retired_xs2khizar

BobBev is in Italy, I can't believe I've only just discovered this! :o

Great stuff as always, Bob, and a really terrific achievement to take Fano so far so quickly. I found your playoff defeat more than poignant but you recovered magnificently.

Happy to see Santos find a place in your defence too, and I just love Mirco ! KUTGW

retired_amyslack

Thanks for your support chaps. BTW nerf, it's great to see your Ragusa epic still going strong - it was in the back of my mind when I started this story I have to admit.

Leaking Goals

Sandy made one enforced change to his eleven for the trip to Siena, Ochs having picked up a knock in the previous game and Hagen coming in as a replacement. He had seen enough of Nermin Celikovic and the Bosnian striker was despatched to the reserves for some match practice with youngster Visentin restored up front.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday November 2nd 2008
Serie A Game 10
Siena 2 Fano 2
A fine display by two of my favourite players, youngsters Leo and Matteo, should have given us a platform to beat our relegation-threatened opponents quite comfortably, but having taken the lead on two occasions we conceded equalisers each time. To make matters worse, Collacchioni seems to have suffered an injury late on and even though he finished the game he seems to be in some discomfort.

Team Selection
Luzi (8), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (6), Tchangai (7), Santos (8), Collacchioni (8), Odair (7), Machado (7), Hagen (6), Pazzi (7), Visentin (10*)

Goals
Collacchioni 9, Visentin 21


Collacchioni’s injury turned out to be a fractured wrist and he would miss a week’s worth of action at least. Mauro Rosales was drafted in as a replacement for the second leg of the Italian Cup tie against Perugia.

Sandy’s Journal
Wednesday November 5th 2008
Italian Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg
Fano 0 Perugia 1 (Perugia win 2-0 on aggregate)
This was a very tame performance from the team – having been chasing a one-goal deficit I expected rather more drive that I got. I suspect that they missed Leo’s presence as even at just 22 he is a highly influential figure and a future club captain, of that I have no doubt.

Team Selection
Luzi (5), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (6), Tchangai (7, sub 67), Santos (7), Roslaes (5, sub 67), Odair (7), Machado (7), Hagen (7), Pazzi (4, sub 67), Visentin (7)
Subs – Faccini (7), Andorno (7), Dall’Acqua (6)


Still smarting from his team’s poor performance in the Cup, Sandy made a couple of team changes for the trip to Palermo. Ochs came back into midfield and Andorno would play on the right of midfield.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday November 9th 2008
Serie A Game 11
Palermo 3 Fano 0
I just cannot put my finger on what we are doing wrong defensively and I am getting increasingly frustrated by the situation. We conceded two silly goals within a few minutes of the restart and the game was as good as over. We barely created a decent chance all evening and the whole feel about the team is all wrong at the moment.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Andorno (7), Odair (7), Machado (7), Ochs (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)


Frustrated by his inability to pinpoint the reason for his team’s recent displays, Sandy was increasingly questioning his own managerial abilities. For the visit of Como Sandy decided to experiment with a slightly different tactical formation, asking Ochs to drop back more to try to cover the back four and switching Odair into an advanced central position with Andorno playing wide left and Collacchioni, now fit again, on the right. He made one additional change with youngster Gianluca Amadio coming in at left back due to a minor injury to Luca Ferri.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday November 16th 2008
Serie A Game 12
Fano 1 Como 0
Well I was encouraged by the difference that my tinkering made. We looked more solid at the back and the sheer pace of Odair always caused problems as he broke from behind the strikers. It is certainly worth continuing with this approach for a game or two until we see how the players adapt and how other teams try to counter us.

Team Selection
Luzi (8), M Ferri (8), Amadio (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (6), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Andorno (8), Odair (8), Pazzi (8), Visentin (8)

Goals
Odair 45


So Sandy kept the same formation, and the same personnel apart from the return of Luca Ferri, for the trip to struggling Bari, hoping that the result last weekend was not a fluke.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday November 23rd 2008
Serie A Game 13
Bari 0 Fano 5
It’s hard to tell whether our new formation made the difference today as, aided and abetted by a defensive collapse from the home side. Virtually everything that we got on target in the first half seemed to hit the back of the net. The wide midfielders had a field day, being given lots of space to work in they constantly sent in dangerous crosses from the byeline and Visentin profited with an excellent headed hat trick.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (9), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (8), Santos (9, sub 88), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (9), Andorno (8, sub 82), Odair (10), Pazzi (7), Visentin (10*)
Subs – Machado (6), Faccini (6)

Goals
Odair 2, Andorno 7, Visentin 22, 39, 48


The bad news after the game was an injury to the luckless Andorno. Just as he was getting established back in the first team he suffered a calf strain and was likely to be sidelined for a month. For the visit of Udinese, Sandy decided to move Odair to the left of midfield to replace Andorno and bring Riccio back into central midfield, hoping that his pace would prove to be effective. Roberto Palacios made a welcome return to the squad after his extensive layoff and Sandy was delighted to give him a seat on the bench.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday November 30th 2008
Serie A Game 14
Fano 0 Udinese 0
The game was nowhere near as uneventful as the scoreline might suggest as we carved out a number of very good opportunities. But some inaccurate finishing and fine goalkeeping by the visiting goalie, kept the scoreline blank.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (5, sub 15), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (8), Odair (7), Riccio (6, sub 73), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)
Subs – Faccini (7), Palacios (7)


Having enjoyed a bit of an improvement in form in the last few games, Sandy was pleased to see his team end the month in 7th place in the table, with Vicenza and Sampdoria at the top on 29 points and Inter, Atalanta and Lazio all close behind.

retired_amyslack

From The Ridiculous To The Sublime

For Fano’s first game of the new month they travelled to face Roma. The Serie A champions for the last two seasons were having a torrid time thus far, sitting in a poor 10th position and manager Ruud Gullit was under some pressure. Sandy hoped that a win for his team would add to the Dutchman’s problems and decided to play Palacios in the advanced midfield position, with Riccio dropping back to the bench.

Sandy’s Journal
Saturday December 6th 2008
Serie A Game 15
Roma 4 Fano 1
Our defensive frailties came back with a vengeance as we conceded two goals in the first five minutes. Odair pulled a goal back but it proved to be a temporary respite as the home side scored two more before the end of the game. We created some good chances but were denied by their keeper whilst our own looked decidedly shaky.

Team Selection
Luzi (5), M Ferri (6), L Ferri (6), Tchangai (5, sub 77), Santos (6), Ochs (7, sub 35), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Palacios (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)
Subs – Hagen (7), Faccini (6)

Goals
Odair 13


For the trip to Genoa the team would be missing Dirk Ochs following his injury in last week’s game so Hagen would take his place.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday December 14th 2008
Serie A Game 16
Genoa 2 Fano 0
Having looked more than capable of getting the win it was doubly frustrating to concede twice in the last 20 minutes. After some initial optimism, I’m now not sure if our modified formation is really working as we are still leaking goals.

Team Selection
Luzi (8), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Hagen (6), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Palacios (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7, sub 69)
Subs - Dall’Acqua (6)


For the visit of Fiorentina, Sandy would be missing Palacios in midfield after a training injury so Riccio would deputise. On the plus side, Ochs was fit to return to his starting position in front of the defence.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday December 21st 2008
Serie A Game 17
Fano 6 Fiorentina 2
We got off to a poor start, conceding after just two minutes but Pazzi struck twice to put us into the lead. However we allowed an equaliser before half time and during the break I took the unusual step of asking Luzi to stay in the changing room, sending Orlandi out in his place. Patrice is lacking confidence at present and he needs to be given a break so Frederico may find himself with the number one jersey for a while. We looked like a different team in the second half, powering in four more goals and getting an excellent win. Having gone 11 games without a goal it was great to see Paz get back on the scoresheet and he was delighted with his hat trick.

Team Selection
Luzi (5, sub 45), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (8), Santos (8), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (10), Odair (7), Riccio (7, sub 65), Pazzi (10*), Visentin (8)
Subs - Orlandi (8), Rosales (7)

Goals
Pazzi 7, 22, 85, Collacchioni 77, Tchangai 83, Ochs 89


Fano would end the year by entertaining Milan in a game that would test their abilities to the maximum. Sandy chose Orlandi to start in goal and with Tchangai away on international duty, Ricardo Costa would start in the centre of defence.

Sandy’s Journal
Saturday December 27th 2008
Serie A Game 18
Fano 3 Milan 1
Driven on by Ochs and Collacchioni we totally outplayed the visitors in the first 45 minutes but at the break I was concerned that we had not pushed home our advantage, having just a single goal to show for our efforts. But fortunately we continued to dominate after the interval, with both of our midfield dynamos getting on the scoresheet.

Team Selection
Orlandi (7), M Ferri (9), L Ferri (7), Ricardo Costa (7, sub 80), Santos (8), Ochs (10*), Collacchioni (9), Odair (8), Riccio (7, sub 87), Pazzi (8), Visentin (7)
Subs - Herrero (6), Rosales (7)

Goals
Pazzi 21, Ochs 67, Collacchioni 87


With one of the best wins of the season so far as a late Christmas gift, Sandy looked forward to the short New Year break. There was one further piece of business to conduct before then however, as a deal to bring a new player to Fano was concluded. Francisco Javier Fernandez Perez, a versatile 24-year-old defender come midfielder, would join in a €450K deal from Real Madrid. With Inter now heading the Serie A table, Fano maintained a mid-table slot, sitting 9th on 27 points.

retired_amyslack

Thanks benny, glad you're enjoying it.

Win Some, Lose Some

After a very short break from training to allow a modest New Year celebration, Sandy soon had his players back hard at work preparing for the trip to Atalanta. Tchangai would take his place in central defence for the game and Sandy made one further change, bringing Rosales into midfield to replace Riccio.

Sandy’s Journal
Wednesday January 7th 2009
Serie A Game 19
Atlanta 3 Fano 3
We took the lead early on when a shot from Collacchioni was deflected past the home keeper and for the remainder of the half we looked the better team. Rosales scored his first goal for the club to put us further ahead but then some schoolboy defending allowed Atalanta striker Igor Budan to score twice in two minutes. Then Rosales scored again and it looked like we would get the win but once again we were sloppy at the back, allowing Budan to complete his hat trick.

Team Selection
Orlandi (7), M Ferri (6), L Ferri (6), Tchangai (6), Santos (6), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (8), Odair (7), Rosales (8), Pazzi (8), Visentin (8)

Goals
Rosales 47, 77

For the trip to Catanzaro Sandy needed to rest Morales and Visentin as both players were tired after the midweek game so Riccio and Pierobon were drafted in. Newly promoted to Serie A their opponents were deep in relegation trouble and, in theory at least, presented a great chance for a valuable win.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday January 11th 2009
Serie A Game 20
Catanzaro 1 Fano 2
Young Leo was outstanding once again – what a season the lad is having. His tireless style of play drives his teammates on and he is certainly an inspirational figure. I took Odair off before he got himself sent off as we had already been booked and was getting far too involved with the referee. As it happened his replacement Andorno netted what proved to be the game-winning penalty as some defensive sloppiness late on allowed the home side to grab a goal back.

Team Selection
Orlandi (8), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (6), Santos (7), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (10*), Odair (9, sub 62), Riccio (6, sub 62), Pazzi (7), Pierobon (7, sub 88)
Subs – Andorno (7), Machado (7), Dall’Aqua (7)

Goals
Collacchioni 47, Andorno 79


For the visit of Perugia Sandy went back to his preferred eleven with Rosales and Visentin returning to the starting lineup.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday January 18th 2009
Serie A Game 21
Fano 1 Perugia 1
This was a curiously subdued performance by both teams and our failure to take charge of the game was a concern. This was a match that was calling out to be won and needed to be taken by the scruff of the neck. The early strike from Dirk Ochs was cancelled out 10 minutes later and although we created the bulk of the chances we failed to convert them into goals.

Team Selection
Orlandi (5, sub 84), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (7, sub 84), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Rosales (7), Pazzi (6, sub 66), Visentin (7)
Subs – Machado (7), Luzi (6), Perez (6)

Goals
Ochs 17


A couple of days before the trip to Juventus the long-awaited expansion of the Stadio Mancini was completed, raising the capacity to over 9,500 – tiny by Serie A standards but an increase of over 50% in relative terms. Mirco was disappointed that the team would not play their next game at home but he had big plans to mark the opening of the new stand in a few days time. Sandy had to make one change for the game, Tchangai being absent on international duty and Perez replacing him.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday January 25th 2009
Serie A Game 22
Juventus 4 Fano 0
By the time I replaced three of my defensive unit ten minutes after the restart we were already 3-0 down and in danger of being totally humiliated. Our marking was poor and our positional awareness suspect to say the least. I need to have some serious discussions with the coaches to see how we can get a better balance between attack and defence.

Team Selection
Orlandi (4, sub 55), M Ferri (6), L Ferri (6), Perez (4, sub 55), Santos (4, sub 55), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Rosales (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)
Subs – Luzi (7), Costa (6), Hagen (6)


Sandy’s concerns over his team’s defensive vulnerability was fully justified. Whist Fano were a free-scoring side – only Milan had scored more goals in the league – that was being undermined by shipping too many goals. Their defensive record was one of the worst in Serie A and Sandy felt that was a key inhibitor to further progress. The use of Ochs as a shield in front of the back four was not proving to be as effective as Sandy had hoped but the manager decided not to tinker nay further with his team’s formation at present. However, he did make a few personnel changes to rest some tired legs and Tchangai, Machado and Pierobon all started against Cagliari.

Sandy’s Journal
Wednesday January 28th 2009
Serie A Game 23
Fano 1 Cagliari 1
We started out brightly and really should have had more than one goal to show for our efforts at the break. But once again we slipped up in defence, allowing the visitors to score very early in the second half. Our finishing was a bit sloppy as well and given the number of chances we created we really should have taken maximum points.

Team Selection
Orlandi (5), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Machado (7), Pazzi (7), Pierobon (7)

Goals
Machado 29


The month ended with Fano still holding 9th place and whilst the club looked to be far from relegation candidates, Sandy was still dissatisfied with what he saw as a mediocre league position.

retired_jgirl87

Bob, I quizzed you earlier in this thread regarding the goals for this season and mentioned European qualification (probably a top seven finish in Italy). You weren't too sure of achieving that then, but it appears that you (Sandy) now believe that 9th isn't good enough. It's good to see that the season's aims are being re-examined. Good luck with moving up the Serie A table. :thup:

retired_amyslack

Sandy's a hard man to please Spav but I'm reasonably pleased with progress so far

retired_amyslack

Tactics, Tactics, Tactics

Sandy and his coaching staff spent long hours discussing various tactical systems that the team could potentially deploy and these talks invariably ended with a general chat about the philosophies and values that the team should represent. Sandy had always taken the view that football should be a pleasure to watch and not a chore. He put an emphasis on attack, on the basis that without scoring goals you can’t win games. But he was gradually becoming more open to the arguments of his Italian coaching colleagues who had a natural bias towards a more defensive approach. The concept of establishing a solid defence and building from there had a certain logic about it, he couldn’t deny that.

But no radical changes were made for the demanding trip to Lazio, although once again there were some changes in the playing staff. Michele Ferri was struggling with a training injury and Dirk Ochs was suspended so young Carmine Lorenzini came in at right back with Erik Hagen taking the defensive midfield position. Sandy decided to start Davide Andorno in the centre of midfield and Matteo Visentin would return up front.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday February 1st 2009
Serie A Game 24
Lazio 4 Fano 2
The positive aspect of the game was that having gone into the break a goal down we came back well in the second half and established a 2-1 lead. I won’t say that the introduction of Riccio was an inspired substitution but he certainly made an immediate impact. The negative was our defending once again and we allowed the home side to score three times in the last 20 minutes.

Team Selection
Orlandi (5), Lorenzini (5), L Ferri (4), Tchangai (6), Santos (5), Hagen (6), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Andorno (5, sub 66), Pazzi (7), Visentin (8)
Subs – Riccio (7)

Goals
Visentin 54, Riccio 67


Sandy made some changes to the starting eleven for the visit of Inter - Patrice Luzi was restored in goal, Igor Herrero came in at right back, Dirk Ochs played in front of the defence and Riccio started in midfield.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday February 8th 2009
Serie A Game 25
Fano 1 Inter 0
This was a much steadier defensive display than I have seen recently and we never allowed 3rd place Inter a sight of goal all game. As the match progressed we started to venture forward more and more and we deserved the winner when the excellent Santos headed home a back-post corner from Odair.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), Herrero (8), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (6), Santos (8*), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (8), Odair (8), Riccio (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7, sub 86)
Subs – Pierobon (6)

Goals
Santos 70


After a very satisfying result the only change Sandy made for the trip to Sampdoria was to bring back Michele Ferri at right back now that he was back in full training.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday February 15th 2009
Serie A Game 26
Sampdoria 1 Fano 0
Given the number of chances that the home team created it was a surprise that we didn’t lose by a bigger margin. We conceded the goal early in the game and never really looked like finding an equaliser. Compared to the last game the defence was much less solid and it was only thanks to Luzi that the scoreline remained so close.

Team Selection
Luzi (8*), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (6), Santos (7), Ochs (7, sub 45), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Riccio (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7, sub 76)
Subs – Hagen (7), Machado (7)


For the midweek visit of Vicenza, Sandy decided to rest both Visentin and Riccio with Pierobon and Palacios coming in instead. The visitors were several places above Fano and the manager was not too hopeful of gaining a win.

Sandy’s Journal
Wednesday February 18th 2009
Serie A Game 27
Fano 0 Vicenza 0
The visitors can thank their keeper for gaining them a point as we created a host of chances yet failed to convert any of them. An early injury to Odair didn’t help and we will need to see what the physios make of it when they examine him later.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Odair (5, sub 11), Palacios (7), Pazzi (7), Pierobon (7, sub 81)
Subs – Andorno (7), Rosales (7)


The news on Odair was not great – fractured ribs was the diagnosis and a 3-week layoff would be required. For the trip to Parma Sandy was forced into a number of changes. Tchangai was off on international duty so Fernandez Perez would deputise. Michele Marcolini would make his first start of the season to replace Odair, Riccio was restored to midfield and Visentin up front.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday February 22nd 2009
Serie A Game 28
Parma 1 Fano 0
For most of the game we matched the home side all over the pitch and we can consider ourselves a little unfortunate not to have at least taken a point out of the game. We created some decent chances and but for a desperate goal line clearance in the first half we would have gone into the break in the lead.

Team Selection
Luzi (8), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (6), Fernandez Perez (7), Santos (7), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Marcolini (6, sub 78), Riccio (6), Pazzi (7), Visentin (8)
Subs – Andorno (7)


A return of just 4 points in a pretty poor month saw Fano drop to 13th place. They were still 11 points clear of the first of the relegation places but the team couldn’t afford to get into a losing streak now as it would be all too easy to keep falling down the table. Sandy was concerned with their goal drought but he kept faith with his main strikers, believing them to be the best pair that he had available and hoping that they would repay his faith in them.

retired_amyslack

Points On The Board

Fano would face a crucial game at home to Siena to start the month. Their opponents occupied the first of the relegation places and Sandy urged his players that a win was vital. Tchangai would take his place back in the heart of defence and Andorno would come in on the left of midfield.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday March 1st 2009
Serie A Game 29
Fano 2 Siena 0
This was a much-needed win, especially considering the relative positions of both teams. We looked confident, especially after Riccio calmed the nerves with his goal, racing on to a ball over the top to finish neatly. He was also instrumental in the crucial second, freeing Visentin superbly for the 18-year-old to make a delightful chip over the advancing keeper. With a bit more composure in front of goal we could easily have doubled our tally but I’ll happily take the three points.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7), Tchangai (7), Santos (8), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (8), Andorno (7), Riccio (8), Pazzi (7), Visentin (8, sub 65)
Subs – Rosales (7)

Goals
Riccio 24, Visentin 45


In the week leading up to Fano’s next game, Sandy was approached by Spanish defender Fernandez Perez. The 24-year-old was finding it difficult to adjust to life in Italy and he told his manager that he was considering making a formal transfer request. Sandy spoke at length with the player, asking him to defer a decision until the end of the season and not rush into anything. The defender was included in the starting eleven for the visit of Palermo as Tchangai was once again off playing for his country. Their opponents were a few places below Fano and once again Sandy urged his players to go for the win.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday March 8th 2009
Serie A Game 30
Fano 1 Palermo 1
On the balance of play we should have had this game wrapped up long before the visitors equalised in the second half. Pazzi ended his 11-game scoring drought with a brilliantly taken goal, controlling the ball neatly before sending a delightful chip over the opposition keeper. The visitors squared the game with their only goal attempt that actually hit the target and Luzi will be disappointed not to have kept it out.

Team Selection
Luzi (5), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (7), Fernandez Perez (7), Santos (7), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Andorno (7), Riccio (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)

Goals
Pazzi 33


Sandy was disappointed that his team had scorned a golden opportunity to get a modest winning streak off the ground – if they were going to get anywhere in Serie A then they had to make games such as these a routine win. They would have another chance to redeem themselves in their next game however as they travelled to Como, a team just one point and one place below them in the table. Apart from bringing Tchangai back into defence after the 30-year-old had collected his 32nd cap for Togo the previous weekend, there were no changes to the starting eleven.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday March 15th 2009
Serie A Game 31
Como 3 Fano 3
The home side caught us cold at the start of the game, scoring after just two minutes of play. But I was delighted with our response – three unanswered goals that sent us into the break with a good lead. Riccio’s opener was a beauty – a sweet volley from fully 25 yards that fair fizzed past the keeper. Visentin’s first was a straightforward header from a corner but his second was more impressive as he somehow fired home from a tight angle and through a crowd of players. There was less to be pleased with later in the game – two goals in three minutes near the end allowing Como an undeserved point. I must say that we had no luck with the third goal as a speculative shot deflected off Ochs and wrong-footed Luzi.

Team Selection
Luzi (5), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7) Tchangai (7), Santos (4), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (7), Andorno (7), Riccio (9), Pazzi (7), Visentin (10*)

Goals
Riccio 13, Visentin 29, 38


As Fano prepared for their next game, a visit from relegation-threatened Bari, Sandy pondered his goalkeeping dilemma. Luzi was a talented keeper, no doubt about that, but he sometimes infuriated his manager with his inconsistent performances. After a run of half a dozen excellent displays his last two games contained errors that had cost the team points on each occasion. But Sandy decided to stick with the erratic Frenchman. His thoughts on the subject were interrupted by a knock on his office door and he looked up to see his Chairman Mirco Giovanelli standing at the threshold.

“Mirco, come in. What can I do for you?”

“Well Senor Sandy, eet ees like thees. You know of course that Inter have run out of patience with Ancelotti and fired heem last week.”

“Yes.”

“Well they are very insistent that they man they really want in charge is the great Senor Sandy Banks. The President, he wants to talk to you about thee job. Eff you hav an interest then I would not be an obstacle to you my friend.”

“Mirco, I told them last year that I’m not interested and that’s still my position today.”

“Well, eef you are sure…”

“Positive – now get out of my office and let me get on with my job.”

Giving his manager a huge grin the Chairman turned on his heel and left the room.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday March 22nd 2009
Serie A Game 32
Fano 2 Bari 1
We were frankly outplayed in the first 45 minutes bur after what could be described as a “vigorous” half time talk we bucked up our ideas after the break. Riccio isn’t the most skilful of players but his pace and sheer physical strength goes a long way, even at this level of football. Visentin is quite a contrast – slight and not exactly fast along the ground, his strengths are his close control and his ability to take up intelligent positions. Anyway, they both took their chances well and it is a relief to see Matteo back amongst the goals.

Team Selection
Luzi (6), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7) Tchangai (7), Santos (6), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (8*), Andorno (7), Riccio (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (8)

Goals
Riccio 47, Visentin 57


The final weekend of the month featured no Serie A games because of World Cup Qualification, Sandy watched Italy gain a 1-0 win in Lithuania and caught the highlights of Scotland’s 1-0 defeat at home to Norway. Italy played again in midweek, going down 2-0 at home to group leaders Belgium. Fano held a comfortable 11th place in the table – certainly clear of relegation but with no real chance of European qualification. But such was the competitive nature of the division this season that on 45 points they were only 13 points behind leaders Roma – in fact just 4 points separated the top 7 teams. Had his team converted some of their 12 drawn games into wins then who knows how they might be placed. Riccio’s superb strike against Como was deemed a worthy winner of the Goal of the Month, a nice boost for the youngster.

retired_amyslack

Matteo The Man

April would begin with a significant challenge in the shape of a trip to play Milan. Full back Michele Ferri would miss the game through suspension but Odair was fit enough to return to the left side of midfield. Sandy was delighted to remind his team that they had played Milan three times already in Serie A and, amazingly enough they had won all three.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday April 5th 2009
Serie A Game 33
Milan 1 Fano 1
The boys were really fired up for this game and we came awfully close to maintaining our 100% record. The home side put us under a lot of pressure but we still managed to get forward and cause them problems from time to time. When Pazzi tucked his chance away with 15 minutes to go I really felt that we could get the win. And when Alessandro Nesta received his second yellow card near the end I was sure that we would hold on. But with just two minutes of stoppage time remaining Andriy Shevchenko was in the right place at the right time to pounce on a rebound and rescue a point for the home side. I was gutted for the lads, especially Luzi who made a bunch of great stops.

Team Selection
Luzi (9*), Herrero (6), L Ferri (8) Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Ochs (8), Collacchioni (8), Odair (7), Riccio (7), Pazzi (8), Visentin (8)

Goals
Pazzi 76


Michele Ferri returned to the team after suspension for the visit to Udinese and Sandy was keen to keep the team’s momentum going with a win.

Sandy’s Journal
Wednesday April 15th 2009
Serie A Game 34
Udinese 0 Fano 2
It was the Matteo Visentin show today, the young man only denied a hat trick by a rather dubious free kick decision in the first half. For a relatively small lad he scores a lot with his head – a combination of excellent spring and flawless positioning. As well as his fine club form, the 18-year-old had broken into the Italian U21 team and has scored 6 goals in just 3 internationals.

Team Selection
Luzi (8), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (8) Tchangai (8), Santos (7), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (8), Odair (9), Riccio (8), Pazzi (7), Visentin (10*)

Goals
Visentin 25, 66


Before Fano’s next league match at home to Genoa, Siena became the first side to be relegated from Serie A, their return to the top flight a short one indeed. Sandy also decided it was time to open negotiations with start striker Visentin regarding a renewal of his contract. However, that proved to be a difficult process as the young man, or more accurately his agent, had a very inflated idea of his worth to the team. It took several rounds of meetings but a deal was finally hammered out that would extend the two years remaining on his current contract by another three years and give him a very significant pay rise into the bargain.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday April 26th 2009
Serie A Game 35
Fano 2 Genoa 0
After a very sterile first 45 minutes we finally began to play a bit in the second half, scoring twice in a minute to seal a very useful win. Collacchioni’s opener had a slice of luck about it, his header taking a wicked deflection off a defender. But the second was quality, Ochs rounding off a fine display by firing home from the edge of the area.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (7) Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Ochs (9*), Collacchioni (9), Odair (7), Riccio (7), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)

Goals
Collacchioni 59, Ochs 60


A somewhat abbreviated league programme nonetheless saw Fano unbeaten for the month and sitting in 10th place.

retired_amyslack

Pushing For Points

For the final few games of the season, beginning with the trip to struggling Fiorentina, Sandy’s focus was to get maximum points and push his team to a higher finish in the league. This would not only make a difference financially but also it would give the players a morale boost as well. Tchangai would miss the game because of international commitments so Fernandez Perez would play instead.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday May 3rd 2009
Serie A Game 36
Fiorentina 0 Fano 2
This was a fine team performance with the goalscorers particularly impressive. Odair had as good a game as I’ve seen all season and now that Ochs has settled into the team he is becoming a key figure in midfield. If we can sort out the defence and be a bit more productive in front of goal then we won’t be in bad shape next season.

Team Selection
Luzi (7), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7) Fernandez Perez (7), Santos (8), Ochs (9), Collacchioni (8), Odair (10*), Riccio (8), Pazzi (7), Visentin (7)

Goals
Odair 13, Ochs 48


A defeat for Catanzaro confirmed their relegation and left just one place to be decided. Boosted by a fine win, Sandy looked forward to the visit of Atlanta with some optimism. Tchangai would be back in defence but with Ochs struggling with a slight knock he would start on the bench with Hagen taking his place.

Sandy’s Journal
Sunday May 10th 2009
Serie A Game 37
Fano 2 Atalanta 1
A rather disjointed performance today and despite seeing more of the ball and creating a good number of chances we struggled to establish ourselves in the first half. It was a neat finish from Riccio to give us the lead but it lasted barely 5 minutes before the visitors equalised. But when substitute Machado was felled in the area, Visentin confidently put away the penalty to give us a welcome win.

Team Selection
Luzi (6), M Ferri (7), L Ferri (7) Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Hagen (7), Collacchioni (7), Odair (7), Riccio (9*), Pazzi (5, sub 61), Visentin (8)
Subs – Machado (7)

Goals
Riccio 65, Visentin 80


With Genoa failing to get three points in their last game they took the final relegation place. Fano faced their last game of the season with a visit from former leaders Roma and Ochs was fit enough to take his usual place guarding the back four.

Sandy’s Journal
Wednesday May 13th 2009
Serie A Game 38
Fano 1 Roma 1
It was nice to end the season with a good performance and we certainly gave the home fans a decent show and with a little more luck we could have taken all three points. We have certainly shown on occasions this season that we can live with the bigger teams and what we need to do now is find a lot more consistency from week to week.

Team Selection
Luzi (5), M Ferri (8), L Ferri (8) Tchangai (7), Santos (7), Ochs (7), Collacchioni (8*), Odair (8), Riccio (7), Pazzi (7, sub 87), Visentin (7)
Subs – Machado (7)

Goals
L Ferri 36

With Sampdoria crowned as somewhat unlikely Serie A champions, it was a disappointing season for the big teams although Roma lifted the Italian Cup with a 3-0 aggregate win over Inter. In Europe, Newcastle lifted the UEFA Cup, beating Everton 1-0 in an all-English final. The trend continued in the Champions League, with Manchester United beating rivals Arsenal on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Fano finished in 10th place on 59 points, two places and eight points better than their debut season and Sandy was fairly satisfied with his team’s progression. He was particularly pleased to see his top players feature in the Serie A end of season awards. Matteo Visentin was voted Young Italian Player of the Year and finished as Fano’s top scorer with 14 goals. Leo Collacchioni came third in the voting for Italian Player of the Year, was selected in the Serie A Team of the Year and was named as the Supporters Player of the Year fr e third time in succession – nit bad for a lad that cost €4,000. José Reis Odair was runner-up in the Foreign Player of the Year, Dirk Ochs finished in 3rd place in the Player of the Year poll and Michele Ferri was runner-up in Defender of the Year.

Even though it was not yet mid-May Sandy decided to release the players for an early summer break, instructing them not to get too out of condition and to report back fro pre-season training at the start of July. He also told the backroom staff to take a few weeks off but to return in mid-June so that they could begin planning for Fano’s third season in the top flight. Sandy had some ideas for next season that he wanted to develop further in terms of the team’s tactical approach and he also needed to thrash out the financials with Mirco. The club had run at a loss this season, despite the increased stadium capacity, but the cost of that expansion had made a dent in the finances. Sandy also wanted to meet with both General Manager Sandro Mengucci and Director of Football Loris Servadio to review the backroom staff themselves, another area of the team that Sandy felt could be improved.