TEAM AND PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

Every 2 weeks a team and a player is looked at in depth. We will look at a teams position in the league, evaluate their season so far and interview th particular manager about their performance so far. We will then look at a player from the team. We will look at his recent performances and evaluate the type of player he is and what his future is like. This week the team will be Udinese.

Click the link below to see the other spotlight

BRESCIA / ROCHEMBACK

RED STAR / ZIKOS

BENFICA / RIVALDO

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

UDINESE

PAUL BICKLEY - FACT FILE

ABOUT UDINESE

NAME Paul Bickley AGE 23 ROLE Udinese Manager NATIONALITY English HONOURS FA Cup. Lost in quarter finals to Ath Madrid, 3-2. League Cup Lost 3-1 to Porto in round 2. European Cup Did not qualify League First season in charge. Currently second, 3 points behind first place.

Udinese have never had a manager for a long period of time, but early this season they appointed a manager who is making his return to the game. He has managed to take Udinese from an average mid table team to a championship contender. Things are on the up for Udinese as a whole. They are looking dead certs for promotion to division two and once there who knows. Division one may be in their sites. Next season they will want to show why they are ever improving by competing well in the second division. One team they will be playing is Real Betis who were relegated this week. Therefore manager Paul Bickley will be eager to do the double over his brothers team. If Udinese are to be promoted they may need to buy if they are going to compete for the top two places. Udinese's expectations will be high and anything less than the play offs will not suffice. Udinese's success has gone unoticed due to the lack of interest seeing as they are the only managed team. One thing is for sure, success in division two, will earn them other teams' respect and their improvement will be seen.

THE LEAGUE TABLE IN AND AROUND THEM (WEEK 19)

1st Perugia 41 pts, GD +14 2nd Udinese - 38 pts, GD +13 ************************* 3rd Atlanta - 32 Pts, GD +8 4th Parma - 31 pts, GD +2

Played: 19 Won: 10 Lost: 8 Drew: 1

Goals for: 36 Goals against: 23

INFO ON UDINESE YOU MAY NOT OF KNOWN

Clean Sheets: 1 Leading Goalscorer: Nalitzis (9 in 16) Most Man Of Matches: Sarr (3)

Captain: Peter Van Houdt Penalty Taker: Per Kroldrup Player Of Season So Far: Martinez - Solid, consistant defending.

PAUL BICKLEY (UDINESE) - INTERVIEW

1. Paul, What do you believe the key is to Udinese's success this season? Consistancy within the team meaning players don't play in their best positions and the team doesn't change much. Also the lack of managed teams help. 2. What do you aim to achieve with Udinese? To be above Real Betis and compete with the big guns and have success in europe. 3. It looks like you will get promotion, how do you think you will fair in the second division? I'll be looking forward to playing my brother in division two after he has been relegated from division 1. I would like to aim for the play offs and see Real Betis go down again. 4. What is the atmosphere like in the dressing room and on the training ground? The team spirit has never been better. All players realise the potential of the club and they all realise they have a part to play in the future. With players like Sosa and Kroldrup, there is never a dull moment. Recently Sosa put a dead fish in Karic's jock strap. He then went out and scored. 5. What do you think are the fans expectations? As soon as i joined the club i addressed the fans in a capital gold forum and i told them the plans for the club, so hopefully they're expecting promotioon and a mid table finish next season. 6. Will you be able to buy players in the near future or is the cash not there? At the moment my finacial situation is very poor with only 4.2 million in the bank i can't afford to bring anyone in. I have introduced some quality players like Borgersen and Restrepo who cost 3 million each and i have my eye on several other players when the money is there. With the introduction of  Gemiti and Warley means i have introduced all my squad players, so barring loans the team i have now will have to see me into next season where hopefully i will pick up some money for finishing first or second. 7. Do you feel that you have the players to win promotion from the second division?? No. I feel we need a 15 goal a season striker and i need to stengthen up the defence. 8. Is there any messages you would like to give the loyal fans? I couldn't of wished for much better support than i have received this season. In some games it's like having a twelveth man and i think we have some of the best looking streakers in the world especially the long legged blond worman.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

PAPE SARR (UDINESE)

NAME Pape Sarr AGE 24 NATIONALITY Senagalese GAMES PLAYED Played 12 Scored 2 ATTRIBUTES SH - 99, PA - 63, SP - 99, CO - 99, RE - 92, AG - 68, TA - 66, HE - 75, IN - 68. HONOURS Bought from Rosenborg early in season 3, for 3.1 million. Now with Udinese who are second in the third division.

Pape Sarr is one of the Senegal team that did so well in the world cup. He has been waiting patiantly for a move from Rosenborg after not getting any first team action. It was Udinese who took the risk and brought him for a little fee of 3 million. He was immediately given a first team chance and he has never looked back since. The senagalese player is a very quick wide man who's shooting and crossing is to be marvelled at. Not only has he set up a number of goals he has scored a few to. His first goals came at Udinese. With literally no one playing wide mids in the game it is good to see that someone has gave this bright youngster a chance, which he has grasped with both hands. However there is still room for improvement. Tackling is one area. He will be a member of Senegal and Udinese for a long time to come. The only way is up and that could very well be with Udinese.

SARR (UDINESE) - INTERVIEW

1. How have you found it at Udinese since you moved here? Since moving from Rosenborg i have been able to concentrate on my football and i have improved immensly and i'm enjoying life more than ever. The group of my players here welcomed me straight away and the fans are awesome. 2. Would you ever consider moving to a bigger club if one came in for you? It would be an honour for someone like Porto to show an interest in me but at the moment i'm having the best time of my life and i feel Udinese are going in the right direction. 3. How are you finding it here in Italy? I found the language hard to learn but with my room mate Di Michele, he has helped me a great deal with the Italian language and Italy as a country is a wonderful place. I'm just worried that one day the leaning tower of pisa will fall on me as i have to pass it every day. 4. How do you find playing in this league? I feel very comfortable, i've been able to show off all my skills i have to offer and i truly believe Udinese are the best team in the division. 5. Do you think that you personally have been playing the best football of your carrer? Yes, the superb training facilities and training sessions devised by Mr Bickley have helped me and the other players to improve our game by encouraging us to kick with our left foot. 6. Are you enjoying playing at a club that is playing well? Yes, the morale of the manager, players, supporters and everyone associated with the club is at an all time high and that will affect me in a positive way. 7. What do you attempt to achieve at Udinese? Do you think your team will be able to make the top division? I hope by playing for Udinese, i hope to continue playing for my international team and within four season i hope to be playing in the top division with Udinese. 8. Name one player who would be in your all time dream team and why that player? It would have to be Raul from Porto. With the runs he makes he would be able to get onto the end of my crosses and i feel would help him become the best striker ever.