It is now approaching the end of September in the season and Saudi Arabia have a friendly against Japan in two weeks.
This game is a key game despite being a friendly. Four days after this game we will be playing South Korea in another vital qualifier and I know that a win is a must.
Yasser Al-Qahtani is a doubt however as he went off injured in the AFC Champions league game against Saipa. Apart from Al-Qahtani, we have no new injury worries and I am expecting some of our key players who were absent in the last qualifiers to be back.
We have the Japan game to asess the players and the style that South Korea may pose. I am planning on using a similar formation to that I use at Denizlispor in the Japan game to see if it works well.
We need to beat South Korea as I felt we dropped two silly points against the U.A.E. I want a repeat showing of the Iran game where we played to our strenghts and carved open the defence.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Denizlispor 3-1 Kartalspor (extra-time)
I decided to make changes to the XI from the defeat at Besiktas. Out went Cenk, Emin Aladag, Bangoura and Sener and in came Angelov, Lietava and Oren.
Due to the registration rules on foreign players in Turkey both Angelov and Lietava are ineligable for the league so I will be playing them in the cup.
This was a harder game than expect as Kartalspor really took the game to us. We did take the lead early on and I was pleased by the manner of my new-look side.
Kartlaspor drew level in the 2nd half and then I decided to bring on Caner and Irineu. The game went to extra-time. Out players were getting tired and then we won a penalty. Maraloc converted the penalty to make it 2-1 before we got a 2nd penalty. This was the controversial penalty but was converted by Irineu. The 3-1 scoreline may have looked good but the fact that it took us until extra-time to see of Kartalspor was the disappointing thing.
We qualify for the Group stage of the Cup.
Due to the registration rules on foreign players in Turkey both Angelov and Lietava are ineligable for the league so I will be playing them in the cup.
This was a harder game than expect as Kartalspor really took the game to us. We did take the lead early on and I was pleased by the manner of my new-look side.
Kartlaspor drew level in the 2nd half and then I decided to bring on Caner and Irineu. The game went to extra-time. Out players were getting tired and then we won a penalty. Maraloc converted the penalty to make it 2-1 before we got a 2nd penalty. This was the controversial penalty but was converted by Irineu. The 3-1 scoreline may have looked good but the fact that it took us until extra-time to see of Kartalspor was the disappointing thing.
We qualify for the Group stage of the Cup.
Besiktas 2-1 Denizlispor
It was back down to earth after last week's win. This really was a game I thaught we could draw. We were undone in the 1st half by two Besiktas goals. Mert Nobre was fantastic for Besiktas and we couldn't do anything to stop him in the first half.
Rustu played well in goal as we had a couple of good shots parried away by the legendary keeper.
In the 2nd half I thaught we were much to better side. We got our goal early which meant I could change things to a more attacking formation in search of the equilizer. I changed from a 4-3-3 to a more attacking 4-2-1-3 which almost worked wonders if only Rustu wasn't playing.
I took of Berberovic and put on Sener in the attacking midfield role behind the front three of Caner, Fatih and Bangoura.
In the end a 2-1 loss but definetly progress in our performances. Next up is Kartalspor in the cup.
Rustu played well in goal as we had a couple of good shots parried away by the legendary keeper.
In the 2nd half I thaught we were much to better side. We got our goal early which meant I could change things to a more attacking formation in search of the equilizer. I changed from a 4-3-3 to a more attacking 4-2-1-3 which almost worked wonders if only Rustu wasn't playing.
I took of Berberovic and put on Sener in the attacking midfield role behind the front three of Caner, Fatih and Bangoura.
In the end a 2-1 loss but definetly progress in our performances. Next up is Kartalspor in the cup.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Denizlispor 3-2 Gaziantepspor
Finally it was coming but we finally got our first win of the new season. I was really thrilled by the performance of the team as a whole unit. We scored some good goals and I think Ibrahim Bangoura may have a new position.
In this game I started with a 4-3-3 formation but as the game went on I tended to go for a
4-2-3-1 formation. This basically in it's simplest terms is four defenders covered by two defensive midfielders with three attacking midfielders and one striker.
Fatih was my selected striker in this role and I moved Bangoura and Sener out onto the attacking midfield roles along with Emin Aladag.
Berberovic and Douglas Peruíbe were the defensive midfielders. This was a masterstroke as it did mean we had an attacking edge to our style.
The two goals were conceded were both disappointing. Two penalties which were poorly given by the referee.
Pleased with the three points today.
In this game I started with a 4-3-3 formation but as the game went on I tended to go for a
4-2-3-1 formation. This basically in it's simplest terms is four defenders covered by two defensive midfielders with three attacking midfielders and one striker.
Fatih was my selected striker in this role and I moved Bangoura and Sener out onto the attacking midfield roles along with Emin Aladag.
Berberovic and Douglas Peruíbe were the defensive midfielders. This was a masterstroke as it did mean we had an attacking edge to our style.
The two goals were conceded were both disappointing. Two penalties which were poorly given by the referee.
Pleased with the three points today.
U.A.E 2-2 Saudi Arabia
Not the result I was hoping for at all. I must admit after the Iran game on Saturday I honestly thaught we would be capable of securing a good result to take back to Riyadh with us. But the worse thing about this game was that a victory was seconds away. A last-gasp goal by the U.A.E was sickening but was coming.
We went behind before I good strong words at half-time and within ten minutes were 2-1 up. I had warned against being complacent and this is the result.
We didn;t play well in this game. We were really taken by surprise byt the speed of the U.A.E. This obivously is a worry to us as our defenders can be slow at times.
The FA are keen to point out that this result is not going down well with the fans back home. We have a month to prepare for the only qualifier in November against the North Koreans and this will be a test. We have a friendly against Japan before that qualifier which I intend to use to get the players ready for the type of style that the North Koreans may use.
We went behind before I good strong words at half-time and within ten minutes were 2-1 up. I had warned against being complacent and this is the result.
We didn;t play well in this game. We were really taken by surprise byt the speed of the U.A.E. This obivously is a worry to us as our defenders can be slow at times.
The FA are keen to point out that this result is not going down well with the fans back home. We have a month to prepare for the only qualifier in November against the North Koreans and this will be a test. We have a friendly against Japan before that qualifier which I intend to use to get the players ready for the type of style that the North Koreans may use.
Saudi Arabia 3-1 Iran
A great win. This was really satisfying for me as I firmly thaught that this was a game where a draw was our best bet.
In my first game managing the Saudis I saw glimpses of a side that could with a bit of help become the best in Asia. I fully intend on getting Saudi Arabia to the World cup in South Africa and with these tactics i used in this game I think we may be onto a winner.
I basically put out a 4-3-1-2 formation. This was a midfield of three midfielders plus one attacking midfielder to assist the two strikers who were great today.
I also used attacking wing-backs after Iran scored at 2-1. This ultimately conjested the Iranian box and no surprises we got the 3rd goal in added time.
There was a negative with the goal we conceded we failed to proberly tackle and were punished. But certainly there is potenial in this side.
In my first game managing the Saudis I saw glimpses of a side that could with a bit of help become the best in Asia. I fully intend on getting Saudi Arabia to the World cup in South Africa and with these tactics i used in this game I think we may be onto a winner.
I basically put out a 4-3-1-2 formation. This was a midfield of three midfielders plus one attacking midfielder to assist the two strikers who were great today.
I also used attacking wing-backs after Iran scored at 2-1. This ultimately conjested the Iranian box and no surprises we got the 3rd goal in added time.
There was a negative with the goal we conceded we failed to proberly tackle and were punished. But certainly there is potenial in this side.
Saudi Arabia preview
With the qualifiers coming up against Iran and the U.A.E, I decided to run over some of my players I have available.
I have a good few players out with injury so I am looking into the U-21 and U-19 sides for replacements.
Of the players I have Yasser Al-Qahtani is certainly among the best as is Mohammed Noor and Hamad Al-Montashari. All of my players play in Saudi Arabia with the noteble exception of Abdullah in the U-19 side who is with West Ham's youth system.
The game against Iran is certainly the big game. I know it will be massive if we can get a victory over this kind of opposition as Iran are quiet good. We will have to watch for Ali Karimi and Vadid Hashemian up front while Mehdi Madavikia is a danger.
I was surprised not to see Masoud Shojaei included in their squad but this makes my job that bit easier.
Focus after this game turns to the U.A.E a side that many will expect us to beat but I know they are not to be underestimated. They have good players in like Ismael Matar and this will be focused on after the Iran match.
I have a good few players out with injury so I am looking into the U-21 and U-19 sides for replacements.
Of the players I have Yasser Al-Qahtani is certainly among the best as is Mohammed Noor and Hamad Al-Montashari. All of my players play in Saudi Arabia with the noteble exception of Abdullah in the U-19 side who is with West Ham's youth system.
The game against Iran is certainly the big game. I know it will be massive if we can get a victory over this kind of opposition as Iran are quiet good. We will have to watch for Ali Karimi and Vadid Hashemian up front while Mehdi Madavikia is a danger.
I was surprised not to see Masoud Shojaei included in their squad but this makes my job that bit easier.
Focus after this game turns to the U.A.E a side that many will expect us to beat but I know they are not to be underestimated. They have good players in like Ismael Matar and this will be focused on after the Iran match.
Friday, December 25, 2009
The offers
Fortunetly we didn't get many offers in the summer. I think this group of players are the right bunch for the season ahead but we did get one or two offers.
Ibrahima Bangoura had an offer from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for €100,000, but I rejected this as Bangoura is fully part of my plans this season.
Dzemal Berberovic was wanted by Gaziantepspor but no offer came while Emin Aladag was wanted by Besiktas but it was Ankaraspor who made an offer of €120,000. That bid was rejected simply because it wasn't what I valued him at, and he was firmly a first-team player for us.
Ibrahima Bangoura had an offer from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia for €100,000, but I rejected this as Bangoura is fully part of my plans this season.
Dzemal Berberovic was wanted by Gaziantepspor but no offer came while Emin Aladag was wanted by Besiktas but it was Ankaraspor who made an offer of €120,000. That bid was rejected simply because it wasn't what I valued him at, and he was firmly a first-team player for us.
Denizlispor 1-3 Sivasspor
We played quiet poorly today and we suffered a 3-1 defeat at home. The performance was poor but I do take positives out of the game. We did have chances but a more match-sharp Bangoura, Fatih and Sener might have taken them.
A 4-3-3 worked reasonably well but there is still work to be done if we are to show our potential. I was pleased with the goal which was well-worked but disappointed with the defending of all three we conceded.
This will be adressed at the training ground and hopefully we will get it right when we play next week.
A 4-3-3 worked reasonably well but there is still work to be done if we are to show our potential. I was pleased with the goal which was well-worked but disappointed with the defending of all three we conceded.
This will be adressed at the training ground and hopefully we will get it right when we play next week.
The Season begins
I have accepted that Europe might be a bit too far from us this season (2008-09) but I will be looking for a good finish as high up as possible.
We begin the season at home to Sivasspor, a side that are dangerous and not the best team to start with. I will be targeting a draw in this game as it first game back.
We begin the season at home to Sivasspor, a side that are dangerous and not the best team to start with. I will be targeting a draw in this game as it first game back.
Saudi Arabia job
I have been appointed as the new manager of Saudi Arabia. This is very pleasing as I have been desperate to manage internationally.
I have decied to combine my roles as Denizlispor boss with Saudi Arabia manager and in doing so haveing a look at Saudi talent for Denizlispor.
I have been set with strick orders of qualifying for the 2010 World cup which is on my agenda. We begin our final phase of qualifers at home to Iran before going away to U.A.E four days later.
I also arrange for Japan to play us before we take on both South and North Korea.
I have decied to combine my roles as Denizlispor boss with Saudi Arabia manager and in doing so haveing a look at Saudi talent for Denizlispor.
I have been set with strick orders of qualifying for the 2010 World cup which is on my agenda. We begin our final phase of qualifers at home to Iran before going away to U.A.E four days later.
I also arrange for Japan to play us before we take on both South and North Korea.
Scouting
I knew that if Europe was possible we had to have a scouting network in place. So a link with Maltese club Valletta was set-up for us to look at the best talent in Malta. This has proved useful as a few players from FC Valletta have joined up for trials.
I sent scouts out around the world as i don't have a limit on scouting areas. Southern Africa was the first place i was sending my scout. We will be looking to set-up links with other club across the globe to help us look at the next talent.
Other scouts are also in the process of being hired and locations for them will be U.S.A, Scandinavia and middle east.
I have also a scouting network in place to scout local talent from lower league sides which will also help us against the foreign player Quota system in place in the Super Lig.
I sent scouts out around the world as i don't have a limit on scouting areas. Southern Africa was the first place i was sending my scout. We will be looking to set-up links with other club across the globe to help us look at the next talent.
Other scouts are also in the process of being hired and locations for them will be U.S.A, Scandinavia and middle east.
I have also a scouting network in place to scout local talent from lower league sides which will also help us against the foreign player Quota system in place in the Super Lig.
Back home
Back at out base in Denizli I decided that some players might play in different positions in case sometime we get thin in areas.
I bought in Emín Martínez, a Hondurian international in of trial. He provided options of playing a wing-back, right back and centre midfield which was key to success over Karsiyaka and Goztepte in pre-season games.
But he was a wanted man. I decided to offer him a year-long contract but unfortunetly that was bettered by another Turkish club. So i missed out on the signing of Martínez which was disappointing as he was versatile.
I decided to overcome that disappointment by using what i had. Dzemal Berberovic was a central midfielder but also played at right-back which was useful. Emin Aladag and Douglas Peruíbe were also accomplished central midfielders. I decided on a 4-3-3 for the season so i got the players to gel into the formation in the remaining games.
Up front i had a problem with Ibrahim Bangoura, Ivan Lietava and Fatih among many others to choose from. I the end i let my assisant handle that aspect. At the back Wescley and Irineu were my first-choise centre-backs.
Cenk was my goalkeeper and very reliable while also being a Turkish U-21 international.
I bought in Emín Martínez, a Hondurian international in of trial. He provided options of playing a wing-back, right back and centre midfield which was key to success over Karsiyaka and Goztepte in pre-season games.
But he was a wanted man. I decided to offer him a year-long contract but unfortunetly that was bettered by another Turkish club. So i missed out on the signing of Martínez which was disappointing as he was versatile.
I decided to overcome that disappointment by using what i had. Dzemal Berberovic was a central midfielder but also played at right-back which was useful. Emin Aladag and Douglas Peruíbe were also accomplished central midfielders. I decided on a 4-3-3 for the season so i got the players to gel into the formation in the remaining games.
Up front i had a problem with Ibrahim Bangoura, Ivan Lietava and Fatih among many others to choose from. I the end i let my assisant handle that aspect. At the back Wescley and Irineu were my first-choise centre-backs.
Cenk was my goalkeeper and very reliable while also being a Turkish U-21 international.
Pre-season tour
I organised when I took over that the team travel to Germany to play some friendlies and a training camp in the Rhur.
Games penciled in were Fortuna Dusseldorf, Schalke II, Wolfsburg II and Bayern Munich II. The traing camp in the Rhur was to last a week with games against Fortuna, Schalke and Wolfsburg before we go to Bavaria to play Bayern Munich and then back home in Denizli.
Results were not my main concern but they were impressive enough. A 1-1 draw with Fortuna followed by a 2-2 draw with Schalke before a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg and a 1-0 over Bayern Munich.
Games penciled in were Fortuna Dusseldorf, Schalke II, Wolfsburg II and Bayern Munich II. The traing camp in the Rhur was to last a week with games against Fortuna, Schalke and Wolfsburg before we go to Bavaria to play Bayern Munich and then back home in Denizli.
Results were not my main concern but they were impressive enough. A 1-1 draw with Fortuna followed by a 2-2 draw with Schalke before a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg and a 1-0 over Bayern Munich.
The work begins now
Straight away I was up for a press conference in front of gathering journalists. This was a big moment for me to begin life in the dugout. I hadn't a word of Turkish but that was going to change.
I set the record straight by stating that i was going to get Denizlispor into Europe within two years. But that wasn;t the end of my ambitions with this team. I was also targeting Super Lig success within three years. So to put that into terms I was going to get Denizlispor into Europe in 2010 (providing we don't get there in my first season) and the title in 2010-11. That was target and I was going to do my best to get that.
Pre-season was upon us now and the work was to start straight away. I got to know my players and their strenghts and weaknesses.
A pre-season tour of germany was planned to get fitness levels up for the big kick off.
I set the record straight by stating that i was going to get Denizlispor into Europe within two years. But that wasn;t the end of my ambitions with this team. I was also targeting Super Lig success within three years. So to put that into terms I was going to get Denizlispor into Europe in 2010 (providing we don't get there in my first season) and the title in 2010-11. That was target and I was going to do my best to get that.
Pre-season was upon us now and the work was to start straight away. I got to know my players and their strenghts and weaknesses.
A pre-season tour of germany was planned to get fitness levels up for the big kick off.
The start
Well i start my football manager journey unemployed as many do and the hunt begins for a new job. July 2008 is the time frame involved here.
Almost anywhere will do for me to start my long journey. I was from Ireland aged 29 and jus retired as a player.
I first saw that a few clubs around Europe were vacant managerwise so i applied. These clubs were Utrecht and Feyenoord in Holland, Altay and Denizlispor in Tukey plus the international jobs of Kuwait, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Senegal.
In the end on July 6th 2008 i had recieved comfirmation that Denizlispor were interested. I had been prepared for whoever was to come back first and this was it. Denizlispor were the first to come back and so i accepted the challenge of starting in Turkey.
Almost anywhere will do for me to start my long journey. I was from Ireland aged 29 and jus retired as a player.
I first saw that a few clubs around Europe were vacant managerwise so i applied. These clubs were Utrecht and Feyenoord in Holland, Altay and Denizlispor in Tukey plus the international jobs of Kuwait, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Senegal.
In the end on July 6th 2008 i had recieved comfirmation that Denizlispor were interested. I had been prepared for whoever was to come back first and this was it. Denizlispor were the first to come back and so i accepted the challenge of starting in Turkey.
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