retired_Joeysmama

What a name.

retired_embartl

thanks chaps progress is going to be slow going until the uni break arrives ( 10 days or so ) but I will be cracking on with this in due time

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Summer 2002

After an exhausting season, the holidays had been well deserved for all but it soon got back to the matter in hand of preparing the team for another round in the next league up and this would be all the more difficult. For one, the popular and fantastic midfielder Cesar Sampaio had left after his year to join Bordeaux, a move no-one could fault him for, most people just appreciative of having been able to see him witness him at the club in the first place.

Still for the C2/B Manager of the Season he was sure he could work his magic again - if the board weren't quite so broke. That was, until on the 17th June, having released a few of the oldies from their rolling contracts, Pierluigi received a most wonderful email from the chairman:

retired_embartl

Pierluigi started jumping for joy. What a feeling, the `crisis solved just like that and within moments he was suddenly asking round as many old people's homes as possible. It aided the resigning of a few players a bit easier, as Ioannidis and Venturi were quick to re-affirm their commitment to the cause.

The chase for new players began in earnest soon after, with loan signing Bucciarelli turning his move permanent for one, as again Pierluigi looked to limit the money spent in full on fees, a lesson perhaps learnt from the previous season. A couple of futures were added in this collection of players, like Alessandro Galli, a 29 year old midfielder, who arrived on a bosman, fully aware he'd spend the vast majority of the campaign in the reserves.

Another 29 year old Nicola Bosselli arrived for 220k, though given his birthday was merely later on in July meant he'd be thrown right into the thick of it, along with Stefano De Agostini from Trento, the 37 year old midfielder added in for a bit of depth to the midfield area.

Finding solid players for the solid positions was the key, the central midfield position was packed with players, such was it's importance, as was the centre of defence, but Negri aside, the strike force was still very much untested, it included Eduardo Michi who only turned 30 in the first week of August, thus missing the initial friendly set up. The left back position was supported by the loan acquisition of Marco Pennachietti, a 30 year old resident of Foggia. The coup of the season was undoubtedly the signing of 33year old Alessandro Mezzola from Verona. The midfielder was expensive, and rounded off his limited quota of signings, but he was damn talented, and perhaps would be the 'Sampaio' of the side this year.

Amid all the prolonged negotiations and re-negotiations there was still plenty of time to just about eliminate signs of youth from his side. A couple of the lucky ones were sold on, whilst Luca Vampa and Mirko Zanotti helped to ensure his freezer was stocked up on food supplies.

This time around the team even bothered to have warmed up matches to the useless Serie C Cup competition though, even if it was just a plain run out for all the players. A **** poor 2-0 home defeat to Halesowen proved to be a complete waste of everybody’s time, and as it turned out one of those players, Mauro Antonoli had had enough, as he announced his retirement from the game. It got him off the wage bill which had to be a good thing as in practical terms he had never really offered the side anything worthwile.

In the meantime, not wanting to spend any more cash and with defender Belloti taking himself out of action for 3 months after skewering himself in the eye, Pierluigi enjoyed success in the loan market, and Piacenza's 33 year old centre half Roberto Maltagliati arrived on a season long deal, along with Foggia's Luigi Molino , a winger, who'd at least provide some cover, and Cosimo Barbano a 30 year old striker from Pescara, who'd add options to a probably quite weak attacking array.

Also leaving was right back Gianluca Convalitto who superbly pressed his claim for a new contract by quitting. What an exceptional attitude, he wasn't missed either in that fantabulous opening defeat to non leaguers Ferentino which highlighted serious shortcomings in the side's attacking proficiency which had got worse over the summer - not good once you've got yourself promoted.

At least there were some positives before the old Cup competition kicked off in August. Stephane Dedebant had buggered off to Dunfermline for a few bob, as had a couple of other kids, whilst the 'not quite there folk' in the reserves still seemed mature enough to wait until that magical birthday arrived for them.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Rimini - Sunday 11th August 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2002/3 Transfers========================================= ================================================== =====Date Player In From Fee-----------------------------------------------------------------------1.7.02 Giulio Giacomin Cittadella £85K 1.7.02 Vasilis Ioannidis Free Transfer Bos 1.7.02 Fabio Bellotti Messina £250K 1.7.02 Nicola Boselli Piacenza £230K 1.7.02 Stefano De Agostini Trento Bos 5.7.02 Marco Pennacchietti Foggia Loan 15.7.02 Alessandro Mazzola Verona £500K 16.7.02 Simone Venturi Free Transfer Free 19.7.02 Edoardo Micchi Free Transfer Bos 25.7.02 Roberto Maltagliati Piacenza Loan 25.7.02 Luigi Molino Foggia Loan 26.7.02 Cosimo Barnabo Pescara Loan Date Player Out To Fee-----------------------------------------------------------------------10.6.02 Maurizio Neri Released Free 14.6.02 Khodadad Azizi Released Free 14.6.02 Uwe Rösler Released Free 15.6.02 Massimiliano Allegri Released Free 15.6.02 Edoardo Micchi Released Free 15.6.02 Vasilis Ioannidis Released Free 15.6.02 César Sampaio Bordeaux Bos 16.6.02 Simone Venturi Released Free 5.7.02 Mauro Gilardi Turris £12K 2.8.02 Michele Santini Villacidrese £14K 2.8.02 Stéphane Dedebant Dunfermline £60K </pre>

retired_embartl

August 2002 - Stepping Up A Gear?

With Pierluigi more concerned with stabilising a side which had seen quite a hefty turnover to it's first eleven, he decided to adopt a slightly more cautious approach in midfield - protecting the battle axe central area, to ease the players into the matches first. For the first Cup match against Alzano at home, a new look side started terrifically, though it was old boy Perkovic who fired in a 2nd minute lead from the edge of the area. As the game progressed, fitness was an issue with one or two players still not quite ready and the visitors levelled. An inspired change from Pierluigi saw loan striker Cosimo Barnabo come on and change the game again, scoring one of his own and setting up Perkovic's second amid an all round terrific show.

It was a confidence booster more than anything and Pier was now licking his lips with anticipation for the season proper to kick off.

Furthermore in that game, Davide Mezzanotte filled in at left back better than he had ever done with his favoured right the previous season. A few days later midfielder Fedderico Smanio was brought in on trial. The balding tackler had been released by Terrasa in the summer and Pierluigi had been keeping an eye on him for a while. A real bruiser, yet popular with the fans and players, but he was just shy of his 30th birthday by a few months.

Another young'un, was Allessio Bolletti. The previous year he went out on loan for the second half of the season, now the 28 year old has joined Sambenedettese on a year long deal, taking him right past his 29th birthday. He would be so much closer. That was just a few days before the trip to Gualdo for match two of the Cup, and a Luca D'Angelo strike combined with a superb goalkeeping from Battistini helped put the side in with a chance of going through to the next stage of the cup.

Such good luck didn't extend to the home with Teramo where tired legs, and some individual woeful performances contrived a 2-0 defeat, and qualification placed firmly in the balance. That balance tipped all the other way with defeat at Sambanedettese highlighting the clear shortcomings in the side without Sampaio et al. This season was going to be tough and the players would have to use every ounce of their limited talent to hold hopes of a decent finish this year.

The defeat certainly left tongues wagging again, and more kids popped out the closet with their hypothetical certainty that kids would have coped better in the raging sun. Their comments were soon cut short, when Pierluigi didn't exactly make them eat their words so much as eat their own tongue, before he ritually slaughtered them and got his winter stock piled up nicely ahead of the seasons start - it was indeed an easy way to forget the fact Marco Negri hadn't even looked like finding the target so far.


Match Summary

Sun 11/08 Rimini v Alzano - won 3-1, Perkovic x2, Barnabo
Sun 18/08 Gualdo v Rimini - won 1-0, D'Angelo
Wed 21/08 Rimini v Teramo - lost 2-0
Sun 25/08 Sambenedettese v Rimini 0 lost 1-0

retired_embartl

September 2002

Pierluigi was slightly down in the dumps after the past few results, both of which, according to his friend Claudius meant he'd have to add two Disney characters into his name by deed poll, but he picked up instantly after receiving two wonderful calls from out of work strikers. The players? Step up Dean Saunders and Azizi ! The stars were back and the mood in town lifted in one short swoop, as both professed to missing the beautiful locality and the camaraderie of the old buggers.

When Gianluca Vitali ran away from home, unfortunately into the path of Pierluigi Goofy Mickey Barbituarti a day later, it was almost party time in the Barbituarti house. Of course the police came sniffing round soon after, but fed the usual 'sarcastic' response about ritual cannibalism they soon left. 34-year-old Lorenzo Battaglia formerly of Treviso became the latest signing - a creative midfield talent and went straight into the side that faced Reggiana away.

The debut match in Serie C1/A began a little shakily for the side as they began in a comfortable 4-4-2 formation, reading their counterparts early on. The longer the game went on though, the more the side realised they were competitive at this step up as well, and unsurprisingly when Rimini did take the lead it was good old Negri heading in a corner. Of note was the debutant Battaglia who took the corner - and his class was definitely showing. Shortly before half time another fine move from a now in-control Rimini side saw Azizi on his 'second debut' slide a ball across goal for midfielder Mazzola to sweep in. It proved to be a decisive killer goal, as the hosts struggled to come back into the match in the second half. Even when defender Nicola Boselli who had played well on his league debut, got sent off for two yellows they didn't break through and an excellent win kicked off season two.

The high spirits continued as another player signed on days later, right sided midfielder Gianluca Petrarchi adding some balance to the midfield. The squad was also of such a size that some of the golden oldies were relegated to the reserve team level just to get games in. What did annoy Pierluigi though was when he was told of a young talent who'd been whoring his abilities out amongst local clubs in search of a contract. When he saw the kid play he was gutted. The 16 year old was bloody talented, and from the nearby academy too - so he signed him up to a lifetime contract with the club... if he had to wait 14 years to see him play then by god he'd wait 14 years. Failing that, he certainly had a tender look to him.

Also coming in would be Federico Smanio - a 29 year old midfielder, with a bit of potential - though he was made fully aware that he would not be considered for the first team for at least 5 months ( ie his birthday ). Neither obviously were in the squad to face Lucchese where a very tight game between two good sides ended all square at 0-0. There were chances aplenty for both sides but as Pierluigi and his team discovered you had to be far more ruthless higher up the pyramid if you want results.

That was shown too in a tough match away to a very well organised Modena side. The hosts had plenty in their arsenal and certainly gave it their all against Rimini in an end to end match. The resulting 2-2 draw probably favoured Rimini more than the hosts, but Luigi Molino, from the left flank and Cosimo Barbano up front provided hope for the future as the loan signings both scored.

Out of the blue, Pierluigi was suddenly hit by the outrageously random retirement of Dean Saunders just a couple of weeks after signing on. At getting on for 39 he was probably within his rights, but there wasn't even a warning - a fact which seriously disappointed Pierlugi. It just wasn't done. He presumed other issues were at hand, such as the disappearance of his teenage son, but that was beside the point.

The following match at home to Carrese was a subdued affair and the visitors were much the better side throughout cutting edge wise and only a fine performance from Battistini ensured a draw resulted.


Match Summary

Sun 08/09 C1/A Reggiana v Rimini - won 2-0, Negri, Mazzola
Sun 15/09 C1/A Rimini v Lucchese - drew 0-0
Sun 22/09 C1/A Modena v Rimini - drew 2-2, Molino, Barnabo,
Sun 29/09 C1/A Rimini v Carrarese - drew 0-0

retired_embartl

October 2002

A solid start, at least unbeaten wise, then for Rimini and for a step up it wasn't to be scoffed at, but the forwards would need to be rewarding the defenders for doing their jobs more regularly. Of course when they did find the net again, away to Lecco , it was just the one goal, and with the opponents scoring twice, a bit useless really. The team's cause hadn't been helped by an injury to Battistini before the match, but Bizarri wasn't at fault for the goals, his defence ironically being a bit useless. Azizi had levelled deservedly in the second half, before the hosts beat a poor offside trap effort to steal the points and inflict the first defeat of the league season on the side.

In midweek the team were boosted though with the free signing of Davide Olivares a 31 year old midfielder, formerly of Como who would perhaps be able to offer better service to the frontmen and he certainly showed signs of it in the home match with Treviso a week later, but sadly despite a good all round effort from the team including tight defending and some quicker footwork upfront, the luck wasn't quite there and another draw had to be settled for.

Only one defeat in 6 could now also be seen as only one win in 6, but Pierluigi remained optimistic and in truth the performance in the last match at least merited more than just the one point, and with the trip to Albinoleffe the players righted that fact. After a tough start in which the hosts tried to assert their superiority
Cosimo Barnabo hit the team on the break and after that goal went in, Rimini stepped it up a gear, and belatedly earned their just rewards, with Negri converting another goal in the second half to seal the points.

The downside though was an injury to left back Galli. For so long he had seemed indestructible the previous year, as he had to be, but this time he finally picked up a knock which would sideline him for a month. Pennachietti duly returned to the side as they took on Vis Pesaro at home. By some quirk it seemed all three of the
0-0's this season had come in all the home matches so the fans hadn't enjoyed any goals to speak of so far in the season and after a frustrating afternoon of dominance without the cutting edge it became 4.


Match Summary

Sun 06/10 C1/A Lecco v Rimini - lost 2-1, Azizi
Sun 13/10 C1/A Rimini v Treviso - drew 0-0
Sun 20/10 C1/A Albinoleffe v Rimini - won 2-0, Negri, Barnabo
Sun 27/10 C1/A Rimini v Vis Pesaro - drew 0-0

retired_embartl

November 2002

The problem on the pitch was slightly evident, but still of no cause for alarm, as a good mid table finish would represent progress enough in Pierluigi's eyes, and once the players were up and running fully with the improved opponents, the results would come - as they did at home to Cesena.

After waiting a good long time for goals and action, the home fans were finally rewarded, with a 3-2 thriller of a victory. It saw the return of Battistini in goal, whilst
Ioannidis was given a rare start in defence, with Azizi scoring twice, and a third arriving from the outstanding Davide Olivares. The team went a goal behind early on before the Iranian notched his first goal from an Olivares cross before Pennachietti sent in a ball for Olivares to head in the goal. Azizi blasted in a third in the second half, before the visitors set up a tense finale in the closing moments of the game.

Another defender arrived during the month with 31 year old Vincenzo Pandulio signed on a free and he was put straight into the starting line up for the trip to Como . In what proved to be a poor game all round, the side never recovered from conceding an early goal, eventually losing 2-0, with defender Nicola Beselli's discipline cropping up again as an issue as he picked up his second red card of the season already.

That 2-0 score line was mirrored again in the side’s rubbish capitulation at home to Trento the following week, where two penalties condemned the side to another loss and goalkeeper Battistini was sent off for his troubles late on.

It didn’t help either that back up goalkeeper Bizarri now had thrown a spanner in the works by getting all hissyfittish about the little run, clearly disregarding the side having been promoted the year before, and as such Pierluigi bit one of his fingers off and told him to quit moaning. It seemed to work, even if the now 7 fingered player needed a trip to A & E.

He recovered in time of course to play in the match at 4th placed Cremonese but still light headed from the loss of blood he immediately conceded a goal from kick off. As Pierluigi thought of the worst, his side proved they were more capable than he’d previously thought and Marco Negri converted a fine Gianluca Petrarchi cross to level up. However for all the side’s efforts thereafter a winning goal was to prove elusive.

A decent draw was marred though by the few weeks off injured Azizi would have to take and the resulting whingebucket Francesco Passiatore complaining about not being an automatic pick – despite having played appalling both previous starts he’d been awarded. The bloody nerve.



Match Summary

Sun 03/11 C1/A Rimini v Cesena – won 3-2 – Azizi x2, Olivares
Sun 10/11 C1/A Como v[ b] Rimini [/b] – lost 2-0
Sun 17/11 C1/A Rimini v Trento – lost 2-0
Sun 24/11 C1/A Cremonose v Rimini – a tie – 1-1 - Negri

retired_embartl

December 2002

After a week of having to deal with complaints from the local hospital that he was causing them far more work than was duly necessary, ( three young kids in various stages of mutilation on the Wednesday for example ), he looked forward to the match with Varese as a chance to build on the useful win the previous week.

The subsequent 2-2 draw proved to be bloody annoying, not least because his side were 2-0 to the good with only ten minutes remaining. A fine strike from Alessandro Mezzola and a penalty from the same player after Negri had been hacked down seemed to set the side on their way. However, once Mezzola left the field injured in the first half, the midfield lost a bit of it’s bite, and Varese pulled one back on 81 minutes break. Despite all the warnings about not wasting chances and defending solidly, the team obviously couldn’t be arsed to listen to that maxim and gift wrapped the visitors’ second goal in gold tinted tape.

The massive two game unbeaten run had to come to an end soon and it did so in infuriating fashion at lowly Pavia . In a spectacular match neither side had much control on the match, as it ended 4-3 to the hosts, but the fact that Rimini kept equalising and then conceding that leader within minutes sent Pierluigi’s blood pressure through the roof. Negri, Petrarchi and Mazzola were the goal scorers, whilst the defence ****ed away the opportunities with ease – as the winless streak continued.

In midweek with the atmosphere frustrated and subdued a whole string of players decided to announce their impending retirement all on the same day at the same time. Was this planned? Pierluigi wondered if they were trying to test his patience. Stefano di Agostini ( crap anyway ), Azizi ( disappointing ) , Luigi Galli ( horrible news ) Giulio Giacomin, ( really could have done without that ), Gianluca Petrachi ( bugger ), Lorenzo Bottaglia ( shame ), Fabio Favi ( AH NO – er nah no loss ), Perkovic ( bit of a shame ), Bortolazzi ( no surprise he can hardly move ), Ioannidis ( not playing much right now ), and Franceso Passiatore ( moaning git quitting I see ) - decided to quit.

In the final home game before the break it was another crap loss as the side really struggled to cope with Padova’s quality offence. Having gone 2-0 done early on the side did well to recover and two goals from Marco Negri at least emphasised the fact one part of the side was doing ok, sadly the back end was helping Rimini to spiral back down towards the bottom. However that weekend also brought some good news. Loan striker Cosimo Barnabo agreed to make his move permanent whilst Bari’s back up goalkeeper Graziano Battistini would be joining in the summer as well. At that latest news, Marco Bizarri turned an even paler shade of white.

Later on in the week Pierluigi went on another transfer binge and scooped any old crap that fell his way, including Scottish striker Gary McSwegan recently released by Hearts. Vincenzo Esposito a 31 year old full back on both sides, before Argentinean Hernan Diaz

The final match of December away to league leaders Monza was never going to be anything other than an defeat, although it was precipitated by the excellent news that retarded reject Davide di Nicoli had found a club to move to in the summer and there was much rejoicing and dancing gaily in the fields by the local <STRIKE> river </STRIKE> cesspit. That said the match did produce a welcome draw as Olivares struck an early goal. The team couldn’t hold on but the spirit was encouraging for the new year.

Match Summary

Sun 01/12 C1/A Rimini v Varese drew 2-2 – Mazzola x2
Sun08/12 C1/A Pavia v Rimini – screwed up 4-3, Negri, Mazzola, Petrarchi
Sun 15/12 C1/A Rimini v Padova – lost again 3-2 Negri x2
Sun 22/12 C1/A Monza v Rimini – drew 1-1. Olivares.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** * Italian Serie C1/A - Friday 27th December 2002********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2002/3 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Monza 16 6 1 1 14 8 3 2 3 15 13 30 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Padova 16 7 1 0 16 6 2 2 4 9 12 30 3rd Treviso 16 4 3 1 14 8 4 2 2 10 8 29 4th Como 16 5 2 1 16 7 3 2 3 14 11 28 5th Modena 16 4 2 2 17 14 4 1 3 10 8 27 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6th Cremonese 16 3 5 0 11 7 4 1 3 10 9 27 7th Trento 16 3 2 3 14 12 5 0 3 11 9 26 8th Reggiana 16 4 2 2 10 8 2 5 1 20 18 25 9th Lecco 16 3 1 4 9 10 3 3 2 10 8 22 10th Lucchese 16 5 1 2 11 7 1 3 4 6 12 22 11th Spezia 16 3 3 2 10 8 2 3 3 11 14 21 12th Albinoleffe 16 4 3 1 14 10 1 3 4 12 21 21 13th Carrarese 16 3 3 2 14 10 2 2 4 8 11 20 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14th Rimini 16 1 5 2 7 9 2 3 3 12 12 17 15th Vis Pesaro 16 3 2 3 11 14 0 2 6 1 11 13 16th Varese 16 1 4 3 11 15 0 3 5 10 16 10 17th Cesena 16 0 4 4 11 16 1 3 4 8 14 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18th Pavia 16 2 0 6 8 13 0 4 4 5 11 10</pre>