Liberato Cacace (Empoli | Italy)

Unused sub in a 1-1 draw

Really thought he'd get some game time in this match tbh.

Monto

Really thought he'd get some game time in this match tbh.

It is starting to get a bit odd he's not even getting sub minutes, last season it was basically every other game he'd get a run, if not start. Through 480 winless minutes this season he hasn't got any. Not the best start for the Italian contingent, Cacace and Garbett not playing at all and Kirwan doing an ACL.

Last year they had a different coach who brought Libby in. This year they have a new one and he must rate Parisi more. Hard to fault him as Parisi is very talented and possibly going to feature more heavily in the national side soon too. Empoli haven't had the best of starts, but 3 draws on the trot means they are a difficult side to break down. Hopefully Libby will get his chance soon 

Salernitana (12th) host Empoli (15th).

Libby on the bench 

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/05/italy/serie-a/salernitana-calcio-1919/empoli-fc/3812625/

Stays on the bench in a 2-2. Empoli with one loss and four straight draws since the start of the season. 

According to this, the starting left back Parisi could make a move in the January transfer window as he's highly sought after. 
Empoli would certainly buy another LB if that were the case, but Libby would certainly get an opportunity if he were to leave. 

Tomorrow Empoli (16th) host NZP's Roma (7th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/12/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/as-roma/3812631/

I probably won't be watching the game until I get home after work so you won't see me on this thread until later on in the evening 😁
Empoli are proving to be a tough side to break down and Roma have lost 2 on the trot so it's going to be a an interesting match. Zaniolo might be back after his injury earlier in the season. Empoli have lost Destro to iniury but he's grossly overrated anyway. 
It could go either way I believe. 

Finally some Serie A action for Libby. A 52nd min sub (1-1) in a 1-2 loss to Roma

English internationals Smalling & Bakumo-Abraham (got their 2nd goal) both started for Roma

I thought Libby acquitted himself well to be honest. The penalty was very unlucky. Ibañez had barely a toe on the line, else the foul would have been outside the box, and Empoli lost a silly ball on that occasion. He just found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and tried get in Ibañez's path. Abraham's goal was all Dybala. The Empoli CB should have come out more as Libby was trekking back. But the argentine did really well to create the space and deliver a pinpoint cross. 
I thought Libby's positioning was interesting. He was often forced to come quite central as other players would go wide to receive the was no doubt part of the system as it happened several time. 
Anyhow, I thought he was strong in defense and quite good going forward. 

Empoli (16th) travel to Bologna (12th)
Libby on the bench

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/09/17/italy/serie-a/bologna-fc-1909/empoli-fc/3812639/

Stays on the bench in an important 1-0 win vs Bologna. 
Empoli's keeper and starting left back Parisi with a very good performance by all accounts (scored 7/10 in the match report) and called up by the senior and U21 Italian national team respectively 

Empoli (14th) host AC Milan (5th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/01/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/ac-milan/3812650/

Unused sub in a 1-3 loss. 

Empoli bought it to 1-1 in 92nd min, then conceded twice more!

Kiwi (bench sitting) Serie A derby next, at Torino.

Kiwi Serie A derby tonight. Though both could just being watching from the pine.
Torino (10th) host Empoli (15th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/09/italy/serie-a/torino-fc/empoli-fc/3812667/

0-0 at HT. Both Kiwis on the the large Serie A benches (each club with 14-15 subs listed).

Edit - finishes 1-1. Garbett & Cacace both watch from the pine.

Empoli (14th) host Monza (12th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/15/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/ac-monza-brianza-1912/3812670/

Edit - Libby on the bench

Stays on the bench in an important 1-0 win over Monza. Second win for Empoli this season from memory

Reports seem to indicate that Juventus are seriously looking at Parisi for the January transfer window. 
Could be good news for Libby if he leaves although Empoli would look to bring another LB into the side of course. But as far as young, Italian and emerging LBs go, Parisi is right up there. So you'd hope the competition would be less strong for Libby. 

Empoli (10th) travel to Juve (8th).

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/10/21/italy/serie-a/juventus-fc/empoli-fc/3812683/

The Old Lady win in a 4-0 canter. 
Wonder if rumoured suitors Juventus were impressed by Parisi (who had a full game).

Libby probably dodged a bullet by staying on the bench as Empoli were taken to the cleaners by a rather underwhelming (so far) Juve side. Not sure if Parisi impressed. It's going to be an interesting couple of months for Libby and Garbett 

Empoli (12th) host Atalanta (4th)

And Libby finally gets a start this season!  0-0 after 15 mins.
Parisi the usual LB on the bench.

Edit - Atalanta lead 1-0 at HT. Their RB with the goal.

Omg- held onto DAZN for this and occasional other things and getting an error code! 
How’s he playing? Anyone watching?

Full game for Libby in a 2-0 loss

Libby happy with his performance according to this. 
According to the match reports I've read, he did well, didn't attack as much as Parisi but he was good defensively 

newzealandpower

Libby happy with his performance according to this. 
According to the match reports I've read, he did well, didn't attack as much as Parisi but he was good defensively 

If he can differentiate himself like that then probably more likely to see games - i.e. if Empoli are winning, if they see him as the better defensive option he'll come on 

Empoli (14th) host Sassuolo (11th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/11/05/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/us-sassuolo-calcio/3812701/

An important 1-0 win for Empoli who climb to 12th, 1 point behind Sassuolo. 
Unfortunately for Libby, he gets to ride the pine for the entire match. Next up is top of the table, in form Napoli, Weds 06.30am NZ time. A home coming of sort for Libby, whose family hail from that part of the world. 

Napoli (1st) host Empoli (14th).
Libby to get a run against the club he supported as a kid?

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/11/08/italy/serie-a/ssc-napoli/empoli-fc/3812715/

Empoli almost did the unthinkable. 0-0 at the San Paolo (now Stadio Maradona) for 70 minutes, then a penalty given away and a red card make it easy for a Napoli, 2-0 in the end (second goal at 88 min though). 
Sadly for Libby, he doesn't take the field. 
Napoli are steam rolling Serie A this year. +9 on second place (with a game in hand) after 14 games. 

Empoli (14th) host Cremonese (18th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/11/11/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/us-cremonese/3812721/

Unused sub in a 2-0 win. Starting LB Parisi with the 2nd goal

coochiee

Empoli (14th) host Cremonese (18th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2022/11/11/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/us-cremonese/3812721/

A solid 2-0 win to end Serie A for the year for Empoli. The win takes them 12th, but each possible result in Sassuolo-Bologna will see Empoli start 2023 in 13th (or 12th if Salernitana somehow get smashed by lowly Monza). As per, Cacace watched Parisi play the full 90, and he also added the second goal in the 88th. Hopefully he's improved any suitors enough to sign him in January. 

Overall, an up and down first year in Serie A for Cacace. He got quite a bit of game-time last season, but has really struggled this season. 12 appearances and 593 minutes across the year, but only two this season, totaling only 128 minutes. He played more minutes vs Australia in September (161) than in the 16 matches Empoli have had this season. Long break might give him a chance to pop down to New Zealand, so hopefully things start looking up for him.

There was a change of coach at the end of last season and Andreazzoli, who had brought him in, left the club. The fact that Libby continued to make the bench and even had a couple of appearances under new gaffer Zanetti is a good sign. It means he belongs at this level which is no small feat. 
But yes hopefully Parisi goes to Inter (or anywhere else really) and Libby gets a chance to stake his claim to the starting LB spot. Empoli are also looking fairly safe (same as last year) which even if he stays behind Parisi (or the new LB) should see his opportunities increase in the second half of the season. 

Empoli are currently in a training in Spain. Libby played the first half (most of the starting XI was subbed off then) in a 2-1 win vs Sturm Graz.
Sounds like Parisi might be staying put until the end of the season after all, so Libby may continue to see limited game time for now.