retired_xs2khizar

Juventinogdt: Yes, Eddy begins the game on loan at Salernitana I believe.


Sunday 28th November 2004

Giugliano, currently 11th, are based on the outskirts of Napoli on the west coast of Italy. Both of our last two visits here have produced 1-0 wins, so it is a rare place where we can claim a decent away record.

Marco Cirillo does not join us on the trip, not only because he is suspended but also because this week he became the latest player to dislocate a body part and will be out for an entire 2 months. Vladimiro Caramel takes Marco's spot in central midfield, and fortunately Gaspare Pellegrino's toe injury has healed sufficiently for him to be available to play.

Serie C2/C
Giugliano v Ragusa

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

We had enjoyed a great start inside 4 minutes in last week's match against Gela, and this time we scored almost as soon as we stepped off the coach. With less than 3 minutes on the clock, Simone Tamburro's long ball enabled Eddy Baggio to fire a shot on goal, and when the keeper parried it Daniel Fonseca was lurking to convert the rebound.

Giugliano got over the shock of the early strike and started to build up some pressure, but were unable to carve us open. That is until the 28th minute, when out of the blue Giugliano captain Frabrizio Romondini pulled a magical strike out of the hat to equalise. Hit from 35 yards, the ball swerved both ways and left Nicolas Cinalli a mere spectator as it flew into his net. You just can't plan against goals like that!

As the first half drew to a close, Giugliano attempted one more attack to try and take the lead before the break. Stuart Attewell read the play and intercepted neatly, then looked up to spot Eddy Baggio drifting off the shoulder of the defender. The long ball sent Baggio through and tempted Lucciano Corona off his line, but the goalkeeper was left in no-mans land as Baggio lifted the perfect lob over him into the vacant goal. We had the lead back and had gained the psychological edge, going into the half at 2-1 up.

The home side never recovered and the second half progressed more comfortably, with Corona called on to make a couple of very good saves to stop Daniel Fonseca extending our lead.

Final score: Giugliano 1 - 2 Ragusa


Elsewhere Paterno and Imolese also enjoyed victories, so despite our second away victory we remain in 2nd position in the table. We will entertain Imolese at the Aldo Campo Selvaggio this coming Sunday, with both teams going into the match on 24 points.

retired_xs2khizar

I hope you're right Juventinogdt. Long way to go yet though...

Sunday 5th December 2004

The run in to the Christmas mid-season break commences with an important clash with joint-2nd Imolese, where neither side will want to lose ground on leaders Paterno or pick up their 4th loss of the season. Our team is unchanged from the one that won at Giugliano last week.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Imolese

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

The habit of scoring early goals is not something to be sniffed at, and our pre-match pep talks must be doing the business as we burst out of the traps yet again. The touch of class is provided by Daniel Fonseca, playing a one-two with strike partner Eddy Baggio before dribbling between two defenders and firing a powerful shot through Imolese keeper Emiliano Betti. 1-0 up with just 7 minutes gone.

It was almost 2-0 in the 19th minute, but Fonseca had a second effort ruled out for offside. In the 36th minute our confident play brought some quality football, started by Sabellini playing the ball into Baggio's feet. He laid it off first time to Vladimiro Caramel, who spotted Franco Chiavarini's darting run in behind the full back, and Vladi fired a great ball into the area into the path of the Argentinian midfielder. Franco cushioned the pass first time, delayed the shot, knocked it wide of the keeper and clipped it home from an acute angle.

Two goals up at half-time and in the ascendancy, there's no need for any changes. The second half is a similar story but with less goalmouth action, until in the 83rd minute a whipped cross from Manoni found Fonseca onside, and the 34 year old Uruguayan danced around the goalkeeper to score his second of the game.

Final score: Ragusa 3 - 0 Imolese


Not only does the well deserved three-nil win finally break us free from our tussle with Imolese, but Paterno's 1-1 draw in their local derby with Acireale means that we go back to the top of the table! Further down the division, the increasingly unpredictable Gladiator pulled off a shocking 7-0 victory over Castelnuovo with 5 goals coming from 24 year old striker Luigi Artiaco.

retired_xs2khizar

Sunday 12th December 2004

Varese could hardly be further away from Ragusa, causing us to journey from southern Sicily right up to the northen edge of Italy close to the Swiss border. Our hosts capitalised on Imolese's defeat at our hands last week, by leaping up into 3rd place behind Paterno, so this will be no easy task.

One player not making the long trip is Stuart Attewell, who bruised his shin badly in training and will relinquish his place in the team to Dario Italia.

Serie C2/C
Varese v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Tamburro(c), Italia, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Manoni, Caramel, Pellegrino, Chiavarini; Fonseca, Baggio.

In recent weeks we have been fortunate enough to gain the early advantage, but this time we are on the receiving end to make an already difficult task even harder. Pietro Alderuccio's wandering hands were guilty of more pushing in the box, as early as the 3rd minute, and Srdjan Novkovic gratefully slotted the penalty kick home.

We were unable to get a real grip on the game throughout the first half and went into the break 0-1 down. 10 minutes into the second, Varese's Porro was left wide open in front of goal from a flick-on, and he fired a shot past Cinalli to put the home side 2-0 up. We switched to 4-3-1-2 and our strikers clicked again in the 75th minute, Baggio firing a low ball across the box with pace for Fonseca to direct it in at the far post, but it was a false hope and we didn't really come close to finding an equaliser.

Final score: Varese 2 - 1 Ragusa


Varese are clearly quite a strong team, but it is still frustrating that we were unable to get out of second gear. We missed Attewell's presence at the back, and whether the extensive travelling was to blame I don't know, but it was certainly a relatively lethargic performance compared to recent displays. That win sends Varese above us into the top spot, but Paterno's surprise 1-0 loss to 14th placed Frosinone means that we don't fall any further than 2nd.

retired_xs2khizar

Thursday 16th December 2004

The injury merry-go-round continues. As soon as Stuart Attewell and Alessandro Bonaffini pass fitness tests, experienced midfielder Vladimiro Caramel strains ankle ligaments and will be sidelined until the New Year at the earliest.


Sunday 19th December 2004

Catanzaro, doing quite well up in 5th position in the table, are the next to test their luck at the Aldo Camp Selvaggio. With Marco Cirillo and Vladimiro Caramel both ruled out, Dario Italia finds himself thrown back into midfield again, and Alessandro Bonaffini returns to the substitutes bench now that his ligaments have healed.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Catanzaro

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Manoni, Pellegrino, Italia, Chiavarini; Fonseca, Baggio.

10 minutes in we win a corner, taken by Fonseca. The cross is cleared, but the referee blows and points to the spot - apparently spotting an infringement whereby Baggio was unfairly pushed by his marker. Daniel Fonseca stepped up and stroked an accurate penalty into the bottom right corner.

1-0 at the half, and Alessandro Bonaffini replaces Manolo Manoni during the break. Our most significant move of the second half arrived in the 61st minute, when a long ball found Fonseca out on the left wing. The Uruguayan dribbled forward and cut his cross back to the edge of the area, where Gaspare Pellegrino was in acres of space to sidefoot his 4th career goal past Gentili.

Final score: Ragusa 2 - 0 Catanzaro


Back home and back to winning ways. Even Gaspare popped up with a goal, as he seemed to enjoy the extra freedom allowed by letting Dario Italia take on the holding responsibilities that usually belong to him. Best of all, Varese's loss to Igea Virtus causes them to plunge to 4th and we step back into pole position. Paterno and Latina fill the places in-between.

retired_xs2khizar

Thursday 23rd December 2004

Bad news hits in the build up to the last game before the Christmas break, when old Salvatore informs me that Gaspare Pellegrino will need an agonising 2 months to recover from a knock picked up in training. Danilo Sabellini is carrying a minor niggle and isn't 100% fit, but I will risk him for this match in the knowledge that he has the mid-season break afterwards to rest fully.

We leave Gaspare in Ragusa with Marco Cirillo and Vladimiro Caramel, and make the relatively short trip to the north of the island to Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, home of Igea Virtus. Our hosts occupy 8th position in the table and were responsible for Varese's slip-up at the weekend, so this will be no walk-over. Especially as the centre of our midfield is now made up of a winger and a centre back, in the forms of Bonaffini and Italia.

Serie C2/C
Igea Virtus v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Tamburro(c), Attewell, Alderuccio, Sabellini; Manoni, Bonaffini, Italia, Chiavarini; Fonseca, Baggio.

No early goal this time, and in fact it is Igea Virtus who strike first in the 27th minute. Semplice finds himself in a big gap in our marking to receive the ball from a free-kick, and he confidently slots the ball through Cinalli's legs to put his side 1-0 up. That is how it stays through to half-time.

Deep into the second half Pietro Alderuccio climbed high to head the ball clear, and from Baggio's intelligent flick we turned defence into attack in an instant. Daniel Fonseca ran through and struck the ball in off the far post to score for his sixth successive match. At 1-1 we then set about the notion of scrapping for a point, with both Manoni and Bonaffini picking up yellow cards in the remaining 20 minutes.

With three minutes remaining, Igea Virtus collected the ball and started to build another attack. Even at this late stage Eddy Baggio is alive and sharp though, so when a tired defender misplaced a sloppy pass he was in like a flash. Taking the ball forward, the keeper pushed him wide but he managed to dig it back across the goal from a tight angle, and Daniel Fonseca tip-toed in at the far post to prod in his second goal.

The home fans in the D'Alcontres stadium were stunned, though their team were not finished yet and it took a couple of last ditch tackles by Alderuccio in the dying moments to secure our win.

Final score: Igea Virtus 1 - 2 Ragusa


Slightly against the run of play we had stolen another away win, even if we probably didn't fully deserve all three points today. We worked hard and put plenty of effort in, but it was really the Baggio-Fonseca show that saved us again and Igea Virtus will be disappointed that they let us escape with all the spoils.

Paterno and Varese also win to take up 2nd and 3rd, and Latina lose to fall back to 4th. The name of Ragusa stays at the top of the table and we can go into the Christmas break as the leaders of Serie C2/C!

retired_amyslack

This is a great read nerf. I've got my fingers and toes crossed for promotion this season

retired_ted coakley

nerf,

Great great story. Just a quickie. I take it you're playing CM4?

retired_xs2khizar

Kev J: yes this is CM4.
Thanks for the comments everybody


Friday 31st December 2004

Christmas is spent back home in England again, visiting friends and relatives. Stuart Attewell also returns to the Midlands to spend a week with his family, but gives me a ring to say that someone from Bournemouth has told his parents that the club want to speak to him. I tell him to let me handle with it, and soon receive a phone call from a representative from the south coast club. They offer a deal comprising of no transfer fee up front, but a 40% sell-on clause should they choose to transfer the player in the future... I thank them for wasting my holiday time and politely remind them not to approach Mr and Mrs Attewell again.


Liverpool are top of the Premiership on goal difference ahead of Manchester United, both teams holding a 10 point lead over 3rd-placed Chelsea, while title holders Newcastle United are currently wallowing in midtable in 10th position. In contrast to the success of their neighbours, the blue half of Merseyside is struggling, with Everton joint bottom of the table alongside West Bromwich Albion.

In Serie A last season's champions Inter Milan are top again, and the Primera Liga in Spain is hotting up with Barcelona locked in a tie for first with Real Madrid, and Real Betis are close behind in 3rd.

retired_xs2khizar

Saturday 1st January 2005

FIFA announce the winners at their annual awards ceremony:

World Player of the Year - Dede (Borussia Dortmund)
World Footballer of the Year - Pablo Oscar Cavallero (Celta Vigo)
European Footballer of the Year - Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan)
European Goalkeeper of the Year - Jose Francisco Molina (Deportivo)
European Defender of the Year - Puyol (Barcelona)
European Midfielder of the Year - Enzo Maresca (Real Madrid)
European Striker of the Year - Ewerthon (Borussia Dortmund)


Friday 7th January 2005

Going into the winter break, spirits were naturally high due to our position at the top of the table, but I suspect that some of the players may have enjoyed their break a little bit too much, or perhaps had one helping too many of Christmas pud. Whatever the reason, the first week back in training has presented physios Salvatore and Guido with a fresh list of names to add to our never-ending injury woes. Right-back Stefano Guastella faces 2 months on the treatment table, as does captain Simone Tamburro with a torn calf muscle, and Stuart Attewell could miss as much as 3 months with a torn groin muscle. As if all that wasn't bad enough, Daniel Fonseca's groin strain could mean that we are without his talent for the next 3 weeks.


The transfer window activity begins with Italian club Lazio signing Liverpool's El-Hadji Diouf for £15 million. The 23 year old Senagalese forward spent 3 seasons on Merseyside and has been a big part of Liverpool's good form over the first half of their season, but clearly that sort of money was too tempting to turn down.

Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Cooke, who spent 7 months on loan here at Ragusa in my first season, has gone to spend the first 3 months of the new year with English 2nd division side Barnet.

retired_xs2khizar

Sunday 9th January 2005

Tricase are not enjoying the best of seasons, one place off the bottom down in 17th. Fortunately for them they find a Ragusa squad depleted by injury, missing Guastella, Pellegrino, Attewell, Tamburro, Fonseca and Cirillo, with Manolo Manoni serving a one match suspension.

It's a case of grab whoever-you-can again, and this time the spare shirt is thrown at a 19 year old left back by the name of Danilo Guerra. With the absence of Tamburro, Pellegrino and Cirillo, Danilo Sabellini will captain the team for the first time, and Claudio Gallicchio will try his hand at a midfield role.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Tricase

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; (Guerra), Italia, Alderuccio, Sabellini(c); Bonaffini, Caramel, Gallicchio, Chiavarini; Lupo, Baggio.

The first half starts much better than expected, and only three good saves from Tricase goalkeeper Aniello Cutolo ensures that the score stays level through to half-time. 10 minutes after the break Eddy Baggio hustled and bustled to steal the ball off a defender, and when he crossed from the right, Lupo scuffed a shot that bobbled in off the post for 1-0.

Tricase lost the plot and the floodgates opened, admittedly to my surprise. In the 65th minute Gallicchio won an aerial challenge in midfield for the benefit of Lupo, who slid the ball through the defence for Baggio to run on and dribble round the keeper, finishing with his left peg to put us 2-0 up. Within 5 minutes he had his second, taking over Fonseca's penalty duties after Bonaffini had been fouled in the area.

The hattrick was completed with another penalty in the 83rd minute, this time after Lupo had been held back, and he found the same corner of the net. There was still time for Eddy's fourth and the team's fifth, when Lupo released him with a ball over the top and Baggio fired a low strike through the keeper's legs.

Final score: Ragusa 5 - 0 Tricase


Considering we were missing half of our first team, not too bad at all! Five goals all the second half, 4 for Baggio, and 3 assists for Lupo in his first start this season. Claudio Gallicchio took to midfield like a duck to water, or perhaps more accurately, he took to it just like Marco Cirillo has done. The young lad at left-back didn't do all that badly either, though he was well protected and Tricase really look like certain relegation candidates.

Varese and Paterno swap places and we are top by a 2 point gap now, a great way to begin the new year.