I decided my participation in the World Cup meant I’d give it a bit more coverage, but first, let’s see if I can get the summer off to a good start by negotiating the playoffs

Division 1 Playoffs

We make it really difficult for ourselves, after a comfortable first leg win it’s a nervy 1-0 loss at Kidderminster, but either way we’ve booked ourselves at Wembley. The other semi final goes the same way but it is Shrewsbury who hang on.

We’ve beaten Shrewsbury in both other meetings this season so I’m not too worried – and rightly so, as Mail delivers for me (zing)

So that’s it, I’ve got Liverpool back in the big time. It wasn’t pretty but we did it, and that’s all that matters. The board love it and for some reason you get money thrown at you

That’s the domestic season done, now it’s World Cup time!

World Cup 2006 – England

Here are the groups, there’s a couple of tricky groups to call in there, not least my own

Some of the groups seem very lopsided, Brazil, England and Denmark must be delighted with their draws. With that in mind, here is England’s squad:

Hoddle’s picked a very defensive squad, which is stupid really given the group he’s in. No wonder the league has struggled for goals. It’s a nightmare start for him too

They’re not the only ones enduring a nightmare start though

Innocent Hurst is a great name. I’m happy to get out with a draw in our first game

Landreau keeping things tidy. England endure another nightmare though

No goals in 2 games on home soil, they’re on the verge. We net our first goals in a routine win.That’ll do at least. England need to beat Australia and hope USA beat Sweden.A riproaring 1-0 success is not enough. Sweden beat the USA and that’s it – England are out. We endure one of those days against the Czech’s, dominating but can’t score.

It’s enough to see us through, but we have to settle for second behind Germany. All of that leaves the Groups looking like this:

Denmark have been the most consistent team over this game but they’ve crashed out badly here, they and England have been huge disappointments. Spain, reigning World Champions, are also out. All of this is very good news for me. Last 16 draw is as follows:

Winning the group would have got me Brazil, so I’m not upset at all by the draw. South Africa are routinely taken care of

We’ve yet to concede a goal so I’m starting to think we could do this. Italy will be a sterner test, and we concede our fist goal…

After we miss the first 2 pens, Landreau goes nuts and saved the next 4. We’ve done it! I fully expect to face Argentina, but this is CM…

The Swedes are obviously playing well but I’m happier to be playing them

My confidence is rewarded with an easy win. CM favourite Niclas Alexandersson is at centre back but he can’t handle Tannai. The other semi final sees Germany take Nigeria out.

The Germans stand between me and World Cup glory. It’s all going so well…

At 2-0, we’re in cruise control, but the Germans come flying back at us and take it to extra time. To make matters worse, Legwinski gets a second yellow in injury time and we’re facing an extra 30 minutes a man light. However, straight after the restart, Maurice pings one in the top corner and we win on golden goal. Bedlam!

Off to Argentina in 2010. Meanwhile, I’ve won manager of the year (Division 1)

Finally, here are the awards:

My mate Victor Marco at Leeds getting some well earned rewards. Immediately, I resign from France, my job done. Now I just need to decide if I will stay at Liverpool…

As we reach the closing months of the 05/06 season, it’s all to play for as Chelsea look to retain their Premier League title whilst competing on all fronts, whilst I continue the eternal struggle that is the football league. As ever, we kick off with the first domestic trophy of the English season, the League Cup (sorry Charity Sheild fans)

League Cup

It’s a good start to trophy season for Tony Adams, his Chelsea side, coming from behind to beat Bolton, with the obvious bonus of Bolton’s keeper being sent off making all the difference.

What a happy Tony. Anyway, let’s see how the FA Cup turned out

The FA Cup

First of all, the semi finals saw Chelsea defeat Birmingham but Leicester sprung a surprise and beat Aston Villa. Should be a great final

Oh. Not quite then. Back in these days, it’s a good old fashioned replay to settle it.

Well well, Tony’s having himself a double! Leicester can take solace in a great run though.

Premier League

It was all getting a bit tight as Chelsea’s cup commitments left them with games in hand that could prove pivotal. However, this was a strange decision:

Man Utd’s goal keeper , who will be part of England’s World Cup squad, is sold to Bolton on the last day of the transfer window. No replacement is signed. How odd! There’s some other late movers too

Not to mention this

Perhaps one of his own free kicks hit him. Either way, he will miss the World Cup.

Anyway, it all boils down to the last day of the season in the Premier League, Chelsea are chasing Man Utd and need Brian Little’s Aston Villa to do them a favour.

An emphatic loss at Villa Park means Chelsea just have to dispatch Burnley – great times for Tony, he’s won the lot! At the bottom, all the sides involved in the relegation scrap over the final spot win, meaning Hull are relegated. Arsenal survive – just!

Note the goal scored column from the best league in the world. 44 scored in 38 games for the Champions…

Either way, the English sides are doing well in Europe. Keegan’s Blackburn triumph in Madrid

Whilst McManaman is victorious for Leeds

Champions League

No such luck for Chelsea in Europe though, despite a home win against Real Madrid they lose 4-2 on aggregate

Real Madrid go on to win the final in a thriller after extra time.

Meanwhile, you’re probably all wondering what happened to Liverpool. We just missed out on automatic promotion:

So it will have to be the playoffs. How did we get on? Well, you’ll have to read the next update.

As I have a World Cup to attend and a playoff final to win, I’m going to make this a 2 parter, but don’t worry, it’ll be available tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll see you here then.

After my epic flounce out of Leeds to kick off the 05/06 season, my quest to get Liverpool back in the big time at the first opportunity is not going to be as easy as I thought. In fact, it’s an epic struggle. There was also a boat load of manager changes – and that’s what we’ll kick off with

Roy Evans pre-dates the footsteps of Chris Coleman and David Moyes and takes on the Sociedad job, poor old Roy was on top of the world 6 years ago and now his reputation is in tatters. Speaking of which, France qualify for the World Cup and decide the best solution is this:

I’ll have that thank you kindly

This make the Liverpool manager a blue, or at least les blues gaffer. Wahey.

Anyway, back at Liverpool we’re all about the seriousness

The season is taking a bit of an upturn, with results like this

Good old Nevland. That’s sadly as good as it gets and a lot of thrown away wins into draws means our promotion hopes are in balance.

It could be worse though, poor old Riccy

Destined to never recover that boy. Incidentally, the France squad is amazing and I’m delighted to be their manager for the World Cup. Decent start too

However, my enthusiasm is soon dampened by this stinker of a World Cup draw

For those wondering, here’s England (the hosts!) draw

Easy! Lucky Glenn. However what should be one of England’s great hopes is on the move

For £1.6m, Forest have a bargain. He never really got a good shot of things at Villa. The first final of the season is set up, as Colin Todd’s omni present Bolton will go up against Tony Adams’ Chelsea

I’m sure it’ll be a thriller. In the FA Cup, we had a brief flurry to the 5th round which included beating Premier League Wolves

Bit of extrat time drama at Molineux. That’s as good as it gets though as we lose to Kinnear’s Spurs. The semi finals see the familiar appearance of Chelsea, blast from the past Villa and resurgent Ron Atkinson’s Birmingham.

Birmingham sit comfortably top of Division 1, putting me to shame

Might have to be the playoffs, which is a bit embarassing but it’s a difficult league to get out of. Yes?

Meanwhile the Premier League looks like this:

Man Utd up there again, but Chelsea’s games in hand could give them the momentum. Villa and Leeds are a mile back really.

Meanwhile at the bottom, Coventry are slipping away with WBA but the last spot could be tight. Look at Arsenal failing again.

Anyway, in the next update we’ll find out if I can get the biggest club ever to play in Division 1 promoted and whether the French can win in England, if we get out the group I think we could do it. Spare a thought for Scimmy though

After Leeds collapsed like the Ikea furniture I make, Chelsea took the Premier League title under the management of Tony Adams. As we also bottled it against Bolton Wanderers in the Champions League, I’ve thrown my toys out of the pram and gone to rescue a club in need

Liverpool have just been relegated and Roy Evans left in shame. I’ll be able to re-build the squad as the firesale is already underway before I’m even in the job

Obviously I need some pals with me, so this is my first move

Best mate. Anyway, you’re probably all wondering who replaced me at Leeds. Well…

I don’t think anybody expected that to happen. Transfers as usual are a bit mad

This is the squad I’m hoping will take me back to the Premier League

Why did I leave? Well, I was pretty annoyed by the collapse at the end of the season and both Landreau & Bowyer wanted to move to a bigger club (they haven’t yet). Another season in the UEFA Cup didn’t really appeal to me and the chance to re-build a big club like Liverpool is too good to turn down, I just hope I can get out of Division 1 at the first time of asking.

Also, Scimeca is still broken

The Charity Shield gets the season under way

A resounding victory for Tony Adams and friends. But soon, it’s time for former Chelsea manager Gordon Milne to find his way back to the Premier League

Good grief. But still, that’s just the start of the merry-go-round

Then finally, a nice homecoming

After all of that, the season is progressing nicely and I’ve got Liverpool up in the top 4 of Division 1. As ever, with a lot of new players it takes a bit of time to gel but then we get going, it’s been a good rise up the table. Unfortunately, Premier League clubs want my star player

I’ve said no for now but to prepare me I’ve brought in another old friend

Keane isn’t getting a game under McManaman so I’m happy to take him off their hands. Here’s the top of Division 1

Big Ron’s Birmingham leading the way, for now. In the Premier League though, Brian Little’s got Aston Villa back on top ahead of Man Utd & Leeds, with Sheff Utd joining the party. Adams’ Chelsea are not far behind – though they do knock me out of the league cup on penalties.

At the bottom, it’s early days but Everton’s yo-yo existence looks like continuing. Marashliev has retired sadly, but then so has Paolo Maldini and Blackburn are ok.

Join us next time where hopefully I’ll be well on the way back up and maybe Riccy Scimeca will get a new jaw fitted. Feel free to give me abuse on twitter for my latest job change.