Just for a change, I have moved my blogging to Tumblr now. It's still in the experimental stage but hopefully it might work out as a one-stop shop for all the nonsense I write...
http://giancarlorinaldi.tumblr.com/
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Coppa Italia: Fiorentina's last dream
From Bleacher Report
In terms of prestige it is pretty much accepted that the Coppa Italia ranks somewhere between the European tiddliwinks championship and the World conkers title.
It is almost always compared very unfavourably with its English equivalent, the FA Cup. Crowds are small, most big teams field understrength sides and you can count the number of shocks on the prongs of your pizza fork.
Poor scheduling, two-legged ties and an often cumbersome seeding system have never really given the competition a chance. It is in need of the kind of emergency makeover that could even kill the undying enthusiasm of Ty Pennington. It needs demolition and complete reconstruction.
This week, however, it has thrown up one of its more intriguing ties. The reason, quite simply, is that it means quite a lot to one of the participants and not very much to the other.
So all of the elements are there for an exciting semi-final clash between Fiorentina and Inter.
The reigning league champions won the first leg by a single goal in the San Siro but a packed Stadio Artemio Franchi will be hoping the Viola can turn the tie around on Tuesday. They warmed up with a thrilling 2-2 draw when they met in the league on Saturday.
Cesare Prandelli shocked a few pundits by fielding an apparently weakened side for that game. The Tuscan team has little hope of finishing in a top four spot in Serie A and getting back into the Champions League. He seemed to favour the cup clash.
That might seem puzzling given the lack of stature of the Coppa but look a little closer and it starts to make more sense. Fiorentina have a strong tradition in the tournament with six victories to their credit. More importantly, their coach has yet to win a trophy with this side.
Praise for their fine performances in Serie A and Europe has been nice, but there is really no substitute for a bit of silverware.
Up north in Milan, however, the TIM Cup (to give it its sponsor's name) is a less welcome distraction. Jose Mourinho's side are still in the hunt for the league and Champions League. There is little doubt this is the least attractive leg of their potential treble.
Yet they would be well advised not to snub the competition too much. Imagine how they might feel if they went out to Fiorentina and then missed out on their other two goals? Bad results can be contagious and the cup would at least be a small consolation if everything else goes wrong.
The Milanese, of course, have a squad designed to cope with such situations. Even their reserve side is one which most Serie A managers would love to have at their disposal. Defending a single goal lead should not be beyond them.
Even with Dejan Stankovic, Davide Santon and usual Coppa goalkeeper Francesco Toldo missing there is a formidable look to the Inter team. Fringe players like Marco Materazzi, Macdonald Mariga and the recently rehabilitated Mario Balotelli will all hope they get a chance to shine. There may even be room for young talent like Rene Krhin and Marko Artaunovic.
Fiorentina hope to respond with a trio of important returns. Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Marchionni and Juan Manuel Vargas are all likely to be reappear after missing the weekend clash.
The match comes, of course, at an unwelcome time for Inter. They face Juve in the league on Friday and Barcelona in the Champions League after that. That may just trip them up.
Mourinho will not be too worried about elimination if his side can secure at least one of its other seasonal targets. For Fiorentina, a final spot against either Roma or Udinese would be a major consolation for European and Serie A heartache.
The script should be that the game matters so much to the Viola that they grab the victory they need. But since when has football ever followed any kind of logic?
In terms of prestige it is pretty much accepted that the Coppa Italia ranks somewhere between the European tiddliwinks championship and the World conkers title.
It is almost always compared very unfavourably with its English equivalent, the FA Cup. Crowds are small, most big teams field understrength sides and you can count the number of shocks on the prongs of your pizza fork.
Poor scheduling, two-legged ties and an often cumbersome seeding system have never really given the competition a chance. It is in need of the kind of emergency makeover that could even kill the undying enthusiasm of Ty Pennington. It needs demolition and complete reconstruction.
This week, however, it has thrown up one of its more intriguing ties. The reason, quite simply, is that it means quite a lot to one of the participants and not very much to the other.
So all of the elements are there for an exciting semi-final clash between Fiorentina and Inter.
The reigning league champions won the first leg by a single goal in the San Siro but a packed Stadio Artemio Franchi will be hoping the Viola can turn the tie around on Tuesday. They warmed up with a thrilling 2-2 draw when they met in the league on Saturday.
Cesare Prandelli shocked a few pundits by fielding an apparently weakened side for that game. The Tuscan team has little hope of finishing in a top four spot in Serie A and getting back into the Champions League. He seemed to favour the cup clash.
That might seem puzzling given the lack of stature of the Coppa but look a little closer and it starts to make more sense. Fiorentina have a strong tradition in the tournament with six victories to their credit. More importantly, their coach has yet to win a trophy with this side.
Praise for their fine performances in Serie A and Europe has been nice, but there is really no substitute for a bit of silverware.
Up north in Milan, however, the TIM Cup (to give it its sponsor's name) is a less welcome distraction. Jose Mourinho's side are still in the hunt for the league and Champions League. There is little doubt this is the least attractive leg of their potential treble.
Yet they would be well advised not to snub the competition too much. Imagine how they might feel if they went out to Fiorentina and then missed out on their other two goals? Bad results can be contagious and the cup would at least be a small consolation if everything else goes wrong.
The Milanese, of course, have a squad designed to cope with such situations. Even their reserve side is one which most Serie A managers would love to have at their disposal. Defending a single goal lead should not be beyond them.
Even with Dejan Stankovic, Davide Santon and usual Coppa goalkeeper Francesco Toldo missing there is a formidable look to the Inter team. Fringe players like Marco Materazzi, Macdonald Mariga and the recently rehabilitated Mario Balotelli will all hope they get a chance to shine. There may even be room for young talent like Rene Krhin and Marko Artaunovic.
Fiorentina hope to respond with a trio of important returns. Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Marchionni and Juan Manuel Vargas are all likely to be reappear after missing the weekend clash.
The match comes, of course, at an unwelcome time for Inter. They face Juve in the league on Friday and Barcelona in the Champions League after that. That may just trip them up.
Mourinho will not be too worried about elimination if his side can secure at least one of its other seasonal targets. For Fiorentina, a final spot against either Roma or Udinese would be a major consolation for European and Serie A heartache.
The script should be that the game matters so much to the Viola that they grab the victory they need. But since when has football ever followed any kind of logic?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Inter: The Real Deal At Last?
From Bleacher Report
They celebrated as if they had won the trophy itself.
Everyone at Inter Milan knew they had achieved an important result, knocking out one of the most fancied sides in the competition. In the process, they went some way to overturning their reputation as one of European football's biggest failures.
Make no mistake, the Nerazzurri have a score or two to settle with the Champions League. While they have been the dominant force in Italy for the last few years, they have consistently failed to deliver in continental competition.
Not any more.
Defeating Chelsea carried a symbolism which will not have been lost on Jose Mourinho. He failed to lift Europe's biggest prize while at Stamford Bridge, now he has a chance to produce the goods at the San Siro.
However, the key for Inter will be using the victory over the Blues as a building block, not merely an end in itself. There are three more games to go, after all, if they hope to win the trophy which has eluded them for more than 40 years.
It was not always pretty to watch but few Interisti will have been bothered about that. At long last their team stood toe-to-toe with one of the continent's best and did not wilt under the pressure. Beauty can wait.
Hats off to the Special One who passed his first crunch test of the season with flying colours. His tactics proved perfect at thwarting Chelsea's attacks and threatening on the break.
He showed once again that the Serie A title is Inter's to lose. They are streets ahead of Milan and Roma in terms of power, pace, commitment and depth of squad.
Now they are starting to punch their weight in Europe too.
But are they serious Champions League contenders or was this just a flash in the pan? A glance around what remains in the competition would suggest the former rather than the latter. Inter finally have the tactical nous to go along with their undoubted talent.
They don't have the flamboyance of Barcelona or Arsenal or the choral teamplay of Manchester United but they do have organisation, heart, class and character. Only time will tell if that is sufficient to progress.
Much will depend on which side they land in the quarter-finals. Having beaten Chelsea they are entitled to expect a "softer" draw in the last eight. However, nobody will relish meeting the boys in blue and black.
Inter Milan showed this week that they are a resolute, composed and gifted team. Almost from the outset there was an air of confidence about the side which has been sorely missing from previous European escapades.
The biggest danger is thinking that after Tuesday night the job is done. Club President Massimo Moratti will settle for nothing less than winning the Champions League. Reaching the later stages is good, but it is unlikely to leave him feeling satisfied.
The Nerazzurri's triumph was also an important one for Serie A as a whole. Italian football was in need of a tonic and, although a side packed with foreigners is not to everyone's taste, it at least did the business.
In the process, it took the head-to-head record with the Premiership this season to an impressive played nine, won six, drawn one, lost two. Juventus could complete the job against Fulham on Thursday.
As for Inter, they will face further tests of their European maturity. They picked up a number of suspensions against Chelsea which will weaken their quarter-final first leg team. But they look like they might have the character to cope with it.
One result does not make your season, of course. Nor does it turn you into a great team overnight.
Nonetheless, Inter deserved their victory over one of England's top teams this week and were entitled to celebrate. Once the festivities die down, however, they must realise there is more work to do. There is a Champions League out there to be won, and Mourinho's men must use this triumph as the foundation for a serious challenge.
They celebrated as if they had won the trophy itself.
Everyone at Inter Milan knew they had achieved an important result, knocking out one of the most fancied sides in the competition. In the process, they went some way to overturning their reputation as one of European football's biggest failures.
Make no mistake, the Nerazzurri have a score or two to settle with the Champions League. While they have been the dominant force in Italy for the last few years, they have consistently failed to deliver in continental competition.
Not any more.
Defeating Chelsea carried a symbolism which will not have been lost on Jose Mourinho. He failed to lift Europe's biggest prize while at Stamford Bridge, now he has a chance to produce the goods at the San Siro.
However, the key for Inter will be using the victory over the Blues as a building block, not merely an end in itself. There are three more games to go, after all, if they hope to win the trophy which has eluded them for more than 40 years.
It was not always pretty to watch but few Interisti will have been bothered about that. At long last their team stood toe-to-toe with one of the continent's best and did not wilt under the pressure. Beauty can wait.
Hats off to the Special One who passed his first crunch test of the season with flying colours. His tactics proved perfect at thwarting Chelsea's attacks and threatening on the break.
He showed once again that the Serie A title is Inter's to lose. They are streets ahead of Milan and Roma in terms of power, pace, commitment and depth of squad.
Now they are starting to punch their weight in Europe too.
But are they serious Champions League contenders or was this just a flash in the pan? A glance around what remains in the competition would suggest the former rather than the latter. Inter finally have the tactical nous to go along with their undoubted talent.
They don't have the flamboyance of Barcelona or Arsenal or the choral teamplay of Manchester United but they do have organisation, heart, class and character. Only time will tell if that is sufficient to progress.
Much will depend on which side they land in the quarter-finals. Having beaten Chelsea they are entitled to expect a "softer" draw in the last eight. However, nobody will relish meeting the boys in blue and black.
Inter Milan showed this week that they are a resolute, composed and gifted team. Almost from the outset there was an air of confidence about the side which has been sorely missing from previous European escapades.
The biggest danger is thinking that after Tuesday night the job is done. Club President Massimo Moratti will settle for nothing less than winning the Champions League. Reaching the later stages is good, but it is unlikely to leave him feeling satisfied.
The Nerazzurri's triumph was also an important one for Serie A as a whole. Italian football was in need of a tonic and, although a side packed with foreigners is not to everyone's taste, it at least did the business.
In the process, it took the head-to-head record with the Premiership this season to an impressive played nine, won six, drawn one, lost two. Juventus could complete the job against Fulham on Thursday.
As for Inter, they will face further tests of their European maturity. They picked up a number of suspensions against Chelsea which will weaken their quarter-final first leg team. But they look like they might have the character to cope with it.
One result does not make your season, of course. Nor does it turn you into a great team overnight.
Nonetheless, Inter deserved their victory over one of England's top teams this week and were entitled to celebrate. Once the festivities die down, however, they must realise there is more work to do. There is a Champions League out there to be won, and Mourinho's men must use this triumph as the foundation for a serious challenge.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Say It Ain't So Adrian
I have always thought that when life gives you a second chance you should seize it.
Think about Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol who gets the chance to see how little the world would mourn his passing.
You would cherish every day after that experience, wouldn’t you?
And, more importantly, you would surely never make the same mistakes again.
It struck me that the same was true for Fiorentina’s errant striker Adrian Mutu, a man who has known his share of sporting turmoil – some of it self-inflicted.
He was banned from the game for taking cocaine but he served his time and looked to be completely rehabilitated.
Indeed, it seemed there was a renewed zest in his approach to enjoy the sport which had been denied him for some time.
Just one text message changed all that. “Have you seen your man Mutu has tested positive again?” it said.
I hoped the information would prove incorrect but confirmation soon followed with a news story outlining the outcome of checks following the recent Fiorentina match with Bari.
The Romanian had indeed tested positive for sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, and could face a four-year ban.
It is news which has left Fiorentina fans reeling.
The best case scenario is that there turns out to be some fault with the tests and he is cleared of any offence. But the worst case could effectively end his career.
If he did take a banned substance, it smacks of sheer stupidity given the price he already had to pay for a previous infringement.
He will have let himself, his club and his supporters down and thrown away a second chance which some people are not lucky enough to get.
Think about Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol who gets the chance to see how little the world would mourn his passing.
You would cherish every day after that experience, wouldn’t you?
And, more importantly, you would surely never make the same mistakes again.
It struck me that the same was true for Fiorentina’s errant striker Adrian Mutu, a man who has known his share of sporting turmoil – some of it self-inflicted.
He was banned from the game for taking cocaine but he served his time and looked to be completely rehabilitated.
Indeed, it seemed there was a renewed zest in his approach to enjoy the sport which had been denied him for some time.
Just one text message changed all that. “Have you seen your man Mutu has tested positive again?” it said.
I hoped the information would prove incorrect but confirmation soon followed with a news story outlining the outcome of checks following the recent Fiorentina match with Bari.
The Romanian had indeed tested positive for sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, and could face a four-year ban.
It is news which has left Fiorentina fans reeling.
The best case scenario is that there turns out to be some fault with the tests and he is cleared of any offence. But the worst case could effectively end his career.
If he did take a banned substance, it smacks of sheer stupidity given the price he already had to pay for a previous infringement.
He will have let himself, his club and his supporters down and thrown away a second chance which some people are not lucky enough to get.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Inter Milan's Great Escape: Jose Mourinho's Magic Or Just Good Fortune
From bleacher report
Inter Milan made a huge withdrawal from the Bank of Lucky on Saturday night.
Or, if you prefer, Jose Mourinho pulled off another managerial masterstroke.
Whatever your viewpoint, there is little doubt that the Milan giants completed one of the most amazing comebacks of the season to overcome Siena. The fact that they needed to produce such a performance is worthy of some reflection.
So let's work this through from back to front.
League-leading Inter defeated bottom-of-the-table Siena 4-3 with a Walter Samuel goal in injury time.
That was the equivalent of a kicker catching a winning touchdown pass or perhaps a pitcher thumping a vital home run.
The big Argentinian defender does not score many goals and those that he does are usually with his head, not a sweet turn and shot worthy of his countryman Diego Milito.
It was a finale fitting for such a crazy game.
Massimo Maccarone had given the visitors the lead only for Milito and Wesley Sneijder to turn the game on its head. That should have been the end of the story.
Instead, Albin Ekdal and Maccarone struck again to put the little Tuscan side on the brink of victory.
Jose Mourinho's famous unbeaten home record, which has lasted longer than most modern marriages, was suddenly under threat.
Inter looked tired, jaded and out of sorts. Siena were worth their win, or so it seemed.
The final minutes, however, were cruel to Alberto Malesani's side. Firstly, Sneijder curled home another beautiful free-kick to equalise. Then Samuel, put up front to help hunt an improbable winner, stuck the knife in still further.
It was a script we have seen several times before.
Mourinho loves to shove men forward in a desperate attempt to win a match, often asking his defenders to improvise an attacking role. It worked out perfectly this time.
The question is just how long can it go on working?
Inter's squad has been hurt by injuries and Sammy Eto'o heading off to the African Cup of Nations, but still they should have brushed Siena aside with ease.
But for much of the weekend's game, the side with the best attack in Italy looked unable to beat the nation's weakest defence.
Spectators were left struggling to decipher what the result actually meant.
Was it a sign of weakness that Inter nearly lost to one of the poorest sides in Serie A? Or did their never-say-die attitude send out a signal of intent to their rivals?
Maybe it was a bit of both.
The side from the San Siro have been far from convincing of late and have a tough run of matches coming up.
So far, they have shown enough resilience to maintain a healthy lead at the top of the league and the Siena game demonstrated they will not give it up easily.
Indeed, if there is a lesson to be learned, it is possibly a simple one.
If Juve and Milan are serious about taking Inter's crown they will have to show the same hunger as Mourinho's men did on Saturday night.
Inter Milan made a huge withdrawal from the Bank of Lucky on Saturday night.
Or, if you prefer, Jose Mourinho pulled off another managerial masterstroke.
Whatever your viewpoint, there is little doubt that the Milan giants completed one of the most amazing comebacks of the season to overcome Siena. The fact that they needed to produce such a performance is worthy of some reflection.
So let's work this through from back to front.
League-leading Inter defeated bottom-of-the-table Siena 4-3 with a Walter Samuel goal in injury time.
That was the equivalent of a kicker catching a winning touchdown pass or perhaps a pitcher thumping a vital home run.
The big Argentinian defender does not score many goals and those that he does are usually with his head, not a sweet turn and shot worthy of his countryman Diego Milito.
It was a finale fitting for such a crazy game.
Massimo Maccarone had given the visitors the lead only for Milito and Wesley Sneijder to turn the game on its head. That should have been the end of the story.
Instead, Albin Ekdal and Maccarone struck again to put the little Tuscan side on the brink of victory.
Jose Mourinho's famous unbeaten home record, which has lasted longer than most modern marriages, was suddenly under threat.
Inter looked tired, jaded and out of sorts. Siena were worth their win, or so it seemed.
The final minutes, however, were cruel to Alberto Malesani's side. Firstly, Sneijder curled home another beautiful free-kick to equalise. Then Samuel, put up front to help hunt an improbable winner, stuck the knife in still further.
It was a script we have seen several times before.
Mourinho loves to shove men forward in a desperate attempt to win a match, often asking his defenders to improvise an attacking role. It worked out perfectly this time.
The question is just how long can it go on working?
Inter's squad has been hurt by injuries and Sammy Eto'o heading off to the African Cup of Nations, but still they should have brushed Siena aside with ease.
But for much of the weekend's game, the side with the best attack in Italy looked unable to beat the nation's weakest defence.
Spectators were left struggling to decipher what the result actually meant.
Was it a sign of weakness that Inter nearly lost to one of the poorest sides in Serie A? Or did their never-say-die attitude send out a signal of intent to their rivals?
Maybe it was a bit of both.
The side from the San Siro have been far from convincing of late and have a tough run of matches coming up.
So far, they have shown enough resilience to maintain a healthy lead at the top of the league and the Siena game demonstrated they will not give it up easily.
Indeed, if there is a lesson to be learned, it is possibly a simple one.
If Juve and Milan are serious about taking Inter's crown they will have to show the same hunger as Mourinho's men did on Saturday night.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Mancio's next mission
From Bleacher Report
Watch out England, the Italians are taking over.
The national team is in the hands of Fabio Capello, the league leaders belong to Carlo Ancelotti, and struggling West Ham is under the guidance of Gianfranco Zola.
Now the biggest of your big spenders have Roberto Mancini.
If things keep going at this pace, we’ll be able to change the Premiership brand into Serie A by the end of the next decade or so. But what are Manchester City getting for their many million pounds?
Well, Mancio was certainly one heck of a footballer. His elegance, class, and improvisational skills made him a star performer for Bologna, Sampdoria, Lazio, and Italy.
The less said about his brief spell with Leicester City the better.
As for his coaching career to date, it has certainly carried one key component more than any other—trophies.
He started out as assistant to Sven Goran Eriksson (where have I heard that name before?) at Lazio but got his first proper job at Fiorentina in 2001. In something of an emergency situation due to their financial difficulties, he took a patched-up Tuscan side to the Coppa Italia final and won.
He also ensured their Serie A survival, but with the club in turmoil off the pitch, he moved on to pastures new just a year after taking his first managerial trophy.
It was, however, out of the frying pan and into the fire.
The big-spending days at Lazio had gone and Mancio once again found himself trying to manage a club obliged to sell its best players. A Coppa Italia was delivered again as he triumphed in adversity.
It was only in his third coaching position, at Inter, that he got a bit of money to spend.
With Italian football in the eye of the Calciopoli storm, he delivered three league titles in a row.
His supporters saw that as confirmation that he was one of the finest young managers of his generation. Detractors complained that he had been handed one title and won the others because his major rivals were either not in the league or significantly penalised.
Manchester City fans can reach their own conclusions.
It was Europe, however, which ultimately proved fatal to Mancini in Milan.
All conquering at home, he could not deliver a team which performed to the same levels in the Champions League. Mind you, it has also proved beyond Jose Mourinho so far.
Now he takes up the fresh challenge of the Premiership and, presumably, trying to break into the top four some time soon.
As a player he was known for attacking flair and he likes his teams to play with a certain panache too. However, over time he has learned to give them the bite necessary to produce results.
Only time will tell if he can prove himself in a different country.
But one thing is for sure. If he can put Manchester City into the Champions League it would rank alongside anything he ever achieved in Italy.
Watch out England, the Italians are taking over.
The national team is in the hands of Fabio Capello, the league leaders belong to Carlo Ancelotti, and struggling West Ham is under the guidance of Gianfranco Zola.
Now the biggest of your big spenders have Roberto Mancini.
If things keep going at this pace, we’ll be able to change the Premiership brand into Serie A by the end of the next decade or so. But what are Manchester City getting for their many million pounds?
Well, Mancio was certainly one heck of a footballer. His elegance, class, and improvisational skills made him a star performer for Bologna, Sampdoria, Lazio, and Italy.
The less said about his brief spell with Leicester City the better.
As for his coaching career to date, it has certainly carried one key component more than any other—trophies.
He started out as assistant to Sven Goran Eriksson (where have I heard that name before?) at Lazio but got his first proper job at Fiorentina in 2001. In something of an emergency situation due to their financial difficulties, he took a patched-up Tuscan side to the Coppa Italia final and won.
He also ensured their Serie A survival, but with the club in turmoil off the pitch, he moved on to pastures new just a year after taking his first managerial trophy.
It was, however, out of the frying pan and into the fire.
The big-spending days at Lazio had gone and Mancio once again found himself trying to manage a club obliged to sell its best players. A Coppa Italia was delivered again as he triumphed in adversity.
It was only in his third coaching position, at Inter, that he got a bit of money to spend.
With Italian football in the eye of the Calciopoli storm, he delivered three league titles in a row.
His supporters saw that as confirmation that he was one of the finest young managers of his generation. Detractors complained that he had been handed one title and won the others because his major rivals were either not in the league or significantly penalised.
Manchester City fans can reach their own conclusions.
It was Europe, however, which ultimately proved fatal to Mancini in Milan.
All conquering at home, he could not deliver a team which performed to the same levels in the Champions League. Mind you, it has also proved beyond Jose Mourinho so far.
Now he takes up the fresh challenge of the Premiership and, presumably, trying to break into the top four some time soon.
As a player he was known for attacking flair and he likes his teams to play with a certain panache too. However, over time he has learned to give them the bite necessary to produce results.
Only time will tell if he can prove himself in a different country.
But one thing is for sure. If he can put Manchester City into the Champions League it would rank alongside anything he ever achieved in Italy.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Gilardino hits 120th
With his weekend goal against Atalanta, Alberto Gilardino made it 120 in Serie A.
Not bad for a boy born in 1982 and likely to have some of the best years of his career ahead of him.
I know Milan don't miss him but we're sure delighted in Florence that he made the move from the San Siro to the Artemio Franchi.
Grazie Gila!
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Crazy World Of Milan
From Calcio Italia
Carlo Ancelotti has got it easy. While his new team Chelsea stroll past average opposition almost every week, his successor at Milan is having kittens. You can say what you like about Leonardo’s Rossonero regime, but definitely not that it is boring.
Sunday’s rollercoaster display came against in-form Cagliari and the result was in doubt from beginning to end. Ultimately, it took four goals from four different scorers to see off the battling islanders. No wonder the new man on the bench in the San Siro looks a little older every time we see him.
How Carletto must chuckle down at Stamford Bridge if he ever switches on the Serie A highlights. He can lord it over a League where there are teams tactically inept enough to concede nine goals in a single game. Poor Leonardo seems to find himself involved in a knife-edge thriller every week.
Doubts have to remain about the sustainability of this approach. Surely the wheels must eventually fall off the Milan challenge. However, a bit like one of those plate-spinning acts, it is good fun to watch – at least until it all comes crashing down.
Meanwhile, Inter brushed off Bologna on Saturday evening after a Marcelo Zalayeta strike had threatened to spoil their build up to Barcelona on Tuesday. The Nerazzurri remain far and away the most solid team in Italy. The only negative element was a red card for Douglas Maicon which might make them suffer while he is suspended.
Juve kept up their challenge by seeing off Udinese courtesy of Fabio Grosso but it was a workmanlike display. The Bianconeri were never troubled, to be sure, but they rarely produced much attacking flair either. It will not, one suspects, have had Inter quaking in their boots.
Resurgent Roma enjoyed the fruits of a Francesco Totti hat-trick as they saw off revelation side Bari. But Fiorentina were unable to defeat another surprise package – Parma – as they succumbed 3-2 in the Artemio Franchi. The result catapulted Francesco Guidolin’s men into Champions League contention.
At the bottom end of the table the most significant results were wins for Livorno and Atalanta over Genoa and Siena respectively. It allowed them to join Bologna and Lazio on 12 points after the latter played out the only game without goals in the top Division at Napoli.
A quick scan of the standings suggests there has rarely been a more balanced season in Serie A – at least if you clip Inter off the top. You can argue about the quality of play but not the openness of all the major issues, bar the Scudetto. And, you never know, a steady Juve and this madcap Milan might yet have something to say about that.
Carlo Ancelotti has got it easy. While his new team Chelsea stroll past average opposition almost every week, his successor at Milan is having kittens. You can say what you like about Leonardo’s Rossonero regime, but definitely not that it is boring.
Sunday’s rollercoaster display came against in-form Cagliari and the result was in doubt from beginning to end. Ultimately, it took four goals from four different scorers to see off the battling islanders. No wonder the new man on the bench in the San Siro looks a little older every time we see him.
How Carletto must chuckle down at Stamford Bridge if he ever switches on the Serie A highlights. He can lord it over a League where there are teams tactically inept enough to concede nine goals in a single game. Poor Leonardo seems to find himself involved in a knife-edge thriller every week.
Doubts have to remain about the sustainability of this approach. Surely the wheels must eventually fall off the Milan challenge. However, a bit like one of those plate-spinning acts, it is good fun to watch – at least until it all comes crashing down.
Meanwhile, Inter brushed off Bologna on Saturday evening after a Marcelo Zalayeta strike had threatened to spoil their build up to Barcelona on Tuesday. The Nerazzurri remain far and away the most solid team in Italy. The only negative element was a red card for Douglas Maicon which might make them suffer while he is suspended.
Juve kept up their challenge by seeing off Udinese courtesy of Fabio Grosso but it was a workmanlike display. The Bianconeri were never troubled, to be sure, but they rarely produced much attacking flair either. It will not, one suspects, have had Inter quaking in their boots.
Resurgent Roma enjoyed the fruits of a Francesco Totti hat-trick as they saw off revelation side Bari. But Fiorentina were unable to defeat another surprise package – Parma – as they succumbed 3-2 in the Artemio Franchi. The result catapulted Francesco Guidolin’s men into Champions League contention.
At the bottom end of the table the most significant results were wins for Livorno and Atalanta over Genoa and Siena respectively. It allowed them to join Bologna and Lazio on 12 points after the latter played out the only game without goals in the top Division at Napoli.
A quick scan of the standings suggests there has rarely been a more balanced season in Serie A – at least if you clip Inter off the top. You can argue about the quality of play but not the openness of all the major issues, bar the Scudetto. And, you never know, a steady Juve and this madcap Milan might yet have something to say about that.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Calcio - Il Primo Amore
It is only a number, I guess, but still a pretty significant one. No fewer than 300 times have I voiced my opinions on football through these columns. That's quite a lot of hot air - probably enough to burst a couple of fresh holes in the ozone layer.
I thought I would go back to how it all began.
I first fell in love with Italian football before I reached my teenage years. Fiorentina were "in ritiro" in the hillside above the Tuscan village where my family is from and we were there on our annual pilgrimage/holidays from Scotland. Then Giancarlo Antognoni and company strolled into town.
It was as if the Gods had come down from Mount Olympus to walk among us mortals.
The stars of Serie A have always had an element of cinematic glamour about them. They were WAG-ing around before Wayne and Colleen had even been thought of. To a star-struck young Scottish-Italian this was football of a different kind.
The way they conducted themselves on the field of play was different too. Antognoni played "while watching the stars". His took his first touch for granted and kept his head raised looking for the destination of a defence-splitting pass. If there has ever been a more elegant player, he has missed my gaze.
Of course, of course - the fact that we share the same name makes me somewhat biased.
But those days lit a flame inside me which has never gone out to this day. It has flickered, I admit, during the times of crowd violence or match-rigging scandals. But something always manages to re-ignite it before it completely dies away.
Vulcanic presidents, colourful coaches and mercurial talents keep me coming back for more. The intense debates of the Monday morning in the Bar Sport have been rekindled by the arrival of blogs, Twitter and who knows what next?
Opinion is everything in Italy, after all. First you must have one and then you must express it loudly.
It's that world which draws me back time and time again. The land where the constant replays of the "moviola" spark hours of pointless but passionate debate. A nation where you sometimes get the feeling a government could be toppled by a penalty kick conceded or denied. A country that is frustrating and exhilarating in equal measure.
The Artemio Franchi signing the Canzone Viola, the Rossoneri in the Champions League, the Culo di Juve, the "grinta" of Inter - these are a few of my favourite things.
So let's cherish our Cassanate, the pearls of Pirlo, the magic of Jojo, Totti's cucchiaio and all the rest. It may not be perfect but, heck, I for one wouldn't have it any other way.
I thought I would go back to how it all began.
I first fell in love with Italian football before I reached my teenage years. Fiorentina were "in ritiro" in the hillside above the Tuscan village where my family is from and we were there on our annual pilgrimage/holidays from Scotland. Then Giancarlo Antognoni and company strolled into town.
It was as if the Gods had come down from Mount Olympus to walk among us mortals.
The stars of Serie A have always had an element of cinematic glamour about them. They were WAG-ing around before Wayne and Colleen had even been thought of. To a star-struck young Scottish-Italian this was football of a different kind.
The way they conducted themselves on the field of play was different too. Antognoni played "while watching the stars". His took his first touch for granted and kept his head raised looking for the destination of a defence-splitting pass. If there has ever been a more elegant player, he has missed my gaze.
Of course, of course - the fact that we share the same name makes me somewhat biased.
But those days lit a flame inside me which has never gone out to this day. It has flickered, I admit, during the times of crowd violence or match-rigging scandals. But something always manages to re-ignite it before it completely dies away.
Vulcanic presidents, colourful coaches and mercurial talents keep me coming back for more. The intense debates of the Monday morning in the Bar Sport have been rekindled by the arrival of blogs, Twitter and who knows what next?
Opinion is everything in Italy, after all. First you must have one and then you must express it loudly.
It's that world which draws me back time and time again. The land where the constant replays of the "moviola" spark hours of pointless but passionate debate. A nation where you sometimes get the feeling a government could be toppled by a penalty kick conceded or denied. A country that is frustrating and exhilarating in equal measure.
The Artemio Franchi signing the Canzone Viola, the Rossoneri in the Champions League, the Culo di Juve, the "grinta" of Inter - these are a few of my favourite things.
So let's cherish our Cassanate, the pearls of Pirlo, the magic of Jojo, Totti's cucchiaio and all the rest. It may not be perfect but, heck, I for one wouldn't have it any other way.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Mouthwatering midweek
I thought we were going to get a break from the action but no such luck.
Serie A swings back into action on Wednesday and Thursday with a cracking run of fixtures.
My personal highlights are here.
Serie A swings back into action on Wednesday and Thursday with a cracking run of fixtures.
My personal highlights are here.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Now The Work Really Begins For Marcello Lippi
It was the draw we all expected but not, perhaps, in the tedious manner many predicted. A late, late Alberto Gilardino strike put the World champions on the plane to defend their title. However, it cannot be allowed to hide this side's deficiencies.
At this moment in time, Italy would truly have their work cut out to make it very far in South Africa. The team still looks unsure of itself. And, too often, it is overpowered by its opposition.
What is not missing, however, is character.
It took some guts to come from behind twice at Croke Park against Ireland. Maybe Trapattoni's men were not too bothered about pushing for the win after the score filtered through from other group game in Cyprus. Nonetheless, the Azzurri at least showed some much-needed "grinta" to book their spot with a match to spare.
Now comes the hard part of filling in the gaps in the squad.
An understudy to Gigi Buffon needs to gain experience and credibility. It's time to let some youthful zest play down the flanks to supplement what Zambrotta and Grosso have left to offer. A new Gattuso also needs to be found.
Then there is the little matter of resolving the questions over Amauri and Antonio Cassano - although Lippi seems to have made up his mind on the latter.
However, we'll enjoy this qualification for the time being. It allows Wednesday night to be more experimental and relaxed. Mind you, with Cyprus thrashing Bulgaria on Saturday, I wouldn't want to take the foot off the gas entirely.
I hope we don't give up our world crown without a fight. At least we are in a position to scrap it out next summer. It's up to Lippi to ensure we go as far as we can.
At this moment in time, Italy would truly have their work cut out to make it very far in South Africa. The team still looks unsure of itself. And, too often, it is overpowered by its opposition.
What is not missing, however, is character.
It took some guts to come from behind twice at Croke Park against Ireland. Maybe Trapattoni's men were not too bothered about pushing for the win after the score filtered through from other group game in Cyprus. Nonetheless, the Azzurri at least showed some much-needed "grinta" to book their spot with a match to spare.
Now comes the hard part of filling in the gaps in the squad.
An understudy to Gigi Buffon needs to gain experience and credibility. It's time to let some youthful zest play down the flanks to supplement what Zambrotta and Grosso have left to offer. A new Gattuso also needs to be found.
Then there is the little matter of resolving the questions over Amauri and Antonio Cassano - although Lippi seems to have made up his mind on the latter.
However, we'll enjoy this qualification for the time being. It allows Wednesday night to be more experimental and relaxed. Mind you, with Cyprus thrashing Bulgaria on Saturday, I wouldn't want to take the foot off the gas entirely.
I hope we don't give up our world crown without a fight. At least we are in a position to scrap it out next summer. It's up to Lippi to ensure we go as far as we can.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Dona departed
It seems to me that Roberto Donadoni's tenure at Napoli is an instructive tale about the shortcomings of Italian football. The moral to the story, I think, is that if you don't know what you want, you will never get it. Certainly, the lack of direction in the San Paolo seems commonplace across the country.
I remember voicing my misgivings at the time of Donadoni's appointment. Not because of his mediocre time in charge of Italy but rather because I did not feel Edy Reja deserved to go. Results were not brilliant but you could see an undercurrent of quality in the Azzurri's displays. He paid the price for the raised expectations fuelled by some impressive early performances.
Dona is a victim of the same process. This time, expectation levels were raised by a transfer campaign which everyone agreed was outstanding - some even described it as "sumptuous". The end product on the field of play, however, was anything but.
It left Napoli in a quandary. They brought in the former Milan and Italy star to usher in a period of stability. This is a long-term project, they told the fans and Coach. But at the first sign of adversity, they sent him packing and called in Walter Mazzarri.
I like Mazzarri fine as a Coach, don't get me wrong. I suspect he will do more to turn results around than Donadoni did but that misses the point. I reckon Napoli could just as well have stuck with Reja and probably be further up the league table already this season. And it certainly would have given a greater impression that the club actually knew what it was doing.
I remember voicing my misgivings at the time of Donadoni's appointment. Not because of his mediocre time in charge of Italy but rather because I did not feel Edy Reja deserved to go. Results were not brilliant but you could see an undercurrent of quality in the Azzurri's displays. He paid the price for the raised expectations fuelled by some impressive early performances.
Dona is a victim of the same process. This time, expectation levels were raised by a transfer campaign which everyone agreed was outstanding - some even described it as "sumptuous". The end product on the field of play, however, was anything but.
It left Napoli in a quandary. They brought in the former Milan and Italy star to usher in a period of stability. This is a long-term project, they told the fans and Coach. But at the first sign of adversity, they sent him packing and called in Walter Mazzarri.
I like Mazzarri fine as a Coach, don't get me wrong. I suspect he will do more to turn results around than Donadoni did but that misses the point. I reckon Napoli could just as well have stuck with Reja and probably be further up the league table already this season. And it certainly would have given a greater impression that the club actually knew what it was doing.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Divin Jojo
Twenty years have passed since a frail-looking youngster with long dark curls lit up European nights in a purple shirt. His virtuoso performances put a huge smile on the faces of Fiorentina fans. I can feel echoes of Roby Baggio in Stevan Jovetic.Back in 1989 I was living in Borgo San Lorenzo about 20 miles from Florence and the city's visceral love for its idol emanated across Tuscany. The club had helped to nurse him back from serious injury and was now beginning to see that faith earn its reward. He dragged the Viola all the way to the UEFA Cup final.
Fast forward a couple of decades and it's Jojo in the Champions League. Last season Cesare Prandelli kept the boy snuggled up in cotton wool and used him as sparingly as Luciano Spalletti works a hairbrush. This term that softly, softly approach has allowed the young Montenegrin to grow.
This Fiorentina side is streets ahead of the team that lost its UEFA final to Juve. That year the talk in the bars around Campo di Marte was all about avoiding relegation and hoping for a brighter future. Nowadays, some supporters get grumpy if the club drops out of Serie A's top three or four.
Yet a similar magic links Baggio and Jovetic. Each one sends a frisson of anticipation through the fans which nobody else can match. The ponytailed one did it with his breakneck dribbling. The young pretender manages it with a first touch as gentle as a snowflake brushing your face on a winter morning. And then a crack of imagination like a hypnotist snapping his fingers to end his victim's slumber.
One night does not a career make, of course. But we should all be allowed a little indulgence from time to time. Sinking Liverpool was the football equivalent of one of those giant ice creams that makes your daughter's eyes light up with glee. There's time enough for indigestion - let's savour the flavours for now.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Sick Men of Europe
If ever you needed a feeling of impending doom, then our European candidates provided it at the weekend. Of all seven Italian sides involved in the Champions and Europa Leagues, just one of them recorded a victory. And that was courtesy of a Stevan Jovetic penalty.
You could argue, I guess, that what is Europe’s loss is Serie A’s gain. The top of the table has an interesting look with Samp sitting pretty, Fiorentina and Udinese in the hunt and Inter and Juve already losing precious points. But while the domestic battle is entertaining, the omens for continental conflict are decidedly grim.
Certainly, there was no shame in Jose Mourinho’s men losing by a single strike to Samp (Vai Pazzo!). They tried their hardest to get back on level terms but could not muster a goal. However, having quietly accepted a draw in their opening clash with Barcelona, surely nothing more than a win will do this week. Rubin Kazan might sound more like the magic words of a sorcerer than a football team but they would love to make Inter’s Champions League dreams disappear.
Our other two “big guns”, Juve and Milan, were both held at home by the BB gunners – Bologna and Bari. I tend to think Juve’s result was the more disappointing, only because the Bianconeri have shown more promise this term. It was very unlike them to throw away a lead and an away trip to Bayern is never a simple prospect. The least said about the Rossoneri, the better. I like little Bari’s attitude – with pace and flair on the break – but they should have been no match for Leonardo’s men. Even Zurich must think a trip to the San Siro is not as daunting as it once was.
The only weekend winners were Fiorentina – courtesy of the talismanic Jojo. They were far from impressive against Livorno while their Tuesday night opponents, Liverpool, were dishing out a summary thrashing. Mind you, as my father pointed out, it was only against Hull.
In the Europa League corner, Roma left it late to salvage a draw with Catania. Lazio could do no better than a share of the spoils at home to Palermo and Genoa slumped to defeat against in-form Udinese. Our capital teams both face sides from Sofia this week and must get back to winning ways. The Grifone, I suspect, would be happy with a draw away to Valencia.
It does not look good, I admit. But hope still springs from somewhere in my soul. Every so often Italian football produces the goods in adversity. I hope this turns out to be one of those weeks.
You could argue, I guess, that what is Europe’s loss is Serie A’s gain. The top of the table has an interesting look with Samp sitting pretty, Fiorentina and Udinese in the hunt and Inter and Juve already losing precious points. But while the domestic battle is entertaining, the omens for continental conflict are decidedly grim.
Certainly, there was no shame in Jose Mourinho’s men losing by a single strike to Samp (Vai Pazzo!). They tried their hardest to get back on level terms but could not muster a goal. However, having quietly accepted a draw in their opening clash with Barcelona, surely nothing more than a win will do this week. Rubin Kazan might sound more like the magic words of a sorcerer than a football team but they would love to make Inter’s Champions League dreams disappear.
Our other two “big guns”, Juve and Milan, were both held at home by the BB gunners – Bologna and Bari. I tend to think Juve’s result was the more disappointing, only because the Bianconeri have shown more promise this term. It was very unlike them to throw away a lead and an away trip to Bayern is never a simple prospect. The least said about the Rossoneri, the better. I like little Bari’s attitude – with pace and flair on the break – but they should have been no match for Leonardo’s men. Even Zurich must think a trip to the San Siro is not as daunting as it once was.
The only weekend winners were Fiorentina – courtesy of the talismanic Jojo. They were far from impressive against Livorno while their Tuesday night opponents, Liverpool, were dishing out a summary thrashing. Mind you, as my father pointed out, it was only against Hull.
In the Europa League corner, Roma left it late to salvage a draw with Catania. Lazio could do no better than a share of the spoils at home to Palermo and Genoa slumped to defeat against in-form Udinese. Our capital teams both face sides from Sofia this week and must get back to winning ways. The Grifone, I suspect, would be happy with a draw away to Valencia.
It does not look good, I admit. But hope still springs from somewhere in my soul. Every so often Italian football produces the goods in adversity. I hope this turns out to be one of those weeks.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Addio Andrea
I admit, at first, I had some trepidation. I felt a bit like somebody on the rebound from a bad relationship not wanting to get hurt again. How could I know if their intentions were good?
Over time, of course, Andrea and Diego Della Valle have won me over. Yet, at the outset, even their names caused me concern. I had just watched another set of double-barreled names almost kill the club I love. It seemed like a short step from Cecchi Gori to Della Valle. OK, this time they were brothers but it was not such a big difference from the previous father and son team.
In truth, they could not have been more different. While Cecchi Gori Snr was a figure of some substance, his son was more concerned about appearance. The Della Valles are no slouches in that department either - as befits shoe-making millionaires - but that is where the similarities end. They helped to rebuild Fiorentina without the smoke and mirrors of the last regime.
It has taken time, however, to warm to ADV as president. He comes across as a slightly cold character and a little bit timid under the harsh stare of the television cameras. But, if you listened to what he had to say, it always seemed to make plenty of sense. In a cauldron like Florence post-collapse and Serie C2, he was just what was needed.
No doubt, the club's involvement in Calciopoli tarnished his reign. Nonetheless, he seemed to emerge from it stronger and more determined to learn the lessons which it had taught. Eventually, he gave us a Fiorentina worthy of the Champions League once again.
I await an open letter to fans which is apparently in the offing. It is unclear whether Andrea's decision to step down as president is a question of reorganisation or an actual distancing from the club. The former would be perfectly acceptable but the latter could prove highly harmful.
These things have a habit of having repercussions for a team, no matter how much people protest they should not. On the one hand, the owners seem committed to building their new Cittadella training ground. On the other hand, they may have got sick of a rump of fans for whom even getting to fourth place in Serie A was not enough.
I signed up this afternoon to the Facebook group saying thanks to Andrea Della Valle. My memory is not so short that I don't recall where Fiorentina have come from in the last few years. He can't take all the credit but he at least deserves his share. It's the end of an era, that's for sure. But, as one fan wrote in a typical piece of dark Tuscan humour, "Come on now, he's not actually dead or anything!". We owe the Della Valle a debt of thanks but if it's time to move on then so be it. Comunque e per sempre, Forza Viola!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Grim viewing
The evening was clear, the children in bed and a nice espresso sitting at my right hand. Everything in place for a sporting battle between Roma and Fiorentina. It was all going so well ... until the game started.
Obviously, from a Giallorosso perspective it was a fine match. After a few setbacks, they are back on track in Serie A with a resounding victory. But the wheels came off the Viola campaign spectacularly.
The opening phases were well balanced enough but once Roma went ahead through a penalty it seemed like Prandelli's men lost all cohesion. They were three nil down before half time. Never before has my coffee tasted so bitter.
I guess I should be used to it by now, following Fiorentina. They always give you more pain than pleasure. Yet I had a sneaky feeling they could have got something out of this game. Instead, they put in their worst display of the season so far.
Now the job is to bounce back against high-flying Samp. Giampaolo Pazzini could really make us regret selling him, Antonio Cassano can send out another message to Marcello Lippi and Angelo Palombo may make us wonder what might have been if he had stayed. I feel pessimistic again. Back to normal service, I guess.
Obviously, from a Giallorosso perspective it was a fine match. After a few setbacks, they are back on track in Serie A with a resounding victory. But the wheels came off the Viola campaign spectacularly.
The opening phases were well balanced enough but once Roma went ahead through a penalty it seemed like Prandelli's men lost all cohesion. They were three nil down before half time. Never before has my coffee tasted so bitter.
I guess I should be used to it by now, following Fiorentina. They always give you more pain than pleasure. Yet I had a sneaky feeling they could have got something out of this game. Instead, they put in their worst display of the season so far.
Now the job is to bounce back against high-flying Samp. Giampaolo Pazzini could really make us regret selling him, Antonio Cassano can send out another message to Marcello Lippi and Angelo Palombo may make us wonder what might have been if he had stayed. I feel pessimistic again. Back to normal service, I guess.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dead and buried?
It's the first real chance to take the temperature of Italian football in a European context. Many have been rushing to pronounce the patient dead already. Over the next three nights we will get a better diagnosis.
The departures of Ibra and Kaka have been cited as symptoms of our illness. Well, the Swede-you-would-most-like-to-slap is coming back to the San Siro - all attitude and arrogance. The rest of Italy's Champions League contenders will go up against the best that France has to offer.
I fear for Milan and Fiorentina, I am hopeful for Inter and optimistic for Juve. They could all deliver a real tonic for Serie A if they manage to grab any kind of positive result. Then we will get an indication of our strength in depth when the Europa League takes centre stage.
By late Thursday night we will have the readings from the heart monitor. Is Italian football's decline terminal or is it responding to treatment?
ROUND ONE: He may be old but Super Pippo still knows where the goal is. His second strike was pure class to defeat Marseille. Juve got a draw which was probably fair on balance of play - but annoying after taking the lead.
ROUND TWO: Inter content with a draw, I reckon, typical Jose Mourinho approach - happy to hold Barca at bay. Still seething about Fiorentina. With 11 men against 11, we produced a very efficient display - better than last year's 2-2. Gila sending off compromised the whole night. Still, take it on the chin and move on.
ROUND THREE: Maybe the worst night of all. Genoa record a handsome win but Roma and Lazio lose to the might of Switzerland and Austria. Deary me...
The departures of Ibra and Kaka have been cited as symptoms of our illness. Well, the Swede-you-would-most-like-to-slap is coming back to the San Siro - all attitude and arrogance. The rest of Italy's Champions League contenders will go up against the best that France has to offer.
I fear for Milan and Fiorentina, I am hopeful for Inter and optimistic for Juve. They could all deliver a real tonic for Serie A if they manage to grab any kind of positive result. Then we will get an indication of our strength in depth when the Europa League takes centre stage.
By late Thursday night we will have the readings from the heart monitor. Is Italian football's decline terminal or is it responding to treatment?
ROUND ONE: He may be old but Super Pippo still knows where the goal is. His second strike was pure class to defeat Marseille. Juve got a draw which was probably fair on balance of play - but annoying after taking the lead.
ROUND TWO: Inter content with a draw, I reckon, typical Jose Mourinho approach - happy to hold Barca at bay. Still seething about Fiorentina. With 11 men against 11, we produced a very efficient display - better than last year's 2-2. Gila sending off compromised the whole night. Still, take it on the chin and move on.
ROUND THREE: Maybe the worst night of all. Genoa record a handsome win but Roma and Lazio lose to the might of Switzerland and Austria. Deary me...
Monday, September 14, 2009
Harbour hopes
It was Genoa's weekend, no doubt about that, and not just the Rossoblu half of the port city. With Sampdoria also recording a third victory out of three the two teams from the Stadio Luigi Ferraris top the Serie A table. Along with Juventus, of course.
The Doriani had to sweat for their victory - Gigi Del Neri admitted they were fortunate to beat his old team Atalanta. And, although, the scoreline suggests otherwise, Genoa had to work hard against Napoli. They went behind to a Marek Hamsik beauty when down to ten men. But, luckily for them, referee Tagliavento decided to even things up by sending off Campagnaro and giving them a penalty. At ten versus ten, they upped the tempo and a beauty from Giandomenico Mesto swung the game in their favour. Hernan Crespo and another penalty completed the destruction. The man in black got pretty much every major decision wrong, harming both teams in the process.
On Saturday, the Bianconeri saw off Lazio thanks to goals from Caceres and Trezeguet (with a little help from Muslera). If I was a Laziale, I would not despair, the team played OK. It was a tough encounter with plenty of bookings but Juve simply had more hunger for the win. The signs are good for Ciro Ferrara.
Elsewhere, it was Gila goal to the rescue for Fiorentina against a stuffy Cagliari side (half the team they were last season). Milan struggled to a drab draw with Livorno, Tony Christmas smashed a hat-trick to give Udinese a first win and Roma got their first points with a come-from-behind win over Siena to give Claudio Ranieri a triumphant debut.
Oh, and I almost forgot, Samuel Eto'o struck a sublime goal to help Inter see off a resilient Parma outfit. He will hope to reproduce the same when Barcelona come calling later in the week.
The Doriani had to sweat for their victory - Gigi Del Neri admitted they were fortunate to beat his old team Atalanta. And, although, the scoreline suggests otherwise, Genoa had to work hard against Napoli. They went behind to a Marek Hamsik beauty when down to ten men. But, luckily for them, referee Tagliavento decided to even things up by sending off Campagnaro and giving them a penalty. At ten versus ten, they upped the tempo and a beauty from Giandomenico Mesto swung the game in their favour. Hernan Crespo and another penalty completed the destruction. The man in black got pretty much every major decision wrong, harming both teams in the process.
On Saturday, the Bianconeri saw off Lazio thanks to goals from Caceres and Trezeguet (with a little help from Muslera). If I was a Laziale, I would not despair, the team played OK. It was a tough encounter with plenty of bookings but Juve simply had more hunger for the win. The signs are good for Ciro Ferrara.
Elsewhere, it was Gila goal to the rescue for Fiorentina against a stuffy Cagliari side (half the team they were last season). Milan struggled to a drab draw with Livorno, Tony Christmas smashed a hat-trick to give Udinese a first win and Roma got their first points with a come-from-behind win over Siena to give Claudio Ranieri a triumphant debut.
Oh, and I almost forgot, Samuel Eto'o struck a sublime goal to help Inter see off a resilient Parma outfit. He will hope to reproduce the same when Barcelona come calling later in the week.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
That'll do nicely
At last, we looked like World Champions again. Well, at least for 45 minutes. After all the pessimism surrounding the Italian game in general and the Azzurri in particular, we got a real top class performance.
Fabio Grosso delivered the same goal he scored against Brazil in a friendly in London, only this time it was not disallowed. And our strikers - yes, our strikers - combined beautifully for big Vinnie Iaquinta to get the second. Along the way, we spurned a number of other good chances.
In the second period we definitely eased up too much and that remains a worry. Nonetheless, the job is almost done. A draw in Dublin or a victory over Cyprus in Parma will be enough to see us safely to the World Cup 2010. It is no less than we should expect.
What was particularly positive, apart from the result against Bulgaria, was the performance. Daniele De Rossi gave the midfield some bite and character, Claudio Marchisio looked like he was born in the Azzurri blue and the old stagers like Pirlo, Camoranesi, Buffon and Cannavaro put in star turns.
Still not entirely conviced old Zambro is the force he was at right back and I always cringe when Pepe is brought onto the pitch. Also little Giuseppe Rossi did not have the desired effect - but then he came on when we were having our poorest period of play.
Just the same, this was no night for dwelling on the negatives. ItalJuve, as they have been christened, performed admirably. It all brings back memories of 1978 when there was only really Giancarlo Antognoni and a bunch of bianconeri. That team did OK, for itself. Maybe this one can follow suit.
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