MattGardner15
03-03-2008, 09:07 PM
New Star Soccer 3 Career....
My name is Matt Gardner and I am a professional footballer for Barcelona. I began my career 4 years ago in Ireland. I am originally English but I found out that my Grandfather was from Luxembourg. I would have loved to have been able to play for England, but I chose Luxembourg. At times I think that maybe I would have been better off playing for England. But I was made captain of Luxembourg and I would love to be able to lead them to a World Cup.
Anyway as I line up to start my second season at Barca I have played 53 games and scored 16 goals, not bad for a midfielder. I have also played 6 games for Luxembourg, 2 as captain and scored 1 goal. Four Years ago in Ireland I made my debut for a team called Linfield. It was the final game of the season and I was only on a one year contract, so I tried really hard to impress and it was maybe that which caused me to try too hard and play possibly the worst game of my career. I was not surprised when they did not renew my contact and I became a free agent. A few offers came in but nothing that was set in stone and I did not want to stay in Ireland. And the most amazing thing happened. My agent phoned me a week before the season started, Sporting Lisbon wanted to sign me. I did not even need to consider the offer, bang straight away I was on my way to Portugal, and Champions League football awaited me, what a challenge this was going to prove to be....
I missed the first few games of the season due to a groin strain. When I had worked my way to near full fitness the manager told me I would be starting the next game... A real tough match away at Porto. They were the reigning champions and we knew it would be key to out title challenge that we did not lose this game. I was told I was to be played out of position, out wide on the right of midfield. I prefer the center but I was delighted to be playing in such a big game. I was nervous and could not get settled in the first half. I was marked out of the game and I trudged off despondent at half time. The manager had a word and I returned fired up for the second half. Straight away I run straight at their left back. BANG!! He hit me two footed right on the ankle, the pain was excruciating and I lay on the floor unable to move. The physio came on to give me treatment and after a while the pain wore off. I returned to the fray and was more fired up then before. I was in on the left back with a crunching tackle. I left him in a heap, but I had won the ball fairly and the ref played on. I stuck a ball right on the six yard line and was delighted to see Miguel Veloso stick the ball in the net on the volley. I began to be booed as Porto thought I should have put the ball out of play as the left back still lay on a heap on the floor. I was shocked to see his ankle was at a funny angle. He was stretchered off and I felt a great deal of regret and shame. I had gone in hard to get revenge and broke the poor guys ankle. I felt terrible and asked to be subbed and was brought off immediately. The manager wasn't angry and told me that these things happened and I began to feel better. We held on to win 1-0 and my debut was a success, kind of. Straight after the game I rushed off to see the injured left back. I apologized and he apologized for the first tackle. It was a nothing challenge and I had been stupid. I played in the next 5 games and scored twice, including a stunning 25 yard free kick. It turned out to be the winning goal and I was delighted and I was also playing in my favored position. Right in the thick of the action. We were top of the league when we travelled to England to play Arsenal in the Champions League. I was on the bench and we were two down at half time when I was bought on. I immediately got stuck into Fabregas and Flamini. BANG... Two hard tackles and I had made my mark and let them know how it was gunna be. They had been given too much time on the ball first half and that was about to change. Flamini came at me seeking revenge and I was too skillful and I did a dragback flick through his legs and and let fly with a shot from the edge of the box. Almunia did not move. 2-1 and it was on now. 25 minutes to go and Flamini still wanted revenge and again I was too quick for him. But this time he made sure that he caught me, late. Free Kick and Flamini had already been booked . The ref decided enough was enough and Flamini was gone. I lined up the free kick and decided it was too far out. So I dinked the ball in the box and our centerback met it with a thumping header, Almunia tried in vain to save it but he was beaten again. 2-2 it was a great comeback. Then with 2 minutes left we won another free kick. Another spot on delivery and another thumping header, but this time someone was on the line to stop, Kolo Toure, but with his hand. PENALTY! It was up to me to win the game from the spot and I stepped up and slid the ball to the keepers left, he dived to his right and the ball clipped the post and rolled over the line. Game, Set. Match what a comeback and the papers raved over my performance.
We topped the group and went into a quarter final showdown with Barcelona. We lost at home 3-1 and then the drew 1-1 in the Nou Camp and I scored with a close range header. Goal no.4 for me. But our cup dream was over. I missed a large chunk of the season through injury and I finished the season with 24 appearances and 7 goals, 3 penalties, 2 free kicks and 2 from open play. I was only on a one-year deal and thought I'd done enough to to secure a new deal, but they did not think so and I was left to find a new team. When Barca came calling I knew that I wold regret it if I did not take this chance. I spent a lot of the first season improving my fitness and improving my allround game. I managed to play 22 games in a season which saw Barca play 50+ games. Reaching a Cup Final and a Champions League Semi. I scored 8 goals, all from open play. Towards the end of the season I made my Luxembourg debut and it ended in a 4-1 defeat against Bulgaria. I was a shadow of the player that was proving himself out in Spain and I didn't get going.
So now I'm into my second year at Barca and I'm a regular first teamer. I've played 3 of the opening five games and they've included 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. I did not feature in the defeat or the draw. We suffered the defeat at the hands of Real Betis and could not find a way past the league leaders Osasuna and we sit second in the Table. This is what the table looks like after five games.
1.Osasuna 11
2.Barcelona 10
3.Celta Vigo 9
4.Zaragoza 9
5.Althletico Madrid 8
6.Espanyol 8
7.Real Betis 8
8.Albacete 8
9.Althletic Bilbao 8
10.Racing Santander 7
11.Real Sociedad 6
12.Sporting Gijon 6
13.Las Palmas 6
14.Villarreal 6
15.Deportivo 6
16.Levante 4
17.Real Madrid 3
18.Valencia 3
19.Real Murcia 2
20.Getafe 0
Pretty tight so far and some of the bigger teams haven't got going yet. Gunna be interestingso I'll keep you folks posted on the next few games. See ya.... :-)
My name is Matt Gardner and I am a professional footballer for Barcelona. I began my career 4 years ago in Ireland. I am originally English but I found out that my Grandfather was from Luxembourg. I would have loved to have been able to play for England, but I chose Luxembourg. At times I think that maybe I would have been better off playing for England. But I was made captain of Luxembourg and I would love to be able to lead them to a World Cup.
Anyway as I line up to start my second season at Barca I have played 53 games and scored 16 goals, not bad for a midfielder. I have also played 6 games for Luxembourg, 2 as captain and scored 1 goal. Four Years ago in Ireland I made my debut for a team called Linfield. It was the final game of the season and I was only on a one year contract, so I tried really hard to impress and it was maybe that which caused me to try too hard and play possibly the worst game of my career. I was not surprised when they did not renew my contact and I became a free agent. A few offers came in but nothing that was set in stone and I did not want to stay in Ireland. And the most amazing thing happened. My agent phoned me a week before the season started, Sporting Lisbon wanted to sign me. I did not even need to consider the offer, bang straight away I was on my way to Portugal, and Champions League football awaited me, what a challenge this was going to prove to be....
I missed the first few games of the season due to a groin strain. When I had worked my way to near full fitness the manager told me I would be starting the next game... A real tough match away at Porto. They were the reigning champions and we knew it would be key to out title challenge that we did not lose this game. I was told I was to be played out of position, out wide on the right of midfield. I prefer the center but I was delighted to be playing in such a big game. I was nervous and could not get settled in the first half. I was marked out of the game and I trudged off despondent at half time. The manager had a word and I returned fired up for the second half. Straight away I run straight at their left back. BANG!! He hit me two footed right on the ankle, the pain was excruciating and I lay on the floor unable to move. The physio came on to give me treatment and after a while the pain wore off. I returned to the fray and was more fired up then before. I was in on the left back with a crunching tackle. I left him in a heap, but I had won the ball fairly and the ref played on. I stuck a ball right on the six yard line and was delighted to see Miguel Veloso stick the ball in the net on the volley. I began to be booed as Porto thought I should have put the ball out of play as the left back still lay on a heap on the floor. I was shocked to see his ankle was at a funny angle. He was stretchered off and I felt a great deal of regret and shame. I had gone in hard to get revenge and broke the poor guys ankle. I felt terrible and asked to be subbed and was brought off immediately. The manager wasn't angry and told me that these things happened and I began to feel better. We held on to win 1-0 and my debut was a success, kind of. Straight after the game I rushed off to see the injured left back. I apologized and he apologized for the first tackle. It was a nothing challenge and I had been stupid. I played in the next 5 games and scored twice, including a stunning 25 yard free kick. It turned out to be the winning goal and I was delighted and I was also playing in my favored position. Right in the thick of the action. We were top of the league when we travelled to England to play Arsenal in the Champions League. I was on the bench and we were two down at half time when I was bought on. I immediately got stuck into Fabregas and Flamini. BANG... Two hard tackles and I had made my mark and let them know how it was gunna be. They had been given too much time on the ball first half and that was about to change. Flamini came at me seeking revenge and I was too skillful and I did a dragback flick through his legs and and let fly with a shot from the edge of the box. Almunia did not move. 2-1 and it was on now. 25 minutes to go and Flamini still wanted revenge and again I was too quick for him. But this time he made sure that he caught me, late. Free Kick and Flamini had already been booked . The ref decided enough was enough and Flamini was gone. I lined up the free kick and decided it was too far out. So I dinked the ball in the box and our centerback met it with a thumping header, Almunia tried in vain to save it but he was beaten again. 2-2 it was a great comeback. Then with 2 minutes left we won another free kick. Another spot on delivery and another thumping header, but this time someone was on the line to stop, Kolo Toure, but with his hand. PENALTY! It was up to me to win the game from the spot and I stepped up and slid the ball to the keepers left, he dived to his right and the ball clipped the post and rolled over the line. Game, Set. Match what a comeback and the papers raved over my performance.
We topped the group and went into a quarter final showdown with Barcelona. We lost at home 3-1 and then the drew 1-1 in the Nou Camp and I scored with a close range header. Goal no.4 for me. But our cup dream was over. I missed a large chunk of the season through injury and I finished the season with 24 appearances and 7 goals, 3 penalties, 2 free kicks and 2 from open play. I was only on a one-year deal and thought I'd done enough to to secure a new deal, but they did not think so and I was left to find a new team. When Barca came calling I knew that I wold regret it if I did not take this chance. I spent a lot of the first season improving my fitness and improving my allround game. I managed to play 22 games in a season which saw Barca play 50+ games. Reaching a Cup Final and a Champions League Semi. I scored 8 goals, all from open play. Towards the end of the season I made my Luxembourg debut and it ended in a 4-1 defeat against Bulgaria. I was a shadow of the player that was proving himself out in Spain and I didn't get going.
So now I'm into my second year at Barca and I'm a regular first teamer. I've played 3 of the opening five games and they've included 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. I did not feature in the defeat or the draw. We suffered the defeat at the hands of Real Betis and could not find a way past the league leaders Osasuna and we sit second in the Table. This is what the table looks like after five games.
1.Osasuna 11
2.Barcelona 10
3.Celta Vigo 9
4.Zaragoza 9
5.Althletico Madrid 8
6.Espanyol 8
7.Real Betis 8
8.Albacete 8
9.Althletic Bilbao 8
10.Racing Santander 7
11.Real Sociedad 6
12.Sporting Gijon 6
13.Las Palmas 6
14.Villarreal 6
15.Deportivo 6
16.Levante 4
17.Real Madrid 3
18.Valencia 3
19.Real Murcia 2
20.Getafe 0
Pretty tight so far and some of the bigger teams haven't got going yet. Gunna be interestingso I'll keep you folks posted on the next few games. See ya.... :-)