Week 19

Football Academy · Cult Status

Week 19

Football Academy · Cult Status

Della Valle quits Fiorentina

Earlier it had been announced chairman Andrea Della Valle was to speak with the Italian press but when the press conference started he was no where to be seen. Many Italian pundits had suggested it was to confirm the sacking of underfire manager Rob O'Brien following their 4-3 loss to Palermo. Fiorentina sit in 4th place this season ahead of Genoa and AC Milan but are a staggering 24 points off leaders Juventus. A spokesman for Andrea Della Valle read out a statement that had been left behind.

"I would like to thank all the fans for their support over recent times. Fiorentina has been a club fighting in the top half of Serie A for so long now we feel established here. The public are aware of problems between myself and the management over funding of the team. Rob has been looking for a big cash investment to make changes while the board have always felt winnings and better squad management should have produced said funds. Looking forwards we expect AC Milan and Genoa to improve, and now Lazio have new owners. The squad is crippled this season and isn't improving under Rob. We feel the future of the club is fighting relegation at best now, and expect the management team to move on to pastures new when they realise they have run the club into the ground. I appreciate the fans see Rob as an important person here and wouldn't want to fire him but something has to give. As such with immediate effect, I will no longer be chairman."

This shocking news leaves the club with no major stakeholder and as such could throw them into serious financial problems. With no Andrea Della Valle or Rob O'Brien present, the future of club, players and staff is all up in the air.

Football Academy · Cult Status

Issue 10: Release -- Sunday 27th February 11pm.

Contents will include a new columnist joining the team.

Football Academy · Cult Status

Charlton have agreed a takeover with Milan Mandaric taking some financial assets and selling the club to ex-Levante chairman Julio Romero.

Japanese businessman Yasuaki Kagami has agreed a takeover of Villarreal.

AC Milan have confirmed they are to call manager Chris Hanton in for talks this week following their 3-2 loss to Reggina.

Luke_C · Cult Status

ICWales speak with Cardiff manager Luke Coakley

(Q) Only a draw but you have now been announced as champions, congratulations.

(A) Thank you, its a great honour to be managing this great club and to get an instant return to the Premiership was very important as was being champions.We always felt we had the quality to go up so part of the job this season was making sure we had a squad that could stay in the premiership next season and I believe we have done that while still keeping the wage bill down.

(Q) How confident were you feeling going into the game on Friday?

(A) I felt very confident but I knew it was going to be a tough game as it proved.Sheffield Wednesday are struggling but they do have a lot of quality in the team so we werent going to underestimate them.

(Q) Were you pleased with the performance of your team?

(A) I feel we have a lot more to offer but the point got us what we wanted and that was to be champions.Defensively we still need to be a lot tough and I think we need to be more decisive and a bit clever in midfield but we have players out on loan who can come in and do that for us next season.

(Q) What game have you highlighted as the key match in your run in?

(A) We will be looking to win them all now, its very important that we remain unbeaten.Our position wont change so we will be looking to give key players as any games as possible to allow them to gain experience while we may look to rest others in preparation for next season.

(Q) Are you going to be playing key players until the end of the season or rest them to avoid players being injured for the new season?

(A) Well as previously mentioned we want players to improve so we will take it on a game by game basis.We have a young squad so although we dont want players injured for next season we do know that after a good pre-season that players will come back fitter than some squads.

(Q) unusually a failed deal for you this week, a misunderstanding with Atalanta?

(A) No this one was totally down to me, an error on my part and of course I apologise to Dale Price for what in the end is a frustrating situation for us both.We will still be doing the deal with a slight amendment in the week of the play/off final.So we still look forward to welcoming Consigli to the club.

(Q) Do you consider the top or bottom of your division to be the most exciting with three games remaining?

(A) The bottom of the championship is all but done and of course the champions of the division have been decided (smiles).I think the battle for second place is very exciting though as are the play/offs.I think Everton and Leicester will follow us up although in what positions im not sure.

(Q) Who will you be supporting to win your league?

(A) (laughs) I think that one is sorted.

(Q) One final question, some fans are concerned that you are yet to sign a contract for next season ? and some reports in Italy suggesting Genoa and potentially Milan are keen on recruiting you.

(A) To date I have not been offered a contract by the club but we have all been concentrating on the league. Now we are champions I expect the club will offer me a contract and I dont see there being a problem.

-- Edited by Luke_C on Monday 28th of February 2011 12:04:56 PM

Sinky2707 · Cult Status

Q) How confident were you feeling going into the game on Friday?

(A) I'm always confident with the players I have at my disposal to be honest.

(Q) Were you pleased with the performance of your team?

(A) Yes it was a hard game but we dug in and got the 3 points and that keeps the pressure on the other teams around us.

(Q) What game have you highlighted as the key match in your run in?

(A) All of them to put it simply if I had to pick one the game against Messina because if we beat them then we have a great chance of finishing in the top two.

(Q) Are you going to be playing key players until the end of the season or rest them to avoid players being injured for the new season?

(A) I can't afford to rest any of them really we need to win all the remaining games to be withing a shout of finsihing second or even as Champions.

(Q) Do you consider the top or bottom of your division to be the most exciting with three games remaining?

(A) The top of our division is the most exciting it's so tight that 5 of the teams at the top of the table could go up automatically.

(Q) Who will you be supporting to win your league?

(A) My Parma team and nobody elses!

GarethGardner · Cult Status

Gardner issues hands off warning to Lazio

After recent newspaper reports claiming that Lazio are interested in Middlesbrough Keeper Vincenzo Fiorillo. The Boro manager made this statement -

I would like to say these newspaper reports are totally untrue. We have had no talks at all with Lazio or any other club for Vincenzo. We are currently building a strong side for the future and Vincenzo is heavily involved with it. I have allways said that this team will be ready for an assault on the Premier League in 2 seasons time. If we stay up this year then that will be a bonus.
We have some players here that are going to be brilliant in a few years time. Players such as Fiorillo, Munoz, Elustondo, Porter and Paloschi.
We also have to stars for the future currently out on loan. Danny Hoesen at Fulham and Allesandro de Vittis at Leeds also have a big future at this club.
We also have a very strong youth pool which i will be hoping to bring a player or 2 out of next season and also have now built an academy which will be enlarged next season aswell. Im also considering having a chat with Craig at Manchester United at the start of next year to see what his plans are for Koke. Hopefully this season wont be the last we see of him. Whether that be another loan or a permanent transfer hasnt been discussed yet. Jordan Henderson is another player that has been brillant for us recently and it was great to see him on the scoresheet this week, but i suspect Ashley at Udinese has big plans for him.

Football Academy · Cult Status

The Real Valladolid have called manager Simon Jenkins in for talks amid speculation he is set to be confirmed as the new Genoa boss.

Hood · Sunday League Player

Charlton manager Rob Holden handed in his notice today and told fans it was a sad time for him.
"I will leave the team at the end of the season. I hope I can deliver a promotion for the fans but I feel the changes at board level have stopped this team moving forwards. The situation is not one I want to work in."
"We had raised more than 15 Million to spend on the team next season. I hoped to be buying players in the championship by then but if we stayed in this division new players would help us go up next season. The chairman has left and taken all of that money with him. The new chairman has low finances so we can't go cap in hand to him to replace this money."
"My time with Charlton has been a steep learning curve and I hoped we could snatch a famous promotion but I have no future hear next season."
The manager left the media room angry and resigned to leaving the team before next season started. His agent has said he would like to stay in England to continue his education in management.

-- Edited by Hood on Monday 28th of February 2011 08:59:22 PM

Tezza · Cult Status

Following the disappointing conclusion to Sienas season last Friday life is slowly returning to the Club. I have found it very difficult to lift the squad and the management team this week and return to the principle aim of the club that of getting promotion to Serie A. Nothing has changed we just have more time to get it all together.

I havent managed to talk to the chairman, John Brady yet and I know he was always in for the long haul but I do think he started to believe me when I said it was going to be this year. I must say the hard work is finished. That doesnt mean the quad is complete it just means that we have moved to phase 2. The quad has been totally revamped and I will be looking at improving on a couple of positions as well as bringing in a couple of loans next season. From here on in until the end of the season I will be using the time to try out different tactics in an effort to bring out the best in the squad.

I was talking to Andrew Fletcher the other day about the progress he has made with Napoli. Napoli are currently 4th in the league and rightly deserve to be. Andy has used a different approach to the task in that he is very patient and always planned to build something that would grow. Totally different to my approach of wanting it now. He has steadily invested in young players with the aim of developing them into stars. .Khalil from Valencia is one such player with huge potential. Ezequiel Lavezzi is another player who is settling into the league and with 15 goals to his credit, how good is he? I wish Andy all the best in the play-offs which I am sure he will manage to secure.

The weekend sees my spell in the Weekender coming to an end. It has been a most enjoyable experience and who knows, I could be back in the future.

Rhino · Cult Status

AC MILAN IN BIG TROUBLE

We understand from a member of the press that Ac Milan manager Chris Hanton was not at the game this weekend, We can also confirm from a 1st team player Mido that Hanton picked the team for the game and the Milan Assisant manager didnt follow through with Mr Hanton selection which has made Hanton go through the roof this backs the story that broke on Sunday that the board were bringing Hanton in for talks.

-- Edited by Rhino on Tuesday 1st of March 2011 06:09:53 PM

-- Edited by Rhino on Tuesday 1st of March 2011 06:12:04 PM

Football Academy · Cult Status

AC Milan assistant admits changes

Mauro Tassotti has issued a public statement following reports he had failed to submit the team selection supplied by absent manager Chris Hanton. AC Milan lost another game they were expected to win and the press has been filled with news of boardroom meetings over the weekend. "I want to make it clear I did alter the selection. Chris picked Guilherme Siqueira who was ineligible for the game so the default selection for his place was made. Commenting any further on this mistake, or the recent poor form, or the gaffers lack of attendance to the match, is all more than my jobs worth." One journalist present admitted that with tensions already in the camp, even this statement might be a signal for the end of Mauro Tassotti's association with Chris Hanton and AC Milan.

Football Academy · Cult Status

Re: ICWales speak with Cardiff manager Luke Coakley

Cardiff fans have flooded fan message boards with pleas for the chairman to move swiftly to offer Luke Coakley a new long term deal that will see him lead the Championship Champions into the Premiership.

Leeds have confirmed manager Dave Davies-Evans will not be signing a contract extension and will leave the club in the summer after agreeing a deal with an as yet unnamed club.

Re: Gardner issues hands off warning to Lazio

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo has told fans he has no plans to leave the club and is keen to see the manager follow through on the ambitions outlined when he joined the club. Despite this, reports from Rome tabloids claim new Lazio manager Raymond Farnell has approached the new board specifically with a list of targets, on which is the name Vincenzo Fiorillo.

Japanese businessman Yasuaki Kagami who is the new owner of Villarreal has announced manager Jackie Yeo will have "no funds" next season whether the team gain promotion or not.

Re: Rob Holden handed in his notice

Charlton fans were outraged at the news the outgoing Charlton chairman took a large chunk of cash from the transfer funds before leaving. They have backed Rob Holden to now deliver promotion before he leaves the club in the summer. Speculation has started as to where he could move to next after he ruled out a move abroad.

Bigwave1927 · Top Flight Player

Yorkshire Evening post have today tracked down Leeds manager Dave Davies-Evans

YEPost." Dave, we have just heard that you will be leaving Leeds after the last game of the season is this TRUE???"

DDE. " I am sad to say that yes it is true, i have had a fantastic offer from a Seria A side that i hold very close to my heart. I was brought into Leeds to steady the ship and hopefully get the club promoted to which i think thus far i have done quite well."

YEPost." This is very sad news Dave and im sure the Leeds fans will be absoulutly gutted".

DDE" I would like to thank the fans for there loyal support to myself, my staff and more importantly the TEAM. This season has been a bit hit and miss with so many draws but one positive is we have only been beaten once this season. We are currently lying in 6th Place in the leauge with two winnable games coming up next."

YEPost." Do you think Leeds are in a good position to challenge in the playoffs??"

DDE. " Leeds are in a great position on and off the pitch. I have maneged to raise some cash which will sit in the bank to pay the bills at the end of the season. I have also brought in some good young talent that will no doubt improve this team for the future.

DDE." Right then lets get behind the team and try our best to get this club promoted"!!!!!

redrob · Cult Status

Fiorentina Manager Rob Speaks out !!
as chairman walk's out

Fiorentina manager Rob O'Brien speaks to the Italian Media regarding his and the clubs future !!!

First of all I want to AGAIN reasure the FAN'S (and by FANS i mean the clubs supporters and not the Ex Chairman who has just walked out on the club, our club when he has been asked to put his hand in his pocket FOR THE FIRST TIME since i took over as Manager of this great historic Club) that I will not be walking out on them as promised and will be at our club looking to take us forward untill I, We think different.
As for Ex Fiorentina owner Andrea Della Valle coments that he thinks he cannot take the club forward any more, he as i'm sure the FANS will agree with me has invested little if nothing back into the team and the ONLY reason we have the STAR players we have in our ranks right now such as Torres, Antonio, Pepe, Alonso, Pirlo, Agger plus our young rising stars is all down to me and my staff's efforts in the transfer Market. We have suffered unbelievable injuries this season which would see most team s fall by the wayside but we have stuck together as a team and have never broke ranks this it what we do here we play football.

Fiorentina is our Club, my club and not just a business. Andrea Della Valle should leave here not with his head held high but with it in his hands. He speaks about us not getting on and this is because I'm in the results business and needed to be backed rather than having to let our Present Stars go in order to raise funds each and every season since i took over.

I don't see Andrea Della Valle walking out a Bad move for our club as we need someone with vision and a footballing brain to take this Great club forward. And give back to the fans the success their loyal support deserves.

After thanking the press Rob returned to the traning ground to prepare his players for this weekends game

Football Academy · Cult Status

Real Valladolid manager Simon Jenkins has signed a new long term contract to keep him at the club, ending speculation he is about to take over at Genoa.

pricey · Cult Status

(Q) How confident were you feeling going into the game on Friday?
(A) We knew it was going to be a hard game against a team that is on course for promotion but I think we did well to get the point.

(Q) Were you pleased with the performance of your team?
(A) Yes me and the players were happy with the way we played. We created more chances then them but lacked that final killer edge in the box.

(Q) What game have you highlighted as the key match in your run in?
(A) The 3 games left of the normal season are all massive now to be honest with you we need to win all 3 which I feel we can. This week its Messina V Chievo which is most prob the biggest game in Serie B so far this season think I would be really happy with a draw from this game.

(Q) Are you going to be playing key players until the end of the season or rest them to avoid players being injured for the new season?
(A) We are in a good state with the team at the moment but it is something that I am keeping an eye on I would rather have players out for the first game in Serie A next season than having a full side to choose from in Serie B.

(Q) Do you consider the top or bottom of your division to be the most exciting with three games remaining?
(A) The top without a doubt, the bottom of the league doesnt get exciting in my view as there is no relegation in place

(Q) Who will you be supporting to win your league?
(A) Atalanta of course.

Fletch · Cult Status

(Q) How confident were you feeling going into the game on Friday?

(A) I'm never that confident, we do what we can but I cant rest on my laurels, I live on my nerves so every game to me is a worry.

(Q) Were you pleased with the performance of your team?

(A) Yes we did well to bounce back from a disappointing result the week before, we need to be more consistent and thats what I will be looking at for next year. We have only had one decent run of wins and that was mid season.

(Q) What game have you highlighted as the key match in your run in?

(A) They are all key really but if we make it then you have got to say the play off games.

(Q) Are you going to be playing key players until the end of the season or rest them to avoid players being injured for the new season?

(A) I dont have a choice, I'm mixing it up and this weekend will then tell me whether or not I need to give a couple of players a rest for the play offs, everything is up in the air and nothing guaranteed at the moment.

(Q) Do you consider the top or bottom of your division to be the most exciting with three games remaining?

(A) The top of our division has been great this season, nobody has run away with it so weve always been in with a shout.

(Q) Who will you be supporting to win your league?

(A) You have to fancy Chievo really, they haven't lost a game all season and therefore thats where my money is.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

FOXES NEWS

jackieyeo · Top Flight Player

Jackie Yeo confirmed he will leave at the end of the season