The retirement of Alex Taylor

Cmon man, kick it up a notch n breeze past everyone ey

BeanyUnited Yeah not been great so far but more than enough time left to turn it aorund.

Jack Thanks hopefully your high expectations can be met

Atoobie Yeah thats the plan just giving them all a head start to make it fair

Early the day before the Monaco game Alex got up early with the rest of the team to get to the training ground. From there they all made their way to Brussels airport at a time Alex felt was to early in the morning. It was an hour and a half flight to the sixth largest city in France which was Nice.

To get to Monaco the team had to travel in the way of transport Alex hated the most, helicopter. Unlike almost all the others he had been on some helicopters in his time in Qatar and absolutely hated them. It was a short fifteen minute trip from Nice to Monaco in the helicopter and Alex hated and resented every second that he had to spend in the helicopter.

After landing they headed to the Monaco hotel the they had booked. Some short delays checking in and soon they were in the hotel. A short stay later and Alex was leading the team onto the coach as they headed to the Stade Louis II Stadium. It was a long time to go a short way and Alex felt the team could have run there quicker and gained some fitness as well.

The stadium was small and overshadowed by the apartments around it. It looked nice with the archs but, Alex was more concerned with the pitch. The surface was good and the team worked on keeping their shape for most of the time, they also spent time on finishing as Alex wanted to make sure that they could take advantage of any chances they could get as they needed a goal.

The pitch was very good and wouldn’t do any damage to a team attempting to play the passing game which while Alex liked overall however, in this case a slightly torn up pitch wouldn’t have been the worse thing to happen to Brugge’s chance of winning.

A short but, time consuming drive back to the hotel ended the day. Alex watched a DVD on his laptop before going to sleep. The next day the team watched clips of Monaco and planned on how they would react to what Monaco liked to do. Alex hoped to try and force them to attack through the middle where he hoped that a triangle of Engels, Denswil and Simons would be able to fend off Monaco’s attack. One goal conceded wouldn’t be the end of the world as they would have to score twice or at best win on penalties in a 1-0 win. Conceding more than one goal would likely completely kill off any chance of Brugge getting into the next round.

A short relaxing day enough day before the team headed to the stadium. Alex told everyone about his plans on who would play and how they would play against Monaco, the team was standard and Alex wanted them to be the play tight at the back for the first hour before they really began to press forwards unless they already had a goal.

After some light stretching and shooting the team got back in the locker room getting ready before the big game the team were psyched up so Alex didn’t have to do much to get them in the spirt as they walked into the tunnel before kickoff.

The teams walked out and lined up for the Champions League anthem. The teams shook hands and lined up for the pre match photo’s. After that they lined up and waited for the referee’s to let the game get underway.

Best of luck in what is a big game for your career at this club I fear!

BeanyUnited Better hope for a good result even more then. If we win then I hope your right, if we don't then I hope your wrong

Alex had one last look over the team sheet. Again Monaco had by far the better side on paper but, Alex was hopeful that his side could spring the upset and was confident in his side, he was hoping for a place in the final round of the Champions League Playoff. Falcao was again his main concern. For his team Alex had gone for Ebert on the wing and Ribeiro up front hoping they could sneak a goal out of them.

The first 27 minutes of the game passed with very little happening except Simons going off with a knock for Vormer. The first bit of excitement was a poor backpass from Diallo that had Subasic scrambling and relived that it rolled wide of the post. Vormer stood over the corner, a ball into the near pot and Denswil and Ribeiro rose high in the air. Denswil was the one who got his head to the ball and he powered his header in past the helpless goalkeeper. Alex punched the air as he celebrated the tie being level.

Six minutes later Ribeiro got the ball at the halfway line and turned. He hit a great ball to play Ebert in on the wing. He ran on as a defender came in to close him down and Ebert fired in a cross and it hit off of the defender to go out for a corner. From the same corner as last time Vormer hit in another corner. A group of players huddled under the ball at the far post and it was Falcao who headed the ball back in front of goal. From a tight angle Denswil reacted quickest and headed the ball in from a tight angle to put Brugge ahead on aggregate. Alex was thrilled with the timing of Denswil’s first two goals for him and hoped they could avoiding conceding the two goal lead they had. Thank god for away goals he thought.


The game got to half time with nothing of note occurring. Alex told his team how pleased with them and to keep it tight at the back. They also had to press forwards on the counter to keep Monaco honest though.

Seconds after half time Monaco had a throw in in the Brugge half. De Bock intercepted a Joao Moutinho ball to win the ball back for Brugge. He played the ball up to Ribeiro at the halfway line. He played the ball back to Gedoz then turned to get onto the return pass over the top, with two defenders to beat Ribeiro breezed past them to get into the box and from a tight angle he fired away a shot. Subasic reacted quickly to tip the ball over the top of the goal and out for a corner. The corner was headed away just before it reached Denswil and the ball fell to De Bock. He tried to slip past his defender and was fouled to give Brugge a free kick. Gedoz chipped in a free kick and Engels chested a ball down in the box and lashed a low shot away. Subasic dived and was relieved to watch the ball slide past the post.

After 70 minutes Brugge had a throw in deep in the Monaco half. Dias intercepted the throw and cleared the ball as far as Meunier. He played a 1-2 with Vanaken to get up the wing and then easily got past his man. He cut the ball back to Vanaken at the corner of the box and he passed to Ebert. At a tight angle close to goal Ebert fired off a shot that Subasic dived low to push behind for a corner.

Two minutes later Monaco launched their first meaningful attack of the game. Lemar ran at the defence and passed to Falcao who fired the ball out wide to Elabdellaoui. He chipped a ball into the box and Engels headed it away. The ball got to Toulalan at the edge of the box and he tried to head the ball goalwards. His effort deflected off of Denswil and fell to a wide open Dirar he slotted into and empty goal and was promptly flagged for offside he was ahead of every Brugge player and clearly offside.

A minute later Alex brought on Izquierdo for Ebert as Ebert had picked up a knock. Monaco won a header in the middle of the park and played the ball out wide to Dirar. He played a great ball up to Lemar who ran into the box and hit a chipped cross deep to the far post. Dias smacked a first time volley towards the top corner and Butelle reacted incredibly to catch and hold the powerful shot.

With just five minutes left Alex knew that his team was close to sealing the win. Butelle hit a goal kick long up the pitch to Izquierdo. After some head tennis the ball was played wide to Ribeiro, he ran past Raggi and whipped in a cross. Izquierdo ran into the box and from close range he headed a powerful effort in past the keeper to all but, seal the game for Bruge by giving them a three goal advantage.

A minute into injury time Butelle hit a goal kick out wide where Ribeiro was. He took the ball down under no pressure and then skipped past Echiejie into space. He fired in a dangerous low cross in that was booted away. Schonhiem picked up the loose ball and played it forward to Vanaken, he passed to Andre Martins who played it wide to Ribeiro again. He slipped the ball to Meunier on the overlap and he fired in a cross. Izquierdo timed his run well and looped a header over Subasuc and in. Alex was thrilled as his side put the icing on the cake by turning it into a hammering of Monaco.

The small band of away Brugge fans cheered loudly as the payers and staff went over to thank them for going to the game. They headed into the lockeroom where Alex told them it was the best game he had seen them play for him which was true.



It was a hammering of Monaco and Alex was thrilled with what he had seen from his side.



The only downside was that a tackle on Ebert had given him a massive cut in his leg which would see him miss the next 2-3 weeks.

HUUUUUGE win mate well done! Knew you could go to France and pull it off, Alex is taking this team places

BeanyUnited Yeah, you called it. hopefully he can take the team to a celebratory bus route at the end of the season

The team were still in Monaco the next day when the draw was made for the next round. No matter who they got it would be a challenge. They would get one of Feynoord, Manchester United, Roma, Sporting or Zenit. Alex wanted Feynoord the most by far then Sporting. Zenit then Roma and Manchester United was the team he wanted to avoid the most.

The team were all watching as the draw got under way. “First out of the pot is….” There was a long delay as the ball contained the team name refused to open. Finally it was opened “Zenit Saint Petersburg. Opposing them will be another ball was picked out. Club Brugge.”

Alex didn’t mind the draw that much Zenit were a middling team out of the ones he could face so it could have been worse. Although he knew it would be a very tough sk for them to get into the next round of the group stage. Anyway as it was the final round of qualifying they would be in either the Europa League group stage or the Champions League group stage which he preferred by far.



The rest of the draw saw Roma get Dnipro. Feynoord drew Leverkusen, Sporting got Sevilla and Man Utd got Besiktas. The team then got on the flight back to Belgium.

Alex ensured that the next day his team was focused on the challenge of STVV and the chance to get their first league win of the season. It was all going well and the team was focused and ready for the game to Alex despite the lack of prep time for the game.

The next day Alex watched on as the team did some light training on the day before the game against STVV. While coaching the first team everyone suddenly looked round as there was a loud scream from where the under nineteens were training. The youth team’s physio was already on the pitch and Thierry had already abandoned the first team to go over and help. Alex told the starting players to continue training and headed over the the Under 19’s game to see what was going on. As he started to get closer he saw who the player down was. The talented young striker Arnaud Sabbe was in a great deal of pain despite the efforts of the physio’s attending him.

Alex saw Theirry pull out his phone and Alex guessed he was calling for an ambulance to get Sabbe to the hospital. It didn’t take long for him to be proven right as Arnaud was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and into an ambulance. Theirry was the only club physio to go with him so Alex asked one of the youth physio’s to ask what had happened.

Arnaud had gone up for a header and landed awkwardly and a defender had landed on his foot and the physio was pretty sure that he had broken his foot. A call an hour later from Thierry confirmed it. Sabbe had broken his foot and would be out of action for 4-5 month. Alex was devastated for Sabbe and hoped he could recover well and still fufill his potential despite the injury.

Shame about the youngster but not a bad draw for you!

BeanyUnited Yeah annoying he got such a bad injury, can't complain about the draw we will be underdogs but, it could have been a lot worse

Alex looked at the STVV formation and knew that his side would be in for a long game as they tried to break through what he assumed would be a stubborn defence and tightly packed. Coming off the big win at Monaco Alex hoped the team would be motivated and able to break down a much worse side in STVV.

The first half ruined that dream as his side failed to get any where near the STVV goal. The only consolation was that STVV had only had one shot, from long range and it went miles wide. Alex told them to try and take the extra pass instead of shooting from long range as they had been doing for most of the first half. He also put on Vossen to go 4-4-2.

Three minutes into the second half STVV had a free kick out wide. They took it short to get a better angle on the cross and Allan whipped the ball into he box. Ono got up and won the header. Butelle had to get across quickly to make his first save of the game. He hit the ball forward and Brugge took the ball down and went forward. Gedoz played the ball up to Vossen and he turned and played a ball to the other wing for Izquierdo. He cut inside and and beat his man. He then got past two more defenders to get to the edge of the box.He fired a shot away. The keeper dived but, couldn’t reach it and was relieved to watch the ball roll wide of the goal.

After 61 minutes a wonderful pass from Vanaken sent Gedoz free on the wing. He took a touch before firing in a cross that was headed away. Vanaken picked up the loose ball and played it to Andre Martins. He played the ball out wide to Meunier who hit a cross in from deep to the back post. Izquierdo rose highest above his man and headed the ball back across goal. The keeper stretched but, failed to reach the ball and it bounced off the post and was cleared by a STVV defender. Alex encouraged his side to continue pressing forward to try and get a goal.

After 65 minutes Martins intercepted a poor pass to win the ball back for Brugge. He played a simple pass to Gedoz who ran for 30 yards unopposed before passing to Vossen who played the ball across the pitch to Izquierdo. He took the ball down beautifully with his first touch and hit in a cross with his second. The keeper came out to claim it but, Thiago Ribeiro nipped in front of him and poked the ball into an unguarded goal to give Brugge the lead.

In the 70th minute Butelee took a goal kick long, after possession was exchanged in midfield Vanaken came out of it with the ball. He passed to Martins who sprayed the ball wide to Gedoz. He chested the ball down took a couple of touches and whipped in a cross. Izquierdo snuck ahead of his man and powered a header past the keeper the ball bounced off the underside of the bar and across the line to put Brugge two goals to the good.

STVV pushed forward after that but, couldn’t create anything on the attack a Brugge couldn’t on the counter so it was a routine 2-0 win for Brugge.



Alex was pleased with the team and result which sent them up the table after two draws to start the season. Newly promoted Lierse were the only team to have won three games and as a result topped the table.

The next day after training Alex was in his office when young striker Wesley knocked on the door to his office. Alex waved him in and waited to see what he wanted. “I don’t think that I will get enough game time here so I want to go out on loan for this season.”

Alex mulled over the request Wesley was the fourth or fifth choice striker and Alex played with one striker most of the time occasionally two if he was chasing a game and it would therefore be unlikely for Wesley to get very much game time. “Okay, I’m happy enough for you to go out on loan for this season. If you do well there then you will have a chance to become a starter when you return here as scoring strikers are something we lacked last season.”



Wesley seemed pleased. “Thanks boss, hopefully I can impress wherever I end up this season.”

Alex called Roel and told him about the meeting and to get word off to clubs that Wesley was interested in a loan move and that anyone who was making an offer would have to be willing to cover his wages. Those would be the only cost to as Alex didn’t want to put any club who was willing to give him gametime off of bidding for him.

The next day Alex had an email from Roel, 12 different teams had made a loan bid for Wesley and Alex had a look through all of them and settled on Esjberg as they were the only one that was saying that he would get first team football from the off. Alex also had a separate reason to pick the team from Sweden as there season would end in the winter so if Alex wanted him then he could keep him for the second half of the season and with the scoring record of strikers so far under Alex it might be needed.

Wesley was happy with the choice of Esjberg to go out on loan to and the club were pleased to get the chance to use him for the second half of the season in Sweden. Alex was quite pleased with the deal and if he didn’t want him for the second half of the season then he felt that it would be more than possible for Wesley to be loaned out somewhere else as a number of other teams wanted to take him on loan this season.



The deal was confirmed the next day and Wesley headed off to Sweden where Alex would be keeping an eye on his progress and hoped he would be able to fire in the goals in a league that wasn’t quite as good as the Belgian one.

Guess who finished reading through! This guy! Great stuff so far mate! Keep it up!

2016-07-13 19:32#235223 TheLFCFan : Guess who finished reading through! This guy! Great stuff so far mate! Keep it up!

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