nerf

Wednesday 27th August 2003

We arrive to face Palmese as the group leaders, with a point looking likely to confirm our spot as group champions. Palmese however are no walkover, banging in plenty of goals last season and only missing out on promotion by the narrowest of margins. That said, we did have the pleasure of somehow managing to take 6 points by doing the double over them in the league.

Marco Cirillo added to the woes of our injury-ravaged team this week by bruising a shin in training and will be lucky to make the league opener, never mind this match today. Down to the bare bones now, Carmelo Bonarrigo finds himself on the first team sheet as a result.

Serie C Cup Group O
Palmese v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Bonaffini, Attewell, Italia, Sabellini; Fonseca, Manoni, Caramel, Pellegrino(c), Bonarrigo; Gallicchio.

During the first half we are successful in our attempts to keep it tight. Giuseppe Lenea is forced into a couple of saves but in general I'm happy with the way things stand at half-time.

10 minutes after the break that all changes. Our achilles heel is exposed again when a simple corner routine ends up with a Palmese forward nodding the ball into our net, and everything is looking less pleasing. Being a goal down I know that we have to at least get a draw to ensure qualification, and change to a more attacking formation.

Unfortunately it doesn't pay off and Palmese have the quality to extend their lead, when Verolino gets to the byline and cuts it back for Puglisi to finish across Lenea.

Final score: Palmese 2 - 0 Ragusa


Palmese gain revenge on us for last season, but worse than that it has surprisingly worked out to dump us out of the cup. Despite being in the deceptive position of remaining top of the group with 7 points, we have no games left to play while Palmese will face Gladiator next week. Both of these teams are on 6 points and have a superior goal difference to us, so a win or a draw for either team will raise them above us. Basically, unless both teams impossibly lose against each other, we cannot qualify! It is am abrupt and disappointing end to a group campaign that had been looking successful.

nerf

- New faces at Ragusa -

As the beginning of a new league season approaches, the summer transfer window has yielded four new signings for Ragusa.

Stuart Attewell
Position: Central Defender
Age: 17
Nationality: English
Transfer fee: (Free)
Previous clubs: West Bromwich Albion.

Stuart was picked up as a free agent after being released by West Brom, when the club chose not to keep him on as a full professional. He is a brave lad who is strong in the air, and what he lacks in pace he can usually make up for with some intelligent positioning. Assuming that he is able to settle at the club and not get home-sick, he should be one for the future and has certainly made a respectable start so far.

Daniel Fonseca
Position: Forward
Age: 33
Nationality: Uruguayan
Transfer fee: (Free)
Previous clubs: Nacional, Cagliari, Napoli, AS Roma, Juventus, River, Como.

After beginning his career at Nacional in Uruguay in 1988, Daniel went on to become a successful and well known player in Italian football, enjoying several successful seasons at Napoli and Roma before fading out during his time with Juventus. Over the course of his career he has made almost 250 club appearances and scored 10 goals in 28 international appearances for his country. After spending a couple of years drifting between roles at smaller clubs, his signing for Ragusa should bring us plenty of quality and creativity, not least from his ability with set pieces.

Franco Chiavarini
Position: Right Midfielder
Age: 23
Nationality: Argentinian
Transfer fee: £9,000
Previous clubs: Sangiovannese.

Franco spent 1 season at Serie C2/B club Sangiovannese after moving over from South America, making 27 appearances. He can stroke passes around as well as anyone and is very quick and agile, being particularly sharp over short distances.

Pietro Alderuccio
Position: Central Defender or Right Back
Age: 21
Nationality: Italian
Transfer fee: (Free)
Previous clubs: Reggina.

Pietro joined us on loan a year ago but his career was soon brought to a temporary halt when he suffered an accident on his moped here in Ragusa. The damaged spine kept him hospitalised for months and he did not return to training until the end of last season, by which time his club Reggina had unfeelingly placed him on the transfer list. Pietro is a capable defender, tough in the tackle, adept at marking and good in the air, and he will join up with us when his contract expires in September.

nerf

Thanks very much Dan1111 . Me too, though it might take a while!


Sunday 31st August 2003

Our 2003/2004 league campaign begins with a home fixture against newly relegated L'Aquila, the side that finished bottom of the C1/B last season and who will no doubt be looking for a speedy return to Serie C1.

Marco Cirillo has been able to shake off his knock to pass a fitness test and return to the team, but we are still without Tamburro, Guastella and Chiavarini. Bonaffini continues in his makeshift full back role.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v L'Aquila

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Bonaffin, Attewell, Italia, Sabellini; Cirillo, Pellegrino(c), Manoni; Caramel; Fonseca, Gallicchio.

L'Aquila did little to show that they had been a Serie C1 outfit last season, in fact it was us who looked like the better club. We dominated the match from start to finish, with Gaspare Pellegrino being completely unfazed by the captain's responsibilities and putting in the most dominating performance of all. The return of Cirillo boosted our midfield, but some woeful shooting saw Fonseca and Gallicchio each spurn a hatful of chances and the visitors escaped with a lucky point.

Final score: Ragusa 0 - 0 L'Aquila


Wednesday 3rd September 2003

In a goal-laden final Group O fixture, a 90th minute equaliser from Gerardo Alfano gives Gladiator a 4-4 draw at Palmese. Surprisingly this puts group underdogs Gladiator through on goal difference to qualify as the group winners, upsetting all predictions in a group that they were expected to finish bottom of. They narrowly pipped Brindisi and ourselves to qualification, and Palmese must be wondering what they have done to deserve another 90th minute denial after their promotion playoff heartache.

It seems that even Serie A clubs are not safe from the current financial difficulties plaguing Italian football, as Como announce that receivers have been brought in to deal with their debts.

nerf

Wednesday 10th September 2003

The west coast of Italy welcomes us again for our visit to Nocerina. Nocerina struggled last season and lost their opening game of this season 2-0, so after doing the double over them last year we should be fairly confident approaching this fixture. Both Simone Tamburro and Franco Chiavarini have used last week's break in the schedule to get themselves fit enough to start.

Serie C2/C
Nocerina v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Italia, Sabellini; Cirillo, Pellegrino, Chiavarini; Caramel; Fonseca, Gallicchio.

The first half is quite evenly balanced, Lenea called into action and both Fonseca and Gallicchio wasting good chances. At half-time Lupo comes on to replace the latter.

Early in the second half, a Nocerina cross finds Chietti wide open at the far post and he has time to bring it down and finish into the roof of the net. Marco Cirillo later scraped the crossbar, but that's the best we can muster and the game drifts away from us.

Final score: Nocerina 1 - 0 Ragusa


Friday 12th September 2003

Following Como's announcement just over a week ago, Cosenza of Serie B and Sassuolo of Serie C2/C join the ever growing list of Italian clubs in financial receivership.

Another list that seemingly never stops getting bigger is our injury list, as key players Cirillo and Caramel extend our injury hell. Marco will be out for 3 weeks with knee ligament problems and Vladi's damaged shoulder will sideline him for 2 weeks. I'm beginning to wonder if there was something seriously wrong with our pre-season training that has caused us to suffer this sudden influx of injuries, or whether we are having an unlucky start to the season and were just lucky to have relatively few injuries last year.

nerf

Sunday 14th September 2003

The familiar sight of the Gladiator team returns to Ragusa today for our second meeting in a month and our fifth in a year. Fortunately we can claim three wins and a draw from those matches, so we should have the psychological edge and hope to continue our good record against them. Fonseca will take over Caramel's position in the hole, and Lupo finally gets a start in attack.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Gladiator

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Italia, Sabellini; Manoni, Pellegrino, Chiavarini; Fonseca; Lupo, Gallicchio.

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Pellegrino slipped the ball to Chiavarini just inside the Gladiator half, who spotted Claudio Gallicchio making a diagonal run through the defence. The perfect pass plays Claudio in on goal and he finishes powerfully across the keeper to make it 1-0.

Although I felt on the balance of things we were looking worthy for the 1-0 win, Gladiator had gradually been getting into the game in the second half and Giuseppe Lenea had made a few saves to keep them out. I had a bad feeling when the number 4 was held up on the board indicating the amount of injury time, and the away side only needed one of those four minutes; Di Maio found himself wide open inside our area to put a late equaliser past Lenea.

Final score: Ragusa 1 - 1 Gladiator


Again I felt that we deserved better. We had not entirely dominated the game, but I think we had done enough for three points and were denied by a lapse of concentration in the 91st minute.


Tuesday 16th September 2003

Pietro Alderuccio arrived in town today as his contract at Reggina finally expired. We are very pleased to have him back and I will be looking to introduce him into our starting lineup as soon as possible - I have a feeling that he and Attewell could strike up a strong partnership at the back, assuming they can both settle in without problems.

nerf

- September 2003 roundup -

Sunday 21st - Serie C2/C - Palmese v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Italia, Sabellini; Manoni, Bonaffini, Fonseca, Pellegrino, Chiavarini; Gallicchio.

Fonseca notched his first league goal of the season, but it wasn't enough and we went down 2-1 to last season's playoff finallists. It took an 82nd minute goal to win it for them but in truth it was no less than they deserved as they played us off the park. Pietro Alderuccio made his debut as a second half substitute.

Final score: Palmese 2 - 1 Ragusa


Wednesday 24th - Serie C2/C - Ragusa v Olbia

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Italia, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Manoni, Pellegrino, Chiavarini; Fonseca; Lupo, Gallicchio.

Our tired and injury hit team were second best again to Olbia, who produced good performances all over the pitch. Their first gave them a comfortable lead and a late second gave the score a more realistic look.

Final score: Ragusa 0 - 2 Olbia


Sunday 28th - Serie C2/C - Tricase v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Manoni, Bonaffini, Caramel, Pellegrino, Chiavarini; Fonseca.

The first time we get to see the Attewell-Alderuccio combination it gives us a clean sheet, but even though Tricase go down to 10 men in the second half we cannot find the creativity to break through at the other end. Caramel returns from injury but even he cannot create the spark, and it ends in a stalemate.

Final score: Tricase 0 - 0 Ragusa


Injury problems continue, as one returns we lose another. Franco Chiavarini picked up a groin strain in the Tricase match that could see him miss most if not all of October.

nerf

Sunday 5th October 2003

Marco Cirillo gives us a boost with his return to fitness from the knee injury in time for the visit of Sassuolo.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Sassuolo

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Cirillo, Pellegrino, Bonaffini; Caramel; Fonseca, Gallicchio.

Finally we find some sort of ability in possession and gradually begin to control the game. The longer the match went on the more and more we threatened Sassuolo, only to be let down by some frankly shocking finishing. Our woeful shooting saw the ball flying over the bar or wide of the post on a regular basis, with just about everybody in attack and midfield guilty of missing chances. Sassuolo ride their luck and our ineptitude to an undeserved point.

Final score: Ragusa 0 - 0 Sassuolo

nerf

Thursday 9th October 2003

Former world footballer of the year Ronaldo has publicly issued a plea for first team football to the world's press. Real Madrid's adopted 4-5-1 formation features Spanish superstar Raul as the front man, and Raul's sparkling form has consigned a disgruntled Ronaldo to the bench where he has begun to ponder his options.

The Madrid giants are the early leaders in this season's La Liga as they attempt to wrestle their crown back from last season's surprise champions Real Betis.


Saturday 11th October 2003

It is an Internationals weekend and the European Championship qualifications continue for the right to compete in Portugal next summer. Italy's cruise through their qualifying group carries on smoothly as they destroy Azerbaijan 4-0, with a brace each from Juventus' Marco Di Vaio and Roma's Vincenzo Montella sealing a match that the Italians dominated with the utmost ease. They will qualify top of Group 9 after winning 7 and drawing 1 of their 8 matches.

England boast an identical record in Group 7, and France, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland each top the other groups.


In domestic news, Serie C1/A side Treviso are the latest club to announce going into receivership.

veelhousen

This is really very good. Good luck with it.

Missing that striker this year hey? Ferrera is it?

nerf

Thanks veelhousen And yes, we're missing Ferrara hugely. He was the only one at the club with decent finishing ability and we could really do with some of his goals right now



Saturday 18th October 2003

3347 people are in the 9000-seater Flaminio stadium in Rome for our visit to Lodigiani.

Serie C2/C
Lodigiani v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Fonseca, Cirillo, Caramel, Pellegrino, Bonaffini; Gallicchio.

The first half is all Lodigiani and it is a miracle that we manage to escape into half-time with the score still 0-0. Giuseppe Lenea makes save after save during the 45 minutes, including standing up well in a 1v1 situation to deny Orlando Fanasca. At the break Manoni replaces the poor Bonaffini and I tell the lads to keep it tight, hoping we can ride out the storm.

On 68 minutes Lodigiani finally find the goal that they deserved. De Cecco got up to nod the ball down on the right flank, Luciani picked it up 40 yards out and tried to slip Fanasca in. Alderuccio lunges to intercept the pass but can only deflect it, and Fanasca gathers in the loose ball to fire a powerful shot through Lenea. The keeper manages to get a piece of it but is unable to keep it out, and Fanasca's 4th of the season puts the home side 1-0 up.

I immediately give the instruction to switch to 4-3-1-2 and push Fonseca up front with Gallicchio, giving Manoni encouragement to get forward from midfield and have a pop whenever he can. A few minutes later Tamburro curls the ball down the left wing and Daniel Fonseca gets the step on his marker to chase after it. The Uruguayan spots Claudio Gallicchio haring into the box and whips in a cross at pace, but it goes behind Claudio to the edge of the box... fortunately Manolo Manoni is racing up from midfield, and as the ball sits up in the D he adjusts to unleash a difficult first time volley. The ball screams into the top corner of the net, leaving Lodigiani keeper Santoro rooted to the spot. Our dugout goes crazy as the crowd are dumbstruck - Manolo doesn't score many, but when he does they are always worth seeing.

In the 90th minute Lodigiani launch a last attack, Vezzosi's cross from the right is turned toward goal on the volley by D'Astolfo, but the ball deflects off Marco Cirillo and Lenea is alive to save and hold the ball. It is the last action of the game as the referee immediately blows the final whistle.

Final score: Lodigiani 1 - 1 Ragusa