Saturday is alright for fighting – or like me, nursing a hang over having seen my mates band last night. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, Tyneside with a Latin flavour. Last week, our 5th attempt at a title charge was stuttering due to a leaky defence and leaves us 10 points off the pace with a third of the season to go. The omens are not good.

I’m going to pin a lot of my hopes on this big name signing. Having been snubbed by Marcio Santos, Batistuta, Edmundo, Esnaider and Rai, I’m hoping this will shoot us to glory.

Ariel isn’t available for European exploits, but in Warsaw, Julio and C-Lo do the business although we’ll have a triangular shaped hole in our defence for a while.

I’ve ditched Chili to the bench and given 35 year old Zetti responsibility for nets, but Ariel makes a dream debut and takes home the match ball.

International distraction time – we have too much for the Swiss

Back to league action, another clean sheet but a blank at the other end. Lets hope Ariel isn’t a one game wonder.

I wonder what he said?

Milan stroll into town with all their big name players, but it’s our front two who take the headlines for another valuable group stage win.

Very valuable indeed! Freddy is happy we’ll be in Europe after Christmas and Ariel is happy he’ll get to play too.

It’s a bit nip and tuck against Spurs, especially when Jurgen finishes off a late move to give me the jitters.

England look abroad for their new manager. That’ll work out well, I’m sure.

I mix the front line up a bit for the League Cup and Ruben Sosa Regen settles the tie in our favour.

Bristol Rovers are no trouble and bargain signing Ibagaza scores early and late to give us another big 3 points

Our final group stage game is a bit of dead rubber, for us anyway, but it leaves us undefeated and knocks United out.

A comprehensive return you might say.

Mariano never really got a look in, so he’s off south to Norfolk.

I’m happy to avoid the Spanish clubs. I think we’ll have a good chance against Bayern.

I forget I’m also Brazil manager now and have to tell the eager press that I’m very happy with this draw.

With Chili relegated to the bench, Julio is on pens but he stuffs it up. Ortega replaces Lopez and sweeps late to take all 3 points at Old Trafford. My 3 amigo’s having a mixed match.

Could have been worse I suppose.

He’s been amazing this season, so we’ll definitely miss him.

Another win, another injury.

We go Bowling for Soup like its 1985, but in 2001 it’s 4-1 and we’re on fire.

The Triangle will disappear for 3 months this time. A big loss, he’s been another star preformer.

Spurs are dispatched in the FA Cup…

….and in the League Cup.

Bloody hell. I think we’ll have to sack the physio at this rate.

Ruben Sosa Jnr makes the difference against Wednesday on Saturday.

We never fair well against the Dons, especially with Les Battersby amongst their ranks.

Just what the physio ordered, another game against Villa.

Ortega earns more hero points with his late winner when we have had to play with 10 men for most of the game.

The replay against Villa doesn’t throw up any shocks

Nor does the first leg against Wednesday

More cup action and Leicester are the next to feel the potency of our South American heroes.

I wonder when we’ll play a league game again? However, when the cup games are this entertaining, who wants league action?

We’re in the final and we’ll face Man Utd – when art imitates life eh? Reality.

Sunderland rock up to St James’ Park having beaten us early in the season, so the revenge is cold and served in a big old dish.

Our first trip up in a long while is down to old boy Kitson, just when I thought Gloria Esteban had rescued a point.

We put it all right against struggling Man City.

It’s time to wrap it up there for this week and take a look at the table. We’ve reduced a 10 point gap to 5, and we have a game in hand, we’re looking good.

That’s it for this week – I hope you can join me next week where we’ll have a League Cup final, more European and domestic cup games, plus a title push. I’m hoping we can keep the Samba Spirit rolling for another few months before we take Brazil to the World Cup – see you then!