Messina’s journey was characterized by two clearly opposite periods, from a statistical point of view: one made up of 16 matches out of 38, distributed between October-November and March-April, in which the biancoscudati collected a paltry 7 points, an average of 0.44 per game, which would have led to direct relegation, if there had not been the remaining 22 performances in which the average/points quadrupled, bringing it to 45 in the final ranking.
It would therefore have been enough to limit the damage in one of the two dark moments of the season, to reach the playoff zone, but, in the end, we cannot speak of disappointed expectations, because it would mean debasing the efforts and commitment of all the components of this competitive year. The good performance of some young players made the systematic use of playing time functional and an important role was played by the excellent physical preparation accumulated during the summer work and strengthened during the championship. Rating 6.5 for Giacomo Modica who, in some phases of the championship, got carried away by the more egocentric part of his character, risking excessively in some choices, before and during the matches, which were not always rewarded by results or performances.
RED AND BLACK – The 11 expulsions (2 in the match against Foggia) suffered in home matches coincided with 3 victories, but also with all 7 home defeats of the tournament and a flaw in the management of Modica was represented by not having found the solution to this problem character of his men, while the hesitations in the reading of some matches, especially at the “Scoglio”, fall within the physiological errors, net of the sensational statistical data deriving from the zero in the hypothetical “penalties in favor” box of the biancoscudati during 57 matches played between the friendly walls, in series C, from September 2021 to today.
Aspects that influence the judgment given to Giacomo Modica, slightly reducing the indisputable merits of having given a well-defined tactical guideline, especially in terms of attitude on the pitch, to his team.
BETWEEN REASON AND HEART – Among the tasks of the coach there is also that of communication and Modica certainly put his face to it at the most complicated moment, perhaps going beyond his own tasks, underlining some controversial aspects, but not to show off, but rather to highlight some problems that are difficult to resolve immediately, but essential to overcome if we want to build a credible sporting project with a minimum of ambitions higher than maintaining the third series. The discussion on structures and on some logistical-organizational aspects has practically always arisen, but this cannot give alibis or justifications to those who have the task and responsibility of finding solutions, both at a political-administrative and corporate level.
ROME WAS NOT DONE IN ONE DAY – The Messina 2023-24 working group was made up of the managerial and organizational staff, starting from Giacomo Modica’s team of collaborators, united in their vote for the coach, moving on, obviously, to Domenico Rome, sporting director in his first experience in this role at third series level, who has performed well in a potentially difficult environment, if one cannot understand some dynamics. The construction of the team reconciled the economic-financial principles with those of quality, through some intuitions that could have seemed daring bets to those who judged, from the outside, the Messina 2023-24 edition last summer, with the bowls stopped.
CASH, DEPOSITS AND LOANS – The 5 players in possession of contracts expiring in June 2025 (Salvo, Manetta, Franco, Frisenna, Emmausso) can be a good basis for next season’s starting lineup, but also represent a potential financial treasure, even if, in this category , monetizing sales is quite difficult.
The loans were very pleasant surprises (Zunno and Dumbravanu above all), fundamental driving forces in the crucial part of the championship (Rosafio), quite credible alternatives (Luciani, Scafetta), little soldiers rewarded with a few minutes, however dignified (Signorile and Zona). It’s a shame that they were always dry loans, without the right of redemption, with an approach method perhaps too focused on the need not to commit, even hypothetically, the company from a financial point of view.
The only mysterious object, branded as too exotic by the coach, was Andrea Zammit, but it was not an operation entirely attributable to the Roma-Modica axis and it was an original sin paid by the Maltese with only two appearances in the championship and one in the Italian Cup for a total of 24 minutes spent on the pitch wearing the Giallorossi shirt.
Rated 7 minus for the sporting director, also capable of taking responsibility by going to the press room when there was a risk of collapse.
Will the Modica-Rome couple remain on the shores of the Strait, will they both leave for other shores, or will only one remain? Part of Messina’s future depends on the answer to this question.
