The Coleman Report

http://www.as.com/articulo/futbol/Coleman/pide/Iriarte/tiempo/cantera/dasftbB00/20070726dasdaiftb_49/Tes/

Chris Coleman has been surprised by the quality of 'la Real's' youth players. He has yet to make any signings, and by the looks of it won't be - he has taken back five youth players who were on loan.

It's culture shock, going from a small club in England to a country with one of the best rates of producing quality youth in the world

Well, not such a great start. Real Sociedad were booed off the field today after a terrible performance and a 2-0 home defeat to Castellon.

Oh dear!

Can Coleman even speak Spanish?

Not yet, I don't think. He's learning it, but for the time being he's relying on his assistant, I think.

[quote="kas"]Not yet, I don't think. He's learning it, but for the time being he's relying on his assistant, I think.[/quote]

I heard an interview with him where he said his assistant speaks Portuguese, which is similar according to him. He'll get there and will end up being liked as he sticks up for his players and isn't afraid to voice his opinions.

There was an interview over the weekend which referred to him repeatedly getting one of the players' names wrong. He also said he'd probably never be fluent because he's no good at languages.

They got their first win today, 1-0 away to Eibar.

An important win for them, hopefully will kick off the season, that one was a local derby. I read something somewhere that Eibar could claim the Anoeta as their home stadium for this season as it was built by the San Sebastian authorities for the "highest placed team" of the region. With their crowds, often dipping below the 1000 mark, its no surprise they didn't!

Castellon looked to have a very difficult start against two of the relegated sides, Sociedad and the Celta but have some how won both of them and find themselves top! Dark horses anyone?

Certainly looks like it at the moment...plus from what I've read they've played impressively too.

Mallorca is not in the same region as Eibar though.

golsud wrote:Mallorca is not in the same region as Eibar though.

Anoeta .

kas wrote:Certainly looks like it at the moment...plus from what I've read they've played impressively too.

I saw them in a couple of games last season and despite odd flashes of quality, I found them slightly long ball if anything. They were the bogey team for Cadiz - we lost twice and by the sounds of it were bullied out of it. They wouldn't have been anywhere near one of my names for promotion at the beginning of the season, but maybe.

Win for them this weekend, and they're now up to 7th in the table.

Anyone know if Gifton Noel-Williams has scored for Elche yet ?

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Anyone know if Gifton Noel-Williams has scored for Elche yet ?

He came on from the bench against Real Sociedad.

Article by Tim Stannard:

http://www.football365.com/spanish_thing/0,17033,9405_2801652,00.html

He may receive a fine from the club after turning up 1 1/2 hours late for a press conference, being spotted having a late night out in a club the night before. But his official excuseplanation is that his flat was flooded because the washing machine malfunctioned

Have you listened to the Guardian podcast from earlier? They were discussing it on there. Apparently he was out until five in the morning enjoying 'student night.'

No, I haven't heard that. But it's been all over the Spanish press today, as well as getting a mention in Sid Lowe's column on the Guardian. I'm guessing he's the one who mentioned it in the podcast too.

kas wrote:No, I haven't heard that. But it's been all over the Spanish press today, as well as getting a mention in Sid Lowe's column on the Guardian. I'm guessing he's the one who mentioned it in the podcast too.

It was Sid Lowe. Quite an amusing story. How are the Spanish journalists taking to Coleman. It looks like Sociedad have had a rather indifferent start to the season.

Haven't read too much coverage...I don't think the fans have made up their mind about him yet. They had a horrid start, then a few good games, then have been inconsistent. Right now they're in 13th place (out of 22) in the league. The club director who said he'd be getting fined for this, insisted that it had nothing to do with his sporting performance, and the club was happy with how things were going. But there was some talk that he wasn't averse to taking the Bolton job, and Toshack (the club legend, and he was initially La Real's first choice) may soon get fired from Wales too.

A case of wait and see, I guess.

Well, the latest news is he may be on his way in January. Not because of this lateness incident, but because earlier in the season he had said he would leave if Sociedad's current board, including the president who hired him, left the club. That is exactly what happened today because the whole board resigned. So now Coleman's future may also be up in the air.

It seems that there is a group of Chinese investors interested in the club and Badiola would take over as chairman - Coleman has already said he would leave if they take over. I think Coleman's probably off to Wigan now.

Coleman has finally quit. Jabo Irureta almost certain to take over now.

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/real_sociedad/es/desarrollo/1078631.html

Coleman to join Keegan at Newcastle?