The Winning Formula

Chapter 3- The Grease-Man
Section 3


It was sweltering in the office. Heck, It was always sweltering in the office. It was a terrible place to be during the summer. The heat took a toll on all of us, and usually the employees and I were in a miserable mood. But today was different for me. I had a task to complete. I had to make our team a better team before our Champions League best placed game against Lyon, the former club of the new signing, Maxime Gonalons. Well we obviously didn't have any money. Jokin wouldn't give us the funds we needed to buy players, so there were 2 options. The free market and the loan market. Unfortunately, the players for free were less than adequate.

Jose, get me a report on the players available for loan.

Yes sir.

Jose has the report already, and he's walking toward me with a very slim file. Maybe this team can't be improved after all. The team, despite winning against Celta Vigo yesterday, lacks depth. What we need is a super sub. Somebody who can make an impact, and we need a 3rd defender. If we get 2 players like that, the team as a whole will improve lots. There will be more pressure to play well, and more pressure for the subs to improve. Those signings would create friendly competition, which I promote.

Who have we got here Jose?

We have some talented players here. I know you want a super sub. Enzo Perez fits the bill perfectly. He has good dribbling, passing, and even a little bit of pace. The market for Center Backs is pretty lackluster, but I found 1 center back that looks good enough to be 3rd choice. Dedryck Boyata. This lad is your typical defender, good tackling and heading, bad everything else. However, he would fit into the team.

Alright, thanks Jose. Can you get Jorge Jesus on the phone please?

Jorge Jesus is the manager of Benfica, the title contenders in the Portuguese League. One of his players just happens to be Enzo Perez, a player I am keen on bringing in. Even before Jose gave me his report on the lad, he was one of my targets. Why? His skill on the ball is excellent. I knew that he could inspire this team with his change of pace and use of moves. I also knew that I could pick him up on the cheap. But now, he seemed like the perfect loan option.

Hello.

Hello Jorge, it's Roberto DI Matteo.

Hello Roberto, what's going on?

Enzo Perez? Loan?

Alright Roberto, he's not a starter. I can loan him to you for a year. Pay 50% of salary and let's see, maybe 18k a month and we'll send him to you.

Deal.

Great, let me go talk to him for a minute. See If he'll agree to the move. I'll call you back in a second.

I waited for just about 5 minutes, until the reply finally came through.

Roberto.

Yes?

He's yours.

Great update Jason

Super update Maddy! As I aforementioned I love the way you make boring stuff such as transfer negotiations exciting and intense! Potential SOTM contender for sure mate!

Also why is it titled "The Grease-man? I assumed it was something to do with Griezman but he wasn't even mentioned!

2013-08-24 15:44#131166 Nathaniel : Super update Maddy! As I aforementioned I love the way you make boring stuff such as transfer negotiations exciting and intense! Potential SOTM contender for sure mate!

Also why is it titled "The Grease-man? I assumed it was something to do with Griezman but he wasn't even mentioned!

Thanks for the great comment Nath!

The Chapter itself is called The Grease-Man because he Is an important part of the next update!

2013-08-24 20:03#131177 The Madridista :

2013-08-24 15:44#131166 Nathaniel : Super update Maddy! As I aforementioned I love the way you make boring stuff such as transfer negotiations exciting and intense! Potential SOTM contender for sure mate!

Also why is it titled "The Grease-man? I assumed it was something to do with Griezman but he wasn't even mentioned!

Thanks for the great comment Nath!

The Chapter itself is called The Grease-Man because he Is an important part of the next update!

Ah righto I thought that particular post was The Grease-man!

The Winning Formula: Lorenzo Insigne + Yassine Benzia

Sign them up!

Great update maddy! Just as nat said you seem to make boring transfers really fun! Keep going I think you'll be a SOTM contender

Chapter 3- The Grease-Man
Section 4

Tomorrow was the second leg of the Champions League Best placed playoff, against Lyon. A game that was critical to our future. Why? All the money that rested just ahead in the Champions League Group stage. We're talking in excess of 7 million pounds. And we had the advantage. Just 5 days ago, we played the first leg of the CHampions League game against Lyon. After taking an early goal at home, we struck back with 2 great goals from Mikel Gonzalez and yep, you guessed it , the Grease-Man. Today Is all about the The Grease-Man. The transfer market comes to a close soon, and if we're selling him, we need to do it now. Antoine still lags in training, he doesn't pay attention and he jokes around. But as soon as we get onto the pitch, he starts performing, big time. We don't need his attitude, but we need his performance. And we need his publicity. He's the icon on this football club, and the fans will be outraged if he leaves. So I need to make a decision. You know, scratch that. We'll let Antoine make the decision for himself.

I dial Antoine's number and tell him to come up to my office. Then, his future will be decided, and the best part, he won't even know it.

Antoine walks in, obviously tired. I don't blame him. It's 4 in the morning.

Hi Boss. Why am I down here this early?

Sorry Antoine, I forgot It was this early. I've been working all night. Being a football manager is a 24 hour shift.

Anotine looks at me with expression of horror, sympathy, and admiration before taking a big yawn.

I called you because I want to ask you a few questions.

Ok.

Do you want to stay at the club? Forever?

I don't know. I want to stay for now at least. If It gets to a point where I need to leave so I can advance in my career, I'll do it. But I'm ok for now.

What do you think about training?

Training is important I guess, I've been trying to improve.

Where do you see the club finishing this year Antoine?

3rd.

That will be all Antoine. You can go back to sleep now.

Really? Ok, thanks.

It took 3 questions to figure out whether Antoine would be a Sociedad player come September. I he's in the lineup against Lyon, then you'll know my decision. If not, well that's a real shame.,Because Antoine will be headed out.

Chapter 3- The Grease-Man
Section 5



The bus ride to France was a short one, It took no more than 4 hours to get from San Sebastian to the Stade de Gerland stadium. But the game about to be played would be even shorter. 90 minutes would decide who would be in the Champions League group stages. 90 minutes would decide who would receive all that green that our lovely chairman Jokin loves. Yet I was not nervous. We took a 2-1 lead at the San Sebastian in the first leg. All we had to do was keep a clean sheet and we would be through. The team I selected was very similar to the team we played in the first leg. And yes, I'm playing The Grease-Man. I've decided to keep the young lad. He has some problems with his work ethic but I feel he can overcome them. He's too good of a player to let go. You can see that the whole team is hyped up. This is a once in a lifetime moment for them. For me, it's just another champions league game. I had plenty at Chelsea. But finally, the whistle blows, and the crowd here in Lyon erupts. I hope they won't be as loud after the game.

First Half

We're in the 10th minute here, and we've started poorly to say the least. We can't keep the ball and the team looks shaken. The team is clearly not used to playing important away games. That's not a good sign. Alexandre Lacazette has run through the whole defense here, without making a single move. The defense can't contain his pace. He's smashed the ball into the 6 yard box, and it's cleared for a corner. Phew. That looked dangerous. However, the danger isn't over. Jimmy Briand has got his head on the ball and HITS THE POST. The ball bounces back into Bisavec, who taps the ball into the goal. The crowd roars, and our players all look at each other, trying to figure out who to blame. This goal however, is Javi Ros's fault. Bisavec was his man and he got free to easily here. We need a goal now, we're tied on aggregate but if the score stays they'll go through on away goals.

We're in the 26th minute now, and the team can't string two passes together before losing the ball. It's embarrassing how poorly we're playing. Gael Danic is on the ball, and he's weaved through two defenders here. Danic swings the ball into the six yard box. Jimmy Briand is making a run too the near post here. He shoots! Saved by Bravo, the ball is deflected towards LACAZETTE! And it's 2-0 here. Terrible defending again. I bury my head in my hands. We need a goal to tie this up. If not, we're out.

It's 4 minutes after the goal now, and we still can't get the ball out of our half. Fofana has passed it right to Jimmy Briand, who is just outside the box. Briand has been making dangerous runs all game, and we've been poor in terms of marking him. He's slipped by our defense all too often. He played the ball into the six yard box here. And Lacazette has made it 3. I turn around and walk right into the dugout and sigh. I motion at Enzo Perez to get up. 10 seconds later, he's on the field and veteran Xabi Prieto is off. He looks hurt and exhausted.


Half Time Pep Talk

Come on lads, this is dreadful. I told you to come out and play attacking football, keep the ball and make threatening runs. Right now, you're parking the bus without defending. You're literally staring at Jimmy Briand and Lacazette as they create chance after chance. You don't deserve to be playing in the champions league after this. COME ON!

I slam the table, and the players look alarmed and scared.

Go out there and wake up! You look like you'd rather be in bed than here playing for your club. Now get back out on the pitch and play good football.

The team trudges out onto the field, looking unhappy and even sad. They realize that the dream is over, over before it even started.

2nd Half

It's the 63rd minute, and the Grease-Man is doing all he can to get the team back in contention. He's the Silver Lining in this dark dark cloud. Haris Seferovic has finally made an attacking run here, probably his first of the night, and the Grease-Man has played him though. Perhaps a goal?! NO! SEFEROVIC HAS PUT IT WIDE! I throw my clipboard as Seferovic has wasted the only decent chance we've had all night. God Damn IT!

Finally, the referee puts and end to our misery. It's been a boring second half, with Seferovic chance there being the only good one we've had all game. The team looks distraught. They are out of the champions league. They all sit together, waiting for the customary post-game pep talk. But It never comes. I walk right past the "pep-talk room", walk right past the reporters shouting my name, and walk into the nice cool air, where I can finally get away from this cruel cruel world for a couple nice minutes.

Unlucky, Lyon is always hard to beat Sometimes the players just get lazy and uninterested when you don't want them to. Unfortunate, but good luck in the Europa League (which is where I thinkyou are now).

Chapter 3- The Grease-Man
Article

Chapter 3- The Grease-Man
August Overview

Results



We had a pretty decent first month of the season here. We started out with a game against Celta at the Anoeta. Although we conceded early, we stormed back with 3 goals, courtesy of Carlos Vela, Mikel Gonzalez, and Antoine Griezmann. Our next game was against Lyon, in the first leg in the Champions League play-off. We started poorly again, and Gomis slotted the ball past Bravo in just the 17th minute. However, goals from Mikel Gonzalez and Antoine Griezmann helped us to regain the lead, and we headed to Lyon looking like favorites to get into the Champions League group stage. Before that, we had a tight game against Villareal, where a Carlos Vela goal rewarded us with 3 points. Finally, we had our match against Lyon. That ended in disaster, with Milan Bisavec and Alexander Lacazette scoring goals in a 3-0 rout in France. That ended our Champions League run and took us to the Europa League.

Europa League Draw



The draw put us in Group D with Fenerbahce, Dinamo Tsibli, and Rubin Kazan. Fenerbahce are the toughest team in the group by far. The turkish club finished runner up to Galatasrary last year, and they boast the likes of Dirk Kyut and Bruno Alves. They should finish 2nd in the group. Rubin Kazan are also rough competition. The Russian team has talented stars such as Salamon Rondon and Yamn M'Villa, but are currently disappointing in the Russian League and are in 13th place. They should finish 3rd. Last, and least, is Dinamo Tsibili, a Georgian team that got to the Europa League group stages after beating Braga 5-3 on aggregate. They should finish 4th. Real Sociedad, who are currently sitting 4th in La Liga, behind Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Malaga, should finish 1st in this group.

League Table

Forgot to screenshot at the time, but we were 4th in the table behind Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Malaga.

Player of the Month

Our player of the month is............



Mikel Gonzalez, the center defender who scored goals both in the Lyon game and in the Celta Vigo game. His average rating this month was an astonishing 7.95, and he picked up 2 Man of the Match awards for his performances.

2013-09-03 02:37#133163 Walter : Unlucky, Lyon is always hard to beat Sometimes the players just get lazy and uninterested when you don't want them to. Unfortunate, but good luck in the Europa League (which is where I thinkyou are now).

Yeah, Lyon was tough, and the players were awful all game. The results told the whole story! Thanks so much for the feedback!

Check the dates on the newspaper, Jason. ;P

Nice touch though!

Chapter 4- Welcome to La Liga
Section 1

I stand outside the MARCA.com press conference room, waiting for the disaster that is sure to come. Press Conferences are my least favorite part of being a manager. The press are rude and nasty, and they give you no space at all. I open the door and immediately I'm surrounded by the press. The cameras blind me for a second, but I recover quickly to answer the questions that are sure to come.

Roberto, with the transfer deadline day coming tomorrow, are you looking to make any transfers?

Yes of course, I'm looking for a center back to partner with Inigo Martinez.

Can you tell us some of your targets?

Of course not, that's confidential information.

How do you feel about the team's performance against Lyon?

Well, the teams performance was not up to the standard it needed to be to get into the Champions League group stages but I think we can put this behind us and try to succeed in the Europa League.

Where do you think you finish in the Europa League?

Well, I think we can win it. We have lots of talent and I think the Europa League is where we can prove that to the world.

Will Antoine Griezmann be leaving after a reported training bust-up?

Training Bust-up? I don't know what you're talking about. Griezmann is an excellent player and he'll stay at the club for sure.

What do you think about the fixture list for this month?

It's very tough. We have Valencia, Atletico, Rayo, and of course, Barcelona in the league, but I think we can get at least 7 points for sure.

Lastly, where do you think you'll finish in the league this year?

3rd, right behind Real Madrid and Barcelona

Thank you for your time