timmers

A short history of my time Espanyol for any of you that are interested :

1st season, came 4th (despite having same points but better goal difference from Madrid - guess they had the better of results between the two teams) and won the UEFA Cup. Corluka and Guardado were my main transfers in.

2nd season, came 2nd, won Spanish Cup, semi's of Champions League, lost to the winners Arsenal (Rijkaard now manages them as Wenger is French manager, Juande Ramos is Barca's manager now and Marcelino (who ?) is Real's coach now). Zapater was my main signing and he was on loan. Bought Merida and got Ruz on a free.

3rd season, started very slowly was 7 points behind Madrid at Christmas, have gone on a long unbeaten run and am 1 point ahead of Madrid with 7 games left, I have a game in hand although I have to play Madrid and Barcelona. In quarters or semi's of Spanish Cup, having beat Barca and Madrid, have Athletico to play who are playing in the Champions League semi against Bayern, I have Man United. Highlights of the this season include thrashing Madrid 4-0 away in the league and Barcelona 5-0 at home in the Cup, beat them 5-2 in the league also. Oubina, Cani, Delgado and Prieto were my main signings. Bendtner was free.

I'm all to aware that I could still end up winning nothing ......

Borja Oubina is an amazing defensive midfielder, loads of assists and free kick goals, Cesar Delgado is a brilliant forward loads of goals, Prieto is a great right winger loads of assists and goals, Cani is average and is going at the end of the season if I can get rid of him and the surprise player of the season who I picked up on a free from Arsenal was Bendtner, he is the league's top scorer and has more than a goal a game for me so far.

The first choice team is Kameni, Ruz (free), David Garcia, Jarque, Corluka, Xabi Prieto, Guardado, Oubina, Bendtner (free), Delgado and at the moment Skjelbred (free), although Merida or Cani are sometimes the 11th man making up the centre midfield slot.

Subs are from Gorka, Torrejon, Sergio Sanchez, Riera, Fredson, Tamudo, Ruben Castro, Nsue, Soriano.

I think only 2 of those players is over 25, and half of the players listed are the original squad members.

So I'm pretty happy with my squad, should lose a couple of expensive weekly wage players this summer due to end of contracts that I could not sell, should be able to raise some cash by selling Cani and Luis Garcia (around £8m total), the board have promised £9m on signing on new contract but if I win anything hoping for more at the end of the season as I need some squad cover, particularly in defense and defensive midfield.

Will be looking at Spanish players primarily due to home nation bias wherever I manage and I like to retain as much of the original Spanish members of the squad as I can, although this is difficult as you can get so many better players but we will grow as a team ! Those Bosmans are very tempting though....