I wouldn't trust Italian reports on a Serie B youth player too much to be honest...Anyway, he's got his call up so good on him and let's see how he goes!
Luca Scimia (L'Aquila 1927 | Italy)
Looks like he's now at Rende Calcio 1968 (Rende) in Serie C, who play in same regional zone (Girone C) as Kirwan's Reggina.
Rende were 10th last season. Reggina were 7th.
Scimia missed out on the U20 WC squad, but could still be one to watch. It was a pretty quality U20 group after all.
That's good to know. I'll keep an eye out.
Bored at work so did a bit of digging today.
1. He signed a 2+1 year contract.
2. He will play in VERY youthful team - the strikers were born in 94, 99, 00, 01. There is a 35 year old in the team, a couple of 25 yo and everyone else is pretty much a teenager!
3. Doesn't appear to have featured in any pre-season friendlies.
4. However, he came on in the 78th minute in his team's Coppa Italia game and played through until the end of extra times (0-0 after the 90). Rende were sadly edged 2-0 by Pro Vercelli in ET and are now out of the Cup.
Started and played 45 minutes in a 7-0 win over Scalea (who play in Eccellenza, essentially the 5th tier of Italian football - but we're talking regional not national league).
Subbed off along with the rest of the squad at half time.
Starts and gets 72 minutes and a goal in a 2-2 draw vs Cosenza in what is I believe the last friendly game as the league starts this weekend.
Can one the mods please update his team to Rende Calcio
NZP, you'v got your work cut out for you as our Italian correspondent with so many of our guys starting to play there now.
NZP, you'v got your work cut out for you as our Italian correspondent with so many of our guys starting to play there now.
Loving it! It's keeping me busy, but the more the better, especially if they progress to playing for the AWs at some stage!
85 minutes in Renee's season opener at home against Bisceglie. Unfortunately Scimia's team lost 1-0. Same score when he was subbed off
*Rende not Renee
Rende just snapped two AC Milan youth players (one MF and one ST, both born in 2000 - one outright and the other on loan).
So more competition for Luca at Rende.
Subbed off after 51 minutes in a 2-0 loss at Cosenza (score was 1-0 when Luca came off). Was fairly lively by all accounts.
Rende's coach complained of a penalty not given when Rende were 1-0 down.
More competition for Lucas as Rende sign midfielders Markus Soomets (born 2000, Youth Estonian international - unattached after being with Serie A's Sampdoria U19 side), Moussa Ndiaye (born 1999 in Senegal, a product of the Juventus youth team and most recently playing for Pescara - one Serie B cap with Pescara and 23 Serie C caps with Fano last year).
They also signed Italian-Ivorian Abdoulaye Traore on loan from Serie A's Hellas Verona who has about 4 Serie B caps to his name.
I think Ndiaye is more of a defensive MF, so not in direct competition with Scimia, but definitely the two new arrivals will challenge for a spot and might relegate him to the bench.
I signed N'Diaye in FM18!
As predicted, Scimia not even on the bench as Rende lose 1-2 to Ternana.
Rende with 0 points after 3 games, while Ternana are 9 from 3...
Left out of the match day squad in a 3-0 loss in the Calabria derby with Vibonese.
Rende have 0 points from 3 games. Given how quick triggered Italian club owners are, I expect the coach will be sacked within the next 4-6 weeks is results don't improve dramatically...
Back in action as he comes on in the 79th minute in a 1-1 draw vs Teramo. The score was 1-1 when he came on. First point of the reason for newly promoted Rende
Full game and scores a goal. Unfortunately his team fell apart and conceded 4 goals in the second half to lose 5-1
First goal at this level (Serie C), pity his team look like being in a relegation scrap all season.
Highlights for the game. Luca's goal starts at about 0:45. Well taken goal too, shame the team fell apart like that.
https://elevensports.it/play/40441/paganese---rende-5-1-6giornata-girone-c/38/247/
Last week's goal paid dividends in that Luca got a full game at home against Potenza. Unfortunately Rende lostn1-0 after giving up a goal in the 3rd minute.
Rende are currently joint last with 1 point after 7 games.
Called it! Rende sacked their coach on September 26!
Scimia back in the action in an eventful 0-0 draw vs Avellino who missed a penalty during the game.
Hopefully the new coach rates him highly and he continues to feature often.
Not in matchday squad as Rende get thumped 4-1 by a second string Potenza side and are out of the Fa Cup.
Second penalty save in two games for Rende (though interesting the saves were made by different goalkeepers).
Late heartache for Rende who concede in the 81st minute to lose 1-0. Scimia subbed off in the 84th but the score didn't change.
Rende are last along with Rieti. 2 points from 9 games and only 3 goals scored so far.
Good news and bad news.
Good news in that Scimia played a full game, bad news as Rende got thumped 6-1 and stay rooted to the bottom of the table. Hoping those caps he's earning will generate some interest and that an offer will come in from another team as otherwise Luca will likely not be playing with the pros next year.
Some day for Luca, who scores a brace in Rende's first victory of the season against Sicula Leonzio before being subbed off at 75 minutes.
Unfortunately fellow stragglers Rieti won too so Rende remain last on the table.
Scimia has scored 3 in 11 (and 50% of his team's 6 goals).
Highlights of Scimia's brace (#16 in white). First goal is a beauty, including the turn.
The second goal was also very nice but you think the goalkeeper could have done a wee bit better.
Couple of nice strikes, though goal keeping questionable.
Worth keeping an eye on. After all this is about level Piscopo has come from.
Buckingham did bring him in to trial for U20s, and he didn't make final squad. But that was a pretty quality U20s team, by NZ standards. Hopefully he grows in confidence and scores a few more.
Couple of nice strikes, though goal keeping questionable.
Worth keeping an eye on. After all this is about level Piscopo has come from.
Buckingham did bring him in to trial for U20s, and he didn't make final squad. But that was a pretty quality U20s team, by NZ standards. Hopefully he grows in confidence and scores a few more.
He was also brought into previous camps for 17s and not selected
76 minutes in a valuable 1-1 draw vs Catanzaro. Second unbeaten game in a Row for Rende (1 W, 1 D) which lifts Rende off the bottom of the table (2nd last on 8 points from 12 games so far. Good news in that the 5 teams above Rende are all within 6 points.
80 minutes in a 1-2 home loss vs Monopoli. Rende drop back down to last place.
Full game in a 1-1 away draw at Virtus Francavilla.
Rende are still last on the table with 7 points from 14 games. It's still close at the bottom, with the three teams above them all within 5 points.
Full game in a rare win (1-0 vs Picerno).
Rende are still last on the table, but have closed the gap with other fellow stragglers (3 teams including Rende still on the bottom on 10 points, then four more teams are all within 6 points).
Back to losing ways for Rende.
Luca played the full 90 in a 4-1 away loss at Reggina, Niko Kirwan's old team.
To be fair Reggina scored 2 in injury time and this is their 8th win in a row so Rende did OK by holding them to a 1 goal lead for almost the whole game
Second loss in a row for Rende who get spanked 3-0 at home by Bari.
Full game and a yellow card for Scimia.
Rende are last on 10 points, one less than Rieti who are currently fielding a youth team (with no coach) due to financial problems.
It's not all over yet though, Rieti will likely finish last (if they aren't excluded from the competition first.
So Rende will likely be in the play outs (16-19 places) - unless they finish 8 points below the 16th place team in which case they'll automatically be relegated.
Still plenty of time to turn things around but they really need to get started soon..
Heartbreak for Rende who lose 1-0 vs former Serie A side Catania.
Full game for Scimia who's really established himself as a regular starter with the new coac.
Rende stay rotted to the bottom of the ladder, with 10 points from 18 games.
Rende with a rare win which lifts them off the bottom of the table.
They beat lowly Rieti 1-0 with a goal in the 81st minute and are now third-last on 13 points. The two teams above them are respectively 1 and 4 points away.
Sadly Scimia was banned for this one (excess yellow cards) so watched from the stands.
Serie C back in action after the Christmas break - Scimia getting the full 90 in a 2-2 draw.
Rende are currently 3rd last and 9 points away from the play out zone.
Not in the matchday squad for 3-1 loss to ternana