Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Liberato Cacace (Wrexham | Wales)

1572 replies · 367,067 views
about 2 years ago
Sadly Empoli lose 2-1.
Full game Libby. Apparently had a hard time marking Ngonge who was on fire.
Not fully at fault on one of the goals they said, but could have done more apparently.
Empoli are 2nd last on 13 points (only 1 point in the last 5), Verona climb out of the relegation zone on 17.

Clawing 4 points back is still doable, but Empoli need to start getting some wins on the board. At this rate I can see Andreazzoli getting the boot, which wouldn't be good for Libby I don't think.


VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago
Called it...
Aurelio Andreazzoli has been sacked. Davide Nicola (formerly of Torino) has been appointed as the new Empoli coach.
Tough times at Empoli...let's just hope he rates Libby and keeps him on the park. Also, he needs to desperately change things around for the team, otherwise they will be going down.

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
In Italy there is a saying that goes "new coach always wins"..
Empoli trash Monza 3-0 thanks to a Zurkowsky hattrick and are suddenly back in the hunt for promotion (-2 points).
Libby came on at 61min (2-0) a d seems to have played as RWB?
Empoli seem to have gone to a 3-5-2 so he might get more chances of going forward as a WB in the future 




VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
Very important win you feel for Empoli. Brings them within 2 points of safety (Caligari). A big confidence boost with their 3rd manager for the season onboard. We don't want Libby dropping down to Serie B.

Tough trip away to leaders Juve this weekend. But then a run of winnable fixtures after that, hosting 4th placed Fiorentina in 4 weeks maybe excepted.
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about 2 years ago
Libby stars! Empoli with a bit of a lifelife...Juventus forward Milik was sent off after 18 min. Still 0-0 at 30min.

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago
81 minutes through and it’s 1-1. Cacace still on the field. If they hold on this is a huge point!
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about 2 years ago
1-1 and full game Libby. 97 minutes! A very valuable point...juve have been flying recently. Empoli stay 1 point away from safety but it's congested at that end of the table so a couple of wins could change everything 

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago
Heard Celtic were interested - doubt there was any chance he’d leave this deadline though
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about 2 years ago
That’s an interesting one. Celtic are obviously a good club but if he’s getting game time at Empoli then it would surely be better for his development to stay there, even if they’re relegated to Serie B.
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about 2 years ago
Celtic all day. More coverage in the UK and he'll get to play European football.
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about 2 years ago
Bad news for Empoli, with Roma buying in form live wire Tommaso Baldanzi from them. He most recently scored vs Juventus and has been one of the few performing players in the side. Maybe they are covering themselves in case they go down, but they will definitely miss him.

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago
Lots of low table congestion- a win or two and they could have a couple of teams between them and the drop. 

Just purely as a fan I hope Libby stays in Serie A or Serie B as it’s more fun to watch than the SPFL and less of an A league post-grad hang out. There’s already plenty of players I can follow in the SPFL, ex-J league too, but I don’t really know anyone else in Serie A. 


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about 2 years ago
Ends 0-0 with Libby on in the 54th minute. Empoli play the team in last place next. A win could take them out of the relegation zone.
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about 2 years ago
Salernitana have just bolstered their squad by signing former AS Roma CB Kostas Manolas and a certain Jerome Boateng, formerly of Bayern Munich...they aren't spring chickens, but in a team that has Ochoa in goal and Candreva up top...they are going to put of a real fight to avoid relegation 

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago
Huge win for Empoli, 3-1 away from home at the Arechi stadium!
Empoli led after 38min but were caught up in the 68th. They left it late with a penalty at 88min, before putting the nail in the coffin at 94.
Full game Libby, Jerome Boateng off at 59min. Manolas and Fazio in the stands but should be back soon.

Empoli shoot up to 15th place, 3 points above the drop. They do have one game in hand over everyone below them (2 in the case of Sassuolo). Still, great result!

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
And a big win 3-1 for Empoli.


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about 2 years ago
Highlights here.
Libby with an almost beautiful assist just after Empoli's first goal

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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about 2 years ago
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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
87 mins for Libby (1-1) in a 1-1 draw. Empoli now 2 points above the drop zone.

Parisi who mostly kept Libby on the bench last few seasons at Empoli, a 75th min sub for Fiorentina
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about 2 years ago
Empoli with a 3-2 win. Huge result. Puts them up to 13th at least temporarily. The winner came in the 94th minute. Cacace played 88 minutes.
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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
Wonder how his Italian is coming along.

Empoli remain (6 pts above the drop zone) 13th after the whole round was completed. Another very winnable game this weekend hosting Cagliari (2nd last)

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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
Scores!

Such a popular goal. The ground announcer called his name 3 times. The owners are on camera applauding. The fans whistle as his goal is checked for offside (not from him.)

Oh ffs.

Edit: and to pile on indignity he gets done as Cagliari strike very soon after. Football is cruel. And a minute or two later he’s subbed as the manager empties the benches with 4 changes. All very unfair. 


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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
So yes heart break for Libby (no 13) & Empoli (in blue). Denied his first Serie A goal by VAR, and the shoulder of an offside team mate. Then Caligari get the winner at 69 mins. Cacace one of 3 subs made at 72 mins.

4 min highlights here. Looks like a game Empoli dominated. Leicester's favourite adopted son Claudio Ranieri in charge of the Sardinians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXKxWdZh6nE

The relegation picture is crowded. 7 teams from Lecce (13th) down to
Sassuolo (19th) separated by only 5 points. Empoli 14th. This game a big opportunity missed for them you feel. Two visits to Milan in the next 3 games. 
AC Milan (3rd) & then Inter (1st). In between they host Bologona (4th). Ouch.
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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
Libby spent most of his contribution itching to get forward. Looks like he’s been told to make underlapping runs, with the two players ahead of him going wider. Mostly all he was doing was dragging defenders to give them more space as he didn’t get many return passes. Effective for the team, but perhaps not not entirely satisfying for Libby!


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about 2 years ago
Niche Cache digs up some quality trivia. VAR is not a friend of Libby.



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about 2 years ago
He scored a disallowed header further back too iirc! 


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about 2 years ago · edited about 2 years ago · History
martinb
He scored a disallowed header further back too iirc! 

True, though he was well offside with that one. The other two, in both instances a team mate very marginally offside called by VAR. But yeah having no luck at all since leaving the Nix.

Did score the winner for AWs (against Tahiti?) at OFC WC qualifying tourney in Qatar March 2022.

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about 2 years ago
Libby off the bench at 55 mins (1-0) in a 1-0 loss

christian pulisic with Milan’s goal
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about 2 years ago
From Flying Kiwis. Interesting to read Libby takes the corners for Empoli, in Serie A. Wonder if he or Singh will do it for the AWs.

Cacace was on corner kick duty again, swinging in a few of those from the left edge. One of those corners flew into the path of a wide open Mattia Destro whose header was frustratingly straight at the goalie. Cacace also might have set up an own goal with a low open play cross that was sliced by a defender in the middle. Plus he delivered a crucial block against a shot from Samuel Chukwueze. Cacace made an impact... but his team still couldn’t find that goal they were after. They remain one point above the relegation zone. Lots more work to be done.
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