The Alphabet Challenge

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November 2011

Huesca 0-7 Xerez
(Pandiani 3, Cabrero og, Velez 3)
Velez and Pandiani ran riot against bottom of the table Huesca. Baptista so nearly made it 3 goals in his last 3 games with a sensational free kick on his return to the side after suspension.
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Sporting (4)3-3(6) Xerez (Spanish Cup 4th Rnd second leg)
(Velez 3)
(*Pandiani sent off)
I feared the worst against 3rd in BBVA side Sporting when Pandiani was sent off early on but thanks to a defensive howler and world class chip from Velez we took control of the tie. Sporting pushed forward and we were hanging on but Velez's third goal and Barral's red card for Sporting stemmed the tide. Pandiani will be suspended for the next Spanish cup game, although we have been drawn against Espanyol (Pandiani's parent club) so he wouldn't be eligible anyway.
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Xerez 2-0 Gimnastic
(Jose Mari, Velez)
A strong performance as we saw of Gimnastic at home with a bit to spare.
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Cartagena 0-3 Xerez
(Velez, Pandiani, Tato)
The scoreline flattered us a little, this was close game, we just took our chances.
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Xerez 0-0 Hercules
(None)
A dull game with little goalmouth action. 0-0 a fair result as neither side did enough to win.
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Pleased how its going. We ended November 8points clear at the top of Adelante and still in the Spanish cup.
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Player of the Month:
Inigo Velez
A flurry of goals from Velez saw him net 8 times in 5 games inculding two hattricks.
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November 2011 Transfer news

Transfer News:
Shortly before the Sporting 3-3 game we signed a Nigerian right back named Chidi Odiah on a free transfer. As with Rafa Jorda before him, Odiah will have to wait until December to be registered for Adelante games. Unregistered player can however play in the Spanish cup and Odiah was thrown in at the deep end against Sporting. An experienced international player is a great coup for the club.
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I like the look of this challenge Triv, I wont be doing it myself but its certainly an interesting one to follow and watch, keep it up!
 
December 2011

Xerez 2-3 Barcelona 'B'
(Pandiani 2)
We dominated much of the game but lacked the decisiveness of a player of Rafinha's quality. He tore us apart single handedly with a second half hattrick.
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Murcia 1-2 Xerez
(Pandiani, Jose Mari)
Pleased we got back to winning ways after one point in the last two games. Could have won by more but for wastefulness in front of goal again.
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Girona 1-3 Xerez
(Jose Mari, Pandiani 2)
We dominated a poor Girona side, they didn't even register a shot on target although we did gift them a goal.
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Xerez 3-0 Espanyol (Spanish Cup 5th Rnd first leg)
(Baptista 2, Rueda)
Despite being without our two top scorers Velez and Pandiani through suspension i was quietly confident going into this game. Espanyol gave away an early penalty and offered almost nothing after going behind. Baptista stole the show with this incredible free kick - his best yet!
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Just the four games in December as Adelante goes on its three week winter break. Another strong performance in the cup is extremely pleasing. Jorda and Odiah were registered at the start of the month with the latter starting all 4 games in December. Currently top of Adelante by 7 points.
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Player of the Month:
Jose Mari
Three goals in four games and some vital assists.
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​
 
January 2012

Espanyol ( 1 )1-2 ( 5 ) Xerez (Spanish Cup 5th cup second leg)
(Rueda, Baptista)
Saw off Espanyol with a hard fought 2-1 win to go through 5-2 on aggregate.
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Xerez 1-0 Las Palmas
(Pandiani)
For all our efforts in this game it didn't look like a goal was coming. Thankfully Pandiani delivered.
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Real Madrid 0-0 Xerez (Spanish Cup Qtr Final first leg)
(None)
Not the strongest Real Madrid team you'll ever see but what a performance we put in!! Clean through on four occasions we hit the post every time!! The game was surprisingly even and given those chances spurned we were unlucky not to win! Madrid team fielded such names as Benzema, Ramos, Casillas and Di Maria.
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Numancia 0-1 Xerez
(Baptista)
Never truly threatened by Numancia, we struggled to breakthrough. A touch of class from Baptista settled the game - another free kick.
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Xerez ( 3 )3-2( 2) Real Madrid (Spanish Cup Qtr final second leg)
(Jose Mari, Pandiani, Velez)
I can't remember the last time i felt as nervous as i did before this game. Convinced i would rue the missed chances from the first leg and expecting Real Madrid to field a stronger side. They did, but only marginally - in came Higuain for Benzema, Khedira started and Ozil and Alonso came on later in the game. Ramos, Albiol, Casillas and Di Maria kept their places from the first leg. Thanks to Khedira's straight red we pulled off a minor miracle. Six, clear cut chances!!!
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Was our win the biggest shock of the Qtr final or the Sevilla vs Barcelona result?
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Xerez 2-0 Alcoyano
(Pandiani, Jorda)
After the Madrid excitement came a routine win against Alcoyano. Three league clean sheets in a row. Jorda's first Xerez goal.
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Xerez 4-1 Racing(Spanish Cup Semi Final first leg)
(Pandiani 2, Velez, Tato)
If we can beat Real Madrid, why shouldn't we beat Racing? That was my mindset pre-game. It was all too comfortable and plainly obvious that the big teams in Spain do not care much for the Spanish cup - not in the same way we regard the FA cup in England. Great chance of making the final following this rout.
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Transfer News:
Before the Recreativo i signed Portuguese teenager Americo Mendes from Vit. Setubal for 45k. He want straight into the starting line up despite being raw, simply because left back Mandoza had played every game and was getting very tired. Mendes became Xerez's record signing at 45k and against Recreativo became Xerez's youngest ever player at 16 years 347 days.
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Xerez 3-2 Recreativo
(Pandiani 3)
We almost blew a three goal lead but hung on to claim the three points our performance warranted against lowly Recreativo.
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A sensational month - League games to a back seat, giving way to a series of incredible cup performances. Half way there to the Spanish cup final and now 12 points clear at the top of Adelante.
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Player of the Month:
Walter Pandiani
Pandiani was again on fire, more so towards the end of the month. Ending up with 8 goals in 8 games.
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February 2012

Racing ( 3 ) 2-0 ( 4 ) Xerez (Spanish Cup Semi Final secon leg)
(None)
I don't know enough about Racing or their players to know if they fielded a stronger side in the second leg but they hammered us. They had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside - that goal would have seen them through to the final on away goals. My goalkeeper had a rare good day, we were hanging on big time. Immensely proud of the team making it to the final against Sevilla. I fear our luck will run out in the final, i cant see Sevilla fielding a weak side in a cup final.
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Cordoba 1-4 Xerez
(Jorda 3, Tato)
We rested a few of the regulars who had been playing non-stop through the cup run and gave Jorda a run out. Certainly wasn't expecting the performance from the team or player.
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Xerez 4-0 Deportivo
(Jose Mari 2, Baptista 2)
Jorda kept his place after his Cordoba hattrick and was disappointing. Fortunately the rest of the team had a day to remember, crushing Deportivo.
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Xerez 5-0 Elche
(Jorda 3, Mendes, Tato)
Still sticking with Jorda instead of the resting Pandiani, a second hattrick in three games. Teenage left back Americo Mendes fluked his was in to the record books, becoming Xerez youngest ever goalscorer at 17years and 3 days when his miss-hit cross went in.
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Sabadell 0-0 Xerez
(None)
For this game i rested Jorda, who was tired from playing three games in quick succession and also kept Pandiani out again. Still had Inigo Velez on the pitch but he seems to be struggling for goals, A poor game with lots of fouls.
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Reached the Spanish cup final and won three from four in the league. We couldn't stop scoring before the Sabadell game. Pandiani has had a good three week rest and should be raring to go for the run in.
Unfortunately i didnt save game at the end of February so i don't have a league table SS.
We're top by a distance.

Player of the Month:
Rafa Jorda
He only played three games but scored 2 hattricks to finish the month with six goals.
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March 2012

Celta 1-3 Xerez
(Herrero, Velez 2)
Had to come from behind to win this game. was nice to see Velez back amongst the goals at last.
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Xerez 5-1 Valldolid
(Velez 3, Jorda, Baptista)
We probably didn't deserve to win by four goals but Velez has found his mojo.
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Almeria 0-3 Xerez
(Velez 2, Tato)
A comfortable away win as our run continues.
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Xerez 5-0 Villarreal 'B'
(Velez 3, Mendes, Pandiani)
A comfortable win over the weakest side in the division. Velez can't stop scoring! Mendes scored another fluked cross and some chap called Pandiani scored, remember him? Pandiani's first goal for two months.
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A great month winning all four games comfortably. Velez on fire. Only four games in March partly due to the Guadalajara vs Xerez fixture being postponed thanks to a waterlogged pitch.
Closing in on the Adelante title.
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Player of the Month:
Inigo Velez
10 goals in 4 games. Nuff said.
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this is awesome Triv keep going! How are you getting pandiani to play so well?!
 
April 2012

Xerez 3-0 Huesca
(Jorda 2, Tato)
Incredibly easy win against soon to be relegated Huesca.
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Guadalajara 0-3 Xerez
(Jorda 3)
February player of the month was back amongst the goals in this comfortable win.
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Alcorcon 1-3 Xerez
(Pandiani, Jorda 2)
This result puts us just three points away from winning liga adelante.
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Gimnastic 0-0 Xerez
(None)
Perhaps foolishly we fielded a strong team to win the game and seal the title. I didn't work and almost ended in disaster with Pandiani picking up an injury three days before the Spanish cup final - thankfully just a concussion.
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Sevilla 2-3(aet) Xerez (Spanish Cup Final)
(Pandiani 2, Herrero)
Wow!! We got battered right from the off and when Navas scored i thought it would be the first of many. We clung on and on the stroke of half time Pandiani equalised with just our second shot. This changed the game and it was a much more even second half. We scored early in the second half but Kanoute, giving my defence a torrid time, finally got a goal he deserved. Into extra time, we look spent. Sevilla werent creating much but were camped in my half. We somehow got the ball forward and scored a late winner on the counter.
Pandiani started the game 88% fit, dunno what it was by the end but i think he's dead.
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Xerex 3-0 Cartagena
(Jorda 3)
With most of the cup final 11 rested Jorda again showed what he can do at this level with his fourth hattrick for Xerez. This result sealed the adelante title for us.
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Hercules 1-3 Xerez
(Herrero, Jose Mari, Pandiani)
We were sloppy in the first half, Hercules unlucky not to lead at half time. A more incisive second half sealed the points.
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What a month! Won two trophies, sealed promotion and european qualification.
I never dreamt of this success, i hoped we could be in the promotion hunt but the consistency we have shown in the league has amazed me. Pleasing to make it up first time of asking too as i'm trying to win the top division with this team, didn't want to be languishing down in adelante for too long. Now we have to try and stay up.


Player of the Month:
Rafa Jorda
I nearly gave this to Pandiani for his half-fit heroics in the cup final but the sheer amount of goals Jorda scored cannot be ignored. 10 goals in six games.
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May/June 2012

Xerez 0-0 Murcia
(None)
Frustratingly wasteful in front of goal, could and should have won this game by two or three.
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Barcelona 'B' 1-2 Xerez
(Baptista, Pandiani)
We were a bit wasteful with our chances again but looked comfortable at 2-0 until a late goal from Barca gave them a sniff of a draw.
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Xerez 2-0 Girona
(Jorda, Tato)
Again we were by far the stronger side on the day, this time the scoreline just about showed it although i sense complacency in our play at times with nothing left to play for.
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Xerez 1-3 Numancia
(Jose Mari)
Probably our worst performance of the season. It was a tight game, Numancia took their chances, we did not.
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Las Palmas 2-2 Xerez
(Velez, Capi)
We put in a better performance than the previous game and can consider ourselves unlucky to draw. Las Palmas had 2 shots on target - 2 goals. A goalkeeper is a priority for next season.
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Alcoyano 1-3 Xerez
(Velez, Pandiani 2)
After a few patchy performances it was nice to finish the season with a win. I'm pleased for Pandiani getting the final goal of the season, a moment to celebrate in his final game for us. He scored his 46th and 47th goals of the season in this game. Walter, you will be missed.
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Player of the Month:
(Joao Baptista)
I don't have a lot to base this award on except his performances for us this season have been vital. Some amazing free kick goals along the way. He wasn't available for the last two games of the season as he was called up to Portugal U19s and then to the Portugal full squad making his debut on June 2nd against Italy. I have an option to buy him for just 250k but i can't afford that.
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Wow, what a season - when i started this i wasn't expecting this success.
Xerez had thier best ever season, winning Liga Adelante for the second time ever and winning their first major trophy with the Spanish Cup. Qualifying for european competition for the first time.
Setting Adelante records: highest number of team points (105), highest number of team goals (109) and fewest conceded team goals (31), winning most games in a row (9) and the most games unbeaten (23).
Pandiani and Velez were the two top scorers in adelante with Jorda 5th (P:34, V:24, J:19).
Baptista and Velez were 1st and 3rd in assist chart (B:20, V:17)
Velez and Pandiani were 1st and 3rd in MoM chart (V:10, P:8)
And Velez, Pandiani, Jorda and Baptista had the top four average ratings, in that order.
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Player of the Season:
Inigo Velez
A tough call between Velez and Pandiani. Whilst Pandiani grabbed the headline amount of goals, Velez wasn't many goals behind and his all round play was better, racking up a lot of assists .
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Summer Transfers 2012

Season Expectations:
​
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With Xerez having virtually no history in Spain's top division the board don't have any lofty expectations just because we won a trophy last season. I chose the highlighted 'top half finish' this perhaps puts me under pressure to get results but, on the back of our performances against teams in this division in last seasons cup run, i have confidence the top half is achievable.
Our media predicted position at the end of the season is 20th, a touch unfair given that we were head and shoulders above every other team in adelante last season so why are we predicted lower than Valladolid and Hercules? Our odds of winning the title are a whopping 2000/1.​


Meet the new guys:

Iliasu Shilla
​
Age:28 - Nationality: Ghana - Postion: DC
From: Free Transfer - Fee: N/A - Date: 8/2/12
Actually a signing from last season but i wasn't able to register him to play. He was offered to me by an agent, gave him a quick scout and the report said he's better than first choice DC pair Autet and Robuste so i snapped him up even though i knew he wouldn't play until the new season.​
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Joao Baptista​

Age: 19 - Nationality: Portugal - Position: MC
From: Braga - Fee: 250k - Date: 1/7/12
The first thing i did as soon as the board gave me the new budget was take up the option we had in place to sign Baptista on a permanent basis. He looks like he'll be world class and i will look to build the title winning side around this kid.​
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Albano Bizzarri
​
Age: 34 - Nationality: Argentina - Postition: GK
From: Lazio - Fee: 300k - Date: 8/7/12
With my first choice keeper Doblas only being a loanee + **** and the two keepers in the first team being worse than Doblas it was essential i signed a keeper, preferably two. So when Lazio offered me their unhappy reserve keeper for 300k i delightfully took up their offer. Although i have my eyes on Diego Lopez of relegated Villarreal i'm not going to pay 5m for him.​
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Tiago Gomes
​
Age: 27 - Nationality: Portugal - Position: MC
From: Free Transfer - Fee: N/A - Date: 8/7/12
Signed on the same day as Bizzarri, Gomes was offered to me by an agent. Available on a free following his release from Hercules. He played 30 league games for them last season as they were promoted along with us so for them not to want/need him could mean he's not great but on a free he's worth a risk - could always sell him if it doesn't work out, worth 1.7m already.
​
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I spent the next couple of weeks trying, maybe too ambitiously, a series of proven names. With Villarreal relegated there were a few players there that took my fancy: Gonzalez, Bruno, Marcano, Nilmar, Rossi and keeper Lopez.
Gonzalez spoke to me but chose Fiorentina, Bruno spoke to me and chose Udinese, Decided not to make a bit for Marcano, Nilmar's asking price was 9m - too expensive, Lopez's price was coming down from 5m to 4m, failed in attempts to loan him. Rossi was available for loan and Villarreal accepted an loan offer from us (50% wages) but he turned us down. I tried again but second time round Leverkusen stuck their noses in and Rossi chose the German side over us.
Bar far the biggest name on our 'realistic targets' list was Javier Pastore, PSG had a mare and finished 11th in Ligue 1. I tried to loan him (40%) wages, PSG accepted, Pastore said **** no. I tried again, similar to the Rossi bids a pesky German team got involved second time around and guess where he went...
**** YOU, STUTTGART.
We failed in signing Brazilian right back Fagner in a 2m deal he chose Wolfsburg over us.
Also tried several other 'realistic' loans: Savic, De Bruyne, Coquelin, Woods, Wickham, D.Fletcher...

Connor Wickham
Age: 19 - Nationality: England - Postition: ST
From: Sunderland - Fee: Loan - Date: 22/7/12
Frankly something of a relief when Wickham signed, begun to wonder if i'd sign anymore players with so many turning me down.
​
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Mario Mandzukic
Age: 26 - Nationality: Croatia - Position: ST
From: Wolfsburg - Fee: 4m - Date: 24/7/12
Hallelujah!!! a player who chose us over Germany. Unhappy at Wolfsburg, a snip at 4m, surprised nobody else made bids for him. Very excited about this signing.
​
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Diego Rubio
Age: 19 - Nationality: Chile - Position: ST
From: Sporting Lisbon - Fee: 3m - Date: 1/8/12
Rubio is an exciting talent. I've not heard of him before, until an agent offered him to me. Looks like he could be a star.
​
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Emiliano Insua
​
Age: 23 - Nationality: Argentina - Position: DL
From: Sporting Lisbon - Fee: 2.1m - Date: 1/8/12
I'm delighted to seal the signing of Insua, after failing in my attempts to sign Ricardo Rodriguez. Left back was a bit of a problem area with last season's first choice Jesus Mendoza having turned 35 and not good enough for Liga BBVA and teenager Americo Mendes not yet ready for the step up in class.​
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Ludovic Giuly
Age: 36 - Nationality: France - Postition: MC/ST
From: Monaco - Fee: 100k - Date: 1/8/12
Giuly made it three signings in one day, i see him as a backup to the first team players, either MC or ST. Offered to us by the club (Monaco) and not his agent. Should be good with the youngsters.
​
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Walter Pandiani​

Age: 36 - Nationality: Uruguay - Position: ST
From: Espanyol - Fee: Loan 45k - Date: 4/8/12
After signing Giuly, which was unplanned, i thought 'why not re-sign Pandiani?' I previously decided against it because of his age but having signed Giuly at the same age, i had a re-think. Preferring to sign on loan again due to the fees involved, Espanyol were looking for 400k for transfer and only 45k + 50% wages for a loan deal.
​
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Chris Wood
Age: 20 - Nationality: New Zealand - Position: ST
From: West Brom - Fee: Loan - Date: 5/8/12
Yep, another striker. The kid's got potential, if i can help him nurture his talent while he helps us with our top half table aim then everyone's a winner. Unlikely to be first choice.
​
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Diego Lopez
Age: 30 - Nationality: Spain - Position: GK
From: Villarreal - Fee: 2.4m - Date: 6/8/12
Good things come to those who wait. After around 500 hundred bids being rejected i gave up on signing Lopez. He requested a transfer and was then offered out to us for 2.4m, less than the 3m they had been rejecting for the last month. We not have 2 decent keepers.
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Malkhaz Asatiani
Age: 31 - Nationality: Georgia - Position: DC
From: Marseille - Fee 250k - Date: 7/8/12
Never heard of this guy. OM offered him to me, i signed him. My coaches rated him as my strongest DC upon his arrival, ahead of Shilla, Robuste and Autet.
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Andrea Poli
Age: 22 - Nationality: Italy - Position: MC
From: Sampdoria - Fee: 1.8m - Date: 8/8/12
For some reason unbeknown to me, neither Inter (where he was on loan last season) or Sampdoria (back in Serie A for the new season) wanted Poli. Rotting in the reserves transfer listed, we made a derisory bid and Sampdoria sold up. Samporia fans were ****** off, my fans (and me) delighted. Is there something i should know about him? Until i find out, i'm happy.
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Jonathan Bottinelli
Age: 27 - Nationality: Argentina - Position: DC
From: San Lorenzo - Fee: 2.4m - Date:13/8/12
Bottinelli adds considerable strength to our back line, a quality signing.
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Simone Perrotta
Age: 34 - Nationality: Italy - Position: DM
From: Roma - Fee: 150k - Date: 19/8/12
Past his best but will be good for us. Offered to us by Roma for peanuts.
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David Mateos
Age: 25 - Nationality: Spain - Position DC
From: Real Madrid - Fee: 130k - Date: 20/8/12
Mateos joins us after failing to make it at Real for a number of years. Desperate to move him on Real offered him to us for just 130k. We now have four DC stronger than last season's first choice pair of Robuste and Autet - Botinelli, Mateos, Asianti and Shilla.
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David Cortes
Age: 33 - Nationality: Spain - Position: DR
From: Granada - Fee: 275k - Date: 21/8/12
Cortes strengthens the weak right back area. We were offered him by Granada last season but we had no money to sign him. After failing to sign Fagner we were struggling to find a suitable right back. When Granada offered him to us again we snapped him up. He's not great but he's better than what we already have.
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That concludes the summer signings. A total of 17 new faces signed for 17m. With Shilla also being registered for the new season this makes 18 new players in my 25 man squad. So who are the lucky seven who got retained?
Miquel Robuste
Chidi Odiah
Bruno Herrero
Mikel Rico
Jose Manuel Rueda
Inigo Velez
Rafa Jorda
And of course Baptista and Pandiani remain from last season's squad under their new deals.

I wont go into detail over the players that have left. This picture shows who came and went, making 9m from sales so net transfer spend just 8m.
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YES! what a great save also little tip if you are doing well around march April time say 5-7th bigger name players will want to join as they like your clubs league standing :)
 
I'm still following, some quality signings you've made there, Poli for £1.8m, wow.
 
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