Last act of the end-of-year “report card” dedicated to the midfield and attack departments, the main finishers of the biancoscudato offensive game in this championship, in which 36 goals out of a total of 41 scored (including the own goal against Casertana at home) came from attacking midfielders, midfielders or forwards. Furthermore, 10 defeats out of 15 and 7 victories out of 11 have occurred with the minimum difference, against or against Messina, demonstrating a good overall competitiveness of the collective within the championship.
MIDFIELDS –
Giulio Frisenna: in his first real experience among professionals after the promising seasons in Licata, the blond boy from Catania proves that he can be comfortable in this category, bringing personality, technical, athletic and ballistic skills that are not banal. He still has to improve his attention and application throughout the individual matches, but the promises and premises seem excellent. Prospectus. Appearances 32, minutes played 2430, goals 3, assists 3, yellow cards 5, expulsions 2 – Rating 7.5
Domenico Franco: the expectations for him were quite high, after the 4 days of absence due to a suspension to be served dating back to the previous season, but some time must pass before he takes off. The change of formation helps him, because, with another midfielder alongside him, his performance improves exponentially and he becomes one of the leaders on the pitch, less flashy than others, but equally important. Reference. Appearances 31, minutes played 2397, goals 1, assists 2, yellow cards 9, expulsions 1 – Rating 7
Francesco Scafetta: a boy valued last year by Modica in Vibo, he arrives in Messina on loan from Bari and here he accumulates a very formative season, because the coach deploys him in all positions from lateral or internal to midfield, attack and even defense. He starts among the starters, then climbs up the hierarchy, but is almost always the first choice in the substitutions. Soldier. Appearances 30, minutes played 1419, assists 1, yellow cards 6 – Rating 6
Marco Firenze: on the first day on the Cerignola pitch he scored the equalizer with a delightful free kick at the end, he seemed to be the man capable of changing the balance of the matches, then an ups and downs began due partly to his anything but submissive character, but even due to some small physical ailments, he lost continuity of performance and, in the second round, after the splendid performance in Caserta, he only started from the beginning until the final act with Monopoli. Misunderstood? Appearances 25, minutes played 1361, goals 1, assists 2, yellow cards 5, – Rating 6
Francesco Giunta: returning to his city after a career spent around Italy, he is always ready when Giacomo Modica calls him into action, carving out minutes of substance in a department that, once he finds the right fit, doesn’t give him too much space. The only goal scored, in Crotone, with the shield-white shirt was beautiful. Prodigal Son– Appearances 25, minutes played 1076, goals 1, assists 2, yellow cards 3– Rating 6.5
Marco Civilleri: he reappears in C after the good experience in Taranto, questioning himself again after making the life choice by moving to Sansepolcro in the fourth Tuscan series with the prospect of finishing his career there and then starting a new job. The call to Messina allows him to resume professional rhythms and his role becomes more important within the group than on the pitch, even if the 54 minutes in Benevento are of excellent quality and substance. Rock – Appearances 9, minutes played 107- Vote ng
ATTACKERS –
Michele Emmausso: arrived with the reputation of a creative but discontinuous footballer, he played in the first round almost entirely confirming this reputation, because at times he alienated himself and became almost irritating, showing only a few flashes of class and a couple of transformations from the spot, not trivial stuff from these set off. The goal against Catania transformed him, he took on superpowers and, for three months, he became one of the determining factors of the Giallorossi’s rebirth, absolutely uncatchable for any defence. Genius– Appearances 34, minutes played 2267, goals 10, assists 3, yellow cards 10, expulsions 1 – Rating 8
Marco Zunno: a former promise with the Novara shirt, he passed into the ownership of Cremonese who loaned him to Piacenza, where he was relegated and became melancholy, arriving in Messina with an attitude that, from the outside, seemed too submissive. He starts as the owner, then, little by little, he relegates in the hierarchies and seems destined for the cut in the repair market. The turning point in the 61st minute of the derby with Catania, when he enters the field and literally splits the match in two. He conquers, through increasingly convincing performances, the position of immovable, also putting into it an unsuspected physical strength and a lot of stubbornness. The plays he shows from then on are literally out of category, he becomes familiar with the net and becomes the showcase man of this team. Predestined – Appearances 33, minutes played 2127, goals 7, assists 3, yellow cards 3 – Rating 8
Vincenzo Plescia: returning from some not exactly exciting years in Avellino, he signed with Messina after a negotiation that was not immediately positive, he made himself totally available to the ideas proposed by the coach, acquired full physical fitness, finding his way to the goal in a phase of the first round, then the change in formation forces him to do the dirty work, putting him in a position to finish towards the opponent’s goal a few times. The liberating run towards the curve after the goal against Sorrento and the beautiful technical gesture of the goal against Monterosi testify to the great desire to give the best for this shirt. His scoring output is certainly not that of a striker, but it always served to give Messina the three points. Not a small factor. Generous – Appearances 34, minutes played 2049, goals 5, yellow cards 1, expulsions 1 – Rating 6
Nino Ragusa: the savior of the Giallorossi homeland with that magnificent technical gesture at the end of the playout against Gelbison, begins this season with an annoying muscle problem that does not allow him to keep up with his teammates on a physical level. He makes himself available to the team, carries out the role of leader in the most complicated moment in terms of results and, having acquired a better condition, shows some flashes of class at his level. Not too lucky, or bad, in front of goal, this aspect penalizes him, but some of his recoveries or games of pure sacrifice are worth a lot in the overall economy of the team. Thank you very much and see you again – Appearances 35, minutes played 1911, goals 1, assists 1, yellow cards 7 – Rating 6
Marco Rosafio: it is the coup of the winter transfer market, the result of his great desire to return to the place where he had resumed and relaunched his career 7 years earlier. His arrival gives the group a motivational boost, which is essential to get out of the quicksand of the low rankings, because having a teammate like him reassures those who play alongside him and, at the same time, stimulates everyone to give their best. Physically, however, he is not able to sustain very high pace for the whole 90 minutes, so he manages himself, but, when he manages to get going, he makes the difference. He rightly blames himself for not having scored more. Boosters – Appearances 16, minutes played 1123, goals 2, assists 4, yellow cards 2 – Rating 7
Carlo Cavallo: presented as one of the best young players in Serie D last season, a former promise in the Juventus youth team, he is one of the elements on which Giacomo Modica focuses most in the first matches. His performances, however, go from encouraging, with a beautiful goal inexplicably canceled out in Francavilla, to become, little by little, more and more involved, and then the arrival of Rosafio, in addition to the change of formation, limit him more and more employment. His last appearance in Monopoli was excellent, but by then the game was over. Sin – Appearances 20, minutes played 929, assists 1, yellow cards 2 – Rating 5.5
Pierluca Luciani: returning from a two-year break due to an incredible series of injuries, the boy owned by Frosinone wastes some chances given by the coach, lacking in personality, then settles down, makes better use of other opportunities in which he goes onto the pitch and, in the end, brings at home a non-trivial score considering the overall playing time, even if the goals against Juve Stabia and Monopoli have no influence on the result. Wannabe – Appearances 25, minutes played 772, goals 4, yellow cards 1 – Rating 5.5
Sabino Signorile: loan from Cerignola who arrived in January, pays the price for his late fitness, then settles on the bench and is used in the final rounds. He has the ball on his left for the sensational equalizer at “Massimino” right in the last second of injury time, but finds Furlan and a referee in his path who doesn’t even concede the corner. One centimeter from history – Appearances 4, minutes played 54 – Vote ng
