As the season ends...

The Shiek is a powerful, confident, cultured, not to mention filthy rich, member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates. What is more, however, is he is moral, principled, even tempered, compasionate man who geniunely seems to care about the well being of those around him regardless of thier station. It has never surprised me that he is admired by almost everyone he comes in contact with. But some things about him just don't seem to fit the persona very well. Like for example, when he called todays meeting to discuss the team and the up coming end of season, he didn't ask to meet me at the office, the pitch or even the hotel. Instead we are sitting on the third floor of Abu Dhabi Mall, next to large plate glass windows in Pizza Hut over looking the construction on As Suwwah Island and eating a four cheese pizza. Go figure.

Setting down a slice of pizza The Shiek wiped his mouth with a napkin and begain the conversation.

"So tell me, with the season coming to an end, how is my team coming?"

"Well Your Majesty, you remember that when you hired me on at the begining of the season I told you I only had two major objectives for this season. The first was to not get relegated to division 3. With only four games left and nine points from the relegation zone I believe we are safe, espically given the condition of the three teams already in the relegation zone."

He smiled and nodded.

"Yes I have been following your progress through the table and have been pleased to see I was not wrong in my assesment of your skills. Though that last game against Bully Boys was a bit... disappointing."

"A lost gamble Your Majesty. That happens from time to time."

"Yes you are the sort to roll the dice aren't you. Please carry on."

"The second objective was team development and I believe we are very well on in that category as well."

At this he looked supremely intreseted and leaned foward a bit.

"Did you bring the files I asked for? If you would please do a break down for me."

"Yes I did and of course I will. I will start with the keepers. Dion Rossell has been our workhorse, has maintained a very good average form and has consistently played above his skill level. I fully expect his skill to increase and he will continue to be our frontline keeper next season. Bonner has kept good form all season, but his performace has been hit or miss. That may have something to do with the teams I have pitted him against. I fully expect a skill increase here as well."

"Do you plan on changing anything in this part of the roster?"

"I do not Your Majesty. This part of the line up is perfect the way it is. The defenders... Well Gesperi is retiring at the end of the season. Everyone else, with one exception, has maintained high form and high performance. I am very please and expect good skill increases here as well. The one exception to this is Fraser. I know that you wished me to hold onto him as you saw a good deal of potential in the boy Your Majesty, but he just seemed to lack any form of motivation this season and his form refused to stay at my standard. I plan to release him unless his skill sees an exceptional increase at the end of the season. I am sorry Your Majesty."

"I do understand. I had high hopes that the boy would at least become the equal of his peers. Ah well, tell me about the midfield."

"In the midfield Boulding is retiring, other than that, it is my favorite section of the field. They are all amazing players who I look foward to coaching for a very long time. I believe that I am going to leave the midfield, and the defense actually, short at five players each. If I add another player it will be in the midfield but I am not sure I am going to do that quite yet."

"And the fowards?"

"We have added no less than three youngsters to the line up in this postion who are all shaping up excellently and I fully expect good increases in skill at the end of the season. My only worry in this section of the field is Erplatz. His form is good but performance has been so-so. I am expecting a good skill increase and I am willing to wait to see if that increase doesn't help out his performace next season however."

"And how about on the coaching front? I know Oilig's assistant coaching contract is up at the end of this season."

"Well his ideas on a better offense are actually quite sound and his method for getting us that offense turned out to be equally sound. With your permission I am actually going to ask him to stay on with the team, despite his... overwhelming personality. All things considered we have done very well this season and prospects for next season look pretty darn good."

The Shiek broke into a wide grin.

"Excellent! I am very glad to hear this! I will start having the trophy case built in my office."

"Well it might be a tiny bit premature for that Your Majesty." I said with a smile. After a pause I spoke again. "Your Majesty, if I may ask... why Pizza Hut?"

"Ah well... one, I like pizza... and two I own that island and the buildings they are working over there and I wished to see thier progress without seeming to hover. It seems that if I spend too much time there I make the workers nervous."

Ah there it was. I knew it had to fit in somehow.