Sorrento and the Amalfi

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-14-2005, 03:21 AM

Cheers uskopite but i doubt that Antonio possesses quite the talent that his younger brother Giovanni does! I will be providing fixture details when they become more important to the storyline.
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The midweek match against Morro d'Oro beckoned and we'd barely had a chance to reflect on our first three points in the Serie C2/C before the next challenge was upon us. Earlier this week I made time for a coffee and a couple of pastries with by leadership crew of Sal Buonomo and Marcello Ferrara. I was amazed at how excited Sal sounded when discussing how the club was going under my leadership, I had been quietly concerned about the lack of focus that the club had gained in recent times as I had expected things to hot up a bit in the local media once the season proper kicked off. Apparently Sorrento is a bit of a sleepy town when it comes to sport and sporting achievements. Provided the tourists keep rolling in then the people here are happy as they know where the next meal is coming from. Marcello was quick to assure me that with the exception of the loyal Hells Army the local support has never been stronger in the time he's been here, and not since the notorious Serie C1 season of 86/87 had regional interest been at such a high. Enough relaxing though with a short week ahead preparation for Wednesday night must continue away from Parco Lauro and its delicious pastries.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-14-2005, 03:25 AM

With a draw and two losses Morro d'Oro have not started the season well and if the league pundits are to be believed they are set for a long season. Another squad similar to Nocerina that does not possess any real star players but they battled well for a draw with Ragusa last Sunday so tonights match will be no walkover. The only change to the side from Sunday sees Merito drop out of the side due to fitness concerns with Marciano coming in to play on the left wing and Conti switching to the right. Costabile has done little to impress since starting the season promisingly and now sees Marciano move up ahead of him in the pecking order of wingers.

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29.09.04
Morro d'Oro @ Stadio Italia, Sorrento - Serie C2/C

When you have 12 shots on goal with only 2 on target you begin to raise questions about finishing and this is where we stood after tonights match. Laurent Sanda was the main culprit with 7 shots at goal and only a single shot actually troubling the keeper before he was substituted on the hour mark. An injury to Conti on half time gave Costabile a great opportunity to prove what he's worth. On 66 minutes Morro d'Oro went ahead through a lucky crossed ball by Martelli that deflected past the stranded Tosti and into the corner of the net for 1-0 to side from the Abruzzo. But it was Marciano who had stood up on the left with the absence of Russo and now Conti and on 73 minutes he played a delicious ball through traffic to Sanda's replacement Balzamo who duly opened his account this season by steering the ball home with ease to equalise. The match ended at 1-1 and it was no less than Morro d'Oro deserved after surviving the barrage that was Sanda and his shots flying everywhere but the goals in the first half.

Goals - (Sorrento) Balzamo 73 - (Morro d'Oro) Martelli 66
Attendance - 1224

Sorrento 1-1 Morro d'Oro

It looks like Conti's knock could rule him out of our next league fixture away to Igea Virtus on Sunday so that will test our depth with Russo still out of contention through injury. Tonights match was as frustrating as they come. The way Sanda made space for himself during the first half was brilliant and the Morro d'Oro defence had no answers, but he just couldn't hit the target. Eventually I had to substitute him after he was becoming visibly frustrated with himself, as it turned out Balzamo showed the composure that Sanda couldn't find to score a precious equaliser in a match that almost gave us nothing. A point is always better than none.

retired_jgirl87 · 09-15-2005, 02:48 AM

Brilliant work, hazey. Love it. :thup: :cool:

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-21-2005, 09:56 AM

Cheers Spavy!
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Chairman Castellano tells me he does not have much respect for clubs at our level that attempt to build their side around high profile loan players, and Igea Virtus is one such club. This season they have 18 year old midfielder Pasquale Talarico from Reggina along with deadly striker Francesco Milano from Palermo and another midfielder in Daniele Ancione of Messina. Despite these loanees Igea Virtus have struggled to score after scoring twice in their opening Serie C2/C match they have not found the back of the net since in the past 4 matches. In terms of selection Marciano retains his place on the left wing with Costabile replacing the unfit Conti on the right, Sanda retains his position up front with Guariglia despite Balzamo's impressive performance off the bench on Wednesday.

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3.10.04
Igea Virtus Barcellona @ D'Alcontres, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto - Serie C2/C

What can I say? An unimpressive 0-0 draw in a match that offered so much. I feel that with 3 matches in a week my players are a little drained and we struggled to break down the home sides defence despite using both replacement strikers in Maraucci and Balzamo after Sanda and Guariglia were disappointing. Ferrara was our best player and Rocco fought hard against a young man that is playing well below his standard in Milano who I thought we did well to keep off the scoresheet.

Goals - nil
Attendance - 1711

Igea Virtus 0-0 Sorrento

Realistically this was a point gained rather than two points lost. We certainly were hoping to win however Igea Virtus will be more disappointed than we are, it was crucial to maintain our unbeaten record at this early stage of the season as we look to establish ourselves at a superior level and in doing so set ourselves up for survival so that we can take a crack next season at promotion.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-21-2005, 09:57 AM

At training today I witnessed the sort of thing that you always wish you'd never have to see. Young defender Pietro Cascone who has only featured in a single cup fixture so far will not play again this season after breaking his leg in the type of challenge that you see one hundred times a week at training. With at least 7 months out of the game confirmed by the doc it seemed the youngster was more at ease with the situation than Antonio Esposito who was the other party involved in the blameless incident. Esposito has been really rattled by the consequences of the tackle and at just 19 he is possibly struggling to get his head around the professional nature of this game. I left Capace to deal with the youngster as I know that time is the only thing that will help him realise that he was not to blame.

On a positive note with almost two weeks break due to international fixtures before we take on Gela at home there is plenty of time to ensure that Russo returns to full training and the side will be at full strength. With no disrespect to Cascone, the boy was not looking like featuring in our best side prior to his injury with Rocco and Gargiulo looking very stable at the back early this season.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-21-2005, 10:01 AM

The weekend break for international fixtures gave me and the other coaches a chance to sit down properly and deconstruct how the team is shaping up early in the campaign. Personally I have been very excited by the opening six weeks in the new reign; the highlight for me has been the way the defence of Tosti, Ferrara, Aruta, Rocco and Gargiulo have gelled to create a formidable unit at the back. On the disappointing side I suppose I would have liked us to be creating a bit more in attack as we have become a little too dependant on the defence holding up to gain results so far. The other coach’s opinions were as follows.

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10.10.04
Coaches Assessments of AS Sorrento

Catello Di Somma - (Positives) Definitely the way the entire club has rebounded following the La Scala incident and the swift changes that have been made since. The team is playing attractive football and are not losing matches in a league above that which most of these players performed at last season. (Negatives) We are not clinical enough as a football team and as a club, but this is changing. On the field discipline must be enforced and the players must be taught to value the opportunities they have been given.

Antonino Cinque - (Positives) The loss of La Scala was a big one as we all had been taught well by the great man, however the players have moved on quickly and they are playing a style of football that he would be proud of. Rocco is absolute class and should probably be playing at a higher level than that which we bless this season. (Negatives) We will not understand the real loss that was La Scala until later this season. He had lead this club from obscurity and would have continued to do so this season. Now the pressure is firmly planted on us to continue his legacy.

Mario Capace - (Positives) The dismissal of La Scala was not before time and that alone would be the positive for me. The future is now and subsequently the post La Scala era is heading in the right direction. (Negatives) We must act to turn around some of the small minded attitudes of the supporters to be able to encourage quality players to join our club in the future. The Conti incident is an example of how this must change, a great player has not been let to flourish due to a select band of so called supporters.

We certainly uncovered some interesting points. Not the least being Cinque's apparent belief that the club will struggle without La Scala, I knew he and the former boss were quite close however I would have thought that such feelings would have lead to Cinque quitting the club following the departure of La Scala. In any case I will be forced to attempt to turn around these negative feelings and the only way to do so will be with on field success. Capace will always back me to the hilt and he confirmed this with his words of support. I also believe that the rock that is Di Somma will continue to play a big role at this club for as long as I am in control. A steady head on firm shoulders is not such an easy thing to find in Italian football and Di Somma offers this in abundance.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-22-2005, 08:51 AM

With our strongest lineup of the season we took on Gelo. The lineup included Tosti in goals - Aruta, Rocco, Gargiulo and Ferrara across the back - Russo, Buonomo, Neto and Conti in the midfield - with Guariglia and Balzamo in attack. After testing my resolve Sanda has finally been benched with Balzamo earning his start and importantly Russo returning on the left wing. After just one point from their opening five matches of the league Gela are in desperate times and I expect a strong defensive effort by the traveling side.

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17.10.04
Gelo Juve-Terranova @ Stadio Italia, Sorrento - Serie C2/C

In a frustrating match Gela got the draw that they had obviously come to play for. Russo had the best chances in a match that saw our strikers well marked out of the match with the only spark coming after Sandas second half appearance. It could easily have been a different result if only one of Russo long range efforts had found it's way past Tilaro in the Gela goal. Zito and Montalabo were rock solid at th eback for Gela and they ensured that they weren't going to be on the losing side today. Aruta left the match at half time after picking up a slight knock but he looks fine for next week.

Goals - nil
Attendance - 2416

Sorrento 0-0 Gela

We really struggled to break down a well organised defence today, it was only through the width of Russo that we really made any inroads but still we didn't do enough and will have to settle the old 'point gained rather than two lost' again. One win and five draws at this stage of the league but at least we are well clear of the relegation zone, which in all honesty is my goal for this season so i won't complain at this point.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-23-2005, 09:21 AM

We next travel up to mid-table Latina a couple of hundred kilometres north of Naples in the mountainous region where Campania reaches the Molise. Marco Moretti is their star recruit this season, a 21 year old centre half on loan from Lazio who has dominated at this early stage of the season. The speedy Massimo Manca is always dangerous in attack for the side from the hills. Merito will start in Latina with the half fit Russo moving to the bench whilst Sanda comes back in for Balzamo in attack. After a couple of disappointing attacking efforts I plan to allow Neto a more attacking role just behind the front two with Buonomo tucking in deeper just in front of the back four.

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24.10.04
Latina @ Domenico Parruciano, Latina - Serie C2/C

The first half was explosive with end to end action and although both Sanda and Guariglia were creating chances it was the dangerous Manca that slipped between our two centre backs to open the scoring in doing so putting the home side 1-0 up. Early in the second half things got worse for us when Aruta picked up a second yellow card and the young left back was on his way for an early bath. Down to ten men and with Russo and Constabile replacing the ineffective Conto and Merito the match was pushed well out of reach when Buonomo gave away a needless penalty and Mirko Mancini duly converted it for 2-0. Buonomo made amends almost immediately when he crashed home a free kick after a foul on Neto. Unable to maintain the intensity we struggled to make any further impression on Latina's lead and the whistle blew on our first loss of the Serie C2 season.

Goals - (Latina) Manca 36, Mancini 62(pen) - (Sorrento) Buonomo 67
Attendance - 2891

Latina 2-1 Sorrento

This was a match in which we were deservedly well beaten and the margin perhaps should have been greater. Rocco for the first time really struggled to contain the pace of Manca and the defence had difficulties regathering after Aruta's dismissal. Sanda really stood up in attack and he looks to have warded off the challenge from Balzamo at this stage, now we just need a few goals from the Cameroonian. The experiment with Neto tucking in behind the strikers didn't really pay off and we reverted to a flat four across the middle for the second half.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-26-2005, 05:38 AM

Today Sanda managed to injure his groin in training after fighting his way back into the starting lineup following a poor run of form. The quick striker looks like missing a couple of weeks with the injury and another opportunity to one of the reserve strikers beckons. The big question is can anyone stand up to partner Guariglia and get their name on the scoresheet.

After the early season flurry things seem to be settling down now. I feel comfortable in my role as manager and it is almost like the scars left by the rift with La Scala have healed invisibly. Signor Castellano's faith in me has been unnerving - obviously he does believe in me as much as he'd had me believe when he announced my appointment a long ten weeks ago. The past few matches i have found myself beginning to doubt my tactics however i know i must stick with it. The boys are doing the right thing most of the time and I'm positive that the results will come, preferably before too many more frustrating scoreless performances.

retired_bootcamp_nat · 09-26-2005, 05:41 AM

Melfi make the three hour trip across from the Apulia to take us on in our final match in a hectic October. As we currently sit well entrenched in the relegation zone the underachieving Melfi side will surely be looking to take all three points considering our current poor form. Vincenzo Di Pinto replaces the suspended Aruta at left back whilst Costabile comes in for the Merito, Conti only just salvaged his place in the midfield. It is Balzamo who will partner Guariglia up front without Sanda on the scene for a fortnight.

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31.10.04
Melfi @ Stadio Italia, Sorrento - Serie C2/C

I don't want to talk about this one, obviously I'd spoken too soon about the frustration with our tactics and the players execution. Another scoreless draw at home! Balzamo seemed to struggle with the concept that he was supposed to shoot the ball at the goals. Whereas Conti and Constabile understood this concept they seemed more likely to find the blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea than the back of the net. No one player really played poorly today it was just that no-one actually played with any flair that you need to break apart a match.

Goals - nil
Attendance - 960

Sorrento 0-0 Melfi

Very disappointing it must be said. On the brightside at least less than a thousand locals witnessed this farce of a football match in which only one shot actually troubled either of the keepers.

Sorrento and the Amalfi

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Sorrento and the Amalfi