Marquee
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almost 17 years

Oh yes - thanks for that! :)

Something is up I think, on the Reggiana website when he started figuring again for them a while ago there was mention of an injury but that wasn't very clear. This was also mentioned in a couple of match reports, but there was never anything on the front page suggestig he was injured, so it might be a recurring niggle?

We should also not discount the possibility that he's had covid-19 as pretty much all of his team and support staff have had it. He might not have recovered well and that might be hindering his ability to return to full fitness.

I think it is actually encouraging that, despite not playing much of late, he's likely going to be retained. This means his coach think he belongs in the team, which is great news since he's playing at the second highest level in Italy.

I wouldn't be too worried about the ladder (yet). Reggiana have had a bad run of games but I think they have it in them to potentially avoid relegation. They've been active in the January transfer market and if the new arrivals fire up they might well make it!

Legend
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almost 9 years

Nice yarn. Talented family. If he's going to keep sitting on the pine, those 3am alarm calls may cease.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/1241306...

Marquee
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almost 17 years

Was sitting next to them at the OCL final a few years back when Niko was playing.

Really surreal to hear JK speak Italian flawlessly. Also, Niko's mum was a very vocal supporter. If I recall correctly, there was another Niko in the other team and she would often scream "no, not THAT Niko, our Niko"! :)

Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years

Was sitting next to them at the OCL final a few years back when Niko was playing.

Really surreal to hear JK speak Italian flawlessly. Also, Niko's mum was a very vocal supporter. If I recall correctly, there was another Niko in the other team and she would often scream "no, not THAT Niko, our Niko"! :)

That's the awesome thing about NZ football. Sat at a wee-nix game in Hamilton and we got to chat to McGarry's nana. Good stuff 

Legend
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almost 9 years

15 odd mins off the bench in an important 2-1 win over fellow Serie B stragglers Virtus Entella (19th & 2nd last).

Same score when Kirwan came on.

Reggiana 17th (one spot above the drop zone).

Marquee
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almost 17 years

Almost a full game (subbed off at 87 min with the score at 0-0) vs 4th placed Chievo Verona.

Heartbreak for Reggiana who concede in the 91st minute to lose the game.

They put in a solid performance and had good spells and several chances but were denied by the Chievo goalkeeper and defense.

Chievo are now up to 3rd while Reggiana drop to 18th. They are still only 4 points away from 12th place.

Legend
11K
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almost 9 years

Unused sub as Reggiana (15th) get an important 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Ascoli (18th).

Ascoli down to ten men from 40 mins.

Marquee
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almost 17 years

Watches from the bench as Reggiana demolish 5th placed Cittadella 3-0 and jump to 13th spot! 

Legend
11K
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almost 9 years

For recent times gets a rare start (only 2 starts since December) as a left back against Salernitana (3rd). Replaced after 69 mins.

Finishes 0-0, and Reggiana go 13th for now (teams below all with a game in hand), 2 points above the relegation playoff spots.


Marquee
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almost 17 years

Comes on in the 71st minute as Reggiana play Venezia. The score was 1-1. Sadly Venezia score 3 minutes later and go on to win 2-1.

Marquee
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almost 17 years

Gets a 5.5 out of 10 for his latest appearance. Apparently at fault for Venezia's second goal where he didn't track his man, he was OK going forward and worked hard, and almost set up an equaliser but us team mate was denied. 

Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
Subbed on at 80 mins (score 0-3) in a 0-4 home loss to Lecce (8th).
Reggiana (16th) down to 10 men from 53 mins, but were already 0-3 down at that stage.
They sit in the relegation playoff spots, 5 points above the automatic drop zone.
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Subbed on after the half time break as Reggiana trail fellow relegation strugglers Cremonese 1-0. Things don't get much better as Reggiana concede twice more to lose 3-0.
They sit 16th on 28 points. Cremonese 15th on 32. 
Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
newzealandpower
Subbed on after the half time break as Reggiana trail fellow relegation strugglers Cremonese 1-0. Things don't get much better as Reggiana concede twice more to lose 3-0.
They sit 16th on 28 points. Cremonese 15th on 32. 

Didn't help that Reggiana were down to 10 men, from the 13th minute mark.
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Full game in a 2-0 loss to high flying Monza (who are 2nd on the ladder). Reggiana 4th last on equal points with Cosenza who they play next in a true 6 pointer. 
Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
Full game in a 2-0 loss at 2nd placed Monza
Playing as a LB
Reggiana 17th
Edit - NP beat me to it
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Reggiana snatch a very important point in a 1-1 draw vs Cosenza and stay in 17th place (alongside Cosenza!). Kirwan not required off the bench 
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Gets 10 minutes at the tail end of a 0-0 draw vs mid table side Frosinone. Interestingly, Frosinone just swapped two 2006 World Cup champions on the bench as coaches. Alessandro Nesta was replaced by Fabio Grosso (who scored the winning pen in the Final vs France) 
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Starts and is subbed off after 81 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Brescia. Score was 1-2 when subbed off and Reggiana equalised in the 95th!!!
The maroon stay in 17th place. 
Legend
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almost 9 years
Unused sub in a 0-1 home loss to top of the table Empoli.
Reggiana (18th) in the bottom 3 automatically relegated spots. But only there on GD from Ascoli (17th, who are in the relegation playoff zone. 
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Back in action, versing is former team Reggina. 
Gets a full game and saldy loses 2-1 with Reggiana conceding the winner in the 87th.
Eventful game for Niko who makes a goal saving tackle, almost scores the equaliser and is likely to be the player offside (decision disputed, Reggiana very unhappy) that causes the 2-2 to be disallowed. 
As things stands, Reggiana would be automatically relegated.
Back in action Wednesday morning. 
Marquee
2.7K
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almost 17 years
No Serie B games for the next two weeks due to Coronavirus. Pescara have had lots of cases and to preserve the integrity of the league they've decided to push everything out by a fortnight. Hopefully Reggiana can take stock and train hard as they will need the points when the league resumes 
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Back from an enforced 2 week Covid break. Big win for Reggiana, 1-0 vs Pordenone.
Niko subbed on at 71 with the same score. 
Reggiana 3rd last on 34 points with 3 games remaining 
Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
newzealandpower
Back from an enforced 2 week Covid break. Big win for Reggiana, 1-0 vs Pordenone.
Niko subbed on at 71 with the same score. 
Reggiana 3rd last on 34 points with 3 games remaining 

Reggiana (18th) played the last 30 mins with 10 men, so did well to hang on. The two spots above them are the relegation playoff spots (bottom 3 automatically relegated), they are only 1 point off 17th. 

Huge game in a few days at Pescara (19th).
Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
Reggiana (18th), down 1-0 at HT to Pescara (19th). Kirwan starting LB.
Euro based Kiwis the last few weeks have been in teams, that have managed to avoid the drop. Fingers crossed for Kirwan.
Marquee
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almost 17 years
Sadly it ends 1-0 to Pescara. That's a bad loss that might well result in Reggiana returning to Serie C. 
Basically they now need to win the last 2 games and hope for a raft of other results to go their way. 
The only positive note is that Kirwan started and played 77 minutes before coming off. 
According to the Reggiana website he was one of only two players to have a nice game (and the best on the park in the first half). Niko also created an very good opportunity for Kargbo who squandered it. 

Reggiana still 18th on 34, 1 point away from Cosenza on 35 (17th place would mean they are not automatically relegated). 

Last two games for Reggiana: Spal (9th and still in contention for the play offs) and Vicenza (nothing to play for). 

Marquee
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almost 17 years
Sadly the dream is over and Reggiana are relegated back to Serie C thanks to a 2-1 home loss vs Spal. 
The midweek loss to a Pescara (who were pretty much already relegated) has done it for them. They got 0 out of 6 possible points that would have probably seen them get to the play outs. 

Small consolation for Niko who is subbed on after only 23 minutes due to injury and gets one assist and almost a second one in the dying stages. 6.5/10 is a great score in the match report for a team that has just been relegated.
According to transfermarkt, he is off contract at the end of the season. Be very interesting to see where he ends up. 
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Are you sure Reggiana have already been relegated NP?
Soccerway shows they are 18th (on 34 points, -25 GD), with Cosenza 17th (35 points, -16 GD) in 1st playout spot. 3 teams automatic drop 18th-20th.

https://us.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-b/20202021/regular-season/r59840/

One round left with Reggiana away to Vicenza 14th (trying to avoid playout spots), and Cosenza away to Pordenone 16th (trying to get out of the playout spots). 

So according to Soccerway, Reggiana still have a chance of avoiding automatic relegation with a win, and if Cosenza lose or draw?????

Last round midnight Monday NZ time.
Marquee
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
That's what I thought too but all the news (including their website) are saying they are relegated. Might have to do with new rules regarding the maximum points distance from the team(s) above. Will do more investigations
Legend
11K
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almost 9 years
newzealandpower
That's what I thought too but all the news (including their website) are saying they are relegated. Might have to do with new rules regarding the maximum points distance from the team(s) above. Will do more investigations

'maximum points distance from the team(s) above'???

Only in Italian football.
Marquee
2.7K
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almost 17 years
Edit: OK it took me a while but here's why. 
The maximum distance allowed between 17th and 16th place must be 5 or less points. Currently, the team in 17th place is Cosenza on 35 (-7 points off Pordenone in 16th). Reggiana are 18th on 34.

The last game of the season sees Pordenone and Potenza squaring off so they can't both lose and therefore Reggiana can't mathematically make it anymore. 

Assuming Reggiana wins their next game and go to 37 points:
-if Pordenone wins, they will still be +8points.
-in case of a draw, Pordenone will be +6 points 
-if Cosenza wins they will still be +1 on Reggiana and will keep their play out spot and thus send Reggiana down. 
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
coochiee
newzealandpower
That's what I thought too but all the news (including their website) are saying they are relegated. Might have to do with new rules regarding the maximum points distance from the team(s) above. Will do more investigations

'maximum points distance from the team(s) above'???

Only in Italian football.
 Don't get me started... 😂
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
newzealandpower
Edit: OK it took me a while but here's why. 
The maximum distance allowed between 17th and 16th place must be 5 or less points. Currently, the team in 17th place is Cosenza on 35 (-7 points off Pordenone in 16th). Reggiana are 18th on 34.

The last game of the season sees Pordenone and Potenza squaring off so they can't both lose and therefore Reggiana can't mathematically make it anymore. 

Assuming Reggiana wins their next game and go to 37 points:
-if Pordenone wins, they will still be +8points.
-in case of a draw, Pordenone will be +6 points 
-if Cosenza wins they will still be +1 on Reggiana and will keep their play out spot and thus send Reggiana down. 

Cheers for that and makes some sense now, though looks like 2nd paragraph needs to read -

"The last game of the season sees Pordenone and COSENZA squaring off so they can't both lose and therefore Reggiana can't mathematically make it anymore."

Italy - making the simple, complicated.

Hopefully another Serie B club looks at Kirwan. He was previously with Reggina, who are still a slim chance of making the Serie B promotion playoffs (to Serie A).
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
Yes that's the hope. I feel like he's well settled there. Has a house, speaks the language, has an Italian girlfriend and is starting to get a good reputation. 
From what I've read over the last few years he's a bit similar to Fenton but on a grander scale: lots of running, better on the offence that defence, crossing not always up to scratch.... 

Still given how much he's played in his maiden Serie B season you'd think an offer or two might come about? I'll keep an eye on the transfer news... 
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
With nothing to play for, Reggiana lose the last match 2-1 at home vs Spal and bow out of Serie B, to return to the third division. This season was the first time they'd been back in Serie B after a 21-year hiatus. I'm actually old enough to remember them playing in Serie A with Claudio Taffarel (1994 WC winner with Brazil playing in goal).
Niko with 68 minutes before being subbed off. 

He ends his Serie B campaign with 27 caps (17 starts, 10 off the bench and subbed off 9 times), one assist and 3 yellow cards, for a grand total of 1,625 minutes played.
I would say not bad at all for a Serie B rookie in a team that has struggled all year for results. I can't help but wonder how their season would have gone had not most players been ill with co-Vid during the Italian winter.

Regardless, he is still only 25, has a European passport, 4 years' experience playing in Italy (x3 Serie C, x1 Serie B). Whilst not being the most skillful player out there, he is versatile and can play both on the right and left, and sometimes more centrally. And to have done what he has so far, he must have a really good attitude and fighting spirit.

I hope another Serie B team swoops in for him as going back to the third division would be a significant step back for him (unless he went to a team that was aiming for promotion).
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
Confirmation on the official website that Niko is among a group of 4 whose contract expires on 30 June and whose future is still uncertain.
Let's see where this leads.
Curiously, I couldn't find Niko's agent on Transfermarkt, so I presume he doesn't have one? Sounds strange for someone who's been in professional football for four seasons...
Marquee
2.7K
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almost 17 years
The official website compiled a summary of each player's season - here is Niko's:
Just like Libutti, he was kept on board after a good Serie C season and due to his adaptability which allows him to play on both flanks. Having been deployed on both the right and left side, in the back line as well as midfield, he worked hard to support both offense and defense. Whilst he showed plenty of desire, he lacked in consistency and effectiveness. His good end to the season does not cancel out the previous 6 months where he struggled to make a difference.
Mark: 5.5/10
Appearances: 27, minutes played: 1625, Assists: 1


In other news, there are rumours that Reggiana's coach is being targeted by Brescia (owned by former Cagliari and Leeds Utd boss Massimo Cellino). Word on the street is that Reggiana would like to confirm their coach, but whether he stays or not isn't confirmed. Obviously a change of coach could mean a change of club for Niko who remains out of contract.
Marquee
2.7K
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almost 17 years
It's been confirmed that the current coach hs refused an offer tabled by Reggiana for next year so a new gaffer will be chosen soon. I assume this may complicate things somewhat for Niko. I'm still hoping a serie B swoops in for him... 
Marquee
2.7K
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almost 17 years
Reggiana have found a new coach, Aimo Diana, who played for several Serie A clubs and had few games for the National Team in the past. 
The local rag said they might be looking at Niko who is now off contract, though it may be an issue that he is a right sided player who is now often deployed on the left flank. 

A season in Serie C wouldn't be the end of the world, though if he wants to take it to the next level, Serie B would be better for him. 

Preseason is set to start in 4 weeks and they will not be participating in the Coppa Italia (FA cup this year), so news about signings should start to trickle in pretty soon. 
WeeNix
1.6K
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980
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about 3 years
newzealandpower
Reggiana have found a new coach, Aimo Diana, who played for several Serie A clubs and had few games for the National Team in the past. 
The local rag said they might be looking at Niko who is now off contract, though it may be an issue that he is a right sided player who is now often deployed on the left flank. 

A season in Serie C wouldn't be the end of the world, though if he wants to take it to the next level, Serie B would be better for him. 

Preseason is set to start in 4 weeks and they will not be participating in the Coppa Italia (FA cup this year), so news about signings should start to trickle in pretty soon. 

How come they aren’t participating in the cup?

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