August 2012 - Solid Start To A New Season

We start the month with no injuries, and only one player unavailable, my new signing Ochoa. He is away with his national team, trying to help Mexico in their first World Cup qualifier in the North American 2nd phase, so will miss our first match of the month. The first game sees us play the FA Cup winners from last season, Arsenal in the Community Shield, which we are looking to lift for the second year in a row. We then have 3 Premier league fixtures, followed by the European Super Cup match against AC Milan, which will take place in Monaco.

Arsenal (N) Community Shield

We head to Wembley again hoping to gain some revenge over Arsenal for defeating us in the League Cup Final. We are marginal underdogs for this fixture, but I feel we have a good chance of coming away with the trophy again.

The first few minutes started with the ball going end to end with a few blocked shots on show. In the 8th minute Sanchez managed to get through on goal, but the ever unbelievable Almunia managed to stop him scoring. The match seemed to become rather ugly for a while after that, with hard tackles going in, but few fouls being given; some that were given looked very dubious. In the 27th minute Fatih Yucel was put through on goal and predictably the Arsenal keeper managed to push his shot for a corner. There were a few more shots in the rest of the half, but it really wasn't the most interesting match. A largely dreary half came to an end with the match still goalless.

I was pretty disappointed with our performance as we really weren't playing as well as we can, although Arsenal weren't exactly setting the world alight either. The 2nd half started with Steele having to make a save from a header and then a great save from a volley to deny Arsenal. In the 48th minute the Arsenal keeper had to make consecutive saves from first Fatih Yucel and then Gilardino. I began to think we just weren't going to be able to beat him, but we continued to push on. In the 54th minute Fatih Yucel slide a superb ball through to Sanchez in the area, who managed to dribble past the keeper and thumped the ball home to score on his debut. Arsenal then started to push forward looking for an equaliser. In the 67th minute Steele had to make a good save to deny Arsenal from a long shot. In the 75th minute Gilardino managed to get through on goal, but again saw his shot saved. In the 79th minute Steele made a good save from a header at a corner. In the 80th minute Gilardino was again denied by the keeper, with an incredible save. Deep into added time I couldn't believe it when Arsenal managed to scored with an astonishing long shot, by a player who would only ever score one in a million of those. The half came to an end with the scores level at 1-1.

Arsenal really didn't deserve to find that equaliser. We'd had most of the best opportunities to score, and really should have found a way to extend our lead. This meant we were into a penalty shoot-out situation. From a quick look at the squads, we have the superior penalty takers, so I'm hoping we can keep our cool and see this out, with Arsenal shooting first. The first 5 penalties by both sides were scored, and we were now into sudden death territory. The first penalty to be missed was the 7th penalty from Arsenal with Nordtveit shooting straight at Steele, making for an easy save. Up stepped Grenier to try and seal the win, in yet another cup competition, and delighted the rest of the squad by thumping it home. Those players who were spared having to take a penalty were showing huge relief, with our fans delighted.

I was pleased that we'd managed to keep our composure during the penalty shoot out, to come away with the Community Shield for the second year in a row, in very dramatic fashion. Grenier turned out to be our hero in yet another competition. I had made a couple of substitutions to bring on a couple of our best penalty takers immediately the equaliser was scored, in the hopes this would help us, which it appears was the case. What we'd done in the match, justified our victory, having created far more clear cut chances than Arsenal. This gives us some revenge for the defeat they inflicted on us in the League Cup. Even though Steele had to make less saves than the Arsenal keeper, and fewer spectacular ones at that, he was named as the man of the match.

Result: 1-1 (7-6 on Penalties)

West Ham (A) Premier League

Our first league fixture of the new season sees us travel across to the east end of London to take on the Hammers at Upton Park. We are slight favourites for this match, and appear to also be a lot better prepared for the start of the season than West Ham. The previous matches between the two teams have been very tight affairs, with a win for each team and 2 draws, with each win being by a one goal margin. This match sees Ochoa make his debut, having arrived back from international duty, to finally take his place at the club.

The match started as a midfield battle, with the first shot coming in the 8th minute, falling to Sanchez, but giving the Hammers keeper little more than catching practice. In the 12th minute we won a free kick right on the edge of the area. Dzsudzsak swung the free kick at the pack of players waiting, and found the head of Gilardino, who managed to direct the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring. West Ham then started to push forward, making us have to defend, with them winning several corners. In the 25th minute we managed to get forward and won a corner. Dzsudzsak swung the corner into the area and found the head of Sanchez who managed to direct the ball into the back of the net. The match became a midfield battle for a while, with the ball going back and forth with both sides struggling to create chances. In the 41st minute Ochoa was forced to make a good save to deny West Ham. In the 45th minute Ochoa was tested again, this time from a long shot, and stood up to the challenge. The half came to an end with us leading 2-0.

I was pleased with what I'd seen, although a little concerned that after taking the lead, we seemed to be giving the ball away a bit too much. The half started with West Ham all over us, and in the 52nd minute they won one of the dodgiest penalty decisions ever, with Carlton Cole running into Puygrenier who was stumbling backwards from what looked like a push by the West Ham striker, but the referee pointed to the spot. The penalty was converted, but I was livid about the decision. West Ham were really pressing us hard, which after the poor penalty decision, was very worrying. In the 65th minute we finally managed to create another attack with Fatih Yucel putting a header just over the bar. West Ham were starting to get quite frantic, and I was pleased with our defending, which this was giving us opportunities to get forward, though creating the final shot was a problem. In the 2nd minute of added time, Grenier put a header just over the bar. We managed to hold on with the match finishihing with us 2-1 winners.

I was pleased that we'd managed to hold onto the lead, but it was a bit alarming that it had ended up being a struggle at times, not helped by a very poor decision by the referee. Fortunately this didn't stop us gaining our victory, and for once the West Ham goalkeeper didn't perform like a superhero.

Result: 2-1

Portsmouth (H) Premier League

Our first home match of the season sees the arrival of newly promoted Pompey, with us clear favourites to take the win. Last season we struggled to a 1-0 victory over them, in our only meeting between the two clubs since I took over. I was hoping that we would make things a lot easier on our fans this time.

The match started with us pushing forward, but finding it hard to work a way through the Pompey defence. In the 7th minute came one of the most bizarre offside decisions I've ever seen, and even checking the replay several times can't work out what caused the erroneous decision. At least it wasn't at point where we had a clear opportunity of scoring. In the 12th minute our almost constant pressure finally paid off with Kjær playing the ball to Scocco in space, and he hammered a curling long shot from 25 yards out into the net, and to think one of my coaches thinks he should take less long shots; it's advice I've been ignoring for a year now. The rest of the half saw us still pushing forward with Portsmouth hardly able to get out of their own half. We managed another couple of shots, but it was overall very tedious, because Pompey were spending all the time with everyone behind the ball. The half came to an end with us leading 1-0.

I was pleased that we'd dominated the match, stopping Portsmouth from having even a single shot. It was disappointing that Portsmouth had been so intent on defending, that it was hard to find any space in the final third of the pitch. I sent the players back out encouraging them, hoping that we could continue to dominate. After a short period of Portsmouth passing the ball around really well but getting nowhere, we pushed forward again, and Cardozo struck a free kick, just wide of the post from 30 yards out. After another trip forward by Portsmouth, leading nowhere, Cardozo ran onto a throughball in the 57th minute, only to give the Portsmouth keeper an easy save. In the 64th minute Porstmouth finally managed a shot, giving Ochoa an easy catch. In the 65th minute, Kjær blasted a shot from an indirect free kick, just over the bar. In the 79th minute Gilardino was denied by a astonishing save from the keeper. After this Portsmouth really started to try and hassle us off the ball, getting away with some really hard tackles, until the 82nd minute when they had their lone striker Fagan sent off for a second yellow card offence. I was livid in the 88th minute when Gilardino was sent to the floor from a blatant off the ball shoulder charge, causing a possible upper body injury, and no foul given. In the 2nd minute of added time Gilardino was set free of the defence, only to give the keeper an easy catch. Portsmouth had managed a few long shots in the last few minutes of the match to give us a small scare, but we managed to hold out for a 1-0 victory.

I was pleased that we'd managed to win the match, and dominate it, but it was very frustrating due to Portsmouth's horribly negative tactics. I decided to tell the team that it was a good result, but it it really wasn't good enough, as I know we should have been able to do better, especially with some of the finishing. The injury to Gilardino will see him sidelined for 4 to 5 days, after a blatant off the ball challenge, which went unpunished. I really hate teams that come to try and just secure a draw, showing no real intention of trying to win, and only push forward in the last few minutes, trying to grab an equaliser.

Result: 1-0

Cardiff (A) Premier League

We travel to the Cardiff City Stadium to take on a club that we see as a rival, and arrive as favourites to win the match. This is a match the players should be up for, because the fans will be demanding a win.

The match started with us getting off to a flyer with Sanchez squaring the ball to Grenier at the edge of the box in the 2nd minute, and he slotted the ball home in the bottom corner of the net to open the scoring. Cardiff pushed forward for a while trying to find a way through, but we were holding solid. In the 14th minute Cardozo thumped a header from the edge of the area, which the keeper only just managed to save. The match became a really dreary battle with few shots created, with Cardozo putting a header wide in the 40th minute being the only other incident of note. The half ended with us leading 1-0.

We had dominated the first half, and created the best chances, but Cardiff were really holding firm and frustrating me. I sent the players back out giving them encouragement to go on finish the job off properly. Cardiff continued to do their best to frustrate us, with the 2nd half again being quite tedious. In the 52nd minute Onyewu put a header from a corner just over the post. In the 57th minute Sunny conceded a penalty, which looked a bit harsh. I was furious, but when Cardiff's Whittingham stepped up and gave Ochoa an easy save I calmed down a lot. In the 68th minute Ochoa had to push a quite unbelievable long shot over the bar. I find it unbelievable because the player was under pressure, and yet somehow managed to hit an almost perfect shot, with low long shot attribute. In the 77th minute Dzsudzsak thumped a shot from in the area just wide of the post. The match turned ugly that after with yellow cards flying everywhere. The match came to an end with us coming out 1-0 victors.

I was happy to get the win, but it was another really poor match, in which Cardiff seemed more intent on frustrating us. If they'd levelled the match with the penalty it would have been an undeserved draw, but this was a really unpleasant match. The match was so poor that Daeseleire ran out as the man of the match with a rating of just 7.3. This is the lowest I can remember ever seeing for a man of the match.

Result: 1-0

AC Milan (N) European Super Cup

We travel to the Stade Louis II in Monaco to take on AC Milan. We arrive as marginal underdogs, for this match, but with a reasonable chance of coming away with a victory. We have one player suspended for this match, that being Sunny, after reaching his yellow card limit in the Champions League final. It is worth mentioning that AC Milan are currently a parent club of ours, so victory would be extra sweet.

The match started with AC Milan coming close to opening the scoring in the first minute, with Ochoa making a good save. In the 4th minute AC Milan somehow got away with their keeper making a mistake in a crowded area, but somehow cleared the ball before we could take advantage. In the 6th minute Sanchez was denied from close range by the keeper. We were really pushing AC Milan hard, but somehow they were keeping us out. After about 10 minutes they started to push forward, causing us problems, firing off several shots. In the 17th minute Ochoa had to make another good save to keep them out. In the 18th minute Cardozo managed to get free on the break, but could only give the keeper an easy catch. In the 21st minute Fatih Yucel put a header just over the bar. In the 25th Ochoa was in action again, making another good save. I was worried about how the pace of AC Milan was causing us so many problems. The match became really scrappy after that with only a few shots created, all off target, until the 45th minute when Ochoa had to save a close range header. The yellow cards were beginning to fly as the foul count went up, but AC Milan seemed to get away without conceding any near their area, even though there were some tackles that looked like obvious fouls. The half came to an end with the match goalless.

I wasn't completely happy with the performance, but felt we had a good chance if we could just find a better final ball. I sent the players back out telling them they can do it. A mistake in the 47th minute by Onyewu gave AC Milan a shooting opportunity, but fortunately Ochoa was able to make the save. AC Milan had come out absolutely determined to win and putting us under seige from the restart. In the 59th minute though Fatih Yucel was put through on the right side, and as he neared the byeline hit a cross into the area, which was headed clear, and then a few headers later, Cardozo headed it back into the area, where Fatih Yucel had arrived, and managed to loop a header just over the keeper to give us the lead. Rather than AC Milan coming at us, we started to take control of the game, pushing them back. In the 71st minute Jimenez got clear of the AC Milan defence, as they started to try and push up, but his shot was deflected for a corner by the keeper. From the corner Dzsudzsak hit the ball straight onto the head of Kjær who managed to direct it by the diving keeper, to double out lead in the 72nd minute. For some reason the AC Milan near post marker had decided to move forward, rather than stay back, where he might have been able to stop the ball going in. That's one of the frustrations I have sometimes when we defend corners, so it's nice to see the opposition do the same thing too. AC Milan certainly started to push after that, but their shooting was getting more desparate. I was pleased that we seemed to have the confidence and belief to start closing them down and were again pressing them back. In the 80th minute AC Milan managed to get a shot on target, giving Ochoa an easy catch, with one of their now rare attempts. In the 83rd Dzsudzsak thumped a shot from just outside the area, which only just whistled by the post. After this AC Milan tried to up the pressure but Kjær was looking immense at the back, getting to headers first, and even making some crunching tackles. In the 1st minute of added time, Grenier was presented with a header in the box, but put it just over the bar. The match came to an end with us running out 2-0 winners.

I was delighted, but although we'd had less shots and less clear cut chances (although I don't think this is always accurate), we'd actually done more than enough to deserve this victory. Our defending in the second half had been immense, and we'd caused plenty of problems for AC Milan when we'd gone forward. Simon Kjær was named as the man of the match, after not only scoring, but putting in a superb display of defending. It is worth mentioning that Ochoa had a very good game, especially in the first half, when our defence was looking a bit shaky. Onyewu also put in a very solid display, being every bit a match for Puygrenier, which means I now have 4 very solid central defenders. Half way the through the first half I'd noticed that my wingers were really struggling to get around the AC Milan full backs, so I used the "exploit the middle" touchline shout, which seemed to make some difference. In the second half, because they were pushing higher up, it played into our hands, allowing us more opportunities to get in behind.

Result: 2-0

Monthly Roundup

This turned out to be fantastic month, with us winning the Community Shield, eventually on penalties, the 3 league fixtures and the European Super Cup. Our defence was yet again doing a superb job, with us only conceding twice. The most worrying aspect is that we'd conceded a couple of penalties already, with Cardiff fortunately not taking the opportunity to level the scores. I feel that our new members of the sqaud haven't quite gelled yet, which is why I believe we haven't created as many opportunities as we probably should have. I was pleased though with how we can boss a game at times, even against strong opponents. Our 2nd half display against AC Milan was superb, with our defence looking very solid, with just the one mistake right at the start of it.

Our solid start to the season sees us sitting in 3rd place after just 3 fixtures, but as you can see there are several clubs that have played only the once so far. The early indications for Leeds are very bad, with them continuing the with the same poor form they ended the previous season with.

It's interesting to note that at the end of the month, the fans are already very happy with our two new wingers, and have now changed their opinion over the departures of Lung jr and Buzsaky, feeling that it was the right thing to do, to let them leave. I have been named the Premiership manager of the month, though I'm not completely sure why I was placed above Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez.

My player of the month is between Simon Kjær and Alexis Sanchez, who have shown great consistency, both getting on the scoresheet and also provided an assist each. I think Kjær just about sneaks it, having been the rock in the centre of our defence. I was also very impressed with the two appearances that Oguchi Onyewu has made, looking like he'll be able to do a fantastic job for us. This means we have four very solid central defenders, which will be very important when we reached the busiest part of the season.

On a side note, I checked out how some of the players that left the club have been doing. Martin Stranzl is not doing well at this new club Leeds, although with how poor Leeds have been it's hardly surprising. Silvui Lung jr has joined Liverpool, where it looks like he'll be a bench warmer, unless Reina suffers an injury, so I can't see him being happy for long. Akos Buzsaky has joined Nice, which is the same club as Alejandro Faurlin, and neither have made a good start at all.

The other teams in our Champions League group have been announced. We were ranked 1st in the draw, and will find ourselves having to overcome Porto, Olympique Lyonnais and Rapid Wien. Porto and Lyon are both good sides, so can't be taken lightly.

The next month sees us play 6 matches, with 4 being league fixtures, having our first test against one of our title rivals being the last of these, at home to Man City. We have our first Champions League match in the group stages against Porto at home, and a 3rd Round League Cup match away to Nottingham Forest, who are a Championship team.