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

The second month of the new season has seen us just play the three league matches as we picked up six points from the nine that was available, which I am pleased with as they weren't easy games because we played both the Minsk sides at Torpedo.


Our first game of the month saw us face Dinamo Minsk at Torpedo and we picked up an emphatic four goal victory as young Northern Irish attacking midfielder Carson got us off to a dream start with a goal inside the opening two minutes before the same lad doubled the lead just before half time. Brazilian winger Santiago made it three nil early in the second half before Korolyuk completed the victory on fifty seven minutes.

We then stayed at home as Minsk visited and we slipped to a defeat despite Santiago giving us the lead on twenty one minutes. On thirty four minutes we were reduced to ten men as Korolyuk was shown a second yellow card for diving and we was dismissed and the pendulum was swung Minsk's way as they equalised five minutes into the second half through Camara and then Lazari won it late on.

The final game of the month was our first away game of the month as we made the trip to Vitebsk and stuttered to a single goal victory thanks to a goal, early in the second half from young Belarusian striker Borovskiy who was in for the suspended Korolyuk.


We are in third place come the end of the month and with six games played. BATE look the team to beat as they've won all their games so far in the league.

May seen us entertain four games with two being away from home and two at home. It turned out to be a mixed month as we drew a game, lost a game and won both our home games.


A trip to Naftan started the four game month and we had to come from behind to pick up an undeserved point with both the goals coming in the second period. The home side broke the deadlock on sixty eight minutes as Aksenov found the net but Borovskiy broke Naftan hearts with an equaliser for us with three minutes left on the clock.

Our second game was Shakhter visiting Torpedo and we wrapped up an impressive three nil victory with yet again all the goals arriving in the second forty five minutes and Borovskiy broke the deadlock with his third goal in as many games on fifty four minutes before Fabio slotted home a spot kick five minutes later and then on sixty six minutes Yevlash headed home a third.

We then slipped to a defeat at Belshina as Kvob scored the only goal on seventy three minutes - we were second best.

May ended with a two nil home success over Gomel as for the first time in five games we managed to score in the first half as Carson broke the deadlock on just eight minutes and that lead was doubled by Santiago on twenty two. We dominated throughout and could have scored more goals.


At the end of the month we remain in third place with Belshina in second and BATE are six points clear at the top.

Our final month before the break saw us face three games as our stuttering away form continued.


We started with an extremely tough away game against league leaders BATE Borisov and we slipped to a two one defeat as a third minute goal from Mozolevskiy saw us get off to a worst possible start but Borovskiy equalised with a wonderful individual effort on twenty two minutes but four minutes later BATE won the game whenever Volodzko found the net.

A second straight away game happened with a trip to Neman and we suffered our third away defeat on the bounce as two goals inside seven first half minutes through Platonov and Leo saw the home side in control but we pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining as Ivanovic found the back of the net.

Our final game before the break was against SKVICh as they came to Torpedo and we wrapped up a three one success and took the lead just after the half hour whenever Fabio curled home a wonderful shot past their keeper and then the lead was doubled on forty minutes as Borovskiy found the net. The away side halved the deficit ten minutes into the second half but Borovskiy's second goal of the game wrapped up the points.


We are in third place heading into the "summer break" and almost looking out of the title race as BATE look impossible to beat as the Borisov side have won ten and drew three of their first thirteen games while we've already lost five times this season but their lucky I am not concentrating on the league this season, just the Belarusian Cup.

Congratulations on the cup!

Top 4 previous season are all over the place! Only struggling against the bigger teams this season, which given the record, should be your last!

League form is rocky this year but the cup is the main interest for you!

Thanks now I just need to turn my attention to the Belarusian Cup and attempt to win that or I fear I may be stuck in Belarus forever.

My last four seasons have been remarkable, winning the league twice with Altach in Austria and Torpedo in Belarus, at least I don't need to worry about the league again.


Our away form has been pretty bad this season and I can't seem to address it at the moment.

We returned from the "summer break" with four games as I made my bow in the Champions League with an extremely tough qualifying round encounter with Polish side Lech Poznan. Two league games were also played in the month as we picked up four points from a possible six.


The month started with a second qualifying round Champions League tie in Poland against Lech and they deservedly beat us by a single goal whenever Mikovic struck for the home side with just three minutes left on the clock. We fought so hard but didn't have enough quality to win.

We returned to league action with a home game against Brest (Blr) and we could only secure a draw at Torpedo, the away side broke the deadlock on thirty two minutes through Signevich but despite dominating we couldn't find a way through until sixty eight minutes when Borovskiy scored a wonderful goal.

Back to Europe and we hosted Lech in the second leg and exited the competition as we suffered a two one home defeat and three one on aggregate, despite playing so well at Torpedo it was the Polish side that took the lead on twenty six minutes as Wojciechowski found the net but Borovskiy equalised on the stroke of half time but Sobota's goal in the second half for Poznan ensured we went out.

And the month ended with a tricky trip to Dinamo Minsk and I'm sure everyone expected a home win but they were wrong as we pinched a great three one away success as we took the lead in the thirteenth minute as Boiko fired home a twenty five yard effort before Korolyuk doubled the lead early in the second half. On sixty three minutes the home side made it two one before Premudrov sealed the victory with six minutes left.


We remain third but it's getting incredibly tight in there, as we are only four points ahead of the team in seventh and two points behind the second place side Belshina.

Our title hopes are all but over anyway as I can't see BATE losing. They've been too good this season.

BATE are flying, looks like it could be the first season you don't win a league title! However crashing out the CL won't be a problem as you can now fully focus on that Belarussian Cup!

Aren't I glad that I don't need to worry about the league title? I just need to remain in the title picture so I avoid getting the boot.

August saw us face five tough clashes including a daunting trip to Minsk as well as we started our road to possible Belarusian Cup glory with a trip to First League side Lida.


We hosted Vitesbk as the month started with a point as we could only secure a two all draw at Torpedo. The visitors took the lead on fourteen minutes courtesy of Shidlovskiy but we equalised just after the half hour thanks to Carson but we fell behind for a second time on fifty seven minutes but Boiko got us a point with our second equaliser.

Our only destination for this season was to head to the Belarusian Cup final and our run started on the road to Lida and we wrapped up a two nil victory as Fabio opened the scoring with a glorious finish on just thirteen minutes before central defender Ryzhko added a second early in the second half.

An away game in Minsk was up next and we wrapped up a wonderful three nil result in a poor game as two goals in the space of six first half minutes from Premudrov and Yevlash had us two up inside fifteen minutes before the hosts were reduced to ten men on sixty six as Maskas was shown a second yellow and then Ryzhko sealed the win. The game was however overshadowed by a horrific injury sustained by Borovskiy and that has ruled him out for the next eight months with a broken leg. Massive, massive blow.

So with Borovskiy ruled out that gave former Lida striker Bogdevich a chance to shine but he soon angered me as he was sent off for a second yellow card after just eight minutes in the home game with Naftan and he was rightly booed by the fans. Naftan won the game with Rios scoring the winner on forty nine minutes. Bogdevich was fined two weeks wages after that unprofessionalism. He bitched, I told him exactly how I felt about the incident and he backed down.

August concluded with a tough trip to Shakhter Soligorsk but we played brilliantly and wrapped up a deserved two nil victory and truth be told it could have been much more. We broke the deadlock on just five minutes when Ivanovic rose highest in the box to head home before Kotovich scored his first ever goal for the club on thirty one minutes to wrap up the points.


Up to second place now following a decent month but we're still fifteen points behind leaders BATE who finally slipped up this season in the league. I still don't think we can catch them.

Much better month heading to the 2/3's stage buddy! Looking forward to your cup run advancing!

Was a solid month minus that one defeat. I'd love to see us go on a long winning streak but just can't seem to get consistency,

Still a bit rocky in Tue league but it's getting there

Thankfully I don't need the league title, isn't it? We've been poor/BATE have been too good in the league this season.

September saw us play five league matches and a Belarusian Cup tie away from home as we remained undefeated throughout the month and that's fired us straight back into the title picture when it looked all over earlier in the season.


The month started with a home encounter with Belshina and we won a six goal thriller four goals to two despite us falling behind inside the opening minute as Bubnov found the net but we soon equalised as Yevlash headed home on thirteen minutes but the visitors regained the lead shortly after the half hour. For the second time we equalised through Santiago before two goals in stoppage time from Carson sealed the points.

Next up was a trip to Gomel as we were without a few players due to international duty and thus fore we only managed a point, Ivanov got us a point with an equaliser on eighty two minutes after Gogoladze had given the home side a fifty seventh minute lead.

We then returned to Torpedo to face league leaders BATE Borisov and cruised to a three nil win as we broke the deadlock on twenty minutes through Korolyuk and then on thirty eight minutes Yevlash headed home a second goal to send the home fans into raptures, Santiago put a gloss on the score with a third in second half stoppage time.

It was Belarusian Cup time and a trip to First League side Polatsk and a seventy fourth minute goal from Korolyuk earned us a passage through to the fourth round, that won't be played until next April.

Neman came to Torpedo for our next league game and we picked up a vital three points as Santiago broke the deadlock on seven minutes to give us the lead and then nine minutes into the second half saw Korolyuk double the lead but the away fans had something to cheer whenever Kolyadko pulled a goal back.

And the month ended with a disappointing nil all draw at SKVICh.


We are in second place and eleven points behind leaders BATE with only nine league games remaining.

Our penultimate month of the season saw us five league matches as our slim title hopes remained intact heading into the final month of the season.


And the month started with a tricky trip to Brest (Blr) and we picked up an excellent three one away success but it had to be done the hard way as Brest took the lead in the eighth minute when Signevich beat our keeper and it stayed that way until the fifty third minute when Korolyuk equalised and then Ivanov turned the game around with fifteen minutes left and then in the last minute Korolyuk's second sealed three points.

We then hosted Dinamo Minsk and comfortably beat them two nil at home and we took the lead thanks a wonderful goal from Fabio on thirteen minutes before Boiko, in for the injured Santiago, doubled the lead on sixty eight minutes to seal an impressive three points.

Our next game was away to Vitebsk and we pinched the points thanks to a goal in second half stoppage time, with the game heading towards a scoreless draw Karpovich was sent off for two yellow cards with the game entering stoppage time and then a minute later Yarotskiy broke Vitebsk hearts with the winner.

We stayed on the road as we took a trip to Naftan and came out on top of a five goal thriller but it shouldn't have been as dramatic as it was because goals from Premudrov and Korolyuk had us two goals up inside the opening quarter hour but the hosts pulled a goal back from the spot that Abdulaziz Abidemi converted on twenty eight minutes and then Shkabara put the scores level early in the second half. We scored what turned out to be the winning goal with twenty minutes remaining whenever Yevlash found the net.

The penultimate month ended just like the last with a disappointing nil all draw, this time at home to Minsk but I'll take it because we were poor.


Can't see us securing back to back league titles (Dan, don't laugh) because we remain still nine points behind with just four goals left to play.

Four games were left as we started the final month of the league season and what a dreadful final month it turned out to be as we only managed to pick up three points from the twelve that were available and suffered three defeats and that ended my slim, slim title hopes. I didn't think we were going to win the league this season as BATE were just too good throughout.


We hosted Shakhter Soligorsk to start the short final month of the season and played extremely poor, we were left heartbroken as they stole all the points as Syrokvashko struck the winner in the first minute of second half stoppage time, second game on the spin we failed to score.

Our next clash was away to Belshina and winger Santiago got us off to an excellent start with a goal on ten minutes but the home side turned the game around to seal the points as Bubnov ensured the scores would be level at half time as he struck with ten minutes left and then on sixty six Skitov turned the game around before Bubnov's second sealed maximum points for the home side - they held on despite Skitov being sent off for two yellows with eleven minutes left.

This seasons penultimate league game saw Gomel visit Torpedo and we secured a two one win as we took the lead on thirty seven minutes from the penalty spot through Korolyuk before Ivanovic doubled the lead with a header on fifty two minutes but the away side pulled a goal back just three minutes later as Alumona fired home from long range. On sixty two minutes Korolyuk was shown a second yellow card before being sent off for diving. I'm losing my temper with the amount of players that dive, suppose it's realistic.

A trip not to remember ended the season as we made the trip to champions BATE who regained their crown as the top club in Belarusian football, they won three nil as Pushnyakov, Gerasimchik and Karp scored.


The season has now concluded and we finished a disgusting eighteen points behind champions BATE but at least we secured second place (we were predicted to finish runners-up) so I shouldn't be sacked.

Once I win the Belarusian Cup, I will be heading to Belgium. It's been loaded for quite a while now so I hope to win the cup at the start of next season.

What a tough season, still finishing second despite how 'bad' you think you done is fine mate. Just aim for that Belarusian cup, I am 100% sure you will win it!

seemed a hard season there but lets hope the cup is yours come the end of it

Finishing second doesn't bother me mate, it's finishing so far behind BATE bothered me. Oh well.


Once the cup is secured then I will resign immediately.

In what could be my final season at not just Torpedo but also in Belarus, the twenty nineteen seasonal expectations were announced ahead of the new Belarusian Highest League season.


Yet again the board gave me two options to choose from to determine the transfer budget for the new season - title challenge and winner.

I've stayed safe as per usual and said that I believe we can challenge for the Highest League title and in return the board has given me a three hundred and seventy five thousand pound kitty although I have had to adjust the kitty as the wage budget was pretty poor so the budget is now just over two hundred thousand and I should be able to cope with that.

And also, at around the same time the 2019 Highest League fixture list was announced:


And I couldn't have asked for a worst possible start to the league season as we face a daunting trip to Dinamo Minsk to start before hosting newly promoted (or so I hope) Dnepr Mogilev and then our third league game of the season will be another tough trip to Neman Grodno.

The clubs final three games, that I'm hoping I won't need to be in charge off (no disrespect to Torpedo) as I hope to be in Belgium will be against Brest (Blr), Minsk and Belshina.

My assistant manager has announced that we'll play three pre season games - all away from home and they'll be against Rudensk, RUOR and feeder club Kommunalnik Slonim.

Just the three pre season friendly games were played as I concentrated on strengthening the squad as I want my Highest League title to return to Torpedo should I remain at the club for the whole season. I've also brought in five new players, at least three who I think will make the squad stronger and two who are back-up.


I've spent three hundred thousand pound to attempt to strengthen my squad for the new season.

The first signing was Karpovich who has cost seventy five thousand pound from Vitebsk, the twenty-four-year-old right back could be my starting right back for the upcoming season. Last season he made thirty two appearances for the side who were relegated to the First League.

I've also signed a new back-up goalkeeper who has cost thirty five thousand and he's Matveenko who has joined from Slavia Mozyr, nineteen-years-old who played eighteen times in the twenty eighteen season. I'm sure he'll get some game time this season.

Dukhno joined the club on a free transfer. Dukhno is a twenty-one-year-old Ukrainian who was previously on the books of Dynamo Kiev.

We've spent seventy thousand to bring on Gomel's twenty-three-year-old centre back Streltsov who made thirty one appearances last season, I'm confident he'll be one of my starting centre backs this season although I'm not sure yet on who'll he replace.

And our last signing saw us spend big as I brought in Kilmovich from SKVICh for one hundred and twenty thousand pound but at the age of only eighteen, the attacking midfielder could have at least fifteen years at the club if he fulfils his potential properly and I'd like to have him as my first choice to see how he fairs.

I've let five players leave the club, two on loan. Mitskevich has joined Gomel on-loan, Shepelev cost Brest (Blr) twenty four thousand, Tolkanitsa was the big departure as he joined Dinamo Minsk for one hundred thousand quid, keeper Murachev left for DSK for one and a half thousand and Matveev has joined SKVICh on-loan.

If you would like to see any of my signings, don't hesitate to ask.


We played just the three pre season games and we picked up three wins from those games as we beat Rudensk three one as Premudrov, Yarotskiy and Santiago scored before we made the trip to RUOR who were defeated four one as Bogdevich bagged a hat trick and Yarotskiy also was on target and our final game was against feeder club Kommunalnik Slonim and we eased to a three goal win as Santiago, a penalty from Fabio and Ryzhko were on target.

A good pre season buddy, I remember playing a career last year as RUOR!

Is that when you were a good manager and didn't keep switching clubs?

Nah but seriously mate, I do remember that career and you did remarkably well with them iirc.

I couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the 2019 campaign as we have to make the trip to Dinamo Minsk to start the season before newly promoted Dnepr Mogilev visit Torpedo. It was a two game month to start our possible title challenge, how did we get on?


With a few players unavailable for the league opener I couldn't have asked for the most perfect start to the season as we ran out four one winners away from home as winger Santiago, who I was trying to move on in the summer opened the scoring inside the opening one hundred and twenty seconds before the hosts equalised through Afanasiev before the Brazilian winger Santiago doubled his and Torpedo's tally on twenty three minutes. His hat trick was completed nine minutes into the second half before with six minutes remaining the winger got his fourth and Torpedo's too to wrap up an impressive away win.

And the short month of March came to an end with a two one victory over newly promoted Dnepr Mogilev and we took the lead on twenty four minutes through new signing Kilmovich but the away fans were sent into celebrations because Kurlovich put the scores level but we picked up maximum points with fifteen minutes remaining whenever Santiago smashed home his fifth goal in two games.


We're in second place on goal difference with Belshina leading the way with just two games played.

Our second month saw me play three league matches and two Belarusian Cup ties as we advanced to the final thanks to two impressive victories on the way in April. We also remained unbeaten in the league thanks to us securing nine points from nine available.


A Belarusian Cup fourth round tie away to Shakhter Soligorsk started the month and we advanced to the semi finals following an excellent three goals to nil away success that started with us breaking the deadlock on fourteen minutes through striker Borovskiy, who made a full recovery from a broken leg before Premudrov made it two nil on fifty four minutes and the win was sealed with a seventy seventh minute penalty that Ivanov converted. We had to play the final six minutes as Borovskiy was dismissed for two yellow cards.

We returned to league action and faced a tricky trip to Neman but we didn't have any severe problems as we ran out two nil victors thanks to two goals in three minutes from Kilmovich and Korolyuk, who was in for the suspended Borovskiy.

It was time for the Belarusian Cup semi final tie as we entertained SKVICh and we cruised to the final thanks to a three goal success at S.O.K in Minsk. We took the lead on ten minutes whenever Yevlash headed home from a corner and then ten minutes later Korolyuk doubled the score before a third was struck on sixty nine minutes through Premudrov. It's going to be a game against Naftan next month to determine whether I leave Belarus or not this season.

Back to league action we went as Naftan visited for a Belarusian Cup final rehearsal and we picked up three points to remain unbeaten in the league thanks to Borovskiy's twenty sixth minute winner. The three points were secured the hard way as for the second time in four games, Borovskiy was sent off for two cautions.

Our final game of the month was a tricky tie at home to Shakhter Soligorsk but we wrapped up an impressive home win to remain unbeaten and opened the scoring after only three minutes whenever Santiago found the net but the away side levelled through Perapechka but Kilmovic restored our lead on twenty six minutes and his second, with two minutes remaining, sealed three points.


Top of the pile following our fifth win from as many games and the defence has been more steady too early on as we've only conceded three goals from those five games and scored twelve. We're three points ahead of second place Belshina who suffered there first defeat during April.

This month marked the end of my time at not only Torpedo but in Belarusian football as I managed my side to Belarusian Cup success thanks to a victory over Naftan at a neutral venue while the league form began to stutter as the club only managed one point from a possible six that was available.


We started the month on the road as we had to travel to face Gomel and our unbeaten start to the season came to an end as we travelled home disappointed because Gavryushko struck what turned out to be the winner on thirty three minutes - we were second best and deserved nothing.

My second game of the month was a home game with SKVICh and I felt confident heading into the game as we had beaten them three-nil in the Belarusian Cup semi finals just a few weeks earlier, however this game was completely difference as both sides cancelled each other out and it finished in stalemate.

We then embarked to Dinamo, Minsk to participate in the Belarusian Cup final and we were the ones who would be celebrating come the end as Borovskiy's goal on twenty nine minutes was enough to separate the two sides and ensured that my time in Belarus came to an end.


This is proof that we wrapped up the Belarusian Cup thanks to a single goal victory at a neutral venue.


I wrap up the Belarusian tale with the side a point clear at the top of the table and ahead of both Belshina and Minsk. I wish whoever takes over the best of luck and I hope they're a success at the club, but if they mess up the squad I've built then I'm sure the fans will be annoyed.

This then left me with only one more thing to do:


One day after winning the cup I've ended my reign as manager of Torpedo and I'm already looking forward to being Belgium bound and hoping I can be a success there too. An unknown in Belarusian football called Solodovnikov is the odds-on favourites to be announced as the new manager, I thought they'd go with someone with more experience. I think five staff members also left the club but I don't think they'll be following me to Belgium yet.

Congrats on the cup win, it was definitely coming your way! BATE looks to have been quite inconsistent but you're done with that! Good luck with Belgium!

Your season started excellently this year, shame you weren't there for the whole of it but moving to Belgium the same season I did. Ber interesting to see if you go straight into a job or wait till the new season like I did! Best of luck there!

Well done with the third nation! Look forward to see if you can match Dan's success there!