Part 1 Part 2 Part 3: We are lucky that the hotel has a gym. However, it is rather small and can only take 4 people at a time. It is situated in the basement area and it very hot as all the water pipes pass through it and so even tho' the heating is off for the summer there is still boiling hot water heading towards the taps. When we tried to get in for a quick work out we found that Shaun had taken over the whole room and had hung his t-shirts, y-fronts and string vests all over the place - he likes to do his own laundry whilst he is away. We had a brief meeting before our evening meal where Neil took us through what he wanted us to do in the match against Cesena. We were also shown the new kit. WOW! It's red and white quarters, a throw back to earlier times. The big difference is that it has a white bit over the shoulder - makes it looks like a seagull has shat on you. But it is a new strip - the third strip - and I can't wait to see the first and second ones. Paddy and Radek were more than pleased with the virginal white goalkeeper's jersey. All the lads were allowed to try on their kit and a debate ensued about who's going to get which number for next season. Another excellent meal in the restaurant. I thoroughly enjoyed my Tortellini alla Crema (pasta stuffed with ham and mushrooms in sauce). When one of the guys told Neil that he should "go for Cannelloni because it's very good", I am sure that I heard our beloved managed mutter "bet Flavio tries to sign the begger". (Something's going on here. I haven't figured it out yet.) Paddy got into trouble again because he insisted on wearing his new top into the dining room and, of course, got it covered in rich tomato sauce as he shovelled down seconds of Cannelloni. Lucky the hotel has a laundry, although Shaun did offer to do the business but Paddy declined his generous offer. "I don't want my nice new top going round in the machine with his y-fronts". DJ Campbell arrived with his posse. He's smaller than he looks on TV. He looked a little nervous. Apparently his decks were held up in customs but would be delivered the next day. Another relaxing evening. Jonesy said that any of us feeling homesick would be allowed to phone home and there was a long queue outside the little booth in the lobby. Each player was allowed 5 minutes except for Adel who was allowed extra time because he has just got married. Neil got a report from the private investigator who the club had hired to follow John Terry, just to make sure that he wasn't sniffing around whilst the boys were in Italy. After a knackering day - training in the morning and beach volleyball in the afternoon, the lads were ready for bed at 10pm. There was a bit of a kerfuffle when Clint discovered that someone had hidden his teddy bear, Mr Bear. But he was found in the minibar fridge in Akos' room and soon everyone had calmed down and it was only a few minutes before everyone was fast asleep. **************** The lads were allowed a lie in this morning because there was a match coming up in the evening. Instead of breakfast a brunch was laid on. Most of the team were too nervous to eat and kept nipping out to the noticeboard in the lobby to see if Neil had put the starting eleven up. Everybody's up for it. Even DJ said he wouldn't mind a kick about if nobody minded. I think he should stick to mixing them tunes like he does. MAJOR PANIC. The clean laundry was delivered to our rooms just before lunch and that was when things began to get heated. The hotel manager was called to Neil's room aftyer it was discovered that Paddy's jersey had been shoved in the wash with a few pair of socks from the new kit ... RED socks. The beautiful white shirt that Paddy had taken a real shine to was now PINK! It was too late to do anything about it and with Paddy being listed as starting in goal (and Radek refusing point blank to lend him his white top) there was nothing else for Paddy to do but to wear the pink one in the game. He is not a happy goalkeeper especially as some of the lads have started calling him "Fizz" after the one that wears pink in the Tweenies. The afternoon seemed to drag. Uncle Neil and Jonesy spent the afternoon having discussions with the Cesena board. They were trying to get permission to paint a volleyball net width strip of pink across the back of the goal. They argued and argued but to no avail. In the end Neil had to tell the girls in the bikinis that it wasn't worth them turning up. "Bet you Dave doesn't score now," he said through gritted teeeth. Jamie said that he would look after the volleyball team seeing as he wasn't going to play in the match. He's a good egg. With the game getting closer it was time to get on the coach and travel to the ground. The starting eleven boarded bus first and were ticked off the list by Curly-Whirly. There was some confusion when it was Trialist's turn. Six people all claimed to be the trialist, including DJ and some bloke who had just wandered into the hotel with a note from Flavio. The stadium where the game was played was a quite small, but quite a few turned out to watch. Bradley noticed that Cesena had already got their sponsorship sorted out. It does seem strange that they should be sponsored by a feminine hygiene product. If you get a chance to see video footage you will see the fans holding banners saying "Always Ultras", although the "Always" bit seems to have been cut out of shot. The game itself was great and I'm sure you've all read lots of reports by now. Both sides had a few chances. Tthere were a couple of good shouts for a penalty to the Rs, but the ref had decided that he wasn't going to do anything controversial, so no penalties and no bookings. What i don't think many people noticed was that he was wearing the same top as the Cesena goalkeeper and actually did a ten minute stint between the sticks whilst the goalkeeper took over the whistle. The boys weren't too unhappy after the game, even though they did lose by a goal to nil. It was a cracker of a goal. Uncle Neil was interviewed afterwards and came out with the usual preseason stuff about testing formations and "looking at one or two things". I think he was going to say a few more things, but didn't for some reason. It was nice of one of Flavio's friends (one of the men in black suits, white shirts and black ties) to come along and support the team. He sat right behind the duggout during the match and then hovered around Neil after the match, especially during the interviews. Everyone was jolly tired when we got back to the hotel and after cocoa and a quick debrief it was time for bed again. We would all sleep soundly tonight.
