(FM16) Il Ritorno: Parma Calcio

2016-09-16 14:50#237130 Justice : The three biggest games of Parma's recent history. Do us proud!

We'll try our best man!

PARMA SEAL RETURN TO SERIE A TIM

18 May 2018

The Parma fans celebrate wildly after Parma’s 2-1 victory over Empoli sends the club back into Serie A.
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- Parma seal return to top flight with 2-1 victory over nearest rivals Empoli
- Victory starts mass celebrations in the city
- Club will compete in top flight for first time since they were relegated to Serie D

Parma have today secured their return to Serie A for the first time since the 2014/2015 season, in which they finished 20th in the division before being relegated to Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian football, after they were declared bankrupt. However under manager Paolo Vanoli, the club has been guided through Serie D and Lega Pro last season, before this year Vanoli has now guided Parma to promotion from Serie B after a 2-1 victory over nearest rivals Empoli on the final day of the season secured a place in next season’s top flight. The achievement comes, despite some poor form from the team over the last couple of months and many fans were fearing the worst going into this game, although an impressive performance saw Parma promoted and Empoli consigned to just a place in the Play Offs.

A place in Serie A comes with lucrative awards, including more prize money as well as being able to attract a quality of player that previously the club was unable to. It also sees the club freed from the wage cap that clubs in Serie B are subjected too and manager Paolo Vanoli claimed ”it’s going to be an interesting summer where hopefully we can develop this squad into one worthy of competing in the top flight.”

The manager also gave his views on the teams achievement after they won promotion to Serie A with the third of three straight promotions. ”The work this team has put in over the last few years has been absolutely amazing and everyone associated with this team can be extremely proud of what we’ve done. I came into this team looking down in the dumps after relegation to Serie D, but the club has risen to the task at hand and at last we are back in the top flight. I don’t really know what else to say.”

The club chairman, Nevio Scala, who helped save and rebuild the club after it was declared bankrupt, claimed ”This is the best day in the clubs recent history. The work that has been done in the last three years is actually amazing and now we’ve earnt our place back in the elite of Italian football and we all can’t wait to get started ahead of what is going to be an amazing season next year. We, that’s me and the fans, have complete faith in Paolo Vanoli and his ability to help this team have a successful campaign in Serie A next year and it’s going to be an extremely exciting season.”

Francesco Corapi, the midfielder who was signed in the summer after the clubs relegation to Serie D, and who has played in all three divisions over the course of the last three years claimed ”This is a massive achievement and the lads are all extremely happy. We’ve all come into this club and helped to build this amazing team bond, which was founded by the manager and now look we’ve achieved. Thank you to the fans for the last three years and for sticking with us, but we’re back now!”

Terrific achievement, many congratulations!

2016-09-17 15:25#237146 Justice : Terrific achievement, many congratulations!

Thanks man! Serie A we're coming for you!

WHAT NEXT FOR PAOLO VANOLI AND PARMA?

25 May 2018

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- Two times UEFA Cup Winners completed return to Serie A last week
- Paolo Vanoli has led club through all three of Italy’s lower leagues
- Big summer ahead for club as they prepare for the challenges of Serie A

Last week, a 2-1 victory over second placed Empoli, meant that Parma leapfrogged the former Serie A side into second place and meant that Parma secured their place in Serie A ahead of the 2018/2019 season. It came as a huge sigh of relief for Parma and their fans after a disastrous run of form had looked to ruin their chances of being promoted, but the side have now done it and will be contesting the likes of Juventus, Internazionale and Napoli next season. For players like Francesco Corapi, Alessio Innocenti and Rodrigo Alborno, who have stayed with the club throughout their rise through the ranks, they will be hoping that they can keep their places in the squad ahead of an even more competitive season as it is expected that there will be a few new faces in the squad. In this feature, we will look at the key areas and issues that Paolo Vanoli will need to address this summer ahead of a big season ahead of them in the top flight.

Tactical System

Parma started the season, utilising the 4411 or 442 system that they had employed during their Lega Pro and Serie D campaigns to great results. At the start of the season it paid dividends as the club continued its fine run of form and sat atop of the Serie B table and looked guaranteed to secure promotion to Serie A after a fantastic run of form and a long unbeaten run at the start of the season.

However after a defeat to Hellas Verona in November the wheels appeared to come off and Parma’s tactical system seemed to flop a little bit. They recovered for a little while before they went on a poor run during December, instrumented by the defeat to Juventus. After a four match winless run in all competitions, Paolo Vanoli appeared to use different systems to try and find a winning formula, and the teams poor performances at the end of March and during April, were partly down to Paolo Vanoli trying to use different systems to try and end the run.
Ahead of their Serie A campaign next year, Vanoli has to find and decide on a tactical system that will work in the top flight against world class players like Paul Pogba and Paolo Dybala presuming they do not leave the division this summer.

Defensive Issues

Arlind Ajeti, pictured here playing for FC Basel, was one of a few defenders to have underwhelmed at Ennio Tardini this year.

Another key issue for Paolo Vanoli to address is the clubs defence. The back line at the club has been plagued by inconsistency this year, with players capable of putting in good performances at Serie B level, playing poorly all season. Out of the clubs central defenders; Arlind Ajeti, Fabiano Santacroce, Yoan Severin, Riccardo Brosco, Carl Medjani and Norbert Gyomber, the latter was the only one to achieve an average rating of over 6.75 over the course of the season, with all of the aforementioned players underwhelming massively. Ajeti, Brosco and Medjani were all additions either last summer or in January and did nothing to cement their place in the first team, and it seems likely that Ajeti and Brosco will not have their loan moves made permanent whilst Medjani is in talks with English side Crewe ahead of a possible transfer.

Fabiano Santacroce and Yoan Severin were both good performers for Parma in their Lega Pro campaigns but have failed to step up to the plate in Serie B and it remains to be seen whether they will still be at the club next year. Severin, though does still have youth on his side and could well be an important player for Parma in Serie A next year if he continues to develop. Defensively, Parma need to sort it out, otherwise next year, against world class attackers like Paolo Dybala they will be torn apart.

Key Players

Niccolo Belloni has been one of Parma’s standout performers during this season, scoring 8 goals and assisting 11 as Parma achieved promotion.

Another issue that perhaps cannot be addressed but will have to be monitored in the season ahead is how Parma’s key players from this season and the previous two perform. Francesco Corapi, Rodrigo Alborno, Alessio Innocenti and Simone Corazza all played for Parma in Serie D and have continued to impress through the league system and were big players for the side as they earnt promotion to Serie A this year. Raffaele Di Gennaro, Niccolo Belloni and Denis Baumgartner have played for the club since they were in the Lega Pro. However, as is often seen, a key player in the lower tiers may not be a key player in the top flight. For Paolo Vanoli and Parma to have a successful year next year, they need to make sure that they do their absolute best to keep players like Belloni and Baumgartner in fine form, as they are big players for this team. Baumgartner should continue to develop and playing top flight football might be just what the young Slovakian international needs to take his game to the next level. However the whole team is going to be coming up against top quality players and whether or not they can have the same impact remains to be seen.

Transfers

Victor Faizulin, the Zenit St. Petersburg and Russia midfielder, is one of a number of players being linked with a transfer to Parma.

With promotion to Serie A secured, the quality of player that Parma can sign has increased massively. The lure of top flight football and the ability to qualify for European competition, although unlikely for Parma this year will see Paolo Vanoli able to try and sign a different calibre of player than is available to sides in Serie B or Lega Pro. The rumours have been circulating for a while now. Making sure that the right signings are made is massively important for Vanoli.

An experienced central midfielder is needed. Riccardo Montolivo has been a long time target for Vanoli, but recently announced his retirement from the game upon the expiration of his contract at AC Milan. It seems that since Montolivo's announcement, Vanoli has turned his attentions to Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Victor Faizulin whose contract expires in June. The midfielder brings plenty of experience, including World Cup and Champions League with him and would be a welcome addition to the squad.

Of course, the major issue, has already been talked about. The teams defence needs addressing and players like Rodrigo Ely of AC Milan and Nicolo Cherubin of Bologna have been linked with the club. Perhaps additions to the coaching team to better prepare the defence are needed too. Pedro Pereira, who spent this season on loan at the club, has already had his deal made permanent, meaning Paolo Vanoli has kept hold of one of his best defenders.

The Manager Himself

The final factor that Parma need to consider is the manager himself. The clubs rise has not gone unnoticed by clubs across Europe. Just last year, teams like Nice, Southampton and Sampdoria all declared an interest in the manager who has taken Parma from Serie D to Serie A with three consecutive promotions. Parma know that the manager is a pivotal part to their rise and the fans are desperate for him to stay. Vanoli has done nothing to suggest he is considering leaving but should a big club with the calibre of Southampton come knocking again, he couldn’t be blamed for at least being interested.

Next season will certainly be the most challenging yet but if you can pull through it with your head above the water and away from relegation, you'll be heading towards stardom!

Huge congrats mate, I believe you can keep this team afloat next season!

Fantastic Story! The target has to be to survive Serie A and i believe you can and then kick on and win things with them.

2016-09-18 12:33#237167 Justice : Next season will certainly be the most challenging yet but if you can pull through it with your head above the water and away from relegation, you'll be heading towards stardom!

Yeah you're right! Next season will be extremely difficult but hopefully we can have a good summer and avoid the drop next year!

2016-09-18 13:22#237172 BeanyUnited : Huge congrats mate, I believe you can keep this team afloat next season!

Thanks mate! Hopefully man but a mid table finish would not go unwanted!

2016-09-18 16:17#237176 ML Scouter : Fantastic Story! The target has to be to survive Serie A and i believe you can and then kick on and win things with them.

Thanks man glad you like it! Yeah survival is the primary concern and hopefully we'll start getting silverware in the trophy cabinet room within a few years!

PARMA REVEAL KITS FOR TOP FLIGHT RETURN

28 June 2018

Parma last played in Serie A in the 2014/2015 season where they finished bottom of the table before being relegated to Serie D.
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- Parma unveil new kits ahead of their first season in Serie A since 2014/2015 season
- Kits modelled by Niccolo Belloni, Denis Baumgartner and Norbert Gyomber
- Nevio Scala hopes kits will be remembered as the kit Parma wore in successful first season

Parma have today unveiled their home, away and third kits for the upcoming 2018/2019 season, in which they will participate in Serie A for the first time in 4 years. The club’s home kit, once again retains its blue and yellow hoops with the yellow being more prominent in this year’s edition. Last year’s third kit, which saw the club play in purple and white hoops has now been adopted as the club’s away kit after being well received by the teams fans, whilst the white and black kit that was for a while Parma’s home kit has now been adopted as the team’s third kit.

Of the club’s players who modelled the new kits at the official launch, Norbert Gyomber, the oldest of the trio claimed ”The reactions to the blue and yellow kit, especially last year was fantastic and the fans are really getting behind this move by the club to embrace it’s history. All three kits look really slick and it’s going to be pretty cool to go out onto any field against teams like Juventus, Napoli and Internazionale wearing kits like this.”

The teams Chairman, Nevio Scala, also gave his thoughts on the kits claiming ”It was a bold move a few years ago to have the kits redesigned to include the blue and yellow hoops but the fans loved it. The sales of shirts are at their highest rate than they have been for a long time which is obviously brilliant. Hopefully we can have a Stadium that is near capacity this season and have a wall of our fans wearing these kits which will create a powerful backdrop for the lads to play on.”

SERIE A TIM FIXTURES RELEASED

30 June 2018

Serie A football is returning to the Ennio Tardini this year, with Fiorentina being the first visitors to the stadium.
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- Fixtures for Parma’s first Serie A campaign since 2014/2015 finally released
- Parma to face Juventus in first game back in the top flight
- Paolo Vanoli’s side will face Juventus, AC Milan and Lazio in their first ten fixtures

The fixtures for the 2018/2019 season have finally been released today with Parma being handed a difficult start to the season. Paolo Vanoli’s side will face Champions Juventus at the Juventus Stadium in their first game of the season on 26th August, before a week later Fiorentina will visit the Ennio Tardini in Parma’s first home game of the season. The next five fixtures are considerably easier for Parma as they will play fellow promoted sides Cesena and Chievo as well as underachievers Udinese, before they face AC Milan and Lazio in consecutive games. However Parma will be confident of making a good start, according to Paolo Vanoli as they intend on having a lengthy pre season campaign to prepare themselves for a testing start to the campaign.


After the release of the fixtures Paolo Vanoli urged Parma’s fans to stay calm and to think rationally about the fixtures. ”Yes, in playing Juventus in our first game we’ve not been given a very easy chance to get off to a win, but at the Ennio Tardini against Fiorentina this team is more than capable of getting a victory. Fiorentina didn’t have the best of campaigns last year and neither did Udinese so the fans need to have faith in this team. We’re more than capable of picking up a fair few points against the teams we’re playing in our first ten games so we; the team and myself, will be confident of having a good start to our Serie A campaign. We’re all looking forward to it and we cannot wait to get started.”

Speaking more specifically about the opening game against Juventus, Paolo Vanoli claimed he was confident that his team could put in a very good performance. ”Last year, with players we had in Serie B, we put in a very good performance against Juventus. They were expected to walk all over us but they didn’t. We might have lost 3-0 but the performance level was there and that is what mattered for this team when we were at that level so with the right additions this summer we can go to the Juventus Stadium and put in another good performance and hopefully come away with something to build on.”