Italian Football

[Jim05]

Sampdoria relegated after finishing 4th last season.
Udinese have almost secured CL qualification spot, Roma now out of race.
Pretty sure Udinese only need a point in last game. In Italy they still go on head to head rather than goal differance dont they?

[pels]

Sampdoria relegated after finishing 4th last season.
Udinese have almost secured CL qualification spot, Roma now out of race.
Pretty sure Udinese only need a point in last game. In Italy they still go on head to head rather than goal differance dont they?

Yeah i'm pretty sure its head to head that counts if they are even on pts.

Napoli drew 1-1 with Inter this morning confirming 3rd spot and qualifying for CL group stage next season.
Unbelievable achievement considering we were in the 3rd div 6-7 seasons ago.
Sampdoria getting relegated is astonishing

[Jim05]

Anyone see Milans title celebrations?
Kevin Prince Boatengs moonwalk tribute to MJ was gold!!!

[Il Duce]

Yeah in italy its still head to head. Udiense, lazio, gypsies and i think Juve can still all finish 4th and qualify for champions league. Seeing that Lazio where almost relegated last season and could finish 4th is amazing and the fact that samp finished 4th last season and relegated season is also amazing....btw coisendce...conspiracy..etc

[Jim05]

;) Yeah in italy its still head to head. Udiense, lazio, gypsies and i think Juve can still all finish 4th and qualify for champions league. Seeing that Lazio where almost relegated last season and could finish 4th is amazing and the fact that samp finished 4th last season and relegated season is also amazing....btw coisendce...conspiracy..etc

Roma and Juve are out of it.
Udinese and Lazio to fight for 4th

[TOS_lad23]

Great Serie A season this year, Inter finally knocked off of the perch that was handed to them 5 years ago.
Milan champions by default really, Inter derailed by Benetiz and couldnt recover in time.
Napoli, Udinese, Lazio, Roma didnt have enough depth to challenge for the entire campaign all stuttering late in the season and it cost them.

Udinese are my team of the season, recovered from a terrible start to the season to earn a UCL spot and played brilliant attacking football, led by Di Natale and Sanchez.

Disappointments of the year were Samp and Juve, Samp went from being 1 min away from a spot in the CL to relegated. Juve were setting themselves for a run at the title going 20 odd matches unbeaten before the christmas break and then the wheels completely fell off, finishing 7th.

Now let the silly season begin

[TOS_lad23]

Its about time we got the Calcio thread going for this season

What hopes or expectations do you have for your team this season?
happy with the transfers so far?

Juve have had a solid off-season after a terrible campaign last time round. Pirlo, Lichsteiner, Ziegler, Vidal, Pazienza have come into the squad, with Aquilani, Melo, Sissoko, Traore gone so far and more on the way out hopefully. Still need to sign a left winger and then it would be a great transfer period for the club.

With our 1st choice XI i feel we can seriously challenge for the scudetto this season after bolstering the full back positions with proven serie A performers. With Krasic and (hopefully) a left winger out wide, Pirlo pulling the strings and Vidal/Marchiso backing him up the midfield matches any other in the league and should create plenty of chances for Matri/Quagliarella/Del Piero and another fwd (PLEASE LORD..... ROSSI)

[pels]

Fairly happy with Napoli offseason added plenty of depth as we needed it being in CL. Picked up Midfielders Inler (fantastic buy), Dzemaili, Donadel, Santana & Defenders Britos, Fernandez, Ruiz
Would really like to get another good striker.
Lost Pazienza & Santacroce.

Expectations, well I would be very happy if we finish again in the top 3 and if possible challenge seriously for the scudetto.
I reckon Juve & Lazio have definitely improved and Roma are always around the mark, its gonna be a tough season.
You would think Milan & Inter are the favs but plenty of teams can challenge, should be an exciting season.

For the CL would be rapt if we make it to the knockout stage.

Bring on August 28th, I feel lost on Sunday nights not listening to minuto per minuto radio broadcast.

[TOS_lad23]

If Napoli hold onto Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik they will do some serious damage on the continent, depth may be an issue once the season kicks into gear in boths comps, certainly quality wise if any of the top players go down for a long period.

Inler is a great addition, quality Serie A mid. Inler and Gargano should go well together.

Udinese can kiss a successful campaign goodbye now that Sanchez has left for Barca, no depth for 2 competitions IMO.

[pels]

If Napoli hold onto Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik they will do some serious damage on the continent, depth may be an issue once the season kicks into gear in boths comps, certainly quality wise if any of the top players go down for a long period.

Inler is a great addition, quality Serie A mid. Inler and Gargano should go well together.

Udinese can kiss a successful campaign goodbye now that Sanchez has left for Barca, no depth for 2 competitions IMO.

Those three are not going anywhere
Udinese have to still qualify for the group stage and losing Sanchez & Inler makes it tough
Have to agree if we get no major injuries anything is possible

[Jim05]

Vucinic moves from Roma to Juve on 4 year deal.
Great pick up for Juve.

[Il Duce]

Fairly happy with Napoli offseason added plenty of depth as we needed it being in CL. Picked up Midfielders Inler (fantastic buy), Dzemaili, Donadel, Santana & Defenders Britos, Fernandez, Ruiz
Would really like to get another good striker.
Lost Pazienza & Santacroce.

Expectations, well I would be very happy if we finish again in the top 3 and if possible challenge seriously for the scudetto.
I reckon Juve & Lazio have definitely improved and Roma are always around the mark, its gonna be a tough season.
You would think Milan & Inter are the favs but plenty of teams can challenge, should be an exciting season.

For the CL would be rapt if we make it to the knockout stage.

Bring on August 28th, I feel lost on Sunday nights not listening to minuto per minuto radio broadcast.

well up front we have, going forward lazio look fantastic however losing muslera in goals and lichstiener at the back lazio need to properly replace these players and improved at the back because at the back we look leaky.

[TOS_lad23]

Did i hear correctly that Djbril "glass legs" Cisse has signed for Lazio???? he was banging in the goals for Panathinikos last season, could be a handy pick up.

[Il Duce]

we have signed cisse and kloser plus rocchi up front or comming off the bench and flocari is so out of a job. like I said lazio going forward look great its at the back where it could let us down.

[TOS_lad23]

great career move for Klose, moving from the high paced bundesliga into the slower and more tactical Serie A. should suit his style, He will be deadly with the service Hernanes provides.

[pels]

Serie A not starting this weekend due to a strike. WTF Seriously

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2011/08/26/2637141/opening-round-delayed-as-serie-a-strike-is-confirmed

[TOS_lad23]

The new "solidarity" tax for high earners in Italy is the main issue between the clubs and the players, clubs want the the tax to come straight out their wages but the players say it is the clubs responsibility to pay. Also the players want to stop clubs forcing individuals to train away from the 1st team if there are issues with contract negotiations.


Hope they sort it out soon cos im craving for some Calcio!!

[Jim05]

Inter Milan have signed Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid on 2 year deal

[Il Duce]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... ht?cc=3436

Serie A season given green light

A second weekend of strike action in Serie A has been averted after the Italian Players' Union (AIC) and the Lega Serie A reached a resolution on a temporary collective contract.

Thank you, really looking for to this season, Juve looking to be reinvigorated which is good for the league (dont like him but its true). Ac, Inter and Napoli looking good agian, Udiense and Lazio on the improve and will be pushing for the cl spot and of corse Roma with new money (gypsys must of robed alot of people to get it ) should be good as well, so in other words 1-6/7 should be interesting this season in serie a.

btw round will be caught up either as mid-week games or durning the winter break etc

[Jim05]

Whats your tips for top 4 then?
Im going
1-Milan
2-Juve
3- Inter
4- Roma