Despite yet another draw yesterday Parma's Riccardo Musetti remained in high spirits and insists the club are in a good position still.
"We have tried to win it but we also had to be cautious not to lose either. We still have seven point lead over second place. We are at a good point in our journey, even if it's not over yet. @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma
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Parma could take a huge step closer to securing automatic promotion today with a trip to third place Forli.
Having sold 1,500 tickets the Ducali are travelling in numbers, yesterday the coach gave his views on the game and the incredible support his team will receive from the stands. "I'll remind the boys that they are not just playing for themselves, I'll tell them that they'll have to play for all fans of Parma, the ones that can not be with us in Forli today but above all for the fans that have travelled in mass to be with us, I hope these people can have fun tomorrow" "Tomorrow is an important test for us but it is not the most important, it is an opportunity, a very good opportunity but it is not a final. We are very aware of the target we have to reach, we are united in reaching this target, even those who at times are not chosen to play, we are united" Speaking of how Parma will set up tomorrow the coach added..... "We'll have a look again tomorrow, Corapi in midfield is one of many possibilities we have, we must respect the opposition as well as aim for victory. @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Parma forward Crisitian Longobardi spoke ahead of Sundays trip to Forli, insisting the goal of promotion is not done yet and the road is still long.
"We are almost on the eve of Forli - Parma, we are calm and our preparation is going well. We will miss the quality of Yves Baraye, but we have plenty of forwards to call up on all with different characteristics that can forget about his absence" The veteran forward then went on to talk about his respect for Sunday's opponents. "With the coach of Forli there is a mutual appreciation, I think he is a very good coach, and can coach at a higher level. He says he sees Parma already promoted but I know that on Sunday he will do all he can to stop us." @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Parma will be hoping to put to bed any slim chance persistent Forli have of catching them when top meets third in Serie D (Group D) on Sunday.
Parma currently sit 10 points clear of Roberto Rossi's side, victory on Sunday would surly put the league leaders out of site. The Ducali have been some what inconsistent in previous rounds drawing three of their previous five outings, including another frustrating 1-1 draw when Ribelle visited the Tardini last weekend. Once again the Parma faithful are expected to travel in their numbers, making the 200km trip south to cheer on their team with 800 plus tickets being sold before the weekend. Forli welcome Parma to the Stadio Tullo Morgagni on Sunday, sitting comfortably in third just one point off second placed Alto Vicentino, however Rossi's side fell to a shock defeat last weekend when they fell 2-1 to struggling Correggese. The last time the two sides met back in October they played out an uninspiring goalless draw at The Tardini, the travelling fans will be hoping for a better performance this time out against Forli. Luigi Apolloni will have to do without star striker Yves Baraye for this one, the Senegalese misses out after picking up the softest of red cards last weekend. The coach will turn to either Cristian Longobardi or Matteo Guazzo to fill Baraye's goalscoring boots. Apolloni isn't expected to change too much from last weekend as before the Baraye red card, he had the team playing some impressive stuff and were very much on top at home to Ribelle. This is a crucial game for Parma, victory here would mean only Alto Vicentino are the only realistic challengers to The Ducali, a Parma victory and any kind of slip up from Alto Vicentino away to in form Romagna Centro would all but wrap up the championship for Apolloni's side. Player Watch - Christian Longobardi Longobardi is finally getting himself back to full fitness, the veteran striker has missed three month of the season due to a fracture in the leg, returning in recent weeks, he found the net on his first game back, with Yves Baraye unavailable Longobardi could be handed the chance to lead the line from the start on Sunday. Parma probable XI; Zommers, Benassi, Agrifogli, Corapi, Cacioli, Lucarelli, Sereni, Miglietta, Musetti, Longobardi, Simonetti. By Giovanni Dougall Follow Me........... @giovannid86 @Solo_Parma Name - Cristian Longobardi
Position - Forward Age - 33 D.O.B. - 18th June 1982 Place of Birth - Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy Height - 1.83m (6ft 0in) Date Joined Parma - August 2015 Parma's veteran powerhouse forward has done the rounds in Italy's lower leagues since 2001, where a 19 year old Longobardi began his football career with non professional outfit Montecchio, this after a brief spell in the Cesena youth set up. Longobardi has primarily plied his trade in Lega Pro (ex Serie C), after a brief spell at Bellaria Igea Marina, the young forwards career really got going when in 2004 he signed for Boca San Lazzaro, Longobardi spent three years in Bologna with 'Boca' where the team one Group C of the championship, with Longobardi being a key member of the team, scoring 38 goals in his time there. Once 'Boca' were relegated just a year after their promotion Longobardi was on the move. San Marino Calcio picked up Longobardi along with 'Boca' team mate Alessandro Evangelisti. In his first season the big forward hit a career high 13 goals in one season thus leading San Marino to offer him a bumper three year deal, Longobardi would go on to repay the club by scoring 15 times the following season. Despite these 15 goals Longobardi would join Prima Divisione side Rimini in 2009. Longobardi would only last one season with Rimini, leading them to the semi-finals of the promotion playoffs before the club were declared bankrupt in July of 2010. Between 2010 and 2015 Longobardi never really found a true home, spending five years at five different clubs, despite this unsettling period in Longobardi's career he continued to find the net wherever he was, this goal scoring form attracted the newly formed Parma Calcio 1913 which Longobardi joined in August 2015. It's been six months since Longobardi joined Parma, what a turbulent six months it's been, an instant hit with the fans, Longobardi was finding the target on a regular basis scoring four times in the opening eight rounds. Longobardi however would halted in his tracks as a serious compound fracture to his leg kept him out for close to three months of the season. After weeks of rehabilitation, Longobardi made an emotional return to the field on February 10th, where he found the net as a substitute in the 4-0 rout of Clodiense at the Tardini. Lomgobardi and the Parma faithful will be hoping the forward can get the bit of luck he deserves and fire the club to the Serie D (Group D) title. By Giovanni Dougall Follow Me........... @giovannid86 @solo_parma Parma coach Luigi Apolloni spoke of his disappointment at yesterdays draw with Ribelle and give his full backing to Yves Baraye after the forwards bizarre sending off.
"You as me if there was a foul on Baraye? As he said, Boskov was fouling him even when the whistle blows. Baraye's celebration from his goal was in lightness he has done nothing wrong, he couldn't understand what he had done wrong, he had just scored a goal, sometimes it takes a little bit of common sense to come into play. You can't ruin the chance to celebrate when the player has done no wrong, Yves has done no wrong, now we will consider whether to take action against the league and appeal." After Apolloni's rant about Baraye's harsh sending off, he went on to congratulate Sunday's visitors at the Tardini......... "I want to congratulate Ribelle, they are a team that play and play the right way. It's too bad we had to change our game plan early on and couldn't play the way we wanted to, however even with ten players so early on we still tried to win" The coach then turned his attention to Parma's next opponents Fiorli and how the will cope without Senegalese forward Baraye.............. "In Forli there won't be Baraye, Longobardi however has came back at the right time and will be ready to thrive and lend a helping hand, up front we have various options and I am very happy with the performances of Miglietta, as well as being a great player he I also a guy who is driving the team forward, he has a key role to play this season, I put him up there with Baraye today, it's a shame we couldn't see how it would work out. The quality the both have is there and the will provide an important solution in future rounds." Follow me....... @giovannid86 On the eve of Parma - Ribelle at the Tardini, the coach speaks to the press, highlighting how important it was to get back to winning ways last time out.
"It was important to get back to winning, I was hearing criticism and controversy that I believe to be excessive and exaggerated after two draws." Despite the recent criticism, Apolloni went on to thank the fans who have given the team their full backing in recent weeks. "I'd like to thank the message that came from the Curva Nord and our Ultra Group who once again provided a unity, a togetherness, a sign that we are all in the same boat and each of us has an oar, we all need to pull in one direction." The coach then went on to speak of the importance of Sundays clash against playoff chasing Ribelle. "We need to be focused only on Ribelle without thinking of the next game against Fiorli. Ribelle are doing very well, The Romagnoli have very good players with some having played at a much higher level, from Calderoni to Bernacci with others having great qualities. We must continue our path, as we have seen, if we capitalize at home right now then we can cause others difficulties. We need to be good and not lose balance or lose ground in the race now." With Parma's recent hectic schedule the coach hinted at changes in the squad for Sundays game. "Some will rest, with so many games so close together you lose energy, yes I am thinking about Corapi in the hole, it's a role that in the past has served well for us and for the characteristics of our opponents it could work well if we play him there." Parma will be hoping to break hearts on Sunday as The Ducali host playoff chasing Ribelle this Valentines Day.
Luigi Apolloni's side got back to winning ways on Wednesday afternoon as they saw off struggling Clodiense 4-0, the mid week victory was a welcome one as Parma had only managed to pick up two points from a possible six available in the last two rounds. Wednesday's victory would see Parma stretch their lead at the top to nine points as Parma's closest challengers Fiorli and AltoVicentino played out a 2-2 draw. Now on 64 points and still unbeaten Parma will be looking to kick on and secure automatic promotion as soon as possible. Sunday's visitors, Ribelle travel to The Tardini in confident mood, having lost just one of their last five outings, the side from Ravenna saw off Mezzolara by a single goal to nil in mid week keeping them alive in the final playoff spot. Mauro Antonioli's side will arrive in Parma with nothing to lose and will be expected the give the host a run for their money, with the golden carrot of being the first team to beat Parma in the league this season still up for grabs, Ribelle will be more than ready as two of Serie D's top teams clash. Despite having the best defensive record in the league, Antonioli will have done his homework and Ribelle will be expected to test Parma from the word go, some suspect performances from Parma at the back in recent weeks have almost cost them dear, with Luca Cacioli being the main suspect. Luigi Apolloni will have a few selection headaches to make coming into this one, Yves Baraye was dropped on Wednesday after his poor performance against Correggese last Sunday in which he was subbed after an hour, however the Senegalese gave his manager something to think about when he scored after coming off the bench on Wednesday afternoon. Christian Longobardi also found the net in the 4-0 rout over Clodiense however it was the veterans first appearance in over three months, he will be expected to be on the bench as he continues his road to recovery and full match fitness. Player Watch - Yves Baraye Keep an eye on the attacker, he won't have been impressed at being dropped last week and will be out to build on Wednesdays goal and get back to the scintillating form the Parma faithful have been used to in recent months. Probable XI - Zommers; Ricci, Cacioli, Lucarelli (C), Messina; Giorgino, Miglietta; Mazzocchi, Musetti, Baraye, Melandri. By Giovanni Dougall Follow Me.....@giovannid86 Christian Longobardi spoke of his joy at returning to the field today and scoring on his return after 94 days out injured, and thanked the fans for their support during his difficult time on the side lines.
Speaking of his goal in the dying minutes today Longobardi said: "It was an award for the length of time I had out and all the suffering I went through. Longobardo went on to speak of the overwhelming support he has received from the fans and the reception he received when replacing Riccardo Musetti in the 72 minute today: " I don't know what I've done to deserve this affection from the fans, but I know I will continue to do what I do to ensure I deserve it" Micio Melandri spoke of his joy at opening the scoring in todays rout of struggling Clodiense, and what was said to the referee about his elaborate celebration with the Curva Nord.
"The referee had warned me" as Melandri attempted to climb amongst the fans to celebrate after opening the scoring this afternoon. "But I told him that I am a dwarf, and if I don't climb they will not see me" Todays comprehensive victory comes of the back of two disappointing draws, Melandri went on to comment "We must keep this up as we head towards Ribelle and let the rest worry about our results" |
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