Keegans Notes
As Up And Down Month As You Could Possibly Get
Well we did not lose this month which will help us towards the end of the season. But in Granada we have a fresh new challenge who will push us all the way I am sure. I told the players this month that it is all well and good winning in the league but we needed big points in the Champions League too.
When Real Sociedad led at the break 2-1 I feared for our record. Ivo Ferreira had got us back in it but I gave the boys an absolute bollocking at half time. I also introduced Mikica Bogdanovic to devastating effect.
In the 52nd minute he rifled home a left footed shot to get us back on level terms. He then got his second with a bullet header from a Nirvana cross. We were 3-2 up but Sociedad were still pressing. When Bogdonovic then got his hattrick on the 87th minute it meant he had become a super sub and more. Ferreira then polished off the performance with the 5th goal to give us a 5-2 victory.
So yet again we concede early. grrrrrrrr it is so fucking frustrating. Ferreira again though came to the rescue and we went in atleast on level terms this time. I challenged them to hit 5 past Sevillla too, who were lying 3rd at the time.
When Nightingale's cross shot went in I leaped for joy because he had played amazingly well. Ferreira then added his 2nd goal and our 3rd goal. Schenone and Coulibaly's first for the club gave us a 5-1 victory but Granada also won to keep us in second because of there goal difference.
We then played Basque side Athletic and this was a classic match up. We actually scored first through Galindo's own goal but he also then scored in the right goal to give Athletic a deserved 1-1 draw. I was not too harsh on my team because they had played exceptionally well.
This match was an amazing match up because it is not often you score a hat-trick and think you should have been on the losing side!
Richard Kostel got Mallorca going with a crisp finish into the bottom corner. Schenone then equalised on the 38th minute with a headed goal but Kostel had gave Mallorca the lead back on the 41st minute. At half time I was getting really frustrated because Granada's match had just finished and they had won 9-0 against Levante! So I sent them out there telling them a win would keep us top.
Nightingale scored a fantastic free kick to make it 2-2, and then Gonzalo made it 3-2 to us with a solo run and finish I thought we had turned a corner but then Nightingale defending a corner scored a own goal.
Gabriele Ghedin then restored the lead 4-3 with a one two with Nirvana and he finished it off but Kostal who had been awesome all match then hit his hat-trick and gave MAllorca a share of the spoils.
Liga BBVA Table
We currently lie in second place behind the ultra impressive Granada side. Barcelona have recovered from a poor start to be in 3rd place and last season's Champions Atletico are in 5th just behind Real Sociedad. Lugo, Levante and Guadalajara are in the bottom three but it is Lugo that have managed to defeat Granada.
So the first match of the two against Porto this month was in Spain and with losing the first two matches, defeat here signaled the end of the Champions League already. this was not going to happen and Ghedin hit a brace and Schenone, who I did not rate until working with him also got two and Porto were annihilated 4 goals to 1.
If you think that was impressive the match in Portugal finally found my right formation as a 4-1-2-1-2 with Morgan Thomas playing defensive midfielder yielded a 5-0! Yes I said 5-0 win. we were 4-0 up by half time as goals from Holm in the 1st and 6th minutes, Thomas and Nirvana showed Europe that Real were back and now one of the favourites to win the Champion's League again. Bogdanovic finished it off in the second half and Porto, who were top of there group now face the disaster of going out.
Champions League Group A Table
There you see we are now 2nd with Stuttgart the surprise leaders in group A. Porto's confidence will be shattered after that and there league form has dipped alarmingly since Real thrashed them.
Real Player Of The Month
It is a team effort and the whole squad get the award off me this month. Undefeated and proud of them I am!
Upcoming Fixtures
It is a big month really because with Granada out front and not looking like they could lose we need to beat Zaragoza, Valencia and Espanyol, on the other hand the Stuttgart match is looking like a group deciding match up. I would not count Porto out of it just yet though.