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The Iconoclast

Pure gossip from the Manor every Monday.

3 April 2000

The Iconoclast travelled over to Italy last week for talks regarding his own future, and was able to pick up some more information on the two players who Oxford are tracking. Firstly an apology to Alessandro 'Zeno' - this should of course be Alessandro Zani. The Iconoclast was also fortunate enough to meet up for some birra with a fairly-famous soccer pundit (those of you who watch Channel 4 coverage will know him). He had some interesting news:
 

  • Angelo "la pallottola" Conti:

    • "Conti has been scoring freely for Siena this season [he scored again yesterday in Siena's 2-1 victory over Cremonese - I], and seems to be getting himself together at last. The problem he faces is that no big Italian clubs will go anywhere near him after the mess he got himself into. I think if an English club came in for him he'd move. Your manager has a reputation for blooding Italians, and the English league is an attractive proposition at the moment what with the success of the bigger teams in Europe."

    A few more bits of info on "The Bullet":

  • He looks a bit like Phil Whelan, only with long hair;
  • He lives in Poggibonsi (otherwise known as 'the arsehole of Chianti');
  • He holds the Serie 'A' record for the fastest sending off. The pundit said:

    • "20 seconds after coming on as a substitute he kicked the ball hard, and I mean hard, into the opposition dugout. I think the opposition were Salernitana, and he'd also been winding up their fans whilst warming-up. It's bad enough down there already without taking the piss, and he nearly caused a riot. I think it got aired on 'Gazetta'"
     

  • Alessandro Zani:

    • "I don't know much about him really except he missed a couple of years out with injuries. As I remember, he broke his leg badly 7-8 years ago, came back and then broke the other one within weeks. I know he had a time at Perugia, but I don't think he made any first team appearances for them. Ripa and Calori have been good for them for ages now."
  • Zani has a fetching mullet-style haircut;
  • He lives in Cortona (lucky bugger - a class above Didcot);
  • He lived in London for a year and worked in an Italian restaurant. Speaks good English, and - gulp - follows Chelsea.

    • Siena are now nine points ahead of Varese in Serie C1A, and look set for their first promotion to Serie B for 20 years.

    Rather closer to home, Oxford are strongly rumoured to be following the progress of Cheltenham Town's Russell Milton. Milton, who scored Cheltenham's first goal against Torquay on Saturday is a left/central midfielder, and has impressed on their first season in Division 3. A source at the club said "he's getting a lot of attention from sides in the first and second divisions".

    Overheard conversation of the week

    Les Robinson (LR) and Matt Murphy (MM). Thursday 30 March.

    Derek Lilley's Audi has not been well parked, and is blocking Robbo's car in. Robbo isn't happy.....:

  • LR: Whose is this? (pointing at car)
  • MM: What?
  • LR: Whose is it? (pointing at car with more emphasis)
  • MM: The Audi?
  • LR: Yeah.
  • MM: Degsy's.
  • LR: You seen him? (getting agitated)
  • MM: Yeah, he's with the gaffer (brightly)
  • LR: Oh.

    • Robbo walks into the Beech Road stand.

    Three minutes later: Robbo walks out of the stand and wanders over towards the ticket office.


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