January 2013 - Second Division B4 - Jerez

A mixed month in terms of results, but the the fans, media and manager could take heart in the fact that the performances were starting to improve.

Jerez 2 - 1 Linense

Ratinkov, back from suspension finds the net and Nakache adds with a trademark rocket from outside the area. A tense ending to the match as Linense pile on the pressure but Jerez just do enough.

Jerez 2 - 2 San Roque

The match, postponed twice due to a waterlogged pitch went ahead in suprisingly dry, though cold, conditions. Goals from Estevez and Avramov, both from flowing moves, look like they will get the points for Jerez but the defence slips and lets San Roque back in. 

With the match against San Roque played the team had made it to the half way point in the fixture list. Over the first half of the season Jerez had managed to drop no further than 11th place in the table, and had made a good start towards securing the points needed to survive.

Lucena 1 - 0 Jerez

A poor performance and despite the close scoreline Jerez were never really in it.

Jerez 1 - 2 Ceuta

Once again a fairly annonymous Jerez. Recent changes from a counter attacking style of play to a more possession dominated tactic seem to be backfiring.

Jerez 0 - 0 San Fernando

A seemingly rare clean sheet, and a point, the only good things to come out of this meeting.

1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses out of 5 spell something of an improvement and team stay steady in 10th place.

December 2012 - Second Division B4 - Jerez

De la Vega's team were looking to put the terrible form of Novemeber behind them and get back on track. Whilst the fans and media could be happy with 10th place the team had bigger ambitions.

Jerez 0 - 0 Cacereno 

A bore draw but something the fans were, in the short term, happier to see than the drubbings the team had received earlier.

Sp. Villanueva 1 - 1 Jerez

A powerful effort from Nakache from outside the area looked enough to secure the 3 points but Villaneuva snuck in an injury time equaliser.

Poli Ejido 0 - 0 Jerez

Another draw as Jerez struggled to get back to the free-scoring fashion that typified their first couple of months in the division.

3 draws out of 3. The lighter fixture list was a result of one match, against San Roque being postponed due to a water logged pitch at Jerez.

Novemember 2012 - Second Division B4 - Jerez

What goes up, must come down, was the feeling by the end of Novemeber. Not the best of months for de la Vega's side as they stumbled and suffered 4 defeats out of 4. When asked why de la Vega put it down to a lack of depth up front. First choice strikers Campillo and Ratinkov only played one game together in Novemeber. Campillo succumbing to injury, and Ratinkov to a 3 match ban.

Jerez 0 - 1 Roqueta

The match started well for Jerez as they began to boss the midfield. Clearly the team were on a high but it was cut short by a horrific two footed challenge by Ratinkov. The first half sending off forced Jerez to batten down the hatches, though with little success. Roqueta ground Jerez down and finally broke through with 15 minutes to spare. To add insult to injury Ratinkov recieved a further 2 match ban on top of the initial one match ban, and Campillo picked up an injury that would see him off for almost as long.

Ecija 3 - 2 Jerez

 Jerez attempt to put up a fight with Estevez and back up striker Saez adding to the tally but the team collapse under the pressure and are unable to hold on to even a point.

Jerez 0 - 2 Melilia

 A poor, televised, performance.

Betis B 1 - 0 Jerez

A little tighter as the performance improves but still short of what is needed.

So 4 losses out of 4 mean Jerez are firmly in 10th place by the end of the month with 23 points. Still not a bad point tally for a newly promoted team but nowhere near good enough to suggest safety is definitely on the cards.

October 2012 - Second Division B4 - Jerez

The media looked on with interest during the month of October. Jerez had proved a point in their first competitive month in the 2nd B4 but few doubted their form could last.

Marbella 3 - 1 Jerez

And the critics seemed vindicated. Marbella romped home to an easy home victory over Jerez. Campillo added to his tally with a blistering shot from outside the area but it wasn't enough to inspire a comeback.

Lanzarote 1 - 3 Jerez

Jerez picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and then dished out their own drubbing during their visit to Lanzarote. Campillo opened the scoring and kept his streak going. Estevez popped up and made a nuisance of himself on the edge of the area before burying the ball in the back of the net. New striker Matas then came off the bench to head in at the far post 5 minutes from time. The only downside to the confident performance seemed to be the inability to keep a clean sheet as Lanzarote managed to pull one back in injury time.

Jerez 3 - 1 Jaen

The away fans gave Rodrigo de la Vega more than a little stick during the match. Clearly they still bore a grudge over his fleeting visiting as Jaen manager the year before. It is unlikely to get any better as Jerez banged 3 goals past Jaen without breaking a sweat. Ratinkov tapped in for a perfect cross, Estevez popped up on the edge of the area once more, and finally Campillo made de la Vega's day by looping the ball over the stranded Jaen keeper.

De la Vega added to the animosity during the post match interview.

Jerez 2 - Algeciras 0

De la Vega was in the media once more as he pointed out the weakenss in bottom of the table Algeciras's centre backs. One of them promptly broke down, admitting to a lack of confidence in their own abilities. This seemed spot on as during the match Jerez sliced opened the defence with apparent ease, scoring 2. Ratinkov scored from a flowing, end to end, counter attack and centre back Ramon popped up at the back post unmarked.

De la Vega's second month in charge seemed to be just as successful as the first, if not better. 3 wins, and 1 loss out of four meant their run continued. Placing them firmly in the top half of the table.

September 2012 - Second Division B4 - Jerez

The media was forced by Jerez and de la Vega to eat a reasonable amount of humble pie (approx. two slices) over the course of september. The press, and indeed many managers within the division, picked Jerez as their favourites to go down. Even the Jerez board placed their own expectations at around 17th place.

San Fernando 0 - 1 Jerez

Jerez had to go away to San Fernando C.D for the league opener. It was a tight affair with some real end to end football. Jerez looked great going forwards but vulnerable at the back. The defence not only held on though but contributed to the scoring. A corner in injury time was smashed in by the head of centre-back Valiente.

Jerez 2 - 1 Lucena

Next up Jerez's first home fixture against Lucena. The home side started well with Ratinkov tapping in within the first 10 minutes. There was a certain amount of symmetry as Lucena finally managed to equalise with 10 minutes to go. Once again though, Jerez struck in injury time with winger Avramov picking up a loose ball in a goal mouth scramble.

Ceuta 1 - 1 Jerez

Against then league leaders, and heavy favourites, Ceuta Jerez needed a hand. A suspect foul led to a penalty and Estevez put it away calmly for his first goal. 5 minutes later Ceuta equalised and the match ended all square.

Jerez 1 - 1 Vecindario

Another draw followed when Jerez played host to Vecindario. The visitors took the lead but Jerez were given the chance to equalise from the penalty spot less than 10 minutes later. Estevez stepped up....and missed. Jerez did go on to equalised through Ratinkov in the second half but they were left rueing the missed penalty.

Almeria B 4 - 3 Jerez

Jerez had held out for some time but the first defeat finally arrived away against Almeria B. It was a rip-roaring of a match with plenty of goals, and in truth Jerez deserved something from the game. Campillo broke his duck with a brace, and Ratinkov added another, but two goals in quick succession from Almeria finished the match off (73rd, 77th min). Jerez went all out and pushed Almeria all the way, hitting the post several times and forcing a goal line clearance but it wasn't to be.

Jerez 4 - 0 C.F. La Union

Back at home again Jerez dusted themselves off and responded well to the earlier defeat. They ran La Union ragged and put away 4 goals. Estevez provided the only goal of the 1st half, off the post. Campillo found a corner of the net in the second half, followed by Ratinkov and finally substiute winger Redondo. Jerez dominated the match from start to finish and the fans left happy.

So in the first month de la Vega's side notched up an impressive 3 wins, 2 draws and only 1 loss. Leaving them 6th after 6 games with 11 out of 18 possible points.

Fixtures

Table: 2nd Div B4

Joining Jerez

After a brief and unproductive stint with Real Jaen manager Rodrigo de la Vega spent some time finding the right team to join. It took months but finally an offer arrived that de la Vega couldn't turn down, Jerez C.F.

Jerez Background

Club Overview 2012

Jerez Approach

Club and Facillities Information

Joining the newly promoted side would involve not only returning to Spain, but returning to the Spanish Second Division B4 where former team Real Jaen still lurked after avoiding relegation.

Expectations were basic but the board were apparently much more supportive than de la Vega had experienced in the past. A generous wage budget and transfer kitty allowed de la Vega to reshape the team. Going from:

Squad Upon Arrival

To:

Transfers:

The fans were particulary pleased to see the arrival of Estevez, Rauw, Lolo Amario. Estevez in particular was a coup for the club and required de la Vega to spend the entire transfer budget, breaking the club transfer record in the process.

When asked about the plans for the season de la Vega was quoted as saying, 'I think we've got a great team here and I will not be putting up with any talk of relegation.'

Enter R. de la Vega

Newly qualified Rodrigo de la Vega entered the football management scene very quietly.

 C.V.'s were sent out and very little happened until desperate Real Jaen C.F. approached the Mexican manager on the 21st of October 2011. Jaen had been performing well below expectations and around 13 games in were flirting with the relgation places rather than the playoffs. The fans called for the managers head, the board responded, and de la Vega was brought in as a replacement.

With the transfer window closed, and more importantly the registration window too, there was little for de la Vega to do other than try and coax something out of the squad. The first point didn't come until the 4th match, and the first win not until the 5th. Points were scraped here and there but Jaen remained hovering over the relagation zone.

After 8 games de la Vega handed in his notice citing differences with the board as being the motivator. He declined to comment further. His time as Jaen was characterised by expansive, though unproductive, attacking movements and a leaky defence.

Record
Played: 8
Won: 2
Drawn: 1

Lost: 5
For: 6
Against: 12

OOC: It was my first venture into management with the full version of FM12. Bit of a disaster. The team was generally weak and it was made even worse by the fact the previous A.I manager missed out some of the key players during registration. The rot was already too deep and I just wasn't enjoying it. I knew that if I stayed and saved them I was still just going to move to a 'fresh' newly promoted team or team that was mangerless at the end/start of season rather than midway.

Better luck next time!

FM12 - It begins!

OOC - So it begins. This year for FM12 my brother and I are going to blog and tweet our long term career saves. With the new changes to FM12 there's no reason why one save couldn't last until FM13 rolls around. The blog should keep up interested and let us know what is going on.

I'm going to use the Rodrigo de la Vega persona for my manager. Based on my fave player from the FM05 game. He was a mexican winger/forward who I bought for my St.Johnstone side. He tore up the SPL and became the top goal scorer of all time for the club. It was probably that FM save game which has made me buy every version since and further my addiction.