Lets get through pre-season! (July/August) Part 2

Hey Clemoza here again!

Right, first game against SV Stuttgarter Kickers, in Stuttgart, it's a dry 18 degrees and the fans of Stuttgarter Kickers welcome the visit of such illustrious opposition. I have decided to give Sebastien Frey the gloves ahead of Artur Boruc and exciting prospects Matos, Carraro and Agyei a second half run out. Here is the Squad to face Stuttgarter Kickers.

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 17:30 late afternoon kick off

Pre-match I have told my players that they have to impress me to stay in the team.

First Half: Both teams are feeling each other out, Khouma Babacar is showing his confidence and vigour, very comfortable on the ball and getting past countless defenders, really enjoying himself. 18 minutes pass until Alessandro Gamberini powers a header into the crowd of Stuttgarter defenders, it passes all of them only to be palmed into the net by keeper Daniel Wagner, a sloppy own goal 1-0. The next goal didn't leave a question mark as the Stuttgarter defence pushes up and the quality difference shows as Ricardo Montolivo threads through Alberto Gilardino to slot past a Wagner who looks like a rabbit in the headlights.....2-0 21 minutes gone, this could be a long day..... two goals in three minutes from Babacar and a second from Gilardino makes in 4-0 at half time. The team talk doesn't really need any thought it's just common sense "More of the same please."

Second Half: On the hour mark Donadel, Gilardino and Cerci are replaced by Agyei, Matos and Carraro. Even though Gilardino was on a hat trick, this game isn't about glory it is about performance and fitness and I believe Alberto has done more than enough for today and deserves an early bath. No second half goals as the match finished 4-0. That's OK because its still a convincing margin.

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Next game against Union Royal Namur I will try and start as many different players as possible to see how they can gel as a squad.

Summer drizzle welcomes us to Namur at the Stade Communal. 15:00 kick off

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First half: Things aren't going to well as replacement right-back Gianluca Comotto see's red for a professional foul after only 8 minutes! which means I am going to play 3 at the back for the remainder of the first half. Things look very promising for Fiorentina in the immediate future. The strike partnership of Brazilian Ryder Matos and Senegalese Khouma Babacar look like a brilliant duo, finding space and turning veterans as if they were seasoned pros! Ryder Matos scoring a cool finish after going past 2 defenders AND the goalkeeper! 1-0 then Gaetano D'Agostino finished calmly from the spot to make it 2-0. Again  Babacar showed his coming of age when he broke the Namur offside trap to power past Servais in the Namur goal 3-0. Another youngster Carraro took on two defenders before slotting past the helpless Servais to make it 4-0. Let me remind you at this point I am playing with 10 men. 4 became 5 in first half stoppage time as Dan Kofi Agyei thundered past a defender only to smash the ball in off the upright.

Another self explanatory team talk, slow the pace down, keep possession and the game will be ours for sure.

Second half: The teams kick off the second half, Fiorentina now with 4 at the back and 1 up top, Matos giving way for Lorenzo De Silvestri. Fiorentina playing lovely training ground football, keeping Namur away as if they were school children. Cararro has picked up a slight knock so I replaced him with Alessio Cerci. ten minutes to go and De Silvestri whips the ball in, a routine catch was spilled by Servais right in front of Babacar to add his second of the afternoon. 6-0. Final whistle and another encouraging performance to take into the next warm up match. My youngsters are looking very fresh and chomping on the bit for a place in the starting eleven.

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Andalusia is the destination of our next game against Spanish second tier outfit, Recreativo CF

I have decided to go back on my self imposed transfer embargo by enquiring for Sebastien Bassong from Tottenham I will let you know how I am doing but for now we have a match against Recreativo.

Due to summer international friendlies I have had to call upon the services of 18 year old Pietro Iemmello from the under 20's

It's a warm but breezy summer afternoon as a less strengthened Fiorentina run out in the Spanish sun.

Apologies for not showing my Recreativo line-up, I had a minor problem with my Laptop, sorted now....

First Half: Fiorentina burst out of the blocks with a series of lovely flowing moves, from wing to wing La Viola seem imminent winners. But this is where you shouldn't be deceived by how good something looks, half time and it's 0-0 Fiorentina looking comfortable but no finishing product.
Second Half: The second half is very drab, both teams put chances together but neither can finish, I instructed my team in the last 20 minutes to pick up the tempo and look to the fullbacks for an overlap. To good effect, Cerci swings in the cross and Gilardino fires the ball against Alvaro Vega on the penalty spot, the ball was clearly going wide but Vega gifts Fiorentina with a winner in the 73rd minute. It turns out to be a sloppy 1-0 win but a win is a win, we had a depleted 2nd string squad and this game is only a team exercise. A plus point was the passing, my team enjoyed a 60/40 Possession advantage almost all game.

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 After the match Recreativo boss Carlos Rios understandably questions my tactical approach because of the result, if he only knew that this game was only a team building and fitness game he might have been a bit more understanding, but never the less I can understand his reason because the players couldn't finish a cooked dinner out there this afternoon.

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 NEW ARRIVAL: Some much needed help as Seba Bassong joins us after after a 4.2m transfer from Tottenham.

In a brief press conference, I told the Paps, Bassong will be a very useful member of the team and he can help a lot in this clubs fight for glory. I didn't want to talk about the financial details in public.

I have also secured the signature of this exciting young wing back, Romario. Due to arrive in 2012 due to Brazilian FA age restrictions.

Next on the agenda: Reggiana

After Grabbing his first cap and goal for Senegal, Khouma Babacar, would not be available for the Reggiana game, as would Bassong, Matos and Behrami. Things are coming along nicely, I will begin to give more serious team talks and give players a talking to if they don't pull their weight, because Parma and Real Madrid will not lie down easy.

Stay tuned for the final pre-season games!

PEACE