How to make your way in the Primera Liga (or not as the case may be)

[Dixie Flatline]

15th of December 2007

The transfer window opens for the winter trading period to commence for a month. Jukka Hakala leaves for his new career at Barcelona. I hope he will be very happy there: Jukka Hakala (30 y/o, FIN 43 caps, 2 goals, D C): 69 apps, 4 goals, 4 assists, 3 MoMs, av. rating: 7.15

We sign up César from Osasuna for the agreed fee of £2.5 million. Other big transfers to go through today include Barcelona spending £17.25 million on Portuguese international attacking midfielder Ricardo Jorge, who joins from Porto, Real Madrid spending £14.75 million to bring back Rubén Navarro from Bari and Toni who joins Celta Vigo for £7.5 million from Real Zaragoza.

16th of December 2007

Primera Liga - Game 14: Cartagonova v Numancia

I radically reshape the playing personnel when compared to our last game against Argentinos. The long flight back from Tokyo left some of my players a little too tired to give their all on the Sunday, so several fringe players get a run-out and a chance to impress me. I recall Lacruz, Gavião, Michel and Redondo to the starting eleven, while new boy César makes his debut on the right side in place of César Cabrera. Juan Hernández replaces George Clegg in the hole behind the strikers, while Christian Vieri partners José Manuel Redondo for the first time this season.

So it’s little wonder that it takes some time for the team to gel and in the meantime, Numancia’s star striker Óscar sneaks in ahead of Gershon to put the visiting team ahead on just 2 minutes. But we’re level within three minutes when Garrido’s corner is perfectly headed home by Redondo, towering above Curro Montoya. The buoyant Hernández tests Ãlvaro Núñez with a viciously dipping and swerving free kick a moment or so later. Vieri should have put us in front on 10 minutes when he has the strength to hold off his marker but volleys Gavião’s pass over the bar. It only serves to reset his radar and on 14 minutes, he has his first goal for Cartagonova and we have the lead when he outjumps the hapless Curro Montoya to power a header home from Garrido’s corner. Garrido is anxious to get his name on the scoresheet too, and on 16 minutes he almost does so when he dribbles his way through the crowded Numancia penalty area but is baulked by an excellent save from the Numancia keeper.

As can be expected, things slow down a little but on 27 minutes we extend our lead to 3-1 when Juan Hernández follows up Redondo’s header to tap in when Núñez can’t hold onto the shot. After his early goal, Óscar has been practically anonymous because we haven’t let Numancia play football, but on 31 minutes he hits a speculative effort just wide of Vidal’s left post, and on 34 minutes he tests the captain with a stinging drive that the Spanish international keeper needs to tip away. But we have the final say in the first half when Hernández plays an intelligent ball to put Michel through and the left winger does the rest superbly for a 4-1 lead at half-time.

The Numancia manager must have launched a rocket in the dressing room at half-time because his players come out to attack in the second half. Vidal, who hardly saw the ball in the first half after conceding the early goal, is suddenly much more busier contending particularly with Óscar. But the striker gives his side a chance when he pulls the score back to 4-2 on 58 minutes, and I’m decidedly unhappy about the situation. But while we don’t fashion much in attack in the second half, good work from Vidal prevents Numancia from really getting a sniff of a result they don’t deserve and we run out the game winners.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz, Gershon, McClenahan, César; Michel, Gavião, Garrido; Hernández; Redondo, Vieri (Tanem 70).

Numancia (4-5-1): Núñez; Gustavo, Curro Montoya, Babangida, Rubio; Giannoutsko, Rúa, Carlos Martins ©, Gorka (Molnar 77), Acuña; Óscar.

Final score: Cartagonova 4:2 Numancia

MoM - Juan Hernández

Juan Hernández gets a gig in the starting eleven of the team of the week for his excellent effort against Numancia. We remain in fourth position after the weekend’s round of fixtures and with a game in hand on the league leader Real Madrid, we are lurking menacingly only five points behind the peak of the ladder.

[Dixie Flatline]

17th of December 2007

Christoffer Källkvist gets a lot of interest from continental European clubs, including clubs from Spain, for his future employment. In the meantime, I investigate whether signing Swedish keeper David Lundin from Getafe wouldn’t be a bad option to pursue.

I’m informed by Hernán Florentín’s agent that his client believes a move to Werder Bremen would be better than a move to the Spanish champion. I can’t believe that to be correct, but that’s his problem, not mine - well, apart from sorting through other options to bring to the club.

19th of December 2007

“… Just a season after leaving Real Madrid for AC Milan, Brazilian international midfielder Alex has returned to Spain, this time with Barcelona. The Catalan club, looking for inspiration to rescue a rudderless season, paid AC Milan £16.75 million for the experienced midfielder, who has represented his country 68 times and scored 7 international goals. A free kick specialist, Alex began his career with Coritiba, before moving to Palmeiras and then he secured a move to Serie A club Parma. However, an inability to get on the pitch at Parma saw Alex return to Brazil to play with Flamengo for a season, but he then cemented his place in Parma’s starting eleven for the next three seasons before signing for Real Madrid to culminate a £32.5 million move for him. However, Alex spent only two seasons before returning to Italy with AC Milan, but now finds himself back in Spain with Barcelona. He joins the likes of Juan Sebastián Verón and Matteo Brighi as the exceptionally talented creative midfielders in the Barcelona squad, but some football writers have wondered whether the money would have been better spent on strengthening the defence beyond the signing of former Cartagonova player Jukka Hakala a few days ago…â€

Speaking of Hakala, my sources in Barcelona inform me that he is already unhappy in his new surrounds. Apparently he is not best pleased with the fact that Barcelona are only third on the ladder (which is one place higher than Cartagonova at the moment -although we have two games in hand).

Primera Liga - Game 15: Valencia v Cartagonova

“… Stefano Fiore came off the bench to win the game for Valencia in a cracking game between the defending champion and one of the pretenders to the crown. After Ivan Juric missed the mark by scant inches on just four minutes, Cartagonova took the lead through veteran winger Michel on 21 minutes when he latched onto a beautiful pass by Trent McClenahan and headed it home past Jonathan. An intricate move by Valencia’s midfield unlocked Cartagonova’s defence on 28 minutes, but Knopper couldn’t finish off the move as his shot was well saved by Vidal. It was real end to end stuff as Cartagonova’s Alex Notman thumped a banana shot from outside the penalty area that Jonathan did well to get his finger tips to on the half hour. However, Valencia found the equaliser it deserved on 32 minutes when Knopper and Onichtenchenko worked together to tee up debutant Lucas Castromán for his first goal for Valencia since joining from AC Milan a few days ago. But straight from the kick-off Cartagonova took back the lead when Redondo played a scintillating pass to find Michel unattended out on the left wing. The winger looked up and thumped a stinging, dipping drive that beat Jonathan all ends up. It was a tremendous goal, but Cartagonova still couldn’t hold onto its lead as McClenahan was harshly adjudged to have fouled Ivan Juric inside the area. Matías Donnet held his nerve to restore parity with five minutes to play in the first half.â€

“The defences looked a little more stable in the second half and while Cartagonova had the better of possession in the first 20 minutes of the half, Valencia scored ultimately the winning goal when Stefano Fiore capped an excellent mazy run with a beautiful drive from 30 yards to beat Vidal in goal for Cartagonova. Señor Dixie Flatline immediately altered his formation to become more attacking as Valencia concentrated on holding what they had. On 76 minutes, Señor Flatline brought on the veteran striker Christian Vieri to see if he could alter the balance of the game and while the former Italian international had a couple of good opportunities, Jonathan had the measure of both shots and kept his club in the lead. Triumphant, Valencia maintains its pressure upon the top three clubs in Spain while Cartagonova go away to reconsider the game…â€

Well, I can’t really criticise any of my players. It was a superb game and all five goals were very special. Hopefully, though, we’ll do better against the struggling Sporting Gijón next weekend.

Valencia (3-5-2): Jonathan; Borja, Mendieta ©, Donnet; Santis, Juric, Onichtenchenko (Fiore 52), Knopper (Jonsson 52), Castromán; Saviola, Angulo (Hugo Leal 52).

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz, Gershon, McClenahan, César; Gavião; Michel, Garrido (Clegg 76); Hernández (Vieri 76); Redondo, Notman.

Final score: Valencia 3:2 Cartagonova

MoM - José Manuel Redondo

Keep smiling!

Dixie Flatline

[King Jeff]

This story is the best currently on the board and definitely one of the best ever.

Absolutely incredible.

[Harleqin]

I agree with King Jeff. This story is like a drug. It's addictive. Whenever it is updated I quickly read and is left wanting more....More....MORE!

I can't wait for the next update

Keep it going Dixie.

[Dixie Flatline]

Once more, I'm very happy that you enjoy this story so much! I can promise you, there is a lot more to come, too!

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

Some more action from Cartagonova!

22nd of December 2007

Getafe’s David Lundin decides to join Espanyol on a free transfer at the end of the season.

23rd of December 2007

Primera Liga - Game 16: Sporting Gijón v Cartagonova

I’m absolutely furious with all the team members after this game. I’ll explain why. We race to an early lead with a goal to Michel on 4 minutes, another to Notman on 15 minutes and a goal on half-time to Ariel Carreño. In the meantime, Sporting Gijón scores what turns out to be a crucial goal when Rubén punishes our slack defence a moment after Notman’s goal. I tell the defenders to be careful in the second half, but instead they allow Rubén to score again on 66 minutes and Sergio to grab the equaliser with 12 minutes left in the game. I let fly with as many expletives as I can muster after the game at everybody in the dressing room. Nobody is exempted from my tirade as I make the point (very clearly, hopefully) that I hate it when my team concedes two goals against, with respect, a very poor team without reply to drop two points. That’s the long and the short of it.

Sporting Gijón (3-5-2): Sergio; Sergio, Nakazawa, Damiani (Iván Campo 62); Tal (Edgar 50), Tonin, Barselleta ©, Silva (Luis González 67), Babangida; Rubén, Pavlovich.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz, Gershon, McClenahan, César; Gavião; Michel, Garrido; Clegg; Carreño, Notman.

Final score: Sporting Gijón 3:3 Cartagonova

MoM - Rubén

Well, it’s only been seven months since we tied up the title and brought further glory to a hitherto unknown Spanish city most famous for Spain’s only remaining naval port. But now, the local papers are ready to sink their knives into the players as Trent McClenahan is again criticised by a former Cartagonova player now turned columnist for the local newspaper. I respond by defending the centre half and that when he has a better handle on Spanish culture he will become an even better player than he already is. That seems to shut everybody up, for the moment. But he does have to start producing the goods on the pitch to justify my continued public faith in him.

24th of December 2007

Getafe will replace their outgoing Swedish keeper David Lundin with my Swedish keeper Christoffer Källkvist at the end of the season after he agreed terms with the Segunda Liga club.

[Dixie Flatline]

28th of December 2007

George Clegg was unable to participate in the European Champions' League final last season that put us into the World Club Championship, and now with our first game five days away, he will not play in the World Club Championship either after he strained his calf muscle in training this evening. The physios told me to rule a line through his name for the next three weeks. It’s bad luck for the Englishman.

29th of December 2007

“… Be sure to book your tickets early for what promises to be a cracker of an international friendly between España and England to be held on 22nd of March 2008 in the build-up to Euro 2008 in which both countries will vie for the title of the best country in European football…â€

2nd of January 2008

“… Welcome to the new year, and I remind you all that Euro 2008 is now less than six months away! We kick off the new year with the news that AC Milan have once again splashed the cash in the chase for success. The Milanese giant announced this afternoon that they have spent £18 million on former Roma and Real Madrid attacking midfielder/playmaker Francesco Totti to bring him to the north of Italy from Fiorentina. He is joined at AC Milan by English international playmaker Joe Cole for £34.5 million.â€

“After making his debut for Roma way back in the 1992/93 season as a raw teenager, Francesco Totti quickly matured into Roma’s talisman and in April 2001, he helped Roma clinch its first Scudetto for 18 years and followed up that achievement with another Italian championship in the next two seasons to make it a hat-trick of titles at Roma. However, Italy failed to impress at World Cup 2002, bowing out 3-2 to the Netherlands in the quarter-final at Oita. The season after the World Cup, Totti claimed the European Midfielder of the Year award and was third in the European Footballer of the Year award, and he assisted Italy to win the Confederations Cup. However, Roma only claimed the Italian Super Cup that season and not even a stellar personal season for Totti which allowed him to claim the European Midfielder of the Year award for the second season running and come third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award could help Roma claim more trophies. At the end of the 2004/05 season, he was sensationally sold to Spanish giant Real Madrid for £32.5 million and once again was good enough to claim his third consecutive European Midfielder of the Year award. But Real Madrid failed to win anything in the full season Francesco Totti was there and he was sold mid way through the following season back to Italy, this time joining Fiorentina for £25.5 million. Now, he is at AC Milan, one of Italy’s strongest clubs.â€

“Joining Francesco Totti at AC Milan is arguably England’s best midfielder in a generation. Not since Paul Gascoigne has Joe Cole generated so much excitement when he steps onto a football pitch. After making his debut for West Ham United in the 1998/99 season after the World Cup, he was quickly earmarked as a talented midfielder and a player for the future. However, playing at West Ham quickly matured the young Joe Cole and soon he was playing like a seasoned veteran. He made his full debut for England at the tender age of 19 against Greece in October 2001. It culminated in a move after the World Cup was complete to Fiorentina for what is now a bargain price of £12.25 million. In his first season at Fiorentina, Cole helped the Florentine club claim the Scudetto and in 2005 was voted third in the World Footballer of the Year award. He claimed the 2005/06 Italian title for Fiorentina and added the World Footballer of the Year award to his personal collection. He helped England reach the final four in World Cup 2006, but they were knocked out by the host Germany 2-0 in Berlin. Thanks to a Jamie McMaster hat-trick, England claimed something from the tournament when they beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to come third in the tournament. And now the next stage of his career begins when he pulls on the red and black guernsey for AC Milan…â€

News of these two big moves reaches me on the beaches of Rio de Janiero as we prepare for our afternoon game with Vasco da Gama to kick off the Club World Championship. We’re drawn in Group 1, with Kashima Antlers, Mamelodi Sundowns and the aforementioned Vasco. Let’s take a look at each club, starting with Cartagonova: Obviously, we all know the strengths and weaknesses of Cartagonova, who participates in the Club World Championship as the champion club of Europe after taking out the European Champions' League last season. However, the club is experiencing somewhat of a rebirth after the departure of two key players in the last six months. During the off-season, Lomano-Tresor Lua-Lua left for Real Madrid and while his place has been taken smoothly by Spanish international, the departure of Jukka Hakala for Cartagonova’s arch-rival Barcelona, whilst anticipated for practically an entire season, has been difficult for the manager, Señor Dixie Flatline, to overcome. His direct replacement, Trent McClenahan, has come under fire in the press recently, and no doubt the world’s football media will watch him like a hawk for any sign of inability to cope with the pressure at this exalted level of club football. On the other hand, in José Manuel Redondo and Alex Notman, Señor Flatline has one of the most skilful and prolific partnerships in European football at his disposal. Notman has already scored 21 goals in 24 appearances this season and looks on course to better his total of 35 goals last season. Redondo is not quite so prolific as he was at the peak of his career, but he is still a useful foil for Notman and scores his fair share of goals. With goal-hungry midfielders like George Clegg, Jaime Garrido and Juan Hernández in the squad, Cartagonova is not short of firepower.

Kashima Antlers mixes the best of Japanese football with a heavy Brazilian influence. Star striker Shinji Ono calls this club his employer, and he will be expected to work well with Émerson to cause their opponents plenty of problems. The defensive aspect of Antlers’ play has a decidedly Brazilian feel, with Rafael and Wildinho expected to line up in the central defender roles while former Inter Milan defender Gilberto is expected to play down the left side of the back four. Only Daisuke Ichikawa, the Japanese international right-back, is likely to get a game in defence. But perhaps Antlers’ most dangerous player is the left winger Marquinhos Olinda, who combines pace with superb passing ability. He may well see this competition as a showcase event to hawk his talents to the big clubs that will keep more than an eye on proceedings in Brazil. He is supported ably by Japanese idol Daisuke Matsui, whose pace and ability on the ball will cause plenty of defences problems. Antlers may well cause a surprise or two before this tournament finishes for the Japanese champion.

Mamelodi Sundowns represents the African continent. The champion of South Africa and also Africa, the club brings to the competition plenty of young players, with only South African international Sibongakonke Ndlovu a recognisable name. They are not expected to challenge this time around.

Vasco da Gama represent everything that is good about Brazilian football. Full of individual stars such as striker Souza, midfielder Leonardo, winger Léo and defender Felipe, the question on everybody’s lips is whether they can put it together on the field simultaneously. It has been something of a downfall for Brazilian teams in intercontinental club competitions, and when they play the might of Europe in Cartagonova later this afternoon, they will have to be at the top of their form to disturb the cream of Europe. However, the Brazilians will certainly give an entertaining game in front of their adoring home crowd, and there will be plenty of goals scored, there’s no doubt about it.

[maollelujah]

It really is a nice story. And all the success must have you dizzy.

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by maollelujah:

It really is a nice story. And all the success must have you dizzy. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks, mao! I think the success has made some of my players quite dizzy, given some of the recent performances we've put in... As for me, well I like to take these things in my stride

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

In anticipation of a great World Cup final...

Club World Championship - Group 1, Game 1: Cartagonova v Vasco da Gama

As alluded to just above, our first game pits us against Vasco in the legendary, bowl-like Maracaña stadium, which sits around 181,000 people, but today is only a third full, with slightly less than 60,000 in the stadium. It is almost like a home-coming for naturalised Spaniard Gavião, who played here quite regularly when he was with Grêmio. We take an early lead when on 5 minutes, Garrido latches onto Lacruz’s perfectly weighted cross and puts it in the back of the Vasco net. It’s only due reward for the pressure we heaped on the Brazilians in the first five minutes, as Notman and McClenahan both had excellent opportunities to score the first goal of the competition. We double our lead on 10 minutes when Juan Hernández superbly controls Gavião’s flick-on and evades the Brazilian defenders before slipping the ball between the legs of Hélton in goal for Vasco. Notman steals the ball from the kick-off and is unlucky not to make it 3-0 on 12 minutes when his bullet-like shot hits the cross-bar and comes back into play, where Redondo then proceeds to hit the post with the rebound shot. On 24 minutes, Notman turns the Vasco defence inside out but Hélton does well to get his finger tips to the shot to push it around the post. Vasco fashion their first chance 29 minutes into the game when Souza blasts high and wide from outside our area but on 33 minutes, we make it more difficult for them to fight back when Garrido’s corner is efficiently headed home by Michel over a static Vasco defence. Hernández almost makes it 4-0 on 39 minutes, but three goals to the good at half-time is a good position to be in at the break.

Notman still strives to get the goal he deserves but on 53 minutes, Hélton again saves what appears to be a goal-bound effort from the Scottish international. Souza then hits our post on 58 minutes, and late in the game, he finally pulls a goal back for Vasco when he takes advantage of confusion between Gershon and McClenahan to steal in unnoticed to head home Dedé’s cross. To make matters worse, I had just lost Lacruz for the rest of the tournament, so there was widespread confusion in the ranks of the defence.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz (Olembé 84), Gershon, McClenahan, César; Michel, Gavião, Garrido; Hernández; Redondo (Tanem 67), Notman.

Vasco da Gama (4-2-4): Hélton; Felipe, de Jesús, Bruno Leite, de Souza; da Rocha, Leonardo ©; Pedrinho (Cordeiro 91), Souza, Dedé, Léo.

Final score: Cartagonova 3:1 Vasco da Gama

MoM - Jaime Garrido

[Dixie Flatline]

The injury that Lacruz suffered during the game is a twisted ankle, and is serious enough to keep him from first team duty for a month.

In the evening game from Group 1, Mamelodi Sundowns pull off the 1-0 upset over Kashima Antlers with Zwane scoring the goal 9 minutes from half-time.

4th of January 2007

Due to our commitment to the Club World Championship, we haven’t played our game against Deportivo to find out who will advance to the third round of the Copa del Rey. But thanks to the miracle of modern communication, I find out that we will have the opportunity of clashing with Celta Vigo if we do get through.

Club World Championship - Group 1, Game 2: Mamelodi Sundowns v Cartagonova

Almost 100,000 people turn up from Recife and the surrounding towns to watch us play the South African champion. They shouldn’t have bothered, as it is a dull and boring game. One goal settles it, and I’ll let you have one guess who scored it - that’s right, Alex Notman is the player to net on 60 minutes, heading home Redondo’s good cross. We could have had other goals, but in the end it doesn’t matter since Vidal is untroubled in goal by any South African attack.

Mamelodi Sundowns (5-3-2): Madiga; Motaung (Mkhize 72), Chetty, Batchelor, Mkhize, Wuest; Lekgetho (Mchunu 66), Mazibuko, Madida; Barnard, Ndlovu © (Mkhize 91).

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Keità, McClenahan, Ballesteros; Gavião; Michel, Garrido; Hernández (Rønning 70); Redondo (Tanem 70), Notman.

Final score: Mamelodi Sundowns 0:1 Cartagonova

MoM - Gavião

7th of January 2008

Club World Championship - Group 1, Game 3: Kashima Antlers v Cartagonova

I decide to make some changes again to the starting eleven as I hope to keep my gun players fit for the final, which we should make with a probable victory over the Japanese champion. I leave out Notman and partner Redondo with Shola Ameobi, while Gavião steps aside for Kristian Tanem. Michel and Jaime Garrido are also left out of the starting eleven, with Bojan Djordjic and Elias Krantz taking their places. It takes a little time for the players to become comfortable with each other, but good interchange between Ameobi and Djordjic gives Redondo the chance to score the first goal on 13 minutes. The Spaniard has some work to do to turn Wildinho inside out, but he does that well enough and then smashes an unstoppable drive towards the top corner! Redondo then does well to hold up the ball despite some close checking from the Japanese/Brazilian defence and he tees up Hernández, but the midfielder can’t find the back of the net a moment or so after our first goal.

We’re made to pay when Ichikawa finds the right ball to cut out my defenders but put in Endo. Endo has the presence of mind to use Kikuchi to leave the defence trailing in his wake and then puts a low drive past Vidal on 16 minutes. On 22 minutes, McClenahan gives away a dubious penalty when Émerson dives in the box, but the referee falls for it and Kashima Antlers take the unlikely lead thanks to Ichikawa’s penalty. In the space of the next ten minutes, we should have gone to a 4-2 lead with Redondo missing two good chances and Tanem seeing his goalbound effort tipped away by Fujiwara. But on 37 minutes, we earn another corner and Cabrera’s corner is perfectly placed to give Krantz the run at it, and the Swede opens his Cartagonova account with the equalising goal on 38 minutes.

We now have the momentum and a moment later, Juan Hernández makes up for his earlier miss with a terrific goal scored from distance after a mistake by the Antlers’ defence in failing to properly clear the ball away from Redondo. Right on half time, we go further ahead when Krantz plays a clever ball down the line for the willing Ameobi, and the Nigerian swings over the cross to where Redondo is waiting for the delivery. Redondo doesn’t make a mistake from that type of opportunity and we enter the half with a two goal buffer after an exciting first half. Redondo tries to pay the compliment to Ameobi straight on the resumption of play, but Ameobi fluffs his lines when Fujiwara somehow gets his fingers to the drive. Apart from that early try on goal, we take things a little easier in the second half, but we still have the time and ability to score a fifth goal. Vidal launches a goal kick high into the Brazilian pollution, but Hernández does well to control the ball and then find a way past Fabiano before smashing a drive into the back of the net!

Kashima Antlers (4-4-2): Fujiwara; Gilberto, Wildinho (Fabiano 59), Rafael (Saito 85), Ichikawa (Naoki Nagai 59); Marquinhos Olinda, Morisaki, Ono ©, Endo; Émerson, Kikuchi.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Keità, McClenahan, Ballesteros; Tanem; Djordjic (Rønning 67), Krantz; Hernández; Redondo (Carreño 67), Ameobi.

Final score: Kashima Antlers 2:5 Cartagonova

MoM - José Manuel Redondo

[Dixie Flatline]

Our stay in Brazil is extended by that victory, our third straight of the competition so far, as we qualify from Group 1 to face either DC United or Corinthians in the final on Thursday:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts

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

1st Q Cartagonova ESP 3 1 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 6 2 9

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

2nd Mamelodi Sundowns RSA 3 1 0 1 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 6

3rd Vasco BRA 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 2 6 3

4th Antlers JPN 3 0 0 2 2 6 0 0 1 1 2 0

</pre>

“… From his base in Rio de Janiero, Cartagonova boss, Señor Dixie Flatline, announced this evening that his club will sign Numancia central defender, José Manuel Lasa, for £2.2 million. The former U-21 international defender is reportedly delighted to have agreed terms with the Spanish champion and he puts the position of Trent McClenahan under some jeopardy, with the Australian struggling to adapt to life in Spain so far this season…â€

I’m quite happy to have been able to sign Lasa. He is by no means the finished article, nor do I believe that he is the next Alessandro Nesta or Fabio Cannavaro, for example, but I think that he has demonstrated enough consistency over the last couple of months of keeping tabs on him to believe that he has what it takes to slot straight into my first team. That of course means that Trent McClenahan should be feeling very nervous about his continued regular presence in the starting eleven.

8th of January 2008

Lasa officially joins the squad this morning.

Corinthians steal DC United’s place in the final against us on Thursday after Gil scored from the penalty spot on 73 minutes. Unfortunately, we lose the coin flip and will be treated as the away side both formally, and because we’re in Brazil anyway, practically.

9th of January 2008

I’m very disappointed to see Gavião’s agent in the papers back home linking the Spanish international to a paltry £2.5 million move to Elche. It’s so unbelievable it’s laughable, as I communicate loudly to the journalist who published the original story.

Copa del Rey - 2nd round: Cartagonova v Deportivo La Coruña

I’m dumbfounded when I’m told that I have to board a flight, along with 18 of my players, to race back to Cartagena in time to participate in the Copa del Rey. It’s been a long time since we won the second of our two Copa del Rey trophies, and right now, in the middle of the World Club Championship, I couldn’t care less about this competition. I complain long and hard to the Spanish FA, but, wonders of wonders, they can’t, or won’t help me, so I have to find 18 volunteers to board a flight to Spain to play this game. It’s not easy, but I manage it.

I’m so annoyed by this that I’m not bothered to describe the action. Suffice it to say that Ameobi decides that it would be even better for us if we play with 10 men for practically 70 minutes when he gets himself sent off for pushing over Kim Källström on 22 minutes. Jean-François Gillet has the chance to distinguish himself on 48 minutes when he holds on to Mista’s shot. Rønning misses a tough chance from a tight angle on 71 minutes, while Christian Vieri can’t make a free kick count on 76 minutes. Straight from kick-off, Carreño should have put us in the lead, but only hits the side netting. Vieri then hits the crossbar on 82 minutes, while Víctor’s goal is ruled out for off-side. We should have had a penalty on 84 minutes when Carreño is barged over by Iván Amaya, but the blind referee doesn’t award it. Nine minutes into extra time, Carreño finally makes a chance count, heading home Rønning’s cross. Deportivo have their chances to push the game into penalty, but we hold out to move into the third round against Celta Vigo. Wonderful.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Gillet ©; Laurie, Ãlvarez, Lasa, Diawara; Salas (Rønning 55), Keità, Krantz; Jensen (Vieri 55); Carreño, Ameobi.

Deportivo La Coruña (5-2-1-2): Molina; Capdevila (André Luiz 53), Boris, Amaya ©, Melchiot (Víctor 75), Oliva; Vogel, Källström; Mista; Morán (José Carlos 59), Manolín.

Final score: Cartagonova 1:0 Deportivo La Coruña (after extra time)

MoM - Mista

[Dixie Flatline]

The first thing I do after the game is complain to the Spanish FA for the referee’s poor performance in missing the penalty and dishing out so many undeserved yellow cards. Of course, the Spanish FA couldn’t care less. Then I warn officially Shola Ameobi for being sent off - a warning that he accepts gracefully. I then jump on the plane back to Rio and hope against hope that I can stay awake long enough to guide my club through the final of the World Club Championship.

10th of January 2008

World Club Championship - Final: Corinthians v Cartagonova

It’s the final straw for me concerning Trent McClenahan. Completing just one tackle in four attempts and giving away the goal that equalised César Cabrera’s stunning first ever goal for his club and pushing the game into extra time where Corinthians prevails on the golden goal rule is just too much for me. After the game is finished and the players are back in the hotel packing away their runners-up medals, I rip into McClenahan like I’ve never done before. It culminates in a me officially fining him one week’s wages and him complaining to me that my treatment of him has been unfair. Well, mate, sorry but I’ve been as patient with you as I’ve possibly could, and now it’s time for somebody else to take the step up and give me a back four, instead of the back three I’ve mainly played with in the last six months. And it starts so well, too, with César Cabrera taking on and beating practically the entire Corinthians defence with a run that starts in his own half and finishes with the Spaniard burying the ball into the back of the Corinthians net on 8 minutes.

But we fail to build on our lead and Vidal is much the busier keeper following the goal as Corinthians look to hit back. Redondo and Notman are well held by the Brazilian defence, although the Scotsman does have the chance to add to his goal haul with a free kick that is well saved by Rubinho. But Corinthians are the much better side, particularly in the second half, and they score their deserved equaliser on 70 minutes when Ewerthon picks off Kléber’s sublime pass, takes it past Cabrera and puts it in the back of Vidal’s net. I immediately substitute McClenahan for Ballesteros, and also remove the disappointing Tanem for Hernández, while wishing I had a direct replacement for the very disappointing Garrido too. Tanem, however, is a pillar of strength and but for some spectacular saves by Rubinho, we could have won from the head and boot of the Norwegian late in the game. It’s not to be, and Ferreira finds the right cross to unhinge my defence and allow Assunção to score the winning goal nine minutes into extra time.

Corinthians (4-5-1): Rubinho ©; Kléber, Avalos, Éder, Marcelo (Wellington 72); Gil, Assunção, Ferreira, Cordeiro, Luciano; Ewerthon.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, McClenahan (Ballesteros 70), César; Gavião; Michel, Garrido; Hernández (Tanem 70); Redondo, Notman.

Final score: Corinthians 2:1 Cartagonova (after extra time)

MoM - Rubinho

[Dixie Flatline]

13th of January 2008

Primera Liga - Game 17: Cartagonova v Valencia

Three days after losing to Corinthians in Rio de Janiero, we’re back in Cartagena to play a tough game against Valencia. Most of my team are still suffering from the effects of the extra-time game against Corinthians coupled with the flight back to Spain, so I’m forced to dig deep into the squad’s depth to pull out a fit eleven to put out on the pitch. But on 6 minutes, we should have had a goal when Notman’s scoring effort is ruled out by the linesman’s flag for off-side against the Scotsman. A minute later, Jonathan boosts his stocks in my eyes by saving well from Jaime Garrido. However, Valencia have come here to play, and the Argentine connection of Palermo and Saviola causes my defenders some problems. Both, fortunately, can’t take their chances on 9, 13 and 16 minutes. At the other end of the field, Kristian Tanem’s bad luck in front of goal continues when Jonathan pulls off two superb reaction saves to deny the Norwegian on 19 and 21 minutes. Then I’m forced into making a change as Lasa signals to the bench that he can’t continue - Martin Smith replaces him.

A quick break-out from our corner sees Vidal called into action for the first time when he turns behind Palermo’s snap shot, while on 27 minutes, Notman fails to hit the target when you would have put the house on him to score. But then the match takes a turn in our favour as the referee pulls out a straight red card and flourishes it to Spanish international defender Borja for a terrible two-footed challenge on Garrido! It takes us some time to make use of the extra man advantage, but Valencia’s strange decision to put Saviola in defence to cover the loss of the defender is punished twice by Vieri in the matter of a minute at the end of the half. His first goal on 44 minutes is a superb half-volley after Tanem teed him up, and before Valencia can adjust, he smashes a powerful header into the top corner from Garrido’s cross! It’s a good feeling heading into half-time.

Valencia makes the change they should have done before half-time when Guly replaces Angulo, while Palermo gives way to David Karanka. But we’ve done the damage and we’re in cruise mode. Vieri is denied his hat-trick on 65 minutes by a good save from Jonathan with Guly struggling to match the Italian in the air. I bring on Bojan Djordjic to preserve Juan Hernández’s strength for future games on 69 minutes, and the Swedish international midfielder finds Vieri in the area on 73 minutes. Even with the attentions of two Valencia defenders on him, the Italian veteran still gets a header away, but it flies over the bar and out of harm, as far as Valencia is concerned. But Valencia are so concerned with Vieri that they neglect the ever-dangerous Alex Notman, and on 75 minutes, the Scotsman punishes them for that neglect. César breaks up the play by tackling Mendieta well, and then the international puts the ball ahead of Notman. The Scotsman uses his excellent ball control to take it past the Valencia defenders before curling a fantastic shot into the top corner from 30 yards! But we’re not done just yet. Bang on the end of the game, Bojan Djordjic caps a good display as substitute by finishing off a fine run from Cabrera. The crowd goes home happy, the board are delighted, and more importantly, we move into fourth place at Valencia’s expense.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Lasa (Smith 21), César; Michel, Tanem, Garrido; Hernández (Djordjic 69); Vieri, Notman.

Valencia (3-5-2): Jonathan; Borja, Mendieta ©, Donnet; Jonsson, Juric, Hugo Leal, Onichtenchenko, Angulo (Guly 49); Palermo (Karanka 49), Saviola.

Final score: Cartagonova 4:0 Valencia

MoM - Christian Vieri

The physios tell me that Lasa will miss about ten days of football with a damaged heel. Martin Smith impressed me with a good display at the back, completing all five tackles he attempted as he kept the Valencia strikers very quiet, along with Gershon. He certainly comes into contention for our next game against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.

[Dixie Flatline]

15th of January 2008

On the last day when Spanish clubs can buy players, Villarreal try to snatch Gavião from me with a bid of £3.1 million. While I’ve been impressed with the way Kristian Tanem has played his football recently, I’m not ready to let the Spanish international go just yet, so I tell my counterpart to go away - this player isn’t for sale at any price.

16th of January 2008

Tenerife offers a contract to Óscar Ãlvarez to join the island club at the end of the season.

The Spanish transfer deadline passed at midnight, so let’s take a look at the big transfers involving Spanish clubs that occurred in the past month:

· Ricardo Jorge (27 y/o, POR 23 caps, 6 goals, AM/F RLC) from Porto to Barcelona for £17.25 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Alex (30 y/o, BRA 68 caps, 7 goals, AM LC) from AC Milan to Barcelona for £16.75 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Rubén Navarro (29 y/o, ESP 19 caps, 9 goals, S C) from Bari to Real Madrid for £14.75 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Jukka Hakala (30 y/o, FIN 43 caps, 2 goals, D C) from Cartagonova to Barcelona for £9.25 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Toni (30 y/o, ESP, D C) from Real Zaragoza to Celta Vigo for £7.5 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Denis Onichtenchenko (29 y/o, UKR 20 caps, 3 goals, M C) from Rayo Vallecano to Valencia for £6.75 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Lucas Castromán (27 y/o, ARG 5 caps, D/M R) from AC Milan to Valencia for £3.4 million on 15th of December 2007;

· Boudewijn Zenden (31 y/o, NED 19 caps, 3 goals, AM/F L) from Ajax to Valencia for £3.2 million on 3rd of January 2008;

· Cândido Costa (26 y/o, POR, M RC) from Porto to Espanyol for £3.1 million;

All other transfers occurred for £3 million or less.

Copa del Rey - 3rd round, 1st leg: Cartagonova v Celta Vigo

Once again, a packed schedule sees too many unfit players to risk taking on a rival club in what I now consider to be a rather useless competition. So, I give eleven fringe players a chance, including Trent McClenahan. And I pay for it, as Celta are by far the better side on the night. For a while, I didn’t think they were going to convert their chances, but goals to Julen Guerrero after 52 minutes and Diego Ribera on 71 minutes kills off our chances of progressing in this competition. The board is unhappy, blaming it on the hapless Carl Laurie, whom I warn perfunctorily along with McClenahan after the game. But, frankly, I couldn’t care less.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Gillet; Laurie, Smith, McClenahan, Diawara; Salas (Djordjic 62), Rønning, Krantz; Jensen; Redondo ©, Carreño.

Celta Vigo (4-3-2-1): Asper; Domínguez, Quique Ãlvarez, Marchena ©, Tuzzio; Xavi (Casquero 52), Morales, Astudillo; Gustavo López, McCarthy (Guerrero 46); Diego Ribera.

Final score: Cartagonova 0:2 Celta Vigo

MoM - Diego Ribera

17th of January 2008

“… The big money continues to be spent as Fiorentina, having cashed in on Joe Cole and Francesco Totti late last year, purchased Argentine international striker Javier Saviola from Valencia for £34.5 million. The 26 year old joins a club struggling to kick-start its season, as the former champion is only in 11th place, 16 points behind league leader Roma. Saviola first came to prominence with some exciting displays in the colours of River Plate, and eventually made his inevitable move to Spanish football by joining Valencia in the 2003/04 season for £17.75 million. He immediately struck up a fruitful relationship with fellow Argentine, Martín Palermo, but apart from winning the UEFA Cup, silverware was few and far between for Saviola. Saviola joins a talented squad, with Fiorentina boasting players like Danish international Mads Timm who despite being only 23 years old, has already accumulated 32 caps for his country, seasoned strikers Raúl Estévez and Fernando Morientes and young Swedish international midfielder Valentino Lai…â€

Well, I’m happy to see the back of Saviola. I’ve always rated him as one of Valencia’s more dangerous players, and I think that has seriously weakened Valencia’s charge towards the title.

[Dixie Flatline]

18th of January 2008

Either Celta Vigo or Cartagonova will play Valencia in the quarter final of the Copa del Rey, either at the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena or in Balaídos.

20th of January 2008

Primera Liga - Game 18: Real Sociedad v Cartagonova

This is going to be a tricky game, and I need my boys to be at the peak of their game. I select what I believe to be my strongest eleven, but I’m frustrated to see them concede the first goal of the game on 11 minutes when a good move from the Basque side unlocks my defence, allowing Jankauskas to run onto Da Silva’s intelligent pass and tuck it away beneath Vidal. But within two minutes, we’re back on level terms, as Redondo notches up his 99th career league goal for Cartagonova when he heads home Hernández’s good cross. Five minutes later, he almost has his 100th league goal but César Gálvez pulls off a good save to concede the corner. Redondo then misses a good chance from the corner, while Notman presses the keeper into action once more on 26 minutes with a curling shot that needs saving. On 33 minutes, Juan Hernández is left sighing when his excellent free kick thumps against the crossbar and rebounds back into play where Solano clears it away.

Our good work is completely undone when Joseba Llorente puts Real Sociedad back into the lead three minutes into the second half, and I feel like my cautionary words at half-time had no effect whatsoever. This time, the Real Sociedad defence do a better job at containing my attackers, and in desperation I throw on Christian Vieri with seven minutes left in the game. Real Sociedad had opportunities to kill off the game, and they rue their profligacy in front of goal when Vieri, against the odds, finds himself free in the penalty box, takes Garrido’s cute pass and thumps it into the top corner, with just seconds left on the referee’s watch! We escape with a draw, but we’re now 15 points behind Real Madrid, the league leader, with only two games in hand to make up points.

Real Sociedad (4-1-3-2): César Gálvez; Slovak, Gurrutxaga, Benito, Pilipauskas ©; Nadj (Xabi Alonso 82); Solano, Bastía (Guerrero 53), Da Silva; Llorente, Jankauskas.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César (Ballesteros 68); Gavião; Michel, Garrido; Hernández (Vieri 83); Redondo, Notman.

Final score: Real Sociedad 2:2 Cartagonova

MoM - Iván Vidal

Ballesteros and Michel make the starting eleven of the Team of the Week for their performances today.

Keep smiling!

Dixie Flatline

[Guest]

Dixie, you've taken this team to new heights. Amazing!

Keep up the good work!

B.E.

[Dixie Flatline]

Thank you very much, B.E.! I haven't seen you around in these parts for quite a while, so hopefully you managed to catch up on everything that happened since you last paid us a visit!

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

So, now that the World Cup is over, there seems like nothing else but to dive back to the south of Spain with Cartagonova!

I have to say up front before I begin this update that my computer crashed big time and took my entire Cartagonova story with it. Fortunately, I didn't lose the save game, so I've been able to reconstruct those games I hadn't updated and I'm in the process of copying and pasting the old stories into MS-Word documents. Thankfully, the saved game itself survived the incident unscathed, but I'm not too happy with my computer at the moment.

Anyway, on with the show!

23rd of January 2008

Copa del Rey - 3rd round, 2nd leg: Celta Vigo v Cartagonova

After an insipid display in the first leg, where Celta Vigo beat us 2-0 at the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena, we certainly have a mountain to climb. But to be honest, I don’t really care much for this competition any more, even though we’ve won it twice. So I give some fringe squad players a chance to impress me, and Carreño is unlucky not to score the first goal of the game after just two minutes when his excellent strike is ruled out for off-side, perhaps wrongly. On the quarter-hour, Hernández forces a good save from Asper as we search for the opening to give us a way back into the tie. Hernández then plays a beautiful pass that finds the head of Ameobi, but unfortunately, the Nigerian’s pinpoint header is picked off by an in-form Asper. Gillet makes his first real save of the game on 29 minutes when he does well to get to Gustavo López’s free kick. But he can do nothing about López’s excellent shot on 31 minutes that beats his outstretched fingertips and finds the back of the net. That basically kills off our chances of digging out of the grave, and while we still have a go, particularly Ameobi, there is a half-hearted approach to it - and I’m not surprised. Again, we have a goal ruled out for off-side on 75 minutes when Cabrera’s excellent individual effort counts for nought because of an off-side decision against Carreño.

Celta Vigo (4-3-2-1): Asper; Domínguez, Quique Ãlvarez, Marchena ©, Thuram; Xavi, Astudillo, Morales; Gustavo López, Casquero; Diego Ribera (McCarthy 59).

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Gillet ©; Cabrera, Keità, Smith, Ballesteros; Tanem; Djordjic (Michel 68), Krantz (Clegg 68); Hernández; Carreño, Ameobi.

Final score: Celta Vigo 1:0 Cartagonova

Aggregate score: Celta Vigo 3:0 Cartagonova

MoM - Eduardo Domínguez

[Dixie Flatline]

27th of January 2008

Primera Liga - Game 19: Cartagonova v Athletic Bilbao

This match kicks off a nice little period for us in the league, especially now that we have the distraction of the Copa del Rey banished for another season. We play four out of the next five league games in front of our fanatical fan base at the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena, but I instruct the players to be cautious of today’s opponents, as last weekend, they managed to knock off the league leader Real Madrid on their own patch in the Santiago Bernabéu. So I’m not surprised to see Jon Solaun have an early strike upon Vidal’s goal, but the keeper does well to stop and hold onto the ball. Notman has an early sighter, but it’s all Athletic Bilbao after that and they take the lead thanks to a superb solo effort from Jorge Pérez on 26 minutes. He intercepted Gavião’s poor pass and then takes the ball through the heart of my defence before rocketing a bullet shot past the startled Vidal. Gavião feels the need to make up personally for his own blunder and on 38 minutes he responds in the perfect fashion as he races forward to collect Notman’s intelligent pass. The Spanish international turns Joseba Etxeberría inside out and then puts a blinding drive into the net!

I exhort the players to find that extra effort to get the winner as I think we were the better side towards the end of the first half, and Notman responds with a cracking drive that Aranzubia does brilliantly to hold onto without spilling it at the feet of the onrushing Redondo. But at the other end, Etxeberría hits the crossbar on 57 minutes, and it is a warning of things to come that we don’t take on board. Jorge Pérez is obviously on a mission to impress the national manager ahead of our friendly with Spain as he takes on and beats the entire Cartagonova defence with a breathtaking run that culminates in a fine goal that is sure to figure prominently amongst the goals of the season come May. I immediately substitute Ballesteros for Cabrera to shore up the defence while I instruct my midfielders and strikers to go on the attack for the last half hour of the game. But Athletic Bilbao could have sealed the three points on 73 minutes when Smith gives away the free kick in the zone for Barkero to try his luck, and he hits the crossbar. I bring on Vieri for Gershon and reshape my formation to 3-3-1-3 to hopefully unsteady the Bilbao defence.

It seems to work as Notman goes close to bringing us level again on 78 minutes but Aranzubia does enough to deny the big Scotsman. A quick counter-attack finally brings us some joy on 83 minutes when Ballesteros’ intelligent long ball is headed down by Vieri for Notman and the Scottish international shows how it is done by rifling home the long-range effort from 30 yards! At this point, I would have settled for the draw, but José Manuel Redondo has other ideas. Looking for his 100th league goal of his career, he scores it spectacularly deep into injury time when he accepts the pass from Michel about 25 yards, has a look, then delicately and quite deliberately curls it into the top corner of the Bilbao net! A superb strike to mark his great achievement and we pull victory from the jaws of defeat in the space of seven minutes!

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera (Ballesteros 61), Gershon (Vieri 75), Smith, César; Michel, Gavião, Garrido; Clegg; Redondo, Notman.

Athletic Bilbao (5-2-1-2): Aranzubia; Barkero, Cuéllar, Roberto Ríos, Gorka, Chema; Óskar Vales, Solaun (Idiákez 28); Jorge Pérez; Joseba Etxeberría ©, Gereñu.

Final score: Cartagonova 3:2 Athletic Bilbao

MoM - Alex Notman

[Dixie Flatline]

30th of January 2008

Primera Liga - Game 20: Cartagonova v Extremadura

While we came out of the last league game with all three points, I’m looking for some more defensive stability and hopefully less than two goals conceded as we come up against a club struggling against the spectre of relegation. We don’t help their cause because on 6 minutes we take the lead through Juan Hernández capping off a fine Cartagonova move that brings the crowd to their feet in appreciation. But that is about all for the first half action, surprisingly. The second half has much more action. Two minutes into it, Redondo has a goal ruled out for off-side against Djordjic, but on 49 minutes, Garrido extends our lead through a great strike from 20 yards! However, a lapse in concentration sees Extremadura back into the game when André Curiel scores from distance to halve our lead. We are the better side, though, and for a long period we dominate play, forcing Robles to make a string of good saves to keep the score at 2-1. But the crowd senses that it is only a matter of time before we score, and their expectations are rewarded when on 71 minutes, Redondo judges better Cabrera’s corner, forced by another brilliant shot from Notman, better than the goalkeeper and the ball ends up in their net for the third time. But instead of killing off Extremadura, they redouble their efforts to get something out of this game, and Vidal is quite busy for the remainder of the game. With five minutes to go, veteran Bulgarian midfielder Milen Petkov gives me something to think about when he scores a beautiful goal, but we manage to hang onto the three points.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Djordjic, Gavião, Garrido (Krantz 73); Hernández (Rønning 73); Redondo, Notman.

Extremadura (4-4-2): Robles; Valcarce, Luis López ©, Lucic, Miladin; Petkov, Ibagaza, Acuña, Solis; Curiel, Bartelt.

Final score: Cartagonova 3:2 Extremadura

MoM - Gavião

Since that marks the twentieth game in the league this season, it’s time to take a look at the league ladder:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts

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

1st Real Madrid 22 10 1 1 28 17 6 2 2 16 8 51

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

2nd Barcelona 22 6 4 0 19 10 7 1 4 23 17 44

3rd Celta 21 7 1 1 15 5 7 1 4 17 15 44

4th Cartagonova 20 9 1 0 30 12 3 4 3 19 17 41

5th Valencia 22 7 1 3 28 18 5 3 3 15 15 40

6th Real Sociedad 22 5 3 3 20 13 5 3 3 18 14 36

7th Alavés 22 7 2 3 17 9 2 6 2 10 11 35

8th Elche 21 6 0 3 17 10 5 1 6 16 21 34

9th Betis 22 4 3 5 18 16 5 1 4 7 10 31

10th Athletic Bilbao 21 5 4 2 13 11 3 2 5 10 13 30

11th Sporting Gijón 22 5 3 4 13 11 3 2 5 10 12 29

12th Espanyol 21 6 3 3 20 13 2 2 5 9 13 29

13th Racing Santander 22 3 3 4 9 11 3 4 5 13 20 25

14th Osasuna 22 3 4 5 10 15 4 0 6 12 14 25

15th Villarreal 21 3 2 5 11 13 3 3 5 10 16 23

16th Extremadura 22 4 4 2 9 5 2 1 9 14 28 23

17th Numancia 22 4 1 5 13 14 2 4 6 11 19 23

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

18th Deportivo 22 4 1 7 11 18 1 3 6 9 12 19

19th Levante 21 2 2 7 7 13 2 2 6 8 10 16

20th Sevilla 22 1 2 7 8 17 0 0 12 4 31 5

</pre>

[Dixie Flatline]

31st of January 2008

The club suffers a big blow as Notman is ruled out for about three weeks when he damages a shoulder in training this evening. He has been on fire for the club so far this season, and his goals will be missed. The back-up strikers of Vieri, Carreño and Ameobi are not in Notman’s class, and it will be difficult to replace the big Scotsman for the matches he will miss. It couldn’t have come at a worse time, too, as we are about to embark on a rigorous period of fixtures.

3rd of February 2008

Primera Liga - Game 21: Sevilla v Cartagonova

By our normal standards, this game is quite boring, and in the end we require an own goal from the unfortunate Nelson Olveira to take us into the lead on 66 minutes. We are rather untroubled by today’s opponent, which lies deep in the relegation mire, and we take home the three valuable points, although I’m not impressed by the fact that we had seven shots at goal, but only two on target. However, Christian Vieri does quite well today in place of the injured Alex Notman.

Sevilla (4-4-2): Iglesias; Curro Torres, Espín, Olveira, Marcos Crespo; Osorno, Ito, Osorio ©, Gallardo; Jiménez, Wellington.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Gavião; Michel (Rønning 60), Garrido; Clegg; Redondo (Tanem 60), Vieri.

Final score: Sevilla 0:1 Cartagonova

MoM - César

6th of February 2008

I’m contacted by UEFA to finalise my squad for the second phase and the knock-out stages (should we progress that far) for the European Champions' League. I decide that Trent McClenahan and Carl Laurie are not worthy of places in the squad of 25, so I remove those two players from the squad. César, José Manuel Lasa and Elias Krantz are placed in the squad. Therefore, it looks like this:

Goalkeepers

Iván Vidal (29 y/o, ESP 1 cap, GK): 269(1) apps, 317 conceded, 24 MoMs, av. rating: 7.33

Jean-François Gillet (29 y/o, BEG 20 caps, GK): 3 apps, 3 conceded, av. rating: 7.67

Christoffer Källkvist (24 y/o, SWE, GK): 10(1) apps, 12 conceded, av. rating: 7.55

Defenders

Shimon Gershon (30 y/o, ISR 44 caps, 4 goals, SW/D/S C): 125(4) apps, 5 goals, 4 assists, 3 MoMs, av. rating: 7.27

Ballesteros (32 y/o, ESP 13 caps, D/DM RC): 212(7) apps, 7 goals, 14 assists, 3 MoMs, av. rating: 6.99

César Cabrera (22 y/o, ESP, D RL): 22(1) apps, 1 goal, 8 assists, av. rating: 6.78

César (27 y/o, ESP 6 caps, D RL): 10 apps, 2 assists, 1 MoM, av. rating: 6.70

José María Lacruz (29 y/o, ESP, D RL): 177(6) apps, 2 goals, 9 assists, 1 MoM, av. rating: 6.65

Martin Smith (29 y/o, DEN 33 caps, 1 goal, D/DM LC): 8(3) apps, 1 assist, av. rating: 6.91

José Manuel Lasa (22 y/o, ESP, D C): 2 apps, av. rating: 6.50

Midfielders

Gavião (28 y/o, ESP 6 caps, 1 goal, DM C): 138(4) apps, 24 goals, 29 assists, 11 MoMs, av. rating: 7.40

Kristian Tanem (24 y/o, NOR 21 caps, 11 goals, DM/F C): 9(11) apps, 1 goal, 4 assists, av. rating: 7.15

Per Vener Rønning (25 y/o, NOR 4 caps, 1 goal, D/DM/F LC): 4(10) apps, 1 assist, av. rating: 6.86

George Clegg (27 y/o, ENG, AM/F RC): 114(22) apps, 35 goals, 27 assists, 8 MoMs, av. rating: 7.25

Jaime Garrido (23 y/o, ESP 7 caps, 5 goals, AM/F RLC): 49(14) apps, 12 goals, 13 assists, 3 MoMs, av. rating: 7.35

Elias Krantz (26 y/o, SWE, AM RC): 9(1) apps, 1 goal, 1 assist, av. rating: 6.50

Fernando Morán (31 y/o, ESP, AM RLC): 205(21) apps, 70 goals, 51 assists, 12 MoMs, av. rating: 7.34

Bojan Djordjic (26 y/o, SWE 12 caps, AM LC): 9(2) apps, 2 goals, 1 assist, av. rating: 7.09

Michel (32 y/o, ESP, AM L): 255(11) apps, 38 goals, 60 assists, 5 MoMs, av. rating: 7.12

Forwards

Juan Hernández (22 y/o, ESP, AM/F C): 31(14) apps, 19 goals, 8 assists, 4 MoMs, av. rating: 7.53

Alex Notman (28 y/o, SCO 18 caps, 10 goals, AM/F C): 107(6) apps, 74 goals, 36 assists, 31 MoMs, av. rating: 8.06

Ariel Carreño (28 y/o, ARG 1 cap, F RLC): 11(8) apps, 6 goals, 3 assists, 1 MoM, av. rating: 7.26

Foluwasha Ameobi (26 y/o, NIG 12 caps, 3 goals, S C): 5(11) apps, 2 goals, 2 assists, av. rating: 6.88

José Manuel Redondo (31 y/o, ESP 2 caps, 1 goal, S C): 248(11) apps, 137 goals, 65 assists, 38 MoMs, av. rating: 7.77

Christian Vieri (34 y/o, ITA 68 caps, 34 goals, S C): 3(5) apps, 4 goals, 1 assist, 1 MoM, av. rating: 7.63

Primera Liga - Game 22: Cartagonova v Levante

We have the chance to go into second place - although only on goal difference - if we have a good result against another relegation-threatened club, Levante. I make two changes to the first eleven that defeated Sevilla, with Gavião and Vieri rested in favour of Tanem and Carreño. After a fairly quiet start to the game, we blow it wide open when Tanem’s excellent sliding challenge on Piekarski sees the ball go to Garrido’s feet, and the Spanish international takes off down the wing, before cutting inside Raúl Valencia and then thumping an unstoppable drive past Fahlman in goal for Levante! Ten minutes later, Tanem is unlucky not to add to our lead when Fahlman pulls off a good save from the Norwegian’s volley. But four minutes into the second half, Tanem has the last laugh when he drives home Clegg’s intelligent touch-on to break up Levante’s half-hearted attack! We bring an end to the scoring when former Cartagonova defender Francisco Sanz is sent off rightly for a poor two-footed challenge on Garrido inside the area and Redondo converts the penalty expertly for his 102nd league goal for Cartagonova. Late in the game, substitute Elias Krantz single-handedly takes on the Levante defence and beats them with his expert close control and dribbling techniques, but couldn’t find the finishing touch to round off the move.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Michel (Rønning 65), Tanem, Garrido (Krantz 65); Clegg; Redondo, Carreño.

Levante (4-4-2): Fahlman; Peláez, Raúl Valencia, Sanz ©, De la Rosa; Calvo, Piekarski (Pinilla 62), Samper, Rodríguez; Mantilla (Sierra 53), Gálvez (Léniz 56).

Final score: Cartagonova 3:0 Levante

MoM - Raúl Valencia

The result does indeed put us into second position, seven points behind Real Madrid with a game in hand.

[Dixie Flatline]

The semi-finalists in the Copa del Rey are decided this evening. Sporting Gijón advances to the final four after winning on penalties against Athletic Bilbao after the scores finished 2-2 on aggregate and 1-1 on the night. Espanyol’s 1-1 draw with Tenerife in Barcelona allowed them to advance 2-1 on aggregate. Despite losing 3-1 on the night to Real Sociedad, Real Zaragoza still managed to advance into the final four on penalties. And in a cracking game, Celta Vigo overturned the first leg deficit thanks to a 4-2 loss in the first leg by winning 5-2 in Valencia to take the tie 7-6 on aggregate! Gustavo López scored a hat-trick, including two goals in a minute, and he was supported by goals to Morales and Benni McCarthy. Celta Vigo raced to a 2-0 lead on the night thanks to goals to López on 25 and 26 minutes, but in injury time at the end of the first half, Valencia scored twice through Angulo and David Karanka. But López completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes, and two goals in two minutes to Morales and McCarthy completed the miraculous comeback by Celta Vigo.

I receive a back-handed compliment in a national newspaper this evening, because while I’m commended for my loyalty to Shimon Gershon, the columnist concludes that my patience with his poor form cannot be limitless. I have to admit that since the sale of Hakala and the demotion of McClenahan, Shimon’s performances have been less than stellar, but I think that he will come good and be an excellent defender for the club once more. Having witnessed the big Israeli over the past three seasons, I know that Shimon is a talented defender and that the talent will once again come to the fore when we need it. So I defend my defender to the hilt.

9th of February 2008

Primera Liga - Game 23: Cartagonova v Real Betis

We play a day earlier than most of the league to accommodate the return to the European Champions' League on Tuesday evening, although I notice that Barcelona is also scheduled to play its game today. With second place at stake, it is important that we take three points from, with all due respect to Real Betis, an eminently winnable fixture. I was reasonably happy with the first eleven’s performance against Levante during last week, so I see no need to change a winning formula, which means that Tanem is selected ahead of Gavião, while Vieri only sits on the bench while Redondo is partnered by Carreño. But Real Betis actually has the first thrust towards goal when on 4 minutes, Gaston Casas’ cross is solidly met by the head of Jorge Quinteros, but fortunately the shot goes wide. Tanem shows his attacking instincts when on 9 minutes, he let flies with a rocket shot from deep that Sala is forced to beat away. Before my forwards can react to the rebound, Guillermo has the ball up field and away from danger. But we cut apart Real Betis with a smoothly executed move on 14 minutes. Michel and Clegg play the one-two, before the Englishman finds Tanem racing into the box to support. The Norwegian is quickly closed down, but his presence finds Real Betis a defender short at a critical moment, and Redondo punishes them by scoring his 103rd league goal for Cartagonova!

Ten minutes later, and Carreño is denied a goal thanks to a great reaction save by Sala from a bullet-like header from Cabrera’s corner. But Real Betis is reduced to ten men when the goalkeeper brings down Tanem inside the area. The referee immediately points to the spot and flourishes the red card towards Sala. He trudges into the dressing rooms, as Casas is sacrificed to bring on the veteran keeper Antonio Prats, whose first job is to pick Redondo’s successful penalty out of his net. To their credit, Real Betis fight on in the second half, with Massimo Donati showing his talent on the ball by pulling apart my defence, but César recovers in time to deny the Italian a chance at shooting. Garrido misses a chance to extend our lead from a free kick on 73 minutes, and Prats launches the goal kick high into the atmosphere. When it lands, substitute Javi Moreno takes it past the flat-footed Gershon before thumping an unstoppable drive into the top right corner of Vidal’s net. However, Garrido makes up for his earlier miss by breaking free of his marker on 81 minutes to drive home César’s flick-on from Gershon’s cross. Tanem should have made the final score 4-1 at the end, but he contrives to miss from point blank range when Prats spills Garrido’s shot at the Norwegian’s feet.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Michel, Tanem, Garrido; Clegg (Hernández 73); Redondo, Carreño.

Real Betis (4-4-2): Sala; Carlos, Rivas ©, Mora, Guillermo; Reyes, Donati, Morantes, Farinós; Casas, Quinteros.

Final score: Cartagonova 3:1 Real Betis

MoM - Jaime Garrido

[Peacemaker7]

This part of this epic is nearly a year old!! And I can't believe you're still only on 2008!! Well done on your perserverance Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

While Barcelona wins 2-0 away at Sevilla, we still maintain second place on goal difference, four points behind league leader Real Madrid, who hosts Numancia tomorrow and should move back to seven points in front.

In the evening, I’m actually in Madrid with the hierarchy of the Spanish FA as we eagerly await the outcome of the group draw for Euro 2008. After the arduous two hour ordeal of watching some man in a suit pulling balls out of a lotto machine and giving them to another man in a suit to open, we finally have the groups for Euro 2008. In Group 1, we have Austria, England, Russia and Scotland. Group 2 sees Croatia, Poland, the Ukraine and Wales go head to head. We will strive for dominance in Group 3 that contains, along with Spain, Ireland, Norway and Yugoslavia. Group 4 has the clash of the titans, as former World Cup winners Germany and Italy are joined by relative minnows Albania and Bulgaria. I’m told by the head of the Spanish FA that if I want to keep my job for the World Cup campaign, I should guide the country to at least the semi-final stage. No doubt the population will look to the squad I pick to win the whole damned thing.

10th of February 2008

So much for confidently tipping another win for Real Madrid as Numancia makes my birthday weekend complete by defeating the league leader 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid’s captain, Ronaldinho, scored on 27 minutes, but 17 year old attacking midfielder Fernando Morán, who actually looks a very promising prospect and one I immediately add to my list, equalises for Numancia on 38 minutes. Five minutes into the second half, prolific striker Óscar scores the decisive goal to give the relegation-threatened club some vital breathing space and to simultaneously put the pressure on Real Madrid.

Keep smiling!

Dixie Flatline

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peacemaker7:

This part of this epic is nearly a year old!! And I can't believe you're still only on 2008!! Well done on your perserverance Dixie <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Peacemaker7! I was very sleepy by the time I put in the last post, so I went straight to sleep once it had registered and I didn't see you there.

I'm only on 2008 because it takes quite a while to play the game and then write it up, plus the fact I don't actually have much time to play CM these days, what with work and trying to survive on my own! But I struggle through and eventually I'll get somewhere with it!

Cheers,

Dixie

[SublimeÂ]

Wow. Nice job bringing Cartagonova upto the Primiera Liga, and then consequently getting through to the WCC. Very nice and detailed story, also. Keep up the good work!

[Philip Rolfe]

this is still the best thing around - keep the fantastic stuff coming

[The Dark Knight1987]

Dixie, your story is top-notch.

My only request is that you undertake this challenge on CM01-02.

I haven't read it all, but from what i can tell you're using CM00-01.

I'm not trying to diminish your merits but in your debut season in the Primera Liga i saw that u used a 4-1-2-1-2. It's easy to win in CM00-01 with that and other narrow tactics.

As i said, i'm not trying to diminish your merits.

Good work.

[Guest]

Hey Dixie,

Just caught up with the last round of the Spanish mission.

Still the best story on the CM boards and that says alot about your writing style considering its been going for so long.

Keep up the good work and good luck for the rest of the current season.

I'm sat at home with my Cartegnova shirt and scarf cheering the boys on

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by barca888:

Wow. Nice job bringing Cartagonova upto the Primiera Liga, and then consequently getting through to the WCC. Very nice and detailed story, also. Keep up the good work!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks very much, barca888! I'm glad you enjoy the story and that you keep reading! This is why I do it!

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Junichi Inamoto:

this is still the best thing around - keep the fantastic stuff coming <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Junichi! I'm sure as hell not going to disagree with you!

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Dark Knight1987:

Dixie, your story is top-notch.

My only request is that you undertake this challenge on CM01-02.

I haven't read it all, but from what i can tell you're using CM00-01.

I'm not trying to diminish your merits but in your debut season in the Primera Liga i saw that u used a 4-1-2-1-2. It's easy to win in CM00-01 with that and other narrow tactics.

As i said, i'm not trying to diminish your merits.

Good work.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for your comments, they are always appreciated. A word about the tactic used - I think that my 4-1-2-1-2 tactic is different to the tactic you perhaps are thinking of. I always use bona fide wingers in my tactics, which means that my two wide players are wide out on the left and right, so that the formation stretches across the field. I've decided to skip CM 01/02 and go to CM 4, when it eventually is released, because I don't have much time to play CM 01/02, and I wouldn't be able to justify to myself the expense of $90 of buying the game. And anyway, I enjoy this game too much now to stop and start again on a new version of CM!

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Andy Wall:

Hey Dixie,

Just caught up with the last round of the Spanish mission.

Still the best story on the CM boards and that says alot about your writing style considering its been going for so long.

Keep up the good work and good luck for the rest of the current season.

I'm sat at home with my Cartegnova shirt and scarf cheering the boys on <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks, Andy Wall! I'll try to keep up the good work, and hopefully your wish of good luck will get the boys going towards another title! And if you have a spare shirt and scarf, would you mind sending it over, because I seem to have misplaced mine!

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

A very quick update!

I’m actually in Madrid to witness this game live and in colour, because I’m at the headquarters of the Spanish FA to watch the drawing of the groups for this summer’s Euro 2008. There is nothing quite like watching one fat cat in a suit pulling out a ball from a lotto machine and giving it to another fat cat in a suit to announce, in a boring monotone, which country will be in which group. So, after two hours of this extraordinarily boring affair - in which time I’ve consumed most of the beer and all the chips - we have our four groups for Euro 2008. Kicking off proceedings in Group 1 will be Austria, England, Russia and co-host Scotland. Group 2 pulls together the four powerful countries of football, Croatia, Poland, the Ukraine and the other host Wales ( ). Arguably the so-called “Group of Death†pits Ireland, Norway, my very own Spain and Yugoslavia against each other. Group 4 puts together two giants of the world game and two minnows in Albania, Bulgaria, Germany and Italy.

Unfazed by the group in which we’ve been drawn, the Spanish FA head honcho tells me that he expects Spain to reach at least the semi-finals of the competition. Privately, I think he’s a little ‘loco’, but I’m big on job preservation so I publicly agree with him. We’ll see how we go on the day!

The competition kicks off on 7th of June, 2008, with the mouth-watering clash between those age-old rivals and occasionally warring parties Scotland and England from Hampden Park, Glasgow. We’re based on Wales, since we play Yugoslavia the following day in Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground, face Norway at the Racecourse Ground again, and finally end our group campaign at, yes, you guessed it, the Racecourse Ground against Ireland!

12th of February 2008

European Champions' League - Phase 2, Group C, Game 3: Cartagonova v Feyenoord

“… It took Cartagonova just three minutes to banish the ghosts of four consecutive scoreless draws in a game it dominated from start to finish against Feyenoord. From the moment that George Clegg seized on Tanem’s spilt shot to the end of the game, Cartagonova was in cruise control. José Manuel Redondo, enjoying a scoring renaissance with the injury to Alex Notman, latched onto Martin Smith’s intelligent pass on 12 minutes to bury a shot past Feyenoord keeper Serge Coppens. With the early goals giving confidence to Cartagonova’s strikers and attacking midfielders, Feyenoord was constantly under siege and it was not until 20 minutes into the game before the Dutch club had its first attack, with Brazilian striker Guilherme heading Ilan’s cross wide. Eight minutes before half-time, veteran midfielder Clarence Seedorf used all his extensive experience to find sufficient space to unleash a shot at Vidal’s goal, but Cartagonova’s captain was equal to the task and preserved his club’s two goal cushion. Down the other end, the on-fire Redondo forced Coppens into yet another great save, and he did the same again right on half-time.

“Cartagonova began the second half where they left off, with Garrido forcing Coppens into making another brilliant save from a free kick given away by John Dirkx. Eight minutes into the second half, Michel fed Garrido and the Spanish international weaved his way into a shooting position but was denied a well-deserved goal by Coppens. Substitute Overmars gave Vidal something to do on 58 minutes, but Cartagonova was clearly on top, and the hard-working Carreño was denied a goal on 67 minutes but Coppens, who was a spectator four minutes later when Redondo tried the spectacular bicycle kick only to send his shot hissing over the cross-bar. Cartagonova looked comfortable and reclaimed top spot in Group C.â€

Well, finally the drought is over, and it appears that we are back on track in Europe. We have a difficult trip, however, to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven. That will sort out whether we are good enough to progress in this competition, but I think we’re carrying over our league form into Europe, which is a very good sign. More satisfying was the performance of our defence, particularly Martin Smith, who has cemented for himself a place in the centre of defence, while Shimon Gershon seems to be recovering his form.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Michel, Tanem, Garrido (Krantz 59); Clegg; Redondo, Carreño.

Feyenoord (4-4-2): Coppens; Loovens, Millito ©, Dirkx, Veldeman (Asselborn 90); Zé Roberto (Overmars 53), Ricardinho, Seedorf, Elmander; Ilan, Guilherme (Salva 59).

Final score: Cartagonova 2:0 Feyenoord

MoM - José Manuel Redondo

[Dixie Flatline]

12th of February 2008

It looks like, reading today’s newspapers, that I’m not the only one in the country to have noticed the upturn in the club’s fortunes recently, as I’m contacted by several sports journalists asking for my opinion on whether we can retain the title this season. No doubt this comes from the fact that next weekend is the blockbuster, Barcelona v Cartagonova! With Real Madrid dropping points left, right and centre recently, and with the next game on my mind, I throw down the gauntlet to our title rivals by claiming that we’ll retain the title. The defiant optimism apparently strikes a chord with both the fans and the club’s chairman, as representatives of both parties contact me after the article hits the paper’s web-site to tell me that they back me in my opinion of our chances for success.

17th of February 2008

Primera Liga - Game 23: Barcelona v Cartagonova

“… Welcome to the coverage of today’s game of the day. And we bring to you today a real blockbuster of a game. These two clubs have generated an intense rivalry in the past few seasons since Cartagonova joined the Primera Liga. It can be traced back to an extraordinary Copa del Rey final in which Cartagonova’s striker Stan Collymore, in the last game for the club, scored a hat-trick, but Barcelona scored four goals to win the game in extra time. The clubs have played each other 18 times since September 2003. In that time, Barcelona has won seven times, and lost six times to Cartagonova, while there have been four draws. Altogether, the two clubs have scored 61 goals, so you can expect plenty of fireworks at the Nou Camp this afternoon. In the last meeting at Cartagonova’s Estádio Municipál de Cartagena, back at the end of September last year, Cartagonova came from behind to win 2-1. Ronaldo put Barcelona ahead on 33 minutes, but Redondo equalised from the penalty spot on 64 minutes after Alessandro Nesta fouled Notman in the box.

“Today’s game has huge consequences for the chase for the title, for the winner will remain in touch with the league leader, Real Madrid, who defeated Extremadura 3-1 yesterday, while the loser will struggle to keep track with the pace setters. After Cartagonova’s boss, Señor Dixie Flatline, threw down the gauntlet to the challengers for the title his club holds, there will be an extra edge to this game. You can expect plenty of goalmouth action with both clubs boasting fearsome strike forces. No doubt plenty of people will expect Ronaldo to lead the lines efficiently and effectively for Barcelona, while José Manuel Redondo has been in the best form for some time for Cartagonova. In team news, Barcelona will miss experienced central defender Alessandro Nesta, who is out with strained knee ligaments. For Cartagonova, prolific striker Alex Notman only recently returned to light training and he is a serious doubt to even take a spot on the bench for the defending champion. We join now our match commentators, Andy Gray, and first Martin Tyler.â€

Ninety minutes later, and the commentators sit down to dissect the game. Here is what they have to say about it:

[Dixie Flatline]

“… Well, we have seen one of the most extraordinary games in the history of football. This will go down as a classic example of how to conduct counter-attacking perfectly. Barcelona, as would have been expected, came out to play and play hard. Captain Gerard tried to lead by example as he attempted to catch Vidal unawares early in the game with a long range effort that drifted just wide. But Cartagonova aren’t short on firepower either, and Argentine striker Ariel Carreño tried the right-footed volley that, admittedly, didn’t trouble Spanish international keeper César Laínez. However, Michel ventured forward on seven minutes for Cartagonova and he did force the Barcelona keeper into a save, but when Gerard scored a pearler from 25 yards on 16 minutes, it seemed that Barcelona was on course for another victory at their impregnable fortress. Redondo went close twice in the space of a minute to equalising just before the half-hour, but as the minutes ticked by, Barcelona seemed to gain further control of the game. Laínez again foiled Redondo on 36 minutes with a brilliant save low down to his right, but he couldn’t help concede the corner. It proved a pivotal moment in the game as Verón hurried his clearance into the path of George Clegg who found Norwegian international Kristian Tanem lurking with intent in the box, and the midfielder pounced unhesitatingly to turn it past Laínez for the equaliser with eight minutes to play in the first half.â€

“Deep in injury time at the end of the first half, Cartagonova looked to press home its advantage with Carreño and Redondo both having shots saved by Laínez acrobatically. But Barcelona couldn’t hold onto the ball and when Michel crossed hard and low into the penalty box, Clegg was there to volley it past Laínez to allow Cartagonova to take the lead into half-time. One might have suspected that manager, Señor Flatline, would have instructed his players to close up shop in the second half and defend what they already have, but that is not Cartagonova’s way, and three minutes into the second half, they once again unlocked the Barcelona defence, which includes former Cartagonova defender Jukka Hakala. However, Carreño was again denied by a great save from Laínez, who seemed the only obstacle blocking Cartagonova from an avalanche of goals. Redondo found sufficient space in the area on 51 minutes to again test Laínez, who was furious with his defence, but before he had time to regroup, Michel had the ball over the penalty spot where Carreño was perfectly positioned to head it past the keeper to extend Cartagonova’s lead. A moment later, and the Argentine almost had his second but this time his radar wasn’t functioning quite so well and his header went well wide. The stunned crowd had something to cheer when experienced midfielder Juan Sebastián Verón cut Cartagonova’s lead back to 3-2 with a brilliant swerving shot from 25 yards.â€

“But Barcelona’s creaking defence was breached for the fourth time when a simple move involving Tanem breaking down the right and crossing accurately for Redondo to time his leap perfectly to beat Laínez to the cross and put it in the net. That deflated the crowd and the negative signs crept into Barcelona’s play. In the meantime, Cartagonova, and particularly Redondo, was rampant, and he completed a fine move on the hour when he powered home a bullet-like header from Garrido’s cross. But Cartagonova wasn’t finished yet, and Tanem almost added to the tally on 72 minutes when he beat Fabio Cannavaro to Garrido’s cross. To his credit, Gerard tried to inspire his teammates with a good run and shot, but Vidal dealt with it comfortably and Redondo finished his hat-trick with an excellently executed left-foot volley a moment before the end of normal time.

“Barcelona’s fans took the unprecedented step of waving the white handkerchiefs at Barcelona’s successful manager, Señor Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, while they booed their players off the pitch. For Cartagonova, however, it was sheer unadulterated joy as they smashed Barcelona on their home patch while they maintained the pressure on league leader Real Madrid. The statistics told the story - Cartagonova had twenty attempts at goal, with fifteen on target, while Barcelona only managed eight shots for the entire game. Cartagonova completed three-quarters of their attempted passes, while they completed 47% of their attempted tackles, with Shimon Gershon particularly prominent in holding the defence together early in the game when most required. Señor Dixie Flatline deservedly took the plaudits from the small travelling band of Cartagonova supporters, while José Manuel Redondo souvenired the match ball for one of the most memorable games of football to ever have been played in the Nou Camp. The game certainly made the rest of Spain and Europe sit up and take notice of Cartagonova, which is roaring back into life after a slow start to the season.â€

Well, what a spectacularly brilliant game! I congratulate each player on their individual performance after the game. I didn’t risk making a substitution as I sensed early in the second half that this game was finely balanced and I thought I had the right eleven for the circumstances already on the pitch. It turned out that way, and I’m especially proud of the efforts put in by Clegg, Redondo and Carreño, who were absolutely fantastic in front of goal. Shimon Gershon was at his imperious best, while Kristian Tanem showed that Gavião isn’t the only player who can hold down the difficult position of defensive midfielder in the face of midfielders like Gerard, Verón and Brighi. Spirits are fantastically high after the game, and I authorise the consumption of some champagne after the game, courtesy of George Clegg, who edges out Redondo for the man of the match award. Needless to say, the board of directors are also absolutely delighted with the result. I check the record books when I return home and I discover with glee that it is Barcelona’s worst defeat in modern times! It is also our sixth consecutive win in the league and we now move into second place on our own, still with a game in hand on both Real Madrid and Barcelona. Surprisingly, only Jaime Garrido and George Clegg make the starting eleven of the Team of the Week, but Tanem, Redondo and Gershon all sit on the bench.

Barcelona (1-2-5-2): Laínez; Cannavaro; André Luiz, Hakala; Nedved, Verón, Brighi, Gerard ©, Varela; Ronaldo (Ricardo Jorge 68), Kluivert.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Tanem; Michel, Garrido; Clegg; Redondo, Carreño.

Final score: Barcelona 2:6 Cartagonova (yes, that’s right! )

MoM - George Clegg

[Dixie Flatline]

20th of February 2008

European Champions' League - Phase 2, Group C, Game 4: Feyenoord v Cartagonova

“… Cartagonova followed up their six goal demolition of Barcelona on the weekend by thrashing Feyenoord 5-2 in Rotterdam. Señor Dixie Flatline rested striker José Manuel Redondo, replacing him with Italian veteran Christian Vieri, but otherwise retained the same team that put six past Barcelona. And the confidence gained from that game carried over, with Cartagonova beginning well. The first ten minutes were all Cartagonova, but they couldn’t turn their dominance into goals, and Feyenoord slowly edged back into the game. However, on 26 minutes, Cabrera sent the ball forward to Michel, and the experienced winger crossed for César to put into the area for George Clegg, and the English midfielder smashed the volley past Feyenoord’s Polish keeper. Feyenoord looked to hit back almost immediately, but Ilan’s header went wide of the mark, as did Rosicky’s volley on the half-hour mark. However, Feyenoord remained on the back foot as Clegg and Carreño combined to set up a chance for Vieri, but Malkowski did well to save from the veteran Italian striker. Feyenoord lost Gabriel Milito seven minutes from half-time, and Cartagonova looked to capitalise with a period of sustained pressure before the break. But they couldn’t add to their single goal.

“But four minutes into the second half, Cartagonova extended its lead through Christian Vieri. The selfless Ariel Carreño did all the running, positioning himself to collect Clegg’s through-ball and crossing into the box for the former Italian international to head past Malkowski in classic striker fashion. Cartagonova then needed captain Iván Vidal to save from Guilherme, but they swept the ball up to Carreño, and the Argentine was rewarded for his hard work with a fine header that beat Malkowski all ends up. But Feyenoord had a chance of getting back into the game on 53 minutes when Michel was adjudged to have fouled Rosicky in the box, and Salva made no mistake in converting the penalty. It gave Feyenoord some hope and Señor Dixie Flatline decided to bring on Rønning to replace Michel. He played a part in Cartagonova’s fourth goal of the game when he found Carreño in the box, who was fouled by Keller, according to the referee. Despite the vigorous protests of Feyenoord, the referee wasn’t deterred, and Gershon held his nerve to extend Cartagonova’s lead back to three goals. Cartagonova was cruising now, and Clegg rounded out their scoring on 74 minutes when he turned in Garrido’s excellent cross. Feyenoord didn’t give up the ghost, though, and Vidal was required on several occasions to stop them scoring. With six minutes to left, Ilan did manage to grab a consolation goal and to make the scoresheet read somewhat respectively, but there was no denying that it was Cartagonova’s night, and the home fans were not happy, to say the least.â€

Well, what an excellent game, particularly since we did not have our two main strikers and I basically threw together two squad players to lead the lines. But George Clegg has certainly stepped up in the last few games and is really looking like the player he was last season. Gershon and Smith are both playing well at the back, which gives the rest of the team confidence in our defence, and while we’ve conceded four goals in the last two games, I think that the defence is working fairly well. Kristian Tanem is keeping Gavião out of the eleven with a string of good performances in a difficult role. Let’s hope it keeps going! The victory puts us two points clear at the top of Group C after four games, and we can book a place in the quarter-finals if we pick up a point in the visit to PSV Eindhoven in a fortnight.

Feyenoord (4-4-2): Malkowski; Loovens, Milito © (Keller 38), Dirkx, Veldeman; Zé Roberto, Rosicky, Seedorf, van Barneveld (Elmander 58); Ilan, Guilherme (Salva 51).

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon, Smith, César; Tanem; Michel (Rønning 60), Garrido; Clegg; Vieri (Ameobi 77), Carreño.

Final score: Feyenoord 2:5 Cartagonova

MoM - George Clegg

Keep smiling!

Dixie Flatline

[ghostwriter]

11 goals in 2 away games, nice..

Anyway, it looks like this season is back on track...

As per usual I wish you good luck in the run-in....

[Dixie Flatline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ghostwriter:

11 goals in 2 away games, nice..

Anyway, it looks like this season is back on track...

As per usual I wish you good luck in the run-in....<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It was certainly very exciting to see the boys score eleven goals in two games away from home. Although we defended rather haphazardly in both games, when my forwards were capable of scoring from any position, that didn't seem to matter quite so much! It looks like that comment about we were going to challenge for the title at the end of the season did the trick in their minds, and even though we don't have Notman for a while, we have no trouble hitting the back of the net! Hopefully, things keep going the way they are, and then we'll really give Real Madrid something to think about!

I hope you're comfortable in your VIP box, ghostwriter!

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

To end the weekend, we go back to Cartagena for another dose of the Cartagonova story!

21st of February 2008

Glasgow Rangers makes an offer of £7.25 million for George Clegg in the morning. And they are willing to pay all of it now. But I’m still not interested in selling the Englishman, particularly now that he is back in form.

In the evening, I’m asked for my thoughts on the form of Alex Notman. The Scottish striker is due to return to first team action very shortly - perhaps as soon as this weekend’s game against Espanyol - and I think that a shot of confidence would do him some good as he gets match fitness to overcome his injury. That’s not to think that he hasn’t been playing the best football of his career, because there is no doubt that he has been. The fans respond to the web-site saying that they are pleased that I’ve acknowledged Notman’s contribution to the club’s success.

22nd of February 2008

Paris-Saint-Germain and Glasgow Rangers both make offers of £6.75 million for Alex Notman in the morning. The bid would have to be at least double - and some more - for me to be even remotely interested in doing a deal on our striker.

[Dixie Flatline]

24th of February 2008

Primera Liga - Game 25: Cartagonova v Espanyol

I bring back Alex Notman for the unlucky Ariel Carreño, who sits on the bench, but otherwise I make no change to the team that has scored eleven goals in the last two games. But while today’s opponent is only in 11th position, we have struggled to win games against Barcelona’s second team. Not since 2005 have we notched up a victory, and we lost 3-1 to Espanyol in Barcelona earlier this season. But Notman marks his return to first team action with a goal - his 25th of the season in all competitions - after just seven minutes of play. Cabrera plays the ball out of defence towards Garrido, and the Spanish international puts the ball ahead of the Scotsman, who unleashes a thundering drive from 25 yards that beats Esteban comprehensively. We suffer a blow, however, when Shimon Gershon is forced from the field of play with a badly sprained ankle after 11 minutes, which means that Ballesteros has a rare chance to play, this time in the centre of defence. Former Barcelona youth player Thiago Motta causes Vidal to scramble across the face of his goal six minutes later with a curling shot that our captain does well to save. Clegg, however, should have scored on 19 minutes when set up by Notman, but the English midfielder’s volley clears the bar comfortably, much to my disappointment.

Notman is enjoying playing once more, obviously, and his next significant contribution is to tee up Garrido on the half hour, but the Spanish international is denied a goal by a good save by Esteban. Four minutes into the second half, and Notman is at the heart of things once more, when he finds Clegg but the Englishman misses a volley by a long way. Then we strike disaster. Kristian Tanem slides dangerously through Zubizarreta on 54 minutes and the referee pulls out his second yellow card. I immediately bring off George Clegg for Gavião, while I pull back Notman into the attacking midfield role. We survive Abreu’s free kick thanks to Vidal, while Nelson Cuevas should have done better than send his drive whizzing over the bar a moment later. While we mostly sit back and concentrate on defending our slender lead, Redondo finds enough space on 73 minutes to force Esteban into a good save, while Notman shows his acrobatic skills with a spectacular bicycle kick on 78 minutes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t result in a goal, due to Esteban pulling off another great save. But Espanyol aren’t good enough to find an equaliser, and we remain in second place, four points behind Real Madrid, who thrashed Valencia 4-1 in Santiago Bernabéu.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera, Gershon (Ballesteros 11), Smith, César; Michel, Tanem, Garrido; Clegg (Gavião 54); Redondo, Notman.

Espanyol (4-3-2-1): Esteban; Fábio Aurélio, Pochettino ©, Soria, Cuevas; Sergio, Rotchen (Costa 53), Soldevilla; Thiago Motta, Martín Posse (Zubizarreta 53); Abreu (Llaneza 59).

Final score: Cartagonova 1:0 Espanyol

MoM - Esteban

I give Kristian Tanem an official warning for his red card dismissal, and he accepts that he deserved the warning. I lose Shimon Gershon for three weeks, which is rather worrying, as he was striking up a good partnership with Martin Smith, and I’m loathe to turn back to Trent McClenahan, especially because he isn’t a member of the European squad. It looks like José Manuel Lasa will have a chance to settle into the club over the next few weeks.

[Dixie Flatline]

27th of February 2008

Primera Liga - Game 26: Cartagonova v Villarreal

The last time we met Villarreal was in the European Champions' League quarter-finals, and courtesy of fixture congestion we play them twice in a row, tonight and next weekend. We have the opportunity to really put the pressure on Real Madrid if we can win this game, because we’ll close the gap at the top to just one point, and we can also put some distance between ourselves and the other chasers. So I’m very satisfied to see Alex Notman score the game’s first goal after just eight minutes when he uses his predatory instincts to time his run to perfection and put César’s net in the back of López Vallejo’s net! Notman then tries his luck from 25 yards on 12 minutes and López Vallejo does very well to stop the rocket from extending our lead, at the cost of a corner, which Villarreal can’t clear, and Clegg almost scores with a great header that López Vallejo saves brilliantly. Notman carves out another chance from Cabrera’s excellent corner, but López Vallejo again pulls off another good save. However, he has no answer to Redondo’s bullet drive from Garrido’s cross on 14 minutes that sears into the back of the net! Redondo perhaps should have had a second goal on 19 minutes, but his heading is not his strong point and he heads Cabrera’s curving cross wide of the mark. After our blistering opening twenty minutes, we decide to play it a little cooler, and despite losing Cabrera to strained ankle ligaments on the half-hour mark, we comfortably control the game to half-time.

Shell-shocked Villarreal players emerge into the night at the beginning of the second half, but they look determined to make up for lost time. Occasional Spanish international Artur curves a shot just wide of Vidal’s goal two minutes into the second half. And somewhat against the run of play, they actually score a goal, much to my disgust, when substitute Moedim Júnior cuts through my defence with an excellent through-ball that plays Víctor into space, and the striker curls an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Vidal’s net. We’re playing a dangerous game, and Vidal does well to stop Adolfo from equalising on 56 minutes, while the Brazilian striker Moedim Júnior sees his header pushed away by Vidal on 65 minutes. Once more, on 68 minutes, Adolfo is denied by Vidal, and I’m becoming uncomfortable on the side lines watching our defenders struggle to contain Villarreal’s many options up front. I want my midfielders and forwards to take charge, and to help them, I replace the tiring Redondo with a fresh and hungry Ariel Carreño. It pays dividends on 85 minutes when Gavião and Garrido combine to allow Clegg to put the ball into Carreño’s path, and the Argentine does the rest to settle the game! Vidal keeps the scoresheet at 3-1 on 88 minutes when he gets his fingertips to Víctor’s skimming drive, but Notman has the last word in injury time when he converts Clegg’s pass to score our fourth goal of the game.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Cabrera (Ballesteros 30), Smith, Lasa, César; Djordjic, Gavião, Garrido; Clegg; Redondo (Carreño 69), Notman.

Villarreal (1-2-5-2): López Vallejo ©; Unai; Medina, Engonga; Moha, Jesuli (Gaitán 59), Gómez (Moedim Júnior 51), Artur (Hove 87), Rodriguez; Adolfo, Víctor.

Final score: Cartagonova 4:1 Villarreal

MoM - George Clegg

[Dixie Flatline]

1st of March 2008

Primera Liga - Game 27: Villarreal v Cartagonova

We are somewhat more business-like in our victory over Villarreal in this fixture than we were last time out. After an initial spell of early pressure that requires López Vallejo to be at the peak of his form to deny us, we dominate the first half without much reward, because the former Spanish international keeper is keen to win back his place in the squad in time for the England friendly. But our patience is rewarded in the second half. On 58 minutes, Clegg seeks out and finds Michel, who cuts in like he did of old, drives past Omar Rodriguez and unleashes a cracking drive that not even López Vallejo could reach! Eight minutes later, and we double our lead through Jaime Garrido, who scores a stylish goal to essentially make the game safe for us. I am, however, annoyed to see Villarreal score a consolation goal late in the game through substitute John Hove, but we maintain our impressive league form and remain a point behind Real Madrid, who beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in San Mamés.

Villarreal (1-2-5-2): López Vallejo ©; Alonso; Medina, Engonga; Moha, Jesuli (Soler 73), Gaitán, Gómez (Moedim Júnior 73), Rodriguez; Adolfo, Víctor (Hove 73).

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz, Smith, Lasa, César; Gavião; Michel, Garrido (Krantz 79); Clegg (Hernández 79); Redondo, Notman.

Final score: Villarreal 1:2 Cartagonova

MoM - Walter Gaitán

4th of March 2008

European Champions' League - Phase 2, Group C, Game 5: PSV Eindhoven v Cartagonova

I approach this game with some degree of confidence, since we have been excellent both home and away in the last few weeks. We only need a point to ensure that we move into the knock-out stages of the competition, but this group is so tight that a loss could mean that we’re put back under pressure to keep our place in the top two of the group. We dominate most of the game, but Arnold Bruggink’s goal on 15 minutes after he linked well with his long-time partner Ruud van Nistelrooy. He could have had another goal on 23 minutes, but fortunately Martin Smith manages to put his frame in the way and deflect the shot away from Vidal’s goal. Just before half-time, van der Doelen almost scores with a rifling, dipping shot that Vidal does very well to stop.

Straight after half-time, I take off the very disappointing Michel and replace him with Rønning, while I hope the harsh words I reserved for the entire team at the break would do the trick and hopefully start a few attacks on PSV’s goal. Clegg hits the bar on 48 minutes, but PSV also try their luck on 57 minutes when Pedro volleys a shot towards goal, only to have Vidal save it for the cost of a corner that PSV can’t make best use of. On the hour mark, Redondo does all the hard work by evading most of PSV’s defence, but he fails to end the move successfully when he blazes away wildly over the bar - most unlike him, especially in his form of the past few games. Notman misses a volley on 65 minutes, while Gavião finally has our first shot on target with 68 minutes on the clock - Vermeiren gets down to block his low drive. Redondo forces a good save from the Dutch keeper on 73 minutes, but we’re beginning to run out of time, and Garrido seems to sense that on 76 minutes when he dances his way through the PSV defence, but once more he can’t finish off the move. As we pile the pressure on PSV, Notman misses a chance on 81 minutes, while they are saved from Redondo’s shot after 85 minutes thanks to the post ( ). PSV eventually gain control of the ball and keep Vidal busy enough to make sure we don’t have one final fling of the dice that may come through for us, and we leave the Netherlands deeply frustrated.

PSV Eindhoven (4-4-2): Vermeiren; Broerse, Hofland, César (Usta 46), Wielaert; Bouma, van der Doelen, Pedro (Ooijer 74), Bruggink; van Nistelrooy ©, Guerra.

Cartagonova (4-1-2-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz, Smith, Lasa, César; Gavião; Michel (Rønning 46), Garrido; Clegg (Carreño 77); Redondo, Notman.

Final score: PSV Eindhoven 1:0 Cartagonova

MoM - Iván Vidal

[Dixie Flatline]

Immediately after the game, I close the door and criticise Martin Smith and Michel for their performances in the previous match. Both of them are very unhappy when I issue official warnings, with Michel believing I should treat him with more respect after what he has done for the club, while Martin thinks that I’m victimising him. They will both just have to deal with it, because I stand by my criticisms of both players.

The loss pushes us into needing points from our last game, at home, against Monaco. Should Feyenoord defeat PSV Eindhoven in the all-Dutch encounter in Rotterdam, and we fail to win, we will not finish in the top two of the group, which would be remarkable after we stuffed Feyenoord 5-2 in Rotterdam a fortnight ago. We better not let that happen, because I would be most upset if we did. We have eight days, and a home match on the weekend against Osasuna, to prepare for the crunch game against Monaco, who have nothing to play for with only two points to their name and well out of contention for a spot in the knock-out phase.

5th of March 2008

I wake up this morning to a faxed offer from Real Betis, naming £3.4 million as the price they are prepared to pay for Gavião. The Spanish international is currently unhappy with me because he feels that I’m stifling his career, but he should be very grateful to me, because without my influence he wouldn’t be playing international football and he would be left on the football scrap-heap, because nobody was prepared to take him on after his former club, Grêmio, let him go. I reject the offer as totally unacceptable.

6th of March 2008

Real Betis doesn’t take the hint, returning this morning with a bid of £4.1 million for Gavião, and also putting on the table a bid of £8 million for Alex Notman. Both are not tempting to me, and they are both rejected outright.

7th of March 2008

Christian Vieri is struck down in training this evening with a groin strain. The physios inform me that the veteran striker will not participate in games for a month, at least.

8th of March 2008

Real Betis doesn’t give up easily on Gavião, as this morning the manager offers me £4.9 million for the Spanish international midfielder. Once more, I reject the offer, although I do give it some serious thought, since it is beginning to approach some real money for him.

In the evening, international squads for friendlies in Europe are announced. It also means that I have to finalise my squad for our game against England, but more on that later. George Clegg is selected by Kevin Keegan for England to play Spain at Wembley Stadium in a fortnight. Sweden calls up Bojan Djordjic to its squad to play Romania. Denmark requires Martin Smith for its game against Russia, but Daniel Jensen is left behind. Kristian Tanem and Per Vener Rønning will both train with the Norwegian squad ahead of their game against Yugoslavia. Belgium requires Jean-François Gillet for its game against Bulgaria. Alex Notman will be an important player for Scotland in its friendly against Austria.

For Spain, PSV Eindhoven central defender César is ruled out for a fortnight with a damaged shoulder he incurred against my club. That means he won’t be fit for the game against England, so I can’t select him. Speculation surrounds the situation of Real Madrid striker Sabino, who has been on fire for Madrid’s biggest club this season in front of goal. In the end, I choose José Manuel Redondo over Sabino, which no doubt will cause great controversy in Madrid, but I don’t particularly care. So, let’s take a look at the Spanish squad:

Goalkeepers

Iván Vidal (29 y/o, ESP 1 cap, GK): Cartagonova

Iker Casillas (26 y/o, ESP 3 caps, GK): Real Madrid

César Laínez (30 y/o, ESP 8 caps, GK): Barcelona

Defenders

Ballesteros (32 y/o, ESP 13 caps, D/DM RC): Cartagonova

César (28 y/o, ESP 6 caps, D RL): Cartagonova

Jordi Ferrón (29 y/o, ESP 8 caps, 1 goal, D RL): Real Zaragoza

Borja (29 y/o, ESP 16 caps, D LC): Valencia

Juanma (31 y/o, ESP 2 caps, D LC): Espanyol

Iván Amaya (29 y/o, ESP 40 caps, 1 goal, D C): Deportivo La Coruña

José (26 y/o, ESP 1 cap, D C): Alavés

Carlos Marchena (28 y/o, ESP 6 caps, D C): Celta Vigo

Midfielders

Artur (26 y/o, ESP 3 caps, DM C): Villarreal

Gavião (28 y/o, ESP 6 caps, 1 goal, DM C): Cartagonova

Diego (29 y/o, ESP 15 caps, 3 goals, M/S C): Racing Santander

Miguel Ãngel Angulo (30 y/o, ESP 43 caps, 6 goals, AM/F RC): Valencia

Joseba Etxeberría (30 y/o, ESP 68 caps, 18 goals, AM/F RC): Athletic Bilbao

Jaime Garrido (24 y/o, ESP 7 caps, 5 goals, AM/F RLC): Cartagonova

Francisco Javier Zubizarreta (22 y/o, ESP 10 caps, 4 goals, AM/F RC): Espanyol

Mista (29 y/o, ESP 2 caps, 1 goal, AM/F LC): Deportivo La Coruña

Vicente (26 y/o, ESP 57 caps, 16 goals, AM/F LC): Roma

Gerard (28 y/o, ESP 42 caps, 7 goals, AM C): Barcelona

Forwards

Raúl (30 y/o, ESP 101 caps, 51 goals, AM/F LC): Paris-Saint-Germain

Diego Ribera (31 y/o, ESP 12 caps, 6 goals, S C): Celta Vigo

Joseba Llorente (28 y/o, ESP 5 caps, 4 goals, S C): Real Sociedad

José Manuel Redondo (32 y/o, ESP 2 caps, 1 goal, S C): Cartagonova

Rubén Navarro (29 y/o, ESP 19 caps, 9 goals, S C): Real Madrid

So, as you can see, I call up six players from Cartagonova to the Spanish squad. In contract, Barcelona, Celta Vigo, Valencia and Real Madrid have only two representatives each in a squad of 26.

Keep smiling!

Dixie Flatline

[Philip Rolfe]

I found a nice-ish picture of Municipal de Cartagena

[Dixie Flatline]

Thanks Junichi! I've actually seen that photo before on an unofficial fan site of Cartagonova.

Cheers,

Dixie

[Dixie Flatline]

An incredibly quick update!

9th of March 2008

Primera Liga - Game 28: Cartagonova v Osasuna

“... With only ten games to play in the league season, this game was crucial for Cartagonova to win to keep Real Madrid within arm’s reach at the top of the ladder. And they needed a brace from substitute Argentine striker Ariel Carreño, who scored twice in the space of four minutes in the second half to rescue the situation for Cartagonova. Osasuna struck on the break after half an hour of football when Iván Vidal saved but could not hold onto the shot from Israeli winger Yossi Benayoun, and Carlos Bravo was on hand to turn in the rebound. The goal came against the run of play for Osasuna, as Cartagonova dominated possession and made sure the ball stayed in Osasuna’s defensive third of the field. But Andrés Palop is in top form and he kept out everything that Cartagonova threw at him in the first half, much to the frustration of manager Señor Dixie Flatline.

“After 59 minutes, he removed José Manuel Lasa from the play - who had failed to keep tabs on Bravo for the goal - and replaced him with Ariel Carreño. It turned out to be an inspirational move, as on 67 minutes, the striker headed home Gavião’s intelligent lob into the penalty box. Four minutes later, Michel overlapped down the left and crossed in wonderfully for Carreño to again power a header past Palop into the back of the net. The Argentine almost completed his hat-trick on 81 minutes with a third header, but this time it was too close to Palop and the keeper managed to save it at the cost of a corner. On 87 minutes, he had another chance when Michel broke free down the left, but he could only head the winger’s cross too close to Palop.â€

Well, I wasn’t happy with the way we played in the first half, but we did play very well in the second half, and altering the formation to 3-3-1-3 certainly did the trick. Osasuna’s tactics were very simple - get the goal on the break and then throw all eleven players behind the ball and hope to stifle our creativity. But Michel was back to his best after I castigated him for his performance against PSV Eindhoven during the middle of the week, and he unlocked the Osasuna defence time and again. Palop was in magnificent form and if it weren’t for him, Osasuna would be staring at a much bigger defeat than 2-1, which doesn’t fairly reflect the amount of play we had in their defensive third, particularly around their penalty box. We face a very difficult trip to play Celta Vigo away from home next weekend, but many people are betting that the clash with Real Madrid at the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena on 6th of April will decide the championship. That’s looking a little too far ahead for me. For myself, I’m just happy we got the three points today in the bag and we can look forward to Monaco on Wednesday night.

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz, Smith, Lasa (Carreño 59), César; Michel, Gavião, Garrido; Clegg; Redondo, Notman.

Osasuna (3-5-2): Palop; Navarro, Josetxo ©, Kuffour; Vítor Lima (Expósito 31), Benayoun, Bravo, Herrero (Ricardinho 18 (Dani 54)), Héctor; Peralta, Oktay.

Final score: Cartagonova 2:1 Osasuna

MoM - Gavião

José Manuel Lasa cops an official warning for a poor performance on the chin after the game, behind closed doors.

[Dixie Flatline]

12th of March 2008

European Champions' League - Phase 2, Group C, Game 6: Cartagonova v Monaco

As I explained before, points from this game would be very nice, just in case Feyenoord get the better of PSV Eindhoven and possibly jump over us into the top two of Group C. We have really struggled to make an impression in the second group phase and if you take out the five goals we scored against Feyenoord, then we’ve only scored two goals in four games! And things don’t really get much better this time around. I need to leave out an exhausted Michel and I deliberate on whether Garrido is also rested, because he also needs some time off the game. In the end, Rønning replaces Michel, and Garrido keeps his place, although Krantz is on stand-by just in case. This is a game that both keepers excel in, and you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it does end in a stalemate, though not from lack of trying from both clubs. We have eight shots at Monaco’s goal, with seven on target, so Stéphane Cassard certainly earns his wages this night! At the other end, Vidal needs to stop five shots, while two further attempts miss the target. But in the end, we finish the game 0-0 all and I immediately race to a radio to find out the score from the other Group C game… PSV Eindhoven defeats Feyenoord 2-1 in Rotterdam to take top place in the group, and we stay ahead of Feyenoord in second place. That’s good enough for me!

Cartagonova (4-3-1-2): Vidal ©; Lacruz (Ballesteros 71), Smith, Lasa, César; Rønning, Gavião, Garrido; Clegg; Redondo, Notman.

Monaco (5-3-1-1): Cassard; Hénin, Di Tommaso, Riise, Djetou, Marquez (Simon 67); Dabo, Biscan ©, Farnerud; Meyong; Suarez (Luciani 31).

Final score: Cartagonova 0:0 Monaco

MoM - Stéphane Cassard

So, the group table at the end of the six games looks like this:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts

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

1st Q PSV HOL 6 2 1 0 4 2 1 2 0 2 1 12

2nd Q Cartagonova ESP 6 1 2 0 2 0 1 1 1 5 3 9

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

3rd Feyenoord HOL 6 1 0 2 6 8 1 1 1 3 3 7

4th Monaco FRA 6 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 2 2 5 3

</pre>

Courtesy of our inability to score goals in the second group phase, we’re drawn against the winner of Group D in the quarter-final, and would you believe that it is Barcelona! They did quite well in the second group phase, winning four games and drawing the other two, scoring 11 goals and conceding five. I think the odds are in favour of the Catalan club advancing to the final four, but at least we have a chance of getting something from the first leg, since we’re playing at home in front of the fans at the Estádio Municipál de Cartagena.

I give both my full-backs warnings for poor games in the last match against Monaco. Both Lacruz and César take it without comment.

[Dixie Flatline]

16th of March 2008

Primera Liga - Game 29: Celta Vigo v Cartagonova

The last time we met at Celta Vigo’s ground, we were playing in the Copa del Rey and I sent out a side mirroring my complete disinterest in that competition. But in today’s game, we’re playing for keeps, and with Real Madrid facing a tricky encounter at Espanyol, who love to upset the ‘big boys’ of Spanish football, we could conceivably go top if we win today. While Celta Vigo are fourth going into this game, they trail us by ten points, so there is somewhat of a class differential between the two sides. Unfortunately, I’m still without a fully fit Jaime Garrido, and again I consider leaving him out of the club. But he has been a creative force through the season and leaving him out would rob us of a potential avenue to goal. So he remains in the starting eleven.

Celta Vigo attack us right from kick-off, with veteran evergreen midfielder Gustavo López advancing from deep to swing a viciously curving shot towards Vidal’s goal, which the keeper does well to parry for a corner. On 9 minutes, Vidal needs to be quick to stop Benni McCarthy from opening Celta’s account when he wrong-foots Martin Smith too easily and finds sufficient space in the box to have a shot. It isn’t until the 19th minute of the game that we actually have a chance to break out of our own half, and in a quick-fire move, Clegg has the ball at Notman’s feet, and the Scotsman unluckily hits the post with Asper motionless, praying for a miracle to save him and his club. On 25 minutes, Vidal pulls off another great save, this time from Mauricio Astudillo, and the midfielder pounces on the rebound, but with Cartagonova defenders rushing back to hold the line, he tries to find Gustavo López. Fortunately, César is perfectly placed to take the ball away from the Argentine and surprisingly, that about ends it for the first half.