Latest News From The UEFA Cup

15th February

1st Leg 4th Round

PSV Eindhoven 2 Parma 1
Ooijer 24', Rommedahl 73'; Mboma 67'

Hmm, pity we let them score again. I didn't see this game; just followed the text. However, THANK YOU RENZO for dropping Falsini - at least Beni has a bit of spirit in him! I rather think this should be enough for us. *should be*.

If you want to see the goals, you can download them from RAI

Teams

Psv (4-4-2): Waterreus 6, Ooijer 7, Nikiforov 6, Hofland 6, Heintze 5.5, Vogel 6, Van Bommel 6.5, Rommedahl 7, Bouma 5.5 (27' st Kolkka sv), Bruggink 7 (27' st De Jong sv), Kezman 6.5. (20 Lodewijks, 4 Faber, 7 Ramzi, 13 Van Der Weerden, 18 Addoh). Coach: Erik Gerets 7.

Parma (3-4-3): Buffon 6, Thuram 5.5 (6' st P.Cannavaro 6), Torrisi 6, Benarrivo 6, Fuser 5.5, Lamouchi 6.5, Almeyda 6, Junior 6, Conceicao 5.5, Milosevic 5 (11' st Mboma 6.5), Di Vaio 5.5 (36' st Amoroso sv). (99 Guardalben, 4 Appiah, 29 Bolano). Coach: Renzo Ulivieri 6.5.

Referee: Vassaras (Greece) 6.
Corners: 9-1 to Psv.
Yellow cards: Benarrivo, Almeyda, De Jong, Fuser
Crowd: around 32.000

5th December

1860 Munchen 0 Parma 2
Amoroso 72 (pen); Conceicao 86

Nobody told me this game was being played today! I thought it would be on Thursday - missed practically all of the 1st half - and only caught the game at all by accident!! Got there just as Fabio was being callously whacked in the mouth by Max! Poor lad was a bit bloodied - but seems like he held onto his teeth.

I was seriously scared in the 2nd half, I have to say. Thought we were going out. We really didn't look like scoring. And then a lifeline! Boghossian's header from a Conceicao corner was saved by Mykland. With his hands!! Off he went and Amoroso scored from the spot. It was still tense stuff though, as one goal would do the Germans. They tried too. However, because they were going all out for goal, they left neat little gaps at the back and we took advantage of that. Junior (sporting a ridiculous neck thing to keep out the cold) flew up the wing, crossed to Conceicao (who looked offside - but still) - and it was 2-0! Phew! Not sure that we deserved it, but we go through to the next round. Oh, forgot to say - Fabio got sent off, 6 minutes after Mykland, for a 2nd yellow card. He went up for a challenge leading with his arm - and the ref decided it was an elbow. The other not so good thing to report is that Fuser went off near the end, injured. Let's hope it's nothing too serious.

What do you reckon on this??

Hideous, hideous colour or what??? Wish they'd all been wearing the pink shirts as sported by Buffon! I really don't like this "grey".

Teams

Munich(1-3-4-2): Hofmann 5.5, Zelic 6, Ehlers 5.5, Kurz 6, Stranzl 6, Cerny 6 (35'st Winkler Sv), Mykland 6, Hassler 6, Tyce 6, Max 5.5 (38'st Beierle), Agostino 5.5. (29 Jentzsch, 2 Passlack, 5 Votava, 23 Riedl, 28 Bierofka). Allenatore: Werner Lorant 6.

Parma (3-4-3): Buffon 6.5, Thuram 6, Torrisi 6, Cannavaro 6, Fuser 6, Lamouchi 6.5, Boghossian 6.5, Falsini 6 (12'st Junior 6.5), Conceicao 6 (45' St Appiah Sv), Amoroso 6 (33' St Benarrivo Sv), Micoud 5.5. (99 Guardalben, 25 Almeyda, 26 Montano, 30 Basso). Allenatore: Alberto Malesani 6.5.

Referee: Irvine (Ireland) 6.

(for some reason, Rai have insisted on calling Munich, "Monaco" - both on their teletext and on their website.!?

23rd November

Parma 2 1860 Munchen 2
Micoud 11' Tyce 79'
Appiah 2' Beierle 90'

Today was Thanksgiving Day in the USA. Not a lot to be thankful for with this game though and, although I watched it live on TV, I am not going to give a match "report" (one of those can be found on the Official Site anyway, if you care to believe what they say.) I intend merely to make some personal reflections on what I watched.

We were dreadful.

OK, in the 1st half we weren't so bad - it seemed - although I do think that the Germans gave us a head-start by not being there themselves for the first 20 minutes or so. Both Appiah and Micoud's goals were absolute gifts. But, in the 2nd half we were ABSENT. Totally rubbish! Malesani's tactics bother me too. OK, so he realised that 1860 were having the better of the game and looking likely to score - so he needed to shore up the defence - but why did he put on Thuram and take off our ONLY darned striker, Montano????????? Why hadn't Lilian played from the beginning anyway? Why had he subbed Fuser with Conceicao at half-time? Fuser had done a good job - there was no need to sub him. Why couldn't both Fuser and Conceicao have played?? As it turned out, Conceicao was useless and needs a firm talking to. How come he can play wonderfully one day and not turn up the next??

I am so disenchanted with the team right now that I am beginning to question whether I am still a fan. I find myself yearning for the return of Ortega and Baggio. I just cannot settle with these lads - they bother me. There's just something that doesn't quite fit right. I cannot look upon the likes of Bolano or Lamouchi or Micoud - or even Almeyda - and think of them as "one of ours". It appears to me that none of them actually want to be playing for Parma. Added to that, the fans of Parma bother me also. There is no doubt whatsoever that there were more 1860 fans in the Tardini on Thursday night than there were Parma fans. And those fans that had made the effort needn't have bothered - so quiet were they. What's up with the people of Parma?? The fans show up in absolute paltry numbers for European games - how can they expect the players to perform to the best of their abilities, therefore?

Hmm, I guess I am still a fan - or else why would any of this be bothering me? However, I think we can (almost) safely say that that's the end of the UEFA Cup run for us (I hope not though, of course) - and I really do not think we are good enough, particularly with our lack of strikers right now, to contest the league. Does this sound like I have given up already? Yep, I have kind of - and that's a pity. But if the players don't show any enthusiasm, how am I or others like me, meant to? Buck up your ideas lads - play with some darned conviction for goodness sake.

Teams

PARMA (3-5-1-1) Buffon; F.Cannavaro, Torrisi, Benarrivo; Fuser (Conceiçao 46), Appiah, Almeyda, Bolano (Lamouchi 56), Junior; Micoud; Montano (Thuram 71)
Subs not used Guardalben, Falsini, Boghossian, Basso
Manager. Malesani

MUNICH 1860 (3-4-1-2) Jentzsch; Kurz, Zelic, Stranzl; Cerny, Borimirov, Tyce, Bierofka; Hassler (Passlack 95); Agostino, Beierle
Subs available from Hofmann, Passlack, Max, Ehlers, Winkler, Mykland, Pfuderer
Manager. Lorant

REFEREE Alain Sars (France)

9th November 2000

Dinamo Zagreb 1 Parma 0
Sokota 32'

Crowd: about 10,000

Referee: Gallagher (England)

A 6.00pm (GMT) kick-off. Again, nobody was showing this game (or if they were, I missed it!) and it wasn't on the radio thing, so I cannot make any real comments. By looking at it though, I can't say that the team Alberto put out was a particularly defensive one. The goal from Sokoto came from a Torrisi error (see the goal on here if you want, although the playback is dodgy; keep pressing "pause" and "play" - it'll come in the end!). It seems, from what I've read, that we were fortunate to survive as Dinamo threw everything at us, forcing numerous good saves from Gigi. On 88 minutes, Mr Gallagher sent off Sartor for what was (according the Rai text) a 2nd yellow card - quickly following on from the first. But we got through. We don't want Barca thank you! Or Rangers!! Or Werder Bremen, come to that!!

Teams

Dinamo (3-5-2): Butina 6,5, Biscan 6, Sedloski 6,5, Bosnar 6, Polovanec 6, Mikic 6,5, Sabic 6 (22'st Pavlovic 6), Agic 6,5, Mujcin 6,5 (33'st De Oliveira Sv), Balaban 6,5 (23'st Cvitanovic), Sokota 7. (12 Vasilj, 6 Sesar, 11 Bazina, 27 Pilipovic).

Parma (3-4-1-2): Buffon 6, Torrisi 6, Thuram 6, Cannavaro 6, 5, Sartor 4,5, Appiah 5,5 (17'st Lamouchi 6), Boghossian 6, Junior 5 (11'st Falsini), Montano 6 (32'st Almeyda), Milosevic 6,5, Mboma 5,5. (99 Guardalben, 7 Fuser, 18 Micoud, 29 Bolano).

QUIZ

Have I lost my mind?? These are pictures taken on the journey to Zagreb. OK, so I recognise Fabio on the bus - and Savo asleep on the plane - but who is the 3rd person??? He looks perhaps a cross between Benarrivo and Fuser - but neither! I don't know who it is!! Goodness! Is it Beni with a haircut and pencilled on tache??

27th October 2000

Parma 2 Dinamo Zagreb 0
Amoroso 61', 79'

"Crowd" - 4,822

Referee - Gonzalez (Spain)

The only way I could follow this game was through watching the Rai text! Not very satisfactory. It was being shown on some obscure TV channel - and not even covered by the Official site's Real audio link. Bah! Well, it's good to have won this game - and good to see Amoroso scoring both goals. However, Amoroso! might not have been on the pitch had it not been for a 20th minute injury to Di Vaio. That's worrying. Then, Amoroso

himself was subbed on 82', after himself picking up an injury. Looks like both could be out for the Milan game next week - so we must rely on a new partnership of Milosevic and Mboma. I did see a very brief MPG of the goals (see this page and click on "UEFA, i gol". Hopefully 2-0 will be adequate if we can keep tight (hah!) at their home - but it's not going to be easy. Check out this page of pictures to see what kind of welcome we might expect!!

Teams

Parma (3-4-3): Buffon 6,5, Thuram 6, Torrisi 5,5, Benarrivo 6, Coinceicao 6,5, Lamouchi 6, Almeyda 6, Junior 5,5, Fuser 6, Di Vaio 6 (21' Pt Amoroso 7, 37' Boghossian Sv), Mboma 5,5 (30' St Milosevic Sv). (Subs not used: 99 Guardalben, 28 P. Cannavaro, 4 Appiah, 18 Micoud). Coach: Alberto Malesani 6.

Dinamo (3-5-2): Butina 6, Biscan 6, Drpic 5,5, Sedloski 6, Polovanec 5, Sabic 5,5, Pilipovic 6 (30' St Civitanovic Sv), Mujcin 6,5 (44' St Juric), Agic 6, Sokota 5,5 (37' St Bazina Sv), Mikic 5,5. (Subs not used: 12 Vasilj, 24 Bosnar, 6 Sesar, 20 Balaban). Coach: Marian Vlak 6.

28th September 2000

Parma 4 FK Pobeda 0
Montano 40
Bonazzoli 53, 80
Di Vaio 89

Sorry, despite listening to this on the radio - I haven't had time to do a report. You can find the official site report on here.

Teams

PARMA (3-4-1-2): Guardalben, Thuram, Torrisi, F.Cannavaro (54’ P.Cannavaro); Sartor, Appiah (56’ Baggio), Bolano, Falsini; Montano (87’ Micoud); Di Vaio, Bonazzoli. (Subs not used: Micillo, Lamouchi, Amoroso, Milosevic) Manager. Malesani
POBEDA (3-4-1-2): Tenev, Manev, Nikolaevski, Kumbev; Karanfiloski, Mitic, Gilson (69’ Meglenski), Ristovski; Naumoski; Krstev, Zdraveski (52’ Dinic). (Subs not used: Patoski, Stefanov, Todorovski) Manager. Ilievski

Cautions: 38’ Gilson, 85’ Karanfiloski
REFEREE: Lajuks
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Supe and Mileika

14th September 2000

FK Pobeda 0 Parma 2
Conceicao 23', Di Vaio 74'
(half-time, 0-1)

MATCH COMMENTARY

(No, I'm not so daft - I wrote this for somebody else - just as well use it here!)

Listening to this on the radio. It's hard going. Especially with my fractured pelvis! No, it's not - but it feels like it! Can hardly bear to sit. Torn gluteus minimus or, possibly, psoas. No, I do not know how!

Oh, I want to tell this bloke to shut it already! You would think I'd be fluent by now. Course, I am - but these people on the radio do not speak properly, of that I am certain!

Junior, is he ours?? Doesn't sound like a Macedonian, does it??

Anyway, I am polishing a hunk of amethyst, using a pot of yoghurt filled with soapy water and some cotton wool. Just as well. It sits on the computer as it's meant to take away the negative energies. It doesn't.

Well, halfway through the half, Conceicao scored - I know that - is for definite. Near the end of the half though, *perhaps* Milosevic scored to make it 2-0. I really am not sure. Will check out the score on Rai at half-time. Checked! Nope just 1-0, according to them. Conceicao on 23 minutes.

Time to wash my hair!

So, I didn't have time to wash my hair.

Anyway the match has kicked off again, but have no idea what's going on. Buffon's number 77 now. He changed from 88 after some accused him of being a nazi sympathiser - 88 being nazi numbers - although I forget why.

Well, if it is still only 1-0 - then that's not good. I reckon we need at least one more goal. But I am not all that confident that Parma will do anything *at all* this season. They have their cup game on Sunday, you know. Venezia they drew. I see Baggio R went to Breschia. That's the finish for Florin Raducioiu then perhaps.

The match seems to have gone dull. Even this excitable man is quite quiet (can hear some terrible interference music - tinny and annoying - why can't they tune in properly?). Amoroso's just gone off for Di Vaio. Or has he just come on?? I really am having problems following this. Probably due to the fact that I slept til 10.45 this morning and have been like a ragdoll all darned day! Nope, definitely he (Amoroso) went off and Di Viao came on. Well, never noticed A mentioned all the rest of the match. No change there then. What a waste of money, although I hope he proves me wrong one day very soon.

Buffon just made a save.

Cannavaro's done something. In the area. Don't know what. Penalty? No, I don't think so. Maybe he was booked; I don't know - there was a lot of noise though. Maybe he did something amazing, like a clean tackle! (Didn't mean it, Fab!) DUE-ZERO!!! DI VIAO!! That's better! About 15 minutes left by my reckoning. Come on boys, see if you can get another. Seems to me that Amoroso is a liability! Two away goals should be enough though, I suppose.

Time to munch an apricot pie! Mr Kipling's. Deep filled. Deep filled with darned air, if you ask me!!! And surely it's just apricot jam?!? Pastry's not cooked either.

Well, there is far more mention of Di Vaio than of Amoroso, that is for sure. Three more minutes to go. Something very urgent is going on now. Crowd groaning; booing; commentator going on some. I wish he would speak properly, then I could understand him! They are booing Milosevic. Did he get sent off - or was he pretending to be injured or something? Nope, Milosevic hasn't been sent off - the crowd are booing him to death! Must've dived! :)

End, I believe. 2-0 to Parma. OK, can take that.

On checking the Rai Teletext after the game, I noticed that one of the Pobs got sent off on 87'. That must've been what all the commotion was with Milosevic then! Naughty, Savo! :)

Teams

Pobeda
Tenev; Ristovksi (Meglenvski 80'); Nikolevski; Dinic (Todorovski 55'); Nachev (s/o 87'); Karanfilovski; Gilson; Kumbev; Naumovski; Krstev (Stoichevski); Sdradevski

Parma
Buffon; Sartor; Thuram; Cannavaro, F; Lamouchi; Conceicao (Appiah 92'); Bolano; Junior; Micoud (Fuser 69'); Milosevic; Amoroso (booked) (Di Vaio 69')

Referee: Sundell of Svenzia. (Sweden? Switzerland?)

Official Site Report

25th August 2000

Today, Parma drew Macedonian club FK Pobeda in the 1st leg proper. The ties first leg will be played in Macedonia on 14th September - and the return on 28th September.

Full Draw Here