Jorg

April 2006
-----------------
April is going to be a very busy month. We have seven league games left as well as the semi-final of the Serie C Cup. We could really do with everyone staying fit with so many games ahead. Our first game of the month came in the league, away to Foggia. Sosa was missing through injury and Montervino was suspended.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from Pino Zaccheria (Att; 8,777)-------------------------------------------Foggia 0 :Napoli 5 : Gatti (30), Silas (39), Matteini (43, 49), Fonseca (80)MOM - Scarlato (Napoli, DEF) </pre>
A superb win meaning we have now scored fifteen goals in our last three games without conceding. Matteini was on fire and was unlucky not to get a hattrick.

Catanzaro have been very steady lately and won again, keeping the one point gap at the top. Our next game would be vital, we faced Catanzaro at home. Rimini were eight points behind us in 3rd meaning it was basically a two horse race. The winner of our game would be clear favourites for the title. They had beaten us 3-0 earlier in the season so we had to make home advantage count. The players were full of confidence after the recent wins.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from San Paolo (Att; 26,369)---------------------------------------Napoli 1 : Matteini (36)Catanzaro 3 : Cammarata (20, 26), Biancone (64)MOM - Di Girolomo (Catanzaro, DEF) </pre>
A fair result and possibly the result that sees us heading for the play-offs again. The confidence we had going into the game soon disappeared with two goals from Cammarata, that took his total against us to five after scoring a hattrick earlier in the season. We were outplayed and outfought which was the most disappointing aspect, even when Matteini scored we didn't seem to believe we could win.

We had a break from the league with our Serie C Cup semi-final against Novara, the 1st leg is at home and it is important to give the fans something to cheer about after the league defeat. Novara are currently 3rd in Serie C1/A with only two points separating the top seven teams. I made a couple of changes for this game with Maradona and Weah coming in from the U-20 squad. We played well and managed a morale boosting 4-0 win, goals from Weah, Corrent, Rapaic and Festa with his first for the club securing the win.

That result gave us a great chance of reaching the final, it would be great for the clubs finances which were starting to look a bit shaky. The wage bill is higher than the chairman would like and maintenance of the ground is costing a small fortune every month. We have the third biggest stadium in Italy but we are only filling a third of it when we play at home. On a positive note, our Under-20 side retained their league title with a number of games still left to play.

Our next league game really was make or break, Catanzaro had extended their lead to seven points having played before us. We travelled to 6th place Taranto, they are having a good season and have a solid defence.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from Erasmo Jacovone (Att; 11,317)---------------------------------------------Taranto 0 :Napoli 2 : Matteini (22), Silas (pen 63)MOM - Silas (Napoli, MID) </pre>
We secured our play-off place with this win but I wanted the title, this win kept us in the hunt. Matteini is finding his form at the right time and Silas now has 14 league goals which is an exceptional return from midfield.

So, four games to go and they aren't getting any easier. Next up was our bogey team Benevento, they had moved above Rimini and were now six points behind us in 3rd. We haven't beaten them in five previous meetings but the team seemed confident enough.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from San Paolo (Att; 26,673)---------------------------------------Napoli 2 : Guardiola (65), Silas (86)Benevento 0 :MOM - Recep (Napoli, GK) </pre>
A superb result for us, even more so because Catanzaro had lost to bottom of the table Fermana. The gap was down to just one point. We were solid without being spectacular and managed to get the goals at the right time.

The Cup came as a welcome distraction from the league, especially with a 4-0 lead to take into the 2nd leg. I rested a number of first team players for the trip to Novara. My plan was to keep the game tight and defend the lead, it was good to give some of the youngsters a full game. The actual game was very poor and ended in a 1-0 defeat, that gave us a 4-1 aggregate victory and a place in the final. We would meet Pescara in the final, another two-legged affair but played at a neutral venue.

The last action of what seemed a very long month came in the league. Every game was important from now on and with only three left we had to hope for another slip from Catanzaro. This was to be our last away game in the league with the final two at home. We made the trip to Cittadella while Catanzaro played host to 3rd placed Rimini, it could be an interesting afternoon.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from Tombolato (Att; 3,689)--------------------------------------Cittadella 0 :Napoli 2 : Contini (50), Sosa (82)MOM - Contini (Napoli, DEF) </pre>
A very even game but we managed to get the all important goals. Contini broke the deadlock early in the 2nd half when he headed home from a corner. Sosa came off the bench to get our second. There was a huge cheer in the dressing room when the Catanzaro result came through, they had lost 2-1.

We now sat proudly at the top of the league with just two games left, it was in our hands and both games were at home.

Jorg

May 2006
---------------
The players were ready for this, after last seasons disappointment they knew how important promotion was. All we had to do was win both our games and the title would be ours.

In our penultimate game we faced Legnano at home, they were sitting in mid-table with nothing much to play for.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from San Paolo (Att; 25,021)---------------------------------------Napoli 2 : Silas (pen 29), Guardiola (61)Legnano 0 :MOM - Giordano (Legnano, MID) </pre>
A comfortable win with the players showing no signs of nerves, this was our fourth 2-0 league victory in a row. Guardiola has really shown his quality over the last couple of months and has got forward to get a number of important goals.

Catanzaro won their game to take the battle to the last day of the season. We faced 10th placed Spal at home while they played host to 9th placed Teramo. We still held a two point lead over Catanzaro, the players wanted to finish with a win and the title. Our formation was unchanged with a 3-4-1-2 line-up, Guardiola missed out through injury.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B from San Paolo (Att; 25,272)---------------------------------------Napoli 0 :Spal 0 :MOM - Villanova (Spal, GK) </pre>
I don't know if it was nerves or just bad luck, nothing went right in this game. We had a total of 22 attempts with 10 on target but just couldn't find a way past Villanova in the Spal goal. We weren't helped when Matteini had to be carried off in the 2nd half. I had tried not to listen to any score updates from the Catanzaro match but I knew they had been 1-0 down at half time. When the final score eventually reached the dressing room my heart sank, Catanzaro had scored an 85th minute winner to take the three points and the Serie C1/B title.

I was absolutely gutted, we had been superb all season and in the end we were denied the title because Catanzaro had beaten us twice. Our goal difference was better by 20 goals but rules were rules and we had to take our chances in the play-offs again. This would mean another extension to the season and we still had the Serie C Cup to contend with.

We now had four games in just two weeks, we didn't really have enough time to feel sorry for ourselves which was probably a good thing. We faced Pescara in the 1st leg of the Serie C Cup, the game was technically away even though it was being played at a neutral venue. I decided to rest a few players because promotion was the priority and I wanted to save players for the play-offs. However, the team still had a strong look to it.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C Cup Final 1st Leg from Selvapiana (Att; 34,971)-------------------------------------------------------Pescara 1 : Movilli (59)Napoli 2 : Varricchio (84, 89)MOM - Contini (Napoli, DEF) </pre>
A very even game which looked to be going the way of Pescara until the introduction of Varricchio. We ended up playing the last twenty minutes with ten men after Mora was taken off injured and we had no substitutions left. Varricchio had been banging the goals in for the Under-20s and didn't look out of place as he grabbed a late double.

A good win for us which gave the squad confidence for the trip to Taranto in the 1st leg of the play-off semi final. The injuries were starting to worry me with Guardiola, Matteini and Mora all missing the rest of the season.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B Playoff Semi Final 1st Leg from Erasmo Jacovone (Att; 23,506)------------------------------------------------------------------------Taranto 0 :Napoli 2 : Anania (og 24), Varricchio (71)MOM - Recep (Napoli, GK) </pre>
A great result for us, the performance was average but I will happily take a two goal advantage back to the San Paolo. Varricchio got himself on the scoresheet again and is looking like he wants to make a point.

There was no time to celebrate the result because we faced the 2nd leg of the Serie C Cup, I made more changes to the team and hoped that our 2-1 advantage would be enough to lift the trophy.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C Cup Final 2nd Leg from Selvapiana (Att; 34,983)-------------------------------------------------------Napoli 1 : Varricchio (53)Pescara 0 :MOM - Corrent (Napoli, MID) </pre>
We were a bit fortunate to win this game, Pescara missed a penalty after half an hour and we had Maradona dismissed just before the interval. However, Varricchio was on target once again to give me my first piece of silverware.

The squad was looking very tired and I could tell some of the players were carrying injuries but they didn't want to add to my problems. We had won the Cup and could just concentrate on promotion now, it was up to me to lift the players for the home game with Taranto. We held a two goal lead and I didn't see us having any problems making it to the final.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B Playoff Semi Final 2nd Leg from San Paolo (Att; 75,368)------------------------------------------------------------------Napoli 3 : Mendu (56), Silas (65), Varricchio (80)Taranto 0 :MOM - Mendu (Napoli, MID) </pre>
A dominant performance and a great way to prepare for the play-off final. The goals were all top quality but we suffered another couple of injuries with Sosa and Bak having to come off.

Brian of Nazareth

ah, bad luck on the title - but good cup win - and there's still another chance at promotion - good luck :thu:

Jorg

Sorry to keep everyone waiting so long, it wasn't my intention.


June 2006
----------------
So, for the second year in a row we find ourselves playing football in June. However, it will all be worth it if we can win the play-off final and gain promotion to Serie B. Rimini would be our final opponents of the season after they came through their semi-final against Benevento.

The squad is looking very tired and we have got a number of injuries to deal with. The 1st leg was away from home and we were without Guardiola, Mora, Ingrosso, Matteini and Sosa. I had a lot of faith in the players that were coming into the side and we lined up with our usual 3-5-1-1 away formation. The starting XI looked like this; Recep, Piccirillo, Montervino(c), Scarlato, Festa, Bak, Mendu, Gatti, Corrent, Silas and Varricchio.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B Playoff Final 1st Leg from Romeo Neri (Att; 4,965)-------------------------------------------------------------Rimini 0 :Napoli 0 :MOM - Dei (Rimini, GK) </pre>
A very poor match which was understandable given the importance of it. We managed to keep a clean sheet which could prove to be vital. I couldn't believe our luck with injuries and we suffered another blow when Silas had to come off early in the 2nd half.

A win at home and we would be promoted to Serie B. Silas and Montervino are both missing which means I have to do without seven first team players for the final match of the season. I decided that attack was the only way to go, we would have a near capacity crowd and if we could excite them from the start we would have a huge advantage. We started the match with; Recep, Parola, Piccirillo, Contini, Festa, Scarlato(c), Mendu, Gatti, Bak, Rapaic and Varricchio.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Serie C1/B Playoff Final 2nd Leg from San Paolo (Att; 73,614)-------------------------------------------------------------Napoli 2 : Varricchio (27), Rapaic (45)Rimini 0 :MOM - Varricchio (Napoli, ATT) </pre>
At last, we had worked hard for two seasons and finally got our reward. The game itself was pretty mediocre and over by half time. Varricchio has been superb at the most important time of the season and opened the scoring with a neat goal. Rapaic has been in and out of the team this season and scored what will probably be his last goal for us, we can only have two Non-EU players in the squad which means I can't offer him a new contract. A mention has to go to Recep who has played every single game of the season and performed superbly, making great saves at crucial times.

An exhausting season was finally over but I knew I didn't have much time to get the squad ready for Serie B. We needed a bit more quality in the side but I was dealt a huge blow when Fabio Gatti made the move to Perugia, there was always a risk of this with him being co-owned by Perugia. It was basically an auction with Gatti, both teams had to submit bids and Gatti went to the highest bidder. The money we received would be a big bonus and it took my transfer budget for the new season to nearly £2 million.

-Xenon-

Congrats! Napoli is one of my favourite teams to manage. It cant have been more than 5 years ago that they were in Serie A

Jorg

Sorry guys, I have just started a new job so haven't been able to give this as much time as I would like. Stick with it though because I'm not giving up on it.


July 2006
----------------
It felt good to be in charge of a Serie B side, we were now moving in the right direction. I knew it was going to be quite a big step up and the board were being realistic with their expectations, they wanted us to secure a mid-table position at the end of the season, the fans hoped for the same. I was happy with this and was looking forward to the new season to see how we would react to a bigger stage.

I had a little look back at our promotion season:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">(Serie C1/B Season 2005/2006 Review)------------------------------------Our League record : Pld - 34 W - 20 D - 10 L - 4 F - 68 A - 23 Pts - 70 (Runner-Up)* promoted through play-offsFans Player of the Year - SilasSerie C1/B Manager of the Year - Piero Braglia (Catanzaro)Serie C1/B Player of the Year - Fabrizio Cammarata (Catanzaro)Serie C1/B Top Goal Scorer - Fabrizio Cammarata - 25 (Catanzaro) </pre>
Like last year, the league winners dominated the awards ceremony. Again, I didn't make it into the top three for Manager of the Year, to be honest I think people just expected it from us because Napoli used to be a big team. I felt a little annoyed that I wasn't getting any recognition, we had won the Cup as well as being promoted. Silas was runner-up for the Top Scorer award and Contini was third in the Player of the Year vote.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">(Season 2005/2006 Winners)--------------------------Serie A Winners - InterSerie B Winners - Catania Serie C1/A Winners - TrevisoSerie C1/B Winners - CatanzaroItalian Cup Winners - InterSerie C Cup Winners - NapoliChampions League Winners - InterUEFA Cup Winners - Liverpool </pre>
A superb season for Inter as they managed to claim the treble. Also, the UEFA Cup stayed in Britain after Liverpool took over from Rangers as UEFA Cup holders.

There was a huge shock as the USA lifted the World Cup, their victory wasn't very popular as many people believed it brought their dream of world domination that bit closer. Portugal were runners-up with Brazil third and Senegal fourth. Italy were knocked out in the 2nd Round by Uruguay.

The problem with going through the play-offs was that it meant we had very little time to prepare for the new season. I had just under £2 million to spend on new players but I couldn't find any players I wanted to pay money for, most of the players I had managed to attract were on free transfers which meant I could save the money for now.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">(Transfers In)--------------Umberto Biava (DEF) - (free)Stefano Lucchini (DEF) - Empoli (free)Lorenzo Amoruso (DEF) - Blackburn (free)Kwame Quansah (ATT) - Ajax (free)Giorgio Di Vicino (MID) - Ternana (free)Davide Baiocco (MID) - Livorno (free)Fabio Leoni (Att) - Roma (season loan)</pre>
Having looked through my squad I was quite happy with it, I knew we needed experience which is why I opted for Lucchini, Di Vicino and Baiocco. All of these players have played in Serie B and have good ability in their respective positions. I have always admired Lorenzo Amoruso and I couldn't resist the chance to give him one last year in Italy. Quansah and Leoni both look very exciting and will add a different dimension to the attack when called upon.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">(Transfers Out)---------------Fabio Gatti (MID) - Perugia (£975,000)Domenico Cristiano (MID) - Ascoli (free)Georgi Panayoti Kone (MID) - (free)Milan Rapaic (ATT) - (free)Rolando Fonseca (ATT) - (free)Andrea Parola (MID) - Foggia (£100,000)</pre>
I was sad to see Rapaic leave us but in all honesty he has done his job and it is time to look to the future. Fonseca has been a bit disappointing but he hasn't really had that many chances to shine, it is good to get him off the wage bill and with other strikers pushing for a place he won't be missed. Gatti is a big loss but there wasn't much I could do to keep him, Parola has played his heart out for us but I couldn't see him being a regular next season and thought it was fair to let him go.

Next month is going to be busy with a number of friendlies as well as the Italian Cup, there might also be a couple of signings depending on how the squad is shaping up.