He shouldn't have taken the penalty

PigHill 5 Tranmere 0
Despite the team scoring five goals, Paolo couldn't wait to blame Andy Williams for missing a penalty for his hat-trick.
"Chris Martin said to him to take the penalty, but Martin should have taken it because he hasn't scored yet.
I understand a hat-trick is a big tradition in England, but it is a team performance."

I'll buy you all dinner in the press box

PigHill 1 - 1 Doncaster
(Ritche, 8mins: Hollands o.g. 10 mins)
We played very well in general but we need that extra quality
We put 60 balls into the opponent's box.
Obviously, 60 times is not enough for us to score two goals - maybe we need 80 chances.  
The day that the oppenents dominate us and we win, I'll buy everyone in the press box dinner - but unfortunately that's not never going to happen.
That's because of our system, and our discipline, we don't give the opposition the opportunities.  
Nobody can be angry, me or the fans.
If you go out there and dominate, you usually win the game 95 per cent of the time, when we score the first goal, we win - that was the story of last season.  
Conceding the own goal didn't change a lot.  In terms of our football, we were fine - we were in the opposition box for 45 minutes

Individual actions cost us the game

Notts County 1  PigHill 0
"We created 20 potential chances.
But not for good delivery or choices by the players we haven't managed to score a goal.
we can see that our team never did that sensational thing that we needed. 
Individual actions cost us that game, and it is unfortunate that I couldn't use my hand or my foot to help the team.
The only plus is that we have dominated the game away from home, but we have lost.
We dominated the opponents, but they haev one shot and win the game 1-0. 
The keeper has played superbly.
The one where he saved from David Ward where he threw himself at the ball was an amazing save, a save that Peter Schmeichel used to make at Manchester United. 
The other two saves he made were crucial.
He was the best player on the pitch"

I blame the transfer embargo

Walsall 0 - PigHill 2
"We have to be realistic - if we hadn't been under a transfer embargo for two months with a big injury crisis, I would have brought two, three, four players into the squad.
I lost a few points and also a few players because I couldn't rotate my players.
Now we are top six and in a good position but now it is difficult to find good players.  
Now the number of players is restricted to a few - two months ago, it was different and there was more option.
I will work 24 hours a day to maintain the position but realistically if we keep this position they should make a monument in front of the County Ground to the staff and the players"

Paolo "forgets" to mention of course that it is his own overspending on players that led to the embargo in the first place.

Adios Di Canio

For the third time in little more than a year, Oxford United beat PigHill, this time in the Johnstone Paint Trophy.  The Oxford fans said goodbye to PDC in their usual friendly way.

Go and watch Oxford

On 25 seconds.  
“Some have said they will ask for their season-ticket money back if Wes goes.  I say come to the County Ground and I will give you the money back, but then don’t come back to the County Ground.  Go to Oxford United and watch them. Don’t come and support Swindon, we don’t need these types of supporters."

Panic on the streets of Preston

PDC subbed his goalie Wes Foderingham after just twenty minutes against Graham Westley's Preston side.  When asked why, PDC had just a few words to say.  

"Because he was one of the worst players I have ever seen in a football match. He is a player like the others. Why can’t we change the goalkeeper? Is the goalkeeper is an element who plays on with another team because he has a different colour on his shirt? I know my players, I know Wes – he was the crappy player even against Stoke.

Today what he did, it’s not only the mistake that can happen to everyone. The arrogance later, when he started moaning to the others, that was the worst thing for me because it let me realise that a player doesn’t recognise his mistakes that was clear miles away, that was a rubbish mistake.

I said to him ‘now calm because we have to keep going’, we give the ball straight away to them and then start again moaning to the others.

Today he started behaving as the worst professional; arrogant, ignorant in some way – not as a person, as an athlete – I have ever seen.

If he doesn’t come out and say sorry to the fans, for the professionalism in general, he is out from my team. I don’t want any argument from the fans ‘we play Oxford, we have a season’ - no.

I don’t mind because this is my rules and Bedwell did very, very well. Maybe he behaved like this because the window’s closed. Another question mark.

I’m ready to bring in a goalkeeper. I’m ready to ask my chairman if he doesn’t go out and say sorry to everybody because this has to come from the stomach and from the heart.

If he doesn’t think he made a mistake in the way he behaved he has to think who he is? Cech?

He was nothing until the day he joined me, not the club but me. He didn’t have one second as a professional, nobody wanted him because he’s 181cm. In English football everybody want 199 like the f***ing Preston goalkeeper.

He should have his career cut and you know that is true, but just because we believed in him and there is no importance in that because he is very good – thanks to him because he did well last year – he forgot everything. He is arrogant, he’s still 20. He thinks he’s untouchable. 

Captain, my Captain

Remember STFC Captain Paul Caddis, who famously didn't go out on the lash with the rest of the team when his club had won promotion last season?  He was with his new-born child. 

Caddis made over 50 appearances for PigHill in 2011/12, and in May 2012, he signed a one year contract extension, taking his contract up to the end of 2013/14.  

Caddis: (May 2012)

"It's something I thought would happen - I'm happy here and the club are happy to have me," Caddis told BBC Wiltshire.   The manager likes me and people behind the scenes have complimented me on the way I've put myself about.  It's a bit of security for myself and I just hope by the end of my contract I'll be playing in the Championship with Swindon."

So what could possibly go wrong?
Caddis apparently returned to pre-season from his family in Scotland, but not 100% ready.  

PDC dropped him as Captain for the first game of the season and he wasn't selected for the first five games of the season.  

PDC: "If he wants to jump again he has to not only come back as he was last year but better because my demands are higher this year.  If I had the same Caddis as last year it would already be a good base because there was availability and desire to improve.  Obviously I do not have a Caddis that is enough for this level.  Of course he has a future here, but now it is up to him.  They have to follow me. And if they don't want to follow me then they are out." 

Come deadline day, Caddis was shipped out to Birmingham City on a season long loan.  

We are Barcelona

PDC's SWindon Town almost squandered a two goal half time lead in the second round of the League Cup against Stoke City, but came back to win 4-3 in extra time.  

"As a perfectionist, I did not enjoy conceding three goals.  But we have to put this game as one of the best in the club's history. In the first half, it looked like Stoke City against Barcelona.  I don't want to exaggerate but I have to say this. It was a shame we went in at half-time with only two goals. It should have finished 5-6.  To win like we did, you have to have fantastic quality and spirit. Those lads deserve this result. It was a good and fair result for them after what they did in the game."

Balotelli deserves a good slap

Mario Balotelli scored two goals to send Italy into the Euro 2012 final against Spain.  

What did PDC have to say about this?

"Balotelli is just selfish.   He deserves a lot of slaps.  Against Germany he did two good things [by scoring both goals], but in the end I saw a player who was just waiting to celebrate [at the final whistle]. Balotelli does not play for the team, only for himself.  He is an egotist, who thinks the world revolves around him. For guys like Balotelli, he deserves lots of slaps rather than pats on the shoulder from Prandelli because he is young.”

Remember Jonathan Tehoue?

Remember Jonathan Tehoue ?
At the time, PDC said "It's a technical decision.  He's not as good as I thought he was. It is nearly impossible he will see the football pitch at Swindon.  My main players give me 110% because they've suffered with me all season.  I have much better players than him in the way I want them to play and behave."

Well the FA are now investigating claims that Tehoue was racially abused by PDC.  Tehoue originally complained to the club that Di Canio had made a racially abusive comment about him in front of Swindon players.  The BBC were told :"Jonathan was very aggrieved by Di Canio's dismissive racist remark about him.  His decision not to return to training was based purely and simply on the fact that he was not prepared to work for a manager who held such views.  Swindon Town appreciated Jonathan's position on the matter and, despite the manager's insistence, decided against fining the player.  Di Canio's subsequent attempts to tarnish Jonathan's reputation and ruin his future career opportunities with derogatory comments about his attitude and fitness in the press were completely unwarranted.   With regards to his fitness, prior to joining Swindon, Jonathan had started the last three consecutive games for Leyton Orient and performed well at League One level.  In addition, he was required to pass Swindon's own fitness assessment before signing, which he passed with no difficulties."


The club released this statement on 15th May, just two weeks before extending PDC's contract by two years. 
"The board was fully appraised of the facts at the time of the alleged incident back in March and having investigated it, was satisfied that it was without merit and took appropriate action then.  Paolo Di Canio denies completely any suggestion that he used toward Jonathan Tehoue or anyone, abusive, insulting or threatening words or behaviour by reference to race or at all and the board wishes to affirm its complete and unequivocal support for its manager in this regard.  Further, the board is wholly satisfied that any decisions concerning Jonathan Tehoue's playing career whilst at Swindon, were made for purely footballing reasons.  The club will of course however happily assist the FA in its enquiries"

However, the BBC then found this letter from PigHill's solicitor to Tehoue's Lawyer

"The club wishes to make it clear that it does not condone the reference made by Mr Di Canio during training on 29 March to your client.   The club accepts that the use of this phrase was inappropriate and apologises to your client for any upset that this has caused him.  An internal inquiry may result in disciplinary action being taken against Mr Di Canio.  Mr Di Canio wishes to apologise for the comments, which he did not intend to cause offence by.  This apology is hereby repeated and the club also regrets that the comment was made by Mr Di Canio."

Dancing in the moonlight

Don't give up the dayjob Paolo

I nearly resigned

In an interview after winning promotion at Gillingham on 21 April, PDC revealed he nearly resigned 45 days before.  Funnily enough, this was just days after PigHill had been beaten 2-0 by Oxford United. 

A lttle rabbit, the team are rubbish,

After Saturday's win against Plymouth, Paolo returned straight away to Italy, mourning the death of his mother, so soon after his father's passing earlier in the season. 

His players however took this for an opportunity to go on the lash on the Saturday night, with an early promotion celebration. 
 

So on Tuesday night, PigHill slipped up at 11th placed Aldershot, losing 2-1 in a game which could have seen them gain promotion back to League 1 with three games to go.  However, this still appears a formality, as his team would have to lose all three remaining games, whilst Crawley and Torquay would have to win all three.  The title is still just about up for grabs, with Shrewsbury five points behind, but with vastly inferior goal difference - so effectively Shrewsbury need to make up six points in three games.

 

“I am angry, fed up, what we saw tonight is rubbish, a rubbish show for all of Swindon Town football club, for the fans, that follow us in numbers, it is not bad.  We were really bad, we are not Barcelona.  You have to take responsibility, to say Sorry, to the board and the fans that pay us.  I am not magic, I cannot change everything in a short period.  If I decide to stay here, I will clean out the rubbish mentality.  My mission is not only to win, but to win not just this year, if we maintain the rubbish mentality, we will go straight down.  Even if we celebrate promotion, we must keep going, not losing 3 or 4-0, we have to be professional.  I would change 24 players, not just seven.  Unfortunately in this club we have to change the mentality and even in the youth academy they don't know what professionalism is.   

Today was fair enough to lose.   I am not able to change completely the attitude and the professionalism of the team, and after what happened two days ago I should not have played even more players.  There is only one player who can have an excuse for what happened two days ago and that is Alan McCormack because he has a new baby.  I tried to excuse him, but there is another group of players which is far from what I want to see from my players, and for this I will make very tough decisions from now until the end.  

Our position has put a few of our players in a position to think the job was done, and to go out and have more drink.  The people under contract will have to be very careful with the way they behave because I will make very tough decisions.  A few days ago they did something which was a habit last year, and maybe it came back.  We still have the same habit, and for as long as I am here I will do everything for change.  

The two centre halves that we saw, it is not a coincidence it happened tonight as there was one I did not want to play but I had to because I have only three.  I excuse him because he had a new baby, but we saw the result.  For the second goal the big fella thought he was the biggest and the strongest, but he was like a little rabbit, blurry. Ask them why.

I will do everything for change.  If I have to bring all of the youth team at Gillingham, I will do.  The problem you know, what is for me, which is, that in the youth team, I have to tell you this, that even there we don't have the professionalism, the desire, the fire.  Otherwise I would have no problem, with eleven under 16, 17 and play at Gillingham, and let the players that played tonight, most of them, not all of them, have not a double, a treble [training] session, and not go out Saturday night and drink until the morning.  

So there are a few dirty things that I have to clean in the dressing room.  When I was young, every time I made action, I made myself a responsibility.  I told them, I would defend you until my life if you behave well.  If you play not as a professional, if you don't respect the shirt and the fans that follow you, (again an amazing number today), and the club that pay you, you will not be under me.   I will be very tough.  "

The fans are silly and stupid II

PDC's Bingo game continues after the 0-0 home draw against Bristol Rovers on 31 March 2012.  

Pick one from the top row PLAYERS / FANS

Pick two from the second row SILLY / STUPID / PATHETIC  

Pick either STRONG, ROTTWEILER, RACEHORSE, COMMITTED

or WEAK, DONKEY, CHIHUAHUA, POOR
Choose 110%, 200% as how good/committed the players are.

On Saturday, when he replaced Alan Connell with Paul Benson on the hour mark against Bristol Rovers, he chose FANS, SILLY, STUPID

"There's stupid and silly booing for no reason, We are not Barcelona, we are Swindon. I want to remind the people that we are [in] League Two.  Stay together and think everyone who goes on the field is important, like [Lionel] Messi.  Even if they think I'm wrong, clap the player who goes on.  Why do the people go mad and boo sometimes? I can understand their frustration. Benson goes on and Connell comes out and they boo - it won't encourage Benson. They should pray to have Benson for the rest of their lives.  They know that we played really well and deserved the win but it didn't happen.  Maybe the people are sad because of this. I know this and the manager wants to win because we've been in a good habit of winning over the past three months.   Sometimes we play with players who were in the Conference last season - Alan Connell, Jonathan Smith, Aden Flint.  If we don't go up at the end of the season then they can criticise. We drew with Bristol Rovers, dominated the game and everybody is sad.
   My players can be sad but the fans should be happy because last season they were relegated and had no commitment, no discipline. My players give 200%." 

Funnily enough, back in January, PDC had indeed said his team were the Barcelona of League Two.

http://paolodiclownio.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/were-barcelona-of-league-two.html 

I made no mistakes signing my players II

On 7 March 2012, Leyton Orient kindly loaned PDC's PigHill the 27 year old forward Jonathan Tehoue until the end of the season.  

I wonder what could have happened, in less than a month?

Tehoue made just one start and two sub apppearances.   

PDC "It's a technical decision.  He's not as good as I thought he was. It is nearly impossible he will see the football pitch at Swindon.  My main players give me 110% because they've suffered with me all season.  I have much better players than him in the way I want them to play and behave."

If he has better players, why is he bringing in loan players? 

My special green hat

“It is special because there is a story about this hat.
I will not tell now why, maybe one day I will explain, but not now.” 

PAOLO

BENNY

My players were weak - post JPT

We were all weak
"Today we deserved to be a loser because we were all weak.  I hope we take the humility and work hard during the week because the next game is important for us. 

We lose together
"When you lose you have to say you lose together,  We lost together.

Except for own-goal scorer Oliver Risser

 "but it's clear that Oliver, an experienced player, has to feel responsible after his mistake.

His players can't handle the pressure games (no mentioning the home and away defeats to Oxford United)
I feel responsible too, in the way I choose my players, but now we have to come back to Swindon and obviously we are sad because in one game, when you have to win or die, a lot of players were incapable of playing their best at this stage.  Not all of my players, but sometimes it happens when people feel sure, or even arrogant, or weak in their brain or weak in their heart.  I don't want to say we have many in our team but today on a special occasion we proved that some players are not ready to play this game.  I am happy that we have a tough game straight away, because we have to prove that we are not a donkey.   The defeat doesn't mean that we haven't had a very good season, the fact that we have reached the final is a fantastic achievement, but we are still top of the league.  The league is the priority, we have to look at this season as very good, as long as we go up. If we don't it will be a disaster."

I was the most beautiful boy in the world - pre JPT

Who else could it be, blonde, two metres tall, blue eyes - the most beautiful boy in the world?

Anyway, it was PDC, building HIMSELF up ready for HIS victory in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. 

How does it compare to his own career?

“This is the best.  It is the best trophy I can win as a manager. The emotion you can feel as a manager is completely different from when you play football.  As a player I won the league with AC Milan, I won the UEFA Cup with Juventus so I won important trophies and celebrated with my teammates. I felt like I was blonde, two metres tall and had blue eyes – the most beautiful boy in the world.  But as a manager you probably cannot celebrate in the same manner because you arrive at the moment full of stress, but the emotion you feel inside and that you give emotional feeling to the others and it is your product going on the field and doing what they do makes this the best. It is the best trophy I can win. Even in 10 years’ time when we win the Champions League I will remember this as the start of my career.  In some way I feel like a general from 1,000 years ago who guided his troops into battle.  The soldiers have to listen to your details, take in your information and keep their discipline, otherwise they cannot win the battle. To guide a team to this moment and you arrive at a moment where you can win something as a manager, gives me satisfaction.  I know there will be some players disappointed, but I am the manager and I have to make the right decision for the team, I need to think who works best against Chesterfield and pick my players on that decision only"

and how will PDC celebrate when PigHill win?

“I won’t explode or jump with joy and go celebrate at a disco like a player might do.  As a manager I am sure I will close myself off one hour after the game and start planning for Saturday’s game against Bristol Rovers.” 

Swindon fans are silly and pathetic

PDC's maths lets him down again, this time claiming that the PigHill fans criticise him after his first defeat after the initial three.  They have of course lost several games in between, in particular a 2-0 away defeat to Oxford United, despite United being down to ten men whilst the game was scoreless.   

"I am the manager and they are the fans.  They should hope that I am the manager in the future because it's difficult to find another manager like me.   Ninety-five per cent of fans are amazing because they love this club, but there are a small number of fans who criticise in a silly, pathetic way.  There are always some silly fans, probably the same fans that didn't want Paolo di Canio, who after three defeats they said 'we told you that he is not a good manager'.   Now they have waited for our first defeat. Maybe when we finish at the top they say we should finish with 130 points.  I'm not worried about this because I am too strong, too good, too intelligent, but I want to say to the others 'don't follow the stupid'.  There is some intelligence from the fans. It's obvious that 99% of the fans are intelligent; they follow us. They don't start to be snobby and maybe judge us after one game.  They can comment and say they prefer this player or that player, but they don't judge like they are a manager at the top level."

My team is Stupid and silly

PDC's PigHill lost 2-0 at Crewe.

"Sometimes we are stupid, and we behaved absolutely as if we were stupid and silly.  In the last few weeks some of my players have lost their passion and desire and now it is up to me which players I choose.  I have to discover why and find the key to motivate them to make sure we finish in the top three and go up.  Maybe some of my players didn't accept my advice during the week or they accepted it with arrogance."

Six Points thank you very much

Pre-match talk

Di Canio's fourth match in charge was a 2-1 home to defeat Oxford United. 

PDC: "It was a medicine for us.  In a way, they helped us become stronger.  I want to thank them for this because since that day we've become more of a unit.  The damage they did to us gave us more togetherness. We came out from a bad moment and became stronger. In some ways they have built what we are now." 

"This is the game that can show us what level we can reach. We play away from home, we play in a derby match and there will be a hostile atmosphere.  For this reason it will be more a maturity test for my players, to use their energy in the right way and play their football without nerves.  We will go through a difficult moment because I am sure they will use their physical presence to press in the first few minutes but we have the better fitness and I believe we will come through it.  I am sure that we are going to win because we are a better side than them, but if we are to lose then we have to make sure we play our football, like we did in the first derby match.  This way we will prove that they have to be very lucky to win again and I am not worried for the future.”

Post-match

"It reminded me a bit of the beginning of the season where we dominated the first 20 minutes but don’t score the goal. In a way today was similar.   We had three crazy minutes that unfortunately it had to happen today against Oxford. We have paid our price and in some ways they deserved to win, even if we had 20 shots.  It didn’t happen for us, we paid our price but at the end of today we will still be at the top.  We move on from this game and look at Tuesday.  We have to win this game and keep going with the run we have had until today.  My players today proved they are not ready to play this type of game.  They are not effective, do not play with fire.  To win a war you have to go through many battles.  There was mental fatigue.  ”

PDC and Steve Evans II

Evans had previously claimed that Swindon are ‘the self-acclaimed untouchable leaders’.  After asking what this meant, PDC said "We have the bollocks to say these things.  I don’t see why he is talking about us.  Why was he before our recent game being all kind and complimentary?  Why is he licking my ass?  I used to be angry with people who criticised me before knowing me and then maybe after their initial comments they wanted to be nice because they feel we are similar, but we are far from similar.  I am not rough, I am not an uneducated person and I am not bad to watch in my opinion. How can I be similar to this guy?  So when he came out trying to say all these nice things, I was even more angry.  He felt that he should receive a good compliment from me as a result, but no.  It is even worse for me for him to be like that after he said what he did before we went to their ground.  My word is clear. I don’t like him as a person and what he said to my player when we played recently he has to put back in his mouth and go to another ground and say it.  I have nothing against the Crawley players, the Crawley fans and the Crawley board - we are talking about one person.  I am against his way to behave in football and sometimes I am laughing at what he has said.   If we go up and they stay down, he will be the loser and I will be the winner.   If they go up and we stay down then I will be the loser and he is the winner.  We will see, but we are strong and we have the courage to say we can win the league.”

Typically Tropical PDC

PDC seems to have music on the mind this week - slipping in as many song references as he can, starting with ...

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax

The Smiths - Panic

Bay City Rollers - Bye Bye Baby

Typically Tropical - Woah, I'm Going to Barbados

Following PigHill's ill deserved comeback victory against Shrewsbury, when at 1-0 down, the ref bottled a start of the second half sending off for PigHill and a penalty for Shrewsbury.

"They deserve to stay at the top. Now is the time to relax, not to panic.  Seven months we fought to get to the top and now we cannot panic. We have to take off, look back, say 'bye bye'. We go to Barbados. That is our attitude now, we have two games in hand.  If you play like the first half we can be in trouble, so I prefer to lose and play like we did in the last half an hour.  If we play like we did in the last half an hour we will lose one or two games, but we will win 10 or 12."

I didn't make a mistake in choosing my players

Earlier in the season, PDC sent Billy Bodin out on loan to Torquay.  However, he then brought him back again.  

"I said I didn't want to keep a player who didn't want to stay here.  We knew he was happy at Torquay and could play regular football and I couldn't force a player to stay.   Once it was clear we wanted to keep him, he realised he had a part here. I saw him in a training session and he was really free in his brain so I gave him the opportunity straight away.  He's improved a lot and has become more mature since I arrived here. I had other options but I played him as he can play a part in our run for the title.
I'm happy for him and I'm happy for me because Once again I didn't make a mistake in choosing my players."  

Unlike Leon Clarke then, who was signed on a two year contract on 19th August, and after just four games including the notorious on-pitch and down the tunnel bust-up with PDC, left for Chesterfield on loan on 9th September.  

Ban me for the rest of the season

The twit on the touchline watched PigHill demolish Crawley 3-0.  PDC then tempted fate by mocking the FA.  

"Not ironically, I want to thank the Football Association for giving me the opportunity to watch the game from the stands/   I give them permission to ban me for the rest of the season. We will win the league anyway.  I don't have homework because usually if I stand in the dugout I have to watch the game again as I don't have a clear picture.  If they want to ban me again they can do. My team now knows what they are doing now.  "

1000 miles ahead

8 goal striker Mehdi Kerrouche has signed for Oxford on a one month loan.  In an interview with the PigHill advertiser, the suspended S*****n supremo said,  

“Mehdi is a good player, he has good technical quality but I don’t see how much difference he can make for them in one month,  I don’t mind if they become strong because I believe we are a much better side than them, we are 1,000 miles ahead of them.  Even when we were struggling at the start of the season, the game against them should have finished 8-2 to us, but it was 2-1 to them.  At this moment in time we are better than them.  They are a side that can maybe compete to go up through the play-offs, but I am not worried that Mehdi goes there because we are a much better side.” 

It seems the team talk for the fixture is already written, and perhaps the Tottenham supporting number 9, James Constable, having spurned PDC's offers, will stick another brace up on the scoreboard for the Us. 

Two match ban

PDC has  been given a two match touchline ban by the FA after his latest sending off.  As Saturday's game at Barnet has already been called off, this will presumably cover the home game against Crawley and the away fixture at Hereford.  

Tuesday 7 Feb 2012 - FA Disciplinary
Paolo Di Canio, Swindon Town FC
Swindon Town v Macclesfield Town
Football League Two, 21 January 2012
FA Rule E3 – improper conduct
Di Canio denied the charge and requested a non-personal hearing

Charge proved. Di Canio was given a two match touchline ban to commence with immediate effect and fined the sum of £1000

Master impressionist

Rory Bremner has nothing to fear with this madcap mimic on the scene, impersonating Harry Redknap
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16968901

Champions League Final

PigHill take on Southend United on Tuesday night, and as usual, PDC decided this game was yet another  Cup final.  Earlier in the season, he called the Oxford game a World Cup Final, which they lost 2-1.   “This game is a Champions League final for us because it gives us the chance to catch Southend if we win.  If we beat them, we will catch them and catch Crawley and it will mean we have got another game against promotion rivals out of the way.”

Charged by the FA II

As reported last week, PDC's bonkers behaviour in the technical area got himself sent off for the third time in the season.  He has been charged with improper conduct following his side’s League Two fixture with Macclesfield Town on 21 January, 2012.  Di Canio is in breach of FA Rule E3 and has until 4pm on 30 January to respond.  

"I will defend myself like I defend my life.  The report confirmed that I didn't say anything wrong and I didn't abuse in words. But apparently in the way I protested, it was too aggressive.  It was an injustice that I was sent to the stand. I will pay the fine. But a one-match ban? It's not fair."

Sent off III

The FA disciplinary committee are surely sharpening their pencils ready to give PDC a hefty touchline ban after the irrational Italian was yet again sent to the stands, this time by referee Keith Stroud during their 1-0 victory against Macclesfield.  Earlier in the season, he was sent off by Mark Haywood in the 2-1 home defeat against Oxford, and by Mike Jones in the away game against Northampton, which they won 2-0.   

He was also seen giving Matt Ritchie a kick up the arse as he left the pitch, probably because he missed a late penalty.

I have a culture, I don't suffer my culture, I speak with my body language sometimes, even if I am in England and English people, English referees, have to respect me.  I do what I want in the technical area if I call my players.  They can't stop me do this.  I call my players, I ask to do what I want with my players.   If I don't go out from the technical area, no, [they] say to me, 'call them only with the voice, do not use the arms, that is not acceptable', I will move my arms, my body, my shoulders, my legs, they can't send me off ten times, if they want [to] send me off every game, no problem, I will win this league anyway, because my team is a strong team, they will, they play football, even if they send me off, we win this league no problem.   

"I don't want to stop the way I am,I use my way to call my players over; that's just how I do it. I didn't leave the technical area or use bad words towards the officials. People have to understand my character. I speak with my body language, I didn't abuse anybody.  It is clear I receive only damage from the referee this year. I never win the game as a result of a gift. I don’t want a gift but I only get damage and I never protest. If they want to send me off every game, then no problem. We will win this league anyway because my team is good enough" 

'I did not swear or say any bad words but the referee sent me off because he did not like my body language. I am a passionate man and if I want to wave my arms in the air nobody is going to stop me.  If the FA charge me I will appeal because if I deserved to be sent off for that I will be in the stands every week.  If they send me off 25 times it does not matter because I have a great team and we will still win the league.'

Chihuahuas and Rottweilers II

PDC, the barking Italian, was interviewed last Friday and was asked about how he would describe his players now, after last year (see earlier blog post) when he compared his players to Chihuahas and Rottweilers ...

Hey, I tell you, properly, I don't wanna say that my words was far from the truth, my expression was probably in a hot moment.   You know when a pet is very little, you can confuse a chihuahua with a very young rottweiler.  Probably they were a very small rottweiler,  young, only one month old, but they should grow up, they couldn't bite and hurt the opponents, obviously after a few months, now they are adult rottweiler, they can start fight for the bone, for the food, they are adult rottweiler.


Sorry, I made a mistake, because I am not an expert of dogs, but at the moment I was confused, an adult chihuahua with a small rottweiler, because they are not very similar, the colours are different, but at the time probably I was wrong, I didn't read properly, but they were young rottweiler, against any other adult dog, the dog win, because they still young.  Now they are rottweiler. 

I can choose the player I want now

At first, we were kind of driving without lights in the night, not completely like this, but we did not know what was going to happen in the first couple of months. Now, though, I have more knowledge than I did in August in being able to identify the player I want for my system.
Secondly, and perhaps more important than the first point, this club completely supports me and they are doing the best they can to make me happy and I have to thank them for this.
And thirdly, the team is in a good position and has proven all around the nation that we play football, that we have a very real chance to go up and we are in both cups.
There is a clear future at this club which we show to a player when they want to join us which makes it sound like we are in the Championship already.
All these things have made a big difference.
Now, the players call their agent to say they want to go to Swindon and that is good.
In the summer a League Two level player did not want to come. Another player who is struggling in League One now – he has scored only two goals - said ‘no I don’t want to play in League Two’.
Now, this man prays to come here but he is not for us anymore. He didn’t want to join us and help us and now he is struggling, but we still won’t give him another opportunity with us because even though his side are League One we feel we are better than them now.
I can choose the player I want now, I can make the decision and the club supports me all the way.
For all these reasons it has become much easier and in the next few days we will add another one, hopefully two, quality players to this squad. 

Funnily, enough, Oxford's Tottenham supporting No. 9, James Constable, told his agent he didn't want to go to Swindon, even with a reported signing-on fee and increased wages. 

In an attempt to save face after being spurned, the morose manager then said 

“The chairman called me to say we cannot go through, I asked what happened and he told me that he (Constable) wanted to think about the move. At that moment, I said I don’t want to know anything more and I don’t want him any more. The fact he hesitated, or already decided he did not want to come, it did not matter to me. I didn’t want him any more. He can stay at Oxford.”
 

Kenny Craig spotted in the boardroom

Once he [the Chairman] came back to the dressing room he said ‘Paolo look into my eyes, if you say he is out, he is out. We believe you and we trust you.’ I had given him the chance to sack me, I said he should sack me if he (Leon Clarke) did not go. After some bad results, and with not everyone having gelled together and the Southampton defeat, he should think it is time to change.
But he is a strong man, I saw at that moment that he is a leader and has a big belief in his values and we came through that moment together.
Obviously I thank him, but he has to thank himself and his parents, who gave him the good intelligence to be able to read into the future and not just react to the moment and change, change and change like many clubs do now.

I've made mistakes

PDC admitted he didn't know what he was doing at the start of the season, so turned on the Chairman to help him sort it out.  But he did keep some "secrets" from him...
"For example, I had a very honest moment with him [the Chairman] after two months. We had just had four defeats in a row and we had a board meeting and I looked in the eyes of the chairman and all the board members and said: “I have made many mistakes and now it is up to you.  If you want to change direction then you have to follow me again and we have to change something.” 

I told them we needed young, English players and that if we got these, I was sure things would change, but if they did not believe me even a little bit, then it would never work and they should sack me.
I was honest and my chairman was honest also. Not about the results but about what was going wrong and about the dressing room. 

Obviously I did not say all my secrets because even my board cannot know all my secrets. I am my own man and I have my way to lead my group.

I want a defender, midfielder, winger, and a striker

One of PDC's Italian imports, defender Alberto Comazzi, is set to leave PigHill, despite being only six months into a two year contract, and having made just five appearances.  PDC admits he didn't know about English League Two football, but then mysteriously claims that Comazzi would have been OK playing at Championship level (Serie B) in Italy, but that English division four is too tough. 

After last week's 'greatest moment of his footballing life', beating a Wigan second stream team in the FA Cup, for which the team deserved recognition at the County Ground Skip with a commemorative plaque, PDC just days later insisted he needed to make changes, and that he "can't keep going until the end of the season with the same players." 

Already making his excuses for failure at the end of the season, he needs "a midfielder, a winger and a striker - these are the main positions, we need a defender too because Comazzi is out. I want a natural centre-back.  If we can get these players then I guarantee we can make something special. Otherwise it will be very tough to stay there [in promotion contention] until the end."

One match ban and £500 fine

Not sure why this wasn't a second offence because PDC was also sent off during the Oxford game, but anyway, first offence, one match ban and £500 fine.  As it is to be served during the Rotherham game, hopefully he will be stuck in that far corner stand for away fans, and not be able to see any of the game or even shout instructions to the bench.

The best moment of my life / the players deserve an honour

PigHill scraped a 2-1 win against Wigan reserves in the FA Cup third round, and this is what PDC had to say:
"My lads today deserve something from the club - to do something and put their names in the stadium forever.  I don't want a big statue. Maybe just a small plaque with all their names. There is no doubt we deserved to win.  It is the best moment of my life.  Today they did show the dream can come true. We needed to limit Wigan's chances to get through and we did that well apart from the accident for the penalty.  This is something special - an amazing performance against a team three divisions above us. The players have been fantastic because to play under me is difficult."

We're the Barcelona of League Two

In the build-up to PigHill's FA Cup 3rd round tie against Premier League Wigan Athletic, the Italian said: “This is a really important game for me, for my players, for the fans and for the club. I’m at the best club in this league – it’s the Barcelona­ of League Two. I’ve told my players to start dreaming because, without sounding arrogant, we can damage them.”

Charged by the FA

Swindon Town manager Paulo Di Canio has been charged for improper conduct in relation to his side’s match at Northampton Town on 31 December 2011.

Di Canio has until 4pm on 9 January 2012 to respond to the charge.

Sent off II

After being sent to the stands for running on the pitch during the Swindon Town home defeat to Oxford United, Di Canio was at it again against Northampton.  This time, celebrating a late victory, he again ran on the pitch towards the away fans, was sent off, and may well be in trouble with the FA.  Surely a touchline ban is warranted?

"This victory is amazing. I am very happy for the players. I told them during the week you don't have to love me, you have to follow me (and) you will win.  In the first half I saw a really positive attitude and told them to remain calm as we were the better side.  Today is a very, very good day but I was at risk for a heart attack."

Strange praise for a team that he wants five changes to.