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Stay away from that Trap(ani) door: an Italian lower league adventure

withnail316

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Serie C Cup Matera 1-4 Trapani

Gallon, Mauricio (2) Pasi

SC1/B Gubbio 1-3 Trapani

Centi, Bourillon, Gallon

SC1/B Aversa Normanna 1-4 Trapani

Mauricio, OG, Faget, Dieye

IC Napoli 1-0 Trapani

Have to be happy to only lose by a single goal against the side who are third in Serie A at the time of writing. A crowd of 31,000 ensured I also earned about £200,000 from the match, too.

SC1/B Trapani 0-2 Sorrento

And I'm back to being awful again.

Serie C Cup Trapani 0-2 Barletta

SC1/B Trapani 3-0 Pisa

Dieye, Centi, El Gueribi Clean sheet! Woohoo!

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trapanicrest.jpg

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Winter break

It's been an intriguing start to this season. Despite my main concerns being the bottom end of the table, after 17 games I'm right on the fringes of the play offs.

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Just two points outside the play offs, and 5 points off the top spot, it's been a very different campaign from the one I was expecting. I'm 21 points clear of the side at the foot of the table, and 14 points clear of the relegation play off zone, so naturally I'm delighted. There are issues though, most notably at right back. I'm generally relying on a centre half to play there, but right now I cannot for the life of me find a replacement. Last year's right back is pretty handy statistically, but his form is abysmal so I refuse to pick him. I'm also short at centre half, with Meride's age catching up to him so I'm desperately hoping my usual pairing stay fit.

My other problem is in front of goal, but this is largely due to injury. Three of my 6 strikers are currently injured, and last year's top scorer Lorie has only made 2 league appearances before his injury, which will cost him 6 months. Papa Dieye has scored 9, but I'm crying out for a 20 goal a season man, which will be my number 1 target in the summer.

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Fletchdt

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A great season last year. Well done on winning 2 trophies

Also a good start to the season in Serie C1/B. Scoring alot of goals aswell.

I like the look of Pasi. How is he getting on? I see he has scored a few goals for you. Good luck with the rest of the season.

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A great season last year. Well done on winning 2 trophies

Also a good start to the season in Serie C1/B. Scoring alot of goals aswell.

I like the look of Pasi. How is he getting on? I see he has scored a few goals for you. Good luck with the rest of the season.

Cheers man.

Pasi has been quite decent so far, but he is a little inconsistent. His average form is 7, but he can get a 9 or a 5 depending on which Pasi shows up! He's a youngster though, so I have to expect it.

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Cheers man.

Pasi has been quite decent so far, but he is a little inconsistent. His average form is 7, but he can get a 9 or a 5 depending on which Pasi shows up! He's a youngster though, so I have to expect it.

So true. I have that with a few of my young players as well.

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So two players signed then over the break. Tiboni is clearly the marquee signing, but I also hope I've filled my right-back problem with Spaniard Ruben Ribera. Just one player going out, Gianluca Palmiteri, who was key last season as cover for Mauricio, asked for a transfer. He was my weakest striker, so with the Tiboni signing I was happy to let him go.

I have had to tweak my tactics ever so slightly with Tiboni coming in. Although my favoured option is a target man and a poacher (an old fashioned big man/small man combo) I'm trying to keep Dieye in the side. As a result, I've switched my poacher to a complete forward, which suits Tiboni perfectly. Fingers crossed it works!

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Tiboni is a good find!

I'm stunned to have found him (and even more so to sign him!) He looks good enough to play as a lone striker as well, which is an option I'm considering for next year, especially if I remain if the play off hunt.

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Deisler26

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I'm stunned to have found him (and even more so to sign him!) He looks good enough to play as a lone striker as well, which is an option I'm considering for next year, especially if I remain if the play off hunt.

I'd use him as either an Advanced Forward or a Complete Forward

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SC1/B Gela 1-2 Trapani

Dieye, Agboh

SC1/B Trapani 1-0 Viareggio

Dieye

SC1/B Andria 1-3 Trapani

Tiboni, OG, Pasi

SC1/B Foligno 3-1 Trapani

Tiboni

SC1/B Foggia 1-1 Trapani

Tiboni

As you can see, the new man's been lively! 3 goals, 4 assists and 2 man of the match awards in his first five games. Long may it continue!

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SC1/B Trapani 3-1 Taranto

Centi, Tiboni (2)

SC1/B Trapani 2-1 Ternana

Dieye, Tiboni

SC1/B Virtus Lanciano 2-1 Trapani

Ribera

SC1/B Trapani 1-1 Siracusa

Peruchini

SC1/B Cosenza 1-1 Trapani

Gallon

With 6 games left to play, here's the table:

traptab28.jpg

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Most importantly, I'm 19 points clear of the relegation play offs, but I'm also 5 points behind the leaders so I think the title is beyond me. However, I'm well and truly in this play off hunt, I just need to hope I can retain a little consistency.

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SC1/B Trapani 1-1 Pescara

Dieye

Not a good time for this to happen!

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SC1/B Barletta 1-5 Trapani

Mauricio (2) Dieye (3) Cristian who??

And what was I saying about my two main central defenders staying fit? Ouch.

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I'm tempted to sell Peruchini in the summer, he's a hatchet-man in training!

SC1/B Trapani 4-1 Gubbio

Mauricio, Gallon, OG, Pasi

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SC1/B Pisa 2-0 Trapani

In the Pisa match, this happened:

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Another of my centre halves also picked up an injury, ruling him out for 4 weeks. I think I'm not supposed to be in these play offs!

SC1/B Trapani 1-0 Aversa Normanna

Dieye

SC1/B Sorrento 3-1 Trapani

Pasi Battered by the league champions, which meant I dropped a place in the table, and my first leg of the play offs will be at home.

Final league table, then:

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The play offs

Semi final 1st leg

Trapani 0-2 Benevento

An absolutely dreadful performance. 6 players finished with a rating of under 6.5, and I conceded two away goals from corners. A very big ask in the second leg. On the plus side though, a 10,000 sell out for the first time in the club's history.

Semi final 2nd leg

Benevento 0-0 Trapani

A much improved second leg, but ultimately we couldn't quite do enough. No promotion this year, but plenty to build on for my third season.

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Season summary: 2011/12

League (Serie C1/B)

Media prediction: 16th (of 18)

Finished: 4th (beaten in play off semi finals)

Cups

Italian Cup: beaten in 4th Qualifying Round

Serie C Cup: knocked out in 3rd Round group stage

Top scorers

Papa Dieye (34 apps/ 18 goals)

Guilherme Mauricio (24 apps/ 10 goals)

Mattia Gallon (18 apps/ 9 goals)

Positives

Again, I'm feeling very positive about my season. Finishing 4th in my first season at this level has been brilliant, and I even made a little more progress in the cups. Of course, the signing I'm most happy with has been Tiboni, and maybe if I'd got him a little earlier I might have been in contention for the title. However, I was quite impressed with the way a few of my other players made the step up too.

Concerns

My biggest concern has been inconsistency. I can accept younger players being brilliant one week and awful the next, but not the more experienced pros. I have at least 7 players leaving in the summer (Meride and Lorie are the stand out names) so I'm conscious I'll have a busy transfer window, although I don't want to sign too many. I also still have a relatively old squad, so I'll be looking for a few more youngsters, as well as hoping the first batch of youngsters in my youth academy have a little quality. In addition, the finacial concern is still there. Whilst I haven't lost as much money as last year, I've still lost about £450,000. As a result, I'm going to have to try and cut my wage budget whilst I try and sign a higher standard of player. A big ask, I think.

Ambitions

Another year of improvement, I think. Might be tough aiming for the play offs again, especially with the financial constraints, but I'll do my best. It would also be nice to be linked to another job at some point, even if I'm not going to take it!

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2012/13 Season preview Serie C1/B

Media prediction: 11th (of 18)

Board expectations: safe mid-table position

On the transfer front, there was far less money spent in this window than last summer. However, I did decide to spend a little on a pair of players I thought could make a difference, with £40,000 spent on 29 year old central defender Marco Pomante, from my divisional rivals Gubbio. I also spent £22,000 on French attacking midfielder Kevin Belloc, a 24 year old from Nevers Football. I was conscious that if Anthony Basso got injured I had no quality at all in goal, so I also signed Paolo Branduani, a 23 year old Italian keeper on a Bosman, who is just about as good as Basso, and a scout also recommended 26 year old striker Alessandro Marotta. My only other signing so far is to bring Mattia Gallon back for a second season on loan.

I've also had 10 players leave the club, with Lorie and Meride the main two, although I only received a fee for Luca Ferarri. As a result, my squad is a little smaller this year, but I'm still spending £25,000 a week before I've offered new contracts to those who need them! Still a little concerning, and so I can still see a few more out the exit door by the end of the window.

As last year, here are a couple of images:

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My biggest priority right now though is finding a set piece specialist. In previous years I've relied on Luis Fernando Centi, but age has caught up with him unfortunately. He'll be 36 by the time the season gets underway, and my coaches are already suggesting I transfer list him. I still have two months to find a specialist, so hopefully I can do so. Otherwise though, I'm relatively happy with what I have.

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Friendlies

Trapani 2-1 Trapani U20s

Really sloppy game, only won with a thunderbolt from 30 yards. Papa Dieye scored the first, only for the kids to level instantly. Aimane El Gueribi scored a real 'Roy of the Rovers' type rocket though to save a few red faces.

Trapani 5-0 Trapani U20s

I demanded far more a week later, and got it. Mattia Gallon scored a hat-trick, with Cristian Peruchini and Cristian Tiboni grabbing the other 2.

Trapani 0-2 Mallorca

A game to earn a few quid. Nothing to worry about as far as the result is concerned against a vastly superior side.

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Cup ties

IC Trapani 4-0 Lecco

Tiboni, Pasi, Dieye, Belloc

IC Empoli 0-1 Trapani

Belloc A rocket from my new attacking midfielder, and I'm through to play Udinese in the next round.

Start of the league

SC1/B Trapani 4-1 Vigor Lamezia

Belloc, Gallon (2) Pani

First three competitive games of the season, and three wins. Seems like a good time to leave it and get some sleep.

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nice going mate. Any screenshot of your "set piece specialist" ?

He's not the best any more, hence why I'm trying to replace him! But sure, here's the old timer:

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His physical stats have dropped so much he's now nowhere near good enough for me, but he's the only player I have with corner/ free kick stats over 11!

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SC1/B Benevento 1-3 Trapani

Belloc, Dieye (2) A little revenge against the side who knocked me out of the play offs. Most enjoyable!

SC1/B Trapani 1-0 Andria

Belloc Not helped in this one by a Tiboni red card, but a win is a win.

SC1/B Cavese 0-2 Trapani

Dieye (2)

SC1/B Juve Stabia 0-2 Trapani

OG (2)

SC1/B Trapani 1-0 Cosenza

Dieye

Can't quite work out what's happened!

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SC1/B Nocerino 1-1 Trapani

Dieye

Serie C Cup Bellaria 1-3 Trapani

Belloc, Florenzi, Dieye

SC1/B Virtus Lanciano 1-0 Trapani

Really disappointing display, and my unbeaten run is over.

SC1/B Trapani 0-0 Atletico Roma

SC1/B Trapani 1-1 Foggia

Cristian Tiboni scores his first goal in ten hours of play, but we can't quite do enough to claim all three points. Even so, I've taken 6 league wins from my first 10 games, and I'm sat in 2nd place in the table.

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IC Udinese 1-1 Trapani (AET. 2-4 on pens)

Gallon

SC1/B Pisa 2-0 Trapani

100trap.jpg

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Serie C Cup Trapani 1-0 Spal

Belloc This win came at a cost, though. Two injuries and a 2nd red card of the season already for Cristian Tiboni. Luckily he's still available for the next game, which is against the league leaders. A defeat will see them go 10 points clear of me after 12 games.

SC1/B Trapani 4-1 Siracusa

Belloc, Pasi, Tiboni, Gallon HUGE victory, and all down to three late goals. Puts us back within 4 points of the leaders, who lose their first league game in 10.

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I'm envisioning a few problems in the summer. Seven of my players are out of contract, which already means I'm going to be busy, but I'm now getting first team regulars with plenty of time left on their contracts making noises about leaving. Most worryingly, one of them was Cristian Tiboni.

If I couple that together with the imminent financial problem, it might even be worth considering my own position, but I don't want to be hasty. Still, plenty of time left before the summer, and another strong season should see the club's reputation improve a little more, which opens a few more doors in the transfer market.

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SC1/B Taranto 1-1 Trapani

Tiboni

SC1/B Trapani 1-0 Ternana

Gallon

Serie C Cup Trapani 3-2 Cosenza

Gallon (2) Peruchini

SC1/B Trapani 2-0 Gela

Gallon, Belloc

IC Torino 0-3 Trapani

OG, Marotta, Dieye

SC1/B Aversa Normanna 2-0 Trapani

A real hang over from the cup heroics, we just never got going, and in the end were lucky to get nil.

Serie C Cup Mezzocorona 1-1 Trapani (Trapani progress to semi final)

Tiboni

SC1/B Foligno 2-1 Trapani

Gallon

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Gah, so frustrating!

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Winter break 2012/13

Again, it's been an intriguing start to the new season.

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Much like last year, I'm well involved again in the play off hunt at the half-way stage of the new season. Better still, I'm only five points off the leaders, so I haven't given up on automatic promotion either. In addition to that, I'm still involved in both cup competitions, with a trip to Serie A side Genoa in the Copa Italia in January, and a semi final Serie C Cup tie against Gela. A lot of this is based on my back 4, and in 17 league games I've conceded just 13 goals.

However, the cup competitions are taking a little out of my side, especially as I don't have the depth this season I've had in others. My league form has been sketchy at times, and I've been caught out by sides I really need to beat if I'm to go up.

Definitely have a decision to make in the summer, but at least the cup ties are boosting the bank balance!

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SC1/B Vigor Lamezia 2-4 Trapani

Tiboni (2) Belloc (2)

SC1/B Trapani 1-1 Benevento

Gallon

SC1/B Andria 4-2 Trapani

Gallon (2) A truly woeful display, with 6 players finishing with a rating of below 6.1. The scoreline flattered me, it was a painful defeat against another side in the play off hunt.

Time to sleep I think, which leaves my first match when I pick it up again is the cup tie against Genoa. Cliffhanger!

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