(FM'09) Destination, Unknown - Inbetween Jobs.....

neilhoskins77 · January 1, 2021

New Year, New Story!

A lot of my stories follow the same basic format. You'll have noticed this, and I'm very aware of it. Apart from the odd one like the Di Cianni Boys story, and The Gambler, I generally start at a domestic or far flung lower level club with my experience set to Sunday League Footballer level, and attempt to move them through the Leagues. Usually I do alright, pick up a few trophies and do a decent job.

But how much difference does that experience setting actually make to the way the save moves forward? How would my save be different when I use the top level experience of International Footballer instead. I can't recall ever using that setting before (prepared to be corrected if there is a short lived save knocking around somewhere on these Boards). Well, lets find out!

Once more, continuing the recent theme of using FM'09, all the Nations and Leagues available are activated. I'll start unemployed, and wait to see what opportunities await me as a 30 year old retired International Footballer with 40 caps and 13 goals to his name for Wales. I don't expect to jump into a job right away, and I certainly don't envisage taking the first job that comes by way, more likely it will be a project that I really like the look of. Lets see what kind of adventure this one takes us on.

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Happy New Year readers. Lets hope that 2021 is a huge improvement on last years sh*t show!

No editor is being used for this save, just cosmetics for club badges and kits, and the unfaking process to unlock the German National Team. Expect to see some slightly different formatting for match reports and info as I use this little project to try out some new looks. Feedback always welcome, along with questions and observations. Enjoy.

bigmattb28 · January 4, 2021

I'm like you, never used any other setting than Sunday League and no badges. I may have done way back when, like CM 01/02 maybe, but for as long as I can remember it's always been lowest as poosible.

Am sure you'll do alright mate

oche balboa · January 4, 2021

I love the fact you are still playing older FM's. Will look forward to this story with interest

neilhoskins77 · January 4, 2021

7 hours ago, bigmattb28 said:

I'm like you, never used any other setting than Sunday League and no badges. I may have done way back when, like CM 01/02 maybe, but for as long as I can remember it's always been lowest as poosible.

Am sure you'll do alright mate

Yeah, I don't recall using anything other, though I may possibly have an old save lurking about where it may have automatically set the experience. Fingers crossed mate.

3 hours ago, oche balboa said:

I love the fact you are still playing older FM's. Will look forward to this story with interest

Always nice to have you following along Oche. I love the match engine on this version. I've a boxed copy of FM'08 that I'd love to play, but can't get it to work on this laptop.

neilhoskins77 · January 8, 2021

Wednesday 9th July 2008
For the first time I'm approached to take over a club, and it comes only a day into the game too. This would never happen with reputation set as Sunday Footballer. Also something that would never happen, the offer comes from a good club with some money too. That club is Jaguares de Chiapas, who are in the top tier of Mexican football, despite being formed only six years ago. It's an interesting proposition, and the idea of managing in North or South America is appealing, but I'm passing this chance up for now.

Saturday 12th July 2008
There were three jobs that were open at the start of the game that I was interested in, two club jobs from heavyweight clubs in Holland, and an International job in Europe. I decided that I would only speak to PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord if they approached me. They didn't. The job in charge of Georgia would have been an interesting project, and would have given me some time for more attractive club jobs to come up. But I didn't want that job badly enough to apply for it either.

Saturday 30th August 2008
For the first time, I'm publicly linked with jobs as they become available. In the morning I was linked with the job at Stabæk Fotball in the Norwegian top tier after they sacked Jan Jönsson, but they very quickly announced the appointment of Åge Hareide as his replacement. By the afternoon, I was being linked with another job in Norway's Premier Division, this time a club in real relegation trouble, Viking FK, who have just sacked Uwe Rösler with the club in the Relegation Playoff spot and only a point above the automatic relegation spot. Scandinavia is a nice option to have, but I'd like to think my reputation would land me a better opportunity right now, or a challenge that I would like to get my teeth into at least.

Saturday 20th September 2008
I'm made favourite for the DC United job in the Major Soccer League in the United States after Tom Soehn is sacked. I decline to comment on the speculation, with other names linked with the job including Adrian Boothroyd and Oleg Protasov.

Saturday 27th September 2008
Another link with a job, and this time before I even had chance to speak out, I was being offered the position. It was a good job too, from twice Russian Champions and Capital City heavyweights, Lokomotiv Moscow. What has stopped me from taking the plunge and heading for Moscow? Well there are only eight games left in the season, the club are in the bottom half of the table, and the size of their First Team squad is bordering on the ridiculous. They have six goalkeepers just for a start.

Friday 3rd October 2008
More interest from Russia, this time in the form of Rubin Kazan after they sack Kurban Berdyev. They have plenty of cash, and a huge squad that is rammed full with International players. But there is player revolt going on at Central, with the club is poor form and spiraling towards the relegation zone, with everyone knowing that a drop out of the Russian Premier League would see the clubs funding likely be reduced, if not stopped entirely. There are only around half a dozen games left in the Russian season. That doesn't sound like a situation I want to get involved in for my first crack at management.

Saturday 4th October 2008
France would suit me much better. It would be a lot closer to home. And it would be an interesting project too. En Avant de Guingamp are rooted to the foot of Ligue 2 Orange, with a squad that should be much closer to the sharp end of the table in my opinion. Unfortunately, by the time I'd registered my interest in the job with the Brittany club, they had already chosen their next Manager.

But I wasn't quite done for the day.......

France wasn't my only option, and in an almost identical situation, an opportunity presented itself in Holland. Actually, that isn't entirely accurate. What happened was that I registered my interest, and within hours they had sacked their 39 year old manager Andries Ulderink, who had been in charge of the club for just 193 days. After winning two of their opening three games, they are since winless in eight, a run that includes them being dumped out of the Dutch Cup.

There seems to be no real reason why this need to be anchored near the foot of the Eerste Divisie. Their squad has some very good players, including a Dutch legend who has been tempted back onto the park for one final season while he finishes up his Coaching Badges. The club offer me a three year deal, on £850 per week. I ask for the night to think about it.

Sunday 5th October 2008
It was very early the next morning when they were in contact again. They were eager to hear what decision I had come to. I was actually very keen. I saw it as an ideal place to start my managerial career, though not without risk. There is plenty of scope to move forward though, due to the unique setup of the League and the way it's split into several sections, rewarding good runs of form. Also there are no restrictions on where we can sign players from.

I didn't tell the Chairman I was keen though. I asked for a deal until the end of the season only, and for the money to be pushed up to £925 per week. He took a whole ten minutes before agreeing to my terms. In the mood to push my luck, I asked him to increase his offer to £1,000 per week. This time he warned me that it was his last offer.....

So I accepted. For the first time, I'm in charge of a club!

neilhoskins77 · January 27, 2021

Job #1 - (5/10/2008 - ? )
Nation - Holland
Level - Eerste Divisie (Second Tier)
Club - Go Ahead Eagles
Starting Point - 19th position

Job Overview :-
I don't envisage this being a long term stay. Truth be told, I didn't expect to take a job until more like after Christmas at earliest, and I also had visions of my first role being considerably more high profile. But I found this little project irresistible. I should have done a little more homework, as I had visions of being the hero that saves the club from relegation. But there is no relegation from this Division. Never mind, the League is split into several stages, and winning a stage guarantees a Promotion Playoff spot. The top team gets the only automatic promotion spot, but there are eight available Playoff spots, which could be dished out as low as teams finishing 9th depending on the winners of the Stages. That unique setup that allows us a great shot at still getting a crack at promotion.

Club Overview :-
And promotion would be huge for this club. Four times Dutch Champions, but the last of those coming in 1933, the Go Ahead Eagles are very much a club who's glory days are multiple generations ago. They were runner's-up once in the Dutch Cup too, but even that was back over forty years ago now. They've been a second tier club since 1996 now, and have sailed close to the wind with falling into extinction several times, bailed out on several occasions by Chairman at the club Hans de Vroome. Maybe this is why no one at the club seems terribly concerned at the debt of well over £¼ million. This is also the primary reason why De Adelaarshorst, the home stadium, hasn't been redeveloped, expanded or replaced. Built in 1920, and capable of holding just 6,750 people in it's all seater confines, the club could easily outgrow it with some success. The club is based in the central City of Deventer, and holds keen rivalries with FC Zwolle and the much more successful FC Twente near the German border in the City of Enschede.

Squad Overview :-
There are a fair few reasons there that should make it fairly obvious why I only asked for a deal to the end of the season. But it's far from being all bad, or like the Rubin Kazan job, I wouldn't have bothered. The squad has some quality about it in places, though it's lack of consistency and cohesion is there for all to see. Many of the better bits of the puzzle are either on loan, or sat with contracts expiring next summer, and with the club unable to compete financially with the bigger clubs who are circling to take them elsewhere. There has clearly been some mismanagement here too. One of the best players at the club is Dominique van Dijk, the Club Captain. He's an attacking midfielder, not a role I often utilise. So the fact that he is out on loan isn't a huge issue for me. But the fact that he is out on loan to top tier Eredivisie side Volendam, and that Go Ahead Eagles are still covering the entirety of his £3,300 per week wages, well, that is very much a problem. I've got a Transfer Budget of a mere £20,000, and on top of that, a Wage Budget of around £40,000 per week that we are already very slightly over, and the Board are keen for me to bring that outlay number down. Somewhere down the line, someone has had a major lack of common sense there.

So what do we have left. Well, two pretty serviceable goalkeepers, with the younger of the two very much considered the number one for now. He's only with us temporarily though, Remko Pasveer is getting a first sustained crack at regular First Team football in his career after joining on loan for the season from Heracles Almelo of the top tier. He'd love to stay, but with a wage packet of well over four grand a week, he would need to take a significant pay drop to make the move permanent.

In defence, we have two decent full backs, both of who fit my style nicely as they like to get forward and try to deliver a cross. Said Bakkati is a 26 year old Moroccan national who is Dutch born. Jonathan Vosselman has been here three years and is the clubs regular left back. That might be because there is little to no cover for either of them. And they are both out of contract at the end of the campaign.

In the middle of the back four, Finnish born Italian, but long time Dutch resident and Eagles player Marco Parnela is probably the best we have. He's on a deal that has a few years to run, but with interest from Italy and Germany, it might take some smart talking to keep him here. His support comes from Dave Bus and Frank Boers, both in their thirties, both in their first season at the club, and both out of contract at the end of this season.

In midfield, the club has a hidden gem, that for unfathomable reasons they have hardly used all season. 21 year old Luuk te Boekhorst is the outstanding talent in the squad, a 21 year old who can play at centre back, defensive midfield, or the more conventional centre midfield role. A gifted passer of the ball and dead ball specialist, he is also very good at the defensive side of the game, and frankly, the lad is far too good for this level. If the only thing I achieve here in Deventer is getting him to sign a new deal, I'll have done my bit for the club. He's out of contract in the summer, and there are options for him already. Alongside him, and longer in the tooth, but also very important to the club is Jordy Zuidman, in his first season of his second spell with the club, and needing to win the fans over as he has joined from sworn rivals FC Zwolle. He is signed up for another few seasons, and has a market value of around £½ million, but selling him to service the clubs debt would certainly impact the quality of the squad. Unfortunately, the quality drops off a fair way after that pair, Rogier Wissink and on loan Oguzhan Türk get a lot of their football by being versatile enough to play anywhere across the midfield.

There are plenty of options on the right wing, with the most plausible of them being Finland International and playing his first season in Holland, 25 year old Kari Arkivuo. The left side is more problematic because we only have one left footed winger, and that is the now 35 year old veteran Dutch International superstar, Marc Overmars. A former Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona legend, he is back at the club he started his career with to help out and also do the necessary for his UEFA Coaching Badges. He hasn't yet turned out for the club, but why wouldn't I use him? Let's get him in game shape and see if he can still contribute, and if so, maybe even reconsider his plan to retire again next summer.

Up front is where I believe we have some quality to shift us up the table quickly. Sander Post is a 24 year old 6'6 giant Estonian International striker, who is on a loan deal from Flora Tallinn. His sheer physical presence causes huge problems for defenders, and if I were to stay, I'd have to do everything possible to find a way to keep him. There is an agreed fee that we can activate at any time, but it's £160,000 and may be out of reach for us. 23 year old Koen van der Biezen has rivalled him in the goalscoring stakes despite playing half as much football. Physically, he's not exactly a shrinking violet either, and the fans are quickly taking to him in his first season with the club. 5'10 left footed 19 year old striker Rence van der Wal has matched the pair for goals this season too, and brings a more pace to the squad in a season that is likely to see him play his highest number of games in his fourth season at De Adelaarshorst.

BenArsenal · January 29, 2021

Best of luck with this. Any club with Marc Overmars is absolutely fine by me. :cool:

neilhoskins77 · January 29, 2021

4 hours ago, BenArsenal said:

Best of luck with this. Any club with Marc Overmars is absolutely fine by me.

Cheers Ben. I didn't even realise he was there to start with. It was when I went to take a look at the Reserve and Youth sides that I stumbled across him. Hopefully we can get him match fit, he makes a bit of an impact, and we can talk him into another year or two.

neilhoskins77 · February 23, 2021

Monday 6th October 2008
I've made an enemy already. 45 year old Dutch manager Wilm van der Wal is outraged that he wasn't given the job at Go Ahead Eagles, and has told the press that the club will rue their decision to hire me instead when they fail to climb the Eerste Divisie. Well, I guess that's something we'll see about won't we!

Thursday 9th October 2008
Tomorrow I get started, at home against Helmond Sport, who are sat in 12th place and four points in front of us. We're the favourites for the match, and we need to look at the main League Table right now, as this is the fifth game of the Second Stage, which are in blocks of six matches. With only one point in this Stage so far, we're too far behind to be a contender to win it and secure a Playoff berth that way, so we need to try and climb the main League Table. The Opening Stage was won by RKC Waalwijk, while VVV-Venlo are currently leading the way in the Second Stage. Winning a Stage guarantees a Playoff Spot, while any spots that are left vacant by multiple winners etc will then be allocated based on the League Table.

Friday 10th October 2008

Eerste Divisie
De Adelaarshorst, Deventer
Go Ahead Eagles (2) 2 - Koen van der Biezen (29), Marco Parnela (32)
Helmond Sport (0) 0
Attendance :- 3,848
Remko Pasveer; Said Bakkati, Marco Parnela ©, David Bus, Jonathan Vosselman; Jordy Zuidman, Luuk te Boekhorst (Frank Broers 86); Kari Arkivuo, Geoffrey Knijnenburg (Marc Overmars 64); Rence van der Wal, Koen van der Biezen (Oguzhan Türk 72).
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Rogier Wissink, Achmed Ahahaoui.
Bookings :- Koen van der Biezen 14

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

| 12th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 10    | 3     | 4     | 3     | 12    | 13    | -1    | 13    |
| 13th  |       | MVV             |       | 11    | 3     | 4     | 4     | 17    | 20    | -3    | 13    |
| 14th  |       | Helmond Sport   |       | 11    | 3     | 3     | 5     | 14    | 13    | +1    | 12    |
| 15th  |       | Telstar         |       | 10    | 3     | 3     | 4     | 14    | 13    | +1    | 12    |
| 16th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 11    | 3     | 2     | 6     | 14    | 19    | -5    | 11    |
| 17th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 11    | 3     | 2     | 6     | 14    | 20    | -6    | 11    |
| 18th  |       | RBC             |       | 10    | 3     | 1     | 6     | 12    | 18    | -6    | 10    |
| 19th  |       | Fortuna Sittard |       | 10    | 1     | 6     | 3     | 12    | 13    | -1    | 9     |
| 20th  |       | FC Zwolle       |       | 11    | 2     | 3     | 6     | 8     | 15    | -7    | 9     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That could not have gone much better as an opener. It was clear we were lacking balance in the side, with Kari Arkivuo playing as a conventional winger down the right, while Geoffrey Knijnenburg operated as a right footed inside forward down the left. Koen van der Biezen had me on tenterhooks throughout, the lad has a very aggressive style of play that will scare defenders, concern managers, and attract attention from referees. He was booked just fourteen minutes in for a late tackle. But he more than made up for that with an absolute thumping header from a Rence van der Wal corner in the 29th minute, and just three minutes later, the two Finns in the team combined to double the lead, Arkivuo picking out Marco Parnela with his corner delivery from the other side, and the centre back glanced home his first goal of the season.

I used my bench to drop us back deeper and deeper as the second half went on, determined that we wouldn't drop any of the three valuable points that we were holding onto. We finished in a very defensive 5-4-1 by the time the final whistle went, not even bothering to counter attack, and while van der Wal doesn't have much presence up front on his own, I breathed a bit of a sigh of relief when I was able to get van der Biezen off safely with just under twenty minutes to play. It was great to hear the home crowd reaction to Marc Overmars as he made his second debut for the club, and the 375th League appearance of his career. However he isn't going to manage to play every Friday evening for us, and with two and a half months till the Transfer Window opens, I need to find a left footer who can balance out our team a bit.

Tuesday 14th October 2008
Fantastic news for us, as Luuk te Boekhorst signs a one year contract extension with no pay rise. The midfielder that the club will be built around if I were to stay, stated that it was a relief to have the deal done, as the constant speculation regarding his future was becoming a distraction for him, especially the keeness of German side Dynamo Dresden. I'm not sure the fans in Deventer yet appreciate what a talent the club has, but I'm hoping it will soon become evident to them from the 21 year olds on park performances.

Thursday 16th October 2008
With Luuk te Boekhorst signed up for another season, I ask him if he can recommend a left winger. And he can, De Graafschap are the team he is a supporter of, and his pick is their 20 year old winger Mark Bloemendaal. He seems to have plenty of pace and crossing ability, though he is currently injured, and hasn't played any First Team football since the 2006/07 season. I ask the Scouts to take a look into him.

We're home again tomorrow, this time against FC Dordrecht, who we moved above last week with our win. The bookies expect us to record a similar result tomorrow evening, which if we could manage, it would nudge us up a bit closer to the mid table pack. With no resolution to my left winger issues, 19 year old Yoessef Atibi, a first year professional, is called up from our Reserve squad and into the First Team squad for this one.

Friday 17th October 2008

Eerste Divisie
De Adelaarshorst, Deventer
Go Ahead Eagles (0) 0
FC Dordrecht (0) 0
Attendance :- 4,331
Remko Pasveer; Said Bakkati, Marco Parnela ©, Dave Bus, Jonathan Vosselman; Jordy Zuidam, Luuk te Boekhorst; Kari Arkivuo, Yoessef Atibi (Marc Overmars 74); Koen van der Biezen, Sander Post (Rence van der Wal 74).
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Frank Broers, Oguzhan Türk, Geoffrey Knijnenburg.
Bookings :- Dave Bus 57

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

| 12th  |       | MVV             |       | 12    | 3     | 5     | 4     | 18    | 21    | -3    | 14    |
| 13th  |       | Telstar         |       | 11    | 3     | 4     | 4     | 15    | 14    | +1    | 13    |
| 14th  |       | FC Omniworld    |       | 12    | 3     | 4     | 5     | 18    | 20    | -2    | 13    |
| 15th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 12    | 3     | 4     | 5     | 12    | 15    | -3    | 13    |
| 16th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 12    | 3     | 3     | 6     | 14    | 19    | -5    | 12    |
| 17th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 12    | 3     | 3     | 6     | 14    | 20    | -6    | 12    |
| 18th  |       | RBC             |       | 11    | 3     | 1     | 7     | 13    | 20    | -7    | 10    |
| 19th  |       | FC Zwolle       |       | 12    | 2     | 4     | 6     | 10    | 17    | -7    | 10    |
| 20th  |       | Fortuna Sittard |       | 12    | 1     | 6     | 5     | 12    | 17    | -5    | 9     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Both clubs could legitimately claim they were unlucky not to win this one, as sure as sign as any that a draw was probably a fair result. Sander Post was back from International Duty, and his selection up front with Koen van der Biezen led to us being a little more direct than I would usually play, while on the wings Kari Arkivuo played his 200th career League game, while Yoessef Atibi made his Senior debut. Poor finishing certainly played it's part in the result, Dordrecht suffering with that early on, Sequeira blasting over early on, Kalisse seeing his shot saved by Remko Pasveer, the only shot on target the visitors would manage.

Ramos failed to test the keeper early in the second half, and we then started to take over the game from there. Post met a Said Bakkati cross at the near post, which Nick van der Ploeg turned around the post. Kari Arkivuo was adamant he should have been awarded a penalty when man of the match Bart van Muyen seemed to catch him, but the referee was unmoved. It was late on when our best chances would fall though, substitute Rence van der Wal's corner was met by van der Biezen, but his powerful header was wide of the target. With moments left, the left footed van der Wal was played into space in the box, sending his shot across goal, but wide of the far post. Then in injury time, van der Biezen held the ball up in the centre just outside the box, and with van der Wal on the decoy run, it was the other sub Marc Overmars who was played in. He'd already seen van der Wal miss with finesse, so the winger went for power, but got under his shot and sent it high and wide. A second successive clean sheet was certainly a bonus though, in a League with a reputation for producing high scoring games, and where we had conceded our fair share before my arrival.

neilhoskins77 · March 20, 2021

Saturday 18th October 2008
So that round of games was the final match in Stage Two of the Eerste Divisie, won by VVV Venlo and securing them a Playoff Place at the end of the season along with RKC Waalwijk who won Stage One. They're the top two in the League as well. We placed 18th in that Stage, and need to show a drastic improvement going forward.

Monday 20th October
The month doesn't exactly start on a high note though, as 24 year old attacking midfielder Ceriel Oosthout has torn his calf muscle during today's Reserve side win over Sparta Rotterdam. He is out until mid to late February now, and our already threadbare Squad takes a hit.

Wednesday 22nd October
And there is another blow to come, with Luuk te Boekhorst suffering a minor head injury in training day, which will keep him out of this weeks game, and makes him doubtful for next weeks final game of October too.

Thursday 23rd October
It's a big game that he will miss tomorrow evening too, as we travel to face bottom of the table Fortuna Sittard. It's my first away game in charge of the club, and we are the favourites against the only club in the League yet to reach double figures for points. They have just one win so far this campaign, though they have proven to be draw specialists, earning a point from half of their games so far.

Friday 24th October

Eerste Divisie
Fortuna Stadion, Sittard
Fortuna Sittard (0) 1 - Cédric Olondo (70)
Go Ahead Eagles (1) 1 - Cédric Olondo (45+1 og)
Attendance :- 2,412
Remko Pasveer; Marco Parnela ©, Dave Bus, Frank Broers; Said Bakkati, Jordy Zuidman, Jonathan Vosselman; Oguzhan Türk; Kari Arkivuo, Marc Overmars (Geoffrey Knijnenburg 77); Sander Post (Koen van der Biezen 77).
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Robert Muruanaya, Roger Wissink, Yoessef Atibi.
Bookings :- None

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

| 12th  |       | Helmond Sport   |       | 13    | 4     | 3     | 6     | 16    | 16    | 0     | 15    |
| 13th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 13    | 4     | 3     | 6     | 17    | 22    | -5    | 15    |
| 14th  |       | FC Omniworld    |       | 13    | 3     | 5     | 5     | 19    | 21    | -2    | 14    |
| 15th  |       | MVV             |       | 13    | 3     | 5     | 5     | 18    | 24    | -6    | 14    |
| 16th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 13    | 3     | 4     | 6     | 14    | 18    | -4    | 13    |
| 17th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 13    | 3     | 4     | 6     | 15    | 20    | -5    | 13    |
| 18th  |       | FC Zwolle       |       | 13    | 3     | 4     | 6     | 13    | 19    | -6    | 13    |
| 19th  |       | Fortuna Sittard |       | 13    | 1     | 7     | 5     | 13    | 18    | -5    | 10    |
| 20th  |       | RBC             |       | 13    | 3     | 1     | 9     | 15    | 26    | -11   | 10    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A change in tactic for this away match, and we go defensive with aims to counter attack. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but it was the best option with the personnel I had available. Frank Broers comes into the team as we go with three at the back, supported by wing backs and a deep role for Jody Zuidman. There is a start on the left for Marc Overmars, while Sander Post is the lone striker.

Our high pressing tactic was causing Fortuna problems in keeping the ball, but they were the side that looked most likely in the first half, DR Congo winger Cedric Olondo scuffing one effort wide, before firing another right at Remko Pasveer. Midfielder Charlie van den Ouweland came close with a curling long range effort that didn't quite curl enough. It took half hour for us to register an attempt on target, but Sander Post's downward header was right at home keeper David Meul. At the other end, Danny Schreurs just missed the target. In first half injury time, Said Bakkati's raid down the right won us a corner. Marc Overmars annoyed his team mates by taking it quickly before everyone had got themselves into the box. Fortunately, it was headed right back out, and he made the second attempt count. He put it right on the head of Dave Bus, and Olondo got it all wrong on the near post, slicing his clearance high into his own net and we had snatched a half time advantage.

The second half began in much the same fashion that the first had unfolded, though we were finding more room to pick our counter attacks with Fortuna attacking with more intent, but less success. One such raid saw a cross just get cleared away from Post, but only finding Zuidman. His attempt at a shot was shanked badly, but the ball found it's way to veteran winger Overmars, who netted from 15 yards out, only to find the flag was up. Instead, it would be Olondo making amends for his first half misses and mistake on the post from the corner. With twenty minutes to play, he took the ball from a short free kick by van den Ouweland, and the winger unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard shot that dipped and swerved to leave Pasveer stranded as it hit the top corner, a real goal of the season contender. So a draw looked set, until with seconds of injury time remaining, Fortuna sub Emil Miljkovic set off on a winding run that got him beyond several tackles and into our penalty box, but he lifted his shot well over the bar, and the points were shared.

So we lose a place in the Overall Table, with FC Dordrecht winning to go past us, while Fortuna Sittard move off the bottom of the table as they finally reach double figures for points. It's Telstar next for us, who are sat in mid table, and if we can beat them, we would go level with them on points.

Thursday 30th October
It may have looked a quiet week from the outside, but in the background there was plenty going on as I started to get my ducks in a row ready for the opening of the Transfer Window in January. And, it would be fair to say that my ambitions are far more realistic than that of the Board at the club, at least from a financial point of view anyway.

At top level, they have agreed a deal to sign a player for next summer. There isn't too much wrong with the player, a 21 year old winger from Feyenoord where he will have completed two years in their system, as yet failing to play any First Team football. So what's the problem? Well, firstly they have agreed to pay £375,000, which is quite a commitment when we're already nearly half a million pounds in debt. Secondly, the lad has, and will miss, most of this season with a damaged cruciate ligament. I could have spent a lot less, and improved the Squad a whole lot more if consulted. I'll prove it as well if I'm able to get some of my targets in through the door in January.

In the meantime, we have a home game against Telstar to worry about tomorrow evening. We're the favourites for a home win against the side sat in 11th, an overachievement based on their pre-season expectations, though they were beaten last week for a first defeat in five in the League. One of the main reasons for their success has been the form of Ghana born Dutch National winger Richmond Bossman, a 23 year old of outstanding talent, who clearly should be playing at a much higher level of football. He's only contracted till the end of the season, and some of the Eredivisie clubs are starting to show their interest........oh, and he's worth less than a quarter of what the Board have just agreed to pay out to Feyenoord, for a player with less than a quarter of the talent too.

Friday 31st October

Eerste Divisie
De Adelaarshorst, Deventer
Go Ahead Eagles (0) 3 - Koen van der Biezen (59), Marco Parnela (65), Sander Post (90+1)
Telstar (0) 1 - Richmond Bossman (53)
Attendance :- 2,729
Remko Pasveer; Said Bakkati, Marco Parnela, Dave Bus, Jonathan Vosselman; Jordy Zuidam, Oguzhan Türk (Luuk te Boekhorst 74); Kari Arkivuo, Marc Overmars (Yoessef Atibi 74); Koen van der Biezen (Frank Broers 85), Sander Post.
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Geoffrey Knijnenburg, Rence van der Wal.
Bookings :- Koen van der Biezen 76

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

| 10th  |       | AGOVV           |       | 14    | 4     | 5     | 5     | 16    | 17    | -1    | 17    |
| 11th  |       | Helmond Sport   |       | 14    | 4     | 4     | 6     | 17    | 17    | 0     | 16    |
| 12th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 14    | 4     | 4     | 6     | 18    | 19    | -1    | 16    |
| 13th  |       | Telstar         |       | 14    | 4     | 4     | 6     | 18    | 19    | -1    | 16    |
| 14th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 14    | 4     | 4     | 6     | 18    | 21    | -3    | 16    |
| 15th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 14    | 4     | 4     | 6     | 18    | 23    | -5    | 16    |
| 16th  |       | FC Omniworld    |       | 14    | 3     | 6     | 5     | 20    | 22    | -2    | 15    |
| 17th  |       | MVV             |       | 14    | 3     | 6     | 5     | 20    | 26    | -6    | 15    |
| 18th  |       | FC Zwolle       |       | 14    | 3     | 5     | 6     | 14    | 20    | -6    | 14    |

We switch back to our more usual setup for this home game, though Luuk te Boekhorst was only deemed fit enough for a place on the bench. This would be the reverse of last week, as we were the team in control of possession for large periods, though it was Telstar who had the first chance, star player Richmond Bossman sending in a shot that Remko Pasveer blocked with his legs, though it was the ref who was more troubled by the visitors early on, as they saw two players booked in quick order as the foul count rose quickly. Both Marc Overmars and Sander Post missed the target with shots, Koen van der Biezen joining them with a shot across goal as the half hour approached.

The first half might have belonged to us on the whole, but just like we landed a punch last week on the road, our nose was bloodied here. Richard van Huelen was allowed to travel way too far down the left side as my players stood off, and he then produced a killer cross too, picking out Bossman at the far post, who netted with a simple but powerful downward header. But we stuck to the plan, and almost levelled right away, van der Biezen's half volley from eight yards out bouncing back off the upright. His next shot hit the frame of the goal too, pressure in midfield won us the ball, and Post found van der Biezen, who struck a screamer from 25 yards out that found the net via the underside of the crossbar! With the midpoint of the second half approaching, we turned the game around, and Go Ahead went ahead. Overmars sent over a corner, and Marco Parnela directed a header across goal and into the top corner to put us in front. We nearly got another quickly, Overmars again delivering the corner, van der Biezen less lucky with his effort this time, his header hitting the cross bar before being cleared to safety. Oguzhan Türk and Overmars were substituted for Luuk te Broekhorst and Yoessef Atibi. With five minutes left, Telstar went all out, and we responded by bringing off the booked van der Biezen, and bringing on Frank Boers as we moved back to the defensive outlook we used last weekend. We still almost got caught, Gynor Piet played through the offside trap, but we recovered enough to force him wide and he sent a shot high and wide. Instead, it was us who put the cherry on the cake in injury time, a loose pass in midfield was pounced on by Atibi, and he got far enough forward to play Post in, the big striker squeezing between a defender and the keeper to round then and slide home the clincher and make it a three point day.

That win gives us a leg up into mid table, and only a win away from the Playoff spots. It also means a very solid start to Stage Three, and a chance of nabbing ourselves one of the spots well ahead of party time, though we have some difficult fixtures coming up in November, with all four of our games next month against clubs currently sat in the top seven, starting next week with a trip into the city of Eindhoven.

BenArsenal · March 20, 2021

That league table is TIGHT!

neilhoskins77 · April 3, 2021

On 20/03/2021 at 15:38, BenArsenal said:

That league table is TIGHT!

Very mate. A Playoff place is worth having from one of the stages, as you wouldn't want to go into the last day needing a result in this League when things are this tight.

neilhoskins77 · April 6, 2021

Saturday 1st November 2008
Another month where we play on Friday's only, four games of which two are at home. As we head into the month, our next four opponents are all currently placed from 7th up to 4th in the main League, and we face them in escalating order as they currently sit in the table. No easy games for us then.

Sunday 2nd November
Moroccan right winger Achmed Ahahaoui has today requested a transfer, a request that I've accepted. The Amsterdam born dual citizen has been having personal problems since before my arrival at the club, and those issues have been compounded by his inability to shift Finnish International team mate Kari Arkivuo out of the team and get the First Team football that he hopes will lift his own International Football ambitions. Ahahaoui is out of contract at the end of the season, and earns £1,500 per week at the club right now. He is transfer listed with immediate effect, with Southampton of England's Coca-Cola Championship rumoured to be interested in signing him.

Monday 3rd November
Centre back Marco Parnela is the only Go Ahead player named in the weekly Eerste Divisie team, the 27 year old Finnish centre back scored his second goal of the season in the Friday night win at home to Telstar.

Four offers have today been received for wantaway winger Achemed Ahahaoui, and none of them are from Southampton. Offers from Austrian Premier Division side FC Salzburg and American Major League Soccer club FC Dallas are both accepted, with the asking price of £75,000 met in full and outright. Offers from South Korean K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and our own domestic rivals RBC were both rejected, the first because the offer was underneath our asking price, the latter because they wanted to pay nothing upfront and spread the entire cost over several years, as well as the fact we'd rather not sell to a Division rival.

It's not just outgoings that we are dealing with today, as I have my first new signing at the club too. The Transfer Window doesn't open until January, but Free Agent's can be signed with immediate effect, and it's a market I'm able to exploit, hopefully to our benefit.

26 year old Gabriel N'Galula Mbuyi goes by the name of Junior. Born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, he spent his teenage years in Belgium where he is a citizen and passport holder. At the age of 19 he broke into the Anderlecht side, which is no mean feat, and spent four seasons in all with the club, making 25 League appearances and earning one Under-21 cap for Belgium. He moved on in 2004/05, spending six months with Mons, and earning a summer move to England with Stoke City, where he spent one season playing twenty League games in the Coca-Cola Championship. He returned to Belgium with Standard Liège, failing to make an appearance for them, before spending last season with Roselare, who let him go this summer. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he has signed with us until the summer of 2010 with a £675 per week contract. He is tough and aggressive, though he is surprisingly good with the ball, and should add some steel to the spine of our team. I'm not going to lie, he hasn't been welcomed by all sections of our fan base, some believing he is a player with a history of causing issues in the dressing room. The supporters can be assured I won't stand for any of that, and I hope Junior soon wins around any doubters.

Wednesday 5th November
Spanish second tier club Real Murcia have today sacked their manager José Miguel Campos, and I have immediately been installed as the favourite for the job, at the head of a shortlist that is said to include names such as Andoni Goikoetxea and Gonzalo Arconada. A look at the club shows a huge and diverse squad, but it's clear that their best players have been loaned out to prevent them leaving the club permanently, and with Murcia on the edge of the relegation zone, the prospects of getting them back to the club are slim. I distance myself from the vacancy, stating that I'm happy in Holland right now.

Thursday 6th November
Tomorrow evening we'll travel South West for almost an hour and a half, near to the Belgian border and into the city of Eindhoven to face seventh placed side FC Eindhoven at their Jan Louwers Stadion home. Our chances are boosted with the news that they will be missing their two first choice strikers, Tim Nelemans and talented teenager Serhat Koc, who has half a dozen League goals already this campaign and who the club will lose at the end of the year as he has agreed a January move to FC Groningen, the current Eredivisie leaders. That means we will mostly have to worry about their joint top scorer and Belgian passport holding Ghana born Indian national striker Prince Asubonteng. Talk about keeping your International options open!

The pre match press conference is dominated by questions about new signing Junior and his chances of featuring, as well as discussion about an online forum that isn't affiliated to the club, but is used by it's supporters, and several heated conversations regarding the perceived poor performances of Koen van der Biezen. Also brought up is the delight of the club and supporters alike that I have rejected the advances from Spain and my pledge to remain in Deventer, for the time being at least.

Friday 7th November

Eerste Divisie
Jan Louwers Stadion, Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven (2) 2 - Prince Asubonteng (2), Bernard Quainoo (25)
Go Ahead Eagles (1) 1 - Luuk te Boekhorst (36 pen)
Attendance :- 2,894
Remko Pasveer; Said Bakkati, Marco Parnela ©, Dave Bus, Jonathan Vosselman; Jordy Zuidman (Junior 45), Luuk te Boekhorst; Kari Arkivuo, Marc Overmars; Koen van der Biezen (Frank Broers 65), Sander Post.
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Oguzhan Türk, Geoffrey Knijnenburg, Rence van der Wal.
Bookings :- Jordy Zuidman 24, Dave Bus 41. Sent Off :- Dave Bus 64

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

| 11th  |       | AGOVV           |       | 15    | 4     | 5     | 6     | 18    | 20    | -2    | 17    |
| 12th  |       | FC Omniworld    |       | 15    | 3     | 7     | 5     | 22    | 24    | -2    | 16    |
| 13th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 15    | 4     | 4     | 7     | 18    | 20    | -2    | 16    |
| 14th  |       | Helmond Sport   |       | 15    | 4     | 4     | 7     | 18    | 20    | -2    | 16    |
| 15th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 15    | 4     | 4     | 7     | 19    | 23    | -4    | 16    |
| 16th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 15    | 4     | 4     | 7     | 19    | 25    | -6    | 16    |
| 17th  |       | FC Zwolle       |       | 15    | 3     | 6     | 6     | 16    | 22    | -6    | 15    |
| 18th  |       | MVV             |       | 15    | 3     | 6     | 6     | 21    | 29    | -8    | 15    |
| 19th  |       | Fortuna Sittard |       | 15    | 2     | 7     | 6     | 18    | 24    | -6    | 13    |
| 20th  |       | RBC             |       | 15    | 3     | 2     | 10    | 16    | 31    | -15   | 11    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our first defeat since my arrival at the club, and the writing was on the wall early on when Eindhoven cut us apart with Rob van Boekel's through ball into the right channel of the penalty box finding Prince Asubonteng, and he beat Remko Pasveer at his near post. And Asubonteng was instrumental in the second goal, making a driving run down the right wing, and then cutting the ball back from the byline and picking out Bernard Quainoo on the edge of the six yard box, and he swept home the second.

Did Eindhoven take their foot off the gas, or had they got lucky? We were certainly the better side after that, getting a foothold back into the game ten minutes before half time. Sander Post was felled on the edge of the box by Ruud van der Rijt, and the ref awarded a spot kick. Luuk te Boekhorst blasted it into the corner to score his first goal for the club.

van der Rijt got booked during that incident, with Jordy Zuidman and Dave Bus also earning cautions either side of it. At the break, I decided it would be a good idea to sub one of them out to reduce the risk, with Zuidman selected to come off, replaced by Junior for his Go Ahead debut. That turned out to be the wrong decision, as Bus left a foot in on Quainoo on the halfway line, and received his second yellow card. I couldn't risk not bringing a defender on, having to sacrifice Koen van der Biezen and go with just one up front, with us now looking to counter attack quickly instead. We failed to create anything, and by the time Asubonteng got a second booking in injury time after his persistent fouling in the second half, it was too late for us to salvage a point. Bus receives and accepts a warning regarding his discipline, and now faces a one match ban.

We return home, where I'm given the news that while we were in Eindhoven, the Moroccan right winger Achmed Ahahaoui has agreed terms with FC Salzburg, and will officially move to the current second placed Austrian Premier Division club on the 1st January. We'll receive a fee of £75,000 for him, and almost as importantly, take his £1,500 per week salary off our books.

I was hoping to sign a left winger who could also cover the right flank in the form of experienced Japanese International player Takayuki Suzuki. He is currently with Portland Timbers, where his contract was about to run out, and we engage him in talks over a move. He was on £350 a week with Portland, and he'll stay there for another season with his new deal seeing him earn £425 per week. That's after he asked us for £7,000 a week. Cheeky sod.

Sunday 9th November
More interest from Spain's second tier, this time from the far more intriguing 10th placed Levante, who have a mostly domestic player based squad, with a few foreign players who enhance the squad, rather than take over it. At this point, I'm still not interested though.

Wednesday 12th November
My attempt to talk Marc Overmars out of retirement has failed, and the 86 times capped Dutch International has confirmed that he will retire at the end of the season. He now receives a contract offer from us to stay on as a Coach in the clubs backroom staff.

Thursday 13th November
Tomorrow night we host 8th placed TOP Oss at De Adelaarshorst. The Central Holland club have lost some ground in the League over recent weeks with two draws in their last two League games, dropping them down to only just inside the Playoff Spots, and only six points in front of us. They had to play a midweek game too, they thrashed semi-pro side GVVV 4-0 at home in the Dutch Cup Third Round. The fact that they had to play that extra game in midweek however could be an advantage to us. That's what I'm hoping anyway.

Surinam's manager Clóvis Barros has selected a Senior Squad based largely in Holland for the nation's upcoming FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifier from the North American Zone Second Phase Group 1 away against Trinidad & Tobago in Arima next week. It's a crucial match too, with USA already qualified, the two nations go into the game level on points for the second qualifying spot. They drew 1-1 in September in the reverse fixture, and T&T hold the advantage with a superior goal difference, so Surinam need to win. Our 18 year old Reserve team right back and Deventer local lad Diego Michiels has four caps at Youth Level for his nation of heritage, but has now been named in the Senior Squad, and could earn his first cap in this match.

Marc Overmars has rejected our initial offer to make him a Coach at the club from next summer. He's decided to wait until the latter part of the season before he makes a decision on his future.

Friday 14th November

Eerste Divisie
De Adelaarshorst, Deventer
Go Ahead Eagles (2) 3 - Koen van der Biezen (2,27), Kari Arkivuo (86)
TOP Oss (2) 2 - Geoffrey Galatà (31 pen), Roel van Erp (43)
Attendance :- 2,718
Remko Pasveer; Said Bakkati, Marco Parnela ©, Frank Broers, Jonathan Vosselman; Junior (Oguzhan Türk 81), Luuk te Boekhorst; Kari Arkivuo, Marc Overmars (Geoffrey Knijnenburg 81); Koen van der Biezen (Rence van der Wal 81), Sander Post.
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Robert Muruanaya, Jordy Zuidam.
Bookings :- None

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

| 8th   |       | Haarlem         |       | 15    | 5     | 7     | 3     | 22    | 19    | +3    | 22    |
| 9th   |       | TOP Oss         |       | 16    | 6     | 4     | 6     | 25    | 24    | +1    | 22    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 10th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 16    | 5     | 4     | 7     | 20    | 21    | -1    | 19    |
| 11th  |       | Telstar         |       | 16    | 5     | 4     | 7     | 19    | 20    | -1    | 19    |
| 12th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 16    | 5     | 4     | 7     | 22    | 25    | -3    | 19    |
| 13th  |       | Helmond Sport   |       | 16    | 4     | 5     | 7     | 20    | 22    | -2    | 17    |
| 14th  |       | AGOVV           |       | 15    | 4     | 5     | 6     | 18    | 20    | -2    | 17    |
| 15th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 16    | 4     | 5     | 7     | 21    | 27    | -6    | 17    |
| 16th  |       | FC Omniworld    |       | 15    | 3     | 7     | 5     | 22    | 24    | -2    | 16    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We bag another three points, but we certainly made it hard work for ourselves after a superb start. Frank Broers stepped in at centre back for the suspended Dave Bus, while Junior got his first start in the midfield in place of Jordy Zuidman. We started just how Eindhoven had last week against us, and some nice one touch football produced a goal with 100 seconds on the clock. Junior broke up play in midfield and found Marc Overmars, and his first touch low cross found Koen van der Biezen who sidefooted home a first time finish. The striker almost got another with a curler that Wilko de Vogt turned over the top. He would net his second in the 27th minute though, Overmars corner was met with a header by Marco Parnela that was saved by de Vogt, but pushed right into the path of van der Biezen who fired in from close range.

And then just like Eindhoven did last week as well, we got pushed onto the back foot, and it started with a penalty again. Last week Sander Post was the one who was fouled, this week it was him doing the fouling, matching Regilio Jacobs run to try and defend, then clumsily bringing him down. Geoffrey Galatà coolly slotted the spot kick down the middle, and soon our lead had gone altogether. as we lost the ball in midfield, and Dominique Scholten got it to Roel van Erp, who's shot was helped into the top corner by Remko Pasveer, who couldn't get a strong enough hand on it to keep the ball out. What followed was a second half with both sides noticeably cautious about making mistakes that would cost them what they currently held. van der Biezen had the best chance, heading a Said Bakkati cross against the base of the post. I made a treble change with just under ten minutes to play as the visitors started to tire, and it paid off with four minutes remaining. Substitute striker Rence van der Wal picked up the ball on the left from a throw in, and sent in a low cross towards the tightly marked Post. The Estonian striker couldn't get onto the ball, but it bounced right through to Finnish right winger Kari Arkivuo, who netted his first goal for the club to earn us three valuable points.

We nudge ourselves closer to the top half of the table, and the possibility of the Playoff berths. More interesting yet is the table for the Third Stage, where we currently sit fifth, part of a group of clubs on seven points, just two points behind the only club with three wins from three in this stage, SC Cambuur, who we visit next Friday night.

neilhoskins77 · April 19, 2021

Sunday 16th November 2008
Despite being with Go Ahead Eagles for only a short period of time, I continue to be linked with much bigger jobs on a consistent basis. After the sacking of Jacky Mathijssen by Club Brugge, I am immediately named as the favourite for the job at the thirteen times Belgian Champions, and the club that were European Cup Runner's-Up thirty years ago. As the halfway point of the Pro League approaches, they are currently languishing down in tenth place with just 16 points on the board, exactly half the total of leaders Anderlecht. I keep quiet and say nothing about potentially hopping over the border.

Monday 17th November
Kari Arkivuo got our winning goal on Friday night, and the Finnish winger is today our only representative in the Eerste Divisie Team of the Week.

Thursday 20th November
Tomorrow evening we travel north into the city of Leeuwarden to face SC Cambuur, the only side who have won all their games in this current Stage of the Eerste Divisie, and as a result of their good recent form sit sixth in the overall table. There is a lot of speculation about how I intend to set my team up for this one, with the particular threat being the hosts 26 year old striker Ruud ter Heide, who has eight goals in all competitions this season for the club hoping to bag one of those Playoff spots for winning a Stage. We haven't given up hope of that ourselves yet of course, and a positive result from this one will give us an opportunity to go into next weeks home game with FC Emmen still in the running for a place ourselves.

Friday 21st November

Eerste Divisie
Cambuur Stadion, Leeuwarden
SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden (1) 1 - Paul Beekmans (18)
Go Ahead Eagles (1) 1 - Marco Parnela (36)
Attendance :- 5,718
Remko Pasveer; Marco Parnela ©, Frank Broers, Dave Bus; Said Bakkati, Junior (Jordy Zuidam 71), Jonathan Vosselman; Luuk te Boekhorst; Kari Arkivuo, Marc Overmars (Geoffrey Knijnenburg 76); Koen van der Biezen (Rence van der Wal 82).
Unused Substitutes :- Wout Droste, Kevin Moeliker (GK), Robert Muruanaya, Oguzhan Türk.
Bookings :- None

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

| 8th   |       | FC Den Bosch    |       | 17    | 6     | 5     | 6     | 23    | 24    | -1    | 23    |
| 9th   |       | Telstar         |       | 17    | 6     | 4     | 7     | 21    | 20    | +1    | 22    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 10th  |       | TOP Oss         |       | 17    | 6     | 4     | 7     | 26    | 26    | 0     | 22    |
| 11th  |       | Excelsior       |       | 17    | 6     | 4     | 7     | 22    | 22    | 0     | 22    |
| 12th  |       | Go Ahead        |       | 17    | 5     | 5     | 7     | 23    | 26    | -3    | 20    |
| 13th  |       | FC Dordrecht    |       | 17    | 5     | 5     | 7     | 22    | 27    | -5    | 20    |
| 14th  |       | FC Omniworld    |       | 17    | 4     | 7     | 6     | 25    | 26    | -1    | 19    |
| 15th  |       | FC Zwolle       |       | 17    | 4     | 7     | 6     | 20    | 25    | -5    | 19    |
| 16th  |       | Helmond Sport   |       | 17    | 4     | 6     | 7     | 20    | 22    | -2    | 18    |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unwilling to match up with a team generally considered our superior, I reverted back to the three centre back and counter attacking formation that I set us up in when we drew away to Fortuna Sittard. That decision was made easier with Sander Post missing as he is on International Duty with Estonia. It's a 175th Career League Appearance for Marco Parnela, and a 100th for centre back colleague Dave Bus.

Marc Overmars saw an early free kick deflected wide of the target, before a cross field pass found the former Dutch International in the box, but his first touch was poor and the chance went begging. Which was a shame, as moments later we would fall behind, Dave Bus clearing a cross back out to the flanks, and the ball was sent to the edge of our box. Kari Arkivuo rushed out to block Paul Beekmans shot, but the ball fell right back to the midfielder and he curled his finish into the bottom corner. Ten minutes before the break though Overmars came good with a inswinging corner that cleared keeper Peter van der Vlag, and Marco Parnela headed home from a yard out and it would be all square at the break.

The chances were harder to come by after the break, though we missed a great chance on the counter attack with the hour mark approaching, Overmars linking with Koen van der Biezen, who then played in Arkivuo, but his shot across goal was tipped wide by van der Vlag. We swapped chances after that, Anco Janssen's drive was right at Remko Pasveer, before a speculative van der Biezen volley was blocked by a defender. Cambuur made all their changes at once, while I staggered ours to eat some time off the clock as much as anything. One of those to come on was Jordy Zuidman, who aimed a 25 yard shot at the top corner but just missed. Cambuur showed their intent by switching to a very attacking formation, which brought about a period of end to end football that we would rather have avoided. We still nearly pinched the spoils though, Arkivuo whipping in a corner that another sub Rence van der Wal headed against the cross bar. Deep into injury time, van der Wal was tripped in the box with our players all appealing for a penalty. The ref took a long and hard look, then blew his whistle......for full time.......

Another small success away from home for our counter attacking setup, and for Finnish centre back Marco Parnela who gets his third goal since I arrived at the club. The Italian clubs are starting to circle for the in form £200,000 rated centre back with an Italian passport. Serie B strugglers Ancona are said to be at the front of the queue.

I ignored all questions regarding the potential late penalty claim. I didn't need to say anything, Jordy Zuidam had said everything that needed to be said. When he was asked about it, he replied 'I hope the opticians are open on a Saturday. I'll pay for the ref to go there myself.....'. They could take the opticians fee out of the fine that he may well get for those comments.

Saturday 22nd November
I'm linked with yet another job, and this time I am interested. When I refuse to rule myself out of the running, they immediately sack their current Manager and approach Go Ahead Eagles for permission to speak to me. That permission is granted by the club, but when I'm called into the Boardroom to be informed, there is a catch. 'You can speak to them if you want to, but if you do, then you'll leave the club either way'.

I'm torn briefly, I will always see the job here as unfinished business. While I didn't expect to be with the Eagles for a long spell, I didn't expect to be packing my bags after less than two months. But this is an opportunity at a far bigger club who are in dire straits right now. They have a huge fan base, and if I can help them, my reputation and popularity will increase tenfold......while my wages will also go up 150%. I can't resist........

Job #1 - (5/10/2008 - 23/11/2008)
Nation - Holland
Level - Eerste Divisie (Second Tier)
Club - Go Ahead Eagles
Finishing Point - 12th position (seven place improvement)

Record - GP 7. W 3. D 3. L 1. GF 11. GA 7. GD +4.
Earnings - £7,000

Edited April 19, 2021 by neilhoskins77

neilhoskins77 · April 20, 2021

Job #2 - (23/11/2008 - ?)
Nation - England
Level - Coca-Cola League 1 (Third Tier)
Club - Leeds United
Starting Point - 16th

Job Overview :-
And I thought the job in Deventer was a project. I'm the latest Manager employed by controversial Chairman of the club Ken Bates to try and turn around the fortunes of Leeds United, who not so very long ago were playing in the Semi-Finals of the UEFA Champions League, before going into freefall. Bates bought the club in 2005, and now he intends to start getting the club moving in the right direction, starting with promotion at the very least this season. There is still plenty of time for the club to turn this season around too, but Bates isn't known for his patience. He's sacked Simon Grayson without giving him too much of an opportunity, and he's certainly not shy about sacking Managers, going through them at more than one per year since his arrival at Elland Road. Hopefully, I'll get a fair crack at the job here.

Club Overview :-
This club is steeped in tradition and history, three times English Champions, the last time as recently as 1992. In an eight year period from 1967 to 1975, this club reached five European Finals over the various competitions, with two UEFA Cups to show for their efforts in a period that also saw them win two top tier Titles and an FA Cup and League Cup. That is the kind of level that the club wish to return to.

The finances are secure, with over £4m in the bank, though there is a bank loan of almost £3m that needs to be paid off by next summer. The club needs to win the fans back over, this season they only sold 11,000 season tickets for their 40,000+ capacity all seater Elland Road home. We're out of the League Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy, but we are still in the FA Cup, due to face Oldham Athletic in the Second Round on the coming weekend, with a midweek League game before that.

Despite the reasonable finances, the Transfer Budget for this season is minimal at £100,000, and the Wage Budget of almost £80,000 per week is pretty much running at the ceiling. I've been given a deal through to the summer of 2011 with a wage of £2,500 per week.

Squad Overview :-
The squad has some holes in it, but should still be more than good enough to be in the higher reaches of League One without breaking too much of a sweat. Between the sticks is said to be one of our weaker spots, though that's more from a depth point of view as 29 year old former Danish Under-21 International keeper Casper Ankergren is our main man here and is pretty rock solid. His main competition comes in the form of 31 year old David Lucas, a former Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday man who simply isn't good enough for what we're looking to achieve.

The defence is strong on the whole, though we are seemingly reliant on loaned in players at the full back berths. 20 year old Republic of Ireland Under-21 International right back Seamus Coleman is on loan here till mid-January from Everton, though has mainly played second choice to 26 year old Club Captain and career Leeds player Frazer Richardson. There doesn't appear to be too much evidence to suggest that Richardson is the best man for the job anymore. On the other side of the back four we have another Irish Under-21 International who is being used mainly as a back up, this time 22 year old Alan Sheehan, who's opportunities have been limited by the loan signing of 19 year old Argentine left back Emiliano Insúa from Liverpool, also until mid-January. There are four centre backs, with three rotated fairly equally so far, Angolan International thirty one year old Rui Marques and Slovakian International 6'4 powerhouse Lubomir Michalik, along with veteran former Ipswich Town man and Leeds born Richard Naylor. The odd one out is Carlisle born former Newcastle United youngster Paul Huntington, the 21 year old seeming to get less chances than the other trio.

There's another quartet competing for places in the centre of midfield, talented hometown 20 year old Jonathan Howson has been a regular this season, along with another home grown lad, England Under-19 International player Fabian Delph. Trying to break the duo up are a pair of Full Senior Internationals, in the form of Australian playmaker and twice capped Neil Kilkenny, and the 27 year old Irish International and more defensive minded Jonathan Douglas. We could certainly do with some more depth on the wings, as we only have one Senior option on each side. The right side is the more pressing concern as we only have Niall McGinn who's on loan from Celtic till the middle of January, though the Northern Ireland International has been pretty productive so far. On the left, the option is Scottish Under-21 International winger Robert Snodgrass who has been equally as productive for the club this season.

Up front finally, where we have four players, though you might as well call that two right now. Uncapped American twenty one year old Mike Grella has struck up a pretty nice partnership with the clubs star player, 24 year old top scorer Jermaine Beckford. 18 year old local striker Tom Elliott hasn't been given an opportunity so far this campaign, which can't be said for 24 year old Argentine striker Luciano Becchio, who has appeared in ten games in all competitions, is yet to find the back of the net, and has failed to win over the fans with his lacklustre displays since his arrival from UD Mérida in Spain, and is now injured and probably out for the rest of the calendar year.

BenArsenal · April 20, 2021

Ooh, Leeds! Hope you'll become as successful as Bielsa

neilhoskins77 · April 22, 2021

On 20/04/2021 at 20:38, BenArsenal said:

Ooh, Leeds! Hope you'll become as successful as Bielsa

I've bought a bucket to sit on. I only took the job to annoy @mark wilson27 :lol:

mark wilson27 · April 22, 2021

7 minutes ago, neilhoskins77 said:

I've bought a bucket to sit on. I only took the job to annoy @mark wilson27

I was staying quiet mate

neilhoskins77 · April 24, 2021

On 22/04/2021 at 17:28, mark wilson27 said:

I was staying quiet mate

No 'marching on together' then mate? I'm sure you know the words.......haha ;-)

ChileanRanger · April 26, 2021

En 24/4/2021 a las 8:28, neilhoskins77 dijo:

No 'marching on together' then mate? I'm sure you know the words.......haha ;-)

I'll be more than happy to sing it in Mark's name.

neilhoskins77 · September 3, 2021

Monday 24th November 2008
And we're right into it. First job after the press conference to announce me as the new Manager at Leeds United is to decide what to do about Club Captain going forward. Frazer Richardson is the current holder of the armband, but with no guarantee of a place in the First Team for the 26 year old career United player, I decide to go in a different direction right now, with the role given to Angolan International centre back and fourth year United player, Rui Marques. The Portuguese passport holder is one of the most popular players at the club, and the decision is unanimously well received, with Danish goalkeeper Casper Ankergren remaining in his role as Vice-Captain. That's a decent start.

A decent start is exactly what I'm after tomorrow evening when we travel to face Northampton Town in my opening game in charge. They are currently sat in the relegation zone, and the away form is far from being one of the main problems at Leeds. In fact, to date the club have picked up more points on their travels than they have at Elland Road. Do we have some players who are crumbling under the pressure of playing for a club with such a reputation? If so, they'll soon be weeded out and moved along. With the expected pick up that often comes with a change of Manager at the club, the bookies have us as short price favourites for a three point haul at Sixfields.

Tuesday 25th November

Coca-Cola League One
Sixfields Stadium, Northampton
Northampton Town (0) 1 - Adebayo Akinfenwa (88)
Leeds United (0) 3 - Jonny Howson (50,70), Tom Elliott (90+1)
Attendance :- 3,345
Casper Ankergren; Seamus Coleman, Rui Marques ©, Lubomir Michalik, Emiliano Insúa; Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson; Niall McGinn (Neil Kilkenny 75), Robert Snodgrass (Alan Sheehan 75); Mike Grella (Tom Elliott 75), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Richard Naylor, Jonathan Douglas.
Bookings :- Lubomir Michalik 45

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

| 8th   |       | Millwall       |       | 18    | 9     | 3     | 6     | 23    | 20    | +3    | 30    |
| 9th   |       | Colchester     |       | 18    | 9     | 3     | 6     | 28    | 30    | -2    | 30    |
| 10th  |       | Oldham         |       | 18    | 7     | 6     | 5     | 27    | 23    | +4    | 27    |
| 11th  |       | Stockport      |       | 18    | 8     | 3     | 7     | 19    | 20    | -1    | 27    |
| 12th  |       | Leicester      |       | 18    | 7     | 5     | 6     | 23    | 19    | +4    | 26    |
| 13th  |       | Leeds          |       | 18    | 7     | 3     | 8     | 26    | 22    | +4    | 24    |
| 14th  |       | Swindon        |       | 18    | 6     | 6     | 6     | 22    | 25    | -3    | 24    |
| 15th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 18    | 6     | 5     | 7     | 19    | 19    | 0     | 23    |
| 16th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 18    | 6     | 5     | 7     | 22    | 24    | -2    | 23    |
| 17th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 18    | 6     | 5     | 7     | 23    | 29    | -6    | 23    |
| 18th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 18    | 5     | 7     | 6     | 25    | 25    | 0     | 22    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seamus Coleman and Emiliano Insúa are selected in the full back roles in the biggest selection dilemma's of the day. An early opportunity fell to new skipper Rui Marques, his header from Niall McGinn's corner caught by Gareth Ormshaw. At the other end, striker Stéphane Calce sent a shot from range inches over the top corner, before both Sean Armstrong and Liam Dolman sent headers from set pieces wide. Armstrong rounded off a fairly mundane first half with a free kick just over the bar, as we struggled to cause too many problems to our lowly hosts.

Calce sent a shot on the turn from the edge of the box wide as Northampton continued to create chances. But we soon found the accelerator ourselves, and five minutes after the restart Mike Grella's cross attempt was blocked, but at the second attempt he picked out Jonny Howson on the penalty spot, who got goal side of Luke Guttridge and powered in a header to put us in front. We put our foot to the floor, Lubomir Michalik had a header blocked, Jermaine Beckford took too long to get a shot off, and Robert Snodgrass curled an effort just over the top. But the second was on it's way, Emiliano Insúa's long throw cleared to Seamus Coleman, and he tee'ed up Howson, who walked onto the pass 25 yards out and crashed the ball into the top corner for his second of the evening. Howson passed up a chance to shoot for a potential hatrick before sending one over the bar. I made all my changes, but the game wasn't quite over yet, as with two minutes to play, and right after Rui Marques had sent a header over the bar, sub Liam Davis cut us open with a diagonal through pass that Adebayo Akinfenwa sidefooted home from 8 yards out. No panic from the players though, and in injury time Alan Sheehan whipped in a corner that teenage striker Tom Elliott finished with a bullet header into the top corner in front of the travelling Leeds fans, his first ever Senior goal! That's a win that nudges us up closer to the top half, which is a good start.

Wednesday 26th November
There isn't much money to spend on new players, but I have identified a player that I'd like to bring in and that we can afford. His club are not going to make it easy for us though, they've decided to stall on our offer that meets his current valuation, waiting to see if any of the other interested parties come in with a better offer.

Friday 28th November
Tomorrow is FA Cup Second Round day, and we're heading across the Pennines divide and into the Greater Manchester area, where we will face Oldham Athletic, a team three points ahead of us in League One and who we'll meet twice in three weeks with a League date scheduled against them soon as well. They have some recognisable names in their squad too, with 32 year old striker Lee Hughes classed as a veteran, but he's got plenty of years on 39 year old Dean Windass who is on loan for the season from Hull City, but is rolling back the years with three goals so far this campaign. But it's 21 year old Matty Wolfenden who is really catching the eye at Boundary Park, the home town lad is having a career season at the club with nine goals in all competitions so far. They also have Kelvin Etuhu at the club for the season from Manchester City, a current Welsh International in defence with Neal Eardley, and a former Welsh International and another veteran in goal, Mark Crossley. The bookies still have them pegged to be beaten tomorrow though.

I've been in this job less than a week, but I'm still getting linked with jobs elsewhere. This time it's Eastern Europe, and Romanian First League new money club FC Arges Pitesti. It's a no from me. They're 100 odd miles away from Bucharest where all the action is, and they're struggling to attract quality players and keep the ones they've got. They could well be relegation cannon fodder this season.

Saturday 29th November

FA Cup Second Round
Boundary Park, Oldham
Oldham Athletic (1) 1 - Dean Windass (14)
Leeds United (2) 3 - Jermaine Beckford (28,78), Mike Grella (32)
Attendance :- 6,038
Casper Ankergren; Frazer Richardson, Rui Marques © (inj - Richard Naylor 59), Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan (Aidan White 81); Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson; Niall McGinn (Andy Robinson 81), Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Paul Huntington, Jonathan Douglas, Neil Kilkenny, Tom Elliott.
Bookings :- Lubomir Michalik 1, Jermaine Beckford 24

Neither Seamus Coleman or Emiliano Insúa are permitted to play in Cup games under the terms of their loans, and both are unavailable to us today. Deposed skipper Frazer Richardson and Irish left back Alan Sheehan are both called up, while we also bring up 17 year old first year professional left back Aidan White from the Reserves, the Leeds born teenager joined in his promotion by 29 year old utility winger Andy Robinson, the former Swansea City man is in first year at the club but fell out of favour a while before I arrived at Elland Road.

The referee would stamp his authority early in the game, booking Lubomir Michalik inside the opening minute, and four players in total in the opening quarter of the game. By that point we were a goal behind, and it could have been more. Matty Wolfenden had already sent a gilt edged chance over the bar by the time Oldham counter attacked us at pace after clearing a free kick and Lewis Alessandria picked out Dean Windass on the edge of the box, the veteran striker sweeping a shot high into the net. They had the ball in the net again shortly after through Stephen Carson, but he was offside, and we were soon back in the game. Niall McGinn's throw in, Jermaine Beckford's flick on, Mike Grella's route to goal blocked, but he put it into Beckford's path and the striker slammed home an equaliser. Moments later, we had turned the game right around, another McGinn throw in, Beckford again flicking the ball on, and this time it ran between the goalkeeper and a defender, Grella left with a tap in. Windass missed a chance to bring Athletic level again, his glanced header from a Richard Clarke cross missing the target.

We still led at the break, despite our hosts putting us under some pressure before the break. But we soon lost our new skipper Rui Marques, the centre back injured trying to break up an Oldham attack, and having to be substituted near the hour mark. McGinn missed a great opportunity to put us out of reach, latching onto a Robert Snodgrass cross but sending his shot across goal and wide. But with twelve minutes to go we got the goal that would put us in the Third Round, a long curling through ball by Frazer Richardson would utilise the pace of Beckford as he got between the defenders, into the box, rounding Mark Crossley before slipping the ball inside the near post for his second of the afternoon. We were comfortable enough to bring on the two players brought up into the Squad today, with Aidan White making a Senior Debut at 17 for his home town club, and Andy Robinson allowing Niall McGinn to rest up for the last part of the game. Round Three here we come.

That result nets us a modest prize of £30,000 for progressing into Round Three. I say modest, if the club felt inclined to add it to my Transfer Budget it would increase my spending funds by 30%. Sounds unlikely though. Hopefully we can get a plum tie when the draw is made on Monday evening for the Third Round. The Board have set a target of the Fourth Round for this season, though I suspect that I'm not being judged on any of the targets as I've only just got here.

There's no doubt about the star of the squad. Jermaine Beckford isn't quite ready to hit his prime years yet at 24, but he showed his class with two great finishes in that game. He's up to eleven goals in all competitions this season, including five in five in Cup ties. The Londoner is rated at almost £1m now, and is said to be frustrated at the clubs underachieving campaign so far. Hopefully a bit of a move up the League One table will convince him that we can match his own personal ambitions.

neilhoskins77 · October 5, 2021

Monday 1st December 2008
December has five League games in the diary, including two in twenty four hours over the Christmas period. Hopefully a few wins this month will see us end 2008 in a better position to challenge for a Playoff spot at a minimum. A double strike from Jonny Howson at Northampton last midweek is enough to secure him a spot in the Coca-Cola League One Team of the Week.

The club we are negotiating with to try and purchase my first new signing at the club have not had any other offers for their player. So they do the logical thing and try and squeeze us for a bit more cash. I raise my offer to meet their asking price this time, but I tell them not to come back asking for any more.

The draw is made today for Round Three of the FA Cup. We are pulled from the velvet bag quite quickly, and at home. And we land ourselves a Premier League club as the visitors too, and a struggling one at that, as 16th placed West Bromwich Albion will travel to Elland Road on the first Saturday of the New Year. If it wasn't for the goals of on loan French striker Marc-Antoine Fortuné, they'd already be all but relegated.

Tuesday 2nd December
A coaches report tells me that 22 year old left back Alan Sheehan has been working hard on the training ground, and is now close to becoming considered a set piece expert. The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 International has been used in rotation this season after the arrival of Emiliano Insúa on loan from Liverpool. It is the hope of Sheehan that his set piece skills could give him the advantage over his Argentine team mate.

Sheehan could yet have a new team mate soon too. Our bid to bring in a new player has been accepted by the club, or more specifically the Chairman at the club. They have intervened above the head of the clubs Manager, and accepted our offer of £60,000, not something I'd be very happy about at all if it were done to me. Personal terms with the player are agreed very quickly, but there is a stinger in the tail. He has been made aware of interest from another club in the country he currently plays in, and he seems to be keen to talk to them should they have an offer accepted by his current employers.

Wednesday 3rd December
Two clubs from the Blue Square North, namely Stalybridge Celtic and Harrogate Town, have both asked to take 19 year old centre back Ross Wilkinson on loan for three months. The North East born youngster is out of contract in the summer, and this will give us a better idea of whether it is worth continuing his development at the club.

Thursday 4th December
Wilkinson has picked Harrogate Town, and will spend three months at the Playoff contending club who also already have a winger on loan from Burnley.

Friday 5th December
Speaking of wingers, I'd very much like to introduce you to someone. He's our new signing. On Halloween of this year, my Go Ahead Eagles side defeated Telstar at home in the second tier of Dutch football. But we spent the evening dealing with Ghanaian left winger Richmond Bossman. And from January he will be strutting his stuff at Elland Road, as FC Utrecht decide against making an offer for the 23 year old Dutch passport holder, and he becomes our new signing for a fee of £60,000. Bossman can also play on the right wing or behind the strikers if needed, and I'm very much looking forward to the arrival of a player who I believe could become a star at the club.

We shouldn't need a Bossman tomorrow, when we host Bristol Rovers at Elland Road, one of the clubs who are just outside the relegation zone, and seem likely to be looking at staying up as a priority this season. We are heavy favourites to pick up three more points as look to move into the top half of the League One table, but will have to wary of the threat posed by Rovers striker and leading scoring, 26 year old Rickie Lambert.

Saturday 6th December

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 0
Bristol Rovers (0) 1 - Darryl Duffy (47)
Attendance :- 22,934
Casper Ankergren; Seamus Coleman, Rui Marques ©, Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan; Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson; Niall McGinn, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella (Tom Elliott 74), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Richard Naylor, Emiliano Insúa, Jonathan Douglas, Andy Robinson.
Bookings :- None

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

| 10th  |       | Leicester      |       | 19    | 8     | 5     | 6     | 25    | 19    | +6    | 29    |
| 11th  |       | Oldham         |       | 19    | 7     | 6     | 6     | 28    | 25    | +3    | 27    |
| 12th  |       | Swindon        |       | 19    | 7     | 6     | 6     | 25    | 27    | -2    | 27    |
| 13th  |       | Stockport      |       | 19    | 8     | 3     | 8     | 19    | 24    | -5    | 27    |
| 14th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 19    | 7     | 5     | 7     | 24    | 25    | -1    | 26    |
| 15th  |       | Leeds          |       | 19    | 7     | 3     | 9     | 26    | 23    | +3    | 24    |
| 16th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 19    | 5     | 8     | 6     | 25    | 25    | 0     | 23    |
| 17th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 19    | 6     | 5     | 8     | 20    | 22    | -2    | 23    |
| 18th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 19    | 6     | 5     | 8     | 24    | 31    | -7    | 23    |
| 19th  |       | Tranmere       |       | 19    | 5     | 6     | 8     | 24    | 25    | -1    | 21    |
| 20th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 19    | 6     | 2     | 11    | 21    | 32    | -11   | 20    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I took this job, I was made aware of the clubs poor home record, and whispers that I was inheriting a squad that didn't relish the pressure of playing in front of a boisterous home crowd at Elland Road. This afternoon, those whispers turned into shouts, as an expectant crowd of almost 23,000 turned into an angry audience when we capitulated in front of our own supporters once more, this time to a relegation threatened side who were given no chance by pundits and bookmakers alike. Could it be true? Do we have some rotten apples in the Squad upsetting the balance in the team?

Seamus Coleman replaced Frazer Richardson at right back in the only change to the starting lineup from the win at Oldham in the Cup. We created enough chances to win the game comfortably, Jermaine Beckford working Mike Green twice early on, while namesake defender Ryan Green got a vital touch on a Coleman cross to keep the ball away from an unmarked Mike Grella. Even our bread and butter of set pieces failed to find us a way through when a string of corners went to waste.

Darryl Duffy of the visitors was the only player booked in the first half. Early in the second half he became the only player with his name on the scoresheet too! We didn't even get to touch the ball, Rovers passed their way through us down the park, Rickie Lambert flicking the ball on to Duffy who spun away from our centre back pair and sent a shot across Casper Ankergren and inside the far post. From that point on, we dominated possession and territory, but we were unable to find a way through Rovers massed ranks at the back. Beckford twice spurned chances to shoot, electing instead to pass with defenders in close attendance and the chances would be lost. During the last quarter, Tom Elliot would replace Grella and we could go more route one, creating our best chances of the half. Beckford hit the bar with a lob effort, before Robert Snodgrass cut in from his wing and unleashed a curler that beat Green, but whistled past the far post. A fifth goal of the season had cost us a chance to move into the top half and pressure the teams in the Playoff spots, and helped Rovers get some breathing space from the relegation zone.

Tuesday 9th December
Despite the poor performance against Rovers at Elland Road on the weekend, I continue to be linked with jobs on the continent. This time it's a potential return back to Holland, as I'm made the favourite for the job with struggling Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen. They sit in 12th place, and have sacked Mario Been after a home defeat to Roda JC on the weekend. A trip to Ajax this coming weekend would be a baptism of fire for any new boss appointed this week.

Friday 12th December
It might be a good thing that we're away from home this weekend. We travel to face 21st placed Crewe Alexandra. I could of course peddle you some lines about how much they're struggling and provide some statistics to back that up. But hey, I did that last time out against Bristol Rovers, and look what went down there.......

Saturday 13th December

Coca-Cola League One
The Alexandra Stadium, Crewe
Crewe Alexandra (0) 2 - Billy Jones (79), Byron Moore (86)
Leeds United (2) 4 - Niall McGinn (15), Tom Elliott (39), Jermaine Beckford (68), Mike Grella (75)
Attendance :- 4,414
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Richard Naylor, Lubomir Michalik, Emiliano Insúa; Fabian Delph (Jonathan Douglas 69), Jonny Howson; Niall McGinn, Robert Snodgrass (Andy Robinson 76); Tom Elliott, Jermaine Beckford (Mike Grella 69).
Unused Substitutes :- Paul Huntingdon, Alan Sheehan.
Bookings :- Emiliano Insúa 73

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Brighton       |       | 20    | 11    | 2     | 7     | 30    | 22    | +8    | 35    |
| 8th   |       | Southend       |       | 20    | 9     | 7     | 4     | 27    | 22    | +5    | 34    |
| 9th   |       | Colchester     |       | 20    | 10    | 3     | 7     | 31    | 34    | -3    | 33    |
| 10th  |       | Leicester      |       | 20    | 9     | 5     | 6     | 28    | 20    | +8    | 32    |
| 11th  |       | Stockport      |       | 20    | 9     | 3     | 8     | 21    | 24    | -3    | 30    |
| 12th  |       | Leeds          |       | 20    | 8     | 3     | 9     | 30    | 25    | +5    | 27    |
| 13th  |       | Oldham         |       | 20    | 7     | 6     | 7     | 29    | 28    | +1    | 27    |
| 14th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 20    | 7     | 6     | 7     | 25    | 26    | -1    | 27    |
| 15th  |       | Swindon        |       | 20    | 7     | 6     | 7     | 25    | 29    | -4    | 27    |
| 16th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 20    | 7     | 5     | 8     | 25    | 31    | -6    | 26    |
| 17th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 20    | 6     | 6     | 8     | 20    | 22    | -2    | 24    |

Can we play you every week? Heck, we don't mind who we play, as long as it's away from home seemingly. Richard Naylor and Tom Elliott came into the side to replace Rui Marques and Mike Grella as we dominated proceedings from the outset in Crewe. We had already come close through Jermaine Beckford and a Fabian Delph strike that hit the bar, before finally taking the lead a quarter of an hour in. Niall McGinn's effort from Seamus Coleman's short throw in was absolutely a cross, but it found it's way in off the far upright. A similar route provided number two before the break. McGinn collected the ball from Coleman's throw in again, and this time he sent it across the edge of the box to Emiliano Insúa. The Argentine left back failed to control the ball, but recovered it and beat two defenders before lofting the ball back into the middle, where Tom Elliott powered home a close range error.

I made the mistake of telling the team I was pleased at the break, and they were slow from the restart, allowing Crewe to create some chances. Neil McGregor's volleyed effort was too high, and Shaun Miller's deflected shot had Casper Ankergren scrambling across his goalmouth, and he managed to turn the ball away. We showed them how to finish midway through the half. Beckford was about to be withdrawn after a quiet afternoon, and he probably knew it too as he buried the ball from two yards out after McGinn's corner had been met by Richard Naylor and flicked on further by Elliott. It was Mike Grella who replaced Beckford, and he got in on the action himself in the 75th minute, scoring the best goal of the day. He collected the ball from Jonny Howson, pushed it through the legs of a defender and into the right channel of the box, and then when everyone expected a cross he smashed it into the roof of the net. Unfortunately, we were then guilty of switching right off, Byron Moore found full back Billy Jones in acres of space, and he passed a low shot inside Ankergren's near post, before Moore scored himself late on, meeting sub Kenny Lunt's diagonal ball across the box and finding the bottom corner. We do need to stop these lapses of concentration when the game is considered won, as better teams will take advantage and steal points back. But for today, it's a place in the top half, but with two more home games of the three remaining in 2008.

neilhoskins77 · November 1, 2021

Tuesday 16th December 2008
When I arrived at Elland Road, young midfielder Jonny Howson made an immediate impression, and he has continued to do so ever since. He has been working hard in training over the last few weeks, and after being encouraged to do so, Howson is now seen as a player who can perform in the attacking midfield role when required.

Wednesday 17th December
Not required however is the attitude of 26 year old Nigerian International striker Enoch Showunmi. The towering forward was brought in on a Free Transfer in the summer from Sheffield Wednesday, and has scored twice in as many starts in League action. But he has been overtaken in the queue of strikers since I arrived, and has today complained about that to the media. My response was to inform Mr Showunmi that he was now transfer listed. We're looking for around £75,000 for him, and getting his £3,500 per week would be a huge bonus, as I'm sure we can find more effective ways to spend that money.

Friday 19th December
In just my second game in charge we travelled across the Pennines to face Oldham in the FA Cup, setting up our big test against West Bromwich in the New Year. Tomorrow, the Boundary Park club will made the reverse trip for a big League game. We overtook them last weekend with our win in Crewe, and we'll be looking for much improved home performance and result against John Sheridan's charges, and hopefully make a step closer to dragging ourselves into the Playoff race at the very least.

Saturday 20th December

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (2) 3 - Tom Elliott (9), Jermaine Beckford (36 pen), Niall McGinn (56)
Oldham Athletic (0) 0
Attendance :- 22,536
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Richard Naylor, Lubomir Michalik, Emiliano Insúa (Alan Sheehan 72); Fabian Delph (Jonathan Douglas 72), Jonny Howson; Niall McGinn, Robert Snodgrass (Andy Robinson 72); Tom Elliott, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Paul Huntington, Mike Grella.
Bookings :- Emiliano Insúa 57

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

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 21    | 10    | 6     | 5     | 33    | 21    | +12   | 36    |
| 8th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 21    | 10    | 6     | 5     | 27    | 18    | +9    | 36    |
| 9th   |       | Colchester     |       | 21    | 11    | 3     | 7     | 35    | 35    | 0     | 36    |
| 10th  |       | Leicester      |       | 21    | 9     | 6     | 6     | 28    | 20    | +8    | 33    |
| 11th  |       | Stockport      |       | 21    | 9     | 4     | 8     | 22    | 25    | -3    | 31    |
| 12th  |       | Leeds          |       | 21    | 9     | 3     | 9     | 33    | 25    | +8    | 30    |
| 13th  |       | Swindon        |       | 21    | 8     | 6     | 7     | 27    | 30    | -3    | 30    |
| 14th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 21    | 7     | 7     | 7     | 26    | 27    | -1    | 28    |
| 15th  |       | Oldham         |       | 21    | 7     | 6     | 8     | 29    | 31    | -2    | 27    |
| 16th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 21    | 8     | 2     | 11    | 26    | 33    | -7    | 26    |
| 17th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 21    | 7     | 5     | 9     | 25    | 32    | -7    | 26    |

The last weekend before Christmas, and we got exactly what we, and over 20,000 Leeds fans wanted, a pretty routine and dominant win over an Oldham side that were hoping to hop back over us in the table today. We got off to the perfect start, building down the left through Emiliano Insúa and Robert Snodgrass, the latter sending a cross to the edge of the box where Jermaine Beckford let it run past himself and the defender, and young Tom Elliott walked onto the ball and curled it around the keeper and into the bottom corner. We continued to dominate, Beckford sending an effort over the bar after great work. He'd soon get a chance from much closer in, Insúa was crafty in leaving in his leg and turning his back to Michael McColl, letting the defender clumsily give him a chance to go down. Beckford drilled his spot kick into the corner and doubled our advantage.

Into the second half, and Elliott continued his conversion into a real option up front, ahead of more experienced and well paid team mates. He received the ball with his back to goal ten minutes after the restart, spinning his marker beautifully, and then spotting Niall McGinn's timed run as he shaped to shoot, adjusting to slide a through ball right into the wingers path, and McGinn hit it first time low into the bottom corner to stretch our advantage still further. Elliott almost got himself another goal too, sending a shot on the turn into the side netting. Temperamental full back Insúa made himself a prime candidate to be replaced when he received another booking, and was switched out in a triple substitution with just under 20 minutes remaining as the games competitive edge faded in the latter stages.

That was much better, and a lot more like what we expect from our home games. I wasn't the only one impressed with my side either. Oldham's boss John Sheridan has been in the game long enough at the top level to know what is required, and he commented after the game that on todays performance, he wouldn't dare to rule Leeds out of the promotion race, and we'd be very much capable of scaring plenty of teams at that Championship level too in his opinion. I hope he's right.

Greek giants PAOK certainly don't want me to managing Leeds in the Championship. The rumour has it that they would rather I was in the sunny Greek city of Thessaloniki instead. They are drifting in the lower reaches of mid table so far this season, causing no issues at all to the Athens heavyweight trio of Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and Olympiakos. I have stayed quiet on the rumours that I'll replace the sacked Portuguese manager, Fernando Santos.

Monday 22nd December
The links with jobs elsewhere continue to come. This time it's Turkey, and Gaziantepspor. They are a new money club from the city of Gaziantep in Southern Turkey, close to the border with Syria. The club have looked to combine talented local and homegrown players with a spine of players brought in from South America on good money. Too many draws have left them only a few points outside the relegation zone, and it was decided that Nurullah Saglam couldn't take the club any further. While I must admit that managing in Turkey intrigues me, this is the wrong club at the wrong time for me.

And I have a South American of my own to deal with. 24 year old Argentine striker Luciano Becchio was brought into the club in the summer from Spanish side UD Mérida for an undisclosed fee. It's probably best the fans don't know how much the club paid too, as he is far from a fan favourite. He has failed to find the net, and has an embarrassingly low average rating from his ten appearances in all competitions, and right now, the fans would gladly chip in for his return to South America, and he'd probably let them. Now he is back from a spell on the sidelines with a rib injury. His return to the First Team Squad needs to be managed very carefully. If we can get him scoring, things could change for him and us. But does he move Tom Elliott out of the way? Not right now I wouldn't have thought.

Wednesday 24th December
Football Management is a glamorous business I'm told. I find it a little difficult to believe, as I'm sat here on Christmas Eve holding a pre-match press conference ahead of a Boxing Day trip......to Scunthorpe! Three points will cheer me up and make me feel much more festive. They are showing signs of turning around a poor run of form that saw them lose three out of four in the League. They have now picked up four points from the last two, and they sit second in the Division, one of three clubs locked on 38 points. We're hoping to leave Glanford Park in a few days with three points in the bag, and our hosts back into a tailspin of form.

Friday 26th December

Coca-Cola League One
Glanford Park, Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe United (1) 3 - Grant McCann (3,51), Matt Sparrow (78)
Leeds United (1) 1 - Jermaine Beckford (8)
Attendance :- 6,385
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Richard Naylor (inj - Paul Huntingdon 79), Lubomir Michalik (Mike Grella 69), Alan Sheehan; Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson; Niall McGinn, Robert Snodgrass (Andy Robinson 69); Tom Elliott, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Frazer Richardson, Jonathan Douglas.
Bookings :- Richard Naylor 66

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

| 8th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 22    | 10    | 7     | 5     | 28    | 19    | +9    | 37    |
| 9th   |       | Colchester     |       | 22    | 11    | 3     | 8     | 35    | 37    | -2    | 36    |
| 10th  |       | Leicester      |       | 22    | 9     | 7     | 6     | 29    | 21    | +8    | 34    |
| 11th  |       | Swindon        |       | 22    | 9     | 6     | 7     | 29    | 31    | -2    | 33    |
| 12th  |       | Stockport      |       | 22    | 9     | 5     | 8     | 23    | 26    | -3    | 32    |
| 13th  |       | Leeds          |       | 22    | 9     | 3     | 10    | 34    | 28    | +6    | 30    |
| 14th  |       | Oldham         |       | 22    | 8     | 6     | 8     | 30    | 31    | -1    | 30    |
| 15th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 22    | 7     | 8     | 7     | 27    | 28    | -1    | 29    |
| 16th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 22    | 8     | 3     | 11    | 29    | 36    | -7    | 27    |
| 17th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 22    | 7     | 6     | 9     | 27    | 34    | -7    | 27    |
| 18th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 22    | 6     | 7     | 9     | 22    | 25    | -3    | 25    |

Embarrassing! And that was only what the media had to say. You can quite imagine what I had to say behind closed doors in the dressing room after this outing. Emiliano Insúa was away on duty for Argentina, and Alan Sheehan replaced him in the only change. Nigel Adkins had stated before the game that he was confident his team were prepared for the challenge of dealing with Jermaine Beckford. But it should have been us more worried about dealing with Grant McCann. The 28 year old Northern Irish International midfielder is well on the way to a career best season, and he curled home a left footed free kick from 25 yards out with just three minutes on the clock. We were quickly level, Richard Naylor on his 350th career appearance headed the ball up the park, and Beckford pulled the ball down, before shooting on the turn from 25 yards out and finding the top corner to have us level within five minutes. But the surprise package of League One were still very much on top, with McCann, Gary Hooper and Kevan Hurst all making Casper Ankergren make saves before Matt Sparrow hit the post with a long range curler. In response, a tame effort from Jonny Howson was all we could manage.

The pattern of Scunthorpe dominating continued after the interval, and Ankergren had to make a good stop to keep out a Sparrow driven shot. He was helpless to do anything moments later though when a corner was only partially cleared to an unmarked McCann on the right corner of the box, and he controlled the ball and shifted it to his lethal left foot, before sending a curling shot into the top corner and in via the underside of the cross bar for his second spectacular goal of the afternoon. With Hooper and Hurst missing chances to inflict even more damage on us, I made changes to try and give us more opportunities to cause problems of our own. Lubomir Michalik and Robert Snodgrass were replaced by Mike Grella and Andy Robinson as we moved to three at the back and up front. That briefly worked as a cross found Niall McGinn, who moved past a defender and then hit a low shot that hit the near post before rolling back into the grateful hands of Joe Murphy. But the home side were still well on top, Hurst and Cliff Byrne both missed the target with headers. Then Murphy caught a cross aimed at Beckford, and launched an immediate counter attack, first through David Mirfin down the right, and he linked up with Ben May. His low shot was well blocked by Ankergren, and the keeper got no help from his defence which allowed Sparrow to get to the loose ball and he couldn't miss with a wide open goal from just eight yards out to finish us off.

We now have just 48 hours before our final game of 2008, and a last chance to get into the New Year in some kind of reasonable shape. The whole squad was read the riot act after that miserable performance though, and we'll go back the drawing board tactics wise before we host Leyton Orient at Elland Road on Sunday, which will be the first of a trio of home games which include the FA Cup Third Round tie against Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.

Saturday 27th December
Straight out of match day, and back into pre-match mode as we prepare for the visit of Leyton Orient tomorrow at Elland Road in our final game of the calendar year. Who would want to be a bookmaker working out the odds for a Leeds United game right now? Talk about unpredictable! We are the favourites though, despite our Southern visitors being seven points ahead of us and much closer to the Playoff line that we're aiming for as a provisional minimum target right now. Two games in 48 hours doesn't allow much time for preparation, but I am preparing a minor tactical adjustment that should help us a little to stem the tide a bit.

Oldham Athletic boss John Sheridan outed himself as an admirer of us a short while back. Maybe he was just laying the foundations, as the media are reporting that he is preparing an offer to take Australian International midfielder Neil Kilkenny to Boundary Park in the upcoming Transfer Window.

Sunday 28th December

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (3) 3 - Robert Snodgrass (2), Jermaine Beckford (5 pen), Mike Grella (20)
Leyton Orient (1) 1 - Ryan Jarvis (41)
Attendance :- 22,242
Casper Ankergren; Seamus Coleman, Richard Naylor (inj - Paul Huntingdon 45), Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan; Niall McGinn (inj - Andy Robinson 45), Jonathan Douglas (Fabian Delph 76), Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Frazer Richardson, Tom Elliott.
Bookings :- None

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

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th   |       | Colchester     |       | 23    | 12    | 3     | 8     | 39    | 38    | +1    | 39    |
| 8th   |       | Walsall        |       | 23    | 11    | 5     | 7     | 31    | 20    | +11   | 38    |
| 9th   |       | Leicester      |       | 23    | 10    | 7     | 6     | 32    | 21    | +11   | 37    |
| 10th  |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 23    | 10    | 7     | 6     | 29    | 22    | +7    | 37    |
| 11th  |       | Stockport      |       | 23    | 10    | 5     | 8     | 25    | 27    | -2    | 35    |
| 12th  |       | Leeds          |       | 23    | 10    | 3     | 10    | 37    | 29    | +8    | 33    |
| 13th  |       | Oldham         |       | 23    | 9     | 6     | 8     | 32    | 32    | 0     | 33    |
| 14th  |       | Swindon        |       | 23    | 9     | 6     | 8     | 29    | 32    | -3    | 33    |
| 15th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 23    | 8     | 8     | 7     | 31    | 30    | +1    | 32    |
| 16th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 23    | 7     | 7     | 9     | 23    | 25    | -2    | 28    |
| 17th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 23    | 6     | 9     | 8     | 28    | 30    | -2    | 27    |

Another false dawn as we hit the half way point of the League One season, or have we finally turned a corner? I'm not even going to try and answer that one. We shifted into a more conventional 4-4-2 formation, with the players asked to be more open to playing directly when needed and to counter attack at speed when the opponents committed players forward. Their efforts were very successful. Jonathan Douglas and Mike Grella replaced Fabian Delph and Tom Elliott in the starting lineup, and we were quickly ahead. Inside two minutes Douglas received the ball in acres of space, and he slid a pass into the left channel of the box, Robert Snodgrass running onto the ball, opening out his body, and sliding a shot across the dive of David Button and inside the far post. Moments later, the lead was doubled, Niall McGinn unable to get a cross over and he sent the ball back to Seamus Coleman. The Irish right back weaved into the box, where Danny Glanville took his legs from under him, and Jermaine Beckford sidefooted the spot kick into the bottom corner for his 15th goal of the campaign. We continued to push on forward at every opportunity, both Beckford and Grella forced saves out of Button before the third goal arrived in the 20th minute, Alan Sheehan with a corner, and Grella planting a header high into the net. Douglas curled an effort over as we nearly increased our lead further. But it would be Orient who would get the next goal, a corner was only part cleared and Ryan Jarvis thumped a low shot into the bottom corner to keep the game alive.

Both Richard Naylor and Niall McGinn had picked up knocks that meant they wouldn't be risked in the second half, replaced by Paul Huntingdon and Andy Robinson. We should have reinstated our three goal advantage when Grella moved away from his marker to the near post to meet Coleman's cross with a header that he planted wide of the target. There would be further misses from Grella and Beckford in a second half that showed considerably less finishing quality than was on display in the opening 45 minutes. Paul Terry whistled a shot wide of Ankergren's post from the edge of the box in Orient's closest effort at getting back into the game. For once, poor shooting suited us this second half.

The change in tactic seemed to suit us well, with Niall McGinn and Robert Snodgrass both capable of helping out defensively without sacrificing their ability to attack effectively. We will face sterner tests than this one of course, not least in our first fixture of the new year in the FA Cup, but hopefully we are close to finding the fine line of compromise, and can start to be more consistent and move up the table.

Wednesday 31st December
I can only imagine what Mark Hughes' resolution will be this New Year. The Welshman has been sacked by Manchester City this morning, and I've been installed as the favourite for the job. The newly mega rich Premier League club are languishing in 15th place, and a 4-0 hiding at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea yesterday was the last straw for the Board at the City of Manchester Stadium. They have Portuguese winger Nani arriving from city rivals United in the New Year in a £15m deal.

That's the kind of money we can only dream of, though we do have four clubs interested in signing Neil Kilkenny from us. Only one of them is prepared to pay the full asking fee in one installment though.

neilhoskins77 · January 21, 2022

Thursday 1st January 2009
The Transfer Window is open, and there is a media expectation that Leeds United will be busy this month as I try and mould my Squad into the Promotion contenders that our fans expect to see. If the Transfer Window doesn't deliver, then it's going to be a busy month on the park at least, with an FA Cup Third Round game to start with, followed by up to half a dozen League matches too.

There is a bit of a feel good mood around the Squad today, with the news that Seamus Coleman and Niall McGinn win the League One Player of the Month and Young Player of the Month December Awards respectively, with McGinn also claiming third place in the main award too.

And, of course there is the new arrival. 23 year old left winger Richmond Bossman has arrived at the club today following his £60,000 transfer from Dutch club Telstar. The flamboyant Ghana born, but uncapped and holder of a Dutch passport speedster, negating a need for a work permit, terrorised my Go Ahead Eagles team at times despite us winning well in the end back in late October. I saw enough to remember him, and with production needed, I believe the Elland Road faithful will love watching this guy play. He has signed on a three and a half year deal that will pay him £4,000 per week.

I may not be done with my new tactic of attempting to bring in players who have performed well against us either. I have started the process of unsettling a player by publicly declaring my interest in signing him. We'll see how that works out. What looks unlikely to work out, is my attempt to extend Emiliano Insúa's loan at the club, as Liverpool have flat out refused to discuss the possibility of that.

Friday 2nd January
The tactic of unsettling the player seems to have worked, with that player reportedly flattered at the interest being shown in him, and his personal screen showing that he is desperate to impress potentially visiting scouts.

We're in FA Cup Third Round action tomorrow, with a very large crowd expected as we entertain Barclays Premier Division strugglers West Bromwich Albion. Whisper it quietly, but several notable pundits are picking us as dark horses to spring a potential Giant Killing act this weekend, and the bookies seem to listening to them too, with there being next to nothing to choose between the teams on the betting markets.

Saturday 3rd January

FA Cup, Third Round
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 0
West Bromwich Albion (0) 1 - Ishmael Miller (88)
Attendance :- 35,230
Casper Ankergren ©; Frazer Richardson, Richard Naylor (Rui Marques 72), Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan; Niall McGinn (Richmond Bossman 72), Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella (Tom Elliott 80), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Paul Huntingdon, David Lucas (GK), Jonathan Douglas, Andy Robinson.
Bookings :- Richard Naylor 45+1

Damn! For long periods of this match, you wouldn't have known there are two Divisions between the clubs. Unfortunately, we couldn't quite hold on in the last few minutes. Frazer Richardson replaced cup-tied loanee Seamus Coleman at right back, and Fabian Delph came in for Jonathan Douglas in midfield, while new signing Richmond Bossman was available from the substitutes bench. Niall McGinn was over zealous with a free kick effort from a long way out, before Marc-Antoine Fortuné had a goal bound effort cleared. Albion then lost Borja Valero from their midfield to injury, good news for us, We couldn't push home the perceived advantage though, with Alan Sheehan and Chris Brunt swapping free kick chances, and neither was able to hit the target.

The second half started with Fortuné just missing the top corner from 20 yards out, before we started to take some control of the game. A nice passing move saw the ball find it's way out to Robert Snodgrass on the left, and his cross into the box rattled around a bit before landing in the path of Jonny Howson, who blazed a shot over the cross bar. That was a gilt edged chance, better than the one Jermaine Beckford created for himself before sending in a curling shot that Scott Carson managed to turn over the bar. I made my changes in an eight minute spell beginning around twenty minutes from time, including a debut for Richmond Bossman, who constantly swapped wings with Snodgrass to try and make marking them more difficult, but also to solve the issue of them both being left footers. Unfortunately, it was a right footed player who made a fatal late mistake, Albion turning us back the other way as we pushed on, and a counter attack saw Ismael Miller feed fellow sub Jay Simpson, his low shot saved by Casper Ankergren, but Frazer Richardson kicked the floor instead of the ball when attempting to clear, and the ball instead rolled back to Miller who steered a low shot beyond Ankergren and into the net. We threw the kitchen sink at our visitors, earning five corners in just three minutes, but failing to find a late equaliser, and crashing out of the Cup.

I praised my players for their efforts, and I'm genuinely happy that they performed to a high level. An individual mistake has cost us here, and Richardson was quick to put his hand up and take the blame. West Bromwich Albion progress, and will host Premier Division rivals Stoke City at The Hawthorns in Round Four, a draw that sees the highlight being a Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.

Monday 5th January
In Sweden, there are rumours that we are looking to sign a talented 20 year old midfielder. He's a player that has been, and is on our radar. But he is also out of our price range right now. In our price range however, and looking to make the move to Yorkshire is 24 years old Serbian former Under-21 International attacking midfielder, Stevan Stosic. The right footer who is adept at set piece delivery has played most of his football in his homeland, most notably with OFK Belgrade, where a good season earned him a move to Spain with Málaga. But it didn't work out for him there, and in two full seasons which included a loan spell, he has played only one League game. They released him earlier this season in favour of bringing in other overseas players. We now have to wait to see if Stosic will be issued with a work permit to complete this move.

Today has also seen us miss out on our first choice signing of left back. This is a position we need to address as Liverpool are refusing to discuss extending the loan of Emiliano Insúa through to the end of the season. With Alan Sheehan at the club, we are looking for someone of at least an equal ability. 28 year old and 36 times capped Ivory Coast International player Mamadou Coulibaly is off the table though, as he has refused our offer and elected to stay in Belgium, signing with second tier side Olympic Charleroi, for a lot less money than we offered him.

Tuesday 6th January
We move in quickly on our second choice left back option, and this one moves swiftly and smoothly to a positive conclusion. Into the club after being without an employer so far this season is 31 year old once capped Portuguese International veteran Mário Silva. It's been a great career for him already, starting with Boavista for several seasons, before a season in France with FC Nantes, and a return to his homeland with FC Porto. Some time in Spain followed with Recreativo and Cádiz, before a return back to Boavista for two seasons. They cut him loose last summer, and he has bided his time waiting to choose his next club. He's very excited at the prospect of playing in England, and we get a left footed dead ball specialist who is as effective going forward as he is in defence.

Silva is eligible to make his debut tomorrow night as we return to League One action, the only competition we now have left to focus on. Peterborough United will be the visitors to Elland Road, and they are one of the surprise packages this season, predicted to be stuck in no mans land, they find themselves on the cusp of the Playoff spots in 7th place heading into this game. Their season has been helped by the loan arrival from Portsmouth of Swiss Under-21 International striker Danijel Subotic.

Wednesday 7th January

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 0
Peterborough United (0) 0
Attendance :- 21,909
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Richard Naylor, Lubomir Michalik, Mário Silva (Alan Sheehan 74); Niall McGinn (inj - Richmond Bossman 45), Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella (Tom Elliott 74), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Rui Marques, Jonathan Douglas.
Bookings :- Jermaine Beckford 74

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

| 8th   |       | Leicester      |       | 24    | 11    | 7     | 6     | 34    | 21    | +13   | 40    |
| 9th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 24    | 11    | 7     | 6     | 35    | 24    | +11   | 40    |
| 10th  |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 24    | 10    | 7     | 7     | 29    | 23    | +6    | 37    |
| 11th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 24    | 9     | 8     | 7     | 33    | 30    | +3    | 35    |
| 12th  |       | Stockport      |       | 24    | 10    | 5     | 9     | 25    | 29    | -4    | 35    |
| 13th  |       | Leeds          |       | 24    | 10    | 4     | 10    | 37    | 29    | +8    | 34    |
| 14th  |       | Oldham         |       | 24    | 9     | 6     | 9     | 32    | 33    | -1    | 33    |
| 15th  |       | Swindon        |       | 24    | 9     | 6     | 9     | 29    | 34    | -5    | 33    |
| 16th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 24    | 7     | 9     | 8     | 29    | 30    | -1    | 30    |
| 17th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 24    | 9     | 3     | 12    | 33    | 38    | -5    | 30    |
| 18th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 24    | 7     | 7     | 10    | 23    | 28    | -5    | 28    |

A very frustrating Wednesday night at Elland Road for us and the fans present, as we move back into the bottom half of the table, and miss the chance to close right up on our opponents and the top ten. Both full backs are changed from the defeat to West Bromwich in the Cup, with on loan Seamus Coleman replacing Fraser Richardson on the right, and new signing Mário Silva coming in for Alan Sheehan at left back. But it was the right flank where we carried the most threat in the first half, Coleman having several crosses into the box, but the Peterborough defence were on high alert. When he did pick out Jermaine Beckford midway through the half, visiting keeper Joe Lewis produced a stunning tip over the bar from the close range header. Mike Grella missed the top corner with a shot on the turn as we approached the break, a period of time that also saw Sergio Torres send a shot wide for Peterborough, and Niall McGinn take a knock.

That knock would see McGinn replaced at the break, with Richmond Bossman coming on in his place, once again asked to play out of position on the right wing, but to swap places frequently with Robert Snodgrass. We were still waiting for that golden chance to present itself, and while we did Beckford elected to lay off the ball instead of shoot, and Grella scuffed a look at goal wide of the target. Grella would soon be sacrificed for the physical presence of Tom Elliott, with Silva's debut coming to an end at the same time. Peterborough were offering no real threat now, Daniel Pacheco heading over from a set piece, but Casper Ankergren had that covered all the way. But our play reeked of desperation now, and players were shooting from range with no real hope of striking lucky. Our golden chance never arrived.

Seamus Coleman was given the Man of the Match Award, while another loanee Niall McGinn has suffered a gash to his arm that will keep him out for around a week. His loan spell is also due to end shortly.

Thursday 8th January
Argentine striker Luciano Becchio has today been placed on the Transfer List, and told to find a new club. He has been unsettled since I arrived here, and frankly seems to be in no hurry to get himself fit to aid the First Team. We already have better options in the Squad, and if I can move him or someone else out, then there is also a player I'd like to bring in to try and spark us up front.

Friday 9th January
Crewe Alexandra are said to be interested in signing Becchio, but there is a large amount of doubt as to whether they could come up with the £500,000 asking price. I'd certainly be prepared to drop the price to move him out, but it's still possible they would be stretching their resources for him.

Which means any further moves in or out of the club are now unlikely before tomorrow's trip down into Gloucestershire to face a Cheltenham Town side that have so far defied expectations and kept themselves above the dotted line and a fair bit away from the relegation zone. Their current form is a bit rough though, with only one League win in their last ten dating back to the start of November, and their main aim for this Transfer Window is to make sure they keep Damien Spencer and Lloyd Owusu, who have 18 goals in all competitions between them.

Saturday 10th January
It looks ominous for our attempts to sign Serbian attacking midfielder Stevan Stosic. His work permit hearing took place this morning, and has been rejected. With nothing to lose, we put in an appeal that will be heard in midweek, but there is no real precedent for appeals being successful.

Coca-Cola League One
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham
Cheltenham Town (0) 0
Leeds United (0) 0
Attendance :- 4,769
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Richard Naylor, Lubomir Michalik, Mario Silva (Luciano Becchio 78); Andy Robinson (inj - Robert Snodgrass 45, (inj - Alan Sheehan 90+2)), Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Richmond Bossman; Tom Elliott, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Rui Marques, Jonathan Douglas.
Bookings :- Lubomir Michalik 52

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

| 8th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 25    | 11    | 8     | 6     | 35    | 24    | +11   | 41    |
| 9th   |       | Leicester      |       | 25    | 11    | 7     | 7     | 34    | 22    | +12   | 40    |
| 10th  |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 25    | 10    | 8     | 7     | 29    | 23    | +6    | 38    |
| 11th  |       | Oldham         |       | 25    | 10    | 6     | 9     | 35    | 34    | +1    | 36    |
| 12th  |       | Stockport      |       | 25    | 10    | 6     | 9     | 26    | 30    | -4    | 36    |
| 13th  |       | Leeds          |       | 25    | 10    | 5     | 10    | 37    | 29    | +8    | 35    |
| 14th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 25    | 9     | 8     | 8     | 34    | 33    | +1    | 35    |
| 15th  |       | Swindon        |       | 25    | 9     | 6     | 10    | 29    | 35    | -6    | 33    |
| 16th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 25    | 8     | 7     | 10    | 27    | 29    | -2    | 31    |
| 17th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 25    | 9     | 4     | 12    | 33    | 38    | -5    | 31    |
| 18th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 25    | 7     | 9     | 9     | 30    | 33    | -3    | 30    |

More frustration for us today, and not just caused by our own and opposition players this time. The injured Niall McGinn is replaced by Andy Robinson on the right wing, while Robert Snodgrass is rested on the left with Richmond Bossman starting for the first time. Up front, Mike Grella is left out today, with Tom Elliott starting in his place and Transfer Listed striker Luciano Becchio brought into the matchday squad for bench duty. Jonny Howson picked out Lubomir Michalik early on from a corner, the defender heading over the bar, before at the other end, Lloyd Owusu's shot lacked power and Casper Ankergren easily dealt with that one. The same player made our keeper work much harder five minutes later, a shot on the turn that was turned over the bar with a spectacular looking acrobatic stop. Richard Naylor had to time his tackle perfectly just inside our own box as Elvis Hammond threatened to break in on goal, before Richmond Bossman played a reverse pass that sent Jermaine Beckford in on goal, Shane Higgs pushing away the attempt to beat him at the near post. We got back on the front foot for the rest of the half, but failed to create a good chance, Fabian Delph going closest with a curling effort from range that failed to hit the target.

The ball was kicked out of play for half time with Robinson on the deck, and the winger wouldn't be able to start the second half, Robert Snodgrass coming on his place and this time he is asked to play out of position, but also swap wings at times with Bossman once again. The second half started very quietly, but Cheltenham were starting to tire quickly, and by midway through the half they had shifted into a very defensive formation, their hand partly forced by injuries to both Hammond and Owusu. An effort from Delph to play in Beckford with a through ball was stopped with a last ditch stretch by Michael Townsend, before a pass over our defence picked out Damian Spencer, but he was swarmed a good 30 yards from goal, and a long ditch effort was easily caught by Ankergren. We moved into a very attacking formation, which included Luciano Becchio coming off the bench as we moved to three up front. Into the final ten minutes, and with time running out the big moment of controversy arrived. Snodgrass received the ball back from Beckford after a short throw in, and swung a cross to the far post, where Bossman easily leapt higher than Alan Wright and headed back across goal, and into the net via the inside of the upright. His celebrations in front of the travelling Leeds faithful were cut short by a very late offside flag, which led to several of our players surrounding the officials, and me having more than a few angry words with the fourth official myself. Not that any of it changed anyone's mind, and the stuffing was knocked out of us, and to add insult to actual injury, Snodgrass was forced off in stoppage time with a knock.

So frustration is mixed with a bit of anger towards the officials this time, though obviously I am forced to keep my temper in check when dealing with the media after the game, as anything I say can and will be used against me as far as the FA are concerned there. I can do without doing the same as Lubomir Michalik, the 25 year old Slovakian centre back has been a regular this season, but will miss the next game through suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season today.

There is some better news though. Neil Kilkenny has agreed a deal to leave the club, and we will get his £2,000 weekly salary off the books as well as banking a £150,000 transfer fee as he has agreed to sign for Coca-Cola Championship mid-table side Sheffield Wednesday.

And there could be more money to be banked yet as well, as Crewe Alexandra have come up with an offer worth in excess of £350,000 for striker Luciano Becchio. The deal consists of most of the money, around £230,000, up front. The remainder will be paid in instalments over the next six months, and also includes future incentives if Crewe make a profit from selling on the Argentine flop. Let's hope that deal goes through, so I can continue trying to improve our Squad and help us push into a run of stability that gets our noses into the Promotion Playoff race at least.

neilhoskins77 · April 28, 2022

Sunday 11th January 2009
Ten days ago we started the New Year full of hope for a good start to 2009, with two players picking up monthly awards, and the prospect of knocking a top tier club out of the FA Cup. Fast forward through those ten days, and we are out of the Cup, and have left four points that should have been ours on the table in League matches, plus we are still waiting for our first goal of the New Year, never mind a win.

I'm not allowing myself to get disheartened though, and this is a big week coming up, as we still have four very winnable League fixtures remaining in January, and I'm still determined to get us heading in the right direction. A good run with a few wins will quickly see us heading up towards the top six.

Neil Kilkenny has left the club, and a good share of the money from the Aussie's departure has been added to my transfer budget. £120,000 isn't a great deal of money in football terms, but it allows me to make a bid for my current top target. Despite press reports, that target is NOT thirty year old Spanish striker Nákor, who has been banging in goals left, right and centre for Ejido this season.

There is some immediate good news, as Everton accept our bid to keep Seamus Coleman on loan for the remainder of the season. The decision now lies with the 20 year old Irish right back, who has played fourteen League games for us this season.

Monday 12th January
My £60,000 offer for my current top target is not enough for his club, who are looking for £250,000 for their player. I don't have that kind of money right now, but I offer them my entire transfer budget, doubling my offer up to £120,000.

It's generally been a bad news day for us, firstly with the news that Emiliano Insúa's loan spell is up, and he returns to Liverpool, or at least he will once he has completed his International Duty with Argentina in the South American Under-20's Championships. Speaking of Argentine's who are proving to be a pain in the butt, that brings us on to Luciano Becchio. Okay, it's not really his fault this time. It's Crewe Alexandra who have messed us around. Becchio has agreed personal terms today with the relegation zone dwelling club, who have now pulled the plug, indicating that they have decided to spend the money elsewhere instead.

Tuesday 13th January
A better news day. Much better. First I get news that Coleman has agreed to remain at Elland Road for the rest of this season, which is fantastic for us. The Everton man is out of contract in the summer, and wouldn't rule out an effort to bring him in permanently should Everton not offer him a new deal.

Also today, I have a loan offer for the remainder of the season for a centre back from a Premier Division club accepted. We now have to wait and see if the player wants the opportunity to play First Team football, which he hasn't been getting up to now.

Wednesday 14th January
Our £120,000 offer for target number one has been accepted by his club. Personal term talks are swift, and there is no reason to suspect they won't be successful at this point. Other clubs are showing interest, but none of them are anywhere near as far down the line as we are. If he is going to move, we are the red hot favourites, and now our aim is to get him into the club in time for him to play this weekend.

It was still a mixed day though, as Stevan Stosic's work permit appeal was rejected, and the Serbian free agent's move to us is off, while Celtic have rejected our offer to keep Niall McGinn on loan for the rest of the season, and that means the Northern Irish right winger will return north of the border early next week. Which means I now need to look into options for bringing a right winger in during this Window as well.

Thursday 15th January
18 year old £1.5 million rated Hungarian Under-21 International centre back Tamás Kádár has joined us on loan from Premier Division side Newcastle United for the rest of the season, with the North East club continuing to cover his entire salary as well. Kádár arrived in Newcastle eighteen months ago from his native country after a £900,000 move from ZTE. He hasn't played a League game for them since coming to England, but I expect he will certainly see some football this season with us, potentially as early as this weekend.

Friday 16th January
German Second Division outfit 1.FC Nürnberg have accepted our offer to loan Australian Under-21 International right winger Dario Vidosic for the remainder of the season. The 21 year old is a Croatian born dual national, who has already played 15 times for Australia at age group level, and is spending his second season in Germany, where he has played some First Team football in Bundersliga.2 after playing four times last season when the club were relegated from the top tier. He is going to take a few days to make his mind up.

But one person who has already made up his mind is our number one target, who has today become a Leeds United player. This is not a first time in the UK for 22 year old former Iceland Under-21 International striker Kjartan Henry Finnbogason, far from it. The 6'2 target man started his career as a teenager at KR, and was quickly snapped up by Celtic, spending three years in Scotland without playing a First Team match, including during a loan spell with Queen's Park. Last year he returned to Scandinavia, this time Denmark, and played four League games with Sandefjord, finding the net three times. Now he is back in the UK, and declares himself delighted to be given a second chance here, this time in England with us at Leeds United. He has cost us £120,000, and signs a four and a half year deal worth £1,800 per week.

And the new arrival is available for make his debut tomorrow along with Kádár as we are visited at Elland Road by bottom of the table Hereford United. Reported to be in financial difficulties to the tune of around half a million pounds, Hereford have the worst scoring and defensive record in the third tier, and are now nailed on favourites to be relegated into League Two this season. They have won away to Yeovil Town and at home to Leicester City in recent weeks though, securing their first League wins since mid-October, not that it's holding much weight with the bookies, as we are huge favourites for a much needed win of our own.

Saturday 17th January

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 1 - Mike Grella (84)
Hereford United (0) 0
Attendance :- 22,426
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Tamás Kádár, Richard Naylor, Mário Silva (Mike Grella 77); Niall McGinn, Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson (Jonathan Douglas 88), Robert Snodgrass; Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (Alan Sheehan 86), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Rui Marques, Richmond Bossman.
Bookings :- None

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

| 6th   |       | Walsall        |       | 26    | 13    | 6     | 7     | 37    | 22    | +15   | 45    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Leicester      |       | 26    | 12    | 7     | 7     | 38    | 23    | +15   | 43    |
| 8th   |       | Brighton       |       | 26    | 13    | 4     | 9     | 38    | 26    | +12   | 43    |
| 9th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 26    | 11    | 8     | 7     | 36    | 26    | +10   | 41    |
| 10th  |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 26    | 11    | 8     | 7     | 30    | 23    | +7    | 41    |
| 11th  |       | Leeds          |       | 26    | 11    | 5     | 10    | 38    | 29    | +9    | 38    |
| 12th  |       | Oldham         |       | 26    | 10    | 7     | 9     | 37    | 36    | +1    | 37    |
| 13th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 26    | 9     | 9     | 8     | 34    | 33    | +1    | 36    |
| 14th  |       | Stockport      |       | 26    | 10    | 6     | 10    | 27    | 34    | -7    | 36    |
| 15th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 26    | 10    | 4     | 12    | 35    | 39    | -4    | 34    |
| 16th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 26    | 8     | 9     | 9     | 34    | 35    | -1    | 33    |

We certainly know how to make life difficult for ourselves, as we nearly made it three goalless draws in a row today. There was a debut today at centre back for on loan Hungarian defender Tamás Kádár who took Lubomir Michalik's place. On the wings, Niall McGinn came in for one of his final appearances before his loan finished, and Robert Snodgrass would also be drafted back in on the left. There was also a debut this afternoon for our new Icelandic striker, Kjartan Henry Finnbogason, who replaced Mike Grella who was on bench duty. We could, and should, have been ahead as early as the 10th minute, McGinn producing a mazy run before standing up a cross that found an unmarked Jermaine Beckford, but he sent his downward header right at keeper Craig Samson. The only other chance of note we created before the break was scuffed wide by Snodgrass just before the half hour mark.

With their ears ringing from their half time talking to, my players set up camp in the Hereford third of the park right from the restart, McGinn's cross finding his winger colleague Snodgrass, who chested the ball down and thumped a shot at goal that Samson managed to block. Hereford could only reply with shots from excessive range by Toumani Diagouraga and full back Karl Broadhurst from a free kick, before we went right back on the attack, Kádár knocking down a set piece to McGinn, but his deflected shot made it's way right to a relieved Samson. When Beckford stepped away from his marker and forced yet another stop from Samson, I'd seen enough and moved us to three at the back and up front, switching Mário Silva for striker Mike Grella with a little under 15 minutes to play. With time starting to look to be against us, Snodgrass tracked back to dispossess visiting winger Craig Jones near the corner flag. He wasted no time launching the ball up the park, where the now front three moved the ball between themselves, and Grella sent it across the park from right to left to send Beckford into space. His inswinging cross beat Samson, only to come back off the cross bar and fall right to Grella, who tapped it in from two yards out to finally break the deadlock and score our first goal of the year. Despite moving right into an attacking formation themselves, Hereford weren't equipped to cause us any real issues, and in fact we nearly added another when Fabian Delph flashed a shot across the face of goal. Finally, a goal and a win in 2009, and we push Hereford further adrift from safety, while moving ourselves up into the top half.

Despite the good news that we have secured our first victory since defeating Leyton Orient in late December, it isn't all good news today. We will need to continue our search for a right winger, as with Niall McGinn's loan from Celtic drawing to a close, 21 year old 1.FC Nürnberg winger Dario Vidosic has turned down a move to Elland Road for the rest of the season.

Tuesday 20th January
My overhaul of the squad continues, and the next man in through the door is a veteran who has played at the highest level. Now aged 34, many believe that Italian player Damiano Tommasi is in the twilight years of his career. He doesn't think so though. With 25 caps for his country, and ten years in Serie A with AS Roma, the cultured midfielder had a couple of years in Spain before arriving in England with Queens Park Rangers. When they couldn't find a use for him, he negotiated his own contract release, and now he has arrived in Leeds. His eighteen month deal will pay him £1,000 per week, and he has already stated that he is here to win. From ball winner to out and out playmaker, there is nothing the guy can't bring to the centre of the park, and at this level, he should excel.

The Italian's arrival comes on the same day that Niall McGinn packs his bags and heads back north to Scotland, the winger returning to Celtic with his loan spell with us now finished.

Wednesday 21st January
The possible replacement for McGinn has arrived today from France. 29 year old Franck Matingou has spent his entire life and career in France, having been born in Nice, but plays his International Football for DR Congo, earning four Senior Caps so far. After a good first season in the second tier with FC Martigues, he earned a move into Ligue 1 with SC Bastia, spending eight seasons with them, the last back in the second tier when they were relegated. This season he dropped down another level again to play with Red Star 93, where he has rediscovered his form and earned this move. It's a Free Transfer, on an eighteen month deal for the man who can play through the centre in defence or midfield, and on the right of the park. We are looking at him moving a bit further forward into a winger role though, and finally unlocking the pace and crossing ability he has that doesn't seem to have been utilised in his career so far.

Friday 23rd January
If Matingou can't adapt to the right wing role, and has to find a spot elsewhere to try and make his own, we would have to shift to 'Plan B'. Or as he is more commonly known as, David Templeton. Our scouting team see's something in the 20 year old Scottish right winger that it would appear Heart of Midlothian haven't seen yet. They have yet to give to him a League debut since signing him from Stenhousemuir two and a half years ago, the only First Team football he has managed since the move for an undisclosed fee has been a loan spell at Raith Rovers which went pretty well. Technically, the lad is not too bad, but his real strength is his turn of pace, with speed that isn't far off sprinter levels. If he can improve his production from the technical side of his game, we could have a loan signing that would frighten the life out of League One defences for the rest of the season.

The question is now, will he be let loose on Stockport County tomorrow afternoon when we head to Edgeley Park for a meeting with the club only two points and three places below us? Well, probably not, as we have spent a bit of time preparing a bit of a tactical surprise that we can unleash for games of high importance, and in preparation for maybe not having a right winger. It'd be a shame to let all that preparation work go to waste, and we are going to give it a try tomorrow.

Saturday 24th January

Coca-Cola League One
Edgeley Park, Stockport
Stockport County (0) 0
Leeds United (0) 0
Attendance :- 7,616
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Tamás Kádár (Rui Marques 78), Richard Naylor, Mário Silva; Damiano Tommasi (Jonathan Douglas 74); Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Franck Matingou; Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (Mike Grella 74); Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Alan Sheehan, Richmond Bossman.
Bookings :- None

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

| 6th   |       | Walsall        |       | 27    | 13    | 6     | 8     | 38    | 24    | +14   | 45    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Leicester      |       | 27    | 12    | 7     | 8     | 39    | 25    | +14   | 43    |
| 8th   |       | Brighton       |       | 27    | 13    | 4     | 10    | 38    | 27    | +11   | 43    |
| 9th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 27    | 11    | 9     | 7     | 30    | 23    | +7    | 42    |
| 10th  |       | Peterborough   |       | 26    | 11    | 8     | 7     | 36    | 26    | +10   | 41    |
| 11th  |       | Leeds          |       | 27    | 11    | 6     | 10    | 38    | 29    | +9    | 39    |
| 12th  |       | Oldham         |       | 27    | 10    | 8     | 9     | 37    | 36    | +1    | 38    |
| 13th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 27    | 11    | 4     | 12    | 37    | 40    | -3    | 37    |
| 14th  |       | Stockport      |       | 27    | 10    | 7     | 10    | 27    | 34    | -7    | 37    |
| 15th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 26    | 9     | 9     | 8     | 34    | 33    | +1    | 36    |
| 16th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 27    | 9     | 7     | 11    | 29    | 31    | -2    | 34    |

I hatched a cunning plan to catch Stockport County out at their Edgeley Park home, where they are renowned to be difficult to beat. Damiano Tommasi would make his debut in a defensive midfield role, with Franck Matingou also making his Leeds debut just in front of him in a three man midfield as we dispensed with wingers to go with a defensive and narrow counter attacking tactic. Despite County's good home pedigree and our willingness to sit back and soak up the pressure before hitting them on the break, it was unforeseen that they reach half time very much the better of the two sides, and unlucky not to be in front after pinning us back for large spells, yet failing to create a chance that would worry Casper Ankergren too much.

We attempted phase two of our plan after the break, with more balanced look as we looked to lure County into making a mistake. It looked like it might pay dividends too, a Seamus Coleman cross picked out Kjartan Henry Finnbogason in the centre, but the striker couldn't keep his header down. A little while later, a corner from Jonny Howson found Tamás Kádár in the box unmarked, but the on loan centre back sent his header wide of the target. I made some changes, but didn't move us into too much of an attacking shape, concerned that Stockport would do to us exactly what we had intended to do to them. They came close too, Oli Johnson didn't quite catch a shot as well as he would have liked when Coleman made a mess of a clearance, before sub Dominic Blizzard rattled our cross bar with moments remaining with a header from a corner. In the end, it was us who were lucky to get out of Stockport with a point.

We have now gone five games unbeaten in the League, but we have won only two of those games, and the remaining three have all ended in goalless draws. With several of the clubs around us dropping points as well though, we're still within a few wins of a Playoff spot.

We have also freed up some more room under our wage budget as well, with Nigerian striker Enoch Showunmi agreeing a move to Bristol Rovers on a Free Transfer, moving his £3,500 wage off our books, and opening up some room for us to make some final moves in the last remaining week of the Winter Transfer Window.

BenArsenal · April 29, 2022

Nice.

Just one small thing though. Sandefjord is in Norway, not Denmark.

neilhoskins77 · May 1, 2022

On 29/04/2022 at 12:31, BenArsenal said:

Nice.

Just one small thing though. Sandefjord is in Norway, not Denmark.

I was just checking you were paying attention..........and you were

neilhoskins77 · May 29, 2022

Sunday 25th January 2009
Today I'm linked with the newly vacant job at Spanish Second Division strugglers, Tenerife. With the season now halfway through, their Chairman has pulled the pin and sacked Manager of around 20 months José Luis Oltra, with the club just four points above the relegation zone. I tell the press that I have no interest in the job there.

Monday 26th January
The Transfer Deadline is a week away, and we have another target in our sights. An offer has been accepted by the players club, and personal terms are being discussed. We will see if this one gets across the line. The process will be speeded up by the players not needing a work permit.

Portuguese left back Mário Silva is the only Leeds United player to be included in this week's Coca-Cola League One Team of the Week.

There is an expectation on us to return to winning ways tomorrow evening when we host a midweek League One game against Hartlepool United at Elland Road. The North East club are only four points behind us in the League, but that does mean a five place difference as they are down in 16th spot. After an away game last weekend, and another coming up this weekend to finish the month, there is a bit squad rotation expected for this one, though we are still heavy favourites with the bookies to get a win and close the gap to those above us.

Late in the day, we're told by the local press that Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has told the media that he wants to sign our striker Mike Grella before the end of the Transfer Window. It sounds unlikely to me.

Tuesday 27th January

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 1 - Robert Snodgrass (84)
Hartlepool United (0) 0
Attendance :- 22,067
Casper Ankergren; Seasmus Coleman, Rui Marques © (Lubomir Michalik 68), Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Franck Matingou (David Templeton 68), Jonny Howson, Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 68), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Damiano Tommasi, Richmond Bossman.
Bookings :- Rui Marques 27, Seamus Coleman 75

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

| 5th   |       | Leicester      |       | 28    | 13    | 7     | 8     | 42    | 25    | +17   | 46    |
| 6th   |       | Brighton       |       | 28    | 14    | 4     | 10    | 40    | 28    | +12   | 46    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Colchester     |       | 27    | 14    | 4     | 9     | 45    | 40    | +5    | 46    |
| 8th   |       | Walsall        |       | 28    | 13    | 6     | 9     | 38    | 25    | +13   | 45    |
| 9th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 28    | 11    | 10    | 7     | 30    | 23    | +7    | 43    |
| 10th  |       | Leeds          |       | 28    | 12    | 6     | 10    | 39    | 29    | +10   | 42    |
| 11th  |       | Peterborough   |       | 27    | 11    | 8     | 8     | 37    | 28    | +9    | 41    |
| 12th  |       | Oldham         |       | 28    | 11    | 8     | 9     | 39    | 37    | +2    | 41    |
| 13th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 28    | 12    | 4     | 12    | 40    | 41    | -1    | 40    |
| 14th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 27    | 10    | 9     | 8     | 36    | 33    | +3    | 39    |
| 15th  |       | Stockport      |       | 28    | 10    | 7     | 11    | 27    | 35    | -8    | 37    |

Good lord we know how to make life difficult for ourselves. We should hand out prescriptions for blood pressure tablets with every season ticket purchased! Alan Sheehan and Rui Marques come in for Mário Silva and Tamás Kádár in the defence, while Damiano Tommasi is left out for Franck Matingou in the midfield as we return to a more attacking formation, and pair Mike Grella up front with Jermaine Beckford this time, Kjartan Henry Finnbogason dropping to the substitutes bench. We expected to be the dominant team, though it was Hartlepool who nearly opened the scoring, Ritchie Jones shot from the left corner of the box only just missing the near top corner. At least when we did attack and work our way through their defence we were working their keeper, Arran Lee-Barrett having to push away Mike Grella's shot. But when half time arrived, it was actually the visitors who had marginally had the best of the first half, and the swell of dissent in the stands was growing.

Jonny Howson wriggled his way through the Pools defence and into the box early after the restart as the players took my loud words to heart, but the midfielder couldn't hit the target with a curling shot. A little while later the ball fell to him again in the box, but a wild slash at it failed once more to hit the target. The theme continued when a poor backpass let Grella in, but he blazed his shot over the top too. I made a trio of changes, all like for like but requiring Robert Snodgrass to move back over from right to left to accommodate David Templeton's introduction, Lubomir Michalik and Kjartan Henry Finnbogason also brought on. A lung busting run down the right from Seamus Coleman left everyone waiting for a cross, but he pulled it back instead to Fabian Delph who sent his shot well off the target. As chances continued to be missed without us even working Lee-Barrett, the next culprit being Jermaine Beckford, frustrations started to boil over, Coleman getting a booking for a stupid foul. I was starting to run out of ideas when Beckford met Snodgrass' cross at the near post with a header into the side netting. But finally, with just six minutes left on the clock, Finnbogason and Templeton did the hard work down the right and Howson whipped in a cross that picked out Snodgrass' head, and he powered home a header from 10 yards out. What an absolute relief! That win moves us a bit closer to the Playoff spots.

Wednesday 28th January
It would seem that American 22 year old striker Mike Grella is feeling the heat following the arrival of Icelandic new signing Kjartan Henry Finnbogason. After hearing of the interest from Peterborough, the striker with twelve goals in all competitions this season stated that he didn't want to leave, but the situation may be out of his hands if his current employers decide he is no longer required. That certainly isn't the case as far as I'm concerned.

Friday 30th January
33 year old Bosnian left winger Hajrudin Catic has arrived in what is expected to be our final signing of the Winter Transfer Window. He has spent his whole career in Germany so far, and has a German passport as a result. He may have lost a yard or two of pace over the last few years, but he is a dead ball specialist, a superb crosser of a football, and he's a hard working team player who will battle for the cause. He has signed an eighteen month deal to play at Elland Road. I really hope this guy can help produce more goals for our forwards so we can start getting the 60/40 in the games that are currently 50/50.

Tranmere Rovers are in relegation trouble, and tomorrow afternoon we make the trip across the Pennines and into Birkenhead to face them at their Prenton Park home. Having 20 year old Ryan Shotton defender on loan from Premier Division side Stoke City hasn't helped Rovers defence much, as they have the third worst defence in the League. Combine that with the joint second worst goals for as well, and you've got problems. We're the red hot favourites despite our own inconsistency of late as we approach the thirty game mark of the League season. Hajrudin Catic is available for his debut, however his current poor fitness levels make that unlikely.

Saturday 31st January

Coca-Cola League One
Prenton Park, Birkenhead
Tranmere Rovers (1) 1 - Ben Savage (39)
Leeds United (0) 3 - Mike Grella (50), Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (64), Lubomir Michalik (85)
Attendance :- 5,785
Casper Ankergren; Seamus Coleman, Rui Marques ©, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Franck Matingou (inj - Damiano Tommasi 45), Jonny Howson, Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 45); Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- David Templeton, Richmond Bossman.
Bookings :- None

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

| 5th   |       | Walsall        |       | 29    | 14    | 6     | 9     | 39    | 25    | +14   | 48    |
| 6th   |       | Leicester      |       | 29    | 13    | 8     | 8     | 44    | 27    | +17   | 47    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Brighton       |       | 29    | 14    | 4     | 11    | 42    | 31    | +11   | 46    |
| 8th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 29    | 12    | 10    | 7     | 32    | 24    | +8    | 46    |
| 9th   |       | Colchester     |       | 28    | 14    | 4     | 10    | 45    | 41    | +4    | 46    |
| 10th  |       | Leeds          |       | 29    | 13    | 6     | 10    | 42    | 30    | +12   | 45    |
| 11th  |       | Peterborough   |       | 28    | 12    | 8     | 8     | 39    | 29    | +10   | 44    |
| 12th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 29    | 13    | 4     | 12    | 42    | 42    | 0     | 43    |
| 13th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 28    | 11    | 9     | 8     | 39    | 35    | +4    | 42    |
| 14th  |       | Oldham         |       | 29    | 11    | 8     | 10    | 39    | 39    | 0     | 41    |
| 15th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 29    | 10    | 7     | 12    | 32    | 33    | -1    | 37    |

It wasn't straightforward for us, it rarely ever is at this club I'm finding. An unchanged lineup and matchday squad from the home win over Hartlepool United would start this one, and Chris Greenacre nearly gave us an early punch on the nose when he got in the box down the left channel and shot across goal with Casper Ankergren having to push that one away. Bas Savage had an even better chance a short while later, sending a shot back across goal and wide after cutting inside the box on his left foot. A Seamus Coleman cross that picked out the head of Robert Snodgrass at the far post was the best response that we could manage, his header going right at Danny Coyne. Before the break, Franck Matingou played in Snodgrass who at least made Coyne work for his save this time, the ball rebounding loose to Matingou who sent his shot wide of the unguarded target. The punishment for that miss was swift. Greenacre holding the ball up before sending to the right flank, and Luke Chadwick's cross was met by Savage who headed home the opener.

Half time, and we had been very much second best. I was planning on making changes, and Matingou getting injured right before the break only made up my mind. Snodgrass joined him in coming off as I took off the wingers and brought on Lubomir Michalik to make it three centre backs, and Kjartan Henry Finnbogason to sit just behind the strikers. Coleman and Alan Sheehan would provide the width as they advanced into wing back roles. Sheehan blasted a free kick wide right from the restart, but corner kicks are a far more profitable set piece for us. Jonny Howson's corner was met by Mike Grella with a near post header to bring us level in front of the travelling Leeds support. Shortly after the hour mark it was a partially cleared free kick that found Richard Naylor of all people out on the right channel of the box, and he sent in a cross to the far post that picked out Finnbogason, the Icelandic forward netting with a diving header to get his first goal in Leeds colours! A Jermaine Beckford cut back failed to find a team mate, and Howson just missed the top corner with a shot from the edge of the box as we sought to stretch our advantage. As we hit the last ten minutes I decided to hold what we have, Beckford coming off and Damiano Tommasi coming on to sit in front of the back four. Ironically, that counter attacking outlook earned us a corner that Sheehan picked out Michalik from and he headed home to secure the points, moving us closer to the Playoff spots again, and Tranmere deeper into relegation trouble!

We're unbeaten in seven League games now as we reach the end of January. Despite an improvement in our form, the critics still have it in for us, and with us expected to be Title contenders a move into the top half and within striking distance of the Playoffs is unlikely to stop them from sharpening their pens and writing off our season a bit more. We'll have to get through most of, if not all of February without one of our new signings, as Franck Matingou suffered a twisted ankle right on half time and will be out for around four weeks.

neilhoskins77 · June 14, 2022

Sunday 1st February 2009
No personal accolades to anyone at the club for January, which was a much better month for us with three wins and three draws from six League matches as we nudge closer to the Playoff spots, and the only defeat being a home loss to West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League in the FA Cup Third Round. I came third in the Manager of the Month stakes which was won by Paul Trollope of Bristol Rovers, while Jonny Howson was runner-up in the Young Player of the Month Award, beaten by Walsall winger Alex Nicholls who scored three times during the month.

The improved form hasn't yet turned opinions at Boardroom level however, with the suits at Elland Road still believing we should be doing better. I agree with them, but we can of course only focus on what is in front of us, and there is literally no point in worrying about points we have already left on the table and could do nothing about now. On the plus side, the financial side continues to be good, with a profit of almost £50,000 for the month, and a bank balance of over £3.5m, with the bank loan on course to be settled this summer as well.

Monday 2nd February
It's Transfer Deadline Day, but I have done all the business I needed to do, and we instead will be focusing on tomorrow night's crunch huge game with one of the sides sat above us and in an automatic promotion spot, Millwall. They'll visit Elland Road with seven points from the last nine available, but sweating on the fitness of 22 year old forward Ashley Grimes, who has been one of their best players this season but only returned to training yesterday following a twisted knee.

With the Window now closed, at Leeds United we were the most active club not just in Coca-Cola League One, but in England overall, with six new signings in January.

Tuesday 3rd February

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 0
Millwall (1) 2 - Paul Robinson (36), Zak Whitbread (90+1)
Attendance :- 22,561
Casper Ankergren; Frazer Richardson (Damiano Tommasi 73), Rui Marques ©, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; David Templeton (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 73), Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Lubomir Michalik, Andy Robinson, Richmond Bossman.
Bookings :- None

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

| 5th   |       | Walsall        |       | 30    | 14    | 7     | 9     | 40    | 26    | +14   | 49    |
| 6th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 30    | 13    | 10    | 7     | 34    | 25    | +9    | 49    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Leicester      |       | 30    | 13    | 9     | 8     | 45    | 28    | +17   | 48    |
| 8th   |       | Brighton       |       | 30    | 14    | 5     | 11    | 44    | 33    | +11   | 47    |
| 9th   |       | Colchester     |       | 29    | 14    | 5     | 10    | 47    | 43    | +4    | 47    |
| 10th  |       | Leeds          |       | 30    | 13    | 6     | 11    | 42    | 32    | +10   | 45    |
| 11th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 29    | 12    | 9     | 8     | 41    | 35    | +6    | 45    |
| 12th  |       | Peterborough   |       | 29    | 12    | 8     | 9     | 40    | 31    | +9    | 44    |
| 13th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 30    | 13    | 5     | 12    | 45    | 45    | 0     | 44    |
| 14th  |       | Oldham         |       | 30    | 11    | 8     | 11    | 40    | 41    | -1    | 41    |
| 15th  |       | Stockport      |       | 30    | 11    | 7     | 12    | 29    | 37    | -8    | 40    |

After a pretty good January, we start February with more disappointment and frustration. Frazer Richardson replaced Seamus Coleman at right back for this one, while David Templeton would make his full debut for the club on the right wing in place of the injured Franck Matingou. Striker Ashley Grimes is passed to start for the visitors. Have we gone back into the fear of playing big games at home? It's intimidating playing at Elland Road, but it is supposed to be for the away team! Millwall are a good side, the surprise package of this seasons third tier have no stars in their team, and they are very workmanlike in their approach. We actually had the best of the first half by some way, but all our shots at goal fell to the same player, and that player was Fabian Delph. His first effort was blocked by a defender, before he let fly from range and had Lenny Piddgeley beat, but his effort thumped the top of the cross bar on it's way over. He tried again with a volley from a partially cleared corner, but that one although well struck, would fade wide of the goal frame. Instead, we would go in at the break a goal behind, as Millwall 'did a Leeds' to Leeds, with David Martin drifting over a corner, and centre back Paul Robinson guided his header through the melee in the six yard box to find the net.

I was a very unhappy manager at the break, and implored my players to do better. Jonny Howson tried to do just that with a burst into the box between defenders and then shooting across goal, Pidgeley pushing it back out and Tony Craig hit the ball down into the ground to try and get it back to his keeper, Pidgeley having to produce a spectacular looking volley to clear the ball away. As we tried to push forward, largely unsuccessfully, the crowd started to get on the players back, and the frustration started to produce it's own errors. Frazer Richardson and David Templeton were replaced by Damiano Tommasi and Kjartan Henry Finnbogason as we switched to three at the back and three up front. Alan Sheehan got the ball back on the right after a free kick was cleared back out to him, but his attempt to catch Pidgeley cheating on his near post didn't work, the keeper making a comfortable catch. When we did create a really good chance, Jermaine Beckford playing in Mike Grella, it was thwarted by Pidgeley coming off his line and blocked the shot. And then we got caught as we threw caution to the wind. Millwall counter attacked and won a corner, and appeared to understandably send next to no one into the box with the clock already beyond 90 minutes. But their players crept slowly up the park as time was wasted, and then a handful of them charged into the box, and Marc Laird picked out Zak Whitbread at the near post, and he finished the matter with a flying diving header!

That might be our first defeat in eight in the League, but it's going to raise blood pressure gauge's in the Boardroom, where the questions are started to be asked about whether I am the right man for this job after all. Frankly, I'm asking the question myself as well, and can't help but feeling I'd have been better off staying in Holland and serving a better apprenticeship, my former side Go Ahead Eagles are now comfortably in the top five and the Playoff positions. This might be too big a job too early in my managerial career. But there will be no throwing in the towel here, we need to get ourselves back on another good run. We're away to Walsall next who are in a Playoff spot, before a home game against second place Huddersfield Town who have just been unseated from the top by Millwall.

Wednesday 4th February
At the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield this evening, our Reserves have beaten Rotherham United by two goals to nil. Both of those goals are scored by striker Lucciano Becchio. Could the wantaway Argentine 'flop', who is yet to score for the club, be the man to help us out in our hours of need in the coming weeks?

Friday 6th February
Back to it tomorrow afternoon, and we head south into the Midlands for a game with Walsall who currently hold a Playoff position that we would very much like to take from them. While that isn't mathematically a possibility tomorrow, games are starting to tick down now, and we need to get ourselves in the hunt, and fast, starting at the Bescot Stadium tomorrow.

Saturday 7th February

Coca-Cola League One
Bescot Stadium, Walsall
Walsall (0) 1 - Tom Brighton (50)
Leeds United (1) 1 - Lubomir Michalik (45+1)
Attendance :- 6,413
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Lubomir Michalik, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Andy Robinson, Robert Snodgrass (Richmond Bossman 71); Mike Grella (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 71), Jermaine Beckford (Lucciano Becchio 71).
Unused Substitutes :- Rui Marques, Damiano Tommasi.
Bookings :- None

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Colchester     |       | 30    | 15    | 5     | 10    | 49    | 44    | +5    | 50    |
| 8th   |       | Leicester      |       | 31    | 13    | 10    | 8     | 46    | 29    | +17   | 49    |
| 9th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 31    | 13    | 10    | 8     | 34    | 26    | +8    | 49    |
| 10th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 30    | 13    | 9     | 8     | 44    | 35    | +9    | 48    |
| 11th  |       | Peterborough   |       | 30    | 13    | 8     | 9     | 43    | 32    | +11   | 47    |
| 12th  |       | Leeds          |       | 31    | 13    | 7     | 11    | 43    | 33    | +10   | 46    |
| 13th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 31    | 13    | 6     | 12    | 48    | 48    | 0     | 45    |
| 14th  |       | Stockport      |       | 31    | 12    | 7     | 12    | 32    | 37    | -5    | 43    |
| 15th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 31    | 11    | 8     | 12    | 36    | 36    | 0     | 41    |
| 16th  |       | Oldham         |       | 31    | 11    | 8     | 12    | 40    | 44    | -4    | 41    |
| 17th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 31    | 10    | 8     | 13    | 34    | 44    | -10   | 38    |

A game that could have easily gone either way, which I guess means that a draw was probably a fair result. Not that I'm overly happy with it. Seamus Coleman and Lubomir Michalik replaced Frazer Richardson and Rui Marques in the back four, while David Templeton dropped out of the matchday squad, with Andy Robinson coming into the side on the right wing and Lucciano Becchio brought on to the substitutes bench after his pair of goals in midweek for the second string. We could have been ahead early, naturally from a set piece, Alan Sheehan whipped in a free kick from the right that Jermaine Beckford headed over the bar at the far post. At the other end Dwayne Mattis sent a shot beyond Casper Ankergren's dive, but also beyond the post too. Still, a set piece looked the most likely way for us to break through, Jonny Howson's inswinging corner met with a glancing header at the near post by Richard Naylor that flew across goal but wide of the far post. Leave it to the master, as in first half injury time Sheehan whipped in another free kick from the right, and Michalik found a yard of space to meet the ball and power home a header to give us a lead.

I was happy that we were leading, but not happy with our lack of threat from anything other than set pieces. And those feelings turned to frustration shortly after the restart, as Tom Brighton curled home a left footed direct free kick around the wall and into the top corner, a really good goal, just a shame it was against us. The only blessing was that around five minutes later when Walsall got a free kick from a similar area, it wasn't Brighton who took it for some reason, Paul Boertien hitting that one and getting it all wrong. It was then a second half of few chances, and I made three changes all in attacking areas in one go, including both strikers. It was one of those who passed up the chance to win the game late on, from a set piece of course, Sheehan's corner finding Kjartan Henry Finnbogason at the far post as he outjumped his marker, but found only the side netting with his effort.

It's more dropped points, two more left behind today see's us not only drop back down to 12th in the table, but also leaves a trio of teams just above us with a game in hand as well. My job is now considered as very insecure and the Board are said to be disappointed at how things are going, and it could just be a matter of time before I become the latest managerial statistic under the reign of Ken Bates.

neilhoskins77 · January 6, 2023

Monday 9th February 2009
Lubomir Michalik's second goal of the season helps land him a place in the Coca-Cola League One Team of the Week. It's unlikely to appease Mr Bates much right now, and isn't likely to turn many heads if it's the only thing I have from my time at Elland Road to show on the CV if this all goes wrong.

Friday 13th February
Ahhhh, Friday the 13th. At least the game isn't today. No, all I have to deal with today is the pre-match press, oh and some sledging from our oppositions manager. Huddersfield Town are second going into tomorrow's game at Elland Road. Not only is that unexpected for The Terriers, but Lee Clark's side are in a position we covet. They are our West Yorkshire rivals, situated less than 20 miles from Leeds. Despite our sketchy form, the bookies have us as Even money favourites for this one. But their friends in the media suggest a defeat could lead to the end of my short time in the hotseat at United. It would seem Clark thinks that is also the case. While my press conference is kept tight and cagey, Clark tells them that a defeat for Leeds likely means no Championship football next season, and no Championship means no job for me. It's hard to disagree with what he says though.....

Saturday 14th February

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (2) 2 - Andy Robinson (13), Robert Snodgrass (43)
Huddersfield Town (0) 0
Attendance :- 40,220
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Lubomir Michalik, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Andy Robinson, Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson (inj - Damiano Tommasi 63), Robert Snodgrass (Richmond Bossman 77); Mike Grella (Rui Marques 86), Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Luciano Becchio, Kjartan Henry Finnbogason.
Bookings :- None

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

| 5th   |       | Walsall        |       | 32    | 15    | 8     | 9     | 43    | 28    | +15   | 53    |
| 6th   |       | Brighton       |       | 32    | 16    | 5     | 11    | 48    | 34    | +14   | 53    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Leicester      |       | 32    | 14    | 10    | 8     | 48    | 29    | +19   | 52    |
| 8th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 32    | 14    | 8     | 10    | 45    | 35    | +10   | 50    |
| 9th   |       | Southend       |       | 32    | 14    | 8     | 10    | 40    | 35    | +5    | 50    |
| 10th  |       | Leeds          |       | 32    | 14    | 7     | 11    | 45    | 33    | +12   | 49    |
| 11th  |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 31    | 13    | 10    | 8     | 34    | 26    | +8    | 49    |
| 12th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 32    | 13    | 9     | 10    | 46    | 39    | +7    | 48    |
| 13th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 32    | 14    | 6     | 12    | 50    | 49    | +1    | 48    |
| 14th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 32    | 12    | 8     | 12    | 37    | 36    | +1    | 44    |
| 15th  |       | Stockport      |       | 32    | 12    | 7     | 13    | 32    | 39    | -7    | 43    |

Look at that attendance! 40,000 fans for a local derby in the third tier. There are Premier League clubs who would give their best striker for attendance figures like that, and some who don't even have the stadium capacity to reach that figure. With scouting information that Huddersfield are dangerous from the wings, we move to a more conventional 4-4-2 to allow our wingers to give our full backs a helping hand when needed. With Town focused on trying to play wide, we found space through the middle. Firstly Mike Grella forced a good save from Alex Smithies, before Lubomir Michalik believed he was fouled as he attempted to get on the end of a corner, the ref disagreeing and awarding the foul the other way. But shortly after when Alan Sheehan whipped in a cross from the left, Nathan Clarke got himself all preoccupied dealing with Grella, and Andy Robinson nipped in behind them and got enough of a touch on the cross with his head to divert the ball away from Smithies and into the net to open the scoring. Our West Yorkshire rivals response came firstly through Gary Roberts, and then Andy Booth, both players taking shots from range that were fielded fairly comfortably by Casper Ankergren. We showed them how to find the net before the break, Jonny Howson's cross from the right corner of the box was out of Jermaine Beckford's reach, but Robert Snodgrass was behind him and sidefooted home from close range to double our lead before half time with his 5th goal of the season.

No changes at the break despite Howson taking a knock in first half injury time. The midfielder almost picked up a second assist shortly after the interval, receiving the ball from Snodgrass and playing a through ball that cut out the well marked strikers and picked out Robinson, who this time slid his shot past Smithies but wide of the upright. Howson would last till around just after the hour mark, when he would be replaced by Italian defensive midfielder Damiano Tommasi, the start of our plan to close the game down, as he went into an anchor role. Huddersfield were now having to shoot from range, Jim Goodwin did get Ankergren scrambling across his goal to keep his shot out of the bottom corner though. A leggy Snodgrass was replaced by the fresh pins of Richmond Bossman next, but at the same time both wingers were pulled back into wing back roles as we funnelled back into a counter attacking formation that would prevent the team that had come into the game in second place from creating any offence late on. Rui Marques late introduction in place of Grella simply put another body in their way.

Our first win in three, and it lifts us back up into the top ten again, and closer to the Playoff picture. The Board have seen too many false dawns already to take the pressure off me on the back of one result though, no matter how good an outing it was. We have a trip down to Swindon next, who are marooned a little in no mans land, before returning home to face Carlisle who are only a point behind us in the table to round out the month.

neilhoskins77 · April 1, 2023

Sunday 15th February 2009
After evaluation this morning, midfielder Jonny Howson is ruled out of next weeks trip to Swindon Town with a damaged heel, though there is every chance he will be available the following week for the return to Elland Road to face Carlisle United.

Friday 20th February
We are the favourites once more for tomorrow's trip south to face Swindon Town, a club that come into the game 18th place, not the season they were expecting at the County Ground. With the pressure mounting on my future at Leeds, we absolutely have to build on last week's win over Huddersfield Town, as each time we drop points, the chances of securing at least a Promotion Playoff spot reduce again, and the pressure mounts some more.

Saturday 21st February

Coca-Cola League One
County Ground, Swindon
Swindon Town (1) 1 - Jamie Vincent (44)
Leeds United (0) 1 - Lubomir Michalik (76)
Attendance :- 5,825
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman (Lucciano Becchio 72), Lubomir Michalik, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 72); Andy Robinson, Damiano Tommasi (Jonathan Douglas 54), Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford.
Unused Substitutes :- Rui Marques, Richmond Bossman.
Bookings :- Damiano Tommasi 36, Richard Naylor 85

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

| 6th   |       | Scunthorpe     |       | 33    | 15    | 9     | 9     | 51    | 36    | +15   | 54    |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 7th   |       | Leicester      |       | 33    | 14    | 11    | 8     | 48    | 29    | +19   | 53    |
| 8th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 33    | 14    | 11    | 8     | 38    | 28    | +10   | 53    |
| 9th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 33    | 14    | 9     | 10    | 46    | 36    | +10   | 51    |
| 10th  |       | Southend       |       | 33    | 14    | 9     | 10    | 40    | 35    | +5    | 51    |
| 11th  |       | Leeds          |       | 33    | 14    | 8     | 11    | 46    | 34    | +12   | 50    |
| 12th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 33    | 13    | 10    | 10    | 46    | 39    | +7    | 49    |
| 13th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 33    | 14    | 6     | 13    | 52    | 52    | 0     | 48    |
| 14th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 33    | 13    | 8     | 12    | 38    | 36    | +2    | 47    |
| 15th  |       | Stockport      |       | 33    | 12    | 8     | 13    | 33    | 40    | -7    | 44    |
| 16th  |       | Oldham         |       | 33    | 11    | 9     | 13    | 41    | 46    | -5    | 42    |

We stay in our conventional 4-4-2 with Damiano Tommasi replacing the injured Jonny Howson in the centre of the park in today's only change. We absolutely dominated the early stages, with Lubomir Michalik just missing the target with a header from a corner, before Fabian Delph was also just off target with a curling shot from range. Jermaine Beckford has really gone off the boil since I arrived at the club, and he just missed the bottom corner from 20 yards out midway through the half. From around the half hour mark, Swindon got more involved, Chris Allen missing the target with a rifled strike from range, before Simon Cox forced a sharp save out of Casper Ankergren after rolling his marker. We were still in charge though, with Seamus Coleman and Andy Robinson in particular getting plenty of room to work in down the right flank. The latter sent in a cross five minutes before the break, overhitting it slightly that saw it find Robert Snodgrass who sent it back across goal and to Beckford, his shot on the turn bringing a superb point blank save from Phil Smith with his legs. And then we got our nose bloodied. Jamie Vincent curled a left footed free kick around our defensive wall and into the bottom corner just a minute before the break to send us in at half time trailing in a game we had largely dominated.

Tommasi was already on a booking, and had since committed another borderline foul early after the restart. I wasn't prepared to risk him any longer, and switched him out for the recalled Jonathan Douglas. We were now not creating as much as we had in the first half, and I made a big move, taking off both full backs with strikers coming on in their place, with a risky two man defence left with only Douglas for extra protection. One of those centre backs would finally find a way through, to the cost of one of Swindon's defenders. Pat Kanyuka brought down Kjartan Henry Finnbogason near the byline to the right of goal. He got booked for complaining to the official after the event, and clearly still agitated, he then blew his marking assignment. Snodgrass clipped the free kick into the middle, and with no Kanyuka to mark him, Michalik had time to bring the ball down before firing it into the bottom corner to level us up. We could have gone on to win this one, but we could have lost it too, Vincent sent another free kick towards goal that crashed off the cross bar this time, and the spoils were shared.

After the game, in an interview given to the press, goalkeeper and captain Casper Ankergren told the press that he and many of the First Team Squad are frustrated that the club is seriously underachieving. When asked about his comments, I replied that I agreed with them, there is no doubt that we have the quality to be more consistent.

Sunday 22nd February
Despite things just not going well at all at Elland Road, when Gianfranco Zola is sacked by West Ham United with them part of a group cast adrift at the foot of the Premier Division, I'm still installed as the bookmakers favourite to be the next man in the hotseat at Upton Park. I say nothing, Mr Bates is already angry enough, and nothing I can say would swing things in my favour I suspect.

Wednesday 25th February
Jonny Howson returns to training, and is now in contention for Saturday's crucial home League One game against Carlisle United, who sit a single point behind us in the table.....

Thursday 26th February
....but Jermaine Beckford is out of the game, the out of form fifteen goal striker has suffered a thigh injury in today's training session and will miss the weekend fixture, as well as next midweek's trip down to Brighton, with a possible return for the home game against Southend United next weekend.

Friday 27th February
The bookies are absolutely making their odds based on reputation and not current form, as we are once again odds on favourites for this game, despite our very sketchy looking form. According to both National and Local media, I'm drinking in the last chance saloon at Elland Road, and another defeat may be impossible to survive.

Saturday 28th February

Coca-Cola League One
Elland Road, Leeds
Leeds United (0) 1 - Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (84)
Carlisle United (1) 2 - Michael Bridges (8), Graham Kavanagh (49)
Attendance :- 34,980
Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Lubomir Michalik (inj - Rui Marques 45), Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Andy Robinson, Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass; Kjartan Henry Finnbogason, Luciano Becchio.
Unused Substitutes :- Damiano Tommasi, Richmond Bossman, Tom Elliott, Mike Grella.
Bookings :- Lubomir Michalik 12, Rui Marques 77

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

| 8th   |       | Leyton Orient  |       | 34    | 15    | 11    | 8     | 40    | 28    | +12   | 56    |
| 9th   |       | Peterborough   |       | 34    | 15    | 9     | 10    | 49    | 36    | +13   | 54    |
| 10th  |       | Carlisle       |       | 34    | 14    | 10    | 10    | 48    | 40    | +8    | 52    |
| 11th  |       | Southend       |       | 34    | 14    | 9     | 11    | 41    | 37    | +4    | 51    |
| 12th  |       | Bristol Rovers |       | 34    | 15    | 6     | 13    | 54    | 53    | +1    | 51    |
| 13th  |       | Leeds          |       | 34    | 14    | 8     | 12    | 47    | 36    | +11   | 50    |
| 14th  |       | Hartlepool     |       | 34    | 13    | 8     | 13    | 38    | 38    | 0     | 47    |
| 15th  |       | Cheltenham     |       | 34    | 12    | 8     | 14    | 40    | 47    | -7    | 44    |
| 16th  |       | Stockport      |       | 34    | 12    | 8     | 14    | 33    | 43    | -10   | 44    |
| 17th  |       | MK Dons        |       | 34    | 11    | 10    | 13    | 43    | 48    | -5    | 43    |
| 18th  |       | Oldham         |       | 34    | 11    | 9     | 14    | 42    | 48    | -6    | 42    |

Another huge crowd for third tier football had gathered at Elland Road. Not all of them were willing the team to get the result that would keep a Playoff push on track. Some were there hoping it would be the last they saw of me at their club. Jonny Howson returned in place of Damiano Tommasi, who in turn dropped to the bench at the expense of Jonathan Douglas. Up front, Jermaine Beckford was out, and Mike Grella was dropped, with Kjartan Henry Finnbogason and former outcast Argentine striker Luciano Becchio would be asked to find the goals I needed today.

Carlisle have two players that are far too good for this level of football. One has just turned thirty, and is on loan from Hull City. That was Michael Bridges, a former Leeds flop largely, who collected a through ball from Chris Lumsdon in the 8th minute, feigned to shoot, then carried on into the box before shooting across goal and beyond Casper Ankergren's dive to find the net inside the far post. They quickly twice almost doubled that lead, Joel Porter fired a shot into the side netting, before their other star player Graham Kavanagh sent a free kick barely over the goal frame after trying his luck from a set piece. Icelandic striker Kjartan Henry Finnbogason was looking our most likely source back into the game, holding the ball up, and pressing very high up the park, forcing a backpass that was short and he raced onto, but an awkward looking shot was well covered by keeper Ben Williams. Before the break, Andy Robinson tried and failed to catch out Williams at his near post, before Finnbogason headed over from a corner.

Lubomir Michalik had already been booked, and was visibly struggling with a knock by the break, so was replaced by Rui Marques. I had spent the half time interval trying to motivate my players, only to see that blown apart less than five minutes after the restart. A corner from Kavanagh was only partially cleared, and whether he was trying a cross or shot is unknown, but it took a huge deflection to leave Ankergren absolutely helpless as the ball flew by him at his near post and high into the net! Normally by now I'd be working out Plan B, and making drastic changes. But when I looked at my bench options, I saw nothing that I felt would make a difference, and instead I kept faith in those on the park. Robinson slashed a shot wide, before Becchio rattled the upright with a header after climbing higher than his marker. Finnbogason's dipping shot didn't dip enough as time started to ebb away and my faith started to dwindle. With ten minutes to play, I waved everyone forward. Robinson isn't the player you'd necessarily want on the end of a cross, though he connected beautifully with Alan Sheehan's centre, only to see his header crash back off the cross bar. Then with just six minutes left to play, Howson sent a through ball into the box, and Finnbogason got enough on his shot across goal to get it by Williams and in via the inside of the far post! At least he hadn't given up, as he raced to collect the ball and get the game restarted. Two minutes later he was on the end of a Sheehan corner, only to see if headed off the line as it looked destined to find the corner of the net with Williams well beaten! From yet another corner, he connected again, Williams pushing this one to safety. By small margins, sometimes come large consequences.

Those consequences were very clear, especially when you're dealing with Ken Bates. No 'go see the Chairman' here. Bates came into the dressing room shortly after the game, and sacked me right in front of the entire team. Only one person went to open their mouth, young striker Finnbogason, who was told to shut it by the Chairman before he had even got a word out, or he'd be going as well.

My time at Elland Road had been brief. I had learned an awful lot while failing to make the desired impact on the clubs season, the main thing was that I should never have left Go Ahead Eagles without fully serving my management apprenticeship at the Dutch club. I had made a huge jump to a club where the pressure was much higher, and my skill level was found wanting. My reputation will have taken a massive hit, as will my confidence. Now to decide if I even want to stay in the game and seek opportunities elsewhere......

Job #2 - 23/11/2008 - 28/2/2009
Nation - England
Level - Coca-Cola League One (Third Tier)
Club - Leeds United
Finishing Point - 13th (one place worse off)

Record - G 19. W 9. D 5. L 5. GF 27. GA 17. GD +10.
Earnings - £35,000
Career Earnings Total - £42,000

neilhoskins77 · May 4, 2023

Tuesday 3rd March 2009
Maybe, my reputation hasn't been tarnished too badly from my time at Elland Road. The bookies don't seem to think so anyone. Within days of my departure from the Yorkshire club, I had been linked with the jobs at both Schalke and Udinese. However, while Alan Pardew was settling into his chair as Ken Bates' next managerial statistic, I was making the decision that something more low key would be best for me right now, and even if I had to wait a while for that to come along, I would be pretty happy to do that for the right opportunity.

Tuesday 10th March
Over the last week, I have been linked with a high profile job in Mexico with one of their struggling heavyweight clubs, while there is also potential future interest from a Turkish top tier club that has started to establish themselves as a Premier Division club. Over the coming week both Newcastle United and Turkey's susprise Champions elect were also said to be considering approaching me should their current Manager's not sign new deals.

Friday 27th March
The first actual approach for my services has arrived today, and it comes from a surprise part of the world. South America. Based in a 50,000 plus capacity stadium in Avellaneda, there is no doubt that Independiente are one of Argentina's heavyweight clubs, and a look at their current First Team Squad shows that hasn't changed. But the fourteen times Champions and seven times Copa Libertadores Winners are having a really rough season, and sit 17th in the Premier Division, and if the season finished right now, they would be facing a Relegation Playoff to save their top tier status. Torn whether it would be a good move, I tell them that I will get back to them at the end of the season, which is fast approaching.

Sunday 10th May
After being linked with jobs from every corner of Europe and further afield too during the month of April, by the time we reached the middle part of May, I was still only sat on one offer, that one from Independiente. That was until another offer arrived in from the Americas, and five time Mexican Champions club, Club de Fútbol Universidad, the Mexico City based club known more commonly as Pumas. Just like the offer in Argentina, we have a traditional heavyweight club that are having a very tough season, and could yet be relegated. It's another offer that I'm going to sit on.

Wednesday 27th May
As we approach the end of May, both of the clubs I'm sitting on offers from are now looking for an answer. Neither has actually finished their season yet though, and with no certainty what I'd be signing up to, I decline both of the clubs who have waited on an answer from me.

Wednesday 17th June
I'm still jobless as the new season gets underway today effectively, as the UEFA Europa League First Qualifying Round gets underway in Europe. It was a competition surprisingly won by Everton last season, who beat Valencia in the Final.

Tuesday 7th July
Around six weeks ago, a club removed their Manager in a move that was the beginning of a process. Now two days ago, their Chairman has also left the club, and the club have been put into the hands of a Fans Trust. The man who is the new Chairman on behalf of the Trust has offered me the job at the club. Approximately four months after being sacked and pushed out of the game, I'm now back in football management.....

neilhoskins77 · June 22, 2023

Job #3 - (8/7/2009 - ?)
Nation - Norway
Level - Premier Division (Top Tier)
Club - Tromsø
Starting Position - 11th

Job Overview :-
On Sunday, this club was taken over by a Fans' Trust, who take control from Jens Johan Hjort, and they have appointed Terje Tøllefsen as their representative Chairman. Within forty eight hours of taking control, he was in touch with me and a swift negotiation sees me now in charge of the club that represents the largest city outside of Russia that lies north of the Arctic Circle. The club has been managerless for around six weeks now after Per Mathias Høgmo was sacked, and lies 11th in the 16 club Norwegian Premier Division. The bottom two are relegated while 14th spot means a Playoff to stay in the top tier, and we are just three points outside that Playoff spot, with the current occupants also having a game in hand. We have thirteen games remaining in the 2009 season, and the club are widely considered to be underachieving, as they were predicted to finish in the top six before the campaign. I've signed a contract worth £2,000 a week through to November 2011.

Club Overview :-
Tromsø has never won the Norwegian Championship, it's best result being Runner's-Up once in 1990, and they finished last season in third place. They are twice winners of the Norwegian Cup, and have been in the top tier since 2003 in this current spell having initially spending sixteen years at the top level in their first stint. The club play in the Alfheim Stadium that was built and opened in the city in 1986, holding 7,500 fans with 6,000 of them seated.

Due to the unique location of the club, bringing players in particularly from overseas can have it's challenges, though the club have recently been forced to cancel a deal for a Uruguayan player. We are currently carrying eight non-Homegrown players and are allowed a total of eleven. There is a strong record of supplying players to the National Team at Senior and Age Group levels, despite the club having only an average Youth System. In my introduction to the club, I'm informed that in normal circumstances, the club would expect to be challenging for European Qualification, if not the Norwegian Title.

Financially the club is in fairly good shape, with in excess of £3 million in the bank, and their only debt is a bank loan of £150,000 that will be paid back over the next two years at around £6,000 per month. There is a transfer budget available to me of just under £1.5 million, and has been padded by player sales in the last window. Our weekly wage budget is for just over £45,000 per week, and we are currently spending around £36,000 of that.

Squad Overview :-
My first big decision on the current playing staff will be regarding the future of our current number one goalkeeper. 30 year old German born Bosnian International goalkeeper Sead Ramovic is a man in demand. His services are currently wanted by clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Schalke. They are all money clubs, and if they were to pay through the nose it would allow the club to improve other areas of the squad and replace the Bosnian if necessary. As far as goalkeeping options go we have Greek born Canadian International stopper Kenny Stamatopoulos who isn't quite as good but isn't a bad option at all, as well as former Swedish Under-21 International keeper Marcus Sahlman and the new Chairman's son as well, 17 year old current Norwegian Under-19 International custodian Thomas Tøllefsen Jnr and already capped once at Under-21 level despite being just 16 years old, Thomas Ingjerd.

My options in defence are actually very good, there just isn't enough depth. You start to wonder why this team was giving away so many cheap goals given some of the players he had here, but are still the fourth worst defence in the Division. They include one of Norway's bright young stars, seven times capped centre back Tore Reginiussen, a 23 year old who has been superb this season for Tromsø. He also had left back and former Under-21 International star Kevin Larsen at his disposal. He played him, but he didn't have him on set pieces despite him being a dead ball specialist, which I find bizarre. The man he seemed to heavily rely on isn't as good as some of the others in the squad, 31 year old Costa Rican International centre back Douglas Sequeira, who's slightly erratic career path saw him start in Holland and Germany with bigger clubs, fail to make the grade and head back to his homeland, then getting going in the US before landing in Tromsø where he is now in his third season with the club. I'm a little on the fence with this guy.

In midfield there are a group of players that are around their prime and early veteran years that the previous management has over relied on maybe, and a group of younger players that have never really had a shot yet. The most recognisable name in the midfield is probably former Leeds United youngster Tommy Knarvik. A former Under-21 International who has somehow never managed to pick up a Senior Cap, he has been the guy to primarily run this midfield, and has done an okay job without ever really setting the domestic game alight. Now aged 29 he is apparently wanted by bigger clubs Rosenborg and Brann, and there's an argument for letting him go and do a 'so-so' job somewhere else. You could apply almost exactly the same description to hugely experienced Estonian International left winger Joel Lindpere. Signed in 2007 for a very reasonable amount of money, the 64 times capped forward will make his 75th appearance for the club next time out, but has over that time scored nine goals and added only six assists. Yet sat on the sidelines is exciting 18 year old talent Martin Holmen, signed in the summer from Moss and yet to make his League debut for the club on that left side.

I'm staggered to discover that in a team not short of set piece specialists, I have a 6'8 striker who has scored only five goals all season, and three of them came against lower league opponents in the Cup. It may be possible that I'm about to change the life of 32 year old Tor Hogne Aarøy! It isn't like he has a huge amount of competition as it stands. Our only other strikers currently in the First Team Squad are Sigurd Rushfeldt, a well travelled 36 year old striker who has retired from International Football and intends retiring from playing altogether and concentrate on his Coaching role at the end of this season, but has still been given enough football to be our top League scorer this season. Nigerian born striker Oluwasegun Abiodun, who becomes eligible for Norwegian citizenship tomorrow, was signed in the summer after an excellent season down in the third tier, but it just hasn't gone to plan so far for the 24 year old.

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(FM'09) Destination, Unknown - Inbetween Jobs.....

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