Hello people and a happy Saturday to you all.
We’ve reached the end stages of our fifth season of the Latyne (Latino/Tyne) experiment and after the arrival of Ariel Ortega we’ve positioned ourselves into a title challenge, a league cup final and we’re still involved in Europe and the FA Cup.
There’s a lot to get through, so hopefully yopu’ve got a warm toilet seat for the next 15 minutes.
A reminder of where we are:
We’re cruising by half time at Selhurst Park. Palace pull one back but still end up with Boxall. It’s another welcome three points.
This sets us up nicely for the Champions League Quarter Final second leg with Bayern. Its was 2-2 in the first leg, so even though we are one nil down at halftime, I still have faith. C-Lo scores in the sexy minute and Julio sends the home fans into raptures five minutes from time. Semi here we come.
Understandably we’re a little jaded by the weekend, but Sheffield United, and Alan Kelly in particular are obliging enough.
At least we have a decent rest of 8 days for the League Cup Final. We can’t overturn real life though. Michael Owen thinks he’s won it with 5 minutes to go, but bargain signing Ibagaza responds almost from kick off. We haven’t got the key in extra time, but Giggs has the secret and the Welsh poet breaks a few thousand hearts with 3 minutes left. I’m gutted, but proud.
The line ups for those interested
No time for remorse, we’re staright back into European action and Ajax look like they will depart with two away goals until Adolfo and Julio go nuts in the last ten minutes. its a decent lead to have.
From one semi to another and ex-player Andrew Cole puts the Crazy Gang in front but my boys don’t lie down so easily these days and we’re heading back to Wembley to face Division 1 West Ham.
Lopez is on fire at the moment – two against the Foxes
One each for my wide men against the Wolves
Whilst a much changed team make the most of their Easter Monday chances
Away in Amsterdam, I give the boys a night on the town as reward for getting through to the Champions League final. I’m thankful I don’t have to worry about Diego Maradona or Tino Asprilla in this city.
The only sad note is Julio Geordie picked up a yellow card and will miss the final….
It’s all a bit bonkers against Spurs. That’s not Mick Quinn lining up for Spurs though Dave….
An international distraction for me in a World Cup warm up match against the Azzurri. How I would love to have Ron on the toons books.
Having said that, my strikers are firing on all cylinders, even forgotten dude David Gomez.
That was a big win against Liverpool by the way, positioning us in first with a game in hand. It’s ours to lose now, hopefully no slumping behind a Carlsberg haording for me…
Remember Valdir? No, me neither, but here he is scoring against Bristol
The fixture computer seems to like these match ups
A win would be huge
League Cup final revenge!
Absolute scenes. Freddy Shepherd is ecstatic!
We play again two days later so it’s whole sale changes. Silly prat Chili tries to spoil things
We wrap things up at Everton with a win and a red card
Confirmation, in the end we won by a distance. Scoring twice as many as we concede was the secret.
At the bottom we say goodbye to some rivals
Sheffield Wednesday miss out on retaining the Cup Winners Cup
We’re unchained in the FA Cup Final until Ibagaza leaves it late to play a melody and we’re really looking forward to another game in this knackering season.
We’re missing Julio in the Champions League final and it shows – tiredness, nerves, Fabian Barthez, who knows? We just don’t have enough
Lots of yellows from frustration. David Gomez came on to try and write the fairytale but Bartez had other ideas.
Ariel is determined not to make it a hat-trick of cup final loses this season – West Ham are on their way back up though
So, one league title, an FA cup and two runners up slots.
Its all down to the firepower – look at these guys!
Ortega turned the tide on the Tyne, but Ibagaza was an absolute bargain!
At the World Cup, my Brazilian charges falter at the semi-final and then we lose the third place playoff
Who would have baned on Ronaldo missing a penalty?
End of season awards time and we’re well represented.
Well, what a season this was – I want to give Europe one more crack so please join me next week for more Latyne shenanigans!