Started last night as manager of Bari. i'm not a writer, nor do I have good comprehension of grammar (thanks to my D in GCSE English) so I don't know why i'm doing this in a news story style I just started writing with excitement and this is what came out
Manager: Robbie Ryan
Club: Bari FC
SEASON 2016-2017 - AUGUST
After a few rotten years of stagnation in Serie B, the perennial Italian yo-yo club are making a big push for promotion. 25 years on from their iconic signing of England midfielder David Platt the Puglia club have looked to England yet again to prise away the highly rated young coach* Robbie Ryan.
The London-based Dubliner was as pun-filled as he was hard-hitting in his opening press conference claiming that "i Galletti have been docile for far too long" and that the fans "deserve a team worth crowing about". Bari's suffering fans however have heard nearly every joke, statement of intent and cliche imagineable from club officials since the former president Vincenzo Matarresse and his family decided to end their investment in 2011 leading the Bari Supporters Club president to tiredly state "All that matters is what happens on the pitch."
Even the most cynical of Bari fans must have broken into a grin when at an open training session the following Monday, Ryan introduced - in a refreshingly understated fashion - former Italy international Target man Luca Toni, a player who has won the Bundesliga, World Cup and even retired from football since last appearing in Serie B with Palermo 12 years ago. "Bringing Luca out of retirement to help us was my number one target." Announced alongside the signing of Toni was the permanent signing of Loanee Gaetano Monachello, a player Ryan hopes will be able to fill the shoes of Toni when he again decides to retire. "Gaetano will learn a lot from Luca. he was very highly thought of as a youngster but never got the chance to make an impact. at 22 he really needs to make a breakthrough and I want him to do it at Bari."
Bari vs Pro Vercelli
The Stadio San Nicola saw one of it's largest attendances in 5 years for Bari's opening game against relative minnows Pro Vercellibut the air of cautious optimism that has built up since the arrival of Robbie Ryan was immediately dampened when the team sheet was read out to reveal that Luca Toni had only made the bench. Bari lined up in what the gazzetta dello sport dubbed as the 'very English' 4-4-2 with Toni's understudy Monachello up front alongside Ageing tricky forward Franco Brienza.
Bari started strongly keeping a lot of possession in attacking areas and after ten minutes the atmosphere was boosted when Monachello slipped through Brienza who calmly slotted past the Vercelli keeper to open the scoring, justifying his selection almost immediately, Bari ran out of steam somewhat after the goal and
Leoni grew into the game utilising their midfield 3 against the 2 central midfielders of David Ivan and the tireless captain Migjen Basha. Despite the growing advantage in the middle of the park Vercelli equalised rather fortuitously with a stroke of luck following a corner. The Bari defence, perhaps not quite used to the strict man marking system put in place by Ryan completely failed to pick up their men and the ball was scrambled in at the back post to make it 1-1.
It was a tight affair in the second half with not many chances created, with great encouragement from the fans Luca Toni was brought on to make his debut and instantly had an impact giving away a free kick whilst challenging for a header. Toni's presence gave the home side a boost whilst searching for a winner but ultimately did not contribute for the goal, Aamoment of pure magic from Basha first chesting down a clearance from a corner and subsequentlyvolleying it past keeper Pigliacelli to seal victory.
Bari 2 - 1 Pro Vercelli - Goals: Brienza, Basha. MoM: Basha
Perguia vs Bari
The following week saw Bari travel 400 miles north to face one time serie A runner up Perugia. Ryan started with the same sans-Toni line-up and formation from the previous game which instantly struggled against the combative midfield 5 of
Grifoni. Bari finished the first half with only one shot on target via the isolated and well marked Monachello and resorted to long passes in the second half to him and then to Luca Toni who again failed to make a real impact.
To make matters worse Bari's defence were very sloppy and slow, with the lack pace ultimately allowing Perugia forward Aguire nip in from the wing to meet a low cross and tap into the near corner.
The fans and media, quick to jump on the poor display came out in criticism of the manager not delivering promises of change and sticking with the same squad as last season with one dejected fan in particular exclaiming "he probably spent all the money on Luca, and he's not even playing him."
Bari 0 - 1 Perugia - MoM: Ivan
Bari vs Ascoli
With Bari succumbing to a disappointing result against Perugia, Coach Ryan's first action was to sign 18-year old Roma centre back Riccardo Marchizza on loan, stating in the match programme notes "We've been actively looking for another centre back, Ricci adds competition to the backline as well as injects a bit of pace. Di Cesare and Monas are both in their mid 30s and Denis (Tonucci) needs those extra legs around him when the opposition play more direct" Marchizza was included in the team in one of a few changes, Ivan was brought into a more natural centre midfield position alongside Basha which allowed Kingsley Boateng to make his first appearance of the season on the right wing. Despite calls for Luca Toni to start, Ryan stuck with Monachello and Brienza as a front 2.
Predictably Ascoli came to the Stadio San Nicola in a midfield three intent on keeping possession. Ryan, appearing to have learned his lesson moved Brienza back into midfield to chase down the opposition. A great interception played in Basha who struck a delightful shot from 25 yards which flew perfectly inside the far post for 1-0. From then on in it was all Bari, wave after wave of attack with the best chance falling to Monachello who headed over after a finely worked free kick routine. A second goal eventually came from the deeper Brienza, who picked up the ball from a Ivan layoff dribbled forward and planted the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. In the closing stages of the game Brienza and Basha were both rested to a standing ovation allowing De Luca and Yebli to make their first appearances of the season.
Picchio took advantage of the casual nature of the last few mins by scoring a consolation in the 92nd minute which would have no doubt infuriated Ryan who's team are still searching for their first clean sheet of the season.
Bari 2 - 1 Ascoli Goals: Basha, Brienza. MoM Brienza
With three games gone in the new season, Ryan has already stamped down his management style and system within the team, for better and for worse. One one hand the renewed optimism is contagious and encouraging but there are still grumbles amongst the fans about the lack of signings, Luca Toni not justifying his Salary as yet and the rigidity of the 'molto inglese' ways of the manager.
Player of the Month: Migjen Basha - Two spectacular goals alongside dogged leadership and tireless performances. Basha is showing himself to be the rock and the heart of the team.
Goal of the Month: Migjen Basha vs Ascoli -
P3 W2 L1 F4 A3 Pts6
POS 4th
*Disclaimer - in real life Robbie Ryan retired early and became a maintanence worker on the London Underground
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/p...tiano-ronaldo-in-an-fa-cup-final-8324094.html
