The Real Miracle of Castel di Sangro

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October Update

Sorry for the delay in updating been busy trying to find a flat, organise a trip to London and also watch Game of Thrones.

Taranto 2-1 Castel di Sangro
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\An annoying loss in a close game in front of an incredible 10,000 fans. We were behind after 23 minutes Bortolussi rising in the six yard box and hammered a header just under the bar and in. We were level after 43 minutes Di Matera played in Ciogli and he hit a low shot past the keeper and in. Taranto scored the winner after 46 minutes Nyantakyi smacked a shot off the post from 15 yards out and then fired in the rebound with Kastrati on the ground to condemn us to defeat.

Castel di Sangro 0-0 Matera
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A defensive point we had seven shots but, none on target. We faced 22 shots but, a lack of accuracy made the defending easier as only one on target. A decent point but, I want us to add more points soon so I want to win these sorts of games.

Cosenza 3-1 Castel di Sangro
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A disappointing loss but, even more so as we lost Schiavi who is the only person we have who can play DM so we will have to change formation. Di Matera got us ahead after 5 minutes with our only shot on target, a low Terriaca cross made its way to Di Matera on the edge of the box and he took a touch before firing a low drive past the keeper. We were level again after 33 minutes unpressured 30 yards out he took a couple of touches and then launched an effort into the top corner to level the scores. We again let a goal in just after half time as Guerreia fired in the rebound of a header that hit the post. Consenza got a late goal on the counter to add to the scoreline Ficara smashed an effort past Kastrati and in from 20 yards out again leaving Kastrati stranded.

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Pio will miss a month so we will have to find a new formation for that time. In better new Matteo Monteforte has returned from his injury and will be available to play again.

Castel di Sangro 1-2 Melfi
View attachment 168671Moreo scored in the 3rd and 87th minute to guarentee us a winless month. He scored after 3 minutes Magni hit in a cross it deflected off of two players and fell to Moreo to fire emphatically past Kastrati. Monteforte scored after 25 minutes to show his value and level the game Iaboni hit forward a long ball Monteforte got onto the ball and he fired a low shot past the keeper and in. Just when I thought we would get a point Moreo struck again Colea hit in a poor cross Kastrati came out to claim it but, Moreo got to it first took a touch and then scored a simple tap in to give us another game without a win.

Table
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Well the table could read worse but, not by much we are only a point above automatic relegation. The seven point gap to total safety has already grown quite large which is another concern
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November update

I also included one game from November as we only have 2 games that month one on the second and the other on the 28th so that will be in the Jan update.

Anyway, describe the season in a photo you say
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That is quite an accurate one

Foggia 1-0 Castel di Sangro
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With some more luck and better finishing we could have taken a point from the game against 3rd place Foggia. Kastrati made numerous early saves however, Abagnale decided he hadn't been tested enough so bundled over some one 12 yards out trying to head the ball. Kastrati saved the penalty and we cleared but, Foggia came right back at us and Ronchi was played in on goal Kastrati again saved but, the ball fell to Maza and he volleyed in the rebound. We did have a couple of good chances, but a combination of luck and Kastrati are all that stopped a cricket score.

Savioa 2-0 Castel di Sangro
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We lose the game and Terrace for two months to an ankle injury meaning we now have two wingers left. Savioa took the lead after 6 minutes Illari beat and man and whipped in a cross for Torin to head in. We let in a second goal after Gabriele was then left unmarked to tap in a free kick at the back post although this is probably the only goal so far that I would lay some blame on Kastrati for as he should never have come to try and claim the free kick. Mingolet-esque. Another loss in an awful game that featured 8 shots in total but, I'm sure the home fans were pleased by the win.

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After this I did two things hold a team meeting

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Which worked well and change tactics to a 5-3-2

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Hopefully it can help us not rely on Kastrati to try and keep the scoreline close and gives us enough of a threat up front.

Castel di Sangro 0-0 Campobasso
View attachment 167947We got a Point!!! A game full of shots but, almost none on target we get point number four and the league must be shaking in their boots now. A solid display at the back and Kastrati helped out to ensure a clean sheet and a point.

I am a tactical genius

Salernitana 4-1 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 167946Or not as second place Salernitana hammer us. They opened the scoring after 3 minutes Montesano beat a man outside and whipped in a cross that was headed onto the bar and Palombi was first to the rebound and fired it in. After 17 minutes we were two down Montesano whipping in another great cross and both defenders ran away from Litteri leaving him free to head in past Kastrati. Abagnale got hit by a cross after 37 minutes and it rolled just inside the near post to put us three goals down. We scored after 78 minutes though a defender had the ball facing his own goal thirty yards out, De Chirco stamped on his achilles to knock him down took the ball and finished very well to get us a goal. We let in a fourth late on from a free kick. We let a player take three touches in our box and he passed it back to De Vaio and he hammered a shot in from the penalty spot.

Castel di Sangro 0-2 Avellino
View attachment 167944We played really well vs Avellino but, they had the extra quality which is why they are top of the league. Granola put us behind after 19 minutes a decent shot from inside the box was to well placed for Kastrati. Merci headed in a corner after 34 minutes to ensure Avellino left with all the points.

Table
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Trapiani have picked up some form which isn't a massive surprise as they were predicted to finish fourth. We play them later this month in a massive match for us

As this update has been quite sad with all of the results here are some bears playing with a balloon.
[video=youtube;umOGEzaeuDY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umOGEzaeuDY[/video]​
 
Not so good form right now hope you can turn things right. I believe that your biggest problem at the moment must be your team's morale. Try encouraging them a little, have faith to your tactics and you will do better.
 
kolas79 said:
Not so good form right now hope you can turn things right. I believe that your biggest problem at the moment must be your team's morale. Try encouraging them a little, have faith to your tactics and you will do better.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've tried a couple of team meetings, injuries have played a large part in forcing me to change tactics frequently I can only use 24 players and players and have had constant big and small injuries to force me to change tactics a few times
 
Doing it tough right now but with a bit of luck I'm sure you can turn things around :)
 
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Trapani vs Castel di Sangro

I decided to make this game a one off as I realised that we don't have a game after for 35 days and it is a big three points that are at stake for both teams.

Kickoff

Second half kickoff

46 minutes: A cross is whipped into the box and bounces around from six yards out it hits off a striker and rolls just past the post.

48 minutes: Rozzi gets the ball 1 on 1 with the keeper from a tight angle he smashes the ball off of the post.

55 minutes: Rozzi is played in on goal and fired a low shot under Kastrati's dive only to see his celebration cut short by the flag of the linesman.

84 minutes: From clearing a corner we start a nice passing move that ends abruptly when Matute scissor tackles Ciogli two feet off the ground and he is off the pitch for that Trapani have ten men for the rest of the match.

87 minutes: Rozzi gets in on goal again at a tight angle but, his shot is weak and right at Kastrati.

Full Time.

We get a undeserved but, hard fought point.
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A big point and we get a point closer to Rende and stay the same distance away from Trapani.

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The game cost the manager of Trapani his job which is unfair as they dominated the game.

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We faced thirty shots but, none of them got past us. Except the offside goal but, that doesn't count. A lucky point as we were holding on​
 
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Lasagna joins us on loan from Palermo for the rest of the season I'm sure you can find a joke in that if you try.

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STVV and Frankfurt have offered contracts to our academy player D'Antonio and while I have offered him one to stay I'd guess he will leave as a number of other teams in the Serie B and Belgium are interested in him​
 
Random Stuff

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I am the favourite to replace Ravanelli at Sochaux not sure if they have seen the season that I have had or not.

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The Serie C/C has been dominant in the cup. Relegation rival Trapani could do a Wigan winning the cup and going down, here's hoping anyway.

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Never noticed but, Rafael went to Liverpool guess he wanted to catch up with old friends

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Also Stevie G has been doing a great job at Leicester and has them top of the Championship in his first full season after a 14th place finish last year, although he does have Riyad Mahrez in the Championship

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Transfer Overview

After fourteen days I had to accept that I could sell none of my players so I had a choice to make

Option 1: Keep the same squad and accept that relegation is likely but, financially we will be better off and more prepared to come back up. Or,

Option 2: Risk everything in the transfer market destroy my wage budget to help us get a better chance of avoiding relegation but, if we go down we are financially screwed and it will take a long time to get re-promoted.

And given my love of the transfer market need I tell you which I picked, I've risked a lot and am spending 3,000 a week over my 11,000 euro wage budget. So who have I splashed the cash on?

Giorgio Vitali
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My two best striker both have three goals and are on 10 and 5 hour goalless runs so I broke the bank and made. Vitali our best paid player. He should be a decent upgrade and can hopefully fire us to safety.

Luigi Bresciani
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A talented CM to add to what we have in the middle of the park can hopefully dictate play a bit more than anyone we have.

Andrea Amorfini
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Versitale and can play at LB and CM he will likely play more at LB and back-up Schiavi at CM. A useful player to have and talented.


A PLAYER WITH CAPS!!!

Muluken Faraci
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The defensive minded CM/DM has two caps for footballing powerhouse Ethiopia. He will back up the defensive CM and DM to add some steel to our midfield.

Kevin Biondi
View attachment 167271He will ensure that we have more than one AMR which is good as Terriaca hasn't been as lucky with injuries this season.

Marco Tonini
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Signed so that Kastrati can maybe get one second of peace in a game and we do need to add some quality to the centre of defence.

And now the player with 86 games for Argentina. Final guesses as to who he is

It is...

Mustafa El Khayari

If your first reaction is that name isn't very Argentinian you would be right he is Moroccan. If you then wonder how he played from Argentina it was a transfer from Ventimiglia.

By now I am clearly referring to Argentina the Serie D side thats full name is S.S.D. Argentina Arma
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He is a good upgrade on Di Matera and should add some quality on the wing and hopefully chip in with some goals.

So I have killed the wage budget and am about 30% over it but, the board don't seem to mind so I think it is a decent risk​
 
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February Update

A key month for us will my gamble pay off. I boosted the morale of the squad with a large number of friendlies against awful teams 7 wins and one loss so morale is back at a decent level.
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Only five players have survived the winter as the overhaul is big will it pay off.

L'Aquila 0-0 Castel di Sangro
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The new era gets off with a bit of a whimper. Not a great game but, we get a point and that is massive for us L'Aquila came close to scoring heading a corner onto the post and Kastrati had to make a couple of big saves but, we held on for the draw.

Benevento 0-0 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 167261A really good point against the team in third place to help us. They had 19 shots to our 1 and we struggled to get forward but, at the back we were solid and held on for a point despite Amorfini getting sent off after 77 minutes. Again they had some big chances but, some misses and a couple of big saves from Kastrati ensured another point. However Rende won so our point is reduced in value.

Crotone 0-0 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 167260Another 0-0 draw for us as we seem to be collecting them. We make it up to three shots but, none on target. Kastrati only had four shots on target to deal with out of 18. It was a game of almost no chances but, we won in fouls 15 to 1.

Castel di Sangro 1-1 Juve Stabia
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A scoring draw for a change as we claim another point to help the bid to survive. Sabatino put us behind after 13 minutes after scoring a hat trick against us last time, played in on goal he slipped a low shot past the keeper and in. So we had to get a second goal. And we did Vitali grabbed his first goal for the club, Terriaca hit in a low cross and Vitali had a simple tap in at the back post and levelled the game to earn us draw number three.

Cavese 1-1 Castel di Sangro
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Well we had one shot on target and we made it count to get an equaliser. Their first goal was never an own goal a deep cross that Kastrati sprinted over to try and save but, it hit off him and went in. Never an own goal but, definitely a goal and we would have to score a goal to get a point. We did Matteo Monteforte scoring after 77 minutes to end his 11 hour goal drought Terriaca with a half volley from inside the box it fell to Monteforte from 6 yards out and he fired in the rebound to level. Again we win the foul count 14-3 as we struggle to match teams in ability but, not effort.

We now face a massive match vs 17th place Rende we are five points behind them so a loss would leave us miles behind while a win would mean we are only a game behind them.

Castel di Sangro 1-0 Rende
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A massive win for us as many of our players had their best game for us as we dominated the game vs Rende and we should have won by a lot more. I made two big decisions with the lineup. After Monteforte scored started him as he is a very streaky player I also kept faith in El Khayari despite him having played poorly and DI Matera having been good off of the bench last game. They both paid off after a minute El Kayari played a great through ball and Moneforte beat the keeper to it and was composed enough to slip a low shot past him and put us ahead for the first time since the 21st of October. From then on we dominated the game as all of our attacking players had their best games for us in the biggest one of the season which is good. Biondi made some great chances and got into some good positions but, probably should have scored. El Kayari created another couple of chances along with his assist and Monteforte scored and made some more chances.

We dominated the game 61% possession only 3 fouls compared to 13 we had 13 shots compared to 3 as well. But, most remarkably no shots on target as we give Kastrati who has been key for us all season the day off.View attachment 167251
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We are two points behind Rende and Torres who we play next so we could move off the foot of the table for the first time in ages.

Kastrati
View attachment 167249After having been all that stopped us from having a -100 goal difference in the first half of the season with some incredible saves at any standard with a competent defence in front of him this month he has kept 4 clean sheets and let in 2 goals. All of this means that he got a potential boost and is now 5 stars potential. So he could be a long term player for the club as he is one of few players to be a decent Serie C rated player.

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March Update

A big month with 8 games and it would be vital that we aren't in last place at the end of the month.

Torres 1-1 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 167041We miss a chance to leave last place but, are within a point of Rende with a far better goal difference. Manicone got us behind after 17 minutes an incredible header where he was running backwards and he flicked the ball into the top corner. Monteforte got us level just before half time Terriaca slipped in Monteforte and he poked a low effort past the keeper and in to earn us a big point.

Castel di Sangro 0-0 Taranto
View attachment 167040Elhan Kastrati single handedly earned us a point he had a halftime rating of 9 and full time 9.1 as he made a number of great saves. First he pulled of an incredible diving save of a close range header that he only just reached. He then pushed away a shot from Aveni when he was in on goal. He then threw himself to the right to push away a stunning 25 yard drive that looked destined to go in. The defence then decided that he hadn't had enough to do so conceded a penalty. But, Kastrati dived low to his right to push away the penalty. He then only had to make one good save in the second half palming away a close range effort. Taranto had a man sent off late on but, it had no impact on the game. A stunning display by Kastrati.

Matera 1-1 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 167039Both sides scored penalties to give us yet another draw. Amorfini gave away a penalty that Kastrati just couldn't keep out. However, when Monteforte was taken out in the box Amorfini stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. A good result for us as we look to add more points between us and Rende.

Castel di Sangro 0-0 Cosenza
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A good point helped by a 33 minute red card for Guiseppe De Rose for taking down Monteforte when he was in on goal. It was an incredibly uneventful game with no highlights except the red card.

Melfi 0-0 Castel di Sangro
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Another draw and a goalless one again as well our lack of ability in front of goal is getting annoying. Melfi had two good chances but, missed one and big Elhan made a good save to earn us another point.

Castel di Sangro 0-2 Foggia
View attachment 167034Draws are nice I miss them. We lose our first game of the year after failing to even get a shot on target our accuracy is a real concern. Maza arrived at the back post to tap in a cross and put us behind after 67 minutes. They grabbed a late goal to ensure we lost Sicugelli headed the ball onto the post and Ingegneri poked in the rebound. A disappointing result but, hopefully we can bounce back.

Castel di Sangro 1-1 Savioa
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Another point in the fight to survive. Brillianti scored a wonderful 25 yard effort after turing that not even Kastrati could save. Vitali got us level after 77 minutes Monteforte played him in and Vitali slipped a good effort in past the keeper another point.

Campobasso 0-2 Castel di Sangro
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I decided to give De Chirico a shot up front as everyone else had been awful and he repaid the faith with two goals. He grabbed his first after 11 minutes a good 1-2 with Terriaca played him in and De Chirico fired high past the keeper and in at the near post. Sellitti found him free in the middle of the pitch just outside the box and he poked a high shot past the keeper and in a great two goal lead. We then held on for a big 3 points a great way to end the month.

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We are a decent way clear of automatic relegation so we will likely be playing in a relegation playoff that I'm willing to bet will go to penalties​
 
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Youth Intake

March featured a youth intake that was quite useful and definitely my best at the club so far.

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Mario Giallonardo
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The CM/DM is the best of the lot and could develop into a very tidy player who could definitely challenge for a place in the squad over the coming years.

Agostino Greco
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A left back with decent potential hopefully by the time he is ready for the first team squad we have improved so he may only be able to be a backup in the long run.

Federico Di Eusebio
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The left sided midfielder is in the same book as Greco hopefully when he is ready for the first team we are good enough to be a back up. This would allow me to have home grown back ups for any quota we have to meet.

A good but, not great youth intake​
 
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April Update

A big month as we have the chance to get free of automatic relegation but, will have to accept a playoff game so we have a 50/50 chance of winning over two legs.

Castel di Sangro 0-0 Salernitana
View attachment 166916Another 0-0 draw in the second half of the season that is fast becoming a favourite scoreline of ours. We had to ride out luck quite a bit to get the point another good point as Salernitana are promotion chasing.

Avellino 5-1 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 166915Not going to go over all of the details but, we were hammered by a squad of Serie B quality who are doing well for a reason and contain a number of great players so the result is not a massive surprise that we lost but, I am very disappointed in the level of the defeat.

Castel di Sangro 0-2 Trapani
View attachment 166914A mixed game as we lose but, we are saved from automatic relegation so that is a positive and a really good second half of the season has made it so that we have a playoff. After being dominated by Trapani we got a penalty but, Amorfini's effort was saved. Xabier Santos then scored after 78 minutes volleying in a cross. His second goal was luck Cabella was in on goal Trapiani made a great tackle but, the ball rolled to Xabier and he had a simple tap in.

L'Aquila 0-0 Castel di Sangro
View attachment 166913Much like all other 0-0 draws we have had this season some bad finishing and good goalkeeping gets us a point. Monteforte hit the bar with a decent chance but, our attacking play has been poor all season and again let us down.

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Benevento who we play in our final game have won the league so will hopefully have nothing to play for.

Table
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We will finish 17th and I hope that we play Cavese or Torres just not Trapani as they have a good squad and so over two legs we could struggle to match them​
 
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