Re: Relegation Playoff vs Bologna If anyone saw the end, my god, all hell broke loose. Comedy send off for Bucci, the backup keeper for Parma who wasn't even played in the match.
Tensions were growing higher and higher through the game, and it just boiled over. Locatelli was fouled and players/staff from both sides of the bench sort of rushed onto the pitch. Some players were pushing and the ref lost control of the situation. Amoroso got a red card and Bucci did as well, even though I couldn't tell who started what or who really deserved a card. After things calmed down, 3 minutes of stoppage time were added and the game played out, Bologna winning. The game was really ruff, with so much at stake there seemed to be no room for a friendly match. Many yellow cards were shown, I lost track and so many guys seemed to have gone down. I've never seen so many elbows thrown in one game. The ref was decent for the first half but he missed a dead obvious penalty and gave Simplico a yellow for diving, when the man was knocked off his feet by the defender. I think Parma still has a chance for the second leg. I really do believe Parma is the better team if they only had more of their players available. One thing is for sure, they are going to have to on the attack and get that vital first goal. I still think it was just pure comedy for Bucci to be sent off without have played a second.
You forgot to mention that it was Parma coach Carmignani that started the whole thing. Carmignani ran on the pitch and shoved Locatelli, leading to the bench clearout. Mazzone didn't really do anything wrong but protest, but they were both sent off anyway.
Sounds like this game was one big advertisement for getting rid of playoffs to break ties. Oh, good, they already have.
bologna and cheese with a little mayo is my favorite... I dont think parma is sunk yet, add back in the (what 4-5?) suspended players who will be fresh for the return leg and I can see parma scoring a couple times at Bologna led by Gilardino's last hurrah.
you mean bologna with parmasan? i wouldnt be surprised if parma turn this around either. in my opinion theyre a clearly better team then bologna. that being said, parma are the second worst away team in the league if i remember correctly
I caught the end of the match on Gol TV replay. Crazy. Bucci seemed pissed off and a bit confused about being sent off, while Amoroso was dumbfounded. The 4th official had a lot to do with it, it looked like. And I hear we had three penalty claims turned down, which is ridiculous. I saw the third one, where Fabio got booked for diving! Couldn't believe it. If I remember right, Bologna will be without Amoroso (comedy red card) and Guinti (yellow card suspension) for the next game, and we'll get our offense back. We're in with a shout. When Fabio missed that shot at the end, though, I almost cried. FORZA PARMA!
Actually it was an advertisement for keeping the playoffs. We lost the game, but this was the most intense I've seen the Tardini in years. (Too bad about the silly fracas at the end, Gedeone lost his cool. They kept fouling Simplicio and the ref didn't seem to care. Still no excuse.) If we had been relegated or had avoided relegation by goal difference, then there would've been almost a 'ho-hum' element. Instead we've got the whole city up in arms, a stadium as loud as you've ever heard it, and two teams giving everything they've got on the field.
In the eternal words of John McEnroe "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS". In the context of lateness after the season actually finished, players' other commitments, fatigue & general health and well-being, why would you do this EVER again ???
Well if you read the rest of the post... Look, I would've agreed with you before the game, in fact I had complained with my friends about it here in Parma and we all agreed that it was a lousy format. Obviously I see things differently now. And this despite the fact that we lost. Fatigue? Did you see the game? The players were totally fresh and running hard to fight for every ball, in part because of the two week break. Commitments? Besides the Aussie Confed appointment, which is really just a big exhibition, what other players had conflicting commitments? Neither team is in Intertoto or Uefa next season, so they have the entire summer to rest. Last point: I was also at the last regular season game vs. Siena. The stadium was full, but the atmosphere was almost bland because the teams were dragging. Instead this game was totally electric, the stadium was even more jam-packed and unbelievably loud. Maybe that didn't come through on TV. But at the stadium there was this buzz, players feeding off the crowd enthusiasm and vice-versa. Everyone felt like we were participating in something special, fighting for our "lives." I'm not going to Bologna Saturday, but thousands of Parma fans are going, and it's gonna be intense!
I started following Parma shortly after I moved to LA in the mid 90s. They showed (maybe still do) a Serie A game on cable once a week. The first game I saw was Parma vs Inter, and Parma made an amazing comeback, complete with a backheel goal by Crespo. From then on I was hooked. During the last few years, it's been difficult for me to follow Parma, mostly because I couldn't find them on TV. I moved to Ann Arbor, and I finally got the Dish. So the games are on Gol, thank god. I can't believe how far Parma have fallen. I realize Parmalat have been desperate for cash, but it's downright painful to see the top teams in Serie A peopled with ex-Parma players, while Parma are now fighting relegation. It'll be somewhat tragic if they're relegated. Will the miraculous run be over? Well, the club has themselves to blame. You simply can't let all the talent go and expect to continue to find diamonds in the rough. Furthermore, it's a drain on the fan base watching new faces come and go. Okay, the rant is over. I'll be watching the 2nd leg... and quietly thinking to myself that perhaps the magic will return if they bring back the true bumble-bee jerseys... like the one in my closet.
Parma, who were in the relegation zone almost the whole year, are staying in Serie A, while Bologna, who at one point had UEFA cup hopes, is in Serie B. Too bad for Bologna, but they just couldn't create anything.
Yeeeeessssssss!!!! OK, now for a quick analysis of the technical and tactical aspects of tonight's game... YYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Frey was excellent. Paolo Cannavaro has loads of potential, and in the future I seem him being just as good as his brother.