Jack Fulham
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2008
- Messages
- 6,850
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Cruised to League title in the end, well done mate
Manager Notebook: Burgos FC from the Fourth Stooge... to spanish big?
- Thread starter Death Ball
- Start date
- Replies 113
- Views 23K
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Thanks for the advice, I will try to follow it.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: Post season letdown
- By Ezequiel Valls
It was a blow to have one of the stronger rivals for the play offs semifinal round; it was another to lose the match. Looking back I don't regret listening to my staff's advice; I could certainly have gone more offesnive way sooner than I did, but fact remains we only created chances while using the deep defensive line, narrow width and slow tempo with a 4-1-4-1. The time with 4-2-3-1 and normal or offensive tactics were not productive. So, time to move on and think about the next season.
Situation is a big negative balance, wages above the budget, board having to inject money every month for the last three months: 130, 130 and 90 K.
Considering the ease of this year's season we shouldn't need too much to bring new players, so I will put the focus on making money. That means any non key player ending contract this june will not be renewed, Garmendia, the new assistant I hired after Ichaso's departure will be leaving the club. Most new faces in the team should be U19 players brought up to the first squad, there are a few with enough quality to make the jump.
If I manage to get the wages low and some money all I may do is to bring a striker to go along Bauzá, though Nel has been showing in training he may do the job, so in the end I may keep it for a right fullback to have more than just Urbano. Though Medrano has been a good defender in the last part of the season and is converting to right full back, if Meroño, out from his long injury, proves to be a valid choice for central defender. Certainly I may make it without any new player.
The start of the season will be now more important than ever, without bringing new faces it is too easy for the most impatient portion of the fans to become disgruntled.
- By Ezequiel Valls
It was a blow to have one of the stronger rivals for the play offs semifinal round; it was another to lose the match. Looking back I don't regret listening to my staff's advice; I could certainly have gone more offesnive way sooner than I did, but fact remains we only created chances while using the deep defensive line, narrow width and slow tempo with a 4-1-4-1. The time with 4-2-3-1 and normal or offensive tactics were not productive. So, time to move on and think about the next season.
Situation is a big negative balance, wages above the budget, board having to inject money every month for the last three months: 130, 130 and 90 K.
Considering the ease of this year's season we shouldn't need too much to bring new players, so I will put the focus on making money. That means any non key player ending contract this june will not be renewed, Garmendia, the new assistant I hired after Ichaso's departure will be leaving the club. Most new faces in the team should be U19 players brought up to the first squad, there are a few with enough quality to make the jump.
If I manage to get the wages low and some money all I may do is to bring a striker to go along Bauzá, though Nel has been showing in training he may do the job, so in the end I may keep it for a right fullback to have more than just Urbano. Though Medrano has been a good defender in the last part of the season and is converting to right full back, if Meroño, out from his long injury, proves to be a valid choice for central defender. Certainly I may make it without any new player.
The start of the season will be now more important than ever, without bringing new faces it is too easy for the most impatient portion of the fans to become disgruntled.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook. Wage control
-By Ezequiel Valls
Unfortunately I found there was no players ending contract this june. That means I need to offload the high earners or make new contracts with lesser pays, as the economy of the team is precarious to worrisome levels.
In an attempt to release wages, I give Pizarraya, who was barely used, to Lorca for only 5,000€, Maureta to Alcorcón for 40,000€. Espinosa and Jonathan Castro are sent to Ourense for free, while Borja Plaza and Diego Sedano are released on a free.
For free arrive David Montero, the goalkeeper they hide the fact in January would not come until now, and Marc Vilajosana, a promising young player that was unemployed and who would give some options.
Somehow nobody wanted Aguirre or Aurreko, even for free.
Fortunately nobody bid for Fernano or Bauzá, which I didn't want to lose, but now the board can see I am not deaf to their problems. Also luckily Medrano rejected Ourense's offer and wants to work with me.
Next is reducing salaries. First to be successful is Txitxo, who admits to have his salary down to 825€ from 1,300€ that it originally was. Next is Nel, who sees his salary go nearly 300€ lower. Aurreko has his wage from 1,000€ down to 800€. Gustavo also has a small reduction, around 100€ per week.
And finally Julio Rodríguez arrives to give a cover for the left fullback position and to have a decent replacement for Urbano in the right, even though I've brought to the first team two youngsters who may do just enough there. That meant one player more than the 25 to register. I could have kept a third goalkeeper but chose to keep some youngsters giving more outfield player options. With that, Segura was given the free trasnfer, seeing nobody wanted him.
EDIT
Forgot to add for completion, that the wages have been cut, this way, in more than 5,000€ per week, now being 17,800€, 1,500€ above allowed budget.
-By Ezequiel Valls
Unfortunately I found there was no players ending contract this june. That means I need to offload the high earners or make new contracts with lesser pays, as the economy of the team is precarious to worrisome levels.
In an attempt to release wages, I give Pizarraya, who was barely used, to Lorca for only 5,000€, Maureta to Alcorcón for 40,000€. Espinosa and Jonathan Castro are sent to Ourense for free, while Borja Plaza and Diego Sedano are released on a free.
For free arrive David Montero, the goalkeeper they hide the fact in January would not come until now, and Marc Vilajosana, a promising young player that was unemployed and who would give some options.
Somehow nobody wanted Aguirre or Aurreko, even for free.
Fortunately nobody bid for Fernano or Bauzá, which I didn't want to lose, but now the board can see I am not deaf to their problems. Also luckily Medrano rejected Ourense's offer and wants to work with me.
Next is reducing salaries. First to be successful is Txitxo, who admits to have his salary down to 825€ from 1,300€ that it originally was. Next is Nel, who sees his salary go nearly 300€ lower. Aurreko has his wage from 1,000€ down to 800€. Gustavo also has a small reduction, around 100€ per week.
And finally Julio Rodríguez arrives to give a cover for the left fullback position and to have a decent replacement for Urbano in the right, even though I've brought to the first team two youngsters who may do just enough there. That meant one player more than the 25 to register. I could have kept a third goalkeeper but chose to keep some youngsters giving more outfield player options. With that, Segura was given the free trasnfer, seeing nobody wanted him.
EDIT
Forgot to add for completion, that the wages have been cut, this way, in more than 5,000€ per week, now being 17,800€, 1,500€ above allowed budget.
Last edited:
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: New season
- By Ezequiel Valls
The new season is being a disappointment, because the problem of the past season is hitting hard: there's no way to get a goal despite the loads of chances we create.
Even if the preseason friendlies produced some wins against one or two 2B teams, there hasn't been a single goal in the first three matches. One victory 1-0 against Valladolid B which was a fumble by the goalkeeper, letting the ball slip after saving the sot, a 0-1 defeat against Huracán Z in a match we dominated through the fortuitous 35 yards long shot by the rival striker and a 0-0 draw against Arandina despite getting most of the posession and several shots on target, no less than two point blank.
It was a pity the first round of the King's Cup was a defeat despite being the one match were we did score.
It may be the clue that we need to put a second striker in the team and move to some form of 4-4-2 tactic.
In a way I feel defensively we're noticing Maureta's absence, which if the economy keeps like this, we could have afforded to keep in the team. Perhaps in the winter market we'll be able to get a replacement in either the defensive midfielder or a striker.
Currently lying ninth with four points, five from the leader, and three matches played. A bit worse than past season, when we were tied in first place with seven position. It's worst for Bembibre, who are sitting in relegation positions. Of note nobody in our group managed to gain promotion.
- By Ezequiel Valls
The new season is being a disappointment, because the problem of the past season is hitting hard: there's no way to get a goal despite the loads of chances we create.
Even if the preseason friendlies produced some wins against one or two 2B teams, there hasn't been a single goal in the first three matches. One victory 1-0 against Valladolid B which was a fumble by the goalkeeper, letting the ball slip after saving the sot, a 0-1 defeat against Huracán Z in a match we dominated through the fortuitous 35 yards long shot by the rival striker and a 0-0 draw against Arandina despite getting most of the posession and several shots on target, no less than two point blank.
It was a pity the first round of the King's Cup was a defeat despite being the one match were we did score.
It may be the clue that we need to put a second striker in the team and move to some form of 4-4-2 tactic.
In a way I feel defensively we're noticing Maureta's absence, which if the economy keeps like this, we could have afforded to keep in the team. Perhaps in the winter market we'll be able to get a replacement in either the defensive midfielder or a striker.
Currently lying ninth with four points, five from the leader, and three matches played. A bit worse than past season, when we were tied in first place with seven position. It's worst for Bembibre, who are sitting in relegation positions. Of note nobody in our group managed to gain promotion.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: Confirmed theory, october curse.
- By Ezquiel Valls
I told my boys to use a 4-4-2, win which I brought Nel up to make a striker partnership with Bauzá, him as the deep creative one. In the right Israel could come back from his injury. Txitxo was given a defensive ball winning role and Fernando was moved back in midfield line keeping his duty as attacking creative player. Álvaro Núñez was sat in the bench.
The match, against Aguilar, served to prove the thought I need a two striker formation, as we hammered our rivals with three goals by Nel (2) and Bauzá. It was shown with clarity why the defence stopped working the past season: without an anchor man nearby, the defensive couple kept losing position with the stopper coming forward to mark the rival deep striker, creating a hole that the advanced could exploit. With the 4-2-3-1 the anchor man would have taken the striker coming to space and my defence would keep shape. It was only my laziness in changing that allowed them to finally take advantage of it to get their consolation goal. But once I set both to simply defend and close down less often no more chances were created against us. Nothing changed in the table as all ahead won their matches.
A dear blow was then inflicted on us as Nel, key for our new plans, got sidelined for five months.
The next confirmed the feelings with an easy 4 (Bauzá 2, Fernando and Nel)-1 victory over Ávila, this time their goal was a long range shot by a striker not marked sufficiently tight. Another goal that with an anchor wouldn't have happened.
Thinks looked well and I awaited the leader Villaralbo (five matches, five wins) with high spirits, when my staff tells me they do well against 4-4-2. Considering that and their position point for a team that works in attack, I decide to listen their advice and go for a formation that will add some defensive consistence and still have two strikers: a 4-1-3-2. And it works, once more having a game totally different to the start of season, coming back from an early 0-1 to win 2-1 with two goals by Bauzá, who in the second half missed two clear chances (one off and one to the post).
Just before the match a deal with Valencia to be our parent club, after Athletic Bilbao broke the link before season start, led us to be able to loan without paying anything three of Valencia's players: Jose María Cases, who gets injured for two weeks the next day to arriving, Peio Zabalza for the left wing and Ximo Navarro for fullback. They give creativity, speed and more defensive solidity, though I'd honestly would have liked a bit better heads. I thereby demote a couple players to the U19 squad, offload Santamaría and fail to sell Urbano, one high earning player that with Ximo is no longer needed.
I make the healthy new players debut against Cultural B and return to 4-4-2. Wrong move, as I possibly could have used Pérez's greater defensive prowess in the left midfield position instead of brining Zabalza as sub for Julio Rodríguez (taking Nené back to fullback position). A bit sloppy performance that ends with our second defeat 0-1 and leaves us in fifth place, again five points from leaders Villaralbo.
And after the match, new blow to the team, as Carlos Pérez gets injured for four months. He's not key to the game play but he's the man I want for matches that need strong defense, so he's important..
The next game is a disappointing 1-0 victory against La Granja, after several chances are lost and Txitxo completes a fine move after more than seventy minutes of struggle to get the ball in the net, though it was a reason, as the injuries that are starting to pile up left us with only Bauzá as quality striker and I fielded a 4-1-4-1, leaving him too lonely up there. Significantly Txitxo's goal came when I brougth in Vilajosana for Núñez turning back to a 4-4-2.
Both Zamora and newly signed Arias, against assistant's opinion but of whom I liked the speed and composure being injured made me start training Cases as striker hoping I can have him playing there soon. I could also bring up one of the U19 back to first team.
P.S. - Errata correction. I said Bembibre started poorly, I meant Huracán Z, who are currently in the edge of staying with 7 points.
- By Ezquiel Valls
I told my boys to use a 4-4-2, win which I brought Nel up to make a striker partnership with Bauzá, him as the deep creative one. In the right Israel could come back from his injury. Txitxo was given a defensive ball winning role and Fernando was moved back in midfield line keeping his duty as attacking creative player. Álvaro Núñez was sat in the bench.
The match, against Aguilar, served to prove the thought I need a two striker formation, as we hammered our rivals with three goals by Nel (2) and Bauzá. It was shown with clarity why the defence stopped working the past season: without an anchor man nearby, the defensive couple kept losing position with the stopper coming forward to mark the rival deep striker, creating a hole that the advanced could exploit. With the 4-2-3-1 the anchor man would have taken the striker coming to space and my defence would keep shape. It was only my laziness in changing that allowed them to finally take advantage of it to get their consolation goal. But once I set both to simply defend and close down less often no more chances were created against us. Nothing changed in the table as all ahead won their matches.
A dear blow was then inflicted on us as Nel, key for our new plans, got sidelined for five months.
The next confirmed the feelings with an easy 4 (Bauzá 2, Fernando and Nel)-1 victory over Ávila, this time their goal was a long range shot by a striker not marked sufficiently tight. Another goal that with an anchor wouldn't have happened.
Thinks looked well and I awaited the leader Villaralbo (five matches, five wins) with high spirits, when my staff tells me they do well against 4-4-2. Considering that and their position point for a team that works in attack, I decide to listen their advice and go for a formation that will add some defensive consistence and still have two strikers: a 4-1-3-2. And it works, once more having a game totally different to the start of season, coming back from an early 0-1 to win 2-1 with two goals by Bauzá, who in the second half missed two clear chances (one off and one to the post).
Just before the match a deal with Valencia to be our parent club, after Athletic Bilbao broke the link before season start, led us to be able to loan without paying anything three of Valencia's players: Jose María Cases, who gets injured for two weeks the next day to arriving, Peio Zabalza for the left wing and Ximo Navarro for fullback. They give creativity, speed and more defensive solidity, though I'd honestly would have liked a bit better heads. I thereby demote a couple players to the U19 squad, offload Santamaría and fail to sell Urbano, one high earning player that with Ximo is no longer needed.
I make the healthy new players debut against Cultural B and return to 4-4-2. Wrong move, as I possibly could have used Pérez's greater defensive prowess in the left midfield position instead of brining Zabalza as sub for Julio Rodríguez (taking Nené back to fullback position). A bit sloppy performance that ends with our second defeat 0-1 and leaves us in fifth place, again five points from leaders Villaralbo.
And after the match, new blow to the team, as Carlos Pérez gets injured for four months. He's not key to the game play but he's the man I want for matches that need strong defense, so he's important..
The next game is a disappointing 1-0 victory against La Granja, after several chances are lost and Txitxo completes a fine move after more than seventy minutes of struggle to get the ball in the net, though it was a reason, as the injuries that are starting to pile up left us with only Bauzá as quality striker and I fielded a 4-1-4-1, leaving him too lonely up there. Significantly Txitxo's goal came when I brougth in Vilajosana for Núñez turning back to a 4-4-2.
Both Zamora and newly signed Arias, against assistant's opinion but of whom I liked the speed and composure being injured made me start training Cases as striker hoping I can have him playing there soon. I could also bring up one of the U19 back to first team.
P.S. - Errata correction. I said Bembibre started poorly, I meant Huracán Z, who are currently in the edge of staying with 7 points.
Last edited:
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
23 october we meet CD Benavente after leaders Villaralbo lost their match against bottom placed Aguilar. Using the 4-4-2 with a Sergio Arias just come out of his injury, given the hard time to score the 4-1-4-1 gave us past day.
But the problems are not solved this time, as it takes more than sixty minutes and several close chances to get the first goal, and it being an own goal by goalkeeper jumping into his net with the saved ball in his hands (like Carles Busquets in that match against Español). With a cross by Zabalza picked by Bauzá we get the final 2-0 that keeps us in fifth position but now only two points from leadership.
The visit against La Virgen del Camino was much better, with a lot of effectivity in front, with two goals disallowed by offside. One rightly so, but the first absolutely inacceptable: how come a midfield shot that is missed by goalkeeper is disallowed on offside because Bauzá who did nothing but watch close was offside during the shot?. Still, a pleasing 4-0 with a goal by debuting Cases. Result that still doesn't bring us to play off positions.
On another note, having stopped from pinpointing rivals with special positions have improved the side players marking, however it seems to let their central midfielders a bit more time on the ball than I'd like.
Salmantino are faced with the loanees and Zamora to lift his morale as we're tipped clear favorites. But while match is dominated inefficiancy on goal shows its ugly head and Meroño bad marking of rival striker lands them victory 0-1. Fifth place kept but leaders get beyond one match.
Next is the first leg of preliminary round of Copa Federación, against a 2B team, Orihuela. In the way I manage to offload Urbano to Marbella, reducing the wages some, as once the preseason ticket sales stopped the monthly balance has returned to negative numbers. Bad thing is that the losses are roughly as big as our total wages, so it looks very bad. The board keep injecting funds, but I wonder how long they can keep it up and if I will end having to play U19s and loaned players next season.
Fielding a defensive 4-4-2 against their 4-2-3-1 proves to be effective and grant us equal footing in possession, unfortunately we have as few chances as they, which gives us a mere 0-0 draw at home and waiting the second round, where penalties will not be a chance for us.
Meanwhile we face Becerril, for whom I use a 4-2(DM)-3(AMCs)-1 as the only two wingers available are tired and I want them for the Copa Federación, because of a penalty made by Medrano we only win 2-1 away. The victory takes us closer again to play off positions, but still in fifth place.
The second leg Orihuela proves to have too good a forward for our defense and Medrano, when still were hope to recover from two behind again made a penalty, ending the game and ruining our chances to get some money from the competition. It was a pity Bauzá wasting a ball gifted to him letting the goalie deflect the ball to corner when we were still 0-0.
But the problems are not solved this time, as it takes more than sixty minutes and several close chances to get the first goal, and it being an own goal by goalkeeper jumping into his net with the saved ball in his hands (like Carles Busquets in that match against Español). With a cross by Zabalza picked by Bauzá we get the final 2-0 that keeps us in fifth position but now only two points from leadership.
The visit against La Virgen del Camino was much better, with a lot of effectivity in front, with two goals disallowed by offside. One rightly so, but the first absolutely inacceptable: how come a midfield shot that is missed by goalkeeper is disallowed on offside because Bauzá who did nothing but watch close was offside during the shot?. Still, a pleasing 4-0 with a goal by debuting Cases. Result that still doesn't bring us to play off positions.
On another note, having stopped from pinpointing rivals with special positions have improved the side players marking, however it seems to let their central midfielders a bit more time on the ball than I'd like.
Salmantino are faced with the loanees and Zamora to lift his morale as we're tipped clear favorites. But while match is dominated inefficiancy on goal shows its ugly head and Meroño bad marking of rival striker lands them victory 0-1. Fifth place kept but leaders get beyond one match.
Next is the first leg of preliminary round of Copa Federación, against a 2B team, Orihuela. In the way I manage to offload Urbano to Marbella, reducing the wages some, as once the preseason ticket sales stopped the monthly balance has returned to negative numbers. Bad thing is that the losses are roughly as big as our total wages, so it looks very bad. The board keep injecting funds, but I wonder how long they can keep it up and if I will end having to play U19s and loaned players next season.
Fielding a defensive 4-4-2 against their 4-2-3-1 proves to be effective and grant us equal footing in possession, unfortunately we have as few chances as they, which gives us a mere 0-0 draw at home and waiting the second round, where penalties will not be a chance for us.
Meanwhile we face Becerril, for whom I use a 4-2(DM)-3(AMCs)-1 as the only two wingers available are tired and I want them for the Copa Federación, because of a penalty made by Medrano we only win 2-1 away. The victory takes us closer again to play off positions, but still in fifth place.
The second leg Orihuela proves to have too good a forward for our defense and Medrano, when still were hope to recover from two behind again made a penalty, ending the game and ruining our chances to get some money from the competition. It was a pity Bauzá wasting a ball gifted to him letting the goalie deflect the ball to corner when we were still 0-0.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: The swine flu, hopefully
- By Ezequiel Valls
I got my first ever flu. I hope it be the A just to screw those fearmongers.
Anyway, the elimination from the King's Cup was followed by a couple of disappointing performances, failing to capitalise on the many chances got against Numancia B, which made us miss the chance to take advantage of the trips of the teams ahead. It was not a bore 0-0 draw, though.
The next match was another good chance, as we faced the now two points ahead leaders Segoviana, but some bad piece of defensive positioning made it a 1-2, despite having some good chances to have got ahead when we changed to the 3-5-2 (1-2-2-2-1-2) tactic after scoring our goal for the 1-1.
Next had us face weak side Almazán, which gave the team a morale boost hammering them 3-0 to get in play off positions, and despite that, I decided it was worth returning to the 4-2-3-1 assymetric we used past season, as I was starting to feel annoyed with some chances conceded in a way the old tactic didn't allow.
That worked well, giving us a comfortable 2-0 victory against Almazán and a 2-1, despite the early penalty given by Colina, against Atlético Astorga. We were noe third.
After that we had a new great chance to move ahead in the table, facing new leaders Bembibre, only two points ahead. It was a tough fight in which Bembibre dominated passed the thirty minutes of the first half, but luckily Montero was in the goal to stop the so many chances our rivals created and the penalty scored by our young González gave us victory and the first position.
We closed the first leg of the league against bottom side La Bañeza and with Nel back to be fit to play, giving us a new easy victory by 3-1, giving a counter attack.
In other matters, the economy could be alleviated in a good measure with the departure of Iban Urbano and the acceptance of some players, like Bauzá or Trigo, of new contracts with lower wages, which leaves us under the wage budget at last. Even after bringing in another player on loan: the polivalent Domingo, from Lucena, a DRLC/DM/MC that will fill the back line to give us the speed needed, as Gustavo and Colina have become too slow to trust them.
- By Ezequiel Valls
I got my first ever flu. I hope it be the A just to screw those fearmongers.
Anyway, the elimination from the King's Cup was followed by a couple of disappointing performances, failing to capitalise on the many chances got against Numancia B, which made us miss the chance to take advantage of the trips of the teams ahead. It was not a bore 0-0 draw, though.
The next match was another good chance, as we faced the now two points ahead leaders Segoviana, but some bad piece of defensive positioning made it a 1-2, despite having some good chances to have got ahead when we changed to the 3-5-2 (1-2-2-2-1-2) tactic after scoring our goal for the 1-1.
Next had us face weak side Almazán, which gave the team a morale boost hammering them 3-0 to get in play off positions, and despite that, I decided it was worth returning to the 4-2-3-1 assymetric we used past season, as I was starting to feel annoyed with some chances conceded in a way the old tactic didn't allow.
That worked well, giving us a comfortable 2-0 victory against Almazán and a 2-1, despite the early penalty given by Colina, against Atlético Astorga. We were noe third.
After that we had a new great chance to move ahead in the table, facing new leaders Bembibre, only two points ahead. It was a tough fight in which Bembibre dominated passed the thirty minutes of the first half, but luckily Montero was in the goal to stop the so many chances our rivals created and the penalty scored by our young González gave us victory and the first position.
We closed the first leg of the league against bottom side La Bañeza and with Nel back to be fit to play, giving us a new easy victory by 3-1, giving a counter attack.
In other matters, the economy could be alleviated in a good measure with the departure of Iban Urbano and the acceptance of some players, like Bauzá or Trigo, of new contracts with lower wages, which leaves us under the wage budget at last. Even after bringing in another player on loan: the polivalent Domingo, from Lucena, a DRLC/DM/MC that will fill the back line to give us the speed needed, as Gustavo and Colina have become too slow to trust them.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: The third quarter
- By Ezequiel Valls
With the season reaching the half, all was already set and decided. Return to the past season's tactics, the same player backbone, with Txitxo back where Maureta was before and his place taken my loaned Cases. With New signing Julio Rodríguez in the left side of the defense and Nené moved to the midfield, with loaned Zabalza as sub, with Pérez's absence in injury. With Nel as first replacement for the forward positions (AMC, AMR, ST). With loaned Ximo Navarro in the right side of the defence in Urbano's place and with Montero alternating at goal with Aurreko.
All would be a matter of tweaking it according to each match, unless injuries forced to change tactics.
The second leg wouldn't start well, getting a point from Valladolid B's stadium, then to fall 0-1 against Huracán Z in a match left with wish to kill someone as the team wasted chance over chance over chance to beat the rivals to concede a corner after gifting the ball twice for a lone header into goal and making us lose the leadership to Arandina by two points.
We'd met the new leaders next and have a chance to recover the position, but a unforgettable match caused us a 0-3 defeat, with special note of poor rushing out by Montero that he paid with several matches in the bench from then on and Arandina getting five points clear.
But fortunately weak side Aguilar next offered us the chance to get a 3-0 to recover morale and continue with some comfortable wins, interrupted only by our rivals Cultural Leonesa B drawn 0-0. Of note the 4-1 victory over La Granja featuring our first hat trick by Guillem Bauzá, about time. And starting that drawn match, Arandina started to sow a series of poor results that has given us back the first position and four teams clear with ten matches to go, likely product of their injuries.
Now our only worry is that Txitxo, our best defensive midfielder, is out for a couple weeks and our playmaker Fernando is out for four. But in the flip side, they will be back before the play off matches, hopefully we'll have better luck this year with the draw.
- By Ezequiel Valls
With the season reaching the half, all was already set and decided. Return to the past season's tactics, the same player backbone, with Txitxo back where Maureta was before and his place taken my loaned Cases. With New signing Julio Rodríguez in the left side of the defense and Nené moved to the midfield, with loaned Zabalza as sub, with Pérez's absence in injury. With Nel as first replacement for the forward positions (AMC, AMR, ST). With loaned Ximo Navarro in the right side of the defence in Urbano's place and with Montero alternating at goal with Aurreko.
All would be a matter of tweaking it according to each match, unless injuries forced to change tactics.
The second leg wouldn't start well, getting a point from Valladolid B's stadium, then to fall 0-1 against Huracán Z in a match left with wish to kill someone as the team wasted chance over chance over chance to beat the rivals to concede a corner after gifting the ball twice for a lone header into goal and making us lose the leadership to Arandina by two points.
We'd met the new leaders next and have a chance to recover the position, but a unforgettable match caused us a 0-3 defeat, with special note of poor rushing out by Montero that he paid with several matches in the bench from then on and Arandina getting five points clear.
But fortunately weak side Aguilar next offered us the chance to get a 3-0 to recover morale and continue with some comfortable wins, interrupted only by our rivals Cultural Leonesa B drawn 0-0. Of note the 4-1 victory over La Granja featuring our first hat trick by Guillem Bauzá, about time. And starting that drawn match, Arandina started to sow a series of poor results that has given us back the first position and four teams clear with ten matches to go, likely product of their injuries.
Now our only worry is that Txitxo, our best defensive midfielder, is out for a couple weeks and our playmaker Fernando is out for four. But in the flip side, they will be back before the play off matches, hopefully we'll have better luck this year with the draw.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: End of regular season
- By: Ezequiel Valls
Not much to tell since the last update. The spell of good resulsts was recovered in the next matches, with Arandina lagging six points behind, keeping results as good as our team. The spread out of matches, with many separated by two weeks, eased on us the problem of injuries: Fernando, Nel, Julio Rodríguez were out for several weeks, but the separation of matches made it so none of them missed more than two matches at most. Tactically we kept the 4-2-3-1 thorough all that was left of the season with only small changes in each match, be it caused by injury or by assistants' advice. It worked well keeping the unbeaten record up to twelve matches in a row, until Iscar won at our home 0-1, a lucky shot by one of their wingers in a game we dominated. Then we conceded a draw to Bembibre after getting 2-0 ahead, leading us to be only three points ahead of Arandina and same goals for and against before the last match.
Luckily we were facing La Bañeza, team that was mathematically relegated since a couple weeks before and was not a match for us, ending the encounter with an easy 5-0, while Iscar lost a 3-1 advantage to end with a 3-3 drawn.
We ended first again, with the same points than past season, 81.
The playoff pairing forces me to quote some gamers when something strange and bad happens and write the three letters, 'w', 't' and 'f'. We got Barcelona Atlético, dominating first qualified of his group with 91 points. This is really something that should be looked into, first places shouldn't be facing each other.
- By: Ezequiel Valls
Not much to tell since the last update. The spell of good resulsts was recovered in the next matches, with Arandina lagging six points behind, keeping results as good as our team. The spread out of matches, with many separated by two weeks, eased on us the problem of injuries: Fernando, Nel, Julio Rodríguez were out for several weeks, but the separation of matches made it so none of them missed more than two matches at most. Tactically we kept the 4-2-3-1 thorough all that was left of the season with only small changes in each match, be it caused by injury or by assistants' advice. It worked well keeping the unbeaten record up to twelve matches in a row, until Iscar won at our home 0-1, a lucky shot by one of their wingers in a game we dominated. Then we conceded a draw to Bembibre after getting 2-0 ahead, leading us to be only three points ahead of Arandina and same goals for and against before the last match.
Luckily we were facing La Bañeza, team that was mathematically relegated since a couple weeks before and was not a match for us, ending the encounter with an easy 5-0, while Iscar lost a 3-1 advantage to end with a 3-3 drawn.
We ended first again, with the same points than past season, 81.
The playoff pairing forces me to quote some gamers when something strange and bad happens and write the three letters, 'w', 't' and 'f'. We got Barcelona Atlético, dominating first qualified of his group with 91 points. This is really something that should be looked into, first places shouldn't be facing each other.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: YES! YES! YES‼
-By Ezequiel Valls
Faced to Barcelona Atlético, my staff were telling me they do bad against ultra defensive teams with a 4-4-2 formation. But this time I wouldn't take it. I kept the 4-2-3-1 assymetrical and only made it a touch less offensive.
After catalonians being the first to get the ball near the opposition area, our team took the reigns and wouldn't leave them for the full match, creating all the chances and keeping the ball, Barcelona Atlético unable to create any danger and losing the ball shortly after crossing the midfield, using most of their position on their own field. Several chances were created, with two hits in the woodwork during first half, one by Cases, who's been outstanding getting nearly as many goals as Bauzá in just half season, and the other by Bauzá. It didn't feel too well, however, that the goal would come after the opposition goalkeeper stopped a clear chance by Bauzá and then stopped Fernando's kick of the rebound just to have his teammate collect that second rebound and pass the ball to the net. While that made for a nice Comedy Night Show moment, it was a shame that the match would be won on an own goal. Having one man out by a red card by our rivals didn't help us get the second goal, though we had chances.
And next to the final we got... guess who. Club Deportivo Elche Ilicitano (which is like saying C.D. Roma Roman) first qualified on his group, though not as dominantly as Barcelona Atlético. Despite that, it was the match that needed more adjustments during match. to begin with, Carlos Pérez's exhaustion made the need to get Zabalza in the starting lineup and inverting the formation shape, playing the winger on the left and the wide midfielder on the right, as Zabalza isn't as good as left midfielder as Israel can do as right midfielder and he's at his best as left winger position.
While the match I could see he still wasn't getting on the game as much as I wished and that Bauzá was a little lonely, so I told him to take a more aggresive play in the ofensive and so told Israel. Decisions prove right as shortly after Isreal picked up a cross and placed it on the net. I also had to issue orders to close down on the enemy's wingers as they were getting too much space and receiving ball alone too much. It worked, though a counter attack through the middle didn't stop them from scoring and pulling level. No changes were done thoug, save for playing the ball wider and soon Cases got a chance and used it, giving us the lead. Things would be kept same way and only late I would change the formation to a defensive 4-1-4-1, bringing Nel for Zabalza and setting Israel in the left side, Nel in the right and subbing Arias for Bauzá, as his better speed would be more useful now than Bauzás greater intelligence. Finally Bauzá would give us the peace with a free kick goal, the first since I am the manager of Burgos FC! for the 3-1 that would be up the scoresheet at the end of the match.
With that, we're now a Segunda División B team!.
Next season will be the hardest so far, as with the economical straits I will not make any signing, or perhaps a few if they're very cheap, beside Domingo's return to the team as our own player and Regalón we picked from Atlético de Madrid. Any new players will have to be loans from Valencia FC.
-By Ezequiel Valls
Faced to Barcelona Atlético, my staff were telling me they do bad against ultra defensive teams with a 4-4-2 formation. But this time I wouldn't take it. I kept the 4-2-3-1 assymetrical and only made it a touch less offensive.
After catalonians being the first to get the ball near the opposition area, our team took the reigns and wouldn't leave them for the full match, creating all the chances and keeping the ball, Barcelona Atlético unable to create any danger and losing the ball shortly after crossing the midfield, using most of their position on their own field. Several chances were created, with two hits in the woodwork during first half, one by Cases, who's been outstanding getting nearly as many goals as Bauzá in just half season, and the other by Bauzá. It didn't feel too well, however, that the goal would come after the opposition goalkeeper stopped a clear chance by Bauzá and then stopped Fernando's kick of the rebound just to have his teammate collect that second rebound and pass the ball to the net. While that made for a nice Comedy Night Show moment, it was a shame that the match would be won on an own goal. Having one man out by a red card by our rivals didn't help us get the second goal, though we had chances.
And next to the final we got... guess who. Club Deportivo Elche Ilicitano (which is like saying C.D. Roma Roman) first qualified on his group, though not as dominantly as Barcelona Atlético. Despite that, it was the match that needed more adjustments during match. to begin with, Carlos Pérez's exhaustion made the need to get Zabalza in the starting lineup and inverting the formation shape, playing the winger on the left and the wide midfielder on the right, as Zabalza isn't as good as left midfielder as Israel can do as right midfielder and he's at his best as left winger position.
While the match I could see he still wasn't getting on the game as much as I wished and that Bauzá was a little lonely, so I told him to take a more aggresive play in the ofensive and so told Israel. Decisions prove right as shortly after Isreal picked up a cross and placed it on the net. I also had to issue orders to close down on the enemy's wingers as they were getting too much space and receiving ball alone too much. It worked, though a counter attack through the middle didn't stop them from scoring and pulling level. No changes were done thoug, save for playing the ball wider and soon Cases got a chance and used it, giving us the lead. Things would be kept same way and only late I would change the formation to a defensive 4-1-4-1, bringing Nel for Zabalza and setting Israel in the left side, Nel in the right and subbing Arias for Bauzá, as his better speed would be more useful now than Bauzás greater intelligence. Finally Bauzá would give us the peace with a free kick goal, the first since I am the manager of Burgos FC! for the 3-1 that would be up the scoresheet at the end of the match.
With that, we're now a Segunda División B team!.
Next season will be the hardest so far, as with the economical straits I will not make any signing, or perhaps a few if they're very cheap, beside Domingo's return to the team as our own player and Regalón we picked from Atlético de Madrid. Any new players will have to be loans from Valencia FC.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
((Ah, somewhat slow lately, I got a few new games through the nice deals Steam had, so some free time has been taken from FM10. But fast or slow, I'll keep the story up. Hmm, this one is a bit long again, but will keep looking for short posts))
Manager Notebook: Preseason
- By Ezequiel Valls
The return from the holidays presented me with some optimistic signs: the team offered up to thirty thousand euros per week as wage budget, almost double from past season's. Though the transfer was still unexistant. Not a problem as I had no intention to make more signings than the two that had been agreed from the past season: Domingo coming as our own player and Regalón from Atlético de Madrid. Both similar players able to play in any of the back four positions, Regalón not in left fullback, defensive midfield or central midfield.
With such a big wage budget and a higher league, I have the hope, you may call it wishful thinking, that the club's debt may start to shrink.
In the middle of june Sky Bet released the odds and gave us a prediction to end in midtable position. Though I hoped to have enough to aim for that goal, I had initially told the board we'd just fight to keep in the division. Mainly so they wouldn't be putting all that much money just now.
Preseason matches were offers accepted, we didn't make any petition. Now that I think of it, Valencia should have asked a friendly and they didn't. Our deal with them to be our parent club may be broken. They didn't pay us the proper amount. We couldn't loan their players either, the first batch of offers were accepted as contract asked: us not paying anything, but the players refused. The second batch was simply rejected.
Ah well. The schedule was possibly not the best: mostly Preferente teams, thats one division below Tercera, and one team from Tercera.
Just as the friendlies were to begin, I took a look at the team and saw a couple things: that we had more U23 than required, and that being able to call some of them to matches even if unregistered means we had two wasted positions, second that our defense was not up to the new level. Sure, in past preseasons we defeated Segunda B teams, but in the latest months Colina and Gustavo had become way too slow for my taste, while Meroño and Medrano lack aerial power. While we could go back to a Gustavo/Colona-Medrano/Meroño pairing in the centre of the defense, I wouldn't trust it as much as the first season in Tercera, or the second where it could still work.
Therefore, I looked into the transfer list to look for central defenders and a left winger, which we had none of experience after the departure of Nené (he wanted too much money), Carlos Pérez (not worth his wage) and Zabalza (end of loan). We had only youngster Montoya, who can play there, but no back up.
That's how more signings started to come: in the late july, just before the friendlies, we attained the services of Mickaël Gaffour for the defense and the veteran Toni Velamazán for the left wing, if he's slow, I hope he can make up with his experience and know how.
With them in the team we scored an easy 3-0 victory over Preferente Ebro, followed by a shocking defeat to CD Logroñés, also from Preferente. The most shocking was that they dominated the first half, though they needed a bit of luck with their goals, being them long shots.
Those two would have been my final signings, were it not because three players caught my eye in the trialist day: the central defender-defensive midfielder Borja, a tremendously fast player that would be needed when facing the fastest strikers; Pablo Carmona, an AMRC with as much speed that could hopefully help our attack, not only with his speed but also with his greater crossing, which has been a constant problem of the team; and Tasio a central defender that has a good head and is very talented for defense and who can become with training into our best defensive midfielder and making us able to play a defensively reliable flat 4-4-2.
Unfortunately, the no less than six under 23 players at next first of january means we had to discard a couple players that could have been useful. We lose the speed of Meroño, the aerial dominance that Gustavo gave us (yes, I initially planned to keep him, he might not be up to play regularly in this level but in some concrete matches he could have helped us much) and perhaps the most painful was Sergio Arias, whose speed I wanted but posed before the dilemma of losing him or Nel, I finally decided I prefered Nel's intelligence, aerial power and versatility over Sergio Arias' plain speed.
Even with that, later I adjusted budgets so I could bid for two players that were offered by Celta and Levante, a lightning fast striker and a very intelligent midfielder (Samuel and Saulo), but they chose to take other teams' contracts.
Meroño has been given a mutual termination for 45,000€, much cheaper than keeping his wages for two more years. Gustavo I'm having to give for free because nobody bids anything and I'm waiting Arias to sign a contract with another team, which would get him for free again. Teams simply don't want to bid and with the crisis our economy is better saving the wages than trying to wait for good bids.
After that, and with a starting team filled with new players, six out of eleven, the rest of the friendlies didn't go the best way. We had a 2-0 against Antequera and a 6-2 against Santa Comba, two goals received from long ranges, that's a problem we seem to have, a lot of the goals we concede are from afar.
But next to that UPV (Universidad del País Vasco), from Preferente, started with three lucky long shots and ended dominating the match, with our players unable to take advantage of the chances created.
Seeing that I asked my assistant to get a friendly against a lesser team and he got us against Sporting Mahonés, a team from Segunda B. We dominated and created several chances, only to miss them all and end with a not cheering 0-0 before we open the season against Alcorcón.
Our expected starting line up will be:
GK: Aurreko
D: Regalón-Gaffour-Borja-Julio Rodríguez
DM: Txitxo
M: Tasio-Velamazán
AM: Israel-Fernando
ST: Bauzá.
With:
Domingo alternating with Borja/Gafour/Txitxo/Rodríguez
Txitxo taking Tasio's position in some matches.
Nel alternating with Fernando/Israel/Bauzá.
Youngster Álvaro Montoya sub for Velamazán and Daniel González for Regalón.
I must say I am very pleased with how González is progressing. Montoya is also doing very well. Both are first team wothy. González has in fact enjoyed a lot of first team football past season and he performed as well as any team mate.
Manager Notebook: Preseason
- By Ezequiel Valls
The return from the holidays presented me with some optimistic signs: the team offered up to thirty thousand euros per week as wage budget, almost double from past season's. Though the transfer was still unexistant. Not a problem as I had no intention to make more signings than the two that had been agreed from the past season: Domingo coming as our own player and Regalón from Atlético de Madrid. Both similar players able to play in any of the back four positions, Regalón not in left fullback, defensive midfield or central midfield.
With such a big wage budget and a higher league, I have the hope, you may call it wishful thinking, that the club's debt may start to shrink.
In the middle of june Sky Bet released the odds and gave us a prediction to end in midtable position. Though I hoped to have enough to aim for that goal, I had initially told the board we'd just fight to keep in the division. Mainly so they wouldn't be putting all that much money just now.
Preseason matches were offers accepted, we didn't make any petition. Now that I think of it, Valencia should have asked a friendly and they didn't. Our deal with them to be our parent club may be broken. They didn't pay us the proper amount. We couldn't loan their players either, the first batch of offers were accepted as contract asked: us not paying anything, but the players refused. The second batch was simply rejected.
Ah well. The schedule was possibly not the best: mostly Preferente teams, thats one division below Tercera, and one team from Tercera.
Just as the friendlies were to begin, I took a look at the team and saw a couple things: that we had more U23 than required, and that being able to call some of them to matches even if unregistered means we had two wasted positions, second that our defense was not up to the new level. Sure, in past preseasons we defeated Segunda B teams, but in the latest months Colina and Gustavo had become way too slow for my taste, while Meroño and Medrano lack aerial power. While we could go back to a Gustavo/Colona-Medrano/Meroño pairing in the centre of the defense, I wouldn't trust it as much as the first season in Tercera, or the second where it could still work.
Therefore, I looked into the transfer list to look for central defenders and a left winger, which we had none of experience after the departure of Nené (he wanted too much money), Carlos Pérez (not worth his wage) and Zabalza (end of loan). We had only youngster Montoya, who can play there, but no back up.
That's how more signings started to come: in the late july, just before the friendlies, we attained the services of Mickaël Gaffour for the defense and the veteran Toni Velamazán for the left wing, if he's slow, I hope he can make up with his experience and know how.
With them in the team we scored an easy 3-0 victory over Preferente Ebro, followed by a shocking defeat to CD Logroñés, also from Preferente. The most shocking was that they dominated the first half, though they needed a bit of luck with their goals, being them long shots.
Those two would have been my final signings, were it not because three players caught my eye in the trialist day: the central defender-defensive midfielder Borja, a tremendously fast player that would be needed when facing the fastest strikers; Pablo Carmona, an AMRC with as much speed that could hopefully help our attack, not only with his speed but also with his greater crossing, which has been a constant problem of the team; and Tasio a central defender that has a good head and is very talented for defense and who can become with training into our best defensive midfielder and making us able to play a defensively reliable flat 4-4-2.
Unfortunately, the no less than six under 23 players at next first of january means we had to discard a couple players that could have been useful. We lose the speed of Meroño, the aerial dominance that Gustavo gave us (yes, I initially planned to keep him, he might not be up to play regularly in this level but in some concrete matches he could have helped us much) and perhaps the most painful was Sergio Arias, whose speed I wanted but posed before the dilemma of losing him or Nel, I finally decided I prefered Nel's intelligence, aerial power and versatility over Sergio Arias' plain speed.
Even with that, later I adjusted budgets so I could bid for two players that were offered by Celta and Levante, a lightning fast striker and a very intelligent midfielder (Samuel and Saulo), but they chose to take other teams' contracts.
Meroño has been given a mutual termination for 45,000€, much cheaper than keeping his wages for two more years. Gustavo I'm having to give for free because nobody bids anything and I'm waiting Arias to sign a contract with another team, which would get him for free again. Teams simply don't want to bid and with the crisis our economy is better saving the wages than trying to wait for good bids.
After that, and with a starting team filled with new players, six out of eleven, the rest of the friendlies didn't go the best way. We had a 2-0 against Antequera and a 6-2 against Santa Comba, two goals received from long ranges, that's a problem we seem to have, a lot of the goals we concede are from afar.
But next to that UPV (Universidad del País Vasco), from Preferente, started with three lucky long shots and ended dominating the match, with our players unable to take advantage of the chances created.
Seeing that I asked my assistant to get a friendly against a lesser team and he got us against Sporting Mahonés, a team from Segunda B. We dominated and created several chances, only to miss them all and end with a not cheering 0-0 before we open the season against Alcorcón.
Our expected starting line up will be:
GK: Aurreko
D: Regalón-Gaffour-Borja-Julio Rodríguez
DM: Txitxo
M: Tasio-Velamazán
AM: Israel-Fernando
ST: Bauzá.
With:
Domingo alternating with Borja/Gafour/Txitxo/Rodríguez
Txitxo taking Tasio's position in some matches.
Nel alternating with Fernando/Israel/Bauzá.
Youngster Álvaro Montoya sub for Velamazán and Daniel González for Regalón.
I must say I am very pleased with how González is progressing. Montoya is also doing very well. Both are first team wothy. González has in fact enjoyed a lot of first team football past season and he performed as well as any team mate.
Last edited:
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
DIARIO DE BURGOS. ENGLISH EDITION XD
- By Ramón Tarque
It has not been a good start for Burgos CF, but who would have expected otherwise?. they have met two of the group's favourite teams, Alcorcón and Palencia. two teams that share a proliferation of lightning fast players, which lack is one of the marks of Burgos, even if the manager has worked to bring a little more to the defense.
Burgos defense may have just enough to deal with their attacks when they've been built at a calm speed, but they are left alone when the midfielders ahead of them aren't able to properly keep up to their marks, forcing the defensive line to break shape.
If you ask me, Valls can be happy they managed to score two goals against Alcorcón, and they could have got something from the Palencia game without that unfortunate first half penalty by Txitxo. The signs are there that this team can aim for something more than just avoid relegation, despite their last position in the table; despite the defeat, they fought Palencia face to face and created some good chances, the better if you ask me. It was unjust to have that second game to end 2-1 against them, a drawn would have been more just, and even a Burgos win would have been right.
I say we will see los burgaleses rise soon from the bottom places.
If there's something I would say was not right from the last match, once Rodríguez is back from his injury, is keeping Regalón in the right fullback position as he lacks passing and is doesn't really have what it's needed for that position. Placing Domingo there would be a better choice, even Daniel González, their young fullback would do a better job. The team can't be subjected to a play by decree of one player just because it came from a big team like Atlético de Madrid.
Perhaps, one would say Valls should not give to romanticism and accept that perhaps, despite what he's given, Txitxo should not be the starting player in the defensive midfield in favour of Domingo, in a team with González as fullback, and have him sharing duties as central midfielder with Tasio in terms of equality.
- By Ramón Tarque
It has not been a good start for Burgos CF, but who would have expected otherwise?. they have met two of the group's favourite teams, Alcorcón and Palencia. two teams that share a proliferation of lightning fast players, which lack is one of the marks of Burgos, even if the manager has worked to bring a little more to the defense.
Burgos defense may have just enough to deal with their attacks when they've been built at a calm speed, but they are left alone when the midfielders ahead of them aren't able to properly keep up to their marks, forcing the defensive line to break shape.
If you ask me, Valls can be happy they managed to score two goals against Alcorcón, and they could have got something from the Palencia game without that unfortunate first half penalty by Txitxo. The signs are there that this team can aim for something more than just avoid relegation, despite their last position in the table; despite the defeat, they fought Palencia face to face and created some good chances, the better if you ask me. It was unjust to have that second game to end 2-1 against them, a drawn would have been more just, and even a Burgos win would have been right.
I say we will see los burgaleses rise soon from the bottom places.
If there's something I would say was not right from the last match, once Rodríguez is back from his injury, is keeping Regalón in the right fullback position as he lacks passing and is doesn't really have what it's needed for that position. Placing Domingo there would be a better choice, even Daniel González, their young fullback would do a better job. The team can't be subjected to a play by decree of one player just because it came from a big team like Atlético de Madrid.
Perhaps, one would say Valls should not give to romanticism and accept that perhaps, despite what he's given, Txitxo should not be the starting player in the defensive midfield in favour of Domingo, in a team with González as fullback, and have him sharing duties as central midfielder with Tasio in terms of equality.
Death Ball
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2009
- Messages
- 2,334
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Manager Notebook: Life at the bottom
- By Ezequiel Valls
Things have not gone as well as initially thought, though there's still a good enough level of hope for the future. So far our first matches have been mostly against team that seemed to be one level higher up, typically with a lot of lightning fast players and with no few of a quality our team can barely dream about.
Pontevedra passed over us with a 2-0 match. Next against relegation play off Gimnástica had us having to come back from a 0-2 to a 2-2, a bit of a pity as it was two corner goals we received in a match otherwise we had been superior. That result saw us move to nineteenth position on goal average.
I began then to consider a change on tactics, but seeing as our next match had us faced against our fellow promoted Arandina I decided it was worth to keep the tactic that worked so well in our previous level, but it didn't work, even if we dominated again, they beat us with a close 0-1. Five days, one point, things looked pretty bad.
So I decided it was time to change tactics and looking at my squad I opted for a 4-3-2-1, with Rodríguez, Baró as cover, Gaffoor as stopper and González on defense; Velamazán, Tasio and Israel in midfield; Fernando (playmaker) and Nel (trequartista) in the attacking midfielder; Bauzá as target man because of his mental talents.
With that we faced Guadalajara on their home, I took an offensive plan, which didn't work so good, having them get ahead and needing a bit of luck to have Israel equalising in the 84th minute. We returned to the 19th position the previous defeat got us to. not bad, since our opposition seemed a Liga Adelante level team.
There was a very bad news: early in the match Nel got an injury and he's out for several weeks. But the week saw a very nice news that got us anxious to get to first of December, when we can register him: we've signed José María Cases!, he was left on a free by Valencia, he was our best man during his spell with us, a lot of goals, an intelligent midfielder we started to convert to a striker and we'll keep doing so. And lightning fast. He'll give us a lot of punch, perhaps with him we'll change to a 4-4-2, though he could play in Nel's (now Carmona's) position.
The next match pitted us against Celta B, at last one team with players at our level. It was a sour match. We got ahead relatively early with a shot by Bauzá and less offensive outlook. Soon later a long shot by Taasio hit the woodwork. We dominated, we created all the chances; but in 61st minute a lucky cross to the post was headed by their in principle not good in the air striker for a 1-1. A later goal by Velamazán was unjustly disallowed on grounds of an offside, though not that bad since I think Bauzás goal was offisde too. But still, it was a match I feel we should have won. Instead we went down to last place with 3 points.
That match was followed by a face off against Cerceda, who were fellows of three points sitting 19th position. A great chance to get ahead and a first victory. We started more offensive as they were known to concede early; we dominated, created more and more chances, but only got two woodworks. But when the first half was close to an end, finally we got the goal, given by Bauzá. We kept the dominance and after the half of the half passed, two more goals came, by Carmona and a second by Bauzá, giving us the three points with a 3-0 and lifting us to seventeenth position, one point behind Zamora, our next rivals.
And it was another brilliant game, in which Bauzá recovered from a poor first half to become the best man of the match. We got a 3-1 victory, after they drawn with a free kick headed by their midfielder and Fernando made his answer with a direct free kick to the net. Finally Velamazán finally made a goal that wasn't disallowed like the three he's made before. A result that sees us up to fourteeth position and out of relegation, finally.
- By Ezequiel Valls
Things have not gone as well as initially thought, though there's still a good enough level of hope for the future. So far our first matches have been mostly against team that seemed to be one level higher up, typically with a lot of lightning fast players and with no few of a quality our team can barely dream about.
Pontevedra passed over us with a 2-0 match. Next against relegation play off Gimnástica had us having to come back from a 0-2 to a 2-2, a bit of a pity as it was two corner goals we received in a match otherwise we had been superior. That result saw us move to nineteenth position on goal average.
I began then to consider a change on tactics, but seeing as our next match had us faced against our fellow promoted Arandina I decided it was worth to keep the tactic that worked so well in our previous level, but it didn't work, even if we dominated again, they beat us with a close 0-1. Five days, one point, things looked pretty bad.
So I decided it was time to change tactics and looking at my squad I opted for a 4-3-2-1, with Rodríguez, Baró as cover, Gaffoor as stopper and González on defense; Velamazán, Tasio and Israel in midfield; Fernando (playmaker) and Nel (trequartista) in the attacking midfielder; Bauzá as target man because of his mental talents.
With that we faced Guadalajara on their home, I took an offensive plan, which didn't work so good, having them get ahead and needing a bit of luck to have Israel equalising in the 84th minute. We returned to the 19th position the previous defeat got us to. not bad, since our opposition seemed a Liga Adelante level team.
There was a very bad news: early in the match Nel got an injury and he's out for several weeks. But the week saw a very nice news that got us anxious to get to first of December, when we can register him: we've signed José María Cases!, he was left on a free by Valencia, he was our best man during his spell with us, a lot of goals, an intelligent midfielder we started to convert to a striker and we'll keep doing so. And lightning fast. He'll give us a lot of punch, perhaps with him we'll change to a 4-4-2, though he could play in Nel's (now Carmona's) position.
The next match pitted us against Celta B, at last one team with players at our level. It was a sour match. We got ahead relatively early with a shot by Bauzá and less offensive outlook. Soon later a long shot by Taasio hit the woodwork. We dominated, we created all the chances; but in 61st minute a lucky cross to the post was headed by their in principle not good in the air striker for a 1-1. A later goal by Velamazán was unjustly disallowed on grounds of an offside, though not that bad since I think Bauzás goal was offisde too. But still, it was a match I feel we should have won. Instead we went down to last place with 3 points.
That match was followed by a face off against Cerceda, who were fellows of three points sitting 19th position. A great chance to get ahead and a first victory. We started more offensive as they were known to concede early; we dominated, created more and more chances, but only got two woodworks. But when the first half was close to an end, finally we got the goal, given by Bauzá. We kept the dominance and after the half of the half passed, two more goals came, by Carmona and a second by Bauzá, giving us the three points with a 3-0 and lifting us to seventeenth position, one point behind Zamora, our next rivals.
And it was another brilliant game, in which Bauzá recovered from a poor first half to become the best man of the match. We got a 3-1 victory, after they drawn with a free kick headed by their midfielder and Fernando made his answer with a direct free kick to the net. Finally Velamazán finally made a goal that wasn't disallowed like the three he's made before. A result that sees us up to fourteeth position and out of relegation, finally.