Calcio comment: Napoli up to second now, time to be taken seriously?

Napoli have been slow burning into fruition for some time now. The De Laurentis project has been taking shape since their meteoric rise from Serie C back to where they belong in Serie A, but the question is are we now at a stage where it can be considered to have peaked? For me, the answer is clearly no.

Napoli are are one of the most exciting teams to watch in Serie A. Whether it be the endless hustle of Lavezzi, the passing precision of Hamsik of the sheer quality in finishing ability of Cavani they are at times a joy to watch. However, they have changed, if this season is anything to go by. They've begun churning out three points when really, they haven't deserved them. Tonight against Genoa they to some degree were on the back foot in the second half, though it could be said that Napoli should have buried the game by then. But, as has been said time and time again in football folk law, winning when you don't play that well is the hallmark of Champions. It's a little too early to consider Napoli as worthy of than mantle but all the while they remain three points from the summit then they will be regarded as a top class side, and rightly so. It's not just the input of Hamsik, Lavezzi and Cavani that has taken them to this position. The threat of Maggio down the right channel and the solid presence of Italy international Morgan De Sanctis in goal have exacerbated their quality this season and have made them a team to be feared. 

This, for me at least, is no flash in the pan. Their 6th placed finish last season was in my opinion something of an understatement. They remain a superior side to Sampdoria and Palermo, who finished above them last year, and in Cavani have added a weapon that can hurt any side in world football with 15 goals in just 21 games this season so far confirming that notion. With Lecce up next for the Azzurri will be confident of ending this year on 33 points. Ahead of Inter, Palermo, Samp, Fiorentina and Roma for certain. It's no small achievement and with the mentality of De Laurentis at the helm their is no reason for believing that it will stop there. It sure is an exciting time to be a Napoli fan, I would imagine.