Addio, Christian

By: Dan | July 25th, 2009

I became a fan after your late season heroics kept us alive in the fight against relegation. When Campagnolo got hurt halfway through the season last year, myself and many other fans were excited for you to get a chance to shine on the big stage. You gave us many great saves and showed us that you were true Serie A talent. This is why I’m wondering why Reggina is sending you to Brescia.

Puggioni didn’t play in the friendly against Cisco Roma on Friday, assuring us that he is definitely on the way out. On Monday it will be made official that we signed Mario Cassano from Piacenza to take over as goalkeeper. Cassano has been a target of Foti in previous markets, so this is not coming as a big surprise. But I am surprised that Puggioni is possibly staying in Serie B and going to Brescia in an exchange deal. Is Cassano really going to be that much of an upgrade? Puggioni was linked to Livorno, which would have been fine because he deserves to play in Serie A. I guess time will tell how this plays out.

Speaking of the friendly against Cisco Roma, we won 3-1 thanks to a Volpi brace and a goal from Alessio Viola. One of Volpi’s goals was a penalty, and the goal that Cisco scored to level it at 1-1 was also a penalty. Highlights of this match can be see at regginacalcio.tv.

First half: Marino, Buscè, Rizzato, Volpi, Lanzaro, Valdez, Pagano, Carmona, Bonazzoli, Barillà, Ceravolo.
Bench: Kovacsik, Adejo, Missiroli, Hallfredsson, Cascione, Brienza, Joelson, A. Viola, Puggioni.
Second half: Marino, Adejo, Rizzato (27′ Barillà), Hallfredsson, Lanzaro (26′ Carmona), Cascione, Missiroli, Volpi, Viola, Joelson, Brienza

As mentioned before in the comments of previous posts, we have also made a couple more moves. Antonio Buscè (Empoli), an experienced player and former Azzurri (Empoli not Italy) captain. I’m not sure what role he will actually play in the 4-4-2, especially with Carmona and Volpi pegged to play in the center of the midfield, but his experience will be welcomed.

This brings up the signing total to five, Cassano will be the sixth. Apparently Novellino is thrilled with the talent that is being brought in. Bonazzoli and Volpi for sure are great signings. But are Rizzato and Pagano really that amazing? They are relatively obscure players who are nothing more than fringe Serie B players.. and they are both going to be starting while talent like Hallfredsson and Adejo rots on the bench. whatever.

One signing that I am hoping will happen is Danish defender Magnus Troest of Genoa. He is a tall, powerful defender who played for Parma last season. We could possibly get him on loan. I have made no secret that I am a big fan of the Scandinavian talent. I want Troest more than I wanted Bonazzoli or any other player this summer. The news about Troest could come next week… I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

In other news, some of our players in limbo have found new homes… Leonardo Pettinari has gone to Cittadella. Gaetano Ungaro, a product of our youth system who has been loaned out many times before, has been sold to fellow Calabrian club Cosenza. I believe it is a co-ownership deal. Meanwhile, Pablo Alvarez has been loaned to Poland’s Wisla Krakow. [An interesting aside, I saw Reggina and Pablo Alvarez two years ago in Chicago play against this very team.]

And good ole Luca Vigani will be staying in Serie A after agreeing to terms with Bologna. Good luck to you, Vigani! Many Reggina fans grew to appreciate you over the years and we wish the best…