zipman

After my career in Scotland came to a sad end (http://community.sigames.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/521102691/m/9352092102), I decided to start something completely different.

I was always curious to start my own story (or report) with a Lower League team, and as I'm off to Southern Italy for vacation next week, I told myself, why not?

Region: Basilicata
Province: Potenza
Town: M e l f i
17,138 inhabitants, known for its castle "Castel del Monte" where Frederick II hold the "council of Melfi".

Melfi is not known as a football town, but at least it hosted two states of the "Giro d'Italia" in the 90'es. The closest "known" football teams are Salernitana, Foggia and Bari. As far I can overview the names in Serie C2/2 ASC Potenza should be my closest rivals. But Im up for surprises.

Setup:
- Database Huge
- Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy and Norway (all down to lowest league) selected.

zipman

02.07.05

After landing in the coastal town of Bari, I head to Bari Centrale taking the first train to the mountains where my new home Melfi is located.

The trip goes faster as expected and after only one train change in Foggia I arrive in Melfi 2h46mins later. Mr. Guiseppe Maglione, Mr. Gerardo Cignarale and Mr. Pierpaolo Castaldi pick me up at the small station. Communication is a bit problematic as I'm Norwegian speaking the Northern languages, some French, Spanish and only a tad Polish and Lithuanian.

The three men invite me to Albergo Ristorante I Due Pini on Piazzale Stazione which is just on the opposite side of the station "building". No matter what will happen in future, the food is fantastic there.

What I understand is that we have a problem with the wage budget: The signori say we shouldn't spend more than 737.000 €/year, but currently the wages are 940.000 €/year. Oh la la, we have to restucture. Guess I won't use my transfer budget of 50.000 €.

Melfi has currently 37 players under contract : 36 Italians (none of them speaks any of the languages I know) and one guy from Ivory Coast. Thank God, c'est possible de parler francais I guess he will be my translator for the first couple of months.

All positions are covered well, but I guess we dont have much talent available. Mr Maglione my chairman somehow agrees on that, and expects us to fight bravely against relegation.

After some pasta, bisteccine and tiramisu I feel like I had enough for day 1. But my board wants me to show the stadium and clubhouse. Thankfully it's only a 500 metres walk to Via Attilio Di Napoli where Sant'Abruzzese (also known as "Arturo Valerio") is located. The stadium looks decent with a capacity of 2.300 (2000 seats), but everything else looks like the facilities of 8th divisionist FC Löffingen where I learnt to play the game. Very basic ...

In the dressing room five obscure men are waiting. After some translation tries of Almamy Doumbia I understood they are my assistant, my coach, my scout and two physios. Well, I'll see what I can do we those guys.

Via Doumbia my assistant Nicola Di Leo tells me that he set up already seven friendlies. Of those six at home, among others against Bari and Roma Reserves.

First game though is on the road to Manfredonia. Thankfully I bought a 500 page Road Atlas Italy on the airport, so I can check out where that team is located. After seeing those naughty mountain roads I decide that we use the train for as many road games as possible.

I say mille grazie to my board and ask my assistant, coach and Doumbia to stay, so we can take a look at our squad. The main question is who could be sold to get our wages under control?

zipman

I tell my coaches that they should promote everybody with some talent to the first team squad, so we can figure out during preseason who is ready for Serie C2. Totally we have 27 players who start preseason in 1st team:

GK Ermanno Fumagalli 23 years: last season 30 games for Melfi. Strengths rushing out and aerial ability. Unfortunately slow as a snail and pretty below the standard I'd like for my starting goalkeeper.
GK Raffaele Coscia 22 years: didn't play any games since 2003, when he had two games for Tivoli. Does ok in the air, in the area and one on one. Also slow and horrible in rushing out.

I have a goalkeeper problem!

SW Marcello Fennino 19 years: played for Melfi U 20 last season. unlike most of my squad he's very determined. With only 19, I hope he developes some defending skills quickly.
DR Salvatore D'Angelo 30 years: last season 12 appearances for Melfi. A bit slow for a full back. But at least he tackles and marks decent. If I won't offload him due to his high wage, a candidate for the 1st 11.
DR Gaetano Avolio 23 years: three games for Melfi in 2005. Looks like a clone of D'Angelo. Sadly his wage is equally high. If neither is sold, one of them could be moved to DC.
DL Vincenzo Marciano 18 years: coming from Melfi youth. Not yet ready for 1st eleven. But decent in most defensive attributes. Could be a future starter.
DC Luca Patarini 22 years: Didn't play since 2003, when he was with Salernitana. Slow, bad in tackling and marking. Wouldn't be good for Melfi if a guy of this calibre starts in league.
DC Luigi Cuomo 22 years: 26 games for Melfi last season, scoring two goals. Decent defender for Melfi standards, but won't be a rock in our defense, I fear.
DM Luca Selvaggi 17 years: one game for us in 2004/05. Could have a hot future ahead of him. Maybe already an option for the bench this season, most likely at DC or DL.
DM Vincenzo Esposito 17 years: another product of the Melfi youth system. Would be a starter in central defense if he wouldn't be a dwarf. Guess his future is at fullback or winger.
DM Guiseppe Montano 18 years: as Selvaggi and Esposito homegrown talent. Has brilliant technique and executes nice standards. Sadly not determined at all.
DM Gianmarco Rodio 19 years: Joined from non league Bellaria, after three seasons at Salernitana. Without any doubt he will be an anchor in my midfield and defense. Only weaknesses are pace and heading.

DL and DC are problem areas. Guess at least one of my young DMC's has to play DC. D'Angelo, Avolio and Rodio look like given starters.

MRL Giovanni Lorusso 24 years: 20 games for us last year, scoring once. Pretty average midfielder, rather determined and fast.
ML Agostino Roma 18 years: first year in professional football. Showing quite some talent for his age. Sadly not really determined and having bad technique.
MC Andrea Cammarota 22 years: Playing 19 games (one goal) for my league foes Nocerina last season. Solid midfielder which I might use as MR, AMC or DMC. For this level no striking weaknesses except natural fitness.
MC Diego Russo 24 years: 18 games for us last season, with one goal. Not worth the 40.000 € he earns, rather useless in my system. Hot candidate not being with Melfi at the end of this month.
AMR Carmine Gaeta 22 years: scored one goal in six games for Melfi last season. Quite creative, good piece taker, but very bad stamina. Could be my AMC? If yes, he will be a lazy one.
AMRL Antonio La Porta 23 years: On loan from Foggia at Melfi last season. Played in 14 games. Fast winger who crosses well and is a given penalty taker. His other attributes suck sadly. Born for the bench?
AMRL Beniamino Liberti 20 years: On loan from Salernitana at Bellaria (Serie C2) last season. 5 goals in 35 games. More suited to be a striker than a midfielder. But very slow and small. Maybe give him a shot as winger?
AML Almamy Doumbia 21 years: 27 games for Melfi in 2004/05. My African friend is quick, aggressive and determined (determination is virtually unknown attribute at Melfi?). Could be used everywhere as backup and my translator.
AMLC Martino Gravante 18 years: Playing for Melfi's U 20 last season. Small and very light, virtually no stamina. So I guess he's a born playmaker. Might even get a shot at the 1st eleven?
AMC Nathan Schiavon 30 years: Scoring 5 in 23 games for us last season. One of the top earners of the team. Could score a bunch for Melfi, but awful in passing and not determined. Will listen to offers for him to lower my wages.

No real weaknesses or strenght in this area. Cammarota should be a starter, the rest of the guys must fight for a starting spot. Maybe I'll retrain one or two of my talented DM's for offensive midfield.

FC Federico Lauria 30 years: 9 goals in 32 games for Northern Italian C2 outfit Valenzana. Not a bad striker for C2, but is he worth 90.000 €/year? I guess not ...
ST Vinicio Paris 20 years: 15 games for Melfi last season. No goals. This will be the make it or break it year for him. He's quick, has good technique and some technique. But enough talent to be a starter?
ST Francesco Roberto 18 years: First year as a prof. He's a clone of Partis but two years younger. Those two might compete for a place on the bench.
ST Antonio Rubino 16 years: Also a rookie. Showing a fair deal of talent. Guess he'll play mostly in U 20, but I give him a shot during preseason.
ST Jacopo Venturini 23 years: First year on Melfi's roster. A great finisher, but horrible in passing and tackling. Not determined, but very aggressive. We'll have to see what we do with him.

Lauria and Schiavon are one class better than the rest. But their wages give me nightmares. The other four strikers might not be good enough to score in Serie C2.

So my first day in Basilicata Province comes to an end. I walk to Hotel Farese which is my home for my first weeks.

With a tasty glass of Chianti I make my first "to do" list:

- get some better cheap coaches
- look for a better goalkeeper and left defender (on loan maybe?)
- unload some of the older high paid players
- add some determined players to my squad
- learn some Italian

zipman

03.07.05 - 07.07.05

I was rather shocked when I met my staff and decided that my young talents deserve better training. So we brought in some new coaches:

Massimo Persico: 46 year old native of San Benedetto del Tronto
Carlo Osellame: 53 year old native of Montebelluna
Giancarlo Oddi: 56 year old native of Rome
Roberto Guidi: 35 year old born somewhere in Calabria

and a new scout:
Francesco Zanchini 57 year old born somewhere in Lazio

We also got some offers for Paris, Ruffo, Schiavon and Roberto.

To save money I also bought 25 "Mezzogiorno tickets" at Melfi Station. This means we can sell our 30 year old FIAT coach and travel by train to almost every road game.
My chairman looked a bit confuzed and called me strange Northerner when I told him about my decision.

Both scouts are sent out to scout the nation and serie C1/2, but so far I didn't spot any decent signings.

zipman

09.07.05

We decided to accept C1/B outfit Massese's offer for Nathan Schiavon. He was one of the top earners and certainly a key player, but I have to rework my wage bill.

I got 26.000 € for him, and if he scores well for his new club we will receive extra payments. Massese's fans showed their unease when they heard Schiavon signed for their club.

10.07.05

Melfi says farewell to a midfielder. Diego Russo wasn't worth the 40.000 €/year he had in his contract. That's why we shipped him to Castel di Sangro, a rather ambitious amateur team. Russo was sold for 18.000 €. If he plays in some league games we will get more money.

13.07.05

The big sell-out continues: Vinicio Paris is shipped to non-leaguers Fano. Fano's contract was running out and he was paid too much as well. Cashed in another 10.000 € for him.

After ten days in Melfi I reduced the wage bill from 940.000 € to 800.000 € by selling three players. Only one of them was supposed to start in the league. Instead I signed four coaches and a scout.

Sadly - while my league opponents sign without rest - nobody wants to join our cute mountain town team so far. My scouts didn't do anything so far.

retired_perilousfaith

Looking like a good start I love stories about Italian clubs ^^

zipman

Kiitos It's my first ever story, and I still have to find my own style.

Usually I don't like Italian football at all, but the lower leagues there look very thrilling. I have also a weakness for mountains teams, as I'm from the mountains as well

zipman

17.07.05

Basilicata Abbey News

Interview with Andreas Fritsche - New Coach of Melfi

Sister Francesca (SF): Mr. Fritsche I'm Sister Francesca, the responsible sports reporter of the local weekly BAN. How did it happen you made a switch from Hibernian in Scotland to our small mountain town in Southern Italy?

Andreas Fritsche (AF): Well, Sister Francesca. I had a very nice time in Scotland, built a great team there, even qualified for 1st knockout stage. But after defeating Hearts away my chairman went crazy and sacked me out of the blue. I was unemployed for half a year before my friend Frank told me in a dream that the coach of Melfi suddenly diappeared during the summer break. I took the plane to Bari, and was at once impressed of Melfi.

SF: Melfi is widely considered to be the team to achieve direct relagation this season. The squad is known to be not very talented and determination isn't known down here. And now you even sold Schiavon who scored more than 1/3 of our goals last season and two other talents.

AF: Well, I had two options. Either I keep all players and Melfi is bankrupt before St. Nikola or I start rebuilding at once. Schiavon scored a lot, and he will continue to score for Massese, but don't forget he alone earned 10 % of our wage budget. I'm sure we can replace Russo and Paris easily

SF: All the other C2/C teams are signing players for free and loan veterans from upper leagues like crazy. Why didn't Melfi sign a single player so far? Our defense looks horrible and our goalkeepers might be good in harvesting grapes, but they shouldn't start in professional football.

AF: You are right, Sister! Compared to many other C2 teams Melfi is virtually unknown outside the Basilicata, so its very hard to sign new players. In addition we still have to reduce our wage budget. Anyway we already signed some good coaches and my plan is to develop the players we have now by training them well. I agree some positions have to be strenghened quickly.

SF: What are your goals for this season, for future?

AF: Even if no expert takes me serious now, but my goal is to finish 13th and to avoid the relegation playoffs. A number of opponents will underestimate us. We will use that mental advantage. Next goal is to become the No 1 team in the Basilicata. The mountain people of Melfi will be proud of their team and give us more strength and financial security. Within 5 to 10 years we should be the best team of mainland Southern Italy.

SF: Best team of mainland Southern Italy? You like our wine, don't you? Melfi never played in C1 or higher. It's quite impossible (even if the Lord is with us) that we can compete with Lecce, Bari, Napoli or Salernitana. If you survive your first season here, aren't you going to jump ship to a bigger team?

AF: Unless a very special (non-Italian) team approaches me, Melfi is my future. As coach of Hibs I was offered to become coach of Ireland twice and declined.

SF: The nuns of La Foresteria di San Leo who publish BAN every Sunday wish you luck and harmony at your new job. We will follow Melfi's games closely.

AF: Mille grazie

zipman

19.07.05

My interview with BAN's Sister Francesca seemed to help. I'm in serious contract negotiations with two teams for a decent Goalkeeper and Left Defender. Maybe I can sign them in time for the first preseason match?

Guess I drank again too much vino. The first game is already tonight and we didn't book any tickets for the train yes.

Thankfully Nicola Di Leo does the job for me and we (24 players) catch the 15:53 heading to Foggia just in time. We change trains in Foggia where we have one hour. The whole team assemples for a Cappuccino. I excuse for the lousy preparation but the guys seem not too care that much. At 18:10 the train to Sportiva Manfredonia who won our league last season leaves and after 27 minutes we arrive. Just in time for the 19:30 kick-off.

Manfredonia is beautifully located on the Gulf of Manfredonia and with 57.424 inhabitants much bigger than Melfi. Even if the bookmakers didn't give any odds for the game, the newly promoted Puglians are clear favorites at Miramare.

retired_milla0225

This is excellent, Loeffle, old buddy. I especially like your choice of newspaper reporter, an inspired touch. The possibilities are endless.