SWINDON TOWN: Di Canio: 'I've matured'

6:00am Monday 4th June 2012 in News By Sam Morshead

PAOLO Di Canio thinks he has matured both as a manager and as an individual over the past month.

The Swindon Town boss re-emerged from self-enforced silence last week when he signed a new two-year extension to his contract at the County Ground, and he was quick to explain why he had stayed quiet in the wake of several controversial stories which have hit the headlines in the last four weeks.

Since the end of last term the Italian has kept his thoughts to himself amidst allegations of racial abuse, the furore over Luke McCormick and public criticism of his man management skills by goalkeeper Phil Smith.

But with a firm plan for the future now in place, Di Canio has opened up about how a turbulent month has affected him personally.

He said: “In Italy it wasn’t an easy time for me because reading some idiocy or stupid article, written by people who always want to create problems between the board and the manager or maybe the people who are not happy to see Swindon in such a good position, made me very angry.

“If you know me, you’d know I would go out (and speak) every single morning that I read this news. But, with respect for the club and the situation, I probably became more mature as a person and as a manager.

“Sometimes you have to handle the situation and you have to accept and wait for the right time to say things and to say words.”

Di Canio is now keen to look forward rather than reflect on what has gone on in Wiltshire while he was back home in his native country.

However, he criticised Smith for suggesting over Twitter that Di Canio did not have the courage to personally tell him that he would not be getting a new contract with Town.

“It’s obvious that it wasn’t easy,” he said. “It’s obvious now there has to be a new start, looking to the future in a positive way.

“But I can’t forget that some members that were a part of my team said, in my opinion, stupid things - especially without having the courage - to leave his opinion on Twitter.

“It sends a negative message about myself, about the situation, because it is obvious that he is a selfish footballer. He thinks about himself and puts me in a bad situation.

“I have to protect my dignity, my job so it’s obvious that from now I can talk about the future but there will be a time when I answer to people who say stupid things, even some fans, in the last few weeks.”

Comments(30)

Nixie Wroughton says...
6:29am Mon 4 Jun 12

Welcome back Paolo

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London Red says...
7:10am Mon 4 Jun 12

This is the comment about Smith I was referring to a few day back
.
Doesn't say why which I was hoping it would to end it once and fork all - but clearly shows PdC is far from impressed with Smith and the reaction of some on places like here!
.
Think Smith has burnt all bridges so couldn't even come back now even if for less money

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London Red says...
7:20am Mon 4 Jun 12

See more players have been added to the PFA list and a few decent once
.
Gary Roberts - Huddersfield winger - quality at L1 level and could fill the gap "left" by Holmes and would bring experience
.
Tommy Miller - Huddersfield CM - highly experienced midfielder - all rounder too so could play with either Ferry or Smith
.
Also I only just realised Brian Howard is only 28!
.
I suggested him a few weeks back and am more interested now I know he is still in his 20s
.
He played out wide for us and converted into one of the best players in the ChMpionship in the middle
.
He could operate on the left and cut in or play in the middle if we switch away from a 442
.
Also being at Reading he is already local

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Highworth red says...
7:56am Mon 4 Jun 12

So what 'stupid' things have the fans been saying?

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newburymike says...
8:07am Mon 4 Jun 12

All will be revealed in his next autobiography, lots of good material from the last 12 months

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London Red says...
8:16am Mon 4 Jun 12

Some were calling for him to go with comments like "if he treat Sir Phil like that he shouldn't be at our club"
.
With the "like that" part p1ssing him off as no one actually knows what went on or why

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townie63 says...
8:43am Mon 4 Jun 12

never mind all that, look to the future, and what a future it's going to be. more of the same please Paolo.

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stutest says...
8:49am Mon 4 Jun 12

LR
I am very surprised that Brian Howard is only 28.
I would have him back like a shot.
A very good player at this level and definitely offers something different from midfield.
Good spot LR

I still fancy trying to get Lee Barnard in from Southampton. He didn't get much football last season and I suspect will get even less, if any next season as Adkins dosen't seem to rate him.
He was very effective at this level and must be worth a punt.

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bowralbob says...
8:56am Mon 4 Jun 12

So glad to have Paolo back and ready to start the push to the next level. I am sure Paolo will take us up, but maybe not this year. So much depends on our new signings.
Whatever the season brings I am
looking forward to the action.
Great to be a Swindon supporter isn't it!!

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matt69andover says...
9:23am Mon 4 Jun 12

Bart Bialkowski has been released by Southampton , great stopper would be great competition Foderingham.

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billbst says...
9:27am Mon 4 Jun 12

Good on you Paolo. Concentrate on the football. Hoping to hear some news on signings and what is going to happen with ones such as Magera and Kerrouche. Still as JWray said we will need to be patient. Agents are out fly fishing at the moment.
I agree that Howard is a good player but I think we need another CM who will be strong when the going gets tough. At times we have lost the midfield control for the lack of someone who loves the battle.

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Wilesy says...
9:35am Mon 4 Jun 12

Paolo has definitely matured and has grown into the managerial role fantastically. The option to not wade in with responses to the 3 issues above was Paolo's choice of course, but as our manager I want to hear his comments, positive or negative.

Over the season when he has commented on situations he has spoken well and this actually tended to take the sting out of things.

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Zeistsport says...
9:37am Mon 4 Jun 12

matt69andover wrote:
Bart Bialkowski has been released by Southampton , great stopper would be great competition Foderingham.
Speaking as a Town fan living in Southampton and after some thought I have to say that my considered opinion is......

OMG HELL NO !!!!!!!!

He is more prone to clangers than Smithy and would be not a good enough replacement!

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YateleyRed says...
9:49am Mon 4 Jun 12

Not sure about Howard personally, not a lot of game time at Reading, even when they started slow, always seems to think hes better than he is, not sure he would fit in with Paolos way!

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red white says...
10:21am Mon 4 Jun 12

Paolo will take us out of League 1 people,imo as champions.

Remember how we battered 'uddersfield and they went up.

He has given us everything so far,we fans can say what we like,but we need to up our game too.

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Robinonfire says...
10:56am Mon 4 Jun 12

Howard good player for L1..but maybe a little fat for Paolo ?

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Sparticus says...
11:02am Mon 4 Jun 12

As there's no real transfer news at the moment, how about passing a few minutes watching this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/sport/0/football/18
308363

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red white says...
11:42am Mon 4 Jun 12

Irriducibili,who brought this banner to the Wigan game and bring it back!

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the wizard says...
11:48am Mon 4 Jun 12

From what Paolo has said I take it he won't be reading the Daily Mail for a while, or giving interviews to some on the BBC, and who could blame him.

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red white says...
11:54am Mon 4 Jun 12

Sparticus wrote:
As there's no real transfer news at the moment, how about passing a few minutes watching this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk

/sport/0/football/18

308363
Tried,failed.

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toshman says...
11:55am Mon 4 Jun 12

If Paolo wad away then I don't see it's his responsibility to tell Smith he's no longer required. Dicanio deserved a break he's had an emotional season in his personal life and it was right for him to get away for a while. Wray can tie up contacts when dicanio's away so why can't he sever them? If Smith wanted to stay he should have trained harder and been better. I'm so exited about this season, Howard would be great but I agree I think the fitness regime would kill him!

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We are PANTS says...
11:59am Mon 4 Jun 12

Robinonfire wrote:
Howard good player for L1..but maybe a little fat for Paolo ?
He'd cook up well with a few roasties and yorkshire Pud!!!!

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smirg kcab says...
12:57pm Mon 4 Jun 12

stutest wrote:
LR
I am very surprised that Brian Howard is only 28.
I would have him back like a shot.
A very good player at this level and definitely offers something different from midfield.
Good spot LR

I still fancy trying to get Lee Barnard in from Southampton. He didn't get much football last season and I suspect will get even less, if any next season as Adkins dosen't seem to rate him.
He was very effective at this level and must be worth a punt.
London red whilst I work from Winchester many season
ticket Southampton fans work with me, they all said lee Holmes was the biggest waste of space they had for a long time, I also said I would like to see Barnard here and they say he is trouble they even have songs about him, can't remember but I will get back to you this week on what he has done and the songs they sing
Onwards and upwards
Also great to here paolo back to his best saying how it is (like me).
Nothing wrong with honest opinions in my view.

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smirg kcab says...
1:02pm Mon 4 Jun 12

smirg kcab wrote:
stutest wrote:
LR
I am very surprised that Brian Howard is only 28.
I would have him back like a shot.
A very good player at this level and definitely offers something different from midfield.
Good spot LR

I still fancy trying to get Lee Barnard in from Southampton. He didn't get much football last season and I suspect will get even less, if any next season as Adkins dosen't seem to rate him.
He was very effective at this level and must be worth a punt.
London red whilst I work from Winchester many season
ticket Southampton fans work with me, they all said lee Holmes was the biggest waste of space they had for a long time, I also said I would like to see Barnard here and they say he is trouble they even have songs about him, can't remember but I will get back to you this week on what he has done and the songs they sing
Onwards and upwards
Also great to here paolo back to his best saying how it is (like me).
Nothing wrong with honest opinions in my view.
sorry l/r this was for stutest

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burley01rs says...
2:17pm Mon 4 Jun 12

I have my opinions about how I would do things differently. Pick different players etc but PDC did it for us. So I am not going to tell him how to do his job or who to buy. In PDC "I" trust".

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stutest says...
2:45pm Mon 4 Jun 12

Smirg
Thanks for the info, maybe Barnard is a bad bunny I dont know.
What I do know is he was very good prior to going to Southampton. Maybe he just needs a fresh start, perhaps take him on loan and see how he goes??
McCormack wasn't rated at Charlton but he's been a revelation at centre back, Clarke was highly rated but couldn't adapt. It is hard to judge.
If 50% of our next 8 signings work out then those, added to the core of the team at the mo, should give us a pretty good squad.More than a 50% success will put us the playoff spots I think.

I cant wait to see who we sign.

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Northernmoonraker says...
3:01pm Mon 4 Jun 12

I wrote this http://t.co/vNjGxODp on 5 vs 7 subs after the football league reverted back to 7 after one season.

Written for The Washbag so specific focus on Swindon Town Football Club but possibly worth a read for any football league club supporter.

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southside7 says...
7:38pm Mon 4 Jun 12

London Red wrote:
Some were calling for him to go with comments like "if he treat Sir Phil like that he shouldn't be at our club"
.
With the "like that" part p1ssing him off as no one actually knows what went on or why
Then come out and give your side of the story Paolo and clear it up.

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Jovial says...
8:15pm Mon 4 Jun 12

Does Paulo have a wife?

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London Red says...
8:45pm Mon 4 Jun 12

Yes - though she still lives in Italy as they didn't want to move their youngest daughter from her school
.
I believe they are due to move over once she reaches college age - probably will go to Marlborough College

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