Search
On FM Scout you can chat about Football Manager in real time since 2011. Here are 10 reasons to join!

[FM08] American Calcio

Started on 23 June 2015 by tenthreeleader
Latest Reply on 8 August 2016 by tenthreeleader
Pages  
Monday, January 7
Venezia v Padova – Serie C1A


Sometimes I wonder if all the trouble I make for myself as a manager is really worth it. Then there are days like today, where I wonder even more.

We should have won at a canter today but we then got a taste of what we have been inflicting on the rest of Serie C1 late in today’s match at Pierluigi Penzo. The result of that sad situation was a five-goal thriller that didn’t need to be anywhere near as thrilling as it turned out to be.

The squad met at Euganeo at lunch for a final meeting and a team meal before we headed east late in the afternoon. Our mood was excellent and our focus was even better. Both the new players, Antonazzo and Caputo, were straight into the squad with Caputo in the starting XI.

They were determined to see their Padova careers off to positive starts, but Antonazzo wasn’t completely match fit yet so I wanted to break him in a little more slowly.

We arrived at Pierluigi Penzo two hours before kickoff and had a little time to relax in the visitors’ changing room prior to warmups.

I did nothing to change the focus of the group, which was quiet and confident. Finally, though, before the warmup began, I stepped to the front of the room and as one, the players looked to me for the team talk.

“Gentlemen, you have done brilliantly to make this match mean something tonight,” I began, and several of the players fluffed themselves up with the praise I offered. “Yet tonight is where it all starts. This is where you should want to be – playing for the top of the table in front of unfriendly fans. You’ve got a chance to go into this place and make a statement that you are here for the long haul. You’ve beaten this team already, on this very pitch – do it again and tell everyone you’re not to be trifled with.”

I saw looks of belief on their faces and I decided not to push too hard for fear of overheating the players.

“Watch for Marco Veronese, keep him under control and above all, don’t put yourself in exposed situations where their pace can exploit you,” I said. “As always, play hard for each other and help each other on the pitch. You can do it. Make it happen.”

Quietly, we then went out to do the business. Unfortunately, about 24,000 supporters came to the match dressed as green seats and benches, so the atmosphere in the stands wasn’t what I had hoped to see. There were just 3,618 in attendance tonight – which had to be hugely disappointing to the home club for a top of the table clash.

We started strongly but the match featured a fair amount of back-and-forth in the early going. Muzzi, who hasn’t been scoring goals of late, still found a way to contribute and that got us on the board twelve minutes into the match.

Orlandoni came forward to take a free kick about ten yards out of his box and put the ball right on Muzzi’s head forty yards downfield. Roberto brought the ball to ground with a wonderful first touch and found Gentile sneaking between the central defenders.

Gentile in turn hit Andrea with a delightful touch pass and he was off to the races, beating Giuseppe Aprea to his left-hand post for his fifth goal of the league season.

That got us going, but we also got two large, if unfortunate, breaks before halftime.

They came in the form of two Venezia substitutions, with their Brazilian midfielder Mateos going off after injuring himself issuing a hard challenge on 37 minutes – and their strong center half Emanuele Pesoli limping off injured one minute before half.

That sixty-second stretch was vital to us, as it turned out. Pesoli was unfortunately injured while defending Baú’s entry ball to the box for Varricchio that he played out for a corner.

To add insult to the literal injury, after he was helped off the pitch we proceeded to score our second goal from the ensuing set piece. This time it was Vasco Faísca who rose to head home from Gotti’s corner to score his first goal for the club.

I couldn’t have picked a better time for him to score it given the circumstances, and we headed to the changing room after dealing our opponents a serious blow.

I told the squad I was pleased with their effort but that they should not rest on what they had done. In the second half, it’s fair to say the referee took over the match.

The last time we saw Fabio Manera, he was sending off Crovari in our goalless draw at Cavese. I had no argument with him at that time, but I sure did by the time this match was over.

He gave 26 out of 41 fouls in the match to us, but despite it all we went three to the good on 74 minutes. We put together a first-class three-way passing play to set up the goal, and along the way I learned something about one of my new signings.

Baú, who didn’t start but was a 70th minute substitute for Gentile, started it by breaking free down the right touchline. He cut toward the middle to loft a wonderful forty-yard cross-field ball to Caputo, who took it in full flight.

He looked up, saw Varricchio moving and cut sharply to his left to get the ball wide before zig-zagging past the defender and back to his right.

He was free and clear and then whipped an inch-perfect cross to the middle. Massimiliano made no mistake and we looked like we would turn the match into a rout.

However, we soon had issues. After Varricchio’s goal, we ran into real trouble.

Four minutes after our third goal, Baú conceded a dodgy penalty when he was judged to have pushed Marco Veronese while the striker shot the ball into Orlandoni’s chest on 79 minutes. The home crowd reacted as you would expect they would, and Veronese wrongfooted Orlandoni to make it 3-1 with 11 minutes to play.

We’ve had an unusually high number of penalties awarded to us so far this season, but as the match wore on we learned how the rest of the league has lived.

Varricchio then went into the book on 83 minutes. Crovari, who had come on as a substitute for Paz, then was carded three minutes later for a challenge on Alberto Rebecca. The captain fumed, but silently – having learned his lesson both with this official and with me.

I then learned something about my other new signing.

Antonazzo, who was an 80th minute substitution for Gotti, was playing aggressive defense against Veronese on a frantic Venezia rush with two minutes left in normal time, and both players fell over in a tangle of arms and legs at the edge of our penalty area.

Manera rushed in and awarded a second penalty, and also showed Antonazzo a straight red for a professional foul.

Antonazzo reacted, but by the hardest he held his temper. Getting sent off on your debut is no way to make a good impression and he knew it.

Gleefully, Veronese grabbed the ball out of Orlandoni’s hands to put it on the spot, which raised my goalkeeper’s ire. I headed to a sideline television monitor to view a replay and I wasn’t happy when I was done.

I was now on my way to the fourth official to remonstrate. There was no clear goal-scoring opportunity but I had other fish to fry as well.

“They were pushing each other,” I yelled. “But worse, my guy wasn’t the last man! How could he get sent off?”

The official, as he had to do, waved away my protests, telling me that only one of the players in the exchange had the ball in a position to score. By that time, Veronese had already blasted the second penalty home to make it 3-2 and create the kind of atmosphere I was wondering if we might see at the beginning of the match.

It looked like everything might unravel. Down to ten men and with Donadoni thankfully on as a late substitution after the first penalty, I pulled back to a 4-4-1 formation with Muzzi dropped back to midfield and Varricchio as the lone up-front man.

Then I looked at the fourth official again, as he held up the board showing an incredible five minutes of stoppage time added for injuries I hadn’t seen.

I had made three substitutions that are supposed to account for thirty seconds apiece. Venezia, having made two of their alloted three moves in the first half due to injuries, only made one in the second half, so I was fuming over what I felt was too much time being added to the match.

They piled forward, and Veronese put a blazing shot off Orlandoni’s crossbar almost straight from our kickoff and subsequent gift of possession to the home team, which put my heart squarely in my throat.

At last, Manera sounded the full time whistle and what was a rout with eleven minutes to play turned into a very close shave indeed.

I shook hands perfunctorily with Favaretto as our supporters sang loudly to celebrate a result on our rival’s turf. I left the pitch shaking my head, the shouts and taunts of the Venezia supporters ringing in my ears.

We won, but at the end it sure hadn’t felt like it.

Venezia 2-3 Padova

# # #
“We’ll be appealing the red card,” I said brusquely at my post-match media gathering.

“It was right there on television – he wasn’t the last man and I feel he was wrongly sent off. I’m glad we played such a great match for the first eighty minutes because we sure needed it at the end.”

“Are the penalties going to even themselves out?” I was asked.

“I don’t count the balance,” I said. “I know some people do but we just have to deal with it as we go.”

“Do you think referee Manera is out to get you?” That was the ever-helpful Emiliani.

“No,” I answered. “We haven’t had good luck with him, but I won’t say he has anything against us. I am more concerned with our disciplinary record. This is our fourth red card of the season and we’ve also lost several players due to red-card suspensions. I will wait for the FA’s decision on this appeal before I decide what to do, because I do think the player was wrongly punished.”

“Gentile reached his yellow cards limit tonight as well,” Emiliani told me, which had slipped my mind.

“Another suspension,” I said. “We’ve done reasonably well with injuries for most of the season but it’s the suspensions that are really hurting us. We’ve done some great things this season and our win tonight means we are joint top with Sassuolo, but every point is going to be precious in the second half of the season and we need our complete team to have the best chance of getting them.”

“The penalties had to be disappointing.”

“No doubt about that,” I said, choosing my words carefully to avoid reprimand. “I’m not happy with the last ten minutes for a variety of reasons, but until tonight no one in our league had scored more than one goal against us. Venezia did tonight and credit them for that, but the manner in which it happened doesn’t please me.”

I did have nice things to say about Caputo, who looked very good in his first match in the shirt and really showed great energy throughout the ninety minutes.

“He is a good player, at least as good as we scouted and perhaps better once he fits into our system,” I said. “I am impressed with his work rate, his skill and above all his intensity. I have every reason to believe he will be a very good player for this club.”

With that, I dismissed the squad and prepared to go home. I turned out the light in the visiting manager’s office and prepared to leave.

I walked out the player’s tunnel and headed toward the coach, the last Padova representative to do so. I headed out the player’s gate toward the bus and heard a voice calling me.

“Rob, please wait.”

I turned, shocked, to find Patty standing along a far wall.

“Hi,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “Can we please talk?”
# # #
Tuesday, January 8

“In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol. It was the worst 20 minutes of my life.” – George Best

I didn’t sleep last night and deep down I didn’t like what I had to do.

I had a squad full of players who had to return home and I couldn’t hold them up. So I had to tell Patty I couldn’t talk with her at that moment.

“She won’t believe that,”
I thought to myself as I boarded the coach.

Right at that moment I wasn’t sure I really cared what she believed, so I turned my back to her as I got on the bus so she wouldn’t see that I was fighting back tears too. I then stayed up most of the night.

No matter what I do, I can’t seem to catch a break. I fall in love with Kate, I lose her, I forget about her, she comes back.

She comes back just in time to help wreck my relationship with the woman I fell in love with and then had to forget, until she comes back out of the blue last night.

It amazes me how this seems to keep happening.

It was a long and surprisingly lonely ride back to Padua last night but this morning, as I prepared to head to the ground, I did my very best to put it all out of my mind.

The first thing I did when I got to the office this morning was to tell Christina I wanted the paperwork to appeal Antonuzzo’s red card on my desk for signature by the end of the morning session. The more I thought about his sending off the angrier I became.

Christina, sensing my mood, was good about her reply.

“Of course, Rob,” she smiled. “I’ll have it for you by the break, if you like.”

I softened. “I’m sorry, Christina,” I said. “I’ve been out of sorts.”

“I should understand why,” she answered. “Signorina Myers has already called twice for you this morning.”

I raised my eyebrows. “She didn’t waste any time,” I thought.

“What did you tell her?”

“The first time, I told her that you were preparing for training and couldn’t be disturbed,” she said. “The second time, I told her I would let you know she had called and that you would prefer not to be disturbed at the office.”

I smiled bitterly.

“Well done,” I answered. I noted to myself that Patty had already gotten farther trying to contact me than I had when I called her office last month.

Christina had restored a measure of control to the situation for me. With the pressure facing me, I need all the control I can get.

# # #

Sunday’s match this week should fill us with a measure of confidence, especially after scoring three goals away to our table-topping rivals.

This week we have the return matchup at Manfredonia, the club we hammered 5-0 at Euganeo back in September.

We won’t face the same side we played earlier, though. They are much improved and we’ll have to get our heads down to get the result. The table pretty well says it all – we’re in a dogfight and we can’t afford slips.

We’ll have to go there without the injured Rabito and the suspended Gentile, so our top two central midfielders will be watching the action. I may well give Baú the start in the center of midfield, which would mean a return to the first team for Music.

Caputo really impressed me in his debut and he told media this morning that he was very pleased to have received the manager’s praise. He’s a good player and I would like to keep him fired up for as long as possible.

He also looked very good in training today, bouncing back quite well from playing the full ninety minutes yesterday. He appears to be a player who thrives on praise – unlike Sacchetti at the beginning of my tenure, who found it placed pressure on him.

I approached Caputo as a drill came to an end.

“Well done yesterday,” I offered, and he grinned.

“Thanks, boss,” he replied. “I’m glad to be here.”

“I can see that,” I smiled. “And it showed. Be ready for Sunday.”

With that, the conversation was over. He knew his role, I had communicated it to him in a fashion he liked, and player and manager understand each other. I think that is how it is supposed to work, right?

# # #
Christina was true to her word, and had the forms ready for signature at 10:30 when the players took a break.

I signed them, she faxed them off, and I will now wait for the FA to reject my appeal.

I harbor no illusions. I expect to be shot down but since Antonazzo’s sending off was not for violent conduct I can reasonably expect that his ban will not be extended.

By appealing, I am sending a message to my new player that I’m backing him. I also took him aside after the morning session and explained to him that though I wasn’t pleased he was sent off I didn’t consider it to be entirely his fault.

“I don’t want you in the position where you need to foul from behind,” I said. “You were both tangled up, I understand that, but you do need to be mindful of your opponent. Still, your sending off wasn’t necessary in my view.”

He was grateful to hear it, and promised to re-apply himself in training. He’s a player I need, and I think he’s a part of our future. So as he returned to training, he had been reassured and that did wonders for the rest of his day.

Now if only something would happen to do wonders for the rest of mine.

# # #
Wednesday, January 9
As expected, the FA has denied my appeal of Antonuzzo’s ban. The response I received said I did not have sufficient grounds to appeal.

Today at the daily press gaggle I disagreed, though gently.

“I had a television replay that was as plain as the nose on my face,” I said. “Those are my grounds for appeal. They are protecting their official and I understand that. My only concern is that clear and convincing video evidence evidently did not play a major factor in the decision. So we’ll have to get on with it.”

I suppose, considering the ease with which we handled Manfredonia in September, that if I had to pick a match to be without two key players this might be the one. Yet if I allow myself to think in such a manner for too long, something bad will happen along the Adriatic coast and we’ll have to gain ground all over again.

Today’s gathering also focused on our January 20 match which will have much more importance: the rematch against Sassuolo at Euganeo.

We’re now level with them on points, with identical records of ten wins, six draws and one loss. Of course, their win over us means we are second in the table on the tie-break and in a league where only the champion earns automatic promotion, the loss really sticks in our craws.

Still, I did my best to deflect talk away from Sassuolo and back onto Manfredonia where it belongs.

“We won’t be looking ahead,” I said. “It’s my job to keep us focused and the players’ responsibility to keep their heads on straight. We can’t look past this coming match and if we do we’ll have trouble.”

# # #

Caputo and Antonazzo both trained well today, so my man-management skills appear to be in mid-season form. I just wish I had the same skill off the pitch.

Finally, today, I talked with Patty.

She called again this morning, but this time she remembered when to call. She rang me during the lunch break, when she knows I am in my office.

Christina buzzed me on the intercom as I ate my lunch and asked: “Do you want to talk with Signorina Myers?”

There was really nothing else for it. If I didn’t, she’d keep trying and I thought I might finally be ready to face her. With self-confidence rare for matters off the field of play, I told Christina to transfer the call in.

“Rob?” Her voice quavered.

“Patty, hello,” I said. “I’m sorry it’s taken this long.” Or was I?

“Thank you for talking with me at all,” she said. “I just had to know if you would still speak to me.”

I would speak with her, but on my terms. My frustration immediately boiled to the top and I was surprised at the anger I suddenly felt.

“Yes, but what on earth happened?” I asked. “I was telling Kate I couldn’t be with her and you just walked out on me!”

“I didn’t like seeing her in your arms, and I think you can understand that,” she said. “We went almost three weeks after Rome without seeing each other, and after all that I went through with Peter, I just snapped when I saw you holding her. I thought you didn’t want me any more. I thought you were avoiding me…”

“Could we not have talked about it?” I asked. “I wasn’t avoiding you – you were the one who left the room, to go back to your office! I was telling her I couldn’t take her back, Patty! I was trying to do the right thing, and I lost you!”

Now she began to cry. “Rob, I know,” she sobbed. “Kate wrote me a letter and explained everything.”

“She what?”

“She wrote me a letter,” Patty explained. “She also wrote that you told her not to. Why would you do that?”

“How did she reach you?” I asked. “You never told me where you went – how did she find out?”

“Rob, think it through,” she said, with some irritation. “Remember, I had a relationship with Kate’s husband. He knew how to reach my family and Kate must have got it from him. After what he did to Kate, I’m sure the information wasn’t hard for her to get. Now how about answering my question? Why would you tell her not to write?”

“Because you made it pretty clear from your words that you didn’t want me any more,” I said. “I called the day after all this happened, too, and you wouldn’t talk to me. Words mean things, and so does silence. I can take a hint.”

“I was upset, and I hope you can understand that,” she said. “But Kate’s letter explained what she was doing.”

“All well and good, but here’s what I want to know, Patty. Why would you believe it from her, but not from me?”

# # #
Thursday, January 10

“A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.” – Oscar Wilde


We will travel down the east coast of Italy tomorrow, and spend Saturday away from home before Sunday’s match.

I want to avoid distractions, I need to avoid distractions, and while doing that, I also wouldn’t mind the chance to have a brief training session on the road on Saturday morning.

It’s time to get serious and with us finally not playing a match in midweek, thankfully our schedule allows us to get out of town early.

Frankly, that distraction includes Patty. We had a frank exchange of views yesterday and another one today – not angry this time, but with-the-bark-off honest that helped me understand her mindset, if not her reasoning, for leaving.

I also had a hard time figuring out why she came back.

“I had some follow-up work to do in the office and they’re putting me up in Venice until it’s done,” she said. “I’m here until the end of the month.”

“And then what?” I asked. “Going back home?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. “Paul wants to take me out. I haven’t seen him since we broke up.”

I said nothing in reply. To have spent all this time building a relationship, living and dying with it, and then to have her come full circle with somebody else was the ultimate insult.

# # #

So I didn’t mind getting out on the training ground today, where I once again took a regular rotation with my central defenders on a few drills.

“Are you going to register yourself for next season?” Sacchetti teased.

“Not unless your play makes it necessary,” I shot back. We’re still a loose group despite the pressure of the promotion race now starting to loom large.

I was very pleased with the work we did today and above all I am pleased with their focus. I told them so as we prepared to dismiss for the day.

“You’ve listened to what I told you, you’ve prepared well and now you need to maintain that focus right through to the kickoff on Sunday,” I said. “You are putting yourselves in great position to do something special and with this kind of application I believe you will succeed. Get a good night’s rest. The coach leaves at 10:00 tomorrow morning.”

# # #
Friday, January 11
Today’s trip down the Adriatic coast was great for the players but it meant I had five hours to sit by myself and think.

I can’t say I cared for that much, as long as I wasn’t thinking about the right things. Patty and I are speaking again, which is okay I suppose, but we’re dancing around each other like we did at the start of our relationship and I hate that.

Today I thought about whether I’m really interested in continuing to talk with her. It sounds like she is trying to make amends but really, I think she’s choosing a strange way to do it. In any event, it could really all be over in three weeks and if it is over, I’m sure it’s for good.

I’d just like to feel better about talking with her. I‘ve tried to encourage forthright conversation but if I’m going to talk with her and stay sane in the process I need to demand it. I presume she needs to heal, I know I need to heal, and the only way either of us can heal is if we get it out in the open.

So I e-mailed her.

Patty:

Let’s stop the nonsense. If you’re going to date Paul, great. Just leave me out of it, because I won’t be part of that conversation. If you want to talk to me, let’s really talk this out and get things in the open. I can’t go on like this.

Rob


We rolled southward and I enjoyed the drive. At last, my BlackBerry buzzed and I saw she had written me back. I took a deep breath and opened her message.

Rob:

That works for me. How about this coming week, in Padua?

Patty


I took a deep breath. In one of those cruel twists of irony, next week is the return Sassuolo match.

There are those in town who questioned my commitment to club when the stories hit media after the last match we played. Another loss to them would be a serious blow and the last thing I need is additional scrutiny either for me or for my players.

I thought long and hard before I answered the e-mail. I let a few miles pass under the wheels before I answered.

Patty:

Monday evening, 7:00, “Q” restaurant in Padua. Bring your appetite and your honest feelings. I’ll bring the checkbook and mine.

Rob

# # #
Saturday, January 12
I am wondering whether my decision to see Patty again was a good idea.

I thought about it on the bus trip, dreamed about it last night and obsessed about it today after our quick training session at Miramare. I just know that I have to put it all out of my mind tomorrow, as my top order of business.

Miramare itself is interesting – it only holds 4,000, with 3,000 seats, so even a modest typical Serie C1 crowd will nearly fill the stands. I was quite glad to arrive – when we got here I could concentrate on my job again and the change of pace was welcome.

There’s also this to consider about Miramare: the pitch is very small. It’s just 100 x 60 meters, compared to our 105 x 67 and the FIFA minimum standard of 90 x 45. Our wide play will be seriously compromised if we don’t move the ball quickly and accurately, as the Manfredonia defenders will find us easier to mark on the smaller pitch.

It also gives me serious misgivings about Crovari’s role in this match.

With Antonazzo out through suspension the only way I can remove Crovari from the XI is to have Cotroneo play in place of Pablo Paz at right back while Paz moves to the holding role as I have increasingly preferred of late.

Especially for tomorrow, I’m seriously considering this. With so much importance in this match on moving the ball quickly, I can’t afford to have Federico dawdle on the ball when he gets it.

All the players I mentioned are in the traveling squad, so I have some decisions to make before finally deciding on the group that will start tomorrow’s match.

I thought about it for a good part of the afternoon while watching other games on television. It’s a difficult decision and it’s one I need to get right. The rest of the league won’t wait.

# # #
Sunday, January 13
Manfredonia v Padova – Serie C1A


“You can’t do better than go away from home and get a draw.” – Ron Atkinson

We played a very disappointing road draw against the 15th place side in the league, but despite all that, my glass is half-full instead of half-empty.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m very unhappy that we didn’t win. Manfredonia, though much improved from the last time we saw them, is still in the playdown places and we should have been better.

I also went with my heart instead of my head and got the holding midfielder selection wrong. I could kick myself for that.

However, I do think we should have won the game if for no other reason than we put the ball in the net and didn’t get credit for it.

As I expected, Manfredonia packed men behind the ball in the early going and dared us to break through, and when we didn’t, they came out of their shell and showed us a vastly improved version of offensive football.

There’s no other way to say it – they were certainly our equals in the first half and right up until first half injury time we didn’t impose ourselves on the match in the slightest.

Until we got a late corner, that is. Gotti’s effort swung beautifully into the six-yard box where Faísca rose directly behind Varricchio and in the general vicinity of two defenders, and headed past Manolo Leacche to put us ahead on what was probably going to be the last action of the first half.

Only it didn’t count. Referee Luca Foti had his arm up to signal a foul on Faísca. The only problem was that he had “fouled” his teammate instead of a Manfredonia player and I just about freaked out.

“Are you serious?” I yelled, managing to make myself heard over the 1,716 supporters present for the match. That was no mean feat. “It was his own player!”

My vociferous protests drew loud whistles from the home supporters and Foti blew for halftime. Immediately, I saw Crovari go to him and engage the referee in conversation. He was tactful about it, and I gave a strident opinion to the fourth official as we left the pitch.

“That was a ridiculous call,” I snapped, and the official didn’t say much in reply. He knew it too – Foti had got it wrong.

My teamtalk centered on playing angry. The players weren’t happy they had lost a goal to a bad call, and we headed out for the second half fully energized.

However, we ran into a home team filled with confidence, and buoyed by having a perfectly good goal taken off the board for us. They ran, they passed well, they played extremely hard, and they created chances with nearly embarrassing ease at times.

Fortunately for us, they were also extremely wasteful. Only three of their seventeen attempts for the match were on target but their industry kept the ball away from us for crucial stretches of the second half.

I did wish Gentile and his more cultured finishing skills could have been out there as well, as we ourselves pumped shot after shot wide of the target. We saw just four of our fourteen attempts at goal reach Leacche, which didn’t help my mood.

The second half, as frantic as it was, accomplished little except to formalize the split in the points. Foti blew the whistle for full time and I tried to figure out what I was going to say to the team.

As the squad sat after the match, I retreated into the small visiting manager’s office at Miramare, checking scores. What I saw stunned me:

Sassuolo 0-1 Lecco
Venezia 0-0 Legnano

“That can’t be right,” I said. “Bottom beats top away from home?”

I made a quick phone call to the offices and heard that yes, it was true, tail-end Lecco had shocked the top club in the league at the same place they had dismantled my club. Too, Venezia had contrived a way to not score at home against mid-table Legnano, meaning they didn’t gain any ground on us.

I walked into the changing room where the players expected a roasting. They didn’t get it.

“I’m not happy with how we played today, but you’re top of the league,” I said. “Sassuolo lost at home to Lecco.”

The players reacted with satisfaction and I then got them quieted down.

“That doesn’t mean I’m happy with what we did here today, gentlemen,” I said. “You got a point and that’s great but we need to be better next weekend. Sassuolo will come ready to play you and ready to try to take your spot in the table. Be ready.”

# # #

“It appears we were the least bad of the top three today and that’s why we’re top,” I said to media, with a slightly impish expression on my face.

“What about the disallowed goal?”

I took a deep breath and knew I risked quite a bit by speaking my mind.

“Brutal,” I finally said. “Luca Foti is a good official but that call was just wrong. Faísca scored a good goal and we didn’t get credit for it.”

“Everyone struggled in the top three today,” Emiliani said. “Do you feel lucky to be on top of the table?”

“On a season-long basis, no, but on the basis of today, I think so,” I said. “Manfredonia was a vastly improved team from the last time we saw them. They were better, sometimes they were better than we were, and I won’t say we deserved all three points today. I wish we could have matched them, especially off the ball, but again, the others stumbled today too. It’s still anyone’s race.”

“Caputo had another strong match today.”

“He was excellent,” I said with a smile. “He was man of the match and showed why. He has come here with great energy, and has given us a real spark from the left side. I think we were missing an element to our game with Gentile out of the squad and I am looking forward to seeing Gentile, Baú and Caputo in the same lineup again.”

Manfredonia 0-0 Padova

# # #
Monday, January 14
Today was a day off for the senior squad but not for the manager.

I spent the whole day viewing Sassuolo video to prepare for Sunday’s showdown at Euganeo.

The big news of the day was that I received no sanction for my published comments from yesterday’s match. The afternoon editions read that the football authorities “have had no comment”.

That’s a moral victory for me, but unfortunately it won’t lead to an actual victory for my squad. I can’t cash it in at the points bank.

The headline of Emiliani’s opinion piece today was one I should have expected: “Ridgway: We’re lucky to be top”. Next time I’ll know better.

The rest of his piece, though, focused on how the officials are “turning against” Padova after the penalty decisions at Venezia, Antonazzo’s red card and the disallowed goal at Manfredonia.

That’s part of the ethos for some people, and I really had nothing to say about it when I received calls from other media this morning. I’ve had a minor victory with the FA today. I’m not going to flush it away by complaining about referee bias.

On the whole, the officials have been quite good to us. The number of penalties we’ve been given still leads the league and since so much of our offense of late has come from set pieces, especially corners, we have to use muscle to get players into position to score.

Usually, if a player has control of his body, we’re fine. But at other times, like yesterday, we get whistled. Rightly or wrongly, that’s football and I have to deal with it. I’ll have no further comment on the officiating because, at least for today, I can quit while I’m ahead.

# # #

Tonight I met Patty for dinner at the “Q”.

I thought about that all day today as well, and finally decided that a head-on confrontation might not be pleasant but if I’m to move on, it was necessary. In other words, I stuck to my guns.

I was as nervous as the first time I met her there, and ironically enough it was for the same reason – the thought of her with Paul, who I have never met.

I arrived first and was shown to a table out of view of the patrons per my advance request. I sat, looked at a wine list and waited for her to arrive.

7:00 arrived and passed. So did 7:05, and then 7:10. I checked to see if I had e-mail from her, and finally my mobile phone buzzed.

“Rob, it’s me,” she said, seemingly out of breath. “I’m near the car park and I’ll be in soon. I’ve been on the phone with Paul on the way from Venice.”

“Don’t let me keep you,” I said, but she cut me off.

“I was telling him I’m not ready to date him yet,” she said. “Is that okay?”

“That’s your business,” I said. “What we need to say is to each other.”

“I couldn’t agree more. But, I thought I’d let you know why I was late.”

Moments later, there she was – and she made me do a double-take.

To say she looked different from the last time I saw her would be an understatement. That night, she was in tears in the car park at the Pierluigi Penzo. Tonight, she was just a vision.

She wore a purple dress that flattered her red hair beautifully, sheer hose and pumps. She gave me a genuine smile when she saw my reaction.

“At least you don’t completely detest me,” she said, approaching the table. I rose to greet her and extended my hands in greeting.

Happily for me, she took them briefly and we sat down. The waiter appeared to start our evening and we settled down to talk things through.

# # #

“That night, I hated you.”

That was a shock to hear.

“That was a pretty sharp turn,” I said. “The night before you told me how much you appreciated my love for you.”

“I did, which is why it hurt so much to see you holding Kate,” she said. “You had to see the look in her eyes, Rob. She genuinely loves you and it really showed. I just felt like I couldn’t be what I wanted to be to you and what you obviously want. She could.”

“What made me so upset was you not understanding what I was doing,” I said. “I was turning her down so I could be with you. And then you got up and walked out. I couldn’t believe what I saw – but I never hated you. That’s a strong word.”

“It is, but it was what I felt,” she said. “It’s why I didn’t answer the phone when you called the next day. I just couldn’t. I was seeing red just thinking about you.”

The waiter then brought our dinner and we stopped our conversation for a few moments. Finally, I spoke.

“Patty, that just wasn’t fair.”

Her eyes misted.

“I know it wasn’t, and I’m sorry,” she said. “I actually went back to the States over Christmas until I got called back for January. When I got back, I found this on my desk.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out Kate’s letter, handing it to me. She managed a smile.

“We even come full circle with letters,” she said. “We both got one from your ex.”

Dear Patty:

I just wanted to make one attempt to contact you after we met in Venice. I hope you don’t mind.

You should know Rob has nothing to do with this contact. In fact, he asked me not to attempt to write what you are now reading. Yet, I have to say what I have to say.

What I did that night wasn’t fair to anyone, including and especially myself. However, you need to know he is blameless. He was turning me down when you walked into the room.

Lately I’ve gone through quite a bit of personal hardship. You know that as well as anyone having gone through similar feelings yourself with Peter. I don’t want you to have to go through it again with Rob.

I love Rob dearly and always will. That said, even though I’m not very happy at the moment I also realize I have to do the right thing.

Rob loves you. What I had with him is in the past. I don’t know if you can save your relationship but please know I deeply regret what happened and I wish you nothing but the best.

Kind regards,
Kate Southerland McGuire


I folded the letter and handed it back to Patty, who looked back at me sadly. A single tear raced down her right cheek.

“Rob, I’m so sorry,” she said. “I don’t know if you can forgive me but I just wanted you to know.”

I honestly didn’t know what to think. She wasn’t asking me to take her back, but instead was asking for simple forgiveness.

Yet even though she wanted forgiveness, I noted that Kate hadn’t asked for any in her note – and neither had she apologized for her role in what had happened.

Our eyes met and I took a sip of my wine. “You don’t still hate me, do you?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t be here if I did,” she said.

I raised my glass to her, made up my mind and nodded my head. “Then here’s to forgiveness.”
# # #
Tuesday, January 15
Our parting this time was much more amicable than our last.

Regardless of whether we’re dating or not, I do like not leaving Patty in tears, and I prefer not to be upset myself. So today’s sunrise was a little easier to take. That’s a good thing, because I have serious work to do.

The senior squad reported today ready to work but a bit somber. Sunday’s match at Manfredonia did put us top of the league, but Emiliani’s column this morning has put pressure on one of my key players.

Muzzi is in a huge dry spell and that has caught the attention of our pre-eminent football writer. He’s now gone nearly nine hours without a goal. Muzzi, that is, not Emiliani. I don’t think Stefano has scored since his senior prom.

Truth be told, Muzzi’s last goal came when I had a girlfriend, so that tells you it was a long time ago.

His last successful strike came against Ternana – on October 21. He’s starting to take some heat for that, and some of that criticism is understandable since he’s our highest wage earner.

However, he has also played a wonderful role for us in other ways. He is a pacy player despite his age, and that means defenses have to account for him. Slower teams have to give him space with a deep defensive line, which opens up room for players like Baú and Varricchio.

The fact that he isn’t scoring is annoying to me from the point of view of our goal difference, but enough of his teammates have picked up the slack to still make him an automatic selection for me.

The best part of it is that Roberto believes in himself. I do need him to score, though, and told him today at training that I’d even put him on the penalty spot if it meant a goal that would get him going again.

He appreciated that. I try never to put an individual need ahead of the team, but a confident Roberto Muzzi could make all the difference in our play-in to the end of the season. I have to have him happy, if not scoring goals, and I’m ready to help him.

Today, though, I had to reply to media and specifically to Emiliani.

“He hasn’t scored much, that is true, but as you know there are ways players can help the club that don’t involve putting the ball in the net.”

“You’ll need to spin that better,” Emiliani informed me, using the American euphemism.

“I don’t think I do,” I said simply. “You need to take an objective look at his play.”

“You’ve got Paponi rotting on your bench,” he informed me. “A superior player.”

“In certain circumstances,” I corrected. “The team selection is mine and we’re top of the table. How about you ease up on these players a little bit? Do you want to be the one accused of unsettling them?”

“It wouldn’t be me, it would be their play,” he insisted.

“Convenient,” I said. “You unsettle them and then blame poor play for unsettling the players. It doesn’t work that way and you know it.”

# # #
Just caught up on this, really good read man. Definitely enjoying it.
1
Thanks so much! This is a daily diary, and it's only January, so as the old saying goes, "miles to go before we sleep." Thanks so much for reading and for the comment!
___

Wednesday, January 16
Our matchup on Sunday is drawing media attention from outside the region since it’s a top-of-the-table clash.

This means unfamiliar faces in my media conversations and my running love-hate relationship with Emiliani took a rather interesting twist today.

It seems he’s the only writer allowed to criticize our play, which would have made him a great Brooklyn Dodgers fan back in the States. He could call us “Bums” like their loyal fans called the old ballclub, but by golly nobody else had better or there’d be a fight.

Today’s piece on us had to do with criticism from outside sources and he, in essence, told doubters to get lost. He wrote:

“People who do not understand the club and its traditions are telling us the job cannot be done. It can be done, but the proper applications must be made of players and talents. Manager Ridgway has shown himself to be reasonably adept in his tactics and occasionally willing to listen to more learned opinion. This opinion comes from those who have experience in this club and know how it should be run. In partnership, we can achieve success.”

I laughed as I read the piece in my office this morning. “More learned opinion,” I smiled. “In other words, his.”

I also had a talk with Muzzi to see how he’s handling the criticism over his recent scoring slump.

“I’m doing fine and I’m going to be fine,” he said. “They don’t bother me as long as I have your confidence.”

“You do,” I said. “We need you out there on Sunday and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

With that he ran off to training and worked hard. I expect criticism will come if he doesn’t start scoring soon, but the team comes first, and Roberto helps us win. I maintain that, I will continue to maintain that, and I don’t care who criticizes me for it.
# # #
Thursday, January 17
I saw Patty again this evening and it was a little more positive.

Again, she came to see me and we were both glad the air was cleared the other night. After training I retreated to my apartment and actually made dinner (I’m not that bad at it, to the surprise of some people).

As I waited for her to arrive, I noticed I was as nervous tonight as I was on our first dinner date in Venice months ago. I felt like I was starting over, in a sense, and I had to remind myself quite forcefully that we’ve come to no decisions on any future we may have.

That is down to a number of reasons, most notably that I’m not sure she wants one. My reaction tonight told me what I needed most to know – that my feelings for her are still active. I knew I needed to watch myself carefully.

Finally, I started to feel the strain a bit and sat down in my easy chair to watch anything on television that wasn’t football until she arrived.

I flicked on the power and realized that my DVD of Casablanca was still in the machine, giving you an idea of how much time I have for personal entertainment.

It was on the famous final scene, where Rick Blaine puts Victor Laszlo and Ilsa on the plane out of Casablanca. Renault and Blaine are watching the plane taxi to the runway:

RENAULT
Well, Rick, I was right. You are a sentimentalist.

RICK
Stay where you are. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

RENAULT
What you just did for Laszlo, and that fairy tale that you invented to send Ilsa away with him. I know a little about women, my friend. She went, but she knew you were lying.

RICK
Anyway, thanks for helping me out.

RENAULT
I suppose you know this isn’t going to be pleasant for either of us, especially for you. I’ll have to arrest you, of course.

RICK
As soon as the plane goes, Louis.

I thought that watching Rick say goodbye to the love of his life was not a good omen for my evening.

Just then the doorbell rang and I ran out of thinking time. I got up, and opened the door to find Patty on the other side.

“Hi,” I smiled, standing aside to allow her to enter.

“Casablanca,” she smiled, as she walked past me, placing her purse on the couch. “I didn’t know you liked that movie.”

“It’s the story of my life,” I smiled, and she turned to me.

“Really,” she said. “I can’t imagine why that would be.”

# # #
Friday, January 18
I’ve rarely been as angry – and I mean in my entire life – as I am this evening. I’m mad enough to type with my fists, or better yet, use them.

I took an extraordinary step after reading the local paper. I took Masolini aside after training today and gave him a stern charge.

“I want you with me through Sunday’s match whenever I am around the media – especially Emiliani,” I told him. “Today’s article was absolutely infuriating and I will need your help to keep from punching him.”

The subject of my rage was the first part of his Sunday match preview piece, which was, unfortunately for him, headlined “Sfortuna Patricia”.

Loosely translated, the headline means “Bad Luck Patricia”, and was a story on how we had been seen together at the Q restaurant. He was unsparing in his comments and I plan to be equally unsparing in my reply.

Sfortuna Patricia
I have found Calcio Padova manager Rob Ridgway to be a reasonable man but serious questions must be raised about his priorities in light of the story appearing elsewhere in today’s edition.

Patricia Myers, the adorable American who so thoroughly distracted the man in charge of Biancoscudati’s fortunes before the match at Sassuolo, is back – just before the rematch between the clubs.

Sunday’s match is important. It will decide the ascendant club in the current Serie C1A season.

One must therefore wonder why there does not appear to be total concentration on the part of the manager, who has been guilty of poor application of his resources and puzzling decisions at times this season even as Padova has succeeded in the table. It is also fair to ask chairman Marcello Sestaro whether this concerns him.

These unfortunate facts are why the return of Padova’s “bad-luck woman” is so puzzling.

Sources indicated the two, who had spent considerable time together – in Venezia, no less – earlier this season, were seen together at a Padua restaurant earlier this week. They have been virtually inseparable ever since.

Ridgway’s well-publicized flameouts with both Englishwoman Kate McGuire and in November with the American Myers have served to distract him from his task.

This latest news, which has not been confirmed by anyone associated with the club but is common knowledge around the city, should be a cause for significant concern among loyal supporters.

There is much work to do before any thought of promotion to Serie B can be entertained. We as fans suggest the manager get to it.


# # #

I’m mad for two main reasons.

First, I was upset when the papers first reported on Patty. She doesn’t deserve that kind of scrutiny.

Second, it is none of anyone’s business how I spend my free time if it doesn’t break the law. Period.

Last time, Patty wasn’t terribly upset about what the media did to her. This time, she was plenty upset and I couldn’t blame her. I called her when the article broke this morning and told her she should expect to get questions.

“I’m absolutely furious,” I spat. “There was no call for that. I don’t go around digging into their personal lives – why should they with ours?”

“I don’t want to distract you,” she said. “If we are thinking of trying to rebuild our relationship I don’t want to have to live for other people. It drives me crazy!”

“Just understand that no matter what happens, I’ll support you,” I promised. “This was so unfair, to you, to me, to my players, you name it!”

For one horrific moment I realized I had just promised to support her if she went back to Paul, but I had said what I had said. I couldn’t pressure her, and I knew I needed some time to think things through myself.

“Look at it this way, Rob,” she said. “It’s not like I have a whole lot to go back to anyway. That means good and bad get taken together. We may as well try.”

“I want you to think about what’s best for you and what’s best for us, and I don’t want it to come from you saying ‘we may as well’,” I said. “Look, Patty, we both went through a lot of hurt recently and if we’re going to be a couple again we have to make the right decisions. One of them is not rushing someplace we aren’t ready for because of something another person writes in the paper. It hurt too much to lose you the first time to risk that happening again.”

There was a brief silence, and then she gave me an unguarded observation.

“Then I will have to adjust,” she said. “I am through making bad decisions, Rob. It’s time to get it right and if you’ll let me I want to take the time to make a good decision about you. I wish we could talk about this in person but it seems our hand is being forced at the moment.”

“Please come to the match on Sunday,” I said. “I’d like to stop the talking and after we get a result will be the best time I can think of to do it.”

“I don’t like being accused,” she said. “I’ll be there and if you win, I’ll be happy to help you stop the garbage in the press.”
# # #
tenthreeleader's avatar Group tenthreeleader
9 yearsEdited
And now a reminder that this is fact 2008 ...
___

Saturday, January 19

It’s funny – there’s another sporting figure with a much higher profile who has had similar problems to mine, and just within the last week.

NFL quarterback Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys is getting flak from bloggers and angry fans for his highly publicized relationship with the fetchingly beautiful Jessica Simpson.

The Cowboys lost in the NFL playoffs to the lightly regarded New York Giants last weekend and Romo’s relationship with his girlfriend is now under scrutiny from some people who have a hard time dealing with the loss.

It seems he’s spent some high-profile time around her, and she’s been in attendance on certain other days where the Cowboys haven’t played well. So he is open to criticism I’m sure he doesn’t like.

I’ve never been a Cowboys fan, so I can’t say I minded seeing them lose. But I can certainly say I would mind being treated like he has been. People in sport do get to have personal lives and as long as you aren’t being a complete clot about it, you should certainly have the right to live that life the way you choose.

In this regard, I envy someone like Paul Scholes, the quiet man of Manchester United. Not only is he a complete professional and a hell of a fine footballer, he’s also almost completely out of the public eye. I don’t know how he does it, but when he doesn’t want to be seen, he simply isn’t seen. I admire that.

Meanwhile, here I am, managing a much, much smaller club and I can’t keep my name and girlfriend’s picture out of the papers. Sometimes life isn’t fair.
# # #

Despite all the garbage, I do think we’re ready for the match.

Muzzi will keep his place and even though I didn’t speak with media today by design, I’ll have no problem telling them why after the match tomorrow.

We’re a better club than we were in September. We’ve got a couple of new players who we think will make us better in March than we are now. It’s time to make our move. We intend to do so.

# # #

You are reading "[FM08] American Calcio".

FMS Chat

Stam
hey, just wanted to let you know that we have a fb style chat for our members. login or sign up to start chatting.