Unidentified location, July 30th 2009

'Who the hell thought to put this place here?'

'Someone who didn't want their product to be found easily, that's who. Keep climbing Dan.'
Together, Danny Blind and John van 't Schip dropped into the abyss. An abyss where their salvation was to be found.
'And what if no-ones here?' Danny grunted, leaping off the cliff, abseiling down into the dark. 'No-ones come from here since-'
'Since Guardiola?'
'Okay, fine. But who else?'
'Mourinho! What are you getting at?'
'Im getting at the fact that we may have gotten here too late!' Danny growled. 'They could be all gone!'
'They won't be.' John assured. 'They'll be there.'
The assistant managers hit the ground, unlatching the ropes, releasing themselves from the harnesses. Together they turned.
As if by magic or sensor, lights revealed a cave entrance.

'We've come here for a manager?'
Indeed, the cave was decrepit. It looked more like the underside of a bridge then a training facility for managers, grafiti sprayed onto the walls, tactics and formations cast into sharp contrast by the lighting. Danny noticed on one particular pillar the words, Buy one manager, get the scout who discovered Ali Dia free.
'Yeeup.' John said, a smile on his face as he looked around in awe. 'Lets see who we find, hey? Look at some of these tactics...'
There were hundreds of diagrams. Instructions for drawing defenders, overlapping, zonal marking, man marking, mixed man and zonal marking. From the smallest detail to the team tactics, there were hundreds of instructions, grafitied onto the walls.
And stranger still, there were small paddocks. Glass boxes, in which there were tv's, laptops, drawing boards, paper. The whole works required for up and coming managers.
Most were empty.
'There's no-one here John.' Dan kicked up dust in frustration.
'Do you have some negative syndrome?'
'No. Do you have tinted glasses?'
'That just means nothing. Now quiet, I can hear something.'
Sure enough, there was a strange sound, coming from the dark.
Danny was the first to wander tentatively into the dark, followed after a second glance by John.

Danny screamed in horror.
The tactics were written in blood on the glass of another of the habitations. Crazed formations like 4-2-2-2 adorned the glass, blood writing saying useless away...according to fm.
'What?'
'Hi there.'
The glass box had an inhabitant. His hair was about as unkempt as it could have been, his face pale like a dead person. Around him, piles of paper covered his feet, a laptop light making his face look even paler, and a tv that had long since broken, his clothes tearing, dusty and worn.
'I...' The man's mutter was quite meek, as if he was tired. 'I...ran out of ink.'
'Erm...' John, who was usually rational and composed, had no idea what to say.
'Whats your name?' Danny asked instead.
'Horatio.' The man said simply. As they watched, he pricked himself in the arm again, writing with a quill on the glass experience/ youth partnerships?
'Horatio.' Dan continued, his patronizing voice not marking on the mans thoughts. 'Would you like a job at Ajax?'
'Dan!'
'What?' Dan's voice became a mutter as he consulted his more experienced partner. 'Who else is there?'
John opened his mouth to say something, but thought otherwise.
'I can't believe it has come to this...' He muttered.
John turned back to the man in the cage, and said. 'We cordially invite you of the chosen cave to take management of Ajax. Do you have wage demands?'
Horatio, the last in the chosen cave, looked up from writing something else, the blood dripping.
'Just get me some good food...' He muttered.

------------
Hi there! Im here to try an Ajax story, and make it an enjoyable one. Ill be honest - I'm pretty bad at this game, but having taken west ham on a little test run i think i can make a run of this.
So yeah, I hope you enjoy this. Let the game begin.

This message was edited by crashbang on Nov 14 2009.

The first chat: Excelsior vs Ajax friendly
July 7th, 2009

John was angry.
It was half time in their first friendly since Horatio had arrived. The day after to be prescise. Horatio waited in the shadows, while John vented.
'We have gone over corners time and time and time and time again.' He said, pointing his finger accusingly at some of the younger players as he said it. 'We always, ALWAYS need someone marking the near post! Have you learnt nothing over the past year?'
The players stood silent. Luis Suarez, a talisman of the team, barely looked liked he cared.

'COMEON!' John said. 'Keep your markers, keep solid, dont concede! We dont concede, we are winning by now. GO out into that second half and control the space, control the time. Stay DISCIPLINED!'
Again, no player said anything. Danny Blind, the other coach, now spoke, talking mostly to the younger players.
'Remember you are trying to impress the manager for the new season. The pressure is on here, so go out and perform.'
The youngsters nodded, their heads low.

'Oit.'
All the players looked up.
Horatio had not talked until now. He had merely watched what the other two said. Now he walked into the middle of the changing room. He still wore his ragged jacket from the cave, not to mention his white trainers which now had more of a tinge of brown. The players waited, looking curious.
'Everyone except Luis off. Take a shower. The players I want on are on this paper.' Horatio handed it out. 'Now let me make this clear...'
He looked back at the two assistants as the players handed around the sheet, looked briefly down at the paper before handing it around.
'Ignore everything those two just said.' Horatio muttered.
His voice exploded around the changing room. Suarez looked up, his interest aroused.
'You all know where you play. So go do it.'
Silence followed. Some of the players looked around at each other with raised eyebrows.
'What are you waiting for?' Horatio said. 'Go kick a ball around or something.'
The players filed out, leaving Horatio with the two assistants.
Immedaitly they stared at him accusingly, trying to burn holes through his brain.
'What are you waiting for?' Horatio asked. 'That includes you.'
Their stares turned dumbfounded.
Horatio stared straight back with a smile on his face.
'Go on then. Out.'
Danny was the first to leave. John soon after.
'What...' Danny muttered. 'Have we let ourselves in for?'

Horatio stood in the changing room alone.
He began making calls.





This message was edited by crashbang on Nov 14 2009.

This message was edited by crashbang on Nov 14 2009.

Chaos at Ajax

Sky Sports can reveal that Martin Jol has left his position at Ajax amid rumours he was being courted by the Dutch international squad. The ex manager was not present during yesterdays 1-1 draw at Excelsior, and in a further twist to the tail it appears he had already been replaced. The mysterious new coach stood in the technical area for the second half of Ajax's dour 1-1 draw, although as of yet the newcomer has not been identified and Ajax's fans have been left very much in the dark. Ajax's director Uri Coronel refused to comment, although he announced a press conference would be held for the new manager along with explanations as to Ajax's current state.

Meanwhile, rumours abound of Ajax's anchor midfielder Gabri wanting a move to Espanyol of La Liga. More to follow.
----------------

Frank

Horatio probably should have been nervous.
Instead, he had gulped down a few shots of absinthe, and his throat felt like it was bing massaged by a cheese grater.
He sat next in front of the flashing cameras, John on his left and Uri on his right. Horatio had known there would be press conferences, and he knew he would have to deal with them. But just being there was nerve wracking, even loitering towards drunkenness as he was.
He thought back to his changing room after the Exclelsior game.
'You played crap.' He had said. 'But only as a team. Go home and think about how you can improve. Then do it. None of you did badly, and none of you did well. Just improve.'
Then he had left them there.

His phone suddenly began to buzz. He slid it out of his pocket, unsure of what to do. Did he press the red button or the green or the others or just shake it-
John was obliging. John pressed the green button for him. John didn't look at him.

Horatio put the phone up to his ear and found it was the Scandinavian agent he had talked to during the game. The agent said something about a leak, but he didn't hear much of it.
The conference was starting. Uri was speaking.

'It is our great delight to introduce the new manager of Ajax football club.' He said with a wide, odd grin on his face. 'This is Horatio. He is a newcomer to the game, but he has his own ideas about regenerating the club and taking us into a new dynasty of success and good football. I have supreme confidence in his management capabilities, even if he is new to the job.
Then he looked at Horatio for a moment. A slighty scared tinge wandered his face.
'Any questions?'

---------------

Press: You sit here as the new manager of Ajax, in strange circumstances. Are you pleased to be here and can you tell us anything about what has been happening at the club?

Horatio: I am pleased to be in management, although possibly I wouldn't want to start with such a job because, lets be frank, Ajax is just...not a good club. At least it is not what it should be, there is less success, less bringing through good youngsters. I hope I can fix it but I am, lets be honest, not entirely sure.

Press: So then, what is your approach? Do you have a long term investment in the club? How do you plan to improve Ajax?

Horatio: I don't know my approach yet. I have a long term investment in the club but only if I do well, aaaaaaaand...improving Ajax could be a long process. Ajax's players are always going to be poached by players from other superior leagues so I guess I will just have to be cleverer then I am.

Press: What type of player manager are you? Do you think your club will be disheartened by your comments?

Horatio: Does it matter? It's the truth as far as Im concerned. As for the players, I am a frank person, but I wont belittle players. Looking to keep the players in good spirits will be important.

Press: Does this mean you will be changing the club from top to bottom?

Horatio: Yes

Press: What does this mean for the players and staff?

Horatio: Nothing today. Eventually everyone at this cub will be judged.

Press: What players are you looking for for your team? What players will be fearing for their places?

Horatio: Ill be looking to build like I said. The players fearing for their places will be the ones that I don't consider useful to the team.

Press: You have been linked with Dynamo Kiev striker Milevski today. Will you comment?

Horatio: I'm not making a move for this player, whoever he is.

-----------

'That will be all.'
Another member of staff took over. Horatio heard his words in blurs. He was falling asleep on the press table.



This message was edited by crashbang on Nov 14 2009.

It's an ok start here mate, and the updates are getting better as the story progresses.

Like the last update, try adding a few more pictures to make the updates seem a bit more presentable. Also, as you're updates are quite long, it might be better to try a size one font.

Anyway, I'll be following.

Post match 10th July: friendly cup semi final against Dinamo.

Horatio, for the first time since he had arrived, was sat in his office scribbling.
The paper in front of him was stained with crayon, which he lashed across the page trying to find a formula. Streaks of green, red and dots of blue covered the page.

His door banged open, and there, again was his first assistant manager.
'This is not good enough.' John snapped, putting his palms flat down on Horatio's desk.
Horatio looked up at him with a nonchalant face. John plunged onward.
'We made ONE clear cut chance against Dynamo yesterday. One! We need to improve in everything! Jesus, PSV and Twente and AZ are already strengthening, and what are we doing? NOTHING!'
Horatio raised an eyebrow as John raged onwards.
'And even worse is we have a manager who doesn't even care! Do you care? Or do you just hate this club? We just about managed to win on penalties against a second rate side and youre sitting here doing...doing what?! You look like a child! Wisen the hell up! We are not improving!'

Horatio smiled at him.
'I know. Now get out.'
John narrowed his eyes, his mouth dropping open with revulsion.
Then he turned and stormed out of the office.
Horatio went back to his work. Doing the maths in his head. Wondering what he really wanted from this team.
His phone went off. Having just about grown used to the thing, Horatio flicked it open to read the message.

N'Kolou bid rejected. Advice?

Horatio rubbed his forehead with one index finger, feeling the lines gathered there, before going back to his crayons.

This message was edited by crashbang on Nov 15 2009.

Much, much better, Horatio thought.
He was watching his team pass the ball as if they were gods at the game, and for the first quarter game Sion had been hemmed into their own penalty area. Even as he watched, the keeper had to save again as Suarez, leaping high on muscular legs, climbed above his defender to head the ball goalward.

But other things were irritating him.
'Playing better today...'
Danny, who stood next to him in the technical area, was nodding his head, encouraged by the pressing, the runs from deep that were testing the Sion defence. So was Horatio. But he still looked at Danny with a dissatisfied grimace.
'Why...' He asked, as Ajax won yet another corner. 'Do we have double the coaches the board want?'

Dannys face dropped.
'Whats wrong with that?'
'Do you think we need that many mediocre coaches?'
'I...' Danny stopped and stared. 'They're not mediocre! They're ex players who have alot to offer! Dennis Berkamp is a legendary player.
'And do you think that he can honestly teach what he did?' Horatio asked.
'He could...'
Horatio turned back to the football.
The corner was driven into the box. Eyong Enoh, his giant central midfielder, latched onto the ball and flicked it into the bottom corner.
Horatio had never heard the explosive sound of the mass football fans celebration. It was a warm thing. He watched Danny pump his fists next to him.
'We need to improve our corners.' Horatio mumbled to himself.

----------------





Ajax today took their first win of the campaign as they triumphed in the friendly cup final, recording a 2-0 win over Swiss opponents Sion. Eyong Enoh opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a toepoke home from a corner, and Vurnon Anita the 20 year old right winger sealed the win with a low drilled shot from inside the penalty area.

Meanwhile, Wigans Roberto Martinez has had a bid rejected for Rodney Sneijder, a young up and coming star in the ranks of the Amsterdam side.

Ajax emphatically destroy CT

Ajax CT 0-4 Ajax (Suarez 23, 32, 72. Pantellic 61)

Ajax fans were left more then satisfied after their team put Ajax CT, their South African branch club to the sword, largely thanks to a devastating hattrick from Luis Suarez, with Pantellic heading in the third. Ajax's star striker roared into life this game and his three goals were the least he deserved.

Suarez, who is gathering interest from teams such as Manchester United, may also have to fend off competition from potential incomers such as Milevski, whom Ajax have reportedly been in protracted negotiations with.

'We can do better.' Warns Horatio as Sarpong ignites 5 star slaughter

SV Stuttgarter Kickers 0-5 Ajax (De Jong 9, Wielaert 27, Cvitanich 45, Pantelic, Sarpong 78)

Ajax stormed to a 5 goal victory in their last friendly before the eredevise kickoff today in a game featuring a superb team goal by Jeffery Sarpong. In a game where Ajax had a scalpel like cutting edge Pantelic pulled the strings behind Suarez and his goal, albeit a defender error, was very much deserved. Horatio however warns that they can do better, but must remain guarded.

'We cannot go into our first game thinking we are vastly superior, because we are not. Groningen are a good team and they will be a challenge. At the same time however we can always improve and perhaps today is the catalyst for that.'

Ajax are unbeaten in their friendly campaign leading up to the Eredevise kickoff.

'Where are you going to send me eh? You aint stopping me kid...'
Luis Suarez rolled the ball over his toes, facing up to Toby Alderweireld in the penalty box.
'And a...roll...and a faint and go-'
He nutmegged the youngster, falling elaborately over Toby's outstretched foot.
'OH! MY INJURY!'
Everyone ignored him. Luis was already laughing, getting up on his feet.
'You aren't going to get past me next time.' Toby warned, setting himself again.
'Well, while Im in this kind of mood...' Suarez sized Toby up for a moment, before flicking the ball up into the air and chipping it, the ball nestling in the back of the net a moment later.
'You're supposed to be getting past me.' Toby pointed out. 'Afraid I'll get you this time?'
'Nope. Your thing is passing, not defending.' Luis laughed, Toby raising an eyebrow. 'I kid, I kid.'

'Oit. Get over here.'
Luis heard Horatio calling, and was instantly gone to him, the kid standing in his dust.
'Too slow Luis...' Horatio said, when Luis jogged up to him. 'Do you know eachother?'
Luis looked upward at the towering man before him. The mans hair trailed down his back, his stocky brick like build making both Luis and Horatio look shrimpish. And he had a big grin on his face.
'This is Milevski.' Horatio said. 'You two are our first team strikers. Get used to each other.'
Then Horatio walked off.
The two were left staring at eachother for one arkward instant, as they sized eachother up. From far away, Marko Pantelic watched with a look of faint alarm on his face.
'How do you do?' Suarez extended his hand.

The signing of the Ukranian star Milevski will send shockwaves around the Eredevise, especially their nearest rivals who may well fear the potent combination of Suarez and Milevski, the two of them established internationals, both very skilled players that defenders all over the league will have trouble with.

But in splashing out Ajax's budget upon the centre forward Horatio is taking a huge gamle. If it fails, then Ajax's defensive problems may cost them dearly when push comes to shove in the title race. Certainly the pairing of Alderwiereld and Wielaert in central defence is flimsy, at best. Ajax may now have excellent options up frotn but it was in defence where they desperately needed strengthening, coming into their first game of the season at Groningen.
Time will tell if Horatio's gamble pays off.

Mate try and put the text in size 1 i think it looks a lot better. MAybe put some more pictures on to make it a bit more interesting.

PS Please read my stroy.

I wonder, if those that commented have actually read what crashbang wrote. Pictures and layout are only so important in a good story.

I think this is a very good story, I love the style, descriptive and to the point at the same time. I love that you're Ajax, I love that you signed Milevskyi and I love how the updates are presented. Keep up the good work, and bless us by continuing story. I'm reading.

80th minute - Groningen vs Ajax - Round 1

He was not going to get frustrated. Not in the first game of the season.
But at the same time Horatio, standing in the technical area with Danny and John, his two less then perfect assistant managers eyeing his back, watching Ajax toil was very much a frustrating affair. Milevski and Suarez were too far apart for his liking. The defence had been cut up twice and Groningen would probably have been disappointed not to score one of them. Then again Ajax too had had chances. But that wasn't the point.

Therefore, Horatio kept his face firmly set. Even as Milevski turned his defender from 25 yards and forced the keeper to tip a thunder shot onto the crossbar. Hitting the crossbar wasn't about to win the game, and the fans probably knew that as well as Horatio thought he did. They despaired while a relieved home crowd cheered Milevski's shot in just the way Horatio didn't want to hear.

That wasn't all that was troubling him.
For all he tried, he couldn't think of weather a draw away to Groningen was good or not.
He looked over at their manager, who he also didn't know the name of. Was the guy pleased? Looking for the winner? Disappointed?
It was Horatio's turn to think those terrible words.
What the hell was he doing here? What was he learning on his spot?
Why had he been the last out of the cave?

The thought was gone in an instant. John was by his side. Eyeing the pitch eagle like.
'Everything okay?' John looked at Horatio out of the corner of his eye. 'You haven't been back to the bench all game barring to make subs.'
'Fine.' Horatio said. 'Absolutely fine.'

------------







Groningen 0-0 Ajax

Ajax's new signing Milevski showed glimpses of quality that were eluding Ajax in this frustrating draw in Groningen. He arguably came closet to a goal for Ajax, forcing Luciano to tip his fierce shot onto the bar in the closing stages. But out of the two teams Groningen can argue they had the better chances - certainly Pederson should have done much better when clean through against Stekelenburg, only to place the shot straight at Hollands international keeper, while Emanuelsson had to desperately clear to prevent Lovre slotting into an empty net as Stekelenburg over commited himself.
Ajax had an afternoon of finding their shots blocked and sharpness in the final third found wanting. They can hope for a reprieve in their next game however, hosting as they are relegation candidates RKC, although the Eredevise newcomers did beat Ultrecht in the first round and lie in 6th after the first round.

Ajax have been drawn to again face Sion in order to progress to the Europa league group stages. Merely weeks ago Ajax beat Sion 2-0 in a friendly, although over two legs the tie is likely to be an entirely different affair.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports sources in Greece claim that Panathanaikos rejected a bid from Ajax for their experienced central midfielder Gilberto Silva, although noone at Ajax has commented upon this.

Horatio having aquired one talent may face a fight on his hands to keep another, as Luis Suarez is finding interest from the English isles. Manchester United, as well as Chelsea and Liverpool have expressed an interest with Benitez taking time to speak about Suarez personally, simply saying he was an accomplished player. More soon.

Rotten luck

Ajax vs RKC, 70th minute

Horatio was trying his best not to have a heart attack.
Ajax were playing slick football. Very slick football. They were 4-1 up against RKC Waalwijk, despite being down to ten men.
But the defence was so fragile... Horatio didn't say a word as Toby Aderwiereld and Rob Wielaert were pulled around the penalty box, desperately smashing the ball against other tracking back players, losing the ball in the air. And this was to a promoted side.

But on the attack...
Suarez had just put Milevski clean through for his hattrick. It was a superb ball - Milevski cut across the defenders, leaving them trailing in his wake, leaving the goalkeeper helpless-
The ball was nestling in the back of the net, 10 seconds after RKC had been pressuring Ajax's less then squeaky clean defence.
'Says it all really.' Horatio grinned as John grinned. 'We scored because our defence is being crap.'
'Its a team game.' John said. 'As long as we score more then they concede.'
'Hope so.' Horatio cracked his knuckles. 'Lets get Milevski off before he gets injured...

-----------------------

Ajax run rampant but take rotten luck

Ajax 5-1 RKC Waalwijk (Milevski pen 6, 21,59. Sulejmani 10. Enoh 38)(Pelle 42)

Milevski scored a hattrick as Ajax tore promoted team RKC apart, but the title challengers suffered a major blow as Milevski was ruled out for 6 to 7 weeks after straining knee ligaments...a matter of moments before he was due to be substituted.
The powerful striker was in excellent form as he scored a penalty before adding another after the RKC keeper saved excellently from Suarez and Gabri, only for Milevski to score the third rebound. His third came as RKC were pushing forward, out muscling and out pacing the defenders before slotting past the keeper with ease to complete the rout.
Sulejmani and Enoh are the other scorers, but Ajax will be cursing their luck that they have lost a striker showing excellent potential. Meanwhile their defence looked more then leaky- a goal was the least RKC deserved when Pelle nodded a close range header in with minutes to go untill half time. But RKC squandered what chances they had and Ajax in the end deserved the scoreline.

-------------------------

Ajax can curse their luck but it's the defence that Horatio should be worrying about, writes Cruyff

Ajax have had their first strike of bad luck. Losing a striker who would have taken lots of pressure off the defence for 6-7 weeks is indeed bad luck.
But when Horatio looks back at this season, unless the defence doesnt improve that will be his regret. The defence is far too fragile for a championship winning team. It would be swept aside by any team in the champions league, and for all the nice passing, when it comes down to simple defending their central pairing simply isnt up to standard.
Horatio can blame his abscense if he likes. But that merely points to a lack of depth.





This message was edited by crashbang on Nov 17 2009.