(even older archives can be found on here)

3rd May

A bad show this afternoon at the Tardini, where Bologna won for the first time in Serie A history!!

25th April

Apologies to anybody who might've been trying to access this page over the last few weeks - had a bit of bother with the domain. It's possible, too, that the domain might go for a further short walkabout during the next few weeks; the webmistress isn't too sure she's in the right place!

I haven't had a clue what's been going on with Parma for this time - but now I've come to look up the results - they ain't been doing bad and have a real chance of a CL spot. Came as quite a shock!

2nd March

Apparently the Modena drawn game was live on TV last night - but we didn't realise it until the game was over! Probably a blessing really.

23rd February

Quite extraordinarily, we had the Perugia v Parma game live tonight too! It was better than last week's game, although I didn't watch it all. From what I saw, Parma deserved the win and should've won by more goals; twice having shots coming back off the right upright. Frey made a couple really good saves - but Parma were mainly on top of the game. I think I see what the problem might be with the team though. Arrogance? It was there in abundance, I thought, tonight. And what do they have to be arrogant about? A few of them strut a little (Ferrari (?) in particular - I really don't like and was very amused when he attempted to win a throw-in off a Perugia, with an arrogant pout and a nonchalent flick - only for the ball to miss the Perugia, giving them the throw-in!). Perhaps they've all caught it off Nakata (who was quite invisible)? The pitch was, again, mostly full of strangers to me - except for the "never rated" Lamouchi and Junior - and nobody really stood out as anything other than an average player.

16th February

Indeed we got to see Parma v Juventus!! But, after all this time, I couldn't get any passion going for this *new* Parma. I was hoping, even, that Benarrivo would emerge from the bench and at least stir some nostalgia into me. That Juventus were fielding Lilian, Gigi (in pink) and Di Viao, was further disorientating. These feelings (or lack of) appear to have proved to me that I am not a fan of Parma's - merely a fan of the nostalgia for a Parma that was, for the Tardini stadium (the only Italian ground I've watched a game) and for happy conversations and arguments, long past.

For Juventus, Lilian looked arrogant - Di Viao scored one goal, but thereafter disappeared. Gigi had nothing to do. Alex Ferguson sat in the stands, with a face like a lobster's (MU play Juve in the week). It didn't look, to me, that he had much to fear - apart from their arrogance, which he can match quite equally with that of his own lot. He (Ferguson) might have spent some thought on how to get next week's ref onto his side though - as Juve were spoilt rotten by today's (who resembled, quite strongly, my old Scripture mistress). Juve weren't anything special. Parma were diabolical. Mutu scored their goal on 90 minutes, from a free kick. From then on, Parma went into an offensive frenzy; to no avail. Why couldn't they have shown more of that throughout the game? Frey is, reportedly, wanted by Arsenal. LOL!!!!!! His was the worst goalkeeping display I've seen in ages (not counting that clown Everton had in goal back along, on loan, when they had no other options). Philippini looked the natural successor to Benarrivo (at least he showed some enthusiasm) - but the rest, I hardly noticed. The midfield is appalling. The back line is hesitant (it would be with Frey behind it) - and the front pairing of Mutu and Adriano were scarcely in the game. Though undoubtedly they are both talented, they don't appear to work very hard.

To be totally honest, if this game is the best that Serie A has to offer these days, then I don't feel I've missed anything.

10th February

Eurosport have started showing live Serie A games (afternoon and evening ones)!! Nobody else seemed to want it - but they must have paid a pretty packet for the rights! The same old faces (James Thing - looking a bit gaunt) - and voices (Ray Wilkins!) - and the same old favoured teams. Yesterday they showed Milan v Perugia (though I was deep into slab-pull, ridge-slide and drag forces). Might get to see a Parma game yet then! Maybe next week, when they play Juve?

22nd December

So, Parma finish off the year with a 1-2 loss to Inter, at the Tardini. Our scorer was Mutu on 55 mins (although they had Mboma down first - I thought he was still at Sunderland). Inter now go back to the top of Serie A, level on points with Milan. Super.

BUONE FESTE TUTTI!

15th December

Ah, back to normal! :) Another Adriano goal - but not enough. Apparently, it should've been 3-1 to Bologna, as they had a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside. Have we ever beaten Bologna?

8th December

If they keep winning like this, I don't have anything to say!! I wouldn't have anything to say anyway (except complain), because all I ever see is the result on the teletext! I could talk endlessly (almost) about ex-Parmalats (like Gianfranco and Mario who are doing so well against Everton lately) - but, of the new crop, I'm afraid I know nothing, so it would be unfair to comment. Adriano appears to be a tasty player though (he scored both goals today) - so I guess he'll be sold off at the end of the season.

24th November

Funny; it happens. Teams can have really abysmal seasons and yet come up with a massively good result once or twice. Beating Roma 3-0 today was certainly a good result. (I don't expect, for one minute, that it had anything to do with Roma saving themselves for Arsenal?) I really cannot comment, criticise or anything else, as I just don't know what's going on in Serie A these days! 8th ain't bad, I suppose, considering. But it ain't all that good either - and a tad higher than seemingly deserved, would be my honest opinion.

14th November

Oh, oops!! This game was only on LA-7 again, so I didn't bother with it much, except to check the score at half-time. 1-0 to Parma, so 3-1 on aggregate. So, then I checked again at full-time (a formality, I thought!) and they were into extra time, Wisla having scored twice and so levelled the tie at 3-3!! Anyway, Parma could do nothing, seemingly and Wisla kept right on flying and scored a goal in each half of the extra time. Full-time score 4-1 to Wisla and 5-3 on aggregate. No point in watching the draw tomorrow then! Some pay-back!

10th November

I suppose that 4-3 is exciting - and that it was good to get a point against Lazio today - but it's all a bit boring really, so don't have anything to say. Perhaps I'll gather some interest if the game against Wisla is on the TV (if it doesn't clash with "Fame Academy"!!)

3rd November

Tonight's game, by Eurosport's account, was a rough old affair; not for the faint-hearted - and, oh dear - a last minute winner by Chievo!!

I realise that I'm miles behind with all the games (sorry). An (embarrassing) loss to Modena was followed by a much needed win over Atalanta. But really and obviously, Parma need to beat teams at home if they are to get anything out of the season. (I forgot to mention, of course, the crashing out of the Coppa Italia at the hands of Vicenza). A 2-1 win at the Tardini against the old foe Wisla in the UEFA Cup is better. I was a little disappointed that that match wasn't shown on Rai (it was on LA 7 or something), but, hopefully, the Polish leg might be?

8th October

We have drawn WISLA KRAKOW in the next round of the UEFA Cup!!! :S

6th October

Another 2-2 draw when we were 2-0 up! Somebody has to tell these boys that they are not to relax so easily! Another goal by Mutu; said he was good. (However, I also always said that Inzaghi was good too - not wrong there either! :))

3rd October

That was quite exciting, even through the scrambled view! Parma went one up early - an Adriano free-kick, beautifully executed. They looked well in control and so I turned over to watch "Bargain Hunt"! Blow we down, they were 1-2 down when we turned back! No idea how those two goals came about - but big trouble with the Ruskies having 2 away goals! Parma attacked relentlessly and equalised early in the 2nd half (Mutu - a lucky deflected goal). Very nearly into injury time though and still needing another goal and Frey booted the ball into the mixer. Mutu was on hand to collect and scored the winner with a very sweetly executed volley. (Nice!). Nakata was useless and should never be passed the ball as he either falls down or passes to the opposition. Adriano was impressive, although he seemed to go to sleep a little after his goal (ie for most of the match) - he is tall and strong, but somehow dainty with it too. Mutu runs funny, I noticed. Probably he caught that off Junior. Anyway, a nice evening's work - but I can't see Parma going too far in this competition (even though I was quite surprised to be impressed by their performance tonight).

28th September

Here was a real bummer! Parma were 2-0 up (Nakata 66, Adriano 81) and what a great victory that would've been (yep, Gigi, Lilian and Marco were all playing). Then Tudor (!) went and scored on 87'. Captain Lamouchi was sent off on 88' and there then followed many minutes of injury-time (as you would expect in the circumstances). Del Piero scored in the 95th minute and Juventus go momentarily top.

25th September

I got to watch Parma play Vicenza this afternoon, in the Coppa Italia. I didn't know who half of the players were, but saw nothing to stir the soul. After Vicenza's second goal went in, I gave up and went back to my maps.