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00:00:01
De Gea Penalty King, Douglas Luiz Juventus Nightmare, Thuram & Retegui On Fire, Napoli Top Serie A & Much More (Ep. 460)
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From David De Gea Fiorentina heroics as Christian Pulisic scores again for AC Milan in crazy loss, Dusan Vlahovic misses sitter as Douglas Luiz nightmare continues when Juventus fumble away two points in Cagliari draw, impact of Bremer out and Paul Pogba back at Juve, to Artem Dovbyk scores again as Roma fail to make chances pay, Marcus Thuram and Mateo Retegui put on show for Inter and Atalanta respectively, and Antonio Conte beats Cesc Fabregas as Napoli go top of Serie A, plus preview of Italy vs Belgium in UEFA Nations League, as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from Match Day 7 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season.
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Transcript
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Italian Football Podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavalli. On today's show we will react to the weekend study action the final weekday before the international break as Italy play in the UEFA Nations League and we'll start with a quite incredible Sunday evening game in Florence between Fiorentina and Milan which had
00:00:33
Speaker
Three goals, three missed penalties and two red cards, one of the most ah eventful games you'll ever see. um Douglas Louise's horror show at Juventus goes from bad to worse as he concedes a late penalty that costs you a two massive points at home against Cadbury.
00:00:50
Speaker
We also look at what Juventus will do to replace Bremen after he was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ACL and we also react to the news that Paul Pogba's drug ban has been reduced and he will return to football in March. What will happen to Pogba and his his contract at Juventus? Will he stay? Will he be with his contract be terminated. At Inter, Marcus Taram hits a hat trick as Inter win a five-goal thriller against Torino. Napoli stay top of Serie A after beating ah an impressive Colmo team. Atalanta enjoy a a comeback week with two big wins and a free score in Matteo Retigui. And, as I said, we will preview Italy's Nations League game against Belgium. We'll also have our usual Baggio prem face and Serie S of the week.
00:01:39
Speaker
For all our first-time listeners, this is our three-weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend cellular action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q and&A episode every Tuesday where we answer all of the questions from our patrons, plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more, then go to patreon dot.com. slash TIFP and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. You can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. We'll provide the link in the description. It's the same price, the same terms. But all of you that do listen on Spotify, Apple, and iTunes Podcast would really appreciate it. Give us a five-star rating. Give us a follow and a like. Also, do subscribe to us on YouTube as well.
00:02:22
Speaker
All of that really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys. Okay, let's get into today's show. So we'll start off with the Sunday evening game, Fiorentina against Milan at the Stadio Franke. Incredible game, three goals, three missed penalties, two red cards. It was unbelievable. I don't know when was the last time I saw a game in Serie A with three missed penalties, but It was for Fiorentina the hero of course was David De Gea with two brilliant penalty saves. I thought world-class penalty saves from De Gea which is quite strange because anybody that followed him at Manchester United knew that he used to get mocked at Man United for being so bad at penalties. he He went nine years without saving a penalty at one stage at Man United and he's already saved three ah already at Fiorentina including two
00:03:18
Speaker
So in this game number? Yeah, it was it was a crazy game. It's a game that's very it's almost impossible to analyze because of the fact that it was so crazy. There was so much madness going on. um and And and just trying to break down some sort of coherent analysis of this of a game that is so back and forth and up and down and so many chances created so many bad misses would work being hit.
00:03:47
Speaker
ah you know poor penalties being given penalties being saved i mean it was just mad it it was it was a crazy crazy game and and uh no matter i mean for me this when i look at this and i'm thinking okay well did milan deserve to lose i think probably not um Did Fiorentina deserve to lose? No. um Was a draw fair? Well, not really. i mean it's i can't it it's just I'm trying to still understand what I actually watched. It was absolutely crazy. um ah What I do think though, and I think we should talk about is, so far I think up until match day six, the referees have been really, really good. um I think they've been they've held a consistent level. Pareto,
00:04:37
Speaker
a horror show completely destabilized this game with ridiculous calls causing players to not know what the line was, what what the limit was, what they could do.
00:04:50
Speaker
um This could have gone completely haywire. And again, it just goes to show that there are good referees in the Serie A, but the poor ones are dreadful. um And this is just, he ruined he ah he could have ruined this game. but he kind of did. He may have turned it into what Fonseca called at the end of the game um ah circuit it was a He turned it into a circus. I agree with you. I think the referee generally has been quite good up until this week and and I extend that also in the Champions League in Europe as well. i'm saying
00:05:27
Speaker
It was a horrendous week. The referees in the Milan game, the Juventus game, and then in this game again, just horrendous, awful refereeing. And it turned into a circus like Fonseca said. and and my and And I'll just repeat what I've been saying probably for at least a couple of years on this podcast.
00:05:44
Speaker
too many cheap penalties and Fonseca said the same thing even though Milan got two in this game Fonseca said he says I who love football do not want to contribute to this circus everything is a penalty now in our favour or against this is not going or this is not going all when you give a penalty for the the slightest touch and there are too many cheap penalties given in in ah in in football today I mean in this game there's barely a touch on Dodar for the for the the the fluorescence in a penalty the second penalty for Milan for the clearance from from keen is just an absolute joke um but in general it's just too easy to get penalties nowadays i mean contact as we've said should not equal a penalty and it and in and in today's day and age you know any slight contact generally is is is given as a
00:06:33
Speaker
It's a penalty. and And I've said, you know, I mean, i put I know you don't agree with me. You agree with me there. You don't agree with me. I go as far as to say that I believe penalties are an outdated concept. I think the punishment does not fit the crime. You know, you get a your penalty is ah an extra 0.8. Right. So 80 percent of the time you're going to score didn't happen in this game. But generally, 80% of the time you're going to score for an incident where often there is a zero XG often in penalties. There's a zero XG on that dodo one. There's a zero XG on the the keen one. You know, there's there's there's no, they they're not, there's no, so the crime does not fit ah in the majority, though the vast, vast majority of penalties. the The crime does not even get close. The punishment does not even get close to fitting the crime. So I think that there needs to be a review. I don't have the answer for it.
00:07:24
Speaker
But there needs to be a reason. No, I think I think i don't I don't think you need to change and remove penalties. I think you should just basically do what they've done the first six matchdays, and that is they're not going to give and cheap penalties. They're not going to give penalties for every single touch. The Fiorentino penalty was was like I couldn't believe what I was watching. Because there's there's barely a touch.
00:07:51
Speaker
but again we don't give chief penalties that's what Rocky said we don't we don't want to do that just because there's a contact it's not a penalty that is just I couldn't understand how he how he could even if the VAR told him and come and look at it, he shouldn't have given it. Same thing with with the Milan's second one. i mean that's that's more if i mean if that's if To be fair to him, at least he's consistent, because if the dodo one is a penalty, then that one's a penalty too. But I don't think either of them are a penalty.
00:08:22
Speaker
the the rnders for that's, you know, you're you're blocking the like you know movement of a player, you're not even on the ball, similar to Juventus Cagliari, you have to give that, it's it's an obstruction in the penalty area. But these cheap penalties are the ones that they should not be giving given, and that was just It was crazy. And and he he, you know, and like I said, I think the first six days, six match days have been great, but this weekend was full of cheap penalties. I mean, yeah same thing in Torino Inter. That um it it was It was just, it was it was it was unfortunate because we've had, we've been, we've I think we've had a very good level so far in the 30 hour, the first six six match days. And I hope that Rocky nips this in the bud and has, you know, suspends those referees.
00:09:13
Speaker
and or has a talk with him and say, no, this this is we' want to go we want to continue where we started. Let's not you know deviate from that, because it creates this this this circus, as exactly like Fonseca said. I thought it his post-match comments were spot on about the penalty situations. i And and and it's you know it was a crazy game. OK, De Gea, it didn't really impact the game, because all penalties were saved at the end of it, if we're perfectly honest.
00:09:38
Speaker
But it does kind of create, it does impact the game so in far as it makes the players be scared to go into challenges and they don't know what the where the line is. Yeah, and it makes them nervous as well. I mean, we saw like Teo Hernandez get sent off at the end of the game, you know, because he's he's he's in a, nu you know, obviously he's in mental state, but it turns it into a circus. and When you have a circus, you have clowns and, you know, clowns get themselves sent off, yeah like Dertaio has. And that's going to be very costly for them. But Paladino got sent off as well. I mean, it was, yeah it was all of this stems from a referee that destabilized the environment completely. And, and it's, it was, um it was, it was unfortunate. It was very unfortunate and very unnecessary, but removing from that. um So both of these teams, but I mean, the, you know, Goodman's and, and Pulisic aside,
00:10:32
Speaker
boy, do these teams need a killer in the penalty area. Like, you can't have, you can't create this much chances and only have three goals. I mean, even if you, you know, count the penalties, three penalty misses. I think the Khayyas penalty saves were good, but, you know, anytime the goal keeper saves a penalty, it's great on the goal keeper, but they were not good penalties, any of them.
00:10:59
Speaker
Well, they weren't right in the corner, but they were hit with such power and they were like straight out the goalkeeper and the goalkeeper is so good now. I mean, listen, I don't think they were anywhere. They weren't get close enough to the corners, but but I thought is where they should be. But I thought I still thought they were brilliant. I saw they were still thought they were brilliant penalty saves because the power that was in them to manage to turn that with a strong hand around the post. I thought I thought that we we have to also give big credit to the hair. Of course, you miss a penalty. That's what that's also. But Mignon was more impressive to me, the way he glues at the ball, as we say. Well, the way he held onto it, but I thought King's penalty was the one really bad one. It was literally almost in the middle of the goal, where the others weren't. But at the end of the day, um you know you have to give massive credit. I mean, I thought he was brilliant in this game yeah i felt and he rolled back the years. This was this was kind of you know going back to the day, hey, yeah when you know at his peak at Man United, when he used to save Man United all the time. yeah But he was outstanding yesterday.
00:11:59
Speaker
He was really good. um but i thought a again was so i thought If we're talking about Fiorentin, I thought Adelie was really, really good. he was He had a point to prove. um In the first first half, he was he really dominated the sentiment field. He fully drained this and he's got a really, really nice goal, not a kind of goal that we saw at Milan. so That was good. from he is a fantastic Look, you know how much I like this guy. I think he's a the talent is there. It's a shame that he never got to, who was able to express that at Milan, similarly to De Kettler. It just didn't work out for him there. But he there is a fee he's a fantastically talented player and I think he's going to do really well at Fiorentina. And that goal just showed it. He he has that ability to to to to do those things. He is technically incredibly gifted.
00:12:43
Speaker
um but no no it was it was a very entertaining game as a as far as sunday i mean anyone who watched it will remember it yeah i mean i just just stick on virantina before we move on to milan uh but i mean i thought keen had a really ridiculously eventful game but also an unlucky game and he missed a penalty. It was a bad penalty but he gave away a penalty but it shouldn't have been given. He missed a huge chance at 1-1 from a Gosen's cross which he should be putting away and that's his weakness, it's his finishing still. He still snatches at his shots and he goes for kind of I think low
00:13:19
Speaker
Low XG finishes I think and personally um But you know he assisted the winner and he hit the bar injury time we one of the best likes I've ever seen. Yeah, that was it was Unbelievable that was such a different. It was like balotelli against German. It was like it was like a rocket and It was like, oh my God. He's got good shooting technique. was ki Yeah, he has. Like when he strikes it right, when he strikes it right. But he's, he's, yeah, he's, he's all round game and his physicality I thought was really impressive in this game. And, and he very much deserves to be in Italy squad. And I'll say it again, I said it before, Juventus made a mistake getting rid of him, they should have kept him. He would have been very, very useful to Juventus. And I think
00:14:00
Speaker
even just like the way he puts himself about, the way that he presses, the way he works on the team, I think that would have fitted in with we like what Thiago Motta wants. Obviously, he's finishing is a problem and that's what you know but that's where he needs to improve to get to the next level. But overall, his numbers are pretty good this season for a team that has had a slow start. So I think that him and Goodmanson, who obviously got the winner, I think they are going to be a good partnership this season. If Goodmanson obviously his his legal case goes the way and he actually is able to play, then I think these two will, you know, will get to your own team a lot quicker. Goodmanson is concrete in the sense that when he gets, he doesn't, you know, mess about and in finishing positions. He's very resolute in his finishing. um and And I think that's why he will score quite a bit, because whatever he gets the chance, he it's always almost always on target.
00:14:52
Speaker
um And and any and and and you know that that means there's a high chance of scoring, of course. Um, but no, I think they're a good, they're, they're a decent strike partnership. Um, those two, um, be, but, but to me, Kalpani was a mess in this game. It was atrocious to watch him. Um, but overall, I thought the midfield that, you know, if you're in Tina's midfield was what impressed me the most first half, definitely. Yeah. Yeah. ert half Second half was, was more kind of open, more, more kind of end to end, but it was.
00:15:27
Speaker
Yeah, no, good, good. for They're picking up, they've got three wins in their last four, and they put themselves into a position in the league where they they can kind of kick on from now. So I think it's certainly more positive for... There are only two wins this season come against Milan and Lazio. So, you know, who teams above them.
00:15:44
Speaker
so that the problem clearly is that when they're playing lesser teams and they play lecture after the international break and that's you know that's that's that's a game they're going to have to win in order to get some continuity so be they did beat TMZ in the no yeah they the new south i think they're called or something me saying new saint new saint sorry the new saints yeah the Welsh team. That's right. Yeah. But I mean, let's let's move on to Milan. I think this was a big blow and step back from Milan after the the leather cruising performance, because what we've seen in since the Derby is we saw improvements in all the things that we were critical of Milan at the start of the season when when Fonseca's job was on the line in terms of the solidity of the team, the organization, the the structure, but also the mental strength. And I think they took steps back in all of those. I mean, they defended badly.
00:16:36
Speaker
And I mean that obviously if you can see two penalties Or if you could if you can see the penalty and and the goal that conceded the goal they conceived for the winner was was unacceptable Which is I think Gabby said himself after the game like tomorrow he's defending on that winner. That's schoolboy. What is he doing? I mean, it's a long I mean listen and at any level even a even if you're a school kid at eight years seven years old if you can see the goal from a off a goal kick and where the center back comes out and misses the header, you're getting crucified. You're probably getting dropped as an eight-year-old school kid. And Tomori's doing that at serial level. um So, I mean, that's that's unacceptable. and and And again, I've said it before, I've said it before, Tomori doesn't read
00:17:17
Speaker
the game or position himself ah well enough when it comes to set the aerial side of the game. whether that He seems so nervous. Mostly from crosses, but also now from from basic goal kicks. and To me, I just get this feeling that he he comes across like he's nervous.
00:17:37
Speaker
on the pitch, in the sense that he doesn't know his position, doesn't know what to do, he over-thinks it and then he tries to do two things at once and ends up not doing any of it. I think he can be a bit erratic and impulsive with his positioning, but I think that's definitely amplified when it comes to the aerial side of the game. I never feel relaxed whenever a cross comes into the box.
00:17:58
Speaker
And tomorrow no we know that but I never feel relaxed that he's going to be in the right position or he's going to win his header or he's going to hold the line. I mean, the defensive line and Gabby is like 10 yards behind Tamori on that goal kick. I mean, what what's going on with that defensive line? I mean, that's not on just on Tamori and Gabby. That's that's also on Fonseca. You know, again, coming back to the kind of, you know, the organization and the structure of of the team. So that I mean, they they took ah the step back there. And I think mentally they also took a step back because we we we were critical of them.
00:18:26
Speaker
that mentally the team wasn't all together. That was best exemplified with the incident of Theo and Rafael Liao when they didn't come over for the calling break, obviously. But that's improved. They've been very much together. They've been playing as a team, there has been unity and everything. I'm not saying that wasn't the case, but we see, obviously, whenever you miss two penalties in a game and whenever you get a stupid sending off for shouting at the ref at full-time from Teo, that's an indictment on your mental side of the game, that is. Those are mental qualities where you've fallen short on. This is why I said, even when Milan were winning three games in a row, I said, look, I don't think they're going to be in the Scoredetto race because I don't think they're finished product. I think there's still a work in progress under Fonseca. And when you're a kind of work in progress in terms of finding your roles tactically and also mentally in this new environment,
00:19:26
Speaker
then take you know you you don't have that consistency um of results um about you in order to mount a serious title or challenge. I still think Milan are going to finish comfortably in the top four without much problems. I just don't see them in the in the title race because of that, because um because of these kinds of errors, which I think they are still prone to making. Of course, I think it's going to improve. The question is how much it's going to improve and how much stability they're going to get.
00:19:56
Speaker
But overall, I, this is such a difficult game to analyze, because from from both ah aspects, because again, it just it it was just so, it had no real rhythm to it, and it just felt like chances, everything was just chance, and it was individual mistakes, and it was, you know, horrible, unforced errors like Tomori's, and then you have a referee who's turned into a circus, and I don't know, it just it didn't feel like, it's a really difficult game to to analyze for me.
00:20:28
Speaker
um But what I will say is that Teo, you know, one thing that Fonseca said after the game that I found somewhat weird is they had decided that Pulisic is going to be the penalty thing, but they got two penalties and Pulisic didn't take a single one. That's, again, that comes down to... That makes no sense. But that also comes down to XEN, again, how they've taken a step back, you know, a well-run oil-structured team.
00:20:58
Speaker
you know, that that's run properly and professionally does not do stuff like that. You have a penalty taker, you know who your penalty taker is. You don't start deciding who among yourselves changing the order. but But it happened with Fiorentina as well, because Goodmanson is the one that takes penalties at Fiorentina, but for some reason Mois Ken took one. Like it's it's strange. It was a strange game. No, definitely the choice of penalty takers is that's that's just unforgivable. You know, that's just unprofessional. I mean, why is that in both teams? Keene has taken, Moisakine has taken three penalties in his career. He'd actually scored all three of them, but he's taken three penalties in his entire career. He should not be taking the penalty for Fiorentina.
00:21:37
Speaker
But Milan, for Milan. It mustn't have taken twice, taken can two this season already and scored both, so I don't get it. For Milan, Teo Hernandez has taken seven penalties in his career, he's scored four of them, he's missed three. So he should not be taking the penalty. um As for Tammy Abraham, he's actually he actually's got a very good record on penalties, to be fair. Before the game, he'd scored 17, missed three. So he actually has an outstanding record. but But again, if you've got a penalty taper, you've got a penalty taper. And Poulasic,
00:22:07
Speaker
Pudasic again was, you know, positive in this game. He scored, I thought it was a brilliant goal, but he scored, he scored four games in a row. But I thought the best moment for Pudasic, that pass for Reindeer. That was so good. Oh my God. So good. He's like falling over. He's on one leg. He's on his knees when he's making that pass. Somehow manages to maneuver his body with the outside of his boot on one leg and put him through with a through ball. I thought that was brilliant. That deserved a goal, that did.
00:22:36
Speaker
Well, I did say when he joined that I think he's going to be the first US Men's National Team player to become a star at a classic football club, at a football royalty club like Milan. And he literally is. he's He's been Milan's best and most important player and this season. um And he continues to to to shine. um and And he continues to be qtu too put himself forward to be a leader at Milan. Yeah, know and as I've said again, he's the only one that week in, week out, you can actually rely on at Milan. And more than and the so-called big stars, such as, you know, Teo and Liao, you can't they are becoming really rely on that. Yeah, he's becoming a dependable... Don't know what you're gonna get. One week they're on it, one week they're not, they go through... But with Pulisic, it's just easy, you see it's the consistency. like that his lowest His lowest low is actually rather high from Milan.
00:23:27
Speaker
As low as low as he's going to be a team player and work for the team. yeah and And you know what you're going to get there. Liao Tio's low is low, is there a liability? So that's the that's the problem. that we have that Especially with Teo, this needs to stop. He's no longer a kid. He can't get himself sent off for mouthing off. oh That's exactly what I said the other week. these pop pe Players like Teo and Liao are supposed to be the leaders and they're supposed to be the best players and they're supposed to be an example to the rest of the team. now When they're doing it, ah sets a terrible that that just does creates a terrible environment of and culture for for the team so to create a winning a winning team. You just can't create a winning team when your so-called leaders are behaving like that. but you know i think this this red card with This red card thing with Teo,
00:24:17
Speaker
mouthing off to the referee, it's something la heaney that they need to he needs to to show growth through. He's not a kid anymore. you know He's not this young up-and-coming kid. He's actually an established player and he needs to start ah behaving accordingly. it's It's exactly like with Nicolau Barella and his negative body language. It's like, you're not a child anymore. Look at the players that are your own age and act like them.
00:24:43
Speaker
you know You're no longer just an up-and-coming player. You need to grow mentally. You need to be mature. Yeah, absolutely. Let's move on to Juventus now. Juventus will be kicking themselves for drawing this game against Calgary. They draw 1-1 with an 88-minute penalty. Juventus had so many chances to they really did to kill this game. and vlawovitch How did he miss that? He was good. He actually played well up until that's just unforgivable. You have to score that. I don't know what the XG on that, but it must be close to, it must be about 0.9 something. I mean, how you missed that chance is unbelievable. And I mean, Koop miners missed a big chance and they were just so dominant, so much the better team.
00:25:28
Speaker
didn't create a chance all game. They created nothing and then they score a penalty with we two minutes to go um after ah after ah a Douglas-Louise nightmare, really. It is a nightmare now, we have to say. It is a causal now. um he's he's He doesn't start this game, he comes on. I mean he came on the other day in midweek and gave away a penalty for the first one, which I actually thought was a bit unlucky. But this one is just... He's clumsy. He's late and he's clumsy. He gets nutmegged. He gets nutmegged. He's nowhere near the ball. It's looking bad. It's a nightmare for him. He's having a nightmare. He's obviously really low on confidence now. He's really nervous when he comes on. He's making mistakes.
00:26:12
Speaker
I don't know, it's it's unbelievable really. You spend 50 million on this player to be kind of like your main man in midfield along with coop miners. And he's he's now probably like blasting the pecking order. And now when he plays on, he's you know he costing the Juventus. And this is a really, really costly two points, this is. You calliree at home.
00:26:34
Speaker
You've got to win these games. You've got to win these games. You cannot you cannot drop points in matches like this against Callery. These are your grid. So it's very frustrating for Juventus. And then of course, you know, to to make matters worse, Konsley Sal gets sent off as well.
00:26:51
Speaker
and And now Juventus have decimated an attack for the Lazio game. The next game is against Lazio, who are on fire at the moment, playing brilliant. And Juventus are going to go into that game with no Conseil, no Gonzalez. I don't know how bad Koop Miner's injury is, and apparently it's only mine, but we'll see. um So, you know, all of a sudden, Juventus go from, you know, they're now behind him, so they're three points behind Napoli. And they've got a game against Lazio with a decimated, you know, decimated attack. And all of a sudden, the pressure's on them.
00:27:18
Speaker
So it's it's a very frustrating, very frustrating afternoon. but It's a frustrating afternoon results wise, absolutely. um But I do think there are there there is something about Juve that is there at the beginning, that you get that feeling that they're beginning of something big. And you saw that against in the Champions League as well where they showed unbelievable character.
00:27:41
Speaker
um and consar called them What is that finish? um um but football finish but He is a little bit unpolished and you could say that. I personally don't like second yellows for simulation. when He's a hothead, isn't he? i mean his dad his dad was a bit is that was exactly like His dad was a bit of a hothead. already I'm sure I remember his dad getting sent off. but oh yeah for as well like yeah but i what i want to do I do want to say I i don't like when referees send off show second yellows to players for simulation when
00:28:17
Speaker
It's not as clear cut. There is contact. There is his he's got an arm on him. It's not penalty. That's not what I'm saying. Yeah, but it's not. I agree. He falls easily, but it's not, you know. Listen, play listen he he went he went he played for it. There's no doubt. I mean, he felt the contact and died. There's no doubt about that. But I agree. I feel like when when there's a touch like that, when there is contact, I don't think because the way that for anybody that's played football at any level will tell you that it's a natural instinct.
00:28:45
Speaker
in today's a and day and age, that when you feel contact, you're naturally that it's just human instinct to to to go down. you know That is just naturally kind of what happened. So he felt the contact. He doesn't know if the contact is going to continue or if the contact is going to be firmer. So he feels the contact. Then his natural instinct is to start to go down. It wasn't a penalty. It was a dive. But I think that I agree with you. I think it is i think that' i think you think that's a bit harsh. I think it's too harsh. I think the criticism against yourself is the first yellow more than anything. He went in for a stupid unnecessary tackle off the ball and a player who'd been hacking him all game and that was obviously him losing his call. and and and He is a hothead. he is a hoted and I agree with you on that but I think the second yellow was very very harsh. The first yellow, he's an idiot.
00:29:33
Speaker
What kind of a challenge is that? But um and i do I think the referee should be a little bit more sensible. I also think that when it comes to diving in simulation, it's like you see like you only ever get booked you'll only ever get a booking for a simulation and or a second booking and get sent off a simulation.
00:29:53
Speaker
if the ref recalls it, you're never going to get VAR to call it or to overrule it, ah which I think is a bit, sometimes is a bit unfair because I saw so i saw an incident where um Tammy Abraham tried to win a penalty with a clear die at the end of the game against Fiorentina where their players not not even even close to him and he goes down, and he tries to play for the penalty, referee the VAR actually checked it to see if it was a penalty or not and obviously rightfully didn't give the penalty. and But because the referee doesn't call it as ah as a simulation, which it was a clear simulation, he doesn't get a yellow card and obviously the VAR can't give a yellow card, they can only
00:30:33
Speaker
you know give a penalty or a rep. So he gets away with it. So I think that that is also a little bit, you know, I guess that's how it is, but that's also a little bit unfair. I think that, you know, some person some people can get away with it because the referee didn't see it and the VAR can't call it and those can get it for something that's actually quite harsh, as is in the case with Conse sounds.
00:30:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's overall, though, I think that, um yeah, Juventus should have won this game. um And it's, you know, it's frustrating. I mean, it's been a it's been a difficult week for you. It's been a very difficult, it's been a roller coaster week for Juventus with everything that went on with Leipzig without Bremmer. I thought the defence without Bremmer, they didn't concede anything. I thought they looked a little bit more susceptible on the counter.
00:31:17
Speaker
without Bremmer's pace, um there was a couple of incidences in the first half that came to nothing, but against better teams could come to something. um But I mean, Kadri had a 0.3 XG without the penalty, a non penalty XG of 0.3. So that, I mean, they really they really didn't concede nothing, but we'll really see kind of how much Juventus will miss Bremmer when you know against the against the better teams, really. And that's when they're they're probably gonna going to be affected. So i mean let's look at Bremmer and how Juventus will replace him. He's torn his ACL, he's out for the season. It is a massive, massive blow in terms of the Scudetto race because Juventus is probably the most irreplaceable player in the team. He's he's their most consistent player, he's the one established star in the fence. So far, luckily, Kalulu has really stepped up. He's been really great, he's really good in this game as well. Juventus are going to need Kalulu to really
00:32:15
Speaker
play like that for the whole season, if they're going to kind of get over this, this, this Bremer miss. But I mean, I think for the Scoredetto chances, it's a crushing blow in it. And, you know, I think Juventus Motta is going to really have to do something special, I think, to try. I don't think it has any impact on their Scoredetto charge, because I think the the quality of Juve overall is is built strong enough to to to do with without Bremer.
00:32:40
Speaker
However, their chances in the Champions League are severely damaged um because he's he was he was fundamental to keeping the line at that level ah defensively and keeping them, you know, when they press and how because of how quick he is and how good he is at winning the ball high up and so on. It's much more important in Europe than in the Serie A. I think, yeah, of course, it hurts them in the Serie A, but I don't think it's a crushing blow in the Serie A. It is a crushing blow in Europe.
00:33:09
Speaker
um And I think now you have to think, what do they do? Well, Juntz really spoke about this. He says they definitely won't sign a free agent. So that's Sergio Ramos Matip kind of out of the way. Not that, I mean, I think that would have been a great, would have been a disastrous decision anyway.
00:33:26
Speaker
He did say that they will look at the January market potentially, see who's available, see what the budget is. I i do think that it it does leave them short. I mean, I think they already were short. I mean, Gattin Kalulu is the first choice centre-back duo. Then you have Danilo or Savona at right-back, so you really you've really weakened your right-back. And then and then you've got Cambiaso at left-back, or you could move Cambiaso over to right-back, play Cabal at left-back.
00:33:51
Speaker
and then play and then yeah keep Kalulu and Gatti at centre back. But it also obviously, you know the the options a number of options, so many games, you can't you know you can't play, these players can't play every single game either. So I think that you know is that they probably do need to... they do need to look at probably bringing someone in. Cabal I think is going to get more in is going to be key here um because he's the only one with that kind of a with those traits he's a physical he's a very physical defender he's aggressive he likes to win the ball high up
00:34:23
Speaker
um So we'll see what he what they do, but but I do think Cabal could be the answer. There is something that needs to be done with these ACLs. I don't want to speak about this in too much detail because I have actually set up an interview with ah with a top physiotherapist, sports scientist, and medical expert to talk about ACL injuries. and Why we know what is going on there's not just in Italy but everywhere everywhere because this this weekend we've had we've had the an ACL for Carver Hall Possibly for Zapata that that hasn't been confirmed in the Torino intergame
00:35:01
Speaker
and then of course the Bremmer ACL earlier in the week and then we've had Rodgeri which was the last week or the week before for Manchester City as well. I mean there's there's been, listen to this, in 2024 there have been 38 cruciate ligament injuries in Europe's top five leagues.
00:35:17
Speaker
There's been 17 ACLs already in the 2024-25 season. We're only at the start of of October. Serie A leads the way by quite a distance, which is something that I've been going on about and I've had people say, it's just a coincidence. and it's not It's not a coincidence.
00:35:33
Speaker
Serie A's had six ACL injuries already this season. They've had 12 in 2024, which is top ah double the number of any other league. No, La Liga's actually had 11, actually, but the Premier League's had five. La Liga's had... No, sorry.
00:35:53
Speaker
correction. La Liga's had four in 2024, three this season. Premier League's had five in 2024, one this season. Liga is the is the net is the other one that's kind of comparable to Serie A. They've had 11 ACL's Liga six this season, then Serie A with 12 in total and 2024 six this season. Bundesliga six um in total, won this season. Serie A could go up to 13 and seven if Zapata is confirmed, which I think I've seen a lot of reports saying that they think that is an ACL. and so So yeah, there's there's clearly a reason why this happens and we'll go into that on the in the interview with with but with ah with an expert an ACL expert and why this has happened. But something needs to be done about it because it's obviously a big, big problem in football right now.
00:36:43
Speaker
No, it is, it absolutely is. It's not, in you know, like vi it's it's it's everyone sees, I mean, Rodry, before he said it, he was told he was very vocal about the number of games.
00:36:58
Speaker
and I still maintain that that's part of it. That's that's probably the biggest reason. Yeah, that's for me, it's you can't ever since COVID, like you said, and we were talking about they've not had a single minutes of rest. um And they're human beings, they're not made of, they're not robots. And this is just going to get worse. And and the game is killing itself. Because if the biggest start, you know, if the best players continue to have these serious career ending injuries where they can't recover from, well, then you're the sport is eating itself.
00:37:30
Speaker
Oh yeah. ah the The Italy national team has been has been so badly affected by ACLs because we've we've lost two potential generational talents in Chiesa and Zagnolo who who you know never became the players that they could have become because of the ACLs. They've returned and as shadows of themselves. And that's just two. There's been others, so many others as well. you know So at the moment Skamaka, Skalvini, we don't know how they'll return. It's just unbelievable.
00:38:00
Speaker
and But yeah, we will discuss that in more detail um in the in the interview. um Quick note on Paul Pogba who has had his four year drug ban reduced to 18 months. So he can start training in January and then he will be allowed to play officially from from from March. um My understanding is that this probably is not gonna change much in terms of his event is clear in that it looks like they're gonna work and discuss about doing a termination so hes he's unlikely to play for you event is again it's probably a below the event is from a financial point of view because,
00:38:35
Speaker
they've not been paying him anything. They've been paying him a statutory wage ah since it's the drug ban. I don't know the legally, um you know, do they have to start paying him his 10 million in a season from March if he's still there or if they pay him off are they going to have to pay for part of the contract. or as i've seen reported it's possible that if you are banned for i think i read six months or more with a drugs sp which obviously has been the case book but you can actually then terminate a player's contract without paying for them i don't know legally
00:39:08
Speaker
what what depends on the terms of the contract as well i mean and and and and you know people make their contracts but we'll see but yeah i do i do think this is the right from pogba's point of view i do think this is the right decision i think it was <unk> ridiculously massively overboard to give him a four-year drug ban for for some this kind of drug offence in which it's your first offence, I thought four years was mental. Yeah, I thought I was too harsh too. Usually, for a first time offender as well, I mean, you usually give two years for that. Yeah, 18 months to two years, I think is, you know, 18 months. so thought i think Four years was very exaggerated. Yeah. but
00:39:49
Speaker
yeah I just think yeah but regardless he's not coming back to Uwe and I think that we can consider this the worst return to a club in football history. I can't think of a player returning to a club and having a more torrid time No doubt about it. No doubt about it. Pound for pound, given that the salary, given the level of importance that was supposed to be put on him. It's been is it's been a disaster. it's but It's been an unmitigated disaster.
00:40:24
Speaker
um and yeah yeah But it's good it'll be good to have him back because, you know, Tiago Motta kind of said it all. He said Paul Pogba was a great player. That said it all, really, about what Juventus think of it, think about him, and what probably everyone thinks about him now. He was a great player, but he hasn't played for a long time. But it'll be good to have him back. It'll be 32 when he's back, and hopefully he can still play at some kind of European level where we can kind of enjoy him because he's he's still enjoyable to watch. But yeah, yeah, good to have him back. Roma, difficult week for Roma. They lost to Elfsborg.
00:41:03
Speaker
who nema who did What did you describe Elspor? Elspor is from Boros. Boros is this kind of hell that never stops raining. so yeah um no yeah and but It was a bit of a hell hole for Roma to to visit. They lost the game and then they drew here against Monza.
00:41:22
Speaker
Yeah, not a good week but for Roma after a decent start from to his to to his time at Roma with for Europe. What do you make of the penalty situation that they should have had? Again, i come I come back to to to exactly what Fonseca said. like to too The penalties are too cheap. I mean, that should not be a penalty. Do I think in today's a day and age that it warrants a penalty? I still probably say no, to be honest with you. I think it's just kind of two players coming into contact with one another. And, you know, I don't think, no, I don't think it was, I don't think it's a penalty. Do I think it should be a penalty? 100% no, I don't. What do you what do you think?
00:42:03
Speaker
I think it's more of a penalty than what we saw in Fiorentina and Milan. If this was in the Fiorentina and Milan game, this definitely gets given us a penalty. I don't get why all the fuss about this. No, I do i can get why the fuss fuss is about because again, it's the same league. And when you have these drastically different um levels of what is a penalty, what isn't a penalty, you're going to get people pissed off.
00:42:31
Speaker
this is I get why Rome are angry. I completely get it because you look at Torino Inter, you see that penalty. You look, if you're in Tino Milan, you look at those three penalties. And then you look at your game and you're like, well, why are we not giving them then? I get the frustration. I 100% get it. um But the problem is that none of them are penalties and they shouldn't be given. like You know what I mean? So again, and and I think it's it it goes back to what I said. I think the start of the season had been really good from the referees. I think they've hold held a consistent line um
00:43:02
Speaker
very high level and this weekend was a huge deviation from that and I don't want to I hope they nip this in the bud and we return back to the level we were because I don't want this season to turn into a shitshow because this is how it turns into a shitshow. When one thing is a penalty, three things that are penalties in one game and something that's worse that all those three combined is not in another in the same matchday. Do you see what I'm saying? like This is what creates the shitshow in the Serie A. And I hope that they nip this in the bud. I don't expect them to.
00:43:36
Speaker
I hope they do, because I don't trust Rocky. I trust him as far as I can throw an elephant. But ah it's it's um it's it's it's a shame, and I do understand that Roma are pissed. I do get that, 100%. Yeah, I mean, for me, it' this i don't I understand that, but yeah they it's not penalty. And I think Roma roma are...
00:43:58
Speaker
They created chances in it. I thought Dobbit, first of all, that was ah I thought that was a brilliant finish. like It was a brilliant finish, but he should have scored at least two. i mean he He missed quite a few as well. he's still he's still he's he's He's on a good trajectory. He's working well, but he should have scored more. He had more chances to score more. Pellegrini should have scored. Pellegrini for sure as well. He's not having a good start to the season, ah absolutely.
00:44:21
Speaker
but that the the goal that Munsa scored is a mistake from Srila I mean if you're out there you see he touches it he should take that and that that ball has to be saved you can't just touch it like that and basically lay it on a platter for Mota to tap in so no it's uh it was it was a setback it was a bad week for Rama overall um and But I'm sure they'll bounce back. Now they get the calm they haven't had since the Rossi was sacked. It's two weeks. I think Yurich gets a little bit of time to kind of land and and and build. and And I'm sure he will Roma will come out stronger after the weekend after the international break. But yeah, this is a game they should have won. You talk about Juva with missed points. This was a missed opportunity by Roma. This is a game they should have won in order to to continue in the race for the top four. yeah
00:45:12
Speaker
I think Nesta probably saved himself for for another day and with this. I think if they lost this, then they're bottom of the league. I mean, they're joint bottom now. They're on four points, but they're only one point from safety and they've got a tough game out of the way. So, so yeah, I think Nesta saves himself, like I said last week, for the next two matches I think will be decisive for him. They've got Verona and and Venezia in their in their next two games and Venezia are bottom uh a joint bottom with Monzo and then and then Verona obviously a fellow kind of relegated to I think no that those if he loses those two or maybe gets a point from those two then I think then then he might he he might lose his job. that's yeah I think you're right I think you're right but I just gotta say I missed that I gotta say he's what uh as far as like
00:45:58
Speaker
personal personality's got. He's been a real breath of fresh air in the seria. He says funny things and he's just he's very relaxed and joking about it. He speaks quite honestly as well. i' Very honest and there's no bullshit with him and it's it's actually quite fun to see discover this side of Alessandro Nesta.
00:46:16
Speaker
Now, if you're sure, before the game, there was concerns about having a referee from Rome. And he says... Yeah, she was hilarious. He might be a Lazio fan. And he just, like, turns that on his head and is like, how do you know he's a Romanista? Maybe he's a Lazio fan. It was very funny. now he's He's been like this very... He's a very sincere person in the sense that he's very genuine. Like, when when when Swedish TV followed Sven Gorneriksen on his farewell tour, and he went to um Genoa when Sampdoria were playing,
00:46:43
Speaker
and um and And with Roberto Mancini and Alessandro Nesta was the coach of the opponent. um and And I can't remember who it was, they who Santolo were playing in the Serie B. But it was he was so it's it was he's a very, very genuine person when he was speaking about about Sven Gorin. And he was like, well, you know, if this man is the reason I had a career. And he said he made me a captain. And when I was just a kid and I was like, are you sure? And like he's very, very, very Honest and very serious. He is. he is all I can confirm it because I've met him in person and we we made a cake for him. My daddy. Yeah, don't remember. oh yeah my dad my dad presented it to My dad presented it to him and so mate made his ease there with his son.
00:47:27
Speaker
and my dad madete made Nestor's son eat the cake. He wouldn't let him go until he had the cake. He was like, no, no, no, no, no, you have to eat man, German. man should like And then he got like, Nestor's son had to got cream on his nose when as when he was eating. His son's only about 15. It's just like him, like just like Nestor, like really like... handsome, young, you know, good looking young boy. And and also very and and yeah, he was a lovely, lovely, lovely kid, just just like his dad. His dad was very, you know, very down to earth. um he You know, he was really interested. He loved the cake. and We'd made a cake for him. like We made a specially made cake. He put his his nester. We wrote his name on there. We put the Milan badge, the Milan colors.
00:48:11
Speaker
on the cake and and we presented it to him. He was there with Masada. He is a lovely is a lovely guy, so you know I really hope he can can you know turn things around. Yes, same. I like him. I really do like him.
00:48:27
Speaker
Talking about his former club, Lazio, though, they're in great, great form at the moment, probably like after Napoli, maybe the most kind of informed team in Serie A right now. And they move up level with the Juventus in the table after beating Empoli 2-1, Empoli's first defeat of the of the season in Serie A. And is Pedro is the hero, 37 years old, and he's still doing it. He's got a great, great goal. So that was a really, really good story.
00:48:55
Speaker
and but I want to also say I want to highlight Tavares, Nuno Tavares. Yeah I was just about to say. What a monster he is down at down the left. five Five assists now in a row which is a which which increases his his record extends his record which had already broken the week before where he became the first New signing in seriato to get four assists in the row at the start of the season He's now made it five in a in a row and he did a great bit of individual play to kind of make space for himself get the crossing for the candy to do that loop and header to equalize off the employee taking the Taking the lead and he also went on a brilliant kind of brilliant work in the build-up to the penalty which let's hear missed he was again like he's just a
00:49:38
Speaker
He's just a monster down that, like a machine down that left flank. he He's like a horse, isn't he? He just never stops running. never stops yeah gallant and the And the deliveries are brilliant too. him He was a wonderful header for Zakani. And and and you know he he he he also was very integral.
00:49:57
Speaker
um in in um in just just all as an option goes, he was he was very, very, he was very important and obviously he was very important for the penalty that Castellanos missed. um But no, look, Lazio Barone is doing, you know, Barone is doing great. And and it was very interesting to see what he said afterwards about him where he praised Sarri saying, I'm basically you know, building upon the great work of my predecessor. um He is doing good good work there um and they are, you know, they they are playing good football. I think Ravella has been really good um so far. um And and there there are question marks defensively, let's put it that way, but this they create a lot
00:50:46
Speaker
in terms of chances and XG, if you look at it, the the they create a hell of a lot. I like their i like their mentality. and also they He seems to have already created quite a good kind of team unity as well. that They seem to be playing together, which is yeah really positive. they yeah He's definitely the probably the the the only real negative so far this season. I mean, the fence here has been a little bit shady. Provedel is having a really bad season, like they're winning, but they're winning despite Provedel at the moment. I don't know. What what was he doing on that and on that Empoliq go? I mean, he slipped apparently, but it but still he shouldn't be like, I don't know. yeah i I think, you know, he's making a lot of mistakes. Yeah. Yeah. They do. And and they do.
00:51:30
Speaker
They they they should probably look at. I mean, he's pushing 32. If if if this continues, they should probably look into trying to, you know, they've got Mandas there and who did all right last season. I don't know. But they should probably look at trying to phase him out and bring in someone else because it's you can't, you know, it's not that this isn't sustainable. Like it's just not you can't have a goalkeeper who's this out of form.
00:51:58
Speaker
um Yeah, for sure. It will come to bite them at some point. Atalanta, though, Atalanta Genoa, the Rezeghi show, hat-trick, brilliant hat-trick, assists as well. Seven goals in seven games in Serie A. Goal average of one goal every 68 minutes this season, which is insane.
00:52:19
Speaker
um and he has With seven goals and seven games, he's hit reached a milestone only achieved by four Italian players before, Badio and Mario Balotelli in the last 30 years. well this includent Including Badio and Balotelli, I should say. You mean his seven goals and seven opening games? His first seven Serie appearances.
00:52:43
Speaker
Well, I'm feeling very, very happy about my pre-season prediction that he's going to be Capo Cannon. Yeah, he's looking good, isn't he? And I'm also very, very pleased about my prediction that Marcus Turan was going to score more goals than Lautaro, and that we're going to have a Serie A goal scorer where ah where we have four potentially four players above 20 goals. I think Dusan, Ritegi, Turam and Kvara are all going to get above 20 goals this season um in the Serie A. I still think Ritegi is going to be above that 25-28 goals minimum because I think you you know he he showed everything today in terms of the killer he is in the box. But one thing that
00:53:28
Speaker
we've we've praised this season and we've not seen before. His link-up play, his awareness of where his teammates are, he's passing that that back heel for for the um for the goal. Absolutely. that's where that is That is where he's he's surprised me and even proven me wrong. I didn't think he had that in him. Listen, I've always said incredible finisher, incredible in the air, yeah lethal, clinical. you know If he has a chance, he'll bury it.
00:53:58
Speaker
Generally, generally a good penalty safer as well. Apart from that, obviously, I know he missed one against Arsenal, but yeah, he's all round game. I mean, um I'm still, I still don't want to call it yet because I got a part of me thinks it's going to go back to last season. It was over, but it's like you were two months into the season now and he's all round game and his link up with his teammates and even his protection and hold up. Yeah. Hold up like that. He he he was a bit of a flower bitch last season with his hold up back to play.
00:54:24
Speaker
like he didn't really seem to have that in him and now like just like overnight you know is is he's outstanding in that in that aspect well then if he continues like this i don't want to but if he continues like this he's going to become potentially one of the best and the best strikers around, not just in Serie A. You know, if he continues like this, because then he's virtually the almost the complete striker, really, the complete number nine, let's say, you know, he's not going to dribble and beat players and and, you know, score those kinds of goals. But, but you know, he's, he's Yeah, fantastic. And a great week for Atalanta. Two big wins. They they they they destroyed Shactor. I mean, that's one of the biggest destructions I've seen. They absolutely destroyed it. They could won 6-0 that game. And you know they they they picked it up now. It's a tough start. They had two wins in their first eight games.
00:55:18
Speaker
They're two in wins in a row, and it's a shame. probably They're probably a bit gutted. It's going to an international break. They probably wanted to continue, didn't they? this this This kind of form. So yeah, good for Asalanta. Genoa, we we said it last week. I worry about you, Lardino. I'm worried. I think that they they are. They're a real risk of relegation. Agreed. On paper. On paper, this team is a relegation candidate now, I think. It's ah it's a relegation attack. I mean, Gudmundsson and Retsky sold with suicide, but Malinowski has been the the added killer.
00:55:52
Speaker
and you look at the players that are there in attack. It's a relegation attack. Who's going to score the goals to keep them up? And then you look further down the team and you think, the defence is decent. I think the Winters are a really good player, but but it's not a strong enough defence or a strong enough midfield to overcome the weakness, the the impotency of the attack. No, they they killed the season before it started but by selling Goodman's and Eretegi. I mean, it's just it's you know the Genoa fans,
00:56:19
Speaker
are fuming at that. They were actually expecting a good season. Everything was sorted. They kept everyone together. Everyone's looking good. And then just before the season starts, they sell the two starters. I mean, it's just, it's stupid. um And they are, they are angry and I get that they are angry and they have a right to be angry. And I can't really blame Gilardino because I'm sorry, but what like you said, like what have they got? I mean, what what are you expecting to do? Pinamonti is in Virginia. I mean, what are we expecting here? Yeah. And it's it's not it's not it's not good at all. it's's It's worrying. And I feel it's bad because I actually think he's got a career. I really do think there is something very interesting building there. But I do want to talk you know just ataranta.
00:57:14
Speaker
you know they They're really getting to into their stride now, aren't they? like they They're always such like inconsistent starters. um But then the then now it feels like after this week, well, Atalanta are back now, and they now we see what they can do. Shakhtar, yes, they they destroyed them. They destroyed Genoa. they got After the international break, they got ah Venezia away, Celtic at home, Verona, Monza, and then Napoli.
00:57:44
Speaker
Uh, so they can go on a run before they can go on a run. Yeah. And, and, and that's, that's important. And, and especially the Celtic game, I mean, I don't want to, you know, discount them, but they should win that. And Venezia and Verona and Montserrat teams, they usually, like they should be able to just easily see them off. So they could go on a run here. Um, and it's interesting because now, now is when the season starts really, it's been preliminary rounds. Now, now we actually go into the.
00:58:13
Speaker
to the first indication of where these clubs are going and what kinds of seasons they're having. Yeah, for sure. Inter, a thriller, another thriller, five gold thriller. Inter having some some thrillers this season, aren't they? 3-2, but is this is all really, all again, it's all about Saram, Hatrick, joint top scorer with Retagie in the Capucaneira rankings. No penalties. And no penalties, yeah, Retagie's had two penalties, yeah. Yeah. Look, ah this is this was an important win for Inter, but Inter don't
00:58:47
Speaker
are are not are concerning me. They concede way, way too much. That first goal is just, what are they doing immediately after going too up? That is not good enough. um This is just not good enough. The penalty I don't count because I think it's a joke. It's an absolute joke.
00:59:10
Speaker
um But the Zapata immediately after Turram scores, the second and intersecond, the easy way in which Torino can go through because the teams not the in internet aren't able to collectively counter those kinds of runs, similarly to like when they considered a goal against Milan and the Derby, when Pulis has just ran through them.
00:59:33
Speaker
I don't know what that is. Is he is it a structural issue or if or is it a is it just a physical physical issue that they they don't seem to be switched on like they used to last season? Maybe a bit of both. I think more physical, at least in Zaghi thinks so, and I kind of agree with him because he's given players three, four days off. He wants to rest in turn back into form.
00:59:53
Speaker
but If Inter are going to be in the Scudetto race, they have to tighten up that defense because nine goals in seven games conceded is way, way too much.
01:00:08
Speaker
and that and again conceding late. A penalty that wasn't um a penalty, but still again another goal in the last 15 minutes from a team that last season barely conceded a goal in the last 15 minutes. This is concerning. This is really, really concerning.
01:00:26
Speaker
Mikitarian and Zagi and Sommer and everyone is aware of it and they were all talking about it, um that this is a problem. So i i from from an inter-perspective in terms of long-term going in 1st Corretto, not very confident at all. um and But you know, in attack, they have two strikers, they have three strikers that score. Okay, Tarim is still to get the score in the Serie A. He should have scored one in this game, but Tarim is going for it. He's into his top goal scorer in the Serie A and I think he will finish that because I think Laotaro will be
01:01:10
Speaker
more important in the Champions League. I think that's what they're saving him for. And I think that's what he's got his own target set at as well. Yeah, so yeah for sure. the the The big negative black mark on this game is of course there's a part of injury, which as we're recording it hasn't been confirmed that he's done his ACL, I don't believe. but All the reports have been that that they think it that he that that he's that he's done his ACR. So, yeah, that is that is sad news because I think he he's he's very important for the three knows attack. no He's fundamental. they They don't have another striker that can do what he does. um So hopefully they don't have that. But as we were talking about, you know, now the season starts now, the season really starts for him. After the international break, Roma away
01:02:02
Speaker
young boys in the Champions League away, Juve at home, Empoli away, Venezia at home, Arsenal at home and Napoli. This is the the next tour de force as Inzaghi likes to call it. This next month we'll decide if Inter, what Inter are. Are Inter serious contenders in the chat in the Serie A?
01:02:25
Speaker
will know after these games because they're games that last season Inter won every single one of them they would have beaten every single they they they they beat Juve at home they beat Roma away Empoli Venezia at home they would have won that Napoli at home they would have won that like the we'll know uh in about a month's time if Inter are the real deal in the Serie A or not um And if this is just a structural issue, or if this is just a fatigue issue defensively, because that's going to be key, especially against a Napoli and above all a Uwe that don't concede anything. um So, you know,
01:03:02
Speaker
from, you know, up until this point, preliminary, Inter are still there. There are only two points off Napoli, but the next month with these run up with this run of games coming up, that's what we'll know if Inter are the real deal and are going to mount a serious title defense or not.
01:03:18
Speaker
For sure. Well, one team that are looking closer to the real deal is Napoli. And they they were really made to suffer in this game against Komal, which they eventually won 3-1. I mean, the first half, they were actually outplayed for for much of it in overall play. I mean, Komal really, really impressed me. I thought they were really, really good. But the second half, they they shut it down. They squeezed the game. And they they they were clinical in this game. They they buried their three big chances.
01:03:49
Speaker
and they've showed that you know they can win when they're on top, they can win when they're playing on the back foot. and they They stayed compact. i mean I thought Koma really would dominate in the first half, but despite that, least you know Napoli still conceded very few kind of like big chances even when Koma were dominant. and So I think that yeah at the moment, Napoli are um ah i really you know they're they're doing everything that's the ah expected of them.
01:04:16
Speaker
and You know, their their new signings are also doing well. I mean, McTominay has had a really good impact. He scored within 30 seconds. He's a great finisher. He has goals in his blood, as Conte said. And, and you know, he's been very efficient and working well in the system.
01:04:33
Speaker
And David Neres as well as an impact player, a bit like Conseil Sal at Juventus. He's really, really dangerous when he comes off the bench and and he scored he scored a ah nice goal as well. So, yeah, Napoli looking good. They top of they go top into the state top, go into the international break. They're on this good little run. They've they've increased their lead over Juventus and over Milan. and So, they they everything's going really well for Napoli.
01:05:00
Speaker
No, it is. And I'm not surprised because this is Antonio Conte playing once a week. He got the players he wanted. They gave him what he wanted. A lot of people scratch their heads as they always do with Conte. I'd say we're right on Conte's schedule. um ah Difficult preseason, lots of arguing, moaning and things not going his way. In terms of players, he finally gets what he wants. The the the opening game didn't go so well, but then he you know he gets eager he gets angry. He gets everyone you know, fired up and they go on a run and here they are. But more importantly for me, as I tweeted out, is is some him winning a league with a team that he shouldn't be winning a league with, playing once a week is not unique. He's done it before.
01:05:51
Speaker
But doing it, playing with playing a 4-2-3-1 with Scott McTominay as his number 10, might just be his masterpiece. it's it's just it's it's just it's a story This guy is just he's such a fascinating person because he hasn't changed in the sense of identity. It's still Calcio verticale. It's still But the fact that he adapts his formation now, and he has shown that Napoli can play a 3-4-2-1, they can play a 3-5-2, but they can also play a 4-2-3-1. If he's managed to incorporate that skill into his toolbox,
01:06:26
Speaker
then he's unbelievable. you know he's he's He's just almost unbeatable, especially when he's playing once a week. And especially that when he gets ahead. If he starts getting oh ahead in the league, and and I'm just a word of warning, just a word of warning to Inter and Juventus in particular, because, I mean, it's still not much. it's They've got a two-point lead over Inter and a three-point lead over Juventus. That's nothing.
01:06:51
Speaker
but yeah If that becomes 6.567 and now people are playing once a week and they get in ah you know and then the pressure is on Juventus and Inter, especially with Juventus and Inter playing in Europe, players are going to get tired, the managers are going to have to start thinking about rotation and when you rotate and when you're tired and you're travelling,
01:07:10
Speaker
you know when you're already under pressure, that adds to the pressure and and and and makes it even more difficult to to win. They just need to be careful and just take it keep an eye on the on the the fixture list coming up. In the next two match rounds, Napoli play Empoli and Lecce in their next two match days. Those are games you you expect them to to get six points from. Juventus are playing Lazio at home, as I already said earlier, a decimated Juventus in attack.
01:07:39
Speaker
you know, that is against Alaxio teaming form. That's a, that's a risky game. That's, that's a, you know, that's a game that, you know, that could easily drop points in. Inter play away at Roma. Again, you know, ah but a very difficult game, a way that that could easily, could easily be a draw or they could drop points in. And then who, who what's the game, the next game after that? Inter Juventus. So do you know what I mean? So yeah if Napoli pick up six points,
01:08:09
Speaker
I mean, it's quite conceivable that Inter and Juventus could drop points in both of those games. All of a sudden, what are we talking about? We're talking about potentially five, six, seven, you know, even eight, nine points over these teams. But we should also concede that after Napoli play away to Empoli and hope to lecture, they've got Milan away, Atalanta at home, Inter away,
01:08:36
Speaker
a Roma at home after the international break. So they do have a very tough stretch coming up, but like you said, yeah you do not, you do not let that man build a five, six, seven point lead ahead of you in the league. Cause then he just runs with it. He just don't do that. So like you said, Inter and Juve need to pay close attention here.
01:09:03
Speaker
because o he could you know because then you know if he's got six points going into the Milan away game and you know how he can shut games down and counter it like you like you said against Cornwall he could do that against anyone and you don't want to do that because then you could be find yourself in a situation after match day 13 where contest built up a nine-point lead and then and then it's And then it's all over. but It's over. it's over he doesn't He doesn't lose leads like that. And and the vibe around Napoli too, everything around him, he has got everyone behind him. like You can tell from the
01:09:46
Speaker
the the caretaker, to the to the guy who cuts the grass, to Salvatore who does the pizza. like He has got everyone behind him, literally everyone. um and and and He's good at that. He's good good at building us against the world mentality, not just in the squad, but around the club.
01:10:12
Speaker
And he's definitely done that already. They're going to obviously have, you know, situations this season where they might not be informed and we'll see how they react to that. But I'm just saying, if the warning bells are not ringing ah at and Contenasa, then they they they need to pay attention because this could this thing could be over before December. Like it's like you do not let that man build up a nine to 12 point lead ahead of you because then you're screwed.
01:10:40
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I do want to give a shout out though to Carmel. They've really won me over. We we had some some questions on them, didn't we, after the first few weeks. they They didn't look good at all, um but but they they they've they've been really impressive. they They won the two games before. and the I think Conte said they actually that he considered them the most informed team in Serie A, which may be an exaggeration, but they are, they are you know, this is what Conte does, isn't it? But they are. but they they They are, um they they they they they look good. And I think Fabregas definitely wants somebody to watch in the yeah next years because you can see the way that, you know, you can see his concepts, his patterns of play, his identity, the pressing, the way that his teams keep the ball and create those angles. You can see that and he's doing it with
01:11:29
Speaker
quite generally quite an ordinary group of players. i mean They had over 60% possession when I checked at one point in the game. um I'm not sure how how much but the possession they finished the game with, but but you know they they they they won more tackles, they won more aerials, they won more ah had better pass access rate than Napoli. you know that i mean That's part of the identity of Fabrios. I think he's definitely somebody to watch, very interesting coach to watch. but I thought that so they they played really, really well in the in the first half, especially. And they were just let down by bad defending and they gifted Napoli that 2-1 with a stupid penalty, a stupid penalty. Otherwise, you know, who knows sort of what could have happened after that. So I think that now looking at that, I think they're there ah probably going to be fine this season, um having kind of had a few doubts. And I do want to
01:12:21
Speaker
I don't want to speak about him now because we've got a question in the Q and&A episode about Nico Paz. What a talent. What a talent this guy is. he He is a special young talent. and But you know we've got a question about about him. So we'll do a little profile of him in our in our Q and&A. But he was in the first half, he was magical in in this game. Great, great, great player to watch.
01:12:41
Speaker
um The rest of Serie A, the other results, Rona 2, Benezia 1, Udenezia 1, Lecce, Niels, so Udenezia's great start to the season continues. They are now up to level with Juventus, I believe, in the table. They are join yeah joint third with Lazio and Juventus. So a great win for them. And then Bologna, Niels, Parma, Niels. The draw specialists Bologna in a rare clean sheet for Parma.
01:13:09
Speaker
and yeah Yeah, that's that's crazy. Like Pekya's Parma ah keep a clean sheet. They did not see that coming. No, no. that was done But Parma have a problem with discipline, don't they? I mean, I think this was like the third or fourth red card this season.
01:13:27
Speaker
um that they've suffered. um they They do have a distance. Yeah, they've got to be a bit careful. I'm a bit concerned that they could be, I've seen others saying this, they could end up being a bit of a flossing on. They're like, exciting, blowing everyone away at the start of the season. Everyone really saying, you know, they've got so many kind of talented youngsters, which they do, that can develop.
01:13:45
Speaker
but kind of a bit too you know a bit too open generally and a bit too chaotic and and it could end up going wrong for them so they need they need to be a bit careful that we're ashamed so they are really good team to watch but yeah but just Verona verona ven venezia just just a brief word on that that's a very important win for Verona because you know, when when you when you're heading into March, April, and you're looking at where you are in the relegation battle, wins like that early on of they are so dear to you. Like those three points are so, so important. um and and And they continue to impress Verona. It's really incredible to me when I look at that team
01:14:39
Speaker
that Verona are 12th. I mean, I don't understand how they keep doing these miracles. um You know, it's so impressive. I thought this year was going to be the year and it still could be where they were they luck. Well, not luck, but, you know, quote unquote, Lauren's out. But no, they're still there. um I am worried, however, for lecture. And I wonder how much longer Corvino has patience with Luca Gotti. I hope he does, because I think Luca Gotti is a good coach. But sorry, three goals scored in seven games, 12 conceded. It's worrying for Leccia. And they're right there with Monza Venezia Genoa, Leccia.
01:15:24
Speaker
part of my Caliari that you know that that's you know those that that's where this is looking crystallizing to be the relegation battle to be so we'll see yeah for sure okay just before we finish off with bad I love how you don't care when I go on these relegation battles I can literally just hear you zoning out yeah for sure yeah I'm always so conscious of the time. We're one hour and 15 minutes into the show. and I just love it. Every time I go on these relegation but like relegation battle tirades, I can just hear you zoning out.
01:15:59
Speaker
i It's true. I do sometimes. I do.
01:16:05
Speaker
I don't say no on the Italy national team, though that's for sure. They are back this this week and the UEFA Nations League is back. Italy play play twice. and so On Thursday, Italy play against Belgium in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico.
01:16:20
Speaker
Hoping to make it three wins out of three in their group. Remember that the top two qualify for the quarterfinals of the Nations League. Italy are top with six points currently, followed by France and Belgium, who have three points. So a win here will will put Italy pretty much on the brink of qualifying, which will be really, really good and impressive.
01:16:41
Speaker
um so So let's do a little preview of the game again against Belgium on on Thursday. First of all, Nima, I want us just to discuss Luciano Spelletti's squad selection and and what we think of it. So I'll read out the squad. The goalkeepers are Donaruma, Vicario, and a first call-up for Di Gregorio of Juventus. The fans are Bastoni, Buongiorno, Calipheori, Gabbia, who has got his first call-up,
01:17:06
Speaker
for for for italy from melan ocoly cambiaso bellanova di marco di lorenzo uno doji then the midfield is tonali ritchie fagioli flatesi pellegrini and the first call-up surprising for pizzilli of roma and then the attack is retegi raspadori muesakine and the first call-up for Daniel Maldini which continues the incredible Maldini dynasty in which both his father Paolo Maldini of course and his grandfather Cesare Maldini both of course legends of the game both played for Italy and he could become the third in in that line which is unbelievable really what family so so that's the squad
01:17:54
Speaker
If we look at the first of all, which players, what do you think of the new call ups first of all? Do you think, I mean, I think Gabbier is deserved. I'm happy that he's in there. Gabbier deserves. yeah I think Gabbier deserves. I think Maldini kind of, I mean, I wouldn't have picked him, but I don't i can't complain too much because I think he's been.
01:18:12
Speaker
good for for months or two but um and also you know given the situation that we have up front there's not really that much to you know he could he could have revived the patric cutrone project but i think he would have been oh heavily criticized for that yeah i mean i think with maldini is partly a sign of just our lack of options isn't it yeah um but it's also you know i'd rather also at the same time i'd rather him give someone like maldini a try see what he's like rather than going with someone that we know already is not is not up to it. Do you know what I mean? Someone that we tried before that we know he's not going to be good enough. And I probably include zakani like don't see the point of zakani has been good this season. I like him but 29 years old will be 31 by the time of the
01:18:58
Speaker
the World Cup and we know he's not really suited to this system either so you know we might as well try somebody else you know if he's not good enough he's not good enough. Pizzilli is a little bit of a surprising one I think maybe a bit premature given how little yeah so little he's played. I was going to say it's it's an interesting call-up it's a little bit premature maybe in terms of what he's actually done but I mean Brescanini is injured he he was dead he would have definitely been in here um The Gregorio I think is fully deserved, he's been really really good this season. What's interesting about the Gregorio is that you know obviously he's brilliant with his feet and in terms of kind of like the build up play, depend you know if Spelletti wants to be more natural
01:19:45
Speaker
you know, with that, probably more suitable. Having said that though, you know, Spelletti was stuck with Merets, who can't play with his feet. Napoli still did pretty well pretty well. And now he's obviously got Dinoromo, who's not very good with his feet. And I just can't see dropping Dinoromo, to be honest with you. But yeah, it's just an it's an interest in interesting dynamic there that that they have now got somebody who is fantastic with his, who is one of the best with his feet in the squad. But in terms of the players that are not there,
01:20:12
Speaker
The controversial ones are, well, first of all, the ones that are injured are Barela and Preccinini, so they're out because of injury, and Kiesa as well, because he's he's still not still not fit enough, really, to to to to to get to be called up. He missed the European Champions League game against Bologna through injury, and then that was it, really, from there. um But the the there's two controversial ones, are the two Juventus absences,
01:20:36
Speaker
Gattie out of the squad, given how brilliant he is. That is a little bit surprising for me. The only explanation I can think is that Spelletti feels that, and I feel this, I feel that Gattie... I feel that Gattie is better in a four. I think he's more suited than in a four. I think that when he plays in a three, he has a bit of the scrennier symptom of being a little bit not so good defending laterally in space, like moving quickly in space, covering those gaps between the full the the wing backs, you know, covering those areas where when he's center back, he can play in a more of a compact defense where he can hold the line, he can make use of his kind of his is kind of
01:21:23
Speaker
kind of old-fashioned defending which I think he's very very good at and whereas you know when you're in a three you have to cover more space and and That that's my only that that can be the only thing I can think of because he deserves to be in the squad otherwise and ah For me, it's more surprising Caleb Ocoli. I like Ocoli in the Serie A. I don't know why he keeps insisting with him. like what what's the What's the thinking there? It can only be that he's thinking long term with him, can't it? yeah Because he doesn't deserve it right now, does he?
01:21:58
Speaker
No. Yeah. Yeah. And the midfield is, the I mean, look at tell the tell is's the other one. what you I don't get that. Do you think it's a causal now? I mean, what do you think? Well, it is, of course, it's a causal. What's happened between them? Like, what is this? Is it a footballing reason? Well, why I don't know. and That's what I'm wondering. is Is it a footballing reason? Is it more than that? um What's the issue?
01:22:23
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, I find it strange because he's been, he has been really, really good. I mean, he has been rotated at Juventus, but he's been really good this season for UB. And I don't, I don't know. It's weird, isn't it? The only thing I can think of is he thinks of him as the deep lion player and now he's Richie as, and maybe Fagioli are those players he sees as the deep liars. He doesn't think he has a tactical place in the team.
01:22:53
Speaker
ah than no i i I don't I don't understand why Locatelli can't be and in this team if you're going to play a 3-5-2. It's a midfield three. What's the problem? I don't get it. I really don't get it. um Tonali, Ricci, Fagioli, Fratesi, Pellegrini, fine. But why is like instead of Pisilio, I think Locatelli should be there. Yes, I do think that. That to me, I don't get.
01:23:20
Speaker
Yeah, yeah i't I don't get it at all. Okay, probable 11. Obviously, we're recording this on Monday, so this could change depending on training and everything, but it it's probable it'll stick with the 352 or the 3511, and that's for sure. and We're looking at, in defense, we're looking at goalkeeper Don Naruma and then you've got Di Lorenzo, Bastoni and Calafuri. The only doubt really is if Buongiorno plays, he could play potentially in the centre with Bastoni on the left and Calafuri dropping out. Or, as has been suggested, I've seen that Di Lorenzo could drop out and Calafuri could go right centre back because he's actually been used by Arsenal at right back.
01:24:09
Speaker
this season by Arteta, he's so adaptable, kind of furious. You can literally, he can basically play in any position, I feel. I feel like you could almost play him up front. Maybe he's the answer to Italy's striker problem. Just play kind of furious, attack, you know. Blame as a forward. I mean, you can play him anywhere. So when that has been suggested, I don't know whether he will do that. But then the wing backs, I think, probably nailed in, Cambiaso and DiMarco. I think that's pretty confident. That'll be the case.
01:24:37
Speaker
And then in midfield, because Bareilles is out, I think Flatezi and Tonali, as the more forward players, are probably that that that should be they should play. Then you're looking at Richie or Fagioli is probably what we're looking at. We're looking at one of those two as the kind of the deeper-lying player. I would like to see Richie. I want to see him stick with Richie. I want him to get a run of games.
01:25:03
Speaker
and and real kind of like nailed down that that position certainly for this game and then in the tack let's see i think should should start i mean the form that he's in he has to surely and men is a bit of a balotaggio who who is going to play as the the other Is it going to be Rasputori, who seems to be the favourite for now, or is it going to be more of a midfielder, so like a Pellegrini, like they did against France, or is it goingnna is he going to go for two more out-and-out strikers and put Keane in there? So that's the those are really the question marks for Italy. to Yeah, I think he's going to, against Belgium, he's going to go with the 3-5-1-1, like against France. Rettigy is a sole striker, maybe Pellegrini is the number 10, and then have f frat then I think he's going to have Tonali Ricci and Fratezi.
01:25:51
Speaker
um in as the mid three um behind and on the wings I think it's going to be DiMarco and Cambiazzo and I think he's going to start Dilorenzo Bastoni and Calafiori with Don Aromangol I think he's going to go with three five one one against Belgium I think that's what he's going for Yeah, as for Belgian though, um I mean this is a very but different Belgian team there than from what we've seen really over the last kind of 10 years, the golden generation is is gone. I mean Hazard, Mertens, Batonga and Aldo are out, they're all gone but also Courtois retired because he doesn't get on with the coach. De Bruyne and Lukaku are both, De Bruyne is injured, Lukaku
01:26:34
Speaker
Conte's demanded, probably, that he rest, so he can have two weeks. One week's not enough to prepare for a game, so he gets two weeks to prepare for the Napi game. So Mokaku's not there. He's not there. So this Belgium team on paper is very, very much weak. I mean, it still has quality in attack. I mean, there's still, you know, there's Doku, there's Trossard, there's Bakayoka from PSV, Openda.
01:26:58
Speaker
there's the Quetzalato of course as well so that there is quality there in attack but if we're looking at the probable formation they're playing a 4-2-3-1 we're looking at probably Castile's in goal you know I think it's in Saudi Arabia now we're in the Middle East, Castanha will definitely be one of the full back positions. We're probably looking at Fez and Tejate who used to play for Bologna in Serie A. De Bast or Decoia Pro, so that's the back, as the the other full back, that would be the back four. Then in midfield, it would be two Tillemans as one of the holding midfielders, together with
01:27:33
Speaker
It would usually be on Nana, but he missed he's missed the last game for Villa with a with a with an injury Tedesco said that he will be there though So we'll see whether he starts if not, it'll be probably be Mangala from Leon And then the the the the attack it three attacking midfielders. We're looking at either look a backyard or back a yoko as the right wing and Daku will probably be on the left wing, and then in the centre, we're probably looking at De Catalada, or maybe they can find a way to put Trossard, to get Trossard in there. And then the striker, we're probably looking at Openda from Leipzig. So that's the team. um It's not a team that really scares me. It's a team that can be quite dangerous. I think there are some talented players in attack. but
01:28:19
Speaker
it says It's a team, if I'm given a prediction, nimer um it's a team that I'm i'm expecting Italy to win this game and I'm going to go 2 goal win for Italy. I think this is um one of those games where I think Italy are happy.
01:28:35
Speaker
with a draw. They don't need to win this game. um they got They got six points already. um And I think from now they're just going to try to micromanage this. I mean, in in all reality, they only need four points, if we're honest, to to to qualify, I think. I don't think they need any more than that to finish in the top two and and reach the quarterfinals.
01:28:57
Speaker
um and Great start. So I don't think Italy are going to rush this too much. um and And Belgium, you know, they're in the middle of a generation or a change. um So, you know, they they're on three points. they They wouldn't mind a point here. Obviously, they prefer to win to go level with Italy on points and and go ahead of them in terms of head to head. But I think I don't I expect Italy too to at least draw this. That's where I am.
01:29:23
Speaker
Yeah, I i expect Italy to go for the win um and try and go for it. though I think Belgium are there for the taking with all their absentees. No Lukaku, no De Bruyne, no Corsois. They're three good players and I think they should ah the go and try and win this game, for sure. Right, let's finish off with Badgeo, Prem Face and Celia Ass of the Week.
01:29:48
Speaker
So badgeo of the week. Now if Vlauvić hadn't have missed that chance to put Callery away, I would have gone Vlauvić because I thought that what he did in the Leipzig game was was incredible. Two great goals and what Juventus did in that grame game was was really quite quite special. So I was going to go for Vlauvić but's ah But I don't know. I don't know who I would go for now. Maybe... maybe Atalanta, maybe? Big win, big win, big win for Atalanta. No, I think Rehta Rehtegi for me in that game was just outstanding. The the three goals, the flick-on, that flick-on, back heel flick-on for Edderson was just delicious. I mean, he was so beautiful.
01:30:37
Speaker
um And it's a part of this game that we've not you know that we didn't lied suddenly And I know you didn't think he had it in him, but he's consistently showing up So no for me retigues. I think De Gea has to be a bad Joe as well Yeah, penalty for sure two penalties. Yeah, absolutely. So he deserves it prim face of the week never um I thought swear we had two on here, but for there's only one on here. So the commentator Steve Wilson for calling Bal Dansi Balzini through the whole game of the whole of the aroma game in in Europe.
01:31:11
Speaker
fo in apparently called him barzini from no he did and that's what you want to call you from from that's what you want him to there's no way you called him by zeni from the you want that when it goes about that um so how many godfather references can we can do
01:31:30
Speaker
that's that's that's you that's just you wanting to have a godfather reference if she called him barinia die
01:31:39
Speaker
Oh, that's our pen face of the week. Celia ass of the week. Oh, that's quite a few. Oh, my gosh. The Serie A Twitter account, which dominates areas of the week, that completely dominates it. They were on one this for this week. I mean, they they they went completely berserk this week. And the Napoli Karmo game. Oh, my gosh. So when McTominay opens the scoring for Napoli after 30 seconds, they tweet out with a picture of Scott McTominay celebrating. I quote, I'll take a haggis and enjoy watching Scott McTominay.
01:32:09
Speaker
What? What does that even mean? Like, what? And then when Lukaku scored, they tweeted, I quote, Big Ron with an N, slots it home, 2-1.
01:32:28
Speaker
Not Big Ron, Big Ron, his name's Big Ron. My favourite is the replies. um every famous person ever named Ron. Ron Atkinson was my favorite one. Yeah, that was funny. Big run. And then also Ron Weasley from Harry Potter. there was Ronald McDonald. Ronald McDonald. It was very, very fun. um yeah Yeah, the haggis one was just cringe. um That just made me feel bad.
01:33:02
Speaker
um But I think the absolute winner of the Serie A, this is one of those solo in Italian moments. This can only happen in Italy, in Italian football, where the mayor of this small municipality right outside of Milan, Corbetta, posts on Instagram that despite being an Interfan, he's happy to welcome Milan striker Alvaro Morata,
01:33:30
Speaker
to the town who where he just bought a home. And Morata is like, and you just kind of violated my privacy by doing that. And i'm now I'm going to have to move and find somewhere else because of his in ah the mayor's inability to use social media and protect his citizens.
01:33:51
Speaker
And then, of course, the mayor of the place posts an interlog on his Instagram story and says, ciao, with an interheart with black and black and blue hearts tomorrow. I mean, this can this is the most serious ass story to ever happen. This can only happen in Italy. Like, I don't even know what to I don't even know what to say.
01:34:13
Speaker
Yeah, it explains a lot, doesn't it? Why Italy is like Of course nothing's going to happen to Morata, they have security around these players, but it's just so stupid. Why would you do that? Why would you say that? like There's no need to do that. then And then after realizing that you messed up,
01:34:34
Speaker
then go full on fanboy and say goodbye in 14th. I mean, it's just God. So this is, this is serious. This is like quintessential serious to me. It sure was. It sure was. Okay. Right. Let's leave it at that extra long show for you this week, over an hour and a half, but I'm sure you will love it. But so we will be back. So this week we will have the Q and A.
01:35:00
Speaker
later in the week. And we also will have an interview, as I said, um with um a for top physiotherapist and sports scientist, an injury expert to discuss sir the the crisis, the ACL injury crisis that we're seeing in Italian, not just in Italian football, but football football in general. And it's certainly harmed Italy more more than the most. and So we that will come out as well this week.
01:35:30
Speaker
and we we might have some other stuff we'll see about a potentially a reaction to the Belgium as well as well but yeah yeah plenty for you anyway so thank you for listening everybody and we will see you next time ciao ciao