Wow! Another game for La Viola
involving a wow! This time Prandelli’s
charges manage to beat Juventus in Turin
in a blinder o####ame. Five goals,
brilliant play, tactical shenanigans and edge of the seat excitement. Oh and that is the team the Blues is going to
play on Thursday.
The Stadio Olimpico in Turin is ripe for a tough
European six pointer. With Milan only managing a draw
and Roma winning three points is vital in the hunt for the prime European
spots. A decent and vocal crowd and high
expectations greeted the opening whistle.
Ranierii’s eleven is still
missing some key pieces in the middle and at the back, although still strong. Buffon comes into the ‘keepers spot with a
makeshift back four of Zebina, Legrottaglie, Grygera and Molinaro. Midfield sees Camoranesi and Palladino provide
the attacking flair with Sissoko and Zanetti providing the solidity. Del Piero and Trezeguet partner up
front.
Prandelli; without star forward
and with a UEFA Cup Night in midweek still picks an attacking eleven.
Frey retains the ‘keeper’s jersey
and has a familiar; if not first choice; back four in front of him of Ujfalusi
and Gobbi wide with Gamberini and Kroldrup in the middle. Kuzmanovic, Donadel and Montolivo make up the
midfield with Pazzini leading a three man attack flanked by Santana on the
right and top notch utility player Jorgenson on the left.
Juventus start off sharpish in an
open game, Kuzmanovic almost buries Santana’s cross and Zebina almost finishes
a move he starts with a header just over Frey’s bar.
Fiorentina lay it out and make
you beat them, they play the same home and away and don’t change much as they
profess to be ‘unable to protect a lead’.
They get the ball out wide and
aim for dangerous crosses or cutting runs into the area with midfielders coming late in
support.
Juventus are crossers too and
they also like to play it quickly forward through the middle.
The game unfolds kindly for a
hard working and ebullient Fiorentina, Santana’s runs causing Molinaro all
sorts of problems, Pazzini is a handful for a less than solid back four and
Fiorentina push up or drop back very well as a team. La Viola’s runs at Juve cause all sorts of
problems, Buffon has to be at his best when he’s clearly not 100%.
Another direct run and a lovely one
two sees Gobbi beat Buffon for the opener.
Pushing up from the right back berth the midfielder uses Jorgenson as a
foil before a continuation of his run, a static Juve defence and a great return
from the Dane combine well and a neat finish bulges the back of the net.
More of the same without actually
scoring fills the next ten minutes.
Juve are struggling to mount
meaningful attacks and seeing little of the ball. A free kick from the left sees Frey flail
weakly at the ball in, it drops kindly to Sissoko who uses his Kuyt inspired
Kung Fu and beats Frey with a spectacular overhead kick.
Fiorentina’s fragility comes to
the fore, they still go forward but lack the edge they had in the first half
and Juventus gradually neutralize the threat and finish the half even on honours
and possession. The stalemate continues
into the second half without either team threatening greatly.
Juve look most dangerous
exploiting the space on the break and some tweaking from the bench moves some
players around and pays handsome dividends.
Palladino; exerting more
influence as the game wears on; plays in Molinaro on the right, his back post
cross confuses the Viola centre backs and allows Camoranesi the opportunity to volley
a scorcher in for a two-one lead.
Fragility and glass jaws aside Fiorentina
keep on plugging. Prandelli makes some
astute changes and Osvaldo gets his shot (courtesy of Ujfalusi and the
utilitarian nature of Jorgenson who slots into the right back role!) and the
trickery of Santana is swapped for the pace of Papa Waigo.
Ranierii shuts up shop with the
removal if Camoranesi for Nocerino and he swaps guile for size when Del Piero
is replaced by Iaquinta.
Fiorentina keep attacking and
Juventus keep defending, surely they can hold on at home for another twenty
minutes.
The Bianconeri are woefully
mistaken.
Osvaldo runs at Juve and the
loose ball bounces for Pazzini, he lays it intelligently wide to Papa Waigo who
is given time to take the three touches he needs to slot it beyond Buffon.
Fiorentina keep attacking and
Juventus keep defending, surely they can hold on at home for another fifteen
minutes. Iaquinta had a free kick go
just wide.
The Bianconeri are woefully
mistaken.
La Viola just doesn’t quit, they
may slow up a little but they just keep on attacking. The two substitutes combine again to bag the
injury time winner. Papa Waigo’s pace
allows him some space on the right and he crosses well for Osvaldo to head past
Buffon at the near post.
Ranierii has seen his side slump
to one point in three games and seen Fiorentina close the points gap. Injuries have been a factor but shutting up
shop and then conceding two late on is shoddy at best. The Bianconeri can complain about cheats and
punishment all they want, they have a fine squad, good players and a good
manager, they just aren’t playing as well as they can recently.
Prandelli will be fashionably
delighted. Smart changes freshen up his
side and his tactics were carried out in exemplary fashion by his players. The side is still not at full strength yet
worked hard and created much. La Viola
are young side sprinkled with experience and style. They play a good brand of football with some
good energy and commitment. Five years ago
they were defunct and now they have climbed back into the upper echelons of
Serie A and Europe. They are always susceptible when ahead but do
score freely.
Expect that at home on Thursday
night they play with the same attacking and committed 4 3 3 against Everton; even
though the personnel will be different
"PAVEL! NO!" FRUSTRATED WITH HIS LACK OF SCORING CZECH WINGER NEDVED GOES ALL GIRLY!
"SORRY GIGI, I JUST COULDN'T TAKE THE MONEY FROM MORRATI" SERENI AND BUFFON EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES AFTER BOTH KEEPING CLEAN SHEETS IN TURIN
"EY OOP! PLANT LEAD FOOT TWO THREE! FOLLOW THROUGH WITH OTHE FOOT TWO THREE! STRIKE BALL AMAZINGLY HARD! TWO THREE! WHEEL AWAY AND SAY HELLO TO MY CROCKED MATE RONNIE TWO THREE FOUR! BRAZILIAN BRILLANCE! QUACK!
"ANYTHING A DUCK CAN DO AN ELEFANT CAN DO JUST AS WELL!" SPINESI GETS THE EQUALIZER FOR CATANIA
"I'M SCORING ON A JET PLANE! DON"T KNOW WHEN I WILL SCORE AGAIN! SO DON'T EVER LET ME GO!" PAPA WAIGO SALUTES JIMBO, MONTELLA AND JOEY AFTER HE BAGS THE WINNER FOR FIORENTINA!
TOTTI SALUTES NICKY LAUDA AND JOAN COLLINS AFTER HE PUTS ROMA IN FRONT IN MILAN!
MAXWELL TUCKS IT BACK INTO HIS SOCK AFTER IT GETS STEPPED ON AT THE SAN SIRO!
"YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR GALLIC HISTRIONICS ALL YOU WANT LAD. LOOK AT MY HAND. IT CONTAINS A CARD. ITS RED. WHAT DO LITTLE BOYS DO WHEN THEY SEE RED?"
"VOUS FOUTU BÂTARD ITALIEN DE FRAUDE ! NE POUVEZ-VOUS PAS VOIR LA
CHATTE ARGENTINE DE FRAUDE AVEZ-VOUS PLONGÉ ? I"m ALLANT TROUVER OÙ
VOUS AIMEZ ET CHIEZ PAR VOTRE BOÎTE De LETTRE VOUS FILS D'une
CHIENNE"
MEXES AND ROSSETTI EXCHANGE PLEASANTRIES AFTER INTER GET ANOTHER REFEREEING DECISION GO THEIR WAY
"WERE SO EXCITED! AND WE JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! WE'RE ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL AND WE JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!"
PELE, CHIVU AND ZANETTI DO THEIR INFAMOUS POINTER SISTERS IMPERSONATION!
Let’s talk La Viola, ACF Fiorentina, the Serie A side from Florence. They play Everton in the last sixteen of the
UEFA Cup and currently sit a lofty fourth in Serie A.
CESAR PRANDELLI
Cesare Prandelli was the manager
at AS Roma before personal issues forced his resignation. He re-emerged at Fiorentina and has been
quietly building a team in Florence. He turned La Viola from relegation strugglers
into a fourth place team, scandal hit and they were striped of the Champions
League place and 15 points. Despite the
docked points Prandelli managed a very creditable fifth in the 06/07 season and
a UEFA Cup spot. 2007/08 has seen his
side well up the table and doing well in the UEFA Cup. He is a fashionista and has had to deal with
the death of his wife this season.
WHAT HAS FIORENTINA DONE THIS SEASON?
This Viola side has a lot more in
common with Everton than does a Svennaisannced
Manchester City,
perhaps.
Fiorentina has managed the last
sixteen of the UEFA Cup with wins the following.
Groningen on penalties in the first round.
In the group stages they faced Villarreal
(A), Effsborg (H), AEK Athens (A) and Mlada Boleslav (H) and came away with two
wins and two draws; they scored ten and let in four.
They comfortably beat Rosenborg
home and away.
In Serie A
They’ve played well, sometimes
poorly and sometimes spectacularly.
Similar to Everton they haven’t beaten the top sides (Milan, Inter and Juventus) this season but
have managed a few good draws. They
travel well and Mutu is in the race for the capponcanoniere award.
They aren’t exactly a hard or
tough team (at least they don’t get many cards) and they like to attack. Criticism of them talks about a ‘glass jaw’
and not knowing how to defend for long periods.
WHO ARE THEY AND WHAT CAN THEY DO?
Frey (FRA) – excellent
‘keeper. Will be the first choice for
the national side in a year or two.
Dainelli (ITA) – Mainstay of La
Viola’s defence, good solid centre back.
Ujfalusi (CZH) – right back
(plays in the centre for the Czech
Republic). Better going forward than defending, particularly
when pace is involved.
Gamberini (ITA) – solid centre
back and probably see action in Euro08.
Kroldrup (DEN) – big good and
works well with Gamberini – he’ll be making a return to his previous club and
no love will have been lost at all.
Potenza (ITA) – promising youngster with
limited opportunities at Fiorentina, definitely one for the future.
Pasqual (ITA) a left back, who
can play further forward, gives Fiorentina a good crosser and willing runner
who likes to take free kicks and corners.
Da Costa (POR) – a youth prospect
– unlikely to figure
Donadel (ITA) – creative
midfielder for Prandelli, can spread the ball about from deep or from the
flanks.
Semioli (ITA) – mostly wide right
in either the middle or in a three man attack, great crosser of the ball.
Liverani (ITA) – can play wide
left or in the middle, very creative with a good range of passing and a nice
turn of speed.
Montolivo (ITA) – creative
youngster, most used from the bench.
Gobbi (ITA) – utility player,
really a midfielder and much more comfortable in that position.
Kuzmanovic (SUI)– young midfield
starlet. Pace and plenty of energy, good
box to box and doesn’t really have a pair of scoring boots.
Jorgenson (DEN)– Utility and then
some, will fit in to any position and do a decent job.
Santana (ARG) – right sided
midfielder with attacking intentions, good pace, movement and trickery with a
good cross.
Mutu (ROM ) – Fiorentina’s main
goal threat and a potent weapon. Scores
from anywhere and comes off the flanks well.
A good lone striker or when paired with others. Cappocanoiere potential with 14 Serie A goals
on the season
Vieri (ITA) – wily veteran who
may have lost some pace, he still has a bagful of tricks and is a good target
man with an excellent positional sense.
Pazzini (ITA) – a great foil for
Mutu and having a wonderful season so far.
Pacy and athletic he can play wide or through the middle.
Papa Wiago (SEN) – new signing
and primarily a wide player, will fit into Fiorentina’s 4 3 3 quite well.
Cacia (ITA) – young forward who
can come of the bench and do a decent job.
Osvaldo (ARG) – new to Fiorentina
but already an impact player, pacy goal hanger.
WHAT FORMATION AND WHAT PLAYERS?
Typically Prandelli will go with
a 4 3 3 (although not the same sort of 4 3 3 that Grant uses at Chelsea).
If he has all his players
available then this is what I would suggest could be his starting eleven.
GK – Frey
RB – Ujfalusi
CB – Dainelli
CB – Gamberini
LB – Pasqual
RM – Semioli
CM – Kuzmanovic
LM – Donadel
CF – Semioli
CF - Mutu
CF - Pazzini
Bench –
Kroldrup
Montolivo
Liverani
Jorgenson
Vieri
Santana
FIORENTINA’S NEXT OPPONENTS
Fiorentina play strugglers
Livorno On Wednesday and then a tough trip to Turin to play the Bianconeri. Then they welcome the Blues.
"AS EASY AS SCORING WITH DEL PIERO'S WIFE!" THE BIANCONERI LOOK FOR SOME WAY TO BLAME THE REFEREE FOR THE FIRST GOAL THEY CONCEDED IN REGIO CALABRIA. MOST PEOPLE WOULD CALL IT, "SHIITE DEFENDING!"
"TAKE THAT!" DEL PIERO'S SOFT SHOT IS UNFEASIBLY LET IN BY CAMPAGNOLO
"PRIMAVERA LA PELOTTA, SECUNDO L'HOMBRE!" VALDEZ CLEANLY WIN THE BALL FROM SISSOKO WHO THEN FLOPS OVER THE URUGUAYANS OUTSTRECHED LEG. GOOD DECISION REFEREE.
THE MALIAN VERSION OF THE LOTUS BLOSSOM FLYING HEAD KICK!
"HEY ALESSANDRO, THE GOAL, SHE OPEN UP TO ME JUST LIKE YOUR WIFE DID LAST NIGHT!' NICOLA AMARUSO SCORES THE WINNER FROM THE SPOT.
"IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT RAISE YOUR HANDS! IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT AND YOU REALLY WANT TO SHOW IT IF YOU'RE BRILLIANT AND YOU KNOW IT SMASH A GREAT GOAL IN AGAINST THOSE PREGNANT GOLDFISH FROM MILAN!"
"RIGHT LADS! WE MAY HAVE THROWN AWAY TWO POINTS BUT LATER ON WE'LL GET THOSE NASTY LITTLE BLUCERCHIATI IN THE SHOWERS!" CRESPO IS FIESTY AFTER NABBING THE EQUALIZER FOR INTER.
'NO NO NO NO NO! THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO YMCA! TONETTO AND CICINHO SWAP DANCE MOVES IN ROME
'"DO YOU SEE ME ALEX! DO YOU WATCH MY GOALS! TELL ME YOU TOMATO FACED SCOTTISH ####, HOW MANY EUROPEAN GOALS HAVE YOU SCORED?" BORN OFFSIDE, HARDLY
'EH GRANDAD! IF I'VE TOLD YOU ONCE I'VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES, DON'T COME ASKING ME FOR ANOTHER BOTTLE OF BOOZE WHILST I'M WORKING!" ERRANT RELATIVES IS THE LEAST OF THE REFEREE'S PROBLEMS AFTER TWO DISPUTED PENALTY DECISIONS.
Wow! Great game in Rome. Roma produce everything from the sublime to
the ridiculous whilst Fiorentina struggle to cope with a rejigged side, they
threaten on occasion, more so than Roma in the first half
Italy’s capital bathed in Sunshine
and adorned with the red of the Giallorossi Tifosi. The Stadio Olimpico is a great stadium to
watch football in and the home fans bought their singing voices in support of
their beloved team. A European
six-pointer.
Spalletti; with a full deck;
Mancini’s suspension aside; to pick from; still rings the changes; likely the
previous game last Wednesday and the game this Wednesday on his mind. Doni keeps goal with a back four of Cicinho,
Ferrari, Mexes and Tonetto. Aquilani is
welcomed with a start alongside De Rossi with Taddei, Vucinic and Giuly strung
out behind Totti. It’s a very fluid 4 5
1 formation (or 4 2 3 1 if you want to be picky).
Prandelli is buoyant from a job
well done in Europe and has the Blues to contemplate plus a midweek clash with Livorno to consider as well. He has more injuries and suspensions to
handle and picks a recombobulated side.
Frey is fit to keep goal, the
back four sees Ujfalusi and Gobbi wide with Gamberini and Kroldrup in the
middle. Kuzmanovic, Jorgenson and
Montolivo make up the midfield with Mutu spearheading a front three which
includes Semioli on the right and Vieri on the left.
La Viola start with intent and a
bit of fire, the fire is returned and Ferrari and Vieri start a game long
tussle.
Semioli is the key with Tonetto
defending slackly and allowing the wide man space to put in crosses. Gamberini forces a fine save from Doni on
three minutes, Mutu eschews a much easier chance, Mutu jumps ahead of the
better placed Gamberini and has his header cleared.
Roma aren’t being outplayed so
much as sitting back and absorbing pressure, they love to attack quickly and
from deep.
Crosses are a staple in the Viola
armoury; with Vieri not exactly mobile and Mutu often pushed wide the lack much
of a target.
Roma’s quick breaking sees’ Totti
win a foul and his quick free kick sees Vucinic spurn a chance with a levered
strike which goes well above the bar.
Twenty minutes in and Roma are
asserting themselves with good pressure.
They use the ball and space so beautifully at time with a cavalcade of
slick passing, mobile players and not really too much to trouble Frey. Totti gets free but scuffs his shot with too
much time to think about what he wants to do with the ball.
When La Viola do break Roma surge
back in numbers, at one point stifling the attack and regaining possession with
seven players and the ‘keeper in the area.
The dominant Roma midfield keeps
possession well and forces the odd aimless hoof from Fiorentina, still the
Giallorossi don’t really trouble Frey.
Cicinho comes closest but as a
result of a clearance not some slick passage of play, Frey’s hands are stung
but he stays firm.
Disaster strikes Prandelli’s side
when Mutu evades the Roma offside trap.
One on one with Doni he goes wide but the astute Doni keeps his feet and
times his challenge well; he wins the ball although his momentum sweeps Mutu
awkwardly off his feet. Mutu’s left knee
is not well and he is replaced by Papa Wiago.
The new signing forces Prandelli into changing to a 4 5 1.
Spalletti must have lit a fire
under the hairy Montenegrin’s arse at half time as Vucinic, pushed wider on the
left plays like a man possessed.
Prandelli and his number two must
have talked fashion and football as Fiorentina don’t come out hard as they did
in the first half.
Vucinic runs at Fiorentina and
terrorizes Ujfalusi with his pace and directness. His run and shot forces another good save
from Frey.
Fiorentina step it up some and
try to utilize the space left by Roma’s pressing, this works well although
Vieri needs to be in the middle and not making poor crosses from wide
left.
The game heats up and flows
faster from end to end until Roma make the vital breakthrough, well Vucinic’s
vim, verve and pace create the breakthrough.
Ujfalusi needs help and Gamberini
keeps being pulled wide to provide it.
Roma are on the front foot and a ball from De Rossi out to Vucinic pulls
the defenders wide, his pace and touch allow him to make space for a shot, one
deflection takes it into the path of three Roma players and Cicinho is cool
enough to finish past a well stranded Frey.
Fiorentina’s response is only a
moment or two in coming.
Montolivo; playing inside more
now; finds Papa Wiago on the right, the Senegalese pass inside finds Kuzmanovic
and the youngster takes paint off the crossbar with Doni statuesque or
positionally challenged.
Normalcy soon returns to the
Stadio Olimpico and Vucinic continues his campaign of terror against Ujfalusi
and this time the entire Fiorentina defence is static and the ball behind them
finds Totti who forces yet another great save from the much talked about
Frey.
Roma; as is their wont; seem to
be incapable of stuffing the game down their opponents throats and start to
ease of the gas, they sit deeper and deeper and let Fiorentina have more of the
ball. La Viola can’t really do much with
it so maybe the tactic is sound.
Numerous substitutions change the
complexion of the game after the hour as Roma go more defensive and Fiorentina
form up in a 4 4 2.
Roma defend well and Fiorentina
miss the sheer Mutuness of their inured Romanian striker.
The highlight of the last quarter
is Ujfalusi being punished for blatantly stealing ten or so yards on a throw
in, the referee calmly watches his pilfering before blowing his whistle and
awarding the throw to the home side. The
Roma Tifosi liked that one, Ujfalusi is steaming.
The final flurry sees a stupid
Cicinho pick up a needless red; his petulant kicking the ball away earns him a
second yellow and an early bath.
Gamberini comes close again in
the dying minutes and can’t use the time he has to aim better, his header is
watched wide by Doni.
Back up to a four point lead in
second will please Spalletti. Cicinho
will not although the midweek game against Inter will test his tactical
grit.
Roma were so sublime and
beautiful in parts but also pretty slack in others; Ferrari and Aquilani almost
handed La Viola the equalizer with some atrociously shoddy defending. He has plenty of personnel but how best to
utilize them? Three points and a pretty
comfortable win – Spalletti will have a good polish tonight.
Prandelli will be distraught; but
eminently fashionable; with the knee injury Mutu sustained. His side lacks a lot without the Romanian and
his goals.
Admittedly not his first team
Fiorentina played well in a few first half spells and made Doni work. The other eighty minutes they weren’t much
kop. The battle for the European places
and a UEFA Cup won’t get any easier.
Morganti was actually very
good. This is nice to see in a referee
these days. He didn’t have any tell tale
‘fat wallet’ bulges in his shorts either so neither Totti nor Juve nor anyone
else can have reason to complain.
AS Roma:-
Doni
Cicinho
Ferrari
Mexes
Tonetto
De Rossi
Aquilani
Taddei (Perotta 65)
Vucinic (Cassetti 67)
Giuly (Pizarro 79)
Totti
Bookings:-
De Rossi
Perotta
Cicinho (R )
Goals:-
Cicinho 53
Fiorentina:-
Frey
Ujfalusi
Gamberini
Kroldrup
Gobbi
Kuzmanovic
Jorgenson (Liverani 76)
Montolivo (Cacia 67)
Semioli
Mutu (Papa Waigo 42)
Vieri
Goals:-
Bookings:-
Vieri
Referee:-
Emilio Morganti
Nice to hear Christian Miles of
FSC talk about the team sheet graphics; he said, “Here are our projected line
ups” That is so appreciated Christian.
Makes you and FSC look so much better and is much preferred to you and
FSC being just plain wrong.
Today at least you got the team
sheet graphics for this game spot on.
Reggina put one over on a stuttering Old Lady to grab a bit of
relegation relief. Some brilliant
touches and some shoddy play in an odd game that ended in fireworks.
The Granillo in Febuary, both
teams well represented and neither bolshily optimistic nor dreadfully
pessimistic. Juventus wanted to leapfrog
Roma and Reggina needed to mount another last ditch fightback from the gaping
maw of Serie B.
Amaranto manager Ulivieri feared
for his job as he picks the team.
Campagnolo keeps goal behind a back three of Lanzario, Valdez and Aronica. Defender Cirillo is put in midfield to help
shore things up alongside Cascione, Barretto and Vigiani; wide on the left to
provide an attacking option is Modesto. Brienza operates forward and mostly right
with Vigiani sitting between attack and midfield, Amoruso is the target
man. Kind of a 3 4 1 2.
Ranierii is hit by a back virus
and other injuries and has to select a makeshift team with little on the
bench. Belardi keeps goal with a back
four of Gygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini and Molinaro. Camoranesi, Zanetti, new signing Sissoko and Nedved
are strung across midfield with Del Piero and Palladino in attack.
Reggina come out hard but quality
soon tells and Juventus dominate the early going with an impressive array of
touches, the lack of much goal threatening action doesn’t stop the Bianconeri
from mostly dominating the first half hour.
Amoruso selfishly shoots when a
lay of to the left would have found the open man.
Del Piero’s chance comes at him
too quickly and is cleared.
Camoranesi is floating around and
causing the Amaranto a lot of problems.
Belardi saves well from Modesto.
Sissoko flails at a half chance
and pokes the ball over.
Although Ranierii’s men dominate
they seem disjointed somehow, the lack of a penalty box striker could explain
it. Seems as though it will be only a
matter of time before their neat build up play actually forges a chance that
someone will bury in the net.
Mentally Juventus step off the
gas, passes go astray and Reggina claw their way back into the game. Some sloppy defending leads to a corner;
Sissoko half clears the second one and Legrottaglie; not on his best form of
the season; is slow to step up which leaves Belardi one on three with the
Amaranto attack, Brienza accepts the gift and finishes well past the stranded
‘keeper.
Hardly galvanized into action
Juventus still look out of sorts and only reassert their obviously better skill
in the final five minutes of the half.
Again Camoranesi is at the heart
of everything good for Juve.
Neither side changes at the
half.
Backs to the wall, ten men behind
the ball kind of effort from the Amaranto are on the cards and duly
delivered.
Juventus look frustrated and unlikely
to force the equalizer as the well drilled home side defend deeper and more
resolutely as the half wears on. What
they lack in skill they more than make up for in grit and determination.
Valdez makes a late and well timed tackle to
rob the ball off Sissoko as the Mali International gets a run into the
box. Camoranesi has a go from distance
as does Nedved.
Grygera comes on for the more
attack minded Salihamidzic and Ulivieri brings on Tognozzi for Cascione.
It all goes horribly wrong for
the home side a nothing shot without much power behind it finds Campagnolo
asleep, he wakes up in time to fumble over the ball as Del Piero wheels away to
celebrate another Serie A goal. Really
really poor ‘keeping.
For the rest of the game it’s
more Juventus attacking and more Reggina defending, Reggina tire first although
late on even Juventus start to fade a little.
Costa gets a rough Serie A debut
and a little while later Makinwa is thrown on to replace the injured
Brienza.
Juventus threw it all forward and
did very little defending, Reggina clearances allowed them to mostly control
possession. A late break by Amoruso did
need Belardi to be alert and quick off his line, n o mean feat for a virtual
spectator.
Injury time and it all
exploded.
Camoranesi’s header comes off an
arm and Juve expect a spot kick, the ball is cleared well as the referee
ignores the pleadings and Reggina attack on the right. A more hopeful than stunning cross finds
Sissoko and Amoruso as favourites for the ball, Sissoko needlessly pulls off
some flying kung fu kick which misses the ball and catches Amoruso. The referee is well places and point to the
spot amidst howls and begging please from Juventus.
Amoruso duly ####s the penalty
past his old team mate and Reggina win.
Tough loss for Juventus. Great win for Reggina. The ref played the game well enough. Seemed to get most things right amidst all
the diving and play acting.
How he only gave Legrottaglie
only a yellow when the Juventus defender wanted a wrestling match only he will
know, he even gave a card after the whistle for a cheap and girly kick by
Zanetti.
Juventus:-
Belardi
Grygera (Salihamidzic 61)
Legrottaglie
Chiellini
Molinaro
Camoranesi
Zanetti
Sissoko
Nedved
Palladino
Del Piero
Goals:-
Del Piero 71
Bookings:-
Grygera
Legrottaglie
Zanetti (R )
Reggina:-
Campagnolo
Lanzario
Valdez
Aronica
Cirillo
Cascione (Tognozzi 63)
Barretto
Modesto (Costa 82)
Vigiani
Brienza (Makinwa 86)
Amoruso
Goals:-
Brienza 32
Amoruso 93 (P)
Bookings:-
Lanzario
Amoruso
Brienza
Referee:-
Dondarini
Does it surprise that FSC got the
team sheets wrong again?
Serie A proved to be a mix of the mundane, the farcical and the sublime
this week. Although looking back it has
those properties every week.
Roma crashed away at Juventus, given the Giallorossi’s record in Turin it is still a
surprise.
Ranierii picked an attacking if unfamiliar three man
attack. Sure they seemed to have plenty
of the ball early on and had a few half chances, but in reality the majority of
the Bianconeri crosses in the first half went AWOL, Camoranesi had a good game
but was unable to unlock Roma.
Roma actually played a good
tactical game in the first half, they sat back, built up attack slowly and
tried to keep possession in the middle.
The majority of their crosses and balls into the box needed a Juventus boot
or head to cut them out.
Roma always looked more
threatening and composed.
Nedved is a wily old campaigner
and knows how to dive. Sure the foot was
stuck out, watch the replay, he starts the dive with his other leg. That sort of play gets you a free kick in Italy.
Let’s not take away the excellent
free kick from Del Piero, let’s just point out the atrocious wall.
Roma came out in the second half
but the tactical nous of Ranierii saw Camoranesi withdrawn and Nocerino
added. So the Bianconeri have two
holding midfielders, Roma get plenty of possession but failed to find that pass
or that shot.
Mr. Spalletti, clearly Totti is a
talismanic figure in Rome,
but clearly he was not fit today.
Playing him was pretty dumb. Sure
his touch can be sublime and his passing intricate but when he can’t run to
stab home a ball in the six yard box then he’s just like a chocolate
fire-guard. Would Ranierii, Mancini, Ferguson, Wenger or Moyes play
a crocked player?
Juventus:-
Buffon
Zebina
Legrottaglie
Chiellini
Molinaro
Camoranesi (Nocerino 46)
Zanetti
Nedved (Palladino 81)
Del Piero
Iaquinta
Trezeguet (Sissoko 67)
Goals:-
Del Piero 46
Bookings:-
Chiellini
AS Roma:-
Doni
Cassetti
Ferrari
Mexes
Tonetto
Pizarro (Aquilani 73)
De Rossi
Taddei (Giuly 60)
Perrotta (Esposito 82)
Mancini
Totti
Bookings:-
Goals:-
Referee:-
Saccani
Genoa lost at home to Sampdoria in a turgid game
without much to recommend it.
The bright start, Maggio and Di
Vaio going reasonably close in the opening few minutes soon gave way to some
really dire football.
The two teams aren’t solely to
blame for this. Them being two points
off each other before kick off and local city rivals and having played to a
draw earlier on in the season were just a backdrop.
Fresh faced and freshly minted by
FIFA Mr. Rizzoli; known for being card happy; had a total smegging ‘mare of a
game. Breaking wind got you a stern look,
spitting and he’d give a player the evil eye, make a goof strong derby tackle
and he’d give s oft or stupid yellow.
The teams cancelled each other
out in a poor Derby
game whilst the referee was happy to take Bob Marley at his word and “Every
time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow”. He had
to do a Cartman and stamp his AUTHORITAH! On the game instead of letting it
flow. Then Rizzoli has the temerity to
not book Delvecchio?
Genoa had more possession but couldn’t do
much with it. Sampdoria looked more
threatening in attack but it took playing against ten men (a spurious couple of
cards) and the eventual use of his eyes by Maggio to create the goal.
Cassano was the one bright spot
in the game, some brilliant passages of play and some entertaining whining
flowed from the youngster. Thankfully he
didn’t despair that the six other chances he handed to Maggio went AWOL and
persevered to hand the midfielder the seventh.
Genoa:-
Rubinho
Konko
De Rosa
Criscito
Rossi (Bovo 67)
Paro
Juric
Danilo
Milanetto (Lucarelli 64)
Borriello
Di Vaio (Figueroa 49)
Goals:-
Bookings:-
Juric
Paro
Danilo
Danilo (second get’s sent off)
Konko
Criscitto
Sampdoria:-
Castellazzi
Campagnaro
Sala
Accardi
Maggio
Delvecchio (Volpi 68)
Palombo
Franceschini (Bonazzoli 83)
Pieri
Cassano (Ziegler 90)
Belluci
Bookings:-
Sala
Campagnaro
Cassano
Accardi
Goals:-
Maggio 87
Referee:-
Rizzoli
Injuries can be no excuse for this torpid and uninspiring display. Top marks to Parma for making themselves hard to
beat.
Not much to say about this
game. Parma started the game with a point in mind
and got it. Milan started the game poorly and continued
in that vein for the following ninety minutes.
Even the highlights were
awful.
Ancellotti is praying for
Pato.
Parma:-
Bucci
Zennoni
Couto
Falcone
Castellini
Dessena
Morrone
Cigarini (Mariga 75)
Pisanu
Reginaldo (Gasbarroni 64)
Lucarelli (Budan 64)
Goals:-
AC Milan:-
Kalac
Cafu
Nesta
Kaladze
Jankulowski (Maldini 70)
Gattuso (Gilardino 46)
Emerson
Ambrosini
Serginho (Pirlo 46)
Kaka
Inzaghi
Goals:-
Referee:-
Dondarini
Adrian Mutu is sniffing around the capponcanoniere. The Romanian is the difference in one of the
best Italian games this weekend.
Catania
are hard to break down and have some good attacking options in Vargas, Pia and Martinez.
Fiorentina are better away than
at home although they have Mutu up front.
A good team with plenty in all departments.
Catania shaded the game early on then
Fiorentina got themselves straight and started to dominate possession although
not chances.
Some soft defending allowed
Kuzmanovic to get between two defenders to nod home a cross for Fiorentina’s
opener.
Mascara’s introduction caused
Fiorentina problems and more defensive fluffs (created no doubt from the dodgy
Serbian ‘keeper) led to a well executed goal from a corner, Vargas with the
powerful shot from the sloppy clearance.
The second half was end to end stuff,
nail biting and well executed. Mutu is
the jewel in Prandelli’s squad and a good knock down, powerful direct running
and a blinder of a shot led to the winner for La Viola. This was just after a passage of play that
saw Fiorentina pushed back and Catania
squander several half chances.
This time Fiorentina weathered
the late pressure and came away with a good three points.
Fiorentina:-
Frey (Abramov 55)
Potenza
Dianelli
Gamberini
Pasqual
Donadel
Montolivo (Jorgenson 65)
Kuzmanovic
Santana (Semioli 76)
Mutu
Pazzini
Goals:-
Kuzmanovic 39
Mutu 70
Bookings:-
Mutu
Donadel
Catania:-
Polito
Alvarez
Silvestri
Stovini
Vargas
Baiocco
Izco
Biagianti (Mascara 46)
Martinez
Pia
Colucci
Bookings:-
Silvestri
Goals:-
Vargas 60
Referee:-
Banti
Catania’s 433 would look like this is FSC were
actually correct in their team graphics!:-
Polito
Stovini – a CB @ RB?
Vargas – a LB @ CB?
Izco – a CM @ CB?
Baiocco – a CM @ LB?
Silvestri – a CB @ CM?
Biagianti
Colucci – a F @ CM?
Pia
Alvarez – a RB @ F?
Martinez
That is just so dumb.
Max Bretos and other commentators.
Gotta single out the commentator
here. Firstly the team sheet for Catania was hopelessly
WRONG. The names of the players were correct
but their location on the graphic was hopelessly lost. Juan Vargas isn’t a right back either. Thankfully he didn’t do the commentary.
I’m sure that the people of Genoa love to hear tales
about their nautical past but is it really necessary to waffle on about it
during a football match.
He wasn’t the only muppet at the
mike this weekend though. Two normally
reliable commentators; Richard Widdle and Paul Visca; seemed to think Juventus
dominated the first half, surely they must have been bough some nice new
Italian suits by Ranierii to be so blatantly pro Bianconeri.
The bloke who did the Fiorentina
game was excellent.
Other Results.
Internaz ional 2 – 0 Livorno
The table toppers increase their
hold on the Scudetto. Suazo gets a pair
and Livorno are glad to get out of Milan.
Lazio 3 – 0 Atalanta
A surprise and welcome win for
the Biancocelesti. Back to the drawing
board for Atalanta.
Napoli 1 – 3 Empoli
Big trouble for the Azzurri with
another loss. With three sendings off it
was a high tension game.
Palermo 2 – 1 Cagliari
Guidolin’s ‘little girls’ show
some balls.
Reggina 1 – 3 Udinese
Back into the European place
scrap for Udinese, more woes for Reggina.
Internaz ionale won again, so did Juventus and Roma. Milan
won then slipped up in midweek. Udinese
and Fiorentina lost ground, Sampdoria gained it. Torino surprised Palermo.
Livorno pulled off two draws and Lazio
fell into a sort of bizarre miasma. Parma, Cagliaria, Genoa
and Atalanta got unwelcome draws. Napoli and Catantia are in the doldrums and the Scudetto
is looking more won with each week.
FIXTURES
Fiorentina V Catania
A draw in Serie A and a win in the UEFA Cup with Mutu being
the difference maker. Catania howls with rage at a dodgy refereeing
decision that wouldn’t really have altered the outcome of the game.
Fifteen points separate the two teams with Catania hovering just above a relegation
struggle and Fiorentina clinging to fourth spot.
It’s all about the Romanian for Prandelli. Baldini will love the return of Vargas,
Spinesi is the key to any sort of result.
Injuries hurt Il Elefanti more than La Viola so expect a bag
full of goals.
Genoa
V Sampdoria
Despite the draw at Livorno last week Genoa are still firmly in the middle of Serie
A. Sampdoria continue to push upwards
and are chasing down a UEFA cup place.
Only two points separate the two city rivals with much,
much, much more than a mere three points at stake. Derby,
Italian style.
Mazzarri will win more fans over if the Blucerchiati win and
Cassano is the key to unlock the Rossoblu.
Gasperini doesn’t have quite the firepower of his cross town
rivals but in Borriello has one of Italy’s most potent Italian
marksmen.
Injuries and suspensions hamper Genoa a touch more than Sampdoria.
Internaz ionale V Livorno
A cruel twist of the scheduling gnomes hands Livorno a second trip to the Stadio Guiseppe Meazza in
less than a week. Inter will want to win
easy as they have a game against English opposition in midweek.
A whopping thirty three points separate the two sides;
although the Amaranto did stifle Milan
in midweek. .
Mancini still has a mountainous injury list in the middle
but still has some razor sharp attacking talents.
Camolese’s injuries aren’t as voluminous; but are more
crucial with Tavano’s start uncertain.
Juventus V Roma
Both sides won last week in differing fashions. Juve are solid at home and Roma are on of
Serie A’s better traveling teams.
A mere four points splits the second and third placed team
so their positions won’t change.
Earlier in the season in Rome Iaquinta snatched a point for
the Bianconeri. The stakes this time
around are even higher.
Injuries aren’t an issue for Spalletti or Ranierii.
Camoranesi will be a key player although so many on the
field in Turin
will be able to turn the match.
Lazio V Atalanta
Lazio embarrassed themselves at Empoli last week and a
Muslimovic inspired Atalanta grabbed a point to Fiorentina.
Crunch time for the two sides really, Lazio need to avoid
relegation trouble and Atalanta need to get into the European chase.
Only seven points separate the sides but two different
stories are unfolding in Bergamo and Rome. A quiet revolution and a disaster.
Injuries hamper but don’t hamstring either team. Doni returns for Del Neri and Rossi once
again tries to shake the most out of Pandev.
Napoli V Empoli
The Azzurri are staggering; with another loss; and Empoli
might have just sparked a climb out of relegation trouble; with a win.
Reja has a target on his back with a run of stuttering
results and Malesani is struggling with a poor away record.
Eight points separate the sides with plenty of games to go
to change things around.
Injuries confound both the Azzurri and the Empolisi. Slovakian
Hamsik is the top scorer available to Napoli;
Pozzi is the threat for Empoli this term but goals away is a problem.
Palermo V Cagliari
Can the Rosanero turn around their stuttering season and can
the Rossoblu turn a three game unbeaten streak into a climb away from the
bottom. Palermo
got hammered and Cagliari
grabbed a disappointing point.
Guidolin is under fire with the owner publicly insulting him
in the Italian press.
Although thirteen points separate the two teams their current
form belies their place in the table.
Massive injury and suspension worries hit Palermo
with Cagliari
smarting but not quite as hindered.
Cavani should start for Palermo
and Cagliari
will look to keep things tight at the back and grab one.
Parma V Milan
Spiraling out of control Parma
face a tired but tough Milan
who may be in the throes of an injury crisis.
The Ducali and Rossoneri both sna tched a point.
Seventeen points split the teams and as in other games Europe and relegation are on the minds of
supporters.
City misfit Corradi is unavialabe and new signing Lucarelli
is unlikely to play so Pisanu will be the key man for the Gialloblu especially
as Di Carlo has other injuries to worry about.
Ancellotti also has major injury worries but has depth, Kaka’s return
could be pivotal. Gilardino, if he
starts, will be making the trip back to his old stomping grounds.
Reggina V Udinese
Reggina came crashing down to earth last week with a loss to
Roma whilst Udinese lost at home.
Fifteen points is the gap and yet again it’s points needed
to avoid relegation or grab a European spot.
Marino’s Zebrette have more woes up front than at the back
whilst Ulivieri’s Amaranto almost have a full squad fit to play.
Quagliarella’s absence is a boon for Reggina as well as
commentators, Zapata is a good young defender.
Amuroso and Vigiani are the two hit men for the Regio Calabria
outfit.
Could actually be a pretty good game.
Siena V Torino
A win for the Granata and the residual affects of the Bianconeri’s
last win make for an appetizing encounter.
Neither side is inspired this season although Torino is more
disappointed despite being four points above Siena.
Beretta is likely to stick with a starting eleven that has
done pretty well against two top sides whilst Novelino has suspension issues;
and for his players as well.
With sox goals in two games Torino
are on an exceptional scoring run.
My Games of the
Week.
Juventus V Roma & Genoa V Sampdoria, (games at Reggina
and Siena could
be firecrackers as well though)
Atalanta came from behind twice to grab a hard earned point in Bergamo. Two goals from Muslimovic repaid the manager’s
faith in the striker. Fiorentina without
Mutu played well but couldn’t get a third to kill the game off.
The Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia
had a good crowd for this tough and vital clash of black and blue and
purple. The Orbici are tough at home and
la Viola is hard to score against away.
Neither side has its best player on the field so understudies would have
to step up and deliver.
Gigi Del Neri, gauche and
bespectacled, adopted a normal 4 4 2; strong defence, good width and a gamble
on a less than prolific striker were his choices.
Coppola keeps goal with a back
four of Rivalta, Pellegrino, Capelli and Manfredini. Ferreira Pinto and Langella provided width
with De Ascentis and Tissone providing the steel through the middle. Floccari keeps his place and Muslimovic gets
a rare start.
Prandelli stayed with his usual 4
3 3. Solid at the back with a good ‘keeper,
young talent in the midfield with a potent (not his best with Mutu absent) attacking
combination. Frey keeps goal with a back
four of Ujfalusi (who is likely to leave on a free in June, Dianelli, Gamberini
(freshly bolstered by his Azzurri call up) and Pasqual. Donadel and Montolivo; they can tackle
although the range of their passing is the key to la Viola’s potent attack;
work alongside the deeper lying Kuzmanovic in the middle. Santana and Semioli operate wider and just
behind the free scoring Pazzini.
The first two chances in an open
game involve fullbacks. Manfredini gets
