Blogs

Paolo Di Canio – Gracing Our Game Once More

|
Image for Paolo Di Canio – Gracing Our Game Once More

With my local team Swindon Football Club pushing the boundaries of publicity this week, Paolo Di Canio has without doubt caused a stir in his return to football. The stylish Italian, with more personality than half the Premier League managers combined, has hit the ground running with his attempts to change the fortunes of the Robins that are beginning their new season in League Two, just two years after competing in the League One Playoffs final. However with managers of great promise coming in, boosting the team somewhat, then moving on to great form and fortune, it begs the question will this former legend of football do just the same?

At the age of just 43, and with his obvious flair and character, there were question marks surrounding Di Canio’s maturity and experience when moving into a managerial role. Having been considered yet subsequently dismissed for a possible managerial role at West Ham United, it seemed that they required someone who had more familiarity of a managerial role, with the ability to get the team back up to the Premier League at the first attempt a priority for those at the Hammers. This was something that Paolo ultimately lacked, as a period of time would be required in order for Di Canio to settle and find his personal style, something that West Ham could ill afford. Therefore Swindon beckoned for the Italian, as a manager less club with ambition and great history; it seemed Di Canio could come in begin his very own ‘Revolution’.

Di Canio refreshed and stripped his side, losing the key players of the previous seasons, including Jonathon Douglas, David Prutton and Scott Cuthbert, and bringing in lower waged, mostly Italians in order to build a new team, his team. However within this team came Leon Clarke, a lively striker from Premier League side QPR. Clarke struggled to find any kind of form at QPR, leading to a loan move to Sheffield Wednesday which was also relatively unsuccessful. Yet a new start beckoned in League Two, potentially allowing Clarke to try his luck against defenders of a poorer standard, leaving hope in the hearts of Town fans. Yet the limelight has fallen on Clarke and his antics on Wednesday. Video clips, images and stories whizzed around the internet with suggestions of what occurred in their clashing of egos. It takes a brave man to clash with Di Canio, and Clarke has ultimately paid the price.

As part of Di Canio’s learning period, it was important to encounter the conflict between Clarke, finding the best way of dealing with this rogue player. The issue stemmed from the fitness coach, suggesting to Clarke that he would have to put in more work into his training, ensuring he changed his own form and got off the mark for Town. However he did not appreciate these comments, ensuring he made it clear to the manager that he was not happy. Paolo tried to encourage him down the tunnel to sort this out behind the camera’s prying eyes. However Clarke decided he would make his point clear there and then, resulting, finally, in the pair being separated within the tunnel.

Therefore question marks surrounded how Di Canio would handle this situation and regain some form of authority at the club. Arguably, he has made the correct decision, choosing not to allow Clarke to for the club again. Although drastic, as many managers would have simply fined their player for such antics, it seemed he wanted to send a message to all current and future players, suggesting that, if anyone else chooses to step out of line, there will be severe punishments, discipline that takes many managers years to build at their club.

Therefore, although having a rocky start at Swindon, including the before mentioned incidents, alongside getting involved with some Swindon vs. Oxford rivalry ‘banter’, where he suggested how Oxford striker James Constable was in fact a Swindon Town fan, Di Canio has made his personality and managerial style obvious from the start, and who would want him to behave in any other way. With the Christmas Lists of all Robins’ fans containing the 9-letter word of ‘PROMOTION’, there is still a lot of pressure on Di Canio and his new side to gel quickly and produce the quality that would secure return to League One football. The hiccups, including that of Leon Clarke, are all part of the learning process for the Italian, and with the Swindon board and fans trusting him to ‘do it his way’, it seems the only way is up for the future of this Wiltshire club, with many hoping Di Canio can stick with Town for many more years to come.

ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.

Click here to have a look out our predictions for the 2011/2012 Premier League Season!

Or have a look at the ten strikers that we think will lead the race for the Golden Boot next season

Share this article