ins and outs at Viadana

[greybeard]

With the close season arriving the sunshine too is putting in an appearance.
It was a gruelling season but towards the end Aironi started to get it together, and I
predict that next season it will be hard for visitors to come away with a result.

As usual in Italy in all sports as soon as the season ends so do players' contracts.
Lots of movements out due also to the Italian federation's new ruling that onlly one foreigner per role is permitted (i.e. 3 in the forwards, 1 at half back, and 1 in the backs

OUTS
Riccardo Bocchino (hardly got a game)
Pablo Canavosio (a surprise for me, but seems As want an Ozzie...)
Danwell Demas (finished the season strongly, but overall too erratic)
Ulises Gamboa
Luigi Ferraro (hooker and long-time servant)
Gareth Krause (will be missed; returning to his family business in RSA)
Julien Laharrague (out injured almost from the start of the season)
Philipus Liebenburg
James Marshall (good player, good season; only one bad game - vs Munster)
Giulio Rubini
Horacio San Martin
Michael Wilson

probable INS
Andrea Masi
Luciano Orquera

Fortunately too Rowland Philips is staying as coach.

A good summer (with no mosquitos) to all

 

[Nielsch]

I'm kinda wondering why the Italian clubs didn't join the French league. Would make some more sense since they are neighbouring countries. Have their been talks about that?

 

[profitius]

By Viadana do you mean Aironi?

They'll be stronger next season. The squad was probably thrown together with some below average players involved. They should be looking toovertake the Scottish sides soon.

 

[psychic duck]

I think Aironi rotated their players too much in early season and didn't settle on team that could bond together

Do you know the source for those departures?

It would be a shame to see Demas depart the Magners League, he is totally erratic but it fun to watch!

 

[greybeard]

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Source for the news is my local daily "La Gazzetta di Mantova" who must have got the info from the club. I think the problem at the start of the season was not so much player rotation but injuries. In the first match we lost 2 players with season long injuries, plus the players didn't know each other – rather than not being quality players. Demas was certainly fun to watch but not if you were an Aironi supporter!!! Interesting comment about joining the French league. I don't recall the idea ever being discussed in public, but I'm equally sure the Federation did think about it, and I'm equally sure that the French wouldn't have been interested, even though geographically and temperamentally the Italians are nearer the "Transalpini" than the Celts! Roll on next season and "fortress Zaffanella" and maybe we'll beat not only the Scots but the Irish and Welsh as well!! (No harm in dreaming!).