Parma's Pre-season Games

Sunday 26th July

Versus Morgex in the Aosta Valley.

We beat these 19-0 last pre-season; this year we beat them 31-0!! How very farcical!

However, here are how the team lined up and the goalscorers. Note: there were completely different teams in each half.

1st Half 3-4-1-2

Buffon; Lassissi, Thuram, Apolloni; Fuser, Boghossian (goals on 10', 32' and 44'), Breda, Vanoli (goals on 1', 13' and 23'), Ortega (subbed by Montano on 30' - but scored a goal on 26') (Montano - goal 45'), Crespo (goals on 29', 37' and 41'), Di Vaio (goals on 4', 27', 38' and 42').

2nd Half 3-4-1-2)

Micillo; Sartor, Torrisi, Cannavaro; Benarrivo (goal on 43'), Baggio, Walem, Serena (goals on 2' and 14'); Maini (goals on 16' and 24'); Galletti (goals on 8', 27' and 37'), Stanic (goals on 1', 7', 12', 17', 19', 22', 25' and 30')

HOW RIDICULOUS!! They could've let the poor Morgexers score at least one goal!

Friday 20th July

Versus Torino in Aosta - The Val d'Aosta Trophy

(I've cheated here a bit and just copied over what I wrote to the Parma list - but who will know???). Well, this was a bit different from Morgex!!! It ended 1-1. Goals from Appolloni on 43' and Artistico (some name) on 67'. Then we LOST the Valle D'Aosta trophy on penalty kicks!!! Crippa scored first for Torino and then Maini for us. Minotti scored for them; Montano's kick was saved (a poor penalty). Sommese scored for Torino and then Stanic hit the post (but he smiled)!! Don't know who took Torino's 4th penalty, but he scored and Torino won 4-1 on pens!!

Vanoli and Ortega model the new shirts . . . Montano "whoops"! . . . and Stanic *smile* "never mind"!

I was disappointed in the performance (even though it was a friendly). Malesani insisted on playing a different team each half again - and I'm not sure that this is a good idea (although they did look tired). Ortega, who played the first half was not all that brilliant! Lassissi is a liability and should've been booked for a reckless two-footed tackle. For Torino, I thought Lentini still looked a very handy player. 2nd half; Sartor (hair in a pony-tail) was nearly as bad as Lassissi; Montano tried hard; Maini was poor - and the only thing Galletti achieved was the game's only yellow card!!! On the plus side, Thuram and Cannavaro looked as solid as ever!

We have work to do!

Parma teams:

1st Half 3-4-1-2 (I think!)

Buffon, Lassissi, Thuram, Apolloni, Boghossian, Breda, Fuser, Vanoli, Ortega, Crespo, Di Vaio

2nd Half

Guardalben (I cannot spell that!), Sartor, Torrisi, Cannavaro, Serena, Wellem, Maini, Benarrivo, Stanic, Di Viao again (subbed on about 55 by Galletti), Montano.

After scoring his goal, Apolloni with Lassissi . . . Buffon in nice blue shirt! . . . Ortega a Parma player?? . . . Fabio

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Training camp in the Aosta Valley

Nothing special!

Looks like hard work!

Paolo Vanoli

August 4th - Mini-Tournament in Spain (Torneo Hispalis)

In the first match, we lost again on penalties!!! This time against Celta Vigo, 6-3! The full-time score had been 2-2, goals from Ortega on 27' and Di Vaio on 73' (penalty). (Benni?) McCarthy scored twice for Celta.

August 5th - We actually won a game! We beat Santos 2-1, Montaņo and Di Vaio scoring for us, Rink for Santos.

August 7th - WE WON "IL TROFEO BIRRA MORETTI"! (It's always beer!)

We beat Inter 1-0 (penalty from Di Viao) and then beat Udinese 9-8 on penalties!! (45 minutes games)

Team played against Inter:

(3-5-2): Buffon; Sartor, Torrisi, Cannavaro; Serena (Apolloni 30'), Boghossian, Walem, Dino Baggio, Benarrivo (Vanoli 23'); Montano, Di Vaio (Ortega 30').

Team played against Udinese

(3-5-2): Buffon; Lassissi, Thuram, Cannavaro; Serena, Boghossian (Breda 26'), Walem, D.Baggio, Vanoli (Benarrivo 30'); Ortega, Di Vaio

Our penalty takers v Udinese (all successful!)!

Di Vaio, Baggio, Breda, Lassissi, Buffon, Serena, Walem, Cannavaro, Thuram.

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So, that is the end of our pre-season really - next up, Rangers! With both Amoroso and (it looks) Crespo injured; we are going to be relying heavily on Di Viao and Ortega to score our goals. I am, frankly - worried!