Oop the East Lancs Road for a jaunt to the Eastlands Stadium.  Cra ppy weather in Manchester (no change there then really), and some pretty cra ppy football from Manchester City.  Everton played very well and ran out fairly comfortable two goal winners.  Howard gets tested late, Hibbo stifles Petrov, Elano is cr ap, Benjani is AWOL in the second half and we have a red for the petulant Bulgarian.  Stiles, well some quite good and some pretty awful. 

 

Short trip North East ensures a good away turnout in Manchester.  The weather didn't douse the fans' enthusiasm or voices.  Spark is added to the match with Everton old boys Dunne and Ball playing for City and the stadium is a regular haven for managers and ex managers.  Taking a pew are Big Sam, Peter Reid, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Fabio Capello.  On the pitch it's a European six pointer. 

 

Moyes changes the side that thrashed SK Brann and opts for a familiar 4 4 1 1.  Howard keeps goal, Hibbert slots in at right back, Yobo, Jagielka and Lescott operate to his left.  Carsley and Neville sit deep with Pienaar Osman and Cahill getting licenses to attack with Yakubu as the main forward.  Some might call this 4 2 3 1 or 4 5 1 or 4 2 2 1, really just ignore them. 

 

A SCOT AND A SWEDE WATCH THE BLUE ACTION AT EASTLANDS!

Hard to change a winning team so Sven doesn't.  The Swede selects the same eleven that beat Manchester United.  Hart keeps goal with a back four of Onuoha, Richards, Dunne and Ball, the five man midfield is Petrov, Ireland, Fernandes, Hamman, Vassel with Benjani up front on his own.  A pretty standard 4 5 1, although perhaps best suited to the away side. 

 

City starts off on the front foot and gets nowhere.  All half they had plenty of possession and did nothing with it, Howard had to come and punch or claim a few balls but didn't have to save.  Everton defended thirty yards out and a narrow City just kept mindlessly bashing up against a blue wall. 

City's best cross came just before the interval when Fernandes whipped a ball between Howard and the defenders, Benjani spent too much time wondering what it was and the chance went. 

The visitors threatened Hart all the first half, crisply bringing the ball out of defence or from a ball won in midfield and going straight at City with pace and bags of ideas. 

Richards probably didn't give Everton it's first penalty of the Premier League season as Stiles was blind or just unsighted. 

Hart saves well from Yakubu at the near post. 

Pienaar hits the bar. 

Finally the traveling fans get their goal.  Feed the Yak and he Will Score! 

A deep throw in down the right comes infield to Yakubu, Cahill's running off Hamman finds the diminutive Ozzie in space, he beats the first man and whips a cross through the legs of the second, Yakubu had continued his run and finishes with clarity and clamness over Hart.  Great move, super finish and a well earned 0-1.

FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE - THAT'S SIXTEEN FOR THE SEASON SO FAR!

City's response, Petrov; stifled all night by Hibbert; blast one wide from twenty five yards. 

Carsley is feeling up for the game and starts an attack from his own half, he is fouled by Hamman on the edge of the area and Stiles is just poor. 

Everton keep cutting through the City midfield and back line and win a corner, it goes way too long and the Irishman is a willing runner.  Carsley looks up and lobs a ball to wards the back post, Dunne and Hart are ball watching as Lescott adds to his excellent tally for the season with a neatly finished looping header back over Hart and into the far corner.  Sloppy defending seals the game. 

 

GOAL SCORER AND GOAL PROVIDER CELEBRATE THE FORMER WOLVES DEFENDER'S EIGHGTH OF THE SEASON!

Eriksson removes Hamman; well played by Cahill; and opts for the more fluid attacking verve of the Brazilian, Elano.  Moyes keeps his side the same, just asks them to sit a little and take the pace out of the game. 

 

Ball's challenge prevents Cahill from giving Everton and early 0-3 lead after good work with Yakubu off a throw in. 

City mount some pressure but continue to be easy to defend, they lack width, Elano and Petrov aren't delivering good balls into the area, Benjani is barely a threat and the substitutions don't really change much.  It's only in the final ten minutes when City start to try playground football that Howard actually has some saves to make. 

Mexican Castillo gets onto a loose ball and fires through a crowd, Howard gets down well and Jagielka clears. 

Petrov fires one straight at Howard, meat and drink. 

A cross sees Howard punch the ball against Benjani, Jagielka clears the loose ball. 

Other than one Dunne chance; off a dodgy free kick decision that Petrov delivered well; City were pretty dire really. 

Everton continued to threaten and defend extremely well, Jagielka being outstanding alongside Yobo. 

Pienaar is replaced by Fernandes who is in turn replaced by JJohn son, perhaps worrying Moyes in terms of upcoming games with Carsley suspended after a fifth Yellow. 

JJohn son and the Yak had half chances but Everton's best second half chance fell to Carsley, the midfielder took advantage of Stiles' play on call and walloped the ball goalwards before City had even organized a wall, Hart was equal to the shot and parried it over. 

Petrov's petulance lands him in hot water at the end of the match, an odd whistle from Stiles; although play still goes on; see Yakubu run away from the Bulgarian who aims a kick at the Nigerian.  Nothing is given for that one.  Almost at the end of the game Petrov looses out to Osman and tries to play some footsie with the back of Osman's calf. Stiles thinks, "EH! I CAN GET IN THE HEADLINES TOMORROW LETS GIVE HIM A STRAIGHT RED!" and dishes out an automatic three match ban.  Even I thought it a bit harsh and I support Everton. 

PETROV TAKES AN EARLY BATH! 

Everton outplayed and out thought City in every department tonight.  Bloody brilliant performance from a team full of beans ('swagger' as Tim Sherwood describes it).  Threatening goals all game and solid at the back, it could have been three or four nil instead of just two nil.  Many this season have talked about how the team is pretty 'workmanlike' without Arteta.  No Arteta tonight and hardly workmanlike!

 

Beating Manchester United was a bit flukey and it showed.  City tried exactly the same stuff that didn't work at Goodison and got beat.  Substitutions didn't work and moving from a 4 5 1 through to something resembling a 1 1 8 in the final minutes they still barely troubled the visitors.  Pretty poor in all areas of the pitch.  What can be done to stop this malaise at home?

 

Stiles, headline grabbing arse!  He can play a good advantage sometimes!  How can the man who has given more penalties than any other Premier League referee not point to the spot at least once tonight?  Burley slaughtered him and I pretty much agree with most of what the Scot said.  Still at the end of the day even cra ppy refereeing couldn't deny a thoroughly enjoyable win. 

 

Everton:-

Howard

Hibbert

Yobo

Jagielka

Lescott

Osman

Carsley

Neville

Cahill

Pienaar (Fernandes 55, John son 66)

Yakubu

 

Bookings:-

Carsley

 

Goals:-

Yakubu 29

Lescott 37

 

 

Manchester City:-

Hart

Onuoha

Richards

Dunne

Ball

Vassel (Castillo 74)

Ireland (Caicedo 67)

Hamman (Elano 46)

Petrov

Benjani

 

Bookings:-

Petrov (R )

 

Goals:-

 

Attendance:-

41728

 

Referee:-

Rob Stiles

 

 

Images courtesy of Evertonfc.com

"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 PUTA, 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 bangs 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?

Er, NO!

Serie A week 23 preview. 

 

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.