Start fan in exile Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 I gather Giacomi was on the U-20 WC squad, and also called up to the Gold Cup squad. I see also he has been a bit of a nomad in Europe already. Anyone here have an objective assesment of his abilities? Rumour has it he is being considered by a 2nd division team in Norway - a team that has a stated (and realistic) goal of winning promotion to the 1st division (2nd tier) next season. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 He was on the 2005 U-20 WC squad and our third keeper behind Wagenaar and Begovic. I don't know much about his abilities but he was with Glasgow Rangers youth when they loaned him to a Scottish third division team. He had some rough times over there and kind of dissapeared for a while before getting a contract last year with Beveren in Belgium. He didn't do well there and was in goal in a 8-1 loss to Anderlecht. He's young so a 2nd division Norwegian side might be a good place for him to regain confidence and work up the ladder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Start fan in exile Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 Thanks. Yeah, I noticed the 8-1 scoreline v. Anderlecht. Ouch! That's got to hurt a young 'keeper's confidence. I'm looking more for things like - what are his strengths: reaction saves? commanding the box? communication with defenders? positioning? - what are his weaknesses? ditto. - did he start any games at the U20 WC? Hov did he do? - I thought Begovic was the more highly-touted jr. 'keeper - why was Giacomi chosen over him for the Gold Cup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Begovic is more highly touted, but they made a point of not using anyone from the U20 team for the Gold Cup team due to the conflict in dates for both (the U20 team was playing friendlies, etc. while the Gold Cup was on, and it was unlikely as third string keeper that Giacomi or Begovic would see any playing time in the Gold Cup although as it turns out Giacomi nearly did). Unfortunately I've never see him play so I can't comment on his strengths & weakenesses. He did not start any U20 games in 2005, Josh Wagenaar started them all. Not sure what has happened to Josh, is he still injured? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca Unfortunately I've never see him play so I can't comment on his strengths & weakenesses. He did not start any U20 games in 2005, Josh Wagenaar started them all. Not sure what has happened to Josh, is he still injured? Josh has just get back to training according to ADO fans. He had a back injury that kept him sideline since the Gold Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Start fan in exile Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 OK, that makes sense. Makes me wonder why he was not on the U-20 squad this past WC - his dob is given as Aug. 1 86, I think he would still have been eligible, would he not? Or do you have turn 20 the same year as the tournament? Anyway, seems like few if any people on this board will have seen him play. I was hoping to do a bit of unofficial "scouting" for a buddy of mine who works for the team that's looking at him, but c'est la vie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bxl Boy Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 Here's a video of the Anderlecht game : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=THuVtLVvl6M (1-0 is missing) Sadly, I didn't find one of the game against Mouscron, it was quite... funny Read also that : http://www.canadian-soccer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11552 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzi44 Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Bxl Boy Here's a video of the Anderlecht game : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=THuVtLVvl6M (1-0 is missing) Brutal defending. He makes a nice couple saves before I think the 4th or 5th goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Start fan in exile OK, that makes sense. Makes me wonder why he was not on the U-20 squad this past WC - his dob is given as Aug. 1 86, I think he would still have been eligible, would he not? Or do you have turn 20 the same year as the tournament? The latter. He would have been eligible for the 2007 tourney if he was born in 1987, but as you say he was born in 1986. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Start fan in exile Posted December 6, 2007 Author Share Posted December 6, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca The latter. He would have been eligible for the 2007 tourney if he was born in 1987, but as you say he was born in 1986. Thanks. I always get mixed up between the FIFA U-20 and UEFA U-21...in Norway, there is no U-20 team - the U-19 competes to qualify for that championship, but 20-yo players can play if they qualify. Gets confusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Start fan in exile Posted February 12, 2008 Author Share Posted February 12, 2008 This is not in the news yet, but Robert Giacomi has been offered a trial with Norwegian 2nd division (3rd tier) team Kristiansund Ballklubb (KBK). I imagine it will soon appear on the club website: http://www.kristiansundbk.no/. Apparently it was Patrice Bernier who made them aware of Giacomi and recommended him. According to a source in the club Giacomi will come to Kristiansund next week and will also train with the club when they have their camp in Gran Canaria the week after. He will have two weeks to convince the club to offer him a contract. KBK have been building their club slowly over the past few years and are now in a position to be one of the favourites for promotion in their division. They have a stated goal of achieving that promotion to the 1st division (Adeccoligaen) this year. I will post confirmation of this rumour as soon as it is forthcoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 who says we don't have a professional soccer league. We have Norway.... I kid of course. Good for Robert. He's young...he needs to keep playing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Start fan in exile Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 I read confirmation in the print edition of our lokal paper Tidens Krav today, but they have not put the article on the net. The trial lasts until March 4th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Start fan in exile Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 Confirmation on the club's website now: http://www.kristiansundbk.no/go/news/giacomi-blir-med-til-gran-canaria Aparently they have agreed to a three-year deal with Giacomi, pending the outcome of his trial period. The club will be looking for outside investors to finance part of his salary, and Giacomi is hoping to use plat for KBK as a springboard to bigger things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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