We have now moved to the following website:
http://dunfermlineafc.jimdo.com
12.10.09
DUNFERMLINE - RIVAR PLATE 5-1
SAN DESIDERIO - Come on the Pars, come on! A Buccianti-crafted banner greeted the Pars on the way to the Liguria Cup thumping of Division C outfit Rivar Plate.
For the first time ever, Dunfermline won their opening game of the season.
For the first time ever, Dunfermline won a Liguria Cup game.
For the first time in quite some time, Dunfermline played lovely football throughout, every player sticking to the game plan, interpreting their team's strengths and exploiting the opponents' weaknesses.
Gaffer Vanin deployed Perugini in goal, with Merello and Frassinelli composing the back-two, initially. Marletta was in the middle of the park, with Rossi and Finotti on the flanks, while Cantelli started upfront.
Referee Ravedati blew the whistle and proceedings got going.
Dunfermline looked sharp on and with the ball, they used the full width of the pitch and tried to go direct when required.
There were no real clearcut chances either side, though, until Cantelli broke the deadlock.
A Rivar defensive clearance was intercepted by Merello, whose touch was both a block and a through ball at the same time, the ball did reach Cantelli who delivered a brilliant left-footed shot whose run terminated into the back of the net.
The Pars' confidence kept on growing, and Finotti had a decent chance from a delicious Cantelli through ball, but the winger fired over the bar.
Minutes later, Filippi surged up to the halfway line and passed the ball to Marletta, who played a through ball into the path of Cantelli. The No 6 quickly turned and dispatched a savable shot the goalkeeper made a mess of, only managing to oppose a flawed block, with the ball going over the line to give Dunfermline a two-goal cushion.
Much of the pre-match talk had been focused on Devescovi, Rivar's topscorer, and his friendship with a few of the lads, but there was little room for anything other than competition on the pitch, and Devescovi himself duly obliged as he pegged one back for his side.
From a corner-kick, Devescovi was able to cut inside, beating Rossi and firing from outside the box, Perugini helpless on that occasion.
Perugini himself had been absolutely brilliant a few minutes earlier, as he stopped another powerful long range shot, also struck by Devescovi.
After conceding the goal, Dunfermline didn't lose their composure at all, and resumed their enjoyable play, with a thick web of passes leaving their opponents with little time on the ball.
Just before half-time, Rossi all but secured the passage to the next round, as he fought his way out of two opponents and scored with his right from the narrowest of angles to give the Pars a 3-1 half-time lead.
HALF TIME: Dunfermline 3, Rivar Plate 1
Bovalino replaced Finotti on the right flank, and soon after the restart, Frassinelli was introduced for Merello.
Marletta tried one of his typical tricks as he got past two opponents and shot from obscene range, forcing a marvel of a save from Ruscino, the Rivar goalie.
The Pars' flow of play rendered Rivar Plate dried and energy-less, as they chased ghosts for most of the second half, and they weren't helped by some of their team-members either, as was the case when Cantelli completed his hat-trick.
A brilliant combination between the No 6 and Rossi seemed to have reached an abrupt end as Ruscino intercepted the ball, but the keeper did lose his grasp and Cantelli immediately took advantage, dispossessing him and firing for the 4-1 goal into an empty net.
More than plain sailing thereafter for the Pars, who added a fifth as Cantelli once again combined with Rossi, whose first shot was blocked on the line, before the No 7 collected the rebound for the easiest of tap-ins, 5-1.
The ref didn't wave for any stoppage time, and the game came to a close with Dunfermline worthy winners.
FULL TIME: Dunfermline 5, Rivar Plate 1
DUNFERMLINE
Perugini (13)
Filippi (8)
Merello (4) - Frassinelli (10)
Finotti (15) - Bovalino (11)
Marletta (5, c)
Rossi (7)
Cantelli (6)
MANAGER: Vanin
SUBS NOT USED: Crosetti (2)
REFEREE: Ravedati
SCORERS: Cantelli 3 (1-0, 2-0, 4-1), Rossi 2 (3-1, 5-1)
CAUTIONS: -
For the first time ever, Dunfermline won their opening game of the season.
For the first time ever, Dunfermline won a Liguria Cup game.
For the first time in quite some time, Dunfermline played lovely football throughout, every player sticking to the game plan, interpreting their team's strengths and exploiting the opponents' weaknesses.
Gaffer Vanin deployed Perugini in goal, with Merello and Frassinelli composing the back-two, initially. Marletta was in the middle of the park, with Rossi and Finotti on the flanks, while Cantelli started upfront.
Referee Ravedati blew the whistle and proceedings got going.
Dunfermline looked sharp on and with the ball, they used the full width of the pitch and tried to go direct when required.
There were no real clearcut chances either side, though, until Cantelli broke the deadlock.
A Rivar defensive clearance was intercepted by Merello, whose touch was both a block and a through ball at the same time, the ball did reach Cantelli who delivered a brilliant left-footed shot whose run terminated into the back of the net.
The Pars' confidence kept on growing, and Finotti had a decent chance from a delicious Cantelli through ball, but the winger fired over the bar.
Minutes later, Filippi surged up to the halfway line and passed the ball to Marletta, who played a through ball into the path of Cantelli. The No 6 quickly turned and dispatched a savable shot the goalkeeper made a mess of, only managing to oppose a flawed block, with the ball going over the line to give Dunfermline a two-goal cushion.
Much of the pre-match talk had been focused on Devescovi, Rivar's topscorer, and his friendship with a few of the lads, but there was little room for anything other than competition on the pitch, and Devescovi himself duly obliged as he pegged one back for his side.
From a corner-kick, Devescovi was able to cut inside, beating Rossi and firing from outside the box, Perugini helpless on that occasion.
Perugini himself had been absolutely brilliant a few minutes earlier, as he stopped another powerful long range shot, also struck by Devescovi.
After conceding the goal, Dunfermline didn't lose their composure at all, and resumed their enjoyable play, with a thick web of passes leaving their opponents with little time on the ball.
Just before half-time, Rossi all but secured the passage to the next round, as he fought his way out of two opponents and scored with his right from the narrowest of angles to give the Pars a 3-1 half-time lead.
HALF TIME: Dunfermline 3, Rivar Plate 1
Bovalino replaced Finotti on the right flank, and soon after the restart, Frassinelli was introduced for Merello.
Marletta tried one of his typical tricks as he got past two opponents and shot from obscene range, forcing a marvel of a save from Ruscino, the Rivar goalie.
The Pars' flow of play rendered Rivar Plate dried and energy-less, as they chased ghosts for most of the second half, and they weren't helped by some of their team-members either, as was the case when Cantelli completed his hat-trick.
A brilliant combination between the No 6 and Rossi seemed to have reached an abrupt end as Ruscino intercepted the ball, but the keeper did lose his grasp and Cantelli immediately took advantage, dispossessing him and firing for the 4-1 goal into an empty net.
More than plain sailing thereafter for the Pars, who added a fifth as Cantelli once again combined with Rossi, whose first shot was blocked on the line, before the No 7 collected the rebound for the easiest of tap-ins, 5-1.
The ref didn't wave for any stoppage time, and the game came to a close with Dunfermline worthy winners.
FULL TIME: Dunfermline 5, Rivar Plate 1
DUNFERMLINE
Perugini (13)
Filippi (8)
Merello (4) - Frassinelli (10)
Finotti (15) - Bovalino (11)
Marletta (5, c)
Rossi (7)
Cantelli (6)
MANAGER: Vanin
SUBS NOT USED: Crosetti (2)
REFEREE: Ravedati
SCORERS: Cantelli 3 (1-0, 2-0, 4-1), Rossi 2 (3-1, 5-1)
CAUTIONS: -
9.10.09
SQUAD PROFILE - Fausto Crosetti (2)
NAME: Fausto Crosetti
BIRTHPLACE: Novi Ligure
BIRTHPLACE: Novi Ligure
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1981
POSITION: Defender
CLUB APPEARANCES: 20
GOALS: 1
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Mojito FC 3-3 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: A Selesiun - Dunfermline 0-2 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: A Selesiun - Dunfermline 0-2 (2008/09)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Sporting Cabella, Archinav
OFF THE PITCH: Fausto Crosetti is a graduate physicist, working at Genoa university in a research programme.
Fabio Boccaccio, Mattia Maneschi, Flavio Lenza, Gianluca Lanata, Alberto Pittaluga, Federico Gallo. What all those players have in common with Fausto Crosetti is that they all joined the Pars' ranks during the course of or just before the 2008/09 season.
Fausto's dependability and commitment made him stand out from the above mentioned individuals, so much so that he's the only one, amongst those, who has been confirmed as a Pars' player for the present season.
An experienced defender on the pitch, and a serious and trustworthy person off it, Fausto has donned the shirt 20 times and even managed one goal, while also providing reliable cover for the likes of Frassinelli, Filippi and, more recently, Merello.
During the course of the 2009/10 pre-season, he's been going from strength to strength, and he's likely to have climbed a few places up the defensive options pecking order.
SQUAD PROFILE - Marco Cantelli (6)
NAME: Marco Cantelli
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Forward
CLUB APPEARANCES: 47
GOALS: 67
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Hattrick Fed 2-5 (2006/07)
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Forward
CLUB APPEARANCES: 47
GOALS: 67
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Hattrick Fed 2-5 (2006/07)
BEST MATCH: Xeneixes - Dunfermline 4-5 (2007/08)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Sampierdarenese, Sestrese, Praese, CFFS Polis, Controcamper
OFF THE PITCH: Marco Cantelli is completing a master degree in IT Technology Engineering.
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Sampierdarenese, Sestrese, Praese, CFFS Polis, Controcamper
OFF THE PITCH: Marco Cantelli is completing a master degree in IT Technology Engineering.
Marco Cantelli joined the Pars ahead of the 2006/07 Primavera Tournament and quickly established himself as one of the leading players of the team, as well as one of the best overall players in the whole AICS panorama.
67 goals in 47 equates about one and a half goal per game, and that gives a rough idea about his
potential and achievements, but there's plenty of meaning in some of those goals.
He found the back of the net 39 times in 2007/08, including 5 in one game against Xeneixes, with the final scoreline reading 5-4, a last gasp winner in the 2-1 disposal of Sampierdarena, the game which clinched Dunfermline's status in the regular season top-two, and a hat-trick against Borussia to seal first place in the league group.
During the playoffs' 3-1 defeat at the hands of Hellas Begato, Marco injured his ankle and was consequently ruled out of the crunch ties against Massacroni (2-2), Amici di Berto (5-3) and Alliance United (2-3), but Dunfermline went on to gain promotion regardless.
He missed out on the initial part of the 2008/09 season as he had a working stint in Belgium, and when he came back, he picked up where he had left off.
He managed 26 goals during the space of three quarters of a season, and has now reached a very impressive overall goal tally.
The early signs in pre-season have been even more encouraging, and he will represent the usual goalscoring threat upfront throughout the whole season.
FRIENDLY - Dunfermline - DCF Guarana 6-1
SAN DESIDERIO - Dunfermline had it the easy way last night, as they thumped 2007/08 Zonale champions Guaranà in a very one-sided contest.
Vanin deployed Semino in goal, with Crosetti and Filippi starting in defence.
Marletta was in the middle of the park, initially flanked by Bovalino and Rossi, although it wasn't long before the changes were rung and Finotti was inserted in the midfield rotation.
Cantelli, as rumoured all week, was fielded upfront as the lone striker, a position he can cover in a very effective way, as he showed last night, and on other occasions as well, for that matter.
Guaranà weren't quite interested in the meaning of the word "friendly", so they started making high-flying tackles almost from the word go, with Bovalino, Cantelli, Rossi and Marletta the main targets.
The early exchanges weren't too enjoyable to watch, but Dunfermline have been playing fairly good football, recently, so when they did start clicking, there was no way back.
Marletta opened the scoring latching onto a loose ball to sidefoot home from just outside the box.
Before the break, Cantelli added two of his own, the former a poacher's goal taking advantage of a keeper's blunder, the latter with an exquisite lob shot.
HALF TIME: Dunfermline 3, Guarana 0
Proceedings were resumed, and Dunfermline just kept on going.
Cantelli completed his hat-trick with a lovely long-range left-footed effort, before Rossi started a show of his own when deployed upfront.
Basically, he ran Guarana defence ragged and provided his team-mates with a number of excellent final passes and clearcut chances.
Not all of those amounted to goals, but Bovalino and Finotti did pile up further misery upon the dismantled opponents, who only managed to pull one back before the end of the game.
A good warm-up performance, ahead of the beginning of the competitive season, due to kick-start in quite some style on Sunday, in the Liguria Cup first round tie against Division C outfit Rivar Plate.
FULL TIME: Dunfermline 6, Guarana 1
DUNFERMLINE
Semino (1)
Crosetti (2)
Filippi (8)
Bovalino (11) replaced by Finotti (15)
Marletta (5)
Rossi (7)
Cantelli (6)
MANAGER: Vanin
SCORERS: Marletta, Cantelli 3, Bovalino, Finotti
Vanin deployed Semino in goal, with Crosetti and Filippi starting in defence.
Marletta was in the middle of the park, initially flanked by Bovalino and Rossi, although it wasn't long before the changes were rung and Finotti was inserted in the midfield rotation.
Cantelli, as rumoured all week, was fielded upfront as the lone striker, a position he can cover in a very effective way, as he showed last night, and on other occasions as well, for that matter.
Guaranà weren't quite interested in the meaning of the word "friendly", so they started making high-flying tackles almost from the word go, with Bovalino, Cantelli, Rossi and Marletta the main targets.
The early exchanges weren't too enjoyable to watch, but Dunfermline have been playing fairly good football, recently, so when they did start clicking, there was no way back.
Marletta opened the scoring latching onto a loose ball to sidefoot home from just outside the box.
Before the break, Cantelli added two of his own, the former a poacher's goal taking advantage of a keeper's blunder, the latter with an exquisite lob shot.
HALF TIME: Dunfermline 3, Guarana 0
Proceedings were resumed, and Dunfermline just kept on going.
Cantelli completed his hat-trick with a lovely long-range left-footed effort, before Rossi started a show of his own when deployed upfront.
Basically, he ran Guarana defence ragged and provided his team-mates with a number of excellent final passes and clearcut chances.
Not all of those amounted to goals, but Bovalino and Finotti did pile up further misery upon the dismantled opponents, who only managed to pull one back before the end of the game.
A good warm-up performance, ahead of the beginning of the competitive season, due to kick-start in quite some style on Sunday, in the Liguria Cup first round tie against Division C outfit Rivar Plate.
FULL TIME: Dunfermline 6, Guarana 1
DUNFERMLINE
Semino (1)
Crosetti (2)
Filippi (8)
Bovalino (11) replaced by Finotti (15)
Marletta (5)
Rossi (7)
Cantelli (6)
MANAGER: Vanin
SCORERS: Marletta, Cantelli 3, Bovalino, Finotti
5.10.09
PREVIEW - Dunfermline v Rivar Plate
GENOA - Talking counts for nothing, now. In six days' time, Dunfermline will be taking on their Division C opponents, Rivar Plate, in the first competitive piece of action since crashing out of the Primavera Tournament on penalties, at the hands of Crazy Bees.
The new, but not so new, signings, already had a chance to impress donning Dunfermline's shirt during that competition, and their services have been preciously retained for the forthcoming season.
GOALKEEPERS: Semino and Perugini will constantly fight it out for the starting berth in goal, and Perugini seems to hold a slight edge for the encounter on Sunday, provided he can be cleared to play by his FIGC club.
Semino should be with the team regardless, perhaps aiding gaffer Vanin manage the team during the cup game.
DEFENDERS: Crosetti did get his clearance to play for Dunfermline from his FIGC club and should be available for the cup game. Frassinelli will be in Florence during the weekend, but he should come back in time for the tie, and either way Filippi and Merello are fully available and looked extremely sharp a partnership in the recent pre-season outings.
MIDFIELDERS: Another player yet to obtain FIGC clearance is Davide Ducco, whose appearances for the Pars may this season be restricted by the fact his FIGC club will often play on Sundays, and anyhow he's not expected to start this weekend as he hasn't played in a single friendly tie so far. His involvement will be far likelier starting from the first league game on 18th September.
On the other hand, Marletta, Finotti and Bovalino have all looked lively recently, with Cantelli, mainly a striker, is also deployable on the flanks in the midfield pack.
FORWARDS: Stefano Rossi is odds-on favourite to start the game upfront, while Cantelli, as mentioned, could be deployed on the left flank.
Buccianti, on the other hand, will only get back from his lengthy spell in Tuscany on Saturday 10th, and will not be involved for the game, although he's likely to travel to San Desiderio with the team.
MANAGER: Vanin is back at the helm, where he belongs, and will most definitely look for promotion after sitting out on the pretty much whole season last term.
__________________________________________________________
THE SQUAD:
Semino (1) - involved
Perugini (13) - involved
Crosetti (2) - involved
Merello (4) - involved
Filippi (8) - involved
Frassinelli (10) - involved pending return from Tuscany
Marletta (5) - involved
Bovalino (11) - involved
Ducco (14) - involved pending FIGC clearance
Finotti (15) - involved
Cantelli (6) - involved
Rossi (7) - involved
Buccianti (9) - not involved
________________________________________________________
THE MATCH: Dunfermline and Rivar Plate have never locked horns before, although some of the players from both sides do know each other rather well.
Namely, Luca Devescovi, Rivar's top scorer last term, is in a folk-rock band also including Marletta and Finotti, and a long term friend of Cantelli's, Frassinelli's and a few more of the lads.
Rivar Plate failed to qualify for the Division C playoffs last term, but they will surely pose a genuine threat for the Pars who, incidentally, have never managed to win the first game of the season in the past:
2006/07: Dunfermline - Mojito FC 1-3 (League)
2007/08: Dunfermline - Virtusestri 3-8 (Liguria Cup)
2008/09: Dunfermline (*) - Mojito FC 3-3 (Liguria Cup, Dunfermline through on penalties)
Moreover, Dunfermline have failed to win a single match in the Liguria Cup throughout their relatively short history, managing only two draws and a loss in their previous participations
2007/08: Dunfermline - Virtusestri 3-8 (1st Round)
2008/09: Dunfermilne (*) - Mojito FC 3-3 (1st Round - Dunfermline through on penalties)
2008/09: Dunfermline - CD Indie (*) 6-6 (2nd Round - CDI through on penalties)
__________________________________________________________
http://dunfermlineafc.blogspot.com/
The new, but not so new, signings, already had a chance to impress donning Dunfermline's shirt during that competition, and their services have been preciously retained for the forthcoming season.
GOALKEEPERS: Semino and Perugini will constantly fight it out for the starting berth in goal, and Perugini seems to hold a slight edge for the encounter on Sunday, provided he can be cleared to play by his FIGC club.
Semino should be with the team regardless, perhaps aiding gaffer Vanin manage the team during the cup game.
DEFENDERS: Crosetti did get his clearance to play for Dunfermline from his FIGC club and should be available for the cup game. Frassinelli will be in Florence during the weekend, but he should come back in time for the tie, and either way Filippi and Merello are fully available and looked extremely sharp a partnership in the recent pre-season outings.
MIDFIELDERS: Another player yet to obtain FIGC clearance is Davide Ducco, whose appearances for the Pars may this season be restricted by the fact his FIGC club will often play on Sundays, and anyhow he's not expected to start this weekend as he hasn't played in a single friendly tie so far. His involvement will be far likelier starting from the first league game on 18th September.
On the other hand, Marletta, Finotti and Bovalino have all looked lively recently, with Cantelli, mainly a striker, is also deployable on the flanks in the midfield pack.
FORWARDS: Stefano Rossi is odds-on favourite to start the game upfront, while Cantelli, as mentioned, could be deployed on the left flank.
Buccianti, on the other hand, will only get back from his lengthy spell in Tuscany on Saturday 10th, and will not be involved for the game, although he's likely to travel to San Desiderio with the team.
MANAGER: Vanin is back at the helm, where he belongs, and will most definitely look for promotion after sitting out on the pretty much whole season last term.
__________________________________________________________
THE SQUAD:
Semino (1) - involved
Perugini (13) - involved
Crosetti (2) - involved
Merello (4) - involved
Filippi (8) - involved
Frassinelli (10) - involved pending return from Tuscany
Marletta (5) - involved
Bovalino (11) - involved
Ducco (14) - involved pending FIGC clearance
Finotti (15) - involved
Cantelli (6) - involved
Rossi (7) - involved
Buccianti (9) - not involved
________________________________________________________
THE MATCH: Dunfermline and Rivar Plate have never locked horns before, although some of the players from both sides do know each other rather well.
Namely, Luca Devescovi, Rivar's top scorer last term, is in a folk-rock band also including Marletta and Finotti, and a long term friend of Cantelli's, Frassinelli's and a few more of the lads.
Rivar Plate failed to qualify for the Division C playoffs last term, but they will surely pose a genuine threat for the Pars who, incidentally, have never managed to win the first game of the season in the past:
2006/07: Dunfermline - Mojito FC 1-3 (League)
2007/08: Dunfermline - Virtusestri 3-8 (Liguria Cup)
2008/09: Dunfermline (*) - Mojito FC 3-3 (Liguria Cup, Dunfermline through on penalties)
Moreover, Dunfermline have failed to win a single match in the Liguria Cup throughout their relatively short history, managing only two draws and a loss in their previous participations
2007/08: Dunfermline - Virtusestri 3-8 (1st Round)
2008/09: Dunfermilne (*) - Mojito FC 3-3 (1st Round - Dunfermline through on penalties)
2008/09: Dunfermline - CD Indie (*) 6-6 (2nd Round - CDI through on penalties)
__________________________________________________________
http://dunfermlineafc.blogspot.com/
SQUAD PROFILE - Filippo Finotti (15)
NAME: Filippo Finotti
BIRTHPLACE: Turin
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB APPEARANCES: 5
GOALS: 0
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Genova 07 3-3 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: Dunfermline - Guardian Thistle 2-2 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: Dunfermline - Guardian Thistle 2-2 (2008/09)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Eureka, Pro Settimo, Settimo, Real Nano, Controcamper
OFF THE PITCH: Filippo Finotti is completing his bachelor degree in natural sciences.
Filippo is a Turin born midfielder, usually deployed on either flank, and he joined the Pars' ranks ahead of the 2008/09 Primavera Tournament, during which he stood out as an utility man in midfield, one gifted with grit and wit, and with a notable long range shooting ability in him.
And Dunfermline know something about it, as they were punished by the curly blonde lad during their second-ever competitive match, a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Controcamper, Finotti's former club, when the midfielder scored with an unbelievable thunderbolt from the halfway line.
Now with the Scots, Filippo has quickly gelled with the rest of the team, providing the gaffer with a quality option on the flank and his teammates with a lot of help when required.
Also scored a few very nice goals in pre-season, and he'll now be looking to open his official account for the Pars as soon as possible.
Sunday for a start?
2.10.09
SQUAD PROFILE - Matteo Bovalino (11)
NAME: Matteo Bovalino
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB APPEARANCES: 61
GOALS: 23
DEBUT: Hattrick Fed - Dunfermline 4-2 (2006/07)
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB APPEARANCES: 61
GOALS: 23
DEBUT: Hattrick Fed - Dunfermline 4-2 (2006/07)
BEST MATCH: Sampierdarena - Dunfermline 1-2 (2007/08)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Genoa, Sestrese, Praese
OFF THE PITCH: Matteo Bovalino is a trainee insurance broker with an international firm.
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Genoa, Sestrese, Praese
OFF THE PITCH: Matteo Bovalino is a trainee insurance broker with an international firm.
Matteo Bovalino was recruited by Clegg midway through the Pars' first competitive season 2006/07 and soon established himself as one of the team's leading players.
He sat out on the final few games of the season through injury, but was back in the fold as soon as the following season got under way.
During the promotion winning campaign in 2007/08, he was the only player not to miss a game throughout the whole season and while his excellent technique had long been known to his teammates, his commitment on the pitch, in terms of running and defending, made him stand out even more, and he even netted 11 goals, some of which absolutely crucial in the quest for promotion.
During the 2008/09 he, more than others, suffered from a lack of collective cohesion within the team, and at one stage even thought of walking out on the club owing to a lack of serenity which was affecting his personal life and his performances on the pitch.
Once such issues got solved, he was back to his best and tried to lift his teammates' spirits in the final push for promotion which, unfortunately, didn't materialise.
The Primavera Tournament, with Vanin back at the helm and everything falling into place again, represented a definite return to the Bovalino of old, the one widely known and loved.
And he's continuing on that same path now the season is fast approaching...
SQUAD PROFILE - Fabio Frassinelli (10)
NAME: Fabio Frassinelli
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Defender
CLUB APPEARANCES: 61
GOALS: 12
DEBUT: WLF Genova - Dunfermline 1-0 (2006/07)
BEST MATCH: Le Café - Dunfermline 5-6 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: Le Café - Dunfermline 5-6 (2008/09)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Genoa, Sestrese, Praese, Pontedecimo, Culmv
OFF THE PITCH: Fabio Frassinelli is a graduate IT Engineer, and is now in the process of completing a master degree in the same discipline.
It may be rare to see a defender don the No 10 shirt, but the first time Fabio ever did wear a Dunfermline shirt, well, it bore No 9.
That was back in 2006/07, when he was recruited by Clegg amidst a birthday party at the unusual (for Clegg himself) venue of Mako, a Genoa disco-club.
That's where and when the story began, but a lot of time has elapsed since, and Frassi has grown to become the second longest serving member of the squad, and the second highest Pars' players as far as club appearances are concerned.
He scored only once in his first season for Dunfermline, a brilliant backheel goal in the 8-4 thrashing of Olimpique Sestri, however he got injured soon afterwards and didn't appear on the pitch until the Primavera Tournament was played.
The following term, Dunfermline gained promotion to Division C, and he performed as the best defender in the whole league, by a mile.
He often contributed with goals, a few decisive ones too and, even more importantly, he rarely lost an aerial battle for the ball.
A mountain of a marker, and an inspired defensive leader, he even stood in as manager on one occasion, as the gaffer couldn't make it to the pitch in time for the 4-1 victory over Las Cuevas.
As for most of his team-mates, 2008/09 was good but not particularly enthusing, and the sense of belonging to the common cause, to the Dunfermline "project" sort of diminished, so it wasn't particulary heart-breaking when the Pars finally failed to gain back-to-back promotions.
The ensuing Primavera Tournament did restore faith in the common cause to a certain degree, and he and the rest of the team are now ready to take on the forthcoming season.
SQUAD PROFILE - Davide Filippi (8)
NAME: Davide Filippi
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1983
POSITION: Defender
CLUB APPEARANCES: 48
GOALS: 3
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Hattrick Fed 2-5 (2006/07)
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1983
POSITION: Defender
CLUB APPEARANCES: 48
GOALS: 3
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Hattrick Fed 2-5 (2006/07)
BEST MATCH: Uruk Hai - Dunfermline 3-9 (2008/09)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Praese, Mojito FC
OFF THE PITCH: Davide Filippi co-owns and co-runs his family's locksmith utility service shop.
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Praese, Mojito FC
OFF THE PITCH: Davide Filippi co-owns and co-runs his family's locksmith utility service shop.
As was the case for Frassinelli and Cantelli, Davide Filippi joined the ranks ahead of the 2006/07 Primavera Tournament, on the back of a first competitive season which, for the Pars, hadn't gone quite too well.
Similarly, that competition wasn't much of a success either, with Dunfermline failing to qualify for the knockout stages, but the foundations for the all-conquering 2007/08 season were laid.
And what a season he did have, as he was fully instrumental to the achievement of success, also scoring one goal in the process.
The 2008/09 season was good but not excellent for the Pars, but he improved on his scoring habits, as he found the back of the net on two occasions, notably he did backheel home in the thumping of Uruk Hai by 9 goals to 3 midway through the season.
He missed out on the whole Primavera tournament at the end of the season owing to the refitting of his newly built apartment, but he was back on the pitch as soon as pre-season started last month.
And what form did he show, he will once again be a stalwart of the team.
SQUAD PROFILE - Stefano Rossi (7)
NAME: Stefano Rossi
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1982
POSITION: Forward
CLUB APPEARANCES: 4
GOALS: 2
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Genova '07 3-3 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: Grifone 2007 - Dunfermline 1-4 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: Grifone 2007 - Dunfermline 1-4 (2008/09)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Solferino Castelletto, Rovegno, Ignazio Messina
OFF THE PITCH: Stefano Rossi is a crude oil shipbroker, a colleague of Marletta's at the same desk, same company.
Stefano Rossi was signed by the Pars towards the end of the 2008/09 season, and his initial steps in the Primavera Tournament were remarkable.
2 goals in 4 matches may not represent a massive haul for a 7-a-side forward, however his contribution to the team was, and is, much ampler.
His pace and rapidity set him apart from all other strikers within the Pars' fold, with Cantelli representing pure technique and physical strength and Buccianti giving an option for a more long-ball-like, direct style of attacking play.
It has been rather evident in pre-season that Rossi is quickly integrating and gelling with the rest of the team, and his goal tally will also grow accordingly, no doubt about that.
1.10.09
SQUAD PROFILE - Aldo Marletta (5)
NAME: Aldo Marletta
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB APPEARANCES: 72
GOALS: 67
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Mojito FC 1-3 (2006/07)
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Midfielder
CLUB APPEARANCES: 72
GOALS: 67
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Mojito FC 1-3 (2006/07)
BEST MATCH: Dunfermline - Amici Di Berto 5-3 (2007/08)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Solferino Castelletto, Cosmos, Praese
OFF THE PITCH: Aldo Marletta is a crude oil carrier shipbroker with a leading international company.
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Solferino Castelletto, Cosmos, Praese
OFF THE PITCH: Aldo Marletta is a crude oil carrier shipbroker with a leading international company.
Back from London in September 2006, Clegg founded Dunfermline AFC together with then player now manager Luigi Vanin.
A midfield player with a knack for goals, and a particular inclination for free-kicks and long range efforts, he netted 17 goals in 2006/07 as the Pars didn't qualify for the playoffs.
In 2007/08, the promotion winning campaign, he found the back of the net on 30 occasions, notably his contribution was outstanding in the decisive matches against Massacroni (2 goals from as many free-kicks) and the crunching tie against Amici di Berto, when he scored a brilliant hat-trick, while also making the two other goals, scored by Borreani and Frassinelli.
At a time when the Pars couldn't count on Cantelli, injured, he took his team on his shoulders, and never looked back.
2008/09 wasn't as fortunate, although he still managed 20 plus goals, but the atmosphere in the dressing room wasn't pleasing or enjoyable at all, meaning that Clegg, also at the very core of the managerial and board decisions, was often subject to scrutiny and criticism.
The initial stages of the present season, though, have shown massively encouraging signs, the lads are once again prepared to bite and to conjure up a campaign to be remembered.
Therefore, he's playing with a smile on his face again.
SQUAD PROFILE - Alessandro Merello (4)
NAME: Alessandro Merello
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1984
POSITION: Defender
CLUB APPEARANCES: 4
GOALS: 0
DEBUT: Guardian Thistle - Dunfermline 2-2 (2008/09)
BEST MATCH: Dunfermline - Tricche Ballacche 5-3 (2008/09)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Sampierdarenese, Cella, Never Alone Soccer
OFF THE PITCH: Alessandro Merello runs his own clothing firm Emotion (c), and is a clothing item free-lance distributor.
Alessandro Merello is a first-class defender whose acquisition finally materialised towards the end of the 2008/09 campaign, ahead of the Pars' quest in the Primavera Tournament.
He had long been a marke target for the Fifers, but he pledged his loyalty to his former AICS club Never Alone Soccer, but, as they say, better late than never...
On of only two left-footed players in the team, Stefano Rossi being the other one, Alessandro is a positive-thinking defender, whose pace and tactical wisdom place him amongst the best in the AICS football panorama.
He can also be deployed as a wide midfielder, a position he can cover while contributing to both attacking and defending phases.
A valuable addition to a team that has always had a strong defensive pack, he has been absolutely dazzling in pre-season matches so far.
And the best is yet to come...
SQUAD PROFILE - Marco Semino (1)
NAME: Marco Semino
BIRTHPLACE: Genoa
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1970
POSITION: Goalkeeper
CLUB APPEARANCES: 38
GOALS: 0
DEBUT: Dunfermline - Compagnia Delle Indie 3-3 (2007/08)
BEST MATCH: Dunfermline - Amici Di Berto 5-3 (2007/08)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Praese, Voltrese
OFF THE PITCH: Marco Semino is a purchase representative with an established firm in the realm of steel and manufacturing business.
Marco Semino is about to start his third campaign for the Pars, a club he's brilliantly served and helped to promotion to Division B back in 2007/08.
His debut occurred as turmoil struck Dunfermline before the season even got under way, when their main sponsor withdrew its financial support and the circumstance was rendered even worse by the fact that the sponsor's representative himself used to be the team's goalkeeper, too.
A brilliant acquisition, a swoop concocted by Matteo Bovalino, he has been a stalwart of the team, both on and off the pitch.
His reflexes and ability between the sticks make him stand out as one of the finest goalkeepers in the league, and his famous shouts to his defence have been a constant feat during his playing appearances.
Speaking of which, he was once deployed as an outfield player, more precisely as a defender, an outstanding one.
And what a game that was, one of the club's biggest ones to date, a 2-2 draw against Massacroni at the playoff group stage back in 2007/08, a precious point which saw the Pars through to the quarter finals, where they eventually got past Amici di Berto with a 5-3 win to clinch promotion.
In that game, he was back in goal, and he produced an unbelievable string of saves to help his side go up.
The 2008/09 season wasn't as enjoyable for the Pars, as fourth spot in the league group only entitled the Pars to qualify for the Promotion group, where they crashed out after a 2-0 loss to A Selesiun and a not-so-useful 5-4 victory over Real Chupito.
That's back in the past, though, and "SuperSemi" looked as sharp as ever in the early stage of pre-season this year.
FRIENDLY - Dunfermline - Carrapippi 8-6
SAN DESIDERIO - Dunfermline went back to winning ways as they overhauled Division C high-flyers Carrapippi in a friendly match, at San Desiderio last night.
Cantelli and Crosetti were last minute absentees owing to their working duties, while Buccianti is only going to return from his Tuscany holidays in ten days' time.
Gaffer Vanin therefore deployed Semino in goal, with Filippi and Merello composing the back-two. Marletta took centre stage in midfield and was flanked by Bovalino and Finotti, while Rossi got the nod to start upfront.
The Pars looked lively and their passing was as brilliant as effective, and it didn't take long before Bovalino found the back of the net after coolly rounding a defender and firing in the bottom corner.
Rossi double Dunfermline's tally a few minutes later, as he made light work of a Carrapippi's defender before dispatching his left-footed effort home.
Soon afterwards, Filippi sloppily lost possession to allow Carrapippi's forward to run through the middle, with the visitors reducing their arrears as a result, but that turned out to be Fernandez's only mistake on an almost flawless night.
Rossi scored once more to make it 3-1 with a fine finish, before one of his many deliveries was met by a cheeky Marletta backheel from close range, 4-1.
Rossi completed his hat-trick with another fine effort just before the interval.
HALF TIME: Dunfermline 5, Carrapippi 1
Frassinelli came on for Filippi and Dunfermline tried to build on their excellent first period performance. However, perhaps owing to a lack of fitness, they stopped playing their free-flowing football and didn't look too good defensively either.
Carrapippi did reduce their arrears, but the Scots did produce the odd moments of brilliance here and there.
Finotti scored with a backheel flick as well, Marletta got on the scoresheet again with a right footed drive after cheekily chipping his marer, and Finotti scored the Pars' final goal, as a Bovalino brilliantly taken corner-kick was met mid-air by the Turin born winger, who slid the ball home.
Very late on, a magnificent Rossi delivery wasn't met by Finotti, only by a fraction.
An excellent first half-display from the Pars, who looked ready to tackle the forthcoming competitive season.
FULL TIME: Dunfermline 8, Carrapippi 6
DUNFERMLINE
1 Semino
4 Merello
8 Filippi (10 Frassinelli)
11 Bovalino
5 Marletta
15 Finotti
7 Rossi
MANAGER: Vanin
SCORERS: Bovalino, Rossi 3, Marletta 2, Finotti 2
Cantelli and Crosetti were last minute absentees owing to their working duties, while Buccianti is only going to return from his Tuscany holidays in ten days' time.
Gaffer Vanin therefore deployed Semino in goal, with Filippi and Merello composing the back-two. Marletta took centre stage in midfield and was flanked by Bovalino and Finotti, while Rossi got the nod to start upfront.
The Pars looked lively and their passing was as brilliant as effective, and it didn't take long before Bovalino found the back of the net after coolly rounding a defender and firing in the bottom corner.
Rossi double Dunfermline's tally a few minutes later, as he made light work of a Carrapippi's defender before dispatching his left-footed effort home.
Soon afterwards, Filippi sloppily lost possession to allow Carrapippi's forward to run through the middle, with the visitors reducing their arrears as a result, but that turned out to be Fernandez's only mistake on an almost flawless night.
Rossi scored once more to make it 3-1 with a fine finish, before one of his many deliveries was met by a cheeky Marletta backheel from close range, 4-1.
Rossi completed his hat-trick with another fine effort just before the interval.
HALF TIME: Dunfermline 5, Carrapippi 1
Frassinelli came on for Filippi and Dunfermline tried to build on their excellent first period performance. However, perhaps owing to a lack of fitness, they stopped playing their free-flowing football and didn't look too good defensively either.
Carrapippi did reduce their arrears, but the Scots did produce the odd moments of brilliance here and there.
Finotti scored with a backheel flick as well, Marletta got on the scoresheet again with a right footed drive after cheekily chipping his marer, and Finotti scored the Pars' final goal, as a Bovalino brilliantly taken corner-kick was met mid-air by the Turin born winger, who slid the ball home.
Very late on, a magnificent Rossi delivery wasn't met by Finotti, only by a fraction.
An excellent first half-display from the Pars, who looked ready to tackle the forthcoming competitive season.
FULL TIME: Dunfermline 8, Carrapippi 6
DUNFERMLINE
1 Semino
4 Merello
8 Filippi (10 Frassinelli)
11 Bovalino
5 Marletta
15 Finotti
7 Rossi
MANAGER: Vanin
SCORERS: Bovalino, Rossi 3, Marletta 2, Finotti 2
Iscriviti a:
Post (Atom)
