The retirement of Alex Taylor

We are top the league say we are top the league!!

Now it's time to run away with the league now

Beany Now to stay their for 23 more games to win the league

Atoobie Hopefully but, still a long time to go before we can do it. The whole half points thing also makes it hard to run away with it

Alex watched Spalletti’s press conference with interest. He had tried to play down any rivalry between them and by extension their teams. With his press conference soon Alex had to decide how to respond to what Spalletti had said. On the one hand if he said everything was fine then his players would have a bit less pressure put on them for the game although at the risk of being less motivated. If Alex said that he and his team had issues with Spalletti from the last game while they would have more pressure they would also be more motivated to go out and try and win. Alex talked with Philippe over what to do and they both came to the same conclusion.



Alex walked into the press conference and walked out half an hour later having blasted Spalletti as a liar and a fraud. “We disagreed before and after the last game and me and my squad still hold a grudge over them and will show the fraud of a manager what we think of him.” That was possibly his most quotable line out of a number hitting out and Spalletti and the arrogance of his side before and during the last game that allowed Brugge to claim a draw despite starting poorly.

Alex hoped he had made the right call last time reminding his players what had been said about them helped them to come back although this time Alex had been more going after the Roma side than anything else he hoped his players would still want to beat Roma more than another team.



He checked the news soon after and saw some links to Denswil and a return to Ajax. Alex hoped they were false as he planned to keep Denswil at all costs and he might feel that he had unfinished business there and want to leave. He planned to hold some talks with Denswil about his future soon and possibly get him to sign a new deal if his ran out soon. Checking that it had a while to run Alex was relieved as it was one less thing to worry about.



Alex soon had that problem replaced when Roel sent him a copy of the Ajax press conference. Their manager, Jaap Stam, had said he planned to bid for Denswil. So along with Ajax Densil would also be tempted to work for a talented defender who could maybe help him more than Alex could, although he felt that Philippe could handle that part of the job well. Alex called a friendly local reporter to start a story that Denswil was not for sale and more than happy to stay at the club, Alex had no idea if it were true but, guessed that it would make Ajax that bit less likely to bid and if they didn’t bid then Denswil was less likely to say he wanted to leave.



Alex’s denial had no sooner gone out than he had to draft another one for Meunier to RBL. They had bid a few times for him towards the end of the last window and Alex guessed that this report had far more truth to it than the Denswil links. As his budgets were tight on the wage front Alex decided to take a risk and hold out on given Meunier a new deal despite his current one having a six million euro buy out clause in it. If a bid came In then Alex would offer him a new deal and hope that it would be enough to keep him at the club.



Just before heading home Alex got a call from Roel that bids had been made for Saymak. He accepted the one from Genclerbirligl or whatever they were called and headed for home hoping to have Saymak off his wage budget soon.

That lead and game in hand over 2nd place looks good! I love how you're keeping us involved in and around the club with your updates

The two hour flight to Rome was fine however, the bus to the hotel was an hour late much to the annoyance of Alex. The team trained at the Stadio Olimpico before going back to the hotel for the night.



For the return leg Alex named a strong team to line up against the 4-3-1-2 the Roma had gone for. He wasn’t sure how the two formations matched up but, hoped to try and clog up the pitch in the middle to try and stop any attacks from Roma.

Roma dominated the opening exchanges of play and after 20 minutes a De Bock throw in was intercepted and Roma started another attack. The ball was played up to Nainggolan to played a great pass up to Doumbia. At the edge of the box he squared the ball to Dzeko. It was a bouncing pass and Dzeko blazed the easy chance over the cross bar and wasted it.

A few minutes later and Pjanic stood over a corner for Roma. Vanaken headed it away and Gerson ran onto the ball 30 yards out. He played it wide to Pjanic who was in miles of space and overhit his cross. Stafyldis stopped it going out for a throw in and hit in a cross, Dzeko volleyed it from six yards out on the turn and right at Butelle who was in the right spot to catch the shot. Anywhere else and it was a goal.

After 38 minutes Gabriel intercepted a pass and started pushing Roma forward. He played the ball up to Dzeko in the Brugge half. Denswil made a great tackle but, the ball rolled to Sidibe on the overlap. He got passed De Bock and passed the ball back inside to Dzeko, who played the ball back to Sidibe. He hit in a good cross and Doumbia back pedalled for a couple of steps before rising to cushion a header back across goal and beat Butelle to leave Brugge behind.

At half time Alex had a bit of a go at his players as they had failed to even get a shot away and Roma were dominating the game in every way. He told them to pick their game up and show that they had talent.

Brugge launched a counter attack five minutes after half time that ended with a good tackle giving Bruge a throw in. De Bock took it and threw the ball to Vanaken He played the ball to Meunier in the middle of the pitch 20 yards out. Before Alex could work out what his right back was doing he backheeled a pass to play in Felipe Gedoz. He smashed the ball high and past Rulli in the Roma goal as Brugge scored with their first shot. The stadium was silenced as the Brugge players celebrated.

The game started to show that nothing depended on it as the game wound down to an end. With five minutes left Sidibe threw the ball up to Dzeko who played it back out to Sidibe. He played the ball inside to Pjanic who knocke it on to Stuaro. He found Doumbia in space 18 yards out and Doumbia took the ball in, turned and shot. Butelle got down quickly and pushed the ball away, right into the path of Dzeko who slotted in the rebound to put Roma ahead late on.

Brugge failed to offer anything in the last few minutes and Roma got the win to let them win the group by three points.



Overall Alex was pleased with the group. Two wins over Legia and Red Star was good and a draw and late loss to Roma was nothing to be ashamed of.

Unlucky against Roma but an away win was always going to be a challenge! Still you are through so keep it up

Jack Can't ever complain being top of the table. Thanks

Beany Yeah didn't think it was overly likely, but we pushed them quite far. Always good to be into the hat of the next round

Alex was sitting at his desk when he heard a ping signalling that he had an email. It was from the Belgian FA and Alex opened it up to see that it contained a short list of players for the Belgian Player of the Year award.



Having a look at those nominated Alex was pleased to see that 5 players from his side had been named in the award and he did feel that a few more could have been named. It showed how good Andre Martins was that he had made the shortlist despite an injury and having only played in Belgium for half of the year. Alex voted and turned to other matters.



He decided to fine Saymak’s a week’s wages for failing to turn up to training. His agent indicated that this was fine with Saymak and he regretted not turning up for training.

Alex headed back home early as had most of the squad as they had a short session after returning from Rome. As the Saturday was Alex’s 38th birthday some friends had come over for the weekend in Belgium, when he got home most of them had arrived and Alex welcomed them all and then noticed one person he didn’t think know coming.

“Dave, what the hell are you doing here?” Dave was the scout/youth coach at Shrewsbury who had gone to a game to watch for a striker and ended up offering Alex, who had put in a good shift at left back, a trial instead and told him that he should give up with defending and be a striker. Despite bouncing around in his career Alex had kept in touch with Dave although he hadn’t seen him for a few years.

“What, the man whose choice means you are the manager with all these nice things can’t show up to celebrate your birthday?” Was the mocking response Alex got.

“Will you ever not hold that over my head? I clearly had the talent and would have made it anyway.” A response was cut off by the proffering of champagne and some small talk was made and where everyone was going to sleep was also planned out.

The next day Alex offered to take Dave to the Brugge training ground, an offer that was accepted. Alex got birthday wishes from all of the players and they had even clubbed in to buy him a small gift. It was a cricket bat given that Alex occasionally used the term "cricket score" despite it not translating well to Belgian players.

Alex took training and introduced Dave to all of the staff who gave him some mock complaints over his choice meaning they had to put up with Alex, at least Alex hoped they were mock complaints.

The staff gave Alex a gift of there own and he guessed that Roel had been the man organising it, and if not certainly the one who had demanded the money. They had given him a hamper of Belgian food including speculaas, a cinnamon and ginger cookie that Alex had grown a bit to fond of, they were mainly eaten in early December and Alex had already stocked up on them although was pleased to get more. He also got some other Belgian cookies which he was sure that he would enjoy as well.

When Alex and Dave got back home he opened his presents everyone else had got him, none looked as tasty as speculaas although that may have to do with few of the gifts were food. Alex then cut and had some cake before joining everyone in going to a restaurant in Bruges and sampling quite a few of the local beers.

And happppy birthdayyyy to youuuuuu

Beany Why thank you

Alex named his usual side for he game against Zulte Waregem, with the game being Timmy Simons last league game before he turned 40 Alex hoped to give him a run out as well to give him one last game in his thirties. Zulte went for a deep 4-2-3-1 with Kuki on loan from Malaga a big threat for them.

The first ten minutes were all Brugge and Gedoz won a free kick just outside the box 20 yards out and just wide of the end of the “D”. He stood over the ball took a deep breath than ran up and blasted the ball over the wall and into the top corner to put Brugge ahead. It was a great free kick and Alex was pleased his side got an early lead.

After 15 minutes Gedoz stood over another set piece, this time a corner. Vanaken rose up at the back post and headed the ball back across goal. Mendy headed it a couple of yards away and the ball bounced off a defender and fell to Engels who turned and was unlucky to see the shot just tipped away by the keeper and then fully cleared.

10 minutes later Meunier intercepted a pass and headed the ball up to Gedoz on the wing. He played the ball inside and Alex’s central three passed the ball around themselves. Vanaken played the ball wide to Izquierdo who ran inside and into the Zulte half. He gave the ball back to Vanaken who played it wide to Gedoz. Using Meunier’s overlap as a disguise he got some space and hit in a cross. The keeper came out to claim the ball and Luciano snuck un ahead of him to hit the ball into and empty goal and double Brugge’s lead.

With 5 minutes until half time Engels had the ball and acres of space. He played the ball wide to Izquierdo, he cut inside and left his defender grabbing at nothing. He had space to run into and from 25 yards out he cracked a shot off. The keeper dived but, got nowhere near the shot that cannoned off of the crossbar. Verboom hit the rebound out for a throw in.

After 42 minutes Santamaria got the ball wide to Meunier who started running down the wing. He played a one-two with Gedoz to get the ball in space wide from the box. He hit a cross into the back post and Izquierdo got up and his header was just wide of the far post. The ball ran onto Gedoz and from an almost impossibly tight angle his shot hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

At halftime Alex praised his team and sent on Simons for Fejsa to give him a final chance to play in the league in his thirties. He also put on Vossen in the hopes that he could find a goal to boost his morale in a game they were dominating replacing Luciano who had taken a knock in the first half.

A minute into the half Gedoz went on a run down the wing. He played the ball inside to Santamaria who played it onto Simons whose touch got a huge cheer. Simons passed it back to Gedoz out wide and he whipped in a cross. It was blocked and the ball fell to Meunier, he hit in a cross and Vossen ran onto it and smashed the ball into the post as Alex’s side hit the woodwork for a third time. The ball bounced out for a goal kick.

Another Gedoz run down the wing two minutes later was ended by a crude tackle and despite Alex hoping for a penalty they got a free kick just outside the box. Gedoz chipped a ball into the near post and Denswil was bundled over trying to head the ball. The referee pointed to the spot and Brugge’s first choice penalty taker captain Timmy Simons picked up the ball to try and notch his first goal of the season. Boasting a career 92% conversion rate Simons looked confident as he placed the ball and walked back a few paces. He took two stutter steps and then two long paces before hitting the ball into the right hand top corner. Despite diving the right way the keeper had no chance. Simons was mobbed by all of the players as he celebrated his first goal of the season and likely final goal in his thirties.

After 68 minutes a long Butelle goal kick was won by Zulte and they pushed forwards. Brebels got the ball wide to Kaya, he returned the ball and Brebels hit Dalsgaard on the overlap in space. He took the ball down and passed to Kaya just inside the box. His shot was well struck but, going wide until Codardo stuck his foot out to redirect it past the helpless Butelle and pull a goal back for Zulte.

Despite conceding Brugge easily saw the game out for a win and just saved some money on clean sheet bonuses. It was a good performance and Alex praised his team as they recorded a win to bounce back from disappointment in Rome.



Standard and Oostende also won so Brugge maintained a two point and one game advantage at the top of the table.



Luciano’s knock would see him out for around a week which was a blow for Alex’s plans. He had to decide which player to play up front in Luciano’s place.

Luciano is literally the unluckiest player of all time Nice to see him scoring and thankfully he is only out for one week! Nice 3-1 win mate

Beany Well how can someone who plays under me be unlucky

But, also I think Ebert has a better claim to that title

Thanks man

Alex was annoyed to hear that Saymak was unable to agree terms with Glenclerbirligi and so Alex got onto Roel and they started offering him back out again to try and raise some final funds and save some wage space before they made a push for their final target in January.

The target had been identified and Alex was hopeful a deal could be done as preliminary talks with the Brazilian club had been positive as they were open to a sale although one last bit of cash would be needed so that they could complete the deal on the current terms, although Roel was trying to push down the price as well.

Noting that Alex decided to try and do something to help the move go along, make sure the player knew that they were interested in signing him. Alex called an old team mate who he learned had gone into sports journalism in Sao Paulo. He had vaguely kept in contact with him but, figured that now he had a good reason to call him.

“Afro” The nickname was ironic as he seemed to shave his head every day. “Wondering how everything is going for you.” After some interesting small talk they got round to the reason Alex had made the call. “I hear you are now a big shot journalist in Sao Paulo. I have some transfer news that you could maybe break to help me out.”

Afro laughed at that. “So Brugge are planning another raid on the city after Emerson?”

“Very much so. The winger who has been cutting it up their, I want him hear and can give you the scoop on it and keep you up to date with everything. In exchange you do some coverage linking him here and gauge his and his agents reaction.”

Alex could hear him weighing muttering under his breath. “An annoying trade off to help out, but then a scoop on a big transfer leaving here is good. Negotiations could go badly as well then I look wrong, but then it could be forgotten and if I talk to the agents I can guess it in advance if it will work.”

After listening to him wrestle with the decision Alex finally heard the words that he wanted. “Okay I will run the story, in exchange I get the first news about everything to do with the transfer.”

“Done” Alex confirmed “I will let you know when we make first contact with Sao Paulo and then take it from there.”

Alex hung up and talked to Roel about the conversation and he seemed pleased and felt that it could cut a small chunk off of the price that would be demanded if he could get the target they wanted at a lower price which would help.

They planned to make some opening approaches towards the beginning of next week to try and get the deal tied up before the January window opened.