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FIORENTINA FANZONE
It’s been an exciting time to be a Fiorentina fan of late, as the club have found some league form and have been moving up the table. Let’s catch up with all things purple in October.
Manager signs new contract
Manager Kirby has committed his future to the club, but signing a new 1-year extension to his contract, reward for establishing the side in the EF1 after promotion. There were rumours that he had been approached by Bayern Munich for their vacant post, but Kirby was not for turning, stating he had unfinished business at Fiorentina. Many fans will be concerned the contract is for only a year however, and Kirby had nothing to say to placate them, other than ‘My aim is to get this team into the champions league’ So maybe he will only stay one more season if he achieves his target.
Sanches awarded new deal
Renato Sanches has been given a new deal on mega wages to keep him at the club. Since signing from Chelsea the midfield all rounder has been a revelation, often being the top performer with his all-action displays. He can tackle, he can pass, he can shoot! With 88 passes he is one of the top in the league, and when you add in his 9 goals, and 31 tackles, it’s not hard to see why the club value him so highly.
Zeze proves his worth
Not much was expected of 19-year-old defender Zeze when he arrived at the club in pre-season, but gradually he has shown his worth to the squad. He has now put in over 1600 minutes, and uprated to an 18, meaning he will stay with the side next season. Of late he has either come on early or started the game, and will play in the remaining games this season.
Next season rumours
Nothing has been confirmed by the club as yet, but the fans are bracing themselves for some frantic pre-season transfer dealing, as is often the way under the new manager. The early rumour surrounds strikers Guedes and Guirassy, though neither has been playing poorly, with 19 and 15 goals respectively. The only hint of who might be on the wish list, was when Luiz Diaz was seen in the area recently, but it is believed he still has a house in the area. Midfielder Kudus is also rumoured to be unsettled, despite only being the side for a month, he hasn’t been performing that well until a recent goal.
European dream ends
It was not to be in Europe this season, and Fiorentina exited at the semi-final stage against Atalanta. The home leg ended all square, despite lots of home pressure, the late sucker punch cost us in the end, as the away leg also ended up all square. Atalanta were the side to keep calm and progress via the penalty shoot-out. Next season sees the club move up to the next level in the DPT.
Result round up
Week 31
Lisbon 0-0 Fiorentina
Bit of a bore draw this one. I'm not sure why we opted to go back to a cautious approach, though we did switch it up during the match.
We edged the stats, but there wasn't much in it, if Chuk had been more clinical with his shooting we might have come away with three points but it was not to be. At least Sanches managed to come away from his injury scare unscathed.
Still on an unbeaten run I guess, but a win here would have been nice, gg dude.
Into a couple of tricky games now against CL sides, which will be a good test of our ambitions for next season.
Week 32
Fiorentina 1-0 Athletico Madrid
Well, I knew it would be a tough battle against Si's Athletico side, a manager I've faced many a time over the years, and usually come off second best. We did however play really well
and kept up the good form.
We started cautiously, against the initial N from Madrid, perhaps expecting us to go back to European.
Guedes kept up his goalscoring streak with the only goal, and overall we performed well enough for the points.
There were good games all round, nice to move up a place. Tricky one against Bayern next
Week 33
Bayern 1-0 Fiorentina
The unbeaten run comes to an end, with a tight loss to the German giants.
Both teams started cautiously, but it was the home side that got the important early goal, and on balance they deserved the win.
It's been a good test in the last couple of games against two of the better sides, and both games have been reasonably close.
Fortunately most mid table teams didn't win either, so our hope of sneaking up another place or two before end of season is still a possibility.
Week 34
Fiorentina 1-2 Leverkusen
Oh dear, the good form has deserted us. I don't think I'll play E again, though tbf we only did for a short period at the start, and they scored against the tactical advantage. The stats were pretty even, but we weren't very clinical against a resolute back line. gg dude.
Still hanging around midtable, it's all about finishing as high as possible to get a little more money now.
Week 35
Napoli 1-5 Fiorentina
I didn't see this one coming
Nice to score a few to improve our goal difference, away from home too.
The tactical advantage probably swung it in our favour, and clinical finishing from the lads, as the stats weren't that far apart really.
Spinazzola has been a revelation since his signing, and got another couple of goals and man of the match here. Chuk, Guirassy and sub Josulu also got amongst the goals. ul dude.
With only 3 games to go still have a chance of moving up a position or two, but nice to confirm we are definitely safe, and in the DPT next season.
Week 36
Fiorentina 3-1 Lazio
Nice win at home to a Lazio side that nothing is going for this season. We started cautiously and gave up tactical advantage, but when it was level at half time we switched it around, and the second half was better. It was a tight game based on the stats though, so the opposition can count themselves unlucky to leave with nothing.
Sanches has a great game in the middle, scoring two goals as well as some good all round play. I didn't realise but he is one of the top pass makers this season in the league. Kalulu also had a good game at the back. The only downside was the injury to Karsdorp early on, but at least it ensures teenager Zeze gets some more game time.
So, up to the dizzy heights of 11th, with a small chance of getting a little higher before the end of the season, but with two players out next game, and Juventus in the last game, we might well drop down a place or two. Whatever, it's been a promising end to the season.
1183 words so far
It’s been an exciting time to be a Fiorentina fan of late, as the club have found some league form and have been moving up the table. Let’s catch up with all things purple in October.
Manager signs new contract
Manager Kirby has committed his future to the club, but signing a new 1-year extension to his contract, reward for establishing the side in the EF1 after promotion. There were rumours that he had been approached by Bayern Munich for their vacant post, but Kirby was not for turning, stating he had unfinished business at Fiorentina. Many fans will be concerned the contract is for only a year however, and Kirby had nothing to say to placate them, other than ‘My aim is to get this team into the champions league’ So maybe he will only stay one more season if he achieves his target.
Sanches awarded new deal
Renato Sanches has been given a new deal on mega wages to keep him at the club. Since signing from Chelsea the midfield all rounder has been a revelation, often being the top performer with his all-action displays. He can tackle, he can pass, he can shoot! With 88 passes he is one of the top in the league, and when you add in his 9 goals, and 31 tackles, it’s not hard to see why the club value him so highly.
Zeze proves his worth
Not much was expected of 19-year-old defender Zeze when he arrived at the club in pre-season, but gradually he has shown his worth to the squad. He has now put in over 1600 minutes, and uprated to an 18, meaning he will stay with the side next season. Of late he has either come on early or started the game, and will play in the remaining games this season.
Next season rumours
Nothing has been confirmed by the club as yet, but the fans are bracing themselves for some frantic pre-season transfer dealing, as is often the way under the new manager. The early rumour surrounds strikers Guedes and Guirassy, though neither has been playing poorly, with 19 and 15 goals respectively. The only hint of who might be on the wish list, was when Luiz Diaz was seen in the area recently, but it is believed he still has a house in the area. Midfielder Kudus is also rumoured to be unsettled, despite only being the side for a month, he hasn’t been performing that well until a recent goal.
European dream ends
It was not to be in Europe this season, and Fiorentina exited at the semi-final stage against Atalanta. The home leg ended all square, despite lots of home pressure, the late sucker punch cost us in the end, as the away leg also ended up all square. Atalanta were the side to keep calm and progress via the penalty shoot-out. Next season sees the club move up to the next level in the DPT.
Result round up
Week 31
Lisbon 0-0 Fiorentina
Bit of a bore draw this one. I'm not sure why we opted to go back to a cautious approach, though we did switch it up during the match.
We edged the stats, but there wasn't much in it, if Chuk had been more clinical with his shooting we might have come away with three points but it was not to be. At least Sanches managed to come away from his injury scare unscathed.
Still on an unbeaten run I guess, but a win here would have been nice, gg dude.
Into a couple of tricky games now against CL sides, which will be a good test of our ambitions for next season.
Week 32
Fiorentina 1-0 Athletico Madrid
Well, I knew it would be a tough battle against Si's Athletico side, a manager I've faced many a time over the years, and usually come off second best. We did however play really well
We started cautiously, against the initial N from Madrid, perhaps expecting us to go back to European.
Guedes kept up his goalscoring streak with the only goal, and overall we performed well enough for the points.
There were good games all round, nice to move up a place. Tricky one against Bayern next
Week 33
Bayern 1-0 Fiorentina
The unbeaten run comes to an end, with a tight loss to the German giants.
Both teams started cautiously, but it was the home side that got the important early goal, and on balance they deserved the win.
It's been a good test in the last couple of games against two of the better sides, and both games have been reasonably close.
Fortunately most mid table teams didn't win either, so our hope of sneaking up another place or two before end of season is still a possibility.
Week 34
Fiorentina 1-2 Leverkusen
Oh dear, the good form has deserted us. I don't think I'll play E again, though tbf we only did for a short period at the start, and they scored against the tactical advantage. The stats were pretty even, but we weren't very clinical against a resolute back line. gg dude.
Still hanging around midtable, it's all about finishing as high as possible to get a little more money now.
Week 35
Napoli 1-5 Fiorentina
I didn't see this one coming
The tactical advantage probably swung it in our favour, and clinical finishing from the lads, as the stats weren't that far apart really.
Spinazzola has been a revelation since his signing, and got another couple of goals and man of the match here. Chuk, Guirassy and sub Josulu also got amongst the goals. ul dude.
With only 3 games to go still have a chance of moving up a position or two, but nice to confirm we are definitely safe, and in the DPT next season.
Week 36
Fiorentina 3-1 Lazio
Nice win at home to a Lazio side that nothing is going for this season. We started cautiously and gave up tactical advantage, but when it was level at half time we switched it around, and the second half was better. It was a tight game based on the stats though, so the opposition can count themselves unlucky to leave with nothing.
Sanches has a great game in the middle, scoring two goals as well as some good all round play. I didn't realise but he is one of the top pass makers this season in the league. Kalulu also had a good game at the back. The only downside was the injury to Karsdorp early on, but at least it ensures teenager Zeze gets some more game time.
So, up to the dizzy heights of 11th, with a small chance of getting a little higher before the end of the season, but with two players out next game, and Juventus in the last game, we might well drop down a place or two. Whatever, it's been a promising end to the season.
1183 words so far
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