“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 21 say he has earned the hearing.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Astra pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Stefan Iancu has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Astra know, and have known for weeks.
In brief
The terracesThe press cannot get enough of Anestis Mythou
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 17 say he has earned the hearing.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 7 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Astra have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
The terraces20 Sep 2027
The ground has had enough
“We travel everywhere and we get this.” 6 of the 25 senior players heard it walking off, and the ones who did not hear it were not playing.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Astra has been clear about where Daniel Mitrita stands, which is more than many ever get.
The shirt still fits. Daniel Graovac is back at Astra, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Asked to play a role that is not his, or taken off before the hour once too often — Nicusor Nita has let it be known that he does not like the way Astra are using him. Managers hear this long before the press does.
A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Astra they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The shirt still fits. Cristian Cicaldau is back at Astra, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.
Work is signed off on a capacity of 28571. It is the sort of decision a club is judged on twenty years later, by people who were not there when it was taken.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Tudor Băluţă has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Claudiu Marin has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Astra know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
The deal that would have taken Nicusor Mihaila to Voluntari has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Astra with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Astra they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
A new face in his position, and Claudiu Marin suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Astra have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
The deal that would have taken Claudiu Marin to Universitatea Craiova has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Astra with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
The name of Claudiu Maxim has come up in conversations Astra were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
The name of Claudiu Marin has come up in conversations Astra were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Astra has been clear about where George Man stands, which is more than many ever get.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The message was aimed at the stands as much as the dressing room: Nicusor Mihaila plays, and the argument is closed until the manager decides otherwise.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Astra they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 38 say he has earned the hearing.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Astra know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Cosmin Chiriches has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Astra they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 34 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 13 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Alexandru Puscas has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 9 say he has earned the hearing.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Astra that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Daniel Mitrita has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
“I will know when it is time. I am not there yet.” Cristian Nedelcearu is 35, with 9 appearances behind him, and Astra will have to plan for whichever answer comes.
A new face in his position, and Cosmin Chiriches suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Astra have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
A season-long audition: Voluntari still own him, but the shirt and the minutes are Astra's to give. A loan is a bet both clubs believe they are winning.
The fee is $100.0K, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Voluntari drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Astra has been clear about where Sergiu Balasa stands, which is more than many ever get.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Alexandru Puscas has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Everything was agreed until it was not, and Claudiu Marin reports back to Astra with a summer to forget. Neither club is saying who walked away from the table.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Claudiu Marin has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Astra know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Astra have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Bebeto: 2 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
A 1-1 win over Dinamo Bucharest, a place in the next round, and the quiet arithmetic every supporter does on the walk home: how many more until a final?
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Astra have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Astra have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Astra have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Astra, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Astra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Astra know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
A window away with the national side, and a shirt at Astra that briefly doubles as an advertisement. A call-up flatters the player and the club that built him in the same breath.
Asked to play a role that is not his, or taken off before the hour once too often — Stefan Tanase has let it be known that he does not like the way Astra are using him. Managers hear this long before the press does.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Astra know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Astra can pretend not to have heard.
Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 8 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.
“I want to win things, and I would like to do it here.” Nothing has been demanded and nothing has been threatened — but a boardroom at Astra hears a sentence like that exactly as it was built.