"F. U. C. K. OFF YOU TOSSER, I HOPE YOU BREAK YOUR LEG!" "I HAD YOUR WIFE LAST WEEK!" THE PRE GAME PLEASNATRIES IN THE ENFORCED SERIE A HANDSHAKE CEREMONY!
EASIER THAN SCORING WITH TOTTI'S WIFE!
EH LADS! ANYONE GOT A DUMMY (COMFORTER) FOR THAT MISERABLE SMEG TOTTI!
GILARDINO COULDN'T SCORE WITH TOTT'IS WIFE!
SUPERPIPPO COULDN'T EITHER!
1000 MALDINI APPEARANCES CAN'T HIDE MILAN'S AWFUL PERFORMANCE AGAINST PARMA!
DAVID, THEY ARE SO SOFT! JUST WHAT DO YOU USE ON YOUR HANDS? PIG FAT AND DUCK LIVERS - WORKS A TREAT!
EY-UP! SPIN TWO THREE! TURN TWO THREE! LEAVE THESE TWO FAT GENOANS IN THE DUST TWO THREE! ITALIAN MADMAN LIVENS UP AN OTHERWISE AWFUL GAME WITH SOME STUNNING SKILLS!
BABY! YES! OH YES! IT WENT IN! MAGGIO SCORES AFTER SO MANY BEAUTIFUL SET UPS!
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but the tactical nous of Ranierii saw Camoranesi withdrawn and Nocerino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)
Roma start at a gallop with some champagne football and resort to more
mundane tactics to grind out the win over a game but misfiring Palermo
Saturday in Rome.
A little over forty thousand in the Stadio Olimpico and still it look
empty but the Giallorossi Tifosi turned up the volume for their team.
Important game for both teams
with Roma keen to keep the pressure on Inter.
Palermo
needed the win to restore direction and confidence to their organization.
Spalletti makes changes from the
Coppa Italia midweek team. Doni keeps
goal with a back four of Cassetti, Ferrari, Mexes and Tonetto. Pizzarro, the ebullient Chilean and Brighi
sit deep in the middle with Taddei, Perrotta and Mancini sitting further
forward. Totti occupies the lone striker
role in a very fluid 4 5 1 formation.
YES! I DO USE THE SAME HAIR STYLIST AS ANDY JOHNSON!
Guidolin is forced into some
changes but fields a robust side. Fontana keeps goal with a
back four of Biava, Rinaudo the excellent Barzagli and Zaccardo. Simplicio retains his place alongside Migliaccio
and Guana with Caserta
and Miccoli operating as support for Amauri in a defensively minded 4 5 1
The home side starts with
precision passing and movement and some stunning touches from the Captain. Perrotta comes close to opening the scoring
with a volley that shaved the upright
Palermo is pegged back but warning bells
sound when a Miccoli corner confuses the Roma defence.
Guana and Migliaccio are worked
hard with the speed and fluidity of Roma’s attack but Palermo hold in there and Miccoli’s shot is
well crafted but just wide.
Pizzarro shows the bad side of
football with a hugely obvious dive in the Palermo penalty area, he gets away without a
yellow though.
Roma are flowing beautifully but
Totti reputation earns him a fee kick after Migliaccio legally robs him of the
ball, moments later Totti gets revenge with an unconcealed hack at the Palermo midfielder’s
ankles which surprisingly doesn’t warrant a card.
Palermo are game but a five man midfield
leaves Amauri isolated and the team relatively toothless in attack. When an opportunity does present itself the
Rosaneri are unable to capitalize, Zaccardo escapes the marking of Ferrari at
the back post and with the whole goal or Amauri to aim at finds touch.
Roma pressure resumes without
quite the bite of the first twenty minutes, Palermo
midfielder Caserta
skies a half chance.
The game is still tied at the
half, this season hasn’t seen much champagne from the Giallorossi but more of
the grinding and result oriented football.
Palermo
seem rooted to the idea of using Amauri on his own up front.
Miccoli gets onto a Migliaccio
ball as Palermo
come out with some hustle after the break, his turn in the area is neat and his
shot is wide.
With help Amauri is more
dangerous and it takes a cynical block to stop the Brazilian and Miccoli from
creating a great opportunity down the left, the resultant free kick is a
complete waste.
Roma have plenty through the
midfield but seem to stutter around the edge of the Palermo
area and when they breach the visitors defence they don’t finish well, Perrotta
hacks at a half chance in the area and the ball doesn’t trouble Fontana.
Tough tackling and a solid
defensive shape keep Palermo
into the game until the referee steps in and give Rinaudo and straight red for
a studs up challenge. In a game devoid
of malice a yellow and a stern warning should suffice.
Less than two minutes later with
Guana dropping into the defence a quickly taken Roma corner sees Mancini rise
above his confused markers and reach the ball in front of the flailing Fontana to head home the
opener.
The game is effectively over, a
slew of substitutions can’t help ten man Palermo
and Roma defend and keeps possession well, mostly holding Palermo at arms length.
The incidents in the remainder of
the game are Mexes heading onto the post from a corner with Fontana
well beaten, Cavani skying one from eight yards out and Fontana saving well from an incorrectly
flagged offside Aquilani.
With results like today’s
Guidolin must realize he has the remainder of the season before he gets the
sack. Palermo was tough to break down and obdurate
but lacked any real threat going forward with Amauri isolated.
They have talent and some good
players but if they fail to get a European spot by season’s end they will be
picked over by the bigger Italian clubs.
Every game when they push a man up to help Amauri they’ve looked more
dangerous. Coming to defend just isn’t
working for the Rosanero. A bright spot
was the form of youngster Jankovic.
Roma lacked a cutting edge against
Palermo but had
enough guile and quality to eke out a win.
A good home three, especially with Inter drawing keeps faint Scudetto
hopes alive. The return of Aquilani will
be refreshing for Spalletti as will the fight for places when the squad is at
full strength.
Brighi was harsh in the sending
off and lenient when Cassetti didn’t get booked for a second body check.
Inter####onale are in top spot. Consistently winning; even whilst playing
poorly; is a feature of most of their campaign to date. The title is theirs to lose. The restart of European competition will have
a big impact on the UEFA Cup and Champions League places. Juventus, Udinese and Palermo don’t have any European football to
look forward to or provide a distraction.
Inter, Milan
and Roma have the Champions League and Fiorentina have the UEFA Cup as a
distraction.
SERIE A TRANSFERS
ATALANTA
Out: Zampagna (A, Vicenza)
CAGLIARI – some
strengthening of their goalkeeping and looking for goals in order to avoid
Serie B next season.
FIORENTINA – even more depth in attack to
maintain their UEFA Cup spot.
In: Cacia (A, Piacenza)
GENOA – help at the
back and in attack, to help push for a UEFA Cup place.
In: Criscito (D, Juventus), Masiero (A, Central
Espanol), Wilson (A, Corinthians)
INTER – bolstering the injury hit midfield
with creativity and experience.
In: Maniche (M, Atletico Madrid)
Out: Adriano (A, Sao Paulo)
JUVENTUS
Out: Criscito (D, Genoa),
Olivera (M, Penarol)
LAZIO
LIVORNO – strengthening the
defence to avoid relegation trouble.
In: Sidny (D, Nautico)
MILAN – bagging the
most talked about Brazilian eighteen year old in years to help them in Europe and take them to a Champions League place.
In: Pato (A, Internacional)
NAPOLI
Out: Gatti (M, Modena)
PALERMO
Out: Brienza (M, Reggina)
PARMA – last season he
bagged 20 goals for Livorno, he’ll help them
avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation battle.
In: Lucarelli (A, Shakhtar Donetsk)
Out: Cardone (D, Cesena), Paponi (A, Cesena)
REGGINA – defensive help and proven young
goalscorer in their battle to stay up.
In: Cirillo (D, Levante), Stuani (A, Danubio)
ROMA
SAMPDORIA
Out: Foti (A, Messina)
SIENA – two more
attacking options, to help balance their goal difference.
In: Porta (A, River Plate Montevideo),
Rigano' (A, Levante)
Out: Bucchi (A, Bologna)
TORINO
UDINESE
Out: Sivok (M, Sparta Prague)
FIXTURES
Fiorentina V Torino
A midweek cup trouncing might not get any better in Florence. La Viola is strong and coming of####ood win and
with Europe coming up and the European spots
up for grabs they have plenty to play for.
The manager also seems to be right back in the game. The Gigliati are at full strength and Granata
are struggling with injuries. Last week
Fiorentina won and Torino lost.
The Nerrazzurri scraped a win last week but expect a
different side at the Stadio Meazza.
Maniche is unlikely to get an outing as will Parma’s new signing Lucarelli. Expect a home win but don’t be surprised if
Lucarelli returns to Serie A with a ####.
Parma hasn’t
won away from home yet and a loss won’t help their slide into the relegation
quagmire. Both sides are at less than
full strength but Mancini’s charges have plenty of depth. Last week Inter won and Parma lost.
Genoa V Atalanta
Great result for Genoa
last week and they’ll need to play just as well to leapfrog Atalanta in the
race for a UEFA Cup place. Expect a home
win but this could be a cracking game. Genoa loses their top
Honduran and Doni is back for Atalanta.
Last week Genoa
won and Atalanta lost.
Juventus V Sampdoria
A draw for the Bianconeri; a lucky one at that; will need to
be erased by a home win. Juventus can’t
lose their position but they will not want to slip any further behind Roma or allow
Udinese and Fiorentina to catch up. Sampdoria
were on fire last week and will relish this tough away challenge despite having
a less than stellar form on the road.
Sampdoria don’t have a full compliment of strikers and Juventus are a
touch short in defence. Tiago may
start. Last week Juventus drew and
Sampdoria won.
Livorno V Empoli
Already a relegation six pointer and a local derby will make
this fixture shine (although last season it remained goalless). Livorno is
unbeaten in five and playing well under a new manager and Empoli are
struggling, with their last win coming in 2007.
Empoli are at less than full strength and poor on the road. Last week Livorno
won and Empoli drew.
Napoli V Lazio
Napoli needs to regain
their early season form if they are to mount a challenge on a European
place. The strikers and goalkeepers are
kept busy in Naples
so expect a few goals; from either team.
Lazio continue their poor form.
Gargano will be a loss to Napoli but
Lazio has plenty of injury worries. Last
week both teams lost.
Palermo V Siena
Palermo
come off an erratic run of form but are still riding high in Serie A, another
loss will dent their UEFA Cup ambitions and could see them drop places. Siena
are in deep trouble and really struggle on the road; one win in eight. This must be the start of the Bianconeri’s
relegation dogfight, particularly as they showed so well against Inter last
week. Expect goals with both teams
wanting the win. Last week Palermo and Siena
lost.
Reggina V Cagliari
Reggina are struggling but Cagliari is awful. A huge game for both teams. Another loss and Cagliari will be playing for pride, a Reggina
loss helps them not a jot. Amaruso will
be the difference maker and will want to shine so as to stake a place in another
Serie A side next season. History is
with the home side and the visitors have their share of injury woes. Last week Reggina grabbed a point and Cagliari lost;
again.
Roma V Catania
Second place needs defended and the visit of Catania is an almost certain three points, last season Catania got thrashed
7-0. Catania hasn’t won on the road this season
and nothing is likely to change here, Mancini is in a good run of form and
Spinesi is wearing his shooting boots.
The result against Juventus will give the Sicilians heart for this
fixture. Last week Roma won and Catania were robbed of
three points.
Udinese V Milan
Possibly the biggest game of the weekend. Milan is
certainly going to be tested by a very strong Udinese side that has only lost
once in Udine. Milan’s
away form is better than their play in the Stadio Meazza though. Pirlo’s absence will be a tough blow to
overcome; Gattuso is fiery but doesn’t have the ball skills that Pirlo
has. The three Brazilians will face a
tougher test against a tough Udinese back line than they did against Napoli. The Azzuri
have some injury and suspension problems but Quagliarella is in form, history
favours the Rossoneri. Last week both
these teams won and will be looking to continue the trend to solidify their
European aspirations for the home side and to climb the table for the
visitors.
My pick will still remain as Internaz ionale to beat either Barcelona or an English team in the Final in Moscow.
Draw for first KO stage. (group
winners play away leg first)
Arsenal v AC MILAN – possibly the
plum tie of the round for the neutral
BARCELONA v Celtic – the Scots have a
punchers’ chance with their good home record
CHELSEA v Olympiakos – much too one sided to
be really good for the neutral.
INTERNAZ IONALE v Liverpool – valiant scrappers come an Italian cropper.
Lyon v MANCHESTER UNITED – One sided, to the
maximum.
PORTO
v Schalke 04 – who knows, both sides have surprised so it could go either way,
definitely one to watch for the uncertainty factor.
REAL MADRID v Roma – possibly the
plum tie of the round (anyone who knows La Liga well should speak up on this
one)
SEVILLA v Fenerbache – Closer
then some may think as one game is in Turkey, but you figure two
consecutive UEFA Cups will be the thumb on the scales.
(Group winners in CAPS)
The odds are for winning it all;
first is the odds from August; second from before the draw; finally the odds after
the draw.
Liverpool
**9/1 – 11/1 – 14/1
– oops! the bookies don’t discount the reds but understand the enormity of
their task.
Porto
9/1 – 50/1 – 40/1
– getting possibly the easiest draw of the first KO round has improved the odds
but still a long shot.
Chelsea
6/1 – 8/1 – 6/1
– dropped back down, probably due to an easier draw.
Schalke 04
40/1 – 40/1 – two
teams in the same game have their odds shortened; indecisiveness from the
bookies.
Real Madrid
9/1 – 8/1 – 8/1
– stays the same; they have a really tricky and tough to call tie.
Olympiakos
150/1 – 50/1 – 100/1
– Someone thinks they have a punchers chance against Chelsea, still a long shot though
AC Milan
8/1 – 10/1 – 10/1
– The tie against a formidable team hasn’t shortened their odds, much
uncertainty with this tie.
Celtic
100/1 – 50/1 – 80/1
– big increase so the bookies think Strachan’s players have only a hope in
hell.
Barcelona
9/2 – 4/1 – 7/2
– they drop again, due to their opponents and smart bookies.
Lyon
18/1 – 20/1 – 25/1
lengthened again due to superiorly perceived opponents.
Manchester United
6/1 – 5/1 – 5/1
– stays the same, this suggests a win against Lyon but not anything more than a
decent chance to win it all.
Roma
21/10 – 16/1 – 20/1
– the bookies see them beating Arsenal when hell freezes over.
Internaz ionale
8/1 – 9/1 – 9/1
– no change which suggests the bookies like the Italians but aren’t quite
convinced.
Fenerbache
200/1 – 50/1 – 50/1
– the Turkish side could cause an upset but do YOU really think so against
strong Spanish opposition?
Arsenal
8/1 – 8/1 – 8/1
– stays the same; they like the gunners but don’t want the odds to suggest
anything more than a decent chance.
Sevilla
20/1 – 10/1 – 10/1
- stays the same, they like the Spaniards but don’t want the odds to suggest
anything more than a decent chance
Remember the bookies aren’t
exactly trying to pick the winner. They
are trying to make money, so the odds reflect their understanding of the
betting market and their expertize at fleecing suckers.
Expect the longer odds to change
if that team does well in the first game.
The stronger teams’ odds will remain fairly static at the early stages
of the KO rounds as the bookmakers realize the games are actually too tough to
call with any certainty.
**All
Ladbrokes odds are from 31/08/2007 and then 20/12/2007 and finally 23/12/2007.
My Picks.
Internaz ionale – unless Liverpool drastically upgrade several aspects of their personnel
and play the Internaz ionale Machine will roll them over.
Chelsea – too much for the Greeks; even with
a (possibly) depleted side.
Roma – they have managed to
overcome the toughest early Serie A schedule in many a season and still remain
second. Deceptively tough.
Porto
– too much for the Germans, you would think.
AC Milan – Cesc will shine, but then so will
Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Kaka and Inzaghi.
Sevilla – Ole Ole Ole Ole! the
move to this stage of the Champions League will not be tougher than the UEFA
Cup (yet!).
Manchester United – they win when they play
less then good, very strong with possible January additions.
Barcelona – pushed hard by the Scots but the
class up front will tell in the end, they’ll do it with a draw and a tight win
at the Nou Camp.
A.C. Milan
has left the country but the Serie a fixture is packed with tasty games this
weekend.
Italian football's best player gets his hands on a golden ball.
Internaz ionale are still the form team, closely followed by
A.S. Roma, the top two have opened a gap on the other teams; albeit a small
one. With three games two go before the
Winter break the chasers will want to close the gap before it becomes a chasm.
Empoli (20th)
v Cagliari (18th)
A real relegation six pointer so early in the season. Empoli have been poor; home and away this
season; with the exception of a win over A. C. Milan at the San Siro.
Two weak defences and the worst Italian top flight attack
might suggest plenty of goals; I’d beg to differ; last season this fixture was
1-0 and Cagliari don’t travel to the Stadio Castellini very well.
Injuries to the Cagliari
‘keeper will be the focal point of Empoli’s attack; Foggia may be back to his best for this
game. A dourish and close home win.
Genoa (13th) v Siena (17th)
A win for Siena
would take them away from the crowd at the bottom of the table. With only a
victory against Empoli this season they are struggling for points, a full squad
to pick from will help but a less than stellar away record doesn’t favour the
Bianconeri.
Genoa are a mixed bag this
season, good wins against Udinese and Napoli
have been balanced with a thrashing by Internaz ionale. The home side scores freely at home but also
have defensive problems, having Bega out on a suspension won’t help.
Home advantage should mean a Genoa victory. Don’t hold your breath for a cracker unless Genoa regains their early
season form.
Internaz ionale (1st)
v Torino (12th)
The Nerazzurri welcome Torino
with open arms, despite their injury worries.
The Turin
team is winless on the road and Internaz ionale are dominant at home.
Six goals for the home side in the two fixtures last season
and a relatively bounteous selection of forwards to choose from would suggest a
home romp. The Turin
team are likely to favour a 4 4 2 and have done well against Milan and Juventus this season, the need to
win this; in the first of three tough games; is immense. Ventola may have a point to prove and the
midfield will be strengthened with the return of Grella and Barone (has anyone
seen DangerMouse?). Expect a home win.
Juventus (3rd)
v Atalanta (6th)
Atalanta are calmly going about making a Bergamo size dent
in Serie A this season, they have done it without the attention of a Napoli or
Palermo. The comfortable win last week
was a wake up call to many in the league. The Orobici will be feeling good with a solid
if unspectacular away record. Doni is
better at home than away but adds a touch of class to a more workmanlike team.
Juventus are getting better as the season wears on, the lack
of European football is a huge help and the players that took them easily to
the top of Serie B are doing the same in Serie A. Goal scoring isn’t the Bianconeri’s issue at
home but their defence can be a touch shaky at times.
Doni will have to be on fire and the Juventus backline have
a clanger for an away win in the Stadio Olimpico. Home win.
Lazio (15th)
v Catania (10th)
Lazio are having a poor season, struggling in Italy and in Europe
they have all but imploded this season. Rossi
is under pressure and a loss here might be his last hurrah for the
Biancocelesti. They have a host of
injuries and are leaking goals at home.
Catania
will be buoyant after a stonking win against their Sicilian neighbours last
week. Martinez and Tedesco will be absent due to suspension
but they have plenty of quality in the side.
The Rossoazzurri front man Spinesi will be a threat but goals from
elsewhere may be harder to come by.
Not winning away this season may change this weekend, Lazio
will be shell shocked and tired from the Inter drubbing in midweek. Pride and safety can make excellent
motivators though. I’d go for an entertaining
draw.
Livorno (16th) v Roma (2nd)
Livorno is hovering above
the trouble zone this week but welcome an in form Roma to the Armando
Picchi. The Tuscan’s have been
marginally better away this season but took two points off Internaz ionale at
home. If Tavano has a good game they can
expect some goals from a sometimes error prone Roma defence.
The Giallorossi need to put away teams such as Livorno to keep Internaz ionale in their sights. Totti’s likely return will be a boost to
Spalletti, although it remains to be seen whether the Italian and Montenegrin
can operate in tandem; as they are likely to do at the weekend.
Unless Roma have a howler and Livorno; Amelia in particular;
have a blinder then an away win is on the cards, Roma are a stronger team than
last year when they came away from Tuscany
with a draw.
Napoli (9th)
v Parma (14th)
Tough game for Napoli after
last week’s defeat. They are much better
home than away so should be optimistic.
Reja is likely to field an unchanged side; one alteration due to
suspension aside; such is his confidence in his players. They have plenty of goals in them but the
Azzurri can be dodgy at the back.
Parma
has a chance to match them on points with a win. A recent run of good form has coincided with
a return to a 4 4 2, the Gialloblu will rely on Manchester misfit Corradi and Pisanu for
goals but have struggled late in games at times this season.
A tough one to call but I’ll go for the Azzurri on this one,
home form and their foreign strike force will give them all three points.
Palermo (11th) v Fiorentina (5th)
La Viola need a win to change their momentum and hasn’t lost
on their travels this season. Prandelli’s
loss will be professionally put aside in what is almost a must win game. Goals have been the recent problem, Mutu
hasn’t been on target since the Siena
win although Pazzini and Vieri have both found the net recently. Three games without a win isn’t Champions
League spot football.
Palermo had a tough loss last week and much will depend on
whether they go 4 5 1 or 4 4 2, they have been much better looking and more
dangerous in the latter formation, Amauri benefits from a little attacking
help. Last week they squandered a number
of half chances and will need to be better in front of goal this week. Caserta’s
suspension is a blow but the reintroduction of Miccoli and Cavani should help
things out up front.
The home crowd maybe a twelfth man but Fiorentina are a
strong side. I think you may see some
fireworks in the Renzo Barbera, most of them actually on the pitch. High scoring draw.
Udinese (4th)
v Sampdoria (7th)
The team from Udine
will want to bounce back after a loss to Roma.
Lack of a strong midfield will be the key for Udinese, if they can
manage without one they will win. Tough
to beat and obdurate they are good at home and their loss to Internaz ionale
was their first in nine games.
Sampdoria are a topsy turvy team, they can set a stadium
alight or bore the crowds with some turgid football; rarely do they attain a
middle ground. Cassano can set them on
fire but his ego is still a major problem.
A fit Bellucci will cause the Zebrette problems but their poor away
record in defence may be exploited.
Tense encounter given the importance of the game but Udinese
will sneak the points.
My games of the week this weekend are Juventus v Atalanta
and Palermo v
Fiorentina. Both sets of teams are close
in terms of their current standings and a good or bad result this weekend can
be a tough one to bounce back from or huge boost just before Christmas.
If you have FSC, the games from Turin,
Sicily and Milan will be broadcast. I’ll hope to do both my games of the week in
a summary.
Week 14 in Serie A is an important one
Four of the top five play each other and Juventus have a tough trip to
AC Milan, then you have two up and comers battling it out in the Derby of
Sicily.
AC Milan 0-0 Juventus
Not a bore draw. Some of the play was high octane, quality
football, just no end product. Juventus
had energy pace and no end product and Milan
seemed bewildered at times but fought themselves back into the game. Nedved and Kaka were the shining lights on
the park with some fine forward play; the Czech player is prone to the theatric
dive though although Kaka came close to emulating the veteran midfielder with a
comic flop over Chiellini. . Both Dida; not least from Salihamidzic; and
Buffon; from a variety of Milan
players; made some good saves.
TREZEGUET LETS FLY BUT THE POST COMES TO MILAN'S RESCUE
Ancelotti will rue another week
at the San Siro sans three points and Ranieri will have seen plenty to be happy
about in the Bianconeri play.
Neither side had that extra burst
of pace of deft touch or slice of luck to prise open their opponents and the
draw is a better result for others in the top half of the table.
Wow! It’s not just the Dutch that know how to play
total football. The version being played
by Mancini’s team at the moment is something beautiful to behold. They have power, pace, skill, finishing and
bags of work ethic. Front to back the
whole squad is oozing confidence.
Fiorentina are finding that
staying in the top echelons of Serie A is tough to do. La Viola started well, the interchange, verve
and skill of their front six allowed them to get plenty of penetration deep
into the Inter half. Mutu looked to be
in fine fettle without really troubling Cesar.
Inter’s first real attack bore
fruit though; a defence splitting pass from Ibrahimovic found the young
Chilean; Jiminez; free and clear and well bale to slot the ball past the
excellent Frenchman, Frey.
Fiorentina never recovered
despite a series of half chances which were never taken. The visitors played confident, assured
football all over the park. The front
line was always a threat and the defence rarely let Cesar work. Cambiaso was particularly excellent with a
stunningly energetic performance, box to box he was impeccable, apart from the
yellow.
The Swedish sensation may not be
finding the net in the league but his passing and vision created two today,
just before the half his sublime flick into the path of a well timed Cruz run
allows the Argentinean to continue his rich goal scoring vein with a cool
finish past Frey.
Ibrahimovic almost scored himself
late on but two fantastic saves from Frey frustrated the Swede.
Two changes at half time didn’t
do much for Fiorentina’s game. They
huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow down the house that Mancini has built.
BECAUSE IT'S ONLY EVER A GAME
THE ECITING YOUNG CHILEAN OPENS THE SCORING
The ex Sampdoria man will be more
than delighted with three points from a Scuddetto hopeful away from home.
Prandelli will have seen much to
be happy about but no goals at home must be a worry.
Elvis isn’t dead, he’s living in Italy
and supporting Fiorentina.
The Derby of Sicily was incident
packed and a fine advertisement for football beyond the hallowed turf of the
top clubs. The Stadio Angelo Massimino
had yet to see a home Serie A victory in this fixture. With a new manager at Palermo
and Catania
playing well things looked promising.
Both teams went at each other
from the whistle. The first ball was
usually forward and both keepers had to come out of the area to clear through
balls, Polito with his chest and Fontana
with his head.
The Elefanti had the better of
the early going with Martinez
and Vargas providing some splendid effort and excellence on the flanks.
Catania got a lucky break when
Spinesi hauled the ball back into play and out to Vargas, the Peruvian’s cross
met by Mascara ahead of the less than stellar Biava for the goal. Replays, Fontana
and the Palermo
defence suggested the ball had gone out but Terfoloni wouldn’t have any of
it.
Later on in a half that was
mostly Catania’s Biava clearance spooned up from the edge of the penalty area
and dropped invitingly for Spinesi, Barzagli gave the forward a push at the
vital moment but a smart referee and assistant spotted the infringement and
Spinesi duly tucked one past Fontana.
Amauri was too isolated to do
much damage in the first half. He got
company in the second and looked more dangerous, Caserta providing the assistance. For the second week in a row Palermo started
with one up front and for the second week in a row looked much, much more
dangerous when a second striker joined in, this also helped Brienza get into
the attack more.
Simplicio takes a quick free kick
to Tedesco; unfortunate not to be facing his injured brother; Simplicio plays
the return ball forward to Brienza whose deft pass finds Amauri, the
Brazilian’s flick is into the path of Caserta who outmaneuvers the defender
with a feint right foot shot, he leaves his man behind and buries one with a
delicious left foot drive.
The jubilation of the away team;
their fans are banned from the stadium; is short lived as a studs up challenge
by the Palermo goal hero is greeted by a red and the derision of the Catania
fans.
Palermo
struggle to get back into the match but gamely plug away, Fontana
is the busier of the two ‘keepers in the last twenty minutes and comes up with
some stunning saves but can’t do a thing when Martinez fires one past him. The Uruguayan caps a blinding game with a
stunning curler beyond Fontana
and inside the far post from some hard work by Vargas. Fitting that the two best Catania
players are involved in the third and best Catania goal.
Baldini will have seen much to be
pleased about, good attacking and solid defending along with some standout
perfomances from key players.
Unfortunately more good play from the likes of Vargas, Martinez and Stovini are likely to perk the
interest of some bigger clubs.
Guidolin; without the firepower
of Miccoli and Cavani suffered his first defeat in this fixture, not a good
start to his fourth stint at the Rosanero.
