Manager Notebook: Burgos FC from the Fourth Stooge... to spanish big?

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. End of season report
- By Ezequiel Valls

- 10th February 2019

It was too late to stop Thiago's transfer, but in the end it's been worth for the goals he's given. However it has had the downside of unsettling Peckhart, who have ascked to be transfer listed and so I've looked a buyer for him.

Meangwhile, it's time to start thinking on the next season's signings and try to bring some young blood, at least not more players in their thirties. I need players with enough future in active football to establish a style of play.

I have a deep respect for Mr Bolle, but honestly, I doubt he'd had gone through the same avenues if he had made some big jumps like that between 2B and Adelante. And let's not be fooled, his team passed through 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 to an alternation of 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3.

I do agree with him in that our target for the second half of the league is to get as many points as we took from the first.

- 15th March 2019

Not much to note. The tactic seems to work well for the most part, the players are starting to know each other and only Ante Kurusic is having some trouble adapting to play at Spain. As for the league objectives, we're close to relegation, swaying between four and six points of advantage, but the aim set is being fulfilled, with only one point lost comparing to the first half.

- 7th april 2019

Today was the last match before the tough ones before the season end. Real Sociedad manager had stated he was to defeat us, something I wouldn't dignify with a reply.

A exciting match in which Real sociedad had the dominance but we got the first goal with a ball over the defence that was picked up by Thiago. He could repeat later but he seemed again intent on the idea it's not a goal if the player doesn't walk with the ball into the net, and for umpteenth time he walked the ball into the goalie. We still had two clear chances in the second half with a shot by Kadlec that beat the goalie but went an inch wide and later eneramo shot a powerful ball in the six yard box... right into the crossbar.

Later they scored with a long ball to thr right winger that couldn't be caught by our defense and few mintues later a baffling piece of defending by miletic, seeing the ball to the rival's striker and he, instead of running to get between him and goal, just walked nonchalantly like nothing mattered.

Twenty minutes to go, I decided it was too many loose balls in the sides of the opponent's half so I made some changes and put up the team into an attacking 4-4-2 (shaped 2-2-2-2-2) with Quero left inside forward and Jenkins as right winger. And it worked to perfection with Jenkins receiving a crossed through ball helped by Moya attraction of the defense and in the extra time by Arizmendi receiving the rebound from the saved close shot by Moya.

With this victory we set with 38 points, 12 ahead of relegation with six games to go and feeling assured of staying up.

And Peckhart wants to stay... Too late, he already agreed terms with a buying club!.

- 14th april 2017

YES! YES!! YEEESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! We beat Atlético de Madrid at their home!. Two good goals after long balls, first from defense into the hole left by a too long run by their left centerback and then a header from a goal kick. Atlético had a penalty kick but Agüero's shot was saved by Bruno das Dores, still they scored at minute 87, but they couldn't get an equalizer in the six minutes that remained to the end. Five matches to go, thirteen points ahead of relegation positions.

Now, why the hells are the fans just pleased?. It's our first season up here and we just beat one of the big teams of the league!.

With this and our victory against Xerez, our point target is currently +4.

- 29th April 2019

We managed permanency by drawing against Las Palmas in the first game against them we really had chances of winning.

Oh, hells, who am I fooling? WAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOHOOOHOOOOOO!!!! We just received Real Madrid at home and came out with a draw!. And not just any draw!. A 1-1! We scored!. And we scored first!!. A superb move dribbling at the side of the area up to the byline by who else? Sánchez Moya. Goal of the week and quite possibly goal of the month. If I had a daughter I'd have her marry him!. Or my two daughters if I had two. Hahahahaha! I doubt we'll repeat next week against Barcelona.

- 6th May 2019

Pffft, the goal wasn't selected for the week. Figures, usually the best isn't the one chosen. Oh well.

YAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! We did it! We did it! Wediditwediditwedidit!!!. We defeated Barcelona 2-1!. Das Dores deserved a better rating, sure he went out worngly causing the goal, but before that he had done at least two miraculous saves. A great header from a corner by Kadlec and a nice freekick from Bruno Herrera. This time I didn't give possession away as against Real Madrid (where they got up to 75% up until Sánchez Moya scored, when they changed fron defensive 4-2(DMCs)-2(AMLR)-2(STs) to a standard 4-4-2 and we began to control possession.

This is great, we managed to defeat two of the big three of the division and hold the third to a draw, and a draw after getting ahead.

- 19th May 2019

Season's finished with a disappointing 1-2 defeat to Sporting at home, after getting an early goal at minute 7, Pallson's first. the return to the usual formation didn't work too well, though, as we struggled for possession. Fielding of young Puig as defensive midfielder isn't enough excuse. Second half changed to 4-4-2 removing Puig, getting more possession, but then a bad backpass to the defense was taken and their striker ran free, while Donato stopped it, their winger took on the rebound, a penalty conceded by Miletic completed their scoring. Chances were created to get the draw, but were not used well.

However, Getafe's and Espanyol's failure to win means we keep the more than satisfying eleventh position, which is a club's record (actually the season 91/92? Burgos was one place from qualifying for european competition), after a calm evolution through the season. That serves us a second position in the most improved club award

As lesson from the previous matches against stronger opposition stands out the importance of have fullbacks that go well in the air, as having Kadlec at the left and Kulusic at the right got us many high passes intercepted that Llorente and Allioui would normally let reach their destination. Also, I may look into returning to wider formations.

We already have coverage for the wings with Achour in the left, Jenkins, Arizmendi and Vermeulen in the right and Quero in either, so it wouldn't be needed to hire one, maybe a left wing.

Still waiting for Bruno Alves to accept our offer, all we need is maybe a centreback, one aerially capable full or wingback for each side and maybe a left winger.

Peckhart and Gallegos are sure outs for next season. José Novoa will also likely be sold as we have the three nonEU players taken, then Valdez should follow. And with the midfield overload possibly one of Herea or Bruno Herrera, maybe Francisco Durán, that will be confirmed once the new men arrive. Thiago, Eneramo, Sánchez Moya, Arizmendi, Vermeulen should be enough forward.

Palsson's was goal of the week and we're second in most improved club award behind Las Palmas. Omur and Valdez are unhappy with lack of managerial discipline. Valdez has been already offered and Omur will when he returns, that'll teach them.

 

[Jack Fulham]

Ruben Rochina is a massive coup for you, these results against both Madrid sides and Barca have been stunning, well done mate.

 

[Death Ball]

Thanks mate, I certainly didn't expect them. I went to them thinking I would be lucky to lose by just 0-2. I almost turned myself purple from all the self pinching XD.

Yes, definitely Rochina is the best striker on paper that I've been able to attract, the others all are lacking in something, either slow or bad in the air or poor intelligence... and all not good off the ball, tops just decent. Now I'm more optimistic about next season.

Also, posting the fixtures of second half, which I forgot to add above.

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Preseason
- By Ezequiel Valls

- 1st July 2019

With the new players I should have cover for almost all the squad. The only weak spot being the left wing; but then, who can we take off?. A tough decision. Allioui?, not so many in right fullback. The most likely seems a choice between Bruno Herrera and Francisco Durán. The latter should be more adequate as he's a bit younger (31) and can still fetch a decent price while Bruno is 34 already and much better in the mental aspect.

Soon I'll have to see the U19 and start filling it ((for match played and player training purposes)) with players, hopefully this time I'll be able to bring more quality than a couple years ago. The players from that batch are just awaiting their contracts to expire, as there's no use for them.

I also want to set a long series of preseason friendlies to have the squad as familiar with each other style as much as possible when season begins.

Pallson's goal against Sporting was named the second best of the month

The board also secured a new sponsorship kit that should help finances

- 15 August 2019

Haven't done the signing of an attacking left midfielder. Llorente can play that position and I'm reluctant selling the captain, plus those that would satisfy me are contracted and either their price or their wage demands are much higher than I'm willing to pay.

Bidded 250,000€ for Garay from Barcelona, but cancelled it as he doesn't really provide anything we don't already have. He wen't to Valencia and an astronomic contract. Granted with Puig's loan I no longer have a sweeper. But I'm not going to sell players that can give the same or other good things to bring a 32 old. I'm done signing players beyond 29. We need to start settling into a style and to have a core of players that last long and allow for new incorporations to adapt quick.

All players that can't play unregistered but I consider worth for the future (mainly Puig and Casado) have been loaned away, also Ángel and Salido (two young right wings with promising abilities). Those who aren't of use have been sold. And those who are not bought or not sure if may be useful also have been loaned.

Something new we've done is to hire a few youngsters that look promising with the sole intent of selling them for good fees in the future, unless they evolve into something I want and can keep (five of them are foreigners and the limit may force me to renounce to them even wanting them). Though mexican Robles will be sold as he was disruptive of squad harmony.

It is sweet not just to see players called to international matches (including Miletic), but players from the U19 to play in the U20 matches, like Ángel Alonso, Daniel López González, Aldo Aiello, Charlie Johnson, Mark Taylor. The later three being among the loaned, the first two will be used in the first squad.

The squad seems rather complete, if it could use a left winger in exchange of Durán.

Counting the two youths: three goalies, six centrebacks, four leftbacks, four rightbacks, four defensive midfielders, two left wingbacks and two right wingbacks, ten central midfielders, three left wingers, five right wingers, seven attacking midfielders and six strikers (obviously someone like Vermeulen that can play well in all the right side plus AMC and striker counts one for each position, not as central midfielder because there he feels awkward).

The friendlies so far look very promising, showing a good job for the three winger tactics used: a more attacking 4-3-3 than used against the two bigs past season acted okay, the 4-3-3 with flat midfield worked clearly better, taking control of possession, and the 4-2-3-1 has worked a touch better, though with less possession. The latter served a tough and lucky 2-0 against Las Palmas away, and demolished Atlético de Madrid B to a 6-0. The Las Palmas wasn't a match to give much expectations to the league, in which I promised a mid table finish, though the game is coming out beautiful. The next two friendlies, against São Paulo in Brazil and Atlético the Madrid in Burgos will help know where do we stand. Then is Castellón to get a win and spirits up in case of bad results in those two mathes and then season will kick off against Getafe.

A bid was set on Iago Aspas of Málaga, the possible left winger we need.

- 30 August 2019

Finally signed Aspas to have the true left wing I wished.

The friendlies against São Paulo and Atlético de Madrid points to an improvement compared to past season and that we can aim for a top half finish, with small chances of european qualification. We had domination over São Paulo with the most chances, though they had quite a few, and we got ahead 1-0 and missed a chance to go 2-0 after a good move in which Rechina stepped to cut a pass to the defender in the last moment and ran ahead. He's shown to be a real gem of a player. Then a counter gave them the equalizer.

With Atlético things went harder and they got the majority of the ball, though not much. We both had chances and it could have been either way, but they scored first a lucky rebound after a corner and in the second half bagged another goal after a quick offensive move. A change to the 3-4-1-2 allowed us to take more time on the ball and pull one back - of note was Moya's first header goal - and a couple chances for an equalizer, but it ended 1-2.

Castellón match 3-0 provided the morale injection, but unfortunately Sánchez Moya picked a 2-3 months injury.

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. A day in the football.
- By Ezequiel Valls

- 30 September

Disastrous start of season. A 5-1 against Hércules and a 3-3 against Murcia are all our points.

I would be glad of the good aim of the lads for their passes... if they didn't insist in passing to the opponents. They seem to thing we're a charity, renouncing to through balls when the mate is alone and sending balls to them only if surrounded by four rivals. else they send it to the lone opponents. They also seem to think it's unfair to tackle or even mark rival strikers on our area and think the public wants them to give the ball the fastest and closest to our goal.

The Barça visit could have been a memorable 0-0 or 0-1, if they didn't stop the ball for better comfort by their striker to hit it at goal and Thiago didn't think that a back pass to the ball is too easy without a rival in the middle, and of course in the spot where he sends the ball to stop at.

They seem to think football is about charity for the rival.

- October 2019

For example, today against Valladolid.

You have a defender six meters to the left, another five meters to the right, you're one left of the rival's penalty spot. What do you do?. Of course... you run for... the left side of the field. Luckily Llorente was behind to get the ball and score.

And what do you do when out fo the rival area one meter from byline?. Try to cross?. Pass to the leftback?. No, you smash it forward.

Luckily this time such things were more rare and the fullbacks worked their socks once returned to the team. Alliuoi scored twice, one unjustly credited as own goal by the rival goalie.

Anyway, a cleaning is needed. Thiago out to Porto for 1M, as he expressed his intent of leaving the club. I have to try sell Mustata (done by 1,2M), Aspas, Álvaro. Cristiano Anelli (2,1M), Manu Reina (2,1), Hatem Ben Arfa (1,3), and Marc Mateu (5M) have been signed and will join next 2nd January. Some expensive signings, so I will make sure to first, not discard them quick, and second not let them out free.

- 19th November 2019

Aspas and Álvaro have been refusing to leave. But Aspas is starting to feel disappointing with his lack of football, so I will surely be able to offload him come january.

One of the subpar youths, Acedo, missed a match due to being up late in feasting, I warned, he thought it harsh, so I would have banned him if my assistant hadn't asked not to ((aka, no option to do so)) next time I did and then released him on a free. Good luck finding a cleaning job, guv.

Seeing how it helped increasing out chances in matches in whith the 4-5-1 weren't getting results, I'm returning to the 4-1-2-1-2 formation, which has served us to beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in league, 3-1 in the first round of 4th round of King's Cup and smash Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at their home before drawing 0-0 in second round against Real Sociedad.

Oddly enough, press said we were on to face the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid... but we didn't get any of them, finally!. we're on to face Getafe, which we've not yet defeated in any of our six encounters.

Right now, recovering some places in league and we're tenth, four points ahead of relegation and six points from sixth place, though with one more match.

 

[chrism02]

great story

 

[Death Ball]

((THanks, glad you like it))

Manager Notebook. Middle of season
- By Ezequiel Valls

- 10 January 2020

Seeing how things didn't seem to work out right, I decided to implement an adaptation of an article's ideas by the well known expert Steve Fraser, with a good result that's not free from some mixed feelings, as it provided us with a victory over Alavés, a thrilling encounter which downside is the goals received as it was a 5-3. Depending on results I may try an idea of my own after the Copa del Rey round.

Next with the second team, King's Cup first round against Getafe ended with a 2-1 defeat, not too bad since that means a 1-0 at home will serve us to progress .

In the better news, the outs were arranged, with Aspas waiting as his first was rejected as I refused to pay the difference in wages, and the teams' balance has gone up to six million.

That has allowed the board to accept my request to expand the stadium, it was being filled most matches and the extra cash from the increased capacity will help us, they also approved to improve the youth system.

- 19 January 2020

We scored first against Getafe in the second leg, but they managed to draw and go on.

So I decided to go with my idea to cope with the modern inverted wingers and to have more men in attack, it's nothing more than a slight variation of my previous 3-4-1-2 in which I move the central two players back to be sweeper-anchor instead of anchor-trequartista. And I lack sweepers, now I kind of miss having let pass the opportunity to grab Garay. I've gone into the market in search of some, given that apart from the aforementioned, Kulusic has been sold, though we signed Gómez already to strengthen the defense.

We're in bid for Betis' César Ortiz, perhaps not a brilliant defender but onw who I hope will do the job required. In the meantime, we can just advance the sweeper a bit.

The result was our first victory over Getafe, a 1-0 attained through a corner, shot deflected by a defender that flought parallel to the goal line until Sergio Marcos reacted faster than everyone else and kicked it in. A result that's not all that satisfactory, having created a number of other chances, not only because it was a set pieces goal, but because Getafe played with ten men since minute 37.

It seems we'll also lose Gazapo to Murcia, but at least he won't leave this season. And Manu Reina will not come until next season as well.

- 26th January 2020

Newcastle makes an offer for Rochina, they meet the free releaste clause, which is 7,750,000€!. I hope they don't get yet and at least I can have time to plan and find a proper replacement for next season, though I'd wish him to stay.

And Málaga is a visit we win again, though once more from set pieces, this time a own goal as their goalie deflects Rochina's shot into his own goal. However, the system seems to work right, it creates chances, all I need is to tweak it so we can increase the amount.

- 28th January 2020

Noooooo!!! He left for Newcastle. Why? One player I wanted to keep for long is taken in six months. O dark games of fate, whence did I was unfair to thee, fair maidens?!.

Will play it on Dimitar Kirilov's free release clause, he seems the only I can get of similar quality for enough money.

- 31

Sonuva! I will sack the team of lawyers, by kick in their *****! They didn't get it done in time!. Hulk smash!

- 1

Moya's goal against Alavés becomes the first time a player of my team scores the goal of the month!.

Recalled Puig and Casado from loans, unregistered Aspas.

- 25 February 2020[/b]

Not a good month, Villarreal passed all over us 5-1 with a 4-1-2-1-2, then we had to go to Barcelona. Only a glimpse of hope in the Murcia match, where we came 2-1 up... until a rather poor defensive display gave them two goals to walk away with the three points.

So that's it, zonal marking will be discarded starting next match, which is not the easiest, as we face leaders Atlético de Madrid. With man mark my defense should keep the place. Seventh place has gon up more than ten points ahead, so any hope I had to reach euro qualification are not vanished, if they weren't already by tenth match day.

- 11th March 2020

That was a little glimpse of hope, as we defeated Atlético de Madrid 2-0, not too much since we only managed a decent amount of shots, when we struggled before to get just four or five, but we had no possession and they had some chances, though at least this time the defense didn't concede them easy by letting them win the back.

Valladolid match was the confirmation that things don't yet work right, they got ahead 2-0 and it was just their lack of concentration that allowed Moya to two fine plays to score or assist for the final 2-2. Mateu had the winner but his ball deflected on a defender, losing all the strength and falling limply on the goalie's hands.

So, that places us eleventh, with a possible range of final positions between eighth and fifteenth.

Of note the Atlético de Madrid match stats, being the first time I ever see that with very little possession I get more shots

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Season end
- By Ezequiel Valls

─ 6 April 2020

The version I introduced to that theory, which was my old 3-4-1-2 with the DMC and AMC pushed back to SW-DMC among other variations have been a failure offensively. It works well in defense, crowding the center and denying the opposition of the best shooting positions, save for when my player seem to think giving the opposition a 5 meters/3 seconds head start is the only fair thing to do and causing me to waste the chance of winning the one match we scored. As should be clear from what I just wrote, the attack is most blunt, as there's not nearly enough men to beat the defenses (and refusing to pass to the lone man unless it's an opposition's defender).

So looking at the starting formation I find a few places that would have been the reason why the start of season was not going well, with so many problems to keep possession and create chances. Now I regret not having stuck with it and take a deeper look before changing tactics.

So the changes will be placed now. I will make the two midfielders ahead of the defense more defensive to have them focus more on keeping the possession and will tell the fullbacks to focus a little more in the offense. Kadlec will be back to the usual starting XI and if I put Vermeulen in the right I may even tell him to be all attacking, then Jenkins can be a bit more defensive winger.

─ 27 April 2020

And this time it worked, giving us a string of wins against Xerez, Almería and Las Palmas, though the defence could have been a little better in the first two, conceding one foolish goal in each. That put us up to ninth place until we only managed a draw against Espanyol in Barcelona, despite our total dominance of the match and a few clear chances.

─ 18 May 2020

Well, it was a pity to lose against Valencia 2-0, losing two clear chances to have scored ourselves, that put ninth place hard to achieve and eigthth practically out of reach and so after defeating Alavés 3-1 they were out for good, due to goal average. The last match wasn't bad, though we lost the chance to defeat Sevilla, who managed to pull one back in second half for a 1-1 at their home, to finish in tenth position, new club high. After all the shakiness of the season progression, a decent end of season. Enough to be the second most improved club

Time to start thinking on the next season, though before there's a round of qualifiers for World Cup with Nigeria at the end of this month. I should keep the 4-2-3-1 of this season end, get a well made table of the players we have for next season and then sign accordingly.

Anelli seems to get the preference over das Dores, with the latter having some poor appearances. Miletic is a must have in the starting eleven, his mate to be one among Gómez and Leo.once Gazapo is out. Kadlec seems to have earned to stay, and so Vermeulen. Allioui and Llorente will not stay. The two youngsters will be there for some matches and Mateu and Palsson shall stay in the team as starters, specially the latter as he was just one from most assists. Moya will be kept. That's basically the only sure things. Ben Arfa was below what was to be expected, Arizmendi isn't doing much, Marcos and Quero are irregular, appearing and disappearing, they may stay though.

The season has ended with a better financial situation that expected at the start, though 4.5M€ will be discounted when the new signings arrive.

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Another summer.
- By Ezequiel Valls

─ 27th July 2020

The transfer campaign so far is looking good, though with a few downs. The down points are the new players aren't young and the squad got overpopulated, with an excess specially in defence. The good points are that there's some good quality, as we've got former Barcelona Gignac, right/left fullback/left winger Santamaría from Athletic, and defenders Coutard and finally Garay to have a second sweeper of decent quality. Also the overpopulation allows for some sales to boost our bank accounts. Bruno das Dores, Llorente, Puig, Robles are among the sales that have netted us 5.75M of income (though Bruno has to be paid 30,000€p/m until end of old contract, still makes a more than 1M net income). Only one more signing, a centreback, Ricardo, as well, a very fast defender that should help us greatly, and able to play as full back in the right, which possibly will mean the sell of Leo before the window is closed.

As for friendlies, they began well, with two easy 3-0 wins over our U19 team and Adelante Celta, promising for is the first time I see some consistent aerial play up front, with Gignac, Manu Reina and Kurilov contesting the ball up frfont and knowing where to be for the crosses. For first time, two goals came from headers not at point range: one from Gignac that had come free of his mark, the other from Reina, after Gignac beat their midfielder to head the ball to him, beat the centreback to power the ball into goal with a plain shot above the goalie. After that, two more serious tests, against Las Palmas and their 4-1-3-1-1 and then Spartak of Moskow. Las Palmas was a 1-0 win that could have gone either way, with a quiet first half that provided the most chances to them and a second with better possession on the second with balanced amount of chances, Kurilov scoring a Moya-esque goal running on the side and cuting by the goal line to score upon reaching a meter from goal. Next we dominated Spartak getting two goals above, Anelli saving a penalty and they scoring when we changed to a 4-4-2 with advanced wingers that still gave us a great chance Achrouf wasted when goalie wouldn't have been able to stop it, and still another great chance went away when we returned to the 4-2-3-1 and match seemed under control, ending 2-1. Promising preseason if the best seasons hadn't come after poor preseasons and good preseasons before poor seasons.

─ 15 August 2020

Preseason continues with a slight bitter taste after a promising match against Manchester City. We lost it 2-0, but they only scored their second goal in the last ten minutes and we created enough clear chances to be able to say we could have won, which to me is a good sign, since I expect a worse loss.

However, the next two matches against our feeders, Adelante Eibar and Tercera Barbastro, ended in draws. We dominated and created a lot, but the fact of conceding a goal, even more than missing so many chances, is something that leaves me a bad taste.

Thinking on the squad, it works well, with plenty of players for each position, but I feel we're a bit short for the left wing, as of the four able to play there, two are meant to play elsewhere and Achrouf has not been satisfactory. Hence I think I shall offload Arizmendi, who's not provided much and bring a younger left winger. Ndlovu will it be, he is young and has quality.

The other positions that have less options are defensive midfield, with only three, but that it's not a position I will be using much, so it's enough, and goalkeeper, where we'll only have registered Anelli and Aiello. Donato and other youths that can't play unregistered will be sent on loan to Eibar as it's in Adelante. Our U19 team has one or two goalies that can fill the hole if injuries strike both first team ones.

There's a youth, David Díez, 16 years old, who already seems decent for first team, so I must sign it for the future.

In the end, we again spent more signing than selling, but the difference is only half a million. Not bad, specially having had a good amount of profit past season (see below)..

─ 3 September 2020

With the preseason ending with the same weak feeling to it, failing to beat 2B team Guadalajara, we were faced with the title holders Atlético de Madrid. A bad game due to my bad decisions. It started promising with Arfa scoring a penalty, but then the defence fell into shambles and we ended with a 5-1 defeat away.

The match against Getafe was considerably better, though there were still a couple moments of weak defence, but Anelli could save them. Otherwise we recovered the dominance of preseason, one we never had past season, bagging almost 60% of the possession and most of the chances. We began with the usual standard setting, looking for overlap and working the ball into box, seeing how at the first half we didn't create much despite the dominance of possession, I observed that the front men were too far from the midfield; as consequence, if they kicked the ball up, the ball would be lost, if they didn't the enemy defense would be set.At first I instructed them to keep the ball, slowing tempo and working the ball up slower, hoping to attract their pressure away from their area and be able to work the way up the ranks, diminishing the pressure on the front men, it worked to a degree, creating more chances, but still it wasn't enough; so at the final part of the game I decided to ask them to be more offensive, get up faster and told Mateu to walk further up the pitch to help the front four, it paid off with yet more chances and eventually, with ten minutes to go, a ball behind their full back to Jenkins to run to and race ahead of their defence, all alone, to cross the ball to goal by the far post. Later when Getafe tried the 4-2-4, a corner gave us the second goal, with Santamaría knowing what to do better than Vermeulen.

As conclusions of these two games, I have the confidence our present system is indeed the one we must keep if we want success in the league; that when facing stronger opposition we should keep our lines further behind and work to put more men behind the ball and giving preference to keep our goal at zero; and in the rest, keep the things as they are and then, according to how things go, make it somewhat more attacking, putting it more pace and direct passing.

As for january, I may or may not consider selling Quero, depending on his performances until then, this preseason he's done well, but he may return to greyness of past season.

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Christmass update
- By Ezequiel Valls

─ 2nd November 2020

Sticking to the 4-2-3-1 finally, making it more rigid, the season goes rather well, bagging a decent amount of wins and a good amount of points that has us sixth just five points behind the leader Valencia in a very close league.

Soon will be the first Copa del Rey round for us, I would like to go far, but I will use it as a chance to ggive minutes to those players who have few and let them a chance to show their worth.

─ 11th November 2020

What a disappointment with the King's Cup, in the first leg Garay was abolutely woeful, letting his mark gain his back several times, and the midfield found trouble holding the ball. That sent us 0-2 behind, in the need to score a goal to make for a second leg, the tactical changes did produce results and we got one goal back, but finally we received another. As result, the 1-0 win at their home in the second leg didn't serve us. Coudert and Garay showed they're not useful to us, beside we have too many centrebacks. Will be sold.

And the draw seems to love to put Real Madrid and Barcelona matches in consecutive weeks. I will not try to repeat the tactic that gave us victory two seasons ago and falied so bad past one, I'll go a bit more defensive than normal, but other than that will look to win instead of holding them to a goalless draw.

─ 1st January 2021

The big matches ended with bad results, 0-2 to Real and 0-3 to Barça and down morale, but I am not disheartened by those matches, since despite the end result we showed to be in their league, as we created chances, no less than they did, and one or two very good ones that were missed. It was a much better feeling regarding the quality of our side than our past victories, since then they had so many chances and clear ones it felt like a lot of luck, this time we lost but played as having the skill to face them head on.

The next matches were poor and we failed to defeat newly promoted (and overachieving) Elche, lost against Athletic de Bilbao, failed to defeat Zaragoza and finally beat Sevilla comfortably. In total, many points lost and we dropped to ninth place, hough luckily the Sevilla result put us back in reach of eighth who are in reach of seventh, so our hopes for european qualification still exist, even if they're not high.

This year we made a Christmas friendly against Castellón, which we comfortably beat and served to show Bruno Herrera is no longer good enough for this team, as he really struggled to keep the ball, while Achour didn't show his best either, but his errors were much less and didn't led to their goal.

As for the transfer policy, I'm changing to a different one letting places for my youngsters and not trying to fill all with good players but try to get a few key other good for the starting eleven and bench and then go with my brilliant youths for rotations.

For a start, several players will be leaving: Coudert, Garay and Juan Quero are already being transfered. Could be released on a free Ben Arfa and Bruno Herrero. Gignac will stay even though he's not contributing much, because he's given some goal and assists.

A few signings are being made, mostly youths for the future: Ming Huan, Zhen Cao and Dejan Blagojevic are the ones ensured.

Left midfielder Irigoyen and Right winger/striker López González have been called back from their loans at Eibar, that wasn't giving them a single minute. Irigoyen scored the fourth goal in our 4-1 win over Castellón.

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Disappointing endseason, one light
-By Ezequiel Valls

Before going on the end of season report, I would just express my delight when our team bagged the best and third best goals of the week, which is not an easy feat, with Moya's being picked the month's best.

Before that I had the privilege of coaching Burgos for the 500th game, with the only regret of not having been able to gain promotions to 2B and Adelante a bit earlier, in which case managing the 500th game would mean we'd be in Europe and maybe having won a league.

The season went well for us, promising chances of qualifying for Europa League through seventh position until 25th match day, when we were seventh with three points advantage over the eighth, though at some distance behind the sixth, eight points, but knowing the Copa del Rey semifinal would only feature teams in higher positions, making seventh place enough to go to Europe and get an extra income we badly needed, seeing as we were dropping in debts, now close to the two million euros.

But it was then when we entered in a slump of results, failing to get anything more than draws after our 4-2 win over Hércules, with the team losing the spark in front of goal and defence starting to lose its solidity of the season. The acumulation of lost points eventually had us slump in the table and eventually falling down to the tenth position we should have clearly overcome. Despite a glint of hope when we first fought Barcelona toe-to-toe falling 0-1 as easily we could have won and later doing a similar if not better display against Real Madrid from whom we got a point and could have won, what followed was a very shameful series of performances, where my players seemed to fall to a sort of counterintelligent mindset by which they'd go back to pasing only to pressed players or lone opponents rather than unmarked teammates and would send the ball to corner when they could more easily kicked it upfield or controlled the ball and pass it. Not to mention centrebacks told to stay back and close down very rarely running to mark the opposition midfields in their half.

At least we had the man with top assists

The later performances made me consider the possibility of resigning and maybe take the job offer from Murcia to manage an european team next season, but I finally decided to stay one more season, as the performance did improve, maybe next the results will go along the performance improvement. However I have doubts about that happening, since the debt and the fast pace at which it was increasing makes me convinced of our need to sell much and sign few or cheap, though I couldn't refrain from breaking our transfer fee record on a player with the ability to play as a ball player centreback, which I think would do us much good after the good performance of Ricardo in such position in a couple games, a plus for Kerimoglu signing is that he's young and he can get even better of the good player he already looks. Also I signed Sascha Lorber, a very good looking goalie for next season, after having to sell Anelli due to him wanting out and Aiello for need of cash. And then a few famous names even if they're not young and I had made the intention of not signing players older than 30.

As consequence of the player changes, we're swapping to a narrow 4-2-3-1 with Canales, Montolivo and Marcos up ahead in the line of three and Zupancic and Busquets in the midfield centre two. Kirilov will be our starting striker, and I may consider cashing on Moya, though I'd like to keep him for all he's given us: two promotions, two salvations from relegation and at least a finish in a higher table zone than would be expected.

Palsson, Achour and Jenkins are players that can join the outs, some youths like Irigoyen or Amodu going to be used more in the first team.

So far, the sellings made our past season the record for total transfer income, but despite a greater TV rights income and a generoush cash injection by the board, our economical situation is still not too good considering our wages are still enough to cause a monthly loss of more than half a million euros, that will transfer installments will likely be more than one million like past season.

The amount of new incorporations, most signings, some youths that weren't used past season, makes for a preseason that will see our highest amount of friendlies, before the fixtures draw had us start against Atlético de Madrid and Barcelona.

I wanted o have qualified for Europe this season and do nothing but reinforce the squad, without having to sell some of the players that have gone, not doing so was a huge disappointment, however, it was a joyful news when Spain was left without manager, I applied and I was appointed to be my country's manager!

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Preseason
- By Ezequiel Valls

One of the things that we needed most was getting money selling players and hopefully reducing the wages paid to players. The first objective being getting a positive balance and as secondary, getting enough so that the board can spend in expanding the stadium, since it's regularly filled and that means we can increase the income from attendance. There is to note that some of the purchases, specially our record €9M for Kerimoglu were already included in the previous economical update. So, while the transfers wndow shows a balance of €19.5M bought and €17M sales, the real balance after 7/1/2021 is 5.8/17. See transfer table, and End of it.

The operations have not quite managed to take down the wages as much as it could have been desired, and this month of august has seen the club score a loss of almost one and a half million euros, however we still have almost as much money as we got to have in our best economical moment, and enough as to have that expanding we needed. The wage should increase a bit when Renan joins the club next january.

The purchases, for once, are almost all important to the team and will be featuring regularly in the team, with the exception of Vuka, who was signed years ago when he looked promising but that when has finally been allowed to come he's not all that great. Busquets, Montolivo, Kemiroglu, Canales and Lorber are to feature in the starting lineup for most of the games, while Balenziaga, González Medina and Kurtovic will be regular bench players with their share of starts.

The preseason has been perhaps the heaviest of all, given the need to get the new players to blend together, and the old to adapt to the new formation used to make room for the new signings, which is basically the same as past year, but with the wigners tucked in the inside, with Sergio Marcos in the middle as trequartista, Montolivo to the right as supporting playmaker and Canales in the left as attacking midfielder, while the rest stays as it is with the addition of using the advanced striker, Kirilov, as target man with mixed distribution. The matches have been planned more to get the blending than actually having a proper idea of the place, so it has feautred mostly weak opposition.

The preseason points worth mentioning are the 10-0 we scored against Forte del Marni, which is a very weak opponent but that even so, we never managed to do that no matter how weak our rival were, the draw before Las Palmas and their thin formation, a match we dominated and were only unlucky not to score, our easy victory against Getafe, 2-0, the disappointment of not defeating Eibar (0-0), our good performance against Sevilla, despite the 0-0 draw, our 1-0 win over Flamengo and the defence weakness that was behind the goals received from weak teams as Barbastro, Go Ahead and Los Ríos. See preseason scores

Now, on to a season that starts tough, against Atlético and Barcelona, something that I almost prefer to having the tough matches pile up at the end of the season halves, I would like to think that if we go through these two matches without a big loss of morale we may start getting points at a good pace and challenge seriously for Europe, and maybe, if things go right, we may face the big teams on even terms.

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. Half season report
- By Ezequiel Valls

9th JANUARY 2022
As usual since I took charge of Burgos, the quality of preseason seems to be the inverse of the season, though this year the tough start might have helped.

Having to face Atlético and Barça the first two days of the league is not going to result in a good start more of the times, and in a morale blow that must the overcome. The hopes of facing them in equal terms was only fulfilled in Barcelona, but it didn't serve to get anything of it either, and as result a string of poor results ensued, with some shows of weakness at the back and inefficiency up front. The victories needed to get to the position that we should be achieving never came in the needed quantities, being interrupted by some teams that showed superior to us like Espanyol and Valencia, or teams that we dominated and got ahead but with some luck got the draw, like Murcia with a lucky shot and Real Madrid after a dubious red card to Marc Mateu that forced us to a more defensive style that prevented us from creating chances and them to start getting them. see fixtures

Canales and Montolivo, who did decently well in preseason, disappointed time and again during season, and eventually found themselves having more starts from the bench, then missing the trip to the stadium and led to Canales being finally sold due to the need to get money and save wages in sight of the monthly losses that will soon see us in debt. Montolivo will remain despite that because he's been less disappointed, he has done something and he's too old to get any decent coin.

With Renan looking as such a good goalkeeper, except less good in one on ones than Lorber, plus the need of money, led me to offer Kurtovic and Blagojevic to the market. Kurtovic going on a loan for €575K fee plus €8M to buy, Blagojevic for €6M, though I had rejected an offer from Young Boys thinking I wanted more, but ultimately getting nothing after decreasing the asking price from 11M (after lowering from 15) to 8M.

And then, given that Marcos is 29 years old, there's interest and he's not done so much this season, he's been offered at €6M, hoping some will offer that or at least get his free release clause of five million, his position to be filled by Victor Pálsson, now that González Medina is back from his three month injury and there's back up for the central midfield positions.

As result of the leaves, I had to buy, and in came Papasthatopoulos to fill the hole in defense left by Kurtovic, as I want to have four players. However, he came a bit before Kurtovic accepted his offer and that made Amodu get unhappy for the competency. Meanwhile, stupid boy Kerimoglu sent a complaint for his lack of first team football, after almost a month without playing because... he was given one month leave to help him settle almost a month before. Another player who will be leaving soon is, likely Franco donato, since he's not developed enough for my tastes and for a young goalie I prefer our own David Marcilla.

As far as clasification goes, the team position can only be described as deeply disappointing. I was aiming to reach europe and yet I find us at the same spot we were in our second season in La Liga (see below how the progression is also alike). I would think I have got the maximum from this team and that I am not the man to get it to the next level. Recently there's been talk about Míchel leaving Almería, I may take that job when the season ends, if they qualify for europe.

And to end, the Copa del Rey was something I had hopes in, too, and I wanted to reach the quarterfinals, but a late goal by Villarreal in our second leg meant we couldn't progress. Incidentally, it was amusing see one small mistake of the official stats.




((P.S. - FM11 demo is already out, I will be playing it to see if it solves some bits that have been annoying me in FM10, like centreback running like ****, leaving his striker alone in area, to mark the opposition's midfielders in their own half, mainly, and some irresponsiveness to instructions, like being in standard, keep possession, seeing how my players pass the ball immediately forward, and then see how when I change to control, move ball forward when I need a goal, I see them happily keeping the ball and passing sideways or backwards again and again and refusing to look for forward passes. But I will finish this season before finishing this story, if I finish it this season, will not if I end fighting back to european competitions place.))

 

[Death Ball]

Manager Notebook. The end of the dream
- By Ezequiel Valls

During the winter, due to the sell of some players, important like Kurtovic or Sergio Marcos, had me dive into the transfer for cheaper replacements. So I picked Sokratis Papasthopulos for Kurtovic, Jimmy Barker for Sergio Marcos and Mark Lamont in place of Canales. Due to a misread, I signed Antonio Santos thinking he was a 21 years old. Also, arrived Renan and brought Eric Álvarez to cash on him in a future, though due to his performance in the Copa del Rey matches, earned to be registered.

Though with low wages, Renan, Lamont and Papasthotopoulos featured in the world championship with their national teams.

Thinking on next season, I signed contracts with Pereyra and Ruben.

The second half of the season began recovering a few points, that could have been more, as I drew with teams we lost before, of note the Barcelona match away, that we dominated, and that looked promising for the future.

But it was nothing but a false promise, as the lack of ability of the team to finish their opportunities before goal, meant that after two wins, we started to drop points by drawing, then losing matches we should have won or needed to win (see schedule, up to Espanyol), some because of my tactical errors (Levante, Murcia, Recreativo), but others due to bad luck (Getafe, Real Madrid which we dominated and should have won), and for one we managed to score aplenty, our rivals did the same to end with a 4-4 draw. That left us quite far from Europe and in fourteenth position, a couple of points from eighth, so I resigned. No sense keeping there if things are like that at this point.

What followed were logical results, bringing the team up the table and miraculously close to europe due to bad runs by the teams that ended there.

In the end, Míchel didn't leave Almería and I was left without team in La Liga to manage.

In the 2022 world championship, I took Spain easily through the group fase to massacre Portugal 5-0. Then quarter finals and semifinals ended in penalties with result in our favour thanks to the cool head of right fullback Meilán. But in the end, back luck before goal meant we lost 1-0 to Switzerland.

We got several players in the World Cup Dream Team. and with that, I will go back to be a journalist.

Goodbye readers.