2011\12 Pre Season Report:
So, we were now where we deserved to be, in with the big boys or Real Madrid, Barcelona and co. I fully expect a difficult season, and so do the board, asking me to fight bravely against relegation with 1.8million to spend and 400k for wages. i said i could survive, ther next step up from fight bravely and my budget was upped slightly and i was given 500k for wages.
The media gave me no hope either with title odds of 1000-1, it dawned on me that we really were minnows up against world stars like messi and raul. I had faith in my boys though and felt we could take many teams by surprise.
First stop of course was bolton reserves for Saviola, my dreams were dashed when my £1.8mill bid was accepted but Javier said no. Determined to get my man i praised him in the media and submitted a loan bid with a £2million future fee attached. Both parties accepted and Javier flew into Leon and was greeted with adoration from the fans!!! I had finally got my man, Miller and Saviola united at last. I really felt that with a world class forward on board i could take La Cultu on to much bigger things!!! Saviola came out in the media saying he hoped his loan move might one day become permenant. Many of the clubs youngsters feel honoured to be at the same club as Saviola and i instantly had him tutoring youg gun Nicolas Millan
I took the likes of ruud van nistelrooy and ben foster on trial but both opted to decline a permenant deal and chose football elsewhere. My other major coup was Javi Garcia, a 24 year old defensive midfielder to replace the ageing matabuena, secured on a free from Real Madrid.
Giovani dos Santos's little brother jonathan was signed from Barca B and sent on loan, one for the future. I also signed Jorge Riberio and Pau Cendros as long term replacements for my full backs. they are in their mid 20s ang good enough now, so i have too many full backs really but i wanted insurance in case 34 year olds pernia and lauren suffered major setbacks. A day after securing Saviola from Bolton, they came back with a 1.8million bid for Leandro Martinez, a young argentinian i had signed the previos season. but he had never played due to my foreign player quota being full. Needless to say i snapped their hand off and he was on his way to the reebok later that day. My assistant now said we had a decent squad but were weakest in goal. i had faith in Marcio and decided to ignore my *** man.
The fixtures were announced and we were given a nice easy start to our top flight career with Barcelona at home first up.....
our pre season friendlies went really well, undefeated with two 8-0 victories and a win over sevilla!
I was confident in my defence being solid with rapnik now first choice centre back for Slovenia and having as many full caps to his name as he is years old, 21! Cala will be pushing for a Spanish senior squad place if he has another season like his last. and the evergreen Pernia will no doubt show his class at the highest level. Young Serbian Nenad Stjepic and argentinian Waltor Yacob will provide cover along with utility man brek shea and frenchamn thomas fontaine.
i write this report on a high, after seeing off a late bid from Fulham for owen garvan, the transfer window has closed and i have just sneaked a fantastic 3-2 win over barcelona with a last minute goal from Matej 'the rock' Rapnik, i hope he keeps his goalscoring habits up!!!
Needless to say the fans are over the moon, with talk of europe next season being a realistic possibility. i however am very skeptical, we were lucky agaisnt an off colour barca. Visits to the Bernabeu, Camp Nou and football fortresses like the Mestalla and El Madrigal will not be easy. I am confident of survival but not much more, for now anyway. Come on then Liga BBVA, lets see what you've got!!!!!!