Why is no-one talking about Parma?

[Welsh Wonder]

99 contracted players

 

[Sir A1ex]

they have 99 contracted players

...but Vidic ain't one.

 

[Lennon7]

And update on this:

Parma will be playing in Serie D next season. Buyers backed out of buying the club because of the large debts, plus the fact they have 99 contracted players and 15 co-owned players

Why on earth do they have 99 contracted players?

 

[Lay]

They had 226 a few months ago..

This is a satirical article poking fun at it:

Cash-strapped Italian side Parma have had to significantly cut back their squad. Back of the Net has the details...

In a bid to balance the books, Serie A side Parma have reluctantly released 976,000 members of their first-team squad.

Faced with debts of around £145 million, Parma have had to take drastic measures to free up capital.

The Emilia-Romagna outfit grudgingly auctioned off the 1999 UEFA Cup trophy, but they were still left £144,999,990 in the red.

Puzzled club officials opened the books and were surprised to find they had contracts with roughly one in every 20 adult males in Italy, as well as co-owning the Sampdoria mascot, béchamel sauce, the colour cyan and a fifth of Bruno Tonioli.

“It is with regret that we will have to cancel the contracts of so many players, who we believe have been faithful servants to this club,” a statement on the club’s website said.

“We will go forward with a bare-bones squad of 35 and will have to accept the risks that come with not having 450 backup goalkeepers spread out across the country playing for other clubs, often against us.”

Among those whose contracts have been torn up is 31-year-old striker Antonio Floro Flores, who currently plays at Sassuolo.

“I wasn’t aware I was owned by Parma,” he told FourFourTwo.

“In fact I’m almost certain that I wasn’t. I haven’t even been to Parma. I had lunch once in Ravenna, but that doesn’t count does it?

“Still, it’s a sad day for me and I want to thank all the Parma fans and everyone at the club for their support.”

Delivery driver Massimo Ribaldi was also disappointed to receive a letter confirming his contract termination.

“It’s come as a blow to me,” the 54-year-old admitted. “Even though I don’t really care for football and can’t say I’ve ever been to a game, I always felt that given a decent run in the side I could prove myself.

“However, there are no hard feelings. I won’t celebrate if I successfully deliver a package to Modena.”

 

[Telcontar]

My favourite Italian club

 

[thejtrain]

“I wasn’t aware I was owned by Parma,” he told FourFourTwo.

“In fact I’m almost certain that I wasn’t. I haven’t even been to Parma. I had lunch once in Ravenna, but that doesn’t count does it?

“Still, it’s a sad day for me and I want to thank all the Parma fans and everyone at the club for their support.”

Delivery driver Massimo Ribaldi was also disappointed to receive a letter confirming his contract termination.

“It’s come as a blow to me,” the 54-year-old admitted. “Even though I don’t really care for football and can’t say I’ve ever been to a game, I always felt that given a decent run in the side I could prove myself.

“However, there are no hard feelings. I won’t celebrate if I successfully deliver a package to Modena.”

 

[crimsonife]

Brilliant

 

[maniak]

CSKA Sofia also dropped to the 4th division I think. The club with most titles in Bulgaria, also very surprising.

 

[Earthquake]

Parma have enough players, they may as well just start their own football league.

 

[Dans]

Very good article here about the plight of Parma, and the state of Italian football generally. Incredible stuff. Especially the Manenti side of the story.

http://www.theguardian.com/football...-the-football-club-milked-for-all-their-worth

 

[theyneverlearn]

54-year-old?

Surprised we're not linked to him.

 

[JustFootballFan]

They had 226 a few months ago..

This is a satirical article poking fun at it:

Cash-strapped Italian side Parma have had to significantly cut back their squad. Back of the Net has the details...

In a bid to balance the books, Serie A side Parma have reluctantly released 976,000 members of their first-team squad.

Faced with debts of around £145 million, Parma have had to take drastic measures to free up capital.

The Emilia-Romagna outfit grudgingly auctioned off the 1999 UEFA Cup trophy, but they were still left £144,999,990 in the red.

Puzzled club officials opened the books and were surprised to find they had contracts with roughly one in every 20 adult males in Italy, as well as co-owning the Sampdoria mascot, béchamel sauce, the colour cyan and a fifth of Bruno Tonioli.

“It is with regret that we will have to cancel the contracts of so many players, who we believe have been faithful servants to this club,” a statement on the club’s website said.

“We will go forward with a bare-bones squad of 35 and will have to accept the risks that come with not having 450 backup goalkeepers spread out across the country playing for other clubs, often against us.”

Among those whose contracts have been torn up is 31-year-old striker Antonio Floro Flores, who currently plays at Sassuolo.

“I wasn’t aware I was owned by Parma,” he told FourFourTwo.

“In fact I’m almost certain that I wasn’t. I haven’t even been to Parma. I had lunch once in Ravenna, but that doesn’t count does it?

“Still, it’s a sad day for me and I want to thank all the Parma fans and everyone at the club for their support.”

Delivery driver Massimo Ribaldi was also disappointed to receive a letter confirming his contract termination.

“It’s come as a blow to me,” the 54-year-old admitted. “Even though I don’t really care for football and can’t say I’ve ever been to a game, I always felt that given a decent run in the side I could prove myself.

“However, there are no hard feelings. I won’t celebrate if I successfully deliver a package to Modena.”

No.

Brilliant.

Btw how can you have 250 players under contract that apparently play somewhere and not generate at least €100M in transfer fees? That´s just 400k on average. And they had a few World Cup participants on their roster.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

No.

Brilliant.

Btw how can you have 250 players under contract that apparently play somewhere and not generate at least €100M in transfer fees? That´s just 400k on average. And they had a few World Cup participants on their roster.

The report was a parody, you know that, yes?

 

[JustFootballFan]

The report was a parody, you know that, yes?

Yes, but the legit Guardian article says the same. 250 players under contract.

 

[SmashedHombre]

The report was a parody, you know that, yes?

A parody based on the fact that they had 250 players under contract.

 

[Mockney]

Very good article here about the plight of Parma, and the state of Italian football generally. Incredible stuff. Especially the Manenti side of the story.

http://www.theguardian.com/football...-the-football-club-milked-for-all-their-worth

"We are universally known for the fact that you can come here with your babies and your girls and nobody will punch you and spit at you just because you have the shirt of the other team"

Not a particularly prideful thing to be "universally known for"...I'd have gone with the cheese.

 

[Marty1968]

250 players and still couldn't get enough points to stay up....surprised Benitez went to Madrid...this Parma squad would have been perfect for his squad rotation tactics!

 

[Dans]

Not a particularly prideful thing to be "universally known for"...I'd have gone with the cheese.

Well, if in every other Italian town you will get spat at and punched, even if with wife and kids, then apparently this really could be a source of pride.

Animals, the Italians, animals.

 

[Red-Man-Walking]

Tragic stuff for the fans that clubs like this can crash so spectacularly down to earth due to corrupt practices.

On the plus side restoring Parma to former glory will be an interesting save on FM2016.

 

[AkaAkuma]

Tragic stuff for the fans that clubs like this can crash so spectacularly down to earth due to corrupt practices.

On the plus side restoring Parma to former glory will be an interesting save on FM2016.

Chiesa as assistant manager, Asprilla south american scout?

 

[arthurka]

Italy is a huge mess on and off the pitch..
And lets not get fooled here with Juve climbing where they belong this season. That won´t happen next season and many of their so called stars are going to leave the club as "better" clubs will aquire

Tragic stuff for the fans that clubs like this can crash so spectacularly down to earth due to corrupt practices.

On the plus side restoring Parma to former glory will be an interesting save on FM2016.

Nothing in Italy should surprise you anymore..