J.Povedano; L.Jagacic; JS.Yao Yao (inj - G.Elfarsson 28), S.Sow, A.Steinporsson (H.Eidsson 76); W.Steinarr (inj - A.Kostic 76), G.Steinarsson; I.Ndiaye.

Man of the Match : Ibrahima Ndiaye (IR)

A debut to remember for Ibrahima Ndiaye. The striker benefited when Steinarsson was tackled as he was about to shoot, the ball just stayed where it was, and Ndiaye sidefooted past an already grounded keeper. He was instrumental in the second too, cutting back inside his marker, a combination of keeper and defender blocking his shot and ball looping into the air towards goal. Steinarsson charged in trying to apply the finish, the defender got there first, his attempt to hook the ball over his own bar ending up in the net. Ndiaye made sure there was no doubt about the third goal, holding off a defender, and burying his shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out. We were looking good, and I told the players so at half time. The home side managed to nick one back just before the hour, but we never looked like throwing this away, despite a few knocks and injuries. Eggert Einarsson is the main casualty, the skipper will be out for up to 6 weeks with a pulled hamstring.

Saturday 22nd February 2014 - Icelandic Upper League Cup, Group B

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (1) 2 Haukar (2) 2

Scorers : Wentzel Steinarr (30), Ibrahima Ndiaye (84)

Attendance : 265

S.Lloves; J.Povedano, E.Marteinsson, A.Runolfsson; L.Jagacic (inj - A.Cosic 45); JS.Yao Yao (G.Elfarsson 78), S.Sow, A.Steinporsson (H.Eidsson 78); W.Steinarr, G.Steinarsson (capt); I.Ndiaye.

Man of the Match : Brynjar Benediktsson (Haukar)

I'm still not sure if we've got a point we didn't deserve, or did well to comeback from conceding two very early goals. Maybe it's both. Benediktsson netted in the 5th and 6th minutes, and the writing seemed on the wall for a game played in an absolute downpour. But we fought back well, Steinarr getting his first goal for the club with a close range finish following a corner. Jagacic comes off at half time, replaced by Cosic. The second half saw Haukar sit back and try and defend the lead they had, and they almost managed it too. With just over five minutes left, Sow steals the ball from a defender and sets Ndiaye away. As he cuts into the box from the left, he has Steinarsson unmarked in the middle. Like a true striker on form, he goes himself, slotting the ball beyond the keeper's reach to earn us a point. That's both our games against First Division opposition done, it's Premier Division teams from here on in for the remainder of the Group games. Luka Jagacic will miss a couple of weeks action with a strained neck.

It's almost International break time, and the Gibraltar Under-19 side have a home friendly with San Marino. Once again the Senior and Under-21 teams also have games, so I'm left with the lads they don't select who are still age eligible for the Under-19's. It's a squad of fifteen players, though if either of the other two squads lose players to injuries, then I'm going to lose bodies.

 [b][u]Gibraltar Under-19's squad for International Friendly with San Marino Under-19's[/u][/b]

| Pkd     | Inf     | Name               | Position| Club              | Height  | Weight       | Age     | Value   | 

| -       |         | Ethan Jolley        | GK     | College Europa    | 6'2"    | 12 st 8 lbs  | 16      | -       | 
| -       |         | Francis Picardo     | D (R)  | St. Joseph's      | 5'7"    | 10 st 7 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | Alain Pons         |D(L)AM(RL)| Lincoln (GIB)    | 5'10"   | 12 st 1 lb   | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Gino Balloqui       | D (C)  | Leo Parrilla      | 6'4"    | 14 st 9 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Nick Naughton-Rumbo|D(C)DM,M(C)| Hound Dogs      | 6'0"    | 12 st 3 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | Kai Soithongsuk     | D/WB(L)| Mons Calpe        | 5'11"   | 11 st 11 lbs | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Daylian Victor      | M (R)  | College Europa    | 5'11"   | 12 st 1 lb   | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Zane Holgado        | M (L)  | Mons Calpe        | 5'7"    | 11 st 0 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Jayme Migge         | M (C)  | Lions Gibraltar   | 5'9"    | 11 st 6 lbs  | 17      | -       | 
| -       | Inj     | Jarvis Bautista     | M/AM(L)| Hound Dogs        | 6'5"    | 14 st 9 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Jose Mari Ruiz     |AM(RL)ST(C)| Lynx FC         | 5'7"    | 9 st 12 lbs  | 16      | -       | 
| -       |         | Jason Lee Olivera   | ST (C) | Gibraltar Phoenix | 5'10"   | 12 st 6 lbs  | 18      | -       | 
| -       |         | Nick Castle         | ST (C) | Hound Dogs        | 5'9"    | 11 st 11 lbs | 19      | -       | 
| -       | IPR     | Jesse Moonilall     | ST (C) | Hound Dogs        | 5'9"    | 11 st 11 lbs | 17      | -       | 
| -       |         | Leeroy Ruiz         | ST (C) | Hound Dogs        | 6'0"    | 12 st 6 lbs  | 17      | -       | 

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 1st March 2014 - Icelandic Higher League Cup, Group B

KR-Vollur, Reykjavik

KR (2) 4 IR (1) 1

Scorers : Ibrahima Ndiaye (54)

Attendance : 1,370

S.Lloves; J.Povedano, E.Maretinsson, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic (capt - A.Steinporsson 77); JS.Yao Yao, J.Tillen, H.Eidsson (inj - G.Elfarsson 66); W.Steinarr (G.Steinarsson 66), A.Kostic; I.Ndiaye.

Man of the Match : Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (KR)

Our first competitive crack at a Premier Division club this season, and it doesn't go well. They looked a level or two above us in every department, and the score would have been more humiliating has Lloves not had a decent game in goal, making some good stops. The dangerous Finnbogason opened the scoring after we'd held them out for nearly 40 minutes, glancing home a header at the near post, followed quickly by Saevarsson whipping a free kick inside the near post for a second. Ndiaye keeps his great start for the club going, pulling a goal back less than 10 minutes into the second half, showing composure and class by lobbing the oncoming keeper from 20 yards out. A calamitous piece of defending gave Ragnarsson a simple finish, and Finnbogasson finished us off with his second in the 80th minute. A disappointing outing.

Arriving in Gibraltar, I find out that 40% of my players selected for International duty are no longer going to be around for this game for one reason or another. We now have no goalkeeper, and no specialist defenders. Another drops out the day before the game, Jason Lee Olivera suffering a dead leg. Several of the clubs place restrictions on their players, asking that they play no more than 45 minutes. They will be duly ignored unfortunately.

Tuesday 4th March 2014 - Under-19's International Friendly

Devil's Tower Camp, Gibraltar

Gibraltar Under-19's (0) 1 San Marino Under-19's (2) 2

Scorers : Gareth Marquez (77)

Attendance : 250

Nathan Debono; John Paul Navarro, Gareth Marquez, Aaron Reoch; Nick Naughton-Rumbo (capt - Giovanni Guerrero 77); Jayme Migge, Jarvis Bautista (Zane Holgado 77), Daylian Victor; Leeroy Ruiz (Ian Garcia 77), Lython Marquez; Jesse Moonilall (Dwayne Ramirez 77).

Man of the Match : Luca Ceccaroli (San Marino)

A missed opportunity to get some kind of a result here. Grey goalkeeper, Nathan Debono, kept us in the game with some good stops, but he is beaten from close range following a goalmouth scramble and with a deflected shot from the edge of the area. Slowly, we pull ourselves back into the game, Bautista going close with a free kick, Victor hitting the bar with a header. When we do finally get one back, it's a fluke goal, a defender hacking the ball off the line, his clearance hitting Marquez and bouncing right into the net. We're getting closer. The Under-21's are beaten by the same scoreline at home to Moldova. The Senior side also played at some, beaten 4-1 by FYR Macedonia.

Saturday 8th March 2014 - Icelandic Upper League Cup, Group B

Hertz Vollurinn, Reykjavik

IR (0) 0 Por Akureyri (1) 2

Scorers : None

Attendance : 271

S.Lloves; J.Povedano, E.Marteinsson, A.Runolfsson; A.Cosic (capt - G.Elfarsson 76); JS.Yao Yao, J.Tillen (S.Sow 76), H.Eidsson; W.Steinarr (G.Steinarsson 76), A.Kostic; I.Ndiaye.

Man of the Match : Armann Pettur Aevarsson (Por Akureyri)

Back to Iceland to resume our League Cup campaign. We missed a couple of great chances, and paid for that after 31 minutes, Kristjansson scoring for the visitors. Ndiaye was flagged offside when he looked like he had timed his run perfectly, and with 5 minutes left, Jonsson scored from close range to finish the game. Luka Jagacic has returned to training and should be back in First Team action soon.

 [b][i][u]Icelandic Upper League Cup, Group B - Sunday 9th March 2014[/u][/i][/b]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team       |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

| 1st   |       | KR         |       | 4     | 3     | 0     | 1     | 11    | 7     | +4    | 9     | 

| 2nd   |       | FH         |       | 4     | 3     | 0     | 1     | 9     | 5     | +4    | 9     | 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
| 3rd   |       | Haukar     |       | 4     | 2     | 1     | 1     | 11    | 9     | +2    | 7     | 

| 4th   |       | ÍBV        |       | 4     | 2     | 1     | 1     | 10    | 8     | +2    | 7     | 

| 5th   |       | Þór        |       | 4     | 2     | 1     | 1     | 7     | 7     | 0     | 7     | 

[b][i]| 6th   |       | ÍR         |       | 4     | 1     | 1     | 2     | 6     | 9     | -3    | 4     | [/i][/b]

| 7th   |       | Leiknir R. |       | 4     | 1     | 0     | 3     | 9     | 11    | -2    | 3     | 

| 8th   |       | Tindastóll |       | 4     | 0     | 0     | 4     | 2     | 9     | -7    | 0     | 

[neilhoskins77]

Styrmir Erlendsson is also back in training, so more good news on the injury front for IR. Back in Gibraltar, the domestic season is coming to a close, and 142 youth players are trying to make the grade with the clubs. They are all added to the National Pool, and there's a few decent looking prospects in there too.

Saturday 15th March 2014 - Icelandic Higher League Cup, Group B

Kaplakriki, Hafnarfjordur

FH (1) 3 IR (0) 0

Scorers : None

Attendance : 1,108

S.Lloves; J.Povedano, E.Marteinsson, A.Runolfsson (capt - M.Glogovac 74); L.Jagacic (A.Cosic 74), S.Sow, H.Eidsson (A.Steinporsson 74); W.Steinarr, A.Kostic; I.Ndiaye.

Man of the Match : Sam Tillen (FH)

Joe Tillen was suspended for the trip to FH, and missed out on the opportunity to play against his brother, Sam, who plays for the Premier Division club. Once again, we held out for half hour or so, and once again we were then outclassed. We won't get out of the Group, and I'm sure we weren't expected to do, but it's a little disappointing that we can't be a bit more competitive against the Premier Division clubs we're facing. The gap looks too big right now.

Striker, Bjorn Vilhjamson, has torn ankle ligaments in training, and will miss up to two months of action. But that wasn't the real story this week. The Board elections are taking place, and a new Chairman is elected. He makes his first point of business a meeting with me to advise that he wishes to cut the wage budget by 60%. I protest at the news, the squad has been built for the new season, but he insists it's happening, and starts actively shopping my players for bids! I'll never tolerate a chairman getting involved in playing matters, never mind selling players without my consent. I resign my post with immediate effect. Stick your job Mr Porhallsson! I resigned on 24th March 2014, almost exactly 14 months after taking charge. I don't think it will be particularly easy finding work.

IR Career Record :-

22nd January 2013 - 24th March 2014

Games Played - 29. Won - 14. Draws - 9. Lost - 6. Goals For - 50. Goals Against - 38. Goal Difference - +12. Win Percentage - 48.3%.

[neilhoskins77]

As predicted, work was hard to come by. Even getting interviews was tough going. I did get two interviews in Asia, one for Japanese Nihon-League 3 club, Blaublitz. The other was with a in Uzbekistan from Oliy Liga club, Paxtakor. On both occasions it was noted that the interviews went well, but there was no job offer. I was sort of hoping that I might be able to pick up a job in Gibraltar, but there were no opportunities forthcoming to manage there at that point. As the European Leagues start to come to a finish, jobs start to come up, and I seem to be spending a lot of my time at interviews across Southern Europe in particular. Job offers follow these interviews, one from Portugal with Sporting Club of Lisbon's affiliated `B' team. The team at the bottom of the Second Division in Gibraltar, Leo Parilla offer me the job, as do the club directly above them, Magpies FC. But the job I accepted that peaked my interest, is in Malta. Tarxien Rainbows FC have just finished 7th in the 12 team Maltese Premier League. The League is dominated by Valletta, Hibernians and Birkirkara. Negotiations over my contract took a while, but eventually I got what I wanted from them, a 2 year contract. I signed on the dotted line. I'm inheriting a squad that has six Brazilians, one of them is called Diego Maradona! The commute to Gibraltar for the International duty will now be shorter....and the weather is sure to be better than Iceland too.......

The club were founded in 1949, and hold a long established, and fierce rivalry with Hibernians. They have just one trophy in the cabinet, a Maltese First Division Title from 2008. They did reach the Cup Final this season, but were beaten by Vittoriosa Stars FC in extra time. We're playing at a semi-professional level, but the clubs finances are not so good. I can live with that as the club were upfront about it, and it appears to be the same situation for most of the clubs in this country. They want me to sign young players for the first team. We play at `Hibernians Ground', a 2,500 capacity stadium in Paola (Rahal Gdid), which as far as I can make out, we've inherited from Hibernians, and they are now playing at the National Stadium.

The managers of the rival clubs don't take long to `welcome' me to the island. Birkirkara's manager, Clive Mizzi, says he did a double take when he saw I'd been appointed to the job, and was astonished that Tarxien Rainbows couldn't find anyone better. Ouch! I told the reporter to tell Mizzi we'll see what he thinks about the appointment this time next year. Looks like the football here is going to have a bit of spice with it!

[CFuller]

Didn't see that coming! Good luck in Malta, Neil.

It seems that Clive Mizzi is the Tarxien Rainbows manager in real life, and has been since 2012. That'll only make things even spicier, I'm sure!

[neilhoskins77]

Didn't see that coming! Good luck in Malta, Neil.

It seems that Clive Mizzi is the Tarxien Rainbows manager in real life, and has been since 2012. That'll only make things even spicier, I'm sure!

Yeah, that's right mate. He was sacked by Tarxien in October 2013 in the save, and his replacement Oliver Spiteri left the club after failing to guide them into the top half of the table. Should make for an interesting season. Good to have you following again.

[neilhoskins77]

Apologies for the lack of updates for a week or so, I've been away for a family wedding and elected not to take the laptop.

Clive Mizzi clearly had no wish to continue the debate in the press, complaining at the reporters for asking questions that had nothing to do with his own club. The press seemingly don't share Mizzi's views on my talents as a manager, asking why I took a job in Malta when I could have gone to a higher ranking football nation. They may have me confused with someone else. The summer shopping was in full swing, the squad was overhauled drastically, most of the players brought in were foreigners that already played in Malta. The only Maltese players brought in were ones of the highest quality available.

The World Cup in Brazil was reaching it's latter stages, none of the home nations qualified for this tournament. Belgium defeated Holland by an odd goal in five in the Quarter-Finals, with Switzerland beating the host's by a single goal. Argentina squeezed past the Germans, while Mexico defeated the final African team remaining in the tournament, Ivory Coast. Both of the Semi-Finals were single goal affairs, Belgium beat Argentina, and the Swiss beat Mexico, to set up an all-European, and highly unlikely looking Final. But before that, we had our first pre-season friendly.

Thursday 10th July 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Gozo Stadium, Xewkija

Oratory Youths FC (2) 2 Tarxien Rainbows (1) 4

Scorers : Jonathan (36), Warren Zerafa (61), Simao (66), Pape Gueye (67)

Attendance : 28

Manuel Bartolo (Nicholas Vella 45); Ivan Carapic (Ibok Edet 45), Fernando Lopes (capt - Josef Mifsud 45), Leonardo Torri (Leonardo Gabrieli 45); Diego Maradona (Chikwadu Mbonu 45), Karl Pulo (Ian Zammit 45), Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 45); Yuri (Francisco Arrigada 45), Didier Tayou (Daniel Bueno 45); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Warren Zerafa 45); Jonathan (Pape Gueye 45).

Man of the Match : Joseph Thorne (Oratory Youths FC)

Our opening pre-season fixture was a trip to a non-League side, and it nearly became disastrous. A 3 man backline, 1 central midfielder with 2 wide midfielders, 2 attacking midfielders, and 2 strikers. Two goals down inside half an hour, and things were looking like they needed to be thought through again. Before the break, Jonathan pulled one back from close range. Just from watching that first half, it was clear to see that the players liked to play a short passing game naturally. The tactics were adjusted slightly, making the wide midfielders into out and out wingers, and the instructions were changed too. The second half made for much more comfortable viewing and we took total control, helped by the fresh legs of a full team change at the break too. Three goals in six minutes brought us a winning start to the schedule, and the boys were praised for their comeback, in an attempt to raise a bit of early season confidence.

[neilhoskins77]

Switzerland lift the World Cup, beating Belgium 2-1 in extra time, proof if it was needed that Sepp Blatter has now moved on to fixing football management sims! Belgium's striker, Romelu Lukaku was the top scorer in the tournament, finding the net on seven occasions. The Swiss manager promptly leaves his post, I guess there's only one way he can go with their national team after that achievement. Several other International posts also become available, but they are almost all with leading nations who had poor World Cups, the likes of Brazil, France, Spain and Uruguay. The only jobs that came up that it was worthwhile me applying for were the Azerbaijan job, that I wasn't considered for, and the Fiji job, that I decided to pass up.

Monday 14th July 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Centenary Stadium, Rabat

Mqabba (1) 1 Tarxien Rainbows (2) 4

Scorers : Jonathan (2,6), Daniel Bueno (56), Warren Zerafa (59)

Attendance : 15

Manuel Bartolo (Nicholas Vella 45); Ivan Carapic (Ibok Edet 45), Fernando Lopes (capt - Josef Mifsud 45), Leonardo Torri (Leonardo Gabrieli 45); Diego Maradona (Chikwadu Mbonu 45), Karl Pulo (Ian Zammit 45), Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 45); Yuri (Francisco Arrigada 45), Didier Tayou (Daniel Bueno 45); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Warren Zerafa 45); Jonathan (Pape Gueye 45 inj - Jean Paul Farrugia 47).

Man of the Match : Jonathan (Tarxien Rainbows)

Another trip to a non-League side, this time a much more comfortable affair. With the tactics used in the second half of the last game utilised from the outset, we scored twice early on, Brazilian striker Jonathan scoring with two powerful, well placed finishes. The home side quickly got one back, and that rounded out the scoring for the first half, but we were well in control. A full team change once again at the break, but Pape Gueye lasted only moments before coming off injured. Daniel Bueno got the goal of the game with a great shot from the corner of the box, and Zerafa showed great composure to get another pre-season marker. Gueye will miss up to a month with a gashed leg.

Brazilian striker, Jorge, leaves the club. He scored just 3 League goals in 22 appearances last season. Valued at around £40k, he is sold to Kuwait Premier League club, Al-Sulaibikhat SC, for £75k, a club record transfer fee received. The odds for the Maltese Premier League are in, with the bookies unlikely to make any losses, having the top six teams all at Evens or under...

4/6 co Favourites - Hibernians, Valletta, Birkirkara

4/5 - Sliema Wanderers

Evens - Mosta, Tarxien Rainbows

Thursday 17th July 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Centenary Stadium, Rabat

Zurrieq (0) 0 Tarxien Rainbows (1) 2

Scorers : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (32), Warren Zerafa (50)

Attendance : 18

Manuel Bartolo (Nicholas Vella 45); Ivan Carapic (Ibok Edet 45), Fernando Lopes (capt - Josef Mifsud 45), Leonardo Torri (Leonardo Gabrieli 45); Diego Maradona (Chikwadu Mbonu 45), Karl Pulo (Ian Zammit 45), Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 45); Yuri (Andrea Navarra 45), Didier Tayou (Daniel Bueno 45); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Warren Zerafa 45); Jonathan (Oluwafunmi Omoboy Ebiesuwa 45).

Man of the Match : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Tarxien Rainbows)

A step up in quality for our penultimate friendly, a trip back to the Centenary Stadium, this time to face Maltese First Division club, Zurrieq. Two very different goals, but neither lacking for quality. Cameroonian striker, Kooh Sohna opened the scoring with a piece of individual brilliance, lobbing the keeper superbly from 20 yards out. Shortly after half time, winger Simao curled an inch perfect cross beyond the defence to the far post, and Zerafa hooked a right footed volley into the far corner. A decent performance.

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 20th July 2014 - Pre-Season Friendly

Luxol Stadium, Pembroke

Pembroke Athleta FC (1) 3 Tarxien Rainbows (2) 2

Scorers : Yuri (25), Karl Pulo (34)

Attendance : 92

Manuel Bartolo (Nicholas Vella 67); Ivan Carapic (capt - Ibok Edet 67), Leonardo Gabrieli (Josef Mifsud 67), Leonardo Torri (Ratko Mandic 67); Diego Maradona (Chikwadu Mbonu 67), Karl Pulo (Ian Zammit 67), Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 67); Yuri (Andrea Navarra 67), Didier Tayou (Daniel Bueno 67); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Warren Zerafa 67); Jonathan (Oluwafunmi Omoboy Ebiesuwa 67).

Man of the Match : Joseph Cardona (Pembroke Athleta)

Our final pre-season game is against another First Division side, Pembroke Athleta. A goalmouth scramble following a corner, and it was Yuri who kept a calm head, sidefooting home. From a free kick on the left, Bogdanovic made out like he was going to send the ball across goal, but instead sidefooted it towards the penalty spot, Karl Pulo pulling the trigger and firing through the crowd of bodies. From there it was all downhill. Pembroke were happy to let us have the ball and counter attack us, and they did it effectively. They got a winner 4 minutes from time, the aptly named, Emerson Pace, outrunning the defence and sliding the ball beyond Nicholas Vella.

Two new players arrive to complete the squad for the season, including a move that destroyed the clubs record transfer fee paid out. The squad is a large one, but as most of the transfer fee received for Jorge was moved into the wage budget, the club is still within the Board's 39 year old Maltese scout, Jonathan Azzopardi, joins the ranks of the club's backroom staff.

Another group of International posts come up. Again, I send out my declaration of interest, feeling a little more optimistic this time. New Zealand, Colombia, Peru, Ghana, Nigeria and Algeria all caught my attention, and this time, the feedback was much more encouraging, with the three African teams all showing an interest in my services. Algeria step forward and offer the job as their National Team manager, with the job description of ensuring the team make it through the upcoming African Cup of Nations Qualifiers with a degree of comfort. They offer a wage of £1.4k per week. Job accepted, and I leave my post with Gibraltar Under-19's.

The National Team haven't won a game since beating South Africa in both legs of a Playoff to qualify for the World Cup in November 2013. A 7-0 hiding in Portugal wasn't exactly a perfect build up, and a 5-0 drubbing from Japan in the opening game in Brazil followed it. They did earn a credible draw with Holland next, but were beaten in their final Group game by Russia. They have Friendly games pencilled in with Slovenia, Libya, Croatia and Paraguay, but a look at the calendar suggests these games will be cancelled and replaced with African Cup of Nations Qualifiers, which should be scheduled by the end of August.

Gibraltar Under-19's Career Record :-

8th September 2013 - 27th July 2014

Games Played - 7. Won - 0. Drawn - 0. Lost - 7. Goals For - 2. Goals Against - 19. Goal Difference - -19. Win Percentage - 0%.

[neilhoskins77]

The draw is made for the Final Group Stages of the African Cup of Nations Qualifiers. The draw is quite favourable for us, as we get Kenya, Benin and Lesotho. The Group winners qualify for the Finals in the New Year. The ticket office announce that Tarxien Rainbows have sold 54 season tickets for the new League season. The new season is just days away, so it's time to introduce you to the Tarxien Rainbows squad for season 2014/15.

Goalkeepers :

Manuel Bartolo. Maltese. Uncapped. 132 club appearances. 0 appearances for Tarxien

GK. 30 years old. 6'3. Two year contract. £60 per week. Signed on a free from Balzan on 1/7/14

First choice keeper, has spent his entire career in Malta, all of his club appearances coming in the Premier League.

Nicholas Vella. Maltese. 1 Under-21 Cap. 56 club appearances. 46 appearances for Tarxien

GK. 24 years old. 6'0. One year contract. £55 per week. Signed on a free from Valletta in 2011

Last season's club captain, but this season will be understudy to his more experienced rival.

------------------------

Defenders :

Ivan Carapic. Montenegrin. Uncapped. 294 club appearances, 18 goals. 10 appearances for Tarxien, 0 goals

D(C,R). 32 years old. 6'2. One year contract. £110 per week. Signed on a free from Rabat Ajax FC on 2/6/14

Back for his second spell at the club, previously starting the 2008/09 season here. Vice-captain for the coming season.

Ryan Sammut. Maltese. 10 Under-21 caps. 67 club appearances, 2 goals. 45 appearances for Tarxien, 1 goal

D(R,L,C) DM/M©. 22 years old. 5'11. One year contract. £55 per week. Signed on a free from Mqabba in 2012

Unlikely to see much game time for the First Team, he's spent the last two seasons with the club.

Josef Mifsud. Maltese. 8 full caps. 248 club appearances, 2 goals. 26 appearances for Tarxien, 1 goal

D©. 29 years old. 6'0. Two year contract. £65 per week. Signed on a free from Sliema Wanderers on 1/7/14

Spent last season on loan with the club, and joined on a free when his contract with our Premier League rivals expired.

Ibok Edet. Nigerian. Uncapped. 44 club appearances, 2 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

D©. 24 years old. 5'11. Two year contract. £100 per week. Signed on a free from Floriana on 1/7/14

Started his career in Spain's lower divisions, before spending last season with Floriana, his first season in Malta.

Karl Micallef. Maltese. Uncapped. 6 club appearances, 0 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

D©. 17 years old. 6'2. Three year contract. £25 per week. Signed on a free from Pieta Hotspurs on 2/7/14

Spent last season in the First Division, his first season in senior football. Comes highly rated.

Ratko Mandic. Serbian. Uncapped. 15 club appearances, 1 goal. 4 appearances for Tarxien, 1 goal

D©. 21 years old. 6'2. Non-contract. Signed on a free from Zebbug Rangers in 2013

Already at his seventh club despite his young age, it's likely that Mandic will be looking for another club again soon.

Nicholas Camilleri. Maltese. Uncapped. 2 club appearances, 0 goals. 2 appearances for Tarxien

D©. 16 years old. 6'8. 4 year contract. £25 per week. Re-signed as a free agent on 23/6/14

Made 2 appearances for the club last season on a youth contract. Was brought back to the club after being set for release.

Fernando Lopes. Brazilian. Uncapped. 23 club appearances, 1 goal. 19 appearances for Tarxien, 1 goal

D© DM. 27 years old. 6'4. 1 year contract. £65 per week. Signed on a free from Rio Grande in 2013

This seasons club captain, bounced around in Hong Kong and Brazil before arriving in Malta last season.

Leonardo Torri. Italian. Uncapped. 17 club appearances, 0 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

D© DM. 20 years old. 6'0. 3 year contract. £55 per week. Signed on a free from Vittoriosa Stars on 1/7/14

Didn't make the grade at Livorno, last season was the first in Malta, winning the Cup, but getting relegated too.

Leonardo Gabrieli. Italian. Uncapped. 19 club appearances, 0 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

D,M©. 23 years old. 6'0. 3 year contract. £100 per week. Signed on a free from Qormi on 1/7/14

Another who spent his first season in Malta last campaign, previously with Viareggio in Serie C1/A.

-------------------------

Midfielders :

Dyson Falzon. Maltese. 1 full cap. 10 Under-21 caps, 2 goals. 242 club appearances, 31 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

D,WB,M,AM(L). 28 years old. 5'8. 3 year contract. £200 per week. Signed for £25k from Valletta on 21/7/14

The club's record transfer signing, has been at top team Valletta for 9 seasons. A good crosser of the ball

Roderick Bajada. Maltese. 11 full caps. 23 Under-21 caps, 1 goal. 277 club appearances, 28 goals. 25 appearances for Tarxien, 1 goal

M,DM©. 31 years old. 5'8. 1 year contract. £55 per week. Signed from Sliema Wanderers on a free in 2012

Joined the club and was a regular in 2012/13, but spent last season on loan to Qormi. Unlikely to feature much this season.

Fernando Giarrizo. Argentinian. Uncapped. 180 club appearances, 18 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

DM,M©. 29 years old. 6'1. 2 year contract. £100 a week. Signed from Floriana for £1.5k on 21/7/14

Played for numerous clubs in Argentina and Chile before arriving in Malta. A handful of non-League games with SKVW before signing for Floriana and making 18 appearances.

Karl Pulo. Maltese. 5 Under-21 caps. 136 club appearances, 15 goals. 62 appearances for Tarxien, 7 goals

M(L), AM(L,C). 25 years old. 5'7. 2 year contract. £55 per week. Signed from Birkirkara in 2011

A useful left winger, but could find opportunities limited since Falzon has arrived at the club.

Chikwado Mbonu. Nigerian. Uncapped. 22 club appearances, 2 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

M©. 20 years old. 5'8. Non-contract. Signed from Floriana on a free on 5/7/14

Looked to have a bit about him in the pre-season games, but the young Nigerian faces stiff competition for a First Team place.

Francisco Arrigada. Chilean. Uncapped. 21 club appearances, 0 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

M,AM©. 20 years old. 5'8. 3 year contract. £100 a week. Signed from Vittoriosa Stars on a free on 2/7/14

Arrived in Malta last summer, and appeared for 4 different clubs. Hopefully he'll be more settled here.

Diego Maradona. Brazilian. Uncapped. 18 club appearances, 3 goals. 17 appearances for Tarxien, 3 goals

M,AM,ST©. 26 years old. 5'6. 1 year contract. £160 per week. Signed on a free from Mosta in 2013

Was a pro for 10 years in Brazil and Italy before making a single appearance for Mosta in 2011/12.

Andrea Navarra. Italian. Uncapped. 39 club appearances, 5 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM(R,L,C). 20 years old. 6'3. 3 year contract. £100 per week. Signed on a free from Sliema Wanderers on 1/7/14

Played for a few Serie D clubs before arriving in Malta last season and playing half a dozen games for Sliema Wanderers.

Daniel Bogdanovic. Maltese. 41 full caps, 1 goal. 328 club appearances, 142 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM®,ST. 34 years old. 6'2. 1 year contract. £85 per week. Signed on a free from SKVW on 1/7/14

Super experienced winger, who has played in Tunisia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Italy. He arrived in England and played for Barnsley, Sheffield United, Blackpool, Rochdale and Notts County. He arrived back in Malta in 2012, spending most of last season with non-League SKVW, scoring 14 goals in 34 games.

Ian Zammit. Maltese. 1 full cap. 9 Under-21 caps, 1 goal. 239 club appearances, 59 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM(R,L),ST. 27 years old. 5'11. 2 year contract. £100 per week. Signed on a free from Valletta on 1/7/14

Talented winger, but has never got above domestic football on the island, and has just one cap when he should probably have more.

Simao. Brazilian. Uncapped. 97 club appearances, 24 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM®,ST. 25 years old. 5'8. 3 year contract. £45 per week. Signed on a free from Zabbar SP on 1/7/14

Well travelled since leaving Parana without an appearance to his name. Spent several years in Romania, before going to FC Dallas in the MLS. He went back to Brazil before playing non-League football last season in his first year in Malta.

Didier Tayou. Cameroonian. Uncapped. 39 club appearances, 6 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM©. 25 years old. 5'9. 3 year contract. £65 per week. Signed on a free from Mqabba on 1/7/14

Played for several clubs in Benin, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia before playing in Serbia's SuperLeague. He had very little impact before arriving in Malta, playing non-League football last season.

Daniel Bueno. Brazilian. Uncapped. 174 club appearances, 79 goals. 125 appearances for Tarxien, 72 goals

AM,ST©. 30 years old. 6'1. 1 year contract. £210 per week. Signed from Odra Wodzislaw in 2010

First arrived at Tarxien in 2008 from the Czech Republic, and netted 23 goals in as many League games. Left to go to Poland, but only stayed a season and came back to Tarxien the following season. A reliable and talented player, and a fan favourite here.

Ronaille Calheira. Brazilian. Uncapped. 177 club appearances, 49 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM,ST©. 30 years old. 5'10. 2 year contract. £120 per week. Signed from Leon de Huanuco in 2013

After several years traipsing around the Leagues in South America, he arrived at Tarxien in 2013 from Peru. He was loaned straight out to Birkirkara, but netted just 5 times in 31 games. May end up leaving before the season is too old.

Jean Paul Farrugia. Maltese. 1 full cap. 12 Under-21 caps, 2 goals. 102 club appearances, 27 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM,ST©. 22 years old. 6'0. 3 year contract. £90 per week. Signed on a free from Hibernians on 1/7/14

Was a one club man apart from a season on loan at Marsaxlokk. Could challenge the more established players for a First Team shot.

Yuri. Brazilian. Uncapped. 11 club appearances, 0 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

AM,ST©. 22 years old. 5'7. 2 year contract. £70 per week. Signed on a free from Mosta on 1/7/14

The young Brazilian's only senior football came in the Maltese Premier League last season. What he lacks in stature, he makes up for in passing and dribbling skill.

-------------------------------

Strikers :

Trayo Grozev. Bulgarian. Uncapped. 16 club appearances, 4 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

ST. 30 years old. 5'11. 2 year contract. £75 per week. Signed on a free from St Andrews FC on 1/7/14

This 30 year old never played a single senior game until last season, his second with St Andrews. His ratings suggest he should be capable of getting goals.

Warren Zerafa. Maltese. Uncapped. 45 club appearances, 4 goals. 11 appearances for Tarxien, 1 goal

ST. 22 years old. 6'1. 1 year contract. £40 a week. Joined Tarxien as a Youth in 2009

Spent last season on loan with non-League Mqabba. His pre-season form suggests who is capable of doing a job for the First Team.

Oluwafunmi Omoboy Ebiesuwa. Maltese. 8 Under-21 caps, 3 goals. 22 club appearances, 3 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

ST. 18 years old. 6'1. 3 year contract. £35 per week. Joined Tarxien on a free from Vittoriosa Stars on 27/6/14

Another who won a Cup winners medal but also suffered relegation with Stars last season. The young Maltese age group International with the Nigerian name, could be a wild card for us this season.

Raphael Alain Kook Sohna. Cameroonian. Uncapped. 46 club appearances, 25 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

ST. 24 year old. 5'10. 2 year contract. £75 per week. Joined Tarxien on a free from Pieta Hotspurs on 1/7/14

The striker has two seasons of senior football, both spent in the Maltese First Division. Hopefully his good scoring record can be carried on up in the Premier League.

Jonathan. Brazilian. Uncapped. 89 club appearances, 15 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

ST. 25 years old. 6'2. 3 year contract. £60 per week. Joined Tarxien on a free from St Georges on 1/7/14

This lad's large frame hides a great touch, and he should be scoring more goals than he has in his career so far. I'm confident he can do it here, most of his goals came in his time with Presov in the Slovakian Second Division.

Pape Gueye. Senegalese. Uncapped. 42 club appearances, 8 goals. 0 appearances for Tarxien

ST. 24 years old. 6'1. 3 year contract. £100 per week. Joined Tarxien on a free from Sliema Wanderers on 1/7/14

Didn't make the grade with Nancy or Bordeaux in France, and spent last season in non-League football here in Malta. Another big lad who can combine physical stature with good enough skills to make an impression in this League.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 16th August 2014 - Maltese Premier League

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Qormi (0) 1 Tarxien Rainbows (2) 4

Scorers : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (7,73), Didier Tayou (33), Daniel Bogdanovic (83)

Attendance : 302

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Fernando Lopes (capt), Leonardo Torri; Diego Maradona, Karl Pulo (Dyson Falzon 76), Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri (Daniel Bueno 76), Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Jonathan (Warren Zerafa 76).

Man of the Match : Daniel Bogdanovic (Tarxien Rainbows)

Our opening League game of the season is officially an away game, though this ground is actually our home stadium too. Qormi are slated to be no match for us today, and it was pretty apparent early on that we were the better of the two teams. Kooh Sohna didn't take too long to open his account for the club, reacting quickest to Karl Pulo's square ball from the left. Pulo was giving his marker a torrid time down that left side, and he tried another cross that took a huge deflection and floated towards the far post, Tayou arriving to head home and become the second Cameroonian on the scoresheet. Kooh Sohna added a second with a thumping close range header from Bogdanovic's corner, and the winger got the fourth himself, the ball rebounding to him on the left after an almighty goalmouth scramble, and his attempted cross to the far post dropped under the cross bar. Bartolo saw his clean sheet slip through his fingers, quite literally, failing to hold on to a tame low cross and Owen Bugeja got a close range consolation with seconds left in injury time.

Wednesday 20th August 2014 - Maltese Premier League

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (2) 4 Zebbug Rangers FC (1) 3

Scorers : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (10), Daniel Bogdanovic (27 pen), Didier Tayou (50), Jonathan (70)

Attendance : 89

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Fernando Lopes (capt), Leonardo Torri; Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 67), Karl Pulo (Dyson Falzon 67), Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 73); Yuri, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Jonathan.

Man of the Match : Jonathan Bajada (Zebbug Rangers)

Our first proper home game is against a team promoted from last season, and they were already beaten on the opening day. Kooh Sohna picked up his form quickly, a weak goal kick and Yuri heads beyond the defence to put him clear in on goal, and he finds the bottom corner. Tayou is brought down as he headed right to the byline, and Bogdanovic nets from the spot. With all looking well, Zebbug show the fighting spirit that would bug us all evening, pun intended. Jonathan Bajada stole in on the right of the box, Bartolo getting hands to the shot, but not able to keep it out of the top corner. Early in the second half, and Pulo does great work down the left, and sends the ball into the channel for Kooh Sohna. We're on the counter attack, and it's three on one. He squares the ball perfectly for Tayou, and he guides the ball home to restore the two goal advantage. Back they come again, a close range header from Michael Martin brings it back to a one goal game. Once again we hit on the counter, Bogdanovic plays Tayou in, and his cross found an unmarked Jonathan who lashed it into the roof of the net. Bajada nets again right after we make our final change, but we hold on....just! Two wins from two, and a good start. Clearly we can put the ball in the net, we just need to do some work on keeping it out of our own net now.

[neilhoskins77]

Saturday 23rd August 2014 - Maltese Premier League

Ta'Qali, Attard

Birkirkara (0) 1 Tarxien Rainbows (0) 1

Scorers : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (89)

Attendance : 242

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Fernando Lopes (capt), Leonardo Torri; Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 71), Karl Pulo (Dyson Falzon 71), Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri (Daniel Bueno 81), Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Jonathan.

Man of the Match : Gabriel (Birkirkara)

Our toughest test so far, an away day in the National Stadium against four times Champions, Birkirkara. Neither the bookies or the media could separate us, and as it turned out, neither could 90 minutes of football in 34c heat, which did nothing for the fitness of our lads, who were already suffering from some close together games and no squad rotation so far. There were times we were clinging on a bit, Bartolo bailing us out a few times with a couple of decent stops. We were also struggling to get much joy down their end, their back four proving tough to break down. We held them out until 15 minutes from time, and they finally get us. Pisani is sent in on goal, and lifts it over the advancing Bartolo. We look done, but as the 90 minutes is about to hit the clock, Bogdanovic slings the ball goalwards. It's going wide, and the keeper is looking to leave it drift out of play, unaware that Kooh Sohna hasn't given up on it, closing in and clipping it past the stunned goalie. We earn a point, though whether we deserve it is very much up for debate.

Wednesday 27th August 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (1) 5 Balzan (2) 3

Scorers : Daniel Bogdanovic (23 pen), Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (49), Didier Tayou (56), Simao (82,90+2)

Attendance : 103

Manuel Bartolo; Leonardo Gabrieli, Fernando Lopes (capt - Ibok Edet 77), Josef Mifsud; Fernando Giarrizo, Dyson Falzon, Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 77); Daniel Bueno, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Jonathan (Warren Zerafa 77).

Man of the Match : Jose Luis Armaro Negrin (Balzan)

With Mosta and Valletta not playing, we have an opportunity to push ourselves top of the table early in the season. Squad rotation was necessary for the game against mid table Balzan, a few players were desperately in need of a rest up. We didn't start well, opposition skipper Armaro Negrin glancing home a header from a corner after just 3 minutes. We got ourselves level midway through the half, Tayou felled in the box, Bogdanovic converting the penalty kick. But just before the break, we were caught on the counter, Carrillo breaking at speed on the left, his delivery to the near post found Armaro Negrin who found the net again. A stern lecture was given out at half time, the players told their performance wasn't acceptable. Their response was pretty impressive. Good passing through midfield had Jonathan into space in the box down the right channel, and his cross was inch perfect for Kooh Sohna to sidefoot an equaliser. It didn't take much longer to go in front, Bogdanovic beat his man and played a diagonal pass in to Tayou. His shot had plenty of power, and the keeper made a mess of it, trying to stop it with his feet and watching helplessly as it deflected into the roof of the net. Substitute Simao looked to have put the game beyond the visitors, reaching a lofted through ball from Gabrieli and beating the keeper with a low near post shot. With a few minutes remaining, we shipped another goal. Camilleri gave Mifsud the run around and his cross was perfect for Armaro Negrin. He should have had an easy finish for his hatrick, but his first touch was poor, and Gabrieli made a sliding tackle, but the ball rolled right to Carrillo who was left with a tap in. An anxious few moments followed, but with injury time running out, Falzon skinned his marker and put a cross over from the left that beat everyone in the middle, but Simao arrived at the far post to get his second and secure another three points. Josef Mifsud took a knock shortly after we made our changes. He finished the match, but has a thigh strain and will miss 4 to 5 weeks, ruling him out of Malta's upcoming European Championship Qualifier with Spain in a fortnight.

Speaking of Qualifiers, it's time to name my first squad for Algeria, as the games with Benin and Kenya approach.

 [b][i][u]Algeria Squad for African Cup of Nations Qualifiers with Benin & Kenya[/u][/i][/b]

| Pkd    | Inf    | Name              | Club                  | Team   | Caps   | Goals  | Yth Apps | Yth Gls| Value  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Michaël Fabre     | MC Alger              | Main   | 5      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £100K  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Raïs M'Bolhi      | FC Vaslui             | Main   | 33     | 0      | 0        | 0      | £275K  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      | IPR    | Jérôme Idir       | Chernomorets (Burgas) | Main   | 0      | 0      | 10       | 0      | £6.25K | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Liassine Cadamuro | R. Sociedad           | Main   | 13     | 0      | 0        | 0      | £1.6M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Madjid Bougherra  | Lekhwiya              | Main   | 59     | 4      | 0        | 0      | £525K  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      | IPR    | Mourad Satli      | Stade Malherbe Caen   | Main   | 1      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £2.2M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Faouzi Ghoulam    | Napoli                | Main   | 13     | 0      | 0        | 0      | £2M    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Carl Medjani      | Olympiakos            | Main   | 37     | 0      | 0        | 0      | £450K  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      | IPR    | Abdelhakim Omrani | Nîmes Olympique       | Main   | 0      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £1.8M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Nabil Bentaleb    | Tottenham             | Main   | 5      | 1      | 0        | 0      | £3.5M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Saphir Taïder     | Inter                 | Main   | 22     | 5      | 0        | 0      | £3.9M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Riyad Mahrez      | Leicester             | Main   | 8      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £3.8M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Idir Ouali        | New York              | Main   | 11     | 0      | 0        | 0      | £1.2M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      | Inj    | Walid Mesloub     | SC Bastia             | Main   | 7      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £2.3M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Foued Kadir       | OM                    | Main   | 27     | 3      | 0        | 0      | £2.1M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Sofiane Feghouli  | Man City              | Main   | 26     | 7      | 0        | 0      | £12M   | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Yacine Brahimi    | Granada               | Main   | 13     | 3      | 0        | 0      | £8.25M | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Ryad Boudebouz    | SC Bastia             | Main   | 30     | 3      | 0        | 0      | £3.7M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Ishak Belfodil    | Inter                 | Main   | 5      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £3.3M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Rafik Djebbour    | Nottm Forest          | Main   | 31     | 6      | 0        | 0      | £1.9M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Islam Slimani     | Sporting CP           | Main   | 24     | 9      | 0        | 0      | £1.2M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      |        | Nabil Ghilas      | FC Porto              | Main   | 13     | 2      | 0        | 0      | £3.3M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| -      | IPR    | Idriss Saadi      | Clermont Foot         | Main   | 0      | 0      | 0        | 0      | £1.4M  | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[neilhoskins77]

Three of the Tarxien roster are called up to International duty, but there are no full International call ups. Jean Paul Farrugia, Ryan Sammut and Oluwafunmi Omoboy Ebiesuwa are called up for Malta Under-21's games with Italy and Slovenia. But before either they, or myself, can focus on International duty, there are still two more League games to overcome before the International break. And the first is the fixture that Tarxien Rainbows fans consider the most important of the season, a local derby with fierce rivals, and current League Champions, neighbours Hibernians.

Saturday 30th August 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Ta' Qali, Attard

Hibernians (1) 2 Tarxien Rainbows (0) 0

Scorers : None

Attendance : 458

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Fernando Lopes (capt - inj - Leonardo Gabrieli 57), Leonrardo Torri; Diego Maradona, Dyson Falzon, Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri (inj - Didier Tayou 3), Daniel Bueno (inj - Karl Pulo 78); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Jonathan.

Man of the Match : Tarabai (Hibernians)

Our luck finally ran out. With hindsight, we probably should have continued with the squad rotation, but instead, we just elected for the strongest eleven. That side was forced into a change within moments as Yuri went down with an injury and needed to be replaced. Moments before half time and we fall behind, our defenders didn't appear to anticipate Failla clipping the free kick into the box, and Tarabai controlled, rounded the keeper, and scored. They almost got a controversial second. Lopes took a knock, Maradona tried to boot the ball into touch so he could get some treatment, but their winger kept the ball in play and launched an attack that required a spectacular save from Bartolo to prevent a two goal disadvantage, and a potential civil war. Lopes didn't last much further into the second half, and the game was pushed out of our reach when Elton connected with a header on the edge of the 6 yard box from Kristensen's cross. Game over.

The draw for the Second Round of the Maltese Cup is made. We are almost last out of the hat, getting a home tie with First Division side, Gzira United. That game will take place on Wednesday 17th September.

Tuesday 2nd September 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (0) 2 Msida St Joseph's (1) 1

Scorers : Francisco Arrigada (78), Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (86)

Attendance : 99

Manuel Bartolo; Ibok Edet, Leonardo Gabrieli (capt), Ryan Sammut; Fernando Giarrizo (inj - Chikwado Mbonu 63), Karl Pulo, Simao; Yuri (Andrea Navarra 63), Francisco Arrigada; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna, Warren Zerafa (Pape Gueye 73).

Man of the Match : Francisco Arrigada (Tarxien Rainbows)

The other team promoted from the First Division last season visit us, and the team is overhauled pretty radically for this game, with 8 changes to the starting lineup. Was it the lack of cohesion, or simply just a bad half? Either way, the first half was pretty dreadful, and we could count ourselves lucky to be only one goal down. Matthew Bartolo was at the heart of everything good that the visitors did, and when he swung in a free kick, Ariel Laudisi got enough of a touch to divert it beyond Manuel Bartolo and give the 11th placed side the advantage. The players emerged for the second half with their ears still ringing from the verbals they had suffered during the interval, but that didn't make much difference either. It was only when the changes were made that we started to pull ourselves together a bit. Firstly, debutant, Pape Gueye did a great job in not only keeping the ball in play at the byline, but finding Francisco Arrigada with his cutback, and the Chilean midfielder found the far corner of the net. Then inside the final 5 minutes, Simao got beyond his opposite number, and his floated cross found the always lurking, Kooh Sohna, who generated enough power on his downward header to find the net. We return to the top of the League, though others have games in hand on us. One thing is for sure, there will be occasions where we play considerably better than this, and get beat this season!

 [b][i][u]Maltese Premier Division - Wednesday 3rd September 2014[/u][/i][/b]


| Pos   | Inf   | Team        |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

[i][b][color="#000080"]| 1st   |       | Tarxien R.  |       | 6     | 4     | 1     | 1     | 16    | 11    | +5    | 13    | [/color][/b][/i]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2nd   |       | Mosta       |       | 4     | 3     | 1     | 0     | 11    | 2     | +9    | 10    | 

| 3rd   |       | Valletta    |       | 4     | 3     | 1     | 0     | 8     | 4     | +4    | 10    | 

| 4th   |       | Floriana    |       | 5     | 3     | 0     | 2     | 9     | 4     | +5    | 9     | 

| 5th   |       | Hibernians  |       | 4     | 3     | 0     | 1     | 7     | 2     | +5    | 9     | 

| 6th   |       | Sliema W.   |       | 5     | 2     | 2     | 1     | 5     | 5     | 0     | 8     | 

| 7th   |       | Naxxar L.   |       | 5     | 2     | 0     | 3     | 4     | 6     | -2    | 6     | 

| 8th   |       | Birkirkara  |       | 3     | 1     | 2     | 0     | 6     | 4     | +2    | 5     | 

| 9th   |       | Balzan      |       | 5     | 1     | 1     | 3     | 7     | 15    | -8    | 4     | 

| 10th  |       | Zebbug Ran. |       | 5     | 1     | 0     | 4     | 5     | 10    | -5    | 3     | 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
| 11th  |       | Msida SJ    |       | 6     | 0     | 2     | 4     | 6     | 12    | -6    | 2     | 

| 12th  |       | Qormi       |       | 4     | 0     | 0     | 4     | 1     | 10    | -9    | 0     | 

[neilhoskins77]

The draw is made for the Third Round of the Maltese Cup, despite only a handful of the Second Round games having taken place as yet. Should we get through our Second Round tie, we'll get a home tie against non-League opposition, either SKVW or St Georges. The press are reporting a downbeat mood in the Algerian camp as the players report to the hotel for International duty. I can't speak for the players, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge of moving into International football, and I'm pretty comfortable knowing that the country expects a straightforward Qualification phase. This is a huge opportunity. The opener is against the club expected to give us the biggest headache, Benin. We go into the game 46th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Benin are currently ranked 93rd. Two days before our game, our Under-20's play the first of a double header with their counterparts from Argentina, losing 4-2 in Cordoba.

Saturday 6th September 2014 - African Cup of Nations Qualifier, Group D

Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida

Algeria (2) 3 Benin (0) 2

Scorers : Sofiane Feghouli (9), Yacine Brahimi (40), Idriss Saadi (82)

Attendance : 35,000

Rais M'Bolhi; Carl Medjani, Madjid Bougherra (capt - Mourad Satli 75), Liassine Cadamuro; Saphir Taider, Faouzi Ghoulam (Ishak Belfodil 84), Ryad Boudebouz; Sofiane Feghouli, Yacine Brahimi; Islam Slimani, Nabil Ghilas (Idriss Saadi 75).

Man of the Match : Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria)

An entertaining game in front of a full house in Blida, but after a good first half showing, we nearly chucked it away in the second half. Feghouli put us ahead, playing a neat one-two with Slimani, and curling his shot into the far corner. Brahimi got the second five minutes before the interval, good play down the left sends Ghoulam to the byline, and while the Benin defence tried to make sure Slimani and Ghilas were marked, Brahimi drifted into the near post and planted a close range header home. The half time team talk consisted mainly of telling the players to keep up this good work and not to get complacent, which they weren't happy with. Ironic, as they did exactly that, and conceded a goal less than 10 minutes into the second half, everyone anticipating a cross to the near post, sub Rommy Boco left to sidefoot home at the far post. With the game tightening up, we go for fresh legs. Idriss Saadi was classed as a controversial call up when the squad was named. I was keen to get him on the pitch at some point as he was uncapped, French eligible, and scoring goals for his club. He took less than 10 minutes to find the net for his country on his debut, running off his markers shoulder to reach Feghouli's through ball, rounding the keeper and slotting home. Benin weren't quite ready to throw in the towel, scoring a bizarre goal with a few minutes left, Menessou drifting the ball in from the right, a striker, two defenders and the keeper all missing it and ball floating into the far corner. Kenya and Lesotho draw 0-0, so we have a slim lead already. The press report an improved mood in the camp, and an air of optimism ahead of the trip to Kenya. That will be dented slightly with the news that Sofiane Feghouli will miss the trip. It's only a stubbed toe, but it means he'll miss 5 or 6 days. The lad himself is a bit gutted too. His replacement in the squad is 29 year Valenciennes attacking midfielder, Damien Boudjemaa. He has one cap so far, but has had a good start to the season for his club.

A phone call from Malta when I arrived back at the team hotel took the shine off the day a little. Tarxien physio, Anthony Aquilini, informs me that winger, Karl Pulo, has suffered a sports hernia in training, and will miss up to 2 months of action. It's a shame, the lad was doing a pretty good job too. Algeria Under-20's didn't do quite so well in their second fixture with Argentina, losing 4-0 in Salta. Meanwhile, Malta Under-19's did very well to secure a 2-1 win over Belarus. The Senior side got a fantastic result, holding Spain to a 1-1 draw in their European Championship Qualifier at Ta' Qali, an injury time equaliser from Clayton Failla.

Wednesday 10th September 2014 - African Cup of Nations Qualifier, Group D

Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani

Kenya (2) 3 Algeria (2) 4

Scorers : Damien Boudjemaa (36,37,78), Islam Slimani (69)

Attendance : 41,981

Rais M'Bolhi; Carl Medjani, Madjid Bougherra (capt), Liassine Cadamuro; Saphir Taider (Foued Kadir 84), Faouzi Ghoulam, Ryad Boudebouz; Ishak Belfodil, Yacine Brahimi (inj - Damien Boudjemaa 26); Islam Slimani, Nabil Ghilas (Idriss Saadi 72).

Man of the Match : Damien Boudjemaa (Algeria)

Another goal-fest that we just come out on the right side of, but we are making life difficult for ourselves. We were two goals down by the midway point of the first half, George Odhiambo had already had a goal chalked off for offside when he stabbed home from close range, and Patrick Osiako headed home a second. Things looked like they were getting worse when Yacine Brahimi left the game with an injury. But his replacement was the man who changed the game, late call up to the squad, Damien Boudjemaa. Ten minutes after coming on he found the net with a 15 yard strike, and a minute later, he got another from the edge of the six yard box. At half time I told the players to keep going, and they would win. They didn't look happy with that, in fact, they didn't seem happy with anything I ever said. It's like we're speaking different languages sometimes! Slimani was a constant threat around the box, and you could see the Kenyan's were wary of the striker, and rightly so. He popped up in the 69th minute to head home off the underside of the bar from Boudebouz's swirling cross. But we were pegged back again, Victor Wanyama found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Two minutes later, and Boudjemaa broke their spirit, running onto a pass from Saadi, and sidefooting into the net to make it two from two, and put us in the driving seat in the group with a game against the minnows of Lesotho up next, they've just been beaten 3-0 in Benin.

 African Cup of Nations Qualifers, Group D - Thursday 11th September 2014


| Pos   | Inf   | Team    |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

[b][i][color="#000080"]| 1st   |       | Algeria |       | 2     | 2     | 0     | 0     | 7     | 5     | +2    | 6     | [/color][/i][/b]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2nd   |       | Benin   |       | 2     | 1     | 0     | 1     | 5     | 3     | +2    | 3     | 

| 3rd   |       | Kenya   |       | 2     | 0     | 1     | 1     | 3     | 4     | -1    | 1     | 

| 4th   |       | Lesotho |       | 2     | 0     | 1     | 1     | 0     | 3     | -3    | 1     | 

[neilhoskins77]

Sunday 14th September 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (1) 3 Floriana (1) 1

Scorers : Yuri (11), Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (62), Didier Tayou (78)

Attendance : 94

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Dyson Falzon, Leonardo Torri (Leonardo Gabrieli 78), Fernando Lopes (capt); Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 78), Ian Zammit, Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri, Didier Tayou (Daniel Bueno 78); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Didier Tayou (Tarxien Rainbows)

It's back to Malta, and right back into club action, a busy schedule of four consecutive home games for Tarxien. With goals being conceded by the bucket load in both club and international games, I have to admit defeat with the 3 man defence, and go to a more conventional back four. The extra man comes from the top, sacrificing one of the strikers to achieve the back four. Other than that, it's the same formation, so we now look like a Christmas tree. Yuri forced a smart stop from the keeper, and headed just the wrong side of the post before eventually finding the net, heading home Maradona's free kick at the far post in the 11th minute. Floriana got themselves level on half hour with a good counter attack. They struck following a corner that we wasted and Ekani sent the ball right down into the corner. Diogo didn't give up the chase, and got fortunate when he tried to buy a corner off Tayou, but the ball beat him, and Veloso was in the box with the ball. As defenders attempted to fling themselves in front of the expected shot, he pushed it across goal to Rodrigo Galvao who wasn't likely to miss from 8 yards out. At half time we told the lads they were unlucky not to be ahead, and to go finish the job. Kooh Sohna is becoming an increasingly vital cog in our team, and with just a lone striker now, the pressure will be on the Cameroonian. He didn't show any signs of it bothering him, putting us back in front. Fernando Lopes broke up play with a perfectly timed sliding tackle, and found Bogdanovic. The winger linked well with Tayou, and his lofted pass broke the offside trap, Kooh Sohna taking the ball down on his chest, waiting out the keeper, and picking his spot inside the far post. Tayou wrapped the game up, Bartolo's long goal kick bounced beyond everyone, and he ran onto it and surprised the keeper with an early shot that found the corner. A good display.

The early season feud with former Tarxien Rainbows manager, Clive Mizzi, hasn't lasted too long into the new season. Mizzi is sacked by Birkirkara on 16th September with the club losing their last two games by a 1-0 scoreline, and only taking one win in the last five games, the club currently in 9th place with just 5 points so far. The two victories with Algeria in the Qualifiers give us a boost in the rankings, nudging us up to 41st.

Wednesday 17th September 2014 - Maltese Cup, Second Round

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (2) 5 Gzira United (1) 1

Scorers : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (32,53), Didier Tayou (45), Daniel Bueno (70), Daniel Bogdanovic (87)

Attendance : 73

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Dyson Falzon (Ryan Sammut 60), Leonardo Torri, Fernando Lopes (capt); Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 60), Ian Zammit (Simao 60), Daniel Bogdanovic; Daniel Bueno, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Tarxien Rainbows)

With just one change made to give Yuri a bit of a breather, plain sailing was expected in this game. It was a bit of a shock when Axl Xureb bundled the ball home from close range to give the First Division side the lead. We needn't have worried, the players had things well under control. Kooh Sohna placed an angled finish to level things up, and bang on half time Didier Tayou netted his 5th of the season, profiting from build up work by Maradona and Kooh Sohna. The latter got his second of the night early in the second half with a close range volley, and the gloss was added by Daniel Bueno's first goal of the season, and a Daniel Bogdanovic free kick late on. A comfortable victory puts us into the Third Round to face SKVW in early November.

Sunday 21st September 2014 - Maltese Premier League

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (0) 2 Mosta (2) 3

Scorers : Ian Zammit (66), Simao (82)

Attendance : 108

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic (Ryan Sammut 73), Dyson Falzon, Leonardo Torri (Leonardo Gabrieli 59), Fernando Lopes (capt); Diego Maradona, Ian Zammit, Daniel Bogdanovic (Simao 59); Daniel Bueno, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Manolito Micallef (Mosta)

A top of the table clash, set amongst the backdrop of Mosta's manager potentially managing his last game for the club after apparently throwing his hat into the ring for the vacant job at Birkirkara. With the visitors only 3 points behind us, a win for them today would leave them level on points but with two games in hand, and Valletta are in the same position too. Maybe the Mosta players wanted to convince their manager to stay, and we were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but we got steamrollered for an hour. They undid our defence 10 minutes before the break, a great passing move allowed them to find N'dekre unmarked 10 yards out, he kept his half volley low and found the bottom corner. As the interval approached, Ivan Carapic coughed up the ball on the right, Galea took possession in midfield and found Micallef and he fired across the keeper to double the advantage. I asked the lads for more effort, but all I got was an action replay of the second goal, Micallef repeating the finish to make it 3-0. Changes were made, and we started to get a foothold in the game. Yuri headed down a cross and Ian Zammit found the net. Simao took possession on the edge of the box and crashed a low drive inside the near post to give us a fighting chance with less than ten minutes remaining. But we couldn't find a leveller, and I have to remind myself that we are punching above our weight when fighting at the top end of the table. Valletta win too, and they also go level on points with us.

[neilhoskins77]

In midweek, our rivals Hibernians do us a favour by winning at Mosta. Valletta win though, and they are now the leaders, and our next opponents. Qormi finally get their first win of the campaign at the eighth attempt, winning 2-1 at Balzan In Iceland, IR produce a last day win at Fylkir to stay up by a point. Good to see that they secured their status in the First Division for another season, and hopefully they can push on.

Sunday 28th September 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (1) 4 Valletta (1) 2

Scorers : Didier Tayou (21), Leonardo Torri (56), Daniel Bogdanovic (79), Yuri (90)

Attendance : 135

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Ryan Sammut, Fernando Lopes (capt - Josef Mifsud 78), Leonardi Torri (Leonardo Gabriele 78); Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 78), Ian Zammit, Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Daniel Bogdanovic (Tarxien Rainbows)

A visit from last season's runners-up, and this season's current leaders. But this was a tired looking Valletta side. They arrived for the Sunday afternoon fixture after playing on Wednesday evening and Friday afternoon. This was a big chance for us to pick off one of the big teams, and keep them from extending their lead over us even further. It started well, Kooh Sohna playing in Tayou, who waltzed around the keeper and shot low into the net for a 21st minute lead. That lead lasted less than two minutes, Jorginho drilling a free kick from just outside the box that was too hot for Bartolo to handle. Two minutes into the second half and we fell behind. Valletta played keep ball, eventually freeing Nafti down the right, his low cross reached Conde, his shot deflected off the unfortunate Torri and wrong-footed Bartolo. We dug in, and just as Valletta had, we hit back, a corner headed only partially clear, Ryan Sammut laid it on for Torri, and he fired into the far corner to level it up. As the game reached it's latter stages, Valletta were visibly tiring, and fresh legs were summoned, mainly to ensure we didn't get caught on a counter. But Giarrizo had other ideas, playing a beautiful diagonal ball to take out their whole defence, and play in Bogdanovic. He didn't even consider bringing it down, hitting it first time and watching it go beyond the reach of their keeper. Valletta tried everything to get back level, but they got caught on the break themselves. Kooh Sohna was kept off the scoresheet, but he was still and influential player, and he combined with Ian Zammit to set up Yuri, who couldn't miss from close range. We're still hanging in there at the sharp end, but the Champions are coming, Hibernians have set themselves on a great run, and are hunting down the teams in front of them.

Brazilian forward, Ronaille Calheira is not happy about his lack of first team football. He's told he isn't part of the plans here, and the 30 year old is put on the transfer list. A move is quickly arranged, Brazilian non-League side, Moto Club, pay the £41.5k asking price, and the deal is done with Calheira heading back to his homeland in the New Year. Pape Gueye is also becoming disenchanted with life at the club. I'd like to keep him around, but with the striker slots now down to one, he's unlikely to move Kooh Sohna from the side. The queue of players eager to have their say about their lack of playing time is increasing by the day, with defender Ibok Edet next to the office. The chat didn't go well with him, and the Nigerian hands in a transfer request that is accepted. He's quickly followed by Andrea Navarra, with his chat going exactly the same way. On the day of our League game away to Zebbug Rangers, the squads are announced by Malta for the next round of Internationals. It's the same three players as last time in the age group squads, with the added bonus of Ian Zammit being called up to the Senior squad for the Internationals with Serbia and Albania. I'm due to announce Algeria's squad for our next two Qualifiers tomorrow.

Thursday 2nd October 2014 - Maltese Premier League

Centenary Stadium, Rabat

Zebbug Rangers FC (0) 0 Tarxien Rainbows (1) 2

Scorers : Ian Zammit (24), Daniel Bogdanovic (49 pen)

Attendance : 88

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic (capt), Dyson Falzon (Ryan Sammut 71), Leonardo Gabrieli, Leonardo Torri; Diego Maradona, Ian Zammit, Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri (inj - Daniel Bueno 20), Didier Tayou (Fernando Giarrizo 71); Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Daniel Bogdanovic (Tarxien Rainbows)

With Valletta playing, and winning, on the Wednesday night, we head to Rabat the following evening to take on a Zebbug Rangers side that are doing a reasonably good job of keeping their noses out of the relegation places for now. We're without skipper, Fernando Lopes, suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the season in the win over Valletta. Both Kooh Sohna and Ian Zammit hit the same post within a couple of seconds of each other early on, the strikers glanced header hitting the upright, Zammit checking it was still strong enough by thumping the rebound right back against it. Yuri was taken off with an injury after 20 minutes, Daniel Bueno his replacement. It was Zammit who broke the deadlock just over midway through the first half, sneaking in at the far post to powerfully half volley Daniel Bogdanovic's deep cross. A minute later, midfielder Maradona picked up a booking for a pretty cynical foul as Zebbug looked to break, and before the half hour mark he was taking a walk back to the dressing room after a reckless and unnecessary challenge on the halfway line. Now we looked up against it, the home side looking to pour forward. No change of tactics for the moment, I don't like our chances of defending this slender lead for an hour if we sit back straight away. The decision was vindicated early in the second half, Kooh Sohna took possession on the edge of the box and rolled his marker, who simply kicked him up in the air. Bogdanovic converts from the spot. With 20 minutes left, Tayou is sacrificed to bring Giarizzo on in a deep role, and Bueno is asked to sit in the midfield. We see the game out without too many concerns, Bartolo making a good stop from a close range header with 5 minutes left. Maradona is shocked to get an official warning following his sending off. Personally, I think he should count himself lucky I didn't fine him.

With two home games to come for Algeria, I bring a new name into the squad, 19 year old uncapped Zakarie Labidi. The Olympique Lyon midfielder declared himself surprised and nervous to be named in the squad, but he's played well in the outings he has made for his French side. The media greet the news of his call-up with howls of derision, stating he isn't good enough to be part of the squad. Interestingly, they said the same about Idriss Saadi last time out.

 [b][i][u]Algeria squad for African Cup of Nations Qualifiers against Lesotho & Kenya[/u][/i][/b]

| Name              | Age      | Position | Club                | Height   | Value    | Caps     | Goals    | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Michaël Fabre     | 30       | GK       | MC Alger            | 5'11"    | £95K     | 5        | 0        | 
| Raïs M'Bolhi      | 28       | GK       | FC Vaslui           | 6'3"     | £325K    | 35       | 0        | 
| Alexandre Oukidja | 26       | GK       | Stade Lavallois MFC | 6'1"     | £825K    | 1        | 0        | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Liassine Cadamuro | 26       |D(RLC)M(R)| R. Sociedad         | 6'2"     | £1.4M    | 15       | 0        | 
| Madjid Bougherra  | 31       | D (C)    | Lekhwiya            | 6'3"     | £475K    | 61       | 4        | 
| Mourad Satli      | 24       | D (C)    | Stade Malherbe Caen | 6'2"     | £2.3M    | 2        | 0        | 
| Carl Medjani      | 29       | D (C), DM| Olympiakos          | 6'0"     | £450K    | 39       | 0        | 
| Aïssa Mandi       | 22       | D/WB (RL)| Stade de Reims      | 6'0"     | £3.1M    | 17       | 0        | 
| Faouzi Ghoulam    | 23       | D/WB (L) | Napoli              | 6'1"     | £2.1M    | 15       | 0        | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Nabil Bentaleb    | 19       | DM, M (C)| Tottenham           | 6'2"     | £3.5M    | 5        | 1        | 
| Saphir Taïder     | 22       | M (RC)   | Inter Milan         | 5'11"    | £4M      | 24       | 5        | 
| Riyad Mahrez      | 23       |M(R)AM(RL)| Leicester           | 5'10"    | £3.9M    | 8        | 0        | 
| Zakarie Labidi    | 19       |M(L)AM(LC)| Olympique Lyonnais  | 5'11"    | £205K    | 0        | 0        | 
| Walid Mesloub     | 29       |M(C)AM(RC)| SC Bastia           | 5'11"    | £2.4M    | 7        | 0        | 
| Damien Boudjemaa  | 29       |M(C)AM(RC)| Valenciennes FC     | 5'8"     | £2.3M    | 2        | 3        | 
| Foued Kadir       | 30       | M/AM (RC)| Olympique Marseilles| 5'10"    | £2M      | 28       | 3        | 
| Yacine Brahimi    | 24       | M/AM (LC)| Granada             | 5'9"     | £8.25M   | 15       | 4        | 
| Ryad Boudebouz    | 24       | AM (RLC) | SC Bastia           | 5'10"    | £3.8M    | 32       | 3        | 
| Ishak Belfodil    | 22       |AM(L)ST(C)| Inter Milan         | 6'4"     | £3.1M    | 7        | 0        | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rafik Djebbour    | 30       | ST (C)   | Nottm Forest        | 6'1"     | £1.8M    | 31       | 6        | 
| Islam Slimani     | 26       | ST (C)   | Sporting CP         | 6'1"     | £825K    | 26       | 10       | 
| Nabil Ghilas      | 24       | ST (C)   | FC Porto            | 6'1"     | £3.4M    | 15       | 2        | 
| Idriss Saadi      | 22       | ST (C)   | Clermont Foot       | 5'11"    | £1.5M    | 2        | 1        | 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[neilhoskins77]

Hibernians continue their fine form, beating Valletta 3-1 on the Saturday afternoon, while Birkirkara are pulled a little further into the mire, dropping to 10th after losing to Msida St Joseph's, who leapfrog them up to 9th. Dyson Falzon is added to the Malta squad for their Qualifiers after a couple of injuries in the original squad.

Sunday 5th October 2014 - Maltese Premier League

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (3) 4 Qormi (1) 2

Scorers : Didier Tayou (12), Ian Zammit (14), Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (42,55)

Attendance : 137

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Ryan Sammut, Fernando Lopes (capt), Leonardo Torri (Leonardo Gabriele 66); Fernando Giarrizo, Ian Zammit (Simao 66), Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri (Daniel Bueno 66), Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Tarxien Rainbows)

The final League game before the International break, and a visit from bottom of the table club, Qormi. Dyson Falzon joined Diego Maradona in being suspended for this one. It was a reasonably comfortable evening for us, a couple of early goals settled us down pretty quickly. Kooh Sohna headed the ball down to Yuri, and he played a nicely weighted pass into Tayou, who gave the keeper no chance to open up the scoring. Ian Zammit added the second within minutes, Yuri again the man to tee him up, finding him with a precise pass into the left channel of the box, and Zammit firing across the keeper. Qormi got one back, Manuel Bartolo would have been disappointed that a pretty weak effort from Bezziccheri beat him. Before half time, Kooh Sohna restored the two goal advantage with the best goal of the game, curling an effort into the top corner from the edge of the area. He added another 10 minutes into the second half, expertly chesting down Bogdanovic's cross and tucking the ball just under the crossbar. D'Aniello got one back, connecting with a screamer from the edge of the box that just cleared Bartolo and bounced in via the underside of the bar. They weren't able to trouble us any further, and we return to the top of the table. In Malta, as in Spain's La Liga, the goal difference makes no difference, teams level on points are split by head to head, sending us ahead for now due to our win over Valletta a few weeks ago. Valletta played again on the Monday evening, beating Zebbug Rangers convincingly, 4-0.

 [b][i][u]Maltese Premier Division - Tuesday 7th October 2014[/u][/i][/b]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team        |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

| 1st   |       | Valletta    |       | 12    | 9     | 1     | 2     | 32    | 18    | +14   | 28    | 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
[b][i][color="#000080"]| 2nd   |       | Tarxien R.  |       | 11    | 8     | 1     | 2     | 31    | 19    | +12   | 25    | [/color][/i][/b]

| 3rd   |       | Sliema W.   |       | 11    | 6     | 2     | 3     | 16    | 13    | +3    | 20    | 

| 4th   |       | Hibernians  |       | 8     | 6     | 1     | 1     | 16    | 7     | +9    | 19    | 

| 5th   |       | Mosta       |       | 9     | 6     | 1     | 2     | 18    | 9     | +9    | 19    | 

| 6th   |       | Floriana    |       | 11    | 6     | 0     | 5     | 16    | 13    | +3    | 18    | 

| 7th   |       | Naxxar L.   |       | 12    | 5     | 0     | 7     | 17    | 17    | 0     | 15    | 

| 8th   |       | Zebbug Ran. |       | 11    | 4     | 0     | 7     | 16    | 25    | -9    | 12    | 

| 9th   |       | Msida SJ    |       | 12    | 2     | 3     | 7     | 11    | 20    | -9    | 9     | 

| 10th  |       | Birkirkara  |       | 9     | 2     | 2     | 5     | 11    | 13    | -2    | 8     | 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
| 11th  |       | Balzan      |       | 9     | 1     | 1     | 7     | 11    | 25    | -14   | 4     | 

| 12th  |       | Qormi       |       | 9     | 1     | 0     | 8     | 6     | 22    | -16   | 3     | 

Andrea Navarra has been fined a weeks wages for going AWOL from training. The Italian attacking midfielder is on the transfer list, and has been actively shopped around to other teams, but there are no takers at this point who are willing to meet his asking price. Malta's age group teams are both beaten on the Thursday evening, but Algeria Under-20's do get a win, beating Zimbabwe 3-1.

Saturday 11th October 2014 - African Cup of Nations Qualifiers, Group D

Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida

Algeria (2) 3 Lesotho (0) 0

Scorers : Yacine Brahimi (9), Ryad Boudebouz (41), Mohapi Lekhooa (66 o.g)

Attendance : 35,000

Rais M'Bolhi; Liassine Cadamuro (Aissa Mandi 73), Faouzi Ghoulam, Madjid Bougherra (capt), Carl Medjani; Saphir Taider (Damien Boudjemaa 73), Ishak Belfodil, Ryad Boudebouz; Yacine Brahimi (Foued Kadir 87), Nabil Ghilas; Islam Slimani.

Man of the Match : Ryad Boudebouz (Algeria)

Maybe not the landslide victory that was expected, but an efficient performance that kept our advantage at the top of the group with Benin winning over Kenya. Saphir Taider played a great ball wide to send Ryad Boudebouz one on one with his marker on the right. He turned the defender inside out, before playing a low cross to the near post that Yacine Brahimi got to in front of the defence and found the net. Boudebouz got the second himself, a perfect free kick from the right corner of the penalty box that found the top corner. Thabo Ntobo picked up two yellow cards in the space of three minutes just after the hour mark to give Lesotho even more to think about, and the ball was in the net again moments later, Belfodil got to the byline, and his cutback cross was put into his own net by Lekhooa, saving Islam Slimani the bother. With the ref getting increasingly more card happy, the players who had been booked are substituted, and we cruise to the final whistle.

I'm starting to get used to phone calls from Malta with bad news while I'm away on International duty. Assistant Manager, Steven Vella calls to advise that Jonathan has gone AWOL from training. This is becoming a habit from the players who are not getting regular First Team football and have already expressed their desire to leave. He gets a fine of a weeks wages, which he accepts without comment. Our three Malta age group Internationals all got 45 minutes each in the 2-0 defeat against Kazakhstan. Dyson Falzon and Ian Zammit both come on as substitutes for Malta to earn their second and third caps respectively in the 2-0 defeat to Albania. Before the game with Kenya, we learn that we've dropped back down to 44th in the latest FIFA World Rankings.

Wednesday 15th October 2014 - African Cup of Nations Qualifiers, Group D

Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida

Algeria (0) 2 Kenya (0) 0

Scorers : Nabil Ghilas (49 pen), Yacine Brahimi (59)

Attendance : 35,000

Rais M'Bolhi; Liassine Cadamuro, Faouzi Ghoulam, Madjid Bougherra (capt - Mourad Satli 65), Carl Medjani; Saphir Taider, Ishak Belfodil (Riyad Mahrez 86), Ryad Boudebouz; Yacine Brahimi (inj - Idriss Saadi 65), Nabil Ghilas; Islam Slimani.

Man of the Match : Ryad Boudebouz (Algeria)

Ryad Boudebouz once again took centre stage, the winger was the catalyst for a win over a well organised Kenya side. A frustrating first half, we didn't create enough, and when we did get shots away Slimani shoved a defender to have his effort cancelled out, and Boudebouz rattled the crossbar with a free kick. At the break the lads were told that I knew they had more to give, and we needed to see it. They reacted well, it's starting to feel like they have a little belief in me as well. Boudebouz floated a free kick into the box, Slimani was being held, and the ref awarded the spot kick. Nabil Ghilas confidently dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to give us a precious lead. And 10 minutes later, we doubled it. Again, Boudebouz was involved, skinning his marker on the right. Slimani headed for the near post, but the cross was behind him, sitting up perfectly for the arriving Yacine Brahimi to sweep home. Benin beat Lesotho by the same score, and we visit them next, knowing a win will guarantee our place at the Finals in the New Year. Ghana have secured their place, joining hosts Morocco. There isn't much time to digest this round of Qualifiers, it's straight back to Malta, as Tarxien have two big games in the next 3 days.

 [b][i][u]African Cup of Nations Qualifiers, Group D - Thursday 16th October 2014[/u][/i][/b]

| Pos   | Inf   | Team    |       | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 

[b][i][color="#000080"]| 1st   |       | Algeria |       | 4     | 4     | 0     | 0     | 12    | 5     | +7    | 12    | [/color][/i][/b]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
| 2nd   |       | Benin   |       | 4     | 3     | 0     | 1     | 9     | 4     | +5    | 9     | 

| 3rd   |       | Kenya   |       | 4     | 0     | 1     | 3     | 4     | 8     | -4    | 1     | 

| 4th   |       | Lesotho |       | 4     | 0     | 1     | 3     | 0     | 8     | -8    | 1     | 

[neilhoskins77]

Thursday 16th October 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Ta' Qali, Attard

Sliema Wanderers (0) 1 Tarxien Rainbows (4) 6

Scorers : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (11,28,39), Glenn Zammit (20 o.g, 62 o.g), Didier Tayou (90)

Attendance : 85

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic, Dyson Falzon, Fernando Lopes (capt - Josef Mifsud 70), Leonardi Torri (inj - Leonardo Gabrieli 70); Diego Maradona, Ian Zammit, Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Daniel Bueno 70).

Man of the Match : Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna (Tarxien Rainbows)

I'll never disclose the name of the staff member who was put in charge or match preparation while I was away with the Algerian team, for fear of that person taking my job! We should also be thankful for some biblically horrendous goalkeeping from Wanderers number one, Glenn Zammit. Manuel Bartolo hoofed an extra long clearance downfield that Yuri flicked on, Didier Tayou appeared to be impeded by a defender, but the ref was spared making a decision by Kooh Sohna lifting the ball over the keeper. In the 20th minute, Maradona whipped a corner into the near post, defender Chircop tried to get it clear, only managing to push the ball towards his own goal. Keeper, Zammit, picked it up, fell backwards, and dropped the ball into his own net. Less than 10 minutes later, and good play down the left by Ian Zammit, who sent Yuri into the box. He cut the ball back to Kooh Sohna who made no mistake from 5 yards out, and completed his treble before the interval, Yuri again the provider. With a 4 goal half time cushion, there wasn't a great deal that needed saying. Wanderers did pull a goal back right at the start of the second half, Yuri losing out to Debattista in midfield, Ohawuchi playing Ciantar into space, and his finish beating Bartolo. I couldn't even tell you how Glenn Zammit managed a second own goal just after the hour, Bogdanovic with a cross, Yuri shot against the keeper from close range, and with the ball trickling towards the goal, tried to slide back to stop it, kicking it over the goal-line in the process. Didier Tayou wrapped up the scoring, hitting a shot from the edge of the area against the keeper, who was near the penalty spot. The beleaguered nettie tried to push it over the bar, only pushing it up into the air, and laying prone on the grass and forced to watch as it dropped inside the 6 yard box, and trickled into the net. The third place team have been humiliated at their own ground, perhaps fortunate that there was hardly anyone there to watch. Fernando Lopes has picked up another suspension. In this League, you miss a game after 2 bookings, and after that, you get another suspension for every yellow card you pick up. It's a good thing we have some squad depth. Even more so with the news that Leonardo Torri will miss the next week or so with a damaged elbow.

Hibernians great run is finally ended with a 1-0 defeat at Floriana. We're straight back into League action just two nights after the win at Sliema Wanderers, a home game with Birkirkara, who are still fighting at the wrong end of the table.

Saturday 18th October 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Hibernians Ground, Paola (Rahal Gdid)

Tarxien Rainbows (0) 1 Birkirkara (0) 1

Scorers : Daniel Bogdanovic (90 pen)

Attendance : 100

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic (capt), Dyson Falzon; Leonardo Gabrieli, Josef Mifsud; Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 67), Ian Zammit (inj - Simao 86), Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri (Daniel Bueno 67), Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Gabriel (Birkirkara)

Our second game in 48 hours, and missing our first choice centre back pairing, it wasn't a big shock that we looked off the boil a little in this one, and I'm happy to take the point that we rescued late on. Kooh Sohna looked a little more off his game that the rest of his team-mates, missing out best opportunity of the first half, blazing over from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy. At half time the players are told that they just need a goal, but it was Birkirkara who struck. Darryl Martinelli sent a header that looked to be going harmlessly wide. Michael Camilleri popped up from nowhere to divert it goalwards with a deft header. He had to be offside, but the flag stayed down, and we're a goal down in the 53rd minute. We make some changes with Maradona and Yuri in particular flagging badly, but we couldn't find an equaliser. Ian Zammit is forced off with around 5 minutes left, and his replacement Simao, sets off down the left. His cross was met by Tayou who beat the keeper but saw the effort hit the crossbar. As the ball dropped, Bogdanovic was in the perfect place, waiting for the ball to drop and surely get the goal that would earn us a point, but he's clattered before getting the chance. A stone wall penalty, and Bogdanovic picks himself up from the grass, and shows composure to level the game and secure what could be a valuable point. Valletta and Mosta play out a 2-2 draw the following night, meaning we retain our lead at the top of the table for the time being at least. Mosta follow that up with a 3-1 defeat at home to Qormi. We're a third of the way into the season, and teams are dropping points that could be vital.

Wednesday 22nd October 2014 - Maltese Premier Division

Luxol Stadium, Pembroke

Msida St Joseph (0) 1 Tarxien Rainbows (1) 2

Scorers : Daniel Bogdanovic (13 pen, 67)

Attendance : 96

Manuel Bartolo; Ivan Carapic (Ryan Sammut 68), Dyson Falzon, Fernando Lopes (capt), Leonardo Gabrieli; Diego Maradona (Fernando Giarrizo 68), Karl Pulo (Simao 79), Daniel Bogdanovic; Yuri, Didier Tayou; Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna.

Man of the Match : Daniel Bogdanovic (Tarxien Rainbows)

The hosts had 10 men for a large part of this game, but I have no idea why it wasn't 9 men. Didier Tayou was clean into the box, Pellegrino Albanese mistimed his challenge. The ref gave the penalty kick, but only showed Albanese a yellow card. Bogdanovic is reliable from the spot, and found the net to put us in front. This ref wasn't shy about showing the cards booking another pair of home players before the half hour. With ten minutes remaining before the break, Tayou was put through again. This time he was felled outside the box, but there were no covering defenders etc, and Shaun Gauci got his marching orders. The ten men got level in the early stages of the second half, Stephane Banzio picked up the ball just outside the box, but with two covering defenders, the danger looked minimal. A little trick wrong footed those defenders, and the shot into the top corner was worthy of a much bigger stage than he had here. It was left to Bogdanovic to once again come to our rescue, his right footed free kick to the left of centre cleared the wall before dipping inside the far post, leaving the keeper stranded. We missed several great opportunities to put the game safe, Tayou the main culprit, but the points were secured, and Valletta are held to a draw at Naxxar Lions to give us a bit of daylight at the top of the table now. It's the derby with Hibernians next.