nerf

Saturday 24th August 2002

For our third fixture we made the trip across to Martina Franca, on the 'heel' of Italy between Bari and Lecce. Here we would face Serie C1 side Martina in the Gian Domenico Tursi, where 3465 fans were looking forward to the match.

The only team change I made was forced, with Stefano Guastella stepping into the gap left by Sabellini's long term injury.

Serie C Cup Group P
Martina v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Infantino, Italia, Alderuccio; Tamburro(c), Guastella; Bonaffini, Pellegrino; Caramel; Ferrara, Gallichio.

The first half an hour was fairly tight with neither team really looking threatening. On 29 minutes it was us who made the first real chance on goal, with Giancarlo Ferrara's great play down the left resulting in a cross into the box. Caramel's first touch cushioned the ball nicely past his marker first time, but his powerful volley screamed over the crossbar.

This seemed to spark Martina in to life and they began to push us back. A cross came towards our box from their left and Dario Italia challenged to get his head to it. The ball dropped perfectly for Martina midfielder Ambrogioni 30 yards out, and his right foot produced a spectacular curling drive that rocketed into the top corner. Cinalli had no chance.

Half-time came round. We had kept Martina to hopeful long range shots only and were unfortunate that one had been hit so sweetly, but we had also failed to cause them any problems at the other end. Guastella was looking lost when the ball was at his feet and in general our passing play was hesitant and poor. Caramel in particular had failed to get involved with his only contribution being the wild volley, so he came off for Bonarrigo and Cirillo replaced Gallicchio.

On the hour, defender Alderuccio recieved a hefty kick to the foot in a 50-50 challenge and had to limp off for some treatment from the physio. Martina almost took advantage of their temporary extra man, but Cinalli saved well from a header and we managed to clear.

Time was passing and we were still lacking in attack, so I knew I had to change something. Pellegrino had worked his socks off in the previous two matches and looked like he was finally beginning to tire, so I rested him to bring Tassone on and switched to a 4-2-4 formation, with Ferrara, Cirillo, Bonarrigo and Tassone all in the attack. This new more direct style almost paid off when Ferrara nodded the ball down to Cirillo inside the box, but the striker's shot went straight at the keeper and was saved comfortably.

Inevitably however it opened up chances for Martina to catch us. On 78 minutes a fast break resulted in a low cross whipped in from the right, and Campolattano nipped in before our defenders to poke the ball past Cinalli. It was a well executed and ruthless counterattack that left us facing a 2-0 defeat.

With just 3 minutes remaining we managed to give ourselves a glimmer of hope. Tassone won the ball in the home side's half and put the eager Cirillo through on goal. His shot deflected off the advancing keeper and the ball trickled gradually towards the goal... Martina centre-back Sottili was chasing back, and just when it looked like he would keep it out, his desperate lunge to clear the ball only succeeded in blasting it into the roof of his own net. By a slice of good fortune we had clawed a goal back, but would it be too little too late?

Out on the edge of my technical area, I urge the players forward as the match enters the last minute. Tassone has relatively fresh legs and picks the ball up to race down the right flank. The full back manages to stay with him, but Tassone is still able to curl his cross around his opponent as Cirillo and Ferrara come dashing into the box... I'm almost literally jumping up to head the ball in from the dugout... but the cross drifts agonisingly over the heads of both onrushing strikers and out for a goal kick.

That was our last attack, as Martina keep us at bay for the short period of injury time and condemn us to our first defeat.

Final score: Martina 2 - 1 Ragusa

nerf

Sunday 25th August 2002

Although we had only lost 2-1 away to a Serie C1 team, and it had taken an absolute screamer from Ambrogioni and a lethal counterattack to score against us, I was not very happy with our overall performance. In truth we probably hadn't deserved the point that we had come close to snatching at the death, and in the first half we had been unimaginative and lacking quality on the ball. Perhaps the two away trips in 5 days had taken its toll on the players, but it was more of a mental thing than a fitness problem - we still had much of the tenacity without the ball, we were just very weak on it.

I would normally have wanted to give the lads a rest after the week we had just been through, but unfortunately we have a difficult game coming up on Tuesday and can't afford to relax. One player that will be resting is Pietro Alderuccio, who was examined by the physios and has been advised by Salvatore to keep off the damaged heel for a week.


Tuesday 27th August 2002

Tonight we entertain Sudtirol-Alto Adige at the Aldo Campo Selvaggio. In their previous fixture they destroyed Gladiator 4-0, helped by a hat-trick from Manuel Sinato, a flamboyant striker on loan from Juventus. We'll need to keep an eye on him, that's for sure.

Just one team change enforced again, with Graziano Ursino stepping in at centre back to replace his injured Reggina teammate Alderuccio.

Serie C Cup Group P
Ragusa v Alto Adige

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Ursino, Italia, Infantino; Tamburro(c), Guastella; Bonaffini, Pellegrino; Caramel; Ferrara, Cirillo.

The Selvaggio was only half full but hopefully we could give them something to cheer about. In the first minute we looked as if we were starting brightly, as Ferrara won a header and knocked it down to Caramel who played a one-two with Pellegrino. The 34 year old broke through the visitor's defence and took a shot, but it was saved by the keeper and cleared before Ferrara could pounce on the rebound.

After 5 minutes Alto Adige made their first threatening move of the match but were foiled by a vital interception from Italia. However, minutes later they made sure as a near post corner was headed home my midfielder Nardi, and we were already 1-0 down.

Not for long though. On 11 minutes a long ball was flicked across by Ferrara and Marco Cirillo was on the end of it in the box. He took his time, drew the keeper, and swept it past him into the net for the equaliser. Needless to say I was delighted to get back into the game so soon after going behind, and it was a fine finish from Marco to get his first of the season.

Unfortunately we were unable to build on that and Alto Adige started to get on top. They were very threatening down their left side, especially with Brazilian Jose Reis Odair, who was looking very tricky indeed. I shouted at Stefano Guastella to hang back and not leave gaps by pushing forward to join the attack.

It was young Stefano's long ball that created a good chance for us on 27 minutes. His chip forward sent the lively Ferrara racing across the back of the defence to latch onto it in the area, and as it bounced up for the volley he attempted to hook it towards goal with his right foot. He caught it sweetly, perhaps too sweetly, and the Alto Adige keeper was forced to tip it over the bar.

The visitors' pressure paid however. On the half hour Sinata beat Italia to the ball and flicked it on for Reis Odair. The Brazilian had managed to nip around the back of our defence, glided into the area, and finished with a classy drive into the far corner. We were 2-1 down and looking second best. A few minutes later, a spectacular dipping volley from 30 yards by Sinata required Cinalli to tip it over his crossbar. Half-time couldn't come soon enough.

With few options on the bench I did not make any substitutions, but chose to make some tactical alterations. Alto Adige were enjoying superior numbers down the left, so I pulled Caramel out wide right in an attempt to occupy their left full back and stop him marauding forwards, as well as getting in some crosses of his own.

Things didn't improve too much in the second half. Ferrara had a half-chance saved, but on 66 minutes Alto Adige's quality showed through. Reis Odair mesmerised the defence with his dribbling, tip-toed into the area and slid the perfect ball across to Sinata, who had the fairly easy task of tucking it away at the far post. 1-3.

I made some changes, with Tassone, Gallicchio and Manoni coming on to switch to 4-2-4, but it seemed that we just couldn't get going in this match.

Final score: Ragusa 1 - 3 Alto Adige

nerf

Wednesday 28th August 2002

After a great start in our first 2 matches we had suffered 2 straight defeats and would not qualify from our group. The performances had also dropped in those losses, looking second best throughout. Alto Adige had far too much attacking quality for us to handle, the difference in creativity and ideas on the ball was quite clear, and our previously strong defence had often been caught ball watching and occasionally flat footed.

Sifting through the scout reports has brought up two players who I would like to bring to Ragusa. Fabio Caserta is a versatile attacking midfielder who works hard and is a good passer of a football, and the fabulously named Omar Roma is a centre back known as a man-marking specialist. If we can get those two players in, it might go some way to help in sorting out our problems.


Sunday 1st September 2002

The transfer deadline passed today with no luck. We had been in negotiations with Igea Virtus and Frosinone respectively with regards to the aforementioned players, but have been unsuccessful in our attempts. Igea Virtus were demanding a package worth £20,000 for Caserta and we simply ran out of time as we searched for a compromise, whereas the Roma bid barely got off the ground.

It looks like we will have to make do with the current squad for now, unless we can find some good loan deals. Again I haven't been impressed with Signor Pitino's input and can't help feeling that we might have sneaked one of the transfers through with a bit more of his time devoted to the club.

nerf

Monday 2nd September 2002

We are in Poggibonsi today for a pre-season friendly. I can't say I'm delighted about having to travel to northern Italy again, but at least it isn't as far as Pordenone this time! At the 4000-seater Stefano Lotti stadium, a massive crowd of 76 people have turned up to watch.

Alderuccio has been cleared by the physios but will start on the bench. Although Ursino and Guastella were less than impressive against Alto Adige, they keep their places in an unchanged back 5. Pellegrino will be asked to hold the midfield solo, whilst a first start for Vittorio Emanuele Lupo will see him alongside Caramel in a support role.

Friendly
Poggibonsi v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Ursino, Italia, Infantino; Tamburro(c), Guastella; Pellegrino; Lupo, Caramel; Ferrara, Gallicchio.

In a frankly dire friendly even the 76 people that showed up must have wished they hadn't come to watch such an uneventful game. Our slightly more attacking formation did not bring more attacking football or the attacking potency that I was searching for, and we looked very poor indeed. The home side were no better, but were only denied the victory when a deflected own goal by Dario Italia was disallowed due to their striker being offside.

Alderuccio was eased on in the second half to test his heel, and I gave 17 year old keeper Giuseppe Lenea the entire second half for some experience.

Final score: Poggibonsi 0 - 0 Ragusa

nerf

Tuesday 3rd September 2002

A depressing display yesterday was further made worse by the news that Vladimiro Caramel stubbed his toe and will be out for 2 weeks! With the first league fixture coming up on the 15th it could be touch and go whether he will make it in time, although Salvatore seems fairly confident that they will get him sorted.

I have taken the decision to terminate Domenico Tassone's loan from Reggina. We are paying him £425 a week in wages, making him the third highest on our wage bill, and he has failed to impress me to any significant extent. We already have 5 other strikers on the books at Ragusa - it is the one outfield area that we do not lack cover in - so there seems little need to keep him. We get to remove £425 from our weekly outgoings and he is not looking likely to get much first team experience here, so it seems the best decision for all concerned.


Saturday 7th September 2002

I was woken last night by a call from Salvatore. Pietro Alderuccio was in hospital having come off his moped in an accident and didn't look in good shape. Fearing the worst I rushed to the hospital and spent most of the night and the morning there. We have since been informed by the doctors that Pietro has damaged his spine and could be looking at a recovery period of 8 months.

8 months! The poor kid will probably be out until next summer. It is a severe blow for the 19 year old, not just because of the painful injury but by coming at such a time in his development. It is also very bad news for us, as he was looking like a very capable defender and would probably have been a regular throughout the season. As it is, we have no choice but to close the loan deal and send him back to his club for rehabilitation and recovery with his family.

nerf

Sunday 15th September 2002

We spent a week focusing on keeping the players motivated and looking forward to the first game of the season. We also tried to work on tactics, as we would be switching to a new 4-3-2-1 formation against Acireale. Caramel was cleared to play after his injury.

Soon the preparations were over, and it was time to step out in front of a fully packed Aldo Campo Selvaggio on a bright Sunday afternoon for our first league match.

Serie C2/C
Ragusa v Acireale

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Tamburro(c), Infantino, Italia, Guastella; Bonaffini, Pellegrino, Manoni; Caramel, Bonarrigo; Ferrara.

For the first twenty minutes the game was quite even, but it was us who had the chances. Caramel burst into the inside left channel and dug a cross out to the near post, but Ferrara's header was weak. It was then Caramel again looking dangerous, as he made an interception on the halfway line and ran through only to see his shot skim the top of the bar on its way over.

Even more sickening then, when Acireale punished us on the break. On 23 minutes they worked the ball quickly down the right, and a low cross was poked home by the onrushing Marino to put us 1-0 down. We were almost in danger of collapsing straight away, as minutes later Marino was left in acres when the Ragusa defence went to sleep, but his effort was disallowed for offside.

We seemed incapable of doing anything right. Vladimiro Caramel was trying to force things in the centre but wasn't getting much assistance from his teammates, and time and again we would surrender possession with sloppy passes. A frustrating second half raced past with out much success, though Caramel had a shot saved well by Acireale goalkeeper Paramini. Shortly before the final whistle, Caramel collided with a defender in frustration and had to be taken off clutching his side.

Final score: Ragusa 0 - 1 Acireale



Monday 16th September 2002

A disappointing way to begin the league season, rewarding a capacity home crowd with a miserable and blunt performance like that. Acireale were capable without being impressive, but we still lacked the ability and creativity on the ball that we will need if we want to cause our opponents any problems. The only bright spot was Vladimiro Caramel - the 34 year old was attempting to carry his lacklustre teammates, and although he was trying to force the play too much he was our one and only source of attacking ideas. For his troubles he will have to spend most of this week nursing bruised ribs.

Martina and Alto-Adige both qualified from Group P of the Serie C cup after sharing the spoils of a 1-1 draw. They were clearly the best two teams in the group, with Ragusa taking 3rd place.

nerf

Sunday 22nd September 2002

We travelled across to Brindisi, not a million miles away from Martina Franca, for our second league fixture. Brindisi had won their first game 2-0 away to Olbia, with both goals coming from veteran striker Cosimo Fanciosco.

In an attempt to breathe more life into the middle of the park I brought Tamburro forward from left back, hoping his leadership would be of some benefit there. Bonarrigo made way for Cirillo.

Serie C2/C
Brindisi v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Ursino, Infantino, Italia, Guastella; Tamburro(c), Pellegrino, Manoni; Caramel, Cirillo; Ferrara.

The Franco Fanuzzi stadium had a capacity crowd of its own, as 2250 people crammed in to the small ground to see if their team could continue their form of last week. They certainly started out in the right way, when disastrously for us Brindisi forward D'Amble got up to nod in a simple near post corner after just 5 minutes.

As if that wasn't bad enough, a Franciosco dribble forced another corner within minutes of the opener, and the resulting ball into the box was again headed home by midfielder Pinclarelli. I was livid - two nil down inside the first 10 minutes, and both from simple corners.

We were forced to attack to try and get a quick goal back, and the match quickly became quite end-to-end. Ferrara blasted over the bar after Pellegrino and Cirillo had combined through the centre, and then at the other end Cinalli had to be on his toes to save a D'Amble attempt from a cross. Ferrara had another chance only to shoot straight at the keeper, but he would do better in the last few minutes of the half.

Captain Simone Tamburro stepped up to take the corner, and Giancarlo Ferrara lost his marker to glance the ball into the net at the near post. We had snatched a vital goal back to go into the half at 1-2.

Ursino had looked very shaky against Franciosco and Tamburro wasn't looking too happy in the centre of midfield, so Ursino came off and Tamburro dropped back to left back. Caramel stepped deeper into midfield, and Gallicchio came on to form a three pronged attack with Ferrara and Cirillo.

In retrospect, not the greatest half-time change I will ever make. The second half did not begin well, as D'amble went very close on two occasions. Within 10 minutes Orlandini was found free inside our area, and he was able to turn and finish to make it 3-1 to the home side and spark a frenzy at either end.

3 minutes later it was 2-3, as Gallicchio stole the ball off the toe of a defender and raced through to finish well. Just as our hopes rose they were dashed again. Straight from the kick off, the wily Franciosco wiggled his way through and found space to smash a shot past Cinalli into the far corner and the lead was back to two.

And before we could even draw breath, Brindisi won a free-kick that Franciosco sent crashing off the post... I could only watch in horror as the ball fell kindly for midfielder Menolascina, who sent it back with interest.

Suddenly 5-2 down, we had to stop leaking goals and switched back to our original formation. Things improved slightly after this but we were still looking devoid of all ideas, continually resorting to hopeful long balls. Gallicchio went close with a shot over the bar but that was all we were able to manage.

Entering the last few minutes of the game, Ferrara dropped deep and picked up a ball from Pellegrino. He played a one-two with Bonaffini, and then struck a stunning 30 yard drive with the outside of his boot into the top corner. It was a wonder strike, worthy of something more than a consolation goal.

Final score: Brindisi 5 - 3 Ragusa

nerf

Monday 23rd September 2002

Eight goals and a fourth straight defeat, not including the friendly. I'm sure the home fans loved it, but it was not so enjoyable from where I was sitting. Having said that, I felt we actually played better yesterday than we had done in the 1-0 loss to Acireale; at least this time we had managed to score some goals and had looked a bit less clueless on the ball. In an attempt to calm things down late on I had encouraged the lads to knock it around and play some short passes, and this had shown a slight improvement in our play. Unfortunately the damage had already been done by that blitz of 3 goals in no more than 6 minutes.

Training this week will be centered around defending set pieces though, don't worry about that. 10 minutes in we had gifted them two easy goals from corners, not for the first time either, and you can't afford to do that against opponents as lethal as Brindisi had been.

nerf

Sunday 29th September 2002

We're away again, this time in Pozzuoli, a coastal town very close to Napoli. Puteolana are our hosts in the Domenico Conte stadium, with its 12,000 seats just over a third full. Puteolana won their first match 3-0, then lost to Acireale 3-1, and young striker Roberto D'Auria has 3 goals in those 2 games.

Serie C2/C
Puteolana v Ragusa

Ragusa lineup - Cinalli; Tamburro(c), Infantino, Italia, Guastella; Bonaffini, Pellegrino, Caramel; Ferrara, Bonarrigo; Gallicchio.

For the first half an hour both teams traded possession and chances. Ferrara and Gallicchio both went close, and Puteolana's Luigi Castaldo shot wildly when he really should have done better.

On 39 minutes a calamity occurred. A long ball from Puteolana centre back Vitiello was nodded on aimlessly by Castaldo. Dario Italia had all the time in the world to collect the ball and clear it, but instead he dallied and then stumbled over it embarrassingly on the edge of his own area. The ball rolled casually into the path of Roberto D'Auria, who couldn't believe his luck but saw his snap-shot thump back off the base of the post. Di Criscio followed up for Puteolana but Cinalli pulled off a brilliant save to get in the way, only to see the ball drop right into the path of Castaldo for an easy far post tap in.

It was a scrappy goal of mistakes and misfortune, and we were unable to find an answer for it in the first half. At half-time Lupo and Manoni came on for Bonaffini and Gallicchio in an attempt to give us more unpredictability in attack.

On the hour we had the ball in the net. Caramel did well and laid the ball square to Manoni just inside the area, who thumped a cracking shot in off the underside of the bar. We were up off the bench celebrating an equaliser, only to look across and see the assistant flagging... apparently Ferrara had been offside, and the goal was controversially disallowed. I let the linesman know what I thought of his interpretation of the active offside rule, his eye-sight and possibly his mother too, but perhaps fortunately his English wasn't good enough to make out what I was bellowing over the crowd.

With 15 minutes to go we forced another corner. Bonarrigo recieved the short ball and hooked it back across the area, but Castaldo was back defending and hoofed it clear. At the halfway line, Puteolana midfielder Di Meo collected the clearance and headed for goal. Guastella had no chance of catching him and Di Meo went on unopposed to slot the ball confidently past Cinalli, 2-0.

Final score: Puteolana 2 - 0 Ragusa

nerf

Monday 30th September 2002

I was far more disappointed with this loss than I had been after we conceded 5 to Brindisi, and not just because this one sent us rock bottom of the league. We had actually played reasonably well in parts, with our passing looking much better than it had done previously. I also felt hard done by with the two goals they scored, especially the first where we had suffered a stumble and two unlucky ricochets. Not to mention having a perfectly good goal being wiped off to make it a flattering 2-0 scoreline.

18th position out of 18 teams is a sombre thought however. Signor Antoci has been very supportive in light of the recent defeats though, and insists that he is still sure the club made the right choice in appointing me. It is also pleasing to note that the spirit of the players has not dropped significantly, there is still a good vibe amongst the small squad and we have some pleasant characters in there. I'd like to know what Signor Pitino thinks but I haven't seen him.

Well, nobody said it would be easy. And just in case it wasn't tricky enough, Simone Tamburro picked up his 4th yellow card of the season and will receive an automatic one match ban, so we will be without our captain for the visit of Nocerina on Wednesday.