| 27/01/01 - If there ever was a must-win match, this is it, folks. Verona are a good side, with two superb young strikers (one of whom left the gialloblu at the beginning of the season). For this match, we will again see the 4-3-3, with Torissi at left-back. I'm glad he is getting playing time, but it really isn't his best position, and he isn't so good on attack. I hope Falsini recovers soon, though I would think Junior would fit the role well, too. However, Sacchi clearly doesn't have the right squad for his tactics, and that is too bad. Hopefully Parma can score twice in that match, and hold on to a lead till the end of the match. 24/01/01 - Sacchi is so attached to 4-3-3 that he would play Fuser as a striker against Udinese in the Cup. Conceicao has been silent as a striker, when he is a very good winger. Now, in the 4-4-2, his players might be able to take advantage of the width of the field more, but I don't know Sacchi's intentions. At least he is giving Appiah playing time. I heard rumours of a deal for Bonazzoli involving Mboma-intersting. 22/01/01 - Okay, so maybe my perspective is skewed, and blaming Di Vaio instead of Buffon for the loss is a bit off-base, but a clean sheet for 94 minutes isn't bad. And in all that time, a team like Parma needs to get that security blanket of a second goal. Look what happened to Leeds against Barcalona. Where are the goals from Conceicao and Lamouchi and the midfield gone? If Parma needs goals, why isn't Micoud, scorer of three this season, on the field? 21/01/01 - What did I say about the strikers? They had their chances to get the second goal, and they threw them away, and that cost us two points. At least Milosevic was on for Amoroso, or no-one would have scored. The 90th minute of Buffon's 200th appearence is one he'd like to forget, I'm sure. Squad: Bufffon; Sartor, Thuram, Cannavaro (P. Cannavaro 84), Junior; Fuser (Appiah 65), Lamouchi, Almeyda (Boghossian 79); Conceicao, Milosevic, Di Viao Goals: Milosevic 53, Lucarelli 90 19/01/01-Well, everything has changed. I was rather fond of the 3-5-2, especially since Parma has such depth in midfield. It worked against Milan, Atalanta, Udinese and Lazio, after all. All they seemed to need was a real striker at the other end, but there have only been flashes of form from the four strikers Parma have--Amoroso against Fiorentina (and not at all since), Mboma against Milan and Bari, Milosevic against Napoli and now Di Viao against Inter. The rest of the scoring has come from the midfield--Micoud, Lamouchi and Conceicao. When these three outscore your four strikers it shows a lack at that position, I think. I wonder what Sacchi will do with Micoud now that he plays 4-3-3. And who will play at left-back seems still up in the air. Tomorrow will be one of the keys to the season. Let's all hope Sacchi can weave some magic, as Lecce are exactly the type of "minnow" Parma cannot handle. The result I find most hard to bare is the tie with Napoli, as this defense should not concede a lead twice to such a poor side, albeit an improving one. Perhaps a game-winning performance would have helped Milosevic gain some confidence. Meanwhile, the team is again without Fuser and Conceicao, and Almeyda as well. Perhaps with a stronger squad and almost-win would have been a solid 3 points. Of course, these three did not change the result against Reggina. Parma 2-2 Napoli Squad: Buffon; Thuram, Torrisi, Cannavaro; Sartor, Appiah (Sensini 72), Lamouchi, Junior (Di Viao 83); Micoud; Milosevic, Amoroso. Goals: Micoud 41, Pecchia 47, Milosevic 74, Amoruso 83 Parma 0-2 Reggina Squad: Buffon; Bennarivo, Torrisi (s.o.), Cannavaro; Fuser, Almeyda, Lamouchi, Micoud (Appiah 89); Conceicao; Milosevic (Mboma 63), Amoroso. Goals: Dionigi 20, 54 Inter 1-1 Parma Squad: Buffon; Sartor, Thuram, Cannavaro, Bennarivo (Junior 70); Fuser, Lamouchi, Almeyda (Boghossian 75); Conceicao, Amoroso (Mboma 67), Di Viao Goals: Di Viao 32, Vieri 70 19/12/00 - Dull, defensive teams are only fun if they are ruthlessly effective, like Italy at the European Championships. Loosing to Vicenza at home shows a distinct lack of ruthlessness. It is a shame that two of Parma's three losses came at potentially easy opportunities. No points when it should have been easy to get four or even six is a problem the boys will have to correct. Speaking from a defender's perspective, I think it is the boys at the other end of the pitch who are to blame. Where's Crespo when you need him? 18/12/00 - This is even worse. Second straight Seria A loss, at home, to Vicenza? Who could predict that. What a difference the absence of Conceicao and Fuser makes. There is no reason they should lose. It would be nice if either Falsini or Junior could hold down a spot-they both play in every match, it's just a matter of who starts and who subs in for him. Appiah is definately one for the future. Squad: Buffon, Thuram, Torrisi, Cannavaro; Appiah (Mboma), Boghossian, Lamouchi, Falsini (Junior); Micoud; Di Viao, Amoroso (Sensini) Goals: Toni 46, 63 11/12/00 - So, we lost in Turin. 1-0 is hardly a poor result, but you could have hoped for more. Unfortunately, Parma had no attack to speak of on Sunday, and though they tried to manage with what they had, their defensive-minded players could not manage any really threatening attemps on goal. Parma: Buffon; Thuram, Torrisi, Cannavaro; Fuser (Sartor), Almeyda, Boghossian (Mboma), Falsini (Junior); Conceicao, Lamouchi; Amoroso. Goal: Ferrara, 16. |
| NEWS ARCHIVES NEWS ARCHIVES NEWS ARCHIVES NEWS ARCHIVES NEWS ARCHIVES |