samd577

Its December, and it seems that the rain in Spain falls mainly on à Malata. Ferrol lie 20th in the league, third from ottom with four relegated, and without a win in ten games. Sam is starting to wonder if this is for him. The fans still wont back him, he has an injury list a mile long, including his star player, Diogo Valente, out for up to five months with a torn calf muscle. As he sits in his office reading the paper, spanish to english dictionary in hand, he sees an article with an interview with one of his players. It turns out that Collins Mbesuma, his free transfer hero striker, who has underperformed since being registered on december first, has come out and slated his team talk for the match against recently relegated Real Sociadad. Mbesuma accused Draisey of 'being too harsh on the team' and stated that 'a better approach should have been taken'. Draisey contemplated this. the fact was, that his team needed a rocket up the shoot after being hammered 3-0 by Sociadad. They needed to turn this season around, and fast.

Along came Saturday, and the arrival of Valladolid at à Malata. Draisey was in the dressing room a full twenty minutes before his players. He sat and contemplated the six pointer, as Valladolid sat in 18th in the table. When the players arrived and after the warm up, Draisey decided on his team talk. With a weakened side due to suspensions and injurys, the most noticable was the absence of former Portugal international holding midfielder Petit, Draisey thought that he would have to try and take the positives.

'For a lot of you, Ferrol is your first club. It may even be the team you support or supported as a child. You were the kids who sat on those terraces and cheered your hearts out. And now they cheer for you. Those kids on that terrace now may be the next players for this club. There could be the next Castellano, Ramos or Crespo out there. Don't let them down!

It hadnt seemed to work. Although at half time the score was still 0-0, Ferrol were definately under pressure. Draisey's players sat in the changing rooms and waited for him. He opened the door, merely said 'Don't let them down', and left again.

The second half came and went. Almost. with Ferrol under the cosh, on loan Nigerian target striker Dani picked up the ball in the centre circle. Showing his astonishing pace and skill, Dani ran half the length of the pitch, jinking this way and that before smashing home from a tight angle! The player who had been slated in the press for not scoring a goal in over thirteen hours of competative football had just scored a sure fire goal of the season. And three points to boot.

Is this the turning point of the season for Ferrol and Draisey? they now lie in 19th place, one point from safety and three from Albacete in 12th. Stay tuned.