Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Liberato Cacace (Wrexham | Wales)

1572 replies · 367,067 views
11 Jan 14:11 · edited 11 Jan 14:15 · History
Going to be chasing the game. Lecce nick an early one 1-0.

Edit: disastrous start for Empoli. They shell a one on one after a keeper error and then Lecce, one of the lowest scorers in the division apparently, bang in a second. 10 minutes played 2-0!


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11 Jan 14:29 · edited 11 Jan 14:58 · History
Absolute madness.

Empoli’s keeper has saved two further 1 v 1s and their main CB has asked to be subbed and been obliged. 

Edit: first half ends without further damage to the score line, but with the observation by the commentators that it’s as if the Empoli players had never played together before. It’s so true though- they lack all fluidity and can scarcely string 3 passes together, so different from the team I saw last.

Libby has won a corner, an attacking free kick and sent in a threatening corner, but not added to his assist or goal count…


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11 Jan 15:19
martinb
Absolute madness.

Empoli’s keeper has saved two further 1 v 1s and their main CB has asked to be subbed and been obliged. 

Edit: first half ends without further damage to the score line, but with the observation by the commentators that it’s as if the Empoli players had never played together before. It’s so true though- they lack all fluidity and can scarcely string 3 passes together, so different from the team I saw last.

Libby has won a corner, an attacking free kick and sent in a threatening corner, but not added to his assist or goal count…
The old reverse jinx, Martinb! Like Royz in his prime. Another goal for Libby, hopefully kick starting the comeback
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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11 Jan 16:09
Unfortunately Lecce grab a 3rd at 91 mins, to win 3-1. 
Full game Libby
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11 Jan 18:26
Highlights here.
Not at fault for any of the goals and scored a nice header. Unlucky not to get a brace.

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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11 Jan 18:59
He's having a nice little run of minutes further up the pitch. Shows just how versatile he is, getting Serie A minutes at centre half, fullback, left midfield and now a wide 10. 

Good for the national team, even though that's where we arguably have the most depth already
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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12 Jan 00:27 · edited 12 Jan 00:36 · History
newzealandpower
Highlights here.
Not at fault for any of the goals and scored a nice header. Unlucky not to get a brace.
just an aside, watching Italian coverage is great because I reckon they record their coverage at a higher frame rate than many other leagues.
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12 Jan 04:14 · edited 12 Jan 04:16 · History
Jazzy Jeff
He's having a nice little run of minutes further up the pitch. Shows just how versatile he is, getting Serie A minutes at centre half, fullback, left midfield and now a wide 10. 

Good for the national team, even though that's where we arguably have the most depth already

It must be a real tactical education! 
He spent some of the time in the CF position. They’d play all these little triangles out wide and he’d hare off in to the centre. 
Have to be honest, he might be the best back up for Wood now!

A wide 10…hmm. It really did feel like he was being encouraged to get right into the front line at times. You could see his position for his second good chance.

Anyway it’s fascinating. You can see why Chief loves his tactics if this is a league he’s grown up watching. 

Watched all that way, but half time a bridge to far! Did have a feeling they’d pick up after half time because they were just so bad in that first half. 


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13 Jan 01:58
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13 Jan 06:00
coochiee
Another angle of his latest goal.
Lots of empty seats. Do Italians bugger off somewhere warm in January?


Might have walked out after the first half! 
Southern Italy has to be warmer yeh? 


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19 Jan 21:22
Might play there for the AWs in March, if Old still not fit and FDV playing so well for Auckland 
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20 Jan 00:05
83 mins for Libby (2-1) at the San Siro in a 3-1 loss.

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21 Jan 10:02
Niche Cache.

Liberato Cacace: “In the last few seasons I've lacked a few numbers but this time I'm scoring goals and providing assists, so I have to continue like this to help the team. Yes, it's true, I'm playing more and also in a more advanced role. I feel very good at the moment. In addition to being a full-back and a wing-back, my natural role, I also like this position where I can play further forward. As a winger I can go one-on-one with the opponent and attack the penalty area to score goals.”
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26 Jan 00:14 · edited 26 Jan 00:15 · History
No start this time for Libby. Off the pine at 82 mins (1-1) for LB Pezzella in a 1-1 draw.

Next a trip to Turin to play the Old Lady

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26 Jan 03:34 · edited 01 Feb 03:35 · History
Bit of a crap day for NZ football. I’ve got used to one out of the 3 of Nix, Woodsie or Libby having a good game of late! Libby back to the bench, Wood marshaled in a 5-0 and the Nix…


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01 Feb 01:33


Libby to Besiktas? Personally would prefer he finds a starting role in a top 5 league.
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01 Feb 02:14
Friar Tuck


Libby to Besiktas? Personally would prefer he finds a starting role in a top 5 league.

Yup, especially since it seems Besiktas are on the decline atm so there wouldn't even be the appeal of European football.
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01 Feb 03:34
A plus is the Solksjaer connection might be able to get him further up the UK pyramid. And possibly Solksjaer might give him freedom to rampage. 

But minuses are that currently it’d be a step down in level. He’s got a great story for Serie A and he’s got some language ability. He’s starting to build a case for a big move, but hasn’t quite got there then. It might be more difficult to do that in Turkey. The worst would be the club wanting to shift him on, because this manager has utilised his variety of skills best or at least most productively, and seems to be a very good manager. I think Empoli is a good fit for him and if he can stay he should. 

That said I don’t know Turkish football well, but it seems more a place that players go, rather than come from via a vis the EPL.


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02 Feb 11:54
Libby starting at LWB, in a back 3/5. Pezzella is suspended.

Empoli with a 4th min goal to be up 1-0.
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02 Feb 21:21 · edited 02 Feb 21:22 · History
Empoli concede 4 goals post 60 mins to lose 4-1. Went down to 10 men at 84 mins (2-1)

Full game Libby
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05 Feb 00:10
Friar Tuck


Libby to Besiktas? Personally would prefer he finds a starting role in a top 5 league.

Good to see Empoli didn’t agree to this
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05 Feb 01:58 · edited 05 Feb 01:58 · History
The thing is, they are yet to renew his contract which expires at the end of the season.
Turkey is well below the Serie A, but they will likely offer pretty stupid money...he's now playing regularly and putting himself in the shop window. Empoli need to tread fairly carefully 

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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05 Feb 02:02
In the article it says he has 18 months left - did he have an extension they triggered?
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08 Feb 18:58
MetalLegNZ
In the article it says he has 18 months left - did he have an extension they triggered?

Maybe? I've not seen that anywhere though 

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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08 Feb 19:00
Full game as Empoli lose again at home. They have the second worst home record in the league...8 points from 12 games and only 5 goals scored.
Despite their early success, they have now slipped to 17th, only 1 point above Parma, who have a game in hand. Should Parma overtake them, they'd find themselves in the relegation zone

VUW AFC - Victoria University Football for life

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08 Feb 22:47 · edited 08 Feb 22:49 · History
Mr versatile Libby. Up forward again and a full game. Milan down to 10 men at 55 mins, but Empoli their own costly red card at 65 mins when still 0-0

Christian Pulisic 2 assists for Milan
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08 Feb 23:53 · edited 09 Feb 00:53 · History
Should buy himself a lotto ticket. That's a straight red. Incredible decision by VAR




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09 Feb 01:23
lol yeh. For all me very real grizzles about a league refs, every league in the world is the same. Arsenal fans are convinced it’s against them after Declan Rice’s yellow/red for kicking the ball away on a restart. Forest with their complaints last season. Transition teams complaining about the play on rule which means it’s harder to get a yellow earlier in play. Rumblings about getting an elite international force to match the elite collection of international players and managers in the EPL, because local refs are biased to their boyhood clubs and so on. 

And if I had to guess from ‘It’s coming [to] Rome” English players, especially those complaining don’t have a great lot of sympathy in Italy! 

Fairly sure Libby got sent when playing for the Nix for something similar, follow through into the shins after getting the ball first. 

All publicity is good publicity? 


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09 Feb 02:48
I hate when fouls are called for players collecting the opposition after winning the ball. It means they got there first, if you stick your leg there afterwards, that's on you for being to slow IMO.

You either win the ball or you don't.
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09 Feb 03:40
Bullshark. You should be able to attempt to get the ball without reckless disregard for the safety of your opponent. If you can't, you shouldn't make the challenge. If you're flying into somebody and you just happen to get a nick on the ball you're out of control. If you think it is fine to gamble with the health of another person in order to get possession of the ball in a game then you're a psycho. 
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09 Feb 04:16 · edited 09 Feb 04:19 · History
Gees if Libby gets to the ball first, VAR has better eyes than me

Regardless it’s a red card
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09 Feb 05:07 · edited 09 Feb 05:08 · History
MetalLegNZ
I hate when fouls are called for players collecting the opposition after winning the ball. It means they got there first, if you stick your leg there afterwards, that's on you for being to slow IMO.

You either win the ball or you don't.

There's nothing in the laws about winning the ball making something not a foul. You can hate it all you want, it's simply not relevant in a challenge like this.

Valley FC til I die?

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09 Feb 05:31 · edited 09 Feb 05:38 · History
coochiee
Should buy himself a lotto ticket. That's a straight red. Incredible decision by VAR





How does that freshly coined phrase from the other day go?

"There's contact, but it's not a foul"

🤭

Jokes aside, fully agreed on the red card call. Very lucky lad.
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