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Wednesday 2nd October 2002

Nocerina are another side from the area around Napoli. They had beaten Lodigiani 1-0 in their first game, but I had been unable to get hold of Emanuele yesterday so I could not tap him for inside knowledge. Since then though they had come off 2 straight defeats, including losing 2-1 to everyone's favourite Acireale side. One name on the Nocerina team sheet stood out for me straight away, with former Fiorentina player Emiliano Bigica taking the midfield holding role.

Pietro Infantino and Stefano Guastella were both feeling the pace after Sunday's match but were just about able to come through late fitness tests - not that we had much alternative, with so little depth in our squad for cover. Controversially I will be giving 17 year old goalkeeper Giuseppe Lenea his first start, after I had a word with Corrado and we both agreed that he was ready for it. Nicolas Cinalli hadn't been doing badly in goal, but we had conceded a few and it couldn't be helping his confidence. Giuseppe has all the confidence in the world and has looked very sharp in training, so he will get his first chance today.

I decided to switch to 4-3-1-2 for this match and instructed the lads to get the ball down on the floor and pass it around. I would have to wait and see if my latest master plan would come off.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Nocerina

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Ursino, Infantino(c), Italia, Guastella; Bonaffini, Pellegrino, Manoni; Caramel; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

2899 turned up to the Aldo Campo Selvaggio to cheer on their faltering team in the second home fixture of the season. We gave them the best start possible, as Guastella's ball forward was flicked on by Ferrara to Gallicchio. Gallicchio took it in his stride, shifted it onto his left, and wrong footed the keeper by cutting it back across him. 1-0 up in just 3 minutes!

We were bright, we were sharp and for once our movement looked decent. After Pellegrino had a shot saved following a one-two with Bonaffini, Ursino curled a ball in-field from left back to Manolo Manoni. Manoni turned and saw the visiting defence open up before him, so burst through to the edge of the area and let fly. The ball rocketed over the keeper's head into the roof of the net and Manolo was off to the corner flag to celebrate.

10 minutes later I thought we had a third. Ferrara got up and nodded it down for Caramel who turned towards goal. As the defender was drawn in, he slid a perfectly weighted back into Ferrara's path and the striker found the corner of the net... but the whistle blew and it was given offside. This time I was a little more lenient on the linesman.

Defensively we were first to every ball, with both centre backs mopping up everything and Guastella was looking very solid. Bonaffini and Manoni were finding space well in the gaps in midfield and Caramel and Pellegrino were distributing the ball calmly in the centre.

The Nocerina goalkeeper was called into action twice more in the first half, to parry Pellegrino's shot wide and to tip Caramel's effort over the bar after he had nutmegged his marker. Just before half-time though, Dario Italia was jostled in an aerial challenge and landed badly on his neck and shoulders. With no other centre-backs available, Ursino moved inside and Bonaffini dropped to left back, forcing me to put splitter Pietro Cutaia in for some first team action.

I was more than happy with the way things were so no changes were made at half-time. Campo almost got one back for the visitors early in the second half, but his shot flew wide of Lenea's post. Just after the hour mark I pulled young Stefano Guastella off for a rest - he had played fantastically well at right back and had their number 7 Chietti in his pocket the whole game, but his stamina is not the best and I wanted to save him for the next match. I was delighted that he had bucked his ideas up following some poor displays, and hopefully the applause he received as he went off will do his confidence some good.

We maintained our control of the game without extending our lead. In the 83rd minute Capezzuto finally found a hole in our defence and looked certain to score, but Giuseppe Lenea reacted and pulled off a brilliant stop to keep his clean sheet. He had only had a couple of crosses and weak headers to deal with before that, but it was the kind of terrific save we knew he had the talent to pull off. The kid even had the cockiness to get up and wave over to the bench at his coach Corrado Vaccarro.

As the game wound down I even had the luxury of resting the ever-present Giancarlo Ferrara to give Lupo a few minutes of playing time, before the final whistle signaled a well earned first league victory.

Final score: Ragusa 2 - 0 Nocerina

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Thursday 3rd October 2002

I've been walking around town with a smile on my face today, I can tell you. Yesterday's performance was probably the best we had produced since I started, and to do it off the back of a 5 game losing streak showed character. 14th doesn't look quite so bad as 18th.

There were so many plusses from the game. We had managed it without Tamburro, both Manoni and Guastella had looked a lot sharper than they had previously shown, and I was happy for the young kid in goal to start with a clean sheet. 36 year old Pietro Infantino at the back had been man of the match, really reveling in the captaincy and producing a commanding display on tired old legs. If anything the only complaint was that we hadn't scored more than two goals, but the performance was the important thing.

Of course, as ever, there is the bad news too. Our task will be made even more difficult for the away match at Tivoli on Sunday as we will be missing three important players. Dario Italia strained his neck in that awkward fall and has been ordered to rest it for a week, and Salvatore also told me that Gaspare Pellegrino appears to have a badly bruised thigh. The rascal had been attempting to hide it so he could carry on playing, but the physios recommend that he takes a few days to allow it to heal properly. The third player is Vladimiro Caramel, who picked up his 4th booking and will serve his suspension just as Simone Tamburro returns from his.

I spoke with the chairman Giuseppe Antoci this afternoon, who declared himself extremely pleased with the result. He has been very encouraging so far, I hope that he does not get carried away before we take a depleted team to a strong Tivoli side at the weekend... but at least we can enjoy it for a couple of days

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Sunday 6th October 2002

Tivoli, based on the outskirts of Rome, have enjoyed a good start to their season with 2 wins and 2 draws in their 4 games. Considering their form and our weakened lineup, I would be quite happy to come away from the capital with a point from this fixture.

Reluctant to change what looked like a potentially successful formula, the formation will stay the same and I will have to ask some players to play out of position. Ursino comes in to replace the injured Italia in the centre of defence, and Bonarrigo will get another chance to show me what he can do as he takes Caramel’s place in the support role. Filling Pellegrino’s hole in the centre of midfield is more difficult, and I will gamble on throwing Marco Cirillo in there. Though a striker by nature, he does have the tenacity and the energy to at least put himself about in the middle of the park.

Serie C2/C
Tivoli v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup – Lenea; Tamburro, Ursino, Infantino©, Guastella; Bonaffini, Cirillo, Manoni; Bonarrigo; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

As if the injuries were not already enough, after just 4 minutes Claudio Gallicchio picks up a knock and needs to be replaced. Lupo is straight off the bench to fill in. After Ferrara had had a good chance saved, it is Lupo who opens the scoring on 40 minutes. A brilliant through ball from Cirillo finds him clear beyond the defence, and he takes his time before curling it round the keeper for his first goal of the season. 1-0 Ragusa.

The lead is let slip before the half however. Tivoli win a corner with a minute left in the first half, and a near post header from Di Vincenzo somehow sneaks inside the near post for the equalizer. I couldn’t see very well from the dugout, but I was surprised that Guastella on the post was not able to get a block in.

With only Cutaia and two keepers on the bench I make no changes at half-time. Almost as soon as the match resumes we’re off the bench celebrating, as our first attack results in Manoni crashing a stunning volley into the net from the edge of the area. Unfortunately Lupo, who had nodded the ball back to Manoni, had been whistled for being offside and the goal was disallowed.

The second half progresses, and just after Ferrara shot wide disaster strikes at the other end. Tivoli full back Tarsel plays the ball into Massara on the edge of the area, and Infantino’s stretch brings the striker down in the box… penalty. Massara steps up to put his team 2-1 up, but Giuseppe Lenea pulls off a fantastic stop to ensure it stays level!

Final score: Tivoli 1 – 1 Ragusa

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Monday 7th October 2002

I said before the match yesterday that we would happily take a point, and that’s what we got to push us up to 13th place. It had been another encouraging performance – Cirillo had been a bit of a revelation in midfield, the centre backs had been solid and Lupo had looked lively after Gallicchio came off injured. Carmelo Bonarrigo had been disappointing however; we had definitely missed Vladi in the middle.

Giuseppe Lenea seems to get better every day. His penalty save yesterday was further proof of his rapid improvement, and if he keeps this up then Nicolas Cinalli is going to struggle to get his starting place back.

Checking the sports papers over lunch today, the buzz in the Serie C2/C division seems to be around Gela Juve-Terranova. Although their fans had expected another mid-table season, a 4-0 win over Giugliano this weekend took them to 5 straight wins in the league and made them the early leaders. We will have to face Gela away in 2 weeks time.

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Friday 11th October 2002

Next up though we entertain Frosinone at the Aldo Campo Selvaggio. Caramel returns from his suspension, Pellegrino’s injury has been successfully rested and Gallicchio’s knock has also cleared up in time for him to continue his partnership with Ferrara. Marco Cirillo’s spirited performance in Rome earns him another start in midfield.

This will also give me a first hand look at previous transfer target Omar Roma. It will be interesting to see how the centre back stands up against Giancarlo Ferrara, who has been in good form for us recently.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Frosinone

Ragusa lineup – Lenea; Tamburro, Ursino, Infantino©, Guastella; Cirillo, Pellegrino, Manoni; Caramel; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

Frosinone make the early running and quickly take the lead with a slice of bad luck for us. A Chicchetti cross was diverted towards goal by Ripa, but Graziano Ursino’s attempted block only deflects it past Lenea into the net, giving the young keeper no chance.

Both keepers make saves to keep the score at 1-0, before a wonderfully crafted effort on 33 minutes puts us level. Pellegrino laid the ball back to Ursino, who chipped the ball out to Cirillo on the left wing. Cirillo got up well to nod the ball inside to Vladimiro Caramel, and the playmaker dinked a delicate ball over the top of the defence to where Claudio Gallicchio was trying to get goal-side of his marker. The striker connected with a left foot volley to cap a great move and make it 1-1 at half-time.

Gallicchio made it 2 and 5 for the season shortly after the half-time break, when a Ferrara flick through the middle allowed him to stroke the ball home to the keeper’s right. Not to be outdone, 5 minutes later Giancarlo Ferrara lost Omar Roma for almost the first time in the match and powered a shot into the Frosinone net to take his own season’s tally to 5, as we stormed into a 3-1 lead.

On 84 minutes Lenea denied Frosinone striker Mussaco by diving full stretch to his left to make a great save, and then Gallicchio narrowly missed out on a hat-trick with a skimming shot past the post in the final minutes.

Final score: Ragusa 3 – 1 Frosinone

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Saturday 12th October 2002

Our third impressive performance in a row and we have climbed to 12th position. We had really played some neat football yesterday in front of 2710 home fans and thoroughly deserved the victory. Vladimiro Caramel was a livewire in the support role, and both strikers had helped one another to their fifth goal each. Giuseppe Lenea had only had a few comfortable long range efforts to deal with but was sharp and on his toes to make another impressive save late on – he’s really going all out to make the number 1 jersey his own and seems to be enjoying himself immensely.

Signor Antoci called me in to see him again to reiterate how pleased he was with our recent results. Just as importantly he also informed me that the Ragusa fans were pleased with how the club was being run – always nice to hear, especially after our less than brilliant start. It’s amazing what a couple of wins can do for you.


Wednesday 16th October 2002

Alessandro Del Piero is single-handedly guiding Italy through their European Championship qualifying group, as 2 goals past Wales in Cardiff tonight followed a similar brace against Yugoslavia in Milan at the weekend. The Italians don’t seem to be firing on all cylinders at the moment, but the Juventus forward is giving them a touch of class and some vital goals.

I called Emanuele earlier today to speak to him about our upcoming opponents Gela. He warned me to watch out for 31 year old Francesco Erbini, a cultured striker who had spanked in 4 of the 5 goals that Gela put past Lodigiani recently - 4 of his 16 goals in 12 games, an eye-catching achievement.

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Sunday 20th October 2002

I must admit to having been caught off guard about the fact that today is somewhat of a local derby. Although there is no big rivalry between the fans of Gela and Ragusa, our destination today lies only a short distance west along the south coast of Sicily.

Dario Italia has fully recovered from his neck strain and will regain his starting place at the expense of the improved Graziano Ursino. Otherwise the team remains the same as the one that beat Frosinone, for what could be our sternest test so far.

Serie C2/C
Gela v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup – Lenea; Tamburro, Infantino©, Italia, Guastella; Cirillo, Pellegrino, Bonaffini; Caramel; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

Although it is us who fashion the first chance of the half as Gallicchio fires over the bar, it is Gela who get to show why they have made such a blistering start to the season. Just 12 minutes in, Lenea makes a point blank save only to be left helpless to watch the rebound be slammed home for an early goal. Before half-time it is 2-0 to the home side, as a whipped cross allows the cultured Erbini to volley yet another goal for his collection, leaving Lenea with no chance again.

Gallicchio isn’t looking half as sharp as he had been in the previous match, so I sub him at half-time in the hope that Lupo can revive our attack. Just before the hour we are back in the game; a long range drive by Caramel is parried into the path of Giancarlo Ferrara, who gladly sticks the loose ball into the net. 6 minutes later Simone Tamburro’s determined gallop up the left wing results in Lupo’s diving header being saved by the Gela keeper, but the inspirational left back doesn’t give up on the cause and follows up to force his first goal of the season. 2-2!

The home team begin to increase the pressure over the last 25 minutes, and we’re attempting to hang on for the draw. Then with a sinking feeling in the stomach and a flashback to the Tivoli game, Infantino is caught lunging in in the box and concedes another penalty, this time for a trip on Erbini. With just 5 minutes remaining in the match we can hardly watch from the dugout as Gela full back Savio steps up to the penalty spot, only for the kid Lenea to produce heroics again and deflect the spot kick onto the bar and over!

Tragically the joy is shortlived, as 60 seconds later a simple long ball from the Gela defence finds Conte with far more space than he should have been allowed. With a free run on goal, he has time to pick his spot and drive a powerful finish past the young keeper to end our hopes of a successful comeback.

Final score: Gela 3 – 2 Ragusa

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Wednesday 23rd October 2002

Today is our second away match in 4 days but fortunately the fixtures have been kind and we stay on Sicily again. This time the destination is Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto on the northern tip of the island, where Igea Virtus await us in the D’Alcontres stadium.

Guastella is finding it hard to keep up with the pace and has looked a bit lethargic in training over the past couple of days, so he will be rested.

Serie C2/C
Igea Virtus v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Ursino, Infantino©, Italia, Tamburro; Cirillo, Pellegrino, Bonaffini; Caramel; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

A fairly uneventful game in which both teams seemed to cancel each other out, finding it hard to create good chances. Manoni and Lupo came on in the second half to try and liven things up, but the game petered out to a nil-nil draw. Former transfer target Fabio Caserta had a solid game in midfield for the home side.

Final score: Igea Virtus 0 - 0 Ragusa

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Sunday 27th October 2002

Back home to the Aldo Campo Selvaggio for our third match in 8 days, to see the return of the team that we faced in our opening game of the pre-season cup. Back then we performed well in a rousing 3-1 victory so we are hoping for more of the same today.

Veteran centre-backs Pietro Infantino and Dario Italia appear to be feeling the pace, and Dario was feeling the twinge in his neck return, so we have to reshuffle the defence for this one. Tamburro will have to fill in at central defence, with winger Bonaffini becoming a makeshift left back. It isn’t ideal but we really have no other option.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Gladiator

Ragusa lineup - Lenea; Bonaffini, Ursino, Tamburro©, Guastella; Cirillo, Pellegrino, Manoni; Caramel; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

Despite the unwanted alterations we got off to a great start. Less than 2 minutes after kick-off Giancarlo Ferrara chested the ball back to Pellegrini and spun off. The midfielder laid it square to Cirillo who had spotted Ferrara's run, and his through ball was converted by Ferrara to put us into an early lead.

Unfortunately it only lasted until the 8th minute, when Pellegrino threw himself in typical fashion to block a shot only for the ball to drop for Pasquale Bovienzo, who made it 1-1. Just before half-time we were back front. Captain Simone Tamburro went across to take a corner, and his deep cross found Claudio Gallicchio stooping at the far post for a diving header.

With little option on the bench to keep things fresh in the second half, a hard fought win was stolen from us in the 88th minute. A cross from the right wing fell to Gladiator striker Diego Russo who produced a bit of magic with an unstoppable 20 yard volley, so we were forced to settle for a point.

Final score: Ragusa 2 - 2 Gladiator

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Friday 1st November 2002

I have had two extremely interesting phone conversations this week. The first was a call from Emanuele Giampiccolo, my former assistant now working in Rome with Lodigiani. He was aware that I was still struggling to find his replacement and has given me a contact number of a friend of his. It sounds very promising so I will be looking to chase that up tomorrow and over the weekend.

The second was a call I made back home to England. It has been a long while since I last saw him, but Gordon "Sid" Cowans and I have met up a few times during our careers and I rang to ask him a favour. Sid is currently a big part of the youth setup at Aston Villa, and I was ringing to optimistically enquire about whether there was any chance that any of his youngsters might fancy some experience in Italian football. Almost surprisingly one name did come up, as Sid suggested that a 19 year old midfielder called Stephen Cooke might be a possibility. Apparently he's a good kid who could benefit from some experience of living away from home - he turns 20 in February, and Sid offered that I could take him until then with the option to extend it to the end of the season should Stephen wish to stay. I was happy to accept and left it with Sid to have a word with the player.