View attachment 170021
September Update
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here is an essay
View attachment 170020
Serie C Cup
L'Aquila beat Campobasso to get into the next stage so this was a meaningless game but, I still wanted to win.
Campobasso 1-3 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 170019
A good win to boost morale before the season if nothing else. The game started with Kastrati pulling off a stunning double save first a close range volley from Matellicalli that was incredible then he dove well to the right to push away his second shot before De Vincentis flew in the way of a ball bound for goal. Di Matera got us ahead after 17 minutes cutting inside to get into the box and then he curled an effort in just inside the far post. Monteforte got us two goals ahead just before half time Di Matera slipped him in and he slipped a low effort past the keeper. He then grabbed a second goal after 67 minutes Terriaca whipped in a cross and Monteforte headed in from close range. We lost the clean sheet late on Matellicani slipped a low shot past Kastrati from inside the box. A good win for us.
Monteforte also ended a nine hour goalless run with his brace.
View attachment 170003
Di Matera will miss 3 weeks with a gashed leg.
View attachment 170014
Something that is unfortunate is that the Albanian national team obviously saw the saves as Kastrati was called up to the Albanian U-21 so will miss the next two games.
Castel di Sangro 1-2 Crotone
View attachment 170013
A loss but, it is close and to the team who are predicted to win the league so not the worse start to the campaign. Sergio de Chirico opened his Serie C account after 50 minutes Terriaca hit in a deep cross that almost caught the keeper out but, he pushed it away into the path of De Chirico and he had a simple tap in to push us ahead. 3 minutes later we were level a corner flew into the pack and it hit Spavone and bounced into the goal past Vescio. Delgado bagged the winner after 66 minutes a really nice 1-2 played him in and he fired low and hard past Vescio. Delgado missed a tap in but, in his defence it was on the volley but, he still should have buried it. Silvestri had a late header well saved especially as lurking players were looking for a rebound.
Juve Stabia 4-1 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 170012
This shows the difference between us, a hammering and it was exactly what we deserved as we were outplayed by better players. A poor display by back up keeper Vescio didn't help. Scimo put us behind after 21 minutes a decent close range finish but, it was very close to Vescio and I think he should have held it yet alone block it. 2 minutes later Sabatino put us two goals behind a decent near post header but, I think Vescio should have parried it. Almetti scored after 34 minutes to put us back in contention he was left unmarked at the back post and cushioned a volley in from a great Terriaca cross. Sabatino grabbed his second goal after 53 minutes a ball dropped in between the two defenders and he smashed it in Vescio had no chance with this one. He then finished his hat trick after 56 minutes finishing well when he was played in on goal. A poor game from us but, we are playing against much better players.
Castel di Sangro 0-3 Cavese
It was a far more even game than the scoreline suggested both sides had 3 shots on target but, they scored all of theirs and we had ours all saved and we had a decent margin more possession. Badan headed in a corner after 39 minutes to put us behind. 3 minutes later we were two goals down, Germinale passed to Persano and from inside the box his shot took a massive deflection to go the other way from Kastrati's dive. D'Ancora ensured we lost after 61 minutes slipped in by Persano and he fired low past Kastrati. It is concerning in a close and even game we lost by three goals.
What I have noticed is we seem to concede two goals in a short amount of time, I don't know why we are but, I'm assuming it is confidence based so hopefully a boost to morale will help us avoid that.
Next up is the team predicted to finish last (us) vs Rende who should finish 17th so one place above us.
Rende 3-2 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 1700043 goals in thirteen minutes sink us, including two in four minutes as we continue to concede in streaks. Terriaca got us ahead after 30 minutes Almetti slipped him in and Terriaca rifled a low shot past the keeper. Corrao levelled the match after 49 minutes a long ball played him in and he placed a low finish past Kastrati . Four minutes later we were behind Actis Goretta and he slipped a low effort past Kastrati. Nine minutes later in the 62 minute we were two goals back, Actis Goretta had a simple close range finish to put us two goals down and he took it. Almetti scored a late goal to give us some late hope De Chirico back heeled Almetti and he lashed an effort past the keeper to give us late hope but, we couldn't grab a late leveller.
Monteforte will miss 5-6 weeks with a twisted ankle
View attachment 170002
I decided that we were getting overrun in the midfield so will be sacrificing a striker for a DM as we have been conceding far to much. The mentality will also change from standard to defensive.
View attachment 170000
Castel di Sangro 1-0 Torres
View attachment 170001
Well the new tactic has worked. Schiavi who took up the DM role got the only goal which wasn't the plan but, I will take it. He rose highest to head in a corner despite the attention of numerous defenders. We get our first league points of the season which is a big step and hopefully we can push on in October.
Table
View attachment 169999The win pushes us up to 17th and vitally out of the automatic relegation spots hopefully we can push onwards and upwards I would happily take a 13th place finish and the guarentee of safety but, can we get there or not we don't yet know.