Well, here we are. The annual treat of being inspired by a mystery kit for our Secret Santa and I have landed in Balaidos with Celta Vigo (thanks Dave). But what is the approach, well, in real life Os Celestes finished 6^th in La Liga and reached the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey. The league finish was their best attempt in just over quarter a century. My purpose in this blog will be to better that performance with EXACTLY the same players at my disposal. So let the blog see the squad:

Immediate concern is that, despite being able to name 4 non-EU players in a matchday squad, more than 4 of them are my best players. Gudelj, Del Solar, Ratkovic and Revivo will all have to wait their turn as I try to fit as many good players in as possible. Tactically I will lean into a more attacking approach to squeeze in the best players:

When Dutuel is fit, Caires might be dropped as a minus man won’t have time to reach his potential in a one season wonder.

We open our season in the Copa del Rey. A game for the fans, however, it leaves me worried for the season that defensively against better sides we will get battered.

A hattrick for Cadete who already wants to leave with bigger clubs circling. He won’t be allowed to leave so he’ll have to suck it up. Our La Liga opening match is woeful. Two early goals conceded and Cadete forgets his shooting boots.

A poor result against a poor side. Hopefully we grow into this. We are through comfortably in the Copa del Rey, but a sloppy 2^nd leg draw it is against second tier opposition.

Maybe it wasn’t a bad result after all…

We adjust our formation and tactics to better fit our assets, and after some dull performances and it does us wonders.

Although, 11 shots for Cadete and 2 goals still seems a poor return.

Moral is already going to be a struggle. Cadete and now the Egg Man have asked to leave. Our reputation must be awful given the clubs chasing them are mediocre and in the same division. Now Sanchez wants to move to ‘another club’. Anywhere will do eh?

Second placed Merida prove tough to beat, but Cadete clinches it in the final minutes of a game where we lose our first-choice keeper.

Alas, the rule say we must play on with one keeper.

Karpin and Cadete see us safe either side of Mazinho’s goal. A professional job in the sway leg will see us progress.

I would never sell him, but imagine the hell I would open up selling him to our Galician rivals?

We lose Karpin for a month with a damaged neck. What the f*** goes on in training back in 1997 man?!? We will miss his ginger hair and the way he likes to dress. With Karpin out, we adjust formation again to suit:

And it leads to our first loss as a second half master class from Barcelona obliterates us.

We recover with a routine win at lowly Compostela with a formational tweak (dropping a striker for a midfielder and having them running through the AM to FC position) slowing the second half right down.

The directors are pleased, we’ve turned a profit, and we sit 6^th with games in hand. In the Copa del Rey Atletico B give us a scare but we are through. We’re in the last 16 and matching real life.

Non-league Almeria remain in the competition but we are not lucky enough to draw them from the hat, we get second tier Logrones. 10-man Betis do us over in the league, more accurately a game changing performance from Alfonos.

Cadete could learn a thing or two from him:

Karpin recovers from his strained neck during the international break only to stub his toe in his first training session. Joy. Deploying a more defensive approach against Real sees us earn a really useful point from a top side.

After that the bankers are sent packing from Balaidos with their tails between their legs.

Our profligacy in front of goal against poor opposition continues. It makes for a tricky second leg where I had hoped to rest some players.

We follow up with a cool, calm and collected 0-0 draw at the Mestalla against 3^rd placed Valencia, an excellent result. Another 1-0 as the Egg Man sticks his bonce on a cross and secures the points.

And that sees us close out October in 5^th place with a game in hand.

We’re ahead of schedule, we’ve got a good shout of exceeding the Copa del Rey performance and a game in hand in the league. We’ve played three of those above us, and lost once, so not bad going.

Do join us next time to see if we can keep the show on the road!