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7.12.08
It's time to give Christian Vieri a start. The legendary hitman hasn't had many yet, but with our mixed form he gets one today at home versus Piacenza, in the only change from last time.
Varese 2
C.Vieri 48
Alexiou 64
Piacenza 0 Ferronetti sent off 26
We fully deserved the three points which keep us comfortably midtable, and it was, in a turn of fate, Christian Vieri, who was the catalyst behind the win. It took the 35 year old a while to get going, but he got involved and by the final whistle nobody had had more of an impact on proceedings. Referee Guido Marcinkovic sent off Piacenza captain and undeniably quality centre back Damiano Ferronetti for a late, late tackle on Dobek that perhaps, with a more lenient view, was worth a yellow. We weren't moaning, as it gave us an advantage. The attacking sextet of Dobek, Vieri, Alexiou, Santos, Doukas, and Asencio were starting to express themselves, and all six combined on 48 mintes for Vieri to follow in Asencio's saved effort. Christos Alexiou has been in great form, if not scoring the goals. But another one was added to his career tally on 64 minutes, as the Greek turned Daniel Ola inside out before curling left footed past Cassano. A nice win to get back to success.
9.12.08
Apparently I miscalculated the transfer dates - I was told Dudu would be arriving within the hour as I pulled up to the stadium this morning :o - off I went to the airport to meet our new striker, and keep things highly interesting up front, as there is real quality there. He might go in the reserves for a week to get games under his belt, as Cruziero haven't exactly used him fully.
10.12.08
We have an injury crisis in goal. Sergio Girardi is unavailable tonight due to a family emergency, so I have to call upon rookie youth team keeper Mario Buratti to don the gloves. The Coppa Italia at Brescia isn't the fieriest of debuts, which may help the lad. Dudu gets a spot on the bench.
Brescia 2
Natali 10
Baggio 30
Varese 2
Santos 44
Alexiou 73
After a shocking opening third of the match we came back well and took two away goals which may prove vital come the return leg at the Franco Ossola. Alessio Natali headed home his second of the season after ten minutes with an attempt Buratti couldn't save. Brescia laid seige to our goal, and doubled the lead through Bruno Baggio's first goal for the Lombards. It would have been more but for the heroics of debutant Buratti. Yet the most important moment came twelve seconds before half time, as Santos sprung on a loose ball and put us very much back in the game. Christian Vieri had an ineffective game, so Dudu came on with 25 minutes left to shake things up. He wasn't directly involved, but the presence distracted attention from Christos Alexiou, who found enough room to beat Castellazi to level the game. In the context of things I'm extremely happy with the draw.
14.12.08
Our last game before the Christmas/Winter Break returns us to Brescia, who amazingly name ten different names to the midweek game - with only Dario Dainelli staying in. I however name only one player different - Sergio Girardi can return.
Brescia 1
Seric 47
Varese 2
Alexiou 15
C.Vieri 18 Asencio injured 41
A nice way to end a very successful 2008. After the slow start on Wednesday I wanted a quicker side from the start, and credit to the lads - they gave me it. On the quarter hour mark Christian Vieri curled a lovely cross that invited Alexiou to head in and carry on in a fine vein of form which has seen him net four times in five games. Three minutes later the roles were reversed, as Alexiou this time crossed, and Vieri swooped, showing that even at 35 he is unrivalled in the air. Welsh keeper Craig Rowlands did well to prevent any further goal conceding in the remainder of the game, as we certainly barracked our opponents in the search for more. Brescia themselves had their moments, not least when Anthony Seric managed to half their deficit. But Sergio Girardi was equally efficient, as he helped us on the way to three more points on the road to maintaining Serie A status, which is going pretty well. But the star today was Christos Alexiou - too hot to handle.
15.12.08
Edu Dracena and Claudio Cavalcante arrive today to join our swelling ranks, which are actually looking good now in terms of quality in depth. Straight away I can see that Cavalcante is a talented player at home in midfield. He'll have a job getting in there.
5.1.09
My first piece of business of 2009 is to seal a deal allowing Sergio Paez to finally leave to Nuovo Trento for a neat and tidy £200,000 - not bad considering he hasn't played for ages.
7.1.09
The first action on the field in 2009 is a third consecutive match against Brescia. We hold a 2-2 result from the away leg, meaning two away goals. Claudio Cavalcante and Edu Dracena start their first ever Varese matches, whilst Zicu replaces the suspended Franzese.
Varese 3
Santos 16, 48, 88 C.Vieri injured 31
Brescia 1
Salvatori 20
After all the hype of the two Brazilian debutants, it turned out to be the most reliable Brazilian who won this for us. Carlos Alberto Viera Dos Santos once again was a level above anything Brescia were able to produce or handle. His opener came after a mere sixteen minutes, after Doukas' corner was cleared Santos was first to react and nip the ball past Macelloni. Unfortunately Brescia levelled the game straight away, as with the next meaningful piece of play Ricci's cross was volleyed in by Salvatori. However, it was all Brescia could muster attackingly. But their defending became even more infuriating. Nothing we did could break them. Christian Vieri was forced off injured and should miss three weeks, but Juho Makela played well enough, as he always does. It was the Finn who will claim the assist for Santos' second, as it was he who headed the ball down for Santos to sprint through and finish with amazing coolness. :cool: He completed another fantastic hat-trick two minutes from time, going through unchallenged from Dobek's creativity to put us ever closer to the Final - we're down to the final four, but the Semi Final stage will be very hard. As for the debutants, neither let us down, and both showed Serie A quality.
8.1.09
The Coppa Italia Semi Final draw pairs us, Varese, with the winners of the last two seasons Coppa's and six time winners Inter. We have the second leg at home, which may help, but it's very hard. But there's an element there that makes me think we could do it. :o - Roma and Juventus contest the other spot, and we have to travel to Turin at the weekend.
03-31-2003, 08:00 AM
I can't believe I thought it would be easy (the Italian Job challenge) Post #173
11.1.09
League action is resumed with a huge match at second placed Juventus. Franzese is back, and Cavalcante stays in ahead of Asencio. Dudu starts as a replacement for the injured Vieri.
I feel so gutted and sick. We lead for so long in the Delli Alpi only to have a reward cruelly snatched at the death. Juve started the game comfortably, so we decided to get stuck in and force them onto the back foot. The shock of all shocks arrived on 20 minutes as Alexiou was sent in by a lovely switch of the play from Dobek and left Pegolo without a hope. The Juve onslaught followed, but without any fruition, and at the same time we were also looking attackingly good. Dudu put a couple of attempts wide, but we were leading for so long. DaMarcus Beasley finally broke through for the Bianconeri with a stunning free kick, as it certainly took something special to beat Stekelenburg. Even then, we didn't collapse like they expected. Santos came close with a lucky shot that shaved the crossbar. Just as it appeared as if we were to take a well deserved point, Ndiaye and Di Donato played Trezeguet in, and the Frenchman stole all three points for Juve. The cliche that La Vecchia Signora are lucky is still true, because we had deserved at least one point.
14.1.09
We're slap bang in the middle of our toughest run. Four consecutive away games at very tough opposition. But our performance at Juve gives us hope for the trip to equally tough Bologna, where we won in the Coppa Italia last season. Tcherevchenko is in for Orellana, and Asencio replaces the injured Doukas.
Bologna 3
Ligkos 15, 83
Giandomenico 44
Varese 2
Dudu 39
Santos 78
For the second straight game we had a point snatched away from us late in the game. Bologna started brightly, and drew first blood on the quarter hour mark through prolific Greek striker Manolis Ligkos. The Rossoblu poured onwards, and but for Stekelenburg Ligkos could well have had a half hour hat-trick. But with only our second attack we drew level. Mateusz Santos supplied the cross from the right, and Dudu found a headed connection to open his Varese account. Unfortunately we were unable to hold on to half time, because Luigi Giandomenico scored a spectacular, if unorthodox, volley to send Guidolin's side in ahead. The second half was a balanced affair, as Pizarro was dangerous for the hosts, whilst we proved potent through Alexiou, Cavalcante, Dudu and Santos. It was the latter who stole in unmarked for our second equaliser. Yet Ligkos put a dagger through our hearts with his thirteenth of the season on 83 to steal a win. The agony continued as Dobek struck the crossbar and Abbondanzieri was forced into three fantastic stoppage time saves to keep the points at the Dall'Ara.
18.1.09
Salernitana are a dangerous attacking side, and we'll have our hands full with Zeman's side today. Makela replaces Dudu, and Sbrizzo replaces Tcherevchenko.
Salernitana 3
De Crescenzo 2
Wysocki 7
Woodthorpe 90
Varese 0
We're just sliding performance wise, although we still hold that 11th place. Salernitana never let up in their seemingly endless onslaught towards our goal. Just two minutes into the match Paolo De Crescenzo drilled Zdenek Zeman's young side ahead, shortly followed by Marcin Wysocki's eleventh of the season. We ultimately never had a look in, and as such never looked hopeful of taking anything. In all eventualities, North Korean Chui-Soo Woodthorpe slammed in the third in injury time after previously having one ruled out, and we deserved to lose. We still have an extremely hard run of matches to come, starting with out Cup semi. Changes may be needed
21.1.09
Inter away in the Coppa Italia Semi Final first leg. Orellana is fit to resume, and in a shock team change, Stephen McPhee is started ahead of Juho Makela.
Inter 2
Colombini 57
Cordoba 88
Varese 0
1-0 would have been a decent result, but 2-0 makes the second leg that much harder. Cuper played something of a backup side, but that didn't mean it was weaker. That said, we dominated the game, but Sebastien Frey had an inspired game in goal, as he kept out everything we threw at him. Stephen McPhee had a good game, as he was the more lively of the attackers. Seventeen year old Roberto Colombini scored a thirty yard cracker for his first career goal to divide the sides, but we looked like we had hold of a 1-0 defeat which would have been acceptable going into the second leg. However, at the end we fell asleep and Ivan Cordoba headed a second goal to make the second leg a much harder prospect. Four straight defeats is hardly ideal either.
25.1.09
Despite our abysmal record against Fiorentina, we'll never have a greater chance to beat them than this afternoon. They're struggling, as they always do in Serie A, and we played pretty well in Milan on Wednesday, which is why we go in unchanged.
Varese 3
McPhee 6
Franzese 32 pen
Santos 61
Fiorentina 0
After years of frustration, we finally beat I Viola and gain a miniscule part of revenge for their pipping us to the Serie B title. There was only one side in it, as the 21 shots to 2 and 60% posession shows. It took just six minutes to open the scoring, as Fiorentina allowed Stephen McPhee too much time and space, and the Scot scored his first goal for Varese. Everyone found their niche today, none moreso than Claudio Cavalcante. The rookie Brazilian had his finest game for the club, as he gave a masterclass in midfield play. His passing and vision were spot on, and his attacking was superb. The second goal came from the penalty spot after a foul was committed on Christos Alexiou. Roberto Franzese found the net for the first time this season. The pressure never let up, and only David Dei kept us from racking up a cricket score. Only one more was to be added, and that came from Santos, with the Brazilian scoring for the fifteenth time this campaign, and move him to within six of Gabi Batistuta's record 45 club league goals. It was emphatic, and it's nice to break the losing jinx against them, but also our recent run of form.
28.1.09
Things may be getting back to the good times as we face the visit of Napoli. Despite his goal last time out, Stephen McPhee must make way for Christian Vieri, as he needs games under his belt to get us going in the important upcoming matches. Zicu is in for the suspended Franzese.
Varese 3
Orellana 4
McPhee 71
Asencio 88
Napoli 1
Robson Ponte 28
We may have left it late, but we did deserve this win. Daniel Orellana rose highest to start things off with his first EVER career goal . Napoli's frontline of Recoba, Ljungberg, Ponte and Stellone started to wake up, and it showed as Robson Ponte hooked home an equaliser with the run of play in the Neapolitans favour. But they were happy to sit back and defend the point they came for. It was working. Christian Vieri and Carlos Viera Dos Santos were so threatening, but nothing was happening. When it was, Federico Agliardi was on hand to stop anything. I decided a tactical switch was needed. Dobek dropped back into midfield, and McPhee joined Vieri and Alexiou up front. Within two minutes we were back ahead. Dobek clipped over a cross, Vieri headed it towards goal, but it was saved. Stephen McPhee scored with the rebound for a goal with his first touch. It was beautiful to see the switch work perfectly. :cool: Pablo Asencio rounded off a wonderful day with a stunning long range drive into the top corner to ease any immediate relegation fears, and amazingly put us within five points of a UEFA Cup spot
1.2.09
February kicks off with a trip to league leaders Milan. We're up against an absolute star line up, with Milan possessing the strongest club squad in Europe. Therefore there's no pressure on us, but we do need to show our true selves, and not be overawed. Franzese returns for Zicu, Tcherevchenko deputises for Edu Dracena, and McPhee starts ahead of suspended Asencio.
Milan 3
Pirlo 20
Shevchenko 23
Ambrosini 25
Varese 1
Franzese 56 pen C.Vieri injured 35
Three goals in five minutes wiped us out today, and Vieri's injury means he is sidelined for a month, severely hurting our hopes of winning the Coppa Italia. After twenty minutes of dominance, Joe Cole found a way through our back three and Andrea Pirlo tidied things up. Three minutes later Shevchenko was the most lively following a scramble to turn in past Stekelenburg, who was out of position. Massimo Ambrosini completed the five minute blitz, as Milan were happy to hold an unassailable 3-0 lead. In all truth, we never looked likely to beak their defence, although we had a lot of the play. Roberto Franzese's second penalty in three games was sole consolation in a game I never truly expected to win, but I'm still sad at losing.
4.2.09
So here we are, the Coppa Italia Semi Second Leg. We need an early goal against a very strong Inter side to give ourselves the best chance of overturning a 2-0 deficit. Makela leads the line, as Asencio also returns.
Varese 1
Dobek 4
Inter 0
It's the end of the Cup run, but I am very proud we were able to pull off a dominant victory against arguably the best side in Italy. After just four minutes Mateusz Dobek connected with a cross to head us in front at the all important early stages. That set us up for a match of barraging in order to score another. Unfortunately it never materialised. Sebastien Frey was again magnificent, as time and again he kept us at bay, none more impressively than a late drive from McPhee that almost broke the keeper in half. Inter did their best to kill the game and waste time, clearly worried at the prospect of an upset. So we're out, but with Juve playing Inter in the Final, there's the outside chance we could take the UEFA Cup spot if both make the Champions League. I'm proud, if disappointed at elimination
8.2.09
Quite why I am so confident going into this afternoon's clash with Roma is strange. The Giallorossi are one of the country's best sides, and on their day will beat anyone. But we drew in their back yard, and with McPhee restored ahead of Makela, i go into this quietly confident.
Varese 3
Cavalcante 28
McPhee 31
Santos 57
Roma 3
Emerson 17
Luizao 22
Liverani 25 Samuel sent off 27
After an appalling start we showed fabulous desire and drive to make a point that looked so unlikely. Roma showed they are no pushovers early on as Emerson had a sighter. The veteran of over 100 caps for Brazil found his range on seventeen as he put Capello's men ahead. Another Brazilian, Luizao, towered highest to put them 2-0 ahead shortly after, and Liverani also headed past Stekelenburg to put Roma 3-0 up and in the clear. But then Walter Samuel was dismissed for two yellow cards, and the free kick that came from the second was wonderfully flighted home by Claudio Cavalcante for his first Varese goal. Three minutes later and Stephen McPhee teed a volley up and rifled past Pelizzoli to reduce the deficit more. But Roma sensed the problem and reshuffled, making further breakthrough harder. Santos finally levelled the scores shy of the hour by making it 16 goals in 28 games. Despite the draw, we drop back down one place to eleventh, but after the shocking start a 3-3 draw is a point made rather than two lost.
15.2.09
Chievo are bottom of the table, and as such I'd expect a win, a win that would be very handy at this particular time. Doukas is finally sit to resume, as he does ahead of Asencio. Edu Dracena also plays, with Tcherevchenko rested.
Our play deserved a 4-0 scoreline, but Chievo's battling didn't deserve a 4-0 defeat. The flying donkeys made it very hard, but our attacking force shone through. After a half of digging in without really getting anywhere, Claudio Cavalcante hit a snapshot right past Lupatelli. The Brazilian was subject of mass praise in midweek, and showed why on 37 minutes. The second half was different. Chievo's resolve went out the window, and they collapsed. Stephen McPhee carried on his great run with another two goals, sandwiched by Alexiou's ninth of the season. McPhee's first was from Doukas' through ball, and the Scottish international beat Lupatelli to make it two. Alexiou was the recipient of Dobek and McPhee's build up for 3-0, and McPhee hit his fifth of the season with a header from another Doukas assist. He would have had a hat-trick of assists had Santos' header not been ruled out, but it's another good result, keeping us comfortable.
22.2.09
Our trip to Parma is televised across the country, as a win for us would close the gap between ourselves and Parma in seventh. Girardi replaces the injured Stekelenburg in the only change.
Parma 2
Tisci 26
Adriano 72
Varese 1
McPhee 37
At least I know Sergio Girardi is a capable cover for Stekelenburg. Parma were rampant. They had endless shots on goal, but thankfully we kept it to a respectable two. 33 year old Ivan Tisci scored his first of the season by sidefooting a rebound into the top corner to give Prandelli's side a lead. We levelled from the right foot of Stephen McPhee, who scored his sixth in seven games after chesting a cross down before slamming past Waters. Di Michele was the most dangerous opponent, yet we were able to keep him at bay. But we couldn't keep Adriano out, because the Brazilian scored his sixth of the season to take the points.
1.3.09
The run of tougher games continues with the visit of Bologna, possessing Ronaldinho, Pizarro, Tonetto and Colucci. We make one change - Tobros in for the injury stricken Orellana.
Bologna 6
Tonetto 8
Cipriani 17, 36
Colucci 43, 54
Pizarro 84 Abbondanzieri sent off 88
Where do I start? We took a very early lead, and unsurprisingly through Stephen McPhee. Bologna equalised from Max Tonetto five minutes later, then went ahead on 17 through Cipriani's late header. Christos Alexiou's tenth of the season levelled the game back up, and then Mateusz Dobek headed us ahead on 32. But Giacomo Cipriani swivelled and drove past Girardi to balance things out again, and then Giuseppe Colucci scored a cracker before half time to put Guidolin's side ahead 4-3 at the half time whistle. Carlos Alberto Viera Dos Santos made it 4-4 with a fine run and chip over Abbondanzieri, but again we went behind through another from Colucci, as the Italian international found space in our defence. The goals then dried up a little, until Claudio Pizarro secured the win by making it 6-4 six minutes from time. Roberto Franzese made it 6-5 from the spot, but we were only just unable to make it 6-6 in the remaining time. Losing by the odd goal in eleven is strange, and believe me, whilst I'm happy at scoring five against a good side, I really get angry at conceding six .
8.3.09
I really hope that we are able to beat Venezia. They're stuck solid in the relegation places, and although they're at home we should have enough to come through smelling of roses.
Venezia 2
Garcia 2
Rocco 9
Varese 4
Cavalcante 41
Alexiou 44, 74
Santos 68
This game sums up so many of our games. A poor start followed by a decent recovery, and then sheer class shining through. Early goals from Rafael Garcia and Claudio Rocco gave Venezia a shock 2-0 advantage, and we actually looked asleep. Nothing was coming of our play, as Venezia were very effective in cutting off any service to the front four. So we, or rather Claudio Cavalcante, decided to go alone, miss out the front four, and beat Cristian Rocca with a nice shot from fifteen yards. That sparked the recovery. One goal before half time was good, a second and thus an equaliser was a huge turning point. Christos Alexiou is fast becoming a superstar here, as he was on the end of a move created by Santos and Dobek. Venezia were obviously shattered at not holding on, and as such the second half belonged to us. Santos put us ahead by meeting Doukas' cross later than anyone else and nearly breaking the net. Alexiou found the net for the ninth time in Serie A and 12th overall with the final goal, and it's these wins that will keep us in the top flight.
14.3.09
Australian centre back Greg Lewis signed for the club today on a Bosman Free after his contract at Perth Glory had expired, allowing me to complete the deal quicker than I hoped. He's comfortable in the air and on the ground, and has nine Australian caps. He'll certainly bolster a leaky defence.
15.3.09
Greg Lewis is straight into the side for Niko Tobros as Daniel Orellana is still unfit. Christian Vieri is fit, but misses out as McPhee is in great form. Lecce are directly above us, and a win could see us move to a season's highest 8th
Varese 3
McPhee 16, 45
Alexiou 47
Lecce 1
Brescia 85 Fumagalli sent off 48
Stephen McPhee may be the most in form striker in Europe right now. His fantastic form has propelled our form around, and defenders can't contain him. On sixteen minutes Santos flicked on a long ball, and the loose ball was picked up by McPhee before he stylishly beat Abbiati. Lecce are however a very good side - they're in the last eight of the Champions League. As such, I expected them to come back and score. But maybe they have their eyes on a clash with Liverpool coming soon, because there was little fight from Delio Rossi's side. On the stroke of half time Dobek won a free kick, which McPhee sent past Abbiati before the ex-Milan keeper had a chance to say 'wow' . Christos Alexiou crippled Lecce's defensive resolve with a cleanly struck half volley to make it 3-0, and secure the win. I was looking for a clean sheet, and we nearly got it, but Gianluca Brescia scored a consolation to put one dark spot on our day. But with Salernitana's shock home defeat, we're up to eighth place :cool:
A nice win to get back to success.
- I was told Dudu would be arriving within the hour as I pulled up to the stadium this morning :o - off I went to the airport to meet our new striker, and keep things highly interesting up front, as there is real quality there. He might go in the reserves for a week to get games under his belt, as Cruziero haven't exactly used him fully.
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