It happened after 10

‘I think we’ve done extremely well so far guys, since the end of August to now we’ve played 10 games in all competitions, picked up 10 points from a possible 18, that’s certainly not relegation form like the pundits predicted’ I tell Ruben Parraga who relays my message to the team. ‘The wins we’ve had have been big wins and we’ve definitely deserved them, there’s no doubt in my mind we will stay in the league by the end of the season’

After my first 3 months in charge of this club, we find ourselves sitting 2^nd in the group E in league, with a fantastic return of 6 wins from 9. The team have definitely gone against the season preview saying we’ll be the league whipping boys, and I’m confident we can continue this run of form and secure our safety. Okay so we got knocked of the cup, but I’m not too concerned, without the added games in that competition we can focus solely on staying in the Campeonato Nacional.

From November onward we crumbled. 7 games taking us into January 17 and we picked up 4 points from a possible 21. The thing I noticed from this run is that once this team get low on confidence, they stay low. Not only that but the strikers have been playing poor, but they’ll tell you it’s the midfield not getting the ball up to them, and the midfield will say the defence is at fault, but ultimately the buck stops with me the manager. I have to change something, and change something quickly

20^th January 2017

‘I don’t know when this form will end. The poor performances happened after 10 games, we’ve got to change it up, I’ve got an idea’

‘Go on Vince, I’m listening’ Ruben Parraga replies

‘It seems as though teams have figured us out, figured out we’re happy to sit back. Well we’re moving the anchor man in midfield up top, and we’re going 4-4-2’

‘But I don’t think….’

I cut him off. ‘The forwards have been struggling playing on their own, we played Dentinho from the start and he’s not played well since the start of the season, when Nilson has come on he’s run around enough and tracked back, but he’s isolated up top. But, if we play them together, I’ve got a feeling they’ll work well’

‘If you think this’ll work I’m all for it. We can’t be accused of not trying to address the problems’

He’s on board. We’ll go 4-4-2 for the next game against Operario dos Acores. We drew 1 all when we played them at home, and they were by far the better team in that game, but we’re going to be the away team this time, and the pressure is all on them to get a result.

Just before the game, we’re in the dressing room and I haven’t told the team who’s playing yet. I call Dentinho & Nilson over, the clubs only recognised strikers.

‘Right, you 2 are both playing in today’s game’ I say to them, and before Ruben has chance to translate I can already see the confused look on both their faces. ‘Tell them what we discussed, 4-4-2 when 1 drops deep the other stays high up the pitch. We’ll use the runners form midfield to get the ball forward, when 1 drops deep it will create space for the other’.

Ruben tells them both what I want, I hope. I need to crack on learning Portuguese, I’m sure it’s hindering my effectiveness, but that’s a worry for another time.

The game wasn’t all plain sailing. We were under the cosh for a lot of this game, however we managed to get the win due to getting goals from set plays. The first, in the 27^th minute saw a long hanging ball from a corner come over and get knocked in at the far post by Tiago Gomes. The rest of the game both teams have chances to score but ultimately we grabbed another, this time from a free kicked which got nodded in by captain Fabio Andre. After the game I congratulate the team on finally grabbing a win, as well as confirming we’ll be sticking to the 4-4-2 for the time being.

They all head off as our next game is next week. I speak to the coaching staff with Ruben translating for me, and we decide we’ll need another forward, at least until the end of the season. As we’re playing 2 up top now, we don’t have a striker on the bench.

The next day we speak with Rodrigo Boaventura who is the clubs Director of Football, and go through not only the clubs scouted players but players from my own shortlist I have been keeping.

‘Ideally, I want someone that’s experienced at this level, and who’s got a decent amount of pace. I’m not sure how much that narrows down the pool of players that would be interested but I’m keen to hear your thoughts’ I speak to the group.

After a bit of back and forth, we agree on 2 names, either of which would be welcomed here. I leave it to Rodrigo to reach out and make the initial contact. He’ll update me when he has news.

Our final game before the league splits, we played another away game, this time at Sertanense who we thumped 4-0 at our place in the reverse fixture. Whilst we stuck to the 4-4-2, and the stats say this was an even game, I felt it wasn’t. We managed to take the lead but ended up conceding with over 20 minutes to play. Despite the length of time left we couldn’t create any clear chances, and a draw whilst not the best result in the world, is welcomed.

With that game finished, the league now splits into 2 groups, the promotion & relegation stages. We’re drawn in relegation group E and have 25% of our points gained so far. This is where it can get nervy, we’re currently only 3 points off automatic relegation so going down could be a possibility, but if we can stick to playing well like we have these last 2 games, we can be confident with staying up.

Next episode – Mini-sode 1

Previous episode – Game day 2

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Game day 2

With that late victory in our first game, we entertained promotion favourites Benfica a Castelo Branco in my first home game as a manager.

During the afternoon before the game, I’m approached by Rodrigo Boaventurea, the clubs director of football and first team coach Ruben Parraga

Rodrigo says something in Portugesue, Ruben translates

‘We’ve got the signing over the line boss, the young left winger Vladislav Drogunov has joined from Desportivo das Aves’

‘Great stuff, thank you Ruben, will he be here before the Benfica game?’

‘Unfortunately not Vince, he’s driving down from Vila das Aves so won’t make it for today’s game’

‘Not to worry. We best get get prepared for the game tomorrow’ I say as we head off towards the training pitch.

Home game v.s Benfica a Castelo Branco

As I get out of the taxi and head towards the stadium, I’m greeted by a crowd of people, some wearing our home shirt and the majority cheering and waving at me.

I struggle to make it through the crowd of people as they’re all trying to get photos and autographs with me, they’re all speaking in Portuguese and whilst this is nice to get this kind of attention, I have literally no idea what they’re saying

‘Bora Oleiros’

‘Boa sorte Oleiros’

‘Nunca desista’

These are all things I hear them saying, but I’ve no clue what they mean. I smile and wave as eventually I get to the entrance of the ground and make my way to the training room

‘Ruben, tell the team that despite some defensive wobbles in the second half in the last game, we’re setting up exactly the same as last time, except this time we’re going to go out and attack’

‘But Vince, Benfica are a top team and they’ll tear us apart’ Ruben replies

‘Not if we control the game. The way I see it if we’re going to get anything out of this game we’ve got to put them on the back foot, take it to them they won’t be expecting it’

‘Okay you’re the boss’

As I lead the team out at Estadio Municipal de Oleiros for the first time, there’s not many fans here, at first glance I’d say a couple of hundred at a push. I can’t deny it I was expecting more, but this is a small town with a small population, let’s hope I can get more people in this stadium watching the team.

Things didn’t get off to a good start as after 8 minutes we were 1 down. They had the ball whipped in from the wing and it was a good header that got their goal, but I felt we could’ve been a bit more confident in defence. From then on though we dominated the game. We had a number of half chances but right on half time the ball was passed around their area before Gomes, who made a couple of mistakes in the last game managed to bury the ball home eventually.

From the restart we took the lead from a well worked corner routine. The ball came in and Manuel found his header go straight into the net. From then on we didn’t sit back and took it to Benfica. We increased our lead when Jackson buried a close range shot in before adding his second and our fourth by beating 3 players before striking the ball home. They did pull 1 back late on but the game was dead and buried by that point.

After the game I’m sitting with Ruben in the dressing room, the players have all left for the day after a good result

‘Told ya’ I said

‘Told me what?’ Ruben replied

‘Told you if we took it to them they’d crumble, and they did’

‘Okay I will admit you got it right today, but don’t get ahead of yourself boss’ he says with a smirk on his face

‘Oh I won’t pal, but it’s been a great start 2 wins from 2 and if we can keep this performance up we won’t have to worry about relegation from this division’

Just as we get up to leave 1 of the press room attendants walks up to Ruben and speaks in Portuguese

He turns to me and says ‘The new lad just arrived, he needs to get registered to play in the next game, the office will see to it. Do you want to go greet Drogunov, or shall I?’

‘Well he speaks English so I’ll go’

I meet him at the entrance to the stadium ‘Afternoon Vlad, how was your journey?’

‘Erm, hi again Vince, I mean boss’ he says in a very nervous way. ‘The drive was okay. Do I need to get to training or anything today?’

‘No son, get yourself settled and unpacked, and meet me at training tomorrow. Don’t know if you saw but we won 4-2 this afternoon’

‘Oh that’s good, but does that mean I won’t be in the team for the next game?’

‘Not at all, I signed you for the first team and that is exactly where you’ll be. See you in the morning’

Rounding out my first month as a football manager is another away game, and another victory. This time we won 1-0 away to Carapinheirense with new signing Vladislav Drogunov impressing by getting the only goal early on in the game. After the goal it wasn’t quite end to end but there were some nervy moments where we could’ve conceded the equaliser, but we held on for our third win in 3 games.

That brings an end to my first month as a manager, and I am currently rocking a 100% record. It’s not going to be plain sailing all season, but if we can get some more points on board early on we may just have enough to keep us in the league.

Next episode – It happened after 10

Previous episode – Game 1 of the journey

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Game 1 of the journey

‘Right gents this is it, the start of a new season. Let me start by saying I’ve only been here a few days but I feel that you don’t know me at all, and I certainly don’t know any of you. I haven’t come here all the way from Australia for you lot to blow my first chance in management. We’ve got a decent chance of staying in this league and you’re going to make that happen. How’s that sound?’ I ask Ruben Parraga, my first team coach and translator.

‘Well I get you’re trying to make an impact straight away, but as you say these boys don’t know you, so may not take too kindly to your first ever team talk in this manner’ he replies

‘Hmm, well I’ve got to get them believing they can win this game. Leave it with me for now’

During the teams warm up, I select the team based on the 4-1-4-1 approach I decided on a few days ago. I check the medias prediction and this is down as a draw by the pundits at the Cernache de Bonjardim football times.

Pre game team talk

‘Okay guys, it’s the season opener, we’re not expecting to pull any surprises in this one, go out there and play your natural game’ I relay this to Ruben, who passes it over to the team.

The majority respond with a relaxed demeanour, maybe a little too relaxed? No, I’m thinking too much into it, they seem relaxed so that can be seen as a good thing, I hope.

The game starts off slow, both teams trying to feel each other out. Vitoria de Sernache are the favourites, the team that are established in this division, Oleiros are the underdogs, the newly promoted semi-pro outfit with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The first incident of note came in the 13^th minute, and I actually couldn’t believe it as we took the lead, an unlikely lead but the lead all the same. We soaked up an attack and hit Sernache on the break. We got the ball out to Farinha on the right, he hoofed the ball forward, not the prettiest of balls forward but it managed to get to Dentinho who controlled the ball, took a touch to steady himself and rifled the ball low into the goal! The rest of the half was quiet with no real concerns and we went in still leading.

Half time teal talk

‘Great play so far guys, please don’t get complacent, they will come at us in the second half and we need to concentrate, do not let your mind slip up’ I tell Ruben, he passionately relays the message. The tram are fired up, this is going well so far.

As for the game going well, it was until the 65^th minute when Tiago Gomes at center half played a back pass to Gomes in goal but he under hit the pass and it fell into the path of Fabiano who got a touch on it and it rolled right past the post, an inch the other way and that would’ve gone in. Not that it mattered as Gomes called for the ball from the resulting goal kick and made a horrible connection with it and his first touch let the ball bounce to his side, and again Fabiano got the ball outside the area but this time he buried it to make it 1 all. Frustration isn’t even the word for it. In my fit of rage I subbed Gomes off and told the team to go on the attack.

By the 89^th minute it was looking like a 1 all draw in my first game as manager, that was until Seixas made a darting run into the box and was fouled just as he got into the area. It looked dubious and the ref took his time, but gave the penalty to us! Seixas who won the penalty took it but hit the ball right down the middle where the keeper didn’t move, but he managed to put his foot right through the rebound to give us a 2-1 lead, and the ref blew for full time straight from the kick off! A win in the clubs first season at this level and my first game as manager

Post game team talk

‘Well done everyone, you put in a shift and came away with a priceless victory. Lets not rest on this and build on it going on into the season’. As is the norm for now Ruben tells the team what I say. They all look happy enough and despite a few wobbles in defence, we looked good today. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves as we have a game against Benfica a Castelo Branco, I don’t think they’re affiliated with the big Benfica, but they’re favourites for promotion so it may be a baptism of fire in front of our home fans. But for now, we’ll enjoy this victory.

Next episode – Game day 2

Previous episode – It’s a new beginning

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It’s a new beginning

Oleiros, Portugal. A small club that has won nothing. They were promoted from the regional leagues by winning their division, and it’s my job to make sure they stay in this division this season. A decent sized stadium for this level, I’m not expecting sell outs but I am going to be looking for good form at home to give us the best chance of staying in the league.

As I arrive at the stadium on my first day here, the first team are on the pitch training with the assistant manager running things. I sit and observe for 15 minutes before making my way to the pitch to greet the players

‘Morning lads, how is everyone?’

Silence. Nothing. Not even a peep.

I look at my assistant who stares back at me blankly.

They don’t speak English. Obviously. What an idiot I am. Right how to communicate….

‘Me. Vince. Your. New. Boss. Amigos’ in that stupid dumb downed way of talking English speaking people do when they’re speaking to a non-English speaker

Still nothing.

‘Me. Show. You. How. To. Play. Football’. I take a ball and kick it towards goal. Boom, top left corner.

‘See. Me. Good’

Absolutely nothing from the team. Not 1 of them says a thing.

‘For fuck sake lads give me a fucking clue!’ I yell out before I hear ‘Hahah gringo you’re funny’

‘What?! You speak English’ I say turning towards the person laughing at me

‘Yes, I speak English. The chairman brought me in shortly after you signed, I’m your new first team coach Ruben Parraga, the chairman says you’ll need someone to relay your messages as you don’t speak Portuguese, luckily for you I do speak Portuguese, oh and Spanish, should you want me to relay anything in Spanish to the team’

‘Are there many Spanish speakers here?’

‘No, they all speak Portuguese, even the Chinese lad He Yaqui, he speaks perfect Portuguese’

‘Cheers. Guess me and you are going to be seeing a lot of each other then’

‘Yeah gringo. But you’re the boss, I’m just the coach’

With that he gathers the team around for some 5 on 5 attack versus defence plays. I can see this being tough going initially.

I intend to set up with this team in a 4-1-4-1 formation. The reasoning is, to be blunt, these players aren’t very good. The idea is to sit back, soak up pressure and get teams on the break with fast long balls up to the striker, also known as Tony Pulis anti-football. This season isn’t about playing attractive football, it’s about grinding results out and staying in the league. It’s also about me arriving on the management stage and showing what I can do.

Training goes well for the next couple of days before the away game against Vitoria de Sernache. I’ve got a good idea of who will play regularly from the coach reports, but the first couple of games will definitely outline who will be the regulars.

Here I am, about to be on the touchline as a manager of a football club for the very first time. It won’t be easy but before long the footballing world will know just who in the hell Vince Lloyd is!

Next Episode – Game 1 of the journey

Previous episode – The journey begins

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The Journey begins

Becoming a manager doesn’t just happen, I think not at least. It’s the journey of being a player, working your way up through the ranks of youth football, to semi pro then professional. Or like me, you play Sunday League football, get an opportunity at a semi pro club then stuff it because you’re shit.

I was never the best, or good, or semi decent. Basically I got a game as I was the only left footed player, and I played left back for all my semi pro career. Since making my debut at the age of 17, I played for a number of lower league Australian clubs before getting a move to Wellington Olympic in New Zealand. In my first season there I managed to get 13 assists as we went on an 11 game winning run. Whilst I got a trial at A League Side Wellington Phoenix due to my assists, those assists were only possible due to the decent strikers we had there that year. Nothing came of my trial at Phoenix and I went back to semi-pro football playing in Tahiti, The Solomon Islands before my last season as a player at Australian side Dulwhich Hill. During this year I suffered a cruciate ligament injury, completely ending my career as a footballer.

As part of my rehabilitation I go to a specialist knee doctor in Lisbon who operates on me and I spend a few weeks in their rehab center. During this time I am completely alone with nothing but my regrets as a player and my thoughts. It’s during these days that I decide to look into coaching. A lot of ex players who aren’t the best go on to become great managers, Andre Villas-Boas was never a player but can be considered a good manager, Jose Mourinho didn’t do much as a player but is a world class manager, much like myself Arsene Wenger played semi-pro football and is definitely an elite manager, Rafa Benitez gave up playing at 26 and is definitely a world class manager. Whilst that list is the top of the top, I will do everything I can to join that elite class.

Whilst in Portugal I go on a trip up to a small quaint little town in the Castelo Branco district called Oleiros. The people here are relaxed and seem to keep themselves to themselves. As part of the trip I go to see the local team, ARC Oleiros in a pre season friendly against Dutch side Heerenveen.

After the match, a 2-0 win for the visitors, I get talking to some of the fans. After a few beers in the local bar I find out the manager that just got the team promoted has left and the assistant is currently in caretaker charge. I see this as a perfect opportunity for me, it’s a small semi-pro club, and survival in the Campeonato Nacional, or Portuguese third division to us English speaking people, is the only aim. I get back to my hotel and send a bog standard application email with a hastily written CV attached to the club via their website.

After a week of sight seeing, I go back to Estadio Municipal do Olerios, ARC Oleiros home stadium and see the team lose 3-0 to Hannover. I can see this side are struggling defensively and the assistant manager looked quite dejected on the sideline. On my way out I’m approached by a tall man who greets me in English

‘Afternoon, my name is Miguel, I got your application for the managers job. Have you got time for a chat?’

‘Really, how do you know it was me that applied?’

‘Twitter, linkedin, the usual avenues. Follow me I’ll take you to my office’

Off we went. The interview was quite relaxed, the chairman is clearly passionate about his team, he tells me about the new strips for the season, a new 3 year long sponsorship deal and if they can stay in the league this year, they may just be turning professional. I told him my background as a semi-pro, how my experience of working in Australia can help bring a fresh outlook on football here, and I told him that an outsider, an unknown could just be the spark that keeps this team in the league. After discussing both our outlooks on football, he says he’ll be in touch.

2 days passed by without hearing from Miguel. I’m at the hotel ready to get sorted for my trip back to the Lisbon hospital for a check up on my knee. Just as I get my suitcase to get started on packing, I get an email on my phone.

Dear Vince,

Thank you for your time the other day. Please see attached document, an offer of employment to be manager of ARC Oleiros football Club.

Vince, you are the man I want to save my team from relegation. Take your time thinking it over, but be mindful the season starts away at Vitoria de Sernache in 4 days time.

Speak soon.

Miguel Martins
ARC Oleiros Chairman

Without hesitation I e-sign the contract and email back.

This is it, the start of hopefully a long, and fruitful journey.

Junte-se a mim na minha jornada, cara

Next episode – It’s a new beginning

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