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Post by coffers on Apr 30, 2008 13:11:14 GMT
I'm saying nothing. :thumb:
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Post by Boony on Apr 30, 2008 15:48:49 GMT
April 2003 April. The month of showers and snooker. Last April, Meda were an absolute shower, and managed to snooker themselves in the race for the playoffs. Ah-ha! April. Also the month of really bad introductions... We fielded our first choice team (as detailed in March's summary) against bottom club Baracca at home, and duly spanked them 4-0 to record a club record sixth win on the bounce. Alessandria also won, and it was the top club we would visit in our next game. An intriguing start saw three penalties awarded in the first 19 minutes. All were scored, and we found ourselves 2-1 down. Home striker Scaliga completed his hattrick in the 22nd minute, and we were staring down the barrel. The trigger was pulled in the 53rd minute when the fourth went in. Despite us competing well throughout the game, our keeper had thrown all the effort down the drain. Fortunately for Romellini, his backup Benedetti was currently injured, and third-in-line Spreafico was so bad that he'd conceded 5 goals in 1(1) games for the reserves. I had to make do with just warning the idiot with the gloves on, rather than dropping the bastard to the reserves, or further. What we needed, like a bloke who'd just been dumped by his bird, was a rebound win. Pavia were the willing slut, I mean, team, as Chionna, Di Lauro, Baroni and Vado all slipped the leather sphere into the gaping... you get the picture. Alessandria, the cheaty bastards who bribed my keeper in the last game, only managed a draw in their fixture. This left us two points off top spot, but assured of a place in this year's playoffs. I didn't care, I wanted to be in that automatic promotion section right at the top of the table. Let's have a quick look at the remaining fixtures: Meda fixtures: Lumezzana (A) - 10th in league, beat them 1-0 at home earlier in season Mestre (H) - 6th, lost 2-0 away Novara (A) - 17th, won 4-1 at home Alessandria fixtures: Pro Patria (H) - 3rd, won 2-1 away Fiorenzuola (A) - 5th, lost 3-2 at home Biellese (H) - 13th, won 3-2 away It really could go either way... Once again we were able to field our full-strength team in the match against Lumezzana. It was a shame, then, that they didn't show their full strength. Our 0-0 draw was matched by Alessandria sharing the spoils with Pro Patria. Pro Patria had escaped my attention, but were sitting on level points with us in third place. Our goal difference (and indeed goals scored and conceded) was exactly the same as Alessandria's (70-38) and was nine goals above that of Pro Patria. With two points covering the top three teams, it could go down to something as silly as all this. Going into the last game in April, we knew that if we lost and Alessandria won, our title ambitions would all be over. Mestre were the visitors, and despite me playing a slightly more defensively minded Murante in place of Segreto in midfield, the visitors managed to score in the fourth minute. Like so many times before, though, we responded well with a barrage of goals in the remaning minutes of the first half. Chionna headed in a pass from Di Lauro, Sotgiu headed in a Vado corner in bizarre fashion, and was then fouled in the box for Baroni to score another penalty. 3-1 at half time, and Alessandria were also winning 1-0. Mestre tried their best to spoil the party, with Baresi making the scoreline 3-2 with 26 to play. Segreto replaced a tiring Di Lauro (who never seems to finish a game), and we're barely holding on...... A Chionna shot forced a last minute corner, and up stepped the little set piece magician, Vado. He found Sotgiu free in the area, who shot... Saved! But no, he's dropped it! Who's there but Miglioranzi to bang in his first of the season. What a legend! In all the excitement, I forgot about the other games. One of the crowd, earpiece in ear, told me that Alessandria had been hauled back: Fiorenzuola had done the double on them, coming from behind to win 2-1. What's more, Pro Patria had only managed a draw in their game. What did this mean? I did the maths in my head... Meda are top of the table! One point in the lead, a very slight advantage in goal difference, and one game left. Pro Patria were a further point behind Alessandria, and going into the last game of the season, any one of three teams could win the league. How very exciting!
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Post by coffers on Apr 30, 2008 16:14:31 GMT
Wow I didn't expect that by the way you started the April Intro. Nice One. I'll say nothing more than this:
KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by DC on Apr 30, 2008 20:13:35 GMT
Aye, it was a proper choking in the last few games. I know some of the guys are a little "wobbly", shall we say, but there's not a lot I can do about that. Just make sure there's at least some experience on the pitch... Recruitment? You're joking, right? My youth scouts keep coming up with great players, but they're all German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese or French. Did you have a Keegan style freak out is the question? Or hows about a Tim Flowers "Bottle" speech at the end of the last game?
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Apr 30, 2008 21:06:42 GMT
Good stuff boo - but get on with it! I want to see you bin it in the last game.
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Post by Sonic on Apr 30, 2008 22:54:11 GMT
Don't listen to them. They're just jealous they don't have the opportunity to bin it in the last game themselves. KUTGW :thumb:
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Post by Boony on Apr 30, 2008 23:38:36 GMT
'Cos they've already won it by then :moop:
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Post by Sonic on May 1, 2008 0:46:18 GMT
'Cos they've already won it by then That's not true. I've seen Stu lose it way before that stage.
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Post by Moo on May 1, 2008 8:34:18 GMT
I have every confidence in you.
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 9:13:01 GMT
May 2003 This is where it really counts. We're top of the league by one point, with one game left. We're playing 17th placed Novara, away from home. I have to make a tough decision in midfield - Segreto has been playing at the heart of the team all season, but Murante has shown promise, and in the end his superior tackling, finishing and morale give him the nod. We started very strongly - the ball found the back of the net in the fourth minute but the Diamond's strike was nullified by the twattish referee. We're all over them during the first half hour, and this finally bears fruit on 33 minutes as Diamanti's pass found Giglio, who scored another important goal. That's it for the first half - as I glace at the other scores I see that Alessandria are 2-0 up and Pro Patria played out a goalless first half. 73 minutes in, Di Lauro is again struggling with fitness so I bring on Valentini, a more imposing physical presence than Segreto... This seems to have been a wrong decision. Two minutes later, Ratti equalised for Novara and, before I can collect my thoughts, he goes and scores a second. Feck! 2-1 down with fourteen minutes to do, and nothing I can do will bring us an equaliser. Time ticks away, and the automatic promotion dream slips by with every swing of the pendulum. Alessandria are 2-0 up, Pro Patria are losing 2-0, and the final whistle blows. We finish second in the league. The good news is that this means we're the top seeds in the playoffs. The rules are that, after 90 minutes, away goals is the tie-breaker, but after 120 minutes, the higher seed goes through if the scores are still level. More good news came in when the board gave us a €300k cash injection. The bad news is that this still leaves us €276k in the red. We have a stupidly large squad for this level (45 players), and the reserves need some serious trimming. Our opposition in the two-legged semi-final are Fiorenzuola, the first leg being at their place. Miglioranzi is suspended, making room for Goisis to come in and weaken our back four. The game was really even, not much to choose between the two teams. We took the lead in the 18th minute through Chionna, but were never looking comfortable for it, and it was no great surprise when Piras levelled things up for the home team in the 79th minute. I was happy enough with the draw, especially as we'd scored an away goal... In the return leg, I replaced Murante with Segreto for a bit more invention in the midfield. Diamanti found the back of the net in the fourth minute again, and this time it was allowed by the ref. The pass came from the quietly improving Sotgiu. Just before the half-hour mark, Segreto had to come off injured, so Murante found his way onto the pitch. Shortly afterwards, Diamanti scored his second of the match, taking the aggregate score to 3-1. If we draw this game now, we'll be out on away goals. We really can't afford a draw... Just before half time, Giglio stepped up, passing to the Diamond and the big man up front walloped the the ball past the keeper for a first-half hattrick, and surely enough to put us into the final... That's his tenth goal of the season, in just 18 starts. Fiorenzuola finally remembered how to play football in the second period, scoring on 52 and then again on 66. 3-2 on the night, and once again, we really can't afford to draw... Time ticks away once again, this time in our favour. Tick tock tick tock... Sotgiu... pass to Vado.... GOAL! A goal in open play from our right-back seals the tie! In the final, we'll face Pro Patria over two legs, with exactly the same rules - we have the tie-breaker should the game be level after 120 minutes in the second leg... Segreto is out for two weeks, handing his starting place back to Murante.
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 9:44:40 GMT
June 2003 The Serie C2A Playoff Final. Pro Patria v Meda. Make or break. Crunch time. How will the lads cope? We've shown more determination and stamina this year, having fallen away so badly towards the end of last season, but can it last for two more games? Things don't look good in the third minute of the first leg, as our tendency to concede an early goal strikes again. A moment of magic levelled things up on 34 minutes - Sotgiu waltzing past four players before sliding the ball past the keeper. 1-1 at half time, and we have the away goal. Sotgiu rated 10/10 for the first half - a truly magical performance... The early stages of the second half went swimmingly for us - Chionna converted a pass from Sotgiu, and Diamanti slotted our third goal home after picking up on a loose ball. 3-1, away from home, and it's all coming just a bit too easily. Naturally, Pro Patria pick up a goal on 63, and then, in the last minute, their winger Colombo bangs in the equaliser, sending a message to his boss after criticism. Bastard! It was a real shame to let the two-goal lead slip, but we had three away goals and the advantage going into the home leg. The final game of the season... A bit of tension relief as international scores coming through show a 7-0 victory for Iceland over Malta... More tension relief - Chionna, Giglio and Sotgiu made the C2A team of the year. Right-back Vado is suspended for this final game, so Nativi comes in to replace him. We may well miss Vado's expertise from set pieces. The game started very quietly, and this was fine by us as the first 45 ticked away with no real threat on goal. Tick tock tick tock... 57 minutes - Di Lauro to Sotgiu - 1-0! The midfield magician does it again! Then, on 68, a shot from Chionna deflects off a defender and into the path of our Diamond, who pretty much seals promotion with our second goal of the night. In the last minute, we wrapped things up in style with Murante passing to Giglio, who set up magician Sotgiu for a volley. No mistake made, 3-0. Promotion!
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 9:46:24 GMT
Season 2002/03 Summary First choice team at end of season No Name Apps Gls Con Pens Asts Yel Red MoM Av R -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Romellini, Alessio 39 0 48 0 0 0 0 1 6.69
- Abbate, Fabio 33 (1) 0 0 0 4 3 0 0 7.06 - Vado, Vincenzo 37 4 0 0 11 7 0 2 7.05 - Baroni, Daniele 30 7 0 7 (6) 0 2 0 0 6.83 - Miglioranzi, Fabio 29 1 0 0 0 5 1 0 7.07
- Di Lauro, Walter 38 3 0 0 10 1 0 1 7.42 - Murante, Stefano 6 (7) 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.31 - Sotgiu, Salvatore 41 (1) 8 0 0 12 3 0 5 7.48
- Chionna, Attilio 36 (2) 24 0 0 1 3 1 3 7.74 - Diamanti, Alessandro 20 (2) 12 0 0 5 0 0 4 7.77 - Giglio, Raffeale 38 (1) 17 0 0 10 1 0 7 7.51
Other players of note:
- Segreto, Filippo 31 (1) 1 0 0 5 3 0 1 7.19 - Goisis, Paolo 18 (2) 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 6.50 - Giannusa, Vincenzo 15 (6) 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 7.00 - Ambrosini, Roberto 7 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.50
League GraphStatsTeam StatsLeague Stats
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Post by Moo on May 1, 2008 10:14:05 GMT
:thumb: Quality stuff, dude!
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Post by coffers on May 1, 2008 10:34:50 GMT
Absolutely fantastic. Well done that Man.
:thumb:
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 10:57:17 GMT
Thanks guys! I have to say I'm really loving this game. I have a great affinity with the players, having stayed with pretty much the same bunch for two years. It's a challenging game, as I can't just go and get in a new player when I think we need it, it's all on the youth scouts bringing in whatever they find. This has made the campaign difficult, but not impossible. It's all about getting the most out of the players I have at my disposal, and I'm staggered that we've done so well in the first two seasons. Thanks for reading - I'll crack on with writing up season 3...
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 12:33:42 GMT
Good stuff boo - but get on with it! I want to see you bin it in the last game. How very prescient of you :moop: At least we made it through the playoffs... Predictions for next year? How will we fare in Serie C1A?
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Post by Moo on May 1, 2008 12:37:57 GMT
Are you going to keep with this buying policy when you go up to Serie B, do you think?
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 12:39:46 GMT
Of course I am, Moo. I can't suddenly turn my back on the kids, can I? Rules are rules, and I'll live or die by them...
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on May 1, 2008 12:59:25 GMT
Good stuff boo - but get on with it! I want to see you bin it in the last game. How very prescient of you At least we made it through the playoffs... Predictions for next year? How will we fare in Serie C1A? You'll bounce around the lower playoff places for the first half of the season, with a good result or two pushing you higher and a dodgy spell dropping you down, then the christmas wobble will leave you grasping for the coat tails of the top six. Your form will steady to put you within reach of a playoff place going into the last few games, but after hopes are built with a surprising away win against a top three side, you'll get a big zebra rear end to the face by losing 1-0 at home to a team on the brink of relegation and miss the playoffs.
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Post by Sonic on May 1, 2008 13:37:56 GMT
Well done Boo. Now bring on next season :thumb:
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 14:45:41 GMT
You'll bounce around the lower playoff places for the first half of the season, with a good result or two pushing you higher and a dodgy spell dropping you down, then the christmas wobble will leave you grasping for the coat tails of the top six. Your form will steady to put you within reach of a playoff place going into the last few games, but after hopes are built with a surprising away win against a top three side, you'll get a big zebra rear end to the face by losing 1-0 at home to a team on the brink of relegation and miss the playoffs. Um, is this what happened with the Slackers?
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on May 1, 2008 15:31:06 GMT
:moop:
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Post by Boony on May 1, 2008 15:33:47 GMT
Don't worry - if it wasn't for stupid 17th-placed Novara and their stupid striker with a stupid name like Ratti, we wouldn't have even needed to go through the stupid playoffs in the first place. I feel your pain. In a slightly lessened form, natch, cos we actually got promoted :thumb:
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on May 1, 2008 15:42:53 GMT
I actually found the original arse picture still on GIS : The large image has gone as, for some reason, the Tanzania Tourist Board decided a picture called "a-zebra-arse" wasn't the best way to advertise their country. This was the original url : www.intotanzania.com/images/animals/a-zebra-arse.jpgLuckily, the internet still has lots of picture of Kylie's rear end. So that's ok.
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Post by Moo on May 2, 2008 10:30:12 GMT
That is a great árse.
...and as for kylie's.....
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