Resurrecting Palermo

Hello,

I have really enjoyed you’re story so far, I started a Palermo save last month so good to follow.

I went unbeaten in Serie D didn’t quite match you’re impressive tally. I drew around 6 games, unfortunately I couldn’t keep hold of Martinelli as he joined Genk. Lucera has been very impressive for me and is a must keep.

I went on to win Serie C after some very good loan signings of Ibrahim Colley, Capani from Milan , Leonardo Fernandes from Juve. I was 17 games unbeaten in new season and flying when I picked up my first loss away to Catanzaro. With 7 games remaining I was 10 points clear and had a wobble clinching the title on the last day only needing a draw. I ended up losing a total of 4 games in two seasons.

I have just finished pre season and managed to keep Lucera, I have brought in Lorenzo Simic on a free, Cedric Teuchert from Schalke on a free and Bruno Peres from Roma on a free. Crivello is still left back, I have sold Lancini for 1mil to Portsmouth. I have loaned Brescanni from AC. I am looking forward to the new season and hopefully can challenge.

I hope you can enjoy me in Serie B and look forward to following you’re story.

Very impressive first season and am sure the second will be just as successful!

2020-04-16 13:03#268701 Jason22 : Hello,

I have really enjoyed you’re story so far, I started a Palermo save last month so good to follow.

I went unbeaten in Serie D didn’t quite match you’re impressive tally. I drew around 6 games, unfortunately I couldn’t keep hold of Martinelli as he joined Genk. Lucera has been very impressive for me and is a must keep.

I went on to win Serie C after some very good loan signings of Ibrahim Colley, Capani from Milan , Leonardo Fernandes from Juve. I was 17 games unbeaten in new season and flying when I picked up my first loss away to Catanzaro. With 7 games remaining I was 10 points clear and had a wobble clinching the title on the last day only needing a draw. I ended up losing a total of 4 games in two seasons.

I have just finished pre season and managed to keep Lucera, I have brought in Lorenzo Simic on a free, Cedric Teuchert from Schalke on a free and Bruno Peres from Roma on a free. Crivello is still left back, I have sold Lancini for 1mil to Portsmouth. I have loaned Brescanni from AC. I am looking forward to the new season and hopefully can challenge.

I hope you can enjoy me in Serie B and look forward to following you’re story.

Thanks for sharing bro! My second season is going well too, will post update probably tonight, Loan signings seem to be the way to go

No worries, look forward to you’re updates.

Yeah loan signings is the way forward, even when I got promoted to Serie B was given no money but wage budget was good enough.

Takeover talks keep falling through, have you had any?

Been a mixed start for me in Serie B, sitting in 8th after 6 games. Had to make a couple of changes tactically and most annoyingly was looking forward to Teuchert but he is struggling to settle in already and wants to leave so will leave January for 1.2m deal agreed. Luckily I got Colido from Inter on deadline day and his hit the ground running.

2020-04-16 22:20#268718 Jason22 : No worries, look forward to you’re updates.

Yeah loan signings is the way forward, even when I got promoted to Serie B was given no money but wage budget was good enough.

Takeover talks keep falling through, have you had any?

Been a mixed start for me in Serie B, sitting in 8th after 6 games. Had to make a couple of changes tactically and most annoyingly was looking forward to Teuchert but he is struggling to settle in already and wants to leave so will leave January for 1.2m deal agreed. Luckily I got Colido from Inter on deadline day and his hit the ground running.

I have had takeover rumours too but nothing has materialised yet. Colido hasn't actually been that good for me this season, still fighting for promotion in Serie C this season!

SEASON TWO | SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON



I began the year with confidence. Thought I brought in some top quality players. Who wouldn't be confident after going a full season unbeaten! Only the top team in Serie C gets promoted so there was little margin for error this season.

We starting the season well, but we were drawing too many games... Balastro was our stand out player, leading the team in goals, the youth academy prodigy was looking good!

Then he got a bad injury, he was banging in the goals for us in the first few months!



Our first loss in this season came at the hands of Novara, a 2-1 Away defeat.


A closer look at Balastro. He was without a doubt our best performer in the first half of season two. His attributes still don't look all that impressive but he is scoring for fun!


We only lost 1 game in the first half of the season! We are playing well but drawing too many games for my liking.


At the beginning of the new year we sit 3rd in the league but it is extremely close, we are just 1 point behind top spot! We need to kick on in the second half and turn more of our draws into wins.


I have also been exploring a new tactic. A lot of Italian teams are playing a 3-5-2 and outnumbering us in midfield, so I am looking to counter that by dropping one of my strikers into the DM role.


Again the Youth Intake looks good. I am always excited to see who we have coming through the ranks, they will always get a chance with me as manager! Balastro is the perfect example.


I am excited and nervous for the second half of the season. The board only expect us to finish in the top half of the league, but I am more optimistic and would love to gain back to back promotions!

As always, thanks for reading!

SEASON 2 | RIGHT TO THE END!



I could already tell at the end of December that this title race was going to go right to the end. We would have to play really well to gain back to back promotions. But we were determined to do so.

Throughout the Janurary transfer window I was very busy! I signed a lot of player on expiring contracts who I will share with you next season.

But in the immediate term I signed Verducci as a back up full back, and Maricchi as a promising keeper, thinking ahead for when Plizarri's loan ends come the end of the season. Again two young promising player coming to the club on free transfers.




Unfortunately we were knocked out of the cup in the quarter finals. This was perhaps a blessing in disguise as I could focus soley on the league now.


With about 10 games left in the league, we were performing well and a couple of job offers came in for me. But I am sticking to the Palermo project for a while yet! I want to at least get them to Serie A, and probably even then I will want to keep playing, I am loving this same, a fresh and exciting challenge!



With 8 games to go we sat in 2nd place...



We then got our youth intake! Again, slightly underwhelming, but these three players look the most promising, and should be in and around the first team the next couple of seasons. I haven't really loaned anyone out in this save, so perhaps that is something I will look to do with these younger players next season, because there will be a lot of new faces coming into the squad.





With 5 games to go we were top of the league! But the top 5 is so close... notice how we are top even though we have worse goal difference and the same amount of points as the team placed second. My understanding is it is ordered by head to head games. Against Spezia we drew 0-0 away and beat them 3-0 at home, so we had the edge over them already in the final run in!


A closer look with 4 games remaining! What an end to the season, will we go on to win it, or will we bottle it??

The pressure is on!



Martinelli, one of our best players over the course of this season picked up an injury and will be sorely missed in our final fixtures!


With 2 games remaining it was a two horse race!



And....





We did it! We won the league with 1 game left to play, since Spezia lost! Back to back promotions!!!


Here is a closer look at all of our results in the second half of the season, it is kind of funny that we lost our last game...


A look at the final league table:


I was awarded Serie C Manager of the Year


The Serie C Team of the Year was full of Palermo players, rightfully so.


OUR KEY PERFORMERS

Gravillion was a monster.
He will be a big miss next season, I wanted to try and get him back on loan, but he has signed for Empoli, so I doubt we can get him again, but I will try.


Martinelli, although he didn't put up the numbers he did last season, he will still an important player. 13 assists and 7 goals is a solid season. He also won the award for most assists in the league.


Lucca our big man. Loaned him again, and he started slowly but as Collido wasn't performing, I brought in Lucca and he was banging in goals! He is another player I think I will try to loan back again, for our third season.


MY PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Balastro!
He is becoming the face of the club. At 18 he already has 40 appearances, and a respectable 20 goals! 18 goals for us this season, he was our top scorer, and he is quickly developing into a real talent. I am tempted to try and bring in a big signing striker next season to lead us in Serie B. But I don't want to hinder Balastro's development, so I have a big decision to make.


A closer look at our squad and how they performed this season.


End of season awards. Don't know how Balastro isn't loved by the fans?! He is one of our own!


Next season is huge, Serie B! Can we compete, or will the jump in quality finally catch us. Only time will tell, but I am excited!

As always, thanks for reading!

Excellent finish to the season, will be interesting to see what you do with the squad now

Well done on getting promoted. The real challenge starts now, as you said a big jump in quality. With the right signings I’m sure you will handle it.

Funny how players perform in different saves, Lucca was terrible for me even in Serie D and Colido struggled for you in Serie C but banging them in for me in Serie B.

Look forward to seeing you’re transfers for new season.

2020-04-17 08:08#268728 Jason22 : Well done on getting promoted. The real challenge starts now, as you said a big jump in quality. With the right signings I’m sure you will handle it.

Funny how players perform in different saves, Lucca was terrible for me even in Serie D and Colido struggled for you in Serie C but banging them in for me in Serie B.

Look forward to seeing you’re transfers for new season.

Yeah man, I have already signed a lot of players, they are coming in for free, all young with the potential to become Serie A players. I really need two or three quality starters to come in though that are ready for Serie B level right now. It will be interesting a big challenge from now on for sure
Thanks for following, and sharing again mate

Nice! A stellar campaign, not without its up and downs, but in the end you got over the line. And looking at the TOTS, to have players in defence, midfield and attack in it from your side shows you were solid all over the park. Good luck in Serie B!

2020-04-17 09:17#268732 Eoin97 : Nice! A stellar campaign, not without its up and downs, but in the end you got over the line. And looking at the TOTS, to have players in defence, midfield and attack in it from your side shows you were solid all over the park. Good luck in Serie B!

Cheers mate! Thought I was going to blow it at the end.... real test now in Serie B!

Great save, enjoyed reading it. Glad you made Palermo great again. Could you check your DM got one question.

2020-04-17 10:22#268736 riddas : Great save, enjoyed reading it. Glad you made Palermo great again. Could you check your DM got one question.

Glad you enjoyed it bro!

Congratulations. Another promotion on the cards next season?