Travelling across Europe - proving I'm better than Dan!

The pressure is on this season as the board believe I can challenge for the "A" Group title.

They have given me a transfer budget of just over a million pounds to try and strengthen the squad for the forthcoming season and that's going to be extremely hard as work needs done in some areas. I've only made one signing so far and it's one I needed (but that won't be reviled until after pre season results have been posted.

We have quite a bit of wages available so I may be able to adjust the budget...slightly.


Eight pre season friendlies have been arranged.

Most of the games arranged are to try and gain confidence for the upcoming season as seven of the ties will be played away from home. Spartak (Varna) and Hunedoara are both away from home before we travel to Greece for a two game tour against Larisa and PAOK before heading home to face Lyulin and then Studena. Our penultmate pre season game will be our only one at home as we entertain my former club Anderlecht before the programme concludes with a short trip to Akademik (Sofia) to end pre season.

Some friendlies could be forced to be a cancelled due to our participation in the Europa League.

Not a bad budget, same as what I have with my lower tier club in Czech

Good luck!

Budget is a little disappointing if I'm going to be honest but I will work with it.


Cheers.

It's not been the busiest transfer window for us as I've brought in five new players and have spent half a million pound.


I needed a new central defender for the starting eleven so I agreed a pre-contract with Danubio's Duran and he arrived at the beginning of July while I've brought in left back Allemann from Swiss side Grasshoppers. Guilherme who is a centre midfielder has jetted in from Atletico Paranaense for one hundred and forty thousand while I captured another defender in Fernando for only forty five thousand and our last signing was Pedro and he's a striker who has cost us one hundred and eighty thousand from Leiria.

We only received thirty two thousand in fees from those that departed the club - Asenov joined relegated Minyor (Pernik) for twenty four thousand and Andonov went to Etar for eight thousand.

Duo Nenov and Pashev left the club on loan deals to join Botev (Vratsa) and Vidima-Rakovski respectively while Ormandzhiev and Prsic were both released.


Our assistant manager arranged another friendly game, versus French side Bordeaux while we had games called off due to Europa League action.

And it was the game against Bordeaux that started the five friendly games and despite playing well the French giants' talent prevailed as Zelenkov scored our only goal on fifty three minutes. The first game that I arranged myself saw us travel to Hunedoara and produced a five star performance - Moran scored twice and Mihaylov hit a hat trick in the first half.

We then made the trip to Greece for what turned out to be our only game and we produced an excellent three nil win as Moran, Dimitrov and Mihaylov before we headed home and travelled to Lyulin and eased to another three nil win as Moran scored a first half hat trick away from home.

Pre season concluded with me facing my former club Anderlecht and we turned in a tremendous performance to turn over the Belgian giants two one as Dimitrov and Iliev scored in either half.


July saw us play four Europa League games and to say we had to do it the hard way is an understatement.

Our first competitive game of the season saw us travel to Bosina to face Zrinjski in the Europa League first qualifying round first leg and they shocked us as they came out on top in a nine goal thriller, beating us five four - Moran and Mihaylov both scoring twice but we won the return leg three one to progress to the next stage with a three one win on the night (seven five on aggregate) as Dobrevski's double and Dimitrov goal sent us through.

We were then drawn out against RNK Split with the first leg being away from home and we produced an excellent away performance to win two nil with both goals coming in the first quarter hour courtesy of Mihaylov and Dimitrov. The return leg in Levski saw us confirm our passage with a three two win on the night (and a five two aggregate win) with goals from Duran and Mihaylov putting us two nil up at half time in the home leg before Dobrevski added a third but they scored a consolation from the spot.

Apart from the expected defeat against Bordeux a good pre season mate. Very good in Europe too nice to see you reach the next round, reaching the groups would be fantastic!

We actually played very well mate against Bordeaux and could have easily beat them - they would probably tank us in a competitive game mind.

I didn't do the Europa League progression the easy way sure I didn't mate? I think at one stage we were behind five two in the first game.

Good preseason and a bit of fun in Europe. I like it when my team comes back from behind and wins on aggregate. But it is also nice to win easy ofcourse. Good luck in the League !

When I am playing a "lesser" team then I would rather win comfortably but at least we're still in Europe and still have a real chance of progression to the group stages. Cheers, I don't care about how I do in Europe by the way as this season is all about the league and cup double and I'd love to win both so I'd only need to concentrate on the Super Cup and "B" Group.

August saw us play seven matches as our league season kicked off in style. We faced Europa League trips to Romania and Republic of Ireland as well to face Vaslui and Sligo Rovers, we made an unbeaten start to the league season with three wins out of three.


We started the month in Europa League action as we faced Vaslui in the third qualifying round with the first leg being at home and we have the edge heading into the second leg following a two nil win. Dobrevski opened the scoring after only ten minutes before winger Mihaylov doubled the lead in the second half.

The return leg in Romania was just as straight forward as a three nil win on the night sealed a five goal aggregate success with a Moran double and Dimitrov also scoring in the second half.

Our league season kicked off in style against Botev (Vratsa) as we beat them five one at home. Goals from Moran, Dobrevski and Danov saw us score three times in the first half and then Moran scored twice more in the second half to complete his hat trick and seal an impressive start to the campaign.

And that promising start continued with a trip to Beroe as we secured a two goal win away from home thanks to second half goals from Mustafov and Moran.

We then travelled to the Republic of Ireland to face Sligo Rovers for what the fans believed would be a straight forward victory and they were right as we won the first leg four nil but didn't take the lead until the thirty fifth win when central defender Duran scored a complete fluke before Dobrevski and Moran finished the game before half time. Finish winger Venalainen added a fourth just before the hour mark at The Showgrounds.

When we returned back to league action we faced a tough home encounter against CSKA (Sofia) but we picked up an excellent two nil win in front of our own supporters as Moran broke the deadlock on twenty seven minutes and that's how it stayed until the fifty ninth minute as Venalainen added a second.

And the month came to an end with the club progressing to the Europa League following a five nil win on the night (nine nil win on aggregate) over the Republic of Ireland side with Dimitrov and Dobrevski putting us two up on the night inside the opening ten minutes before Moran and Iliev also scored in the first half and then Dimitrov's second, early in the second half made it five.


It's been a promising start to the season as we're sitting top following the opening three league games of the season but I'm not getting carried away as their is still too much football still to be played. Should we remain top (or near enough) going into the second part of the season then I may start believing but until then, I can't get too carried away.

Great start mate keep it going

Great start of the season. One goal against and a lot goals scored is always a good start but indeed don't dream before it's way past christmas.
But with the first points in the bag your season gets a lot easier.

Had good draws in the europa league so you've done well to reach the groups on an easy run to be honest!

Very confident start in the league to mate!

What a start of the season, good luck in both leagues.

very good, just caught up on this, doing well stillbuddy

Cheers fella, can't believe how well we've done in August and long may it continue.


I've no intention to start dreaming about the league title, especially not this early in the season. Yes it's been a solid start to the campaign but it's important we keep that going for months - their will be slip ups but it's important how we bounce back.


Good draws but still had to beat them both. Isn't a shame that we'll probably get another deadly Europa League group?

It's been a promising start to the league season - three wins from three - nine goals scored and only one conceded... at the moment.


Thanks. I'd love to have the "A" Group and Bulgarian Cup chalked off this season but I know it'll tough.


Cheers. As much as I would love to catch up with Dan as he's in the Czech Republic I can't see it happening so I will need to go at my own pace.

I forgot to take a screenshot of our Europa League group but it's another tough one as we've been drawn out against English side Tottenham Hotspur, French side Bordeaux and Netherlands giants PSV Eindhoven. I can't see us progressing from that group, which is a shame but then again, stranger things have happened in the past.

Following an unbeaten last month we entered September full of confidence and with five games awaiting us - four in the league and our first Europa League group game. We picked up three league wins from the four games but our first group game in the Europa League started disastrously.


We started the month on the road with a trip to Ludogorets and we came out on top in an eight goal thriller as two goals inside the opening ten minutes from Uzunov and Moran before Venalainen made it three inside the opening quarter hour but five minutes later the hosts pulled a goal back as Morrow unfortunately scored an own goal before Mikov scored a penalty five minutes before half time. Ludogorets equalised on fifty one minutes before goals from Moran and Duran finally sealed the points.

We remained on the road to face last season's league champions Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) and we beat them four one. Goals from Moran and Dobrevski had us two nil up after a half hour before Morrow added a third early in the second half and then Dobrevski's second on sixty eight minutes made the score four nil - Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) scored a consolation goal on seventy three minutes courtesy of Hadzhiyski.

Our first game in the Europa League group stage this season saw us travel to English side Tottenham and it was a game to forget as the Premier League side ran out deserved and comfortable five nil winners with Clough, Davies, Mavrias, Gege and Konate on target.

Back to league action and Lokomotiv (Sofia) came to Levski with our confidence a little dented following events at White Hart Lane and we could only secure a scoreless draw.

And the month concluded with a trip to Slavia (Sofia) and we picked up a much needed three points following a 2-1 win on the road. Winger Iliev, in for Morrow opened the scoring on just three minutes and then Moran converted a thirty sixth minute penalty to double the scores but they scored with seven minutes remaining through Ignatov to make it a nervous finish.


Another unbeaten league month has seen us remain top of the table but only on goal difference from Litex. We are only top of the pile due to us conceding one less goal than the Lovech based side. Cherno more are two points behind both of us in third.


Just the one group game was played this month and we're bottom of the group following our five goal defeat at Tottenham and they obviously top of the group because of that victory. Dutch side PSV are in second following their single goal win over Bordeaux.

Litex keeping up with you thats what I like to see! Doing well though mate keep it going!

They'll go away eventually, or we will. Once of us will and that's a shame but I hope it's Litex.

October was a short month as we played just the one league game and that was at home against Cherno more. We also particapated in two Europa League group games too.


And it was the Europa League Group H tie against Bordeaux that started the month as they visited Sofia and lost in a seven goal thriller despite the French side striking three times inside the opening thirty four minutes with Celcic, Gomez and an Ogira penalty looked like Bordeaux had sealed the points. We scored what looked like a consolation goal from the spot that Moran converted on sixty four minutes but three minutes later Dimitrov scored a second. We levelled the scores against the odds with ten minutes remaining with Toubal putting through his own net and then sensationally Zelenkvo won us the game with only three minutes remaining.

We came back to league action with surely confidence following that sensational comeback against the French side as we entertained Cherno more in Sofia and we beat them two nil with two second half goals. Midfielder Guilherme fired home a free kick early in the second half before Venalainen sealed the points on sixty one minutes.

Our final game of the month was against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and they beat us two nil with first half goals from Xavi and van Driel separating the sides.


Only one league game was played this month but we've managed to open up a two point gap following our victory over Cherno more and Litex slipping up in their game.


We are up to third in Group H following our sensational victory over French side Bordeaux who are bottom of the group and probably couldn't believe they didn't beat us despite being three nil up. It's just a shame that we couldn't capatalize on that result against PSV as we slipped up in Holland. Tottenham look like they've the group wrapped up already.

Thrilling Europa League win buddy, its a tough group to advance from and probably best you do but we shall see! Nice to break away from Litex a little!

Shocked we actually managed to win the game against Bordeaux, especially being three down.

I don’t think I can escape the group as I do expect Tottenham and PSV to be too strong for us but that doesn’t bother me as the longer I participate in Europe then the quicker the players will get tired. Only good thing about playing in a European group stage is the money it brings in.

With a short month behind us we entered what turned out to be a busy November with no less than nine matches in three different competitions. We had five "A" Group matches, two Europa League Group H fixtures and the Bulgarian Cup second round affair with Botev (Vratsa)


We started the busy penultimate month of the year with a trip to Vidima-Rakovski and we produced a superb three one away victory that saw us take the lead inside the opening minute through Moran before he fired our second and his second on only eleven minutes but the home side pulled a goal back on twenty five minutes but four minutes later Moran compleGote his hat trick and the score.

Our Europa League dreams came to a crashing holt against PSV Eindhoven. A three nil home defeat saw us exit the competition with Santegoets bagging a hat trick for the Netherlands outfit.

When we returned to domestic action we faced a top of the table clash against Litex and unfortunately we slumped to our first "A" Group defeat of the season as the Lovech side won two one in Sofia. They took the lead on sixteen minutes with Bruninho scoring but then we were reduced to ten men on fifty four minutes Duran being sent off for an alleged deliberate handball and the referee awarded a penalty that Slavchev scored for two nil but Iliev pulled a goal back with twenty minutes left but we couldn't get an unlikely equaliser.

In the Bulgarian Cup second round we faced Botev (Vratsa) and with quite a few first team playing missing the first leg due to international duty we picked up a three goal advantage going into the return leg as an own goal through Trifonov, Dobrevski and Mihaylov sealed victory.

Back to league action with a trip to Chernomorets (Burgas) and my Levski side departed with a five two win. Goals from Moran, Dobrevski and Dimitrov had us three up inside the opening twenty six minutes before the home side pulled a goal back on the half hour, Venalainen made it four one but again the hosts scored through Kozhuharov but Moran's second goal of the game ended the scoring.

Premier League side Tottenham visited Levski for our penultimate Europa League game and with nothing to play for Uzunov opened the scoring on twenty six minutes but goals from Clough, Ondrejka and Gege sealed victory for the English side.

We returned to our league programme with as game against Botev (Vratsa) and left with a four two win as Uzunov headed us into the lead after only two minutes but they equalised just before the quarter hour before Antonov regained our lead after only twenty minutes but yet again Botev equalised on fifty eight minutes but just a minute later Moran put us into the lead for the third time and their was no comeback from the home side - Moran struck again on sixty six minutes to seal victory.

Our penultimate game of the month was the second round second leg Bulgarian Cup trip to Botev who we faced for the second consecutive game and again we departed with victory as we progressed to the third round. Two first half goals from Moran and a Duran header saw the club progress. They scored a consolation cup tie goal in the third minute of second half stoppage time.

And we ended the extremely busy November with a game against bottom of the table Beroe who hadn't won a league game this season and we made sure that continued with a four two win with Duran putting us into the lead inside the opening five minutes but they equalised before Finn Venalainen scored our second on thirteen minutes and then Moran added a third in the second half. They pulled another goal back but a Moran penalty, with the game entering stoppage time, sealed victory.


Despite the club suffering their first league defeat at the hands of Litex we remain top of the table due to them also suffering their first defeat throughout the month, we're four points clear. We have one more month to go before a long winter break kicks in - if we remain top then I will feel a little more confident we can wrap up the league although their will still be too much football to play.


We're out of the Europa League. Tottenham and PSV both advance so it's between us and Bordeaux to see who doesn't have the embarrassment of finishing bottom.

The final month of the year was a short one as we only played three games (well, four but due to some balls up we only played three) and it saw us play our final Europa League group game, one league game that saw us mess up a commanding lead and the Bulgarian Cup tie.


December kicked off with my final Europa League game as the side made the trip to France to entertain Bordeaux and an entertaining game ended level despite our prolific striker Moran breaking the deadlock on twenty eight minutes but they equalised after forty four through Muller. We could have perhaps won the game in the second half but it wasn't to be.

We returned to domestic action with our only league game of the month as we made the short trip to CSKA (Sofia) and could only manage to pick up an unacceptable draw as we surrendered a three nil lead as goals from Uzunov and two from Moran had us three up after only half an hour but CSKA pulled one back through Ginev before we gave away a penalty early in the second half that Golubovic converted and then Auger's goal on fifty one minutes completed the comeback.

Our final game before the winter break was the Bulgarian Cup third round first leg tie against Beroe and we won one nil as Morrow struck the only goal on eighteen minutes. Due to some balls up that game kicked off at half two and then our second leg tie was at around about half seven that night, I don't know why but we won the second leg three one to advance [four one on aggregate] with Uzunov, Dobrevski and Slavchev pen sent us through.


With the winter break upon us, we are top of the table and have a two point gap over Litex but it could and should have been greater if we didn't balls up a three nil lead in our only league game in December against rivals CSKA (Sofia) and indeed that did absolutely annoy me. But, we're still top and that's the important thing heading into the second part of the season that will see eight more league games before the league splits.


Out of Europe we go but at least we didn't suffer the heartache of finishing rock bottom, that unwanted award goes to French side Bordeaux.

Still very close in the league mate but losing to Litex was a good point for me tough EL results but it was always going to happen! Focus on grabbing the domestic double now!

That's the plan mate, the league, Bulgarian Cup and Super Cup are priorities. Europe is not.

We made the return to competitive action in March following a long winter break and seven matches awaited us upon our return to domestic action. Five of the games were in the league while the other two was the Bulgarian Cup quarter final first and second leg ties against Slavia (Sofia).


The return to domestic competitive action started with a home clash against Ludogorets (Razgrad) who we defeated two one in Sofia, we took the lead on twenty six minutes whenever Uzunov found the target but the central defender was dismissed for two yellow cards on sixty eight minutes before the visitors equalised through an unfortunate Bejaoui own goal before substitute Fernando headed home a stoppage time winner.

Our next game was the quarter final first leg Bulgarian Cup tie at home to Slavia (Sofia) and we produced an excellent performance to defeat them two nil for the advantage going into the return leg. Both of the goals arrived in the first half through Venalainen and Guilherme.

We then faced Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) at home and defeated them two nil with both of the goals arriving in the second half. We had to wait sixty five minutes to break the deadlock with Moran firing in before a goal in the second minute of stoppage time through Guilherme sealed another important three points as we look to wrap up the league.

The return leg in the Bulgarian Cup was next and we defeated them one nil to progress three nil on aggregate with Moran scoring the only goal on forty nine minutes.

For the third time in four games we faced Slavia (Sofia) and yet again defeated them, this time it was two nil at our home venue with Guilherme and Moran on target in the space of twenty second half minutes.

Our penultimate game saw us make the trip to Cherno more but we could only manage to pick up a point on the road. Following the scoreless first half the home side broke the deadlock on fifty minutes with Spremo finding the net but the lead lasted seven minutes as Moran's goal saw us equalise. On sixty one minutes Cherno more regained the lead through Kisel but Moran scored his second and our second to equalise yet again with twenty minutes left.

And March concluded with a straight forward victory over Vidima-Rakovski as we beat them three nil as Moran struck a hat trick to sink them. The in-form striker struck his first and only goal in the first half after five minutes before two more in the second half after seventy six and eighty two sealed the win.


The gap has been opened up and now it's up to me to ensure we maintain the TEN point lead over second place Litex with still something of around thirteen league games still to play. I'd love to be confident that I can wrap up the league with a ten point gap but if we had played twenty nine matches (instead of nineteen) to date then I would have been more confident.

Our reward for knocking out Slavia (Sofia) in the Bulgarian Cup quarter finals is a two legged semi final tie with Litex.

Good results in the league. Good luck after the break.

Top work in that month buddy! looks like another league and cup double are on the cards!

Cheers. The results so far have been pleasing and with only a single league defeat (to date), I can’t complain.


Thanks pal. It was a good month but I refuse to get carried away as there is still too many games that need played – fourteen I think are remaining in the league alone and the possibility of three Bulgarian Cup ties.