Tuesday 31 May 2011

Calcio mercato: Conte in at Juve,

Barely has the ink dried on the current season and already the big Serie A clubs are looking to make moves for the next campaign. Antonio Conte takes the reigns at Juve. It's not a big surprise considering he has been linked to them for some time now, but one questions whether this is the right move for the Old Lady as they attempt to let another inexperienced manager try to take them back to the top again. 

To be honest though with no Champions League football on offer it was always going to be difficult to tempt anyone of significant substance into the Juve hotseat. That's not to say Conte won't do a good job, but once again Juve have gambled and this time cannot afford for it to end in disappointment as it has done for the last two years. Conte of course however is a Juve inside out, having played for them for 12 years and captained the great club. 

Conte has undoubted passion but didn't exactly inspire when in charge of Atalanta in Serie A last season, with the club being relegated in the end. However, he has led Bari and most recently Siena into Serie A. He's got a huge job on his hands now though and the pressure in Turin will be insurmountable before even a ball is kicked. With a new stadium and most likely a host of new straneri on show come August Conte will be up against it. Still, if he leads them back to the top his status will move even higher in Juve folk law.

Monday 30 May 2011

Coppa Italia: Inter victorious after valiant effort from Palermo

A packed Stadio Olimpico, with over 50,000 Palermo fans making the trip, saw Inter claim their 7th Coppa Italia win last night in Rome by 3-1. The score suggests that it was a comfortable affair for Inter but that was anything but the case. Palermo dominated the midfield play putting Inter under significant pressure throughout the match, especially the second half, but were sucker punched twice but classic counter attacking football that saw Samuel Eto'o score his 36th and 37th goals of the season, an incredible tally for the Lion of Cameroon. Palermo gave themselves half a chance with a later goal from Munoz, despite the fact that the corner it came from should never have been awarded. But the game was killed off late on when Munoz received his marching orders and then some superb work down the left wing from Goran Pandev fed Milito the easiest of finishes. Inter have been a team Palermo have struggled against in recent seasons. They've beaten Juve, Inter Milan and Roma on numerous occasions but against the Nerazzurri it has been a different story and that remained the case. 

The game looks set to be Fabrizio Miccoli's last game in the Palermo pink and mnay have suggested his next destination will be Lecce. Both he and coach Rossi were in tears after the game and one wonders where they will both be next season.

Thursday 26 May 2011

Calcio Mercato: Juve sign Pirlo and Ziegler

The 2010-2011 season has only just been laid to rest and already the mercato has kicked off, not that it should surprise any of us. Milan had decided not to offer Andrea Pirlo another contract therefore shedding themselves of one of footballs great play makers over recent years and as a consequence free up some space on their wage bill as well. Somewhat unsurprisingly he heads to Juventus, and having already played for Inter Milan as well he completes, or at least will do when he takes to the pitch, the set of playing for all three of Italy's biggest clubs. Joining him at the old lady will be Sampdoria's Reto Ziegler, the highly rated left back who will be filling a position in the Juve line up that has been somewhat problematic over the last few campaigns.  

Both these deals raise interesting consequences as to both any concrete move for Alberto Aquilani and Lyon's Michel Bastos. Of course there is the possibility that he could be played at left wing rather than left back but any tactical analysis of what to expect from Juve next season remains worthless until it is announced as to who will sit on the bench in the new Stadio Delle Alpi. One thing is for sure and that is given the last two abysmal campaigns for the Turin giants at lot more will be expected of them, not least because they have nothing but Serie A to focus on next season. 

Sunday 15 May 2011

Heartbreak in Genoa and Sampdoria are relegated to Serie B

Despite a spirited first half performance, in which Samp had a legitimate goal disallowed, Sampdoria fell 2-1 at home to Palermo and tasted the bitter feeling of being relegated into Serie B. Fabrizio Miccoli put Palermo ahead just before half time after Sampdoria had thrown everything but the kitchen sink at Palermo, but it was to no avail. It didn't take Samp long after the break to draw level however as Jonathon Biabiany headed home after some poor Palermo goal keeping. 

Still, in a game which meant everything to Samp and nothing to Palermo it was difficult to to tell which was the team who needed to display some urgency, as Samp ambled around doing little in the second half to give their fans any hope of getting out of this mess. And to make matters worse Lecce were winning at Bari, meaning that Samp had to win simply to keep pace with the Southern outfit. But the fail nail was driven in to Samp's Serie A status when Pinilla fired home with just a few minutes left on the clock to send Samp crashing to defeat. 

Despite this the Samp fans kept signing, kept being proud of their club despite the internal problems there have been at Samp this season. They've gone from 4th spot last season to 18th this campaign, and just like Palombo was at the end of the match today their fans will be inconsolable tonight. Come back soon Samp.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Cup final set as Palermo will take on holders Inter

Palermo made their way to the final in stunning fashion last night with a 2-1 win over Milan and they will have to beat holders Inter to get their hands on their first ever piece of silverware. Whilst their record against AC is great in recent seasons Palermo have struggled against Inter and they would definitely have preferred to take on Roma, who were defeated 2-1 on aggregate tonight by Inter, instead.

Indeed, an exquisite Samuel Eto'o finish gave Inter the lead tonight in the second half before Marco Boriello leveled the tie with a superb header in the games dying embers. Moments before the former Milan and Genoa forward had hit both posts with a strike that beat Julio Cesar as the drama cranked up to maximum. Diego Milito also had a valid penalty claim turned away as Juan took out the Argentine without getting near the ball on the 90 minute mark. In the end it did not matter as Inter went through and will play Palermo in the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday the 29th of May, a week after the domestic season ends.

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Serie A: Juve implode once more to virtually end their Champions League dream

Once again Juve let themselves down against a mid table side, and once again they blew a 2 goal lead to virtually end all hope of them securing 4th spot and a ticket to the Champions League qualifying round. Much like against Catania Juventus were in cruise control, two goals to the good and without any threat of a comeback, or so it seemed. However just as they did against Catania Juve conceded two quick goals to peg them back to 2-2, and after a moment of madness from Gigi Buffon they could have been 3-2 down. 

Indeed, nothing went right for Juventus last night as in the games dying embers Giorgio Chielini blew a chance to give Juve back the lead with a header than flew back off the post. One thing is for sure though, and that is that this team has a problem against the divisions lesser sides. Juve after all have, against the best seven Serie A sides, the best head to head record. Winning against Roma and Inter, beating Milan in the San Siro, beating Lazio home and away and hammering Udinese 4-0 in the Friuli. 

This form is in stark contrast to dismal defeats away at Lecce, at home to Parma and Bologna respectively. It is a perceived arrogance in their minds, are they not up for the smaller occasion? Perhaps, but this side is simply not the same as the one that dominated Italian football and European football for so long during the 90s and early part of the 00s. Back to back Champions League football finals are now long in the memory, but there is reason to be hopeful .

A new stadium beckons and big investment in the summer is promised, but money has been spent before. What is needed is a top notch manager to see this through. Del Neri can't be blamed for everything at Juve this season but perhaps it is time for a manager with big club experience comes in to take the reigns.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Serie A: Bresica back in Serie B

It seemed inevitable and after today's defeat at home to Catania, a side who had not even won away on the road this campaign, Brescia were condemned to Serie B having just picked up 31 points so far this season. They join Bari in the Cadetti and as things stand Sampdoria will not be far behind them after their heartbreaking last second derby defeat to Genoa tonight. Lecce moved themselves out of the relegation zone with a stunning win over Napoli while Catania, who sent Brescia down, are now mathematically safe with them being more than six points clear of Sampdoria as things stand. 

Parma too are safe. Sampdoria could catch them on points but Parma beat them in both games and therefore have a better head to head. Chievo also are on 42 points but there games with Sampdoria both ended 0-0. However Chievo only have a goal difference of minus 2, while Samp have a minus 13 goal difference. Therefore Chievo are virtually save short of a plethora of goals from Samp in their last two games, something that seems unlikely. With all this in mind it seems as if the final battle for Serie A survival will be between Samp and Lecce, though Cesena and Bologna are not quite safe just yet.

Saturday 7 May 2011

Milan Champions of Italy

Milan arrived in Rome tonight needing a point and that's exactly what they got as they played out a 0-0 draw in this tight, tense and emotional affair. Milan embodied all their defensive quality in this match up as Abbiati, Nesta and Silva shut down everything Roma had to offer as they themselves almost took the three points with a superb Robinho effort that cannoned off the post just after half time. Ibrahimovic returned, and played his part in holding up the ball and could have had a penalty, perhaps should have had a penalty when Doni brought him down when through on goal. It was not given, but in the end it mattered not as they got what they needed to win their 18th Scudetto, taking them level with Inter who also have been Italian Champions 18 times.

Both Milan giants still sit someway behind Juve's huge 27 title wins, and with their new stadium ready for next season they will also look to get back in on the act as well. But this is Milan, and Allegri's night, and credit must go to the coach for turning them into a defensive rock rather than a porous sponge that was so often the case under Leonardo.Congratulations Milan.

Elsewhere, both Atalanta and Siena returned to Serie A today after securing promotion from Serie B. They'll be lots of wine drunk in Italy tonight.