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.
Inter won in Serie A and lost in Europe, Milan drew twice last week, Fiorentina won
twice and Juventus won then had the middle of the week off.
Wins for Sampdoria, Lazio, Empoli, Palermo
and Udinese set smiles off in Genoa, Rome, Empoli, Palermo and Udine.
Losses for Genoa, Catania, Roma, Napoli, Atalanta, Cagliari
and Reggina means tears in Genoa, Catania, Rome, Naples, Bergamo, Cagliari and
Reggio Calabria.
Draws for Parma, Siena, Torino mean scratched heads in Parma,
Siena and Turin.
Shock of the week, Empoli handing it to Napoli in Naples.
Non shock of the week, Inter wins, again.
FIXTURES
Reggina V Juventus
A week without the hullabaloo of Europe
will be good for the Bianconeri, time to relax and plan for a second place
challenge. Reggina have had some soul
searching to do on the back of four losses, it looks bleak for the Amaranto.
Reggina were hammered by four in their last meeting.
The firepower at home is weak (if not AWOL) and Juventus
have an awful lot of talent.
Milan V Palermo
A tough trip to London
and a laundry list of injuries will be tough for the Rossoneri to overcome and
bring their all to the Stadio Meazza against tough but fragile opposition. Palermo may
have turned a corner but will be wary of the Milan side at home and be in a cautiously buoyant
mood.
Palermo
beat Milan Palermo earlier this season.
Inconsistent form is the bane of both clubs with a lot to
play for this could be a cracker or a tight and tense draw. Managers and players will decide the outcome;
fresher legs may play a part. Europe beckons.
Torino V Parma
Neither side scored in the last round of Serie A. The Toros are in more ebullient form than the
Gialloblu although neither side is yet free of relegation worries.
Parma beat Torino in Parma.
The forwards aren’t firing particularly well for either club
but expect the home side to be less cautious.
Has all the makings of a defensive draw so it’ll probably be hugely one
sided or something.
Atalanta V Sienna
Comfortably mid table versus uncomfortably close to the
bottom three. Sienna comes into the game
with one loss in their last three while Atalanta has one win in five.
The Zebrette and Nerrazzurri drew in Siena.
Siena
play well but struggle to finish and Atalanta are much too inconsistent
recently. Best possible game would ensue
if Sienna scored first and early.
Cagliari
V Lazio
Finally the Romans won whilst the Sardinian side looks
mournfully upwards at the other nineteen Serie A sides. Things aren’t all that bright in Rome though with poor
form amidst the ruins of high expectations.
The Rossoblu got well beaten by the Biancocelesti in Rome.
Neither side has it easy finding the net although Lazio do
better away than do Cagliari
at home. This could go either way but a
lot will depend on how much fight the Sardinians actually have; there are still
fourty five points to win.
Empoli V Catania
Wow and unexpected stuffing of the Azzurri leave the Azzurri
in grand fettle. Catania’s loss last week has them only a
point above Empoli but they generally play better football. This still has the makings of a relegation
six pointer.
Last time out the Elefanti beat Empoli.
Form is with Empoli on the back of two wins as opposed to
four losses. Neither side scores many
with Pozzi being the standout forward; an injury means though that neither side
really has any edge in that department.
Home form will probably tell but the points will be hard fought
for.
Livorno V Napoli
The loss to Inter is part of an Amaranto spiral downwards,
they want a few wins though to haul into themselves back into the mid table
melee. Two losses for the Azzurri is
uncreditable, given their weapons and defensive minded coach.
The home side lost in a tight one earlier this season.
Formation and personnel is crucial for Napoli,
stars are out and a choice between 352 and 443 is tough. Livorno will
look to take on a weakened team with verve and vim at home, the wrong result
will see them in the bottom three come Sunday night.
Roma V Fiorentina
Winning in Europe is
good. The legs don’t feel so tired and
the heart and mind are full of fire and confidence. The Giallorossi still have a task in the
second leg and La Viola contemplates the Blues.
Both sides have three domestic wins in the last five with Fiorentina
edging a point closer to Roma on the back of one loss less.
Florence
saw a combustible score draw last time the two sides met.
Roma have Juventus breathing fire from below and the smell
of old age liniment is wafting up from Milan. European football next year is a must, the
name of the Cup is more vital than life itself; if you were to believe the
media.
Should be a cracking game with two sides that have plenty of
weapons, decent stoppers and solid back lines.
Mutu has more goals than Totti, take away the penalties and it’s only
one more though, expect big things from both players.
Sampdoria V Inter
Licking his hand and combing it through his coiffure as
opposed to licking his wounds and criticizing referees. A Sampdoria starlet and a Scudetto winning
manager. Europe
and Anfield was a blow, the derby d’lanterna was also a blow but the goal and
the madman were magical.
Inter still seem to be unstoppable in the league and
vulnerable in Europe whilst a Cassano inspired
Sampdoria keep climbing the table.
The Blucerchiati were soundly thrashed in a one sided
Nerrazzurri mauling in Milan.
The midfield is getting out of it’s mess and now the defence
has just slipped into one, an abundance of strikers and goals is the key for
Inter. Cassano grows into the
inspiration for Sampdoria whilst Belluci keeps ban ging in the goals. Expect some fireworks, some histrionics and
possibly a cracking game and an Inter loss.
Of course Mancini might have kicked his players and himself so hard on
the flight back from England that Inter’ll be superkeen to stomp all over
Cassano and co.
Udinese V Genoa
The uns exy side in Serie A have started getting back to
winning ways now that the spotlight is turned elsewhere. The Grifani continue to stay in the middle of
the pack with some up and down play and results. The side from Udine boasts the only cappocannoniere in
waiting who does it without the spot.
Genoa
star Borriello bagged a hat trick earlier in the season.
Udinese have some potent weapons and a mean defence, Genoa’s are less potent
and mean though not without merit. The
home side would be favoured although Derby
results can be misleading. Could be
anyone’s a Genoa
goal early would be a nice start.
My Games of the Week.
Sampdoria V Inter is trumped (just) by Roma V Fiorentina
(keep your eye on a bounceback thrashing from Napoli)
What’s On FSC?
Reggina V Juventus (Sat)
Roma V Fiorentina (Sun)
Milan V Palermo (Sun)
Expect at least one Game Summary and another episode of
SERIE A IN BRIEF IN PICTURES.
Traveling support loud and proud as the Blues win away from home in Europe again. Less
than brilliant but professional and mostly solid.
Brann Stadion in chilly; hovering
around the freezing mark; Bergen Norway had a
hostile and vocal atmosphere for such a small stadium. Everton’s traveling fans were mostly drowned
out by the whistles, boos and cheers of the home support. Great atmosphere for a European night.
"DEATH IS MY BUSINES...AND BUSINESS IS GOOD!" PROFOUND THOUGHTS FROM A VENERATED MEMBER OF THE UNDERTAKING PROFESSION AND THRASH METAL FREAK!
Moyes; without his full squad to
pick from; went 4 4 2. Yakubu; naughty,
punished and forgiven; played up front alongside John son. An unfamiliar look to the midfield with Osman
and Fernandes wide with Cahill and Carsley in the centre. Jagielka continued in the centre of defence
alongside Yobo with Neville and Lescott operating as fullbacks. Howard keeps goal.
ONE FOR MUM!
A squad full of internationals;
unbeaten in nineteen at home and current Norwegian Champions went with an
attacking 4 4 2. Mjelde keeps Norwegian
number one Opdal in goal with a back four of Dahl, Bjarnason, Sigurdson and
Hanstveit. Moen operated on the left
with Bakke, El-Fakiri and Solli inside him.
Up front Helstad is a threat alongside Karadas.
Everton have an early chance for
Yak but his shot is weak. Carsley is
called into action at the other end.
Brann aren’t shy to come forward
and drop 6 men back when Everton come forward.
A lack of natural width forces
Everton through the middle where Brann are strong.
Yakubu and John son don’t really
work together they are just both up front.
A discombobulated midfield can’t
get many good balls forward and shows sloppiness in possession.
Jagielka is a rock at the back
bar one fluff with Lescott (similar to the howlers against Arsenal); thankfully
Helstad is a bit rusty and doesn’t take a shot.
The Brann corner kick is an
excellent weapon; crowd the six yard area and hamper the goalkeeper; almost
worked in the last minute of the half but for a Bakke arm across Howard; those
almost always get given.
Osman provides the goalmouth
entertainment he only brought a fine save from Opdal on his third try.
Brann could have been ahead,
Karadas’ header flashed over from a wonderfully flighted free kick. Moen was the bright spot for the home side;
always good deliveries. Brann had more
possession but lacked alacrity in attack, particularly Karadas; Helstad would
have been more assured in front of goal mid season.
No changes at the half, surely DM
made a few choice remarks at half time though.
Everton start off the second as
they did in the first half. Some decent
play and possession. Cahill came close
with a good run and shot which may or may not have been touched onto the post
by Opdal.
The visitors kept playing hard
without really threatening when the breakthrough fell their way. A robust Cahill tackle on the left didn’t
interest the referee, he pokes the ball to John son who gets forward, he is
pushed wide but manages a decent cross; Dahl’s clearing header only finds the
venomous right boot of Osman who send the ball rocketing back beyond the
defenders and Opdal.
OSSIE DOES HIS JIMBO IMPRESSION!
Brann don’t give up. They work hard and push Everton back.
The home side’s corner kicks
still cause problems and Howard has to be alert to gather Helstad’s header;
Neville had closed his eyes or something at the back post and left his man
free.
Some of the Blue defending is
sloppy but Jagielka seems to be in the right place to stick out a foot or win
the ball. Substitutions with twenty odd
minutes to go energize Brann; a Gambian international tests Howard when the
defence fails to close him down and the winger adds something.
Everton start to work the ball a
bit more and apply a professionalism to the game to kill it off; this doesn’t
involve flopping all over the place as they do in Italy.
A late Brann charge has Everton
sitting deep and keeping almost everyone back.
Lescott breaks with a galloping
and most unorthodox style down the left, he looks up and shows that he has
practiced his crosses with a superb delivery that finds Anichebe at the back
post, a cool finish over the ‘keeper seals the win and probably the tie. Was it offside? Possibly, I’ve seen those flagged back before
now, but the Bulgarian official kept his flag down.
VICTOR FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH!
TIM, CAN YOU JUST F..U..C..K.. OFF, WE'RE HAVING A "GOAL SCORING" MOMENT!
Carsley and others did the brave,
mad or ambivalent thing with shirtsleeves.
Everton won albeit with two decisions which on another day they might
not have gotten. Professional away win;
which has become their stamp in Europe this
season. Winning when you don’t play all
that well is a bonus and kind of makes up for some of the losses when we’ve
actually played better and lost. Surely
this a ticket to the last sixteen and probably a trip to Italy or maybe a return trip to Norway.
Hey! Yes You! The Idiots Who Inavded The
Pitch At The Final Whistle. I Know You
Are Excited But Your Stupidity Could Result In Everton Being Censured By UEFA!
Mjelde can take a lot from this
game. His side stood up and attacked
well, defended well but showed too much rustiness to score. They played better in the first half than the
second but couldn’t put away the chances they had. They will enjoy a trip to Liverpool
in the next leg but only a home disaster or an away miracle can give them the
win.
The Bulgarian referee allowed the
game to flow, some robust challenges were let go before Cahill won the
ball. That seemed in character with the
rest of the game. Could the linesman
have given offside, well yes he could, he didn’t and the second goal
stands.
Odds are from Ladbrokes from
before and after the draw and today.
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.
Bayern Munich 3/1 – 11/4 – 11/4 – same
Tottenham 9/1 – 8/1 – 7/1 – dropped again; the Ramoslution!
Atletico Madrid
8/1 – 7/1 – 7/1 - same
Villarreal 12/1 – 10/1 – 10/1 – same
Everton FC 12/1 – 12/1 – 10/1 –
dropped; still in fourth
Fiorentina 14/1 – 14/1 – 16/1 – increased; still in
fourth (perhaps not when Milan play Livorno)
Werder Bremen
14/1 – 12/1 – 14/1 – back up to before the draw odds
Hamburg
14/1 – 14/1 – 20/1 – something must be up with the Hamburgers
Bayer Leverkusen 20/1 – 20/1 – 20/1 – same
Benfica 20/1 – 20/1 - 20/1 – same
PSV 25/1 – 25/1 - 25/1 – same
Sporting Lisbon
25/1 – 25/1 - 25/1 – same
Getafe 25/1 – 25/1 - 25/1 – same
Bordeaux
33/1 – 50/1 – 50/1 – same
Marseille 33/1 – 50/1 – 50/1 – same
Panathinaikos 33/1 – 33/1 – 33/1 – same
Spartak Moscow 33/1 – 33/1 - 33/1 – same
Rangers 33/1 – 33/1 - 33/1 – same
Zenit St Petersburg
33/1 – 33/1 - 50/1 – losing Skrtl must have been a blow
Time for predictions
Group Winners:
Everton FC – at least a qf, easy round of 32, tougher but winnable round of 16 against Fiorentina.
Atletico Madrid – probably a qf, Bolton will be tough as will Sporting, should score the goals to see them through.
Villarreal – have a tough part of the draw, they could romp to the qfs or fail against Zenit, very hard to tell.
Hamburg & Bayer Laverkusen – have to beat German opposition to get to the qfs, both teams are currently within two points of each other in the Bundesliga.
Getafe – looks like they will be the first of the group winners to fail.
Bordeaux – romped their group and get rewarded with a tough round of 32 and an even tougher round of 16.
Bayern Munich – despite a tougher than expected group stage the Bundesliga leaders should make the qfs
Other notables:
Tottenham Hotspur – probably a qf but Prague could provide a stern test and PSV are no pushovers either.
Rangers – should beat the Greeks but the Germans are currently second in the Bundesliga and will be a tough team for Walter Smith to beat.
Bolton Wanderers – with Anelka they have a chance to get to the qfs, without him it declines substantially.
Aberdeen – great win for the Dons to qualify and a glorious shot against Bayern but you really shouldn’t be thinking they can win it. Must be said that Bayern won their group with the least number of points.
Fiorentina – la viola should beat Rosenborg and will provide a stiff test in the round of 16, ultimately they will be too focused on Serie A. A good opportunity for Serie A and the Premier League aficionados to do some comparisons.
The Draw for the round of 32
(Group Winners in CAPS)
1- EVERTON FC v SK Brann
2 - ATLETICO MADRID v Bolton Wanderers
3 - VILLARREAL v Zenit St Petersburg
4 - HAMBURG v Zurich
5 - BAYER LEVERKUSEN v Galatasaray
6 - BAYERN MUNICH v Aberdeen
7 -GETAFE v AEK Athens
8 - BORDEAUX v Anderlecht
9 - Nurnberg v Benfica
10 - Panathinaikos v Rangers
11 - Fiorentina v Rosenborg
12 - Basle - Sporting
13 - Spartak Moscow - Marseille
14 - Braga – Werder Bremen
15 - Tottenham – Slavia Prague
16 - Helsingborgs - PSV
Champions League Losers:
It must be noted that I think the practice of rewarding these teams that are losers with a berth in the UEFA Cup to be utterly stupid. I loathe the practice and would love Monsieur Platini to just stop it.
The Draw for the round of 16
1 v 11
2 v 12
3 v 13
4 v 5
6 v 8
7 v 9
10 v 14
15 v 16
Current Odds.
Odds are from Ladbrokes from before and after the draw.
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.
Bayern Munich 3/1 – 11/4 – dropped slightly, they’ve been everybodies’ favourites since they failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League
Tottenham 9/1 – 8/1 – the bookies like the draw for Spurs
Atletico Madrid 8/1 – 7/1 – best odds for a Spanish team and they seem destined to go to the qfs
Villarreal 12/1 – 10/1 – a decent drop suggesting the bookies like their chances.
Everton FC 12/1 – 12/1 no change suggests the bookies think we’ll lose in the qfs or that they can’t separate ourselves and Fiorentina.
Fiorentina 14/1 – 14/1 – see above
Werder Bremen 14/1 – 12/1 – league form and easy round of 32 draw shortened he odds for the Germans.
Hamburg 14/1 – 14/1 – not out of it but the bookies still rate this side higher than their likely round of 16 opponents.
Bayer Leverkusen 20/1 – 20/1 - not out of it but the bookies still rate this side lower than their likely round of 16 opponents.
Benfica 20/1 – 20/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
PSV 25/1 – 25/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Sporting Lisbon 25/1 – 25/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Getafe 25/1 – 25/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Bordeaux 33/1 – 50/1 – seen as unlikely to get past the round of 16
Marseille 33/1 – 50/1 – seen as unlikely to get past the round of 16 (maybe even the round of 32)
Panathinaikos 33/1 – 33/1 – same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Spartak Moscow 33/1 – 33/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Rangers 33/1 – 33/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Zenit St Petersburg 33/1 – 33/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Nurnberg 40/1 – 40/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
AEK Athens 50/1 – 50/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Bolton 50/1 – 50/1 - same so you think that it’s too tough to call.
Slavia Prague 50/1 – 66/1 – lengthened odds due to playing the Spurs in the round of 32.
Rosenborg 66/1 – 100/1 – not going to get past La Viola then.
Galatasaray 66/1 – 100/1 – not going to get past Bayer Laverkusen then.
Basle 66/1 – 100/1 – not going to get past Sporting then.
Anderlecht 80/1 – 125/1 – going to get rolled by Bordeaux – I’d have thought this may be a little closer.
Aberdeen 80/1 – 125/1 – no chance against the Bundesliga leaders.
Braga 80/1 – 125/1 - no chance against the second placed Bundesliga team.
Zurich 100/1 – 200/1 – thumped by Hamburg.
Helsingborgs 150/1 – 250/1 – beaten by PSV.
SK Brann 500/1 – 350/1 – Must have had some money on the long odds and shortened, no chance against the Toffees. They are Norweigan Champions so won’t be a pushover and they do play some attacking football. They will be in pre-season when the ties are played which will count against them in terms of fitness. For extra ####e SK Brann field Ramiro Corrales, two time MLS Cup winner with the EarthQuakes. They’ve also won two Fairplay Awards in recent years.
My pick will still remain as Internaz ionale to beat either Barcelona or an English team in the Final in Moscow.
Group A
Bookies favourite Liverpool
stuttered but qualified second and the bookies second favourite; Porto topped the group ensuring an easier game in the KO
stages.
Marseille drop into the UEFA Cup.
Liverpool
**Win it all –
Ladbrokes 9/1 – 11/1 – after a poor start to the Group Stage the odds have
lengthened on the reds.
Porto
Win
it all – Ladbrokes 9/1 – 50/1 – now they are rank outsiders?
This is what I said in August:
“Liverpool look group favourites
but Porto will be tough.”
Group B
Bookies favourite Chelsea won the group
comfortably but the bookies other pick goes home. Schalke did well to finish second and
Rosenborg can be thankful for UEFA Cup football in the New Year.
Chelsea
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 6/1 – 8/1 – despite dominance in the group the odds go out – maybe
it’s Mr. Grant?
Schalke 04
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 40/1 – 40/1 – not quite the rank outsiders anymore.
This is what I said in August:
“Chelsea should be pushed by Schalke in this
group.”
Group C
Bookies picked correctly again
with Real topping the group. Olympiakos
confounded the bookies with a second place finish and Werder Bremen drop into the UEFA Cup.
Real Madrid
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 9/1 – 8/1 – shortened with a decent showing in the Group Stages.
Olympiakos
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 150/1 – 50/1 – Rank outsiders.
This is what I said in August:
“Real Madrid clear favourites in Group C.”
Group D
Bookies favourite AC Milan topped
the group with Celtic, finishing above Benfica to confound the bookies. The Portuguese side drop into the UEFA
Cup.
AC Milan
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 8/1 – 10/1 – Maybe their Serie A form can explain the lengthening of
the odds.
Celtic
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 100/1 – 50/1 – rank outsiders.
This is what I said in August:
“AC Milan is clear favourites in
this group.”
Group E
Bookies do it again with the
correct pick of Barcelona
to top the group and Lyon to come second; they are confounded with a Rangers
third place and the Scottish side can look forward to the UEFA Cup in the New
Year.
Barcelona
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 9/2 – 4/1 – shortened but not too significantly.
Lyon
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 18/1 – 20/1 – lengthened to a team with a puncher’s chance.
This is what I said in August:
“Barcelona
could be pushed hard by Lyon.”
Group F
Manchester United did the bookies
proud with a comfortable win as did AS Roma with a second place. Sporting drop into the UEFA Cup in a perfect
group for the bookies.
Manchester United
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 6/1 – 5/1 – significantly shortened after going unbeaten in the Group
Stage
Roma
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 21/10 – 16/1 – shortened a touch.
This is what I said in August:
“Possibly the toughest
group. The Mancs to scrape in.”
Group G
A topsy turvey group for the
bookies, they got Inter spot on but gaffed with Fenerbache coming second and
PSV going into the UEFA Cup.
Internaz ionale
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 8/1 – 9/1 – surprisingly lengthened.
That’s a really odd one.
Fenerbache
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 200/1 – 50/1 – rank outsiders.
This is what I said in August:
“Internaz ionale are clear
favourites.”
Group H
The Bookies favourite finished
second with the bookies third favourite winning the group. One for the punter. Slavia Prague gets a shot at the UEFA
Cup.
Arsenal
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 18/1 – 8/1 – Seriously shortened.
Sevilla
Win it all -
Ladbrokes 20/1 – 10/1 – A bet now is not as good value as a bet in August.
This is what I said in August:
“Arsenal are favourites but will
be pushed if Sevilla beat AEK.”
So how will the draw work and how will the odds change?
Group winners become the Seeded
clubs:
AC Milan, Barcelona,
Internaz ionale, Real, Chelsea, Manchester
United, Porto, Sevilla.
Two English (or other nations)
sides to play each other.
Two sides who have met in the
group stages to play each other.
Winners don’t play winners and
second place finishers don’t play each other.
Someone high up in UEFA will draw
some balls from a bowl and pick the runners up names first. then someone will work out who they can play
and someone else high up in UEFA will pick from those team using a bowl and
some balls. All really high tech and glamorous.
The second placed teams play at
home first and the ties are two legged.
I’ll check the Ladbrokes odds
after the draw and we’ll see how they’ll change.
**All
Ladbrokes odds are from 31/08/2007 and then 20/12/2007.
UEFA CUP DRAW
No predictions from me for this
season’s UEFA Cup. I am proud and happy
to see the Toffees won out in their group and that despite qualifying top of
their group in only three games managed to travel to Holland and win without a number of senior
players. Bordeaux were the other team to win all four
games in their group. Bayern Munich qualified
top of their group but did it with the least amount of points for a group
winner.
Group Winners:-
A – Everton FC
B – Atletico Madrid (Good Old
Mattress Makers!)
C – Villarreal
D – Hamburg
E – Bayer Leverkusen
F – Bayern Munich
G – Getafe
H – Bordeaux
Second place sides:-
A – Nurnberg
B – Panathinaikos
C - Fiorentina
D – Basle
E – Spartak Moscow
F – Braga
G – Tottenham
H – Helsingborgs
Third place teams:
A – Zenit St Petersburg
B – Aberdeen (Go The Dons!)
C – AEK Athens
D – SK Brann
E – Zurich
F – Bolton
Wanderers
G – Anderlecht
H – Galatasaray
Champions League Losers:
It
must be noted that I think the practice of rewarding these teams that are
basically losers with a berth in the UEFA Cup to be utterly stupid. I loathe the practice and would love Monsieur
Platini to just stop it.
Marseille
Rosenborg
Werder Bremen
Benfica
Rangers
Sporting Lisbon
PSV Eindhoven
Slavia Prague
So how will the draw work?
The process is much simpler than
the other competition. The only caveat
is that same associations won’t play each other in the first KO stage. Winners play third places teams (matches 1
through 8) and second placed teams play Champions League Losers (matches 9
through 16).
Group Winners and Champions
League Losers play the first game of the two legged tie away from home.
THEN…
For some reason UEFA pick the
teams for the next KO stage. winner
match X will play winner match Y with the first team drawn getting to play the
first leg of a two legged tie at home.
They will pull paper from a bowl until all eight ties are sorted
out.
Current Odds. (As given by
Ladbrokes on 20/12/2007)
The odds are clearly not just
based on group performance – but note that no Champions League Loser gets a
spot in the top six. I’ll update the
odds after the draw has been made.
Bayern Munich 3/1
Tottenham 9/1
Atletico Madrid
8/1
Villarreal 12/1
Everton FC 12/1 – below Spurs?–
flying below the radar again.
Tiny Tim keeps the crowd on tenterhooks as he waits until the
eighty-fifth minute before grabbing the winner.
Zenit get hobbled by the inept referee but show the value o####ood
manager with a stunning ten man performance.
Goodison Park
hosts another European night, balmy by Russian standards, chilly for the home
fans. Zenit brought their fair share of
vocal, semi-naked and blue and white supporters to add to the occasion and
Goodison was full of noise. Both teams
can qualify but an Everton win eases the pressure for matchday four in Holland, a nice break in
a hectic December schedule.
Howard is recovered enough to
keep goal behind a much changed back four from Saturday. Neville and Lescott keep their spots, Yobo is
replaced by Jagielka and Baines slips into the left back slot. Arteta, Cahill, Carsley and Pienaar line up
across the middle and Osman in dropped in favour of McFadden, the Scot sits up
front alongside Johnson in an attacking 4 4 2.
Advocaat is a canny manager and
his side is the recently crowned Russian Champions. Malafeev keep goal and is familiar with England; he was between the sticks when Russia visited
Wembley. A back four of Anyukov, Skrtel,
Lombaerts and Kim is multinational and solid.
Dominguez and Shirl provide width, Zyrianov looks forward and the
excellent Ukrainian Tymoschuk holds in a well drilled and neat midfield,
Arshavin will sit in the hole and Pogrebnyak will be the target man.
Everton start brightly, pegging
the visitors back from the whistle. The
Russian side don’t get time to settle and an early defensive slip allow Pienaar
to get the cross in but Kim comes back to clear. Arteta forces a goal line clearance and Zenit
are quick to come forward, Arshavin; at the heart of anything good from the
Russian side; plays in Kim on the left but the full back’s cross is
behind.
Everton come forward again after
winning possession in midfield but Malafeev keeps his hands warm with a good
leap top claim Neville’s cross.
Arshavin gets the ball again but
his ball forward into space isn’t read by his team mates. Arteta sets up a ball for Johnson to chase
and Skrtel comes across to bail out his ‘keeper.
Malafeev is called upon again and
clears quickly, Neville wins the ball then hands possession to Arshavin, the Russian playmaker puts his
cross behind. Then Everton have to clear
Arshavin’s free kick.
Everton create another chance
when Pienaar steals the ball after Zenit were held up by Jagielka on the left touchline,
the South African gets the ball back when his first pass cannons of a Zenit
player, his second ball is better and puts in McFadden, the Scotsman’s run is
good; as is the run of Johnson into space in the area; the final ball is poor
and McFadden’s cross is easily intercepted and cleared by Lombaerts.
Zenit are a well managed team and
look bright in attack, they play the ball around well and look to play to
feet. Arshavin is quality.
Pienaar; having an hot and cold
night in his gloves; wastes some nice Everton possession on the left with a
sloppy cross, Carsley needs to be alert to break up the ensuing Zenit
attack. The South African then plays the
ball too high for a well positioned Johnson; who doesn’t have a stepladder in
his pocket.
Baines concedes a corner when
Zenit break down the right, Zenit’s next attack sees Pogrebnyak shoots wide
from outside the area.
The game is open and free flowing
Everton and Zenit are looking to attack with Lescott and Malafeev being the
standouts in defence.
Everton come out with the ball
and win a free kick and a lovely position on the right, McFadden aims for the
‘keeper and finds him with a wasted delivery.
Arshavin plays a ball into the
path of Shirl but Howard is quick off his line.
Advocaat has the Russian side
playing attractive attacking football, this Russian machine has been very much
well oiled, and the break since their season ended hasn’t affected the team at
all. They attack with speed and poise
and defend well.
Dominguez cuts infield on the
left and swings in a beautiful ball which misses the head of Pogrebnyak by a
foot.
Skrtel resumes his battle with
Johnson and clears the ball away neatly.
McFadden wins a deep free kick which Arteta converts into a corner kick,
the ball is whipped in comes out to Everton, Pienaar chips a delightful ball over
the crowd at the edge of the area and Cahill is more alert than Malafeev;
heading over the flying Russian; he brings the ball down and slams it goalward,
Lombaerts sliding tackle takes the ball behind.
The crowd and Cahill are baying for a handball and the referee duly
obliges then to add insult to injury shows the Belgian a red. Replays show the challenge was a good one and
Lombaerts used his groin and face to clear the ball, not his hands or
arms.
Liverpool
isn’t the only club on Merseyside to get some help from the officials this
season.
"IF MR. CLATTENBURG CAN FOUL UP A GAME IN LIVERPOOL THEN SO CAN I" HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IN ICELANDIC?
The crowd expects the Spaniard to
hand them the lead but JUSTICE PREVAILS and the Barcelona product atrociously skies the spot
kick. The Spaniard has obviously spent
too much time in England
if he tales that poor a penalty kick.
"COHONES! " IS THAT HOW YOU SAY BOLLOCKS! IN SPANISH?
Zyrianov drops back a little
deeper but Zenit stick with their original formation. Then they attack again from the restart. Pogrebnyak gets forward and shows good skill
to bamboozle Jagielka on the edge of the area, his shimmy and pull back free up
Arshavin and prevent something agricultural from Neville. The ex blade redeems himself by getting his
body in the way of the fierce Russian shot.
Arteta tries a bit of redemption
himself but from thirty odd yards out Malafeev is able to get to his top left
corner and palm the sumptuously curling ball; the Spaniard was sure was the
opener; away. Johnson is too intent on
admiring the flight of the ball and doesn’t get to the loose ball in front of
the open net before the defender. Zenit
only half clear and the ball comes out to Carsley, the Irishman opts for
placement instead of power and is unfortunate to see the ball come out of the
inside of the post, McFadden latches onto the rebound but with men open in the area
and only finds the first defender.
Baines and Pienaar combine well
on the left but the South African is well tackled and Zenit come forward
again. The Argentinean; Dominguez; has
come infield and is shaping to pass when Neville goes all agricultural on
him. The terrible challenge is merely a
free kick and not even a card.
The Icelandic referee thinks that
if it’s alright for Kung Fu Kuyt to get away with one then why not one of the
Ugly Sisters.
Dominguez struggles on but is obviously
unfit to continue and comes off before the half, Advocaat; unwilling to make a
change just yet; lets Zenit play with nine men.
Malafeev saves one form Cahill
and Jagielka unsuccessfully tries his hand at crossing before Advocaat brings
on a veteran Russian substitute.
"WANKER! IT WASN'T A PEANLTY!" HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IN RUSSIAN OR DUTCH?
Neither manager makes any
changes, tactically or personnel wise, at the half. But the Advocaat team talk must have been something
to behold. McClaren could provide them
for Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup but
apparently with national pride at stake his head went up his bum at half time
You’d be hard pressed to tell
that one side was a man down. Zenit had
switched from a 4 4 1 1 to a 3ish 5ish 1, amazingly it worked. Malafeev; the Zenit MOTM; came out quickly to
save his defenders blushes. Neville
pumps one in which is cleared to Baines, the leftback puts in for McFadden but
the Scot shanks it wide.
Zenit break quickly and Zyrianov plays
the ball into the path of Pogrebnyak, the tall Russian stays ahead of Baines
and Lescott but Howard makes a fine save to keep things level.
Baines get forward at the other
end but his whipped in cross beats three Zenit defenders, Malafeev and Johnson
in the six yard box.
Arshavin lays a beautiful ball
over the Everton defence into space, the run of Zyrianov sees him free with
only Howard to beat but he spoons it wildly over the bar. That was a let off.
Howard collects a high ball
easily whilst under pressure from Arshavin as Zenit belie their man deficit and
take the game to Everton.
"THE GOAL IS THAT WAY LADS!
Everton have to play hard to get
opportunities forward, Arteta and Johnson combine and only the quick play of
Malafeev prevents Neville from getting onto a lovely, dinked cross.
Lescott is at his best tonight
and shows Arshavin the art of the tackle.
Everton are being unbelievably pegged back by the ten men of Zenit.
Johnson gets forward to bring
some relief to Everton and his cross is put behind for corner number eight, the
delivery comes out to Pienaar who shanks the ball wide from inside deep. Arteta cuts inside but put the ball behind.
Advocaat decides to shore things
up with the introduction of a defender for his lone striker, Arshavin ploughs a
lone furrow up front.
The ball comes in for McFadden,
and instead of getting a shot off the Scot gives Zenit a free kick, Moyes call
time and brings on the effervescent Anichebe, a match winner in Everton’s two
previous UEFA Cup ties this season.
Pienaar keeps trying but his
cross is poor and easily cleared, Zenit break but Lescott keep pace with
Arshavin and shrugs the Russian off the ball.
Baines puts in a poor one as
Everton start to #### up some pressure, Anichebe has a run from deep but his
shot fizzes wide, Jagielka; up for the corner; tries from distance but Malfeev
smothers the shot. Pienaar gets the ball
again but his cross is to someone much taller than a wide open Johnson.
Arshavin puts a free kick
harmlessly behind.
Everton are finding it tough to
break through an obdurate Zenit team who defend deep and well but break with
amazing alacrity and speed.
Lescott joins the fray on the
left but his dispossession allows Zenit to get forward, Zyrianov is tiring and
can’t get to his own ball which goes out for a goal kick.
Anichibe’s cut back is behind
Cahill, then the Nigerian can’t get his shot off as Zenit close him down, the
Russians break upfield with Zyrianov but the shot is wild and high.
Carsley has a go but is high, Lee
comes on for Anyukov and Zenit show that attack is often the best form of
defence. Moyes brings off Johnson and
lets another great Everton
Academy product loose on
the Russians, Vaughn will add some height to the attack and provide a better
target for Pienaar.
Zenit clear another Everton
corner kick but Everton mount a concerted effort for the winner. Arteta has a shot blocked then the home side
gets a corner. Arteta finds Lescott at
the near post and the header is well blocked but only as far as the ex-Wolves
defender, his rasping shot is well turned aside by Malafeev, the man on the
line is playing Cahill onside and the diminutive Australian needs two touches
to bury the ball in the net and secure the win.
Zenit are immediately into the
attack but the home side keeps possession, attack themselves and rebuff the
Russians to see out the three extra minutes of a hugely nerve-wracking and
entertaining game.
Moyes was gracious in victory
(unlike a certain cretinous waiter). He
admitted the red card was harsh and complemented his players for their
tenacity.
Eleven on eleven the result could
well have been different but a win is a win is a win and the group stages have
been maneuvered through. The break is
that on December 20th the result against AZ Alkmaar will be
meaningless to Everton who have topped their group, it will be a nice
opportunity to try some of the reserves and rest players in a hectic month.
#### Advocaat showed his
managerial credentials with an awesome ten man display. His team attacked and defended well and had
three really good opportunities. His
team’s progress through to the knock out stages are in the hands of AZ Alkmaar
and Nurnberg now.
The referee played three good
advantages. On the negative side he
handed Everton a huge bonus with the grossly incorrect red card on Lombaerts
and the penalty decision. He was also
lax when Neville’s Kuyt-like violence against Dominguez didn’t even produce a
yellow. His booking of Johnson was a bit
harsh as well. I think UEFA might be
having words with Mr. Jakobsson.
Moyes introduces Anichebe for Yakubu and the young Nigerian shows there
pace, strength and skill to win a penalty and score a beauty to give Everton
all three points.
A fantastic European night in the
Frankenstadion. Almost a packed house is
superbly vocal and clad in red, the home support is constant but the two and
half thousand or so Everton fans who made the trip to Germany keep
themselves warm with some vocals of their own.
The atmosphere is stunning, vibrant and not surprising considering the
lowly league position of the home side and the relatively decent one of the visitors. This is European football showing some of its
best.
Unable to discern the difference
between a rose and cauliflower, Meyer, a reluctant gardener made the move back
into football management. His side is
cosmopolitan but is missing four Internationals who would normally start.
Petr Cech’s number two, Blazek
keeps goal. Glauber and Wolf are the
centrebacks with Schmidt and Reinhardt on the flanks. Mintal, Kluge, Mnari, Galasek occupy the
midfield with Misimovic and Saenko up front.
Kluge operates further forward and Misimovic and Saenko take turns as
point man or dropping deep it what is a 4 5 1.
Moyes played his strongest
available side; despite the game against Chelsea
at the weekend. Howard keeps goal with
Valente at leftback, Neville at rightback and Yobo and Lescott in the
centre. Arteta plays wide right with
Carsley and Osman inside him and Pienaar on the left. Cahill plays from deep or off Yakubu who
plows a lone furrow up front. This is an
attacking 4 5 1
Everton almost score with less
than a minute gone, attacking from the kick off the visitors are denied twice
by the acrobatics of Blazek. Carsley
prompts the move with Arteta playing a neat one two with Osman, the shot from
the edge of the area is saved by the Czech ‘keeper but the ball falls to Cahill
in the six yard box, the slide propels the ball goalwards but Blazek regain his
composure to touch the ball onto the post whence Nurnberg clear.
The midfield is cautious but hard
working for the home team and surprisingly attack minded by the visitors. A Yakubu cross from the left is only half
cleared and then the Nigerian and Pienaar both have shots blocked. Nurnberg do get a corner and Lescott needs to
be sharp to deal with an attack by Reinhardt on the right flank and Valente
needs a second go to find a good clearance, Nu
