Week 8

Football Academy · Cult Status

Week 8

Kenny · Semi-Pro Player

KENNY NICHOLSON SAYS DEPORTIVO ARE REAL DEAL

DJIBRIL CISSE vowed his team would become the new Barcelona in week 18 last season when Deportivo confirmed their place in La Liga with promotion. People might have laughed at the idea but no-one is laughing now!

The Galicia club, who have been playing an exciting brand of football since appointing Nicholson, have made it a season to remember already not only with 4 wins out of 7 but this weeks win over Barcelona themselves.

Now Nicholson believes all the hard work is paying off and the adventurous style of football Deportivo have learnt to play is getting the rewards it deserves.

He insisted: "People laughed at our confidence at the end of last season but this league was there for the taking and good football would always win at the end of the day.

"Playing boring football was never on the cards. The chairman knew what he would be getting from me the moment he signed me. I warned teams we would go for broke in games that there was no point being promoted and defending for most of the matches this season.

"I'm so happy the fans have the chance to watch enjoyable football that is successful here.

"To win 4 games already is incredible. Barcelona are my dream team so there was a little bit of regret celebrating their loss but it's hard not to be over the moon at such a great result. Managing a team like Barcelona has to be a dream job for any manager so the next best thing is to get a team playing like Barcelona. I'm not saying we're there yet but I think this result shows we're on our way."

Deportivo might have been one of the favourites to go back down this season but they lead the race between the 5th 6th and 7th teams a race both Atletico and Seville should be winning easily.

He told fans: "The season is far from over but already we've shown we're here and we mean business, we're not going to be push overs. Any team coming to face us with a weakness will worry knowing we can exploit it."

Luke_C · Cult Status

Coakley concerned by cup defeat

Luke you rested a few players and paid the ultimate price?
Did we? The team we put out was very strong, only really Watson left out but he is 32 and we need to protect him. We played a team we believed could get a result and Im surprised and concerned by the result. We created chances, be bossed periods of the game and I dont think the score reflects the game. All we can do though is to wish West Ham on the win and wish them well for the next round.

Is it simply a case of lack strength in depth?
We do lack in certain departments but that cannot be used as an excuse. We have had some excellent results with these very players, maybe tactically we were not right. The result matched together with some of our recent results means changes need to be made and they have already been put in place.

Are we to believe that this means permanent transfers have been agreed?
Yes two sold and three players in, I think it needed freshening up. The core of the team is very good but maybe the type of fringe players we had were not right.

Tezza · Cult Status

Siena News

The game tonight did not go as the manager wanted and it was clear that the stress is beginning to show on Terry's face. We did however manage to catch him for a few minutes before he left the ground.

PRESS.

You cant be pleased with that result?

Terry.

No, that was a disappointment. Ascoli are a very good side but to go down at home has to be a disaster at this stage of the season. We needed a point today and apart from that one mistake we nearly pulled it off.

PRESS.

You were only saying last week that you had completed your team building and were happy with the result.

Terry.

I am. I honestly think that I have a wonderful collection of players, a good mix of youth and experience but I cant just get them to play as I know they can. We missed Brown today. I was pushed into giving 16 year old Gallego a start today and whilst he played well we just lacked that something.

PRESS.

You are not in a bad position, you are only a few points out of the Play-off position.

Terry.

The Chairman knows my target this season and he also knows I wont hold this team back. I believe that since I joined Siena the team that we have assembled is far superior to what we started with. I believe I have a couple of games to turn this around and thats what we will be concentrating on.

-- Edited by Tezza on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 11:31:57 PM