When you support a team which has no realistic chances of making it into Europe and seems [fairly] safe from relegation, what else is there than gettin' one over your local rivals? Siena travel to their Tuscan rivals i Viole, for the 're'-match (Siena 1-0 winners through Kharja back in November) on the back of a thumping at the hands of AC; Pirlo (1), Inzaghi (2) and Pato (2) piling on the punishment. Becks was, I'm told, absolutely fantastic as usual. "Ran his socks off right until the 90th minute". Give this man his final wish and a place in the England squad to South Africa- he deserves it.
Fiorentina are another one of these clubs that have languished in Serie A for a long time with little to no success. Last silverware to come to Florence was the UEFA Cup in 89/90.
Having mentioned before that this is the only Tuscan derby this season, the rivalry itself seemed a bit stale, and quite rightly so. Siena have only been in Serie A for 6 seasons before 08/09 and to be honest Fiorentina couldn't really care less about Siena- they play CL season after season and probably dislike Juventus more than piccolo old Siena.
Today i Fedelissimi and La Curva Robur organised 12 coaches (possibly more- very unclear) albeit not all FULL, to travel the 50km up l'autostrada to the Stadio Artemio Franchi. This has to be, by far, our biggest away crowd and everyone is in high spirits. Its an absolutely fantastic day for it and once again the little english contigent (8 lads) are welcomed with open arms.
For the 1st time we went to the Fedelissimi HQ before the the coaches' departure at 12.30. We were treated to a whack-off BBQ, bottles of fedelissimi label vinto tinto and a glimpse at the club's history; photos, memrobilia plastered all over the walls from years and years ago- BRILLIANT!
The 8 Inglesi take up their seats in La Curva Robur coach number 3, with the usual plentiful supplies of beer, which according to them is for children! (I'm sorry what? You're the ones watering down your wine so shhh) vodka, disarrono, scarves etc. The coach journey is particularly lively, they really seem to enjoy jumping on each other and [play] fighting amongst themselves- these Itals, don't ask me!?!? My voice is almost gone and we haven't got there yet.
We are shepherded into the ground, with the customary army of carabinieri surveying and luckily no incidents to report. They did confiscate one banner which read; 'I have only 1 friend in Firenze L'Arno River'. The river that runs through Florence has flooded the city in the past and killed many citizens....
Remember what I said about the weather, christ its roasting today, shirts are off now. Now they start calling us "hooligans", they love calling us hooligans, not very justified I think.
The game itself; was another appallingly poor game of football and by english standards these two teams would have been convicingly beaten by the likes of Notts. Forest, Southampton or Charlton. The first half saw very few chances, save Gilardino's darting runs and Mutu posing no threat. Siena looked much better in the 2nd half with Big Mac, Kharja and Zuniga all misfiring from close range. It has to be said once again; these boys couldn't hit a barn door. The goal came in the 72nd minute with a lofted ball by Fiorentina's substitute Gobbi and Mutu getting on the end of it. He fired it into the roof of the net with his left. I don't think any of us actually saw the goal thanks to the steel girders which caged us in and held the netting surrounding us.
Siena were lucky not to go 2-0 down when another goal was disallowed for offside, marginal if you ask me, having seen the Sky Italia highlights on YouTube. Galloppa was very poor in midfield, a far cry from his opposite man, Montelivo who was pulling the strings for Fiorentina. Siena's centre backs Portanova and Brandao were okay in front of one of the more potent attacking force in, what is sadly & boringly, a defensively minded leagues.
Bookings: Gamberini 29, Comotto 31, and Felipe Melo 69 for i Viole and Brandao 49, Del Grosso 69 for i bianconeri 29.238 the offical match attendence of which 760 were senesi. That's 760 bitterly dissappointed senesi fans and a the game left me feeling more and more disalusioned. I mean all we ask of our team is to show some bottle, really fight for every ball, but if even the talisman, Macca, is pretending he's injured 5 minutes from time, then he's not setting a good example. I feel like it could be my last Siena game but then again I just took a look at the fixture list and we still have Lazio (next game after the international break) and Juve at home, Inter away- who am I kidding? OF COURSE it won't be my last game...this is football for you, once it get's under your skin there's no getting rid of it.
That is now my 4th away game this season and yet to see the boys score an away goal. But who knows? Maybe 'Big Mac' will come good and what better place to do it than in the San Siro!
From votre correspondent bianconero
JB
In other news: All Italian teams have been knocked out of the CL following last weeks games and only Udinese are flying the gree-white-red in Europe, they face Werder Bremen next.
ALSO please check out the Fedellissimi website for the lates photos: http://www.sienaclubfedelissimi.it/partita.asp?idPARTITA=126
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