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Derby de la N77 (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep125)



"Welcome back, Isaac." I grin as the young Cameroonian steps off Nîmes' team bus.


"Hi, Boss." Says Sohna, taking off his colourful over-ear headphones.


"I've had Crouchie watching your matches, he says you're doing well."


"Yeah I'm doing alright", he shrugs. "The strikers are a lot better than they were in South Africa though." He let's out a chuckle. "I won't be taking it easy on Hicham today though."


"I wouldn't expect you to, mate" I smile. "Good luck." I shake his hand and he falls into line with his teammates, putting his headphones back on as he walks into Stade Abbé-Deschamps.



Just like Brahim Ferhat in our last match, Isaac Sohna is absolutely eligible to play against us today as I want to have the opportunity to see him play against us and judge how he's getting on for myself. We'll be starting with Project: Meatloaf Mk II today and after the success we had in our last match with 2 inside forwards and 2 overlapping full backs, we'll be trying the same thing again. Phil Foden comes in replacing Zoun after getting off the mark as a half time sub against USBCO, but otherwise we stay unchanged. Mike Kakuba's fit enough for a spot on the bench though after his recent injury.



We start the match playing some beautiful football and take the lead after only 20 minutes, when a fantastic passing move finishes with a chipped cross from Faouzi Hikem and a calm but precise volley into the bottom corner from Hicham Aidir. Sohna's hands go straight over his face but mine shoot into the air. Brilliant start.


The rest of the half is pretty quiet and my team talk is just quiet encouragement to keep doing what we're doing. The reaction is better than I expected though as within 30 seconds of the restart, Adama Ba cuts in from the left wing and lets rip from 25 yards, straight into the top corner. It's a great hit to put us 2-0 up.


With 20 minutes to go I bring Zoun on for Foden. He played a part in the first goal but otherwise he's had another quiet game. 5 minutes later we push through the centre and Joël passes to Aidir on the edge of the box, who seems to be double marked by Sohna and defensive midfielder Dimitri Capelle. They both stand off him though, which gives Hicham plenty of time to trap the ball, pick his spot and smash it into the far top corner. Sohna's had a pretty poor game but we've looked absolutely unstoppable at some points. Mike Kakuba gets 10 minutes as a holding man at the end as I look to build his match fitness and the game ends at 3-0.



https://youtu.be/DgoQvhkvAUc


Not only am I buoyed by the overall team performance, but I think that's the first time I've seen the hype about Faouzi Hikem. Given more freedom as an overlapping fullback instead of a defensive one, he was excellent. Getting himself in good positions, dribbling well, passing well. So much so actually that he's earned himself a place in the Ligue 2 Team of the Week alongside Loïc Goujon and Joël Soumahoro. Hicham Aidir's omitted, which I find odd until I see that US Orléans' striker Yoane Wissa also scored twice in his team's 4-0 demolition of Valenciennes, so it's probably a coin toss.




Our next match pits us against ESTAC Troyes, who were my first opponents as Auxerre manager. The rivalry between the 2 clubs is known as the Derby de la N77, referring to Route Nationale 77, a road that connects Auxerre and Troyes. Our rivals are managed by none other than Benoît Cheyrou, a former Auxerre defensive midfielder of 3 years, although he's most well known for his subsequent spells at Marseille and Toronto. His side are only 2 points behind us in the league so they can climb above us with a win, but off the back of that last performance I'm feeling good about this one.



I'm keeping the same lineup that beat Nîmes so handily. Mike Kakuba's fit again but after keeping 2 consecutive clean sheets I'm in no rush to interrupt the developing partnership between Captiste and Doucouré.



My confidence in that centre back partnership starts to unravel after just 7 minutes when a hoofed ball forwards is nodded on by MBeumo and Adama Niané nips in front of Captiste to control the ball and blast it into the top corner of Lenogue's net. We equalise just 5 minutes later though before the sense of dread really starts to kick in, when Phil Foden's low cross deflects into the Troyes net off the foot of midfielder Bilal Brahimi. I don't care how they go in, so I'll take the own goal with open arms.


ESTAC Troyes come straight back at us after the kick off. The ball's worked around until it reaches the goalscorer Niané and he dribbles past Doucouré before shooting at Lenogue, but our keeper catches it comfortably. Ruben Aguilar twists his ankle after 20 minutes, which worries me, but he'll play on for as long as he can because I don't have a right back on the bench.


On the half hour mark, we win a free kick on the right wing, level with the Troyes box. Foden executes a nice little chip into the area and Goujon flicks the ball on, but when Adama Ba meets it just outside the 6 yard box he gets underneath the ball and sends it looping over the bar. The game continues at a million miles an hour, with both teams quite open and quite eager to get forwards. Phil Foden tries his luck from 25 yards a few minutes after Ba's chance, but he skews the ball wide.


With 5 minutes to go before the break, ESTAC Troyes win a corner on the left. Domingues swings it in towards Brahimi, but just as he jumps for the ball Aidir pushes him in the back. Mr Brisard, the referee, gives a penalty and it seems like the right decision. As good as Aidir is in front of the opposition's goal, his defending could do with some work. I take some small comfort in the fact that the referee decides to just give the big Moroccan a telling off and doesn't show him a card. Niané, the Malian International goalscorer, steps up to take the penalty as Xavier Lenogue jumps up and down on his line, waving his arms to try and put him off. Niané runs up... Shoots right... AND LENOGUE SAVES IT! The Martiniquais International dives the right way and parries the ball away as Hikem sprints in to boot it out for a throw. I feel even more vindicated for putting my faith in Xavier now, after watching our other keeper Kamara not save a single penalty against GFC Ajaccio the other week.


At half time I bring on Mike Kakuba in place of Aguilar, who's really struggling with his twisted ankle. It isn't ideal but Mike's at least decently comfortable as a right sided full back so he'll have to do. 10 minutes into the second half a patient Auxerre passing move culminates with Ba passing the ball inside for Joël, who turns, makes himself some space on the edge of the box with a little burst of pace and fires the ball into the right hand side of the net. We've had some luck on our side but in a match we've largely dominated up to this point, we've finally taken the lead over our rivals.


With half an hour to go Benoît Cheyrou throws me a curved ball, changing from his simple 4-2-3-1 to a flat 3-4-3 as he tries to find an equaliser. We respond by bringing out Project: Burnie Mk III. Kakuba, Captiste and Doucouré will form a back 3, Goujon will awkwardly slot in at right wing back and Hikem will be left wing back. I also bring Abdoulaye Sissako on for Phil Foden as a ball winner alongside Fomba in our central midfield 2 and Joël will be the number 10 behind a front 2 of Hicham Aidir and Adama Ba, who I instruct just to use his physicality to be a defensive forward, chasing down the back 3 and trying to create chances for Aidir. Both wing backs are also instructed to tightly man mark the opposing wingers.


The tactical change does the trick and we nullify ESTAC Troyes' search for a second goal. The match ends 2-1 after a very satisfying comeback. The win also moves us up to 2nd in the league, which I'm incredibly happy with. To say that we've been predicted to finish 7th, apart from a couple of blips we've started this season in scintillating form. I'm feeling good about this year.



https://youtu.be/MqVXtcBsl0U



DONE DEALS (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep124)


I'm growing to learn that having a great academy is both a blessing and a curse. We're getting closer to the end of the transfer window and the volume of bids for our young stars is getting huge. What makes it even more infuriating is that the majority of bids we're getting are just staggeringly low. I'm only going to mention DONE DEALS from now on because there are certain teams from Ligue 1 who've wasted enough of my bloody time this Summer. So the first DONE DEAL of the week is versatile Texan full back Ed Bolton, who joins FC Chambly-Oise for the year. Good luck, Ed. Hopefully he'll come back having played regularly and will be all the better for it.



There are no more DONE DEALS in the run up to our home match against recently relegated Stade de Reims, but we do have a fresh injury to deal with. Mike Kakuba is going to miss 3-4 weeks with shin splints. He's made a good start to life in Auxerre so this isn't ideal.



Stade de Reims have had a shocking start to the season and they seem to have brought their relegation form into this season, which is excellent news for us. They started off by losing 0-3 away to Valenciennes and followed that up with a 0-1 home loss to Bourg-en-Bresse, but have since won their cup match against fellow Ligue 2 side FC Metz and a league match against USBCO, so actually they might be just now coming into form, which is not excellent news for us.



I'm making a few changes from the side that very nearly beat Bourg-en-Bresse. A couple of them have been forced upon me, what with Mike Kakuba's injury and the fact that Loïc Goujon's been suspended for picking up 3 yellow cards in his last 3 matches. The rule in Ligue 2 is that 3 yellows in a player's last 10 matches earns them a 1 match ban, but I think Loïc's set some kind of record there. Mamadou Doucouré and Abdoulaye Sissako come in to replace them. We're playing Project: Meatloaf and I'm also bringing in Phil Foden to replace Zoun and he'll be playing off the right, but I'm putting him in a more central position today while he gets the hang of it, while Aguilar overlaps up the right wing. Corentin Tirard starts on the left wing in Adama Ba's place to give us more width.



We get off to a bad start when Mohammed's corner in the 8th minute is nodded into the net by Mafuala, who was being double marked at the near post by Sissako and Aidir. I'm not best pleased. Just after the 20 minute mark we nearly go level when Hikem's long ball over the top is missed by centre back... erm... Michael Hector. The error by the former Reading and Chelsea man and veteran of the Jamaican national team allows Hicham Aidir to run in behind and go one on one with the keeper, Carrasso. Carrasso comes out to narrow the angle though and Aidir's shot deflects off his shoulder and goes out for a corner that comes to nothing.


After half an hour Mohammed gets free down the right wing and drills the ball into the middle, where Iloki arrives to double the visitors' lead. Still less than impressed I decide that we may as well go for it. We'll attack, be more fluid and roam from our positions. It makes no difference though and we're 0-2 down at half time, although to be fair the first half has been extremely even. I toy with the idea of bringing off Foden and Aidir, who've both been poor today. Foden's been poor in all of his appearances so far actually, which isn't a great sign. I stick with them for now though and we'll go out to control the second half.


Only a few minutes after the restart Doucouré takes a terrible touch and allows Iloki to nick the ball and run through on goal and shoot, forcing a good save from Lenogue. After the hour and with no comeback in sight I bring on Zoun and Ba for Foden and Tirard and we'll go back to a normal 4-2-3-1 with Zoun providing the width and Ba cutting in. The changes almost pay immediate dividends when Fomba's shot from 20 yards deflects through to Ba, but his shot is denied by another save from Carrasso. The keeper's having a great game to be fair.


Andre replaces Aidir with 20 minutes to play but we don't manage to find a way back, succumbing to our first league loss of the season. Weirdly by the time the final whistle blows I've got no complaints about the team's performance. We matched Stade de Reims in the first half and actually came away the more dominant team overall. Goals are the things that matter though and I've got to say that certain players have let us down today. I'm starting to think that Phil Foden might have been a bad buy although he does still need time, Corentin Tirard is showing none of the qualities that made him a key player last year and Hicham Aidir's had an off day. The day that I lose faith in that man is the day that I walk away from management.



https://youtu.be/EOlxwmhwmPE



Phil Foden actually bruises his head in training during the week. He should be back for our next match but I'm not entirely sure I want to play him.



We do however have another DONE DEAL. I feel like Jim White. 19 year old central midfielder Chancel Kasongo has joined Belgian Pro League B side Tubize on loan for the year. You remember Kasongo, back when I first joined Auxerre I threw him in at the deep end, playing him in all 3 matches as we avoided relegation. With Joël coming in though and with me having more than enough central midfield options, Chancel will go off to test himself with regular football in Belgium's 2nd tier. Good luck mate, let's see if you can do well enough to win back a first team place when you get home.




Our match against rivals ESTAC Troyes has been postponed because Adama Ba, Hicham Aidir and Mamadou Doucouré are all off on international duty and would've missed it. We were due to play them after our next match against USBCO, but we'll now play Troyes in a couple of weeks.



Speaking of USBCO, the predicted relegation strugglers are living up to expectations at present. They've played 5 matches in all competitions so far, losing 4 and winning 1 - A 1-0 win over Red Star FC, which is also the only goal they've scored so far. I feel for them, but I feel like we're starting to lose our way and a home match against a team in this sort of form represents a great opportunity to get back on track.



We'll be lining up with Project: Meatloaf Mk II, with Goujon coming back in for Sissako after his suspension and taking the holding man role where he's excelled so far. I'm also bringing in Zoun and Ba for Foden and Tirard because frankly they've both been awful. Our young loanee Brahim Ferhat starts on the left wing for the opposition today. I made sure that both him and Isaac Sohna at Nîmes had it in their contracts that they were allowed to play against us because I want to see how they do against their parent club.



I really do feel for USBCO. The first thing of note that happens is almost half an hour in when Fomba's tripped by Arnaud Loquet, who just happens to be the only person to be booked thus far. He earns a second yellow and a red, leaving the underdogs more underdoggish than ever. Joël hits the free kick from 30 yards but it deflects through the wall and goes out for a corner.


With 10 minutes to go until half time we counter after USBCO's corner breaks down. Adama Ba runs the ball from our penalty box all the way into the final third. He release Zoun on the right wing, who turns and whips in a low cross. The ball could not be any more on a plate for Joël Soumahoro, unmarked on the penalty spot, but his shot is weak and straight at Thuram-Ulien, who parries it and then smothers the ball before Ba can follow up. Poor from Joël. I want us to make more of our extra man so we need to control the game. We'll play much wider, much quicker, pass into space to use the pace we have up front, we'll be more fluid and we'll close down much more to win the ball back faster and force mistakes from our opposition. Needless to say my changes have no immediate effect and we go in for the break goalless.


At half time USBCO change to an odd 3-2-3-1 formation, with Brahim Ferhat coming off to accommodate the tactical shuffle after a quiet first half. We'll respond by really overloading them at the back. Foden comes on for Zoun and will cut in from the right as Ba does the same on the left, allowing our fullbacks to attack attack attack into the space they leave on the wings. I also bring on Sissako for Goujon to be the ballwinner in midfield.


5 minutes later we string some passes together following a throw in level with USBCO's box. Sissako passes across the edge of the area to Fomba, who lifts his head and plays it on first time through the defence. Phil Foden is in space and is played just onside by one of their centre backs. The young Englishman swings his left boot at the ball first time and finds the net as I let out a huge sigh of relief. Maybe he'll be alright after all.
With 20 minutes to go we win a free kick 30 yards out. Foden passes it short to Sissako, who plays a pass through to Hicham Aidir in the box. Our striker is in far too much space and he punishes USBCO with a deft finish into the near top corner. Andre replaces Ba not long after but the match ends 2-0. Despite our advantage I'm very satisfied with that result.



https://youtu.be/rHdp_p3nj3U


That result puts us 4th in the league, which I'm more than happy with. We still do have transfer deadline day to deal with though and while I'm not looking to bring anybody in, I think it's going to be a long day of low-ball offers and frustration. The first youngster to leave is Robin Faivre. After some mild interest earlier in the Summer I eventually agree to Marseille's offer of £750k for the 15 year old. We'll also get a big chunk of his next sale as per.



The next lad to leave is Esteban Mercier. Like Robin there has been interest for Esteban before but I hadn't received what I would call any "Serious" offers until AS Nancy Lorraine came in with half a million for the 15 year old midfielder.



I then pick up a knife and fork and get ready to eat my words, because I didn't think I'd be bringing anyone in today but somebody happens to have caught my eye. Bilal Souabni is a player that I've seen before, playing for Morrocco's U20's with Hicham Aidir. He's a 19 year old left back that plays for FUS Rabat in his home country and he's available for free. He looks promising: Pacy, agile, well balanced and able to run all day. He's also a hard working team player which as you'll know is right up my alley. His technical attributes need some work but I'm willing to gamble on the fact that we can get them sorted out. A contract is duly offered which would see him join us on the 1st of December after his current contract expires.



It doesn't take long for Bilal to agree to my offer and what's more, FUS Rabat are willing to let us buy him out of his contract for only £11k so that he can join us now. I willingly pay up.




I quickly dub the young full back Billy and place him on the loan list. I'd put him in a similar category to Isaac Sohna: A young player with undoubted potential but who is not going to get enough football under me this year to progress.



Quite a few bids come in straight away for Billy, most of which are from Ligue 2 sides. I'm half tempted to send him out to Nîmes Olympique so that he can play next to Sohna, but there are a couple of offers on the table that I just can't turn down - Belgian Pro League A sides Eupen and KV Kortrijk, both of whom want to give him first team football. I'll let him choose between them.



He opts for Eupen, who we played in pre-season. It's a solid choice and I look forward to seeing how he gets on in Belgium's top flight.



The next DONE DEAL as we creep closer to the end of the window is another of our 15 year old midfielders, Olivier Lenglet. He'll move to Marseille for an initial £350k rising to £550k with additional fees.




I've spared you a lot of the details over the last week or so, but suffice to say that Bordeaux have been bloody hounding me for Abdoulaye Traoré. With 2 hours to go before the deadline I try to negotiate them up to half a million for the striker but they refuse to pay up. With 45 minutes to go though they bid the half a million. I negotiate them up to £750k for wasting my fucking time. The window closes before they can send the paperwork through anyway though, so the deal's cancelled. What a mess, Bordeaux.




But then I let out another huge sigh of relief. The window's closed. I can finally get some peace without constant phone calls asking if I'll let my academy's top prospects go for a fiver and half a Snickers. There's nothing to focus on now but football.



Nerve (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep123)


It's with mixed feelings that I watch Isaac Sohna's taxi pull away from the Centre de Formation. I'm 90% sure I've made the right decision in sending him on loan to Nîmes, but that 10% is niggling me. He gave a decent account of himself against Valenciennes after all. Nevertheless, it's a done deal. Sohna's gone and it's up to him to train well, perform well and develop. Good luck, Isaac.



Another player on the move is 18 year old striker Serge Bamba. He's pretty quick, fit and tricky with good technique and a free kick or 2 in his locker. Swiss Challenge League side Le Mont LS want him to be a regular starter for them this season and I accept their offer. Hopefully he too will benefit from a year away playing regular football.




Yet another player off on loan is 18 year old American full back Ed Bolton. He's an interesting player and strikes me as a future versatile squad player as he can hold his own physically, works hard, has a good team ethic and can play with either foot and at either full back position.



There's a reason that we have several Americans like Ed coming through our ranks, having grown up in Texas or Colarado, and that's because we have deep roots in both of those States, having been linked with both Colorado Rush and Texas Rush for the last 12 years. We get the first option on both clubs' players and we also bring some of their junior players over to gain experience in a top French academy, with the happy byproduct of some of them breaking through into our Under 19's.



Anyway, Ed's attracted a tremendous amount of interest from his home nation but I'm sending him to FC Chambly-Oise in the French National League. American players, unlike most African players, count towards the Non-EU player limit so it's in my interest to keep him in France so that he can continue to work towards citizenship. Plus, Chambly-Oise are one of the favourites for promotion so if they can pull it off that'll be good experience for Ed.



With a heavy heart I also agree a fee with Marseille for Benjamin Valette, our incredibly talented teenage defensive midfielder. Their initial offer is around £900k but I want £2M for him. We compromise in the end, with Marseille paying £500k up front and another £2M over the next 2 years. I don't plan on spending much more in this window anyway so the staggered payments don't bother me. We also put in a clause that'll give us 50% of his next fee, because obviously.



Amidst all the outgoings, we do manage to bring in Mamadou Doucouré though. I'm very happy with this deal as the Senegalese International has got tremendous pedigree and has the quality to be in or around our first team.




We reject a few more offers, like Nancy Lorraine's £450k bid for winger Alessandro Bassani and LOSC's and Stade Rennais' barely improved bids for skilful striker Abdoulaye Traoré.


And before my first Coupe de la Ligue match, Bamba's loan move to Le Mont and Valette's permanent transfer to Marseille are both tied up. It's a shame to lose Benjamin but I think we've at least done some good business there.


Anyway, as I say it's time for us to start our Coupe de la Ligue campaign. GFC Ajaccio are our opponents today, a semi pro side in the French National League. It may feel like I've been here for a while at this point but I still need to get to know some of these players and this match presents the perfect opportunity.




As per my usual first season mentality, I'm not overly fussed about this cup competition and will be fielding the players that either need to bed in, that haven't had a real chance under me so far, or that I've been less than impressed with and want them to get a kick start against easier opposition. We'll be playing a fluid attacking variant of Project: Meatloaf as even with our reserves we should have enough quality to see off a side from a lower tier. Bingourou Kamara starts in net. He was L'AJA's starting goalkeeper for most of last season but has yet to feature for me. He'll be protected by right back Issa Samba, centre backs Godspower Tower and debutant Mamadou Doucouré and left back Jérôme Mombris. Abdoulaye Sissako and Raf will take the centre of midfield with Phil Foden cutting in from the right, Corentin Tirard out on the left and Amine Chassaing playing behind striker Nathan Andre. In the absence of both our captain and vice captain who have been left out of the squad, Samba takes the armband for us today.



10 minutes into the game, Raf plays a long ball onto the right flank for Phil Foden. The former City man takes the ball down well, cuts inside and has a pop, but the keeper catches it. Not a bad first effort.


A few minutes later the ball's down the other end. Ajaccio's right winger Zoubir capitalises on some hesitant defending by Mombris and nicks the ball off him. He crosses from the byline to the near post where Miquilan can't quite get his shot away. He eventually manages to roll the ball across the face of goal looking for a team mate but fortunately Samba's there to hoof it clear.


With half an hour gone the visitors are matching us better than I expected and I drop us back slightly to just try to control the game. Not long after, Andre picks the ball up from deep and dribbles forwards before having a crack at goal from 20 yards, but he puts it wide.


For the second half I want us making better quality chances so I urge the lads to patiently work the ball into the box. It makes no difference though, we make next to no impact on the second half. Tirard, who started today after his fairly alarmingly poor performance on the opening day, has not done himself any favours today and I hook him after the hour with Foden scooting across to the left wing and Zoun coming on and taking the right.


With 10 minutes to play, Foden too makes way. Hopefully Bassani can save the day. Alas the young winger's no more able to score than any of our other players were before, and I'm so fucking bored by this drab match that I'm starting to break out the sodding rhymes.


Puel has a pot shot for the minnows in the dying seconds of normal time but he nearly puts the ball out for a throw. We go to penalties. It's been a while.


"Who wants them?" I ask my players, who're surrounding me in a tight circle on the edge of the pitch. Nobody's overly enthusiastic but we eventually get 4 names down. Striker Nathan Andre and midfielders Amine Chassaing, Abdoulaye Sissako and Raf. "Anyone else?" I ask, starting to worry. A hand cautiously raises itself into the air. I turn around to face the volunteer.


"I will take it." Says Mamadou Doucouré, our debutant centre back. I can't hide my surprise, but I'm impressed too. This lad's got some nerve.


"You're in," I smile. "Last up."


There's a hush around the ground as the 4000-odd Auxerrois fans watch ballsy young striker Nathan Andre place the ball on the spot. Andre runs up left footed, puts the ball high down the centre and the keeper flaps at it, unable to stop it from bulging the back of the net. Good start. By contrast, Cédric D'Ulivo's walk to the spot is accompanied by a loud chorus of boos and whistles. The centre back steps up confidently though and slots the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving Kamara grasping at thin air.


GFC Ajaccio continue to match us after that. Chassaing scores to the bottom right, then Hamadou scores to the top left. Sissako scores down the middle, then Puel scores to the bottom left. Raf scores to the bottom left, then Zoubir scores to the top right. It's sudden death from now on. 4-4 after 8 penalties and the only question is who will blink first, us or them. Mamadou picks up the ball and walks calmly to the penalty spot, where he places it down carefully. He counts his steps backwards and prepares for the run up. Come on mate. Make it a debut to remember. The referee's whistle blows... The keeper dances on his line... Doucouré runs up... He slams it down the middle as the keeper dives to his right... But his trailing hand shoots up to bat the ball away. Bollocks. Mbae steps up for Ajaccio's 5th penalty and dispatches it into the top left hand corner. GFC Ajaccio win 5-4 on penalties.



https://youtu.be/00e7VUcpetE



Why on Earth did I let Doucouré take it? The deciding penalty and I gave it to the debutant. What a stupid fucking decision. To be fair it was a very good save by the keeper, throwing out a strong hand after already committing himself to diving away from the ball, but still. I've let Doucouré down there. His confidence, barely above rock bottom after being frozen out at his parent club, is now through the floor and we're out of the cup at the first hurdle. I know I want to focus on the League but I was hoping to at least turn over the team from the division below in our first bloody game.



There ain't no rest for the wicked though. The wicked of course being AS Nancy Lorraine, who are the next team to identify one of our young talents and insult us with a really awful low-ball bid. Esteban Mercier is a defensive midfielder that I quite like. He's miles away from being the finished product but at 15 years old that's probably fair enough. What impresses me though is his bravery. That's one of those things that you just can't coach. Either you have it or you don't and this lad has it and some to spare.



Nancy's £82k bid is swatted away without comment as I'm interested to see how he develops, along with another bloody bid for Bassani from FC Lorient.


Moving on from our Coupe de la Ligue disappointment then and after 2 games it'd be naive of me to read too much into our status as league leaders, but today we make the trip to take on Bourg-en-Bresse 01, who are breathing down our necks in 2nd. We both have 6 points out of a possible 6 but we have a slightly better goal difference with 4 to their 3.



We'll go with Project: Meatloaf Mk II for this one as I'm uncertain about going up against a side who've also won both of their matches without a holding man. Unsurprisingly I'm also making the full 11 changes from the side that lost to Ajaccio; Lenogue in net, Aguilar, Captiste, Kakuba and Hikem at the back, Goujon as the holding man, Fomba and Joel in the middle and Zoun and Ba on the wings supporting Aidir. Let's get back on track, shall we?



The first 40 minutes or so are pretty quiet, with the best chance coming after a quarter of an hour when Joël tees up Aidir but his shot is charged down by Bourg-en-Bresse defender Sangaré. With a couple of minutes to go before half time though Zoun runs the ball forward into the opposition half. He passes inside to Lamine Fomba, who sends it on to Hicham Aidir. Hicham bursts past his marker and toe pokes the ball from the edge of the box, sending it into the far bottom corner of the net.


As we go into the second half Bourg-en-Bresse start to show their intentions of pushing forwards and equalising, so we'll pass into the space that they're leaving behind. After an hour we win a corner on the right and Faouzi Hikem goes across to take it. He swings a fantastically vicious ball into the centre of the box and surprisingly it's Adama Ba that rises to meet it, but he can only get enough contact for a glancing header that sends the ball wide of the far post.


Over the next 20 minutes I make a few changes and tweaks: First Foden comes on for Zoun and will cut in from the right, so both full backs will be encouraged to get forwards on the overlap past him and Ba and help us put the game to bed. For the last 10 minutes Sissako comes on replacing Joël, adding more steel to midfield.


We so nearly make it to full time unscathed, but Bourg throw the kitchen sink at us and it finally pays off when Ba is caught sleeping and Rabeasimbola plays a through ball behind him for right back Damour. Damour drills a cross in from the right touchline and Bègue's there at the near post to apply the finish, levelling the game in the 91st minute.



https://youtu.be/LIFLjz9DtDI


Let's be fair, Bourg-en-Bresse have taken 2 late points from us exactly a week after we gained 2 late points from Valenciennes. They say that these things even themselves out in football and it seems like this time they're right. Besides, despite the fact that we've fallen below AC Ajaccio to 2nd in the table, 7 points from our first 3 matches is fine. It's better than fine actually, it's still a brilliant start so I'm staying optimistic for the time being.



No Words (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep122)

I think it’s fair to say that our pre-season’s been mixed. We’ve done some good work in the transfer market so far and had some testing friendly matches where we’ve not only gained familiarity in my new systems but really pushed ourselves against tough opposition. On the other hand I could've done without losing Florian Ayé for 6 months and Phil Foden isn't as integrated as I'd like him to be as his pulled hamstring has kept him out of most of our friendlies. Nevertheless, today is the day that we finally get to put everything we’ve been working on into practice.



We’ll start this season as we finished the last - With a simple 4-1-2-3 named Project: Meatloaf Mk II. Xavier Lenogue will continue to be between the sticks for the time being at least, as he performed well there after my arrival. Mike Kakuba lines up for his debut on the left side of central defence alongside Ruben Aguilar, Captiste and Faouzi Hikem. Deep fried demon Loïc Goujon will be our holding man, with the enigmatic Lamine Fomba in front of him as a box to box midfielder next to attacking playmaker Joël Soumahoro, another debutant. I’m going to play with wingers today and I want to save Zoun as an impact sub like I did after my arrival last season, so Adama Ba starts on the right and Corentin Tirard takes the left, with vice captain and 3rd debutant Hicham Aidir leading the line. The referee blows his whistle to begin the 2021/22 Ligue 2 season.



13 minutes in Aidir channels his inner Messi, dribbling into the La Berrichonne half and into the final third while holding their midfielder Castro at arm’s length. He dodges Castro’s challenge, cuts back across him onto his left foot, jinks past the poor lad once again and shoots with power. Delle makes the save, sending the ball out for a corner, but it’s a fantastic start from Hicham. He’ll have the fans onside in no time if he carries on like that.


La Berrichonne aren’t exactly threatening in the opening stages but they are having the lion’s share of possession, so we go on the counter just over quarter of an hour in. Almost instantly we put together a very slick passing move that ends up with the ball at Aidir’s feet again. He holds it up and slips in Lamine Fomba, who takes a shot but Delle catches it fairly easily.


After that the first half is largely devoid of action. In the 42nd minute with half time looming, I get the message out to go a bit narrower and play a bit quicker in the hopes that we’ll be able to strangle La Berrichonne’s patient passing moves and get the ball up to Aidir quicker. Before the break we do get the ball to him and he powers forwards towards the box. The striker’s a man possessed today, dodging a couple of challenges before letting fly from 20 yards. The shot has power but no accuracy though and the ball flies wide.


After the break I issue instructions to close down more and mark tighter, to try and put some pressure on our opposition and get us winning the ball back higher up the pitch. On the hour mark though we're still deadlocked so I bring on Zoun for Tirard, who's had a disappointingly quiet day. Zoun'll take the right wing and Ba will cut in from the left.


5 minutes later, Lenogue thumps a goal kick forwards and Aidir nods it on. Zoun sets off at a sprint, causing panic in the defence. Exactly what I was looking for. The rapid Burkinabe winger bursts past his marker with the ball and runs it into the 6 yard box, but he gives himself too tight an angle and shoots across the face of goal, wide of the far post.


A couple of minutes later our free kick breaks down and is cleared by La Berrichonne. As they look to start a counter attack though Loïc Goujon wins the ball and pumps it back over the outrushing defence for Hicham Aidir, who's played onside by their left back. He takes the ball down, dribbles into the box and blasts it into the far corner of the net, bagging himself a debut goal and giving us the lead. Good lad.


With 10 minutes to play, Adama Ba cuts inside from the left and passes to Aidir on the edge of the box. He takes a touch and pulls the trigger just in time to avoid a sliding tackle from a defender. The ball finds the bottom corner again, rippling the back of the net as the majestic Moroccan peels away in celebration. I have no words. Maybe I'll never need to buy another striker again. I bring off Ba and replace him with debutant Phil Foden to give him some match fitness. He'll slot in as a left winger.


After a couple of minutes Aidir slips the ball into the box for Zoun, who's coming in from the right wing. He gets a shot in but the keeper rushes out and saves well. In the dying minutes Zoun gets loose again when Goujon gives him the ball in our half. He drives down the wing hugging the touchline and gets level with the box when Obiang puts in a tackle to send the ball rolling away into the area. Zoun rallies and gets to the loose ball first though and dribbles inside, before firing in our 3rd goal of the day. Stick a fork in this match, lads.



https://youtu.be/Wzi-OuGGvwY


A 3-0 away win is what I would describe as a fucking fantastic start to a new season. It wasn't a complete performance by any means but the second half was brilliant. Aidir's off the mark and Zoun's shown me some proper quality and justified my plan of keeping him on the bench, saving him for the latter stages. Add that to superb showings from debutant centre back Kakuba and holding man Goujon as well as good performances throughout almost the whole team and this has been an incredibly encouraging match.




As encouraging a performance as it was though, the transfer window's still open and I'm still looking at the balance of the squad. As it looks as though Isaac Sohna's going to be spending the season over in Nîmes I reckon that leaves us with 3 centre backs of sufficient quality that I'd actually trust to start for us, along with a couple of back ups. Therefore I'm dipping my toes into the market probably for the last time to sign another. After consulting with my scouts and watching some video reports I decide on former Paris Saint-Germain and now frustrated Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Mamadou Doucouré. He's a good height at 6'1" and is very well rounded and technically, mentally and physically strong. He's also probably quicker and better on the ball than any of our other centre backs and is left footed, all of which could come in handy.




Over the next few days we receive more offers for some of our players too: AS Nancy Lorraine's £300k offer for left winger Alessandro Bassani is rejected, along with Partizan Belgrade's £2.1 Million bid for Ruben Aguilar.

Another bid that comes in is for yet another of our promising youngsters and probably one of the most promising. Benjamin Valette is a 17 year old defensive midfielder very much in the Franjo mould of being physical, determined and hard working. Don't let his ginger mohawk fool you, he's a hell of a talent. 

Olympique Marseille approach us with a £600k bid but I turn it down as I value him quite a lot higher.


Benjamin's not best pleased at my valuation of him. After sitting down with him and talking it through, it seems like his heart is set on a move away. I don't want a player who doesn't want to play for me at the club, so I tell him he can leave. I won't let him go on the cheap though, I reckon he can go right to the top and players of that talent don't come at bargain prices. In other news though, 2 of the Santos 4 have made it into the Domino's Ligue 2 Team of the Week - Mike Kakuba and Hicham Aidir are also joined by Captiste and Loïc Goujon in being recognised for their fantastic performances against La Berrichonne.



More transfer news follows: Young striker Brahim Ferhat completes his season long loan to USBCO, but I reject AS Nancy Lorraine's bid for Alessandro Bassani.


And the offers just keep coming in, which I'm quickly finding to be an annoying byproduct of having a fantastic academy. LOSC and Stade Rennais both table bids in the region of £100k for 16 year old striker Abdoulaye Traoré, another player in the Franjo mould. He's also pretty quick and very skilful. I reject the bids as he looks like a talent and £100k is nowhere near what I'd let him go for.




Then it's Marseille's turn to come knocking. A £250k bid is submitted for our 15 year old attacking midfielder Robin Faivre. Like Traoré he's quick and extremely skilful on the ball, so I reject the offer. If he's worth £250k at 15 I think it's worth us holding onto him for a year or 2 at least.




Our next match is at home. We welcome Valenciennes to Stade Abbé-Deschamps, a side that also won their first match 3-0 against newly relegated Stade de Reims. They deserve a massive amount of praise for a very surprising result. Early as it might be, we're top of the league but Valenciennes are in 2nd, behind us only on alphabetical order. Both teams' confidence will be high so it should be an interesting game.



In their first match they lined up with a good old fashioned 4-4-2 so I'll be giving a competitive debut to Project: Burnie Mk III so that our 3 defenders can comfortably take care of their 2 strikers. I'm also making a couple of personnel changes: Isaac Sohna will come in for his debut and Nathan Andre also starts while Adama Ba and Corentin Tirard make way as we won't be using wingers. Sohna will man mark their pacy striker Nuno da Costa and Mike Kakuba will take Edouard Butin, while Captiste acts as the ball player between them, mopping up loose balls and linking up with central midfielders Fomba and Goujon. Wing backs Aguilar and Hikem will be cautious, staying back to take care of Valenciennes' 2 wingers but also coming forward to support attacks when they can. We've got plenty of legs in the centre of midfield and Joël will play behind Aidir and Andre in quite a fluid front 3.



After a cautious start to the match we win a corner just before the 20 minute mark. Faouzi Hikem swings the ball into the centre and Goujon heads it goalwards. As the keeper makes his dive for the ball, Sohna rises at the near post to head it across goal in the opposite direction, but he can't get it on target. We have a bit of a scare 5 minutes before half time when Xavier Lenogue collides with a striker and winds up with a deep cut on his arm, but after some treatment he stays on.


We go in for the break with the scores tied at 0-0 and I encourage Auxerre to keep plugging away. 10 minutes into the second half we get a great chance when Joël spots Aidir's run and plays him in, but the striker's shot is well saved by Kocik and the ball goes out for another corner, which comes to nothing.


With 20 minutes to go I bring on Zoun to replace Joël. In an attempt to find the breakthrough we're going to an Antonio-Conte-esque 3-2-2-2-1, with Zoun and Andre going out onto the wings to add extra width. We also go more direct in an attempt to get us attacking with a bit more pace. 10 minutes on we're still goalless and I bring on young Chassaing for Goujon to add a bit more creativity into midfield.


In the last couple of minutes, Osei-Berkoe cuts in from the left wing and takes a pot shot at our goal from 25 yards, which gives me a very brief panic attack before the ball flies over the bar. We enter injury time and the match seems destined to end as a bore draw, until Aidir drags a centre back out of position and creates space for Zoun to run into. Andre spots him and fires a pass into his path, which Zoun takes in his stride. The winger runs through on goal and slips the ball into the bottom corner. There's not even any time for Valenciennes to come back at us as the ref's whistle blows almost straight after kick off. Bloody magnificent.



https://youtu.be/INi_iQbb_Ks


That's a massive result for us. Valenciennes came into this match on a high after demolishing a team that's come down from Ligue 1 and just like La Berrichonne, we completely nullified them. Truth be told I would have been happy enough with that and a goalless draw, but we've sneaked all 3 points. I know it's early days but I think this Auxerre side might have even more potential than I thought.


Yeah

Domino's Ligue 2 101 (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Mini-sode 121.5)

We're not messing about now. The French Ligue 2 is a serious League for serious people doing and saying serious things. It's the biggest league that I've managed in both in reputation and actual number of teams, unless you count the Portuguese Championship which had to be split up into many smaller leagues. We've got 19 opponents in the league this season so we'd best get to know them.



Athlétic Club Ajaccio


From: Ajaccio

Ground: Stade François Coty

Last Season: 8th

Predicted: 9th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise


From: Auxerre

Ground: Stade Abbé Deschamps

Last Season: 16th

Predicted: 7th

Rivals in Ligue 2: ESTAC Troyes (Local), Bourg-en-Bresse 01 (Competitive)



Angers Sporting Club de l'Ouest


From: Angers

Ground: Stade Jean Bouin

Last Season: 20th in Ligue 1 (Relegated)

Predicted: 2nd

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas 01


From: Bourg-en-Bresse

Ground: Stade Marcel Verchère

Last Season: 15th

Predicted: 15th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Chamois Niortais Football Club


From: Niort

Ground: Pôle Sport

Last Season: 9th

Predicted: 12th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Clermont Foot 63


From: Clermont-Ferrand

Ground: Stade Gabriel Montpied

Last Season: 7th

Predicted: 10th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Club Sportif Sedan Ardennes


From: Sedan

Ground: Stade Louis Dugauguez

Last Season: 10th

Predicted: 14th

Rivals in Ligue 2: Stade de Reims (Fierce, Local), FC Metz (Local), ESTAC Troyes (Local), Valenciennes FC (Historic)



Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champaigne


From: Troyes

Ground: Stade de l'Aube

Last Season: 6th

Predicted: 6th

Rivals in Ligue 2: Stade de Reims (Local), CS Sedan Ardennes (Local), AJ Auxerre (Local)



Football Club de Metz


From: Longeville-lès-Metz

Ground: Stade Saint-Symphoriem

Last Season: 4th

Predicted: 3rd

Rivals in Ligue 2: RC Strasbourg Alsace (Local)



Groupe Sportif Consolat


From: Marseille

Ground: Stade de la Martine

Last Season: 18th

Predicted: 18th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



La Berrichonne de Châteauroux


From: Châteauroux

Ground: Stade Gaston Petit

Last Season: 17th

Predicted: 11th

Rivals in Ligue 2: US Orléans Loiret Football (Local), Chamois Niortais FC (Local)



Nîmes Olympique


From: Nîmes

Ground: Stade des Costières

Last Season: 12th

Predicted: 8th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace


From: Strasbourg

Ground: Stade de La Meinau

Last Season: 13th

Predicted: 13th

Rivals in Ligue 2: FC Metz (Local)



Red Star Football Club


From: Paris

Ground: Stade Jean-Bouin

Last Season: 14th

Predicted: 16th

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



Stade de Reims


From: Reims

Ground: Stade Auguste Delaune

Last Season: 19th in Ligue 1 (Relegated)

Predicted: 4th

Rivals in Ligue 2: CS Sedan Ardennes (Local)



Stade Malherbe Caen


From: Caen

Ground: Stade Michel d'Ornano

Last Season: 18th in Ligue 1 (Relegated)

Predicted: 1st

Rivals in Ligue 2: N/A



US Créteil-Lusitanos


From: Créteil

Ground: Stade Dominique Duvauchelle

Last Season: 2nd in French National (Promoted)

Predicted: 19th

Rivals in Ligue 2: Red Star FC



US Orléans Loiret Football


From: Saint-Ouen

Ground: Stade Bauer

Last Season: 11th

Predicted: 17th

Rivals in Ligue 2: La Berrichonne (Local)



US Boulogne Côte d'Opale


From: Villeneuve-d'Ascq

Ground: Stadium Lille Métropole

Last Season: 1st in French National (Promoted)

Predicted: 20th

Rivals in Ligue 2: Valenciennes FC



Valenciennes Football Club


From: Valenciennes

Ground: Stade du Hainaut

Last Season: 5th

Predicted: 5th

Rivals in Ligue 2: USBCO (Local), CS Sedan Ardennes (Historic)



I'm encouraged that we're predicted to finish 7th and I'd certainly take that right now, but I do worry that I've got largely the same squad that's finished 16th 2 years in a row, albeit with a couple of quality improvements. I'm certainly interested to see whether I can be the one to make these players actually realise their potential or whether they're just going to sit by and let me fall by the wayside like the last poor sap. Enough talk though, we'll never know unless we get this show on the road.


As the French say, Allons-y!


Trimming The Fat (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep121)

I've been looking forward to this Summer. Well, I often look forward to Summers, but I've been looking forward to this one especially. When I first arrived in Auxerre in May I had a very big squad and very little time to get to know them all. Now that pre-season has begun though I can take a step back and assess this rabble, identifying the good, the bad and the squad players and acting accordingly. There's a lot to do so I jump straight into it, and my first challenge arises early on with the impending expiration of several players' contracts.



I decide to give out 4 new deals, all to players who came up through the AJA academy. Firstly, I trigger a contract extension in Romain Montiel's contract. I want the option to play with a front 2 this season and Romain's a functional if limited target man, so I want to give him a look.




Adama Ba gets a new deal almost instantly. I didn't pick Ba in any of my 3 matches as he's an inside forward on the left and I feared that with him in front of defensive full back Faouzi Hikem we'd lack width on that side, which is why I selected Corentin Tirard as a winger instead. From conversations with my coaching staff though I've no doubt that Ba has quality and I want to actually give him the chance to show it to me.




Battling midfielder Abdoulaye Sissako also gets a new deal. I selected him in the 2 matches that he wasn't suspended for when I came in and although there were no fireworks in his performances, he's definitely my kind of player and I just have a feeling that he'll be an important player to have in the squad.




Finally, Lamine Fomba gets a new deal. He was suspended when I came in but I threw him in for the last match to replace Abdoulaye Sissako and he was solid. I'm still torn with Lamine between excitement, on account of his undeniable quality and physicality, and suspicion, on account of him being one of the main culprits in Auxerre's underachievement last year, but only time and performances are going to sway me one way or the other so he'll get a chance.




I decide against new deals for brothers Harvey and Evan Ndicka, the former of which played in our last match and was actually one of the best performers, but will see his chances limited with Kakuba and Sohna joining our already sizeable fold, Ibrahim Sangaré, who I played twice out on the right wing but whose questionable amount of actual quality is going to see him slide down the pecking order, and quite a few reserve and youth players, who I knew fairly quickly weren't going to make the cut.



As I continue to look for places in which my squad can be trimmed, Fraty Miezi throws his hat into the ring by suggesting that he wants to join Stade Brestois 29. Captiste talks him round initially, but when Brestois actually come in with an offer, I negotiate them up to nearly £700k and shake on it. Miezi has come up through the ranks here and is a pretty decent young winger, but I don't think we'll miss him.



Reserve defensive midfielder Kévin Appin and 'Too-cool-to-try' winger Jerson Cabral are the next out of the door, shipped to Turkish 1 League side Büyüksehir Belediye Erzurumspor and Greek National B Division side AS Anagennisi Karditsas respectively for a combined fee of around £100k. They're both no brainer deals to be honest.




One thing that I've not started properly bleating about yet (But trust me I fucking will be) is our academy. I've not mentioned it much because at the minute my concern is not bringing through the youth, it's hammering at the big flabby chunk of marble that is my first team squad with my transfer chisel, trying to shape it into a beautiful sleek statue. But our academy is fantastic. Famed even. As well as a fair few players still at the club, we've brought through some big names in World Football; Premier League Stalwarts Bacary Sagna, Younes Kaboul and Abou Diaby for example. Enigmas like Mohamed Sissoko, proven Ligue 1 players Paul-Georges Ntep and Djibril Cissé, the legendary Eric Cantona and the borderline psychotic Phillipe Mexes. Oh yes, this academy has produced some good 'uns and we've got plenty more coming through.



In a roundabout way I'm trying to introduce you to young striker Nathan Andre, who's currently probably our brightest academy talent. He's not even 18 for another couple of weeks but he looks like an excellent prospect; Quite mature mentally, able technically, and with very good fitness, Nathan's caught the eye of Ligue 1 sides Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille as well as Southampton in the Premier League. If he wants to go and one of these clubs puts in a decent offer, I've got no problem with him going on to play in a better league. Just in case though, I sit him down, have a chat and offer a new long term deal to tempt him to stay.



While I'm at it I agree new long term contracts with Captiste, arguably our best centre back and captain, 


Corentin Tirard, last season's top assister and starting left winger and Amine Chassaing, a promising young attacking midfielder/striker from the academy.

Sivasspor attempt to lure our target man and last season's top scorer Florian Ayé away to Turkey with an offer of up to £1.6M, but I reject the bid flat out and Florian too signs a new deal later that day.




The new season's fixtures are released and assuming I'm not sacked before the Summer, I'll be bookending my first full Ligue 2 season with matches against La Berrichonne de Châteauroux. They should be a team that'll allow us a gentle introduction into the new season as they're predicted to finish in mid table, so I'm happy with that.



When the transfer window opens we officially sign the players that the local papers are calling "The Santos 4". Isaac Sohna, Joël Soumahoro, Mike Kakuba and Hicham Aidir have already been introduced to the first team in our early training sessions, but now they're officially in.




You might think that bringing in 4 African players is a silly move, what with the Domino's Ligue 2 season having a "The squad must have no more than 2 non-EU players" rule. It's a logical conclusion to come to and it's the same thought that nearly made me physically ill in early June when I saw it, having already finalised the transfers of the Santos 4. Fortunately though after some light research, I found out about the Cotonou agreement, a treaty between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). In short, all of the Santos 4 count as EU players in France, which I'm sure we can all agree is a massive fucking relief.




In preparation for the new season I arrange some friendlies. As usual we'll start with matches against the kids and the reserves, followed by a trip to Luxembourg to face Berchem and then a home match against Belgian Pro League side Eupen. Then I'm back off to England, which will be odd. It's been 5 years since I jumped on a plane to Vellinge and although I've come a long way since then, I didn't think I'd be heading back this early. Leicester City will be extremely tough opposition and Manchester City Under 23's should probably be shown respect, but I reckon we'll have Aldershot. After that we'll fly back to Auxerre and host Paris Saint-Germain, because I do love an impossible challenge to finish pre-season.



Bordeaux are sick of waiting to see whether Nathan Andre will sign a new deal with us apparently because they launch a bid of up to £475k. I try to negotiate them up to around the 2 million mark but they won't have it and eventually our talks break down. Encouragingly though, Nathan wades in to signal his intentions by signing a new contract. He wants to continue his development here for a while before moving to a bigger club, which tells me he's got a good head on his shoulders. We'll get on just fine.




In terms of which systems we'll be playing this season, I'll be starting off with very basic ones as per usual. In previous years my systems have stayed pretty basic, but I'm hoping to be able to evolve them with Auxerre now that I have better quality players to work with, who might be more suited to a more attractive, fluid style. The first system I'm bringing back is Project: Meatloaf Mk II, the 4-1-2-3 that kept Auxerre up at the end of last season. We use it for our friendly against the Under 19's and the match is a straightforward one, as it usually is. Abdoulaye Sissako misses out with a twisted ankle and Godspower Tower is still out with torn knee ligaments, but the youngsters are put to the sword by 2 strikers that look like they're going to give me a real selection headache: Hicham Aidir, who scores the opener, and Florian Ayé, who comes off the bench to score 2 more including a penalty to give us a 3-0 win.



https://youtu.be/MH2Iuv8ZoRM


Russian Premier League side FC UFA then come out of nowhere to bid £1.9M for Ruben Aguilar. He may be the best and most rounded full back I've ever worked with though so I'm not willing to give him up without a fight. I ask for 5 Million and the Russians withdraw. Ruben's initially unhappy, but Captiste makes him see sense. Early signs are that the centre back is bloody good at his off-field captain's duties, which is fantastic news.


I always look forward to the First Team v Reserves friendly matches. They're extremely interesting as all 22 players are trying to impress you and are desperately trying to outshine their counterparts. I turn to Project: Meatloaf for this one. Not the Angrense style Project: Meatloaf though, I just look at it nowadays as a standard 4-2-3-1 system. For now. The match is very even but is actually slightly edged by the reserves. It all seems to be ending goalless until Hicham Aidir pops up in the 92nd minute to score the winner. If he can hit the ground running like this in the league, we're laughing. I'm not particularly impressed by Loïc Goujon though, who gets himself sent off in the second half. There's also a bit of a worry over Florian Ayé, who has to come off injured with a bruised thigh, but he'll only be out for a few days.



https://youtu.be/uNzrbpxMiz8



Over the next few days I complete my Continental B License and after talking to Mr Chabod, the Chairman, I start on my Continental A License, courtesy of the club. If I carry on at this rate I should have my Continental Pro License in the next few years, which would put me in a fantastic position in regards to the quality of clubs that would see me as a serious option.





Let me introduce you to another lad from the academy: Brahim Ferhat. He's a pretty versatile but technically limited striker, but has excellent pace, fitness, work rate and team play and those are qualities I admire. 

He's another one of our great prospects and Olympique Lyonnais are interested. They bid £275k to take him away but I reject it out of hand. I'd much rather keep him and maybe send him out on loan, as he could well have a future in my team. I also resent the sneakiness of Lyon's bid to get him on the cheap just a few days before his 16th birthday when he turns professional, which he then does.



At the start of July we lose a player that I'd not really bothered to get to know; Khamis Digol. Khamis had already agreed to join US Orléans at the end of his contract when I joined the club and it's a shame really. He looks like an interesting right back; 6'4", strong as an ox and otherwise decently rounded. On the other hand though, he's no Ruben Aguilar, so I'm not too bothered.




Russian club UFA really want Aguilar actually, but I really don't want to sell. They come back in with a £2.5M bid, but even though it's way, way more money than I've ever received for a player, I invite them to double it if they're serious.



For our trip to Luxembourg, I'm debuting a new system and one that I've been considering for some time. Project: Burnie Mk III is a 3-5-2/5-3-2 system: A back 3 with 2 wingbacks, 2 central midfielders and an attacking midfielder behind 2 strikers. It's a flexible system that hinges almost entirely on what I ask of the wingbacks. I'll sometimes need them to bomb on into the final third and provide support but I'll sometimes need them to stay at home and make up almost a bank of 5. It makes sense for us to use this system now because from what I've seen I have at least 3 quality centre backs and at least 2 quality strikers, as well as a right back who'll be able to do a job going forwards and a left back who's young enough to learn. I use Project: Burnie Mk III against Berchem's narrow 4-3-3 and it's a success, although annoyingly centre back Patrick Verbeeck is sent off for the hosts in the first half, so it's not really a fair experiment for my new system. Nevertheless, 2 goals from Nathan Andre, who's playing behind the 2 strikers, and a thunderbastard from Joël give us an extremely comfortable 3-0 win in Luxembourg.



https://youtu.be/GmJe-9R-ZEI


Alessandro Bassani is the next young star to attract the attention of the Ligue 1 clubs. He's a 16 year old left winger and he's extremely promising; Quick, agile, determined and hard working enough and decent enough technically to give me hope that he'll be ready to make a few appearances for us this year. Stade Rennais make a pitiful bid of up to £120k and I turn it down without discussion.




So at this point I think I have a fairly good idea of my squad for the upcoming season:


Goalkeepers: Xavier Lenogue, Bingourou Kamara, Anthony Gasnier



Defenders: Ruben Aguilar, Issa Samba, Captiste, Mike Kakuba, Isaac Sohna, Godspower Tower, Fabien Fonrose, Faouzi Hikem, Jérôme Mombris


Midfielders: Raf, Loïc Goujon, Lamine Fomba, Gaizka Basauri, Abdoulaye Sissako, Zoun, Adama Ba, Joël Soumahoro, Amine Chassaing, Corentin Tirard, Alessandro Bassani


Strikers: Hicham Aidir, Florian Ayé, Nathan Andre, Romain Montiel

There are a few players there that I've not yet mentioned, so let me do that now: Anthony Gasnier is a pretty promising young goalkeeper, although I worry about his aerial reach as it's quite low for a 6'2" goalie, teenager or not.



Fabien Fonrose is a 23 year old centre back who spent last year on loan with rivals La Berrichonne. He's fairly well rounded but I don't see him as a long term prospect if I'm honest. I just need a couple of extra centre backs for back up, especially as I'm trying out a back 3.



Gaizka Basauri is an interesting little player. He's an 18 year old defensive midfielder, or central defender at a push but he's 5'9" so I'm thinking not. He does have plenty of interesting characteristics though, he's full of flair and can smack a free kick to rival Juno at Santos, as well as being fit, strong and hard working.



Chassaing I mentioned briefly but let me talk about him for a second. He doesn't exactly fit my mould as he isn't what I'd describe as a "Fighter". Low determination and work rates are usually signs that a player is about to get sold but he's young, versatile, can run all day, has a few tricks and thunderbastards in his locker and is just generally pretty rounded. He'll get a chance to impress me at some point.



Anyway, I reckon we could do with 1 more player. You see, we have a natural right winger in Zoun, a natural left winger in Tirard and a natural left inside forward in Adama Ba. We could really do with a right inside forward; A creative left footed player who can cut in from the right and cause some chaos in and on the edge of the box if we want to play that way. And I think I've found just the bloke. I remember years ago on some podcast or other, I heard somebody say that if Manchester City can't bring Phil Foden, who at the time was the latest in a long line of "Saviours" of the English game, through into the first team, then they might as well close their academy down. Because what's the point? What's the point of having a local footballer of such staggering potential come up through your ranks if he's just going to be left to rot while you spend hundreds of millions of pounds on ready-made players? Flash forward to present day, 2021, and 21 year old Phil Foden hasn't made a single appearance for City's first team, although he did play a full League One campaign on loan at Bury 3 years ago... I don't blame Manchester City for letting him down. I blame the English game. I blame the Premier League, where clubs hold themselves to ransom because of the jaw-dropping amounts of money on offer for those who can stay up, or especially those who can break into the Champions League. If you give a chance to a young player and he contributes less than a £40 Million signing would have, meaning you only finish 5th instead of 4th, WHAM! There goes your revenue. You can't afford to hold onto your best players and no suitable replacements will join you, so you're on a downwards trajectory, making less money, and etc etc etc. So to avoid this, you buy ready-made players who'll get you where you want to be. The English have methodically built and nurtured a system in which, in the vast majority of cases, good young players simply cannot break through.



Wow. I didn't mean for that to get so... Ranty. My point before I went off on that tangent was meant to be that Phil Foden was once destined for true greatness, but a lack of first team football has stalled his development. If he can get back on track he could still be a top player and I'm willing to take a chance on my ability to make that happen. I'm also willing to break my own personal transfer record to bring him in. A £500k offer is accepted and I offer Phil a contract.



Issa Samba is the next player in demand and this time it's SPL side Hamilton that want to take him on loan. I want to keep him around though, so I reject the bid and make it clear that Issa will be staying with us.



Not long after, we get a call. Phil Foden's agent says that he's delighted to be given an escape route from City to a club where he might actually play football. They fly over and Phil signs on the dotted line, becoming my 5th signing of the Summer.



I'm taking a big punt on him here. I know he doesn't exactly adhere to my philosophy but he's still young, he's still got potential and at the very least he's extremely versatile, most comfortable as a number 10 but also able to play in midfield or anywhere behind the striker. I'll be looking mainly for him to play as an inside forward off the right as I mentioned before and I think he'll do a job. I get the feeling that he'll either be one of the very best or very worst signings I've ever made.



I think my squad's complete now and we just need to gel together and get ourselves disciplined in these formations I want us to use. Stade Rennais make a £300k bid for Bassani and Alanyaspor bid up to £1.1M for Zoun, but I reject them both. They'll both play a part on the wings this year.


Eupen are our next friendly opponents at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps and I see the Belgian Pro League side as a good challenge as we start to turn up the difficulty on our pre season. New signing Phil Foden gets a place on the bench as we line up with Project: Meatloaf Mk II. What follows almost brings a tear to my eye; First my prolific Moroccan striker Hicham Aidir nods us ahead from an Aguilar cross, then he doubles our lead just after the break with a clever turn and a clinical left footed finish. We're awarded a penalty 15 minutes from time and I scream at Hicham to take it with his right foot to complete his perfect hat trick, but he's a striker, and strikers don't tend to take any chances when a goal's on offer, even in a friendly. He opts for his trusty left peg and completes his imperfect hat trick. Still though. The bad news is that Lamine Fomba picks up a twisted ankle and will be out for a few weeks, but he should be back for the new season.



https://youtu.be/y0jWw3gLVYo



He won't be lonely in the treatment room though, even as Godspower Tower and Issa Samba return to full training with the rest of the team. Phil Foden and Loïc Goujon suffer a pulled hammy and a thigh strain respectively in training a few days later.




Alanyaspor are dead set on buying Zoun, our nippy right winger, but I'm still not selling. Their improved £1.5 Million bid is rejected.



The Coupe de la Ligue draw is made a couple of days later, pitting us against GFC Ajaccio in the First Round. They were in Ligue 1 only 6 years ago but have since plunged to the National League, the third tier of French football, and gone semi-pro. The winner of the tie will face FC Metz or Stade de Reims in the Second Round, both of whom are fellow Domino's Ligue 2 teams.




Touching down at Leicester Airport is a weird feeling. I'm back. Not back in Leicester, obviously, but back in Blighty. It's exactly the same as I remember it; Grey skies, grey buildings, grey people. Thick drops of rain start dribbling down my window and merging with each other as the plane taxies around to the terminal. As we make our way to the hotel I see so many people, so many of my people, all hiding behind black umbrellas and ignoring one another, even the ones walking together. My God, it's good to be home.


The prodigal son's return raises some eyebrows too when we take on Leicester City at the Kings Power Stadium. The former Premier League Champions dominate the plucky visitors but the Auxerre defence hold strong. We take the lead in the second half thanks to a goal from defensive midfielder Gaizka Basauri, who comes off the bench and is released through on goal after some good hold up play by Florian Ayé. Gaizka converts the chance and completes an extremely satisfying smash and grab victory.



https://youtu.be/eVWzxnDtKDA


Anyone wanting to put a quid on the team that avoided relegation on the final day of last season getting promoted, the odds are 50-1. We know we underachieved but the bookmakers have made us the 7th favourite to go up to Ligue 1 this season. My first thought is that it's a bit optimistic to rate us so highly, but do you know what? I think I actually like those odds.



FC Metz' Ivan Santini, who was last year's Ligue 2 top goalscorer, is evens to repeat the feat this season. In fact looking down the list, there are no odds being given on any Auxerre players outscoring the rest of the league. I smile to myself. These bookies haven't met a certain Moroccan striker I know yet.



There is an Auxerre player in the list of most likely players to be the league's top footballer though and it's not somebody I expected. Faouzi Hikem, the left back that I dropped after only 2 matches watching him due to his poor performances when I first came in, is 24-1 to be the best player in the bloody league. I've not seen it from Faouzi yet, but I look forward to being proved wrong.



I get a pretty frustrating phone call later on that morning; Alanyaspor have increased their bid again for Zoun, with an offer rising to £2.1 Million. Again I reject it, as I want him in my team. I'd consider bids towards the £5 Million mark though.



I suffer an unexpected bit of backlash from an Auxerre fans' forum after the club release this year's squad numbers on it's website.* Apparently quite a few of them are irked by Zoun having kept the number 6 shirt, admittedly not a traditional number for a right winger, but it's only 1 away to be fair. To be honest though I've had so much on my plate this summer that the squad numbers were pretty low down on my list of priorities and I just left the existing ones as they were. A quick glance down the rest of the list reassures me as I don't think there are many more badly numbered players, although my first choice goalkeeper having the number 16 shirt isn't ideal.



After that's dealt with we make our way over to Manchester City's academy to take on their Under 23's. Sadly Phil Foden misses out on a return to his former club, but as we've only had 3 days break since our last match I decide to give my second string a run out, because what could possibly go wrong? A thrashing. A thrashing even worse than Leicester City's first team gave us. I suddenly realise why Phil stayed here for so long, these lads are bloody good! We're not helped on the hour when the Kings Power goalscorer Gaizka Basauri is sent off for a second yellow, but by that point we're already 1-0 down and showing no signs of coming back. Things go from bad to worse when Florian Ayé picks up a gashed head, and then a second City goal finishes us off. 0-2 it ends.



https://youtu.be/3-1ict4VBSg


Alanyaspor are getting either desperate or annoyed at this point and they raise their offer to up to £3.1 Million for Zoun, but again I reject it. If they keep going like this though they'll have him within a couple of weeks I would have thought.



To finish off our dismal holiday in the North of England we travel over to Aldershot, the most surprising inclusion on my homecoming tour. I put out another second string side, giving players match time who need it, and we romp home in a thoroughly entertaining game. Florian Ayé scores twice in a minute but then gets stretchered off before half time, which isn't a good sign 9 days before the start of the season. Aldershot pull one back through Idris Kanu before Adama Ba scores, and then we're pegged back again by Jaidon Anthony. Ba scores again in the dying minutes though to wrap the match up at 4-2. It's a dominant display by us but it's overshadowed by the injury to Florian Ayé, which turns out to be a damaged achilles tendon. He'll miss 5-6 months. I certainly hope Hicham Aidir hits the ground running now because we can't really afford him not to.



https://youtu.be/IM1KyVbnHOM



But it's no use crying over damaged tendons, despite it being very frustrating to lose last year's top scorer perhaps for the rest of the calendar year. We've got a pre-season to finish and we're going to finish it in style. I welcome none other than Pep Guardiola to the Stade Abbé-Deschamps dugout with a firm handshake and a smile. Pep bloody Guardiola. I'm about to face off against a legend of Football management. Someone who's achieved almost everything that I aspire to. I don't let on that I'm bricking it. I play it cool. He puts an arm around my shoulder as the players warm up in the background and says: "It's windy today, yes?"


"Haha, yeah." I reply awkwardly.


Cool as a cucumber.


We aren't facing a full strength Paris Saint-Germain side, but we're still facing a good one with such stars as Renato Sanches, Stefan de Vrij and Gianluigi Donnarumma, and they have some more big names on the bench. Knowing Pep loves a 4-4-2 nowadays I set us up with a defensive variant of Project: Burnie Mk III. We're essentially playing with 5 defenders, 2 ball winners in midfield and an attacking front 3.

Amazingly, we take the lead after 35 minutes when Hicham Aidir turns in Ruben Aguilar's cross. In fact PSG don't really trouble us throughout the entire first half. The second half is a different kettle of fish though and we go on the counter after they come out swinging. Before the hour, Rolón Martinez drives home the equalising goal, 15 minutes from the end, Edinson Cavani heads the visitors into the lead from a Serge Aurier cross and 8 minutes later Bernadeschi's corner is bundled home by Lucas to give some gloss to the scoreline for the French Champions. I was impressed with our domination against PSG B in the first half, but the second half is an onslaught. Mind you, there's no shame in being beaten by the best.


After the match I sit down and chew the fat with Pep over a glass of chablis. For one of the best managers of his generation he seems like a nice grounded bloke. He commends my team's first half performance and is very humble about his own team's win. I quiz him about his time at Barca and Bayern, but neither of us mention City after his unceremonious sacking. We sit and talk as equals. Colleagues. Despite the defeat, it's an extremely good day.



https://youtu.be/1PsVSaJTBws


After our final friendly has been played and with the new season looming, I'm left with 1 last big decision: Who should captain Auxerre for the 2021/22 season? When I arrived Captiste had the armband and Ruben Aguilar was his deputy. From what I've seen of Captiste so far he is an excellent captain on and off the field and will probably also play every single match that he's available for, so he'll stay on. In terms of our vice captain though, I'm not so sure. I do like Ruben Aguilar but if I'm being completely honest I've had my eye on someone else for over a year. Last Summer in Lansdowne, I toyed with the idea of making Hicham Aidir the Santos captain, due to his leadership skills, determination, work rate and "Lead by example" attitude. I decided against it as I didn't know him too well and he was new to the team, hence the decision to give Komo the armband, but this year... New signing or not I think Hicham's ready to get used to the idea of leadership. He'll certainly be a captain in the future, perhaps for club and country, and I think the vice captaincy will suit him perfectly for now. He gets the nod over Ruben.



Phil Foden and Lamine Fomba return to full training just in time for our first match, albeit lacking some match fitness after missing a few of our friendlies. I also get a very interesting offer from fellow Ligue 2 side USBCO, who want to take our 16 year old striker Brahim Ferhat on loan for the season. They want him to play regularly too, so I agree. Regular football at the same level as his parent club should do wonders for the lad's development and as USBCO have been recently promoted and are one of the favourites to go back down, it's not as if I'm strengthening a direct rival. Hopefully. I look forward to seeing how he copes.



Hey, before I finish off this pre-season, I want to draw attention to a couple of my ex players, who I've noticed are doing extremely well for themselves: Firstly Joseph Ekwalla (Boo, hiss), who's moved on from Orlando Pirates after just a year to join PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie. My grudge against Joe faded when Santos ended up doing fine without him and to be fair he funded a lot of our transfer activity in that hugely formative summer of 2020. Santos will have also got a chunk of his latest £300k fee, which will please Goolam Allie.



Perhaps even more amazingly, I wonder if you remember Carlos Antunes? In a way he was SC Angrense's Joe Ekwalla; a promising young attacking midfielder who held a place in my first team from the age of 16 but was sold by my meddling Chairman at the time, Miguel Borba. He was initially sold to Vit. Guimarães but has since moved from there to Estoril, where he became a regular Liga Nos player, and then onto bloody West Ham! Ironically the same club that I loaned Domingos Quina from at the time as a direct replacement, although he didn't end up pulling up any trees. Antunes spent last season on loan in the Eredivisie himself as a regular starter for VVV-Venlo and is now back in the Liga Nos on loan with Arouca. I wish both players all the best and will continue to keep an eye on them. Maybe our paths will even cross again some day.



I receive another very interesting offer the day before our first match against La Berrichonne. Fellow Ligue 2 side Nîmes Olympique want to take Isaac Sohna on loan this year and would use him as a key centre back, as well as paying his entire wage and a monthly fee on top. I take a pretty long time over this decision as I think more than any other player, Isaac's development is going to need an extremely delicate guiding hand and a wrong move could prevent him from fulfilling his potential. In the end though I agree to the arrangement. Similarly to Ferhat, a year of consistent Ligue 2 football is something that I might not be able to offer him this year as we're well stocked at the back, and it's something that I think could really make him push himself and help him grow. It's now up to Isaac himself to decide whether or not he wants to go.



Here it is then. It's Friday night. The 30th of July 2021. The start of the Ligue 2 season. Tomorrow will be the 5 year anniversary of my first step into management, when I sent my CV to FC Höllviken Chairman Alexander Lundgren. Since then I've been relegated in Sweden, won a league title unbeaten in Portugal, beaten the drop in Poland, guided a struggling team to a cup final and almost a Confederation Cup place in South Africa, won a couple of matches in Liechtenstein and beaten the drop again in France. I've told Slaven Bilic to go fuck himself, become something of a Connect 4 master and ruthlessly tormented a dehydration-induced hallucination of my spirit guide and perpetual failure Abel Xavier. I've laughed, I've cried, I've kicked more water bottles than my players have kicked footballs and I've quite literally pissed myself in front of my drunk landlord in a vampire costume. It's time to begin my 6th year in football management with AJ Auxerre and amongst all of the feelings of optimism that a new season brings, I smile as a single thought crosses my mind, bright and vibrant: I'm only just getting bloody started.





*Commiserations to sammuthegreat and jakec91 from fm-base for having to look at a number 6 on the back of our right winger! The comparison to William Gallas and his number 10 shirt has been thrown about though which I think is somewhat extreme. Anyway, someone remind me to change it next Summer!


Philosophy (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Mini-sode 120.5.5.5.5.5)


“OK, you’re hired” I say happily, standing from my desk and holding out a hand.


“Brilliant, cheers gaffer”, he says with a big toothy grin, also getting to his feet on the other side of the desk and very quickly dwarfing me with his stature. He takes my hand and shakes it.


I take him out onto the training pitch at the Centre de la Formation, where the lads that I’ve asked to show up for first team training are warming up. The others I’m planning on selling or sending out on loan. “Lads, this is my new Assistant Manager”, I call, gesturing for them to gather round. “A lot of you will probably know him, but for those who don’t, this is Peter Crouch.”




Crouchie grins awkwardly down at the squad, most of whom seem to recognise him. He's a very recognisable guy after all. "Crouchie and I are here to make sure that what happened to this team last year doesn't happen again. Every one of you should know that the very fact that we're here means that you all underachieved last season and now I want to see major improvements." I start pacing up and down the row of players like some kind of Platoon Leader as they listen on. "I'm a fair bloke. If you impress me in training you'll get your chance. If you take your chance and play well in matches you'll continue to play. Is that clear?" A murmuring of acknowledgement makes its way through the squad. "Right then. Let's get started."


To kick off our pre-season I send the squad on a cross country run. As an Everton fan growing up in the 90’s but only really starting to understand football in the 2000’s I always admired the way David Moyes approached pre-season training. He always worked on the 5 ‘R’s: Run, Run, Run, Run and Run some fucking more. The steeper the gradient the better. Yes it made players complain and yes it sometimes made them violently ill, but the benefits were huge. It built unity, character and determination and sorted the wheat from the chaff. At the end of the day those players would run through brick walls for Moyes, and there wasn’t a fitter squad in England than his Everton side. I like to organise my pre-season schedules in a similar way, starting off with some heavy fitness building to obliterate the Summer cobwebs, followed by some team building. How much we do of that depends on how many players I bring in.


The way I see it, I'm getting to a position in football where I can start to define myself as a Manager, so here's my philosophy: If you have a fit, hard working squad that are willing to battle for results and run their knackers off, you're already a step above pretty much every other team you'll face. If you can add some quality on top of that, you're laughing. It's a simple theory but it's been proved to work by countless Managers before me, so it honestly baffles me that so many teams don't adhere to it. To the best of my ability I've already implemented my footballing philosophy in my career so far. Sometimes I've been hindered by financial problems or work permit regulations, but I've tried to make it work.


Hicham Aidir is the first to finish his run. I expected no less as he’s fast becoming the personification of my ideals; Fit, determined, hard working and absolute quality to boot. In the South African Premier Soccer League anyway. His prize for finishing first is that he doesn’t have to do 3 laps of the pitch with the rest of the lads on his return. As the remaining AJ Auxerre players arrive back one by one, wheezing and dragging themselves around the pitch though, I smile. Because this time my philosophy could really work wonders. If I can achieve success at at a big club like this with my sensible approach, the sky's the fucking limit for us.


Sylvania (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Mini-sode 120.5.5.5.5)

As I grab my trusty grey coat and make motions to leave Perk de L’Abre Sec, a short, smartly dressed woman enters the café, prompting a small ‘Ding-a-ling’ from one of those old shopkeeper’s bells above the door. She makes a beeline for me and sits down at my table in the seat opposite, grinning a wide, Cheshire cat grin in my direction. She's an odd looking lady; Fairly young with a round face, big brown eyes and a pair of trendy-looking glasses perched on the end of her slightly crooked nose. Her hair is short, dark and spiky and like the glasses I assume the style is "in vogue" at the minute. I suddenly feel much older than I am.


Now as many of you will know by now, I hail from a country called England, where speaking to strangers in public was made illegal several decades ago. There are exceptions to the rule of course, like if one of you is on fire or if you happen to be walking towards each other in a corridor and you both try to step out of the way, but end up still being in each other’s way (Repeat until you’re both suitably embarrassed), or if somebody isn’t looking where they’re going and bumps into you, in which case you should always apologise profusely because you’re so fucking English that you cry Earl Grey tears and shit scones.


“Franjo?” Says the smartly dressed woman, invoking the politeness clause that forces me to acknowledge her. It’s a complicated law.


“Oui?” I reply weakly.


“It is OK, I speak the finest English” she says flamboyantly and through a thick French accent.


“Ah, that’s lucky. I’m still learning.” I say, feeling slightly more relieved as I sit back down at the table. “Can I help you?”


“My name is Sylvania”, she begins, sliding a business card across the tabletop towards me. “I represent the finest people in football.” I glance at the card. It reads:


"Sylvania D


Professional Football Agent"


I have to squint to read it as the whole card is written in an especially loopy sort of calligraphic font and the phone number below the writing is pretty illegible.


“I’m fine thank you,” I say, smiling as I make to stand back up. “I represent myself.”


“In South Africa you did, yes! In Poland and Portugal and Sweden, but this is France! The finest footballing nation in the World!” I pause mid-stand and look at her curiously. She’s done her research on me. She uses the word ‘finest’ far too often and I choose to flat out ignore the last thing she says, but she does know my career. She grins again, aware that she’s caught my attention. “Not one Manager in Ligue 2 represents themselves. Not one. Not even the finest ones.” I roll my eyes. “These clubs will eat you alive, Monsieur Franjo. They’ll pay you a quarter of what a fine Manager like you should receive!”


“I’m only on a year’s contract, I hardly think Auxerre will want to offer me...”


“UNE ANÉE?!” She gasps, making the other patrons in the tiny café turn around with surprise. Sylvania claps her hands over her mouth. “You should have received a contract of 2 or 3 years!” She whispers, “And on 10 times the salary!”


“Well steady on,” I raise a hand to try and stop her verbal momentum, “You don’t even know what my salary...”


“93.6 thousand pounds.” She says abruptly.


“OK fine, keep it down.” I lean in, exasperated.


“How much of a bonus did you receive for keeping Auxerre in Ligue 2?” She asks, and for some reason I feel like she already knows the answer. I look awkwardly down at the table. “NO BONUS”, she cries dramatically, making heads swivel around once again.


“Alright, you’ve made your point”, I hiss desperately. “Please calm down!”


“C’est incroyable.” She whimpers. “I would get you so much more! More time, more money, more everything!”


“I’m happy with what I...”


“JAMAIS!” She cries once again, prompting a couple of people to slam down their cutlery and storm out of the café altogether. She holds out her forefinger and leans awkwardly across the table to press it against my lips as she continues “Never be happy with what you have, not when I can get you so much more!”


“Alright, fine.” I say quietly, brushing her finger away, “Look, I’ll give you a trial, OK? You speak to Auxerre and see what you can...”


“I WILL GET YOU THE FINEST DEAL!” She beams back at me across the table, then stands, picks up her business card and sweeps out of the café in one fluid movement.


“Wait, don’t I need...” The door slams shut as the old shopkeeper’s bell rings. “...That?”


Year 5 World Roundup (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Mini-sode 120.5.5.5)

Everything’s crumbling and I can’t stop it. I’ve been in this situation plenty of times before but it never gets any easier to fix. I take a deep breath, pick up my knife and attempt another cut through the croissant. It continues to flake away everywhere, crumbling onto the plate. I’ve bottled it.


Fuck it, I think, pushing the plate to the side and opening my laptop, causing residual crumbs to fall onto the gingham tablecloth. “J’ai fini”, I say to a passing waitress. She smiles as she picks up the plate and the mangled croissant, eyeing it with momentary confusion before strolling away towards the kitchen. I quite like this café. I've got myself a flat just round the corner from the Stade de L'Abbe Deschamps and this place is a 30 second walk away. It's called "Perk de L'Abre Sec" which I don't really get, but it's nice and peaceful.


Anyway, I think as I take a sip of coffee, it's about that time of year that I climb out of my bubble, let my eyes adjust to the bright lights of the real world and take a look around Europe's top Leagues.



I'll start like I often do in the Premier League, where Jose Mourinho's Red Devils have really hit their stride now. They've not quite reached the same standards as last year when they romped to the title 19 points clear of their closest rivals, but they've at least won it again. Unai Emery's Chelsea bounced back from last year's disappointing 7th placed finish by pushing United right to the finish line, ending up just 2 points behind the Champions. Pochettino's Spurs and ex-Spain Manager Ernesto Valvderde's Liverpool made up the Champions League places, with the Reds' former boss Jürgen Klopp having moved to the Camp Nou in the Summer, and the European places were filled out by Carlo Ancelotti's Gunners and somewhat novelly by the continually impressive Jason Tindall's Bournemouth and Walter Mazzarri's Watford. I'm pleased to see that Tindall is rewarded for his team's phenomenal success with the Manager of the Year award, and I'm flabbergasted to note that Watford beat Stefano Pioli's Everton to the last Europa league place by a single goal's difference too, when for years I've watched my beloved Toffees circle the drain. I applaud their newfound competence.


Speaking of the drain, 2 of last year's promoted sides have gone straight back down. Norwich were promoted as Championship runners up under Roberto Di Matteo, but he was sacked in January with the club struggling. I never really understand that as I prefer the strategy of keeping your manager and counting on the fact that he'll bring you back up. Chris Hughton was drafted in though, which in all fairness is a very sensible appointment, so hopefully he'll have them straight back up. Ipswich are the other side to go straight back down. Steve McClaren decided to jump ship before his team had even kicked a ball in the Premier League and took the Wales gig vacated by Avram Grant, leaving the Tractor Boys to hire Ben Petty, a man who'd done a distinctly average job with Leeds United, commonly known as "The Auxerre of England". He didn't fare well. Sadly Burnley were the final team to drop down. They've been yo-yoing for years now and Steve Clarke was the latest Manager to be sacked once relegation was confirmed. Paul Heckingbottom has been brought in though after impressive spells with Middlesbrough and Barnsley twice, so I'll watch how they do with interest. The other promoted side from last year is Sunderland, who finished 11 points clear of the drop zone in 14th place thanks to the steady guiding hand of manager Rob Page, who I'm becoming an increasingly avid fan of.


Anyone missing from this review so far, by the way? Ah yes, Manchester City. There's no easy way to say this, lads; Zizou really fucked this one up. Pep Guardiola's high profile replacement Spent half a season at the Etihad and lost 14 matches, leaving the club in lower-mid table with 28 points from 24 matches. Javi Gracia was drafted in from Villarreal though and he did about as a good a job as you could've hoped for: Guiding the Citizens to 9th place, a full 3 points clear of Crystal Palace...



Arsenal paid a measly £12.5M last Summer for Stoke's Jack Butland, which strangely enough coincided with the Potters' slide from 6th to 16th. The 28 year old has done a stunning job for the Gunners, beating David De Gea to the Golden Glove and earning himself a spot in the Team of the Year. Also selected are Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne, Chelsea's Aymeric Laporte, who's now been in the Team of the Year 4 times in a row since he came to England, Spurs' Toby Alderweireld and Manchester City's Lucas Digne. In midfield are Chelsea's Isco, Tottenham's Dele Alli, United's Paul Pogba and the league's joint highest assister: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho. Sadly there's no place for Bournemouth's Lewis Cook, who won the Players' Young Player of the Year award. Leading the line for the Team of the Year are United's Paulo Dybala, who was also joint highest assister and won Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, and Chelsea's Mauro Icardi, who was miles ahead of his nearest competitor for Top Goalscorer with 25.



Coming up to the top division next year are Michael Laudrup's Hull City, Stevie Crawford's Derby County and Marco Silva's Swansea City. There was a weird sort of symmetry at the bottom of the Championship too, with Christian Järdler's aforementioned "Auxerre of England" Leeds United surviving relegation to League 1 on goal difference, much to the dismay of Joey Barton and his Preston North End side.



The bad news for Atleti fans is that Diego Simeone stepped down last Summer to join Bayern Munich and with Didier Deschamps drafted in, their side collected exactly the same amount of points as last year when they finished second. The good news is that after Luis Enrique buggered off to manage Spain and Jürgen Klopp came in to manage Barcelona, they had a bit of a transitional season, finishing 3rd and allowing Athletico Madrid to clinch the title, 4 points clear of Marcelino's Real Madrid, who came in 2nd. Didier Deschamps won the Manager of the Year award for his achievement and rightly so. He's been out of club football for 8 years but you wouldn't know it. The final Champions League spot has been passed around quite a lot in the last few years but this time it's Real Sociedad's turn, finishing as the best of the rest under former Celta Vigo manager Eduardo Berizzo. It's been a bit of a season to forget for Bilbao and Valencia though, who finished in 10th and 13th place respectively.



The La Liga Team of the Year never fails to astound me for the sheer number of Real Madrid players that make it in each year despite them never winning the bloody thing. Keylor Navas, who has won the Goalkeeper of the Year award to make it 4 years out of the last 5, is in net, with Alessandro Florenzi of Atleti and Real trio Raphaël Varane, Sergio Ramos and Álex Grimaldo across the back. Real pair Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard, the League's top scorer and joint top assister respectively, are in midfield, along with Athletico Madrid's joint top assister Saúl and Barcelona's Player of the Year Neymar. The front 2 is unchanged from last year: Barca's Leo Messi and the Champions' Sandro Ramirez, who I feel compelled to mention is really really good.



I'm not going to do the big build up this year because you and I both know that Diego Simeone's Bayern Munich won their 9th successive Bundesliga title. A small amount of variety can be found just beneath them though as Roger Schmidt's Bayer Leverkusen finished as runners up, 4 points off the Champions and 3 points clear of Thomas Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund. Markus Babbel's Red Bull Leipzig had a greatly improved season, climbing from 9th to 4th to secure European Football, Slaven Bilic's Schalke have to settle for the Europa League in 5th, but the story of the season is without a doubt Pál Dárdai and his Hertha Berlin side, who won the Relegation Play Off last season to remain in the division and have now managed to grab the last Europa League spot. Pál was 3rd in the Manager of the Year voting behind winner Roger Schmidt and runner up Diego Simeone, which makes no sense to me.



Leipzig's Ralf Fährmann is selected in net for the Team of the Year after keeping a league high 12 clean sheets, and is joined by Dortmund's Vyacheslav Karavaev, Leverkusen's veteran centre back Per Mertesacker and Bayern pair Mats Hummels and David Alaba in defence. In midfield, the league's top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Dortmund is joined by Borussia Mönchengladbach's Marco Van Ginkel, Leipzig's Emil Forsberg and Leverkusen's Kai Havertz, who is looking increasingly like a future world beater.

 Dortmund's Mario Götze, the league's top assister, is selected in behind the 2nd best assister and Footballer of the Year: Bayern's Thomas Müller.



Normal service has been restored in Serie A. As I feared last year, Manager of the Year Antonio Conte's return to Juventus has brought the Turin side back up to the top of the Division, where I'm assuming they'll stay until the Sun explodes and wipes all of us out. Sorry, that was morbid, where was I? Oh right, last year's winners AC Milan, lead by Manager Ramón Díaz, finished as runners up, with Luciano Spalletti's Roma and Vincenzo Italiano's Fiorentina just behind them in the Champions League spots. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Napoli and Walter Samuel's Inter complete the top 6.



The Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year and pick for the team of the year is Roma's Alisson, who picked up a pretty incredible 18 clean sheets along the way. Juve's Gerónimo Rulli did too but he conceded 1 more goal than the Roma stopper, so he misses out for the first time in 3 years. Defender of the Year for the 6th straight year and Player of the Year for the 2nd straight year is Leonardo Bonucci and he's selected too, along with team mate Alex Sandro, Napoli's Elseid Hysaj and AC Milan's Phil Jones. Napoli's Ignacio Camacho is selected at the base of midfield, just behind team mate and Italian Player of the Year Jorginho, who's next to Midfielder of the Year, Foreign Player of the Year and Fans' Player of the Year: Inter's Marcelo Brozovic. His team mate and the league's top scorer Paco Alcácer makes the cut up top, along with Napoli's Serie A Striker of the Year Gerard Moreno and Roma's Mo Salah.



Now then... Who would've thought that one of the top 5 European Leagues would actually directly affect us next season? It certainly is exciting being just one tier below the likes of PSG, Monaco, Lyon etc but for now that gap is still a long one to bridge.


The battle for the top spot wasn't quite as intense as last season but the order of the top 5 has stayed exactly the same. Pep Guardiola's PSG have finished top of Ligue 1 for the 3rd straight year with Manager of the Year José Barros' Monaco 2nd, Jocelyn Gourvennec's Lyon 3rd, Roberto Mancini's Marseille 4th and Michel Der Zakarian's Bordeaux 5th, just like last season. Toulouse were this season's surprise package in the French top tier. Like Hertha in Germany, they finished just outside the relegation places last year and stormed back to win a Europa League spot this year.


The relegated sides that'll join Auxerre in Ligue 2 are Didier Santini's Angers Sporting Clube de l'Ouest, ending their 6 year spell in the top flight, Frédéric Antonetti's Stade de Reims, who've had a 4 year spell up there and Christophe Galtier's Stade Malherbe Caen, who are going straight back down after being promoted last year, having lost their Relegation Play off to SC Bastia. I look forward to meeting them all.



Paris' Goalkeeper of the Season Gianluigi Donnarumma takes the Team of the Year goalie's spot, with team mates Marquinhos and Raphaël Guerreiro in defence along with Monaco's Daniele Rugani and Stade Malherbe Caen's Loic Nego. Monaco's winner of the Best Player award Thomas Lemar got a place in midfield, having also set up the most goals in the league, and alongside him is Lyon's Sergi Darder, who created the 2nd most goals. Lemar's Monaco team mate Kylian Mbappé is on the left wing, having won the Star of the Season award, Lucas Moura of PSG is on the right, and his colleague and the league's top scorer Álvaro Morata leads the line.



Bundesliga runners up Leverkusen won the Europa League, beating Sporting Lisbon, Valencia and Roma on the way to the final by a combined scoreline of 11-6. Their opponents in the final were Villarreal, who beat Palermo, Bilbao and Napoli by a combined score of 10-6.



The Spaniards actually started the final well, with Cristian Espinoza getting them off to an early lead, but Johannes Eggestein gave the Germans an equalising goal just before the break to set them up as the more confident side for the second half. With Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo taken off before the hour mark, Eggestein left it late to get the winner, scoring with 10 minutes to go to secure the win at the San Nicola in Bari.



The Champions League saw Manchester United go on something of an elite world tour, beating Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain to get to the final, only to lose to Barcelona, who themselves had beaten FC Porto, Lyon and Spurs all quite comfortably.



It was a clinical performance by Barca that saw them lift the trophy, scoring 3 of their 4 shots on target through Rafinha, Rafinha again and Luis Suárez. Paul Pogba gave the red devils some hope, making it 2-1 at one point, but to no avail. United were perhaps unlucky to lose Filippo Melegoni to injury within the first minute of the game, but then they did have a small window in which to dominate when Samuel Umtiti was sent off for collecting 2 yellow cards with 12 minutes to go. It was too late though. Barca lift the trophy at the Allianz Arena.


I feel like I'm knocking on the door now. We're 1 brilliant season or bizarre fluke away from breaking into one of the Elite Leagues in World Football, and what better incentive could there be than that to make sure we have the best bloody year so far.


Year 5 Review (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Mini-sode 120.5.5)

Side Note: Bloody hell, I just realised that my Wordpress site alone's had over 50,000 views, which is just mental. Thanks once again for reading, everyone!


Now where was I?


Oh yeah, what a year! A good cup run, a promising but ultimately fruitless European International League campaign, a couple of sound thrashings both given and received, a late charge up the league and then a cross continental switch to save a fallen giant from relegation. Let's have a look back on Year 5.



AJ Auxerre


Final Position: 16th


Record: W2 D0 L1


Key Players: Baptiste “Captiste” Aloé, Corentin Tirard, Florian Ayé


Highlight: Survival in Ligue 2


Lowlight: Our loss against Nimes Olympique


I think it’s a bloody tragedy that I've had to save Auxerre from being relegated to the 3rd tier. When I was younger I remember the French 1st Division being a very different beast to the monotonous duopoly that it is today. Paris Saint Germain and Monaco were decent top half clubs, only occasionally challenging for the title. Teams all fought fiercely because they knew that the title was up for grabs. In the 2000’s Olympique Lyonnais had a strangle hold on the top division, but they were always closely contested by teams like Marseille, Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, or Sochaux. Even Nantes won the title a couple of times before fading years later.


AJ Auxerre were always buzzing around the top 8, frequently qualifying for the UEFA Cup and even the Champions League a couple of times. Before the Millennium we were even better, securing top 5 finishes all through the early 90’s before falling away somewhat after winning the 1995/96 title under the stewardship of legendary Auxerrois Manager Guy Roux.


I don’t have much to say about my short stint in Burgundy at the moment for obvious reasons (I’ve not even fully unpacked my suitcase yet), but I want it known that I’ve not joined them just as a stepping stone in my career. Auxerre aren’t just another team that I sign for first and get to know later on my path to the top. Auxerre are different. I joined them because it saddened me to see them struggling like they were after such a magnificent period in the top flight. I joined them because I want to see them back in Ligue 1 and back in European football. I reckon I can bring them back.



The end of season awards are an education for me as I get a real insight into who the top performers were in this horrifically underperforming team. Ruben Aguilar is voted Fans' Player of the Season by a landslide, followed from a distance by Florian Ayé and Corentin Tirard. Florian Ayé gets the Young Player of the Season award and interestingly in the Team of the Season, Bingourou Kamara is selected in net. I know I've not seen him play live yet but from what I've gleaned he was sub par under the last regime. For me, Xavier Lenogue has proved that I chose my goalkeeper wisely with 2 clean sheets in my 3 matches.



Young target man Florian finished the season with 15 goals, our top scorer by a distance, and Ruben Aguilar was rated the highest performer on average and picked up the most Player of the Match awards. Corentin Tirard set up the most goals with 9 and Raf was the best retainer of the ball. I think that he can offer something different that I've not given him a proper chance to show me yet, so he'll get his chance in the new season. Captiste picked up the most yellows with 14 and Tirard, Hikem, Godspower Tower and Moussa Diallo all picked up a red over the course of the season.



The Auxerre Football Messenger, a local newspaper, are scathing in their assessment of L'AJA's season, claiming that we fell well short of expectations, which I have to say I agree with. We've got enough quality in this team to finish in the top half like we were predicted to. Not much quality in depth though despite our abundance of players. It's an interesting dilemma but I think my priority for the Summer will be to trim the fat from the fringes of my squad and add a few quality players. It's simultaneously quite flattering and damning that our match of the season was one of the 3 that I oversaw at the end of the season, our 1-0 win away at Strasbourg.




Former Clubs

Santos FC


Final Position: 5th


Record: W16 D6 L11


Key Players: Mike Kakuba, Isaac Sohna, Sello Japhta, Sandile Stanley “Sinbad” Sibande, Joël Soumahoro, Mandla Greatful Masango, Hicham Aidir


Highlight: The 2 4-0 wins over PSL opposition in a row that took us to the my first Cup Final: The SA Cup Final


Lowlight: The SA Cup Final


I loved my 2nd season in Lansdowne. It definitely had shades of that 2nd season in Hero Creek about it, but it wasn’t nearly as straightforward. There were serious highs, such as the majority of our SA Cup run, and there were lows, like getting destroyed 1-5 by our local rivals Ajax CT and 0-4 by Kaizer Chiefs. In the end though we made it, thanks in no small part to the developing defensive partnership of Kakuba and Sohna, the industriousness of Sinbad, the creativity of Japhta, Joël and Masango and the clinical finishing of Aidir.


After I left, my former assistant Jakub Kalikowski took over the 1st team on a temporary basis, guiding them first to an away win over Mthatha Bucks. He made some bold choices like restoring Dino Visser, Roscoe and Luke Fanteni to his starting lineup and it paid off, with a Ryan Moon double grabbing the win.



Jakub then took Santos over to Pretoria to face Supersport United, who we had beaten twice earlier in the season 4-0 and 3-1. Supersport were clearly looking for revenge and thumped the people's team 0-4, with Dino Visser in particular having an absolute shocker.



For the last match Goolam Allie reinstalled Boebie Solomons as Santos boss, pinching him from the relegated Magesi FC. Boebie took his first managerial footsteps with Santos in 2008 and stayed with them for 3 years, eventually getting them relegated from the Premier Soccer League. Let's hope that after a decade of management in South African football and with Auxerre's £1.5M in his pocket, he'll be able to build well upon what I've started.



The new manager finished the season and started his second stint at the Athlone with a 2-1 win over his old club; the League's whipping boys Magesi FC, who in all fairness beat my Santos team just before the SA Cup final. He had the good sense to restore Captain Komo between the sticks, so that's a good sign.



Santos players finished the season with some impressive stats - Mandla Masango for example covered the 2nd most distance per 90 minutes in the league and also got 10 assists, the joint 2nd most.




Mike Kakuba was comfortably the best centre back in the PSL, so I'm glad that he'll be joining me in Ligue 2. The Ugandan made the most key headers and interceptions and the 2nd most key tackles.





Obviously Hicham Aidir was in a league of his own, getting the 3rd highest shots on target percentage, the 2nd highest average rating, the most Player of the Match awards, the fewest minutes per goal and of course the highest number of goals in the league with 23, which won him both the Golden Boot and the Young Player of the Season awards. Absolutely first class season from the young striker.








Ajax CT's Serame Letsoaka won the Manager of the Season award, closely followed by Kaizer Chiefs' Professor Ngubane in second place, and yours truly in third.




GKS Katowice


Sometimes things just aren't meant to be: Joey Tribbiani and Rachel Green, Barney Stinson and Robin Scherbatsky, Franjo and GKS Katowice. I don't know if it's thanks to the continuing payments from the top league or if I just royally messed that job up, but Katowice are flying without me. After sneaking into the top half last year, they went and followed it up by finishing 4th! I barely recognise the side to be honest. Almost my entire squad has been dismantled apart from exciting winger Ari Tuovinen and reliable defender Damian Garbacik. Hurley and Kevin have both departed after a pretty unsuccessful stint in Poland. They didn't get much game time after I left. They're both back in the Portuguese Championship with Cova da Piedade and Santa Clara respectively.


Overall I like to think that I helped GieKSa on their way to where they are now, but to be honest I think Tomasz Kaczmarek is just performing miracles over there.



SC Angrense


Speaking of the Portuguese Championship, Os Heróis were very close to going back down there themselves this year. It's a shame, they had 2 excellent seasons in the Portuguese Second League but it all fell apart in the end for Pedro Amora's men. The manager was sacked with Angrense fighting a losing battle against the drop and Hugo Carlos Pereira stepped in to save them, but only just. Again, most of my Angrense squad have dispersed at this point, but Captain and Vice-Captain Jaime Seidi and Cristiano Magina are still there. Magina's still knocking in a minimum of 10 goals a season, but Seidi's struggled for game time and will leave on a free this Summer. I'm still rooting for Os Heróis and hope that Hugo consolidates, builds and finally gets them promoted to the top tier. No pressure though.



FC Höllviken


Not much has changed at FC Höllviken sadly. I still hope one day they'll climb back up the Swedish pyramid.


I'm building quite the portfolio of former clubs nowadays, aren't I. I still keep a close eye on them and certain players and I still hope each and every one of them keeps progressing. After all, I like to think that I'm not just a 'short term fix' kind of manager. I bring in and develop the youth, I'm sensible with finances, I build the infrastructure wherever I go if I'm able. Here's to another good year ahead for everyone.


Especially Auxerre.


Merci... mate

Je M’Appelle Franjo (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Meta-sode 120.5)


Bonjour mes amis,


I don’t know if it’s just me but this year seems to have taken such a long time to go through. Maybe it was because of the International breaks or maybe it was the fact that I knew quite early on that I was off to Auxerre and couldn’t wait to get to that bit, but either way it’s been a long old year! I’m going to take a couple of weeks as per, and when I come back we’ll have a fresh season to play with AJ Auxerre in Ligue 2. It’s a big club so it’s going to be a big year I reckon.


I was saying the other day I hadn’t planned on coming to France quite yet, I fancied exploring a bit more before coming back to one of the “big” European countries, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to manage a fallen giant with such great history and insanely good training and youth facilities, so here we are. Nevertheless I still plan on exploring and I still plan on getting back outside Europe at some point, so don’t worry on that front.


Thanks a lot for reading still and thanks a lot to everyone who’s left feedback recently, it’s fantastic to know everyone’s thoughts on the story so far and landing the AJA job seemed to prompt a lot of people to get in touch, so cheers!


Anyone wanting to leave feedback, feel free to leave a comment in wordpress or whichever forum you find me on, or by emailing [email protected]!


There’ll be the usual round-up style mini-sodes and an actual proper introduction to the club over the next couple of weeks, but until then...


...Adieu...


...Is that the one that means “Until next time” or “Goodbye forever”? I can never remember. That’s another good point actually, any French writing you see will be from a mixture of Google Translate and the D grade I got at AS level French almost a decade ago, so allow for error...


Au revoir, bon voyage et bon appetit.


Cheers,


Franjo


Don’t Panic (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep120)

Don’t panic. Nobody panic. Deep breaths. Yes, we’ve lost ground in our quest for survival. Yes, Godspower Tower will be missing for our crucial away match against RC Strasbourg Alsace after suffering a tear to his knee ligaments. Yes, Abdoulaye Sissako and Loïc “The Deep Fried Demon” Goujon are both suspended and will also miss our final match. Yes, if we fail to better Groupe Sportif Consolat’s and La Berrichonne’s results we’ll drop into the relegation play off spot. Yes, the pressure is absolutely back on. But... I’ve forgotten where I was going with that.




RC Strasbourg are 13th in Ligue 2 and we could really do with beating them today, as that’s the only way our League status will be in our own hands. We’re on 41 points, so a draw would leave us open to the unlikely but possible scenario of one or both of the teams directly below us, who are both on 40 points, dropping us into the shit by winning their own games. Losing this final away match just isn’t even worth thinking about.



Most of my changes are forced, as I’ve mentioned. I’m keeping the system the same but I’ll be bringing in Cameroonian centre back Harvey Ndicka to replace Godspower Tower. Ndicka is in a similar mould to the injured Nigerian, a defensive centre back that's fairly uncomfortable on the ball but has a hell of an aerial reach and great strength and leadership. He doesn't have Tower's sense of positioning though, which combined with his lack of any real pace is concerning, as in the likely event that he's caught out of position he won't be fast enough to chase down the opposition player and recover the ball.



Coming in at defensive midfield for the suspended Goujon is Albert Rafetraniaina, who I'll be addressing as Raf, because otherwise I'll use up a whole season's worth of vowels by the time we get to October. Replacing Sissako in the middle will be Lamine Fomba, who would’ve probably started both of my matches so far in Sissako’s place had he not been suspended. Fomba both excites me and concerns me as on paper he's probably one of our best players: A technically proficient, mentally mature and physically dominating box to box midfielder with a never say die attitude. His form this season however has been abysmal, which I'm willing to overlook on a one time only basis for this match because I need him and hope he turns up. His contract runs out next month though so this is really his only chance to impress me enough to give him a new one.



Finally, I’m giving senior wing back Mombris a start at left back ahead of young Hikem due to his poor form, and rapid winger Zoun will get the chance to impress me from the start in place of Ibrahim Sangaré.



There's early action somewhere, but it isn't in our match. Over at the Stade de l'Aube our local rivals ESTAC Troyes have taken the lead over our relegation rivals La Berrichonne after just 3 minutes through Petar Tanasic. My assistant Raphaël Guerreiro's keeping an eye on the scores for us and that is very welcome news.


A quarter of an hour later we win a corner after Tirard's shot is deflected behind. Tirard's initial corner is cleared but is passed back to him on the right wing. He drills the ball into the box and Ayé blasts it in at near post to put us ahead. He sprints over to the travelling support and slides on his knees in front of them as I allow myself a hopeful smile. That's Aye's 50th goal for us and what a time to get it.


5 minutes later Raphaël brings more good news from elsewhere: Théophile Lallemand has given Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas 01 the lead over our fellow relegation candidates Group Sportif Consolat. This could not be going better for us.


The rest of the half plays out in similar fashion to my first match here; Tight, scrappy, nothing to write home about. Just what I wanted. The second half is much of the same. At the Stade de l'Aube Troyes go 2-0 up over La Berrichonne, who claw it back to 2-1 late on. Here in Strasbourg, we stay strong and continue to fight. I don’t want to rock the boat, so I do nothing. And the boat stays afloat.




As a neutral I probably would've wanted the relegation fight to be closer on the final day, but as Groupe Sportif Consolat had vastly inferior goal difference to La Berrichonne, they were always claiming the play off spot if they lost. After all of my final day nerves, we finish 4 points above them both in 16th place. I rolled the dice joining Auxerre, knowing full well that it could all go wrong inside the first few matches. For now though my gamble's paid off. Auxerre will play Ligue 2 football next season and with that realisation, another hits me. Now, for the first time in my career, I've won more relegation battles than I've lost. What a feeling. What a year.



Healthy Competition (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep119)


“Une photo pour le site du club?” Asks one of the club’s photographers.


“I heard ‘Photo’, big smiles lads”, I mutter to Auxerre’s 2 newest signings. I put my left arm around Joël Soumahoro and my right around Hicham Aidir and we grin our cheesiest grins as the 2 of them put pen to paper.




“Merci”, mutters the cameraman as he lowers his camera.


“I wish we had you 2 for the run in”, I whisper to Joël and Hicham with a smirk. Joël laughs, but Hicham looks more serious.

“We played OK in the last match”, he says, “Florian is a good striker I think.”


“Nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition though is there?” I laugh, “You’d best bring your A-game for next season mate!”


He’s right to be fair. I don’t know whether it was because of some kind of “new manager bounce”, or going back to basics, or our system or our selection, or a combination of all of the above, but after all my fretting and frantic plotting, we put in a good solid performance against ESTAC Troyes and deserved our win.



So what’s next then? Well I get a surprising phone call the day after the double signing. The board want L’AJA to go on a pre-season tour of England in the Summer because of the club's apparent popularity back in my homeland. I put this mainly down to my theory that my name has recently been growing in popularity amongst English hipsters, all of whom have obviously been watching my career since the Höllviken days. I accept the tour. Once we’re finished in the League we’ll be able to look forward to 3 intriguing away ties against Leicester City, Manchester City U23’s and erm... Aldershot. Apparently we’re popular in Aldershot.



With 2 matches left we’re 4 points above the relegation play off spot, so another win would see us over the line with our Ligue 2 status secure. Today is my first match at my new home and we’ll welcome mid-table Nimes Olympique to Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps, named after AJ Auxerre’s founder. There'll be no changes in personnel for this one. You know me; on the rare occasions that I'm in my right mind, I never change a winning team. The only tweak I make from our win over ESTAC Troyes is to not make us so narrow, as it could make us vulnerable on the flanks against a team playing with actual width.



2 minutes in we concede a free kick, which Buzaglo chips in from the right byline. Tchimbembe cushions the ball down for Métanire brilliantly and the right back shoots on the volley, but Sissako deflects it out for a corner, which comes to nothing. Nimes stay on top of the first half and we go on the counter after 25 minutes, but the match is goalless at the break.


I don't know what Nimes manager Bernard Blanquart says to his lads at half time but it certainly works. Less than 3 minutes after the restart, Tchimbembe drives powerfully through the middle of the pitch and passes to Savanier. The midfielder shoots from 30 yards and the ball arrows into the far corner of the net. It's a great goal, but now isn't really the time to admire it. We try to control the game after that but things aren't made any easier for us in the 54th minute when Godspower Tower picks up a knee injury and has to be stretchered off. Goujon drops back alongside Captiste and I bring on pacy Malagasy midfielder Albert Rafetraniaina, the answer to the age old question "Who ate all the vowels?", to be our holding man. Zoun also comes on for Sangaré on the right wing.



With 20 minutes to go Buzaglo sends in another free kick, this time from deep on the right wing. He arcs the ball over to the far post and Aguilar jumps to head it clear but misses it. Briançon places it past Lenogue to double the visitors' lead. 5 minutes later I bring on Jérôme Mombris, our slow but savvy veteran wing back, for Faouzi Hikem, who has not lived up to his "Best young player at the club" billing in my first 2 games. We go on the attack.



In the dying minutes, Chancel Kasongo plays a good pass through for Zoun to chase but Gaspar slides in to knock the ball away. The loose ball rolls to Tirard 12 yards out though and he curls it out of the keeper's reach to pull one back for us, but it's too little too late.



That... Is not ideal at all. FC Chambly-Oise and Havre Athletic Club have now guaranteed themselves the 2 relegation places, but Groupe Sportif Consolat, the team currently occupying the relegation play off spot, have won their penultimate match and are now only 1 point below us, equal with La Berrichonne. 2 of us are going to stay in the division without need of a play off, but one of us isn't. Once again, and I feel like this happens far too often for me, it's all going to come down to the last game.



Baptism of Fire (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep118)

My first morning in Le Centre de Formation, Auxerre's training ground, is madness. I'm watching the players train and trying to work out which of them are my kind of footballers. I need to know which of them are willing to dig in and fight to keep us afloat. The task is made extra difficult by Auxerre's massively bloated squad. Seriously, I'm not surprised that we've gotten ourselves into this situation. We have far too many players and plenty more in the youth teams that are ready for first team football, which means that a lot of players are going to be annoyed that they aren't playing, which means that there's no squad harmony, which means no cohesive team.



In a way I probably shouldn't have delayed my relocation to Auxerre. I probably could've used that week to sort out who I actually want playing for me out of this rabble, but instead I've left myself with 2 days to get a plan together and a team identified. The quality throughout the squad is lower than I'd like too. Benoît Cheyrou once trained here! Laurent Blanc! Djibril Cissé! Eric fucking Cantona!




I don't have time to go on and on about Auxerre's history, their prestige or their background. I barely have time to meet everyone. There'll be time for all of that later. The next few weeks are all about survival and early signs are that I've got my work cut out for me here.



After training I grab a coffee and retreat to my office to start studying videos of recent Auxerre performances. They make for grim viewing. I'm interrupted by backup full back Issa Samba and winger Jerson Cabral, who aren't exactly coming in to welcome me to the club. They both make it clear that they want first team football and I tell them that they'd better impress me along with everyone else to earn their places. Samba promises to rise to my challenge, but Cabral thinks he should have already done enough to prove his quality. So congratulations Jerson Cabral for winning the "First arrogant dickhead to seal his future away from Auxerre award", you've won a permanent holiday somewhere fucking else.


After extensive research on my players' recent performances, strengths, weaknesses, mindsets and after consulting with my backroom team, I have a first team in mind for our first match: Away at our local rivals ESTAC Troyes.


Goalkeeper - No 16 - Xavier Lenogue


Martinique International Xavier has actually been Auxerre's second choice goalkeeper this season, but first choice Bingourou Kamara has been putting in sub par performances and I actually think Xavier looks like the better keeper. He's 6'4" and has brilliant aerial ability, as well as good handling, strength, concentration and reflexes. At 24 he's also a baby in goalkeeping terms, so he should only get better.



Right Back and Vice-Captain - No 12 - Ruben Aguilar


Ruben is a natural full back who can defend, go forwards, is solid technically and good mentally and physically. I pinch myself watching him train but I'm definitely awake and he's definitely real. I have a rounded full back at my disposal for possibly the first time in my career. He's 28, which should mean that he's in or around his prime and he fits the Franjo mould of a determined, hard working team player. I'm over the bloody moon that he's here.



Centre Back and Captain - No 2 - Baptiste Aloé


Captiste, as he'll obviously be referred to from now on, looks like a fantastic defender. He's not the most technical of centre backs but he's not woefully inept either, though it's his strength, aerial presence and fantastic mental strength that are his main assets. At 26 he too is yet to reach his prime, so he may even improve.



Defensive Centre Back - No 4 - Godspower Tower


So it turns out that we've got the centre back with the best name in the entire bloody world. A rhyming name, no less! Godspower Tower is a good old fashioned defensive centre back. He's pretty awful on the ball and is not at all quick, but at 6'6" he should dominate anyone in the air, and his terrific positioning and decision making as well as good tackling, marking, heading and bravery should make up for his lack of pace. At 24 he's another young one, although I'm not sure whether I'll want him in my first team long term as I prefer more rounded players, as if you didn't know.



Defensive Left Back - No 3 - Faouzi Hikem


Touted by many as AJ Auxerre's most promising young footballer, Faouzi is certainly an intriguing player. He's not great technically although he's pretty assured when tackling, but his physicality and mental strength is off the bloody charts! At 19! He's got what I call "The Sohna Factor". Technical ability can be coached up to a point but if you're born with the right brain and frame you've got potential.



Defensive Midfielder - No 15 - Loïc Goujon


The deep-fried demon is in the building, ladies and gents. Loïc is one of quite a few versatile central defensive players that we have, although he's the best one from what I've seen. He's best in a holding man role or as a ball winner, but for me he'll play as the former for now. He's another man heading towards his prime at 25 and is 6'0", a solid height for a defensive midfielder. He's very physically fit, strong, and fits the Franjo mould.



Box to Box Midfielder - No 27 - Abdoulaye Sissako


Truth be told, Abdoulaye isn't my first choice for this position, but you'll meet my first choice once he's finished his suspension and is actually eligible to play. That being said, I like Abdoulaye. He's a young lad at 22 and is my kind of player; he's 6'1", he looks like he'll run around aggressively all day, and is pretty good technically, mental and physically. He's also chipped in with 5 goals in 31 appearances, most of which have been from the bench, so that's a good sign.



Deep Lying Playmaker - No 40 - Chancel Kasongo


18 year old Chancel's a bit of a wildcard decision on my part as he's not actually played a professional match yet. I want a playmaker though and at the minute he's the one that fits the bill. He's got a good passing range on him and is a very determined lad, as well as being a decent runner. At 5'4" though he's a little short for a stormtrooper. In fact he's probably a little short for R2D2. I obviously have faith in him as he's in my preliminary 11, but he'll need to turn in good performances to stay there.



Right Winger - No 35 - Ibrahim Sangaré


I've got a plan. A system doesn't necessarily need to have all your best players in from the first minute... No offence, Ibrahim... A system needs to be a plan to win a match, not to start it, and that's why you'll meet our best right winger soon enough, but not now. Ibrahim is, in a good way, a nice average winger. He's almost an anti-winger actually, at 6'2" his best qualities are his pretty good pace and strength, while his technical and mental capabilities are quite average. He is a good leader though.



Left Winger - No 18 - Corentin Tirard


Corentin looks like a good solid winger. He has no outstanding strengths and no big glowing weak spots. He's just pretty solid across the board. He's not as quick as I'd like a 25 year old winger to be but he has chipped in with 7 goals this season so he must be doing something right.



Advanced Forward - No 11 - Florian Ayé


Florian is crucial to this team. He's our top goalscorer with 13 in 31 appearances, but he's not what I'd describe as a natural goalscorer. He's a determined and hard working target man and is physically quite outstanding: Decent pace, good jumping reach, excellent physical fitness and good strength. It doesn't look like we have an abundance of goalscorers in this team so Florian's going to lead the line as an advanced forward.



There are plenty of contracts expiring at the end of the Season, which will go some way to sorting out the bloated squad problem, so I decide to get some early transfer business done. The targets won't surprise you I don't think. I definitely need to look at a natural goalscorer and a playmaker, so I lodge bids with my former club Santos of £450k for Hicham Aidir and £250k for Joël Soumahoro. I also need at least 1 quality defender, so a bid of £400k for Mike Kakuba follows, and I'm not ready to stop developing Isaac Sohna yet, so I bid £375k for his services. Goolam accepts all of them and I offer the players contracts, with Isaac Sohna and Mike Kakuba instantly agreeing to rejoin me in the Summer. We'll have to wait until after the match to lock down the other 2.




For now though it's time to turn our attention to the League match against ESTAC Troyes. As if an away match at a local rival wasn't enough of a baptism of fire for me, Troyes seem to be 11 places and 17 points above us in the League, so they'll be tricky opposition.



L'AJA, as my new team are known, have lost 5 matches in a row and haven't recorded a win in our last 8. Morale is understandably on the floor. The only time I can remember being in this much of a slump was during my short stint in Katowice, at which time I tried everything under the sun to turn us around and nothing worked. I very very nearly got us relegated. I have a massive advantage now though as I'm not carrying any of the baggage or frustration from Auxerre's previous matches. I'm not overthinking it. I get to come in as an outsider and look at the club's situation objectively, and for me there's only 1 thing for it - Back to basics.



I've enjoyed very basic systems this year in particular as they allow your players to play their natural games so that they'll be more comfortable, while still having a structure to work around. I won't be bogging the players down with a load of instructions, we'll use Project: Meatloaf Mk II just like I've been using in Lansdowne. We will however play ultra narrow, which is becoming my usual solution against narrow formations like Troyes' flat 4-3-3, as having the players packed together restricts space in the centre where the opposition are trying to focus their play.



12 minutes in we're holding our own and even putting together some passes. Striker Florian Ayé cuts in from the left wing and passes to Tirard on the edge of the box. A defender sticks a boot in and dispossesses Tirard but ayé’s quickest to react, putting his foot through the ball, which flies goalwards - And bounces in off the post. The hosts stick religiously to their 4-3-3 even long after it's become clear that we're not going to allow it to work. The rest of the first half and much of the second is scrappy, with both teams cancelling each other out.


With 20 minutes to play in the match, I bring on arguably our best winger - Roland Zoungrana, who I nickname Zoun. Ibrahim Sangaré comes off. The reason I started with Ibrahim is that he looked solid and looked like he'd do a job for us, and then I could bring on Zoun, our lightning fast Burkinabe secret weapon. I'm going to use him as an impact substitute at first because the difference in speed between him and a tired left back is just glorious. He's not the finished article though. He's 21 years old and has not yet mastered the technical side of the game. If I can get this lad better at his crossing and his dribbling for a start, he'll be fantastic.



Zoun doesn't make any sort of impact from the bench, but to be fair he doesn't need to. The match stays tight, scrappy and frustrating until the final whistle blows. We pick up our first victory in 8 matches in our local rivals' back yard.



https://youtu.be/zgUmIYd6CkE


I'm delighted. Absolutely ecstatic. We've even leapfrogged La Berrichonne into 16th place. Just like that, we've got a chance to build confidence and momentum. The monkey's off our back and we're 3 points clear of the relegation play off spot. L'AJA aren't safe yet, but what a fucking start.



The People's Team (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep117)


I hold the letter in my hands, staring down at the words.


"Dear Mr WT Franjo,


We regret to inform you that due to the number and strength of applicants for the position of Manager, we have decided not to take your application any further.


Sincerely,


Claudio Lotito,


Chairman of Società Sportiva Lazio S.p.A."


Short and sweet. I've not let myself get too excited about the prospect of managing such a massive club, but it still stings. I'm only human after all. Well, half human. As much as I'd told myself to put Lazio out of my mind, I've still caught myself imagining the feeling of lifting trophies in the middle of the Stadio Olympico pitch, surrounded by a sea of those famous sky blue shirts. At least they spelled my name right I suppose. That's something.



Still, if I'm not good enough or famous enough or successful enough for a job like that yet, I'd better get on with making myself better, more famous and more successful. There are 6 matches left to play of the PSL season and my Santos side are 8th in the league, 3 points clear of 9th placed Bloem Celtic and only 4 points behind 4th placed Golden Arrows. I'm sick of seeing that 4th spot dangling just above me, only to be snatched away at the last second. I want a win today and I want to keep moving upwards towards it. Golden Arrows have had their chance to get themselves clear of the chasing pack and they're making no progress, so it's about time we finally close the gap.



Polekwane City are the visitors to the Athlone today, one of the few teams in this league that I've not lost against over the last 2 years and they're rock bottom of the league and massive favourites to be relegated. I'm sticking with Project: Meatloaf Mk II as we've been performing quite well since its' introduction and we'll be playing the extra extra narrow version to choke the narrow 4-2-3-1 that they use. There is a slight hitch to today's gameplan in that Sello Japhta's picked up his 8th yellow card of the season and so has picked up a 1 match ban. Seeing as Siyabonga Zulu is out for the season, that leaves me with no option but to dive into the reserves to find a left back.



Sinethemba Tavares is only 16, but he's chock full of potential and able to fill in at left back, so he's thrown into the starting 11 today. Further up the pitch, our only other change is that the fit again Luther Singh replaces Ryan Moon and takes the left wing, while the versatile Mr Masango takes the right.



The game's tight and scrappy to start with. After almost 20 minutes though Nkili's drawn out of position by attacking midfielder Seoketsa, who releases fellow attacker Manganyi into the space that our right back leaves behind. He gets away down the left wing and floats a cross to the near post, where Ace Bhengu arrives to nod the ball home. It's not a terrific start and I'm quite worried about how frequently we concede the first goal, even if we do usually come back afterwards.


We try to control the game for the rest of the half but fail to make any sort of noteworthy chance. At half time Baliso comes on for Luther Singh on the left wing. The loss of Japhta's overlapping runs on that left hand side have made inside forward Singh quite ineffective, so Baliso should at the very least give us some width out there.


Only a couple of minutes after the restart, Ndlovu crosses from the right wing to our far post. Nkili leaps to win the header, but mistimes his jump and misses the interception. The ball falls at the feet of Allie, who controls it before shooting hard at Komo. Our young skipper makes a howler, letting the ball slip through his fingers and into the net. My head retreats into my hands. Bottom of the table at home and we're 0-2 down.


Needless to say we go on the attack from that point on. I want us to play wider, exploit the flanks and play some actual sodding football. With 25 minutes to go, Khoabane's 20 yard free kick comes straight at Komo, who parries the ball into the back of the net. I fucking despair. Komo's no world beater but he's usually a fairly reliable pair of hands. He's had an absolute shocker today.


A few minutes later, a good passing move culminates with Joël passing to Masango on the edge of the box. He squares it for Hicham Aidir, who smacks the ball furiously into the back of the net. 1-3 with 20 minutes to play. We might still be in this. With 13 minutes left, Masango gets another cross in, this time it's an early one from deep on the right wing. It cuts the defence and bounces all the way through to Aidir on the edge of the 6 yard box, who smashes the ball into the roof of the net. 2-3. I'd love to be able to say that the pair combine again to equalise a few minutes later, but they don't.



There's no shame in not quite being able to come back from 0-3 down and the lads' late effort was actually quite remarkable, especially from Mandla and Hicham. However, there is plenty of shame in letting yourselves go 0-3 down in the first place. I'm not laying any blame at his door because everyone did their part, but Tavares had a nightmare debut, looking nervous throughout and only really contributing mistakes. I send him back to train with the Under 19's the next day, making it explicitly clear that he hasn't blown his chance, he's just not ready.




For me, the worst thing about your team losing a football match is the knowledge at the final whistle that they won't have a chance to make it right for days. Sometimes weeks. Sometimes even months. In an ideal world if you lost a match you'd play another one straight afterwards and win so that everyone could go to bed smiling that night. As I'm sure we're all well aware though this is not an ideal world, so we get 5 days to stew on our humiliating defeat.



The 5 days are fairly eventful though to be honest. I have to talk Roscoe down after he comes to my office and moans to me about his lack of first team football. The Kakuba/Sohna partnership has been a major plus to come out of this season though and I think deep down he understands that he's not good enough to dislodge either one.



Our young playmaker Luke Fanteni turns pro too, meaning that Astra's infinite future bids for him will probably have to be ever so slightly improved, perhaps from "Derisory" to just "Insulting".



I'm also told that Hicham Aidir is on the verge of yet another record: He's been player of the match 6 times this season and the club record is 7, so he's definitely capable of at least equalling that in our last 5 games.



And then comes an extremely exciting phone call: I'm offered an interview with AJ Auxerre Chairman Loïc Chabod. I fly over to burgundy as soon as the call ends and attend the interview. It goes... Pretty well I think. They ask me about my relegation in Vellinge, my track record of not staying put for very long, and then they ask me about Liechtenstein. They ask whether I'd hypothetically be willing to leave both of my current jobs to focus on Auxerre and their relegation battle. After a moment of consideration, I say yes.



Goolam meets me at Cape Town International Airport arrivals, out of the blue. He drives me back to my flat and we talk on the way. He says that he and the board don't want to lose me and are prepared to be very generous with their new contract offer, but I decline and reiterate that I'm not ready to commit to staying in South Africa.



He asks me again the next day too, but again I refuse to enter negotiations, instead convincing him to put his generosity money into the club, allowing the transfer revenue percentage to be raised. I tell him again that I'm not definitely leaving, but I just want to explore my options first, and one of my options is still absolutely to stay at Santos.




So in the end I don't really get much time to stew on the Polekwane City match, what with all the travelling and meetings and what have you. Before I know it it's time for our trip to the Harry Gwala Stadium to face Maritzburg United.

The good news is that Sello Japhta's eligible to play having served his suspension. The not so good news is that Ayanda Nkili, Juno and Joël Soumahoro are all bloody suspended for picking up their 8th, 4th and 4th yellow cards respectively. No wonder we've broken the disciplinary record. I'm keeping faith with Project: Meatloaf Mk II as I still think we can make it work, and Tlou Molekwane, Marothi Diale and Gugu Gogotya all join Japhta in the starting line up, replacing the suspended lads.



It's a quiet match to be honest with you. Quieter than I thought it'd be between 2 rivals for the top half places. The first half passes in the blink of an eye, broken up only by Marothi Diale's gashed leg after half an hour that he plays through. We go on the counter attack in the second half and that does the trick. With 20 minutes to go, Mandla Masango sets up Hicham Aidir for the 3rd time in 2 games when he drills a cross in to him at the near post. Hicham makes no mistake, finishing calmly to put us ahead.


Yanga Baliso makes an appearance replacing Singh a few minutes later and then actually sets up Aidir for his and our 2nd goal, with a short pass to the striker's feet before he slams the ball past the keeper. Colour me impressed, Yanga. Fanteni makes a late cameo in place of the injured Diale, but we make it through to the end unscathed and worth the win.



That win takes us back up to 8th and things are really starting to get tight between 4th and 9th, with only 2 points separating the teams. Kaizer Chiefs are finally starting to catch up with the rest of the league and have taken the 4th spot for themselves and to be honest I doubt they'll give it up now as they still have 2 games in hand over the rest of us. Golden Arrows, Mthatha Bucks and Cape Town City are all absolutely catchable for us though.



And something that's been annoying me ever so slightly this season is that since our opening day defeat against Ajax CT, we've had a negative goal difference throughout the entire season. I'm pleased to announce that after our professional 2-0 victory over Maritzburg, we're finally back to 0. Sometimes it's the little things.


My phone starts to ring and I answer with a knot in my stomach. "Hello, Mr Franjo?" Says the voice on the other end. My heart skips a beat. And then another. I know that accent. I make a tortured breathy noise that vaguely resebles a 'yes'. "I was impressed with you the other day and I'm impressed with your CV." Continues Loïc Chabod. "I've talked to the owner and the board and we're delighted to offer you the job as Auxerre's Manager. We'd like you to come in straight away." There's a momentary pause, before: "We need you to save us, Franjo."



I sit in silence for a few moments. This could be my big break. The Auxerre job. I could make them a Ligue 1 team again, take them back into Europe... And yet it's a big gamble. Auxerre's Ligue 2 status is in jeopardy and I'd have 3 matches to keep them up. If I failed, that'd be another relegation on the CV and the prospect of managing in the French third tier next season, which doesn't really enthuse me. With 3 games to go they’re 17th out of 20 teams, 1 point above the relegation playoff place and 3 above the relegation zone proper. I've always backed myself for challenges before, but I couldn't keep Höllviken up... I've barely been able to get Liechtenstein to score a goal...



"Franjo? Are you there?" Says Loïc, starting to sound worried.


"I'll take it." I splutter.


"Fantastic!" Says Loïc, sounding chirpier again. "Our next match is in a week's time..."


"I'll take the job next week." I interrupt. "I'll be there in time for the next match, but I want to... Next week."


"Very well" replies Loïc, now sounding confused and slightly annoyed. "Fly over next week and we'll get your contract signed."




I don't sleep the night before my last match. Chippa United at the Athlone. I can't even focus on it. I have no idea whether I've made the right decision. Will I regret leaving Santos? A club where I'm comfortable, the owner's sensible and we're on the up? I'll have £5 Million to spend on players, more than I've ever been given before, but that'll surely change if I can't beat the drop. And even if it doesn't, how many quality players are going to want to join us in the 3rd tier of French football?


By match time I'm running purely on coffee. I want to go back to bed but I've been told that that might come across as 'Unprofessional'. Hicham Aidir, thankfully, is itching to get out there though. His performance in the last match means he's now the joint-record holder for number of Player of the Match awards in a Season with 7, and he can break that record today.



We're going to play a variant of Project: Meatloaf Mk II today, and that variant is all out bloody attack. Because why not. Maybe it's my sleep deprived state or the adrenaline rush that accompanies throwing yourself into a needlessly intense situation, but I want to go out with a bang. This club's been good to me and I want to give them a performance to remember me by. Diale's gashed leg will keep him out for 3-6 days but our suspended lads are back so Juno replaces him, with Soumahoro replacing Gogotya and Moon replacing Singh and moving to the right, allowing Masango to take the left.



You can tell that there's a real hunger from Santos to give me a match to remember. It takes only 16 seconds for us to register our first shot on target, a Sinbad effort from 25 yards that's caught by Hawes. 5 minutes in Mkaza plays a long ball over our defence and finds Ngema, who runs through on goal but drags his shot wide of the far post. It's an energetic start.

After the half hour mark, Joël passes to Masango inside the Chippa box, who dinks the ball to Aidir. The big striker doesn't even think about it. He pulls back that trusty left boot and slides the ball into the corner of the net.


We come out for the second half just as hungry but it takes 10 minutes for us to see a proper chance. Molekwane plays the ball long over the defence for Moon to run onto down the right wing. Moon latches on and crosses low from the byline for Aidir, who tries to finish it from close range but uncharacteristically shoots straight into Hawes' arms. A few minutes later though, Sinbad passes the ball to Moon in the box and he's tripped by a clumsy challenge from Mokgothu. A penalty. Masango places the ball on the spot. He deserves a goal more than anyone to be fair. He's set up 4 for Aidir in his last 3 matches. Mandla steps up confidently - And places the ball firmly down the centre of goal, rippling the back of the net as the keeper dives out of the way. That should be it, I think to myself. Game over. 


With a quarter of an hour to play, I bring off Sinbad to be replaced by young Luke Fanteni. I pull him into a firm hug as he walks off the pitch. "It's been a privilege, Sinbad", I grin. Sinbad in my opinion is the best kind of footballer. I went on and on about Benjamim back in the day for the same reasons; Players like those 2 make a Manager's life so much easier. You don't have to think about them at all, you can just concentrate on everyone else. Who's coming into form? Who's dropping off? Who needs a rest? Who needs fitness? Meanwhile players like Benjamim and Sinbad will be there every single match, the first name on the teamsheet, and they will run their arses off. He's the kind of player that still comes out of a heavy defeat with credit because "if only everyone else had worked as hard as him". The kind of player that the fans love to rally behind. They sing Sinbad's name as he takes a seat on the bench. After 2 years of near-non-stop football, he deserves a rest.



5 minutes later it's Joël Soumahoro's turn to make way for Gugu Gogotya. Again, I pull him into a hug as he walks past. Joël's probably been the best signing I almost didn't make throughout my career so far. I 'umm'ed and 'ahh'ed over bringing him in for a while after Joe Ekwalla left and my number 1 target to replace him went to the Belgian Pro League. Eventually I snapped him up, knowing he was less technically and mentally mature than his predecessor. In all honesty, I never thought he'd hold a candle to Joe when I brought him in, but after scoring twice on his second substitute appearance to give us our first victory of the season over Wits, he's never looked back, scoring 4 more and setting up 5 goals for his team mates, as well as putting in consistently excellent performances.



With 5 minutes to go of my Santos tenure, I bring on Themi Maluka and replace Hicham Aidir, because obviously. Hicham has been ridiculous for us this year, scoring 24 goals and setting up 2, all for the modest fee of £40k. He's too good for this league. I suspected it when I brought him in and I know it now. All I say as I give him the obligatory hug on the touchline is "Tell your agent to expect a call".




It may not last long considering the games in hand the other challengers have over us, but my final match is a routine 2-0 victory that sends Santos FC, predicted relegation strugglers, into 4th place. The 6000-odd fans sing my name as I make my way around the perimeter of the pitch applauding them. I see Stevie waving on the front row wearing his Santos shirt, laughing as he struggles to restrain Chappie from leaping over the advertisement boards and onto the pitch towards me. I soak it in for a few minutes; The atmosphere, the fans, the outpouring of support for an outgoing manager. The People's Team indeed.




Footsteps (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Mini-sode 116.5)


“Where’s these match tickets you keep promising me, bru?” Calls Stevie as he sees me leaving Geen Rook Nie.


“I keep ringing you!” I laugh as I sidle over and take a knee to give Chappie the shaggy haired collie cross a fuss. “You keep dodging my calls, I’d imagine because you can’t be arsed to come fix the hot water!”


“Oh, that...” He says sheepishly. I get to my feet.


"I'll do you a deal, you sort the hot water today and I'll sort you a ticket for the Chippa match in a couple of weeks. Deal?"


"Deal", he grins, heading past me through the gate. "If I get it done before you get back can Chappie come?"


"I'll have a word", I smile.


As I walk down the industrial street towards the Athlone my mind wanders back to the dream I had last night. In typical dream fashion it tried to slip away from my conscious mind as soon as I woke, but I leapt out of bed to write the details down. I'm not sure why, it just struck a chord with me.


I was walking in a world of bright whiteness. Everything was plain white in every direction, as far as the eye could see. I saw a flash as something ran right across my path and turned to see a big yellow dog running into the distance, leaving behind dark red/purple footprints on the white ground. I set off in a sprint chasing him, but he was too fast. I was losing ground and the big yellow dog was shrinking over the horizon.


I kept running full pelt as he became a distant speck in a sea of white. And then he stopped running. As I continued to sprint the figure of the dog grew larger and larger until I could make him out properly. He was sat at the end of the trail of dark red footsteps and had turned to face me. I kept going as fast as my legs could carry me until I was only feet from him... And then I was almost close enough to reach out and touch him...


And then I woke up. I thought I'd escaped all of this cryptic shit when I left Volcano Island.


Tunnel Vision (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep116)

We’re on the home straight now. No more International breaks, no more cup games, just non-stop league matches until the end of the season. We’re sat at 10th place in the Premier Soccer League which I don’t like so much, but we’re only 5 points behind 4th placed Golden Arrows and we have a game in hand over most of the teams above us, except for Kaizer Chiefs who are still 4 matches behind most of the league, because you know... Scheduling. Now is the time for PSL tunnel vision. Now is the time to build up serious momentum. Now is the time for one last sprint to the finish line, to pick up as many wins and as many points as we possibly can, so that we can finish as high as we possibly can.



We start our sprint by making the short trip to Cape Town City FC, who also have a game in hand over most of our rivals for the top half positions. We’ll be without Luther Singh, who’s pleasantly surprised me with his good performances since I took a punt on him in January, as he's bruised his head in training. He’ll only miss 3-6 days though.



The perpetually underwhelming Yanga Baliso comes in for him on the left wing thanks to limited options but otherwise we’re unchanged. Hicham Aidir needs just 1 more goal to surpass the club record for league goals scored in a season which is 15, so fingers crosses today will be the day.




We get off to a rocky start. In under 5 minutes CTC take the lead when Manyama squares the ball to Akosah-Bempah in the area, and he places it coolly into the bottom corner of Komo's net. They continue to push afterwards and I take action after 20 minutes. We'll play on the counter to try to turn their momentum against them with through quick breaks.


It takes a while, but on the stroke of half time we grab a frankly undeserved equaliser when Masango's low cross ricochets off a couple of defenders and falls kindly at Aidir's feet a few yards out. Hicham slides the ball home to set a new Santos record of 16 league goals in a season, but worryingly we don't deserve to be level after a first half in which Cape Town City have dominated.


Arguably Baliso's most memorable moment since his ill-conceived Summer transfer is in the 57th minute when he sprains his wrist. He'll play on though as I really don't have anyone to replace him with. Sony Norde and Luther Singh are injured and so is Siyabonga Zulu, which means Japhta needs to stay at left back.


With 25 minutes to go, Mandla Masango whips a corner in to the edge of the 6 yard box and Sello Japhta's there to volley us ahead. Masango gets another assist less than a minute later as Cape Town City try to attack us. They raise their defensive line too high and our winger clips a pass from our own half over centre back Johannes for Aidir to run onto. The big Moroccan latches onto the ball, brings it into the box, sidesteps the out-rushing keeper and rolls it into the net for 3-1.


Over the next 15 minutes I replace Kakuba with Roscoe, Sinbad with Gogotya and Baliso, who's still nursing his wrist, with Marothi Diale, with Joël moving out to the left wing. I've got one eye on the midweek match so I'm keen not to overstretch anybody. With 7 minutes to play, Jayiya shoots low from the right wing, but Komo manages to tip the ball against the post. In the dying moments we do get the ball in the back of the net again when Japhta's cross floats over Aidir and 2 Cape Town City defenders and is drilled in by Masango on the volley, but the goal won't count as Aidir was adjudged to push one of the centre backs. The scoreline at the final whistle is extremely flattering for us.



https://youtu.be/0oANjQGzIs8



Yanga Baliso will have protective equipment on his sprained wrist for about 2 weeks, but he'll still be able to train and play so hooray for that.



Hicham comes out and backs me to be offered a new contract after the match thanks to our good form. It's a nice gesture but I'm genuinely not sure whether I even want one. The Lazio job's still vacant but I've not heard back about an interview so I'm not hanging my hopes on it at the minute.



But while we're on my future and the Lazio job, I've applied for a similar position in France: The AJ Auxerre job. Like Lazio they were a big team not so long ago, but they're currently fighting against relegation from Ligue 2 so they're shopping for houses quite a bit further down Self-Destruct Avenue than the Italians. Still, they're a big club and I'd relish the challenge of restoring them to their former glory.



For now though I'm the Santos manager and we've been busy setting a couple of records. Hicham Aidir went above and beyond with his 2 goals against Cape Town City, setting a new Santos league goals record of 17.



My team have also set a South African Premier Soccer League record, racking up 47 yellow cards and 2 reds, breaking Platinum Stars' record of 37 yellows and 5 reds.



Orlando Pirates are up next. They've caused me a few headaches during my stint in South Africa and are sitting at the top of the league, so a win today would really show how much progress we're making. As we're only 2 points behind Golden Arrows, the 3 points could also take us into the top 4.



We're only making 1 change from the CTC match; Ryan Moon replaces Yanga Baliso and will take the right wing while Mandla Masango cuts in from the left. Baliso and Luther Singh are both fit enough for spots on the bench though.



Once again we're dominated early on, forcing us to play on the counter after 15 minutes. We get a chance a few minutes later when Joël spots Aidir running through into the box and tries to play the ball in to him. It deflects off Adolph's foot and bounces over to Masango, who's cutting in from the left. He takes a touch 6 yards out and pulls the trigger, he can't miss... And yet he does. Mandla manages to skew the ball wide of the far post. It's a really awful strike.


A couple of minutes later, Joseph Ekwalla gets the ball. He passes it forwards to Ndoro on the edge of our box, who turns and lashes the ball into the bottom corner to put the hosts ahead. After half an hour we pull level though when Aidir plays a give and go with Masango. He gets himself into the box and when Masango chips a cross in from the left wing, Aidir's there to volley into the net.


The game's still tight as we move towards half time, but then with a couple of minutes to go before the break Masango lays the ball back for Japhta, who passes it inside to Joël Soumahoro. Joël turns and hits the ball so sweetly. He's already running away in celebration as it flies into the top corner.


Moon's had another quiet game and I sub him on the hour mark, bringing on Baliso and his big glove. He'll play on the left and Masango will go back over to the right. 5 minutes later we win a free kick just left of centre and just outside Orlando Pirates' box. Juno steps up of course and cracks the ball over the wall and against the bar. It bounces high into the air and comes back to the young holding man, who shoots again but slices it wide of the far post.


Happy to settle for 2-1, Diale comes on for the tiring Juno and we go to a defensive 4-1-4-1 with 10 minutes to play. We hold on until the 93rd minute but then Ayanda Nkili underhits a backpass to Komo, allowing Ndoro to run in one on one and equalise from close range. These bloody Pirates have foiled us again.



https://youtu.be/CaHZlBYCjGM


It's frustrating to concede late like that, especially when a win would've taken us 5th, but 8th is still a good position to be in and we've still got plenty of opportunities to pick up more points. Add on top of that the fact that Orlando are at the top of the league and I won't lose any sleep tonight.



Meanwhile, In Lansdowne (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep115)

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. I've had a pretty miserable time with the Liechtenstein squad but back in Lansdowne we've had more players than usual joining their countries for International duty, which has brightened up my International break.



Komo, introduced to South Africa Under 20's squad since my arrival and insistence that he play and captain our first team, has been joined in his national youth squad by Themi Maluka! And in classic Themi style our academy graduate came off the bench to score on his International youth debut. Good lad. Emil Sambou's still getting the nod for Gambia while out on loan, which is great, and Mike Kakuba's an essential part of the Ugandan National side, but the news that made me swell with pride was that Hicham Aidir got his very first full call up and cap for Morocco, oddly enough in an away match against South Africa at the Mmabatho Stadium in Mafikeng. It's undoubtedly the first of many times he'll represent his country and I'm absolutely made up for him. If I didn't have my own stuff going on I'd have travelled to Mafikeng with Joël and some of the lads to cheer him on.



After I touch back down in Lansdowne we also have a new batch of youth players emerge from the academy, which always brings some much needed excitement and optimism. Santos' Head of Youth Development Alcardo Van Graan has been banging on for weeks about a few of these lads; 15 year old goalkeeper Mlungisi Maake, a goalkeeper with excellent reflexes and good height and handling, 15 year old centre back Luyanda Seedat, a very physically fit and brave young centre back. He's strong in the challenge and decently hard working, with pretty good decision making and ability to mark a man, and 16 year old centre back Sinethemba Tavares, a tall defender who's dominant in the air, dominant in the challenge and with decent fitness levels and marking ability. He's also left footed and able to play at left back, which is always a bonus.



I'm impressed enough with all 3 to offer them pre-contracts for when they turn 17, which they all sign. As usual, I come down to watch the academy lads play our Under 19's. The 3 players I've signed to pre contracts all start at the back for the Under 19's and are joined by several youth players and Carl Lark, because why not. Oddly both teams set up to play the original Project: Foxy, a system that I've not seen since my early days in Lansdowne.



Right winger Thamsabqa Ndlovu gets the Under 19's off to a flier by heading home from Thuso Mtule's cross after 4 minutes. Thamsabqa was on my radar at the start of the season and I initially thought I'd keep him with the first team as back up for Ryan Moon, but several months and signings later he's not made an appearance. Much to my surprise when the U19's win a penalty in the second half, our new left sided centre back Sinethemba Tavares steps up and tucks it away confidently.


Carl Lark finishes well on the turn to put the U19's 3-0 up with 25 minutes to play, before academy graduate centre back Sekela Mayambela volleys in from an Albert Nevhulamba free kick to pull it back to 3-1. With just over 10 minutes to play though, King Carl gets behind the defence and finishes coolly to restore the 3 goal cushion to the Under 19's. 4-1 it ends.



https://youtu.be/C6LeSf2s9yg


I always love to see the next generation of first team hopefuls make their first steps at the club. What I don't love to see however is Yanga Baliso barging into my office after the match to give me an ultimatum - Either I give him first team football or he leaves. It's a pretty easy decision. Don't let the door hit you on your way out, Yanga.



Carl Lark's brace, albeit against a group of players not yet able to grow decent moustaches, impresses me enough to reserve him a spot on the bench for our next league game, but unfortunately he damages his foot in a reserve match a few days later and will be out for up to a month. Oh well.



I've made no secret of the fact that I'm keeping my options open for next season. My contract's only got a few months left on it and I'm open to suggestions and offers about where I'll sign my next one. One club I won't be going to however is Chippa United, whose Chairman Ernest Banda has offered me an interview. I politely decline. If I am to stay in South Africa I'll be staying at Santos.



I had hoped that Ernest would've spread that message to all of his Chairman buddies, but if he does then Thulani Nematswerani doesn't get the message. He offers me the chance to interview for the vacant position at Bidvest Wits, but I refuse once again.



Goolam Allie must've heard rumblings about these offers though and offers me the chance to discuss a new contract, but I'm honest with him, letting him know that I'm keeping my options open and that we'll discuss it at the end of the Season.



In other news, our reserves have won the league, thanks to a good combination of promising youth and quality fringe players. Ajax CT reserves have won it for the last 2 years so it's a great middle finger to them, which I'm sure more than makes up for our 1-5 demolition a couple of months ago in the eyes of the Santos faithful.



As it happens, I do stumble across a job that quite interests me. Call me mad, but almost a year ago I said I'd be watching Lazio manager Giuseppe Iachini like a hawk, ready to pounce if he slipped up. Well he's slipped up. Lazio are currently 6th in Serie B and have parted ways with Giuseppe. I throw my hat into the ring. Lazio may still be out of my reach in terms of their status in the footballing world, but if you don't buy a ticket you won't win the raffle, will you?



We also play a friendly against our Under 19's to keep us fresh during the extended International break. It's not exactly a showcase match for attractive football, but we come away with a 2-0 win courtesy of Joël's bundled finish following a scramble in the box and Masango's cool finish from Japhta's cross.



https://youtu.be/StmrqacP0xI



Unfortunately we may well have seen the last of another Santos player. I've given Siyabonga Zulu some stick in the last 2 years, but he's been OK, especially this season when I've wanted a more defensive option at left back than our converted winger Sello Japhta. He tears his hamstring in training and won't be back for 2-3 months, meaning he'll probably miss the rest of the season, and bearing in mind the fact that he's already agreed to join Future Tigers when his contract expires, we might not see him again. If nothing else I've enjoyed writing your name, so cheers Siyabonga.



So after a lengthy spell of doing everything except playing competitive matches with Santos, it's finally time to play some football. Today we welcome Sundowns to the Athlone, who are doing well and sitting at 5th place in the league.



Marothi Diale's 8th booking of the season in our last outing means that he'll miss this one through suspension, although that's fine with me as it means I get to watch Juno and his marvellous set pieces. We're playing a very standard and very narrow 4-1-2-3 system today that I'll call Project: Meatloaf Mk II for now, because Sundowns and their bloody Christmas Tree formation have caused us problems in the past. If they want to use a central midfield 5 then go for it, because we'll be using a defensive triangle in a team packed together like sardines. Good luck finding space in the centre this time. Komo starts in net of course, protected by a back 4 of Ayanda Nkili, Mike Kakuba, Isaac Sohna and Sello Japhta, Juno sits in front of them with Sinbad and Joël Soumahoro at centre midfield, while Mandla Masango and Luther Singh will play as right winger and left inside forward respectively behind Hicham Aidir.



The visitors have the better start of the 2 teams and actually do find some space to work with in the centre. 13 minutes in Motupa drives through the middle and shoots from 20 yards, but Komo clutches the ball to his chest. I tell the lads to try to keep hold of the ball so that we can take control.


It works. We build up a bit of a head of steam and win a corner at the 20 minute mark. Juno whips it in and the ball's headed clear as far as Masango, who chests it down and half volleys it venomously towards the top corner, but the keeper Khuzwayo tips it onto the post.


Motupa dribbles forwards once again a few minutes later into the left hand side of the penalty area, but drags his shot wide of the near post. That's the last real action of the first half though and we go in for half time with the scores still level.


It takes just over 5 minutes of the second half for the deadlock to be broken though. Sello Japhta gets clear down the left wing and drills a cross in to the 6 yard box, and Luther Singh arrives to tuck the ball into the net and put us ahead.


Sundowns, conceding defeat with their Christmas tree, change to a 3-5-2 formation. I see no reason to make major changes and simply move Singh and Masango back to be wide midfielders. I also put them on man marking duty against Sundowns' wingers.


On the hour mark Masango dribbles down the right flank and sends another low cross into the box. This time Hicham Aidir's there to tap it in. Suddenly we've started to really click. A few minutes later though, Mosadi gets free down the right wing after Japhta's caught out of postion and pulls the ball back from the byline for Andria, who slots in for 2-1.


A couple of minutes later and in what's becoming a frantic and end-to-end second half, Joël chips the ball out to Japhta, who's bombing up the left wing once again. He drills in yet another low cross and this one deflects off Mabuza before trickling past the keeper. 3-1 Santos. I bring on the more defensively minded Gugu Gogotya for Soumahoro in an attempt to protect our lead.


With a quarter of an hour to play, Ntuli gets away down the right wing for Sundowns and squares the ball for Andria 12 yards out, who blasts it low into the net. We defend resiliently for the last 10 minutes and come away from a very even game with a commendable 3 points.



https://youtu.be/cAq_k9q7QdQ


That win sends us 8th on 32 points. There's only actually 8 points between 4th placed Golden Arrows and 11th placed Kaizer Chiefs (Who have 4 or 5 games in hand over the rest of the League) and with 8 games still to play and 24 points still to win I reckon we can push even further up the league from here.



Hollow - Part 2 (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep114)

That hollow feeling comes back as the wheels of my plane leave the runway and I set off for Vaduz. I'm still reeling from Sony Norde's horrific injury and now I'm off to start Liechtenstein's World Cup 2022 Qualifying campaign. In fact it's less of a hollow feeling and more one of mild dread.




Today we host Russia, who are a full 126 places above us in the FIFA World Rankings and are expected to hammer us into the ground in our own back yard. The most optimistic Liechtensteiner fan would have to admit that the best case scenario for our boys in blue involves Russia's star players each falling foul of an outrageously unlikely set of circumstances that rules them out of contention one by one, like the Springfield Power Plant softball team in that one episode of the Simpsons.




We'll line up with our Project: Liechtensteiner Mk II despite it's fall from grace in our last 2 EIL matches, which we lost by a combined score of 1-7. My team sheet doesn't contain any surprises either, such are the limitations of our national pool; Benji Büchel starts in net, Eberle, Grippo, Kaufmann and Spirig form the back 4, Marcel Büchel starts in front of them with Wieser and Kuku as the central midfielders, while Schürpf and Göppel flank lone striker Frick.




We hold out for almost 20 minutes, which is longer than I expected to be fair. Frick fails to clear Golovin's corner and can only nod the ball on to Kutepov at the far post, who heads it in from close range. Sensing that this afternoon's only going to go one way, I tell the Liechtensteiner lads to try to control the game. Stranger things have happened. The time in 12th Century Burgundy when it rained herring for example.


Kutepov goes close again 10 minutes later, heading Dzagoev's corner against the bar, but it's Vitinho who doubles the Russians' lead when Wieser's clearance is blocked by Golovin and rolls into the box, leaving Vitinho with a simple finish.


It's 0-3 before the 35 minute mark too, after we throw caution to the the wind and go all out attack. An excellent passing move by the visitors ends with Dzagoev sliding the ball to Smolov just inside the box and he absolutely thumps it into the top corner.


We regroup as best we can at half time but with less than a minute of the second half gone, Smolov goes close again, hitting a shot on the turn from 20 yards and hitting the angle between post and bar.


We do pull a goal back in the 53rd minute, countering after the latest in a long line of Russian corners breaks down. Marcel Büchel releases Göppel down the left wing and the fullback-turned-winger sprints to the byline before whipping a cross in to Frick, who knocks the ball into the net from 6 yards.


Our celebrations are short lived though and Russia are soon dominating once again. Less than 5 minutes after Frick's goal, Vitinho tests Büchel from a tight angle and our keeper comes through, tipping the ball behind for a corner.


With an hour gone I bring on young Yanik Negele. I doubt he even wants to be associated with this absolute mauling, but it's tough shit because my patience has just about run out with Pascal Schürpf, who makes way. Kuku will head out to the right wing allowing Yanik to play in the middle.


10 minutes later Smolov nearly makes it 4 again when he takes down Arestov's chipped through ball and sends a vicious half volley just wide of the near post. 10 minutes after that, Frick takes a knock to the shin and has to come off, so Hadzipasic takes his place.


With 82 incredibly depressing minutes played, Vitinho's denied a brace after connecting with Mário Fernandes' cross and volleying the ball at goal. Scherle throws his body in and blocks the shot, keeping the scoreline at 1-3. What an absolute massacre.




The scoreline really could've been worse. Russia could and perhaps should have had 6 or 7. I'm sick of "Could've been worse" though if I'm honest. I'm sick of praying that we don't get annihilated and celebrating our team actually scoring a goal like we've won the World Cup. I'm sick of our potential as a national side being so limited that we're literally relying on 1 small club in the Swiss football pyramid to bring in other countries' cast offs and keep them long enough to gain a Liechtensteiner passport.




We've got a trip to Lithuania next and if we don't win I don't know what I'll do. Frick's calf strain that he suffered in the last match will keep him out for a couple of weeks, so Hadzipasic comes in replacing him. I also swap Wieser out to right back replacing Eberle. He's never played at right back but I think he'll do a job there. Rony Hanselmann replaces the ever-frustrating Schürpf on the right wing, while Negele comes into the midfield triangle.




The game gets off to a scrappy start as you might expect. There's not much quality from either side but with 7 minutes to go before the break, Negele chips the ball in from a right wing free kick and Danny Kaufmann rises to head it past the keeper and into the net. Liechtenstein lead.


Lithuania almost equalise within 3 minutes when Matulevicius' cross is volleyed at goal by Cernych, but thankfully he hits the base of the post.


We try to retain possession in the second half to stop the hosts putting together any momentum for a fightback. It doesn't work though, they still put together some momentum and with 15 minutes to go they break us. Vytas feeds the ball through on the left and Chernyakov places it past Büchel to equalise. Late substitutes Schürpf and Gubser are unable to make an impact and the match ends at 1-1, leaving Liechtenstein at the bottom of our qualifying group.



I can't tell what I need to do now. I don't know what my next step should be. Being the Manager of the Liechtensteiner National side was always going to be a huge challenge, but it's one that's definitely waring me down over time. I no longer look forward to the International breaks. I dread them. I resent being flown out from my far more rewarding job in Cape Town to be obliterated in Vaduz, like a schoolboy taking a break from running his tuck shop so that he can get the shit kicked out of him by the older lads for a bit.




I'll think about it, but with both my Santos contract and my enjoyment of International management running out, maybe it'd be best for this Summer to be a complete change of scenery for me.




The King Is Dead (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep113)

Things have been looking up for Santos F.C. lately. I really think that the thrashing against local rivals Ajax CT was our rock bottom and it's forced everyone including myself to have a good long look at ourselves. Every match since has had at least some redeeming quality. And we've not lost any of them, which of course is excellent.




So let's keep the good form going with our SA Cup Second Round match away at Platinum Stars FC. We're slight favourites against the 2nd tier side but I'll be playing a heavily rotated team for various reasons. I had planned on playing Themi Maluka for example in our First Round match, but he was injured at the time, so he comes in replacing Hicham Aidir for this one in our Project: Foxy Mk II system. Molekwane, Roscoe and Baliso are all given starts ahead of Nkili, Kakuba and Norde in the hopes that they'll be able to finally impress me, Luke Fanteni replaces Sinbad to gain a bit more first team experience and Luther Singh gets his first start for Santos, having recently come back to full fitness and earned the chance with his goal against Kaizer Chiefs. Young winger Qualanto makes his first bench appearance for the first team. Thoahlane sadly doesn't start, but Platinum Stars' number 46 is on the bench today.



It's the home side that threaten first after only 10 minutes, when Moleko's cross is met by Kunene and the midfielder's header loops towards the far top corner of our net, only to be tipped against the bar by Komo at full stretch. 10 minutes later, Luther Singh gets the ball on the right wing, dribbles into the box and shoots, but the ball actually ends up closer to the corner flag than the goal.


With 25 minutes gone though, Singh plays the ball through for Themi inside the Platinum Stars box. The youngster hits it first time and powers it into the far bottom corner to put us ahead. We go close to a second after another 5 minutes when Juno's corner is headed out by Mabaso but only as far as Singh, who tries a header from the edge of the box but can only direct it straight at Duma. I am encouraged by how involved Singh's been so far though.


We take our lead into the second half, but Platinum Stars aren't done yet. Kunene dribbles forwards 10 minutes after kick off and lays the ball back for Mabaso, who smacks it straight into the top corner from 20 yards. It's a phenomenal finish to be fair and it's all square again. It's not level for long though. 15 minutes after the equaliser that we've learned nothing from, Kunene dribbles forwards and lays the ball back for Mabaso... Who smacks it in off the bar from 20 yards... It's another phenomenal finish but I can't help feeling we should've seen it coming.


I panic and throw on Diale, Joël and Aidir for Juno, Fanteni and Themi, also changing system to Project: Meatloaf and sending us out to attack, but we can't find a way back in. 2 fantastic goals have undone us today and we've been knocked out of the South African SA Cup.



https://youtu.be/LCo79xPahyQ


Obviously that's not ideal. That's the second time in my 2 years in Lansdowne that we've been knocked out of the SA Cup by lower league opposition, but to be honest it's not the end of the world. Now we've got nothing to focus on but the league. Our decent form has carried us up to 8th place in the PSL with a game in hand, so we could easily go 7th, which is around where I was aiming for at the start of the season. If leaving the Cup means that we can go all out to secure a top half finish then so be it.




We travel to Wits for our next match. You might've noticed that I've been using the words "Travel" and "Away" quite a lot recently and you'd be right, because in all competitions this'll be our 5th successive away match. I've said it before and I'll say it again: South African football scheduling is odd. To be fair though our last 4 matches have ended as 1 loss in our last match, 1 draw (Which I'm still gutted about) and 2 wins, so we're dealing with it. Wits are a difficult proposition though as I've been here for their last 4 meetings against Santos and we've lost 3 of them.



Mass changes are obviously made from the second string cup side. Nkili, Kakuba, Sinbad, Joël, Masango, Norde and Aidir are all restored, joining the only 3 survivors from last match's starting line up: Komo, Sohna and Juno. The eagled eyed among you will have noticed that I just listed 10 names. The last is a tactical change: Zulu in for Japhta at left back. We're sticking with Project: Foxy Mk II today and I want us to stay solid against Wits' 4-4-2, so Zulu will come in as a defensive full back and Norde and Masango will be out and out wingers, giving us the width without Japhta's overlapping runs. I'm also wary of how Sohna and Kakuba will deal with strike partnership Moses Yende and Shungu Dutiro after they completely failed to stop them last time. I tell Mike to mark 6'8" Yende as he's our tallest and most aerially dominant defender, and Isaac will mark 5'8" Dutiro as he's less of a force in the air.



It only takes 3 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. A patient Santos passing move breaks down and Myeni clears the ball, but Sohna intercepts the hoofed ball and thumps it back over the Wits defence for Hicham Aidir, who almost looks bored as he drills it into the back of the net.


Half an hour later Wits are trying to go route one to break us down, hoofing the ball into the box towards the towering form of Moses Yende. Kakuba's doing an admirable job though, marking the big man tightly and beating him in the air when the lofted balls come in. 10 minutes from half time they try a different tact when Alexander's released on the right wing. He goes for a low cross towards Yende, who gets a shot in at the near post, but Kakuba's there once again to block it out for a corner.


We've been excellent. A simple bit of man marking has crippled the home side. They're unable to break us down at the back and as it transpires they're unable to stop us either. With just a few minutes to go of the first half, an excellent passing move ends with Joël passing to Sony Norde, who squares it for Masango on the edge of the box. Masango looks up and puts his foot through the ball, blasting it straight into the top corner for 2-0.


The second half is a non-event. Gogotya, Fanteni and Themi come on for cameos but the game's already won. It's a surprisingly routine victory.



https://youtu.be/w-xzW0oAbYE



Not only does that win carry us up to 7th, but it's also significant for another reason. That early goal was Hicham's 16th of the season in all competitions, which breaks King Carl's record of 15 that he set last season. It's been a tough year for Carl and I really feel for him, but it's not as if I've not given him chances to break back into the first team. A Moroccan striker 10 years his junior coming in and breaking his record with a full third of the season still to play will do nothing for his confidence though. The King is dead. On the flip side though, what an outstanding player we have in Hicham Aidir. I've not had this much fun watching a striker smash in goal after goal since CM9 in my 2nd season with Angrense. He still hasn't broken Santos' league goal record of 15, having only 14 league goals so far, but surely breaking that record too is just a formality at this point. Long live the King.





Ah, the Athlone. I've missed this place. We'll make our long awaited return to our home ground today when we host Bloem Celtic, who are 2 places and 4 points below us in the league with a game in hand. I have no intention of letting them climb above us in the table now that it's the only competition we're still in.



We'll be without a couple of defenders for this one, with Isaac Sohna and Siyabonga Zulu suspended for 1 match for picking up 8 and 4 yellow cards respectively. Since we're making our return home we'll also return to our dominant system, Project: Meatloaf today. Roscoe and Japhta come in for the suspended duo at the back and Marothi Diale will come in replacing Juno in the holding man role. I've been really impressed with Juno, not just for his brilliant set pieces but also for his quality defensive performances as our anchor man. He's played a lot of football lately though and I don't want to burn him out, so he gets a rest. I'm also bringing back a part of Project: Meatloaf that I've not used since those halcyon days at Angrense; Norde and Masango will start as left and right wingers but will periodically swap sides and cut in onto their dominant feet. Ryan Moon's back from injury too, so he makes the bench at the expense of King Carl.



5 minutes into the match, Isaac Sohna's drawn out of position by Sonopo, who then plays a nice through ball into the box for Mathosi. The striker takes a touch and coolly buries the ball in the back of the net. Bollocks. To make matters worse, Mandla Masango picks up a knock to his thigh in the build up to the goal. It doesn't look too serious though, so he'll play on.


10 minutes later we concede a free kick on Celtic's left wing. Lakay chips it into the box and Japhta heads the ball clear. It only goes as far as right winger Zuma on the edge of the area though, who has the time and space to pick his spot and smash the ball past Komo to make it 0-2. Sometimes you can tell that it's going to be one of those days, and I'm absolutely certain it'll be one of those when Sony Norde has to be stretchered off with a foot injury before the 25 minute mark. Singh comes on replacing him but Norde's having a good season so it's worrying to see him have to leave the field like that.


It's actually a really even first half. We give as good as we get from Bloem Celtic but it feels like the wind's been taken out of us. 2 goals down and 2 injured wingers will do that to you. I bring off Masango, who's struggling with his thigh, and bring on Ryan Moon. Santos go on the attack.


It's just not to be though. I even bring on Luke Fanteni in place of Diale with half an hour to go to try to give us an extra injection of creativity, but we don't create anything of note in the second half. The match ends with Bloem Celtic having had 55% possession and both teams having had 12 shots, but only 2 of ours were on target to their 6, which is nowhere near good enough. It's been a bad day.



https://youtu.be/2Ae4RAdOxN4


It's been an even worse day for Sony Norde. It transpires after the match that the versatile attacking midfielder has suffered a damaged achilles tendon and will be out until the end of the season and then some. He's in tears in the physio room as Geron Barnes breaks the news to us. At 31 and with only 3 months left on his contract, I think Sony Norde might have played his last game for Santos.




Franjo: The New Kevin Keegan (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep112)


As Jack should have said to the man hungrily eyeing his cow whilst holding out a sweaty palm full of magic beans, “He’s not for fucking sale, so piss off.”


In this case, the bean-pushing beef botherer is none other than Bogdan Popa, 32 year old manager of Romanian top tier side Astra Giurgiu and the man that’s made so many offers for Santos’ 16 year old midfield prodigy Luke Fanteni at this point that I’m genuinely wondering whether or not I’d be able to sue him for harassment.


Maybe it’s my fault to be fair; In full knowledge of Popa’s interest in Luke I played him against Baroka FC and he did very well. The next few days are filled with dodging phone calls and ignoring voicemails as Astra lodge bids of £60k, £80k and finally £110k. I reject them all, partly out of not wanting one of our rising stars to leave and partly out of principle. I’d be tempted to pay the board out of my own pocket to keep him out of Bogdan’s greasy fingers at this point.


A trip to Cape Town All Stars is on the cards next, just 3 days after our Cup Win over Baroka. Most of our first team sat out at least some of that match and so are fairly fresh for this one. We also welcome Baliso, Themi Maluka and Joël back from injury to give me a bit of a selection headache, but a welcome one.



The thing that’s worrying me today though is that CTAS have just lost on penalties in the SA Cup against Happy Wanderers, a wholesomely named semi-pro side that were obviously massive underdogs going into the match. If I was the All Stars’ manager today, I’d be livid and ready to fight tooth and nail for a result.



I’m keeping Project: Foxy Mk II in place today as I feel like they’re going to come out at us, but I’m making 7 changes from the team that did so well at the weekend. Komo starts in net, Nkili, Kakuba, Sohna and Japhta are our defence, Juno keeps his place over Diale at the base of midfield, Sinbad and Joël are our central midfielders, Masango and Norde are cutting in from the wings and Aidir leads the line.



It takes over 20 minutes for either side to create a chance and it comes through Mandla Masango, who cuts in from the left wing and shoots well wide. It takes another 15 minutes to see another and this time it originates with a Juno corner that’s headed clear. Sinbad takes the ball down and passes to Norde, who plays it through for Aidir. He dribbles forwards, feigns smashing the ball and then just toe-pokes it under the keeper instead. It’s a cheeky little finish. Nevertheless it hasn’t been a great start to the match and I feel like we’d play better with more width, so Masango and Norde swap wings and will play as out and out wingers.


I make no changes at half time but I do feel for Simo Dladla, the All Stars’ manager, who’ll be tearing his hair out. He makes all 3 substitutions at half time, which I recognise all too well as the action of a desperate man, only to lose right winger Jeffrey Dladla (No relation) to injury 5 minutes after the restart, sending his trailing side down to 10 men. A few minutes later they have a decent chance though when Moeti is forced out onto the left wing but tries a shot anyway, which loops down dangerously and lands on the roof of the net.


A minute later we go close too. Juno sends a long free kick into the box, Kakuba nods it back across goal and his centre back partner Sohna heads straight at keeper Mulovhedzi, who holds it. A few minutes on we get another chance, again from a Juno set piece. I'm starting to think that if he keeps his form up he might actually make himself undroppable with some of these deliveries. He chips a free kick in from the left wing and again Sohna's there, glancing a header at goal that the keeper saves again but spills. Joël Soumahoro dashes in to tap the ball home but he gets it at too narrow an angle and can only find the side netting.


After a breathless start to the second half the game dies right down again. Gogotya, Singh and Lark all get run outs but the game ends at 1-0. I will take it.



https://youtu.be/eHDi0I92QIQ

A couple of days later, the SA Cup 2nd round draws us away against Platinum Stars, the National First Division side that loaned us Eliphas Thoahlane for 18 months. I'm pretty happy with the draw as it should be a match we can win and it'll be nice to see Thoahlane get a game if he's picked.



Before that though is our next match away at Kaizer Chiefs. You might say it's an exact rematch of the Cup Final, not that I'm still bitter about the choice of venue... We've got a break of 11 days before the match because of the South African Premier Soccer League's odd scheduling so that gives us plenty of time to get extra practice in. In the words of that glorious buffoon Kevin Keegan, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.



We do have some good news during those 11 days though: Themi sheepishly knocks on my office door and tells me that he's happy to stay with the Peoples' Team after all. As I've said before, I too was as stupid as him when I was 17, so I won't hold it against him as long as he gets his head down from now and works hard. He's arguably our 2nd choice striker now.



Then Ryan Moon strains his ankle ligaments in a reserves match and rules himself out for 2-3 weeks. I wasn't planning on playing him in the near future anyway to be honest. He's still not reached anywhere near the form I was expecting this season and that's a real shame. He might struggle to break back into this team when he's fit again.



The only changes I'm making for the match are bringing Gogotya in for Joël to give us more solidity in midfield and swapping Norde and Masango to wingers on the left and right respectively so that they can be more of a counter attacking outlet.



6 minutes in, Juno sends a corner to the near post and Sohna gets to it yet again, this time looping a header towards the far post. Norde sees that the ball's going wide and tries to reach it, but he can't connect properly and the ball bounces out. If he had made contact then that would surely have been a goal for Santos.


20 minutes later Kaizer Chiefs are predictably dominating and I tell Aidir to play as more of a target man. He's looking a little isolated and we could do with him holding the ball up a bit more to give the rest of the team time to get up the pitch. After half an hour we put together a good patient move and the change seems to have helped. Aidir holds the ball up and plays a clever disguised pass through for Sony Norde on the left. The winger shoots but the ball keeps rising as it flies into row Z.


On the stroke of half time Juno plays a free kick into the box from the right wing and it's headed back out to him. He volleys the ball straight across to Sinbad on the edge of the box, who passes it on to Hicham Aidir 10 yards from goal. Aidir takes aim and drills it low under Khune. We'll go into the break 1-0 up over Kaizer Chiefs.


Oh. No we won't. Less than a minute after the goal, Baloyi floats a cross into our box from deep on the right and Ngoma's bundled over by Masango as he tries to get on the end of it. Kaizer Chiefs are awarded a penalty and Ngoma converts it himself deep into injury time, placing the ball into the bottom corner and sending Komo the wrong way. Nevertheless 1-1 isn't a bad scoreline away at Kaizer Chiefs. I tell the lads as much back in the changing room.


The hosts should complete their turnaround after the hour mark when Fielies crosses low from the right wing, but the ball rolls through to Khutlang, whose shot whacks the outside of the post and goes behind. As if my nerves weren't already frayed enough, Khutlang then releases Ngoma down the left wing with a beautiful pass over the top a few minutes later. Ngoma drills a cross in that deflects off Sohna's foot and rolls to Kumalo, who also hits the post. Somehow the scores are still level though. Luther Singh, who's approaching match fitness after his recent reserve matches and appearances off the bench for the first team, comes on replacing the quiet Masango.


Straight after the change, Sinbad plays a beautiful ball over to Japhta at the left byline. The wingback doesn't mess about, crossing the ball straight to the far post, and who else but Luther Singh pops up to nod the ball into the net, having been on the pitch for a matter of seconds. I punch the air in delight. I don't know what I'm happiest about: The vindication of my substitute making such an instant impact, a player coming back to fitness and showing signs that he may be a quality signing, or the fact that we're leading Kaizer Chiefs once again. They're all pretty fucking good.


17 minutes from time we're holding on and we win another free kick, this time deep on the left. Juno pings the ball into the box and it's cleared as far as Gogotya, who heads the ball down to Japhta. Japhta plays a good pass through for Sony Norde... Who places the ball into the net. Santos 3, Kaizer Chiefs 1.


A few minutes later I bring on Marothi Diale in place of Gugu Gogotya as he should add a bit more steel in midfield. With 10 minutes to go though Sello Japhta's caught in possession upfield and the home side counter attack down our unguarded left side. Fieles dribbles forwards and powers a shot at goal from out on the right wing and Komo lets it past him at his near post. Kaizer Chiefs have pulled one back.


And then in the 92nd minute of the game, with time all but up, Kaizer Chiefs go for one last route one attack. Khune smashes a goal kick up field, Fielies nods it on, Morris takes the ball down on the edge of our box and fizzes it into the bottom corner of the net. My heart sinks. Kaizer Chiefs have pulled it back to 3-3.



https://youtu.be/l2g8qCV4MJk

I put on a brave face for the lads after the match. In all honesty we were expected to lose today so a draw is a very credible result, but when you're 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go and you come away with just a point... It's difficult. The players are gutted though so I walk around the changing room like a malfunctioning encouragement vending machine, firing out clichés like "Chin up, lads!", "Brilliant effort there, boys!" and "Unlucky today" without provocation.


With my contract running out and with no sign of a new one on the horizon, I'm not sure whether I'll get a chance to exact my revenge on Kaizer Chiefs for that horrific Cup Final. Even if it was only for a quarter of an hour though, we had these today. We were, however briefly, the best team in Africa.


The Return Of Cup Football (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep111)


The atmosphere around training in the week proceeding our unforgettable win over Mthatha Bucks is probably the best that it’s ever been during my time in Lansdowne. There’s nothing like a dramatic turnaround to pick spirits up and it really couldn’t have come at a better time.



Our next match is at the Athlone again, where we’ll take on Golden Arrows. King Carl’s back in full training with the rest of the squad but he might have timed his recovery poorly, as there’s not much chance that he’ll get on the pitch ahead of Themi Maluka after the youngster’s contribution to the last game. Luther Singh’s building his fitness nicely too but he’s still not ready for a starting berth.



Even though we won our last match I’m still concerned about the amount of goals that we’re conceding in the early game. In our last 3 matches we’ve conceded 4 goals in the first 10 minutes! The first 10 minutes! It’s unforgivable so I’m pulling us back a bit. For the Golden Arrows match we’ll be a bit more conservative and a bit less fluid. Sony Norde comes in replacing Masango on the left wing as he was a bit of a passenger in the last match and Ayanda Nkili comes back in at right back after serving his suspension for Tlou Molekwane, who is out serving his suspension. Idiot.



2 minutes into the match, the tactical tweak is already paying off. We break up a half-hearted Golden Arrows attack and Nkili blasts the ball up the pitch and over their defence. Suddenly Aidir’s through on goal. He takes the ball down, goes one on one with the keeper and places the ball into the back of the net. Now that’s how to start a match.


Golden Arrows arguably have the better of the first half despite trailing. They have a lot of possession and pot shots but we’ve already put away the only decent chance that either side’s made. Joël picks up a knock to his thigh just before the break but he’ll stay on into the second half.


10 minutes after the restart, Joël dinks a pass to Sony Norde, who slides it through for Aidir to the left of goal. He shoots from a tight angle but Gumede pulls off a save at his near post. With an hour to play and Santos hanging on, I swap out the injured Joël and bring on Gogotya, a more sensible and cautious style of midfielder. We go to a 4-1-2-3 with Diale in the holding man role.


A few minutes later Sello Japhta gets up the left wing and swings a cross deep into Golden Arrows’ box. Ryan Moon pops up at the far post and gets his head to it but can only nod the ball against the bar. We've really dominated this half and don't even allow Golden Arrows a shot on target until the 70th minute. 10 minutes later Zulu comes on for Japhta to sure us up at the back.


With 3 minutes to go I bring on Luther Singh for a debut. He's still severely lacking in match fitness but I want to introduce him. Moon comes off. 2 minutes later though, Ngubane lays the ball off for Khaswane 20 yards from our goal and he hits it first time, blasting it into the top corner of the net. Golden Arrows have equalised late in the day and it's a bitter pill to swallow. We should've put this game to bed in the 2nd half.



https://youtu.be/59h2_FiXeEg



Joël's bruised thigh will keep him out for a few days, which is fine to be fair. Our next match is a SA Cup trip to Baroka FC and I was planning on some rotation anyway. The more annoying news though is that Themi Maluka picks up a thigh strain in a reserves match and will miss the Baroka game, which I thought would be a good chance to give him his first start.




In the build up to the match I receive yet another call from Astra manager Bogdan Popa. He wants to remind me that he's very interested in Luke Fanteni. So interested that he offers another paltry sum of up to £48.5k that makes me hang up before he's finished talking. He's really starting to grind my gears.




Here we go then. After our last cup run ended in such devastating fashion in December, I'm eager to do well in the South African FA Cup and that starts today with a win against Baroka. We can't underestimate teams from the division below, as we found out in last year's SA Cup first round 0-3 loss against Jomo Cosmos.



I'm pleased to see that our old centre back Issouf Paro has shaken off his hernia in time to make it back for the match. I've not seen him play a football match in over a year after his horror injury last January. He's played sparingly since joining Baroka but injury's curtailed his season again, so hopefully he can put a run of games together starting today. In terms of our team we'll line up with our more counter attacking Project: Foxy Mk II and I'll be making a few personnel changes; Komo starts in net, Molekwane, Sohna, Roscoe and Zulu start across the back, Juno is the holding man with Gogotya and Fanteni in midfield, while Moon and Norde are on the wings backing up Aidir. I'm especially interested in seeing our midfield triangle today. Juno's impressed me when he's been called upon, Fanteni is an excellent prospect and Gogotya's had his own injury problems this year that have limited his game time. Between the 3 of them they've only made 8 appearances this season and this is Gogotya's first start.



After only 5 minutes we go close when Moon plays the ball inside for Hicham Aidir, 35 yards from goal. He powers forwards with the ball, dribbling to the edge of the box before shooting right into the arms of the Baroka keeper.


We play well throughout the half, not allowing Baroka many chances apart from distant pot shots. In the 38th minute Aidir plays the ball through for Norde on the left wing, who crosses it in towards the near post. It's Gogotya that gets on the end of it, turning and sliding the ball under the keeper from a tight angle to put us ahead.


2 minutes later we're pushing forwards again and win a free kick just outside the box. Juno's gone close a few times for us, even hitting the woodwork on a couple of occasions from free kicks. He steps up and shoots, the ball deflects through the wall, the keeper gets a hand to it but can't keep it out. It's not the most aesthetically pleasing free kick, but it's Juno's first professional goal and I doubt he'll care at all.


We're 2-0 up at the break and still haven't allowed Baroka much of a sniff, which is pleasing. The game should really be over but we all know what happens when you let complacency sneak in. I bring on Masango for Ryan Moon, who's not been terrific.


The closest Baroka actually come is 10 minutes into the 2nd half when Ngubane cuts inside from the left and tries his luck from 25 yards, but he sends the ball well wide of the far post. A couple of minutes later we really twist the knife when Juno's corner is headed clear as far as Masango, who calmly places the ball into the bottom corner to put us 3-0 up. Sensing that we could still have more goals in us, I bring on King Carl and give Aidir a break. Today could be the day that he finally breaks his duck.


5 minutes later, Fanteni gives the ball to Sony Norde, who dribbles into the box and is tripped by Sheldon Kuenane. A penalty. I'd like Lark to step up but Sony's adamant that he's going to take it himself, as he's one of our regular spot kick takers. He places the ball down and places it firmly out of the keeper's reach. He makes way with 15 minutes to go to give Luther Singh another run out but the game comes to a close at 4-0.



https://youtu.be/ihuUMBwKyEI

It's another blank for King Carl, but I can't be displeased with a 4-0 win.  Some of our team's performances were fantastic. Our entire defence was extremely solid, including Tlou Molekwane, who hasn't lived up to expectations so far this season, Juno, Fanteni and man of the match Gogotya were all fantastic along with the intermittent Sony Norde. All in all, I'm really pleased. We've not redeemed ourselves for the SA KO Cup Final just yet, but hopefully this'll be the start of another good cup run with a happier ending.



Last Hurrah (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep110)


I check my watch. There’s half an hour to go before we need to be out on that pitch. I glance towards the door of the treatment room, which is still closed. It’s another few minutes before it swings open and Mike Kakuba steps out with Geron Barnes, our head physio.


“25 minutes to go” I blurt out, “What’s the news?”


“I’m fine” replies Mike straight away.


“You absolutely aren’t.” Barnes corrects him. He turns to address me. “If you want him to play that’s your decision but for me he still needs a few days rest.”


I look at Mike, who’s looking back at me with desperation in his eyes. “Get your shirt on mate, you’re starting.” I smile.



It’s a risk to play Mike, I’m well aware of that. This match has come a day or 2 too soon for him but I need him. I can complain about a few of my Summer signings but Kakuba, Joël and Aidir have all been unarguable successes. Maybe Sohna and Masango too. I need every bit of quality I can get today as I’m desperate to win what for all I know could be my final Old Cape Town derby. Captain Komo starts in net, Nkili, Kakuba, Sohna and Japhta start across the back, Sinbad partners Diale in midfield and Moon, Soumahoro and Masango play behind Aidir. We’re bringing out the Meatloaf again. Either I’ve learned nothing from our Cup Final thrashing or my confidence in the system took a big old jump when we beat Vasco de Gama, but either way I’m sticking to my guns. Japhta will be more restricted today and will have the job of man marking danger-man Doutie on Ajax CT’s right wing. Luther Singh makes the bench, but is still some way short of match fitness.



7 minutes in we're looking good. A particularly good move sees the ball passed to Joël just outside the box. He hesitates just for a second though, unsure of what to do, and it's enough time for Graham to stick a boot in, hoofing the ball way up field towards our goal. The defence scramble as Nyambi runs onto the clearance. He's too quick and finds himself almost through on goal. Sohna throws himself at the striker's feet in a last ditch effort to win the ball but he hurdles it, picks his spot and drills the ball past Komo.


Things get worse 10 minutes later when Sinbad pulls up clutching his thigh. I ask him whether he wants to come off using the universal substitution sign of rolling your hands over each other, but he shakes his head defiantly and takes up his position ready to play on. Bloody trooper. 5 minutes later, goalscorer Craig Nyambi releases Doutie on the right as he tears away from Japhta. Doutie gets a cross in and Mzwakali hits it on the half volley, leaving Komo with no chance. 0-2.


I tweak things slightly, bringing Diale and Joël deeper to make a 4-1-2-3 and giving Hicham Aidir instructions to be our target man, to play with his back to goal and hold the ball up. Everyone else is instructed to play more direct to get the ball to him quicker. On the half hour mark though we're countered again, this time from our own corner. A decent passing move from Ajax ends with McCarthy picking out the unmarked Mzwakali on the left. Luckily though his shot's weak and easy for Komo to save. Still, we're falling apart again.


On the stroke of half time though, a glimmer of hope. Aidir plays a give and go with Moon, who dribbles onto the right wing and crosses in towards the Ajax 6 yard box. Our big Moroccan striker arrives and directs a volley past Bacela in goal. We go in for the break at 1-2.


On the hour mark, I bring Sony Norde on for Mandla Masango as a left winger, hoping that more width will allow us more opportunities to cross to our target man and find the equaliser. Juno also comes on for Sinbad a few minutes later as his race is run for today. No sooner do I make that change than a Doutie corner is swung in and Craig Nyambi peels away from his marker Isaac Sohna and directs the header past Komo.

From that point on, we go on the attack, although I'm not sure we have the bottle to change our fortunes at this point. Our chances aren't helped with a quarter of an hour to go when Ayanda Nkili, already on a booking, trips Ngele and earns himself a 2nd yellow and a red. I despair. Molekwane comes on replacing Ryan Moon and we change to a narrow 4-2-2-1 system, encouraging Japhta and Molekwane to bomb forwards on the overlap.


2 minutes later Nyambi completes his hat trick when his 20 yard free kick deflects through the wall and sends Komo the wrong way. We're crumbling all over again and I have no idea why. 3 more minutes later he bags the dominant visitors a 5th goal and himself a 4th when Gajana passes him the ball on the edge of the box and he strokes it beautifully into the top corner. I'm not amused.



https://youtu.be/LCadDZXb-w8


“FUCK!” I yell to the silent changing room as the players all stare down at the floor. “FOR FUCK’S SAKE!” I continue, still not sure what my point is. I compose myself. “There are kids in our reserves and in our under 19’s who would FUCKING KILL...” I take a second. “... Who would kill to put that shirt on, walk out on that pitch and represent this club. Maluka! Fanteni! ... The other Fanteni!”


“That reminds me, Boss, I meant to tell you”, mutters my assistant Jakub, “Bogdan Popa called from Astra, they’re prepared to bid up to £37.5k for Luke Fant...”



“Tell Popa that he needs to take the hint”, I whisper, “Or I’m going to fly over to Giurgiu and stick his money up his...” Jakub nods and holds a hand out. I turn back to the team. “What’s happening?!” I look around the room but still nobody meets my eyes. “It’s not a rhetorical question, lads! What’s happening?! Marothi, are you too tired to try? Ryan, are you too cool? Ayanda, are you fucking insane? What? Tell me!” Nobody moves. I wait for probably a minute and nobody moves. Nobody even speaks. “Pathetic”, I mutter as I walk out of the changing room, slamming the door behind me.



Maybe it’s me though. Maybe I’m not flexible enough. Not savvy enough. I’ve been in Lansdowne for 18 months, which is longer than I’ve ever been at a club. We’re 11th, which is far lower down than I thought we’d be at this point. If all this time and the investment we’ve made in the squad has lifted us 2 places in 18 months then what am I even doing here?



Next up is a home tie against Mthatha Bucks, who are 10th. With a game in hand over us. And a better goal difference. For me, this is a must win game. I give Kakuba a couple of days off to get him rested and ready for the match but the only change I make is bringing in Tlou Molekwane for the suspended Ayanda Nkili, because I’m a stubborn bastard and I think Project: Meatloaf is a good system. And I'm fucking right.



We go behind after 6 minutes. Mthatha Bucks' striker Ntlantla Masango (No relation) tries his luck from 25 yards and hits a postage stamp shot right in the top corner. I make a mental note to update my CV when I get back to Geen Rook Nie tonight.


It's 0-2 51 seconds after kick off. We gift the ball to Mthatha in midfield, it's passed to Bento on the right wing, he crosses in to the near post and their Masango gets a free header that he puts into the back of the net. We go on the attack. If this is going to be my last hurrah, and it's feeling increasingly like it is, then let's go out with a bang.


We do actually get a chance before the 10 minute mark. We have to be patient to work the ball through Mthatha's back 6, but eventually Aidir slots a pass through for Moon and he shoots straight at the keeper. I'll take it.


The chance seems to spur us on in fact. We start putting together some passes, making Mthatha Bucks chase us and the ball. Sinbad chips it to Joël 20 yards out, who slots it through for Japhta on the left, who crosses across goal and finds Ryan Moon, who slides the ball into the net! He picks the ball straight up and heads back for kick off. Amazingly, these are promising signs.


It's seeming more and more like Mthatha have actually overplayed their hand. They got an early 2 goal cushion and they've just stopped playing, camping 10 men in their own third and inviting us on. Another flowing move before the half hour mark sees Joël pass to Masango, who slips the ball through for Aidir. He shoots from a tight angle but Hoffman makes the save.


10 minutes from half time, Masango swings a corner into the Mthatha box. The ball drops but nobody can make a connection. Mandela tries to clear, Aidir tries to control it, but it escapes them both. Sello Japhta swings a right foot... And the Athlone explodes with noise. 2-2. This is no longer a team playing without bottle. Keep proving me wrong, you beautiful bastards.


Any hopes we have of keeping our momentum dissipate when half time rolls around. After the break, Mthatha seem more organised and less scared of us than they were throughout the first half and the game goes from being quite fluid to extremely scrappy. With 25 minutes to play, I turn to my bench for inspiration. Luther Singh's still not fit. Sony Norde? Luke Fanteni? Thembinkosi Maluka... I've not really spoken to Themi much since our row after I stopped him from transferring. I don't hold it against him too much, he's only 17 years old and his priorities are all over the place, and besides with Lark injured and Ernie out on loan I've needed him on the bench. He's only played for the first team once on the final day of last season, but what the hell. "Themi, warm up", I call. Aidir looks crestfallen a couple of minutes later as he walks off the pitch to be replaced by his rebellious understudy. "Unlucky today mate", I mutter, patting him on the back.


The match is finely balanced. 2 minutes after the change we win a corner on the right. Goalscoring wingback Sello Japhta takes it, floating it over to the far post. Mike Kakuba rises, cushions the ball down... MALUKA!!


I'm sprinting down the sideline before I‘ve even processed what's happened. Themi runs over beaming from ear to ear and leaps on me next to the corner flag as his team mates mob us from all angles. Kakuba had nodded the ball down for him and he'd lashed at it with his left foot, volleying it into the net via the leg of an opponent. Themi's opened his professional goalscoring account. We're winning. "YOU LITTLE SHIT!" I cackle. "YOU BRILLIANT LITTLE SHIT!"


Once I get myself back to the dugout, I get myself focussed again. Masango comes off, Zulu goes on. We'll play our 4-1-2-3 with Zulu at full back and Japhta on the left wing. After the goal though Mthatha are back to being a broken team, standing off and allowing us to play football, which is a mistake. With 12 minutes to go, Molekwane caps a brilliant little move by floating a cross to the far post, where the incredible Sello Japhta arrives to leap like a salmon and head it home for 4-2. What a game that boy's had.


I bring on Juno to replace Joël and change our shape yet again to a 4-2-1-2-1, the same formation that Mthatha Bucks are using, with Juno and Diale as the holding men. Let's see how they like trying to break this annoying back 6 down. There's something very Santos about what happens next though. With 7 minutes to play, a 2 goal cushion and against an opposition who seem to have actually given up, Tlou Molekwane, on the pitch today because Ayanda Nkili got needlessly sent off in the last match, gets needlessly sent off for a trip on Abrahams when he'd already been booked. I can't help laughing actually, although I hide my mouth behind my hand. Juno goes to right back and we see the match out. I'm not entirely sure what's happened in the last 90 minutes but I think I probably owe these lads pizza.



https://youtu.be/o3Tj-bZDoSE


Singh With Me (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep109)

Losing the Cup Final in such a comprehensive manner really made me take a step back and look at my performance this season. It was arguably the worst day of my career but I’m determined to at least learn what I can and make the most of it. By the way, Sony Norde won the Player of the Tournament award, so that's something.



So let’s start this winter break by looking at the squad. There are 2 very talented young players in this squad that’ve barely kicked a ball for me in the first half of the season, so I’m sorting them out straight away. Ernie showed promise last season but has struggled to make the bench since Aidir came in, so I’m offering him around on loan. If we do need another striker to come in for whatever reason we’ve always got fellow academy graduate Themi Maluka, but at 18 Ernie could do with more game time which is why he’s the one that’s heading out. The other young ‘un who needs game time is Eliphas Thoahlane, our young loanee centre back. I’m cancelling his loan and sending him back to Platinum Stars so that he can try and break into their team instead. I thought he was really good for us last year but again thanks to all of the quality brought in during the Summer, he’s been surplus to requirements for quite a while.



We’ve also got some new contracts to sort. There’s a few that are yet to convince me but I do offer new 1 year extensions to Marothi Diale, Dino Visser and (Call me crazy) King Carl. Diale’s a decent enough ball winner, Visser’s a willing enough backup keeper and I know for a fact that Lark knows where the net is. He can’t hide that instinct forever and at the very least he seems happy enough warming the bench. Another contract running out in the Summer is my own, although I’m not too sure what I want to do about that at the minute so we'll save that conversation for another time.


We get started nearly straight away with our friendlies as I want us to go into the second half of the season with momentum aplenty. We start by playing out a dull match against our under 19’s that we win 1-0 thanks to a late winner from Joël. Baliso picks up a calf strain playing for the under 19’s and will miss 2-3 weeks, but I won’t lose any sleep over that.



https://youtu.be/MyVog26hjGE



On New Year’s Day I complete my Continental C Coaching License and Goolam Allie, who at this point is by far the most supportive Chairman I’ve ever worked for, coughs the funds straight up for me to start on my Continental B License. It’s a big statement for Goolam to help me better myself off the back of such a calamitous Cup Final. It tells me that he’s still got faith in my ability to take this club forwards and I genuinely appreciate that.





A few days later, Ernie gets his loan move much to my delight. He’s driving the fastest milk cart in the West over to one of our affiliate clubs, The Magic Football Club for the remainder of the season. Hopefully he gets himself in the team, scores some goals and comes back in good shape to win a first team place.



We continue our quest for momentum with a surprising 1-2 loss to our B team. Of course Carl Lark opens the scoring the moment he actually plays against me. Aidir equalises but it’s young centre back Mark Fanteni (No relation to young midfielder Luke) who scores the winner.



https://youtu.be/pfdxBLqysEQ


I’m trying not to think too much about cup ties at the minute but the South African FA Cup draws us against Baroka FC away. If they sound vaguely familiar to you it’s probably because they bought old Issouf Paro in the summer. It doesn’t look like he’ll be participating though as the poor sod’s picked up a double hernia and will miss 6-7 weeks.




We’re back on track with our next friendly; A 5-2 win over Mutual Academy. Aidir naturally bags himself a hat trick, Sinbad converts a penalty and Ryan Moon puts the cherry on top.



https://youtu.be/1DevTZu77s4


As we enter mid-January we welcome Roscoe back into the fold, having completed his rehabilitation after injury. He plays and actually sets a goal up as we score 5 again, this time against Idas Valley. Carl Lark scores a welcome brace and is pleasingly joined on the scoresheet by fellow flops Baliso and Moon, before Aidir adds his inevitable goal. The match is worrying in terms of injuries though as Masango has to go off after tweaking his hamstring early on and his replacement Moon, after his goal, comes off too with a twisted knee. They’ll both miss a couple of weeks but should be back in time for the competitive matches.


https://youtu.be/-EpKARjkzHg


Up until this point I’ve been keeping an eye on the market for new players, but in all honesty I don’t think our problems have been a result of our personnel and I’m not going to buy for no reason. There’s no value in the market anyway at the minute. I do however stumble across a South African winger/inside forward/attacking midfielder that intrigues me. Luther Singh is pretty unknown to my scouts as he’s currently plying his trade in Portugal playing in Braga’s B team and our scouting budget is only just enough to cover bus fare into the centre of Cape Town. He spent last season on loan at Highlands Park, who were relegated from the PSL, but he didn’t play too badly and still I’m curious. I submit a loan bid for the rest of the season. I did ideally want another inside forward (tick), preferably versatile (tick) and preferably South African (tick) and he can always just play in the reserves if he turns out to be rubbish.



A few days later there's more transfer news breaking. After hearing that Siyabonga Zulu has been offered a contract by Future Tigers for when his deal runs out in the... Future... I leap into action, sending him a good luck text. He’s been decent backup but he’ll do better in a lower division. He’s not PSL material.



Our next friendly is away at Jomo’s Power and we run out 3-0 winners, courtesy of a Sony Norde hat trick. We are running dangerously low on wingers though. Masango and Moon being out presents a great chance for Yanga Baliso to show me what he can do, but he gets injured 15 minutes from time with a thigh strain that’ll keep him out of action for a couple of weeks. It’s such a problem position for us that I hand appearances to Samora Qalanto, a young flanksman from our academy, and Guillaume Khous, who, like a baffled caveman homicide detective, still hasn’t found a bloody club.



https://youtu.be/yxNhJ86v-So



Zulu agrees to join Future Tigers in the Summer a few days later, which as I say is fine by me. I only hope that he’ll be a professional about it and keep doing his best when called upon until then. I’d hate to see what he’s like when he stops trying.



A couple more days pass before Luther Singh signs on the dotted line. He’s a welcome addition to us; A decently quick and extremely skilful and tricky wide player. I'm especially glad to have him since we’re missing most of our wingers, except that Singh himself is currently out with a slipped disc and will miss up to 11 more days. To make matters worse, Carl Lark suffers a back strain and will miss up to a month of football. I swear we went through all of this this time last year.





So my attention turns to young Themi Maluka, who was my 4th choice striker at the start of the season but is now just a freak injury to Aidir away from a first team spot. So Romanian side Astra Giurgiu have picked a bad time to be interested in him, I’d say. They bid up to £56k for the striker and I reject it out of hand as derisory, but rap rap rap goes my office door once again. Themi’s unhappy with my decision, considering the bid an opportunity to play with better quality players.




“Here’s an idea, Themi”, I say, my voice dripping with thick, syrupy sarcasm, “Why don’t you play well enough in the reserves to earn yourself a run in the first team? That in itself would be an opportunity to play with better quality players.” We go back and forth for a while but he remains unhappy with my decision. I tell him to fuck off back to the reserves.



A few days layer Gugu Gogotya hops aboard the pain train after suffering a bruised shin but luckily he’ll be out for less than a week. The next day we host Gary Havenga, Manqoba Cele and their Zizwe United side and hand out another thrashing, this time 5-0 with a surprising hat trick from Sello Japhta, who relishes his return to the left wing. Aidir bags a brace too because obviously. Local bookies aren’t even offering odds on him any more.




https://youtu.be/KVcYRkrPkr4


On the penultimate day of January we play our penultimate friendly against affiliate club Vasco CT away. We beat them 3-0 and this time Aidir doesn’t actually score. The goals come from Joël, Ryan Moon and Masango as the latter pair step up their returns from injury.



https://youtu.be/cGkJoSrMnv0


The transfer window closes over the next couple of days and the only movement we’ve had is a loan signing and an arranged move for our backup left back. Speaking of Singh actually, he’s back in full training although he’s a while away from full fitness. He needs some serious game time in the reserves under his belt as it’s been a long time since his last match.


Our final friendly is against another Vasco. The more famous Vasco. CR Vasco de Gama of the Brazilian top flight. I relish the chance for a decent match as it’s proved very difficult to find teams worth playing against in South African friendlies. I use the occasion as a dry run for the Old Cape Town Derby in a week’s time, fielding as strong a side as I can and it bloody shows. A brilliant fluid move is finished by Ryan Moon for 1-0, a powerful low drive from Aidir makes it 2-0 and his cross is bundled home by Joël for 3-0, although it goes down as a Vladimir own goal. Valteir pulls one back on the rebound for the visitors after forcing a magnificent save from Komo, but we come away with a fantastic 3-1 win.



https://youtu.be/YeSvPuJFi30


Annoyingly, in the following few days Astra Giurgiu come back with another couple of handfuls of change that they charitably call transfer offers. This time though they want young playmaker Luke Fanteni, even going as high as £29k for one of our brightest young talents. He’s actually already signed a pre-contract with us that’ll take effect when he turns 17, so I’m in no mood to indulge Astra. I make the effort to learn how to tell them to go away in Romanian. It’s “Pleacă de aici” apparently.




More annoying than that though are the injuries we pick up in the days leading up to the derby. Baliso’s brand new thigh strain isn’t exactly a heartbreaker, although it isn’t ideal that he’ll miss another few weeks from a purely "Squad depth" point of view.



Mike Kakuba’s chest injury is a real worry though. With 4 days to go, my physios estimate that my best defender will be out for 5-6 days, so it’ll be a close one.



Cup Final (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep108)


For most, I think to myself as I abandon the warmth of my bed and place my feet on the cold floor of my bedroom, the winter break has already started.



For them, I think as I cram toast into my mouth and give Meatloaf and Burnie a goodbye scratch behind the ear, the 23rd of December isn’t a time for football, but for preparation for or celebration of the holiday season.



For the majority of the World, I think as I walk down to the Athlone, frost crunching underfoot, today is a day when families and friends will come together, laugh until they’re hoarse and drink until they’re legless.



For me though, I think as I step onto the team bus, greeted by a roar of expectation from my Santos squad, today is none of those things. Today is the biggest and best day of my career so far. Today is my very first Cup Final.



Buoyed by Hicham Aidir’s decision to commit to Santos with a new long term contract with no buyout clause, Santos will take on Kaizer Chiefs today in the Final of the South African Knockout Cup. Traditionally these matches are played at a Neutral venue and that, I believe, was the intention when the FNB Stadium was selected. As luck would have it though it’s the home ground of our opponents, so we’re in the rare and very uncomfortable position of playing a Cup Final... Away.



I was planning, assuming we actually were playing in a neutral venue, to have a go at Kaizer Chiefs. I wanted us to come out swinging and catch them off guard with the dominant fluid football we’ve already proved ourselves capable of playing. Being the away side leaves this plan looking exceptionally risky though as Kaizer Chiefs will presumably be on their game from the very start and they’ll definitely look to take the game to us. In the end though I decide to risk it. We go with the same lineup that beat Supersport with the ambition of grabbing an early goal. I do plan on going more conservative after 10 minutes whether we score or not though so it’s imperative that we don’t actually concede an early goal or we’ll be pretty SOL.



2 minutes in they gives us an early scare when Mngonyama squares the ball for Mukansi 12 yards out, but his first time shot is blocked and cleared by Kakuba.


I should’ve realised then that Project: Meatloaf wasn’t going to fly. I make no changes though and within 5 minutes Harrison drives forwards on the ball, surges past Isaac Sohna and into the box, before drilling it low into the bottom corner. An early goal. My only weakness.


A little too late we go to our more standard and conservative 4-1-2-3. I want width on both flanks right now though, so Norde will cut in from the left with Japhta overlapping and Masango will be a winger on the right.


20 minutes later a Kumalo cross from the right is headed down by Fielies and Harrison gets a free volley 6 yards out. He aims towards the near bottom corner but Komo pulls off a remarkable double save to keep out both Harrison’s first effort and his rebound shot. In the end the ball goes out for a Kaizer Chiefs corner, which is swung into the box and headed over by Mngonyama.


We go on the counter. We’re under too much pressure, we’re being penned in. I’m all for staying deep but we need to win the ball and get it up the pitch quicker. When we do win it at the minute we’re giving it away too easily and piling more pressure on ourselves.


Come on, I think as we give the ball away yet again. We’re better than this. We’re not as mentally fragile as we once were, we can get ourselves back in this. I’m just about ready to take our 1 goal deficit into the break where I can rally the lads properly, but with a couple of minutes to go another Kumalo cross is flicked on by the unmarked Fielies, right into the far top corner of the net. 0-2 and heads are dropping all over the place. We might’ve blown this already.


In the 45th minute Konqobe’s corner is flicked on by Mngonyama and headed again by Fielies, but Komo catches it and prompts a huge collective sigh of relief from me and my coaching staff. 2 goals is more than enough, thanks.


“Isaac, chin up mate” I clap the Cameroonian defender on the back as the players march past me into the changing room.


“We’re better than this”, I say once they’re all seated on the benches around the perimeter of the room, most with their heads in their hands. “We’ve paid them too much respect. You look scared! A team that’s beaten Supersport twice already this season! You shouldn’t be scared of anyone!”


I’m changing things up. Diale’s not had a great game and I’m very aware that we aren’t making the ball stick up top. Aidir’s a good forward but he’s on his own against the entire defence and it just isn’t working. So I’m going to mix things up by replacing Diale with King Carl. Ladies and gentlemen, in a move that will be remembered as either an act of genius or fucking madness, Santos will play 4-4-fucking-2. “Now would be a terrific time to score, Carl mate”, I grin as Lark walks past me, behind the rest of the lads. He grins back nervously.


Sinbad is going to be picking up the more defensive role in midfield while Joël focuses on creating. Japhta’s going to have to play as more of an orthodox fullback too, staying back as we rely on Norde and Masango to get up the wings and get crosses in for target man Aidir and poacher Lark. This team has the ability to go long, over the top, down the wings or through the middle now, but we also have the potential to lose the midfield battle. I take a deep breath and walk back out to the dugout for the second half.


With less than 3 minutes gone since the break, Zungu drills a cross into our box from the right. Kakuba on the near post can’t get out of the way and the ball nicks off his foot and rolls into the bottom corner. It’s a cruel goal. It’s 0-3.


My faith in our ability to pull was hanging by a thread, but that’s the last nail in our coffin. Granted we’re looking better but with half an hour to go we need to pull at least 3 goals out of thin air against arguably the best team in the continent and we’re running out of time.


With 28 minutes to go, Zungu drills another cross in, this time finding Judas Moseamedi. Judas controls the ball, turns and places it low under Komo. The net ripples and I think that’s going to be that. Moon and Baliso come on in my last desperate roll of the dice and push up as we go to a 4-2-4. Masango and Norde come off. They’ve disappointed me but then it’s not their fault. We’ve struggled to hold onto the ball even long enough to play it out to the wings for most of the game today. Kaizer Chiefs hold us at bay to claim the trophy. They’ve embarassed us today.



https://youtu.be/lRlGGIBJot8


As the home fans celebrate wildly, there’s nothing more I can do but first watch the Santos players ascend the steps and collect their medals, before Kaizer Chiefs’ team climb the steps and collect their trophy. I could swear the whole ceremony lasts about 3 hours and all I can do is stand watching and trying to keep the growing sense of nausea at bay.


As the engine of the team bus finally starts up I sit staring straight ahead into the seat in front. I ignore the fans banging on the window. I ignore what they’re shouting and what gestures they’re making. I just want to sink into the ground. Just for a moment I even consider giving up management altogether.


I think today is the first time that I feel I’ve completely and utterly failed. At Höllviken I had more excuses than I’ve had hot meals. At Katowice I succeeded, although it didn’t feel like it at the time. I’ve had the time and resources to build this squad and prepare for this match and we've been torn up and thrown aside. It's a good job I've got the Winter Break to rethink things.



Stretched (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep106)


“Alexa, who do Santos FC play next?”


“Hmm. I don’t know that one.”


Well fat lot of good you are in the South African Premier Soccer League, eh? I think, absent-mindedly stroking Burnie, who’s asleep on my lap. I got an Amazon Dot as a gift a while back and it’s one of those things that I’ve not as of yet found a practical use for. Like Yanga Baliso. I do giggle a little too much for a grown man when Alexa ‘surprises’ me with a message like “You are cool” that I’ve specifically told her to say at a specific time like some kind of hi-tech daily affirmation, but apart from that I’m still thinking of things to do with her.


“Alexa, meow meow.”


The dot starts emitting cat noises and Burnie leaps to attention to find the source of the noise, joined a second later by Meatloaf. That should keep them busy for a while at least while I sort out what on Earth I'm going to do for this game.



I know who Santos FC are playing next of course. I wouldn’t be much of a Manager if I didn’t at least make the effort to remember things like that, but it’s not a match I’m looking forward to overseeing. Orlando Pirates are coming to town. The 2 matches we played against them last season finished 0-4 and 1-1 so they’re still very much a side that I’m figuring out. Mind you, despite our patchy form I’m positive that the squad at my disposal now is far greater than it was on those occasions.


Unfortunately, Hicham Aidir picked up a nasty bruise on his bonce in the Chippa match so he’ll miss a few days with that, ruling him out of starting contention. I’ll also be without Isaac Sohna and Marothi Diale, who’ve both picked up 1 match suspensions after accruing 4 yellows each. A shame, since I promised Pirates midfielder Joseph Ekwalla that the next time I saw him I’d be telling Diale to sharpen his studs and aim for the knee. Also added to the pre-existing injuries to Roscoe, Thoahlane and Gogotya, we’re actually a bit light on numbers defensively. We're a stretched squad.



Juno doesn’t get a lot of first team chances as he’s still a work in progress, but he gets the nod to go into defence next to Kakuba for this one. It’s obviously not ideal as he’s a natural holding midfielder, but he’s getting a chance all the same and I only he hope he grabs it with both hands. Starting in place of Diale in midfield will be 16 year old Luke Fanteni. There’s no doubt he’s got talent but he’s still lightweight and extremely raw. Thanks to a lack of alternatives though, he too will have a chance as the playmaker in midfield while old trusty Sinbad takes over the more defensive duties. Coming in for our Moroccan goal machine will be King Carl, who still has yet to find the net in his 7 outings this season. I think his confidence is starting to majorly suffer as a result so a goal today would be extremely welcome. Let’s not forget that this is the same striker that scored a club record number of goals last year.



As expected, Joseph Ekwalla starts in the centre of the Pirates’ 4-4-2 and we actually draw first blood against him inside the first minute when he loses Soumahoro and allows him to find Sony Norde just outside the box, who’s fouled by Petersen. Juno, renowned in the youth team for his set piece prowess, smashes the free kick from 20 yards and hits the bar. The ball bounces back into the danger zone and is hit by Sinbad, but Jele gets a block in and sends the ball out for a corner, prompting an expectant roar and round of applause from the home fans. Unfortunately the corner comes to nothing, but it’s a good start for the People’s Team.


The first half isn’t what I’d describe as action-heavy. In fact not a single chance of note is created until just after half time when a great Orlando passing move ends with Norodien crossing from the left byline and Baloyi testing Komo with a decent header, but Komo catches the ball without difficulty.


Joseph Ekwall’s substituted after an hour. He’s played fine; no fireworks or fuck ups. It’s a bit of an anti-climax if I’m honest. With 20 minutes to go Joël’s caught in possession and the Pirates counter attack down the right with Baloyi, who loses Japhta and sends a cross in for Ndoro at the near post. He heads the ball at goal from 6 yards out but somehow hits the post. It’s a lucky escape for us. Soon after I bring on Ryan Moon and Hicham Aidir for Norde and Lark. Aidir’s not fully fit but he’s still got a better chance of scoring than the once again ineffective Carl Lark. A blindfolded Tony Hibbert would be given shorter odds for finding the net at the minute.


With 7 minutes to play, Masango lays the ball back for Fanteni, who plays a lovely lobbed pass to Japhta, who’s exploding down the left side of the box. Japhta takes the ball down and drills it into the mixer - It deflects off the foot of Orlando Pirates centre back Nyauza - And comes back off the post. Bloody hell.


It doesn’t cheer me up one bit 2 minutes later when Matlaba plays the ball inside for teenage substitute Omar White who turns, shrugs off Juno and places the ball beyond Komo’s fingertips and into the top corner of our net. Shiver me timbers. Orlando Pirates have won it at the bloody death.



https://youtu.be/0fjiW8krUis



It always hurts to concede so late and to lose so late. It’s one of those moments that you need to get past as quickly as possible. Today was Orlando Pirates’ day.



We’re back at the Athlone just 2 days later, this time hosting Maritzburg United. Maritzburg are having a terrific season so far; After finishing below us in 13th last year they’re currently sitting pretty in 5th place, just outside the African Confederation Cup spots.

Luckily, Sohna, Diale and Aidir are all eligible and fit again so they’ll come back into the lineup in place of Juno, Fanteni and Lark, giving us fresh legs and an injection of quality. I’m also resting Sinbad, dropping Sony Norde deeper into midfield and giving his right wing place to Ryan Moon, who I swear will get back to form this year even if I have to give him bionic legs. And I know a guy.



Another ex-Santos player is back at the Athlone today: Moe starts at centre back for Maritzburg. I initially thought that he’d be my best defender upon my arrival but he swiftly proved me wrong and I couldn’t get rid of him fast enough in the Summer. Let’s hope he doesn’t start performing today.



With less than 4 minutes gone Maritzburg give us a scare when Mnyamane draws Kakuba out of position and slips the ball through for Khumalo, who puts the ball straight into Komo’s arms.


20 minutes later we’re getting dominated. We give up trying to outright control the game and switch to a more standard mentality. We’ll try to retain possession and kill Maritzburg’s momentum so that we can build up some of our own.


It works to an extent and we start to build up some steam over the next quarter of an hour. With 3 minutes to play before the break we put together a decent passing move. Diale squares the ball to Norde 30 yards out and he steps forward and passes to Masango, cutting in on the edge of the box. Masango gets the ball out of his feet and puts his laces through it, nearly bursting the top corner of the net. It’s a brilliant goal and we’re deservedly ahead.


After the hour mark I make what’s becoming a pretty standard change: Japhta off and Zulu on as the more defensive full back. We also change to a defensive 4-1-2-3 and bring Carl Lark on for Aidir, who I don’t want to push straight back into another injury.


7 minutes later it should be 2-0. Norde, enjoying his central midfield role today, finds Lark 20 yards out and he slips a clever pass through for Moon. Moon should hit it first time but he takes a touch, taking him into the 6 yard box with keeper and defender right in front of him. He shoots but between them they block and clear the ball. Nkili hoofs it back into the box but the chance is snuffed out.


With about a quarter of an hour to go, Lark loses the ball to Moe and our old centre back boots the ball down the left wing for Khoza to chase. Khoza drills a cross in from the byline that deflects off Diale’s boot and rolls straight to Mnyamane, who tucks in the equaliser.


With 10 minutes to go, Sinbad comes on for Joël and with 5 to go Mnyamane tries to go full hero when he takes a pot shot from 25 yards, but Komo catches it. We see the game out at 1-1 and it just feels like it’s not been our day once again.



https://youtu.be/e9KL5Yt67lk


It’s yin and yang I suppose, if you want to be all philosophical about it - Football would be the most boring thing in the world if all your team did was win. Winning would become the norm and lose all meaning if you did it every week. You need the rough times and the gut-punching disappointment of times like these to give the good times meaning. That’s something to hold onto today. The good times had better be bloody good though.


Crouchie (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep105)

I smile as I bite into my toast, skimming the morning headlines on the BBC football website. “Brewers appoint Crouch as interim manager” is the one that catches my eye.



That’s made my week. Bloody Crouchie! Who doesn’t love Peter Crouch? The Burton Albion man just oozes “English”. Not only does he look like a forgotten member of the Royal Family, tower over other players slightly awkwardly in a manner reminiscent of Big Ben and have a good old fashioned dry sense of humour, but he’s then got the brass bollocks to become known for doing the robot and lest we forget, being England’s best goals-per-game striker of all time. I wish him all the best and you can consider me a Burton Albion fan for the foreseeable future.



Back in South Africa, we’re welcoming Cape Town City to the Athlone today. We’ll be serving meatloaf and in fact I’ll be putting out exactly the same lineup that beat Chippa so comfortably in the SA KO Cup, which means Ayanda Nkili, Isaac Sohna, Sello Japhta and Joël Soumahoro are all back in and Tlou Molekwane, Juno, Siyabonga Zulu and Ryan Moon are all back out. Despite our recent collapse against Sundowns, our confidence is high and I expect another win here today.



In the 23rd minute Norde creates our first chance with a clever through ball for Aidir, but the usually prolific striker swings his boot wildly and skews his shot wide. 5 minutes later Masango creates space for himself and cuts in from the left, but shoots straight at Mukuruva in net, who catches comfortably.


Things seem to be going our way until the 37th minute, when Kumalo’s driven cross glances off Sohna’s outstretched foot and rolls into the bottom corner of Komo’s goal. It’s unlucky, but having had our fair share of luck recently we were probably due a goal like that.


After a quick team talk in which I tell the lads they’re unlucky to be behind, we come out for the second half reenergised. 3 minutes after the restart, Sinbad plays a great long ball over the CTC defence for Aidir to chase. The keeper Mukuruva comes rushing out of his box to win the race against our striker though and tries to clear his lines, but smashes the ball against one of his defenders. The loose ball goes spinning away as far as Sony Norde 30 yards out on the right and with the keeper desperately trying to get back in his net, Norde goes for the right footed long range volley - But puts the ball onto the roof of the net.


A couple of minutes later, Japhta swings a corner in for Santos and Kakuba rises well to cushion it down for Aidir, but the Moroccan’s header is tame and straight at Mukuruva, who catches it easily.


With an hour gone, Masango’s replaced by the hopefully more direct Yanga Baliso on the left wing. Quarter of an hour later, this season’s standout duo so far Aidir and Soumahoro, who’ve been disappointing today, are replaced by last year’s heroes Moon and Lark. Norde moves across to the number 10 spot to accommodate Ryan Moon.


With 12 minutes to play, we go on the attack. With 11 minutes to play, Jayiya’s 30 yard free kick is tipped against the bar by Komo’s fingertips and Kumalo runs up to tuck the ball away on the rebound. 0-2.


We keep pushing, but with 3 minutes to go Akosah-Bempah plays in Phungwayo on the left hand side and he slots the ball past Komo to complete in my eyes a ridiculously flattering 0-3 scoreline.



https://youtu.be/kFd2U7MOJ-0



Still, if the team that beat Chippa United’s going to work against anyone, it’s... Well... Chippa United. Our next match is soon upon us and we travel to Chippa’s home of Port Elizabeth eager to shake off that disaster of a match. We’ll line up the same, the only difference being our more standard mentality. I expect a much, much better performance.




Just over 10 minutes in, my team show me a much, much better performance. Masango dribbles into Chippa’s half and passes inside to Joël, who plays it first time through the defence for Aidir, who slots the ball into the bottom corner of the net with his first touch. Much better.


Apart from that it’s a pretty tight and uneventful match. With 20 minutes to go I bring on Moon and Zulu for Masango and Norde, with Japhta pushing forwards as a winger while Zulu drops back, and we go on the defensive.


5 minutes from time, Sello Japhta releases Aidir with a good searching ball down the left wing. Aidir keeps it in at the byline, cuts inside and lays the ball back for Ryan Moon, who smashes it into the bottom corner. I punch the air with delight. Ryan Moon recapturing his 2019/20 season form would be fantastic news for this Santos team and I celebrate his goal as deliriously as I have any goal this year.


2 minutes later, Japhta gets a cross in himself from the left wing and Aidir latches onto it. He shoots first time but it's blocked by a defender and the loose ball bounces over to Ryan Moon, who hits it - Against the post. Just the 1 goal for Moonie today, but I'll take it.



https://youtu.be/fVqJKr06WL0


Santos still strike me as a team with so much potential but there's still something not quite right. We can pick up wins this season and that doesn't seem to be a problem, but an off day for our striker shouldn't result in a 0-3 defeat like it did against Cape Town City. With the winter break fast approaching it's something that we'll have plenty of time to figure out, but before that we've got a Cup Final to keep half an eye on and I'd rather we work out our issues sooner rather than later.


Smoke Me A Kipper - Part 2 (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep104)


I touch back down in Cape Town feeling odd. The International break has been awful but now I’ve got to turn my attention back to Santos and our upcoming SA KO Cup Semi Final against an unknown opponent. It’s a strange little cup competition as we only started at the end of October and our semi final’s less than a month later. I’ve always wanted a decent cup run and we’re suddenly only 1 win away from a domestic cup final.



The cup draw finally matches us against Chippa United at home, which won’t be easy but is certainly winnable if we play like we did against Supersport. We’ll be without Yanga Baliso for over a week with a bruised head though and Gugu Gogotya might well be out until the winter break with a hernia that’ll sideline him for at least a month.




The day before our Semi Final, I watch Kaizer Chiefs record a dramatic 4-3 win away at Cape Town City in the other Semi, which means whoever wins out of us and Chippa are in for a tough final.




King Carl’s out of the starting lineup today as he continues his goal drought and Hicham Aidir, back from International duty, replaces him as our lone striker. Youngsters Ernie and Fanteni will make rare bench appearances.



Santos FC get off to a flyer when Soumahoro wins the ball in midfield 7 minutes in and passes to Aidir on the edge of the box, who drills it low towards goal. The keeper stretches out a glove but can’t stop the ball from finding the net.


We dominate the first half hour, spurred on by our early goal, and on the 30 minute mark Masango receives the ball from Japhta and dribbles to the left byline. He crosses to the near post and Jöel arrives to glance the ball into the net and double our lead.


As if my smile couldn’t be any wider at half time, when we start a counter attack through Masango after a semi-threatening Chippa push, their captain Ace Sali trips our inside forward and earns himself a second yellow and a red. Feel free to smoke me that kipper now Ace, I’ll be back for breakfast.


I get to hand out one of my jollier half time team talks as we’ve been brilliant so far. I do replace Mike Kakuba though because as one of our only full Internationals, he hasn’t had a break and is therefore knackered. Juno comes on at the back.


Within a minute of kickoff, Norde picks out Joël darting into the right hand side of the penalty area. The Ivorian receives the ball and is instantly clattered by Grant Mkaza. Penalty. It crosses my mind as Sello Japhta steps up to take his 2nd penalty in as many games that we might be cramming a year’s supply of luck into 2 matches, but fuck it, if that’s true we might as well enjoy the show. Japhta steps up and places the ball firmly to the keeper’s right from 12 yards. 3-0.


Fanteni and King Carl come on over the next half hour for Sinbad and Aidir. I could give young Ernie a run out but if there’s one thing that’d put the cherry on top of this match it’d be Carl Lark opening his account for the season and finding his form again.


With 7 minutes to go Sello Japhta crosses from the left, and as much as I try to hurl King Carl towards the ball with telekinesis, it bounces off centre back Bongani Kama and rolls into the net.


The final whistle blows and it takes me a minute to catch up. We’ve won a Semi Final, which means we’ll be playing a bloody cup Final! Plus that’s 8 goals scored and 0 conceded in our last 2 games. Am I dreaming? Nkili’s picked up a 1 match ban for accumulating 4 yellow cards, and you don’t generally get that kind of boring minor annoyance in dreams, so I suppose I’m awake.



https://youtu.be/Qhe08b2EteM




A league visit to Sundowns is up next and I’m quite pessimistic about it. They’re a side that have beaten us 4 times in our last 5 meetings and they’ve just beaten Kaizer Chiefs too, which puts them on a par with a great white and anthrax on the list of shit I don’t want to come up against at the minute.





Sundowns play a narrow Christmas tree, so we’ll sit back with Project: Foxy Mk II and exploit the flanks when we counter, where we can hopefully outnumber their fullbacks. Tlou Molekwane comes in for the suspended Nkili and Zulu comes in for Japhta, who’s pretty knackered after the last match. So is Joël Soumahoro, so Ryan Moon come in on the right wing and Masango drops back into central midfield. Sohna’s also very tired, so Juno comes in alongside Kakuba at the back.



We come racing out for the first half when Hicham Aidir drives through the centre on the ball but shoots just wide. Less than a minute later he gets the ball again 25 yards out and holds it up before playing it through for Masango in the box. He unselfishly lays the ball off for Sony Norde on the left, who rolls it into the far corner to put us ahead inside 3 minutes.


Inside half an hour we double our advantage when the Haitian goalscorer dribbles down the left flank and chips a cross in for Aidir, who volleys into the roof of the net.


10 minutes from half time the hosts still haven’t had a sniff and we’re still dominating. We get the ball up the pitch with a great passing move before Aidir takes over and shoots from 20 yards, but his effort lacks power and is caught easily by the keeper.


Just before the break we concede a corner. Motupa crosses but the ball’s cleared and comes back to him. He crosses again, but again it’s cleared and given back. Motupa crosses once more and third time’s the charm. This one finds Maseko on the edge of the area, who half volleys it powerfully past Komo and into the net. The cross maestro nearly levels in first half injury time, but Motupa’s 20 yard free kick thumps against the bar and bounces away.


After the hour mark we go more defensive and I bring on Soumahoro for Moon, with Joël dropping into midfield and Masango taking the right wing. It seems to do the trick, but with 5 minutes to play in the match, another fucking Motupa corner comes into our box and Aidir is adjudged to push Anele, giving Sundowns a dubious penalty. Nxumalo tucks the ball home from 12 yards to rescue a point for the home side.



https://youtu.be/DmnPT1HKYNE


I can’t really be unhappy with that result. To be honest if you’d offered me a draw before kick off I’d have bitten your hand off. We did lose a 2 goal lead, but it was a lead I never expected us to be able to build in the first place. So yeah, all in all a decent point with subtle overtones of disappointment. We pick ourselves up and go again.


Hollow (Franjo: A Journeyman Story - Ep103)

We’ve lost another one, I think, letting out a long sigh. Long serving Liechtensteiner right back Yves Oehri has retired from professional football after his extended period of training with Santos. It’s a little easier to stomach than when Simon Kühne did the same because for one thing Yves is 33, 7 years older than Simon, and for another he’s... Well he was... He wasn’t my first choice right back. Let’s leave it at that. Nevertheless there’s definitely something to be said for having experience in your squad and as our most capped player with 70, we’ll miss Yves. Incidentally, Guillaume Khous and Vinzenz Flatz are both still training with Santos to dissuade them from following suit.



Speaking of experienced Liechtensteiner players, Sky Sports have stuck the boot in in the build up to our crunch EIL visits to Montenegro and Moldova by suggesting that Sandro Wieser should be dropped because of his club situation. To be fair though he’s in the unenviable and slightly embarrassing position of not being able to break into a Wycombe Wanderers side who’re sat dead last in League One, so I do see their point. I’d like to know who Sky Sports would pick instead though.



And it certainly won’t be Yanik Negele, the light at the end of the tunnel for Liechtensteiner football. The 19 year old midfielder slipped a disc playing for Vaduz U21’s and will miss another 6-7 weeks.




I sit alone for a few minutes in the corner of Pod Goricom’s away changing room. I’ve had a twisted feeling in my stomach about this match for a good while now and with kick off looming I’m not really sure how to feel. We currently sit, and please don’t think I’m not fucking elated with this, in 2nd place in our European International League table. Gibraltar are out of the running for promotion in 4th, having picked up only the 1 point that we gifted them. Moldova, Tuesday’s opponents, are in 3rd with 6 points and we’re just 1 point higher with 7. Montenegro lead the way unsurprisingly with 9 points, meaning that we’re the only ones who can stop them from gaining promotion at all of our expense. We beat them in Vaduz, however lucky it might’ve been, and if we don’t do the same at their place today, they’re almost guaranteed to go up. After our next 2 matches we could finish above only the whipping boys of Gibraltar in 3rd, be the “best of the rest” in 2nd, or get promoted in 1st. It’s up to us. It’s all up to us.




We’ll set up today in a counter attacking variant of Project: Liechtensteiner Mk II, the system that’s served us reasonably well so far, while Max Göppel comes in for Spirig at left back, who’s carrying a knock. Kuku replaces Negele in midfield. The full lineup is Benji Büchel in net, Lucas Eberle, Simone Grippo, Danny Kaufmann and Max Göppel in defence, Marcel Büchel, Sandro Wieser and Kuku in midfield, with Pascal Schürpf, Guillaume Khous and Yanik Frick across the front. In optimistic news, star centre back Stefan Savic is out injured for the hosts.



5 minutes in Marko Jankovic goes close for Montengro with a dipping 25 yard shot that skims the bar. Just 12 minutes later though they do take the lead when an extremely complicated and intricate short free kick routine is finished by a stroked finish by Boljevic which finds the net.


We go defensive after that to try and stop any build up of momentum by tightening up at the back, but it’s no use. 10 minutes later a Stojkovic corner is nodded down by left back Cristian Hadziosmanovic and volleyed calmly home by Stevan Jovetic at point blank range.


5 minutes pass before our next piece of bad news, which is a damaged foot for Pascal Schürpf. He plays on though. Montenegro seem happy to knock the ball about patiently between themselves after that, although they do counter from our corner just before half time. Boljevic has a chance to bag a second goal but shoots right into the arms of Benji Büchel.


I’d like to say that we fight back in the 2nd half. That we show some spirit or desire or catch the complacent favourites with some slick counter attacks. We don’t though. 10 minutes in, Pepic plays a long ball over the top and Jovetic leaves Kaufmann for dead, before firing under Benji and into the bottom corner. Gubser and Hadzipasic come on, but can’t make an impact as the match ends 0-3. If they can get anything from their final game away at Gibraltar, Montenegro will be promoted. Liechtenstein are mathematically out of the race.



https://youtu.be/TokWIUSolCk



“Shit”, I say to my hotel room wall later that night. “Fucking shit.” There’s an odd hollowness that comes with failing in International football. If you lose a cup match in club football it can hurt, but you know that as long as you can stave off the sack for another year, you’ll just be able to try again next time. The next European International League competition isn’t until the 2022/23 season though and God knows where I’ll be by then. The optimist in me says that we’ll qualify for the 2022 world cup and I’ll still be riding that high with Liechtenstein, but the pessimist and the realist... They both say something different.



We may as well wrap this up though. Moldova have moved 2 points above us into 2nd place, having beaten Gibraltar 2-0 away. They’ll stay 2nd unless we beat them.




Pascal Schürpf’s had to withdraw from the squad as his damaged foot will keep him out for 3 weeks, so 19 year old uncapped Vaduz winger Christian Quaderer is called up in his place. He looks OK - An aggressive and influential team player with a decent work ethic, but he’s not too quick and pretty questionable on the ball.




I’ll be honest though I don’t have too many options and with no real stakes, this seems like a decent match to give young Christian a try. He comes in on the right wing and Khous drops out to be replaced by Roman Spirig, who’ll play at left back, allowing Max Göppel to take the left wing. It makes sense to have 2 out and out wingers to use as outlets as we once again try a counter attacking variant of Project: Liechtensteiner Mk II.



17 minutes in, Faruk Özkan swings in a corner from the right hand side. The ball drops into a scramble 3 yards from goal and striker Alexandru Boiciuc’s on hand to stab in the opening goal. I scream for a response from my players, but less than 2 minutes later Boiciuc lays the ball off for Oleg Turea, who drills it into the bottom corner to make it 0-2. We go standard and exploit the flanks, but I can’t help feel that we’re done here.


The score remains 0-2 at half time, but I have no words of encouragement to give. I’m so fucking angry at the way this last few days has gone that I leave the team talk to my assistant André Ooijer.


I don’t know exactly what André says but just over a minute into the second half it’s 0-3. Faruk Özkan’s cross from deep on the right makes Benji Büchel come charging out to claim it, leaving Postolachi to simply pull away from his marker and nod the ball into our empty net. Before the 50 minute mark, it’s 0-4 when Faruk Özkan’s drilled cross flicks off Marcel Büchel’s heel and trickles across the line.


I decide to tell my team to defend to try to keep the scoreline barely dignified and bring on Hanselmann, Gubser and Hadzipasic for the last half hour. Rony Hanselmann is a pretty unimpressive 29 year old winger currently plying his trade for Triesenberg. He's not played under me so far, but Quaderer's not really cutting the mustard so far on his debut, so what the hell.



Hanselmann puts in a pretty anonymous performance, but to be fair, Gubser does well to get down the left wing and drill a cross in for Kevin Hadzipasic, who grabs us a consolation goal from just outside the 6 yard box. We’re finishing this EIL campaign with a whimper though. 1-4 the final score.



https://youtu.be/SpuL7FoRsho



Up until this International break I was secure in my management of this team. Yes we weren’t scoring many, but we weren’t conceding either, which made the lack of goals OK. After 7 goals in 2 matches though I spend the long flight back to Cape Town scratching my head trying to come up with any positives at all.