Week 19

Wardy · Top Flight Player

Week 19

Ash · Cult Status

Zaragoza on the brink.

Real Zaragoza manager Ashley Harris spoke to the assembled media as his side neared promotion with a 2-0 win over Gimnastic.

Press: A good solid win, pleased with the performance?

AH: Yes, i'm pleased, we started well getting the 2 goals early and maybe we could of gone on to add a couple more, but it's been a long hard season for the lads, so i'm satisfied with the 3 points. Once we got 2-0 up we controlled the game and fully deserved the win.

Press: You are now 9 points clear of Santander with just 3 games to go with a superior goal difference. Are you already celebrating?

AH: Not quite yet no. Football is a funny old game and you never can be to sure until it's mathmatically assured. Admittedly we would be remembered for years if we through it away from here, but we want to go and win the Segunda so we still have plenty to play for in the final 3 games. It would be a great moment if we secure promotion but we have to wait as i'd look rather stupid if i sat here and said we were already promoted and then lost our last 3 games, so we are taking nothing for granted.

Press: Adam Prince scored a brace to take his season tally to 15. How pleased have you been with him?

AH: We have been very immpressed by Adam's perfromances this season. He joined us at the start of the season and settled in immediately and you have to be very immpressed with the maturity he has shown at the age of 20. He is only 1 goal behind Fernandillo at Bilbao in the the top goalscorer race, so were keen to try and help him score a few more, as it would be a great achievement for him.

Press: Finally a big game this week against second placed Bilbao. How do you see it going?

AH: Well, it's certainly a game that were very keen to win as it would secure the Segunda title aswell as promotion so it's big week of training to try and prepare for this game. Unfortuantely we have 4 players ruled out for this game so it's going to test our squad to the limit but were looking forward to it and are still confident that we can get the 3 points.

Press: Thanks for your time.
AH: No problem.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Toffees in seventh heaven, and plan St Mary's plunder

Everton survived a scare to thrash league one rivals Nottingham Forest 7-3 in a thrilling encounter at Goodison Park this weekend. Despite moving into a comfortable 2-0 lead Everton were pegged back by a determined Forest, who led with 10 minutes of the match remaining. The home side then produced some fine attacking football to demolish their opponents and keep the points at Goodison. Post match Toffees boss Rollings spoke about the win, the coming game against Southampton, facing Ronaldinho, and the title race.

on the game...

"The scoreline is pretty irrelevant in truth. It is just another important three points and another step towards us realising our ambitions. With Reading dropping points today I don't think we are far away now so we must maintain our focus and not let them back in. We still have to play Reading so its nice to have a little bit of a cushion to fall back on."

on next weeks game against Southampton...

"I hate to keep repeating myself, and I know it doesn't sell papers but it really is just another game for us. Southampton are a good side and if they keep everyone fit will probably win the play-offs but we don't fear them. At the end of the day over the course of the season they are down in 5th place so with all due respect its not like were suddenly playing Chelsea or Manchester City. This week gave a glimpse of the attacking intent which I have in the squad and this week you will see that unleased further. We go in as favourites because we are top of the league, and that suits us fine because we would always rather be top of the league than facing up to the play-offs."

on facing Ronaldinho...

"No doubt he is world class and we will have to be aware of him but one man doesn't make a team. It looks like he will get the nod against us because I think Steve's competitive edge wants to win this just a little bit extra. But we have some fine players also, and ours are still match fresh. It should be an interesting fixture."

on the title race...

"I have made no secret I want to win the league title. Promotion is the goal but personally I want to add a trophy to the cabinet. I have a good record in England, with two promotions with Coventry but neither was as a league winner so I want to try and add that to my achievements. It won't be easy, and we may well have to win every single game left but we are fully focused on the challenge. Promotion first, and once that is out of the way we will be hunting that league title!"

Adams · Top Flight Player

Adams targets Zaragoza party

Bilbao have rallied to tell wannabe champion Ashley Harris and his Real Zaragoza men not to count their chickens yet.

Earlier Ashley Harris told the press he was confident of taking three points despite injuries. They are top of the league he has a right to be confident but we want to burst some of their title balloons this week. If we can beat them we move just a point away. Our last two games are against 8th and 10th and they have two tough games against 5th and 6th. Any team playing Getafe right now has to be worried and their fine form could do us a big favour, but we have to get there first and the best way is three points against Ash and his men.

They will miss the players they have out but we have two out ourselves. With no leftback and a centreback out injured we have to decide to play a rightback on his own or play a narrower defence. Our leftback Bergara is a big blow but we will muddle on with out him. I hope to give him too many things to worry about and maybe our weakness will avoid being exploited.

They have Adam Prince but our fans our tired of hearing his name. We hear a lot about him from the press but Fernandillo has scored more and his match ratings are higher. I spoke to Fernandillo and he is looking forward to the battle of the goalscorers.

-- Edited by Adams on Tuesday 31st of August 2010 05:42:17 PM

Football Academy · Cult Status

The English FA have confirmed there is "significant substance" to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs investigation into an unnamed club and sanctions are expected by the end of the season.

Tezza · Cult Status

Atalanta News

Atalanta are away to bottom of the table Torino this weekend. Terry continues to rest his senior players and yet you get the impression that losing is not part of the overall plan.

PRESS,

Should be an easy contest this weekend?

TM,

No not necessarily. Torino are fighting to get off the bottom and that type of drive can catch teams out. We will have play as though we really want to win. I will still be resting players again but, on Friday there will be a few Atalanta players trying to impress in order to stay in the first team.

PRESS,

How will you approach that type of match?

TM,

Torino do not score many goals and that in itself tells me a little about how to approach the match. I think we will have to put them under pressure from the kick off and keep their defence busy. We will be watching Valatti very carefully as he looks the one to keep an eye on. I will be meeting Alan Lindsay for the first time and I hope he enjoys his time here but whilst I am not too bothered about a win, it is always nice to get three points.

PRESS,

You do seem very relaxed?

TM,

I am. I have secured a play off position, we are treading water until we can have a go at Ascoli in the play offs. What pressure can there be?

PRESS,

Have you started planning for next season?

TM,

No, that is something I am not working on at the moment. I am not even sure where I will be next season. It could all go terribly wrong.

-- Edited by Tezza on Tuesday 31st of August 2010 09:21:41 PM

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Southampton v Everton - Pre Match Press Conference with Steve Davies-Evans

Press: Steve, both yourselves and Everton are in a decent run of form at the moment, how do you see this one going?

SDE - I think it's likely to be a cracker with lots of goals just like the last time we met.

Press: How important is a win this week?

SDE: Well about as important as every week to be honest. We aren't assured of our playoff place yet so obviously every point that takes us closer to that marker is important. If we can get a win this week then that will all but secure our place and will do if other results go our way.

Press: We've already heard from Everton manager Mark Rollings this week on your game and he's stated that you have the ability to win these playoffs. What is your reaction to that?

SDE: Well that's obviously nice to hear but as Mark also said, it's "IF" we keep all our players fit and that's what i'm being paid to do at the moment. It won't be easy but if we go into the playoffs with a full squad and continue that way then yes, I'd like to think we can do it.

Press: Mark also hinted that you may risk playing Ronaldinho so that you might be able to get one over on him. Is this the case?

SDE: [Laughs] No not at all. If Ronaldinho plays this week, it will because we feel it's right for the team. I've said all along, he won't play in all these games leading up to the end of the season so I've got to choose whether he plays in this game or the next. There's a chance that he will play in this game as if he gets injured, we have a game longer to get him fit again but there's also a chance that he won't play again before the end of the season in a risk to keep him fit. Obviously that could back fire and we could miss out all together but that's what I'm hear for and why I'm paid to make those sort of decisions.

Press: You've not been shy this season in stating that Everton will and should win the league, they are currently top, do you still stick to your prediction?

SDE: Well to be fair, I don't think that I put my neck on the line too much did I by prediction that the pre-season favourites would in the league but they have gone from strength to strength and deserve to be top. Our last couple of results have obviously helped them and we could do again next week if we take points off Leicester but make no bones about it, we will be looking to take 3 from Everton this week and hopefully secure our playoff place.

Press: As an English club, are you slightly nervous about the latest news that HMRC have substancial evidence against an English league club?

SDE: Well, we've had no indication who it is so yes I guess that we worry as much as any but the hints are that it is to do with a chairman so I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens. I have a very good chairman here and can't see how it could be him but like the rest of the football world, We'll wait to see what happens. I know that rumours are that it could be the Manchester City chairman but if that is true, we'll find out soon enough.

Liam · Cult Status

Liam Riste gave an interview on Sevilla FC Television on the weekends' action.

SFCTV: So after the 3-3 draw with Real Madrid, do you think you did enough to win the game?

LR: We were playing Real Madrid were we? I thought the score read Sevilla 3, Man City 3? Podolski is a world class player and he is showing what he is capable of... I'm not bitter that he stuck three past us today at all. I feel that we should have taken 3 points but playing away from home in front of a crowd the size of Madrid's is always difficult. I was pleased to have rescued the game from 2-0 but disappointed not to hold onto the lead we fought so hard for.

SFCTV: So does this draw signal the end of your title ambitions?

LR: Ambitions is something the title wasn't for me. More of a dream as there as so many big teams in this league and it was never going to be easy. The title is still mathematically possible, but the odds are highly stacked against us. Real Valladolid should go on to win it from here comfortably.

SFCTV: You have some big games coming up, what are you looking to get from them?

LR: Well Barcelona is a game that we don't want to lose again, a draw will see us remain 2nd and a win will pretty much guarantee us this place...

Levante are a team fighting for survival, but I don't want to lose, even if it means sinking them to the Segunda.

Real Valladolid should already be champions by then and they will have had the cup final before our meeting, so I want to build on the 4-4 draw in our previous meeting and take all three points, to wipe the smile of their face after we've done the guard of honour for them!

SFCTV: You've already taken a point from Valladolid and your looking to take a further three from a team you consider the Champions this season. How confident are you of toppling them next season?

LR: Well to take a point away from home against Valladolid is good! We haven't yet taken the three at home and I'm not counting my chickens. I think they have a better squad than us so I believe that with a bit of money, we will push them to their limits next season which we almost did this season. The problem we faced this season is that our squad couldn't handle rotation properly and we dropped unnecessary points along the way. However, this can be built on.

SFCTV: Okay well thanks once again for your time.

LR: Cheers.

Rhino · Cult Status

Hanton Not Happy with Riste.

The Real Madrid manger has slammed Riste for his team tatics against Madrid last weekend which has left 3 of the Madrid Defenders injured for this week game. Hanton said " I cant believe the style they played against us how they managed to keep 11 men on the pitch is amazing, soon as they went behind they showed what sort of team they are, I was speaking to Simon the Real Valladolid manager and he was hoping we would take points off them which im pleased we did but we deserved all three so i think the title is firmly in in Simon's hands now which im pleased about as he has built a fantastic squad and his team plays to win and not kick decent players off the pitch"

Hanton carries on his rant against Riste after the Sevilla manager showed a lack of respect again..........." For a manager of a top team to come out and say what he did shocks me (Sevilla 3 Man City 3) just because a player is loan from another team shows what sort of person he is,Lucas is a top talent has played fantasic since we brought him in on loan but im sure Rooney and Reyes and co would be a bit mifffed with that comment."

Liam · Cult Status

Play Hard Or Go Home Hanton!

Upon hearing Real Madrid's manager Chris Hanton slate his tactics in the recent clash last weekend, Sevilla manager Liam Riste had the following to say:

"This is a man's game, so if his weedy back four can't handle a bit of rough and tumble then they don't deserve to put on the Real Madrid jersey! My team have made a habit of coming from behind against teams, from as far as three down so instead of blaming my attacking force for injuring his precious defence, maybe he should question whether his defence dropped in embarrassment at throwing away such a comfortable lead...

I have a lot of respect for Chris Hanton, especially as last season his CV was a lot better than mine and he pipped me for the Madrid job. I think Podolski is a world class player who is struggling to break into City's starting eleven so games would help him. Sure I'd be delighted to have him in my team too and Rooney and Reyes may be slightly miffed about my comment but if they are, then maybe they should take a look and see what Podolski has achieved since being loaned in and consider pulling their finger out to save their manager from the sack!

I am pleased for Simon at Valladolid too as he has built his Valladolid team to what it is now, and as I was never expected to win the league, think that we too have every right to be very proud of what we have achieved."

Steve · Cult Status

Rhino wrote:

".........how they managed to keep 11 men on the pitch is amazing........"

They wouldn't have kept them on if they had the referee from my last game. Roma didn't have a single attempt on goal for 90 minutes and my keeper still got sent off!

confuse