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Serie A Match Week 5 Recap I Milan Take Down Napoli, Roma Join the Leaders, Juve Lose Momentum
90 Plays2 months ago
In this episode of Calcio Culture, the hosts break down a pivotal match week 5 in Serie A — a weekend full of high-stakes clashes, narrow margins, and shifting narratives across the league. Milan take center stage with a gritty 2-1 win over Napoli at the San Siro, where Pulisic continues his run of goal contributions and Luka Modric delivers not just a performance, but a statement, capped with a passionate celebration that may define Milan’s Scudetto ambitions. The question now: are the Rossoneri truly ready to go the distance? Juventus stumble again, this time at home against a depleted Atalanta side that continues to defy expectations. The conversation digs into Juve’s growing concerns in the final third, the lack of clarity in their best attacking trio, and whether Igor Tudor can find solutions before a brutal run of upcoming fixtures. Roma quietly climb to the top of the table after handling Verona, as Gasperini’s imprint on the Giallorossi becomes more defined. Inter ease past Cagliari with confidence, but doubts remain about their ability to maintain consistency over the long haul. Napoli, despite sitting near the top, are suddenly under pressure as injuries mount and the defense starts to crack. Elsewhere, Lecce pull off more late-match heroics to snatch a point, Fiorentina remain stuck in neutral after a goalless derby draw with Pisa, and the match in Como is played under the shadow of flooding that disrupted a weekend already full of chaos. The hosts also explore what’s ahead for Serie A clubs in European competition this week. Finally, the show wraps with a look at the unpredictable betting landscape and a preview of what’s in store for match week 6 — headlined by Milan vs Juventus, Napoli vs Genoa, and Inter hosting Cremonese.
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Transcript
00:00:05
Speaker
Ciao, Paisans! Welcome back to another amazing episode of Couchual Culture. I am your host today, Logs. I'm here with both of my co-hosts, Mots and Vos. Match Week 5 coverage coming at you live today.
00:00:19
Speaker
The Rosaneri solidify their claim to the Scudetto throne. beating Napoli 2-1 at the San Siro. Inter dominate on their excursion to the island, beating Cagliari. Roma now tied for points at the top of the table after their win against a spunky Verona.
00:00:35
Speaker
And unfortunately for Mons, Juventus dropped points for a second game in a row with a 1-1 draw versus Atalanta at home. Fiorentina continued to flirt with the relegation battle following a draw with their neighbors in Pisa.
00:00:49
Speaker
And last but not least, Leche with some late goal magic to sneak out a point against Bologna. Lads, paisans, great to have you. How we doing, boys? Motz, how we feeling?
00:01:00
Speaker
butre feeling good. Match week five was a great weekend of Calcio. A lot of goals, lot of defending, a lot of drama. I thoroughly enjoyed every game that I watched. So I'm feeling good, excited for this episode of Calcio Culture. Motz?
00:01:14
Speaker
I'm feeling good. I think my biggest takeaway from this match weekend, apart from like a team by team basis, is there are just a lot of storylines in general that are developing this season. And I think going in, it was like, oh, Napoli are going to take over. Inter are going to be in the mix.
00:01:29
Speaker
Atalanta is kind of like out of the mix, but now it's looking like they're in. have Fiorentina really struggling. There's a lot going on up and down the table. Like even with Kremenese still doing well, it's like, when is that going to end? Is it going to end? And I'm Like all up and down the table, it's really interesting. We saw Sass play really good this this past weekend. So the storylines are continuing to develop, and we're not even at match week 10, and that we know when that's when things really start to get heat ah heated up. and So it's been a great, great season so far this year, and this was another great match weekend with a lot of big headline news again. And we're here to cover it all.
00:02:00
Speaker
We're here to cover it all. One thing before we jump into it, Paisans, we do want to mention that our thoughts and prayers do go out to the community up at Lake Como. Torrential and historic flooding has been going on in the region.
00:02:13
Speaker
We are thinking about them day in and day out. Unfortunately, it did affect the game ah this past weekend. The game was played, but we are thinking about that community, a beautiful city, one that I hope recovers very quickly.
00:02:25
Speaker
And and for the Paesans that are listening from the region, You've got our best. Well said, Luggs. Next time, say it in Italian. That's the only way to make it better. But like with that, should we just get into Italian version's coming soon.
00:02:36
Speaker
Italian version's coming soon. Okay, let's just get into it then. Match week five. Match of the week, very clear. Had to be Napoli at Milan. Fireworks in this game, really. two A 2-1 win for Milan. Goals from Christian Pulisic and Alexis Salomakers for Milan.
00:02:52
Speaker
And then a Kevin De Bruyne penalty on an Estupinion sending off. big Big for you, Lokes. And I have to eat my words a little bit here. We had somebody comment, why vain DJ? Last week, i was very harsh on Milan. I said, there's no way they're going to win this game.
00:03:07
Speaker
And they did win it. So going to eat my words. I'm wearing my Milan kit in honor of me eating my own words today. So I had to do that. But this was, it wasn't like a new performance from Milan. It was exactly, it leg reball at its finest.
00:03:21
Speaker
Some really good performances, particularly from Christian Pulisic. I think that was probably the biggest headline from a Milan perspective coming out of this game. This guy may be the best player in the league. He's probably the best form he's ever been in.
00:03:33
Speaker
Maybe the best US player ever right now, realistically. But with that, I'll just give it to you, Lokes, kind of get your first thoughts coming out of this weekend, because this was obviously a big one for you. And like you said, now tied for top of the table.
00:03:44
Speaker
In first on goal differential. Top of the table, feeling great. we've got ah We've got some great competitors up there in Napoli and in Roma, but we are our top on goal differential until we play Roma. We'll see what happens. But in any case, I think the real storyline here, not that there's nothing new, but that Milan milon has been consistent.
00:04:03
Speaker
We haven't seen this type of consistency in the play in over two years, I would say. I think a lot of that's coming from the consistency in the midfield from Modric, who continues to show immense passion, immense ah leadership out on the pitch, gets into it when he doesn't get the pass that he wants. Love to see the emotion out there.
00:04:22
Speaker
Consistency from Christian Pulisic, who at the beginning of last season, we saw a similar type of run to begin the season with a bunch of goals and a bunch in, I think, six or so different games, at least ah goal contributions.
00:04:33
Speaker
And so it's amazing to see what what has come of this Allegri style of play. We all know from Mats' experience in Juve 2.0 that it may not always be the most exciting soccer to watch.
00:04:45
Speaker
And even Matteo on the broadcast had made a note, I think was in the 55th or 60th minute, where he was just like, this is the this is what you're going to see for the next 30 minutes out of Milan dropping deep. that We've already got the lead.
00:04:57
Speaker
Ben don't break mentality that Corto Musso style of play rears its it's unfortunately ugly head but certainly effective I know we pointed to Corto Musso in the past for you paisans that don't know what that means it comes from this style of play that just means winning by the thinnest of margins and that's what Allegri is here to do he's in both I think you made this the most apparent before the season even started Allegri is going to get points.
00:05:21
Speaker
He's going to get results of this Milan team. And it's never going to be the prettiest of football. I will say the first half, I thought that Milan looked great. I think the opportunity set, we took advantage of a very weak Napoli back line, given the amount of injuries that they had going into this game.
00:05:35
Speaker
um So that that first half was very promising. And I was excited to watch that. Then came in that really boring football in the second half, which almost bit us in the ass, given the fact that We really, really, really leaned on Mignon there in the second half. He played a great game, really had flashes of that Scudetto winning season when he was really a huge part of why we won the Scudetto there.
00:05:55
Speaker
In the end, it was a bend, don't break mentality. We squeaked this one out. And while Napoli looked... to be dangerous for most of the game, especially Politano off the right, absolutely cooking a stupid young before his red card.
00:06:08
Speaker
I think that, you know, that back three ended up holding it and there was an unbelievable amount of good team defense out of Milan, you know, not, not to continue glazing this team, but I'm very happy to see the results that we've had. We're now four on one to start the season. I'm not going to be terribly, terribly optimistic because if we do continue that style of, okay, we're already up.
00:06:28
Speaker
Mott hates this. We're already up. Let's just let, let's just lean back and, you know, not continue to do what was working because again, we were cooking that defense in the first half. Don't know why we weren't more aggressive in the second half, but if this, if these are the type of results that we're going to get throughout the season, I mean, let's so be it, let's ride.
00:06:43
Speaker
For me, it was my, my big takeaways are kind of what you said, Pulisic is obviously in, in very, very good form. Um, But it's just Luka Modric for me. I mean, he, I said it going in i thought I think that I might have underrated how how far he could take them on his back or take Milan on his back this season.
00:07:05
Speaker
i Totally agree. You're definitely not alone. I put them in fifth, and I put them in fifth solely because of Luka Modric, and they could be easily top four because of Luka Modric.
00:07:17
Speaker
He's four years old. He's playing 90 minutes. He's not making a wrong pass. He is icing the game. He's controlling the game. He's dictating the tempo. And he has been world-class performance after world-class performance. And this is the type of player that can allow Corto Musso effect, right? It was very, very, very effective.
00:07:39
Speaker
when Allegri had Pirlo and Modric, whereas and during his career, I wouldn't give him, I wouldn't say he was the same archetype as Pirlo, but seems like in his 40s, that's the type of style he wants to play and he's amazing at it. i I'd go as far to say is that A 40-year-old Luka Modric already the best midfielder in this league.
00:07:59
Speaker
Kevin De Bruyne might be up there as well. I think Modric absolutely showed Kevin De Bruyne how to much of a world-class player he is in this game. And he just didn't put a foot wrong. And then, listen, I do think that whereas Allegri would have done the Corto Musso and the the sit back and defend, he also, it was out of necessity. You guys were down a man.
00:08:19
Speaker
You're not going to go take the game to Napoli. And I think that you were doing that in the first 15, 20 minutes when you got the two goals. You started off perfectly. it kind of played right into Allegri's hand.
00:08:31
Speaker
We're going to sit back, let you guys overplay, and then hit you guys on the counter. And so I think it was a very good setup by Allegri. Like you did mention, though, Conte, I'm not sure why he rotated the back line as much as he did.
00:08:43
Speaker
But the last thing that I'll say is ah Why are you subbing out Christian on the red card? Sub out Jimenez. Christian's doing more defensively, more on the counter. He's creating.
00:08:56
Speaker
it It made no sense to me why you take Christian off there. Jimenez doesn't give you any additional things that Christian doesn't. And we see the form he's in. So that was my one um area where where I didn't like from Allegri. But other than that, it was a good game by Milan.
00:09:13
Speaker
Yeah, I'll say before Vox takes over here that that's probably the one blemish on Allegri's side from a management perspective in this game was why why in the world he took off Pulisic instead of Santi here, especially given the fact that Santi and then in Tule, which we'll talk about a second, just did not press up top.
00:09:29
Speaker
Pulisic has unlimited energy and he has the grit to really finish out games, especially from a leadership perspective. So that one was a really just a ah I don't know what the fuck you're doing there. Yeah, and I mean, I guess it could be like Christian started the year injured, come and injury prone. So it's maybe like, okay, we don't really need another goal from a legory perspective.
00:09:51
Speaker
It does put you in a hard position, though, because when you do take Christian off, you don't really have a guy that's up there to go press and That's another one of those like striker conversations we had in the summer. Like, should they have kept somebody else who's maybe going to put in the hard miles? But that's that's neither here nor there. This is what he's doing.
00:10:06
Speaker
And it's Allegri ball. We're seeing Allegri ball at its best right now. That that is quintessential get the win done. um But on the back of this game, Lokes, I'm a little bit surprised that you're kind of as tame as you are.
00:10:17
Speaker
Because after every win so far this year, you've been preaching, okay, we're going to get there, we're going to get there. And this is the first time, and I think this isn't just us, this is everybody that watches Calcio. Are they real Scudetto contenders at this point and in Milan?
00:10:33
Speaker
And... we We've been very hesitant to say they're capable of getting there, but I think on a roster perspective, they probably have the guys to go and do it. I don't think it would be a surprise if they did. And it's kind of been, is the Allegri ball able to go and get this done?
00:10:48
Speaker
But when you come off a game like this, you just beat the best team in the league at home. These are the kind of games you win to win the Scudetto. So where are you at? Do you think there is a real chance that they push this all the way out to May, June when this when this thing gets settled?
00:11:01
Speaker
So for me, ah you know first and foremost, I've been hurt. I've been killed by this team in this exact scenario before. It's a little bit of an emotional hedge by by me to not overstep my boundaries in and take the Scudetto right now.
00:11:16
Speaker
But there's no question that this AC Milan team is one of a couple teams at this point that look the best, that have the best situation scenario to go ahead and take on the Scudetto run.
00:11:28
Speaker
And the way that if this back, again, it's it's still a couple of factors of I'm still uneasy with what's on let's with what's to come because this back line of which the entire league his questioning has been playing well but for how long can that go how long can Pavlovich look like Bastoni off the left side how long can Gabby lock up their best best almost got a red card lying an old answer in hold on Pavlovich actually did play really well in this game and I know him getting forward looking like a Clydesdale was just amazing but i'd I'd rather him stay in the back line and then Tamori gets hurt late late in the game here he's got an adductor injury and not sure how long he's about fortunately we have We have Coney DeVinter coming in, which will be great to see him get extended minutes.
00:12:13
Speaker
um But again, this back line will always be the question and will always give me pause in terms of how long are we going to, again, bend, not break. I think the other question here is that,
00:12:24
Speaker
We have a Stupinian who looked very poor against the poli of aging Politano. And that that brings me pause in terms of how well we're going to be able to, again, hold that back line if we're going to be playing a ton of defense in this court to Musso style.
00:12:37
Speaker
Salamakers, I'll raise my hand and say I'm an idiot because I've been i've been dogging him for years. He is top three player on on Milan right now. And Vosa, you can have your flowers because you've loved him for forever.
00:12:49
Speaker
um i guess those two lone stints did him well. But again, you know we're we're leaning on, you know i I shit on Lazio last year for leaning on Pedro to score goals. We're leaning on Luka Modric, 40 plus years old, to play 90 minutes to see a game.
00:13:02
Speaker
I know we're on one game a week. I'd like to go after two trophies with the Coppa Italia, which is something you'll never hear from me in the past. But this year is the year that we go after the Coppa Italia. But again, I think that with the distractions that teams like Napoli, like Juventus, like Inter have right now in the other competitions,
00:13:20
Speaker
A little bit of depth questions coming into play for these teams, especially with Napoli looking at the back line where we thought that that that rotation of four center of four stout center backs would do them incredibly well.
00:13:32
Speaker
Now looking like there's holes coming off the back of a 3-2 win at Pisa. Pisa scoring two goals on this back line. They had to rotate this the the two center backs here again against Milan, not looking great in the first half.
00:13:44
Speaker
um'm I'm holding in my emotion. I'm very positive about what I'm seeing on the pitch. I need to see this happen through the next five games, get us to week match week 10. And if it continues to show this this play style continues, I'm all in.
00:13:56
Speaker
Yeah. um I don't want to overreact. I felt like, I feel like taking in all like the media and all different sports after big wins, everyone always tends to overreact. I think you need to take this win, Milan, and run with it. But it's four games into the season. Is this a statement win?
00:14:15
Speaker
Yes, obviously it is. right They just beat the defending champions. But I'm not going to say this is makes them a title contender. I think that obviously they have the benefit of one game a week. And it seems like the recipe is for the Serie A is just...
00:14:32
Speaker
finish outside the top. don't Don't finish in a European spot and then go win the Scudetto the next year. Happily did it last year. that's the recipe That's the recipe to do it. like I think that they can be contenders. And at the end of the season, they could be there to possibly make a run, right?
00:14:51
Speaker
Okay, but you're saying could be. Right now, yes or no? Are they contenders? The answer is yes. It has to be yes. It's four games into the season. I don't think we should be asking that question, really. Like, I think we should be asking that, but I don't think there can be an answer four games into the season.
00:15:06
Speaker
That's better. I think it's so clearly yes. and I think Vos would be on my side as well. But I will say, like, there the midfield is very, very solid in terms of just the bodies and the runners you guys have.
00:15:17
Speaker
And that that can maybe make up for your the lack in the defense like you were talking about, Logan. Lois, before you go, Mott, want to hear your opinion because I i certainly have a strong opinion here.
00:15:28
Speaker
What are your thoughts on Allegri's son, Rabiot, and his first couple of games here at Milan? Yeah, he's been pretty solid. I think it really, really helps him having Luka Modric behind him.
00:15:41
Speaker
So it allows him to maybe... be more free, but it also helps Modric to have a runner. So I think it's a very good partnership. I think he's been playing well, I'm not going to lie. He had an assist last game, um but he's never been like a stats guy or a creator. He's been more of the the legs in the midfield and the ball winner. And when you have a creator as creative as Modric next to him, you don't need him to do much. So I was I think that he's been very well. I'm not going to lie.
00:16:12
Speaker
And I think that he's has, he's doing this well because has a player like Luka next to him Juventus. He never had that. Yeah, I only ask you because I know in the past you've been the biggest Rabiot hater. Yeah, I hate Rabiot. I hate Rabiot. I've been right—and we hate his mom, too.
00:16:29
Speaker
I've been right next to you, but what I will say is that having Modric next to him allows him to just open up his entire game. Again, not very creative. He's not you know a super technical dribbler, but certainly can drive the ball forward.
00:16:40
Speaker
What I think Rabiot now needs is another partner on the other side that's not Fofana. I think this is best game of the season. and i And obviously it was in the right spot at the right time to lay it off to Pulisic. But I think there needs to be a little bit more creativity going forward from that spot.
00:16:57
Speaker
You're wrong, dude. You're getting – this is – the reason that Rabiot looks so good and Juve is a little bit different because they didn't have that creative force is Fofana's job and Rabiot's job is just not that hard.
00:17:09
Speaker
You just need the right guy to do it, to just cover some ground and, like – don't do anything really dumb. And that's all they need to do. Everything else is everybody else's job. That's why as long as you just put a runner in here that is okay on the ball, has been in some big game situations, they're going to do well. I think the worst thing they could do was try to get another creative player on the team if this is the style of play they they want to play going forward.
00:17:33
Speaker
Because Fofan is a great driver of the ball, but he doesn't have the end product. He doesn't really have the pass to do that, but great defensively. So I think it would actually be a mistake to try to say, we're doing well.
00:17:45
Speaker
Let's try to get more creative. Because that's not what Allegri is. I don't think he's ever going to think to do that. And I think it'd be a mistake to try to do that at this point in the season. I think Loftus-Cheek... offers the same amount of running and driving football, slightly more creativity.
00:18:02
Speaker
He doesn't lack any of the physicality because I think we've seen, and it is early, that he's not going to do the Ricci-Modrich thing. And i I don't expect it from Allegri, the way that he lines his teams up in that we're going to be physical, we're going to dominate the midfield, he's going to keep Modrich as his playmaker, and then he's going to have two...
00:18:22
Speaker
runners, ball winners, drivers, and Rabiot, Fafana, Laftesic, off of Modric. No, that's fair. And i think I think I would have a very different opinion, even though that is still my opinion, if Santi was way more effective than he is, but he's literally just a black hole up there. He was non-existent again in this game, and i I don't know how much longer the experiment can go when he's giving performances like that in such big games. But I think with that being said, Boas, I think we need to cover Napoli a little bit here.
00:18:50
Speaker
yeah mean it's really on but I think before we jump to Napoli, I think you just transitioned to a really good point in Santi Jimenez because we have kind of been just mentioning it. Like, oh, he's been bad, but he hasn't even given the chance. He's been bad, but he needs more opportunities.
00:19:04
Speaker
And now we're at the point where Leao made his debut on the season. He came in off the bench. So he is presumably going to be back now. And now the question mark for Allegri is, Are you going to play Leao and Pulisic together as those two like number nines in a way?
00:19:19
Speaker
Because a couple of years ago, Pioli played Leao as a nine and it went horribly. that We talk about how he fades out of games. He was never even in games when he was playing in that central area. And we all know that he wants to go out to wide areas, which is also what Christian wants to do.
00:19:33
Speaker
So it's kind of like something is probably going to have to change for them to make this work because regardless of Santi's poor finishing, he has been a central forward who does suck in players and has created really good chances for himself.
00:19:48
Speaker
So if they do take him off the field and add layout, you know, I have two guys that kind of want to play wide. Are you going to lose that kind of like field stretcher and Santi? And is that the right decision? I think especially from a Milan fan,
00:20:00
Speaker
and the person that's been probably the biggest Santia Vanez supporter in the entire existence of all time and space, where are you at? And do you think it would work if he does do that?
00:20:13
Speaker
and i And I mean play Leao and Pulisic. I have been a huge Santia supporter. I have been fully behind him and just and I know that there's something there. I think you made a really good point that he does drag defenders with him.
00:20:24
Speaker
He's really good at extending the field that way. Do I think he's always in the best position when he's dragging those defenders? Not necessarily, but has, i mean, you can't, like I said, last episode, he's had the most missed clear opportunities in the league.
00:20:37
Speaker
If you just convert a couple of them, then you start to get some momentum. I thought that scoring a goal against Lecce and the Copa was going to be that first step forward. Maybe this just wasn't his game. Maybe we do need you know and another 90 minutes out of him to give him some more opportunity.
00:20:52
Speaker
Is that going to come against Juve next week? I'm not entirely sure. Is that going to come after the international break? Maybe. But Bringing Leal back into this lineup is going to be tricky because, again, like you just said, you made it very clear that he's going to want to do the same things that Pulisic is doing, and why are you going to take Pulisic out of whatever he's doing right now and he's at the best form of his life just to put Leal in who's coming off an injury and may mess up this chemistry that we have going forward?
00:21:18
Speaker
I still think that Leal can be and and will be one of the best players in this league this year. But to mess up the formula that we have going, I think would be a mistake. I don't think that there's anything wrong with taking some time to let Leal get back into the flow of things. Again, an injury for a month now, especially after a very long summer for him, is not he's not going to come back into the flow immediately.
00:21:41
Speaker
So then again, international break after one more game against Juve next week, it doesn't hurt to let Leao have a couple of weeks here. So I wouldn't i wouldn't be surprised to see Leao not start for at least a month here.
00:21:52
Speaker
And that's fine by me. I'd also say like he's not going to sacrifice or give as much on the defensive end and so in the positioning and pressing as Pulisic does um and the Allegri system, right? and i kind I lean towards don't throw him in. However, his name, his reputation, you're going to have to play him.
00:22:14
Speaker
But I think it's going to look a lot different if you do. take him and put him on the left and then you can't bench christian right now because of the form he's in so does he change the formation i don't think so because things are going so well so it's definitely a a situation or a complicated question but it's a luxury to have the players that he does and we haven't mentioned in cunku as well who I think can very much slot in in that Jimenez and occupy the space in the center, stretch the the center as Vosman and Jimenez is doing very well. And Kuku will finish the opportunities that Jimenez has. So um you have a lot of flexibility.
00:22:54
Speaker
um it's going to be tough for Allegri to balance it on the one game a week. It seems like even though with the form that Christian's in, for whatever reason, since he's been at Milan, he has 51 goal contributions. There's like 107 games played, 34 goals, 27 assists, the most goal contributions since the start of last season.
00:23:16
Speaker
And for whatever reason, he is the substitute every time. First guy coming off, it's him. I don't know why. it's i think that it probably will go back to that when Liao comes because it's just the player that Liao is. um But I think that it could hurt them a lot because Christian is honestly just as dangerous on the counterattack, but way better tactically in defending and sacrificing for the shirt because he doesn't have as big as an ego as Liao does. So we'll have to see what happens.
00:23:46
Speaker
If it were me, I wouldn't go directly to Liao, just like Logan said. i would wait it out, but we'll see. Yeah, well, I mean, we're going to find out, but like Lowe just said, we do have talk about Napoli. They were the other team in this one. Notably here, I think we have to get this out of the way early. lot of injuries, particularly in the back line.
00:24:02
Speaker
So essentially three kind of, I wouldn't even call them second stringers almost, like maybe third string players in the back line. He played it back for in Mario Nucci and Juan Jesus, who's the center back pairing, and then left back in Gutierrez.
00:24:15
Speaker
Out of this game, Mateus Oliveira on injury, Amir Rachmani on injury, Alessandro Bongiorno out on injury, Spinazzola out on injury, and we still don't have Lukaku. So that sets the stage.
00:24:26
Speaker
It was a very rotated defense. Sam Bukema was on the bench. I think he was being punished, honestly, for a couple bad performances. So a little bit of a caveat in this game.
00:24:37
Speaker
That being said, they basically outplayed Milan and they had the opportunities to win. They ran they ran into Mike Mignon, who had one of his best games, I think, of the last two, three seasons, to be honest with you.
00:24:48
Speaker
Generated the XG to get it done. They don't. For me, it kind of feels like a disaster with with where Napoli is at. And I i still think Milan is at. Napoli are kind of where Scudetto favorites.
00:25:00
Speaker
Milan still not like transitional. Like, are you going to be in the mix? Are you not? So for me, I came away with this this game saying disaster. They needed to at least get a point. And I was really surprised that they didn't get one point out of this. I think when you when you talk about Antonio Conte, this is one of those games where historically he would say, we're not going to lose.
00:25:19
Speaker
If we win, great. And it seems like he's maybe gotten away from that. Historically, maybe. But then when you look at the lineup sheet, I get all those guys were hurt. But not all of them were injured, injured. Like Spinazzola just played. Bongiorno played the game before. Like, I think this was a little bit of Conte saying, like, we have Champions League as well.
00:25:40
Speaker
um Like, this was, what's his name's debut? Mario Nucci. Like, he just threw him out in the fire, baptism by fire against Milan in the San Siro. So that's not like typical Conte rolling out the three set, these three different defenders that are clearly second, third string. So when I saw that, I was like, I don't understand it from Conte there. But he said in the press comments before, a lot of my guys are tired.
00:26:05
Speaker
We're going to rotate. Why you pick this game to rotate? I'm not sure. So is it like... a mind game with Conte I don't know because he sacrificed three points there um but yeah what do you think Lokes I mean Lokes of like piggybacking off of that though what we've always talked about about Conte is he's a one game amique manager and he tries to win the league is he maybe getting away from that because based off of this lineup sheet you'd say he's prioritizing midweek Champions League where they where they did drop points in their first game the Champions League
00:26:35
Speaker
And this might be a storyline. Like, are you worried about that from a Napoli perspective? Like we saw an evolution of Antonio Conte last year where had those like he would change formations. He did all these interesting things. Now we say, okay, I'm going to be a European manager. and could that be problematic?
00:26:50
Speaker
Well, just to answer that but part, and I'm not saying that this is the case, but it is something interesting to think about. You wonder if in this return to Napoli, if part of it was in his mind an opportunity to go after a European title, and if this is more of a legacy season for him than what is traditionally known as going after the domestic title. And so are we going to see most of the efforts put into the midweek games, into those Champions League games?
00:27:15
Speaker
Maybe. um But i I do think that if you know if they do falter here in the league, that that's still going to be a blemish on his entire career of he's always been super, super effective in the lee in the domestic league, whether or not he goes far and and what I think is not a team ready to go that far in the Champions League. So Interesting to see. I think one thing here that we haven't, it's very clear.
00:27:39
Speaker
The last three games, the back line, not it. You guys have covered it. I'm not going to harp on it. But I think another thing here that I found interesting was that McTominay, for the very first time since he's joined Napoli, in my opinion, was almost non-existent.
00:27:52
Speaker
I don't think that he was effective at all in this game. And to see him get bottled up in a midfield like that, maybe is is it a is it just a flowers to the Milan midfield? Potentially, maybe. But is it really just a, is he going to hide behind Kevin De Bruyne for the entire season?
00:28:07
Speaker
I don't think that that's the case. In this game, he tended too high. He just wasn't was effective. I thought Zombo was actually incredibly threatening throughout the game, which is something that we know he can do, um but not you know something that doesn't always shine through.
00:28:21
Speaker
You would like to see in this big of a game, the MVP of last season come through, show up, and and and get at least the point, like you said, out of this game. Well, I think that that is a good point.
00:28:33
Speaker
And I think that maybe we're seeing over the first four games of the season, because against Pisa, like we mentioned, sure, they did win 3-2, but it was a much closer game than 3-2. Fiorentina, they won three to one but it was a much closer game.
00:28:46
Speaker
I think that we're seeing maybe this forced midfield of all four of my center mids playing might not necessarily work and doesn't get the best out of everybody.
00:28:58
Speaker
So it could lead to maybe a change of shape, which I think he introduced in this game when there was a red card he needed when Allegri was playing the sitting back. We couldn't, you guys, Napoli couldn't pass around it. So it was like all right, we need some one-on-one players in this game.
00:29:13
Speaker
That's when he subbed on David Neres and Noah Lang, and we saw them be able to take their man on and get shots on target. If Luka Modric's head is not in the perfect position, David Neres scores that goal, and it's 2-2 on that cut-in from the left in that finesse shot.
00:29:31
Speaker
Modric blocked it, went over for a corner. um But David Neres was a game-changer. Noah Lang, I didn't necessarily love, but they have type of players that can attack on the width, and then maybe they go back to ah three three So do we think maybe Conte will start changing the shape because it hasn't necessarily worked with playing all four of these center midfielders in?
00:29:54
Speaker
Yeah, I think the change of shape is is like a really interesting point. And I thought in this game, especially with the injuries, he would maybe have gone back to like a traditional back three to kind of give all those new defenders like a little bit of cover. And he didn't even do that.
00:30:06
Speaker
And I think the other thing that it's kind of being swept under the rug, he's playing a four-man midfield. Is that partially driven because Romelu Lukaku was one of their most creative players last year and they don't have him and they need to replace those assists from elsewhere? I mean, if they have Lukaku, does this team look really different? I think it's something that everybody needs to keep remembering. Last year, double-digit assist for Lukaku was one of the best players on the team, probably went under the radar in the league as a whole. So I think we just have to keep that in our minds.
00:30:35
Speaker
But I think it's because you can't bench Scott McTominay because of the season he had last year. You can't bench Kevin De Bruyne because he's Kevin De Bruyne. Zombo is the engine, and then you need a pacer.
00:30:47
Speaker
Yeah. He's like, if I don't play Labaka, what does it look like? So I think that's why he's pushing all four of these guys in, and it might not be working. And he subbed off De Bruyne.
00:30:59
Speaker
Now, granted, against Manchester City, Di Lorenzo got a red card. yeah had to sub out an attacker but he picks the broin comes off early 30th minute to broin it is what it is but that kind of stuck for him for the return to the f he had then the first substitute last game was the broin again and he got pissed and he was like he was not happy he didn't shake contes hand conti was asked about it after the game and he basically said i hope he was mad at the results because if he's mad at the substitution he's he's getting mad at the wrong person so I think that maybe Conte might start to introduce it. Also, we know that he does slowly get guys in and Noah Lang's a new signing, but they have the capabilities to play a 4-3-3.
00:31:39
Speaker
And he did, obviously, in the beginning of the season, say we have 22 starters. So maybe it's time to go away from this four-man midfield that isn't it's the diamond or or so. So we'll see what happens. But I think that there's definitely room for change in the Napoli lineup.
00:31:54
Speaker
um My only comment. Yeah, go ahead. Go ahead, Lux. No, go ahead, Lux. I'll piggyback after this. I'm changing subject. Okay. My only other comment then, because we're all saying like, oh, maybe switch, maybe do a change of shape.
00:32:06
Speaker
What would you have it be? Like both of you guys, just if we get away from a diamond, where does he go from there? And who, I guess, who are you taking off the pitch to get some other guys in there? Well, maybe I'm not changing subject because I guess that flows into it. But one thing that I would have done in this game in particular is with the way that Paul Atana was playing.
00:32:25
Speaker
get Luka in there much earlier because as much as Hoyland is a big body, Luka is an even bigger body. That guy is gigantic. And with the service that Politano was putting in there, it would be hard to miss Luka's head in the box for that last 30 minutes, 40 minutes of the game.
00:32:41
Speaker
I would have liked to have seen that because While Politano is getting old, i think that he was informed this game. David Neres is not necessarily looking for assists, but is definitely a driver of the ball, definitely a dribbler, which is effective against a low block. And they said on the on the um the broadcast that they needed to get Noah Lang and they needed to get David Neres in there much earlier because the low block that Milan was playing was not lending itself to being a crossing opportunity.
00:33:07
Speaker
Going forward, I think that you do play Noah Lang off the left. I think that he can be the b similar to how Kovaritskelia had played in the past. I think that you don't need him to be both the playmaker, the deep playmaker, and the dribbler. can just be the dribbler because you do have KDB.
00:33:23
Speaker
So you you finally fill that entire hole that Kovaritskelia has now left. I think Noah Lang can do that very nicely. Start getting him some reps because I do think that he's going to be a very important player later in the season. If you don't get him involved early, I don't know if he'll adapt quick enough.
00:33:39
Speaker
I think you go 4-3-3, and I agree with Lokes. Pauly Tano had a great game. He's had a good start to the season. You bench him, and then i'm even you bench De Bruyne. You won the Scudetto off of a very similar lineup last year, and then you have no ah you you had Noah Lang.
00:33:54
Speaker
You guys like remember you. No, I don't hate it. I'm just surprised. You have benched De Bruyne all the time. Yeah, that's true. All the time De Bruyne was benched, and he came in as a sub. He's a chess piece. like He's a really good chess piece.
00:34:06
Speaker
Yeah, and so I think that you can go to that every now and then. I'm not saying that's your starting lineup every time you're benching DeBruyne. I think you have to rotate these guys. So sometimes bench Scott, sometimes bench Zombo.
00:34:18
Speaker
I think to start when you're, when you're i don't want say they're struggling because they're at the top of the they're tied at the top of the table and they have won their games. But and in some cases, go back to what worked last year and you just add a more dynamic piece off the left and Noah Lang.
00:34:35
Speaker
Yeah, for me to answer my own question, I think what would be extremely interesting is go to like a 4-3-3, and then I think probably the first guy I'm taking off the field is probably Zombo and going Labaka, De Bruyne, McTominay.
00:34:49
Speaker
And what I think would be really interesting is to play Hoyland in like the quote-unquote left-wing position but not actually play there. Cause you have spin at Zola who can take that full way. knew spin at Zola was coming up, right? Cause then when you think about it, you have Hoyland, who's a little bit more like speedster, little bit more technical, get Luca on the pitch at the same time and then keep Politano out there. So now you're, you're really dangerous on crosses.
00:35:13
Speaker
You have a guy that can stretch the field, be like that. I don't know what to call Hoyland. Hoyland's like a, A little bit of everything on the striker. And then that that creates a really difficult dynamic. It's a big man, little man dynamic of two guys that are big up top. And I think that could be really effective against some teams.
00:35:29
Speaker
All right. I doubt they drop both of them out there, especially when Lukaku's hurt. Maybe when Lukaku comes back, we see something like that. All right, cool. be determined. So that was the biggest game and of the weekend. The other game we really want to spend some time on was the other massive game, two Titan clubs.
00:35:45
Speaker
Atalanta at the Allianz taking on Juventus. This game ended one-to-one. Goals from Sulemana, the new signing, who's had a a blistering start to the season, I would say.
00:35:55
Speaker
And then Juan Cabal off the bench. Was this his first game the season, Mons? The first sub? No, he got hes he played a game before, but this was his first goal for Juventus. big goal too stole some points back. There was a late red card in this game on Darun and you've a did cradle a couple of really close opportunities to get the win at home.
00:36:14
Speaker
Unfortunately, they didn't. I think for you, Mots, I would guess you see this as kind of a failed game, right? Like, Juve at home, you kind of expect to win, even if it's Inter. You just beat Inter at home.
00:36:25
Speaker
You only get one goal. I mean, the conceding one, like, you'll take that. But you would like them to go win this game. What were your thoughts coming out of it immediately in a couple of days were removed? Yeah, I mean, you got to win this game.
00:36:37
Speaker
for If you just look at the start of the game, who Atalanta rolled out there, you're Obviously, Luckman has been not in this team. ah He is warming up. He did get his a debut a game ago. I forget against who.
00:36:51
Speaker
um But no Ederson. He didn't play. Their starting center back was injured. So it wasn't like, oh, this is there their best 11. Skamaka didn't play. CDK didn't even start. He did come in. But Jurch didn't roll out Atalanta's.
00:37:09
Speaker
go get like they're these are our best players right so that that was frustrating to come away with the tie with not their atalanta's best players on the pitch with that said i don't think juventus played poorly they had they dominated possession i think atalanta had a very good counter attack which we Juventus need to get better at defending the counter-attack. There's no shape at all when it comes to that. comes to that But it's just more of the same under Tudor that we saw under Matta, right? Just more draws. that is This is the second draw in a row. We can't go win the game even though we have we're upper man honest on in the home pitch. we had McKinney had that chance at the end on the corner.
00:37:49
Speaker
It's tough. The ball's coming in hot nine out of 10 times. Maybe that goes in, but this time it didn't. um So that was a little frustrating, but there's not a whole lot of positive to take away in this game.
00:38:01
Speaker
and There's no creativity on the offensive side. If we're on that low block, it's really just give it to yielders and pray he does something. No one else has any type of creativity or can create anything in the low block. And it's it's very, very frustrating.
00:38:15
Speaker
And for you, the Mots, because it... The problem is getting that goal. And going back to last year, it was kind of the same thing. like They were good in possession but never created. And I think you can kind of point to the midfield. But the big question mark for you has to be what is the best front three? And we did see Zagrova coming in lock, probably his first big minutes for the team.
00:38:32
Speaker
I thought he was very good. Logue had a different opinion. I thought he was good as well. um so for And you still have Jonathan David. You have this like new form, Juson Vlahovic. um And Openda, who I thought was... I get the idea of trying to use them here and like Atalanta wanted to press really high and then go over the top and they, but they never really tried. It was kind of weird.
00:38:51
Speaker
um But for you, what is the best three? And like, what would you like to see going forward? Because a couple weeks ago you put out an episode of like kind of the different ways they could play. I'm a little bit surprised. We haven't seen Jonathan, David, Dusan Vlahovic, and Openda all played together at some point.
00:39:04
Speaker
Part of that is Yieldies, I guess, actually. So Yieldies is always in there. Well, listen, so it's it that's a ah very, very good question because Tudor himself in a press conference, because somebody asked, like, well will we ever see these guys together? Because in these first five games or even the Champions League, it's been one of them, right? It's been either Doosan, Jonathan David, or Openda.
00:39:29
Speaker
And it started off as Jonathan David, and he's kind of very quickly fallen out of Tudor's favor. We're down, or it's tied one-to-one this game. They're down a red card, and you don't... He doesn't he went to Juan Cabal. Granted, Bremer had maybe a small knock, but he's not coming to their number nine that they signed, which is not good.
00:39:47
Speaker
that that That's not good. Luis Openda, he's starting slow. like he doesn't He's not going to be effective in Serie A games for Juventus because he is a running behind type of player, which you can't do on a low block.
00:40:03
Speaker
And then you have Vlaovic, who... We know what Blaovic is like he's yes, he's informed, but he can't hold up the ball and link up play and create. So can they all play together? Tudor said no.
00:40:14
Speaker
So are they going to play together? Probably not. Then you have Adzic who started this game and he was, oh my God, so poor. He's the reason why Atalanta scored a goal. He was a turnover every single time.
00:40:25
Speaker
He's young. I like that he played. i don't want him to lose confidence, but he is clearly not at the starting level. He needs to have to give credit to Tudor for rewarding his his big goal. like that yeah Most managers do not do that.
00:40:37
Speaker
i don't know this is a game to to do it, though. Exactly, exactly. Start him against Verona and not Atalanta. So what the front the best front three is, it's it has to be, in my opinion, Kianan Yildiz for sure.
00:40:49
Speaker
And I think that for whatever reason, Tudor doesn't like him because he was losing a lot of duels to start the season. But Jonathan David off of Yildiz is the best. option here in my opinion because he's the most like Kolo Mwani and we're missing Kolo Mwani because Kolo can play off of everybody.
00:41:08
Speaker
It's you guys have a nightmare. and No, no, no, no. You're definitely right. it It's just like it's they didn't get it done and it was so obvious they needed to get it done. It's not. I guess it's on PSG. It's on PSG. It's not an unnamed team. was the unnamed team. But but the problem with Openda And Vlaovic, they're not the best playing off of another guy. I guess Openda did it with Sesko, but in the Bundesliga, you're playing such high high lines that he can run in behind and thrive.
00:41:37
Speaker
Vlaovic is terrible at hold-up play. Jonathan David, that is what he's good at, holding up the ball, having guys running off of him. he can He can take that space. So I would like to see Yildiz, a Jonathan David, and a Zagrova.
00:41:51
Speaker
Will we see it? I don't know because we haven't seen Jonathan David in quite some time. ah Let me touch on, I'll touch on Zagrove in a second. I think the problem here with the top with the front three for Juve is that the best combinations are did all different formations.
00:42:07
Speaker
Like you're not – your best front with Zagrova in it is definitely not going to be a ah one two with two strikers, right? your best Your best combination of Jonathan David and Openda might be that front two, but that one could also be the front three.
00:42:21
Speaker
And then there's I think there's another issue of you have to against, That's good Like you have to fit in Yielders. Luckily enough, he can play the 10 or he can play off the left. But that also just gives you that rotational factor of worked we we have to now pick between Jonathan David, Openda, Lovic.
00:42:39
Speaker
Then you have Komsen-Sao. And then you have Zagrova. it's a good I think it's a good problem to have. But I think we noted it in the season preview is that it's going to take some time to figure out that formula. Clearly hasn't figured it out yet. Clearly hasn't figured out who plays off of who best.
00:42:53
Speaker
I agree with you, Mons. I think Jonathan David got cut very quickly here. And I think part of it was the fact that Vlaovic was playing pretty well. and But I do think you got to get him back in the lineup and get him some more minutes because I think he was rather effective before um before them.
00:43:07
Speaker
My problem with Zagrove in this game, he comes in for the last 20 some odd minutes, very clearly of ah completely technical player, loves being on the ball, was consistently coming to pick the ball up from the back line to bring it forward, especially when Darun had the red card, they're down to 10 men.
00:43:24
Speaker
My problem with it all was, it's like It was like Roben, but he's not Roben. He was clearly only going to go to his left. He was allergic to taking the ball with his right foot. And I don't know why. don't remember who the defender was on that side. Was it Ananur or was it Sunu? Zabacosta.
00:43:41
Speaker
Zabacosta. Yeah, he got Zabacosta. I don't know. I know, but but he shouldn't have never been cooked. you You should have just been so overloaded to his left foot, force him down the right side because it was so clear that that's the only place he wanted to go.
00:43:54
Speaker
I also think that his and you guys were were telling me off for this, but I don't think his service was that great. Again, you maybe it's the guys in the box. And again, it's ah they're playing a deep line. So they got nine thousand guys in the box.
00:44:05
Speaker
I just don't think that it was that great. A little underwhelmed by Zagrova there. So in my opinion, is he part of the best three? I don't think so. I think it goes back to, you know, what Mons has always been saying about having a front two, have two nines, have a ah big man, small man, and have a yield to be the creator behind it. Again, growing pains here.
00:44:21
Speaker
I'm still hot on Juve. I still think this Juve team is going to be in the top four coming into the season. I don't have concerns there, but One thing I will note is and we've at the reason that I had Juve in this top four was because I did think that this was going to be ah more electric front line need to see more goals like like we had seen two weeks ago.
00:44:39
Speaker
Yeah, and just like as we're like having the discussion and talking about the front line and like the different combinations you could do, I would really hate to see Tudor move Yildiz into like a central 10-roll because already off the left, there are as soon as he gets the ball, he immediately sucks in like three or four players.
00:44:57
Speaker
And if you move him into the middle of the field, I think he's going lot harder time having a big impact on the game, although I think he will still be good. Part of the issue is that Yieldies is the offense right now.
00:45:09
Speaker
So everybody's like, okay, we're just going to, every time he gets the ball, we're just not going to let him do it. We're going squish him immediately. And they don't have a guy on the other side of the field or in the middle of the field who is like, okay, we can't send everybody because we need to also cover these guys.
00:45:23
Speaker
And Zagrova off the right, This is like a very much an overstatement, but looks like an Eden Hazard to me where he can take on guys. he's which um He's like, give me the ball so I can go do something with it. Every single time, like what we loved about Chiesa, that was the best part about Chiesa. And I think he's a different player, but similar in his direct ability.
00:45:44
Speaker
And that that is, i think, going to be the recipe going forward. Gildes and Zagrova the wingers. I think what's really hard about that number nine is that, in and I think we all talked about this in the game, is they were crossing the ball a lot. And the crosses weren't bad, but they don't have anybody to go and finish the cross.
00:46:01
Speaker
Because... Openda isn't that. Yieldies isn't that. Zagrova obviously isn't that. And then Coop Miners isn't really going to be able to get up there. Taram not really in the way that they want to play.
00:46:13
Speaker
So like if you're going to stick to that crossing, you have to play Vlahovic or Jonathan David. And Vlahovic is better at that one thing. But Jonathan David is probably the better player. So it is a weird one. And there might be a couple tactical shifts that need to happen.
00:46:27
Speaker
But I see a way where the best front three is Yieldies. Jonathan David, Zagrova, and just let them figure it out. They're three very good technical players. Just you have to give them a run of games to go and just get it together.
00:46:41
Speaker
Yeah, that's what I was itching to say this whole time because you Jonathan David and Zagrova came from Lille and they they qualified in the new stage of the Champions League in the top eight.
00:46:54
Speaker
They were very good in the Champions League and they've already played together and they know how to play off of each other. It would just be Yildiz learning them to. Yildiz is the best player on the team.
00:47:05
Speaker
I don't see Yildiz struggling to play off of those two players. Also, Jonathan David is the one and only striker that can once again do what Kolo Milani could do, drop in and play the ball to his feet, and then flick it or one-two to somebody else.
00:47:23
Speaker
Openda and Blaovic cannot do that. they're not those They're not that type of player. And so that's why those three, in my opinion, I agree, can work. And also... then what it gives you, like, Conce Sal and Zagrova are basically identical to each other.
00:47:39
Speaker
So it doesn't make it that hard. It's a like-for-like switch there. And then guess when you put in another striker, then you have to somewhat change up the play. But I think it could be Yildiz David Zagrova, and I think it could be Yildiz David Conce Sal.
00:47:53
Speaker
But we'll have to see what Tudor, what he goes to, because he did say we're not seeing both of them or ah two of them on the pitch at the same time. At the end of the day, 1-1 draw against Atalanta, not the end of the world. I think it's still a good start to the season for Juve.
00:48:08
Speaker
um But before we move on to Atalanta, if you guys will allow me, I think we need to talk about one of the elephants in the room that we've been tiptoeing around. tune Coopminers. Another not great performance in playing in his preferred position.
00:48:22
Speaker
ah what point, Mats, it like... Yeah, tough. You can't keep playing him. like He is getting opportunities now, and especially like you're comparing him to the three guys, basically, that are playing Locatelli, Taram, Coopminers. And as ineffective as Locatelli sometimes is, you can't point him as like bad performances. Coopminers is doing nothing out there for me.
00:48:45
Speaker
And i It's just at what point are you done with him? Yeah. So I'm going to, I'm going I've be last season. It was play coop miners in the pivot.
00:48:56
Speaker
And I actually said a lot of times with Taram and, and Tudor did that finally. um And it's still not necessarily working. I do think these have been coop miners is best run of games when he's playing in the two man midfield.
00:49:09
Speaker
Not when he's horrible that that these are his best games. Well, when he's in the two-man midfield, he's better than when he's playing that right offensive mids position. Yes, that is certainly. This is my last. this is ah have we have I have one leg left with Coop Miners, and this is going to be it.
00:49:25
Speaker
And it's going to be play him in Taram's spot with Locatelli because then... Then, and I know last season, last season I said it was Coop Miners and Taram.
00:49:36
Speaker
But if you think about it, Ederson was kind of like the pacer, right? And Coop Miners was the go get forward, score goals guy. That's what Taram is for us. So now go put Coop Miners in Taram's spot and then put Locatelli next to him.
00:49:49
Speaker
And then let's see how he does. If he does poorly, then you have to move on from him. It's the 60 million down the shitter. terrible buy him or Calafiori Mata said him then we sold Hoisin and Sule and so much oh he's having flashbacks you want like that's what i guess he to I think we need to clarify that yeah because would you say like let's drop Taram and play Coop Miners there with Locatelli because I still think Taram is the second best player on the team I think yes no i agree well maybe third behind Bremer but here's the thing
00:50:27
Speaker
Taram has been absolutely gassed. The last... True. Dortmund, he was gassed. Verona, he was gassed. Atalanta, he was gassed.
00:50:38
Speaker
So I'm not... and This goes back to what I said about Kevin De Bruyne and sitting him. It's not we're benching to ROM every game. It's give, let him rest, rotate the squad, try the coop miners next to the Locatelli. And I think Tudor has been doing that.
00:50:54
Speaker
He is trying to figure out this coop miners puzzle. I think that is the last area that you can try him in and let Locatelli pace it and let coop miners be the up top because these two together They do the same exact stuff and they don't they don't work together.
00:51:11
Speaker
And that kind of goes with like the the the strikers at Opendovlaovic and Jonathan David. They can't really play together. We have a lot of talent trying to get that to mesh is Tudor's problem right now.
00:51:26
Speaker
um But that's that's what I would say. What do you think, Logs? No, I don't hate that at all. I just want to make sure that we're not saying that Taram shouldn't be playing. That would be that would be an overstatement of the century. But I feel think that Juve have chances to do exactly what you're saying, Maz, because of the amount of games that they have to play.
00:51:43
Speaker
There are going to be opportunities to say, okay, Taram, take the breather that you need. Coopminers, listen, buddy, if you don't play well this game, you're sat for the rest of the season. we're going to sell you for pennies on the dollar, but here's your last chance, so which I think that Locatelli in that locker room would be able to be like all right buddy let's let's get ready let's go let's get this game going you know like but it's not even there are definitely he looks motivated here yeah he does i agree especially especially against this game and this game you've actually scores a goal he drops to his knees like he looks motivated he loves to the juventus it's just like not translating is it the weight of the jersey is it the price tag he came with is it the expectations of the move i don't know what it is but
00:52:24
Speaker
Like he's always working. He always looks motivated. He wants to win. It's just the the output isn't there or the execution. Yeah. what What I will say in your point, lots of like having this rotation, I think we're really close to the point. And I think some clubs are kind of starting to do this, like particularly mad city where there are so many games and clubs have so much money to spend that.
00:52:44
Speaker
you have like 22 starters basically. And it, it isn't actually like, these are our best 11. It's like literally every guy, you are a number one player, even though you're not playing this game. Like, cause there are so many games and you have a game every three, three days. Like you need to have like a you need guys like a, that level of like a coop miners on the bench.
00:53:04
Speaker
to be able to like deal with all this. That's a top team in the world type mentality. And according to Tudor, Juventus is not a top team in the world. Oh, that was yeah that was so bad. i so so yeah Somebody say what said here.
00:53:19
Speaker
He basically somebody asked him about Cambioso and kind he said Cambioso, he lacks the consistency in locking in for 90 minutes every game.
00:53:29
Speaker
And if he could do that every game, he would be able to move to one of the biggest clubs in the world, like a Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid.
00:53:40
Speaker
And then he basically end quote, not Juventus. So that's. Let's also flashback to Cambioso last year, literally rejecting all these clubs to say Juventus is my Real Madrid.
00:53:52
Speaker
I don't know if it necessarily was a Cambioso rejection. Juventus had a price tag of 80 million. City came in at 60. We weren't reaching ever since those rumors. Oh my God. Cambiasso has not been the same player. So that's another question.
00:54:06
Speaker
Is Cambiasso's head still at Manchester City? is it ah Did he still want to be there? Tudor even bringing that up kind of makes me think maybe they've had a conversation where he's like, I want to make that move.
00:54:20
Speaker
So it opened up a can of worms. You cannot be saying that. Normally, Tudor is very good in the press conference and how much he loves Juventus and how it's the biggest club in the world.
00:54:30
Speaker
And that was a terrible, terrible answer. I mean, what I will say, he might be feeling the pressure because this is managing Juve. I mean, we saw Mata crumble under this and they've started the season well, but it's still pressure immediately. Like the expectations are so high and not everybody can deal with it. And this is the door has been given the keys to the kingdom.
00:54:49
Speaker
And it's like, here's your year. And we this what happened with Mata. he He started saying crazy stuff. ah You want to talk about pressure? The next coming games, Villarreal, Milan, Como, Madrid, Lazio.
00:55:03
Speaker
We don't get results in those five. Are we now hitting the panic button on Tudor? Time will tell, but I mean, but you got pressure coming up for sure. Flipping the switch, though, Atalanta, big game for them. I mean, to start the season, draw against Pisa, draw against Parma. Since then, 4-1 against Lecce, 3-0 against Torino.
00:55:25
Speaker
And the big question mark was, how are they going to do in these big games? Because Ivan Juric is not Gasparini. And this was the first real test. And I think it's hard to say that things went bad. They did get a red card, which kind of pushed them back a little bit.
00:55:38
Speaker
But that man-to-man press was really frustrating Juve. I think they struggled to get through like the mid kind of block of Atalanta and that really frustrated them. And then he does have the offense playing really well. And I think the Sulemana signing, he took him from Southampton. We had already coached him is immediately playing dividends.
00:55:55
Speaker
And we're seeing this Atalanta team perform without the likes of Izakian, Zalewski, Ederson still hasn't been playing this year. So this isn't even their best 11 and they are playing very well. And they're putting up goals. They're competing against the biggest teams in league.
00:56:09
Speaker
And at what point do we need to flip the script from Juric is not Gasparini, Atalanta are going to be worse to saying, why can't they do what they did under Gasparini here? And maybe that's not going to be in the Champions League necessarily, but why can't they push top four? And I think...
00:56:23
Speaker
This is the first time where I am saying, you know what, maybe maybe they can. Because if you're competing at the Allianz and getting a point out of that, especially when you're down a man without all your best players, like that's a statement.
00:56:36
Speaker
Not hard to do that anymore. ah So self-loathing. This Atalanta team just continues to surprise to the upside. And I don't think it really has a lot to do with Juric. I've said it now two two episodes in a row. is going my third time in a row. Call it the hat trick. But this is Gasparini's team still. The ghost of Gasparini is at the helm at Atalanta. It is. I agree. I agree.
00:56:57
Speaker
Juric is just a puppet. Gasparini is literally a ghoul on the sidelines coaching the same team because it looks very similar to what was going on last year. And the only difference is now that they have a ah second line of quality talent in Suleymane, Kerstovich, and Samarjic who are proving themselves to be very effective up top.
00:57:15
Speaker
you know tip We came into the season thinking that maybe Luckman was going to assume his role back, Skamaka was going to be healthy, and CDK was going to repeat what he had last year. And right now, I don't see a reason to switch up the formula that that that two games in a row have looked very impressive behind a very talented Suleimana who's looking more and more like Luckman every single day.
00:57:34
Speaker
So... ah Aside from the fact that Darun is now going to be out for the next two games, I guess only one game since it was a double yellow. um don't think it's a two-game suspension. In any case, they're going to be ah yeah without Darun and Ederson for the first time in a very long time that the midfield duo is going to be completely different from those two.
00:57:49
Speaker
This Atalanta team, if they get healthy, come down the stretch, Classic Logue's coming in, but maybe a punt on Champions League football and you just focus on on the Scudetto, not necessarily the Scudetto, but top four.
00:58:02
Speaker
This is a scary Atalanta team that I definitely don't want to be playing on a week-to-week basis. They've got a couple of very tough games coming up. Their schedule doesn't get any easier. I think Juve, Milan, and Atalanta here have a very tough game.
00:58:15
Speaker
stretch of games. But Atalanta, Club Bruges in the Champions League, Club Bruges never, never sits down against any team in the Champions League. They play Como, Lazio, who continues to put in goals.
00:58:27
Speaker
Slavia Prague, so they'll have one love one breather there. No, don't sleep on those Eastern European teams. Don't sleep on the Eastern League. We made that mistake. sleep. But they come back and they've got Kremenese, who I still think is a strong side. We'll see what happens against Inter this weekend.
00:58:41
Speaker
Milan, top of the table, best team in the league. And then Udinese. So they'll finally get a breather, a full breather come November. But this month of October is going to really show the toughness in what this team is actually all about.
00:58:52
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think that I was a little too harsh on this team at the start of the season, putting them where I had them. They have talent all around the pitch. they They've been together for a very long time now.
00:59:04
Speaker
um Juric obviously had some very poor showings at Southampton and Roma. um And it's not he's looking to be cleansed of those performances and is Started off slow, sure, but they're starting to find their gear. And um I know so Scalvini's injured, so he's still going to come back. Scamac is coming back.
00:59:24
Speaker
Look, man, so these Ederson, like they got a lot of players um that they could work with. And they know they've been there. They've done that. They're the one of the two teams, which the other one is Juventus, that are the only teams that have not lost in the Serie A yet as well. So um they have a good mix of young and veterans as well. So listen,
00:59:45
Speaker
It's a good squad. We'll have to see what if they can continue to build. Do we want to remind the Paisans where you guys had Atalanta in the table? yeah I'm telling you guys, i think that and I think that my table prediction might be the worst prediction in the history of predictions. i don't think i'm gonna get one thing right.
01:00:05
Speaker
That's why we love Serie So and but we don't want to spend too much time in Atlanta though, because you do have some, other some other games to cover really quickly to bring us through. Inter went to Calgary, won that game two to nothing. Our only note here is why can't Inter do this all the time?
01:00:19
Speaker
Do we know yet? Is it still the same thing we've been saying mentality, anything new? They were incredibly impressive in this game. I'll be honest, I only watched the highlights, but every single highlight was like a was a perfect tiki-taka Barcelona-esque play.
01:00:33
Speaker
And I'm not going to say that they haven't done this all season. It just hasn't shown up on the scoreboard, for my opinion. I think part of it, too, is that this was Hakann's best performance in quite a while.
01:00:43
Speaker
Oh, no, Hakann's been balling. Hakann's been balling. I think this team really, really goes as Akon goes in a lot of games. And I think going back to last year, we kind of saw it. And they they're really relying on him. He is so good at just, like, ball striking in general. Whether it shooting, passing, it's really unbelievable.
01:01:02
Speaker
I also think that it's fun it's finally time to lay Hank out to pasture. i agree with that. maybe Maybe not actually not involve him at all on the team, but there are some definitely better players here in Sucic and Fratezi that should be getting minutes here.
01:01:16
Speaker
Hank is just not it in this squad. i don't For whatever reason, both managers, they keep running Mkhitaryan out there. I don't know why. Over Fratezi, I think, is like the really— Because this I think at this point— Suchic. Suchic is the number one, though, over Mkhitaryan. And then it's like somehow Fratezi is always like third on the list, which is weird to me.
01:01:37
Speaker
Get him out of Milan. Get him out of Milan. Send him somewhere. He's been demanding more playing as Send him to the other side of town. But so, so my, when I saw the lineups of this game, rotation, right?
01:01:49
Speaker
We're going, Kivos went with Joseph Martinez again over Jan Sommer after Jan Sommer's struggles against Inter or against Juventus. De Vrij seems to be the center center back over Cherubi now. And then we had Luis Enrique over Dumfries.
01:02:04
Speaker
We had Carlos Augusta start his second game in a row as well over DeMarco. um And then we had Taram, obviously, and Lattaro. But Taram didn't have that best best game. And we saw Pio Esposito come in, to score his first goal, first Serie A goal of the season.
01:02:22
Speaker
Against his brother, nonetheless. Yes. Good player. Brother's a player, too. Cagliari's been playing very well. Very, very good start to the season. And Inter... dominated them. Calgary had no chance in this game. enter The problem but yeah oh Belt yeah bell to ass. And what I will say, and and I thought the same thing against for the Sassuolo game, Inter's been lacking finishing.
01:02:46
Speaker
Like they could have beat this team 5-0. They could have beat Sassuolo 4-1. So they're creating. They lacked finishing. um But then it goes back to the the question that you posed to start this topic, Bost, is why can't they do this more consistently? I genuinely don't know the answer to that. I don't think anyone in the history of the universe or in the world knows why Inter cannot be this every single game, game in a game out. It does not make any sense.
01:03:13
Speaker
I mean, if they could, they would have won three Scudettos in a row. And maybe a Champions League. yeah It doesn't. And it has to, has to, has to be just the mentality overall.
01:03:23
Speaker
There's no other explanation. But this was a great game. And this this goes to show that, listen, people say Inter's in a transition year. People say that they shouldn't be the Scudetto favorites because of Napoli.
01:03:35
Speaker
But this goes to show, like, Inter have... talent everywhere on the pitch their rotation the rotational pieces do their starters do they have the backup goalies good they got a a young striker who can play so Inter can still potentially do something good crazy under Kivu that no one thought that they could do because of the squad that they have I do want to hit the brakes a little bit on this interperformance.
01:04:01
Speaker
Cagliari looked awful and they're usually incredibly strong at home, but the back line was just nonexistent. Yeah, there was some bad defending. The coverage on the header from Lattaro, I mean, the guy got but guy got jumped like Ron back in the Bastoni, beautiful cross. I mean, that's, but they, No, Bastoni was a great cross. Bastoni was a great cross. not going to take that away from him.
01:04:19
Speaker
I'm saying that I think that the defense on Lattaro, for Lattaro not being the biggest guy, you've got to be able to get up with him. And then the defense on P.O. Esposito's goal was they literally just watched the ball go through the entire box. I mean, if you just watched it.
01:04:32
Speaker
It was a little unlucky, I think, to be honest. It kind of bounced around. The center back moved his foot. He's got to try to flick it in a different direction because that was super easy. So, yeah, corrected. And I'm also not going to say that Inter shouldn't have had more goals because Hakann had a beautiful one go off the post.
01:04:49
Speaker
I think Taram moved one as well in the second half. But I think the biggest thing I can showcase here, and not to dwell on it too much, is that DeMarco came in this game and was fucking awesome. DeMarco looked like the DeMarco of the past, but he does he has shown consistently that he cannot play in games when Inter has to play any defense.
01:05:07
Speaker
And so I don't think that this performance necessarily translates to a much better team in deeper season race. That's fair. Fair. But maybe I'm just an inter-hater, which I am. You definitely are. But on the other side of things for Callie Reed, the other big one, Abilotti, torn ACL. He's done for at least six months, that's pretty um pretty bad. He was starting 11. He might be done forever after that.
01:05:30
Speaker
El Gallo brought to the pasture. It's over. couple other games. ah Verona went to Roma. We saw Roma win this one 2-0. A couple notable things here. Artem Dovbic starts the game alongside Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mattia Sule. So they went back to that kind of number 10 with Sule and then a number nine.
01:05:49
Speaker
Dovbic did score a very, very kind of crazy header. I thought it was a very Dovbic goal that you're not really going to get from Evan Ferguson. So I think maybe there's there's something to think about with Gasparini there.
01:06:01
Speaker
The other thing is five games into the season, first time Roma score more than two goals, although they have only conceded one goal. Is this a new Gasparini or do you think this is just kind of like growing pains on both sides of the pitch?
01:06:12
Speaker
Things lead me to believe that this is what Roma is going to be all season this year. Going back to even last year, I think they had like 11 or 12 1-0 wins under Ranieri. So... winds under ranerri so Although we know Gasparini as the goal-scoring firepower guy, maybe that's not what we're going to see this year because and we've only seen them the 1-0. However, I think that they need to start hitting the gas because a lot of these games could have easily not went their way.
01:06:46
Speaker
To Logue's point, but that's a big Logue's point. He's been saying he's questioning the actual defense. I mean, Svilar has masked some of this. ah and And that's why he was he should have been goalie of the year last year. He's going to be goalie of the year this year because he's the best goalie in the league.
01:06:59
Speaker
He literally saved a goal with his face. Yeah, that was crazy. I do think that Orban, or not that I think, Orban missed and he was it was an open net. Two really bad ones. Open net and he wrong footed and hit the crossbar. So this game could have, Verona deserved a point off of this game. another time for Verona. 100%.
01:07:17
Speaker
They deserved a point. um And, but yeah, I guess Brink's got, he's got to start figuring it out a little bit because he's got figure out something to unlock it. I think he's trying everything in his power.
01:07:28
Speaker
I love that he went to Pellegrini again because he deserved it after playing well. And listen, Dovbeck got the goal and played exceptionally well in his holdup play, in his linkup play. And then he brought in Evan Ferguson who couldn't do the same. So he's still trying to figure it out, but that,
01:07:45
Speaker
It's 1-0. I think that this is what we're going to see from Roma for a while, if I'm being honest. Again, i don't i want to like this Roma team. At this moment, I do not. I do think that getting Dobrik off the mark here is incredibly important so that they get that rotation going between him and Ferguson.
01:08:01
Speaker
But again, i do have questions about that back line, just as I have questions about Milan's back line. I'm not so certain that this is going to keep up with one goal and goal for every five games here, especially considering the fact that even on one of their worst games of the season between Giovane and Orban, they still look dangerous.
01:08:17
Speaker
They still had 1.8 xG in this game. So if Spilar ends up getting hurt, maybe, like ah like a Mignogne has gotten hurt before, or it's just one of his bad days, we're going to see this Roma team potentially crumble.
01:08:29
Speaker
All right, and to fly through the rest of the match weekend, ah we had Fiorentina go to Pisa. Another draw for Fiorentina. I'm fully panicked. I'm close to Pioli out. i don't know about you guys. Definitely. This team is far too good, and and I texted you guys this after this result. If they keep Palladino with this lineup, are they fighting for top four?
01:08:51
Speaker
Like, how is Pioli getting this wrong? This is what we have tried to tell you about Pioli, Mats, that you did not believe us because you went off to Saudi Arabia instead of staying in the league. Well, because Milan also were in shambles as well.
01:09:06
Speaker
We have tried to tell We came in second when he left. When I ran him out of town, he was we were in second. No, but not the year he left. You guys finished in eighth. No, that was last year. No, no, you're saying like they when he wasn't there.
01:09:19
Speaker
Yeah, oh no, yeah. I mean, but this is Pioli. It is problematic. Still Pioli. But keeping it rolling, Lazio went to Genoa. I got this game completely wrong. I thought Genoa was going to win this one. Lazio won. Tati Castellanos came back full full start there.
01:09:32
Speaker
Goal and an assist. Notably no Ravella, no Granduzzi, and he played exceptionally well. I have to say that I've i've been wrong. Slightly wrong. Not entirely wrong.
01:09:44
Speaker
This Lazio team still sucks, but they are completely different with Tati on the field. That he might be just as important as Ravella. I think he's he might be more important. they They literally don't score goals without him on the field.
01:09:56
Speaker
It's actually insane. So hand hand up. I can admit when I'm slightly wrong. I'll admit it. All right, cool. Go ahead, Mas. Keep rolling. At the lake, Como faced newly promoted Keremenese, who are continuing a great start to the year. 1-1 draw, I think, from a Keremenese perspective.
01:10:14
Speaker
Like, great result. Great, great result. Notably in this one, Jesus Rodriguez did get sent off. I thought it was kind of soft. sending off but he did have the assist another nico possible another great nico pause performance nothing new there i think como's still doing well this is another one of those games they did have a lot of opportunities they probably should have won this one um but nothing really no storyline for me here My only storyline here is that this is you know this performance out Creminesse, the fact that Baskeroto continues to score goals for this team, this is why I still think that they have a chance to be in 11th. I know this season doesn't start until Match Week 10, but they still are top 10 right now. That is Creminesse.
01:10:51
Speaker
And this is the reason that I had Como in ninth, even though I still believe in the immense talent that they have on an individual basis. Their maturity level is... on the floor and they continue to bite themselves and they shoot themselves in the foot, get bit in the ass by getting so many red cards, getting playing with 10 men.
01:11:09
Speaker
As of right now, Fabergras should be practicing with 10 men. my so My takeaway from this game is just how fast things can change, man. Like, Como, the start of this game, Como looked good. They were winning one nothing Kremonese were getting almost ah overran. Like, it looked like it was going to get out of out of control quickly.
01:11:31
Speaker
They held on. they cut They got back into the game. And then after that, after, like, the 40th minute or so, it was all Kremonese. And so just how quickly things can change in games.
01:11:44
Speaker
in the Serie A is just my takeaway. um right, keep it rolling. Bologna went to Lecce to tie that game two to two, 94th minute equalizer from Francesco Camarda to save Lecce a point there.
01:11:56
Speaker
For me, notably in this one, I think Italiano really over-rotated the squad, getting ready for European football, which we've seen at his Fiorentina days. He does prioritize. So something to watch during Bologna has been a little hit and miss, kind of like the worst of it Italiano.
01:12:12
Speaker
I'm still hot on them. Remains to be seen what happens. Udinese went to Sass. Sass won this one three to one I think this was their their statement kind of game back in the league. Front three looked great. Loriente scored a great goal.
01:12:24
Speaker
Kone scored a goal. And I think Berardi may have scored in this one as well. No, Berardi didn't score. No, the sub, Iononi. But Berardi had an assist. Berardi had an assist, okay. This is how sat they're going to live and die by that front three. The rest of the squad is not that strong, but this is exactly the reason they should have never went down between Berardi, Pinamonte, and Lorient. One of them is going to have a good game on a week-by-week basis.
01:12:46
Speaker
Sometimes it's going be two of them like Berardi and Lorient here, which is going to be able to help them overcompensate for maybe when a Pinamonte like here doesn't have that great a game. And then last game at the weekend, Parma hosted Torino. They won that one two to one I think Parma should have blown the doors off of them more than more than even it was.
01:13:04
Speaker
Notably, Matteo Pellegrino in this one netted a brace. He probably should have scored five or six goals. He had some crazy good opportunities. But Barone, notably on a Torino side, went back to the 3-4-3 that I absolutely was bashing.
01:13:16
Speaker
And once again, it didn't work. But what did work for him was he went back to Ngong, and he scored one of the goals of the season so far. That's match week five. midweek stuff and then yeah crazy midweek stuff here yeah we have a bunch of midweek stuff champions league atalanta hosting bruges inter hosting slavia praja even though i think it's prague napoli hosting lisbon juve going to villarreal and in the europa league we've got roma hosting lille and bologna hosting freiburg those are actually both pretty good games and then in the conference league we have fiorentina hosting sigma
01:13:47
Speaker
i This might be be where Fiorentina fans call for Pioli's head because they are they are to the final every single year of this conference league. And if he starts with the loss in there' and they're in... I think if they draw this, it's it's a problem.
01:14:04
Speaker
I think it's it's a problem already. Yeah, it is. Matz, don't sleep on Villarreal. I know they lost Alex Baina, but this is going be tough game Los Baines. they got They got our boy. My boy, I can't remember his name right now. The center back.
01:14:16
Speaker
He can't be. Welcome back to the Baisons. Portuguese. What is his name? Oh, fuck. Who are you talking about? Renato Vega. They got Renato Vega. Vega, baby. Damn, he did go to Villarreal. No, Villarreal. Solid player.
01:14:28
Speaker
Last time Juventus played Villarreal in the Champions League, Doosan scored his debut goal in the Champions League for Juventus, and they lost like 4-1 or something like that. That was when Chuck Wese was on the team.
01:14:40
Speaker
scored a pretty good goal. Juve knowledge that he can just pull out of his brain is actually insane. The fact that he just pulled out the last time they played Villarreal, who scored the goal? I can tell you tell you the goal. Danilo played a long ball over the top to Vlaovic. He chested it down, scored it.
01:14:58
Speaker
Not looking at the goal, was very good. I was like, wow, Dusan might be really good. It was 11 seconds into the game, maybe 12. I was holy crap, lost the game. But I'm a very visual memory guy, guys. But I will say that's not for the Paisanos to know about me. I'm very visual.
01:15:12
Speaker
Juve has kind of cooled off over the last two years, and I have received far less I love Juventus texts because when they were playing well, I was waking up and going to bed with an I fucking love Juventus texts, and I no longer receive them.
01:15:26
Speaker
Yeah, well, now it's I miss Kolo Mouane. Omaz, I got apologize. I was not familiar with your game. But that is the midweek action, guys. We do have a packed match week six before we head into the international break.
01:15:38
Speaker
We've got Sassuolo going to Verona. That's going to be a great game, in my opinion. A battle of some tap some teams that could be mid-table. We've got Torino in shambles traveling to the Capitale playing Lazio. Hopefully Castellanos does show up for Lazio.
01:15:53
Speaker
Lecce go to Parma. Probably going to be a rock fight. Creminesse at Inter. I have a call on that game in just a second. Great game. Maybe the second best game this weekend.
01:16:03
Speaker
Third best game. We'll see. Como going to Bergamo. Quick trip. That's a sick game. That's a really sick game. That's to be really, really good game. I think it's going to show the true colors of both teams here.
01:16:14
Speaker
A lot to prove coming off of some decent performances the last couple of weeks. Cagliari is leaving the island. They're going to Udine. They're playing Udinese. Pisa down the road going to Bologna.
01:16:25
Speaker
Roma. going to Fiorentina does is purely even at the helm during this game. Let's find out. Genoa is traveling to Naples. They're playing Napoli.
01:16:36
Speaker
And then the Coucho Cultural Derby. Milan is going to Turin. We're playing Juventus. How do you feel about that? happy you said that because i was thinking about this. i was like, how is this not like a named derby?
01:16:51
Speaker
And I guess it is the Coucho Cultural Derby. It's the Coucho Cultural Derby. I was thinking that exact same thing. What a Sunday at 2.45. It's going to ruin my entire Sunday, but I'm going to be there. Yeah, I mean, I think that's got a draw written all over it.
01:17:05
Speaker
One to one, maybe two to two. Actually, the Allegri Derby, too. Allegri, yeah. I think that's got a draw written all over it. I think what you're going to see in the Milan-Juventus game is one team in AC Milan have a lot of shape, and then Juventus have absolutely no shape.
01:17:24
Speaker
That is what I know you'll see. i'm like so i'm interested I'm interested to see if Juventus is able to deal with Modric or if Modric takes complete advantage oh of Juve's midfield.
01:17:36
Speaker
That's not even a question. Modric is going to kill us. That I think is going to be very interesting. What I would like to people to vote on, what they would like this derby called. Calcio Culture Derby is thrown out there. Allegri Derby. Adrian Rabiot Derby. Veronica Rabiot Derby.
01:17:49
Speaker
So people let us know what you want it to be. And that's what we'll refer to at next episode. But we have one we have one segment left, Lopes. We do have one segment left. We do. Maybe we should avoid it.
01:18:00
Speaker
well We started on poor last year, too. Honestly, this doesn't start until Match Week 10. My record does not count until Match Week 10, but I do feel a little fraudulent that i've been I've been soliciting people to spend their money on this, and we've just been absolutely fucking garbage. I have the math, too, on all this. This week is Copity Luna. Copity Luna is back. It never leaves. It's always staying.
01:18:21
Speaker
And let me tell you this. I am not sure about this week. I was not seeing the board well. But I do invite you to still put your money on Bad match weekend for Colby. Tough week. i I wasn't seeing the board. I wasn't seeing the board, but I'm still going to bet it. i'm still Maybe that helps us, though, because I think that the first five games, we've been like when we've been picking, we're like, oh, great pick, lock.
01:18:42
Speaker
And they haven't been. That's true. So maybe us being being like, wow, this is tough, we're going to hit. And to preview this, we went 0 for 3 in match week 5. That's where this is going from. I wasn't going to bring that up. I think they know. They took the We didn't make the money.
01:18:56
Speaker
it' so It's showing their wallets. But I feel about as good about my leg this week as I did about Milan under Fonseca. And that was at the end of his tenure, so don't get that twisted. But I am taking Inter minus 1.5 against Premonese. This goes against everything my brain, my heart wants to say. But that's what makes me feel better about it.
01:19:14
Speaker
Minus 160, not a ton of value, but I do need to get on the board. Inter is at home. Kremenese is running far too hot for their potential this season. This is where they take a little bit of a step back. What I will say about this, Lux, what I like about this pick, Kremenese had an exceptional performance at the San Zero and won a game.
01:19:31
Speaker
So there is no possible way that happens a second time in the same season that they were. There is no way. But there might be. ah But there might be. My pick, I'm rap going. Great pick, you Mats.
01:19:43
Speaker
I'm no longer betting on Juventus as i've it hasn't helped me. This happened last year, too. Yeah, I know it has, obviously. But I'm picking two of the lower league or lower level teams, I guess you would call them.
01:19:56
Speaker
Although they have been scoring goals, and that's why I'm taking Verona and Sassuolo, both teams to score. I've seen Verona dover. two games in a row now, play very well and should have scored a lot of goals. Sassuolo, as Logue said, live die by the front three.
01:20:10
Speaker
Let's see both teams score. but i love that. i'm gonna I'm going to put my second mortgage, which is actually my first mortgage, on that bet separately. That's a good one. All right, and I've got Napoli minus one and a half at home against Genoa.
01:20:22
Speaker
Again, I'm going back to mathematics. Sassuolo covered this at Genoa this week. Napoli lost. They're due for a win. They're at home. If Sass can do it, and Napoli can do it.
01:20:35
Speaker
Also plus 145 is crazy value. Great value. I like this pick. Colby's plus 660. Weak ass Colby. But we need a we need to bounce back. We need a win. We need our first Colby win. You guys know the deal. you bet the Colby. You bet each individual leg.
01:20:52
Speaker
You get involved. Plus 660 means you put $100 down. You're getting 760 back.
01:20:58
Speaker
definitely lay the house on Mata's leg. You can join going to be doing the same thing. But with that, that's a wrap on Match Week 5. A lot of midweek soccer to be watched this week, Paizans. Definitely tune in.
01:21:09
Speaker
And we've got a great Match Week 6 ahead of us before the international break, which is just far too many international breaks, but we have to deal with what we have to do. And with that being said, Paisans, thank you for joining us. You know where to find us on all the socials.
01:21:22
Speaker
We love, love, love the interaction. I especially love any opportunity that anybody takes a shot at. Vose continue to do so. I did not take my opportunity this episode to tell him how poorly wrong he was about an Napoli, but I would love for you guys to lay it on him in the comments. That's on X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, at Couch of Culture FC, and you know where to listen to us.
01:21:43
Speaker
on your favorite streaming podcast sites. That's Apple Pods and Spotify. Mots, take us away. Paisanos, do not be a gagootz, and Porza, no chill.
01:22:31
Speaker
you