Life after God

[pistolped7]

I'm so sorry about the lack of updates, it's really ******* me off. The story will get back up to speed soon. So here is the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers against Rankers. (not a typo )

Valencia all but through to Champions League group
Rangers no match for Spaniards​

​

Valencia came, saw and conquered Rangers at Ibrox Stadium tonight in the UEFA Champions League Play-Off qualifier with a score of 4 goals to 2, a scoreline which did not flatter Valencia, but Rangers did very well in defence to keep the score down.
Valencia took an early lead, with Roberto Soldado getting a goal after just 5 minutes. Latching on to a long ball from debut boy Bruno Alves, he tore through the Rangers defence before slotting the ball home.​

Los Che soon doubled their lead, with a stunning free-kick from Javier Pastore almost bursting the net as it flew past Allan McGregor. Rangers pulled one back though, after Steven Naismith's cross was nodded in by Nikica Jelavic. This was the Croatian's first goal in over four months.​

Jelavic celebrates ending his goal drought​

However, Valencia restored their two-goal lead and made it 3-1 just after half-time, this time Jordi Alba netted. A pass from Jeremy Matheiu cut the Gers defence apart, and Alba put it past McGregor and into the bottom corner.​

Rangers pulled another one back, Kenny Miller skinning Jeremy Matheiu, Juan Mata and Bruno Alves before taking the ball round Renan and curving it in from the tightest of angles. Miller received a standing ovation from both sets of fans, and even Gabriel Batistuta and Renan himself felt compelled to congratulate the Scotland hitman.​

Miller congratuled by Steven Davis after his wonder goal gives the Gers hope​

With just five minutes remaining, Valencia made it 4-2. Roberto Soldado's shot cannoned off the crossbar, as did Jordi Alba's rebound. Allan McGregor collected the ball before rolling it out to a surprised Madjid Bougherra. Juan Mata nipped in front of the Algerian before chipping McGregor and sliding towards the Els Taronja faithful.​

Mata savours the moment after his goal ensures his side are the victors​

Gabriel Batistuta was delighted at the end, but had kind words for Rangers.
"Rangers have always been known for being stingy with possesion, and playing 'anti-football', but as we've seen tonight this isn't true. They showed attacking prowess, and Kenny Miller's goal was one of the best I've ever seen, and I've seen a few goals in my time."
He also spoke of his delight at the amount scored by his team tonight.
"Rangers, although they are not a ten man defence, are a very good defensive side, so I'm glad we managed to score four tonight. I'm impressed with the team, and how we conducted ourselves tonight. Just one booking is very rare for us, so I'm pleased."​

Rangers boss Jim Jefferies (that's right toddzy XD) spoke of how pleased he was of his side.
"I can't say I'm angry, because Valencia are a top team, so we were trying to keep the score down without putting ten men behind the ball. A two goal deficit isn't all bad, a comeback is doable. We will be ready for Valencia at the Mestalla, I hope they are."​

Valencia next play Juventus in a pre season friendly.​

​

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---------- Post added at 09:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 PM ----------

BTW For anyone who cares I've updated the OP t show my career and my miniscule list of honours Just in case anyone wants a look

---------- Post added at 11:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 PM ----------

Arango eyes European success
"I hope we win the Champions League"​

​

Here at goal.com, we have an exclusive interview with Valencia's newest summer signing, Venezuela winger Juan Arango. The Latin Americnan superstar has joined Los Che from German side Borussia Monchengaldbach for £4M.​

Report by Luca Perotti​

​

Luca Perotti: Hello Juan, and welcome to goal.com. How are you?
Juan Arango: Hi Luca, I'm glad to be here. I'm well.
LP: So, you're back in La Liga after a year in Germany. Did you enjoy your time there?
JA: Well, yes and no. I enjoyed playing there, I had friends there, I loved the club. But I missed the Latin experience that helped me settle in in Spain. Germany just didn't suit me.
LP: Were there offers from other clubs or was it just Valencia willing to sign you?
JA: No, Hertha Berlin, Rangers, West Ham and Livorno all offered me contracts, but I wanted to come home and join Valencia.
LP: So you chose Valencia solely because they were Spanish?
JA: *Looks confused* What? No, of course not. They offered a title challenge and Champions eague football. How could I say no to that?
LP: So you want to play in Europe?
JA: Of course, what footballer doesn't? It's the ultimate goal! That, and of course playing in the World Cup, but unfortunately it doesn't seem my amada Venezuela will ever reach one.
LP: It's a shame that some players that play for smaller nations never grace the World Cup. Jari Litmanen was Finnish, George Weah was Liberian, Abedi Pele was Ghanain, Geogre Best was Northern Irish but they never got to a World Cup.
JA: Yes, exactly, and some other Latin American footballers never feel that feeling of playing for your nation, in front of billions.
LP: Well, when you step on to the pitch for Valencia, you'll have to make do with billions!
JA: *chuckles* Yes, I guess so.
LP: Well, you play on the left of midfield. As does Jordi Alba, Vicente and Aaron. Do you think you will make it ahead of them?
JA: I hope so. This season is Vicente's last because he is retiring at the end of course, Aaron is still young and is very good, and Jordi Alba is a class act, but I have faith in my ability and so does Gabriel [Batistuta], so here's hoping.
LP: I hope you do. Valencia won last season's Europa League, so you'll be a team to watch in the Champions League this year. Porto won the UEFA Cup and then the Champions League in successive years in 2004. Can you do the same?
JA: I hope so. Obviously, it will be the toughest task ever, and it is almost impossible, but it seems this club likes impossible. *shows a wry smile*
LP: Well, good luck for this year, Juan.
JA: Gracias, Luca.​

---------- Post added at 02:54 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 11:40 PM ----------

Valencia C.F. - 2011/12 Season Preview
The future's bright for Los Che​

Valencia look set to improve on last year's fourth place
Report by Geoff Collins​

The sun rises on a new day here in Monaco. The squawk of the birds are heard for miles around. But today isn't just any day. It's the day where Monaco is the centre of Europe. It's the evening where Eruope's two top teams clash in a battle of the titans. Or so it should be. It's the UEFA Super Cup.​

The Super Cup has, however, come under criticism from coaches and players around Europe, who complain that the teams that compete, the winners of May's Champions League and Europa League, play second string sides.​

It seems, though, that Gabriel Batistuta will be an exception to the rule.​

He has vowed, despite a number of injuries to high-profile players, to put out as strong a side as possible.​

"We will be competing in the Champions League this year, and Man City are the sort of team we can expect to meet. We want to test how we match up to these sort of teams, and so we will put out a full-strength side."​

And we expect some of the new signings to take part. And with that, here's our preview to Valencia's new season.​

Liga BBVA​

Valencia will almost definitely improve on last year's fourth place this year. They finished fourth thanks to the last goal of the last game on the last day, and that capped a fantastic season for manager Gabriel Batistuta. Batistuta joined in October, when Valencia were in 16th position. If he is here all year, and Valencia start well, and the discipline improves, and the big players stay fit, they could improve. But that is a lot of 'if's' to base a season on.
Final Position: 3rd​

Copa del Rey​

Valencia were eliminated in the quarter finals by Atheltic Bilbao after a drubbing at San Mames, but I can't see Valencia venturing much further. Not because they don't have the quality, it's because Batistuta will be focusing on Europe and La Liga.
Final Position: Quarter/Semi Finals​

UEFA Champions League​

Valencia have not been drawn in their group, but we expect they will be second seeds, after their co-efficients went sky-high when they won the Europa League. After qualifying ahead of Rangers (and therefore beting former Valencia defender Burno's new side), they will be expected to reach the quarters at the very least.
Final position: Quarter/Semi Finals​

UEFA Super Cup​

Man City will find it hard against Batigol's side, but we think they will preveil in Monaco.
Final Position: Runner-up​

Mata will be an integral piece of Batistuta's puzzle​

Valencia have been very active in the transfer market, but with more selling than buying, does Batistuta's squad have enough depth?​

In​

Slobodan Rajkovic - Chelsea - £1.8M
Bruno Alves - Zenit - £17.5M
Juan Arango - Gladbach - £975k
Chris Smalling - Man Utd - Ln Fee £650k
Vagner Love - Ajax - £15M
Kelvin Maynard - Partizan - £2.7M​

Total amount spent = £38.5M​

Out​

Juan Pablo - Released
Pierre Alain Frau - Lille - £800k
Ricardo Costa - OM - £1M
Bruno - Rangers - £1.5M
Lolo - Monaco - £1.3M
Miguel - Leeds Utd - £1M
David Navarro - Buyuksehir - Bosman
Ximo Navarro - Modena - £300k
Sunny - Reginna - £750k
Joaquin - Stuttgart - £6.5M
David Albelda - Released
Phil Jones - Man City - £36M
Michael Owen - Bolton - £1.5M
Alejandro Dominguez - Zenit - £2M
Ransford Osei - Bastia - £800k
Alberto Costa - Schalke - £2M
Ever Banega - Shakhtar - Ln Fee £600k​

Total amount received = £56M​

Impending Transfers​

In​

Hatem ben Arfa - OM - £2.7M​

Ben Arfa will soon join Los Che​

Starting 11​

Renan​

---Maynard-------Barzagli---Bruno Alves-------Boesnich---​

Mehmet Topal / M Fernandes​

---Pablo Hernandez----------------------------------Juan Manuel Mata​

Javier Pastore​

Adruiz/Love------------------Soldado​

Friendlies so far...​

Valencia 2-2 Ajax
Soldado (42, 60)​

Juventus 1-3 Valencia
Kalou (73), Adruiz (76, 81)​

Rangers 2-4 Valencia
Match report above​

Valencia 2-1 Rubin Kazan
Soldado (pen. 39), Topal (88)​

Valencia 2-2 Rangers
Mata (63), Adruiz (79)
Valencia qualify 6-4 on agg.​

Kits​

Valencia have ended their deal with Kappa and Unibet, and have announced a new double-deal. Puma are the new kit manufacturers and German bank Aargauische Kantonalbank. Valencia unveiled a poll on Marca.com where fans could vote on the new shirts, and here were the winners.​

Home​

Away​

Third​

Well, that was BBC Sports preview of Valencia's new season. We predict it will be one, in the end, of success.​

A report from the Stade-Louis II in Monaco on the UEFA Super Cup match between Manchester City and Valencia will be up after the game.



UPDATE: UEFA have conducted the draw 2011-12 Champions League group stage. Vlencia were seeded first. Here are the British groups and Valencia's group.

Group A

Man Utd
Inter Milan
Schalke
Rapid Wien

Group C

Chelsea
Celtic wub
At. Madrid
Rubin Kazan

Group E

Valencia
CSKA Moscow
Panathinaikos
Feyenoord

Group G

R. Madrid
Liverpool
Napoli
Anderlecht

Group H

Man City
Fiorentina
FC Basel
M. Haifa​

 

[toddzy]

Very sexy update mate That is great writing Some interesting transfers! Personally would have kept Banega, think the lad is a class act. But as always, I continue as your No.1 follower, so shall be very interesting to see how this season goes with Los Che

 

[pistolped7]

Cheers, mate, I love Banega too, but Mehmet Topal and Manuel Fernandes are playing much better, so I've sent Banega out cos otherwise he wouldn't be getting played. Also, the Ben Arfa transfer has gone through well chuffed, bargain!

I'll show strikerv9dutch, Riquelme better than Ben Arfa? Pah!

 

[toddzy]

Meh, thats fair enough mate, good thinking, I like it! Hahaha! I hope you do show him, stupidity not signing him, he'll soon regret it! That is an epic bargain though!

 

[pistolped7]

I tried to tempt Riquelme from international retirement but he said no. Not that I minded, since Javier Pastore, Lionel Messi, Diego Perotti, Kun Aguero and Andres D'Allesandro are all better...and younger

---------- Post added at 05:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:37 PM ----------

Reports: Batistuta walks out of Mestalla
Gabi angry at team, as Bayern and Kop offer jobs

Batistuta snapped returning to his Valencian villa, but did he return with a new job?

Marca.com can bring you breaking reports that Gabriel Batistuta has left his post as Valencia manager after just under a year in the job. He suffered two heavy losses in the last week, and is reportedly furious with the lack of effort, respect and discipline shown by players, branding them 'brats' in a press conference last night.
Even more shocking are reports that Gabi has received job offers from German gianst FC Bayern Munich and English side Liverpool. He has also applied for the vacant PSG, Lyon and Juventus jobs.
We have sent reporters to the Stade Gerlnad (Lyon), Parc des Princes (PSG), Allianz Arena (FC Bayern), Anfield (Liverpool) and the Delle Alpi (Juventus) as European football's most exciting and stupendous story of the year so far breaks.​

 

[toddzy]

Holy ****, didn't see that coming :O. Good luck with your new job mate, though I have no idea what your going to do next. :S

 

[pistolped7]

Yeah, I'm not sure either. Lots of options, but I was hating it at Valencia. Two bad performances due to injury and suspension, and suddenly the chairman is on my back, despite the fact I won him a European trophy. Short baldy ****, that Llorente, honestly.

 

[Jugzy']

Great story, can you check mine out please ?

 

[pistolped7]

Sources: Batistuta signs for Liverpool
Gabi: "I always had a soft spot for the Reds"

A sombe week for the Reds after the death of a young fan has a happy ending

Liverpool FC suffered a massive loss this week, as a young fan, just 18 years old, was run over outside Anfield Stadium after the game against Stoke. A minute's silence will be held against Chelsea this weekend.
But in a sombre week, the mood has been lightened somewhat by the young man's 'favourite player when he was a boy', Gabriel Batistuta. Batistuta had taken the time oput of his hectic schedule after resigning as Valencia boss last week, after receiving a letter from the boy's mother
pleading with him to become Liverpool boss. He sent them a letter telling them he would 'honour' their wish. And here he is today, the new boss of the Kop.

"I am deeply saddened by the events surrounding the Stoke game last week, and I would like to honour our fallen fan by winning a Champions League place this year. The players want to do well for him, I saw some almost reduced to tears today."

Batistuta is refering to the day's earlier team meeting when defender Danny Wilson 'tweeted' that he was 'almost greetin at the speech by big Gabi earlier, shame fur [sic] the wee lad'. He did, however, tell his Twitter followers that he was 'well chuffed that a football legend had joined. Welcome to Liverpool, big man'.

Batistuta also stated his intentions for the coming season.

"I want Champions League qualification, that is the bare minimum. And IA want to do well in that same competiton this year. This club has gone too long without trophies."

This club is a big club. And big clubs win trophies.

Former boss Roy Hodgson left by mutual consent after he was finding himself exhausted at the start of this new season, but, being the model professional that he is, sent a hand-written letter to the family of the young boy who was killed after the Stoke game, and another wishing Gabriel Batistuta well in his position as boss of the Kop.

"I'm a big fan of Roy," Batistuta says of the former Fulham coach. "He recently sent me a very nice message, wishing me all the best as Liverpool boss. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell him he is welcome here at Anfield at any time, and to do whatever he likes."

Batistuta's new team takes on Chelsea at the weekend in a massive Premier League clash.​

---------- Post added at 06:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------

Yeah, will do Jugsy.

 

[toddzy]

Aww man loved Danny Wilson, I read it in a Wigie accent, although Wilson is from Livingston, 10 minutes away from where I live haha! On-topic though, great update mate, as per. What Jugsy done ^ above is an example to get more followers it does work! Can't wait for more

 

[pistolped7]

Cheers, mate, will most likely be the same format as at Valencia, should I change it at all? Any new features, more interviews, etc?

 

[toddzy]

As much as you can mate, anything to make a great story better. :wub:

 

[G-Bentley1595]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT . maybe a bit late on now but you have a new follower

 

[pistolped7]

Ta mate.

---------- Post added at 07:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 PM ----------

OP updated.

 

[Joss]

Very good story here Pistolped, missed this before, but I've been reading through in the last half an hour and I'm glad you've taken the liverpool job, i'm sure you'll do well. Maybe a screenshot, or summary of their current squad, and how they're doing at the moment etc. would be nice. Other than that, keep the same layout, it works very well.

 

[pistolped7]

Yeah, cheers Joss, glad it reaches your standards, means a lot bud. Yeah, I think I'm gonnado a big update, with the results and the squad and stuff, but my screenshots always come out small and fuzzy. Is there any way I can change this?

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 PM ----------

**** off!!!! Just pressed backspace on my keyboard and deleted a missive update!!!! This one shall be a bit smaller, but future one's will be bigger and much more detailed.

Liverpool - October 2011 Review
Solid start from Batistuta as Liverpool soldier on

Milan Jovanovic slams in his goal against Everton

Liverpool remained unbeaten in October, before and after Roy Hodgson's resignation. A draw against Stoke for Hodgson, and remaining undefeated against Chelsea, Everton, Sunderland, Anderlecht and Huddersfield under Batistuta, who had, as you can see, a very tough first month at Anfield.

Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Torres (63)

Liverpool 1-1 Anderlecht
Torres (45+1)

Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Aquilani (10), Jovanovic (45+2)

Huddersfield 0-1 Liverpool
Gerrard (11)

Sunderland 2-3 Liverpool
Gerrard (7, 59), Cole (72)

Transfer News

It looks like Gabriel Batistuta is almost definitely going to invest in fresh blood in January. Here are some likely targets, according to BBC Sports resident statto, Colin Todd.

Guillermo Ochoa

Batistuta could be tempted to buy another keeper

Batistuta is reportedly a massive fan of Club America's Mexican keeper, who is well known for his athleticism, reliability, consistency and reflexes, so he would make perfect competition for Spanish keeper Pepe Reina.

Michel Bastos

Bastos is a great winger, but Batistuta may have to build a new system around him

Michel Bastos is a very important player for Lyon, and they will have to be offered big money if he is to move away. But Batistuta is reportedly a massive Bastos fan, and would pay top dollar to have him. However, Bastos may not fit in Liverpool's current system, but Gabi will have no problem shifting things around to suit the Brazilian.

Javier Pastore and Juan Mata

Mata and Pastore were big players at Valencia, and Gabi may bring them to Anfield

Juan Mata and Javier Pastore were Valencia's only truly consistent players, and they were consistently good. They scored a number of goals from the midfield and that will be neccesary given the fact Liverpool are playing a lone striker.

Sorry about the poor quality of this update, but as I said at the beginning, I pressed backspace and Internet Explorer went back. Future updates will contain much more depth.​

 

[AussieOchoa]

:wub: Ochoa :wub: ! And well done with Mata and Pastore

 

[pistolped7]

Oh, I haven't signed them yet mate, just possible targets. Although I've had a bid for Ochoa accepted...

 

[Dan]

Looking a great story so far pal, keep it up!

 

[pistolped7]

Cheers, mate! Would like to announce that Colin Todd (toddzy) has been granted access all areas by Gabriel Batistuta, and will conduct an interview every month with a chosen player.