Los Nervionenses

Jose Maria Del Nido - Chairman
Victor Orta - Director of Football

The phone rang out three times in Victor Orta's house, and as he picked up the phone he had that feeling when you know it's something serious, and then the serious way in which his friend Jose Maria Del Nido started the conversation made him realize that something was wrong.

"We need to talk Victor."
"What about?"
"Michel"
"What, the manager? What's wrong with him?"
"He's taking us nowhere, we need a change."
"We've barely given him a chance, it isn't his fault we didn't get into Europe."
"No, it isn't, but we're Sevilla, we need to be getting into Europe."
"What, so you're saying we need a fresh breath of air?"
"Precisely."
"Well...do you have anyone in mind? Pellegrino? Ignacio?"
"No, you're way off. I was thinking of an Englishman, Ben Warner."
"Who?!"
"He's a young, English manager. He hasn't actually managed anywhere, but he's got the necessary qualifications, and no experienced managers we hire are doing anything, so why not try something different?"
"If this goes wrong, you do realize no club will ever give you a job again, don't you?"
"Yes, I do, but it's worth the risk."
"Alright, I trust you, let's approach him. But if it goes wrong, we don't want him tied down to a massive contract. Just give him a two year deal, for a reasonable wage."
"Alright, I'll prepare the offer, and get back to you in a couple of days. Bye Victor."
"Bye Jose".

Victor put the phone down, lent back, and shook his head in disbelief. How had he been persuaded to appoint an unknown Englishman?

Sevilla appoint Warner

Sevilla seem to have taken a stab in the dark while appointing their latest manager, the relatively unknown Ben Warner, 25, who hopes to bring success to the club, stating that he wants to bring several honours to Seville before he leaves, and is already starting an overhaul of the staff, with 9 staff already leaving, and he says he is "very happy" with the facilities and backing that he has recieved.

2011-12
Ben Warner’s first ever season in management, and the board has set him a relatively easy target for a club of the stature of Sevilla: qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and he has been given a very good amount of money to achieve the club’s ambitions, £12m budget, and £670k wages, of which £655k is being used (after transfers).

After a quick look over the squad, he has realized that he has inherited a very good squad, with the full back areas the only real areas that need improving, and he is very happy with most of the staff setup, although he’s definitely decided that some people need to go.

Pre-Season
Friendlies
Reggina 1-0 Sevilla
Sevilla 3-1 Colon
Sevillla 4-1 Nottingham Forest
Conil 0-5 Sevilla
Napoli 0-5 Sevilla
Ecija 1-2 Sevilla

Transfers
In
Erik Pieters – PSV – £7.75m
Sime Vrsaljko – Dinamo – £5m
Pablo Zabaleta – Manchester City – £4m
Alessandro Del Piero – Free

Out
Mohamadou Dabo – FC Sochaux-Montbe – Loan Fee £500k

Review
Overall, Sevilla’s pre-season went very well, especially some of the results, like the Napoli result, and maybe signs of good things to come.

August
Sevilla 5-0 Granada
Team: Lopez (7.1), Zabaleta (8.0), Spahic (8.0), Fazio (8.7), Pieters (7.9), Campana (8.5), Medel (8.3), Navas (9.4), Reyes (7.2), Perotti (9.1), Negredo (8.0)

Subs used: Del Piero (6.5) for Negredo 68, Trochowski (6.4) for Campana 68

Goals: Medel (5), Fazio (8), Navas (45+1, 48), Negredo (60)

MOTM: Navas (Sevilla)

Ben Warner’s first ever managerial game was met with some scepticism by some corners of the media, because of his lack of experience, but he has certainly warded them off, for a few weeks at least, with this superb win over a very weak Granada side. Two of his summer signings started the match, while the other two had to be content with a place on the bench, and he definitely made the right choices on who to start.

The game could not have started better for Sevilla, as they were two goals up inside 10 minutes, first Medel stabbing home from a corner, then Fazio putting a diving header into the back of the net. They continued to dominate, and soon enough had a third, and a very good goal. Navas picked the ball up near the halfway line, and weaved past six Granada players, before finishing from 25 yards.

The lead was pretty much unassailable at the break, but Sevilla wanted more, and got a fourth minutes after the break, Campana putting Navas through, and he tok it round the keeper, before slotting home. They still weren’t finished though, and completed the rout ten minutes later, when Negredo turned and shot from 20 yards, and it flew into the net. Soon after came a debut for veteran striker Alessandro Del Piero, who nearly scored a couple of times. Overall, seven players made their Sevilla debuts in this match.

Manager Ben Warner will be very happy with the result and the performance to go with it.

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Sevilla
Team: Lopez (5.7), Zabaleta (6.6), Spahic (8.1), Fazio (6.7), Pieters (7.0), Campana (6.5), Medel (6.8), Navas (6.2), Reyes (6.8), Perotti (7.3), Negredo (6.4)

Subs used: Navarro (N/A) for Pieters 84, Botia (N/A) for Campana 84, Del Moral (N/A) for Reyes 90

Goals: Reinartz (70); Spahic (17)

MOTM: Reinartz (Atletico)

After the great result in his first match of the season, Ben Warner took his Sevilla side to Madrid, for a match between two bitter rivals, Sevilla, and Atletico, and he has achieved another commendable result, coming away from one of the toughest grounds in the league with a point, although they were very lucky to draw. There were no changes to the team that won the week before, but there’s no need to fix what isn’t broken.

The game started well enough for Sevilla, and they had the ball in the net within 5 minutes via Navas, although it was ruled out for offside. Negredo continued to trouble Madrid, but it wasn’t him who put Sevilla in front, it was the centre-back, Spahic, who headed home from point-blank range to score Sevilla’s sixth goal of the season. After this, Sevilla couldn’t get out of their half, and could have been 5-1 down at half time, if not for an inspired display from Diego Lopez.

The first half was fairly even, although Sevilla had next to none shots, and eventually the inevitable happened, and Madrid equalised through new signing Stefan Reinartz. He controlled a free kick taken by Belozoglu, and smashed home from 3 yards to equalize, and Madrid were in the ascendency, and pressed on to try and get a winner, but Sevilla defended heroically, and came away with a draw.

When asked what he thought of the result, the manager said he was happy with how the match finished.

League Table

7th with 4 points from 2 games

Great story! I like stories that are in the Spanish League because you have to beat Real Madrid and Barcelona in order to win!

September
Sevilla 3-0 Valladolid
Team: Lopez (7.1), Vrsaljko (7.8), Spahic (7.2), Maduro (7.1), Pieters (7.5), Trochowski (6.9), Medel (6.9), Navas (8.7), Reyes (6.8), Perotti (6.7), Negredo (7.3)

Subs used: Del Moral (7.9) for Perotti 28, Baba (6.5) for Negredo 71

Goals: Negredo (38), Del Moral (60), Jaime OG (87)

MOTM: Navas (Sevilla)

Injuries: Perotti (twisted ankle, 4-5 weeks)

Fresh from their trip to Madrid before the international break, Ben Warner’s Sevilla took on a newly-promoted Valladolid side, and Sevilla were hoping for their second home win of the campaign, and enjoyed domination while achieving that aim, putting three past a lacklustre Valladolid side. There were three changes to the team, Vrsalko, Maduro, and Trochowski coming in for Zabaleta, Fazio, and Campana.
Sevilla were frustrated for the first half an hour of the match, and Valladolid nearly took the lead, but the substitution of Del Moral changed the game, and pretty soon, Sevilla were in front, when Negredo controlled a low cross from Navas and finished coolly into the corner of the net. Los Nervionenses continued to push on, but couldn’t find another before half-time, but still went into the break ahead.

Valladolid continued to frustrate Sevilla, but could only hold out for so long before they scored again, Del Moral heading home off the bar from a cross by Navas to put the game further out of the reach of Valladolid. Sevilla wanted more goals, and after several chances, they managed to score again, this time Jaime capping a very bad performance from Valladolid by deflecting an off-target shot from Maduro into his own net to make absolutely sure the three points were staying in Seville.

After the match Ben Warner said he is pleased with the result.

Rayo 2-4 Sevilla
Team: Lopez (6.9), Zabaleta (7.5), Spahic (7.0), Maduro (6.9), Pieters (7.1), Trochowski (7.1), Medel (6.9), Navas (9.2), Reyes (9.0), Del Moral (8.6), Negredo (7.5)

Goals: Delibasic (29), Vazquez (64); Navaz (6, 79), Negredo (58), Reyes (69)

MOTM: Navas (Sevilla)

After an easy win over Valladolid, Sevilla travelled to Vallecano for an away match billed as a tight affair, but still as favourites, and showed their supremacy by battering Rayo, despite having a couple of nervy moments. The only change was Zabaleta coming back in for Vrsaljko, and he put in a good performance.
Sevilla got off to a flyer, when Navas put them in front from near the penalty spot after Del Moral put in a low cross, which Negredo laid off for Navas to score his third of the season. Sevilla continued to press, but it was Rayo who, unexpectedly, scored next, when Delibasic ran from the halfway line, and smashed the ball home to level. They took the initiative from here, and pressed Sevilla for the rest of the half, but couldn’t score, and the teams went in level.

Rayo started the second half as they ended the first, but eventually got pushed back by Sevilla, and eventually Negredo put Sevilla back in front, when he picked the ball up, and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, which the keeper probably should have saved. Rayo weren’t just going to sit back though, and were level again within minutes, and it was a poor goal to concede. Spahic seemed to have ended the move when he intercepted a ball over the top, but gave it away stupidly, before moving out of position, allowing Vazquez to score via the post. Sevilla were fed up of conceding though, and turned on the style with two great goals to win the game. The first came from Reyes, his first of the season, and no better way to start off than from 30 yards with your left foot into the top corner. The shot looked like it was heading well wide, before curving massively and rifling into the net. The fourth came ten minutes later, Navas chipping the keeper from inside the box to round off the victory and give the three points to Sevilla.

Ben Warner is said to be happy with the win, but annoyed at the two sloppy goals conceded by the defence.

Sevilla 4-1 Valencia
Team: Lopez (6.6), Zabaleta (7.3), Spahic (7.4), Maduro (9.0), Pieters (7.5), Trochowski (7.3), Medel (7.0), Navas (7.2), Reyes (9.6), Del Moral (8.0), Negredo (8.3)

Goals: Reyes (24, 30, pen 58), Negredo (65); Spahic OG (47)

Red Cards: Mathieu 90 (Valencia)

MOTM: Reyes (Sevilla)

A mouth-watering clash between two big teams, and Ben Warner’s second big clash, and he was hoping for another win to help their European challenge. Valencia were the visitors to Seville, and were slight underdogs. Sevilla put out an unchanged side, and managed to pull off a huge victory.
The game was end-to-end for the first twenty minutes, and then Reyes took the game by the scruff of the neck with two quick goals. The first was a chip from the edge of the box, which was a contender for goal of the week, and then another great goal, as he turned and shot from 25 yards into the back of the net to put Sevilla in the driving seat. Sevilla tried to push on and get another before halftime, but could only come close.

After the manager praised his team for the way they’d played, Sevilla came out and immediately got pegged back, after Spahic put the ball into his own net after Diego Lopez dropped a cross. There was a massive scare five minutes later, when Maduro headed the ball into his own net for what would have been an equaliser for Valencia, but thankfully it was ruled out for offside against Llorente, and minutes later Sevilla restored their two goal lead, when Del Moral got pushed in the box by a defender already on a yellow card, and Reyes stepped up to put the penalty into the back of the net to complete his hat-trick. Negredo put the game beyond any doubt ten minutes later, when he picked the ball up just inside the Valencia half, ran to just outside the box, and lofted the ball over the Valencia keeper and into the net. The rest of the game was dominated by Sevilla, but they couldn’t add to their tally. Mathieu rounded off an awful Valencia performance by getting sent off for a late, violent foul.

Ben Warner says he is absolutely delighted with his team’s performance.


Athletic Bilbao 3-3 Sevilla
Team: Lopez (6.4), Zabaleta (6.5), Spahic (5.6), Maduro (5.9), Pieters (6.5), Trochowski (6.9), Medel (6.6), Navas (8.8), Reyes (7.5), Del Moral (6.2), Negredo (7.6)

Subs used: Vrsaljko (6.1) for Trochowski 65, Fazio (N/A) for Zabaleta 77, Jairo (N/A) for Reyes 88

Goals: Llorente (14, 70, 76); Navas (60, 64), Negredo (81)

MOTM: Llorente (Bilbao)

After the great result against Valencia a few days earlier, Ben Warner took a weary Sevilla team north to Bilbao, and were slight favourites, but fixture congestion seems to have finally taken its toll, and stumbled to a 3-3 draw against Bilbao. It was an unchanged team again, but there may be a change or two for the next game.

Bilbao started the game the better, and Llorente managed to score a relatively early goal, running onto a through ball, and placing a shot into the back off the net. That was the last action of a relatively boring half, and the manager of Sevilla let his players know they needed to be a lot better in the second half.

Sevilla came out for the second half, and finally managed to start pressing Bilbao, and got a goal within quarter of an hour, but it was a fluke goal, after the ball bounced off him from a clearance after ping-pong in the box. Sevilla were ahead minutes later, after Navas found himself unmarked in the box following a free kick, and nodded the ball into the Bilbao net. That was his sixth goal of the campaign. The lead only lasted six minutes however, as Llorente managed to net his second of the game, heading home from eight yards after some fierce Bilbao pressure. Bilbao found themselves back in front four minutes later, and it was that man, Llorent, completing his hat-trick, Llorente smashing home from inside the box after a ball over the top. Sevilla were determined to come away from San Mames with something, and scored seven minutes later. Navas beat the Bilbao defender to the loose ball, and put a good ball across the six-yard box, which Negredo was able to apply a simple finish to put Sevilla back on terms. After this, no-one looked like scoring, and Sevilla held on for a point.

Ben Warner says he is happy to have scored three away at a tough team, but angered the defence played so poorly overall.

League Table

3rd after Real Madrid and Malaga, so far so good.

3rd Place? Nice!
Keep it going, this is definitely one of the most unique stories round here

Third place is an extraordinary achievement if you can hold out there. Don't expect it to get any easier because when Messi and Ronaldo start firing, Madrid and Barca almost become unplayable!

I just beat Barca 3-1, I might cope.

got to say am not a big fan on sevilla but youve made them look a bit more like a team unlike everytime ive had a spainish game save. good luck in the challenge ahead i think you will give barca and madrid a run for their money!.

It might take a couple of years, but I think I can take them to the top spot in Spain.

October
Sevilla 3-1 Barcelona
Team: Lopez (7.1), Zabaleta (7.2), Spahic (7.0), Maduro (7.5), Pieters (7.0), Trochowski (7.1), Medel (7.7), Navas (7.0), Reyes (7.5), Del Moral (8.4), Negredo (7.5)

Subs used: Vrsaljko (N/A) for Trochowski 83, Fazio (N/A) for Maduro 90

Goals: Negredo (19), Medel (61), Del Moral (68); Messi (64)

MOTM: Del Moral (Sevilla)

Ben Warner’s Sevilla faced their toughest challenge of the season against a full-strength Barcelona, and remarkably came out on top by putting three past Valdes in the Barca goal. Strangely, Ben Warner didn’t make any lineup or tactical changes as most teams do against Barcelona, and didn’t get punished for his confidence, showing his teams European qualification credentials well.

The game started evenly, and both teams could have taken the lead before Sevilla scored. Barca took a throw in, but before you knew it, Sevilla were on the counter, and Del Moral put in a brilliant ball for Negredo to head home a shock lead for Sevilla. The game kept being even until half time, and Sevilla went into the changing rooms in the better position.

The second half was a lot more open, and Sevilla really showed how good they can be, by scoring two more goals, and only having that one blip allowing Messi to score. Sevilla scored their second when Reyes ran down the right wing, and put in a good, low ball, which Medel, sliding in, was able to finish, doubling Sevilla’s lead. Barca were back in the game within minutes, after being put through by Pique, he rounded Lopez and put the ball in the net. Sevilla were having none off it however, and restored their two goal lead soon after. Trochowski unleashed a vicious shot from outside the box, which rebounded to man-of-the-match Del Moral inside the six-yard box, and all he had to do was nod the ball into an empty net to make it 3-1. Sevilla managed to survive Barcelona’s pressure for the rest of the match, and held on for a brilliant win.

After the match, Ben Warner said this might be Sevilla’s best win of the season, and hopes for more performances of a similar calibre to follow this game.

Malaga 2-0 Sevilla
Team: Lopez (6.5), Zabaleta (5.9), Spahic (6.9), Maduro (6.8), Pieters (5.9), Rakitic (5.4), Medel (6.8), Del Moral (6.6), Reyes (6.6), Perotti (6.2), Negredo (6.8)

Subs used: Jairo (6.8) for Reyes 57, Fazio (6.9) for Rakitic 73, Trochowski (6.6) for Perotti 74

Goals: Eliseu (16), Santa Cruz (22)

MOTM: Joaquin (Malaga)

Young Sevilla manager Ben Warner suffered his first loss of the season is an expected performance against second-placed Malaga. Despite this, Sevilla are still in a very respectable position. There were two changes, Croatian Ivan Rakitic returning from injury to make his first appearance of the season, and Del Moral replacing the injured Jesus Navas.

Malaga took the lead fairly early on, when Eliseu latched onto a low Joaquin cross to place an easy finish into the back of the net, and they were two up just minutes later, and it was an easy goal for loanee Roque Santa Cruz. He set up a player for an instant lay off which Santa Cruz got onto and finished low into the bottom corner, leaving Lopez no chance. Malaga continued to press, but couldn’t further the lead before half time.

Despite both Malaga and Sevilla’s best efforts, the second half was goalless, and the three points stayed with the home team, inflicting Sevilla’s first loss of the season.

Ben Warner said after the match that he is devastated with the result, not only to lose, but to have lost to such a close rival.

Deportivo 1-3 Sevilla
Team: Lopez (7.2), Zabaleta (7.0), Spahic (7.1), Maduro (8.1), Pieters (7.0), Rakitic (7.6), Medel (6.9), Del Moral (6.9), Reyes (8.2), Perotti (8.5), Negredo (7.4)

Goals: Oliveira (42); Negredo (36), Rakitic (76), Maduro (90+2)

MOTM: Perotti (Sevilla)

After their first defeat of the season the week before, Sevilla travelled to A Coruna for an away match against Deportivo, with everyone expecting them to record an easy win. Warner named an unchanged side, and needed a win to keep pace with the top two.

Deportivo controlled the opening exchanges, only allowing Sevilla chances on the break. Eventually Sevilla started dominating, and soon enough scored, when Reyes broke down the side and played a low ball in to Negredo who took a touch before smashing home from 4 yards after 36 minutes. Deportivo didn’t look like scoring, but were somehow level at the break, when Nelson Oliveira got put through, and finished coolly.

Sevilla continued to push after the break to try and retake the lead, and Deportivo survived a scare when centre back Maduro had a header cleared off the line and hit the post within seconds of each other, but then Sevilla managed to find the net, when man of the match Perotti played a little ball to Rakitic, who calmly finished into the bottom corner to put Sevilla back in front. Sevilla managed to score again, but not before Lopez pulled off a good save to keep out Oliveira with 2 minutes to go, and Sevilla immediately went up the other end and scored, Maduro volleying in from six yards following a corner.

Ben Warner said he is pleased by the hard-fought victory, but frustrated by the lack of clean sheets for Lopez.

Girona 0-1 Sevilla (Copa Del Rey 4th Round, Leg 1)
Team: Lopez (6.8), Zabaleta (7.1), Spahic (7.7), Maduro (6.9), Pieters (7.2), Rakitic (6.8), Medel (6.9), Del Moral (7.6), Reyes (6.8), Perotti (7.0), Negredo (6.1)

Subs used: Fazio (N/A) for Rakitic 78, Jairo (N/A) for Reyes 78, Trochowski (N/A) for Perotti 83

Goals: Del Moral (58)

MOTM: Spahic (Sevilla)

Ben Warner took his Sevilla side to Girona for a cup tie that they were massive favourites for, but struggled to overcome the Liga Adelante side, but still take a slim lead back to Andalusia. It was an unchanged team once again, which did the job, eventually.

The first half was very boring, with few chances for each team, making the Sevilla manager have to encourage his players to not get disheartened and to keep goingat half time.

During the second half, Sevilla showed their superiority, and eventually took the lead when winger Manu Del Moral smashed home a volley after Rakitic’s long shot was deflected away. Sevilla continued to press but didn’t score again, and pulled off a good defensive display to limit Girona to one shot on target, meaning that Sevilla won the game and take a 1-0 lead to the second leg.

Warner said he is pleased to have won, but wishes that his team could have scored more. Sevilla are big favourites for the second leg back at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Mallorca 2-6 Sevilla
Team: Lopez (7.2), Zabaleta (7.9), Spahic (7.9), Maduro (6.4), Pieters (8.1), Rakitic (8.2), Medel (8.9), Del Moral (8.5), Reyes (7.7), Perotti (9.3), Negredo (8.1)

Subs used: Fazio (7.0) for Maduro 29, Jairo (N/A) for Reyes 77, Vrsaljko (N/A) for Medel 89

Goals: Hemed (10), Geromel (61); Del Moral (15), Medel (45+1), Perotti (53, 58), Kevin OG (67), Negredo (76)

Injuries: Maduro, no serious injury (29), Medel, strained neck, 6 to 9 days (89)

MOTM: Perotti (Sevilla)

Sevilla had another away game on the back of their win in Girona, but this one was on the island of Mallorca. Warner once again named an unchanged team, and despite a recent problem of wasting chances in games, Sevilla put six past Mallorca. The only small downside is a slight injury to midfielder Gary Medel.

Mallorca took a shock early lead when Hemed curled a shot past Lopez, but the lead didn’t last long, as Del Moral managed to equalise within five minutes, picking the ball up near the Sevilla box, and running a long way, before calmly levelling the scores. Mallorca could have been back ahead minutes later, but Lopez saved Hemed’s penalty to keep the game 1-1. The game remained fairly quiet for the rest of the half, but Sevilla still managed to take the lead in added time, when Medel volleyed home Spahic’s knockdown.

The second half was a lot better than the first, with several more goals. Perotti started it off, taking the ball past three players before putting the ball in the bottom corner. He got the fourth as well, a deflected shot finding its way past the Mallorca keeper. Mallorca responded quickly, pulling the deficit back to two, Geromel heading in from a corner. Sevilla made sure there wouldn’t be any worries though, although the next goal didn’t come from a Sevilla player, but Kevin of Mallorca. He slide tackled the ball off Del Moral who was through on goal, yet sliding it into his own net in the process. Sevilla completed the rout with quarter of an hour to go, Negredo scoring, although he didn’t know much about it. A Mallorca defender cleared the ball, but only onto a charging Negredo, and it rebounded off him into the net.

Ben Warner said he is delighted with the result in what was an even game.

League Table

This is just a suggestion, but your posts are very long. Try to condense your posts down into smaller more readable sizes. I like your writing anyway. Enjoying the story so far mate - your doing well.

You should have seen them before mate, each match was like a Word page long. I'm just doing the goals, but it's cos of the amount of stuff I put at the start of the report.