Week 23

Tezza · Cult Status

Week 23

Goblets · Cult Status

Quiet Barcelona Manager, Adam Goble, today met with the press after their high profile, League winning game against Real Valladolid -

Press - Adam, congratulations...is that a relief to finally deliver the League Trophy back to the Camp Nou faithful?

AG - Thanks! Yes, I think so...its been no secret that the board and myself have been pressuring the players to perform at a consistently high level so we can call ourselves Champions.

Press - All started to look a little tight a few weeks back didnt it?

AG - Yes it did. We had a couple of poor results, namely the Celta Vigo draw and the derby draw against Espanyol which I still struggle to understand how we didnt win...Espanyol were awful. We kept our composure though as it was always in our hands and we knew what we had to do.

Press - Would it have caused a major upset if Real Madrid had pipped you for the title?

AG - Yes, of course it would. Firstly I would have dis-owned a member of own family, in Chris Hanton, secondly I'm likely to have been fired. Take nothing away from Chris though, hes done an excellent job and done well to get them back to a position where they were challenging for the title...they were playing some terrible football before he arrived.

Press - So does that mean your position is now secure at Barcelona?

AG - Nothings ever certain. I havent spoken to the board and they havent spoken to me. They asked me to deliver them the title...I delivered it. The team still needs alot of work, its to be decided if they think I am the right man to change the team round.

Press - Simon Jenkins said you would be fired after he beat you this weekend to wreck your title hopes....

AG - Simon Jenkins did say that...yes! Look, Simons team are the only one in the league to have beaten us this season, hes got a fabulous squad together and I expect to see him at the top of the table next season....at the moment though he will have to be content with getting done 3-2 by us and missing out on Europe this season!

Press - Its been rumoured that alot of your players will be out on loan again next season...and rumours are circulating that Bojan could be on his way out of the club?

AG - I am expecting players to go out on loan...I have good contacts at Everton & Chievo and I will have a chat with Mark & Ray before the season starts. I had a couple of enquiries about the services of Bojan....none of them were in the best interests of the club, so I turned them down....as you know with me...everyone has their price and if it will help the team then no individual is off limits. The players know that as does the board.

Press - Adam, thanks for your time and congratulations once again.

AG - No problem, you're welcome.

With that Goble left the room ready to start the open top bus tour showing off the La Liga Title, its rumoured he will be meeting the King of Spain later to be given the freedom of the City after delivering the first title to the historical club in some time.

Football Academy · Cult Status

Al-Fahim Axes Ratcliff

Following another promising season in charge of the richest club in the world, Chris Ratcliff has been axed from the job by owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim. Genoa targeted a top 2 finish this season but fell 12 points short of that in the end, finishing in 4th place. A respectable finish for a team not long ago in Serie B doing very little, yet a sizeable £129.5 million has been invested in the club since the takeover and the board demanded more of a challenge this season.

"We feel 4th place is respectable but doesn't match the pre season ambitions we laid out before Chris. He has contributed fantastically to the growth of the club and has managed the assets we have brought in while over seeing the improvements to the clubs facilities, however we feel a new manager may be required to take the next step. We thank Chris for his hard work and wish him all the best in the future."

Reports are that Ratcliff turned down an approach from a Spanish La Liga team recently to stay in Italy but his unwavering loyalty hasn't avoided the high expectations of the board. Ratcliff is thought to be flying out to Spain tonight to meet Espanyol, Recreativo Huelva, and Levante officials over a possible move.

Meanwhile speculation is now rife about who will step into the hot seat at Genoa. The high pressure job comes with high rewards though. Ratcliff will forever be held in high regard by the fans, inducting him into the hall of fame as a club hero for his achievements, while the board are expected to financially back any incoming manager heavily to cover retirements from the current squad. The only drawback is that previous signings have been made by the board, limiting the managers use of the funds, although offering a £20 million player is hardly a big down side!!

Football Academy · Cult Status

Valencia sack Turney

Juan Soler has tonight released a statement confirming under fire Valencia boss Martin Turney has been relieved of duties at the Spanish giants. Valencia had developed slowly under Turney and began the season in promising form, but a number of transfers the fans were unhappy with including the sale of Gabriel Agbonlahor to Roma, as well as a drop in form, has left the giants in lowly 8th place at the end of the season. Next season will yield no European football and on current form, they could face a relegation scrap with many predicting the arrival of Recreativo Huelva and Levante into the league will make it much tougher next season.

"Results have been inexcusable. We are a big club, and we are losing that winning mentality. The club can't go down and yet that is the direction we are heading. To finish outside the European places is disappointing, outside the top 5 is terrible, but 8th is a complete disaster."

Soler remains with high expectations next season that the illustrious club can regain its position in the top places of the league and has tipped any interested managers that they will become local sensations if they manage to challenge the top couple of clubs next season, with such a well supported football team. It is thought Watford are tracking Turney while a number of Italian teams believe his style of football would be well suited to their league, a league he has yet to compete in.

Football Academy · Cult Status

Rumour Mill

Louis Galeozzi is set to end his up and down career with Real Sociedad before the play-offs in which he's involved.

Wigan, Recreativo Huelva and Messina are all interested in Louis Galeozzi following his spell in Spain.

Messina are also interested in Sundeland boss Dale Price.

Tim Parnell has left Charlton to become the new Bolton manager despite them missing out on the play-offs by 2 points.

Mark Galeozzi is joint favourite to be named the next Genoa manager after keeping Real Mallorca up and reaching the cup final, leading his team into Europe.

However the other favourite is surprise candidate Adam Goble who has just led Barcelona to the Spanish title, and therefore has a trophy winning career on his side.

Cardiff striker Carlos Acuna is set to join Real Madrid when the transfer window reopens after a promotion winning season.

Simon Jenkins wants Sampdoria speedster Aaron Lennon to solve his right wing problem for next seasons title race.

Genoa will invest a further £50 million this summer with Juventus striker Valeri Bojinov and Manchester United left back Giorgio Chiellini topping their transfer targets.

Spurs centreback Michael Dawson has said he would consider a move to Real Valladolid to replace their figurehead defender Arruabarrena from last season at the heart of their team.

Parma hope to sign Manchester United striker Yannick Djalo on a season long loan.

Tony Wood is the bookies favourite to be the next manager sacked.

Middlesbrough winder Adam Johnson is the target of a summer swoop by both Barcelona and AC Milan.

Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi is interested in a move to Serie A champions Juventus.

The board at Barcelona have hailed Adam Goble for delivering the required silverware this season after guiding them to a final day La Liga championship.

Genoa are willing to back Real Valladolid manager Simon Jenkins with £100 million to turn Genoa into European Cup contenders, but Valladolid's chairman has said he will oppose any move.

Newcastle have denied claims they are set to re-appoint ex-manager and recently sacked Martin Turney following their relegation from the Premiership.

Newcastle United stars Lee Cattermole, Steven Taylor and Tomasz Kuszczak have all handed in official transfer requests wanting top flight football, after their side was relegated to the Championsip.

Liam · Cult Status

Sevilla FC Television have managed a late night interview with Liam Riste following the closure of the season for Sevilla.

SFCTV: So what were your thoughts after your first game in charge of Sevilla?

LR: I thought the team played well together and seemed to compliment my choice of tactics and formation well! I wanted to make a good first impression and I believe I have.

SFCTV: You didn't have much time and that was a big game to open with, did you find it hard?

LR: It was a big game to open with but in a way, that's a good thing. I landed with the impact I wanted to make and I hope this is a sign of things to come. I know what I have to do already and will try and do my best in the near future. But we secured third and the European football we desired which is the main thing for me.

SFCTV: You managed to hang on to third place and answered critics, what does this mean for you?

LR: I am relishing the prospect of playing against other giants of Europe and see how I can fair against them. This is a massive step for me and a new and exciting challenge, however, it means more to the fans and board of this fantastic club as it means they have proof still that their team can rub boots with the best in Europe!

SFCTV: What was your reaction to other results in the footballing world this weekend?

LR: I had a mixed reaction to be perfectly honest. I was elated with Sevilla grabbing third and Jamie Best, my mate at Arsenal, also making third place in the Premiership, which means I may have to look out for him in Europe next season! We have arranged a friendly but I will be swapping my team around a little to get a better view on my squad, however, this won't affect bragging rights after the game...

Although, Ash at Zaragoza went through the pain I felt last week at Aston Villa as he got sunk to the Segunda against Valencia. However, I am sure he will come straight back up!

I would also like to take a minute to welcome the new Celta Vigo manager Dan Merrick-Reed (Shirley) to Spain as he takes charge of the team which sunk Ashley and Zaragoza from La Liga and I shall enjoy playing him next season!

SFCTV: So what are your plans for Sevilla next season?

LR: When I first took over I was fully aware of what I must do to make Sevilla even bigger and better. As you could see from the 4-2 win this week against Espanyol, scoring isn't an issue, but the defence needs tightening! I am looking into deals involving defensive players for the new campaign to correct this issue which needs to be resolved to compete with the best and further a push for silverware!

SFCTV: So what are your plans for silverware?

LR: I haven't sat down with Jose Nido yet, but we will be having a meeting soon to discuss matters soon enough as now we have guaranteed European Cup football for another year. I am as ambitious as he is and we are both looking forward to starting a new campaign along side each other. I have a team capable of winning silverware but I have a squad which will need bolstering in certain area's to last out the campaign! Whatever is thrown at me next season though; challenges, teams, players, money... I will strive to make a bigger impression for Sevilla FC.

Thank you but I must meet up again with the end of season party and show Spain how we drink cider, the South-West style..!

SFCTV: OK thanks again.

tonymdf · Cult Status

Wood, optimistic for new season.

Recently relegated Middlesboro Manager Tony Wood has tonight came out fighting after a disappointing season back in the top. His Middlesboro team finished bottom of the league, managed only 1 win all season and saw some big name players leave!

when asked for his evaluation of the season Wood replied "relegation was always going to be difficult to avoid, we had a realistic aim of finishing 9th, that was just to much for what is now a very young squad in its first season back amongst the elite, but I know the experience will have given the players a vital look at what is expected in terms of standard and consistency. I know we will come back stronger from this season and life back in the championship next season is at least something i have had experience off after leading Middlesboro to promotion last season, I believe in this squad of players, we have a good mixture of youth and experienced and we intend to hang onto them, some big clubs might come calling to try and lure them away but relegation hurts these players want to repay that pain by bringing success back to the club.

asked if he is worried about his own future he replied, Every manager is only as good as his results, and ours have been poor, so yes I am worried about my future but I hope to sit down with my chairman in the close season and discuss plans for next season and beyond, I want to be the manager of Middlesboro, I am not one for jumping around club to club every season or two, I want to stay and finish what we have started here and am 100% committed to the club.

when asked about any wantaway players, Woods had this remark for any managers looking at luring players away " Fiorillo, Wheater, Ireland, Johnson, Schwenk will be the backbone of our team next season, nobody has handed in a transfer request which shows they have the same commitment I have, that they have great character and want to put right the disappointment of this season for everybody connected with the club especially the fans"

crj66 · International Player

Sheff Wednesday Manager Callum Jefferies spoke to the press on Tuesday after 2 days of celebration following their promotion to the premier league.

CJ " I am so pleased for everyone connected with this football club, the players, fans, chairman and even the tea lady, they have all played a part and we cannot wait to test ourselves against the big boys." "It wont be easy but with a nice investment as promised from my chairman i hope i can bring in the right mix of players to be able to hold our own in the top flight"

"The prep work starts now and i have already been looking at what we need to improve on, its a very exciting time and we cannot wait to get started"

Turney · Cult Status

TURNEY SHOCKED BY SACKING

The now former Valencia manager spoke to Sky Sports today regarding his recent departure from Valencia.

"I was very shocked at the boards decision to sack me. I was purely trying to build a squad for the future which could challenge the big 2. This seems to be a growing trend in football with the sacking of managers too quickly and with the merry go round of managers at these football club it is very hard to see any of these club achieving any long term success. I hope my next job in management is with a club which gives the manager time to build a squad a create stabilty amongst in the club not just for the short term future but the long term future as well. I would like to thank the Valencia fans for all the support they have given me. They were still cheering my name at the end of last weeks games so obviously the decison to sack me was purely down to the greed of Juan Soler"

-- Edited by Turney on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 03:48:38 PM

-- Edited by Turney on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 03:50:05 PM

Luke_C · Cult Status

Coakley delighted with end of season form

Lukecoakley spoke to www.Milan-news.italy.Europe

Luke the season finished in great style for you, is this something to build on now next season?

Its always nice to thrash two rivals and to do it in such style is very pleasing. Inter are not the force they once were and dont expect them to be challenging for the league anytime soon. Fiorentina worked with a small squad and that has cost them in the end but we expected and planned for that same as we did with Genoa. I think we now have the right balance in the squad, this is the strongest Milan squad in quite some time.

Who do you see as challengers next season?

Well Juventus are very strong but we expect to fight them all the way next season. Fiorentina are a team that can go either way, If Rob leaves and just uses Fiorentina as a stepping stone then I can see them falling away like Inter and maybe as far as Roma. Genoa are an unknown force at the moment but it will take a very strong manager and more good investment for them to be near the top. While I dont expect Sampdoria to challange for the title I think they will shock some team next season. Its sure to be a exciting season.

Do you expect many squad changes before the season?

I hope to bring in two squad players this week but we are awaiting confirmation on those deals. The main base of the squad is now complete though and we have Danny coming back from his loan spell. Ideally if funds allow we would bring in another two quality players but that will be up to the chairman and if we cant then we go with what we got. We are also looking to bring a keeper in on loan.

You have a friendly against Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend, what are you expecting from this game?

Having been a popular person on the blue side of Manchester I expect a red hot reception from the blue half but its going to be a good game, we both like to play football. The result isnt the most important thing but playing well will be and we will be trying something new for the game.

Craig is a friend but also a very good manager who I believe will bring a trophy back to Old Trafford next season especially if the Glaziers can back him like other chairman have backed there clubs in England.