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Ah hopin this league come back good this year.
Week 1 Juventus 5-1 Livorno (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZf9QUzcrXQ)
Week 2 goals on youtube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkRTlr83gTI)
Serie A - Inter: "We must help Adriano" (http://eurosport.yahoo.com/07092007/58/serie-inter-must-help-adriano.html)
Eurosport - Fri, 07 Sep 13:37:00 2007
Internazionale have given misfiring striker Adriano yet another vote of confidence, despite the Brazilian's near departure during the transfer window.
The 25-year-old has suffered from poor form on the pitch of late which, coupled with a series of unsavoury off-the-field incidents, nearly led to him leaving the Giuseppe Meazza last month.
The former Parma ace - who once figured in Brazil's feared strike force alongside Ronaldinho, Kaka and Ronaldo - eventually stayed with the Nerazzurri, only to be left out of Inter's squad for their Champions League group games in order to regain his fitness.
But Inter owner Massimo Moratti insists the club are behind Adriano and are willing to help him rediscover both his fitness and form.
He said: "Adriano is just having a difficult time. It's down to him to find his form again and it's down to us to help him."
But in the meantime, Inter appear to be well stocked with other options, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Hernan Crespo, Julio Cruz and David Suazo all competing for the two places in coach Roberto Mancini's starting line-up.
Ibrahimovic, in particular, has started the season in impressive fashion, netting twice in the champions's opening two games.
Moratti said: "Someone like Ibra who can create something from nothing where no-one else could delights me.
"It's not madness, it's art. Out of 10,000 players there are things that only he has the genius to do."
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I feel this will be a big season, and I feel Italian football heading back towards the pinnacle.
Inter Milan is the champion and they have Mourinho in the hot seat now so all eyes will be on them. They have notably added Amantino Mancini from Roma and Sulley Muntari from Portsmouth. Plus they have that youth Mario Balotelli who go blaze up de fire this year.. Ah big side that..
Then you ahve AC Milan.. They signed Ronaldinho and the world will be watching to see if he can return to the top of his game. If that happens then it could be curtains for the rest of the league. Then they seemed to have resolved their striker situation by adding Boriello and Shevchenko, and also some steel to the midfield in the form of Flamini. They also beefed up the defence by adding Zambrotta but not sure who was smoking what when they took Senderos.
Also, Roma will be pressing hard as always. Totti is fit again, Vucinic is deadly and they have added Julio Baptista and John Arne Riise. I also think this will be a breakout season for Alberto Aquilani.
Lets not forget Juventus who have reclaimed their rightful place as a Serie A powerhouse. Most of their transfer activity seems to have been geared to turn them into a solid, difficult to breach unit. They've added Olaf Mellberg from Aston Villa, Christian Poulsen from Sevilla and Jorge Andrade. Up front they draft the promising Amauri. Not looking forward to a pretty brand, but I expect them to be right there at the end of the season.
Looking forward to this year...
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backin catania still
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Yeah it should be a very interesting season, I looking forward to it. Inter all the way!!
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Yeah it should be a very interesting season, I looking forward to it. Inter all the way!!
nah AC for sure, I looking for great things from Ronaldinho now that he out a dat shite side on de wrong side ah Spain ;D ;D ;D
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Yeah it should be a very interesting season, I looking forward to it. Inter all the way!!
nah AC for sure, I looking for great things from Ronaldinho now that he out a dat shite side on de wrong side ah Spain ;D ;D ;D
:flamethrower:
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If dinho continue wid dat toots he play in de Olympics he shouldn't even make de squad on weekends. He supposed to walk on any side..right now he should ride pine at best until his form improves. Big year for Pato. Doh expect much from Kaka til the 2nd half of the season (if he still there). I feel Sheva will not be able to roll back the years..but will give you something on adreline alone cuz the fans will carry him in the San Siro. Expect a hero's welcome like no other. The arrival of Dinho will see Seedorf play out of his shoes. Milan keeping situation could salt them
Mourinho inherit a machine of a squad. Unless he does something big in the CL he will be considered a failure given the fact that Inter basically strolled through the last two domestic campaigns. Of course that is oversimplification....new season, new players, stronger rivals..etc. But let's face it..no CL and Inter will just be seen as same old Inter. The one thing Mourinho should def. improve over Mancini is control of a notoriously volatile dressing room. In the end..this is an easier assignment than Chelsea..on paper. Adriano was looking the pick of the crop in pre-season until he got injured a few weeks ago. Expect him to be the 'surprise' packet of the season. Hoping Balotelli rip and becomes the key ingredient in the Italian national team attack.
Juve attack is too old and I doh expect Del Piero to be as prolific two seasons in a row. Amauri hot and cold, but he will bruise up dem defenses. Ranieri is a boss coach and will have them up there.
Roma go give touble as usual, but always a lil lightweight in Europe. And no matter how good they are..Lazio does salt them regular.
FORZA NAPOLI. Lavezzi will break out big this season.
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HAHAHA get well soon Kaka, get stronger Pato...Sanderos??? well hope Maldini and Nesta have some night classes line up for he...cause he does raff like ah wile man, get beat and foul too much...only positive is dat he young...and will def be under the wing of some of the greatest defenders to play the game.
Sheva...doh come back to tutu down yushelf, we want goals from you, dinhno needs some work still but lookin ok from what i see in the Olympics...needs to get more involved..
Forza Milan
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Giovinco.
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Well Serie A on FSC so hopefully more men on d site start talkin about it now than b4. Tired of men talkin about Sunderland vs Fulham for 5 pages and not even a thread on Juve vs Inter and dem type ah big games.
To my Juve bredrin...we are here to stay...the can't hold us down. I think we short a left back and bench depth but everybody have issues so we can do it.
Mourinho ent really add to d squad...Roma sellin rather than buyin...AC have no clue as shown with Sheva and Dinho and well Fiorentina is mih upset side on a low so ah not gonna say anything bad about them....watch out for Stevan Jovetic this yr...remember d name.
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Well Serie A on FSC so hopefully more men on d site start talkin about it now than b4. Tired of men talkin about Sunderland vs Fulham for 5 pages and not even a thread on Juve vs Inter and dem type ah big games.
To my Juve bredrin...we are here to stay...the can't hold us down. I think we short a left back and bench depth but everybody have issues so we can do it.
Mourinho ent really add to d squad...Roma sellin rather than buyin...AC have no clue as shown with Sheva and Dinho and well Fiorentina is mih upset side on a low so ah not gonna say anything bad about them....watch out for Stevan Jovetic this yr...remember d name.
I agree bout de low level football talk but let dem trinis leave dem teams and is the football cemetery for dem !
I dont agree with de way yuh dis AC juss so though ..... no matter what you might think dat side doh tinker much. Is probably the most settled side in world football . dem fellas playing together long time .... and AC Milan is a big side .always was alweays will be ...form is temporary but class is class !
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AC Milan is frightening, but the Old Lady always finds a way to win. Forza Juve!
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I feel Inter will crush all comers this year.
They always had the biggest pool of talent, but also the biggest pool of egos.
Imo they never had a great team spirit; some players don't even talk to each other in that side. I think that is why they never could seem to step it up to the next level in Champions League when it come down to pressure point.. The team does crack when the going get rough and when the chips down. Thats why Liverpool salt them last year.
But Jose going and change that.. I feel he could control all them big egos and get them pulling in the same direction and if that happen, Inter beating all comers, watch and see.
I have my money on Inter to win CL this season.
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Look out for Sampdoria...could surprise alot of people. Solid young squad
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not sure who was smoking what when they took Senderos.
it must have been some powerful sh!t to make a decision like dat
you have a team with the likes of Nesta and Maldini and yuh add Senderos to that mix, I eh sure about that decision.
Though I am a Barca man I feel Inter could take the CL this year easily and go on to retain the Serie A.
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I feel Inter will crush all comers this year.
They always had the biggest pool of talent, but also the biggest pool of egos.
Imo they never had a great team spirit; some players don't even talk to each other in that side. I think that is why they never could seem to step it up to the next level in Champions League when it come down to pressure point.. The team does crack when the going get rough and when the chips down. Thats why Liverpool salt them last year.
But Jose going and change that.. I feel he could control all them big egos and get them pulling in the same direction and if that happen, Inter beating all comers, watch and see.
I have my money on Inter to win CL this season.
Inter till I Die Finally somebody posting on the Italian league I ent know shit bout the EPL everybody always bigging up on this site except that EPL is shit ah only like liverpool and tottenham sumn to do with robbie fowler and klinsman(like inter for that reason too) anyways English sides have a history of beating Italian sides ah see that first hand when ass&all beat inter 5-1 in the flicking san siro (shit that I really thought was impossible) beat out roma as well. Flicking Finals AC and Liverpool ah was working couldn't see the match ah saw half-time 3 nil AC come back and hear liverpool win it happens google it if yuh think ah lie but inter will win cl as long as it doesn't have english sides in the knockout rounds
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All roads lead to Roma
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Well Serie A on FSC so hopefully more men on d site start talkin about it now than b4. Tired of men talkin about Sunderland vs Fulham for 5 pages and not even a thread on Juve vs Inter and dem type ah big games.
I agree bout de low level football talk but let dem trinis leave dem teams and is the football cemetery for dem !
Is a fricking trini football board? what de hell alyuh expect?
and a man who is a villareal supporter talking bout low level football. lol
*shakes head*
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AH see man fightin down my AC milan side, i real like dat...hope allyuh could buss up allyuh mouth so at the end ah the season! Kaka here to stay...Pato will keep improve, Sheva and Ronaldinho are wild cards we just waitin to see what they will bring.
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Juventus vs Fiorentina in a few minutes...for men like to compare leagues and all that...I suggest watching this game. It early in the season and men still gelling but still I expect good ball.
Juve all the way from 198_ and forever...tough opponent but Inter draw and AC loss so ah takin ah draw on d road but want d win. Have to c wha kinda lineup Rainieri use on d road but I wouldn't b suprise to c both Sissoko and Poulsen in d middle. For Fiorentina I told allyuh about Stevan Jovetic...don't know if he startin for them already...but he is gonna b a big star in d next 2 yrs or so...he is real trubble. bless
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Juventus vs Fiorentina in a few minutes...for men like to compare leagues and all that...I suggest watching this game. It early in the season and men still gelling but still I expect good ball.
Juve all the way from 198_ and forever...tough opponent but Inter draw and AC loss so ah takin ah draw on d road but want d win. Have to c wha kinda lineup Rainieri use on d road but I wouldn't b suprise to c both Sissoko and Poulsen in d middle. For Fiorentina I told allyuh about Stevan Jovetic...don't know if he startin for them already...but he is gonna b a big star in d next 2 yrs or so...he is real trubble. bless
sissoko suspended...i feel he goin wit marchisio and poulsen in d middle cuz both looked good together in the last game..chiellini mash up an molinaro shaky neddy an camo dey and del p iero amauri an iaquinta available...giovinco marchisio waitin in d wings.....dis game is not easy points cuz la viola is a big side an rel tuff to beat anywhere...supportin juve seems to come wit alotta flack buh ah doh bizness is mih side for over a decade an rel emotion does bubble wen ah see dem play...forza juve!!!
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sissoko suspended...i feel he goin wit marchisio and poulsen in d middle cuz both looked good together in the last game..chiellini mash up an molinaro shaky neddy an camo dey and del p iero amauri an iaquinta available...giovinco marchisio waitin in d wings.....dis game is not easy points cuz la viola is a big side an rel tuff to beat anywhere...supportin juve seems to come wit alotta flack buh ah doh bizness is mih side for over a decade an rel emotion does bubble wen ah see dem play...forza juve!!!
Mukumsplau...u was voted most likely to succeed or had d highest IQ in your class ent. We does only want ah chosen few on d Juve train, and I c u were given an invi. Send all d devil worshippers and masochist or whaeva u call dem on d AC and Inter waggon, and d hopeless romantics to Roma. D Juve train only takin a ltd number ah passengers.
Well d general uncle Neddy done maintain ah order and d legend himself now throw way ah easy chance but I eh worried bout him at all. Marchisio holdin he own for d Soko right now and we still have d Trezzy dem to come...thunder and lighting pon Serie A. bless
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just took in the highlights there..
http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1220195650&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42&
it look like dinho rip!!
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sissoko suspended...i feel he goin wit marchisio and poulsen in d middle cuz both looked good together in the last game..chiellini mash up an molinaro shaky neddy an camo dey and del p iero amauri an iaquinta available...giovinco marchisio waitin in d wings.....dis game is not easy points cuz la viola is a big side an rel tuff to beat anywhere...supportin juve seems to come wit alotta flack buh ah doh bizness is mih side for over a decade an rel emotion does bubble wen ah see dem play...forza juve!!!
Mukumsplau...u was voted most likely to succeed or had d highest IQ in your class ent. We does only want ah chosen few on d Juve train, and I c u were given an invi. Send all d devil worshippers and masochist or whaeva u call dem on d AC and Inter waggon, and d hopeless romantics to Roma. D Juve train only takin a ltd number ah passengers.
Well d general uncle Neddy done maintain ah order and d legend himself now throw way ah easy chance but I eh worried bout him at all. Marchisio holdin he own for d Soko right now and we still have d Trezzy dem to come...thunder and lighting pon Serie A. bless
poulsen is ah man play good tuhday..wen he now join an even now he get rel fite down from juve fans but eye is ah man use to follow sevilla an he's a quality player...alex d great gettin meh vex..man holdin on d ball too long in between three four men wen it hav obvious passes den he losin it..buh anyways he does pull rabbit out hat so i does fuhgive him..d backline always worry me wen chiellini not dere but dey cud hol it down wen dey ready..amauri at times does wanna do too much but he a very good player nonetheless...neddy an d italian latapy(camoranesi) hol it down as usual marchisio look promisin an buffon yuh mih boy from long (casillas what? chech who?)..ah waitin fuh ranieri to inject mih boy giovinco dat yute is poison (not messi poison jus yet)...ah donts cares bouts their ronaldinhos or their ibrahimoviches or their tottis or their kakas......forza la juve!!!!!
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just took in the highlights there..
http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1220195650&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42&
it look like dinho rip!!
breds..i now watch de link dey. he put real goal on a plate for de strike force, but dey eh take de bait.
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Tiago 'locked Juve chief in toilet!'
Sunday 31 August, 2008
Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has confirmed that disgruntled player Tiago Mendes locked him in the loo!
In quite the strangest story to emerge from Serie A in many a year, the tension between the club and Tiago seems to have gone overboard.
“The story of me being locked in the toilet by Tiago is true,” confessed Cobolli Gigli live on Sky Italia television.
“It's a shame it got out, as this was something I told a friend in confidence. In any case, Alessandro Del Piero responded to the noise of me punching the door and offered to break it down.
“I told him it was better if someone else did it, as he needed to keep his shoulders in good shape for the Fiorentina game.”
Tiago has repeatedly refused transfers to Everton and Monaco because he wants to play in the Champions League, but Juve cannot sign a new player until they have disposed of the Portuguese flop.
“Claudio Ranieri considers Tiago to be part of our squad, but anything could happen tomorrow in Italian football,” continued the patron.
“Hopefully by midnight Tiago will have found another club.”
The story had emerged over the last couple of days, but the report only stated that Del Piero had rescued Cobolli Gigli when he was accidentally locked in the bathroom at the club's training ground.
Rumours later suggested the 'accident' was in fact a spiteful gesture from Tiago, who was furious at Juventus pushing him to sign for Everton or Monaco.
It is reported Cobolli Gigli was locked in for an hour before Del Piero happened to walk past and heard the pleas for help.
channel4.com
i dunno wh dey doh load d rifle an carry him in d back...yuh kno how long dey tryin to geh rid of da man?!
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Tiago 'locked Juve chief in toilet!'
Sunday 31 August, 2008
Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has confirmed that disgruntled player Tiago Mendes locked him in the loo!
In quite the strangest story to emerge from Serie A in many a year, the tension between the club and Tiago seems to have gone overboard.
“The story of me being locked in the toilet by Tiago is true,” confessed Cobolli Gigli live on Sky Italia television.
“It's a shame it got out, as this was something I told a friend in confidence. In any case, Alessandro Del Piero responded to the noise of me punching the door and offered to break it down.
“I told him it was better if someone else did it, as he needed to keep his shoulders in good shape for the Fiorentina game.”
Tiago has repeatedly refused transfers to Everton and Monaco because he wants to play in the Champions League, but Juve cannot sign a new player until they have disposed of the Portuguese flop.
“Claudio Ranieri considers Tiago to be part of our squad, but anything could happen tomorrow in Italian football,” continued the patron.
“Hopefully by midnight Tiago will have found another club.”
The story had emerged over the last couple of days, but the report only stated that Del Piero had rescued Cobolli Gigli when he was accidentally locked in the bathroom at the club's training ground.
Rumours later suggested the 'accident' was in fact a spiteful gesture from Tiago, who was furious at Juventus pushing him to sign for Everton or Monaco.
It is reported Cobolli Gigli was locked in for an hour before Del Piero happened to walk past and heard the pleas for help.
channel4.com
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Watch the beat Dinho put on a man at www.tvgolo.com (http://www.tvgolo.com) AC vs Bologna at 1.14
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QUARESMA HAS JUST SIGNED FOR INTER MILAN!! :wavetowel:
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My Juve win, as did Inter...so if AC want to be in there at d end they need to start pullin a 3 points soon. Lazio not a joke team though, so i'll be watchin closely to c what kinda team they put out after playin UEFA Cup on Thursday.
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Inter played some sweet ball today. I am backing them to repeat this year, I like the additions the have made to their team.
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Ah feel this year all the other leagues will be more interesting than the EPL. I am not feeling the EPL this year.
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Inter played some sweet ball today. I am backing them to repeat this year, I like the additions the have made to their team.
Not an Inter fan but something tells me they'll take the Scudetto this year, hope I am wrong :devil:
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My Juve win, as did Inter...so if AC want to be in there at d end they need to start pullin a 3 points soon. Lazio not a joke team though, so i'll be watchin closely to c what kinda team they put out after playin UEFA Cup on Thursday.
ah watch mih juve tuhday...i go take de win but i wanted much more goals but say wat..i was disappointed dat mih boy giovinco aint get a run out and i hope he dont get disenchanted..he wud eh but it hav man like del piero who he looks up to dat wud be his calming influence...gigi buffon leff half time i hope is thigh/groin/tolo watever he was grabbin doh keep him out long however manninger is a veteran and looks more than capable..tiago come on and wasnt too bad imo..i hope he comes good dis season cuz i expected alot from him an he dissapointed...amauri..nuff said..iaquinta lookin a touch out of form but i hav faith in him...
dat AC-Lazio will be interesting..Lazio have form rite now and i like that cuz they were missin last season...AC well..big side on paper but like it not meanin anyting to dem but i kno dey will get dey act together soon...
serie a lookin nice dis year
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Inter played some sweet ball today. I am backing them to repeat this year, I like the additions the have made to their team.
Not an Inter fan but something tells me they'll take the Scudetto this year, hope I am wrong :devil:
i doubt...sides rel step up dis year..an d smaller clubs puttin up fight...we go see
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AC v Inter- 28/09/08
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Allyuh need to see dem AC milan highlights...
http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1222032061&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42& (http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1222032061&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42&)
two level bullet score, one from zambrotta from 31m and another from Kaka..
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the "pass" seedorf did for the opener was fantastic... he is one of my fave players from long time. inter has a bomb squad though; that clash next week will be monumental... i can't wait
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How much of allyuh feel Seedorf play that pass of the defender chest on purpose, when he went in and scored?
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How much of allyuh feel Seedorf play that pass of the defender chest on purpose, when he went in and scored?
Not me.
Lazio's 1st goal should have been saved by Milan's keeper
Zambrotta's goal should have been saved by Lazio's keeper
Pato's goal was good but the keeper COULD have saved it
Kaka's goal was special. At first I thought it defelected. Replays showed otherwise.
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Maybe it's just me but Serie A interesting these days.
Now as a closet Inter fan I've always been following it but it was not always the best thing to watch if yuh like to see attacking football. Not to mention the half ass coverage ESPN/Fox Sports use to give us.
But with the Mourinho and Inter, AC with Pato/Kaka/Ronaldinho, Roma starting to roll, Fiorentina with Gillardino and we cyah forget Juve it shaping up to be a nice lil league.
I hope this Sunday's Milan Derby is one to remember.
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Serie A was always interesting for ppl wanting to lean the tactical side of the game withouth the waterd down effects of the media hype & self adulation!
but this season lookin good for real. But everybody no juve goin to take it home.....the race for 2nd place wud be interesting tho! :)
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Serie A was always a interesting league to follow- plenty big name players, huge teams with lots of history....but there have been times when the football has just ugly and not that much fun to watch- very hard and grinding with the exception of a few teams (Milan most consistently)....
I watched the Milan-Lazio game this weekend and it was as open and flowing as any game I've seen in any league...
The competition has never been uninteresting to me, I've always followed and I try not to miss a game involving any of the giants....(except Juve- boo!! ;D)
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AC v Inter- 28/09/08
insignificant game cuz juve goin & manhandle both ah dem just like las season & win d scudetto!!!! ;D
and who say juve for CL?!
i go still watch it to, hopin AC win
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Serie A was always a interesting league to follow- plenty big name players, huge teams with lots of history....but there have been times when the football has just ugly and not that much fun to watch- very hard and grinding with the exception of a few teams (Milan most consistently)....
I watched the Milan-Lazio game this weekend and it was as open and flowing as any game I've seen in any league...
The competition has never been uninteresting to me, I've always followed and I try not to miss a game involving any of the giants....(except Juve- boo!! ;D)
outside wit u hoss.....cuz when all is said and done d tricolour will be on bianconero chests nex year!
hoping for a all italian finals in the CL this year too
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Serie A was always interesting for ppl wanting to lean the tactical side of the game withouth the waterd down effects of the media hype & self adulation!
but this season lookin good for real. But everybody no juve goin to take it home.....the race for 2nd place wud be interesting tho! :)
Absolutely. No doubt.
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My one knock on the Seria A is that it has too many tactical fouls. Dam! over 44 fouls on average per game.
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but there have been times when the football has just ugly and not that much fun to watch- very hard and grinding with the exception of a few teams (Milan most consistently)....
I remember the year before Juve got relegated, I was trying to watch a game. They got a goal in the first 15-20 mins and then grinded out a victory for the rest of the game. It was the most mind numbing experience ever.
But AC give Lazio a route this weekend gone.
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How much of allyuh feel Seedorf play that pass of the defender chest on purpose, when he went in and scored?
Not me.
Lazio's 1st goal should have been saved by Milan's keeper
Zambrotta's goal should have been saved by Lazio's keeper
Pato's goal was good but the keeper COULD have saved it
Kaka's goal was special. At first I thought it defelected. Replays showed otherwise.
Yuh eh ah easy critic nah. Lard! Thank god I never play for you ;D
(then again I would not have made your side)
Zambrotta goal had a slight deflection. All in all almost perfect screen on the shot
Pato's goal was a classic. Very difficult technique, angled diving header AKA Van Basten like. The surprise & distance beat the keeper (it was dam quick)
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How much of allyuh feel Seedorf play that pass of the defender chest on purpose, when he went in and scored?
Not me.
Lazio's 1st goal should have been saved by Milan's keeper
Zambrotta's goal should have been saved by Lazio's keeper
Pato's goal was good but the keeper COULD have saved it
Kaka's goal was special. At first I thought it defelected. Replays showed otherwise.
Agree with the first two, though Zambrotta's shot was so well hit yuh hadda give him a bligh...esp for a defender- the man done already not used to scoring, lewwe doh rain on his parade...
Pato's goal was text book example of a striker's goal. Instinctive yet perfectly executed technically... I have a feeling that that is one of those goals that looked alot better live than on TV....Yuh opinion mighta been different if yuh were there to see him dive, lock his neck, and rifle that ball off his head from 8 yards out...woulda taken alot of anticipation for the keeper to save that...
Kaka's goal was just.....it was just Kaka.
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AC v Inter- 28/09/08
insignificant game cuz juve goin & manhandle both ah dem just like las season & win d scudetto!!!! ;D
and who say juve for CL?!
i go still watch it to, hopin AC win
I doh care who wins or whether it is significant or not, I just want to enjoy the all the skills and talent that will be on display.
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Giovinco to Amauri...Juve 1 - Catania 0 in d 18th. Poulsen fitting in reaaal nice, good buy Rainieri. Still have some players to dump like Marchionni and dem but we will deal with that in January. bless
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http://www.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=football (http://www.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=football)
Click on the lil tv at the side for the live links.
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Giovinco to Amauri...Juve 1 - Catania 0 in d 18th. Poulsen fitting in reaaal nice, good buy Rainieri. Still have some players to dump like Marchionni and dem but we will deal with that in January. bless
nah home boy! marchionni is a good replacement for camo, the only problem is that he injured all d dame time but when he not he is very useful....he like a right sided harry kewell!!!!!
i still wha see poulsen more tho to pass judgement...and i wha see tiago a lil more this season too, i feel wit d pressure off him he go play much better cuz he eh look bad at all in the 2 run outs he get
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Can we fast fwd to sunday AC vs Inter!!! Hopin for a draw and a Juve win after the Catania result. Not too interested in Stoke vs Chelsea and such except for fantasy reasons.
What d AC and Inter fans expecting in this one...who is d home team? Champions League next week as well so squads should be rotated even if only slightly.
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Jose up to he old tricks again... :whip: :challenge:
Mourinho criticizes Ranieri's English
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8584468/Mourinho-criticizes-Ranieri%27s-English (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8584468/Mourinho-criticizes-Ranieri%27s-English)
Jose Mourinho was back in front of the microphone after a week's absence Saturday and the Inter Milan coach marked the occasion with an attack on Claudio Ranieri, his rival at Juventus and predecessor at Chelsea.
Mourinho sparked debate in Italy by leaving media duties to his assistant coach Giuseppe Baresi before and after Inter's 1-0 win over Lecce on Wednesday.
Ranieri suggested that the head coach should be responsible for talking with the media "out of respect for the fans and sportsmen in all of Italy."
"Do you think it's a lack of respect when for three months, a coach studies Italian four or five hours per day so when he arrives for the first time in a new country he can speak with fans and journalists in their language?" Mourinho responded.
"After five years in England, Ranieri still had trouble saying 'good afternoon' and 'good morning."'
Lecce coach Mario Beretta also criticized Mourinho, saying he had shown a lack of respect for Lecce.
"President Moratti is the one who has to tell me that," Mourinho said. "If he says Baresi doesn't have the skill, the status, the image and trust to represent the club. If the president tells me that, I promise you I will be at every meeting with the press. But the president has to say it, not you or another journalist or another coach."
Baresi played 15 seasons as a defender for Inter. When Mourinho was hired in the offseason, he explicitly asked for Baresi as an assistant so he could have someone in his staff related to the club's history.
On Sunday, Mourinho will get a taste of his first derby with AC Milan, an encounter he described as simply "a normal game."
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Is just me or this article says Baresi played for Inter.
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Is just me or this article says Baresi played for Inter.
YES MAN.. what kinda inter fan you is....
is Guiseppe dey talking bout... not he brother Franco who was de AC man
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Yes boy FF boy, I feeling like a imps. Especially due to the fact that I am one of the few men that backs Inter.
It really slip meh mind that Franco bredda play for them.
I will humbly take any bashing that is forthcoming.
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Game on FSC @ 2:30pm
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dis match nite be nice eh but oh gorm ah wanna take in dat sevilla-atletico dis evenin...choices choices choices
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anybody have a sopcast link for this??
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dis match nite be nice eh but oh gorm ah wanna take in dat sevilla-atletico dis evenin...choices choices choices
DVR is $9.99 extra ah month mih boy...doh wig out! Else PIP free so u could watch both at d same time.
For the Inter fans...how do u feel about d 4-3-3 system of Mourinho? I don't think it makes sense because watching when Ibra drops deep there is absolutely nobody up top. For this system he need a midfielder like Lampard who makes runs ahead of the striker...Vieira, Cambiasso, Zanetti all defensive minded so it make no sense to me at all...but what do I know cuz Inter on top d table. He need to go call a Lampard, Iniesta, Gerrard, Kaka type who not afraid to get in the box and bench one of those 3. bless
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dis match nite be nice eh but oh gorm ah wanna take in dat sevilla-atletico dis evenin...choices choices choices
DVR is $9.99 extra ah month mih boy...doh wig out! Else PIP free so u could watch both at d same time.
For the Inter fans...how do u feel about d 4-3-3 system of Mourinho? I don't think it makes sense because watching when Ibra drops deep there is absolutely nobody up top. For this system he need a midfielder like Lampard who makes runs ahead of the striker...Vieira, Cambiasso, Zanetti all defensive minded so it make no sense to me at all...but what do I know cuz Inter on top d table. He need to go call a Lampard, Iniesta, Gerrard, Kaka type who not afraid to get in the box and bench one of those 3. bless
It Works with Ibra Adriano & Maicini when either Adriano or Mancini is doing the work
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anybody have a sopcast link for this??
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=19438&part=sports (http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=19438&part=sports)
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Anybody see that sweet backheel volley by Zlatan v Bologna? A thing of beauty. I would take that guy om my team any day. Great player.
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Boss goal...one of d few men capable of that improvisation.
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wow.. what a GOAL (http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1223150293&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42&) by zlatan..
and notice meh boy adriano getting ah steady sweat even though he turn ah left winger..
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only f-in Ibra...sweet sweet goal...do dat against Juve na...yuh bastard
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only f-in Ibra...sweet sweet goal...do dat against Juve na...yuh bastard
Mr Splau sir,
My fellow Juve bredda, please refrain from callin any spirits on us. I beg u, as silly as it may seem to take back those words...because I will neva want us (u really eh) to have to eat them. Do not mess with the ex-player ghosts out here next ting he drop 3 on us and I have to come look for u. Positive all the way...Juve!!! Juve!!! Juve!!!
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only f-in Ibra...sweet sweet goal...do dat against Juve na...yuh bastard
Mr Splau sir,
My fellow Juve bredda, please refrain from callin any spirits on us. I beg u, as silly as it may seem to take back those words...because I will neva want us (u really eh) to have to eat them. Do not mess with the ex-player ghosts out here next ting he drop 3 on us and I have to come look for u. Positive all the way...Juve!!! Juve!!! Juve!!!
haha na ibra wudnt make a note against chiellini im confident about that..an even if he get tru it hav buffon waitin fuh him...i not worried...we always step up our game wen facing inter milan roma and hopefully by then we'll hav a run of good form goin into those matches after a disappointing and sour start to d season..
juventino dalla nascita!!!!!!!!!!!
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only f-in Ibra...sweet sweet goal...do dat against Juve na...yuh bastard
Mr Splau sir,
My fellow Juve bredda, please refrain from callin any spirits on us. I beg u, as silly as it may seem to take back those words...because I will neva want us (u really eh) to have to eat them. Do not mess with the ex-player ghosts out here next ting he drop 3 on us and I have to come look for u. Positive all the way...Juve!!! Juve!!! Juve!!!
:rotfl:
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Will take the victory in the derby today...Amauri in fine form and we need to be heading up the table. Hope for results to go our way the rest of the weekend.
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Will take the victory in the derby today...Amauri in fine form and we need to be heading up the table. Hope for results to go our way the rest of the weekend.
he on form for real. surprisingly even molinaro playing well. marchionni went anonymous for the 2nd game in a row.
but we need to fire either our physio, our physical trainer or both cuz too many muscle injuries thsi season, the only man that doh have muscle problems is trezegol. even today grygera come off with muscle problems and brazzo was supposed to come on for him but he get muscle problems warmin up too so mellberg had to come on instead.
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Quaresma get voted the worst player in Serie A...thaz real sad for a man ppl was sayin would terrify d league in d summer.
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Quaresma get voted the worst player in Serie A...thaz real sad for a man ppl was sayin would terrify d league in d summer.
He in good company. I remember Rivaldo won it while at Milan
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Quaresma get voted the worst player in Serie A...thaz real sad for a man ppl was sayin would terrify d league in d summer.
He seems a talented player but his attitude has always been questioned. It seems he does not wish to listen to advice as to how best to approach developing his play, based on his qualities. He stormed out of Barca as a youth (similar to De Santos) and could never really live up to his hype. IMHO he has a lot of tools, but if it stops at the neck up, its usually a VERY big problem to rectify.
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Quaresma get voted the worst player in Serie A...thaz real sad for a man ppl was sayin would terrify d league in d summer.
He in good company. I remember Rivaldo won it while at Milan
And Santiago Solari, who was a decent player for Real but went to Inter and shit down the whole place.
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Quaresma get voted the worst player in Serie A...thaz real sad for a man ppl was sayin would terrify d league in d summer.
He seems a talented player but his attitude has always been questioned. It seems he does not wish to listen to advice as to how best to approach developing his play, based on his qualities. He stormed out of Barca as a youth (similar to De Santos) and could never really live up to his hype. IMHO he has a lot of tools, but if it stops at the neck up, its usually a VERY big problem to rectify.
Didn't he leave Barca in the Deco deal?
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wha de....
AC Milan's Gattuso out for six months
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months)
MILAN, Italy (AP) - AC Milan's combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso underwent knee surgery on Monday and is expected to be out for six months, the club said in a statement on its Web site.
The 30-year-old, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, was operated on in Antwerp, Belgium, the club said.
The injury occurred Dec. 7 during Milan's 1-0 win over Catania. Gattuso played the entire match and the extent of the problem only became evident afterwards.
The injury means Gattuso will miss Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on March 28 and Ireland on April 1.
Milan lost 4-2 at Juventus on Sunday night and slipped nine points behind Serie A leader Inter Milan.
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wha de....
AC Milan's Gattuso out for six months
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months)
MILAN, Italy (AP) - AC Milan's combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso underwent knee surgery on Monday and is expected to be out for six months, the club said in a statement on its Web site.
The 30-year-old, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, was operated on in Antwerp, Belgium, the club said.
The injury occurred Dec. 7 during Milan's 1-0 win over Catania. Gattuso played the entire match and the extent of the problem only became evident afterwards.
The injury means Gattuso will miss Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on March 28 and Ireland on April 1.
Milan lost 4-2 at Juventus on Sunday night and slipped nine points behind Serie A leader Inter Milan.
Yuh could play with cruciate ligament damage (up to a certain point)...depending on the severity of the tear, yuh might not even notice for some time. Didn't dawg play with a torn cruciate ligament for sometime before it finally gave in on him (because he didn't believe in surgery)?
ACL is a different story.
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wha de....
AC Milan's Gattuso out for six months
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months)
MILAN, Italy (AP) - AC Milan's combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso underwent knee surgery on Monday and is expected to be out for six months, the club said in a statement on its Web site.
The 30-year-old, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, was operated on in Antwerp, Belgium, the club said.
The injury occurred Dec. 7 during Milan's 1-0 win over Catania. Gattuso played the entire match and the extent of the problem only became evident afterwards.
The injury means Gattuso will miss Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on March 28 and Ireland on April 1.
Milan lost 4-2 at Juventus on Sunday night and slipped nine points behind Serie A leader Inter Milan.
Yuh could play with cruciate ligament damage (up to a certain point)...depending on the severity of the tear, yuh might not even notice for some time. Didn't dawg play with a torn cruciate ligament for sometime before it finally gave in on him (because he didn't believe in surgery)?
ACL is a different story.
Kicker you read what you write dey??
Gattuso tear he Anterior Cruciate Ligament... and dat is ah different story to A C L ?
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wha de....
AC Milan's Gattuso out for six months
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8944334/AC-Milan%27s-Gattuso-out-for-six-months)
MILAN, Italy (AP) - AC Milan's combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso underwent knee surgery on Monday and is expected to be out for six months, the club said in a statement on its Web site.
The 30-year-old, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, was operated on in Antwerp, Belgium, the club said.
The injury occurred Dec. 7 during Milan's 1-0 win over Catania. Gattuso played the entire match and the extent of the problem only became evident afterwards.
The injury means Gattuso will miss Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on March 28 and Ireland on April 1.
Milan lost 4-2 at Juventus on Sunday night and slipped nine points behind Serie A leader Inter Milan.
Yuh could play with cruciate ligament damage (up to a certain point)...depending on the severity of the tear, yuh might not even notice for some time. Didn't dawg play with a torn cruciate ligament for sometime before it finally gave in on him (because he didn't believe in surgery)?
ACL is a different story.
Kicker you read what you write dey??
Gattuso tear he Anterior Cruciate Ligament... and dat is ah different story to A C L ?
LOL - Yeah missed that.... ;D
speed read followed by foot-in-mouth....oops.... :P
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Trezeguet return to training yesterday...will be playing end of month. Help them fadda....help theeeeeem
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Trezeguet return to training yesterday...will be playing end of month. Help them fadda....help theeeeeem
add to dat...tiago back, gigi back, zanetti back, poulsen back :-[, camo back by end of jan
look how meh team go be nice and fresh for the 2nd half of the season!!! ;D
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hmm just put on the Tele in time to see Doni header another goal past Inter.
Atalanta up 3-0
2 mins again for half time.
MUAHAHAHAHAH.....watch out inter...Juve on yuh tails ;D
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Lets get another Inter loss today...c'mon Samp! Juve to top d table if it happen.
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i can't wait to see inter play today. i wonder if the absence of muntari has anything to do with their slump. he is in the form of his life this season, driving forward getting crucial goals, shackling opposing midfielders and forwards, the man is a dan.
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Lets get another Inter loss today...c'mon Samp! Juve to top d table if it happen.
i hope cassano and pazzini rest somtin on dem
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Inter again today did not look convincing, even though they looked better than their last game.
I thought Sampdoria were unlucky on two instances not to get a penalty. But we all know
so it is with big teams.
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in the first half i was thinkng that both sides would have been lucky to finish with 9 far less 11 men but the game got a bit better after the goal. inter seem to have lost their fluency, i don't know what is wrong with mancini and as for quaresma, he looks as if he will be put on the first thing smoking back to portugal b/c he has not impressed. cordoba put in the tackle of the weekend today.
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if its one good thing is that Adriano work his socks off in this game.. I really looking forward to him getting back to his best form and this outing did him well..
Stankovic was the most dangerous player on the field today imo, and ah find Figo look good when he came on but they lucky they eh get bore with that bullet in the 5th minute of extra time from the sampdoria player.
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man make meh eat meh words yes.. steups.
Inter striker Adriano suspended for 3 games
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9137096/Inter-striker-Adriano-suspended-for-3-games (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9137096/Inter-striker-Adriano-suspended-for-3-games)
ROME (AP) - Inter Milan striker Adriano received a three-match suspension for punching an opponent during his team's Serie A match against Sampdoria.
Adriano scored Sunday to give Inter a 1-0 victory, keeping the club as the sole Serie A leaders.
The Italian league said Monday in a statement that Adriano punched Daniele Gastaldello of Sampdoria in the stomach in the 38th minute, shortly before scoring in first-half injury time.
The league imposed the ban after reviewing TV footage that showed the punch, which had not been seen by the referee, the statement said.
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lol i'm laughing but really i'm not. Every time the emperor getting back his touch he does something to shit it up. Just as long as he stay fit and match fit too for the UCL.
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Milan vs Genoa.
http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/wed28.1/Genoa_Milan.html (http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/wed28.1/Genoa_Milan.html)
champagne football
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Beckham takes a step back to Pirlo on the set play.
Freekick rocks the crossbar.
Could Milan have the most weapons when it comes to freekicks?
Pirlo, Beckham, Kaka, Seedorf, (Pato because he Brasilian).
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Beckham takes a step back to Pirlo on the set play.
Freekick rocks the crossbar.
Could Milan have the most weapons when it comes to freekicks?
Pirlo, Beckham, Kaka, Seedorf, (Pato because he Brasilian).
Ronaldinho
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cyar get a sweat yet for the day .... but absolutely.
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Pressure!!
15'’ Juric again with a clumsy challenge brings down Massimo Ambrosini in a dangerous position. It's central and 30 yards out...Pirlo crashes the free kick against the bar! And the Milanese follow up is well over.
33'’ GOAL MILAN!!! Beckham takes the free kick, the Genoa defence are expecting the cross. Becks spots a gaping hole at the near post and blasts the ball home. Great strike! Are you watching Mr Capello?
44'’ And right up the other end. It's a free kick to Milan. Pirlo takes it, it hits the bar, although Rubinho had it covered.
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Where egos dare: Mourinho's striking dilemma
by Alex Stamp, Bleacher Report
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9146534/Where-egos-dare:-Mourinho%27s-striking-dilemma (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9146534/Where-egos-dare:-Mourinho%27s-striking-dilemma)
Jose Mourinho is hardly a man who will come off second in a war of words.
After all, here is a man who refers to himself as the "Special One." You can picture him in an argument, forever having the last word — and hey, probably the last laugh while he's at it.
People should just ask his long list of victims — Martin O'Neill, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Rafael Benitez, Claudio Ranieri, and Pietro Lo Monaco — he seems to enjoy the odd bout of verbal jousting, that man.
Yet this season, Mourinho has had plenty of bouts of verbal jousting, except it has been with some of the players at his own club.
The path to success doesn't always run smooth, and for Mourinho thus far things haven't always been rosy during his time in Italy. For a man who has anointed himself the "Special One," there will always be a certain amount of pressure — it comes with the nickname.
But having to take over from one of Italy's most successful managers, Roberto Mancini (who had just won the title three years in a row), on the proviso that he could take the club to a trophy it last won some 44 years ago —the European Cup — brings its own pressure.
Furthermore, unlike his predecessor, Mourinho is facing increasing competition in the form of a rejuvenated AC Milan and Juventus — teams who have endured a fallow couple of years domestically, yet now appear to be presenting Inter Milan with a challenge for the title.
Just to make matters worse for Mourinho, he probably inherited a squad as packed with egotistical names and faces as he ever had to deal with at Chelsea or Porto — Patrick Vieira, Marco Materazzi, etc., but it is particularly problematic strikers that have caused Mourinho all manner of issues this season.
Interestingly, one of these has not been Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a player whom Mourinho has taken under his wing, and described as "the best in the world."
Whether you believe those sentiments or not, Mourinho has arguably coaxed the best out of Ibrahimovic, and he leads Inter's goal-scoring charts with 13 goals this season.
For his part, "Ibra" has been more than effusive in his praise of Mourinho.
However, this is where Mourinho suffers a problem. As he continues to invest such faith in Ibrahimovic, he runs the risk of alienating two of the other strikers, who like Ibrahimovic need to be nurtured and loved — Adriano and Mario Balotelli.
Adriano, though he has recently been playing for Inter, endures an up and down relationship with Mourinho and the club. Adriano as a player is a phenomenal talent, a mix of speed, power, and strength that is rarely matched in world football.
However, mentally he has struggled to retain his hunger with football, and depression and alcoholism have plagued his career. He was welcomed back into the Inter Milan fold this season, but following injury, poor form, and rumors of him turning up for training drunk, he was linked with a move away from the club again, with Tottenham and Chelsea mooted.
Mario Balotelli, on the other hand, is a very different proposition. A shining star who emerged last season as a 17-year-old phenomenon, the striker quickly earned the nickname "Super Mario."
Balotelli is very much in the Didier Drogba mold, a strong, tall (6ft plus) and quick striker, who boasts calm composure in front of goal and indeed is very good at set pieces. Yet this season, as he has failed to push into the Inter Milan first team, Balotelli has proved to be anything but "Super Mario."
He has frequently demanded a move away, has been poor in training — Mourinho even claimed he trained at 25% — and has had a negative attitude throughout. Finally, this week "Super Mario" refused to be in the Inter squad for the match against Catania, as he hopes to force a move away from Inter.
Now, egos amongst footballers are not bad things, in fact often they come in handy. You only have to see Cristiano Ronaldo's histrionics last night (chest-pumping and glaring at the crowd) to see footballing ego at work. However it is when player's ego's escalate out of control that it can pose problems for managers — even ones as talented as Mourinho.
Yet the problem for Mourinho is that, for all the problems these two pose him he would simply not want to be parted from them. In the case of Adriano, here is a player who at his peak is practically untouchable, while Balotelli potentially could be one of the finest strikers in Europe.
So the danger for Mourinho is that, if he were to sell them, and were any manager able to coax the best out of them (like Mourinho has done with Ibrahimovic), then they would be an asset to any side in the world, and ultimately would make Mourinho's decisions to sell either of them appear foolish.
Therefore for Mourinho, defeat, as always, is not an option. He must battle through the words, the arguments, the tantrums, the depression, in the hope that he can manage to coax the best out of these two, potentially fantastic strikers.
That might sound like a battle for anyone, but if anyone can manage it, then surely it is "the Special One."
Alex Stamp is a scribe for Bleacher Report, the open source sports network.
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So the danger for Mourinho is that, if he were to sell them, and were any manager able to coax the best out of them (like Mourinho has done with Ibrahimovic), then they would be an asset to any side in the world, and ultimately would make Mourinho's decisions to sell either of them appear foolish.
4k dat!!!
Sell dey arse and bring Drogba, while he at it, he could run Quaresma as well.
Love de fella eh, but he getting on like a Denilson.
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Roma wins again tonight. Only 1 spot off the CL places now. That is amazing given their poor start to the season. They will catch Milan and Juve if they keep this form. Inter? hmm..is their title to lose
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Inter vs Torino
http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/sun1.2/Inter_Torino.htmlhttp://
Inter just score 1-1.
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Sometimes ah wonder if Jose dos want tuh run out on the field and drop serious clout on men when dey make a dotish play? The first player who might geh serious tap up would be Quaresma-lord talk about lacking the ability to the simple, instead of always tryin to do the spectacular!
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If Berbatov ever decide tuh go to Serie A he would not look out of place, great technical skills, cool like the other side of the pillow, great football brain and temperament. He could play until he was 40!
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come on torino!
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what a shot from quresma
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what a shot from quresma
What a finish by Inter!! Torino was always looking to just secure a point - I see plays where they had 7, 8 and even 9 men in their defensive third on a Inter counterattack!! - and Mourinho's tactical switthces came early enough, but still too late. Ibra looked rather uninspired today and the midfield just wasn't making the best passes to be effective either. Torino 'keeper made some good saves with the best one coming off that sweet header from Crespo and I feel My boy, JC coulda do a lil better on Torino's goal.........but his performance these last two seasons has been nothing short of excellent, so ah could gih 'im a bligh. Quaresma need to stop tryin' for the spectacular shot EVERY TIME he see an opportunity.
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2-1 Inter I presume?
I switched over to the Chelsea - Liverpool game
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Boy, I eh know what to say bout Ricardo Quaresma again nuh. Figo lay it on a platter for him, he could ah side foot it far post or square it for Crespo. Instead he send it 5 rows into the stand.
Torino was a bit lucky in the last 5 mins, Inter lay siege on them. Bout 15 corners one after the next, one set ah clearance off the line.
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what a shot from quresma
What a finish by Inter!! Torino was always looking to just secure a point - I see plays where they had 7, 8 and even 9 men in their defensive third on a Inter counterattack!! - and Mourinho's tactical switthces came early enough, but still too late. Ibra looked rather uninspired today and the midfield just wasn't making the best passes to be effective either. Torino 'keeper made some good saves with the best one coming off that sweet header from Crespo and I feel My boy, JC coulda do a lil better on Torino's goal.........but his performance these last two seasons has been nothing short of excellent, so ah could gih 'im a bligh. Quaresma need to stop tryin' for the spectacular shot EVERY TIME he see an opportunity.
Stop tryin tuh act like yuh come up with that Quaresma ting first nah!
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2-1 Inter I presume?
I switched over to the Chelsea - Liverpool game
Yuh only showin' off becuz YOU get to switch!.....de ress ah we was forced!
what a shot from quresma
What a finish by Inter!! Torino was always looking to just secure a point - I see plays where they had 7, 8 and even 9 men in their defensive third on a Inter counterattack!! - and Mourinho's tactical switthces came early enough, but still too late. Ibra looked rather uninspired today and the midfield just wasn't making the best passes to be effective either. Torino 'keeper made some good saves with the best one coming off that sweet header from Crespo and I feel My boy, JC coulda do a lil better on Torino's goal.........but his performance these last two seasons has been nothing short of excellent, so ah could gih 'im a bligh. Quaresma need to stop tryin' for the spectacular shot EVERY TIME he see an opportunity.
Stop tryin tuh act like yuh come up with that Quaresma ting first nah!
Nah, me eh on dat! De only ting I does be tryin' to bussout wit first is a nu......ah go hold back on dat, is suday mawnin...
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2-1 Inter I presume?
I switched over to the Chelsea - Liverpool game
Yuh only showin' off becuz YOU get to switch!.....de ress ah we was forced!
lol ... nah ... I watching the same link - but when I see the time was 11, I went back to look for a Chelsea-Liverpool link.
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lazio - ac d first real match fuh d day...dis liverpool chelsea B.S. dey had meh watchin
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Milan better do it to Lazio.
Anybody have anything other than the Japanese link?
I hear more than enough Japanese/ Korean in that MMA coverage last nite.
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well as juve wig out ah hopin lazio could equalize...pandev or zarate need to have a moment of inspiration and fix this up.
also rainieri need to start usin mih boys like nedved more like how fergie usin giggs...should play giovinco against d shit sides and save nedved legs for d big games...somebody give me his cell number dey.
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say wat u want. he sells t shirtss brings out the fans and is probably the best crosser of the football
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say wat u want. he sells t shirtss brings out the fans and is probably the best crosser of the football
he just validate yuh statement with a freekick/ cross.
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Kaka with the give and go .... pick and roll if you will.
Milan 3 - Lazio 0.
5 mins to go.
over.
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4k dat!!!
Sell dey arse and bring Drogba, while he at it, he could run Quaresma as well.
Love de fella eh, but he getting on like a Denilson.
my prayers were somewhat answered
Quaresma signed by Chelsea on loan
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma from Inter Milan in a deadline-busting loan move.
The Blues have announced the news on their website and state that the Premier League have rubber-stamped the deal.
Inter Milan had earlier left Quaresma out of their updated Champions League squad, prompting reports he could be offered to Tottenham in exchange for midfielder Jermaine Jenas. Yet he will be heading to a different London club.
The Portuguese winger made six appearances for Inter in the group stages of Europe's elite club competition but has failed to impress since joining the Italian champions in the summer from Porto.
"I am disappointed with him,'' said Inter coach Jose Mourinho. "He is a player that I wanted in Milan but unfortunately, he has not been able to overcome the criticism directed at him.
"Without confidence in oneself it becomes more difficult.''
Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo yet again failed to make the cut for Inter's squad, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Julio Cruz and Adriano grabbing Inter's attacking places for the Champions League.
The Serie A leaders take on Manchester United in the first knock-out round on February 24.
Inter travel to Old Trafford for the return leg on March 11.
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Anybody check out Juventus away outfits? Oh my goodness straight out of the set of Grease! Who does be dressing them?
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MELLOW YUHSELF DAT KIT VERY BAD
on ah side note...gigi buffon is superhuman.
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Milan vs Inter this week...mouth watering clash even with the news Kaka gonna miss out. Hopin for any result other than an Inter win to help Juve. No EPL this week too so ppl gonna b waitin even more to watch this clash of giants.
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MELLOW YUHSELF DAT KIT VERY BAD
on ah side note...gigi buffon is superhuman.
Didn't look too Superhuman when he colleck 3 the week before from Cagliari....in Turin
Just kidding..he is class, but he now coming back from injury.
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Anybody see the bullet the ref in the Lazio v Torino match take in the head? The man drop like he geh a left hook from Hagler! He try tuh get up like he didn't feel it then he drop back down. First time I see that in a match!
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Anybody see the bullet the ref in the Lazio v Torino match take in the head? The man drop like he geh a left hook from Hagler! He try tuh get up like he didn't feel it then he drop back down. First time I see that in a match!
giggsy11 ah hear he getting a sponsorship deal already, since he now have a Nike ball tattoo on he face. Dam! man look like a sniper pick him out
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Anybody see the bullet the ref in the Lazio v Torino match take in the head? The man drop like he geh a left hook from Hagler! He try tuh get up like he didn't feel it then he drop back down. First time I see that in a match!
giggsy11 ah hear he getting a sponsorship deal already, since he now have a Nike ball tattoo on he face. Dam! man look like a sniper pick him out
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:! Yeah boy, how can you not love this sport!
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Now watching the Milan game and do they ever look slow. Seedorf in the first half looks really poor, Beckham & Pirlo really has the midfield moving slow and Inzagi as ever always getting caught offside. One bright spark so far is the game of Maldini, the old man reading the game and making it look easy.
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Now watching the Milan game and do they ever look slow. Seedorf in the first half looks really poor, Beckham & Pirlo really has the midfield moving slow and Inzagi as ever always getting caught offside. One bright spark so far is the game of Maldini, the old man reading the game and making it look easy.
Without Pato & Kaka in the line up they are like 2 gears slower.
The crowd getting more and more frustrated with Seedorf....
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Seedorf scores.. redeems his sub par performance
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yuh but allyuh see sissoko goal (http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2122958/) for juve yesterday?! my word!!
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yuh but allyuh see sissoko goal (http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2122958/) for juve yesterday?! my word!!
Goal boy! Sissoko looking real good all season, but that goal (altho not his first) showed another dimension to his allround excellence. Class solo effort
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one for the juve (& inter fans)
Jose Mourinho came to The Juve Centre to watch one of our trainings and at the end of this one, he talked to Ranieri: "I don't understand, your team is better than mine and I do exactly the same trainings like you !!"
Ranieri replies: "It's because my players are smarter than yours ... look at this.".
Ranieri calls Del Piero and asks him: "He's the son of your father but it's not your brother, who is he ?" Alex quickly answers "it's me !!".
Mourinho comes back to the training center of Inter and asks to Julio Cesar: "He's the son of your father but he's not your brother, who is he ?"
Julio Cesar just says: "Let me run around the pitch one time to think about it and I'll tell you ...". While he runs, Julio Cesar just asks the same question to Zanetti. Zanetti replies: "It's me".
Julio Cesar comes back to Mourinho with a large smile: "it's Zanetti !!".
Mourinho, angry: "Silly idiot, it's Alex Del Piero!!"
:rotfl:
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one for the juve (& inter fans)
Jose Mourinho came to The Juve Centre to watch one of our trainings and at the end of this one, he talked to Ranieri: "I don't understand, your team is better than mine and I do exactly the same trainings like you !!"
Ranieri replies: "It's because my players are smarter than yours ... look at this.".
Ranieri calls Del Piero and asks him: "He's the son of your father but it's not your brother, who is he ?" Alex quickly answers "it's me !!".
Mourinho comes back to the training center of Inter and asks to Julio Cesar: "He's the son of your father but he's not your brother, who is he ?"
Julio Cesar just says: "Let me run around the pitch one time to think about it and I'll tell you ...". While he runs, Julio Cesar just asks the same question to Zanetti. Zanetti replies: "It's me".
Julio Cesar comes back to Mourinho with a large smile: "it's Zanetti !!".
Mourinho, angry: "Silly idiot, it's Alex Del Piero!!"
:rotfl:
I heard a version of this joke substituting Panday & Manning for JM & CR over 10 years ago...
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one for the juve (& inter fans)
Jose Mourinho came to The Juve Centre to watch one of our trainings and at the end of this one, he talked to Ranieri: "I don't understand, your team is better than mine and I do exactly the same trainings like you !!"
Ranieri replies: "It's because my players are smarter than yours ... look at this.".
Ranieri calls Del Piero and asks him: "He's the son of your father but it's not your brother, who is he ?" Alex quickly answers "it's me !!".
Mourinho comes back to the training center of Inter and asks to Julio Cesar: "He's the son of your father but he's not your brother, who is he ?"
Julio Cesar just says: "Let me run around the pitch one time to think about it and I'll tell you ...". While he runs, Julio Cesar just asks the same question to Zanetti. Zanetti replies: "It's me".
Julio Cesar comes back to Mourinho with a large smile: "it's Zanetti !!".
Mourinho, angry: "Silly idiot, it's Alex Del Piero!!"
:rotfl:
lolollolololololol :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: not funny but lol
On a side note del have mih gastric juices overflowing this season cyah wait for chelly welly roma should finally beat an english side (not counting chelly welly that was the start of the end for them) and my big side FC Internazionale Milano should beat up manure like punching bag ah cyar wait ah telling allyuh now Adriano WILL be the difference even if the difference means freeing up Ibra to buss the net
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one for the juve (& inter fans)
Jose Mourinho came to The Juve Centre to watch one of our trainings and at the end of this one, he talked to Ranieri: "I don't understand, your team is better than mine and I do exactly the same trainings like you !!"
Ranieri replies: "It's because my players are smarter than yours ... look at this.".
Ranieri calls Del Piero and asks him: "He's the son of your father but it's not your brother, who is he ?" Alex quickly answers "it's me !!".
Mourinho comes back to the training center of Inter and asks to Julio Cesar: "He's the son of your father but he's not your brother, who is he ?"
Julio Cesar just says: "Let me run around the pitch one time to think about it and I'll tell you ...". While he runs, Julio Cesar just asks the same question to Zanetti. Zanetti replies: "It's me".
Julio Cesar comes back to Mourinho with a large smile: "it's Zanetti !!".
Mourinho, angry: "Silly idiot, it's Alex Del Piero!!"
:rotfl:
So lewwe recap..Ranieri men behind Mourinho's in the table, but you tell the joke as if Mourinho want to know why his players not performing to the level of Ranieri's..hmmm. Like yuh was real desperate to tell this joke, evn if it didn't make no sense :devil:
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Juve win...AC loss...Roma 2-0 on Inter...its a great week.
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3-3 Inter-Roma..
Good game.
Maicon look kinda suspect today...
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menez should get more playing time, the youth is deadly going forward and he has an end product. was a good game though, inter has a never say die attitude, u could see mourinho's stamp on the team.
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Crespo saves point for Inter
Teenager Mario Balotelli struck twice and Hernan Crespo scored a late equaliser as Serie A leaders Inter Milan rallied to draw 3-3 with AS Roma in a thriller at the San Siro on Sunday.
Click here
First-half goals from Daniele De Rossi and John Arne Riise had Roma on top while Matteo Brighi briefly restored their two-goal advantage after Balotelli had side-footed his first goal five minutes into the second.
Balotelli, in the starting line-up as Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on the bench with a muscle problem, narrowed the gap again with a penalty in the 63rd and substitute Crespo, making a rare appearance, completed the comeback with a header in the 79th.
After 26 games Inter, who started the weekend nine in front, have 60 points, seven more than second-placed Juventus after they won 1-0 over Napoli in Turin on Saturday.
"A point is gold from a match like this," Inter coach Jose Mourinho told Sky television. "The match seemed lost at 3-1. My team deserves this point, not for the quality of play. Their character made the difference."
http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/3BZXLPCP1iU
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inter get wood from Sampdoria today..
where dey find dis flecking man name Rivas dread?!
http://www.youtube.com/v/4dwL5MzPUE0
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Samp batter Inter 3-0 in Coppa Italia first leg
Sampdoria strike duo Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano exposed a brittle Inter Milan defence to give the 10-man hosts a shock 3-0 win in their Italian Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Click here
Inter coach Jose Mourinho rotated his line-up and paid the price when Nelson Rivas, playing as an unaccustomed right back, allowed Cassano to steal the ball and chip reserve keeper Francesco Toldo on nine minutes.
Pazzini made the most of more loose Inter defending when he headed in from close range following a corner and the former Fiorentina forward grabbed a second on 42 minutes when the Serie A leaders again failed to clear a ball in the box.
Inter drew 3-3 in the league with AS Roma on Sunday and Mourinho, facing an Italian federation charge for an outburst against his rivals on Tuesday, bemoaned more poor defending.
"It was again a ridiculous first goal," Mourinho told Rai television. "Rivas has not done well -- he knows it, we know it, but on the field we are all together and take responsibility together.
"When not all the players are there and we make changes...the team does not have the same quality," added the Portuguese, who picked his team with one eye on next Wednesday's Champions League match at Manchester United.
Samp lost defender Daniele Gastaldello to a second yellow card on the hour but Inter, bidding to reach their fifth straight final, did not come especially close late on.
The rainswept Genoa night got worse for Inter when striker Mario Balotelli was carried off on a stretcher after collapsing in the middle of the pitch having collided with the post minutes earlier.
Lazio beat Juventus 2-1 at home in Tuesday's semi-final first leg with the second legs taking place in April.
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allyuh see that save Julio Cesar just make??
my lawd..
for me, based on current form he is the best goalkeeper anywhere right now.
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allyuh see that save Julio Cesar just make??
my lawd..
for me, based on current form he is the best goalkeeper anywhere right now.
Agreed.
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ok, so balotelli now score there and he and santon do a kinda celebration..
a kinda prop on de ground and wine with each other kinda ting...
scratching my head here.. ???
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Me eh go lie, Cambiasso had to be one of the most underrated DM's in the world.
His awareness and tireless runs are really an asset, not to mention the man play CB when the 2 defenders get sub off injured.
Good win for Inter. I want to see the extent of the injures for the upcoming ManUre game.
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ok, so balotelli now score there and he and santon do a kinda celebration..
a kinda prop on de ground and wine with each other kinda ting...
scratching my head here.. ???
Very suspect...
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yuh kno wen i see dat celebration i look to mih left den to mih right then down to d ground then at d tv wit a confused look....dem hadda explain da one...maybe balotelli lost his virginity d night before
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Balotelli have real talent, but the man is mentally unstable, or need some anger management.
Next man today, Clinton Morrison - forever wrong and strong, and eternally ringing up he pan ... just like he did for Ballack today.
But I fly off the couch today when Julio Cesar make that save cuz I swear the rebound was coming straight to me.
After that save, I was thinking of who could be the best shot stopper in the game today.
I narrow it down to Julio Cesar, Buffon, Casillias, Van de Sar and Alex (yeah, Chelsea/ Brasil DEFENDER ;D).
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Good grief, shitty Inzaghi now score a hat trick against Atalanta.
No Kaka or Ronaldinho for AC Milan.
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There has been a Dider sighting! :o Lets see if he is still Dider. Milan starting goalie got hurt and the back up out injured.
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Didn't get a chance to hail up d big performance of Giovinco yesterday. I hope that wasn't a once in a blue thing and that by next season he ready to replace Nedved and do that consistently.
Hopin Fiorentina at least keep Inter to a draw later even though ah know that after d Man Utd loss Inter will not b easy to defeat.
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Love Inter's white kit, especially the tops! Sweet.
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what a free kick by Zlatan!! :o
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mih goosebumps eh gone dong yet from dah one nah! lard gad! de superstar swede! 8)
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There has been a Dider sighting! :o Lets see if he is still Dider. Milan starting goalie got hurt and the back up out injured.
Oh lord..de man name have 4 letters in it, plus it written on his back and yuh spelling it wrong ;D
Dida is essentially Milan's #2 since he's played practically all the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia games...Was the other keeper supposed be the #2 ahead of him? He fall lower than I thought.
Look Inzaghi now score his 5th goal in 2 games since he get a starting role...I suprise I eh see Jai jooking Omar for some ole talk all now
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Inzaghi = Stern on steroids and HGH
Opportunist to the max. But his finishing touch is pure class.
Pato scored a serious bullet today.
Kaka looked lively before getting hurt
And R10 continues to show signs
Brazil could be real trouble in the upcoming qualifiers...
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Another 4-1 performance by Juventus...Roma just couldn't cope. What I would need now is for Serie A to imitate EPL today where Man Utd and Chelsea lose and hope Reggina could beat Inter in d mornin...but I would end up poor if I put $ on that. Still a good result to ensure a lock on 2nd place and also good to c more flashes of brilliance from Giovinco...we need him in d future so good he showin some form this season.
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Inzagi, Maldini, Zanetti dem men on some kind of "fountain of youth Juice" Lard! dem men have real pep.
Ah sure it eh susumba, but is not like they even slowing down.
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Zlatan score ah bess chip today..
Julio Cesar still getting on bad..
Zanetti running whole game...
Balotelli does look like he have some kinda attitude problem..
And Santon is the new Maldini.
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Cesar is d best in d world right now
Seedorf gives me indigestion
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Cesar is d best in d world right now
Allyuh see dat save he make when Cambiasso dummy de shot? De man on fyah!!
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Pato nearly hit a man a rainbow and fight start yes
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Where was this Zlatan against ManUre?
http://www.youtube.com/v/fPlSVvSlZzw
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http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/09042009/58/serie-adriano-break-football.html (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/09042009/58/serie-adriano-break-football.html)
Serie A - Adriano to take a break from football
Eurosport - Fri, 10 Apr 00:26:00 2009
Brazil and Inter Milan striker Adriano has said he will be taking a break from football and will rethink his career.
"I don't know if I'm going to stay for one, two or thee months without playing. I'm going to rethink my career."
He denied he was suffering from depression, added that happiness was more important than money, and said he had been living with the pressures of being a professional footballer since he was a teenager.
(http://d.yimg.com/i//ng/sp/eurosport/20090409/25/85fbd7083abe0c53f7dab6d097ad7359.jpg)
Adriano failed to return to Italy after the recent World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Peru, in which he was an unused substitute.
His agent Gilmar Rinaldi had previously said Adriano had stayed in Brazil because of a private matter and confirmed the player had spent time in Vila Cruzeiro, a Rio de Janeiro favela notorious for violence, where he was raised.
Since then, Brazilian media had been full of speculation over what had happened to him.
"There's no way I'm going to stop visiting my community," said Adriano. "That's where I'm at ease, barefoot and in bermudas."
"A lot of things have been said in the newspapers but everything I've done has been thought through. I'm not ill. Adriano's not dead," he said.
The striker, who has 29 goals in 47 appearances for Brazil, made his mark at international level when he was top scorer at the 2004 Copa America and the following year's Confederations Cup after replacing the unavailable Ronaldo in both tournaments.
He also scored a hat-trick in World Cup qualifier against Chile in September 2005.
The powerful forward has struggled with fitness and alcohol problems since the 2006 World Cup, showing only flashes of the form that made him one of the world's most feared predators.
He spent six months on loan with Sao Paulo in the first half of last year but after returning to Inter he irritated coach Jose Mourinho with a perceived lack of commitment.
But Adriano, who has had a number of false dawns, had been edging back into favour at the club in the last two months.
"I genuinely wasn't happy in doing what I've always enjoyed. I've lost the appetite, the glow. That's one of the things which made me do this. Money's not important, nothing is important in life apart from happiness.
"There's no other problem. I like to laugh, to joke around and that wasn't happening any more. I wasn't enjoying myself on the pitch.
"I've got nothing against Inter but I wasn't happy in Italy. There has been very great pressure on me since I was 18. I've taken this decision so I can be happy again. It's nothing to do with depression, I know what I'm doing."
Reuters
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figgin juve jed!!!! steups
but anybody see da rome derby jed? 6 goals, 5 red, 2 brawls and 1 hit post
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i think is 3 reds. unless yuh saw 2 best reds in d stands ;D. the 2nd goal lazio score was a sweet bullet. them men real passionate about their football too.
http://www.youtube.com/v/dE7npatB1ys
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figgin juve jed!!!! steups
but anybody see da rome derby jed? 6 goals, 5 red, 2 brawls and 1 hit post
Was a decent game... Genoa give them fits, that last counter was classic.
But watching that game only underscored for me my biggest gripe with continental football... dem man and dem does go to ground way too easy for my liking. Camoranesi tackle was rash, but looked worse than it actually was... he ketch the man wid he hip on the thigh and ref give him a straight red. I thought he showed great class as he left the pitch by acknowledging his error and checking on the "injured" player. But to me that wasn't a straight red.
I ent really arguing that though... was the rest of quick whistles that permeated the game... any tackle or near tackle and man dropping and rolling like dey on fire... and de ref keep rewarding the acting job too. Every slight touch. Just ridiculous.
Buffon was in great form today... even if the scoresheet doesn't reflect it.
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buffon save on a header was ridiculous. wrt carmonesi's red card iwould say at best a yellow card, but thats from the comfort of my living after a few replays. in the heat of the game and in real time i wouldnt fault a ref 4 giving it a red. all in all serie A was real lively today
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watched the genoa-juve game. glad to see Motta (ex-Barca) career back on track. but i could swear i heard the ref blow for a foul before his first goal. but then let the goal stand. truth is, it was all split second and noone stopped playing, but I feel it for the juve players there. what is the rule on that? can the ref leave the advantage if he already blew his whistle if in his judgement the play would have happened anyway...? i feel the ref made a mistake there
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i think is 3 reds. unless yuh saw 2 best reds in d stands ;D. the 2nd goal lazio score was a sweet bullet. them men real passionate about their football too.
http://www.youtube.com/v/dE7npatB1ys
nah it was 5.....spaletti & lazio technical director (tare) got sent off at half time for a bust-up in the tunnel
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A beautiful flowing move by Inter between Zlatan, Muntari and Balotelli results in a goal.
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I think Inzaghi should open up a scholarship fund for Beckham's kids and donate half his salary every month, for the new lease of life he get since Beckham arrived.
Is only food serving up on ah platter...
and jai john... hush!
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A beautiful flowing move by Inter between Zlatan, Muntari and Balotelli results in a goal.
boy we get skin out like ah doh no what yes!!! but we suposedly sign cannavaro for free on a 1yr deal with the option for a 2nd.
I think Inzaghi should open up a scholarship fund for Beckham's kids and donate half his salary every month, for the new lease of life he get since Beckham arrived.
Is only food serving up on ah platter...
and jai john... hush!
all d talk men used to gove me about pippo when he was playing for us & still now en crying him down......the name inzaghi will all ways mean "goal in yuh hole!!!"
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i could be ah juventus fan?? steups.. >:(
Inter president Moratti condemns racial slurs
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9476892/Inter-president-Moratti-condemns-racial-slurs (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9476892/Inter-president-Moratti-condemns-racial-slurs)
Juventus on Monday to play a match behind closed doors because of the racist insults hurled by fans at Inter striker Mario Balotelli during a Serie A match.
League Judge Gianpaolo Tosel issued the ruling two days after Saturday's match at Turin's Olympic stadium, the ANSA news agency reported.
Balotelli, who scored Inter's goal in the 1-1 draw with Juventus, was the subject of repeated racial slurs and chants during the match.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti said he would have pulled the Italian league leaders off the field had he been at the stadium.
"What I find terrible is that these chants were sung by at least four-fifths of the stadium," Moratti was quoted as saying Monday in Corriere della Sera.
"Had I been at the stadium, at a certain point I would have left my seat in the stands, I would have gone down on the field and pulled out the team," he said. "There must be a limit.
Balotelli was born in Palermo, the son of Ghanian immigrants. At 18, he is considered one of the game's most promising talents.
Moratti lamented that the media had not given enough prominence to the racial incident, saying that there is a risk of "getting used to racism."
Juventus has apologized, condemning the racial chants also on "on behalf of the overwhelming majority of our fans."
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said that "there can be no alibi or justification."
The team risks a fine or other sanctions from the Italian football authorities.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
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i could be ah juventus fan?? steups.. >:(
Inter president Moratti condemns racial slurs
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9476892/Inter-president-Moratti-condemns-racial-slurs (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9476892/Inter-president-Moratti-condemns-racial-slurs)
Juventus on Monday to play a match behind closed doors because of the racist insults hurled by fans at Inter striker Mario Balotelli during a Serie A match.
League Judge Gianpaolo Tosel issued the ruling two days after Saturday's match at Turin's Olympic stadium, the ANSA news agency reported.
Balotelli, who scored Inter's goal in the 1-1 draw with Juventus, was the subject of repeated racial slurs and chants during the match.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti said he would have pulled the Italian league leaders off the field had he been at the stadium.
"What I find terrible is that these chants were sung by at least four-fifths of the stadium," Moratti was quoted as saying Monday in Corriere della Sera.
"Had I been at the stadium, at a certain point I would have left my seat in the stands, I would have gone down on the field and pulled out the team," he said. "There must be a limit.
Balotelli was born in Palermo, the son of Ghanian immigrants. At 18, he is considered one of the game's most promising talents.
Moratti lamented that the media had not given enough prominence to the racial incident, saying that there is a risk of "getting used to racism."
Juventus has apologized, condemning the racial chants also on "on behalf of the overwhelming majority of our fans."
Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said that "there can be no alibi or justification."
The team risks a fine or other sanctions from the Italian football authorities.
I really want to see a owner pull he team off the field. I feel that is just talk.
On the other hand, racial chants in Italy and especially from Juventus is nothing new. Thuram was the recipient of that during hi time in Turin.
I guess the best way for Balotelli to get back at them was to score but a one game behind closed doors is, as usual, a slap on the wrist.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Best way to change things..from within. The best way for Balotelli to shut people up is to represent Italy..and succeed in a big big way.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Best way to change things..from within. The best way for Balotelli to shut people up is to represent Italy..and succeed in a big big way.
Hopefully. But my respect for him as a player increase. Admittedly i find he a bit abrasive and the personification of unchanneled wileness...buh as somebody mentioned yesterday...to survive sometimes yuh hadda be like that. I dont think it might help shut people up though...rascism is so fundamentally foolish and illogical....it doh have no rationale behind it..nothing really is likely to change it. I remember Jan-Michael Williams was getting it from his OWN fans when he was in Hungary....same ting weighed heavily in Downing's and Bartholomew's decision to come back to W-connection. Especially in Balotelli rejecting Ghana outright...i hope he doh regret his decision.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Dise why I don't support Spain and Italy. I can understand why he plays with a chip on his shoulder, more people than not want and hope he fails. I hope he shoves it up their racist arses! Look forward to the day when the best footballer in Italy is a black Italian!
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Tribalism.
It's human & it's everywhere. Some places just more publicized than others.
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Tribalism.
It's human & it's everywhere. Some places just more publicized than others.
Not sure I'd ascribe "human" to this type of behaviour, suggests it's a natural characteristic of our species, if that were the case the antithesis of this namely ethnic differences (which is also celebrated and publicized in many places) could be considered "human". In this case, I'd say the behaviour displayed by the fans is very much beneath that of a human being. Best of luck to Balotelli
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this is the first time shit like this was ever reported from juve fans so allyuh stop talkin out allyuh rectums. Thuram was never subject to no abuse in turin. Lazio fans are the biggest culprits in italy.
BTW with all da talk about pullin team off field & tryin to make balotelli into a saint/martyr he forghet the slap on the wrist he got back in 06....for those of u who eh no/have short memories
Marc Zoro suffers another bout of racial abuse from Inter Milan fans (http://ivorycoast.worldcupblog.org/1...ilan-fans.html)
April 3rd, 2006 | By: Ade Lamidi
The racial abuse of black players continues and Italian based Ivorian, Marc Zoro endured another bout of it when his Italian team Messina played Inter Milan at the weekend.
Marc Zoro’s every touch was met with a chorus of monkey chants from a large section of Inter fans during a Serie A match at the San Siro.
This new incident comes just three weeks after Fifa outlined a new framework of sanctions for clubs with racist fans.
Under the new Fifa system, clubs found guilty of failing to prevent their supporters from abusing opposing players on racial grounds could be docked three points for a first offence, six for a second and even relegated in the case of repeated incidents.
Personally, I think these people are a disgrace to themselves, as their team (Inter Milan) also has coloured players.
It was not the first time Zoro has been targeted by Inter fans as he endured the same treatment when Messina played Inter Milan earlier in the season.
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& ppl does talk about calciopoli dead when morrati still blatantly running just as b4 the trials? STEUPS!!!!!!!
Juventus hit with fan ban (http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/apr20m.html)
Juventus have paid a heavy price for racist chants directed at Mario Balotelli during the Derby d'Italia.
Balotelli was jeered by large sections of the Stadio Olimpico crowd during Saturday evening's 1-1 draw.
However, a small number of fans took things further and hurled racial abuse at the Italy Under-21 international.
Sporting judge Gianpaolo Tosel has taken a hard line as Italy continues to try and tackle racism and has imposed a game behind closed doors for Juve.
The game in question will be the fixture with relegation strugglers Lecce on May 3.
While the decision will be applauded by many as a measure against racism in calcio, it may prove controversial.
Balotelli has reported racist abuse from several sets of fans this season but the clubs in question have only received fines.
all d time ppl gettin small fine but from the time he open he mouth is big sanction bla bla. D went to bed wit d devil for a few title just so he cud TRY to get out of daddy's shadow. patheteic! that is y he wil always be remebered as the man who had to buy his titles and he cud still lose them once the new court cases done. But the damage has already been done...we replaced moggi, giraudo, bettega and crapello....with sucko, cobili giggle, blank & ruineri. I not worried tho, juve go come back again & inter will rightfully take they place behind us in italy.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Dise why I don't support Spain and Italy. I can understand why he plays with a chip on his shoulder, more people than not want and hope he fails. I hope he shoves it up their racist arses! Look forward to the day when the best footballer in Italy is a black Italian!
really? i think you're making things up. it seems like it's usually a vocal minority that does these things in the stadia. In any case, i'm not sure you have much basis for that part of your statement. European countries like Spain and Italy don't have the same modern history of immigration as countries like England, France and Holland. At least that's my impression.....not trying to pass it off as fact. So they are probably going through the growing pains that these countries faced earlier on in their histories. I agree that they don't seem nearly as progressive as countries like England, Holland, France and Portugal inside the stadia. From my limited experience, they are not all that different outside the stadia tho.
I don't think racist behavior in the stadia should be used as a direct mirror of racist behavior in society, although there is some positive correlation. For example, there is basically no racism in American sports stadia ...yet in my conversations with Europeans, they seem to think of themselves as less racist than the average American. At the same time, altho EPL stadia seem virtually devoid of racism, is the same true outside the EPL? (honest question for the English based).
We should also be a littel wary of allowing the amount press exposure to dictate what we think is reality. I read of far more black players in the EPL talking about racist abuse they receive off the field. Yet we don't hear too much of black players being abused off the field in Spain and Italy. But does that mean black players don't face similar levels of abuse in Spain and Italy. I don't know..but I kind of doubt it.
In the end..I think some European nations are more progressive than others, both in the stadia and outside. But not by as much as some of us think (I'm sticking to western Europe..much of Eastern Europe is a different kettle of fish). The real problem I have is the way the FAs of Spain or Italy react to racism in stadia. It's pathetic..But I'd wager it was the same in the more apparently progressive nations..and things only started changing when the number of black nationals grew to a number that it was just too ridiculous to ignore the situation. Some countries just aren't there yet. But I really believe that one Balotelli can do more than 100 politicians. And the more Balotellis there are..the more pressure there will be too change. And the change will come. But slowly...there is no magic to it.
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White players need to take a more meaningful stand against this sorta thing....It will make a big difference
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Dise why I don't support Spain and Italy. I can understand why he plays with a chip on his shoulder, more people than not want and hope he fails. I hope he shoves it up their racist arses! Look forward to the day when the best footballer in Italy is a black Italian!
really? i think you're making things up. it seems like it's usually a vocal minority that does these things in the stadia. In any case, i'm not sure you have much basis for that part of your statement. European countries like Spain and Italy don't have the same modern history of immigration as countries like England, France and Holland. At least that's my impression.....not trying to pass it off as fact. So they are probably going through the growing pains that these countries faced earlier on in their histories. I agree that they don't seem nearly as progressive as countries like England, Holland, France and Portugal inside the stadia. From my limited experience, they are not all that different outside the stadia tho.
I don't think racist behavior in the stadia should be used as a direct mirror of racist behavior in society, although there is some positive correlation. For example, there is basically no racism in American sports stadia ...yet in my conversations with Europeans, they seem to think of themselves as less racist than the average American. At the same time, altho EPL stadia seem virtually devoid of racism, is the same true outside the EPL? (honest question for the English based).
We should also be a littel wary of allowing the amount press exposure to dictate what we think is reality. I read of far more black players in the EPL talking about racist abuse they receive off the field. Yet we don't hear too much of black players being abused off the field in Spain and Italy. But does that mean black players don't face similar levels of abuse in Spain and Italy. I don't know..but I kind of doubt it.
In the end..I think some European nations are more progressive than others, both in the stadia and outside. But not by as much as some of us think (I'm sticking to western Europe..much of Eastern Europe is a different kettle of fish). The real problem I have is the way the FAs of Spain or Italy react to racism in stadia. It's pathetic..But I'd wager it was the same in the more apparently progressive nations..and things only started changing when the number of black nationals grew to a number that it was just too ridiculous to ignore the situation. Some countries just aren't there yet. But I really believe that one Balotelli can do more than 100 politicians. And the more Balotellis there are..the more pressure there will be too change. And the change will come. But slowly...there is no magic to it.
So sorry, for not stating IMO before that statement you highlighted! So you can be entitled to disagree with my opinion and my opinion only. So in my opinion more people than not want and hope he fails. The same way you are giving your opinion on why you disagree with my statement, at the end of the day that is all it is. And it is my personal choice is not to support Spain and Italy based on continued reports about how fans in stadia treat black footballers.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Dise why I don't support Spain and Italy. I can understand why he plays with a chip on his shoulder, more people than not want and hope he fails. I hope he shoves it up their racist arses! Look forward to the day when the best footballer in Italy is a black Italian!
really? i think you're making things up. it seems like it's usually a vocal minority that does these things in the stadia. In any case, i'm not sure you have much basis for that part of your statement. European countries like Spain and Italy don't have the same modern history of immigration as countries like England, France and Holland. At least that's my impression.....not trying to pass it off as fact. So they are probably going through the growing pains that these countries faced earlier on in their histories. I agree that they don't seem nearly as progressive as countries like England, Holland, France and Portugal inside the stadia. From my limited experience, they are not all that different outside the stadia tho.
I don't think racist behavior in the stadia should be used as a direct mirror of racist behavior in society, although there is some positive correlation. For example, there is basically no racism in American sports stadia ...yet in my conversations with Europeans, they seem to think of themselves as less racist than the average American. At the same time, altho EPL stadia seem virtually devoid of racism, is the same true outside the EPL? (honest question for the English based).
We should also be a littel wary of allowing the amount press exposure to dictate what we think is reality. I read of far more black players in the EPL talking about racist abuse they receive off the field. Yet we don't hear too much of black players being abused off the field in Spain and Italy. But does that mean black players don't face similar levels of abuse in Spain and Italy. I don't know..but I kind of doubt it.
In the end..I think some European nations are more progressive than others, both in the stadia and outside. But not by as much as some of us think (I'm sticking to western Europe..much of Eastern Europe is a different kettle of fish). The real problem I have is the way the FAs of Spain or Italy react to racism in stadia. It's pathetic..But I'd wager it was the same in the more apparently progressive nations..and things only started changing when the number of black nationals grew to a number that it was just too ridiculous to ignore the situation. Some countries just aren't there yet. But I really believe that one Balotelli can do more than 100 politicians. And the more Balotellis there are..the more pressure there will be too change. And the change will come. But slowly...there is no magic to it.
So sorry, for not stating IMO before that statement you highlighted! So you can be entitled to disagree with my opinion and my opinion only. So in my opinion more people than not want and hope he fails. The same way you are giving your opinion on why you disagree with my statement, at the end of the day that is all it is. And it is my personal choice is not to support Spain and Italy based on continued reports about how fans in stadia treat black footballers.
No scene. Why would you think I didn't realize that was your opinion? It's still OK to disagree with people's opinions without them taking it personally right? And I'm really not trying to convince you of anything, or say you're wrong for your personal choice. I'm sharing my views on an interesting topic and you seem to have some kind of problem with that. I didn't take on a sarcastic, or insulting tone and didn't try to put you down. I emboldened the only part in my post that I could guess you took issue with, but Iwas just clarifying my position and honestly did not mean to infer you were trying to pass it off as fact. Hope that was the only issue. In the end, you see we come to the same place anyway..even if we express it differently. ;D
Respect
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White players need to take a more meaningful stand against this sorta thing....It will make a big difference
Dahs de ting. People does say is a vocal minority...so why the majority stand by and let it happen? I could only remember one incident i heard of where a group were making racist noises or chants and fans surrounding them got them..identified them to the authorities and they got banned for life. Cant remember which team or which league doh. The point is....if something like that happening..and yuh allow it...you just as guilty.
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Dahs wha does sour me bout italian football. Worse yet Balotelli want to play for italy so bad. Steups.
Dise why I don't support Spain and Italy. I can understand why he plays with a chip on his shoulder, more people than not want and hope he fails. I hope he shoves it up their racist arses! Look forward to the day when the best footballer in Italy is a black Italian!
really? i think you're making things up. it seems like it's usually a vocal minority that does these things in the stadia. In any case, i'm not sure you have much basis for that part of your statement. European countries like Spain and Italy don't have the same modern history of immigration as countries like England, France and Holland. At least that's my impression.....not trying to pass it off as fact. So they are probably going through the growing pains that these countries faced earlier on in their histories. I agree that they don't seem nearly as progressive as countries like England, Holland, France and Portugal inside the stadia. From my limited experience, they are not all that different outside the stadia tho.
I don't think racist behavior in the stadia should be used as a direct mirror of racist behavior in society, although there is some positive correlation. For example, there is basically no racism in American sports stadia ...yet in my conversations with Europeans, they seem to think of themselves as less racist than the average American. At the same time, altho EPL stadia seem virtually devoid of racism, is the same true outside the EPL? (honest question for the English based).
We should also be a littel wary of allowing the amount press exposure to dictate what we think is reality. I read of far more black players in the EPL talking about racist abuse they receive off the field. Yet we don't hear too much of black players being abused off the field in Spain and Italy. But does that mean black players don't face similar levels of abuse in Spain and Italy. I don't know..but I kind of doubt it.
In the end..I think some European nations are more progressive than others, both in the stadia and outside. But not by as much as some of us think (I'm sticking to western Europe..much of Eastern Europe is a different kettle of fish). The real problem I have is the way the FAs of Spain or Italy react to racism in stadia. It's pathetic..But I'd wager it was the same in the more apparently progressive nations..and things only started changing when the number of black nationals grew to a number that it was just too ridiculous to ignore the situation. Some countries just aren't there yet. But I really believe that one Balotelli can do more than 100 politicians. And the more Balotellis there are..the more pressure there will be too change. And the change will come. But slowly...there is no magic to it.
So sorry, for not stating IMO before that statement you highlighted! So you can be entitled to disagree with my opinion and my opinion only. So in my opinion more people than not want and hope he fails. The same way you are giving your opinion on why you disagree with my statement, at the end of the day that is all it is. And it is my personal choice is not to support Spain and Italy based on continued reports about how fans in stadia treat black footballers.
No scene. Why would you think I didn't realize that was your opinion? It's still OK to disagree with people's opinions without them taking it personally right? And I'm really not trying to convince you of anything, or say you're wrong for your personal choice. I'm sharing my views on an interesting topic and you seem to have some kind of problem with that. I didn't take on a sarcastic, or insulting tone and didn't try to put you down. I emboldened the only part in my post that I could guess you took issue with, but Iwas just clarifying my position and honestly did not mean to infer you were trying to pass it off as fact. Hope that was the only issue. In the end, you see we come to the same place anyway..even if we express it differently. ;D
Respect
No scene also, but you can't respond to what I wrote by stating 'I think you are making things up' and then wonder why I would have a problem with your approach. I have no problem with how you disagreeing with my opinion, you have done it before and I know it will happen again and I have no problem with you giving an opinion at all, if you notice I only addressed the part pertaining to what I said. Thanks for clarifying your position, its all good and I will remember to right IMO. ;D Respect.
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White players need to take a more meaningful stand against this sorta thing....It will make a big difference
Dahs de ting. People does say is a vocal minority...so why the majority stand by and let it happen? I could only remember one incident i heard of where a group were making racist noises or chants and fans surrounding them got them..identified them to the authorities and they got banned for life. Cant remember which team or which league doh. The point is....if something like that happening..and yuh allow it...you just as guilty.
Fully agree. It was in Germany recently that the rest of the stadium stood up against some neo-Nazi hooligans and got them kicked out of the stadium. Video still on youtube I think.
I think the thing about the majority is for the most part they probably just not that organized...Individuals who may have the gumption to do something in the stadia may not be certain that he/she will get back up..so everyone sits kind of silent. The Germany example showed mybe five or six offenders..It's a whole different ball game when it's one thousand raucous neo-nazis in the dance. Also, and you are right, a lot of the majority may not be vocally racist , but they are guilty in that they don't feel it affects them enough to risk harm. They don't care enough to do anything on a public level. But even in countries where racism is virtually eliminated in the stadia, like England..I'm not too sure the majority stood up in the stadia and took on the offenders in the past. The revolution in the terraces usually comes after the clubs and the FA do most of the work, putting in the right institutionalized deterrents to significantly reduce the number of idiots showing up to games. In the end, the average fan in the stands with his wife, and kids, friends etc..just want to be entertained and eh looking to take on a twisted, drunken group of thugs especially if there is no organized group that guarantees safety in numbers.
I agree with Kicker too...the golden boys of the league have to take drastic measures. The day Raul, or Xavi, or Casillas walk off a pitch in La Liga it will send shockwaves. Eto'o, and Henry can't have the same impact as the agrreived minority is always expected to 'overreact'.
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No scene also, but you can't respond to what I wrote by stating 'I think you are making things up' and then wonder why I would have a problem with your approach. I have no problem with how you disagreeing with my opinion, you have done it before and I know it will happen again and I have no problem with you giving an opinion at all, if you notice I only addressed the part pertaining to what I said. Thanks for clarifying your position, its all good and I will remember to right IMO. ;D Respect.
point taken :beermug:
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White players need to take a more meaningful stand against this sorta thing....It will make a big difference
Dahs de ting. People does say is a vocal minority...so why the majority stand by and let it happen? I could only remember one incident i heard of where a group were making racist noises or chants and fans surrounding them got them..identified them to the authorities and they got banned for life. Cant remember which team or which league doh. The point is....if something like that happening..and yuh allow it...you just as guilty.
Fully agree. It was in Germany recently that the rest of the stadium stood up against some neo-Nazi hooligans and got them kicked out of the stadium. Video still on youtube I think.
I think the thing about the majority is for the most part they probably just not that organized...Individuals who may have the gumption to do something in the stadia may not be certain that he/she will get back up..so everyone sits kind of silent. The Germany example showed mybe five or six offenders..It's a whole different ball game when it's one thousand raucous neo-nazis in the dance. Also, and you are right, a lot of the majority may not be vocally racist , but they are guilty in that they don't feel it affects them enough to risk harm. They don't care enough to do anything on a public level. But even in countries where racism is virtually eliminated in the stadia, like England..I'm not too sure the majority stood up in the stadia and took on the offenders in the past. The revolution in the terraces usually comes after the clubs and the FA do most of the work, putting in the right institutionalized deterrents to significantly reduce the number of idiots showing up to games. In the end, the average fan in the stands with his wife, and kids, friends etc..just want to be entertained and eh looking to take on a twisted, drunken group of thugs especially if there is no organized group that guarantees safety in numbers.
I agree with Kicker too...the golden boys of the league have to take drastic measures. The day Raul, or Xavi, or Casillas walk off a pitch in La Liga it will send shockwaves. Eto'o, and Henry can't have the same impact as the agrreived minority is always expected to 'overreact'.
And that is it right there.......guaranteed the day one of those players walk off the field, big measures will be taken to stop it from ever happening again. It has to be a stand taken by ALL players, not just the ones targeted by the abuse. :beermug:
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i feel like i jes win d scudetto dey wit dis news..ah sad eh..
Ranieri sacked by Juventus
By Soccernet staff
May 18, 2009
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Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as manager of Juventus and will be replaced by Ciro Ferrara for at least the last two games of the season, the Italian club have confirmed.
GettyImages
The Italian was sacked before the end of the season.
The Blanconeri are a point above fourth-placed Fiorentina with two matches left in Serie A and are in danger of slipping out of an automatic Champions League berth after a run of seven league games without a win.
Ranieri's succeeded Didier Deschamps at the Turin club in 2007 but failed to end Inter Milan's dominance of Serie A and Sunday's 2-2 home draw with Atalanta proved to be the final straw for the board.
A statement from Juventus read: "Ciro Ferrara is the new Juventus coach. Juventus would like to communicate that they have sacked Claudio Ranieri.
"From today, the first team will be handed over, and guided by Ciro Ferrara. Juventus would like to thank Claudio Ranieri for the work he has done in these two years.
"We would like to wish new coach Ciro Ferrara well for immediate success."
Juventus finished third last season and made a decent start to this term, beating Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League, but they went out of Europe in the first knock-out phase and recent results in Serie A have been poor.
Ferrara, a legendary centre-back for Juve during his playing days, has been promoted to caretaker manager from his role with the youth team and will prepare the club for Sunday's trip to Siena.
The 42-year-old is also Italy assistant manager.
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Figo calls time on playing career
Midfielder Luis Figo has announced he will retire at the end of the season having helped Inter Milan win their fourth successive Serie A title.
"I finish in the best possible way - I will no longer play at a high level," said the former Portugal midfielder.
The 36-year-old, world player of the year in 2001, made his name at Barcelona before moving to Real Madrid for a world-record fee of about £37m.
He helped Real to the Uefa Champions League title in 2002.
The move from the Catalan giants, who he enjoyed winning two Primera Liga titles with, to bitter rivals Real Madrid after Euro 2000 was controversial and angered many Barcelona fans.
On his return to the Nou Camp in October of that year he was jeered by the home support each time he touched the ball and one banner read "We hate you so because we loved you so".
He went on to two more league championships with Real and the Champions League before moving to Inter on a free transfer in 2005.
Figo had more success with the Italians, picking up three Serie A titles under Roberto Mancini before winning the current championship under the guidance of countryman Jose Mourinho.
Figo is Portugal's most-capped player with 127 appearances and scored 32 goals during that time.
My favourite player of all time, break meh heart when he went to Los Putos Blancos.
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Figo calls time on playing career
Midfielder Luis Figo has announced he will retire at the end of the season having helped Inter Milan win their fourth successive Serie A title.
"I finish in the best possible way - I will no longer play at a high level," said the former Portugal midfielder.
The 36-year-old, world player of the year in 2001, made his name at Barcelona before moving to Real Madrid for a world-record fee of about £37m.
He helped Real to the Uefa Champions League title in 2002.
The move from the Catalan giants, who he enjoyed winning two Primera Liga titles with, to bitter rivals Real Madrid after Euro 2000 was controversial and angered many Barcelona fans.
On his return to the Nou Camp in October of that year he was jeered by the home support each time he touched the ball and one banner read "We hate you so because we loved you so".
He went on to two more league championships with Real and the Champions League before moving to Inter on a free transfer in 2005.
Figo had more success with the Italians, picking up three Serie A titles under Roberto Mancini before winning the current championship under the guidance of countryman Jose Mourinho.
Figo is Portugal's most-capped player with 127 appearances and scored 32 goals during that time.
My favourite player of all time, break meh heart when he went to Los Putos Blancos.
Yeah my 2nd favorite after el fenomeno...
Easily the best player in the World for a short period. (2000/2001)
Sad to see him go- but he gave us some good memories...
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Figo calls time on playing career
Midfielder Luis Figo has announced he will retire at the end of the season having helped Inter Milan win their fourth successive Serie A title.
"I finish in the best possible way - I will no longer play at a high level," said the former Portugal midfielder.
The 36-year-old, world player of the year in 2001, made his name at Barcelona before moving to Real Madrid for a world-record fee of about £37m.
He helped Real to the Uefa Champions League title in 2002.
The move from the Catalan giants, who he enjoyed winning two Primera Liga titles with, to bitter rivals Real Madrid after Euro 2000 was controversial and angered many Barcelona fans.
On his return to the Nou Camp in October of that year he was jeered by the home support each time he touched the ball and one banner read "We hate you so because we loved you so".
He went on to two more league championships with Real and the Champions League before moving to Inter on a free transfer in 2005.
Figo had more success with the Italians, picking up three Serie A titles under Roberto Mancini before winning the current championship under the guidance of countryman Jose Mourinho.
Figo is Portugal's most-capped player with 127 appearances and scored 32 goals during that time.
My favourite player of all time, break meh heart when he went to Los Putos Blancos.
Yeah my 2nd favorite after el fenomeno...
Easily the best player in the World for a short period. (2000/2001)
Sad to see him go- but he gave us some good memories...
You thinking about rivaldo or what?
Arguably, not easily the best player in 2000-2001
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Figo calls time on playing career
Midfielder Luis Figo has announced he will retire at the end of the season having helped Inter Milan win their fourth successive Serie A title.
"I finish in the best possible way - I will no longer play at a high level," said the former Portugal midfielder.
The 36-year-old, world player of the year in 2001, made his name at Barcelona before moving to Real Madrid for a world-record fee of about £37m.
He helped Real to the Uefa Champions League title in 2002.
The move from the Catalan giants, who he enjoyed winning two Primera Liga titles with, to bitter rivals Real Madrid after Euro 2000 was controversial and angered many Barcelona fans.
On his return to the Nou Camp in October of that year he was jeered by the home support each time he touched the ball and one banner read "We hate you so because we loved you so".
He went on to two more league championships with Real and the Champions League before moving to Inter on a free transfer in 2005.
Figo had more success with the Italians, picking up three Serie A titles under Roberto Mancini before winning the current championship under the guidance of countryman Jose Mourinho.
Figo is Portugal's most-capped player with 127 appearances and scored 32 goals during that time.
My favourite player of all time, break meh heart when he went to Los Putos Blancos.
Yeah my 2nd favorite after el fenomeno...
Easily the best player in the World for a short period. (2000/2001)
Sad to see him go- but he gave us some good memories...
You thinking about rivaldo or what?
Arguably, not easily the best player in 2000-2001
FIFA World Player of the year for 2001- Luis Figo. Second was Becks, third was Raul...
* He came second to Zidane in 2000.
So maybe the period is not exact but there was a brief moment that he was the best...somewhat unanimously. The record will always show that.
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allyuh men like to pull out stats eh.
Thank god for Google and wikipedia
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Eight new faces in Italy squads
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9621026/Eight-new-faces-in-Italy-squads (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9621026/Eight-new-faces-in-Italy-squads)
ROME (AP) - Eight newcomers and the return of midfielder Gennaro Gattuso featured in two Italy squads named by coach Marcello Lippi on Thursday.
One squad was for the friendly with Northern Ireland in Pisa on June 6, and the other for the Confederations Cup in South Africa.
Lippi announced 13 of the 23 players for the Confederations Cup with the other 10 set to be named next Thursday.
World champion Italy plays New Zealand in a friendly in South Africa on June 10 ahead of its opening Confederations match against the United States in Pretoria on June 15.
Lippi promised 'miracles' in his squad and delivered.
The biggest surprise was 18 year-old Inter Milan leftback Davide Santon, who made his first team debut only in January and was a regular member of the side that won the Serie A. :applause: :applause:
Strikers Sergio Pellissier, who racked 13 goals to help save his team from relegation, and Giuseppe Mascara also were rewarded for impressive seasons.
"It is a dream, a fantastic dream," Pellissier said. "It is just what I wanted to cap a magnificent season. It is a victory for me and all my teammates, for everyone at Chievo."
Mascara's callup followed a season in which his dozen goals helped Catania to a highly respectable 15th place in the league table.
Cagliari's Federico Marchetti, Lecce defender Andrea Esposito, Palermo's Mattia Cassani, Catania's Marco Biagianti and Siena's Daniele Galloppa were the other new faces.
Gattuso, who has been out since knee ligament surgery in December, returned to AC Milan this month and was likely to play against Northern Ireland then travel to South Africa only if he comes through without problems.
Roster vs. Northern Ireland:
Goalkeepers: Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari).
Defenders: Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Andrea Esposito (Lecce), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter Milan).
Midfielders: Marco Biagianti (Catania), Matteo Brighi (AS Roma), Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Daniele Galloppa (Siena), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Pasquale Foggia (Lazio).
Forwards: Giuseppe Mascara (Catania), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Sergio Pellissier (Chievo Verona), Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal).
Roster for The Confederations Cup:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo).
Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).
Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).
Forwards: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).
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Goodbye to a legend.
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo :salute: :salute:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OpejWaFI9Bk&hl
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Goodbye to a legend.
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo :salute: :salute:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OpejWaFI9Bk&hl
Sad to see him go...
My second favorite player of all time (close 2nd to R9).
legend!!
Some massive names stepping out of the game this season boy...
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Goodbye to a legend.
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo :salute: :salute:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OpejWaFI9Bk&hl
This shyte was hard to watch!......one of the most excting games of the season, though.
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if that was emotional what u go say for neddy :'(
man roll back the year for this game & when he came off was one of the saddest thing i had to whitness as a juve fan
HIS FINAL EXIT at 86' on 31/05/09 juve-lazio, stadio olimpico, turin
http://www.youtube.com/v/5xhZDCRDFL8&hl=en&fs=1
AFTER THE MATCH
http://www.youtube.com/v/TX13d-21YPE&hl=en&fs=1
http://www.youtube.com/v/JRf8_9BqGCs&hl=en&fs=1
if is all da emotions and ting for neddy, i eh no what we go de the day DP eventually has to go nah
GRANDE PAVEL, LA FURIA CECA...GRAZIE
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ah get emotional wit dis one...neddy ah go rel rel rell miss yuh...Legend!
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i watch the 1st half of the Juve game. Every time Nedved touched the ball, the crowd real make noise. every touch. dat was 50% for being a general and 50% for not leaving when the club went down. I see Cannavaro returning to Juve. Man have some serious minerals. Need to see the crowd reaction in his first game back. Nedved..the man who make Juve fans not miss Zidane
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Ibracadabra start the season with wicked inprovs and end it with an inprov (and 25 goals) man waz clearly the best goal scorer this season, even when then man was off the flecking pig skin it was madness who could forget that flicking flipping spinkick back heel through ball to stankovic down the line....
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Nedved will go down as one of the best of the best...My understanding is that Karel Bruckner literally begged him to come out of retirement last WC for their do or die qualifying match against Norway...the rest is history....terrible hair, tremendous talent...
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Nedved will go down as one of the best of the best...My understanding is that Karel Bruckner literally begged him to come out of retirement last WC for their do or die qualifying match against Norway...the rest is history....terrible hair, tremendous talent...
aammmm...i know u was trying to make a point with guys retiring but please dont call Tugay in them men category....
he good..but not in them fellas league at all
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Nedved will go down as one of the best of the best...My understanding is that Karel Bruckner literally begged him to come out of retirement last WC for their do or die qualifying match against Norway...the rest is history....terrible hair, tremendous talent...
aammmm...i know u was trying to make a point with guys retiring but please dont call Tugay in them men category....
he good..but not in them fellas league at all
Tugay is a legend breds. Footballing icon in Eastern Europe....Been a marshall in the game since the 80's, in the days when Galatasaray was a competitive unit in Europe...By your comments I'm guessing you're judging him by the fact that he didn't play at Man U, Barca, Madrid, Milan (or an "elite" club) and that the most you've seen of him is in the twilight of his career. Because if you've actually seen him play at his best yuh would wash yuh mouth.....If yuh want yuh could read up on him and see what highly regarded footballing peers have to say about him....Granted he's not nearly as celebrated as some of the others...and even if not as good by your estimation, his retirement is still very noteworthy.
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Nedved will go down as one of the best of the best...My understanding is that Karel Bruckner literally begged him to come out of retirement last WC for their do or die qualifying match against Norway...the rest is history....terrible hair, tremendous talent...
aammmm...i know u was trying to make a point with guys retiring but please dont call Tugay in them men category....
he good..but not in them fellas league at all
Tugay is a legend breds. Footballing icon in Eastern Europe....Been a marshall in the game since the 80's, in the days when Galatasaray was a competitive unit in Europe...By your comments I'm guessing you're judging him by the fact that he didn't play at Man U, Barca, Madrid, Milan (or an "elite" club) and that the most you've seen of him is in the twilight of his career. Because if you've actually seen him play at his best yuh would wash yuh mouth.....If yuh want yuh could read up on him and see what highly regarded footballing peers have to say about him....Granted he's not nearly as celebrated as some of the others...and even if not as good by your estimation, his retirement is still very noteworthy.
Yeah, Kicker, but he hasn't "won" anything so clearly your points hold no merit. ;)
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Yuh know yuh gettin old when all yuh football heroes retire or drop out de limelight. :)
I doh know if I biased but I find the quality of the current top players is not as good as Figo/Zidane/Ronaldo/Rivaldo/Nedved/Maldini
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Yuh know yuh gettin old when all yuh football heroes retire or drop out de limelight. :)
I doh know if I biased but I find the quality of the current top players is not as good as Figo/Zidane/Ronaldo/Rivaldo/Nedved/Maldini
ent!
actually yuh know yuh getting old when yuh favorite players' offspring playing club ball. Like how Ewing son playing college ball... I feel I might get a mid-life crisis on the day that Christian Maldini throw on ah AC Milan jersey. :-\
personally, i wondering if is nostalgia as well but back in those times they were about 5 players capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck and dominating. Rivaldo, Figo, Ronaldo, Zidane, Effenberg and maybe Nedved.. When them men turn up to play it just didnt make sense.
Now is only really Messi and Kaka i would class in that category. Ronaldo yet to show me he could have the same kinda impact in a big game that a Rivaldo used to have. Could be better tactics in football nowadays too.
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Wow!
Didn't realize Nedved hung up the boots today as well... damn... Football really turned a big corner this season with Maldini, Figo, Nedved & Tugay (possibly more) stepping down. All massive icons in the game- competitive to their last day...
Yuh know yuh gettin old when all yuh football heroes retire or drop out de limelight. :)
I doh know if I biased but I find the quality of the current top players is not as good as Figo/Zidane/Ronaldo/Rivaldo/Nedved/Maldini
ent!
actually yuh know yuh getting old when yuh favorite players' offspring playing club ball. Like how Ewing son playing college ball... I feel I might get a mid-life crisis on the day that Christian Maldini throw on ah AC Milan jersey. :-\
personally, i wondering if is nostalgia as well but back in those times they were about 5 players capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck and dominating. Rivaldo, Figo, Ronaldo, Zidane, Effenberg and maybe Nedved.. When them men turn up to play it just didnt make sense.
Now is only really Messi and Kaka i would class in that category. Ronaldo yet to show me he could have the same kinda impact in a big game that a Rivaldo used to have. Could be better tactics in football nowadays too.
I think it's mostly nostalgia. Of all the names you call there, is only Ronaldo was on the radar when he was Messi and C.Ronaldo age. Not saying the latter two more talented or will become better players than the killers yuh call dey, but yuh have to give the youths a chance and see what they do over their whole careers when they hit their 30s. By that time, their 'generation' may also include a host of players you eh even hear about yet, or who still developing, like Pato. But is not all nostalgia. No matter how many come through from the current/future crop, players like Ronaldo and Zidane doh come by every 'generation'.
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(http://forzaitalianfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Serie-A-2011-2012-Logo-e1312742600203.jpg)
This year’s Serie A, promises to be an interesting and entertaining season , as clubs have now regained their momentum after years of difficulty, after Calciopoli which rocked Italian football for years. AC Milan, ended Inter’s dominance of the Italian league by winning their 18th League Championship, ahead of Inter Milan and have recently won the Coppa Italia, which puts them as firm favorites for this year’s Serie A. Teams like Juventus and Roma, have been busy in the transfer window ahead of the new season, and have bought some excellent players. This promises to be a fascinating Serie A.
AC Milan
(http://totalfootblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ac-milan.png)
After their Championship-winning season, AC Milan, have reinforced their squad with two excellent defensive additions in Taye Taiwo and Phillipe Mexes, who were both bought from Olympique Marseille and AS Roma, respectively, on a free transfer. Taye Taiwo, reinforces the left back role, which has long been a problem for AC Milan as they have suffered without a quality left back, for a number of seasons ever since Calciopoli, so Taiwo is a great signing for the club. Phillipe Mexes is another quality addition to Milan’s squad as he provides an excellent option at centre back, alongside both the excellent Thiago Silva and the legendary Alessandro Nesta, as well as the reliable Mario Yepes.
Milan have done well in keeping their star player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored in the Super Cup win over Inter Milan. Ibrahimovic, had a major role in helping Milan win the title, with his goals and assists, giving the extra edge Milan needed to win the title. Not only did AC Milan do well to keep Ibra, but also Kevin-Prince Boateng, who’s dynamic and physical approach, fruitful in AC Milan’s successful season.
AC Milan have done well this summer and in winning the Super Cup ahead of Inter, they must be considered as strong favourite to lift the title next season.
Challengers: Inter Milan, Juventus, AS Roma, Napoli, and Lazio
Inter Milan
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J3_liDBfbvs/S-dErFmbToI/AAAAAAAAqx4/rq6tMOrFfME/s1600/Inter+Milan+Logo.jpg)
First, let’s start with Inter Milan, who recently lost the Coppa Italia to rivals, AC Milan. The club have been going through all summer, with the Wesley Sneijder transfer saga and whether or not, he’ll leave for Manchester United. Inter Milan, reinforced their squad by signing talented Argentinian playmaker, Ricardo Alvarez, from Velez Sarsfield. Alvarez has shown promise and his ability, by scoring 3 goals in 5 matches in pre-season and it seems like he’s an excellent buy for the Nerazzuri. Inter, haven’t really splashed out on players, unlike in previous seasons, and have spent more time dealing with rumoured departures, especially regarding star player Wesley Sneijder.
I believe that they need to focus on reinforcing their defence, as most of their defenders are 30 or older, and could do well with young, quality defenders for the future. But their main focus, definitely should be on keeping and holding on to key players like Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o, who has also been linked with a move away and was arguably Inter’s best and most influential player last season.
Keeping them both will be key and important for Inter’s progress this season, as well as the players settling into new coach, Gian Piero Gasparini, new tactics and formation. If Inter can bring in a few more reinforcements, especially in defence, and adapt to Gasperini’s tactics as quickly as possible, then Inter will be strong challengers this season.
Juventus
(http://threefourthreefc.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/football_logo16.jpg)
Juventus, as usual, have spent quite heavily this summer, especially on making loan deals official, e.g. Fabio Quagliarella, Alessandro Matri, Simone Pepe, Marco Motta, etc., and are still trying to tie up a deal for Alberto Aquilani. Juventus, though, have done well in bringing in excellent players in the form of Chilean international midfielder, Arturo Vidal, Italian international midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, Mirko Vucinic and Swiss international full back, Stefan Lichtsteiner, all bought from both Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan, AS Roma and Lazio. They’re two excellent additions to Juve’s squad and I’m sure they’ll be very successful with Juventus.
Vidal is one of the most consistent, versatile and talented midfielders or holding midfielders around. Andrea Pirlo is a player who suffered with fitness and injury problems last season, but still has a lot to offer and if he stays fit, will be an inspired signing. Mirko Vucinic is a talented player, who can also play on the wing; he’s skilful and also good on the air and has a strong character. Question marks remain over his consistency, but I still believe that he’s a good signing for Juventus.
While Lichtstenier is a hardworking full-back, who’s reliable and consistent as well and gives his all for the team. Another good addition is Reto Ziegler, who is a full-back arriving from relegated Sampdoria and like Lichtsteiner, is hard-working, reliable, and consistent and gives his all for the team. Despite these excellent additions especially as it will benefit Juve’s defensive side of the game, a bit more needs to be done to make the team strong challengers for the title. They still need an attack minded playmaker, Alberto Aquilani is their main target in that position, but with Juve unwilling to pay up for his services, they need to look for other options.
There are encouraging reports that Juventus are on the verge of signing Hamburg’s left winger, Eljero Elia, who would be a great addition to Juventus’s squad as they’ll now have two explosive wingers to rely on (Elia and Milos Krasic). Juventus are also starting the new season with a new, young coach in Antonio Conte and with the excellent signings the club has brought in so far, things are looking positive for next season.
Roma
(http://www.ergebniswette.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/d17b4_639_logo_as_roma_738231.gif)
Roma are a club under new ownership and with a new look this season. They have a new young coach in Barcelona legend, Luis Enrique and have made some shrewd, young buys this season in Erik Lamela and Bojan Krkic, who both arrive from River Plate and Barcelona respectively. They both have the talent and ability to be great signings for the club.
Their best signing, however, has to be Maarten Stekelenburg, who’s a proven, world-class keeper and a definite upgrade over Cristiano Doni and Julio Sergio (who both have left to Liverpool and Lecce, respectively). Despite this excellent signing, I believe that Roma must buy reinforcements for their defence, especially after the loss of Phillipe Mexes to Roma and the poor form of both Juan and Nicolas Burdisso. They’ve signed a new full back in Jose Angel, from Espanyol, who is
Roma need to also focus on reinforcing the right full-back position, which is being held by the ageing Marco Cassetti, who was woeful last season.
The loss of star player, Mirko Vucinic, might be a blow to their title aspirations, but if Lamela and Bojan settle quickly, then the loss of Vucinic will not affect the team.
Roma can still play a role and challenge for the title, but they need to settle to their new coach’s methods and tactics, as well as bringing in some new, quality players. If they do that before the transfer window closes, then they’ll definitely challenge for the title.
Napoli
(http://www.barcaloco.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Napoli.png)
Napoli were the surprise of last season, going all the way and ending up in third place behind champions AC Milan and Inter. They have an impressive three-way partnership in Edison Cavani, who was one of the sensations of last season scoring 26 goals in 35 Serie A appearances, Ezequiel Lavezzi who was one of the biggest assist-makers last season with 14 and of course, Marek Hamsik, who’s one of the best young midfielders in all of Europe. They also have two of the most-hardworking and underrated players in Serie A, in full back/winger Christian Maggio and central midfielder, Walter Gargano.
Napoli have improved this summer with the acquisition of Gokhan Inler from Udinese, who’s their biggest acquisition so far and will definitely improve the side with his tenacity, excellent passing, tackling and as well as his good right foot. We also must not forget, their powerful Colombian full-back, Juan Zuniga, whom I highly rate.
Napoli have also brought in Miguel Britos from Bologna and Marcos Santana from Fiorentina, to add depth to an already excellent squad. In my opinion, though, the defence needs to be reinforced. Their captain, Paulo Cannavaro, isn’t the best of defenders and has looked shaky at times with Napoli. Hugo Campagnaro is a good defender, but not a defender that can help win a team trophies, and the same applies to Salvatore Aronica.
If they improve their defence and maybe even bringing in a quality goalkeeper, I expect them to make a very serious challenge for the title.
Lazio
(http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/fm-stories/74118d1276259553-lazio-resurrection-champions-lazio.png)
Lazio started last season by storm and topped the table for several weeks, before they began to stutter and lose crucial points and ended in fifth last season, after a strong challenge for a Champions League place with Udinese. The club has lost two key players in Uruguayan goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera, to Galatasaray and full-back, Stefan Lichtsteiner, to Juventus. Despite that, Lazio have signed Federico Marchetti, as a replacement for Muslera from Cagliari, Aboulay Konko, as a replacement for Lichtsteiner, from Genoa, Lorik Cana, a tough and reliable holding midfielder from Galatasaray and two strikers, Djibril Cisse and Miroslav Klose, from Panathinaikos and Bayern Munich respectively, who if they can settle in to their new surroundings, can be very successful signings and can provide the club with plenty of goals this season.
Lazio, in my opinion, have done all right this summer, they might have lost two key players but they brought some reinforcements and good additions to improve the squad. I believe they can try to improve their central defence and buy someone with a bit more quality. They have acquired Marius Stankevicius from Sampdoria, but he’s more of a squad player and not a player that can help a team seriously challenge for the title.
I have high hopes for their talented defender, Modibo Diakite, to continue to improve as he huge potential to become a top player for the club. Lazio can challenge for the title, especially if their new signings settle in quickly and if they can bring in a quality defender and keep star players like Mauro Zarate, Cristian Ledesma, Hernanes, etc.
http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2011/08/serie-a-20112012-scudetto-preview/ (http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2011/08/serie-a-20112012-scudetto-preview/)
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Italian Supercup claimed by AC Milan on the 6th August defeating Inter 2 - 1 at the Bird's Nest.
Trofeo TIM played out today. A triangular tournament between AC, Inter & Juventus. Inter won the tourney.
1st 45: Juve 1 - 1 Inter (Inter wins 6-7 on penalties); 2nd 45: Juve 2 - 1 AC Milan; 3rd 45: AC Milan 0 - 1 Inter
http://www.youtube.com/v/-VQTHk6cRz4
Juventus have improved with our new system (4-2-4; 4-3-3) and new mentality, hunger and fitness being drilled into them by Antonio Conte. Not to mention a few of the new signings are lifting the side..Lichsteiner, Pirlo, Vidal, Vucinic especially. Still in need of a starting Left Winger and Centre-back (Aex, Lugano, Coates mentioned) and to dispose of alot of dead weight.
Forza Juve!!!
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Trofeo Berlusconi : AC Milan vs Juventus @ the San Siro
Formations:
AC Milan
Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Bonera, Taiwo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Emanuelson, Kevin Prince Boateng, Cassano.
JUVENTUS
Buffon, Lichtateiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Pirlo, Krasic, Matri, Vucinic, Vidal.
milan.com
http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/79845/1/watch-ac-milan-vs-juventus.html (http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/79845/1/watch-ac-milan-vs-juventus.html)
http://atdhenet.tv/38837/watch-ac-milan-vs-juventus (http://atdhenet.tv/38837/watch-ac-milan-vs-juventus)
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Seedorf is still such a great player. It's very hard to get the ball from him and he does not make bad passes. Prince and Seedorf with 2 great goals so far.
This small side in black and white not up to it.
Right after I post that Juve start to rain all kinda shots and crosses into the Milan box and score 1 to boot.
2nd half has been Juve's.
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gorm boy i hadda keep pullin dis thread out from d archives..
anyway...
could be the start of something new and the first step on a long road in the revitalising italian football..
today is the inauguration of mih side new football stadium...dont know the name now it will probably be unveiled later during the ceremony. capacity 41,000..unconfirmed that it can be expanded to 55k if necessary..
we spent 120mil and the stadio will earn us about 32-35mil each year, and WHEN we make it back to the champions league itll of course pull in more money..
will post pictures when i get a lil more more patience later
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(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/124106701.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789219B309651A2344B3F3A3A35494924437FC576585D8070A0C4B7B73F2ECAB3F929)
(http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cjv41h8mm3aE/610x.jpg)
(http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0fdI28QfVwh2Q/610x.jpg)
(http://forum.juventuz.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=46795&d=1315539719)
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/6129207585_1353b1806b_b.jpg)
(http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/124137091.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789219B309651A2344B3F4744A2CD9D9DBD65587DA605C9E1B03A8A8D29C27F30E53E)
(http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/124137646.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789219B309651A2344B3FF8294E1B0F7BE5D2587DA605C9E1B03A4FE9AE27219441D8)
(http://www.corrieredellosport.it/images/45/C_3_Media_1332445_immagine_obig.jpg)
(http://www.corrieredellosport.it/images/95/C_3_Media_1333295_immagine_obig.jpg)
(http://www.tuttosport.com/images/02/C_3_Media_1332602_immagine_xl.jpg)
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Nice touch by yuh club, honoring Notts County :beermug:
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Milan eh look good at all, but dam Cassano is a baller. Movement, technique in tight space and vision to kill.
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So who wore black and white stripes on the day?
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Milan eh look good at all, but dam Cassano is a baller. Movement, technique in tight space and vision to kill.
Milan not defending in the middle of the field. They only defending when the ball gets into their defensive 3rd. They also missed the deep lying orchestrator which has always been part of their game. No Seedorf last night plus he getting over the hill, and Pirlo gone - not sure who is gonna step into that role.
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So who wore black and white stripes on the day?
Juve... Notts wore a blue on blue, sky blue kit with powder blue stripes.
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:sleepy: wake up 6:30 to watch Juve open d stadium in Serie A against Parma this morning...we win 4-1 so its definitely been worth it. 4 different scorers with men like Vidal scoring on debut. Happy we could open the stadium so emphatically, men was givin me talk about the Notts County game but this is what counts. Also great to see the stadium full and I hope it stays so for the season, too long it upsettin me to see Italy most supported team with so many empty seats. Glad we take the lead in Italy in terms of new stadium, will truly help us.
On the field it will do Conte well having this result because journalists would call for his head after one bad game. Juve squad deep this year, and with no European football he have a task to pick a team every week. I have only one worry after watching this game, Pirlo has been far and away the best player today. I'm sorry but he is not the guy I want the team depending on, I want him like Giggs on Man Utd where we use him for big games. Don't want us have to rely on those legs for a long season. To my fellow Juve supporters, we can't think about title yet but on this display we looking good for a CL return so :beermug:
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excellent performance...pirlo is absolute class...milan must be cursing themselves for letting him go and bringing in aquilani who is such a pussy. glad to have lichsteiner in defence as i used to envy lazio all these years for having him...great way to open the stadium competitively...arturo vidal..whats more can be said of this player? he can play support striker/attacking midfield/centre mid/defensive mid/left back/centre back...i absolutely love this player...i hope we keep up our performances week in week out...no europe in d middle of d week is a blessing in disguise..get into CL nex year and buy more solid players and we inna gear...ah love mih juve!!!
downsides..giacherrini invisible but probably bummy...de ceglie i already doh like him and make it worse grosso might start next game..
and we also have elia, quagliarella and estigarribia to come een so once everyone on form things lookin good..conte will have a headache to select players...
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http://www.youtube.com/v/KuKKQoqz9oI
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I knew from the time I heard we sold Pirlo that it would be a regretful decision.
Pirlo is pure class, vision even in the dark, dead ball specialist and creative from deep or further forward. Fa#k
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Palermo well wukin Inter over! 4-2. Goal number 4 Inter's keeper aint even make an attempt!
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Really good game of football palermo holds on 4-3. The free kick by Miccoli was the highlight to me
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Pirlo issa bawse
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I knew from the time I heard we sold Pirlo that it would be a regretful decision.
Pirlo is pure class, vision even in the dark, dead ball specialist and creative from deep or further forward. Fa#k
Pirlo issa bawse
Pirlo was at his absolute best today. I'm just not gonna get too excited by it. Season now start, when the wear and tear start to hit he not gonna be able to maintain that level. That's why I said earlier I hope Conte uses him like Giggs, I don't want to see him starting every game. Gotta be smart with a guy like that (same for Del Piero), not being in Europe helps as mukumsplau said though.
Beside Europe, the stadium gonna help too in a big way. Was a bess vibe I see in the stands this morning, hope they maintain that. Fellaz like Matri look hungry this morning, I don't like Pepe but he real play too.
Really good game of football palermo holds on 4-3. The free kick by Miccoli was the highlight to me
Watch this game as well. I not worried about Inter, they will take time to adjust to that new system. It was weird seeing Forlan not play centrally but he did well suprisingly. The passing move for the Hernandez goal was bess too...not only d freekick. Palermo look good still despite selling Pastore.
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interesting weekend of serie a football...last weekend provided 35 goals in the round...this week sees some really nice and exciting matchups...inter take on roma in a battle of two sides that have been unimpressive ..two underfire coaches..how shall they fare? then its the big one napoli v ac milan in that cauldron called the san paolo stadium.expect a capacity crown for that one..
expect alot of goals in this round as well
forza serie a!!!
Saturday
16:00 GMT Cagliari v Novara Stadio San Elia
18:45 GMT Internazionale v AS Roma Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Sunday
10:30 GMT Atalanta v Palermo Atleti Azzurri d'Italia
13:00 GMT Bologna v Lecce Stadio Renato Della`Ara
13:00 GMT Catania v Cesena Stadio Angelo Massimino
13:00 GMT Lazio v Genoa Stadio Olimpico
13:00 GMT Parma v Chievo Verona Stadio Ennio Tardini
13:00 GMT Siena v Juventus Artemio Franchi
13:00 GMT Udinese v Fiorentina Stadio Friuli
18:45 GMT Napoli v AC Milan Stadio San Paolo
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New wiretap transforms Calciopoli'
Luciano Moggi claims his lawyers have “uncovered a wiretap that transforms the whole Calciopoli trial. It was specifically to get Juventus out of the way.”
The disgraced former Juventus director general was the main figure in the 2006 scandal that saw the club demoted to Serie B and stripped of two Scudetti.
He is now going through the civil courts over the same allegations and his legal team dug up numerous wiretapped phone calls that were originally ignored by the sporting justice system.
“On Thursday night we uncovered a wiretap that transforms the whole Calciopoli trial,” Moggi told 'Radio Manà Manà.
“I have only now learned to understand football, after all the wiretap transcripts I read. There are things that were as important as they were invisible, which I had been unable to grasp.
“The Calciopoli trial was already compromised, but after reading these latest wiretaps, everything has become clear.”
Moggi is called to testify in the Naples civil trial on September 27 and promises huge revelations.
“That day you will see the truth is the complete opposite of what you have been told up until now. That trial was dreamed up specifically to get Juventus out of the way and push others into the spotlight.”
Moggi’s lawyers have already dug up some revolutionary wiretaps from the original 2006 investigation that were either ignored by prosecutors or in some cases not even transcribed.
These included recordings of then-Inter President Giacinto Facchetti speaking to the refereeing designator.
The conversations were considered to violate the article on sporting fraud and the Disciplinary Commission recommended the 2006 Scudetto be stripped from Inter, but the FIGC could not take action because the statute of limitations had already expired.
Juventus are taking the matter to court and UEFA, urging the FIGC to take the title away from Inter and give it back to them along with the 2004-05 edition.
Football-Italia.net
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Antonio Conte's 10 commandments to return to glory:
1) THE MENTALITY '- At any time during the game Juve must impose their game. Against Parma minute 86 (4-0) Conte still urging to pressure on opponents and claimed to get a fifth goal by respect for the public and also to send a message to his players."you can always do better".
2) The SELF-ESTEEM -Winning helps you win, so you have to do it as often as possible. Juve must regain confidence in itself and strike fear in opponents .
3) THE GROUP - The selfish has no place in the group. The coaches and players go, Juventus remains. So only Juve counts. The personal satisfaction must come through the group. When you score a goal or when you win, you party all together. When you lose smiles are not allowed. It uses the 'we', not "I".
4) The OLDERS - Del Piero and Buffon are an example
5) WORK - Do not mess around in training, Football is passion, For Conte Work is above all In training, do not mess around, the fun comes when you apply the ideas of good play. The training is carried out in a manic, no breath, the maximum concentration must be from the first to the last minute.
6) TACTICS - Everyone knows what to do. Imagination is a good thing, but only in the last 15 20 meters. Before it's all organized, almost mechanized. From the left wing, right-back, each player knows what to do in any situation, being held or not held. You can not improvise,
7) THE GENIUS - Only Pirlo can break from the pack. Andrea Pirlo is so superior vision and technique wise to represent and add value for 4 2 4 Conte. Some thought that Pirlo would struggle to tune in to the technician: the opposite has happened, there was immediate understanding
8.) HUNGER - Conte has specifically wanted players with the greatest motivation. Apart from their technical values :Vucinic, Lichtsteiner, Elia, Giaccherini, Estigarribia, Pacienza, and even for some elements already with this is the moment of truth: either win now and get big or you do not have another chance.
9) The STADUIM: - must become a living hell. The look of the staduim was enough to understand that it would be a great advantage. Conte has quickly caught the importance of the new stadium and forwarded to the team
10) BALANCE - Eye on the the weight of the players. Those who are overweight, even slightly, does not play. The rule applies to everyone and no one doubts that it is enforced.
La Gazetta
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Been seeing quite a bit of Lazio, between this early season stretch of games and Europa League... on present form Cisse appears to be the signing of the year in Serie A. Ole man still bringing it boy, talk about transforming a club.
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napoli are one of the great traditional sides of serie a...was very excited when they came back up and the play some very very good football...here they are again staking a claim with a demolition of milan at a rampacked san paolo..edinson cavani...long time i have run out of words to describe this matador...he is a prolific beast...aint too long b4 someone tries for him...only on 2 mil euros till 2016...other clubs can easily triple that...el matador cavani..
http://www.youtube.com/v/QoDE9dr8PpI
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Dam Inter seeing hell!!! They just lost again to Novara. Who??? Exactly! Could not happen to a better team :rotfl: :cheers:
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well done Sneijder ! great career choice
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like luciano moggi said, inter needs a next calciopoli to win a scudetto..well done agent gasperini...well done novara...good to know that juve is not the only Turin side that can put them to the sword..
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d next side from Turin beat up on inter...a lot of novara fans also support juventus so the win was even more satisfying for them
http://www.youtube.com/v/TLqwoP3xBxQ
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Apologies for the atrocious headline. Not mine:
Lazio move can take Miroslav closer
Mon Sep 12 07:56PM
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/pitchside-europe/article/153/ (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/pitchside-europe/article/153/)
The opening goal of the Serie A season was a thing of beauty. Eleven minutes into Lazio's visit to Milan on Friday night, Hernanes caressed a pass over the top of the home defence to Miroslav Klose, who had ghosted into the penalty area.
A sumptuous first touch hooked the ball into his stride and took Alessandro Nesta out of the game completely. With time to adjust his feet, the German steadied himself before drilling a left-footed shot past Christian Abbiati.
The sureness of the touch and efficiency of the finish, not to mention the ease with which he eluded Nesta, proved that, at 33, Klose's goalscoring instincts have not been dulled by the time he spent on the bench at Bayern Munich last season.
After leaving Germany for the first time in his career, Klose will perhaps have been relieved to have opened his account on his league debut. But he has not come to Italy to amass more personal milestones. Rather uniquely for a present-day player, Klose's priority is the international game.
Moving to Rome represented a chance to test himself in a different country but what drives him above all is his hunger to secure a place in Joachim Loew's Germany squad for next year's European Championships.
In that respect, he has found a kindred spirit in fellow new recruit Djibril Cisse.The Frenchman also scored in the 2-2 draw at Milan and admits that, like his strike partner, he is fired by the idea of playing at Euro 2012.
"We never stop talking, even in the shower after training," revealed Cisse of his partnership with Klose last week. "We keep going back to what we need to improve."
Klose is a rarity in the modern game because he is renowned more for his achievements at international level than for what he has done in the club game. Rarely prolific in the Bundesliga (the 25 goals he scored for Werder Bremen in the 2005-06 season being a stark anomaly), he is nonetheless the second-highest scorer in World Cup finals history and, with 62 goals in 112 international games, he is creeping closer to Gerd Muller's all-time German record of 68.
The memories of Klose that will endure the longest are those that recall his World Cup exploits: the neat somersaults that followed each of his five headed goals at the 2002 tournament; the equaliser against Argentina in the 2006 quarter-final in Berlin; the opener in the 4-1 humiliation of England in Bloemfontein last year. Like Pele, or Diego Maradona, Klose has saved his best performances for the sport's biggest occasion.
At a time when the Champions League threatens to eclipse the World Cup as football's most important tournament, Klose is something of a throwback.
Where traditional thinking asserted that true greatness could only be achieved at a World Cup, modern observers argue that Lionel Messi's performances on the continental scene are worthy of comparison with anything that Pele or Maradona produced on the playing fields of Sweden and Mexico.
Players much less talented than Messi, meanwhile, trip over themselves in their haste to withdraw from the international arena. Witness Gary Neville's assertion that playing for England was "a waste of time", or Jamie Carragher's admission that losing with the Three Lions "hurt less" than losing with Liverpool.
Not for Klose another season on the bench at Bayern; the odd Bundesliga run-out, the occasional appearance in the Champions League. Having fallen behind Mario Gomez in the pecking order for first Bayern and then the national team, he knows that he is no longer the man around whom Loew intends to build his attack in Poland and Ukraine next summer.
But his move to Lazio looks likely to at least secure a place in the squad. And you suspect he will already have an eye on the 2014 World Cup as well.
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Boss headline.
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Boss headline.
:devil:
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Had a chance to see three of Lazio's games (including a Europa League match, I think it was)... Klose and Cisse have brought a definite spark to Lazio. I didn't watch them last season to really compare how the team has or hasn't improved, but from the early preview, everything goes thru them or happens because of them. I won't call it dependency (ie. not that the team depending on them), it just seems that they are having that much of an impact.
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Had a chance to see three of Lazio's games (including a Europa League match, I think it was)... Klose and Cisse have brought a definite spark to Lazio. I didn't watch them last season to really compare how the team has or hasn't improved, but from the early preview, everything goes thru them or happens because of them. I won't call it dependency (ie. not that the team depending on them), it just seems that they are having that much of an impact.
Klose and Cisse were always quality. In Klose's case he just couldn't compete with the fresh blood in the form of Gomez, Olic and so on. One of the most intelligent strikers around but he has lost some of the physical ability. His goal against England last WC was a flash of his old strength. I was hoping Arsenal would sign him when Bayern released him but of course he's FAR too old for Wenger.
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2 very big games on this weekend
inter v napoli
and the real derby of italy: juventus v ac milan...with our new playing mentality this will be a very exciting match..
another exciting matchup should be fiorentina v lazio;
other notable are roma v atalanta; udinese v bologna
forza serie a!
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Looking froward to the juve vs Milan match. Napoli looks like the team tuh beat this year. Edison Cavani-sweet name tuh go with an outstanding striker!
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OFFICIAL:
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Pirlo; Krasic, Marchisio, Vidal; Pepe; Vucinic.
MILAN: Abbiati, Bonera, Nesta, T.Silva, Zambrotta, Nocerino, VanBommel, Seedorf, Boateng, Ibra, Cassano
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FORZA JUVE!!!! TOTAL DOMINATION!!!!
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Milan are total shit... Juve look like they could be heading back to the good days.. my boy Mirko is a boss and Pirlo fitting in nicely.. my friend is a Milano so he getting real shit now
Conte have a nice enthusiasm about him..he driving the team and fans on
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Milan looked average today. Juve's goals were scrappy but they all count. Abbiati lol.
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Milan looked average today. Juve's goals were scrappy but they all count. Abbiati lol.
Average is kind, I thought they were poor. I thought Milan lacked ideas with the exception of Cassano & subbing him was a mistake. Ibra is an enigma.
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Milan looked average today. Juve's goals were scrappy but they all count. Abbiati lol.
the goals came because based on our play we were deserved winnners..milan didnt come to play poorly..we stifled them with our constant pressing and hunger forcing them to play poorly...it was never a forgone conclusion that they would play all over THIS juventus..
Juventus AC Milan
20 Total Shots 4
7 Shots on Target 1
86% Pass Accuracy 74%
57% Aerials Won 43%
2 Offsides 1
13 Fouls 14
5 Corners 5
23 Throwins 21
6 Dribbles Won 4
13 Tackles Won 15
56% Ball Possession 44%
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Milan are total shit... Juve look like they could be heading back to the good days.. my boy Mirko is a boss and Pirlo fitting in nicely.. my friend is a Milano so he getting real shit now
Conte have a nice enthusiasm about him..he driving the team and fans on
conte a crucial link between the juve of the past and this one of the present..we were a juggernauth pre-2006...it is true that all sides go through their cycles but we werent finished..enter moratti and the scandal he concocted and the pro-inter authorities tried to manufacture our demise...that was against nature..its why u see scenes like the ones below..victories like this mean so much more to us, the team, the fans throughout italy and the neutrals...the club has a spirit..italy needs juventus..
http://www.youtube.com/v/uBUxrTyVSLY
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a little read on calciopoli...
Juvefc.com > News > Articles
Calciopoli: Italy's greatest moral hour, or Inter's greatest revenge ?
Saturday 4th October 2011 | By Arber Sulejmani
(This article was originally published here. The author is the brilliant Arber Sulejmani who you can follow on Twitter or check out his fantastic blog )
“Allora, sono qui per informarvi – intanto vi chiedero una cortesia di non farmi domande perche non ho ne la voglia ne la forza … Mi maca l’anima. Mi e’ stata uccisa. Da domani saro’ dimissionario da direttore generale della Juventus. E da stasera il mondo del calcio non e piu il mio mondo. Pensero solo a difendermi da tante cattiverie che sono state dette e fatte… Questo volevo dirvi. Non ho domande… non posso rispondere a domande anche perche vi ripeto, non ho la voglia… “
English Translation:
“I don’t have either the strength nor the willingness to answer any question. I miss my soul, it has been killed. Tomorrow I’ll be resigning, since tonight the football world isn’t my world anymore. I’ll think only to defend myself from all allegations and wicked actions.”
Luciano Moggi – his last interview as a General Director of Juventus
I, as a die hard Juventino may seem very uninteresting and dull but the article you are about to read is all about facts and no prejudices what so ever.
As a matter of fact, Juventus has taught me a lot of stuff, most importantly to not hate. I was raised watching Juventus succeed and Champions have no reason to hate.
Hence Arbër does not envy Inter, least I could do is expressing the hate so publicly which often if not always results as a failure in an article.
Indeed, we have to be realistic. Dont look at things the way we want them to be. It is just nonsense to think of Inter as the savior of Italian Football for discovering Calciopoli and that they themselves are completely innocent. This of course brings up a very debatable discussion between rival fans and that will probably never end but of course FC Internazionale and Massimo Moratti are both aware of what is happening to Calcio and I personally think they are totally responsible for everything.
When considering Calciopoli, one is actually forced to believe that FC Internazionale and Massimo Moratti are the main conductors of the scandal. Unfortunately Juventus are meant to bare the blame whilst Inter on the other side escaping as “innocent winners”.
Needless to say, AC Milan, another giant club of Calcio and a tough rival of Moratti’s Inter, were also harshly convicted. You want to tell me this is just a coincidence?
In 2006 the Calciopoli scandal was firstly ignited from the pages of a famous football newspaper in Italy called “Gazzetta dello Sport”, a newspaper with Carlo Buora on the board, a very important figure in the TIM (Telecom Italia) board of directors and a managing director in the company of Pirelli. This suspicious newspaper actually printed the transcripts of the conversations of Luciano Moggi and other rival clubs like Fiorentina, Lazio and Milan. This did not result in anything and they were not taken into consideration. Moratti hoped for media tittle-tattle and an attack to Juventus that would probably cause them a lot of harms.
The transcripts were however send to trials in Rome but there was no evidence of a possible scandal and it was concluded that no illegal action existed. Frustration increased and Moratti hoped for another media gossip so that rival clubs could be found guilty.
Andrea Galliani, the then president of FIGC was forced to step down due to speculations and a suspicious guy named Guido Rossi took over the role. He was rather quick in decisions, and as a known Inter fan he punished Juve with a relegation to Serie B. Suspicions do not end here because his next decision was stepping down from FIGC and as already a shareholder in Inter; he took over TIM (Telecom Italia), the company that wiretapped Moggi’s phone calls.
Massimo Moratti, the owner of Inter also appears to be in the board of TIM which increases uncertainties even more. Another gentleman named Tronchetti Provera, the owner of Pirelli actually owns TIM. So again, you want to tell me this is a coincidence?
Sure Juventus have a bone to pick with Inter. All that damage caused to a superpower of European football, it is unlikely that Juventus will even acknowledge the existence of Inter anymore.
How could someone question the accomplishment of such a starting eleven made of at least 6 national team captains? Well, only Inter had a very long time without a trophy, much more a frustration to Moratti that made him spent millions of money, hundreds of transfers and a total of 16 years without a Scudetto. The only trophy Moratti enjoyed was the UEFA Cup in 1999. Surely, with such a success only Moratti could envy the triumph of Turin rivals.
As noted above, considering Calciopoli it is not hard to arrive to a definite statement that Inter themselves fabricated the whole scandal.
Based on the association of FIGC, Gazzetta dello Sport, Telecom Italia (TIM) and Inter, one is enforced to believe that Inter are the main initiators of Calciopoli. Furthermore, given the fact that Inter and Moratti were the only ones to gain from the scandal, the whole farce is now often referred to as “Morattopoli” by rival fans. But one thing was for sure, Inter could finally enjoy success.
Gazzetta dello Sport hid all elements in order to favor Inter and people have to know that Inter’s management and all manager’s from all Italians clubs where phoning with the referee designators, that was in fact allowed in 2006.
Remember This?
So, what was Juve and Milan really accused of? In a nutshell we know it as accused of “having an exclusive relationship with the referee designators” [Pairetto and Bergamo], which was believed to have given both teams some kind of advantage. Sure, if that is considered as unsportsmanlike conduct, a punishment is most probably likely to happen. And as the punishment was never meant to exceed ‘a fine’, it interestingly reached title stripping and point deductions. Obviously, the powerful Guido Rossi appears again, and he decided to make the “contacting a referee designator” a violation, which was actually never in the rules before that. He managed to make “the unexplained” with the calls and grouped the ones that would serve enough to accuse both clubs of match fixing. Embarrassing.
As one would object, there were 171.000 phone calls that disappeared out of nowhere when those were mostly needed for both Juventus and Milan. Basically the calls that were taken into consideration were meant to damage Juve and Milan and the rest of the teams punished. What about the rest of the phone calls? Obviously whith those still present, the whole case scenario would have been different and the punishments would have been pretty fair.
You want to tell me these phone calls could not have helped the situation better? How about giving a real clear picture to Italian Football, if not Juventus and Milan? Well, some of those phone calls fortunately came out and the Inter presidents were overheard speaking to referee designators.
Facts coming from Italy essentially demonstrate that the Calciopoli scandal was mainly built by the media, directly pointed at Luciano Moggi. It is already well popular the fact that investigators hid many conversations to accuse only Luciano Moggi, and show the world that it was him (the best transfer guru the world ever saw at that time) at the head of the conspiracy. How unbelievable.
My approach is to involve the Italian media such as Gazzetta dello Sport, Rai and Sky that have done hardly disinformation. Unfortunately outside of Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport is the reference and the orientation, whilst I think all that had to be denounced.
People probably don’t know that in the famous 170.000 phone conversations, we never heard a conversation between Moggi and a certain referee that was in activity as an official. These things however, appear indisputable with Giacinto Faccheti the then Inter president who passed away in 2006. And that was not allowed!
Additionally, Leandro Meani, who is supposed to have spoken to a number of referees and designators at the time of Calciopoli four years ago, admitted to having had contact with various figures, but he also questioned why Inter were never probed after calls involving individuals from the club emerged at the current trial.
The answer is easy and Inter took benefit from other teams deterioration. The reason they are now winning is because their biggest rivals weakened by Calciopoli. Appalling! Yes Calciopoli did help Inter, it turned them into a winning team by getting half of Juve’s best players and making them a winning mentality, regrettably it just hasn`t or won’t be proven.
People don’t know that referee Danilo Nucini maintained direct relations with Inter, while he was active, or simply Gazzetta dello Sport has never said it!
Nevertheless, I also find it ironic the decision of Italy’s Rai television that last year concluded they will stop showing replays of controversial refereeing decisions this season in a bid to increase debate about tactical issues. Paolo Galimberti the Rai president also said that “they are now thinking about a football of less shouting and more thought”. Oh finally, after all that damage caused to Juve and Milan now the company wants to avoid the heated, if entertaining, arguments which often erupt between specialists on weekend highlights show when referee calls are questioned.
Hence, the Italian referees’ association welcomed the move but its members will only receive partial relief given Italy’s Sky and Mediaset show much more soccer than Rai and neither has plans to drop controversial replays.
To my mind, I can only judge in the aspect of giving Juve, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio more credit to clear the dirty scapegoat that Inter has imposed to these teams, mainly Juve. It is impossible to think of a different situation when all of these connections between Inter, Pirelli, TIM and Gazzetta dello Sport are so obvious, with the main intention to bring home success by destroying rival clubs like Juventus and Milan. What hurts the most is that Calciopoli is still being investigated despite Inter emerging to be innocent.
For all I know, Inter have actually enjoyed the time of Juventus’ decline and even Milan’s poor form since the Calciopoli scandal occurred. Inter gained 4 consecutive Scudettis, considering the 2005-2006 Scudetto that Juventus had it revoked from them to be awarded to Inter some days later. And yes, they proudly consider that Scudetto to be worthy of.
That kind of a Scudetto is a mixed blessing. It gets you a lot of attention, but people are less likely to consider you seriously.
As regards to this, according to the Italian law the revoked Scudetto was illegal and Juventus are again involved in such a scandal that they continuously require their Scudetto back.
In fact, months ago it was discovered that Massimo Moratti was also involved in such conversations to those of Luciano Moggi back in the years. Moratti’s position in the scandal is questioned and such a discussion may worsen the situation further. This brings up the Calciopoli II, which has already begun and Calcio lovers are waiting for the closing stages as soon as possible, despite who the winner or the loser might be.
One could also ask why those clubs punished did not appeal against. Luciano Moggi has asked the same after the scandal in a lot of interviews and TV shows he took place. However, I highly doubt Lucky Luciano does not know the reason, but that at least shows how uncertain the situation was back then.
In fact, Juventus were mostly damaged and it was up to them to take such a move and as far as I am concerned, Juventus did not appeal because Italy’s world cup presence would have been in a big danger. If such a complication in the scandal appeared, the whole Italian football competition was threatened and/or actually France would have been the winner of 2006 World Cup.
Christian Vieri, a legend for the club of Inter also hit the limelight years ago claiming to know something about Calciopoli. Former Inter striker has suggested the Calciopoli scandal was sparked and created by Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti in order to make his club the strongest team in Italy and send Juventus down to Serie B.
In this connection, Vieri is currently suing Inter and Telecom Italia for the illegal wire tapping. He also claimed that “he was wiretapped because he always told the truth and that president Moratti did not trust him much”. Christian Vieri confessed that Inter players were made to sign a document to cover up any existence of the plan to take down other clubs. Therefore, he was tapped to ensure that he never spoke of Calciopoli plans to other people.
“I am ready to show everyone the document, everyone knew what was happening. I was spied upon because I cannot keep these things locked up,” Vieri said as reported by Firenze Viola.
“Seventy per cent of the contract was to be paid by Inter, and the other 30 per cent by Telecom who used me for advertising campaigns so that they could pay less taxes.
“I have only ever spoken about this to Mr [Rinaldo] Ghelfi of Inter, agreeing everything with him.
“I felt really sorry for Juventus because I have affection for them. The same with Milan. I thought I was doing something good for my president who has plenty to sell in terms of having a double personality.”
The many conspiracy assumptions are keeping the scandal alive, and as we are now witnessing Calciopoli II, the scandal takes a different view. The scandal is just a conspiracy involving Moratti, Guido Rossi, Carlo Buora and Tronchetti, all of whom are well known Inter loyalists and shareholders.
Last but not least, in Calciopoli II we have also witnessed another case scenario where Luciano Moggi had used Swiss sim cards for making phone calls. This however brings us to another level of ambiguity.
How could have TIM wiretapped the conversations of Moggi using the Swiss sim cards? That would be illegal and according to Luciano Moggi that is a crime that he is currently trying to sue TIM for.
The Calciopoli scandal shook the Italian game to its core in the summer of 2006, leading to the relegation of Juventus to Serie B. The Bianconeri, who were then the dominant side in Italy, had two Scudetti revoked from 2005 and 2006, the latter of which was assigned to Inter. Heavy points penalties were also dished out to the likes of Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina.
Since Calciopoli, the Nerazzurri have dominated Serie A with four consecutive Scudetti, having previously waited since 1989 to win the Campionato. Meanwhile they are fortunately out of the title race this season already as Milan crashed them in San Siro weeks ago with a 3-0 result.
Ever since, we have seen the decline of Serie A and it’s no coincidence that Bundes Liga is now ahead of us. Star players are all attracted to La Liga or Premier Leauge rather than Serie A. Attendance is decreasing and with such humiliation to Calcio, Moratti still considers himself a ‘hero’ of the whole conspiracy. Nicely done Mr. Massimo Moratti.
So what makes one still think Inter are innocent? After all that’s said and done, Moratti needs to build a new way out of Calciopoli since facts don’t lie and they claim Moratti is the main man of the scandal.
Those Scudetti’s were sweat out on the pitch and neither Moratti nor any other made-up scandal can revoke them from the Juventus tifosi. We believe in karma, and looking at the current season of Inter, we are implied to believe that despite being humiliated from the underdogs of Champions League – Schalke 04 [Schalke 07 – as the Bianconeri’s call it now], they are yet to finish a season “trophyless”.
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Juve 1-0 up on Genoa right now...fox soccer. Conte come with a very attacking lineup playin Matri and Vucinic together up top with Pepe and Estegarribia out with. I prefer Krasic to Pepe but he out of form right now.
On another note when is somebody gonna take out they checkbook and sign Jovetic from Fiorentina. I can think of a couple teams he can slot in nicely.
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Derby d'Italia on Tomorrow 2.45pm
Inter v Juventus or the Calciopoli Directors v Juventus 29
The irreparable relationship: Inter vs Juventus is now the world's fiercest football rivalry
This summer's renewal of the Calciopoli saga means justice can never be served regardless of the real truth, and the two giants meet this weekend with still no real answers
BET: RETURNS: Inter £25.50 Draw £33.00 Juventus £29.50
Oct 28, 2011 9:30:00 AM
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MORE ON : Inter Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan vs Juventus
COMMENT
By Kris Voakes
"Io non rubo il campionato ed in Serie B non son mai stato"
"I don't steal the championship and have never been in Serie B"
- C'é solo l'Inter (the Inter club anthem)
With the resumption of the Calciopoli trial this summer, there was meant to be a final answer. Still, there hasn't really been one. And while the two main players in the whole affair will slug it out at San Siro on Saturday night, there may never be a definitive winner in the debate. Fans of both Inter and Juventus will always believe they were in the right and the other lot were in the wrong. And that is why it is now up there as the world's biggest football rivalry.
Forget Barcelona-Real Madrid, Fenerbahce-Galatasaray, Celtic-Rangers and Partizan-Red Star, forget even Boca Juniors-River Plate. The Derby d'Italia was sent hurtling through the stratosphere with the allegations regarding Inter's conduct in the Calciopoli scandal, making it a match not to be missed this weekend.
Though the sides have had a very long, very bitter history of run-ins, the stakes have been raised to immeasurable proportions in the past five years. And chief prosecutor Stefano Palazzi’s assertion that Inter were guilty of greater ills than the supposed original culprits Juve have brought to a head the deep feeling of hatred that has existed since the Bianconeri were first implicated in Calciopoli half a decade ago.
Since the whole case was originally blown open by a series of wiretaps set up by Telecom Italia, the Bianconeri have stood their ground in their belief that they had done nothing out of the ordinary and that Inter were among a number of clubs who would have been proven just as guilty as they were. Their cries of foul originally fell on deaf ears as they were demoted to Serie B and forced to start on minus 30 points (later reduced to -17, then -9) for offences that had never previously been punished with penalties of more than a few points.
Guilty? | Moratti is accused of speaking to referees and referee designators
It finally seemed as though they would be satisfied by the words of Palazzi in the summer, only to later find out that the Statute of Limitations in Italy would stop Inter from being stripped of the 2006 Scudetto they were awarded retrospectively. Only, how would Juve have ever been truly satisfied anyway? Italian football has changed irreparably in the five years that have followed, and with the loss of Champions League football and various star players came the immediate loss of status they'd taken years to build up.
It is now Inter’s turn to complain of victimisation, with president Massimo Moratti calling Palazzi’s statement an “unacceptable attack” on a club he’ll still claim is innocent of any charge. All this despite the discovery of countless wiretaps implicating him in attempts to influence referee designators, the same charge which resulted in Juve’s demotion, and points penalties for several other sides. There were even Article 6 violations by Inter, AC Milan and Livorno which would have seen the three clubs relegated had they been caught out five years ago, but the FIGC’s ineptitude in dealing with the case first time around has simply created a powderkeg.
IN NUMBERS
The damage caused by 2006
12
The number of trophies Inter have collected since the Calciopoli verdict.
1 The number of trophies won by Juventus in the same time - and that was the 2007 Serie B crown.
6 The top line Juventus first team players lost to other clubs in the firesale which followed the original verdict; Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta to Barcelona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Patrick Vieira to Inter, and Emerson and Fabio Cannavaro to Real Madrid.
5 Juve have finished in an average of fifth place since Calciopoli, coming third in 2008, second in 2009, and latterly recording two seventh-placed finishes.
14 The number of goals scored (seven each) in the eight clashes between the sides since 2006. Juventus lead the head-to-head in that time with three wins to two.
So the rivalry that has in recent years been stirred up by claims and counter-claims can never now be resolved. Juventus could yet be given the moral victory of a token stripping of Inter’s 14th Scudetto in the courts next month, but it can do nothing to replace the last five years and will merely serve as evidence to back up their belief that their demise was almost entirely manufactured by the Nerazzurri.
Five league titles, two Coppe Italia, three Supercoppe and, most notably, one Champions League crown and Club World Cup later, Inter started this season in exactly the same position they would have anyway – with a squad built off the back of their position as the No.1 team in Italy that was assumed in the summer of 2006. Juve, meanwhile, are only just struggling back onto their feet five years after the carpet was ripped from under them. The mass exodus of players, the loss of titles, the humiliation of Serie B, the long, difficult road back… none of these things can be reversed despite the early progress made under new coach Antonio Conte.
So while Inter may well be called out once and for all as the real bad guys in one of Italian football’s greatest self-implosions, it is Juve who have paid the ultimate price. And Nerazzurri followers will tell you all the while that their good name has been besmirched by their greatest rivals. They’ll continue to sing “Io non rubo il campionato” and will still be able to boast “in Serie B non son mai stato”, however much Luciano Moggi et al question their right to do so.
All of which means there is no going back. This is not racist chanting at Mario Balotelli or Samuel Eto’o. It is not Felipe Melo sparking a 20-man brawl with a crude foul. It is not flares being thrown between home and away sections. Nor is it even Piero Ceccarini failing to give a penalty against Mark Iuliano for a foul on Ronaldo. This is a whole new level. It is the calculated set-up aimed to destroy another club... but who are really the victims and who are the transgressors?
They will fight them in the boardrooms, they will fight them in the courts, and, finally, they will fight them on the pitch once more at San Siro on Saturday. The Derby d’Italia is about to go global – all thanks to the mistakes of 2006.
THE RIVALRY IN QUOTES
If I were in Moratti's shoes, I would have avoided going around telling everyone I was clean and honest for all these years. Now those phrases are even more shocking after the recent revelations
- Former Juventus sporting director Luciano Moggi
I am absolutely convinced that we have nothing to do with Calciopoli, so I hope and believe that justice will run its path... Juve should go on holiday and forget Calciopoli
- Inter president Massimo Moratti
It's always right to listen to men of a certain age, but Juventus plan their own holidays
- Juve owner John Elkann in reponse to Moratti
If we have to give back one title, then Juventus would have to give back more titles
- Ernesto Paolillo, the Inter CEO
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Thursday 27 October, 2011
Blog: Familiar foe
Giancarlo Rinaldi, with tongue in cheek, on Juventus’ attempts to reclaim their role as Italy's most disliked football club
The old saying, Tutta l'Italia contro la Juve – All of Italy against Juve – has had a bit of a hollow ring in recent years. It has been hard for even their most bitter adversary to muster much dislike for a team in Serie B or struggling to get above mid-table in the top flight. There were even those who, whisper it, felt some sympathy for La Vecchia Signora – not that she ever would have accepted it.
It left a vacancy for the part of Serie A's pantomime villain. Ironically, the curly moustache which goes with the role ended up being assumed by the very team which claimed to have suffered most at the Bianconeri's hands. Suddenly, Inter were the team most Italians loved to boo.
To those who had been watching calcio for a while it did not feel quite right. They had been raised on the belief that the only certain things in life, other than death and taxes, were injury-time penalties to Juventus. The old world order had been turned on its head.
It even seemed as if the Bianconeri's other greatest asset, the legendary Culo di Juve – Juve's Bottom – had disappeared. Used by rival fans to describe the good fortune which seemed to be stitched into the club's shirts, it had all but evaporated. They had been stripped of their most famous super powers.
But there have been flickers of late that it is all falling back into place. The appointment of Antonio Conte – one of the architects of a golden age of antipathy towards Juve – sent a signal to the rest of the peninsula. We intend to get back to the top end of the table and dethrone the Nerazzurri from our rightful place as the side the rest of the nation loves to hate.
In truth, there was something slightly uncomfortable about anyone other than the Turin giants occupying that role. There was something of the security blanket about the Bianconeri in years gone by. If you were scrabbling around for an excuse for your own team’s failings, you could always blame it on the boys from the Comunale, Delle Alpi, Olimpico or whatever their ground is called this week.
Come to think of it, the new flashy Juventus Stadium was a clear statement of intent too. If you can’t envy us our League position – it said – you’ll at least be jealous of our swanky surroundings. And you can’t deny it has worked, with the rest of Serie A now scrambling to draw up construction plans of their own.
On the pitch, too, results are coming and the players are growing into their roles. Many of them are starting to acquire the swagger required to live up to the legends of yesteryear. Even the fans – after some meagre times – are starting to act with the assured air of years gone by when a season without a major honour was as rare as a month without a red card for Paolo Montero.
There is still work to be done, of course, and the job won't be complete until a 30th/29th/28th – delete as you wish – Scudetto is secured. However, there are undeniable signs that they are on the right track. After all, nothing makes you more disliked than winning things.
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Looking fwd to this game...hope Juve could win it and basically end Inter hopes in October which would be amazing. Right now Roma vs Milan on and this game very important as well...hoping for a draw
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(http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp12/andarbajO/derby-ditalia-gif1.gif)
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/308653_2542717008876_1282254177_2980099_423842517_n.jpg)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/390165_306091949418041_171522852874952_1293202_1938285042_n.jpg)
(http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2011/10/31/148a0ac1-c0b2-4d8c-b548-7b423dddb172.jpg)
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AC Milan striker Cassano rushed to hospital after suffering 'stroke'
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:33 AM on 31st October 2011
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AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano has been admitted to hospital after falling ill and displaying symptoms 'similar to a stroke' following the 3-2 victory over Roma on Saturday.
The club has revealed the forward became ill on the flight home after the match and was immediately rushed to hospital.
A club statement read: 'AC Milan announce that Antonio Cassano was taken ill as the plane landed at the Malpensa airport from Rome.
Worry: Cassano (left) has been taken to hospital with a mystery illness following the victory over Roma
'The player is being kept at the Policlinico in Milan for tests.'
Cassano made a substitute appearance for the Rossoneri in their win at the Stadio Olimpico which saw them stay two points behind leaders Juventus after nine matches.
He joined Milan from Sampdoria in January, has scored two goals and provided six assists in nine league appearances this term.
Milan travel to Minsk on Tuesday to take on BATE Borisov in their Champions League Group H fixture.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2055553/Antonio-Cassano-hospital.html#ixzz1cMRz8eQP
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Wasn't Robinho playing for Santos last year; was he on loan or something? How and when did he end up at Milan? He just score a nice goal too.
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monstrous match yesterday...one of the games of the season so far in europe.. napoli and juve traded punches...ended 3-3
highlights here http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1319913772&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42& (http://www.tvgolo.com/football.php?subaction=showfull&id=1319913772&archive=&start_from=&ucat=42&)
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Milan derby anybody takin it in? 0-0 in the 30th, both sides workin very hard. Pato shoulda done better and Motta was not offside.
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Inter living dangerously
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Everytime I see Zlatan regardless if is Sweden, Barca, Juv, Inter or Milan and the team need him to come up big, he does pull a Houdini. AC players fighting the game & Zlatan coasting. Milito and Maicon looks like they back to their best.
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That game was so tight, only an error or set piece was ever going to decide it.
Abate's mistake on Zanetti's cross was the moment, but Zanetti is such a boss.. The man is what 36? And running harder than plenty of them youths on the side..
Level cap share in this game too. I see Lucio give Pato a neat, fitted furry kangols which was rhell uncalled for especially as it is his countryman. Then I see Van Bommel give an over eager Inter man a sombrero and in injury time, a Milan youth man El Sharaway* who come on as a sub collect a disdainful tall cap to welcome him to the Milan derby.
Agree on Zlatan, he suffering from the same disease as Cristiano Ronaldo, big game disorder.
Inter's return to form seems to have coincided with Maicon's return to form, been watching them for the last few weeks and Maicon looking back to his old self.
This Serie A race will be interesting. AC and Juventus at the top but Inter pressing hard, then it have Udinese, Napoli and Roma who will be in the mix coming down to the end as well.
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The tractor was at his best.
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The tractor was at his best.
Ent! Have to admire his game
(http://u.goal.com/162800/162845hp2.jpg)
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Ibra is an imps! He do ah Drogba and get himself sent off!
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Milan scored two but only credited with one. Not sure what the linesman was seeing or looking at when Bufon pulled the ball from behind the line.
Napoli v Inter on Foxsoccer 2:45pm; the Edinson Cavani show continues!
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muntari's goal was a goal obviously but in no way would that have closed out the match at the 25th minute like most are trying to make it out to be. conte got the lineup and the formation wrong. we do not have the personnel for 3-5-2 AND he went on to start estigaribbia and boriello..2 of our worst players..and it showed.
i can assure u that every juventini was cussin when we saw that...we operate best in a 4-3-3 and it showed in the middle of the second half when boriello and estigaribia was replaced by vucinic and pepe..
with the 4-3-3 milan literally didnt make a note in Turin and we played much better when we switched to that system in the match yesterday..
juventus scored two but only credited with one. milan making it out to be more than just a refereeing mistake..claiming conspiracy etc etc and that Juventus put pressure on the referees with comments during the week..to anybody that knows the structure of football in italy and the media there would laugh at this
anyway, galliani went into the referees dressing room and had a word with them which of course ure not supposed to do but u not hearing that in the mainstream are you?
and after Galliani went to the refs' locker room:
- Mexes wasn't red carded
- Matri had a disallowed goal
- Muntari wasn't given a second yellow
and he want to talk bullshit about pressuring referees?
u would never see these thing highlighted because the italian media/figc etc are all sympathetic to milan as they have a set of milan and inter sycophants at the top of those organisations..
why no noise on
http://www.youtube.com/v/urJ-uHJUsm0
or
http://www.youtube.com/v/UzWYGuAuf8A
and lets not forget the countless non-penalties given for milan this season so far
http://www.youtube.com/v/BNRt2VQglqU
you dont hear them talking about that do they? yet when krasic dived last season the only thing they aint do was carry him to the international criminal court
at halftime their was an exchange between galliani and juve staff and i think galliani left the stadium becasue his blood pressure went up...he and conte exchanged words also..he said something like "Complaining to the media obviously helped" and Conte shouted "This coming from the mafia"
ibra for all his assholery said it best
"The goal should have been given but mistakes happen and it is not the reason we didn't win,” said Ibrahimovic.
“Juventus worked for the point until the end and they deserved to take it home. The result was fair.”
Allegri and company crying about the 2 mistakes were not equal and theirs more decisive yet this is what he says after the game vs bologna
"I've seen the situation again and Seedorf indeed seemed to handle the ball. However, toward the end a similar situation didn't result in a spot kick for us either," Allegri told reporters at the post-match press conference. "As for Ibrahimovic's penalty, I think that he dived in order to win a spot kick. The referee got it wrong, but his decisions went against both teams and not just against one of the two, so it evens itself out."
look, milan, allyuh just f**k away...long ago there were milan players i actually respected as footballers and as men...now? hmm..
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Juve just goin through a restructurin period.
They still ain't replace all the refs that used to be on the payroll.
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Ibra just score a top goal dey. Must-see. Great passes to set it up and an amazing finish.
2-0 to AC over Lecce.
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now all the chatter in the Spanish Football thread made me want to update you guys on the plans of teams in the serie a for their new stadia..off course we all know that this is one of the most important things we have to do inorder to change the face and up the marketability of the league...we have talented players here just that nobody wanna watch...
alot of clubs are waiting on a law to be passes so they can go ahead with/develop plans for their new stadia because at present they are being hindered by the city councils who stand to lose millions by renting out their shit municipal stadia
NAPOLI
d president and the mayor of naples agreed on a location to build the stadium and the project will be presented soon..
FIORENTINA
Currently planning to build a stadium of about 40 000 seats. The location of the stadium has been agreed and works are supposed to start before the end of 2012. It will cost between 180 and 200 million euros.
AS BARI
Plans for the restructuration of the Stadio San Nicola. They plan to remove the athletic track, reduce the capacity from 58 000 to 40 000 seats. It will cost about 70 millions. The club wants to get it done and start works soon as they are currently midtable in Serie B and think that this project will be essential to make it back to Serie A.
AS Roma
The plan has already been proposed to the city council and the club has found It will have 50-55 000 seats. The club had already found the location to build the stadium. The new owner of the club expects the stadium to be completed within 5 years(2016).
ATALANTA BERGAMO:
It will cost about 250 million euros and will have 26-28 000 seats. They hope to start construction soon and have it ready for the 2013-2014 season. They will also build a shopping mall and restaurants next to the stadium, much like mine (Juve!)
(http://net-storage.tccstatic.com/storage/bergamonerazzurra.com/img_notizie/thumb1/7e2bfd5ef025670c1bab06f9cdf71e18-37344-d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.jpeg)
(http://webstorage.mediaon.it/media/2011/12/309802_731488_IMG_0175_13092289_medium.jpg)
(http://webstorage.mediaon.it/media/2011/04/222533_637066_Senza_tito_11503910_medium.jpg)
(http://webstorage.mediaon.it/media/2011/12/309804_731490_IMG_0180_13092296_medium.jpg)
CAGLIARI CALCIO
new stadium from that hellish rustbucket they have there..things so bad they now have to use another stadium in Trieste for their home matches like d one v inter d other day
It will have 23 600 seats and will be ready for the 2013-2014 season. Works will start soon and it will cost only about 40 million euros. The club has already started building the stadium in mainland Italy and they will bring it to Cagliari by boat. This is why it will only take about 6 months to build the stadium once Cellino, the president will have the authorization of the city to begin work on the agreed site.
(http://static.blogo.it/calcioblog/nuovo-stadio-del-cagliari/big24092010150129.jpg)
(http://static.blogo.it/calcioblog/nuovo-stadio-del-cagliari/big24092010150102.jpg)
CATANIA
ah rel like this team. montella have them playing some rel nice football...hope he stays but some side may want to poach him..
Plans for a new 30 000-35 000 seats stadium have been unveiled by the club. It will cost between 80 and 100 million euros. It looks pretty nice. They plan to start the works in 2013 and it will take year and a half to build, so it will be probably ready for the 2014-2015 season.
(http://static.blogo.it/calcioblog/nuovo-stadio-del-cagliari/big24092010150102.jpg)
(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg268/scaled.php?server=268&filename=stadioa.png&res=medium)
HELLAS VERONA
city rivals of chievo verona who in serie a...i would like them to come up from serie b..i think theyre 3rd now...they have the greater fan support in verona...they have some good attendences for their home matches even in b...and d season before that they were in serie c so they rising..glad fuh dem
Plans for the construction of a new stadium of 30 000 seats, which will cost 200 million euros. It will be modeled on Shalke's stadium, with a retractable roof and other costly features, and a shopping mall. The club and the mayor of the city have found an agreement in November 2011. They plan to complete it within 2 years for the 2013-2014 season.
(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2926/veronav.jpg)
NOVARA
all this was hinged on them still being in serie a so it lookin like they gonna get relegated so probably plans might be scrapped...they are Juventus' Piedmont rivals..cant say i relly cater for them
Plans for the compete restructuration of the Stadio Silvio Piola di Novara. It will have 21 000 seats and will cost 10,5 million euros. The expansion works should be finished for the start of the 2012-2013 season.
(http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2310/novara.jpg)
UDINESE
the average attendences at usinese has been around 17000 hence this seeimingly low figure of 25000 they want to restructure ut at...i think at present it is around 40,000
It will have 25 000 for football games and 30 000 for concerts. It would cost about 25 million euros. They want it to be ready for the 2013-2014 season. Works have been started already.
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/9260/immagine2dn.jpg)
(http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/4389/immagine1pb.jpg)
PALERMO
pink slime and madman zamperini
It will cost 200 million euros and will have 35 000 seats. It will allegedly take 18 months to build and the club expects to have it ready for the 2013-2014 season.
(http://www.hercole.it/images/stories//Nuovo_Stadio_Palermo_Big.png)
(http://www.hercole.it/images/stories//Nuovo_Stadio_Palermo_Big2.png)
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as it stands this is the table..
R Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts Form
1 Juventus 31 17 14 0 51 17 +34 65 DDWWWW
2 AC Milan 31 19 7 5 61 26 +35 64 WWWWDL
3 Lazio 31 16 6 9 47 38 +9 54 WLLWLW
4 Udinese 31 14 9 8 43 29 +14 51 DLDDLW
5 Napoli 31 12 12 7 55 38 +17 48 WWDDLL
6 Roma 31 14 5 12 49 41 +8 47 LWWLWL
7 Inter 31 13 6 12 45 44 +1 45 DWDLWD
8 Catania 31 10 13 8 41 41 0 43 DWWDDL
9 Chievo 31 11 9 11 30 39 -9 42 DLDDWW
10 Siena 31 10 9 12 36 32 +4 39 WWLDWW
11 Palermo 31 11 6 14 44 49 -5 39 LLDDWL
12 Cagliari 31 9 11 11 33 38 -5 38 LLWLWD
13 Atalanta 31 10 13 8 34 33 +1 37 DDDWLL
14 Bologna 31 9 10 12 32 38 -6 37 DWDLLD
15 Fiorentina 31 9 9 13 32 38 -6 36 DLLDLW
16 Parma 31 8 11 12 39 50 -11 35 DDLDWL
17 Genoa 31 9 8 14 42 57 -15 35 DDLDLD
18 Lecce 31 7 10 14 35 47 -12 31 DLDDDW
19 Novara 31 5 10 16 27 52 -25 25 LWWDLD
20 Cesena 31 4 8 19 18 47 -29 20 DLLDDD
Juventus Remaining Fixtures:
Juventus vs Lazio
Cesena vs Juventus
Juventus vs Roma
Novara vs Juventus
Juventus vs Lecce
Cagliari vs Juventus
Juventus vs Atalanta
AC Milan remaining Fixtures:
Chievo vs AC Milan
AC Milan vs Genoa
AC Milan vs Bologna
Siena vs AC Milan
AC Milan vs Atalanta
Inter vs AC Milan
AC Milan vs Novara
I can see us losing points really...the only real test is definitely lazio on wednesday other than that we're too hungry and angry and have great focus and motivation from antonio conte. of course if you look at games in bulk u cant see a team possibly winning all games on the trot to the end of the season but this juventus takes it game by game and credit to the icon antonio conte for that...our defense is really solid and we just have to hope our forward players chip in with some goals.
milan on the other hand continue to cry about injuries and the refereeing (anyone who has followed serie a this season wil laugh hysterically at that)..i see them losing more points because they face some tricky teams and also u have the game against inter who are doing poorly but form is irrelevant going into a derby of that nature..
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Sweet scissors kick from Mauri...
http://www.youtube.com/v/ERBCh1pGU44
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mukumsplau what do you think about Juve making a run at Balotelli & Rossi for next season. They need better strikers for the champions league next season.
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mukumsplau what do you think about Juve making a run at Balotelli & Rossi for next season. They need better strikers for the champions league next season.
this guy? ;D
(http://forum.juventuz.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=48668&d=1334050774)
despite what people outside of serie a followers think, juventus fans think that he his an immense talent and is someone that we would like to have of course...they were mainly giving him licks because at the time he was an inter player and still is an ac milan fan..however his 'indiscipline' has been so so overplayed that we are conscious of the effect that it may have on the same spirit of the team that has driven us under antonio conte. that being said, antonio conte is ah general and i believe one of the few coaches that i think can probably deal with him..he seems to have excellent man management skills and one of the things he instills in u is the importance of the shirt. the juventus shirt is a thousand times heavier and more important than that of man city's...there is nothing sobering about mancity's history or importance as a club....conte has a say in transfers anyway...he didnt even flinch to send felipe melo away...all juve fans agree that melo is a headcase and as such a liability...
in any case balo has a love affair with the city of milan...turin has a slow pace to it and not all that glitz and glamour off the field that he seems to enjoy so if he were to combe back to italy it will be with either ac or inter even though we have very good relations with mino raiola..thanks to nedved off course..
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as for rossi...he's a good player but as a support to a marquee player...we play 424/433/352 mainly 433 and we in dire need of a world class 20+ goals CF and a world class RW
rossi cut style last summer then went and get a serious injury..now tell me who goin to splash money on him after that? but the thing with juventus is that we always try maintain the tradition of supplying players to the azzuri and its widely known that a strong juventus means a strong italy
we are targeting for CF cavani, torres, damiao, higuain, dzeko
for that wide forward role suarez, gaston ramirez, jovetic, robben, lavezzi
i think we may be bringing back giovinco as conte likes him
and we supposed to be getting a youth prospect like gabbiadini(atalanta)/destro(siena) and maybe pogba/kondogbia/verratti
reinforcements in the midfield may be asamoah from udinese
and in the back we need someone at LB im hearing kolarov/peluso
and summer freebies too like jefferson farfan
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JUVE! STORIA DI UN GRANDE AMORE!!!!!!
back to the top of the table convincingly...lazio were a difficult starts but we dominated from start to finish...should have had alot more goals to we name tho
Scores from today:
Parma 2 : 0 Novara
Fiorentina 0 : 0 Palermo
Inter 2 : 1 Siena1
Roma 3 : 1 Udinese
Napoli 1 : 3 Atalanta
Genoa 1 : 1 Cesena
Juventus 2 : 1 Lazio
Catania1 : 2 Lecce
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FINO ALLA FINE, FORZA JUVENTUS!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/v/wB4Ie4H4KMQ
Why Juve title is a triumph for three underdogs
The Old Lady is back on top of Italian football - but this time she's done it with team spirit and a trio of fairytale stories
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon celebrates with fans
AP
Campioni d’Italia! Campioni d’Italia! Juventus are the champions of Italy and what a journey it’s been for the Old Lady, who for six years suffered torment as she lost her superiority and acclimatised to mediocrity.
This is the story of a European giant that fell in spectacular fashion and for years, appeared incapable of getting back up. Countless management changes took place, seven different coaches presided over the first team since 2006 and players were constantly bought and sold. There was no cohesion, no winning mentality and no Stile Juve – the philosophy of simplicity, professionalism and calm instilled by Edoardo Agnelli during his stint as president in the late 1920s.
In the air tonight: Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini celebrates
AP
Seventh place for two consecutive campaigns had fans attempting to set fire to a section of the old Stadio Olimpico last season but this had to be their season. This was Alessandro Del Piero’s last year, the year the Juventus Stadium opened its doors and the year Antonio Conte returned home.
Playing an exciting brand of attacking football that focused on possession, accurate passing and in Conte’s own words, "head, heart and legs", the Old Lady dazzled her way back to the helm of Serie A.
“I would have liked to have played in this squad,” said a smiling Gianluca Vialli. “There’s great rhythm, great intensity. So many playable balls!” The fact that Juventus have so far remained undefeated with only one game left is a testament to their capability in overcoming their opponents and much of that is down to their team unity and collective spirit.
Fan-tastic: Juventus supporters celebrate winning Serie A
Getty
They have no fuoriclasse, as they say in Italian - an unrivalled player, champion at the top of his game who will score them an endless amount of goals a la Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Instead Juventus have had 18 different goal-scorers this season – the team is their fuoriclasse.
The most beautiful aspect of their game is their work off the ball. They can play through the middle, out wide, horizontally or on the counter. They have a Plan A, a Plan B and a Plan C. On average they have taken more shots on goal per game than any other squad in Europe’s top five leagues. This is a side that loves to attack and do so at will, secure in the knowledge that they boast Europe’s stingiest defence. Their only weakness lies in the absence of a natural goalscorer capable of finishing the many chances created, hence their many draws - 15 in total, seven more than second-placed Milan.
However, rarely have we seen a side so deserving of the title. Beautiful football combined with a burning desire to return to greatness. This is a special team with a special story, worthy of this very special title – their 30th though officially only their 28th as they had two league championships stripped because of the Calciopoli scandal.
Within this sporting fairytale stories lies countless personal ones. Like that of Emanuele Giaccherini who only four years ago was driving his Fiesta to Cesena FC, a Lega Pro (third division) side at the time. The attacking midfielder knew this was his last chance before accepting his fate as a labourer. Giaccherini, once an undersized boy who suffered a ruptured spleen and whose mother complained of him ‘breaking everything in his body’, overcame all obstacles to help Juve win the title, four years after he nearly gave up on his dream.
Masked ball: Leonardo Bonucci (right) celebrates with Marco Borriello
Reuters
Then there’s the story of Leonardo Bonucci. A lifelong Juventus fan whose miserable performances last season and at the start of this one had fans campaigning to get rid of him. Luckily, he had Conte in his corner and in these last few months has been a revelation, rescuing Juve countless times.
But in the eyes of former Bianconero player Moreno Torricelli, it’s Paolo De Ceglie who truly symbolises the new and improved Juventus - a player who has always been good but lacked the personality to make the final jump to become truly great. Now Torricelli says: “I see a player that’s tough, very strong and fearless.”
Full credit must go to Conte, who built a championship-winning side and laid the foundations of a winning cycle. One should expect nothing less from a man who was captain of the great Marcello Lippi-led Juventus side and part of the Italian national team that reached the World Cup final in 1994 under the God of tactics, Arrigo Sacchi.
On the way to glory: Mirko Vucinic scores past Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi
AP
A consistent winner, his obsession with tactics has seen him deploy five different formations this season and has been successful with all his tested formulas. Modern in his approach, he meticulously studies his opponents and adapts his team so as to expose the weaknesses of his adversaries while simultaneously exploiting the strengths of his own players.
Aside from tactics, as La Repubblica’s Emanuele Gamba noted, Conte has also studied communication, psychology and physiology so as to transmit his ideals perfectly, prepare effective training schedules, limit injuries and keep the side motivated and focused for the entirety of the season. He has brought back the Juve arrogance, their willingness to fight, to sneer and to challenge. They’re back to being hated and that’s how they like it.
Luck has also played a part. Juventus were free from all European commitments to challenge for the title against the likes of Milan, who suffered deeply from injuries, Inter who are in a transitional phase and a Napoli side committed to success in Europe.
Nonetheless, few will deny them their deserved moment and Italy awaits to see whether they can really write history by remaining undefeated and securing their 10th Coppa Italia victory. Who said Italian football isn’t exciting?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/opinion/football-opinion/juventus-serie-a-title-is-a-triumph-for-underdogs-823599 (http://www.mirror.co.uk/opinion/football-opinion/juventus-serie-a-title-is-a-triumph-for-underdogs-823599)
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Unbeaten Juventus scale the barriers to be crowned champions again
There was pandemonium in Trieste and amid the chaos Juve's manager Antonio Conte savoured a title he had masterminded
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The Juventus head coach Antonio Conte, right, celebrates after his unbeaten Juventus seal the Scudetto. Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
They began to scale the barriers around the pitch long before the final whistle blew. Six long years these fans had waited to see Juventus return to the pinnacle of Italian football, yet as time ticked down at Trieste's Stadio Nereo Rocco the thought of having to delay festivities for even one more second was becoming too much. After all the false dawns, the setbacks, the controversies and the collapses since Calciopoli they just wanted it to be over. They wanted to celebrate a Scudetto once more.
Confirmation that this title was theirs had arrived roughly three minutes before full time, as word filtered through that Maicon had given Internazionale a 4-2 lead in the Milan derby. Few will have fully comprehended the drama unfolding at San Siro, where the Brazilian's jaw-dropping strike from outside the box provided a fitting conclusion to Serie A's barmiest and most entertaining fixture of the season. None will have cared. All that mattered was that victories for both Inter and Juve – 2-0 up against Cagliari – now seemed assured. Those results would make the Bianconeri champions.
The final whistle unleashed pandemonium in Trieste. Although this was technically an away game for Juventus, they were playing at a venue which is far closer to Turin than to Cagliari's true home in Sardinia – the Isolani having temporarily relocated after their owner Massimo Cellino lost patience with the shabby state of the communally owned Stadio Sant'Elia. In a crowd of roughly 16,000 on Sunday night, Juventus's fans outnumbered those of their nominal hosts by a ratio of 15 to one.
Those supporters pouring on to the pitch quickly outnumbered Juventus's players by many times that figure. Giorgio Chiellini was mobbed, the player's face a mixture of delirium and faint concern as they launched him, shirtless, time and again into the night sky. In among the madness, a group of fans made off with a camera belonging to Italy's Sky Sport. Others simply stood on the field and held their banners aloft. One bore a picture of the captain, Alessandro Del Piero, along with the simple message: "Thank you for existing".
Juventus's players eventually retreated to their dressing room. It was some time before stewards were able to clear out the tunnel of fans and create enough space on the pitch for them to re-emerge and toast their triumph properly – with bottles of champagne bearing the number 30. This will be officially recorded as Juventus's 28th title, but the club continues to reject the Calciopoli verdicts which stripped them of their 2005 and 2006 Scudetti.
That much was affirmed – lest the bottles had not been clear enough – by the club's sporting director, Beppe Marotta, at full time, when he said that the club did indeed intend to add a third golden star to the badge on their shirts. The manager, Antonio Conte, had sought to sidestep the issue when he was pressed by reporters at full time, saying: "What number Scudetto is this? Number one, because it's the first I've won as a manager."
If debates over Juventus's third star are certain to rage on for months and years then Conte would prefer it if they could at least be put on hold for a few days, so this success can be celebrated in its own right. Not only have his team claimed their first piece of major silverware since Calciopoli, but they also stand one game away from an unbeaten season. Only two teams have previously achieved such a feat in Serie A – Perugia, who still didn't win the league, in 1978-79 and Milan in 1991-92. Neither was in a 38-game season.
Juventus's performance in their first campaign under Conte has gone far beyond what anyone could have imagined for a team who had finished seventh in each of their last two seasons. With one game still to play, they have already collected 23 points more than they managed in total last season. They have also reached the final of the Coppa Italia, where they will face Napoli in two weeks' time.
There is plenty of credit to go around. The signing of Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer following his release by Milan will go down as one of the most brilliant pieces of business ever conducted by the club – and one of the Rossoneri's most boneheaded. If the true picture is a little more nuanced, the player not having produced consistent performances of this calibre for some time before his departure from Milan, then his importance to Juventus is undeniable. His 13 assists lead the division.
Pirlo was not the only astute signing made by Juventus last summer, though, his fellow midfielder Arturo Vidal arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for €10.5m and going on to become the team's key ball-winner, winning more tackles per game (5.4) than anyone else in the division. Mirko Vucinic, signed for €15m from Roma, drove fans to distraction with his selfishness in possession and tendency to disappear from games, yet also scored a string of crucial goals. His was the strike which set Juventus on the way to victory after just six minutes on Sunday.
More than any player, many feel that the key upgrade made last summer might just have been the opening of Juventus Stadium. Pirlo, upon playing in the venue for the first time, expressed the belief that it would be even more intimidating for opposing teams than a packed San Siro – on account of the close "English-style" stands which placed supporters right on top of the pitch. Juventus have collected six more points at home this season than Milan.
But the true star of the show has undoubtedly been Conte himself. The manager arrived with only a modest CV – he had taken each of Bari and Siena up from Serie B, with an unsuccessful spell at Atalanta inbetween – but the full backing of supporters who believed that as a former captain he would appreciate the significance of the role. He arrived declaring this team "must get used to using the word Scudetto again", then promptly refused to acknowledge reporters' suggestions that his team even had a shot at the title until the final two months of the season.
Conte was similarly swift in dropping his commitment to the 4-2-4 which had served him so well thus far in his managerial career. He had expressed reservations to the board about the signing of Pirlo specifically because the player did not fit the holding midfielder mould required for such a formation, but rather than force square pegs into round holes, he subsequently adjusted his approach. By developing different variations on 4-3-3 and then later 3-5-2 he was able to not only get the best out of his squad but give himself different options to combat varied opponents.
While the whole squad embraced his ideals of possession football and a relentless high pressing game – with the exception of one or two high-profile players who subsequently found themselves marginalised – his greatest achievements were in the defensive phase. Stephan Lichtsteiner was the only significant addition made to a backline that conceded 47 goals last year, yet this season under Conte Juventus have allowed only 19 – 13 fewer than anyone else in the division. The clean sheet against Cagliari was their 21st of the season – a club record.
That was a tribute to the renewed form of Gigi Buffon but also the manager, whose faith in Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli at centre-back was such that he was prepared to even ask Chiellini to play out on the left. Each responded with one of the best seasons of their careers, Bonucci proving himself adept not only as a defender but also a distributor of the ball who could help launch his team onto another offensive.
Throughout the campaign, the one knock on this Juventus team was the claim that they did not possess a match-winner such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic who could beat teams on his own even when the rest were performing poorly. Time and again the Swede has dug Milan out of a hole, scoring more league goals (28) than he has ever before in a single season. And yet this is the first season in which Ibrahimovic has failed to finish top of his domestic league since 2003.
In the final analysis, Juventus did not need a fuoriclasse like Ibra in their starting XI. They already had one picking the team.
Talking points
• So, that derby. Six goals; three penalties – one the result of an absolutely scandalous decision; Júlio César squaring up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the award of said penalty and telling him that he was going to miss, before sticking his tongue out and making all manner of bizarre facial expressions; Ibrahimovic then sticking a perfectly struck penalty past César; a 40-yard volley from Wesley Sneijder that had to be pushed out from under the bar; that goal from Maicon … oh, and yet more stunning choreography at San Siro: from Milan's supporters poking fun – "Seeing you in May is to see another mirage" – to Inter's incredible depiction of the Madonnina that covered an entire stand. The quality may have been mixed – some of the defending, on both sides, was atrocious – but the entertainment was exceptional. All this with a title on the line. What more could you want from a derby?
• This was, incidentally, Massimiliano Allegri's fifth derby in charge of Milan – and in every one he has faced a different Inter manager. The chances of Andrea Stramaccioni hanging around long enough for the next one appear to be increasing rapidly, with the owner Massimo Moratti telling reporters: "I think he can continue [in the job]". It feels deserved – the team having collected 17 points in eight matches since he arrived, when they had just 41 from 29 before he arrived. The players, also, appear to be on board. "We hope we can continue with him," said Diego Milito – whose hat-trick took his personal tally to eight goals in as many Milan derbies. "We are working well."
• If an expectation has too often existed in Serie A that teams with nothing left to play for not only could but should roll over in their remaining games, then there have certainly been plenty prepared to buck the trend this season. After Parma dealt Inter's Champions League hopes a blow in the previous round of fixtures, this weekend it was Bologna who knocked Napoli off course with a 2-0 win. Udinese – aided by two red cards dealt to their opponents Genoa – were able to stay on course, moving three points clear of both Napoli and Inter and staying two ahead of Lazio, who won at Atalanta. All four teams can still claim fourth with the right combination of results, but Udinese are the clear favourites –needing just a draw in their final game away to Catania to secure third. It would be hard to overstate the achievement of manager Francesco Guidolin should they succeed.
• The one dampener for Udinese was the suggestion from their captain and leading scorer Antonio Di Natale that this may be his last season. "I'm going to play in the European Championships and then stop," was his brief, unqualified comment to reporters at full-time – and while further clarification is required, it is not unthinkable that he could be considering stepping away from the game at 34. A long-term knee condition has long obliged him to undergo almost constant physio between games, and he expressed concern following the on-pitch death of Livorno's Piermario Morosini – a close friend of his – about how many games footballers were now being made to play.
• Not a bad weekend for goals, this one. Beyond Maicon's strike, highlights included Lorik Cana's violent top-corner finish for Lazio, and Sebastian Giovinco's looping 25-yard volley against Siena.
• At the bottom of the table, Lecce's hopes of survival took another blow with a 1-0 defeat at home to Fiorentina, though Genoa's loss the next day means they are still technically able to escape relegation should they win, and the Grifone lose, next week. Encouraging, given the recent climate in Serie A, were the warm send-offs that fans of both Lecce and the already relegated fans gave to their teams, with applause and chants of support at full-time.
• And finally … Only in a week like this could a match like Palermo 4-4 Chievo wind up as an afterthought.
Results: Atalanta 0-2 Lazio, Bologna 2-0 Napoli, Cagliari 0 - 2 Juventus, Inter 4-2 Milan, Lecce 0-1 Fiorentina, Novara 3-0 Cesena, Palermo 4-4 Chievo, Roma 2-2 Catania, Siena 0-2 Parma,
Udinese 2-0 Genoa
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/07/juventus-win-serie-a-title-milan (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/07/juventus-win-serie-a-title-milan)
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'The official verdict of 28 titles is farcical' - Do Juventus have the right to add a third gold star to their shirt?
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Italy's big talking point is set to come to a head in the coming days as the Old Lady reveal whether they will follow through on their plan to add an extra star to their shirts
May 10, 2012 9:30:00 AM
MORE ON : FC Internazionale, Juventus
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It was an entirely deserved party in Turin as Juventus celebrated the Scudetto at the weekend in much the same way they had in 2006. This week, though, there were dissatisfied noises coming from some interested observers, with Arrigo Sacchi and Massimo Moratti among the dissenting voices.
The problem related to the number emblazoned on the tricolore fixed to the bottles of champagne used to toast the Bianconeri's magnificent season. The number was 30, rather than 28. And now, with talk from director general Giuseppe Marotta and president Andrea Agnelli of a third star being sewn into the Juve shirt to commemorate their 30th title, it seems that clear signs are being sent from Vinovo. They still consider the two titles they had revoked to be rightfully theirs.
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But should they? While the FIGC chief prosecutor Stefano Palazzi stated last year that Inter were among a number of clubs who were guilty of sporting fraud on much greater levels than Juve were, the Statute of Limitations in Italy means that the designations of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 Scudetti remain as dictated by the 2006 Calciopoli trial. Therefore, while there is massive evidence that the Bianconeri's titles should not have been stripped - at least not in the favour of Inter as happened with the second Scudetto - there is nothing that can be done about the situation legally.
It all leaves a huge black hole in the Serie A roll of honour. For 2005, there remains a void, while for 2006, one of the apparent guilty parties is identified as the league champions. But Juve continue to regard them both as their triumphs, having won both on the pitch and having been deemed relative innocents, albeit five years after they were originally fingered for the crime.
Gianluigi Buffon left the whole debate unanswered earlier this week, as he expressed his opinion on the matter while giving a nod to official figures. "I have won five titles and Juve 30," said the Italy captain. "But I have been assigned three and Juve 28. But everyone makes their own calculations." Meanwhile, his coach Antonio Conte sidestepped the questions about the correct tally by simply saying: "For me it is Scudetto number one as coach."
I would even be willing for Inter to give up the 2006 title and have it left unallocated if it stopped Juve dwelling on the past
- Don Nerazzurri, NerazzurriWorld.com
But if the behaviour of Buffon, Pavel Nedved, Mauro Camoranesi or Alessandro Del Piero is understandable, what are the real opinions of the likes of Leonardo Bonucci (who was with Inter in 2006) or Marotta (then director general of Sampdoria)? Outwardly, they have joined the fight for the retention of the two stripped crowns. Rather than making a political statement based on their opinions of the time, are they just trying to curry favour with Juventini?
It is also not as easy as just unofficially allowing the Bianconeri to recognise the titles as their own, since one of them was awarded to Inter, and Nerazzurri fans feel it is time Juve were reminded they were in the wrong.
"Now the Old Lady has won the 2011-12 Scudetto it seems that she is suffering from senile dementia, as both the club and the fans seem to have forgotten that they've had two titles revoked!" says Don Nerazzurri, of NerazzurriWorld.com. "According to all the records now they have won 28 - not 30, and therefore have no legitimate claim to add the third star."
But Don Nerazzurri believes that there may well be one gesture which could be made that would see Juve finally back down on their claims to the two titles in question.
"As a fan of Inter, the club that was awarded their revoked 2006 title, I am so against their ridiculous claims of holding 30 Scudetti that I would even be willing for Inter to give up the 2006 title and have it left unallocated like the 2005 one if it stopped Juventus dwelling on the past and they just enjoyed the latest title as their 28th.
"Obviously I'd prefer for that not to have to happen, and they could never be forgiven for the things they've said and done. But now it's time for them to just accept they were in the wrong and look to the future."
But what about Juve fans? Why do they believe they have the right to add a third star on their replica shirts next season? JuventiKnows writer John Cascarano believes that the conspiracy against the Old Lady should be recognised, and the extra star should be allowed, especially given that the use of stars is not regulated by the FIGC.
If Juve want to add another star to their own insignia, they will. If they wanted to add a silhouette of Luciano Moggi smoking a cigar, they could do that as well
- John Cascarano, JuventiKnows
"That alone should make the entire debate moot. If Juve want to add another star to their own insignia, they will. If they wanted to replace the silhouette of the bull on the center of the patch with a silhouette of Luciano Moggi’s face smoking a cigar, they could do that as well," says Cascarano.
"During the first, rushed Calciopoli trial in 2006, transcripts were selectively entered into evidence in what can arguably be construed as a deliberate attempt to skew perception against Juventus. The Bianconeri, as it turns out, were never guilty of Article 6 match-fixing violations but, at worst, Article 1 – the creation of an appearance of impropriety – a standard so low that any defence attorney would cringe at the mere thought. And that isn’t even getting into any of the evidence regarding other teams’ involvement.
"The bottom line is that the entire reason that they’re 'officially' recognised as having only won 28 titles is farcical to begin with. A few strands of golden thread is a very small fee to pay the team who alone paid for everyone else’s sins. It’s frankly insulting for the FIGC to try to stop this."
And so, it is clear that the argument will go on over the validity of a third star, regardless of whether one is added to the Juventus badge next seaon. Is it time for the FIGC to admit they can do nothing to stop a star being added, especially in light of prosecutor Palazzi's verdict last year? Or should the Bianconeri face the fact they were one of several clubs in the wrong and as such do not have a right to claim either of the two revoked titles?
The debate continues.
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Juve will be in pot three
By Football Italia staff
Juventus are back in the Champions League, but their return to the competition next season is likely to be tough.
As it stands, the Old Lady would be inserted into the third pot of seeds – thus potentially seeing them placed into a ‘group of death’.
The Bianconeri are currently 15th in UEFA’s club rankings, for next season's European Cup qualifiers, which is the system that Europe’s governing body use to decide seedings ahead of the Champions League draw.
Reports are already suggesting that a worst case scenario for Juve could see them placed in a section with Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
http://www.youtube.com/v/dQq0K_Yv1HA
http://www.youtube.com/v/IPtf0oTH1qE
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http://www.youtube.com/v/9Ap_GLN1Mt8&feature=g-vrec
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Aaaand we're back!
http://www.youtube.com/v/sPnL2SYDbxw
Fiorentina v Udinese - salivating clash. Fiorentina brought in Montella who to me is a very exciting coach and likes to play some really attractive football as he was doing with Catania last season. Add to that they had a very good mercato imho and brought in some really good players AND unfortunately for me they kept Jovetic...watch out for them. Udinese will be Udinese despite having sold some of their good players. I expect them to be competitive still with Guidolin coaching and they have made some signings. Their scouting is one of if not the best in italy they always find gems so im looking forward to see them..
Juve v Parma - hope we can start this this season as we did last. Looking for us to take Serie A this year...it wont be easy even though some sides are perceived to have been weakened. football is on the field and not on paper. looking forward to seeing Pogba...this kid would be huge in the future almost everyone has been impressed by him in that 'Pirlo' role..still has some rough edges to smoothen but that is to be expected..really looking forward to him...
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Looking for mih Juve to take it again. Not expecting much in Europe though, we add depth but not class. Never a fan of adding 5 decent players when u can add 2 top class signings. Sourness here though my cable company aint get Bein yet, have to live with streams for now.
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It seems like Serie A rell extra borin this year boi.
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It seems like Serie A rell extra borin this year boi.
so borin it made u dig up this thread?
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It seems like Serie A rell extra borin this year boi.
so borin it made u dig up this thread?
Yup, had tuh dust it orf too. In my opinion this season Serie A fall behind La Liga, Bundesliga, EPL as far as exciting football. It is a technically better league compared to the some of the players in the EPl but that league seems like it regressing.
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It seems like Serie A rell extra borin this year boi.
so borin it made u dig up this thread?
Yup, had tuh dust it orf too. In my opinion this season Serie A fall behind La Liga, Bundesliga, EPL as far as exciting football. It is a technically better league compared to the some of the players in the EPl but that league seems like it regressing.
i hardly think an epl junkie would spend enough time to actually watch serie a games or take an interest in the league but rather stick to the "italian football is boring and defensive" stereotype....actually compared to serie match lineups every weekend i find epl and even bundesliga to be quite sedate...
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It seems like Serie A rell extra borin this year boi.
so borin it made u dig up this thread?
Yup, had tuh dust it orf too. In my opinion this season Serie A fall behind La Liga, Bundesliga, EPL as far as exciting football. It is a technically better league compared to the some of the players in the EPl but that league seems like it regressing.
i hardly think an epl junkie would spend enough time to actually watch serie a games or take an interest in the league but rather stick to the "italian football is boring and defensive" stereotype....actually compared to serie match lineups every weekend i find epl and even bundesliga to be quite sedate...
It seems like Serie A rell extra borin this year boi.
so borin it made u dig up this thread?
Yup, had tuh dust it orf too. In my opinion this season Serie A fall behind La Liga, Bundesliga, EPL as far as exciting football. It is a technically better league compared to the some of the players in the EPl but that league seems like it regressing.
i hardly think an epl junkie would spend enough time to actually watch serie a games or take an interest in the league but rather stick to the "italian football is boring and defensive" stereotype....actually compared to serie match lineups every weekend i find epl and even bundesliga to be quite sedate...
Not sure why you appear to be taking my opinion regarding Serie A so personal but I expect nothing less from a Serie A junkie. You are entitled to od on Serie A as you have been doing. I have actually enjoyed Serie A previous years, but like I said in my opinion I feel as a league it has regressed. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings or critisize your drug of choice.
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feelings? u read all that and incorporate a tone by my choice of words? u probably a milan fan..
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feelings? u read all that and incorporate a tone by my choice of words? u probably a milan fan..
Nah, Juve-I like Pirlo and Buffon ;) ;D Napoli and Edison Cavani.
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thanks for pogba by the way..
http://www.youtube.com/v/0OkHvN-ZOZA
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Milan leading Juve at the half, match on Bein. Good match, so far, Milan keeping Buffon busy. Robinho exchange jerseys with Pirlo walking off the pitch already oui.
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Milan leading Juve at the half, match on Bein. Good match, so far, Milan keeping Buffon busy. Robinho exchange jerseys with Pirlo walking off the pitch already oui.
1-0 Final :wavetowel:
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Juve lost to 10 men Sampdoria. When I see the goals Buffon give up, I couldn't beleive it was he who was in goal. He look like a backup on those goals.
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nice anti-racist gesture by ACM.
http://bit.ly/116Gm7w
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what a frickin strike on the first goal
http://www.youtube.com/v/Z6_2W4TyuMo
bullet 2nd goal
http://www.youtube.com/v/Ivsjk6z8_YE
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What a frickin strike indeed!
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two other angles for pogba's goals
@ 1:30
http://www.youtube.com/v/s_2_u9a1d0U
@ 1:38
http://www.youtube.com/v/uS922mZmWG0
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http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/maxdeportvcan5.blogspot.com
Serie A highlights on now.
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Watchin Milan vs Udinese at the moment....this kid Niang is a rel boss! Where de hell he come out from?
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Watchin Milan vs Udinese at the moment....this kid Niang is a rel boss! Where de hell he come out from?
And of course Balotelli scores the winning penalty with the last kick of the game lol
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Ryan he is French. Milan have nuff black man playing for them now, dem Italian must be in pain hahahahhahaha
Nice young squad assembled by Milan. Just need a couple of youthfull defenders & we good.
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Has he ever missed a pk?
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https://www.youtube.com/v/CXDgnWToqFs
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Italian Football: Italian Serie A 2015/2016 season preview
Juventus complete domestic double
Juventus Claimed Their fourth consecutive Scudetto with four games to spare last season, finishing 17 points clear of second-placed Roma. Coach Massimiliano Allegri, formerly in charge of Milan, proved many doubters wrong after replacing Antonio Conte last summer. His team completed the domestic double by beating Lazio 2-1 in extra time in the Italian Cup final, but have fallen short of a record-breaking treble after losing the UEFA Champions League final to Barcelona. Juve Became the first team in the history of the competition to get beaten in six finals and the Italian giants have now lost Their last four.
Champions: Juventus ( Champions League group stage )
Runners-up: Roma ( Champions League group stage )
Third place: Lazio ( Champions League play-off )
Fourth place: Fiorentina (Europa League group stage)
Fifth place: Napoli (Europa League group stage)
Seventh place: Sampdoria (Europa League QR3)
Relegated: Parma, Cesena, Cagliari
Promoted: Carpi, Frosinone, Bologna
Sampdoria finished seventh in Serie A and only qualified for the Europa League as city rivals Genoa, who finished sixth, were denied a UEFA license after missing a deadline to present documents and failing to name a suitable stadium to play in. Their home ground, the Stadio Luigi Ferrais, Which they share with Samp, Requires redevelopment work to meet UEFA standards. While Samp have organized to play Their games at Sassuolo's Mapei Stadium, Genoa Have not been incendio Their Own find alternatives in time. It was the second year in a row That a team has failed to receive permission to compete in Europe after Parma were denied Their license Because of late payment on a tax bill in 2014.
Fiorentina appoint Paulo Sousa as coach
Fiorentina have appointed as Their coach Paulo Sousa. The 44-year-old former Portugal midfielder has managed Queens Park Rangers, Swansea City and Leicester City in England, and left Basel this summer after winning the Swiss Super League in his only season with the club. He replaces Vincenzo Montella, who was sacked at the end of the season with the club citing a lack of respect from the Italian in his public comments. Montella guided Fiorentina to three successive Serie A fourth-place finishes but then criticised the club's supporters and his contract was terminated after Subsequent talks.
Milan Inzaghi replace with Mihajlovic
Milan have appointed Sinisa Mihajlovic on a two-year deal after sacking coach Filippo Inzaghi Following a year in charge at San Siro. Mihajlovic, who stood down as Sampdoria this summer, Becomes Milan's fourth coach in less than two years Following Inzaghi, Massimiliano Allegri and Clarence Seedorf. Since winning Serie A in 2011, Milan have finished second, third, eighth and 10th, 35 points behind champions Juventus, failing to qualify for Europe for a second consecutive season. Former Yugoslavia defender Mihajlovic, 46, had brief spells in charge at Bologna, Catania and Fiorentina before he was appointed coach of Serbia in April 2012. He joined Sampdoria in November 2013 and took them to 12th place That season, improving to seventh place last term .
Walter Zenga named new Sampdoria boss
Former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga is replacing Sinisa Mihajlovic as Sampdoria coach. Zenga previously Coached Catania, Palermo and many foreign clubs, guiding Steaua Bucharest and Red Star Belgrade to titles. The 55-year-old Has Been out of a job since leaving United Arab Emirates side Al Jazira a year ago, but Sampdoria knows well having spent two years as the club's goalkeeper from 1994 to 1996. Sampdoria had a disastrous start to the 2015 / 16 campaign as they were ousted by Serbian side Vojvodina 4-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. However, Zenga's biggest headache remains a replacement for defender Alessio Romagnoli who joined AC Milan this summer.
This page is introduction to the 2015/2016 Italian Serie A season. Latest news, statistics, results and predictions you can find on our main Euro Football> Italy page.
Napoli Sarri appoint Benitez as replacement
Napoli have named former Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri as the successor to Rafa Benitez, who joined Real Madrid this sumer. Benitez chose not to renew His contract after after missing out on a Champions League. After a long career in the lower divisions, Sarri Empoli took up from Serie B and guided them to a 15th-place finish, an achievement For which he was Rewarded with the Napoli job. The challenge lies in Naples at rejuvenating a team That fell short during two years under Benitez. They finished second Under His predecessor Walter Mazzarri in 2013 but could only Manage third place and then fifth place during the Spaniard's tenure.
Giampaolo gets Empoli job
Empoli have appointed Marco Giampaolo as Their new coach after Maurizio Sarri resigned from His post to join Napoli. Represents the move to return to Serie A for Giampaolo, who has previously had spells at Cagliari, Siena and Catania, among others. The 47-year-old was most recently employed at Pro League outfit Cremonese. Giampaolo initially signed a one-year deal with the club but added His determination to secure a renewal based on performance.
Stefano Colantuono named new manager Udinese
Stefano Colantuono Has Been confirmed as Udinese's new head coach after the club parted company with Andrea Stramaccioni. Udinese finished 16th in Serie A last season, Their worst league finish since being promoted to Serie A in 1994/95, Which Caused Stramaccioni to be sacked after just one year in charge. The club made a reasonable start to the campaign but in Their last 26 matches they won just four in all competitions and ended up just seven points clear of Cagliari who were relegated. Former Catania, Perugia, Palermo and Torino boss Colantuono Had Been out of work since being Dismissed by Atalanta in March after five years with the Bergamo side.
# team points g.dif. win-draw-loss
1 Juventus 87 48 9.3.26 (38)
2 Rome 70 23 19-13-6 (38)
3 Lazio 69 33 21/06/11 (38)
4 Fiorentina 64 15 18-10-10 (38)
5 Naples 63 16 18/09/11 (38)
6 Genoa 59 15 16-11-11 (38)
7 Sampdor. 56 6 13-17-8 (38)
8 Inter 55 11 14-13-11 (38)
9 Turin 54 3 12/14/12 (38)
10 Milan 52 6 13-13-12 (38)
11 Palermo 49 -2 12-13-13 (38)
12 Sassuolo 49 -8 12-13-13 (38)
13 Verona 46 -16 11-13-14 (38)
14 Chievo 43 -13 10-13-15 (38)
15 Empoli 42 -6 8-18-12 (38)
16 Udinese 41 -13 11/10/17 (38)
17 Atalanta 37 -19 7-16-15 (38)
18 Cagliari 34 -20 08/10/20 (38)
19 Cesena 24 -37 12/04/22 (38)
20 Parma 19 -42 6.8.24 (38)
The final standings for the 2014/2015 Serie A season.
Juventus remain title favorites
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri insists That his team remain the favorites to win the Serie A title this campaign, but admits That the title race could be a whole lot closer this time around. The Bianconeri have lost some key performers, including Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez, but snapped up Sami Khedira, Simone Zaza, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic ahead of the new season. Allegri is expecting a stronger challenge this term, Particularly in light of the spending sprees at Milan and Inter.
Inter Milan and spent a lot after a very poor season, Which saw Both clubs end outside UEFA Europa League positions. Milan bought the likes of Carlos Bacca, Luiz Adriano and Alessio Romagnoli among others, while Inter added Geoffrey Kondogbia, Stevan Jovetic and kept their best players like Mauro Icardi and Samir Handanovic despite big offers from abroad. Roma, Lazio and Napoli anche made some impressive signings this summer, so it's Likely That this campaign will be harder for Juventus Compared to the past two where the title was almost DECIDED by March. Nonetheless, they're still heavy favorites for this season's Scudetto.
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Neither Inter nor AC are in Europe this year. Let that sink in.
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Oh how the mighties have fallen.
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Neither Inter nor AC are in Europe this year. Let that sink in.
thats down to their own foolishness on and off the field and rightully replaced by more progressive clubs
they are rebuilding well though and i expect stronger opposition from themin the table and direct combat
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Serie A: Five key questions to determine how the season will unfold
Lazio manager Stefano Fiori says his side needs more players after an injury to Miroslav Klose marred their 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League qualifying first leg.
"Rich again!" La Stampa cried. "Ciao austerity!" an ebullient La Repubblica waved. After years of tightening the purse strings, Serie A has once again been flashing the cash.
Close to €460 million has been lavished on the transfer market, €329m of which has been invested by Juventus, the Milan clubs and Roma. That's up nearly three times on what the same quartet paid out a year ago, and it's what the league spent as a whole in 2011.
To find a comparable rate of spending, you have to go back to 2001. That was the summer Gigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Pavel Nedved moved to Juventus for €135m; Gaizka Mendieta joined Lazio for €48m; Milan found themselves €41m lighter after signing Pippo Inzaghi; and Inter wired €29m Fiorentina's way for Francesco Toldo.
Three players -- Paulo Dybala, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Carlos Bacca -- have cost in excess of €30m this window, and with a fortnight still to go before it closes, these teams aren't done yet. More fresh faces will be added to a new cast. Perhaps Schalke's Julian Draxler or even PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The league has lost the three wonders of Juventus -- Andrea Pirlo to New York City FC, Carlos Tevez to Boca Juniors and Arturo Vidal to Bayern Munich -- as well as Xherdan Shaqiri to Stoke City, Matteo Darmian to Manchester United and Mateo Kovacic to Real Madrid.
However, Serie A also brought in Edin Dzeko (Roma) and Stevan Jovetic (Inter) from Manchester City, Mohamed Salah (Roma) from Chelsea, and Mario Mandzukic (Juventus) from Atletico Madrid, while also retaining Paul Pogba (Juve), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Dybala and Felipe Anderson (Lazio). Giuseppe Rossi is back from injury for Fiorentina, too.
Exciting, isn't it? This Serie A promises to be the most balanced, exciting and least predictable season since the early 2000s. With that in mind, here are five key questions to determine how the Italian league will unfold in 2015-16.
1. Can Juventus be caught?
To discourage a creeping sense of boredom, champions long at the top of their game will often make things a little harder on themselves to keep things interesting. They'll wear a blindfold, tie one arm behind their back, get someone to spin them round a few times and then try and hit the target they've been aiming for without fail for years.
If Juventus are to win a fifth consecutive Scudetti, Paul Pogba will have to earn his new No. 10 shirt.
Last season, Juventus won without Antonio Conte. For their next trick, they'll try to do it without go-to match-winners Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal -- or, as Maurizio Crosetti put it in La Repubblica, "the brains of the team, its right arm and pair of lungs."
The Italian Super Cup did offer concerned fans reassurances. Even without Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Sami Khedira and Alvaro Morata, they beat Lazio 2-0 thanks to goals from new signings Mandzukic and Dybala. The faces change but the results remain the same.
Teething problems are still to be expected, though. The team is incomplete -- a left-back, midfield all-rounder and playmaker are being sought -- while trips to Roma, Napoli and Inter all in the first eight games doesn't make for a comfortable adjustment period. Great responsibility lies with Buffon, Chiellini, Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Claudio Marchisio to radiate stability and pass on a winning mentality.
The same goes for Pogba, who asked for and received Juventus' No. 10 shirt. One imagines if Juventus are to win five Scudetti in a row for the first time since the 1930s, they will need Pogba, the only Serie A player on the last Ballon d'Or shortlist, to step up like Michel Platini did for one last time after Marco Tardelli, Zibi Boniek and Paolo Rossi all left following another European Cup final in 1985.
2. Who are the king-slayers?
Aside from the final games of last season, Roma hardly showed up for most of the second half of the campaign and still finished runners-up. Everything is being done to ensure they not only return to their best but get better, too.
The return of the injured Leandro Castan and Kevin Strootman are like new signings and the attack, which ranked eighth last season, looks fast and furious with the additions of Dzeko and Salah. Exhausted by Christmas last season, new fitness coach Darcy Norman, who worked with Germany, might well prove to be the most important recruit of them all if he can get Roma's players to run like sprinters and last like marathon runners.
Roma have added Manchester City's Edin Dzeko to their forward line.
Napoli, meanwhile, have kept a low profile. In 1987 and 1990, they won the Scudetto after appointing coaches from provincial clubs. Ottavio Bianchi came from Como and Alberto Bigon from Cesena. The omens are good, then, after they hired Maurizio Sarri, a contender for coach of the year after the job he did at Empoli in getting them into back Serie A and finishing 15th last season. Not only did they play great football, they defended well. That's what has been missing from Napoli.
Holes in the team have been filled, the midfield has a great balance to it, while the forward line remains as potent as any in Italy. On his day, Higuain is the best striker in the division and as such, Napoli merit consideration as outsiders.
As for Lazio, when a team exceeds expectations one year, the pattern in Serie A is that it often then fails to meet new and even greater ones the next -- particularly as they come to terms with playing on three fronts. They will have to make sure that pattern isn't followed.
3. Is the balance of power about to swing back to Milan?
As a city, only Madrid has won as many European Cups as Milan's 10. And so its decline and fall in recent years has left a void not only in Italy but on the continent, too. Simultaneously out of Europe for the first time ever, a sense of shame and wounded pride has led both AC Milan and Inter to conclude enough is enough.
Persuaded by Roberto Mancini, Inter owner Erick Thohir has thrown his initial caution to the wind. This, in turn, has stirred something in Milan. Owner Silvio Berlusconi has made the club a priority again, underwriting a spree not seen at the club in almost 15 years, as a consortium led by Bee Taechaubol prepares to pay a quite absurd €480m for a 48 percent stake in the club. This renewed sense of competition, spurring each other on, was best captured in the "derby" over the signing of Kondogbia.
Inter have completely overhauled the team and look like title contenders on paper. Preseason, however, would indicate that Mancini doesn't yet know his best team. Any advantage Inter and others may have at the beginning of the campaign as Juventus figure out how to win without Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal might be diminished unless the coach suddenly happens on the winning formula that has so far eluded him.
Milan, by contrast, already look like they have a clear idea of how they are going to play. You can see the imprint of Sinisa Mihajlovic. It's like they've been coached for the first time in 18 months.
Question marks linger about both teams' defences and the lack of a charismatic, silky passer in each midfield. Both have a lot of ground to make up, but the example of Juventus in 2012 serves as an inspiration. Juve had finished seventh in 2010-11, 24 behind champions Milan, but 12 months later pipped them to the Scudetto.
The Derby della Madonnina is once again an event worthy of its name. Expect Bacca to challenge Mauro Icardi for the crown he shares with Luca Toni as Serie A's Capocannoniere (Golden Boot winner).
AC Milan and Inter have reinvigorated sides this season and could be ready to challenge for silverware in 2015-16.
4. Where might a surprise come from?
The reawakening of the Milan clubs will make it harder for Lazio to remain on the podium and for Fiorentina to finish fourth for the fourth year running. By the same token, the chances of a Parma or a Genoa muscling into the top six, as has been the case in the past couple of years, would appear more remote.
If there is a team to do it, however, it must be Torino. Despite losing Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci a year ago, they had a wonderful campaign, becoming the first Italian team ever to win at Athletic Bilbao and also beating Juventus in the Derby della Mole for the first time in 20 years.
Darmian is gone, but the cast-iron defence of Kamil Glik, Nikola Maksimovic and Emiliano Moretti remains, and the money they got from Manchester United for Darmian has been spent well on under-21 internationals Davide Zappacosta, Daniele Baselli and Marco Benassi. Seasoned front pairing Fabio Quagliarella and Maxi Lopez also know their way around the league. The team is put together well, and Torino have a spirit, identity and stability that many of the better-resourced teams lack.
5. The next big thing
Every year a star is born in Serie A: Domenico Berardi, Dybala, Anderson, Alessio Romagnoli, Daniele Rugani. Who will be next?
Be sure to look out for Gianluigi Donnarumma, a 16-year-old giant of a goalkeeper who might force his way into the Milan side a little like Buffon did at Parma all those years ago.
Inter's new centre-back Jeison Murillo was voted best young player at the Copa America. Bologna claim to have found the new Vidal in Erick Pulgar.
Fiorentina rate Federico Bernardeschi so highly they have given him the No. 10 shirt. Juventus believe this could well be Kingsley Coman's year.
Lazio have gambled on the indisputably huge yet unfulfilled potential of Ricardo Kishna from Ajax and Ravel Morrison (formerly of Man United and West Ham), but European Under-19 Championship and Under-20 World Cup winner Sergej Milinkovic-Savic looks the most reliable.
It wouldn't be a surprise at all if one of these young men sees their value go through the roof in the next nine months.
James Horncastle contributes to ESPN, BBC Sport, Guardian Football Weekly, FourFourTwo and The Blizzard. Follow him on Twitter @JamesHorncastle.
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Shaka Hislop picks Juve to win Serie A
http://www.espnfc.com/video/espn-fc-tv/86/video/2574653/hislop-juventus-are-going-to-win-serie-a
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Balotelli back to Milan.
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One could be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that the Serie A is a halfway house for recovering footballers.
Dzeko
Gervinho
Mohamed Salah
Szczesny
Cuadrado
Balotelli
Modibo Diakite
Unfairly toss in Ashley Cole, Evra, and Vidic and the case is made. :P
But it's also a developmental ground (or selling platform) for players like Olivier Ntcham (Man City/Genoa), Stipe Perica (Chelsea/Udinese), Wallace (Chelsea/Carpi)
Didn't work out that great for Anderson at Fiorentina from Manchester United ... but to be fair things might be tougher going on a mid-season loan as opposed to the start of the season. Diakite might also be able to testify to that.
Pepe Reina had a loan spell too ... Liverpool to Napoli; earned him the backup role at Bayern, now back to Napoli.
I suppose it works out?
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How the might has fallen. At one time the Serie A was the place to be. Milan was the glamour team. The league appears to be behind England and Spain, and possibly Germany.
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Wham 'splau, yuh winded or fully bun? We hadda take this thread to the finish line (circa maggio 2016).
Milan derby in 12 hours. (3:45pm TT time).
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How the might has fallen. At one time the Serie A was the place to be. Milan was the glamour team. The league appears to be behind England and Spain, and possibly Germany.
It is according to uefa league rankings it is...
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Genoa and Fiorentina and Torino and Hellas Verona both just ended in nil-nil draws, but both were end to end battles during the dregs and added time. Had to engage in channel-switching. Commentators were raging that Genoa v Fiorentina in particular deserved a goal.
The Venezuelan Josef Martínez (Torino) broke through between the GK and defender and managed to get a touch over the GK's head, but with ball in the air the defender had time to recover. Although he got the shot off, it narrowly missed the post. Frankly, it's a bit of a slap in the face to see Venezuelan players popping up at storied teams across Europe, while we hunt for bones.
Didn't view the early game, but Juve scored a couple walk-in/tap-in goals to dispatch Chievo. Their fourth was a Pogba classic. Juve 4 Chievo 0.
Napoli blew Empoli off the park 5-1 (after Empoli was up 1-0). Higuaín scored the equalizer a few minutes later; then Napoli bossed the goals.
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Milan 1-0 in the 35 min....still can't believe their keeper is only 16. Small man have good size too, in 2 years he might be in goal for Italy.
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Milan grew into the first half. Prior to the goal, Inter was in the ascendancy.
Lawd, allyuh make out Balo on the bench daydreaming about returning to 'Pool?
Enjoyble game. Lots of strength and lovely technique on display (the heading sequence was boss). Aside from that, the positions players have been taking up defensively (on both sides) were key to almost keeping it at 0-0.
Put Milan in the BPL and they won't flounder.
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3-0 Milan win. Inter missed a pk that would've tied the game at 1-1 but Milan was clearly the better team and deserved the 3 pts.
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Napoli v Milan: is probably the match with the highest standing of all fixtures today. Kick-off @ 4pm T&T time.
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Another big bram today! Juve v Inter @ 3:45pm T&T time. Derby d' Italia. :beermug:
"Another" b/c it has been a big football weekend. Madrid derby. Man Utd v Arsenal. Liverpool v Man City on now.
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Every time I watch Pogba play, I become more of a fan. He plays that central mid position like a general....all over the pitch.