retired_blondie_524

Wednesday 22 August - Serie C (group J)
Salernitana v Cavese

I made two changes to the starters, Accardi replaced Capone and Milton replaced Solari, both of whom drop to the bench and Marsilli drops out of the squad.
Both sides are evenly matched in the first half, the home side's five shots are all blazed well wide while we manage to force a save with one out our three efforts. We might have just shaded it but we have to hit the net.
The second half was much the same until the 83rd minute when Alberto the whole ground as he bent a 35-yard screamer into the top corner of our net. The home side caught us stretched at the back three minutes later to seal their win. Terzi lobbed the ball into a crowed area in a last desperate act in injury time and Sanetti rose above everyone to head home.
Salernitana 2-1 Cavese
Salernitana scorers: Alberto 83, Bengua 86
Cavese: Sanetti 91
Att: 6,017

It was a gallent effort against a Serie C1 side but the loss effectively ends our interest in the cup. Potenza won 3-1 at Juve Stabia in the other game.

retired_blondie_524

Wednesday 22 August 2007

The bad news after the game is that Marco Milton has a thigh strain and could miss a month.

Sunday 26th August - Serie C2/B
Cavese v Latina

Sanetti starts in place of the injured Milton while Ibekwei takes a seat on the bench.
We start the game pushing on and our reward comes after 12 minutes when Castioni's shot is parried right back to him and his diving header beats the keeper's despairing dive. Mario Alfieri scores on his debut for us sticking a 20-yard free kick into the roof of the net to send us in 2-0 up at the break.
Ibekwei replaces the limping Sanetti at half time. We're reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes left when Marco Arno is shown a straight red for hauling down a Latina player when he was last man. Going three at the back we fight a rearguard action which isn't breached until the 93rd minute.
Cavese 2-1 Latina
Cavese scorers: Castioni 13, Alfieri 30
Latina Scorers: Kola 93
Att: 3,967

It was a good win over a side that finished five places above us last year but Arno will be suspended for the next match.

Tuesday 28th August 2007

In a bid to solve the shortage of goals we have signed 21 year old French striker Frédéric Bosak for an initial payment of €1,000 from Standard Liege.
Enri Ndreka has been called up by Albania to face Latvia on September 1st.

Wednesday 29th August - Serie C Cup (group J)
Cavese v Juve Stabia

It was another one of those halfs, over half of our possession was in the last third of the pitch. We allowed Juve one off target shot while we managed 10 BUT once again only three on target, eight corners to nil.
The second half went the same way , we finished with 16 shot to 3, 10 corners to nil, 55% possession to 45% but still only three on target - what more can I say to them?
Cavese 0-0 Juve Stabia
Att: 511

Brindisi and Salernitana also grind out a 0-0 draw meaning Brindisi qualify for the first round proper and Salernitana finish on six points, Potenza will overhaul them if they win their final group game at home to us.

Saturday 1st September 2007

The board are pleased with me because they can see the team has improved from last year and will hopefully go from strength to strength, once we can hit a barn door! We made a profit of €92,500 last month.

retired_blondie_524

Wednesday 5th September - Serie C cup (group J)
Potenza v Cavese

Di Ciccio comes in for Ndreka who is still away on international duty and Bosak makes his second start in place of the injured Milton.
The home side take the lead when they catch Di Ciccio out of position and Arno can't get across in time to stop Potenza burying the ball past Valentini. As we still struggle to find the range Valentini keeps us in it with some fantastic saves and although Di Bonito slides the ball home with five minutes left in the half the linesman's flag is up as Bosak is offside.
All the effort plays off five minutes after the restart when Di Bonito sets up a counter attack with an excellent through ball to Accardi whose deft flick is drilled home by Castioni. After that we were looking the better side and hit the second goal four minutes from time when substitute Dohet threaded a ball to Synaeghel. He superbly turned his defender and slipped the ball past the Potenza keeper for his first goal for the club. We seal the win with virtually the last kick of the game, Accardi's deep cross is powerred in by Dohert to cap a magnificent debut.
Potenza 1-3 Cavese
Potenza scorers: Lange 8
Cavese scorers: Castioni 51, Synaeghel 87, Dohert 93
Att: 2,033

The win didn't mean much to us but it stopped Potenza qualifying. Brindisi beat Juve Stabia 2-1 in their final game.

Final Table – Serie C Cup (group J)
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | Q | Brindisi | | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 10 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | Q | Salernitana | | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Cavese | | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Potenza | | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 4 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Juve Stabia | | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 2 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 9th September - Serie C2/B
Cavese v Castelnuovo

Ndreka, back from international duties, replaces the suspended Arno, Di Ciccio keeps his place and Laurent Dohert's appearance off the bench has earned him a start in place of Alfieri.
The visitors take the lead after a quarter of an hour when Ramacciotti sneaked between both central defenders to head home a free kick. Castelnuovo made the brighter start but we gradually worked our way into the game. Our wayward finishing was well in evidence before the visitors pushed Di Ciccio over in the 44th minute, Di Bonito took a captain's responsibility and stroked the penalty home.
The second half was mostly fought in midfield although we probably shaded it and blew the chance of all three points in the 92 minute. Castelnuvo gave away a second penalty when Sanetti was upended but López grabbed the ball and promptly saw Dazzi pull off a stunning save.
Cavese 1-1 Castelnuovo
Cavese scorers: Di Bonito 45 pen
Castelnuvo scorers: Ramacciotti 15
Att: 3,969

We're in sixth position in the league but if we don't start hitting the net we'll soon be slipping down the table.

Wednesday 12th September - Serie C2/B
Prato v Cavese

Arno regains the right back slot and Ndreka drops to the bench while Sanetti partners Castioni up front as Bosak sits on the bench following three lacklustre performances.
Prato run all over us at the start and catch us after eight minutes with the defense all at sea, allowing La Dogana to slide it into an empty net. We got back into the game late in the half but it didn't save the lads from a good rollocking at half time.
We huffed and puffed but never looked like making the breakthrough.
Prato 1-0 Cavese
Prato scorers: La Dogana 9
Cavese scorers: none
Att: 1,545

Foligno are making all the early running with three wins out of three followed by Cecina and Bellaria with seven points. We’re down to 10th.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 16th September - Serie C2/B
Fano v Cavese

Alfieri replaces Dohert in midfield in the only change.
A long ball in the 26th minute opens us up like a can of sardines and Soncin waltzes through a mile wide gap in our central defense to stick the ball away. Surprisingly we equalise 10 minutes later when Sanetti finds Castioni who turns his defender and fires home across the keeper.
Soncin undoes us again just after the hour when he pulls off his defender and fires a wicked shot across the keeper into the far corner. We hit back within minutes as Sanetti fires home the ball off a cross from Arno. Cavese steal the points in the 90th minute when Alfieri swings a deep corner in and Capone connects with a diving header to send it spinning through a crowd into the bottom corner of the net.
Fano 2-3 Cavese
Fano scorers: Soncin 27, 64
Cavese scorers: Castioni 36, Sanetti 69, Capone 90
Att: 1,581

The win moves us up to 7th place. Bellaria are the new leaders, beating previously unbeaten Foligno 2-1. Reggiana won 4-1 at Forli to go second while Latina's 2-0 victory over Gubbio takes them third.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 23rd September - Serie C2/B
Cavese v Ferentino

Capone replaces Accardi at left wing and Milton returns to the bench after his thigh strain.
Once again it's the same story, 54% of the possession, 9 shot to two but no-one is able to hit the back of the net. Sanetti comes closest forcing a fine save while Castioni spurns two simple tap-ins.
In the first minute of the second half Ferentino concede a free kick on the edge of the box and the deadly Alfieri steps up to crash it into the top corner. Seven minutes later a short corner enables Di Bonito to whip in a telling cross which Synaeghel directs into the net. It's three with six minutes left when Milton is tackled on the edge of the area and the ball breaks to Capone who drills it into the bottom corner. If only we could produce that second half performance every game
Cavese 3-0 Ferentino
Cavese scorers: Alfieri 46, Synaeghel 53, Capone 84
Ferentino scorers: none
Att: 3,523

The win over the formally 9th placed Ferentino moves us right up to 4th, two points behind leaders Foligno who beat Manfredonia 4-1. Bellaria drew 2-2 at Reggiana leaving them second on 11 points and Reggiana a point behind but ahead of us on goal difference.

Tuesday 25th September 2007

Mario Alfieri was selected in the Serie C2/B team of the week. I call my former assistant Wang Shihai up for a chat and to show him how much my Chinese had jmproved since I've been practicing with my new assistant Li Xiaopeng. Apparently Zhejiang are still top of the division, three points clear of International with four games to go. Bai Long has scored 15 and Siyuan has 11 but the Zhejiang board has cashed in and sold Tomou to Le Harve for the equivalent of €350K as well as off loading Fengbo, Shuai and Shu.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 30th September - Serie C2/B
Teramo v Cavese

We took on the eighth placed side with an unchanged side. The first half was one of those where you kept thinking how uninspiring the play was but it somehow ended 2-2. The home side side opened the scoring before we equalised after 11 minutes when Capone's deep cross left Di Bonito with a simple nod into the empty net at the far post. Rafael Bondi's 30 yard rocket just after the half hour caught everyone by surprise as it billowed the netting but the lead only lasted five minutes before Capone was floored in the area and López converted the penalty.
Cavese stepped up a gear in the second half and Teramo wilted. With 20 minutes left Pippa held back Sanetti in the box and conceded the second penalty. Capone stepped up and drilled it home; after setting up both first half goals he earned his M.o.M. Award when he sealed the win eight minutes from time. In a crowded box it broke to Capone and he danced past the out-rushing keeper and buried it from a very tight angle. At last a good all round performance, I was happy to congratulate the boys when they trooped off the pitch.
Teramo 2-4 Cavese
Teramo scorers: Chianese 5, Bondi 33
Cavese scorers: Di Bonito 11, López 38 pen, Capone 70 pen, 83
Att: 1,242

After six games Bellaria's 3-1 win over Fermana takes them top with 14 points, Foligno's 1-1 draw at Gubbio means they are joint second with us - both on 13 points and goal difference of six.

retired_blondie_524

Wednesday 3rd October 2007

Yann Synaeghel and Andrea Capone were selected in the Serie C2/B team of the week. Rafael Bondi's 30 yarder against us made the runner-up in the September goal of the month competition.

The board as pleased with our climb up the table and also our improving finances, last month we made a profit of €108,000.

Enri Nderka has been called up by Albania to face Andorra on October 6th.

Sunday 14th October - Serie C2/B
Cavese v Orviietana

Fredéric Bosak gets a start as Sanetti replaces Solari on the bench and Marsili replaces Alfieri.
We were just about in contol in the first half but neither side got remotely near hitting the target.
Cavese finally took the lead after five minutes of the second half. Di Bonito's cross was met by the head of Castioni but he hit the post, the rebound came straight out to Bosak who fired home his first goal for the club. Three minutes later it was two for Bosak as he picked up Castioni's flick on and calmly slotted home. Cavese are slowly showing their class.
Cavese 2-0 Orvietana
Cavese scorers: Bosak 51, 54
Orvietana scorers: none
Att: 4,724

We hit top spot with our fourth straight win as Bellaria can only draw 0-0 at Cecina. Foligno remain third despite losing 2-1 at home to Montevarchi.
Next up for us, we entertain Bellaria in the battle of the top two.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 21st October - Serie C2/B
Cavese v Bellaria

If we can get a win today against the second placed side we can open a gap at the top. Bosak's two goals means he keeps his place and I give Marsili another chance to show what he can do.
We get a massive boost after only five minutes when referee Menicatti produces a straight red for Antonio Di Nardo after he catches López with an elbow. The goal our attacks deserved came just after the half hour mark, Di Bonito swung a deep corner in and Yann Synaeghel rose above everyone to power it into the far corner. That was the half time score despite Bosak and Castioni forcing several point blank saves.
Within five minutes of the restart Bellaria were down to nine men as Christian Santi picked up his second yellow card. On 56 minutes we doubled the lead when Di Bonito dribbled down the wing and slid the ball to Bosak; his snap shot flew past the keeper at his near post for his third goal in two games. Things just got worse for the visitors as Matteo Alberti became the third player to walk as he got a second yellow, if it wasn't for Di Spirito in their net they would be beaten out of sight already.
Cavese 2-0 Bellaria
Cavese scorers: Synaeghel 32, Bosak 56
Bellaria scorers: none
Att: 4,867

That well deserved win gives us a three point lead at the top over the new second placed boys, Prato who beat Forli 3-2. Reggiana move into third on goal difference, level on points with Bellaria after a 2-1 victory over Foligno

Thursday 25th October 2007

Three of our players, Emanuele Di Ciccio, Andrea Capone and Luigi Di Bonito were all selected in the Serie C2/B team of the week.

Sunday 28th October - Serie C2/B
Forli v Cavese

Alfieri comes in for Marsili who is suffering the after effects of food poisoning and Ndreka rests López at left back.
We'd just weathered the early pressure and were starting to settle down when Forli caught us on the break, Vinicio Paris ran through to drive it past Valentini. They made it two on 28 minutes when Sorrentino got behind the defense to nod home a cross. Castioni had our three best chances but failed to put any of them away. Forli deservedly led at the break and I told the team it would take a major effort to get anything out of this.
On the hour we clawed one back when Di Bonito whent wing to wing with a pass Capone nodded it on to Castioni whose header beat the keeper's despairing dive. Both sides had good chances in the final half hour but the keepers kept them all out.
Forli 2-1 Cavese
Forli scorers: Paris 15, Sorrintino 28
Cavese scorers: Castioni 62
Att: 528

Despite our second defeat of the season we remain top with 19 points (+9 g.d.) from nine games, Reggiana's 2-0 win at Latina moves them to second on 18 points (+8) ahead of Bellaria on goal difference who beat Giugliano 2-0. Only the top team gets automatic promotion, the next four teams have to play-off.

Thursday 1st November 2007

The board are very pleased to find themselves on top of the pile but we recorded a loss of €13,000 last month.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 4th November - Serie C2/B
Manfredonia v Cavese.

We must get a result today against the bottom club to keep our good run going. Alfieri keeps his place because of his free kick and long shot skills.
In a very muted half Manfredonia take the lead 8 minutes from the break when Tasca's flicked header evades everyone and finds the back of the net.
The players are out early for the second half, their ears still ringing from my explanation of how they're leting the club down. Castioni goes close and Alfieri's free kick is just scooped out before we finally equalise on the hour. Di Bonito's ball finds Castioni open at the far post and his drag back hits the Manfredonia defender and loops over the keeper. The turning point came five minutes from time when Calabro was red carded for hauling Sanetti down in the area when free. Substitute Grégory Campi stepped up to score his first goal of the season from the penalty. The home side folded then and it eas only a combination of super keeping and dreadful finishing that stopped Cavese adding several more.
Manfredonia 1-2 Cavese
Manfredonia scorers: Tasca 38
Cavese scorers: Fiasconi (OG) 61, Campi 85 pen
Att: 1,541

Reggiana's 1-0 win at Latina keep them on pace with us while Bellaria beat Prato to remain third.

Tuesday 6th November 2007

30 year old reserve defender Fabio Pittilino has been bleating to the press about how I ought to play him or he might have to consider leaving. I summon him to my office and show the letter I've sent to all clubs. Don't plan on staying long I tell him.

Thursday 8th November 2007

Both Montevarchi and Grosseto have made €2,000 bids for Pittilino.

Saturday 10th November 2007

Enri Ndreka wins his 14th cap in Albania's 0-0 draw with Croatia.

Tuesday 13th November 2007

Fabio Pittilino agrees to join Grosseto and the transfer will go through on January 1st when the transfer window opens.

Sunday 18th November - Serie C2/B
Cavese v Gubbio

We field an unchanged side for the visit of the 16th placed team.
We took the lead after 10 minutes when everyone missed Ndreka's deep cross and Bosak was left with a simple tap-in at the far post. Di Bonito doubled the lead on 20 minutes heading home another Ndreka cross. Castioni was carrying a knock so I pushed Capone forward in his place at half time and substituted Castioni for Accardi.
Di Vito pulled one back just after the hour and within 10 minutes Accardi was beaten to the ball and a quick pass released Di Vito to level the scores.
In the dressing room afterwards I told the players it just wasn't acceptable to throw away two goal leads unless they wanted to stay in Serie C2 all their life.
Cavese 2-2 Gubbio
Cavese scorers: Bosak 9, Di Bonito 20
Gubbio scorers: Di Vitto 64, 70
Att: 4,621

Reggiana's 2-1 win at Fermana takes them a point clear at the top. We slip to second, a point clear of Bellaria who drew at Castelnuovo.