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Napoli End Atalanta Scudetto Charge | Lethal Romelu Lukaku | Juventus Wake Up | Kyle Walker - AC Milan | Andrea Cambiaso - Man City & Much More (Ep. 487)
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From Napoli ending Atalanta Scudetto charge thanks to lethal Romelu Lukaku, Mateo Retegui heroics not enough for Atalanta, Juventus take charge in Serie A top 4 race, AC Milan fall apart again defensively, Andrea Cambiaso - Man City rumours, Kyle Walker close to Milan, to Lautaro Martinez is BACK for Inter, Lazio and Roma both win as Fiorentina gift point to Torino, and preview of Italian teams in Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week, plus much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from Match Day 21 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season.
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Italian Football Podcast, the official podcast of Football Italia. I'm Carlo Garganese, joined as always by Nima Tavalli.
Serie A Match Reviews
00:00:14
Speaker
On today's show, we will review the Serie A weekend action with two massive matches. Napoli strike a big skeletal blow against Atalanta in a five-goal thriller in Bergamo. Juventus beat Milan 2-0 in the big match for fourth place. Lazio stay in fourth, though, as they thrash Verona.
00:00:31
Speaker
Roma continue their excellent form under clanniette Claudia Ranieri, while Inter ah win the evening game 3-1 against Empoli.
Juventus' Transfer Issues
00:00:41
Speaker
We'll also discuss the latest transfer news, a really big week ahead, um especially at Juventus, with Juventus fans furious with Cristiano Juntli over various things, including the delay of Randal Columwani's arrival, Andrea Cambiasso to Man City rumours, and also the struggles to get a centre back in. and Milan are closing in on Kyle Walker,
00:01:07
Speaker
ah Napoli are looking for a Cavica-Cavarete-Scalia replacement and are still trying for Alejandro Garnaccio. We'll also preview the European fixtures with the return of the Champions League and we have our usual Bajcio prem face and Serie A ass of the week and that is a cracker so just wait
Podcast Information and Support
00:01:25
Speaker
for that.
00:01:25
Speaker
And for all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend study action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. well If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q and A episode every Tuesday, we answer all of the questions from our patrons, plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction and much, much more.
00:01:48
Speaker
then go to patreon dot.com slash TIP and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. You can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. ah The link is in the description, same price in terms and for all of you that do listen on Spotify, Apple and ah iTunes podcasts would really appreciate it. Give us a five star rating, give us a follow and a like and we're on YouTube as well and all of that really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys.
00:02:12
Speaker
And also, you can now become a patron on YouTube via YouTube memberships. So just go to our YouTube channel on youtube dot.com slash at it's a foot pod for for more
Napoli vs Atalanta Analysis
00:02:27
Speaker
details. OK, let's get into today's show. So we'll start off with the big match at the top of the table. Atalanta against Napoli in Bergamo, a thriller, a thriller of a game, five goals. ah Napoli win.
00:02:42
Speaker
3-2 in a match which, well, to be honest with you, um it wasn't a five goal game based on the quality of the chances. and Actually, the XG for both teams was was like 0.8 odd, but the finishing in this game and the quality of the goals was absolutely insane. um it was ah It was a wonderful, wonderful match and to watch.
00:03:07
Speaker
um But it's a huge, huge win for for Napoli ah in the Scudetto race, and a huge, huge loss for Atalanta. Napoli potentially, we can say, knocking out a Scudetto rival, or very close to, and maybe making it a two-horse race ah in the in the in the race for the for for the title. um It was a huge win but for Napoli-Nima, especially in a week where they lose Kvaletskalia.
00:03:37
Speaker
Yeah, I think this is a two horse race now. Napoli do end Atalanta's title charge. um And i the way I view it is that Napoli showed in this game that they the way they handled it, the way they behaved, the way they were mentally prepared, the way they tactically were prepared, the way they reacted to events in the game, um the way they absorbed Atalanta's pressure. To me, that that they looked more than anyone else like a team that's going to win the title in May. They were very mature, very controlled, very composed. Whenever they were in trouble, they reacted accordingly. They didn't stress over it. um They had a game plan and they stuck to it.
00:04:35
Speaker
um And they systematically broke Atalanta down, um which is, again, this is what usually happens from January, February onwards, when Antonio Conte takes over. it's you know it's I can't remember who it was. I've been racking my brain trying to find, remember who it was. That's always used to say that Oh, yeah, it was Will Beckman, who I recorded the studio interpod with. He used to say, always used to say, I find this analogy so good about conte themes. He said, they're like a marching band. And well, from September to now, the instruments have been kind of, they've been warming up, they've been tuning in, and now they're hitting the notes.
00:05:19
Speaker
um And that that's when it looks like this. That's when you have um players all coming into their own, someone like Scott McTominay, who's been great all season. He's now being joined by others who are working well in this system, like Neresh and so on. And and it's it really looks ah more and more like a team that in terms of mental freshness,
00:05:49
Speaker
are very fresh, physical freshness, very fresh, that all that heavy pre-season work always is is paying dividends now as it always does with Conte. And they look a very, very controlled, calm and collected, even when when going a goal down from a wonderful goal from Rotegi.
00:06:13
Speaker
Um, they didn't stress, they systematically work themselves into it. And then they turn the game on its head. And then when Lukman equalizes and, and when the game is kind of tilting towards Atalanta's favor, they're structured enough defensively. There was a fantastic save by merit, um, on, on the chance,
Napoli's Scudetto Prospects
00:06:33
Speaker
but Napoli absorb it. And then they go and and and hit the winner. It was, it was.
00:06:40
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's a fair review of the game and where Napoli are at right now. um I think that also you know we're seeing some some tactically, we're certainly seeing what you call, you know, Conte's Calcho Verdicale, you know, the last games, we're seeing that more and more. We've seen a very, very clear system of play now. It's quite basic, to be honest with you, but it's straight into Lukaku's feet, direct as quickly as possible. And he plays the wall to players pushing forward, whether that's McTominay, whether that's the Politano and Neres off the wings, whether that's even Anguiso, who's getting forward quite a lot and he got two assists in this game. and You know, it's Lukaku,
00:07:24
Speaker
who started the season brilliantly, then kind of fell off badly and and and the we you know everybody was questioning, you know, is he even good enough for Napoli this season? He's stepped it up a lot himself in the
Inter's Financial and Performance Challenges
00:07:37
Speaker
last kind of month or so, and he's playing that role brilliantly. ah He played it brilliantly in this game as well, just receiving the ball back to goal.
00:07:46
Speaker
occupying the defend, including Hien, who's probably, who absolutely dominated him in the reverse fixture, I remember, and is is physically one of the few players that can actually handle him physically. um And you you know the way that he he held off Hien in this game, and the way he just holds off players, then lays it off, and then that just sets up the knuckly attacks from any area, really. And it's so, so important. and it's working so well for for Napoli. It means that even in games where the opposition are dominating possession, and which Atalanta did, and even when the opposition are on top, as Atalanta were,
Lazio's Team Development
00:08:22
Speaker
um they can still create chances because all they need to do is ah this Conte Calcevedta Calinta into Lukaku, then the players play often and then they create their chances and it's working really, really well. And um that is this I think is the biggest secret really to to their kind of improved offensive output ah recently, because they are starting to improve attacking ah with their attacking. and But also, you know, ah we're we're seeing like,
Serie A European Fixtures Preview
00:08:52
Speaker
I mean, Polotano is called a brilliant goal.
00:08:55
Speaker
um to to equalise. I mean, I think Kainasek, you probably should have stood up. I would put a little bit down, what a strike. um And then, you know, Nerez, he got an assist and a hockey assist, for you know, with but the but the two goals. Brilliant flip to set up Anguisa to cut it back for them, and Mctominay got up, that was brilliant. And then, of course, there's Mctominay. I mean, kind of like, what a sign in, you know, he's been and another big goal for the 2-1. It's his fifth goal, Serie A goal of the season. I've said it, I think he should be hitting double figures by the end of the season. I think he can hit double figures. um he and He's such a great finisher, McTominay. If he has a chance, he's he's one of the best midfield finishers in the game. So clinical. And he obviously has that great understanding of making those kind of Frank Lampard
00:09:46
Speaker
runs into the box and finding himself in the scoring positions like the one he scored from. So, you know, fantastic, absolutely fantastic. And then if I like particularly about Napoli in this game was again, the midfield, um the way that Lobotka, ah how they go, this
Controversy and Closing Remarks
00:10:04
Speaker
kind of it's like a triangle in midfield that just but that reverses ah depending on where the ball is and the way that they move in the sense that it's kind of sometimes it's a double pivot with Anguis and Lobotka.
00:10:15
Speaker
But then he becomes the tip of the the the triangle, Anguissard goes to the left, McTominay centralizes, i mean and they overload spaces ah to to create these these these new numerical advantages to play Lukaku with his back against the goal and create space for themselves.
00:10:35
Speaker
and saw themselves through, like exactly like, a like like which which is very textbook of Countess Calto Verticale, the verticalization of the ball and movement of the players on the string. It's very, very rigid. It's very, very system-based. And and it's it's something that when it works, it's it's um like you know but's a marching band. It's it's just... you know Every single player hits it hits every time run perfectly. the but like it just it's not it's It's such a safe in the sense that it's a difficult football to play because it takes a lot out of the players um to keep drumming like that. But it's a very safe, quote unquote, way of playing in the sense that you will always create chances this way and Conte understands that.
00:11:26
Speaker
um And given the fact that he he also creates not just chances, but he creates chances in the right positions. And that's why I think someone like McTominay has really, really benefited this season from ah is the sense that the chances he gets are all in the right position. They're in the they're they're in that like centrally towards the goal, which is where you want to have position goal scoring chances, because there's a higher chance of scoring them in terms of XG. There's nothing, nothing's left to chance here.
00:11:57
Speaker
um it's it's it's its it's um It's really, really interesting to see, and it's a different kind of Calcio vertical. It's not like he used to play at Inter because it's the Inter the iner one that he played, this transition from a 3-5-2 to a 4-2-4. Here he's already kind of playing a 4-2-3-1, so it's like it's much more fluid in the sense that you go from a you start in a 4-2 or 4-2-3-1, you go to a 3-4-2-1 and you overload and you create and it's it's it's very interesting to to to see the way that he does it um and he's tweaked, he really has updated, he he which i which he's been kind of criticized for in the past of not being, he's been too rigid but it's it's still his system, um it's still his way of playing football but there's a tweak to it and Romelu Lukaku
00:12:50
Speaker
You know, he's not, he's never going to be the player he was once more, but what he is very good at is playing his goal is with his back against the goal. Hold up play link up play. And he doesn't need to be the player in the box. He doesn't need to be that player. What he can do is he drifts out. He pulls the defenders out of position. He wins that challenge nine times out of 10. He plays it out to, to the midfield or the wide player, and then they overload.
00:13:17
Speaker
that in and of itself creates havoc in the in the defense. And if you also, for example, like for the winner, have defensive horror shows like you had from Isaki Yan, who just, when he's dragged out of position, is a liability, like with Anguisar's cross. I mean, doesn't close him, is anyone nowhere near where he should be to close him down?
00:13:38
Speaker
And then s Scalvini, who, I mean, I don't know what that was. I don't think he would have won the aerial challenge against Lukaku anyway, but that is an abysmal intervention by him. So, you know, you qui when you create these movements, when you create these overloads, you drag defenders out out of position and the risk of them making a mistake and for you to create that fraction of a second that you need to score, that increases. And Conte is that kind of a coach. He plays the odds.
00:14:07
Speaker
And that's why, despite maybe not creating as much, they scored three times. It was a very system-based performance. It was actually a very, very interesting game to watch. And for entertainment-wise, I think it was after Inter, you were probably the most entertaining game I've seen this season. I thought it was very, very interesting.
00:14:23
Speaker
Yeah, it was. um is' And like I said, big win for Napoli is, you know, one of the kind of black marks against them this season. And also one of the question marks on whether they can go on and win the Scudetto was their kind of bad record against the big teams. They hadn't beaten any of the top five before this match. They'd they'd lost at home to Atalanta, drawn within to drama. Juventus lost both games to Lazio in the league and the Coppery Talia. So, you know, then they go behind in this game and you're thinking, well, hmm,
00:14:51
Speaker
you know, can Napoli do it against the big team. So this was, this was very, very important for them. And of course they do have Juventus this weekend um as well. And so, so yeah, massive. um The attention now turns to obviously the transfer market with Napoli and it's going to be massive. The last fortnight of the window, it lasts kind of two weeks of the window and is going to be huge for for Napoli because obviously they do need to get a Kovar at Scadia replacement. um I think that,
00:15:20
Speaker
one of the weaknesses Napoli have this season is they really do lack depth. It's actually incredible, really, ah what that their lack of depth in their team, especially midfield. I mean, if you look be below Anguisa LaBoca and... Anguisa LaBoca and McTominay, their next subs are Billy Gilmour and Philip Billin. You know, it's pretty incredible, really, um and it and it shows kind of you know, well, of course, you can get away with a lack of depth more when you're only when you're only playing in in Serie A. Like if they had this squad in in in ah in a European season, they would struggle badly and it wouldn't be able to cope. But also kind of, you know, they're they're
00:16:05
Speaker
they're really like a couple of injuries away from really being in trouble. like they They lose one or two of those midfielders. They're really open. They're going to stop to start dropping points. So they are playing a little bit with fire there. And that kind of ah heightens the the need to bring in players. And obviously they need a clear at-scalier replacement. They're going in for and The latest reports are that they they are going to make an improved bid for Ganacho at Man United. They really do want him. I still think that's a difficult deal to do because I think that the gap between what Napoli are prepared to pay and what Man United are asking for is is too much. that Their latest bid I think is up to around about 50 million euros and the United are asking more 70 to 80. It's a huge gap. um I don't know. Unless Ganacho gets involved, I mean United are in crisis at the moment. they just
00:16:55
Speaker
at home to Bright and whether that plays into it. I don't know, but he's the target, otherwise they're going to have to look for alternatives. I think they need another sentiment fielder, and they are going for another sentiment fielder. According to Nicola Skira, not only will they sign a Kavara replacement, but they want a sentiment fielder and they want another defender. I mean, it's incredible. They've been playing with Juan Jesus for quite a while now. So Skira says they plan to sign all of these.
00:17:21
Speaker
um If they get the right players in these three positions, then that also strengthens them for the skedetto. Well, if not, then Pope Antonius Contius, the first of Naples, as I call him now, when he was recanting God and God's will after the game, ah demands it. I mean, just listen to this fantastic quote. This is content at his absolute peak.
00:17:45
Speaker
He was asked on Sky about, Dimazio asked him about Calatrelia, Machwicca, like replacements, blah, blah, blah. he He says, if the club asks, I'll share my opinion. We're not talking here about signing talented youngsters. Talented youngsters to do what? We're going to sign a youth team player? If you're going to do something, you have to do it right. Let's not make people laugh. Things must go the way God commands. Otherwise we remain as we are.
00:18:19
Speaker
He's invoking higher power, he's invoking God and I mean you know that Conte is like very religious, he's very Catholic and you know he he he this is when he's in this mode, expect fireworks if he doesn't get what he wants.
00:18:33
Speaker
like he will burn everything down if he doesn't get what he wants. That is a clear message to everyone that needed to hear it as to what he expects from now until the end of the window. Either get me what I want or shut up and let me work. And if you don't let me work, if you don't get me what I want, I'm going to be very, very cranky at the end of the season if we don't win the Serie A.
00:18:59
Speaker
Yeah. like that is that is a i think i think I think it's fair to be honest, because like I said, I don'tly people don't think people realise how but the depth and attack, there's ah there's a few more options in attack, although they've now obviously lost Clara, but they still at least have the likes of Simeone and Raspadori, who is also could potentially could leave, it's not impossible ah in in January. So they i mean they do have a few more options in the attack, but the midfield and the defence, I mean, the options that they've got, I mean, theyre I want to say they're lucky that they haven't got any injuries, um but I guess you know when you play once a week, generally is it's a lot easier to keep players fit, so that's kind of part of it, but they they do need players. If they want to, they've put themselves, Conte's put Napoli in a position really to challenge for the Scoredese now, and if they don't go out and buy the players they should buy,
00:19:48
Speaker
ah They've really have blown that opportunity because because they do need players. There's no doubt about it. um okay Let's move on let's talk on a talk about this from the Atalanta point of view. I think we've both said you know title chance is probably over. There's seven behind Napoli and that will be the same behind Inter if Inter win the the game in hand um as well.
00:20:10
Speaker
and you know the bad form, they've they hit bad form at the wrong time, you know four without a win in Serie A and they've not won in 2025 because obviously they lost a supercopper as well um and I think we've probably seen in this bad run kind of what Atalanta are lacking in terms of the Scudetto. The defending really has has let them down, it's really throughout this great Gasparini reign and that team has changed and he's read
00:20:41
Speaker
ah redeveloped it so many times. It's always been the one constant throughout is that they've never had personnel-wise, they've never had a Scudetto winning defence or even close to it. they've always been ah They've always had at least one cog in that defence that's just not, shouldn't be in a team challenging for the Scudetto. And, you know, they concede too many goals. I mean, 24 goals conceded in 21 Serie A games is, you're not going to win the Scudetto conceding that many, 10 more than Napoli, which kind of, I guess, in reference to this game, that kind of shows the difference really with these these two teams, doesn't it? that you know they
00:21:19
Speaker
They can't defend like Napoli or like a Scudetto team. And and and yeah, they're they're struggling defense because Cusinu's out for three months. Scalvini had a really bad game um in this match. he He was caught out badly on the on the third goal. And all the goals came from his side as well. So he he really, really struggled.
00:21:41
Speaker
um I think Atalanta needs to sign a centre back in in January, but the defending in general, yeah, is is kind of what's probably, um yeah, it's it's stopping the bigger picture terms the bigger picture, it's what's holding Atalanta back. Yeah, I mean, like I said about him and Scallowing you for that last goal, I just, I don't want to repeat myself. it's it It's a little bit like that, I do think, and we have talked about that. you know my My issue with them has not been depth and attack. I think they are phenomenal depth and attack.
00:22:12
Speaker
My issue is that behind Edderson and behind ah there's not being there's not enough depth, and above all, that that defense is not good enough. and Even though we see them do play defensively solid at times, um and they can do in one-off games, defend solidly,
00:22:34
Speaker
There's still this, there there is, you know, over time, the the lack of quality in individual quality shows itself. And I think we saw that against Napoli, especially from defensively, from Hien, who when he's dragged out of position is just not quick enough. He's too reactive and he gives too much space and you can't do that to someone like Anguisa and Skalvini. Okay, he he had a brain fart but all throughout the game he did not he was just not of the standard. um the The others, Jim Citi and I don't know the rest of them, they're just not good enough and I think
00:23:13
Speaker
it's it's it's probably that is what they need to work on if they can keep all their players in the summer again if they can keep all players and it and I think barring Lukman Lukman, which is not just just but barring Lukman I think they they have a good chance to keep ah most of their players unless somebody comes in and breaks the bank for Marcus Turan or Wlawicz or like for for stupid money, then I think where Ritegi could be, could be, could be in. I think Edison is the other one that's at risk because there's so much interest. Oh, Edison is just. Yeah, e Edison is the big risk. But yeah, I mean, I hear your point. I think that's soft underbelly in defence and but it's always been the lack of individual quality. I mean, even when they were like seconds away from the Champions League semi-final.
00:24:03
Speaker
and probably the Champions League final. I mean, they were doing that with defenders like Palomino, Jim City. I mean, it's unbelievable, you know, even though they had all those special players in front of them like Illichic, I know he wasn't playing in that game, but Illichic and...
00:24:17
Speaker
Papu Gomez and and you know those incredible wing backs that they had, um you know they still had Palomino and Jim Sitzi in defence. Which is kind of weird because they should be able to scout better defenders. like it's it's it's It's a strange one, but then again... It's like they never they only ever want to scout the No, I think it's about to do with Gasperini's system as well. I mean, he likes to play man-man across the pitch, and the players that he signs works on that. But the defenders that he gets, I still think that you should be able to get better defenders, regardless. That's what I mean. That's exactly what I mean. It's almost like the focus doesn't seem to be on finding these special defenders. It seems to be more on midfield than attack. But yeah, I mean, yeah, it's unfortunate. And they just need to get back on track.
00:25:08
Speaker
Um, you know, they're in a solid position for top four, but they have to be a little bit careful because, you know, six points, um, from, from Juventus. I mean, it's not, it's not, you know, they just have to be a bit careful. Um, but they should be fine. They should be mindful. give in mind before Yeah. I mean, the positives are that retigues back. Yeah. I was just going to go. I mean, that what a goal that goal, yeah that goal is absolutely something that's not even, I'm in fact, I'll tell you what it is. The XG for that chance is 0.07.
00:25:37
Speaker
and the way that he turns and rifles that left foot, ah that's Batistuta, that's a Batistuta like goal. Vieri Batistuta, this kind of thing where you get the ball you get the ball with the back against the goal, you make your own room space by power and quickness, and then that finish, which is a rifle. it's ah That is a world-class goal by ah by a top center forward. um And he was very lively throughout. And I thought that,
00:26:07
Speaker
For me, that goal is the difference between Rotegi this season and on and every other season we've seen him. The fact that he his movement, his back his his play with his back against the goal, his ability to create his own space,
00:26:23
Speaker
um and And to also drag ah put others into into position as well, because if you look at that movement, when he grabs the ball, he kind of immediately moves left and he drags two players with him, which opens up space centrally for the rebound as well, if that were to come through. I mean, that is stuff he didn't used to do before, ah that Gasparini has developed him. And as far as I'm concerned for Italy, there is no discussion about who starts, it is Moyzkin and Retegi together. It's as simple as that. Right now, you cannot ignore them. Valeti has to make it work between them. like He has to somehow make it work. Right now, Moyzkin and Retegi are scoring 25 goals between them in Serie A.
00:27:06
Speaker
alone and it's just... and Yeah, no, I mean I thought Retsugi's first half especially was was was almost perfect, like even his link-up play. um Which has been outstanding, it's never been like this. I mean he really is a player taking the next step. and He's had a great week and he scored the equaliser against Juventus with another kind of real opportunistic finish, a great finish with his head.
00:27:28
Speaker
And yeah, his top score is Serie A and I think that that injury has actually done him good. Yeah, he rested. Because he's given him a chance to rest. He he was overplayed at the start of the season and he had a bad run for like a month or so, month and a half, um where he he didn't look he didn't look right. um and then And then he had the injury and now he looks back and he looks fresh and fit.
00:27:50
Speaker
um so So he was great. I mean, Natalanta are out of the Scudetto race, but the Capo Canoneira race is very much on between him him and Seram. And let's not count out Mois Ken. I mean, he's not that far behind. No, no, that's going to be an exciting race. I do want to give a shout out for Lukerman for his piece of skill, for the for his goal. The flick around Di Lorenzo was absolutely gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. He got a bit lucky after that. it was kind of bad It was actually bad defending for Napoli. We we should we should point that out. That wasn't good defending for that goal. Di Lorenzo sold himself, although it was an amazing bit of skill. And then they didn't defend it very well after that. They kind of gave it back to him and then he the shot was a bit lucky, took a deflection through the legs and went into the corner. But his touch his first touch, like this guy, Lukman's first touch is just unbelievable. He's one of the best first touches in the game.
00:28:43
Speaker
The thing that I find so impressive with Adamola Lukman is for me, when i when a player when i when I look at a player and I see that he's improved and taken the next step, one of the things I look at is how high is his lowest level? Well, Adamola Lukman had a horrible first half and he had a pretty crap game overall, but he still manages to to do do important things like that goal and be decisive. and that is That's how you know a player has taken this leap in quality, when even when they're having a shit day, they make assists and goals. When they take that leap in quality and and are proven to be important for their teams, even when they're having a bad day. And that's what Lukman is now. I think Lukman is, he's at that level where even when things aren't working, he's going to get a goal in this or an assist or both.
00:29:37
Speaker
even in a bad game where his overall play isn't clicking. And that's that's that's so impressive to see. And it's another another player who was discarded um by you know in in England in the Premier League, who came to Gasparini and Gasparini's rehab, and made him into a fantastic world Absolutely. Let's move on to Juventus in Milan. It was the other massive game of the the weekend. This one for the race for the top four. um And another huge, ah huge result. Juventus win, win two nil, um which it was, it was a must win game four events ah um in for in the race for the top four. um And, and this was a ah really yeah positive, positive performance from Juventus. The first half
00:30:21
Speaker
was so, so, Juventus controlled the game, but actually Milan had the better chances, they had the big chances in the first half. But the second half, especially the first half of the second half, if that makes sense, first 20 minutes, 25 minutes of the of the of the second half, Juventus just blew Milan away with their with their desire, with their intensity, with their pressing, forcing Milan into mistake, turning it over,
00:30:51
Speaker
in the Milan half and and then and then making them pay, ah creating chances. um And it was, ah yeah, performances, a very positive performance for Juventus and a very positive week because the performances against Atalanta and Milan um were were the kind of performances that that event we need to see more of in Juventus. And the first kind of 20, 25 minutes, the second half was was was really the Juventus that that motta we need to see from Thiago and Mata now for the rest of the season. and But what I think what separated
00:31:27
Speaker
Juventus and Milan most in this game, this is something that Sergio Conseil said at the end of the game was Juventus just seemed to want this more than Milan um and Milan were too passive at the start of the second half and Juventus, they just wanted it. They had more desire, they had more intensity and and that's really what won the game, more so than quality, if I can be honest, because you know the foot of the the team the the strike force of Juventus in this game. I mean, with all due respect, umang the at the start after the Yildis came off injured, at the start of the second half, Umbangula, Timothy Weyer, and Nico Gonzalez playing out of position as a false nine. I mean, on paper, I mean, that's that's it's not the, you know, well, again, with all due respect, this is that's not a Juventus attack at all. It's way off what a Juventus attack should be. but
00:32:22
Speaker
You know, they they wanted it more than Milan and and they and that's what I think was the difference really. Yeah, look, I think I think i agree with that. I think the second half was a Juva that looked like it had more edge, more bite.
00:32:37
Speaker
Um, they were certainly helped by a woeful Milan defending for the second goal. Um, uh, definitely then, but regardless, it was a, it was a UVA that felt in the second half that they played with more purpose in the final third, with more, with a clear identity. And they had more profundita depth. They had, they, though they were sharper. Um, and, and that's why I think that that proved to be decisive. Um,
00:33:05
Speaker
The first half felt like a little bit like, you know, two boxes, just, you know, the first three rounds in a game, in a match where they don't really do anything. They just spar. Do you know what I mean? Um, but the second half, it felt like Juventus went for the knockout and, and, and, and they managed to do that because Milan made so many individual errors and, and were unbalanced, surprisingly so.
00:33:29
Speaker
Um, I'd say, uh, I think Concet São may have misread this game, um, in, in how he might want to handle it. But, um, I thought Juva just looked more.
00:33:41
Speaker
sharper more controlled more and the more the game went on the the more that kind of increased and and they didn't they they they just followed their game plan it was as if Juventus went a little bit back to basics they they didn't over complicate things in the second half and in in attack and i think that's what kind of won it for them yeah no i think listen and i think that there was a lot of well first of all to On Mota, I agree. The Mota definitely outcoached Conce Sal in this game. um And um this was this was this was a really a tactical victory for Mota. There was lots of yeah lots of like little details in this game that made the difference, which were the influence of Mota can be seen in some of the positional play. I'll give you an example, um which has been all over social media.
00:34:35
Speaker
um in the second goal, um when Umbangula wins the ball, um and then it comes to Taran, and Taran is striding forward, and Nico Gonzalez just basically body but puts his body in the in the way between Forfana, who's trying to get back, to to to get it back off Taran and the ball, and basically blocks Forfana.
00:35:03
Speaker
and and and then that allows Turan to basically get away unchallenged and then and then the pass and then then way of scores. Now that's that's an example, like Nico Gonzalez in this game was very kind of unheralded, underrated in this game, like his tactical positions he was taking up in dropping deep, kind of dragging the Milan centre backs away and that was certainly the influence of of Tiago Motta. ah Nico Gonzalez was very, very intelligent in this game with his off the ball, um his his movement off the ball, dragging players away and creating those spaces um that that usually haven't been there for Juventus this season. um And that that's that's on Motta, that is. And it's also on kind of the Milan defenders and Conse Sal for kind of falling for it.
00:35:53
Speaker
But so that's Mota. So I do have to praise Mota. Also, obviously, you know, his substitution of weir at half time. I know it was enforced because there was an injury for Yielders. But, you know, that really did also change the game. I did that that that kind of aggression and and and directness. Directness, much more direct struggle.
00:36:13
Speaker
ah centrally, because he's he's much more of a player who just runs forward, doesn't he? Yeah, he unsettled Milan. He unsettled them, no no doubt about it. Milan defenders don't like to defend. and that sounds we'll come to ah We'll come to Milan. We'll come to Milan. I don't want to start on Milan now, but yeah, he he he unsettled Milan. um i have I have to praise a few players. Umbangula, for starters. i mean I mean, what a surprise success he has been this season. At the start of the season, he started, that and he scored, didn't he, in the first game, because, I mean, he was an unknown completely, um because Juventus were completely decimated at the start in attack. They hadn't even completed their transfer market because of Jinsley, and he had to play in that first game.
00:36:54
Speaker
and he scored against Cuomo, I'll be honest, and I think most people agree, I thought it was just a flash. I thought that you know this has come from desperation, he's played well, he's he's just fitted kind of the motto, because motto is kind of a system coach in that sense. I didn't I very much doubted that he could be a UVA level player. And maybe he he still isn't, I don't know. But he's really, I mean the last month or so, he's been really, really good. And and you know what, technically, like he's very, very good technically and tactically, the way that he connects with his teammates, like he plays the 1-2s, he comes off the off the wing.
00:37:29
Speaker
He's good in tight space. He's got really good ball control. ah He seems to carry out you know what Motta wants from him. um And he's been a really surprise success. and and And it's a great it's a great story. and We'll see whether, ultimately, whether he's going to be good enough for Juventus. But you he's been really good ah recently. He's probably been Juventus' most cause consistent over the last month because he's been consistently kind of, you know, you know what you're going to get from him. and And that is again, you know, talking about Motta and obviously, you know, how he hasn't succeeded. As you said, that has been one of his his success stories this season. He has kind of developed these next gen players like Mbangoolah and Savona in particular. like And Yildiz as well. I mean, but it's like, but but what I like about Mbangoolah is this, this he he makes these intelligent runs.
00:38:18
Speaker
He plays well beyond his his his years in the sense that he always makes his decision making is very, very spot on. um And the fact that he knows when to invert, he knows when to make those runs deep, he knows when to centralize, he knows when to go wide. And that in and of itself wreaks havoc in the opposition's defense. um he's very He's a very well schooled footballer in the sense that... I agree completely.
00:38:42
Speaker
yeah I agree with that and I think that that also helps Juventus to be a little bit more unpredictable because one of the biggest criticisms this season is the Juventus have been generally so sterile, so predictable when when it gets into the final third. Players almost, which is crazy for Motta,
00:38:59
Speaker
but players just sticking rigidly to the position. The kind of criticisms that I've had for Allegri, players just sticking on their positions. and and and But, you know, the last week, I hope, <unk> you've had to turn the corner, because we saw against Atalanta, even more so against Atalanta especially, but though those three, the three attackers, just, or the three, let's say, that the outside attackers and and the central striker, kind of, well i the sorry, and the central trequartista, rather,
00:39:28
Speaker
and But even Nico, because he was like I said before, he but he was coming deep as well. All switching positions, all moving around. And Banguna does that really well. He comes off the left, but he moves over to the centre, to the right, like you said, inverts. But, you know, Weyer was doing it like he scored his goal.
00:39:42
Speaker
He's playing on the right, but he scored his goal from the left. And you know the player's moving around. And that just makes things a little bit more unpredictable. It drags defenders out of position a little bit more. And I think that's why Juventus have looked better also offensively in these last two games. Also, it's because they're playing against two teams who open up more. So we'll see.
00:40:03
Speaker
you know Juventus how they will play against teams that the the the smaller teams who are just going to sit back and defend and whether the same problems will possess that will be another test and maybe it'll be more difficult but you know I hope Juventus have turned the corner there and Motta is kind of you know ah tactically you know that they are a little bit more um a little bit more complete in that sense. But yeah, Manguna was a really good way, it was good. I thought coop miners, this is more of the coop miners we want to see. More so, he was just more involved. Like, he had many, many more touches that he usually gets. He had many more shots, he had four shots in this game. Should have scored one, bad miss. But he was, you know, passing, he was, he was just involved. A bit more lively. And I think the reason for that is that he doesn't have this statue in front of him in
00:40:52
Speaker
from Serbia named Dusan Blavic because you have when you have Nico Gonzalez playing as a false nine um when you have players who who who are actually who move and are mobile and know how to pass and link up, then he also becomes much more useful. um and and And I think that's part of what it was, ah mainly. ah But I have to say, for me, Weston McKinney, this was, again, a fantastic performance by him. He continues to just be so useful.
00:41:26
Speaker
um I think, honestly, this season, I think he's been one of you of his most consistent performers. um And I think there is a role for him at U of S. You know, what I think he did. He was really, really good. He said he had a really, really good week. He had did a really good job on on on on Liao.
00:41:44
Speaker
Although he did get caught out on by Théo on one of the big chances, on the on the big Liao chance, when Di Gregorio made the great save. But he one-on-one against Liao, really, really good, and second half, Liao did absolutely nothing. um I think, and I've always said this, I would i think McKinney's best position is full-back.
00:42:07
Speaker
i think it will Let me put it this way, I think his best qualities suit playing at full back. I know he's been playing there, but i would try and I would keep him there, even if it's just as a backup. or you know because he doesn't My issue with him, he doesn't have the technique and the passing and the short game and the ability on the ball.
00:42:28
Speaker
to plays ah a play as ah a central midfielder in ah in it for a top club. That's always been my issue with him. He's just not he's just not suitable for that, especially not in a moderate. But at fullback, at fullback, well, he's good at one-on-ones. He is good on one-on-ones. He has plays running at him. Generally, he he he does pretty well. like It's not easy to beat him on a one-on-one because you know he can run, he has pace. He's actually quite quick off the mark in the first few meters. He's tenacious.
00:42:54
Speaker
He's strong, he's strong physically, he's a ball, isn't he really? He can get up and down, he's got the stamina. um Okay, yes, on the ball, some of his, you know, he's not the best, but it's, you know, I think as a fullback, and he played right back in this game, which again was again another, something else after I have to praise Motifor, he switched.
00:43:15
Speaker
Mckenney from left back to right back put Cambiaso at left back because he he knew that Mckenney one-on-one against Liar would do a better job than Cambiaso, who's a little bit more kind of, you know, standoffish and and and laid back and with his concentration and everything. and And that was the right choice by Monta. But I would i think Mckenney as a fullback, um I think that's his future. um And, you know, I don't mind having Mckenney around as a fullback at Juventus. I don't want him as is ah as a sentiment fielder, though.
00:43:46
Speaker
No, I think he's he he's he but he's just useful when he plays and because of his dynamism and tenacity and also because of the fact that he's very strong. Like he's a guy who you don't, he's he's a pain in the butt to get around and if you have him marking you, he annoys you um and he sticks on you. I think he's a useful, serviceable player and I think he's found his role at you. I think this season he's been and really, really good.
00:44:13
Speaker
um and And yeah, no, look, the thing is when you have such a player that is such a utility man that can function in many different roles and and can do so, you know, that that's important for a squad to have. um It creates a kind of sense of so security. and and and And that's what you even need at this point, I think, this US squad.
00:44:33
Speaker
Yeah, no, absolutely. um Let's, let's talk about Milan and and then we'll come onto the transfer market and for both teams. so um So yeah, as I said, with Juventus, I thought that first half, I actually thought Milan were pretty good in terms of an away performance. You know, the Juventus were dominating possession. I think they had like some like 68% possession in the first half Juventus, but Milan were the more dangerous team. They created the bigger chances.
00:45:00
Speaker
and they had two at least two big chances for Liao and Teo, which which probably should have scored. um And Juventus were forced to to do to do some you know to do some really important blocks. Kaluli did a couple of them. mate I should praise Kaluli, by the way. he He was fantastic. And I should have praised Locatelli and Turan as well. I thought they were really good. But yeah, yeah coming on to Milan, um I thought first half they actually did all right. um As an away performance for the second half, they they they were shocking. They were absolutely shocking. at like As I said, that first 20 to 25 minutes from from Milan was unacceptable. Yes, Juventus were really good. They were really intense.
00:45:39
Speaker
But the way that Milan folded, um that wasn't a con se cell Milan at all. That was that was a team that looked really just really feeble and fragile and they just couldn't stand up to Juventus. They just weren't up for the fight. They didn't want it, which con se cell said at the game. um They didn't have the desire. and They just folded like a pack of cards. It was it was it was bad.
00:46:09
Speaker
and the defending as well, like you said before. Look, good this is something and we need to talk about because I have a broader point I want to make. um
00:46:18
Speaker
Tomori Pavlovic, look, this is an issue now. It's been going on for many a season ah with with Tomori, especially. He has no, he cannot defend. He doesn't know how to defend.
00:46:35
Speaker
And the decision making of him to let Vial pass him the way that he does, that is his corner. Yes, I do think the ball is so close to Mignon. I think Mignon should be able to react to it, a goalkeeper. of terrible yeah It's not. ah But I don't, I wouldn't blame, I think the the the majority of that goal blame goes on Tomori. What is he doing?
00:47:00
Speaker
It was awful and it keeps happening over and over again. Milan need to sign central defenders that know how to defend. Unless they want to play gabia in tiao. Like ciao, malik ciao.
00:47:12
Speaker
which can work in a constitutional system, but isn't ideal. and it's And then I was talking to a friend who's a Milan fan and he was like, well, Milan needed lots of things. Milan need to buy a midfield, Milan need to but have depth of midfield, Milan need to buy ah strikers, Milan need to buy defense. And I'm like, yeah, you're absolutely right. And that is what, when was Maldini sacked a year and a half ago? And year and a half into the project, you've had three coaches,
00:47:41
Speaker
and your list of shit to do is longer than Santa's Christmas list, that is on you. You failed as ah as a director and owner at that at that point. When year and a half into your new project, the the things you need to do to fix the problems at the club is longer than it was when you took over well yeah it can't be every coach's fault if you if they all can't defend but i mean especially consul sal who but it's it's not it thought so was one of the best defenses around you know but it's not just one thing it is many things well listen i think with the defense i think it comes down to two things it comes down number one something that i've been saying for for a long time now
00:48:21
Speaker
is milla Milan don't defend as a team, as a unit. If we if we take it the defence, but also the whole team, because you defend as a team, it's not just down to your defence. Now, the first two goals, they're a gaping holes. Obviously, the final player in the in the in in the goal is, from Milan's point of view, is, well, before Manon, is Tomori.
00:48:45
Speaker
and But to to get to that stage, Tomori is one-on-one. In acres of space, it's a one-on-one between Weyer and Tomori, which you should never have got to that stage. That's that's a failure.
00:48:58
Speaker
from as Milan as a unit, defensive unit, and as ah as a team for it to get to that stage. Now, once it gets to that stage, I thought Tamoori's defending was terrible. Liao, keep calling him Liao now. Weyers didn't really do much. you know He just kind of moved the ball onto his left and Tamoori, it was too easy.
00:49:19
Speaker
Like it's too easy to create the space for his left foot shot and then once he had the shot i thought it's terrible from menu on personally but but anyway but it got to that stage it got to that stage through for fauna.
00:49:31
Speaker
first of all, in midfield, just losing such an easy ball to Mbangoula. And then there's that problem of the gaping hole in front of the defence, in front of the defence, between the defence and the midfield, which I've talked about. Milan just don't have a player that plugs that hole. They just, the terrain gets to run, or the the ball gets played through that corridor. There's no no one there. That's always, that's been Milan's problem for such a long time. They need to sign a defence midfielder. That's, you know, someone like Richie.
00:49:56
Speaker
or someone someone that can actually plug that hole. So there's that problem there. Then you have the defensive unit, which which just just isn't a unit. It hasn't been. um And you Milan seem to lack team defenders. I think Gabbia is probably the only one. and Maybe Emerson. I think Ciao as well. I think Ciao and Emerson are awesome. Even Ciao. Ciao has brain farts. He He he doesn't he does. he I don't think so, no. I think the only one that like actually holds their position out of the centre-backs is Gabbier and then Asfateo Hernandez. I mean, the the guy cannot defend. I mean, before, he got very lucky before the first goal. Did you see how he just got tackled in his own area? um Was it by coupe miners? And then coupe miners had the, coupe miners should have scored. That was a bad miss.
00:50:42
Speaker
And that would have been all on Teo Hernandez. He would have got crucified for that, but he got away with that one. I mean, these are these are players that, I mean, they're just not team defenders. but That's exactly what I wanted to say. I think with Teo, I think he because of the fact that Milan don't can't defend as a team, his deficiencies defensively get magnified.
00:51:07
Speaker
um Because if you if you remember when, under Pioli, when they actually knew how to defend as a team, when they played Liao Te Tiao in Shalla, then you didn't see that, because you had a structure in place that covered for that when they won the Scoredetto. The problem, of course, is that you can't play, that's not a sustainable way of playing.
00:51:28
Speaker
the But it is a problem because I don't think that they've got the players defensively. I would focus on defenders. If if if you can cash in on Ficayo Tomori, I would cash in on Ficayo Tomori. It doesn't seem like Conseco believes in Pavlovic too much.
00:51:49
Speaker
um which is fair enough. I mean, every coach has their you know has their preferred players and and and how they one to want to play. um But regardless, they need to have star two starting defenders who know how to function in in a in a team, and they need to find a balance in midfield to help help them to to help the team out. Right now,
00:52:16
Speaker
I think they lack the players and and and trying to bring in those kind of defensive players, and um including that defensive midfielder, which they're crying out for, hold holding midfielder, um I think, is especially in mid-season, it would be difficult. so it's go ah conse sell said If this in is a write-off, I think they should just focus on on on getting going as far as possible in the Champions League.
00:52:36
Speaker
and the Copitalia, and try to fix it. I have faith in consensus. I wouldn't call it a write-off, but they're in a difficult position. They've got a lot of work to do for the top four. There are only three points behind Juventus if they win their game in hand. Juventus have got Napoli this weekend, which You know, it's going to be, you know, you'd favour Napoli obviously at home. So there are eight points behind that. But they're eight points behind that, but they have a gaming hand there. You know, you know, the question on who gets the top four, I mean, is an interesting one. I mean, it's obviously advantage Juventus over Milan. But as I said, you know, Milan
00:53:16
Speaker
can easily recruit that, um but Lazio are dangerous um and they've opened up a gap there. So I think the rest of the transfer window is going to be key for both Juventus and for Milan. um you know Milan will come onto Card Walker in a minute. Are they going to bring him in? But like you said, they they probably need other players um as well.
00:53:39
Speaker
And that's exactly an indictment on this management, who off the pitch, I think Jerry Cardinale and Redbird do fantastic things. I agree with them on a lot of things. in Modernization, marketing, growth, that's brilliant. But on the pitch, you're one in a year one and a half years into your project post-Maldini, and the shopping list of things that need to be done is longer than Santa's Christmas list. This is unacceptable behavior. You have clearly, clearly hired people that don't know what they're doing. You you can think what you want about Maldini and Massara, but they were far more competent than this lot. the and I agree with you. The big the bigger picture, I'm totally in agreement with you. what The only thing I would say, just you know to put the other side, Milan were decimated by injuries in this game. i mean Maratta was out, Poulisic was out, Tiau was out, but more more importantly, the number of bench players
00:54:29
Speaker
who were out that could have come in. I mean, have a look at Milan's bench for this game. It's horrific. they they They had no one to come on, basically, to to to come on and and change the game or to improve them. You know, that they that they bring up the players they're going to bring on in a game like this are going to weaken the team. And that's a position that Juventus have found themselves in for for for quite a lot of this season as well, in that they've only had like a couple of outfield players and and yeah they can't strengthen the team.
00:54:56
Speaker
That does play a role, um a big, big role. So, you know, I wouldn't pat over panic with Milan. I mean, I think Concy Sells made a good start. Obviously beat Juventus and Inter in the Super Cup and won. He won one and drew one before this game. And the and the draw that he had, Milan had an XG of something like three or something in that game. So they should have had two wins and from two in Serie A come into this game. and But they've had a bad game here.
00:55:22
Speaker
they've had a bad game um so you know i think when they get their injured players back they'll be a much better team they're not gonna play you've entered so why every single week. I wouldn't over panic, but in terms of the overall picture, like you're saying, the bigger picture and where Milan should be, because Milan shouldn't be fighting, sweating to get into the top four, they shouldn't be, that's a failure. So in terms of the bigger picture, you're 100% in agreement with you, it's not good enough. And the the gaps that are in the team are a representation of the failure of the of the management. So I think that's my kind of nuanced, to use a word I hate, ah take on
00:55:59
Speaker
to take on on things. and But so yeah, not good not good enough, not good enough for for Milan at all. And I just want to say one other thing about Milan, and just before we talk about Walker, man, you're on.
00:56:11
Speaker
Manion's a really strange one this season, especially you using it because he goes from in the same game, making magnificent saves to save Milan, well-class saves like he did last week, to then making just complete blunders later on the game later on in the same game and costing him. It's very weird how inconsistent he's been within the same matches. this that's that's been like It's been like this for years now since the scoretto and the injury. I mean, he he's done it. this is this is This is unfortunately this streak of inconsistency that he shows is is not new. And one thing, though, i were I'm not too concerned about him, is that I think that he's you know he's trying to address it. I think that the second Juve goal shows that he he knows he's got a problem in the near post, so he tries to overcompensate for it. And if he had an actual competent defender, that shot doesn't go near the in the far post. It's blocked by the defender.
00:57:08
Speaker
But he will look at that and feel that, OK, I need to also, yes, I need to cover my near post, but I can't just let go of the far part. I mean, those are things that I think he will fix in training. But yeah, this has been a long, you know, this has been a long time and issue since the school that he makes Mirac. He performs miracles and then goes out and makes the the most howlers in all in one same game. and and And I think that's also something that causes insecurities. It doesn't exactly help Milan either. But I'm not too worried. I think he should be the captain. I think the decision to I think they should finally just rip that band-aid off. I don't think Teo should be the captain. I think Mike Mignon should be the captain. I think he's a leader. um I think he's someone they should build around.
00:57:54
Speaker
um And. I think he should permanently be the captain and I think we should build around him as a leadership you know as as as a leader in the dressing room and and just believe in him because I think that will pay off in the long run. I think Manon's positives more than outweigh his negatives right now. And if if if yeah and I think he will he will be able to dress them. I really, really think so. But it's not exactly where Milan are right now. It's not good to see to have your goalkeeper do this time and time and time again.
00:58:25
Speaker
but I'm not too worried. i'm reading With Mignon I'm not too worried. Let's talk about Kyle Walker. um So that deal is is is almost certainly going to be done now. um He's Kyle Walker from Manchester City. He asked to leave City and just over a week ago um and he has agreed terms with Milan and Manchester City are now in in pretty much advanced talks over over how the deal is going to be done. Is it going to be a six month loan with an obligation to buy or an option to buy? um
00:59:03
Speaker
but it's a deal that's it's going to be done. Kyle Walker is going to join Milan and it's an interesting one really for Milan because they do need defenders as we've discussed in this show. um They need defenders, but is he the is he the right man? I mean, he's he's he's had a bad season. Obviously like legendary player for me in the last decade, he's been been consistently one of the best right backs in world football, one of the fastest defenders in the game, ah one of the few players that's takes out killing Mbappe every time he plays against him. he's's He's been a fantastic player, from a defensive point of view, he's been a fantastic player. But this season he's been a bit of a disaster. He's looked like he's started to show his age. I know a lot of the ah Man City players have been in the in the same boat there.
00:59:52
Speaker
and And it's not just him, but he he really has struggled. In fact, even earlier back in 2024, he didn't have a very good euros. He struggled at the euros as well. And he you know even find himself out of position and he's never been the best going forward. So the question is, are Milan signing a player that's really past his best or way past his best, even based on this season's performance, or are they signing someone who, you know, will still be able to do it in Serie A and is going to, to, to, to bring the experience and tighten up that Milan defence that really needs to tightening up? what What do you think? ni I mean,
01:00:40
Speaker
again, Calabria, okay, Emerson Royale has been all right defensively. Calabria is just not good enough. I think we know that. And you're bringing in Carl Walker with a big question mark around him again. Look, it's um it's again,
01:00:59
Speaker
I don't know what to make of it. I really don't know what to make of it because it's not it's no an ideal situation. And I feel that Milan are taking unnecessary financial risks here,
01:01:16
Speaker
um instead of actually correctly addressing the problem. and and But then again, you can say, well, okay, someone like Carl Walker, he brings experience, you know cons he he's a fighter, he has he's very mentally strong,
01:01:30
Speaker
He's a winner. He knows what it takes to win. The the biggest trophy is a club level football and that's the kind of mentality you need in the dressing room. He has the right mentality. yeah like He wants to defend. Like what we were saying, like Milan defenders don't want to defend. They don't like defending. He he'd likes to defend and he actually, you know,
01:01:48
Speaker
you know, stopping tackling a defender like he lives for that, you know, stopping a play going past him, you know, he wants to defend, players like Teo don't want to defend. um The interesting thing for me is kind of where will Kai Walker play because I've seen a lot, a lot of suggestions that they're actually not signing him as a right back.
01:02:07
Speaker
they're signing him as a centre-back. Fine by me. Which is, I mean, interesting because, I mean, when he has played as a centre-back, it's always been the right side of a back three. I can't remember him playing in a back four unless um you know someone can correct me that's listening. I don't remember him ever playing in a back four. I always remember... You know what I think it is? I think they're going to play him as a right, like they can play him... I think the Milan are going to invert in the sense that Teo I think Konsi-Sao understands that tail strength lay an attack, so you need someone who can who is quick enough
01:02:43
Speaker
to play as a right back in ah and a back three when they invert, if you know what I mean, so that they become a back three when in possession. Which means his starting role is, but that means his yeah, but maybe that means that could be it, but that means his starting role is as a right back. And and and that means you Emerson, goodbye, you're out of the team. Well, send your thoughts um to Moncada. I mean, again, like, or Moncada. I think if they buy him in as a right back,
01:03:09
Speaker
then Calabria has to go. Like, Calabria goes in January. He goes before the end of the window. If you sign him as a sense of that, then again, that like if they're planning to sign him as a sense of that, then that raises its questions over whether they still want to sell Tamori. I know Milan or Conseco doesn't want him gone, but if they're signing him as a sense of it, there's a lot of strands to this. It's going to be interesting to see what their plans are with Kyle Walker. I can tell you, Kyle Walker wants to leave England for for for my understanding is is also for being very highly publicized his private life and all the stuff that's been going on pretty messy oh idea okay well probably best to keep it that way because it's very messy but sweet what is it like we're talking you Kardashian drama so
01:03:56
Speaker
Probably worse, actually. That is impossible. Thank you. Excuse me. That is impossible. In fact, see once how much you love the e-card, actually. Has his ex-wife come out and said that Karl Walker took sex videos of his of of her and his threatening expression? No, but he's he's got... I want to get this right. He's definitely got at least one kid with with ah with a mistress. Wonder has how many children with how many men?
01:04:24
Speaker
I'm sorry. What are you talking about? It gets very defensive. but when everybody's twice tweet say that there's older ah i'm sorry but When she went out on Argentinian TV and said that Mauro Icardi has 200 sex videos of me and and is sending them around to his friends. I didn't know. I thought I was daydreaming.
01:04:48
Speaker
OK, it's not that bad, but it's pretty messy. Anyway, i think I think he wants to leave England just to, you know, get away from all this, what is going on basically. And in Italy is the right place to go to as well, because they don't give a shit about your personal life unless you... Unless you're a wandering guardian.
01:05:05
Speaker
no Well, unless you're that, whatever that is, whatever that relationship is, if you don't do that, you're fine. um and and and And I think it's it's i think also, you know he's at the point of his career where he's played in England his whole life.
01:05:23
Speaker
It's not, you know, you know you players want to try new things, you know? it's ah there's There's worst fates in the world to live in Milan and play for one of Inter and Milan, like, you know what I mean? It's like you're literally a superstar and you live in one of the coolest cities in the world. we'll see We'll see what happens. I mean, I think champions think it could be useful, you know, bringing in someone with that experience.
01:05:46
Speaker
will help probably in the in the Champions League. But for Serie A, getting the top four, um yeah a lot will depend on on you know how they use him, what their plans are for him, and also who else they bring in, and Milan and Juventus to decide kind of who will finish ahead of you know who will finish ah ahead of the other team out of Juventus and Milan. And that might not even be enough because there's Lazio. But with Juventus, let's talk about Juventus because they're going to be very, very busy in the transfer market.
01:06:15
Speaker
in the in the last two weeks. um They've got a lot of work to do still. They um they still haven't signed a centre back, excuse me, and they still haven't signed ah a centre forward. It's been a bit of a shambles, really, that Randall Collumwani, they spent weeks negotiating for the deal and then only when the deal was done and he was in Turin and he was having his, having his medical when about to start his first training session. They suddenly realized the events of some PSG or PSG communicated with them that Randall Columwani was unable to sign because PSG had, had loaned out too many players.
01:06:59
Speaker
and PSG actually have to bring bring back one of their players out on loan um in order for this deal to go through, um which is just just farcical. It's farcical from PSG's side, of course. Yeah, what the hell are they doing? But I'm sorry, though. those trying ah Those that are trying to remove blame from Jintalee, I'm sorry. I will repeat, he's had three months knowing that he's that he's so got to sign a striker.
01:07:27
Speaker
in January. They've known this since since October. They were going to sign ah ah but a backup striker or another striker. right I'm sorry. You know everything. You should know the rules. You know about every player. You don't just go to go to a club and say, oh, I want to sign your player. And they say, OK. And then um is he eligible? Yes. OK, I'll take your word for it. I'm sorry. i mean but Listen, I can but I've been blaming Jim Tully for many things. And I think it is. But him not knowing having PSG's shit in order is not on him. But what I will tell you... I would agree that it's more PSG by a long way, but I'm sorry, you still you've still got to know. you If you're a top sporting director, you've got to know everything about you know who is if the player is available or not. I'm sorry, you've got to.
01:08:12
Speaker
you can't just just trust the other the other side when it comes to certain things yes but the club not being able to loan out players because they've loaned out too many players that's not on on on ah on a third clubs on the set on another club sporting director to know that it would be awesome if he had if he did knew that and he was that meticulous but yeah i can't blame that on him i my issue is that He's put Juventus in the shitter here because of Douglas Luis and the failures that we've seen on him, because the fact that Andrea Cambiazzo is being linked to be sold for 65 million euros means you even need money. They need to bring in money in order to spend. And he miscalculated and Douglas Luis is no one's paying.
01:09:01
Speaker
They're not going to recoup recover what they made from him, at least not in January. There's no interest. the Only interest is loan. And they can't make do another loss on him. So they're looking at someone where they have to make a massive plus valenza and bring in a lots of money in order to spend.
01:09:16
Speaker
And that's why you're seeing these Andrea Cambiaso. Yeah, no, that's spot on. You've basically summed it up perfectly. um and And this is on him. That is him. shit It's a total disaster. Listen, when you're at the start of a project, and I tweet this out, when you're at the the start of a project, or you're building a project and you're trying to build a great team, right?
01:09:37
Speaker
What you do is, it's pretty basic stuff. You work out who your core players are and you build from that core. It's simple. So with Juventus, the core players would be Brema, they would be Yildiz, and Cambiazzo is part of that core. You do not, under any circumstances, sell these players. You do not do that. Also helps having a bit of an Italian core as well. um And you know it would be like Inter with Bastoni, Barella, Lautaro selling one of those core.
01:10:08
Speaker
players kind of like three or four years ago when they're trying to build the great inter but that's now been built. You just do not sell one of those core. If you do, then then then you're you're just not going to create ah you're just not going to create a winning team. That's just not how how you do it. And for this even to be a possibility, two weeks to go from the window, Cambiasso is your only left back.
01:10:29
Speaker
I mean, it's just it the the fact that that that this is even a possibility. I mean, it seems as with recording it, this is going to be difficult. David Ornstein, who is very very he's very good, um has said that it's unlikely in this window. and But Juventus and Man City, I know, have had talks about this. They've discussed it. An official bid hasn't come in, but they've had talks. So this is ah this is something Juventus are considering as a possibility and for the reasons that that you've said, Nima.
01:10:57
Speaker
um and But it's it's madness. I mean, so it's a decision, obviously, to balance the books. um But it's ah it's ah it's it's insanity. I mean, you sell Cambieso, your chances ah of getting in the top four ah plummet massively. So you're you're making a 65 million, or wherever it is. Well, you then need to go out and spend some of that money to bring in at least one left back, if not two. You already need a left back, because he's the only left back you've got, unless you count Rui or maybe ah you know, somebody out of position like McKinney. So you need to sign another left back. So you need to spend another left back. But then you don't get in the Champions League. You're going to lose 100 million. So you're actually losing in more. Then you've got sponsorship on top of that. So this is it's absolutely madness. They're in a complete sense of desperation. um And it's just not the way you build a project at all. and But it also tells me something else in it. It also tells me one thing bigger even than Jun City and its failings. It's this.
01:11:54
Speaker
XOR and that that prick John Elkan, that posh twat John Elkan, right? they don't care he doesn't He doesn't care about Juventus, about them being a successful football team at all. He doesn't care about football. of course he does All he cares about is that the books are balanced. Now he gets to January, Juventus books are are not in a good state and he just says, right, you've got to balance the books. Simple as that. I don't care if it means the team get weaker and the team don't qualify for the Champions League right now, you have got to balance the books right now. And, you know, I even wonder, I even wonder whether Elkan wants to sell. I know that that's been I wonder, because I wonder whether he's I'm sorry, but there there exists no magic money tree for anyone, including Juva and Juva have been getting cash injection after cash injection after cash injection without making any real final player scored sacrifices. And at this point, Elkan is right.
01:12:52
Speaker
make your plus and minus work. This can't be just a black hole where we plow in two, three, four, five hundred million euros every bloody year to fix this. Fix it yourself. That's not how you run a business. And I'm sorry, but at some point this this was bound to happen. And now it's happening. And I think, but the issue is it's not been handled well by Junto.
01:13:16
Speaker
It absolutely hasn't been handled, but he's scrambling now. He looks he comes across as ah as a director that is on the back foot and is backpedaling, trying to you know put out one fire.
01:13:29
Speaker
by starting a smaller fire somewhere else. You know what I mean? Like he's put creating us he's he's putting, ah he's starting a smaller fire there to put out the big fire here in order to then go back and fix that. This is what happens when you don't, ah when when you don't get things, important decisions right, um as he hasn't. And I think the Douglas Lewis one in particular, where you've ah paid a ton of money And he's not making anyone happy. In fact, he's making people miserable by watching him play. His attitude is horrible. And he's scrambling. He's scrambling. Scrambling is the perfect word. I mean, I just find it astonishing. Desperation. I find it astonishing that he's had three months to sign a centre back and they need to sign two cents. They're planning to sign two cents. Danilo's about to leave to join Napoli. They need to sign two cents. He's known that for three months. And here we are on January the 20th.
01:14:24
Speaker
and he's nothing and and and and now this is where we're at now Lloyd Kelly is the number one choice on the list Newcastle reserve Lloyd Kelly He doesn't even get on the Newcastle bench sometimes. They're holding a summit with Chelsea over Renato Vega, a Chelsea reserve, and um Ben Chilwell, according to Alfredo Pelle, I think we'll talk about him in the case that Cambiaso still goes. i mean this My eyes don't need to see that. i mean this is this is This is embarrassing. He's had three months and he's and he's at this stage now. got from police he gone too completely play fly He got completely played by Ronald Orajo, who's going to sign a new contract for Barcelona.
01:15:05
Speaker
<unk>s Yeah, that's another and mess up as well. I mean, it's this is what I mean. He he he comes across as someone who looks a bit clueless um and is scrambling and is desperate. And that's not a good look. um And he needs to start winning. He needs to start getting wins.
01:15:22
Speaker
Um, before I, if he doesn't, I think it's, there's a, he's, there's a risk. He might be on his. Well, no, this is, this is a disaster. Um, and, um, yeah, but absolutely do not sell Cambia. So at all costs, if you sell, if you sell Cambia, so the, the events are not a serious club. Simple as that. They're not a serious club anymore.
01:15:43
Speaker
They're not 65 million euros for Gambia. So if that's true, I'd take that money and run if you're in that position that you have. our And do what with it? What they're going to do with it? Well, what you can do with it is that you can you can try to get Nuna Tavaresh, someone like that. you you You put a deal in place for Nuna Tavaresh.
01:16:01
Speaker
use that money to to strengthen else. But you have to make it work. This is a difficult situation that you have no one else to blame on. So that's not how you build. it You don't build a winning project by getting rid of your players. You don't. Yeah, but you still have to, you know, let's not. This is like I said before, this is the equivalent of Inter selling Bastoni or bread. But if it sold a Bastoni or Barella three, four years ago before con the Inter would not have won the league but because that's not how you build a winning team. Inter had to.
01:16:27
Speaker
ah they had to sell Hakimi, they had to sell Lukaku because they lived beyond their means. yeah You remember that was a winning into team, that was a team that i hadd already won. You went to the start of trying to build something in ah and they're fifth in Serie A. This is the Juventus at the start and they're building. That was an into that had culminated in winning the Serie A. And then they were put in that position and it was understandable. This is a Juventus that are trying to build. what You do not do not sell. Well, because you you can't spend 60 million on a dud.
01:16:58
Speaker
Italian clubs can't afford that. It has huge ramifications, long-term ramifications and serious ramifications. Even if he hadn't been in a dad, there still would have been needing to balance the books. So you know i mean so regardless, it's a financial issue. You can't just expect XOR to plough in hundreds of millions of euros every year.
01:17:18
Speaker
with a cash injury. It's just not doable. It's just not sustainable. At want some point, there has to be like, hang on, you need to fix your company. You need to fix your company. This is not serious. and and when And when you see the players that are being linked to these Premier League reserves ah for a team as big as Juventus, it's sad. And it also won Serie A as well. You know, if Juventus were to lose Cambiazzo and they're replacing them with what? Lloyd Kelly. like these I mean, are we serious? I mean, this is this where Serie A is at. I don't need to see that. I don't need to see Lloyd Kelly in a U of A shirt and I sure as hell don't need to see Ben Chilwell in a U of A shirt because I'm... no. yeah This is where we're at. but what are we we We're a Premier League reject team. Milan are already a Premier League reject team.
01:18:04
Speaker
I'm going to get a lot of heat for saying that. How about count the number of Premier League rejects and castoffs in that Milan team? I don't allowed care about that if the player is good enough, but you can't. Milan don't have Ben Chilwell or Lloyd Kelly. I think they just don't. um I think this notion of Premier League reject, blah, blah, blah. I mean, like it depends. looks get Scott McTominay is a Premier League reject. He's doing wonderful things over at Napoli. It depends on who it is and what they're doing. but Lloyd Kelly and Ben Chilwell, my God in heaven, no. Please God no. Listen, we're going to have to move through the rest of of the of the the stuff quickly because we're on one hour, 20 minutes now and we've only we've only gone through two of the matches. So, inter-emply first, Nima, let's round this up quickly. So, um I didn't think it was a good inter-performance. um They didn't create very much but, you know, they did enough to win. I thought the biggest positive was Lautaro is back on form. Paul goalkeeping, it was a great strike.
01:19:02
Speaker
and Dumfries again, what a header that was, that's a world-class header. He's got four goals in his five games and I'll say it again, in his time at Inter, best right back in the league, um only Didi Lorenzo can challenge him for that title so um and I think it's a about time he's recognised for that. I think he's he's playing having an amazing season. he's Seven goals now in all competitions. He's not a right back. That's the thing. He's ah he's ah he's an attacker. like That's the thing. That's how they use him. And he's he's the you know he's he's very good in the air. um he's you know he he His mental mental strength when he is is what impresses me. He really is the only aspect of his game that is world-class is his mental strength.
01:19:47
Speaker
He's a mentality monster. um He never gives up. He never gives up. And you need that kind of leadership and um a lead by example in a team. Lautaro by far the best example, the best positive in ah in a rather torrid night where Inter looked flat. I think aside from him, from Lautaro, from Barilla, from Dumfries before the substitutes came on, it was rather flat Inter. Augusto was good, I thought.
01:20:16
Speaker
Yeah, he was defensively, he's fine, but he doesn't offer much going forward. DiMarco was having an off night. Tarmi was probably the worst of his worst performance in in an inter-shirt. um He just looked... my good Yeah, I'm sorry, but Toremi... His finishing against Venetia was bad. His finishing against Bologna was woeful, even though he was okay overall playing. But this the game against Empoli, he just just had a shocker.
01:20:44
Speaker
He was nowhere near as, you know, you know, it it was him and Aslany was, you know, this was the game for them to to show who they are. And Aslany at least showed grit and fight. You know, he showed grit and fight. He showed something. He showed willingness. Toremi Lorena looked looked like a scared child.
01:21:03
Speaker
Teremi's hold-up play, his link-up play is actually okay. He's actually decent, but he's so impotent. He looks scared. But there's no thrust in attack. He's 32. He looks like a 35-year-old. He doesn't have the bite and the thrust in attack.
01:21:24
Speaker
he he He's scared to shoot. like i That's what I mean. I got scar see i was joking about this with my friends. i said He's a kind of... you Right now, you stick it if you put a fruit ball through to Taram and he's one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he'll stop the ball went and pass it back. like He doesn't want to shoot. men No, it's a mental thing. is It's clearly a mental thing. He's scared and he he he's he he's scared to to to shoot and it's become a thing.
01:21:49
Speaker
uh with him and his finishing has been awful a week uh he missed a sitter against Bologna he was against Venetia it was dreadful and now he he's just not you know he's been he has he's been a big flop if the positive is he was a free transfer so he doesn't financially hurt into in the way that say Twigless Louise hurts Juventus for sure I mean third three starts one assist uh is is Well he's got two goals in over a thousand minutes this season and that's but especially when you're playing for Inter. I know some of those have been dribs and drabs you know it's hard to get into a rhythm when you only have like small small amounts of minutes in a game but it's a thousand minutes and he's got two goals and one of them is a penalty and I've said it I still say again I think if there's any chance Inter consigner sent it forward in January well at least look for one I know you you're gonna say there isn't but for me it could be the difference between
01:22:42
Speaker
winning the Champions League and not win the Champions League because Inter, as soon as one of Lautaro and Taram is off the pitch, the quality in attack just plummets. They don't need players, they need a midfielder more than anything. Well maybe, but I think you need players to come off the bench. They scream after a midfielder, I think it's no chance that Peter Tsucic is the one that they're looking to sign for next season. I think Fratizzi and Aslani are the ones being sacrificed, or unless they've got some sort of a massive big money offer for Chalanoglou. Yeah, they do need a replacement for Chalanoglou. Listen, I'm really sorry guys, but we're going to have to really race through the rest of them. So, Latzier back to form, they win 3-0. Diya and Zakanyi impressed.
01:23:27
Speaker
um And you event they consolidate four plays, two points from Juventus, eight from Milan now, having played an extra game. And next week Juventus are at Napoli and Lazio are at home to an outform Fiorentina, so they got a chance to open a league. It's really exciting times, I think, for Lazio. I think they' they're doing really great. um And they've bought Ibrahimovic from Bayern, Arian Ibrahimovic, not Zlatan, obviously. And they're getting closer to Sánchezri Casade from Chelsea, ahead of Torino as well. so They're building like a team that's talking about projects. you know Young team, lots of upside, and yeah I really like what that's you're doing. I think that they're doing really, really well.
01:24:09
Speaker
As our Roma, as well, Nima, 3-1. I just want to say, on Lazio, Bulayy Dea is just such a... I liked him already when he was at Sala Nitana. It's such a smart sign. Said he went on strike, yeah. Yeah, well, but no, yeah, of course. Went on strike for a whole season, but yeah. No, but he's really coming into his own. I think I like how Lazio play. I like that they... but only is handling the situation very, very calmly. He's doing a really good job.
01:24:37
Speaker
Yeah, no, he is. He really is. ah Roma 3-1 against Genoa. Di Barla was great, he got an assist, hit the woodwork with a free kick. It was a good half a goal. We could say it was an own goal. That free kick is insane.
01:24:51
Speaker
like it is magical like go look at that again it's it's such a shame it hit the baba it's one it's such a beautiful technical number he does it was i want to shout out to corny as well fantastic uh great run for the third goal and probably the one success story ah of gazolfi um actually was uh was con is corny uh his market and um yeah he was He was really, really good. um So yeah, Roma, Roma keep it up. They're looking really good. um The rest of the week in Serie A fixtures. um So Bologna beat Monza and actually now have more points this season than Monza had at the same point, same part point last season, despite losing half their team and having Champions League football. so
01:25:39
Speaker
Hats off to Italiano, in Serie A at least, he's done an incredible job. And they're right up there as well, fighting for top four. Let's not discount them. Great week for them, drawing against Inter as well. And Castro looks like a real find as well. Castro's an excellent find. Edgar scored a wonderful goal. Orcelini scored a goal, with constant pain in the butt.
01:26:05
Speaker
um but no it It was a good performance by Bologna, who bounced back with a win after not having won for a couple of games um in in in the Serie A. They'd gone 3 in the Serie A without a win. They get back to winning ways.
01:26:20
Speaker
important for them. um But yeah, it's this Castro is looking like a really interesting fight. Yeah, for sure. And Fiorentina won, Torino won, and Fiorentina's terrible form continues. They played against 10 men for over an hour and they couldn't win. And did you see the goal they conceded? Oh, horrendous. Yeah. i What is the mistake? Was it Komutsu? Komutsu, yeah. it's But it's not just him, it's just a movement and lack of organization and Fiorentina are rattled.
01:26:49
Speaker
they are They are. They are. Is there something has happened there? I think that is ever since Borve and in Paladino's mom passing away that they've not recovered. There's also been some murmurings about a rift between Paladino and Palada the sport. Yeah, I've seen that.
01:27:04
Speaker
which has been denied publicly, but Plade did give some strong words publicly a while ago. So yeah, it's um yeah it's a shame because like Gosen said, ah full time, like they risked throwing away kind of all the amazing work that they did at the start of the season, eight wins in a row. They're still in a good position, but they they they need to, yeah, it was worrying from a mental point of view. It looked like, a like you said, rattled.
01:27:30
Speaker
um calorie four let's shape one I have to talk about Luperto. Did you see his almost Roberto Mancini back heel volley goal? Of all players. He didn't score, but had that gone in, that's Roberto Mancini for Lazio with a back heel volley, whatever that is. It was wow. He did score a goal um ah in the end in a 4-1 win. It was a really exciting game. yeah let show you know, Ante Rebic and what's his name at Torino, you have to be brain dead. Ali Dembele, when you already have a yellow card, you don't go in like that. And Ante Rebic, I mean, he has no self control. How many times have we seen him do these headless, like head loss things and gets himself sent off? It was just like no discipline whatsoever.
01:28:27
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. No, I agree. And Kormo Udonieza is on Monday. Palmo Venizia, 1-1. Felipe Stankovic, again, fantastic saves. Yeah. and Yeah. Deliali signs for Kormo until the 2026 free transfer. So let's watch out for that. That's going to be an interesting one. um European fixtures this week. um I'll just read them out. So return of the Champions League, can ultimate match day of the league phase. So Atalanta Sturmgratz, Bologna Dortmund, Club Bruges, Juventus on Tuesday.
01:28:57
Speaker
And Wednesday, Milan, Girona and Sparta Prague, Inter, just to sum this up, Atalanta, Juventus, Milan and Inter are all basically through already and to the to the the first knockout phase. But um Milan, Atalanta and Juventus simply have to win. and they They basically, they all need to win their last two matches to to to guarantee being in the finishing the top eight, so they all have to win their game. simple as that As for Inter, they're on 13 points.
01:29:31
Speaker
and they'll need probably three points is enough actually, 98% chance of finishing the top eight if they get three points from their last two games, but four points to absolutely guarantee it, so they need to win as well. So that's something up pretty much. I mean, and given that you've a play away to club rigi, you expect them to win, interplay away to Sparta Prague, you expect them to win, Milan play home to Girona,
01:29:54
Speaker
you expect them to kind of to to to be able to to win that. naalant at homeless stone yeah We're we expecting four wins. expecting to Thursday is the return of the Europa League. Penultimate match day of the league phase. Roma away at AZ in Holland, Alkmaar, and Lazio at home to Real Socio, Dad. Lazio, I think basically need a draw from the last two games to absolutely guarantee finishing in the top eight. And Roma ah need, I think, two points to guarantee top 24. They're not going to get in the top eight. So, yeah, Roma, we want to win for Roma as well. um Yeah, and let's finish off. Bologna's got, Bologna have got Dortmund. Yeah, well, they've got nothing to play for. so Yeah. no it true Okay. Let's finish off with Badio, Prem face and Sadias of the week.
01:30:45
Speaker
Okay, Bad Joe, um you wanted to you've got a a message from... No, I've got two Bad Joes, to be honest. um I've got the first one, I got a message from Roberto Shiberta, the uvfc.com admin on Twitter, who sent a really lovely message.
01:31:06
Speaker
that he sent. Nicolas Manta is, they I think to live in Burnley, he's been his best friend for 40 years and he's a Milan fan and he lost his father, Vincenzo, who's a massive Interfan at the beginning of the pandemic back in 2020.
01:31:23
Speaker
Vincenzo Manta was like a second father to Roberto and he told him a lot about football growing up and he's also a huge Burnley fan. um And then a few weeks ago, Nicola, the son, arranged to have some Inter fans come over to Burnley to pay tribute to Vincenzo who was a pillar in his community and celebrate his love for Inter Burnley and football. And it was truly, it was a beautiful thing. They they reported it in Burnley Express um about Inter fans coming to turf more and paying tribute to Vincenzo who had a local business there. And it was a very, very heartwarming story. And it was nice to see, I mean, it's, you know, Vincenzo, you know, father, Interfan, his son, Inter Milan fan Roberto,
01:32:10
Speaker
you'll find it was it was you know they all kind of ah they come together and and into fans coming over and they all celebrated um vincenzo's life uh so yeah i thought that was very beautiful um so football can do doesn't it that's the good side of football and Yeah, it is. and And of course condolences to to the Manta family for for the loss of Vincenzo, of course. um And then the second bad jaw I had was
01:32:42
Speaker
the The video, it was a very, very beautiful video, a goodbye video by Carathelia, where, you know, I mean, all things in life, good or bad, they they do come to an end. And so now has the this beautiful marriage between Napoli and and the the people, the good people living under the shadow of Vesuvius um and who they nicknamed lovingly Caradona.
01:33:09
Speaker
and i And I got to thinking, I mean, perhaps this manner this this marriage didn't end in a way that was worthy of the love they once shared, but time does have a tendency to heal most hurts. And and I suppose that's ah kind of a testament to the eternally optimistic nature of of human spirit.
01:33:27
Speaker
that no matter bad how things have been we still have an instinctive urge to kind of remember what was beautiful long after it's ended. And one particularly powerful aspect that I think rings true in the south of Italy, at least in my opinion, is the particular manner in which people and events are transferred into folklore. And I think it's particularly pertinent to Naples, ah which is a city that is forged in fire and love.
01:33:52
Speaker
A few things, as we all know, burn as intensely in life as love. Sometimes so intensely you can burn everything to ash. And we don't know what happened fully um between Knappoli and Kvara. And Kvara in his Fevo video did allude to one day telling everything. I'm not sure that's going to happen. Also, I'm not sure that the Kvara and Knappoli love story really did burn to ash.
01:34:18
Speaker
But there's no doubt that it didn't end the way that either of them had hoped it would. But, you know, life is a funny way of not only soothing, burning passions, but also provide clarity and perspective. And I think, unless Kvalachelia does a Higuain, I'm sure he'll forever be remembered in the Pantheon of napoli Neapolitan Greats. And I think together with Spalletti, Ossim, and Kim Minjae, dell'Arrentis, Raspadori, and all the others, they were they will be remembered for finally being able to turn the page.
01:34:48
Speaker
when in the year 2AD after Diego, just like Argentina that season in the World Cup in Qatar, they could they were able to dance their way to the summit of Calcho's Mount Olympus and against the backdrop of Diego standing behind them, stare down on the rest of the world.
01:35:08
Speaker
and no longer letting the past be a burden or a hindrance but a bridge way to a beautiful present whilst hopefully looking on to the future and a future that is looking very hopeful indeed. They will always share those memory and memories and I think in Naples, I think history has taught us that that in and of itself is worth its weight in gold. That was beautiful, never.
01:35:32
Speaker
beautiful homage. And I thought the video was beautiful um as well. Yeah, absolutely beautiful. um And yeah, he will be a legend. um It's a shame that he was treated badly, I thought very badly by De Laurentiis, but he showed a lot of class there.
01:35:47
Speaker
in the way that he made his exit and with that video in particular. Prem face of the week. Gosh, we're going from the beautiful to the absurd. This is absolutely insane. We know what TalkSport is about and we know that some of the absolute shit that they talk. It makes like pub talk look like a philosophical debate between, I don't know, Socrates and Plato or something, but it's Ray Parla and Alan Brazil. Why did they even go there? This is just insane. Ray Parla and Alan Brazil
01:36:30
Speaker
are just discussing World War Two but they're talking about it like it's a like it's a like a football match and Ray Parra's like winning winning World War Two was great wasn't it Adam I mean it was that was special wasn't it that was a special victory really special victory winning the winning World War Two I mean God can you imagine can you imagine the celebrations after after winning the World War Two that is a quote by the way Carla's not making that up he literally said that They're talking about World War II like it's a hard-fought 2-1 win away to Stoke. I mean, it's weird. It's amazing, it's amazing. And then at the end he goes, do you like the World War II, Alan? I mean, I love it. I love all the watching all the World War II stuff. I love it, I love it, Alan. And I was like, yeah, yeah, I love it as well. Yeah, I do like it, yeah. I felt the way they were talking about it, I was expecting one of them to go, but realistically, how many of the Germans get into the England team?
01:37:28
Speaker
you know, Himmler couldn't break into the Brighton set up, Ribbentrop struggled at Pompey, and now he's back in Berlin. So realistically, this should have been a straightforward 3-0 win for England. I mean, that's what I was expecting them to say. It was basically that, to be honest with you. The way they they were talking about it, I mean... Yeah, I mean, only 85 million people died in in World War Two. a so I mean, yeah, it's the most it's just I can't believe they it's it's it's they have to I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm convinced now that they they do it just for a wind up. Like they they have to do something else.
01:38:03
Speaker
ah the ah they have to do it for a while wind up like they have to do it for all like they they do this on purpose this this is scripted like or or not scripted per se in the sense that somebody actually writes the gibberish that they say but i mean that they kind of decide before and let's go on the do you know what i mean like let's let's do it like There's no way, no way. Ray Paul, is ah he's a good guy, I think. Yeah, he's funny. He's a good guy, he's funny and he didn't mean any, doesn't mean it in a bad way. but Of course not, but it's absolutely an absurd discussion. It really is. I mean, he he's it's not the first time, I mean, like when he made that tribute to Kevin Campbell, bless his heart, I love Kevin, I know, I knew him, he's an amazing guy. Like, and he kind of paid tribute to him by, by what was it, like down in a Jagermeister or something. Yeah, Jagerbomb. Jagerbomb or something, he was like, on Twitter like, cheers mate, here's to you, sorry you died, I mean it's just, I don't know. my ghost yeah talks it's it's like It's like Michael Owen and his in his video to Sven, did you see it like that? Oh no, oh my god, this so is that this was definitely up there with with like,
01:39:11
Speaker
the greatest prim face when I was up there with Mike Graham, the former talk sport host who had that argument with the environmental campaigner, saying that he could grow concrete. But it grows naturally organically in nature. That was brilliant. Right, let's finish off with Serie A of the week. And this is probably the greatest Serie A we'll ever have. I don't think of any other country or any other. This is quintessentially only an Italian football issue. I really can't think. So this is from a week ago. So the Lazio Falconer, who was famous for before every single Lazio match, he releases the Falcon, doesn't he?
01:39:59
Speaker
But it's not a falcon, it's an eagle. An eagle, sorry. He releases the eagle, the Lazio logo, like the emblem of Lazio. He releases it and then it comes back to him. that yeah but Before the game, because Lazio called the eagles, um the eagle is named Olympia, you know flies around the pitch to the Lazio anthem. It's all very pretty and he lands on his arm. Juan Bernabe is the name of the falconer.
01:40:25
Speaker
who's quite the controversial character when he was suspended for matches for making fascist salutes back in 2021. And he also lives at Formelo, at la Lazio's um training ground. Now, after what happened was Lazio have now broken off all ties with him permanently. And why is that? Because he had a prosthetic penis implant operated in and he proudly shared videos of his new implant in all its erect glory on Instagram. I'm not making that up.
01:41:01
Speaker
And he added that he needs to have sex three times or four times a day with however many women in order to to to to to celebrate life and love or whatever it else he was on about. Now, in a normal situation, something absurd happens. That's the end of it. But then again, this is Serias and this is Italy. So naturally, Claudio Lottito had to get involved.
01:41:23
Speaker
He sacked him, which is hilarious in and of itself, where it's like fascist salutes, format suspensions, penis implant, get out. Okay, that's in and of itself hilarious. He goes on La Zanzara, which is a radio show which can best be described as, for those of you who live in the United States, Howard Stern, only Zanzara makes Howard Stern seem like Sunday school. They have no boundaries, okay? Literally no boundaries.
01:41:53
Speaker
Lotito goes on there saying, you know, and is asked by the host, but why did you sack him then? yeah Why did you sack him now and not then? And Lotito literally says, I think this is worse.
01:42:06
Speaker
fact this is worse than making a fascist salute and and and it just goes on with which was the history with the fascist salute is that this guy this the falconer had done a fascist salute yeah a few years earlier yeah 2021 he was suspended for four matches yeah but kept his job yeah yeah but he kept his job and then this just goes on and then well the best of all was when was when it became um it was revealed that the operation was was performed by a Lazio doctor who's also now also have been sacked because of morality but according to Lotito it's it's just and then you know apparently he you know Bernabe the falconer has has has had barricaded himself because he lives at Formello I mean
01:42:54
Speaker
the more that The more you just tell the facts of that story, the more insane it gets. This cannot happen anywhere else in the world other than in Italian football. magnificent think It's just the most... It's the it's the peak of Serias. There will never be a great... I mean, you know what? I'm challenging culture.
01:43:16
Speaker
Dude, find me a bigger serious than this. yeah And then the Lazio players all celebrated their victory by ah by holding up her holding up a picture of of the of the folk now after the game. And the Roma fans celebrated their victory. I made that up by the way. They didn't really do that. Well, the Roma fans celebrated their victory by paying tribute to Bernabeu by holding up a giant inflatable penis.
01:43:42
Speaker
And like, this is I mean, it's just the the the means on this culture. Twitter has been on fire this week and they have been unbelievable. It has been so much fun following this. um It's it's it's just unbelievable. It's is's you know, this is within January. This is January. This has been a fantastic start to the year for for things that only happen in Italian football.
01:44:10
Speaker
um Unbelievable. The Kardashians, Kyle Walker. And no the letsian folk and Ray and Adam Brazil talking about World War II. Like it's a football game. Like ah like an FA. We're not going to beat that, so let's leave it at that. Finish on ah on a high, let's say. yeah um We will be back later in this week for Q and&A and for review champion league matches. So until then, ciao ciao.