retired_manragh

Im waiting for the World Cup 2010 so Pan can get best player while lifting the Trophy as captain on his home soil

retired_rblake

Many Thanks for the kind word Funkybradley07 and yeah Panpardus I'm waiting for a major tournament as well, the 2008 European Championships will be the next one but the few non-Europeans miss out. There is the African Cup of Nations in January 2008 for yourself and Moonshine (Luna). The Olympics in 2008 and I have just played the 2007 Asian Cup featuring Australia and Tobes to report upon.


Two even games against them in the league, your bog standard 442. Strong attacking line with Zerbini but luckily Di Giacomo is injured. Two good wingers. Left-back is injured and the replacement is a weak point. We got to get at him in the first leg. Is it home or away, I forgot, ah I'm driving myself crazy here. Stefano allowed himself to relax and watch the Italy match, remarking that that Hick fellow making his 11th cap for Northern Ireland looks a good goalkeeper. Italy ran out 4-0 winners with goals from Pirlo, Gilardino, Di Vaio and Toni and followed that up with a 3-1 victory at Lansdowne Road despite having Federico Balzaretti sent off early on, Stefano Fiore scored twice and Andrea Caracciolo scored in injury time on his debut off the bench, Willo Flood had given Ireland the lead. Sam Cox came off the bench for his third cap whereas despite being in the squad neither Jude Alderson nor Willy stepped foot on the pitch for either the Italy game or the 0-0 away draw to Georgia four days earlier. Conrad Rowden sat on the bench in Norway's 3-1 away defeat to Estonia. Terkaldinho moved to thirteen caps playing in central defence in the 1-1 home draw with Lithuania and the 2-1 away defeat to Romania. Mikkel Kristensen and Harleqin again were called up to the Danish full squad but were not included in either matchday squads, a 2-2 home draw with Holland and a 2-0 away win over Andorra. South Africa stuttered to a 1-1 home draw against ten men Sudan with Pan Panpardus winning his 22nd cap. Previously Scottinho won his 9th cap for the Portuguese U21's in the 0-0 draw with Ukraine.


It was the away match first and San Potito made a nervy start with Lanciano attacking from the off. They were rewarded twenty minutes in when Galimberti misread a long ball forward allowing Rey in behind, who unselfishly squared the ball for Zerbini to tap in. Luigi Rana had numerous chances throughout the game but Roberto Maurantonio was equal to him on every occasion except for when a combination of Lorenzo De Silvestri forgetting which side he was on loan to and Drazen Bolic was slow to react. Rana capitalised and rounded the keeper to equalise around the hour mark. It was cagey from then one in and it ended 1-1 setting it up nicely for the return leg. Stefano Salvi suffered a reoccurance of his heel injury ruling him out of the second leg.

retired_rblake

It was crunch time, Sunday the 10th of June 2007, a home match against Lanciano, the scores tied at 1-1 after the away leg. Calabrese in goal, Achlioui, Cosenza, Galimberti and Suric in defence, Goossens, Gustan, de Haan, Cammarota and Adeshina in midfield with Rana up front.

It was Rana that had the first chance hitting Goossens cross on the volley but wide. Minutes later Goossens tested Maurantonio with a fierce drive that he parried clear and then a shot that curled wide. Good play down the left saw Achlioui's cross taken down by Adeshina and laid off to Gustan but he fired over. San Potito's rhythm was interupted as Morgan Suric went down and the signal to the bench was that he couldn't continue so Vincenzo Marciano replaced him at right-back. Goossens, Cammarota and Gustan all forced Maurantonio into saves just before half-time. Finally the breakthrough came a minute before half-time much to the relief as much as the delight of the 9,278 crowd, Alade Adeshina's shot from the edge of the area was parried and Steeve Gustan was the quickest to react and poked the ball home. A minute later the lead was doubled as Gustan slipped the ball outside to Goossens who drove into the penalty area before shooting low and hard across the keeper into the far corner. Half-time and San Potito had been all over Lanciano in the first half who hadn't managed a shot.

Rana went on one final run and shot, which was well wide before being withdrawn for Francesco Roberto on the hour mark after picking up a knock. Lanciano finally got their first shot with fifteen minutes left after breaking from a corner but Makriev's shot hit the side netting. Gianmarco Rodio was introduced with fifteen minutes to go to stiffen up the midfield and to allow the midfielder a little game time in the Final. Goossens exploited the space down the flanks in the closing minutes to show the San Potito what they would be missing next season when he heads off to Serie A with Fiorentina but I Leoni will only be one division lower as Luciano Gueli called time on proceedings and a 3-1 aggregate victory.


At the final whistle the San Potito players looked around in astonishment, Stefano stood motionless in the technical area, hands interlocked behind his head, the crowd cheering in delight. The players performed a lap of honour or five soaking in the amazing atmosphere and the achievement of winning promotion to Serie B with back-to-back promotions. The board were quick to release a statement to the waiting press announcing that they were extremely pleased that the team had secured promoton and wanting to express their gratitude to Stefano for delivering the unthinkable. The journalist turned to Stefano, "Congratulations on securing promotion to Serie B, but do you think your current squad is capable of playing at a higher level?"

"Thank you, firstly I would like to put on record that the board has invested significant money over the past season to ensure this club is still running and now it has paid off with the returns over the past three months and promotion. To answer your question though, yes I believe they are, had we got off to a better start or not had such periods of significant injuries to major and numerous players I think we could have pushed Catanzaro to the title."

"But will you be investing in new players?

"As in any close season we will be looking to bring in some new faces that take us to the next level, like we did last summer, obviously we have Buskermolen, Schreuder and Di Pasquale to come in and will lose Goossens to Fiorentina, Salvi, Adeshina and Calabrese as their loans expire but if the right people are available at the right price, both in terms of transfer fee and wages then we will make a move for them."

"Thank you for speaking to us, enjoy the celebrations."

retired_rblake

May & June 2007 Review:

Frosinone 5 - Ginestra (45 pen) Mastronunzio (77, 84, 90) Maggiolini (90)
San Potito 1 - Rana (12)
Action: Galimberti (s/o 45)
Man of the Match: Mastronunzio (Frosinone - Str)

End of Season League Position: 3rd


Serie C Cup Final First Leg
Catanzaro 2 - Moretti (13 pen) Corona (20)
San Potito 0
Man of the Match: Belardi (Catanzaro - GK)

Serie C1/B Play Off Semi Final First Leg
Pisa 3 - Inzaghi (5, 20) Boudianski (9)
San Potito 4 - Adeshina (23, 87) Gustan (29) Rana (59)
Man of the Match: Adeshina (RM)

Serie C Cup Final Second Leg
San Potito 2 - Rana (45, 55)
Catanzaro 2 - Mattioli (6) Corona (73)
Action: Avolio (14 inj)
Man of the Match: Corona (Catanzaro - Str)
Att: 9,275

Serie C1/B Play Off Semi Final Second Leg
San Potito 1 - Rana (54)
Pisa 1 - Caprioli (89)
Man of the Match: Abate (Pisa - RM)
Att: 9,277

Serie C1/B Play Off Final First Leg
Lanciano 1 - Zerbini (18)
San Potito 1 - Rana (58)
Man of the Match: Zerbini (Lanciano - Str)

Serie C1/B Play Off Final Second Leg
San Potito 2 - Gustan (44) Goossens (45)
Lanciano 0
Action: Suric (33 inj)
Man of the Match: Adeshina (RM)
Att: 9,278


Italian Serie C1/B<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Catanzaro | | 34 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 78 | 36 | +42 | 70 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Frosinone | | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 54 | 46 | +8 | 57 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | P | San Potito | | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 55 | 37 | +18 | 57 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Pisa | | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 56 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Lanciano | | 34 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 51 | 39 | +12 | 55 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Massese | | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 47 | 32 | +15 | 53 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Sambenedettese | | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 56 | 51 | +5 | 52 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Grosseto | | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 51 | 41 | +10 | 50 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Sangiovannese | | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 50 | 53 | -3 | 49 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Lucchese | | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 44 | 49 | -5 | 46 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Sassari Torres | | 34 | 13 | 6 | 15 | 42 | 45 | -3 | 45 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Pistoiese | | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 42 | 37 | +5 | 45 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Acireale | | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 36 | 43 | -7 | 44 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Benevento | | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 36 | 50 | -14 | 44 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Real Marcianise | | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 32 | 38 | -6 | 41 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | R | Foggia | | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 37 | 42 | -5 | 37 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | R | Chieti | | 34 | 9 | 4 | 21 | 40 | 71 | -31 | 31 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | R | Juve Stabia | | 34 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 27 | 86 | -59 | 16 | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

retired_rblake

Cheers Terk for that.

The following day a fans' spokesperson announced that Stefano Melisi was undoubtedly one of the best managers around and are desperately hoping that he stays with the club for years to come. Stefano was trawling through the newspapers, both the local and national press were full of praise for the accomplishment, even if the fans' spokesperson had probably over-estimated his managerial ability. On the flip side of the coin, Argentinian midfielder Lucas Correa slammed his manager Francesco Monaco for his tactics and team-talks during the second leg of the Play off Final, stating he misjudged the situation.


All the players were immediately given holiday leave for the summer to rest and recuperate for two weeks, ready for the new season, which will kick off in mid August, although the Coppa Italia qualifying round will be early August and friendlies to start in about four weeks (mid-July). Unfortunately for Morgan Suric, who was taken off early against Lanciano, he would spend the summer nursing a foot injury. The money men reported that seven players wages were increased by 10% each in line with contract bonuses of achieving promotion, a far away dream for Stefano and probably player when signed though.


The Awards Dinner followed Monday night with Stefano coming in second behind Vincenzo Guerini of Catanzaro, treble winners, Serie C1/B, the Serie C Cup and the Serie C Super Cup beating Serie C1/A winners Triestina on away goals after drawing 4-4 on aggregate, Monaco of Lanciano came in third. Francesco Cosenza and Gianmarco Rodio were selected in the Serie C1/B Team of the Year, Catanzaro providing six.

On the same night as San Potito's historic one, Bari beat Napoli 3-1 at home in the Serie B Play off Semi Final First Leg and three days later booked their place in the Final despite a 2-1 defeat, to win 4-3 on aggregate. Lecce beat Atalanta in the other Semi Final by the virtue of finishing higher in the league after a 2-2 draw. Lecce finished third, Bari fourth should it come to that in the two-legged Final.

The First Leg, with Bari at home was drawn 1-1 with Mikkel Kristensen standing out for the hosts. The Danish international was again impressive in the return leg but it was Croatian U21 international who was the hero scoring the only goal of the game with seven minutes left clinching promotion to Serie A for Bari meaning that the top flight would have four "Created" players rostered for next season.

Centre midfielder number three was signed, Lecce's Davide Giorgino for £20,000, the 22-year-old leaving his home club after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Mauro Sandreani. Steve al-Jazeera finally signed a new contract with AFC Wimbledon for another year, taking a slight wage reduction. Days later Stefano signed Belgium U21 International Ratko Vansimpsen, a 17-year-old left-winger released by Willem II. Martino Gravante, Agostino Roma, Marco Foti and Vincenzo Marciano all signed on for another year at San Potito, until 2009.

retired_rblake

And Now For Something Completely Different, the End of the Second Season review of the "Created Players".


England - Premier League
Aston Villa - 6th - UEFA Cup
Terkaldinho - 15
D LC - 23
Scotland - 13/0
£1.8m
£9,500 p/w to 2009
10 (9) - 0 goals - 1 assist - 2 MOM - 6.68
26 (18) - 0 goals - 2 assists - 2 MOM - 6.80*
Squad rotation and thinks Olof Mellberg is a good player**
Defender - Normal - National

Leo Allen - 17
Str - 32
England - uncapped
£120k - Transfer listed, asking £60k
£15,500 p/w to 2008
0 (1) - 1 goal - 1 MOM - 8.00
11 (9) - 5 goals - 2 assists - 1 MOM - 7.05
Transfer listed, not needed by the club and in the reserve team squad
Normal - National

Portsmouth - 19th - Relegated to Championship
Ty - 16
D C/DM - 20
England - Capped at U19 level
£180k
£475 p/w to 2008
5 (8) - 1 booking - 6.38
17 (20) - 2 goals - 0 assists - 0 MOM - 6.57
Squad rotation and thinks Aliou Cisse organises the defence well
Normal - Regional

Harleqin - 4
D/WB R - 22
Denmark - 1/0
£220k
£9,750 p/w to 2008
1 (10) - 6.18
18 (19) - 1 goal - 0 assists - 0 MOM - 6.43
Squad rotation and thinks Pedro Mendes is a good player
Promising full-back - Normal - Regional

Jude Alderson - 11
WB/AM L - 19
Ireland - 3/0
£1.8m
£550 p/w to 2008
38 - 3 goals - 7 assists - 0 MOM - 2 bookings - 1 red card - 7.03
41 (1) - 2 goals - 5 assists - 0 MOM - 6.91
Squad rotation
Enthusiastic winger - Normal - National

Smithaldo - 7
AM R - 19
England - Capped at U19 level
£350k
£350 p/w to 2008
0 (4) - 6.00
0 (2) - 0 goals - 0 assists - 0 MOM - 5.50
Squad rotation and thinks Aliou Cisse organises the defence well
Normal - Local

England - Other
West Ham United
James Bradbury - 6
D R, DM - 21
Wales - 7/0
£220k
£240 p/w to 2009
0 (0)
0 (0)***
Backup and thinks Daniel Gabbidon organises the defence well
Promising midfielder - Normal - Regional

Willy - 8
AM C - 28
Ireland - 1/0
£350k
£1,200 p/w to 2009
6 - 1 red card - 6.50
0 (1) - 0 goals - 0 assists - 0 MOM - 6.00
Squad rotation
Midfielder - Normal - National

AFC Wimbledon
Steve al-Jazeera
D/WB RL, DM - 21
Kuwait - 10/0
£85k
£325 p/w to 2008
41 - 6 goals - 2 assists - 4 MOM - 4 bookings - 7.17
38 - 5 goals - 2 assists - 3 MOM - 7.13
Important first team player
Promising midfielder - Normal - Local

Dave Solomon
DM, M RC - 17
England - Capped at U19 level
£75k in compensation (on youth contract) - wanted by Tottenham Hotspur
£200 p/w (rolling month-to-month contract)
41 - 10 goals - 16 assists - 8 MOM - 4 bookings - 7.37
59 - 13 goals - 13 assists - 10 MOM - 7.12
Indispensable to the club
Normal - Local
2006/07 AFC Wimbledon Supporters Player of the Year

France - Le Championnat
Marseille - 7th - Intertoto Cup
Conrad Rowden - 21
AM R, Str - 19
Norway - 2/0
£2.8m
£600 p/w to 2008
3 (8) - 3 goals - 2 bookings - 6.64
13 (13) - 6 goals - 0 assists - 1 MOM - 6.77
Squad rotation and is optimistic about his future at the club
Enthusiastic forward - Ambitious - National

Lille - 12th
Diego Della Rosa - 10
AM LC, F C - 23
Italy (Argentinian) - U21 6/3
£2.6m
£18,000 p/w to 2009
38 - 8 goals - 1 assist - 3 bookings - 6.55
70 - 19 goals - 3 assists - 5 MOM - 6.74
Squad rotation and is optimistic about his future at the club
Normal - National

Germany - Bundesliga
Bochum - 10th
Børge Eian - 19
AM RC - 20
U.S.A. - 6/1
£1.9m
£3,800 p/w to 2008
Bochum II - 0 (5) - 1 goal - 2 assists - 6.80
33 (5) - 7 goals - 4 assists - 0 MOM - 7.00
Squad rotation
Midfielder - Normal - National
2005/06 Promoted to Bundesliga

Germany - Other
Mainz
HD
AM/F C - 16
Sint Maarten - 2/0
£325k in compensation (on youth contract)
£100 p/w
0 (0)
0 (0)
Squad rotation and thinks Marek Saganowski is a good player
Promising forward - Normal - Local

Italy - Serie A
Lazio - 5th - UEFA Cup
Sam Cox - 28
AM/F C - 18
Ireland - 3/0
£2.6m (£220k from AFC Wimbledon in 01/2007)
£240 p/w to 2009
0 (0)
38 - 14 goals - 1 assist - 2 MOM - 7.00 (all for AFC Wimbledon)
Hot prospect
Promising forward - Normal - Regional
2005/06 AFC Wimbledon Supporters Player of the Year

Vicenza - 15th
Pan Panpardus - 11
DM, M LC
South Africa - 22/1
£1.6m (£220k (minimum fee release clause) from Gremio, Brazil in 07/2006)
£5,250 p/w to 2009
11 (3) - 0 goals - 1 assist - 1 MOM - 1 booking - 6.57
40 (3) - 0 goals - 7 assists - 3 MOM - 6.98 (includes 32 appearances for Gremio in Brazil)
Squad rotation and enthusiastic about his future at the club
Promising midfielder - Very ambitious - Regional

Italy - Serie B
Modena - 2nd - Promoted to Serie A
Gennaro Melisi - 7
DM - 20
Italy - U21 1/0
£3m - Co-owned by AS Roma (set to end 08/08/2007)
£3,600 p/w to 2009
37 - 2 goals - 3 assists - 1 MOM - 2 red cards - 6.95
73 (2) - 6 goals - 5 assists - 1 MOM - 6.81
Indispensable to the club - enjoying playing for the club
Normal - National
2006/07 Runners-up in Serie B and promoted to Serie A

Bari - 4th - Promoted to Serie A via the Play offs
Mikkel Kristensen - 2
Sw, D C - 20
Denmark - 1/0
£900k
£2,500 p/w to 2008
42 - 2 goals - 2 assists - 3 MOM - 2 bookings, 1 red card - 7.26
77 - 2 goals - 5 assists - 5 MOM - 7.21
Squad rotation and happy to remain at the club but considering his options
Centre-back - Normal - National
2006/07 Won the Serie B Play offs and promoted to Serie A

Portugal - BWINLIGA
Porto - 1st - UEFA Champions League
Scottinho - 17
AM/F C - 19
Portugal - U21 9/3
£2.8m
£6,500 p/w to 2010
23 (9) - 11 goals - 2 assists - 1 MOM - 2 bookings - 7.09
40 (4) - 13 goals - 2 assists - 2 MOM - 7.25
Squad rotation
Normal - National
2005/06 Portuguese League Champions
2006/07 Portuguese Super Cup Winners
2006/07 Portuguese League Champions
2006/07 Portuguese Cup Winners

Sporting - 3rd - UEFA Champions League
Rod Davies - 3
D/WB/AM L - 21
France - U21 6/0
£2m
£6,000 p/w to 2009
38 - 2 goals - 6 assists - 1 MOM - 5 bookings - 6.84
55 (1) - 5 goals - 7 assists - 2 MOM - 6.73
Important first team player
Normal - National
2006 European (France) U21 Championship Runner-Up

Other Non-Active Countries
Antwerp - Belgium
Tobes
AM/F C - 20
Australia - 11/2
£160k
£2,300 p/w to 2008
27 - 23 goals - 4 assists - 2 MOM - 1 red card - 7.56
54 (1) - 36 goals - 10 assists - 3 MOM - 7.51
Important first team player
Forward - Normal - National

Juventude - Brazil
Luna
D/WB/M RL - 20
Nigeria - 5/1
£1.1m
£2,900 p/w to 2008
14 - 0 goals - 2 assists - 2 bookings - 6.93 (mid-season)
61 - 2 goals - 3 assists - 0 MOM - 6.98
Indispensable to the club, optimistic about the future at the club and thinks Jeronimo will develop into a good player
Full back - Normal - National

AC Lugano - Switzerland
Hick
GK - 26
Northern Ireland - 11/0
£2m
£10,000 p/w to 2009
28 - 43 conceded - 3 clean sheets - 6.43
52 (1) - 71 conceded - 9 clean sheets - 0 MOM - 6.64
Squad rotation
Goalkeeper - Normal - National

* Career Stats for League only.
** Unfortunately as the English leagues have already finished and moved on to the next season (hence no stats in the photos) and the players are on Holiday, there 'General Happiness' is set to "On Holiday".
*** Unfortunately due to playing outside of the top flight, league games are not calculated for WHU but are for AFC Wimbledon.