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Serie A 2024/25 Season Preview: Scudetto Favourites, Probable XIs, Predictions, Players To Watch, Best Transfers, Kits & More (Ep. 445)
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In this special show, Carlo Garganese and Nima Tavallaey provide an in-depth preview of the Serie A 2024/25 season.
The duo break down the Scudetto race, the fight for Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League qualification, and the battle against relegation.
They offer their probable XIs for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Atalanta, Napoli, Roma and Lazio, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each big team.
They also pick out the players to watch, the best summer transfers, and the possible breakout stars, as well as running down the coaches in Serie A after so many new appointments this summer.
We finish off with our Serie A predictions in the most in-depth preview you will find on the new Italian football season.
Every Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast is free for all.
To NEVER miss an episode of The Italian Football Podcast (and support the show), go to Patreon.com/TIFP or Spotify to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
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Transcript
Introduction & Preview Show
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello, everybody. I'm Carlo Garganese and welcome to the Italian Football Podcast special preview show of the 2024-25 Serie A season. I'm joined, as always, by Nima Tavalli, who is wearing some inter an int top there. um i I couldn't find the Ube one, so I guess I'm in a Lecce shirt, can we say, today.
Season Kickoff Details
00:00:32
Speaker
But so the new Serie A season, of course, it kicks off on on the Saturday, August the 17th. Inter are the reigning champions. Parma, Como and Venezia are the newly promoted teams. This will be, I can promise you, that that the most in-depth preview you will listen to or watch on the the new Serie A
Viewing Options & Subscription
00:00:55
Speaker
season. And for those of you that are listening to this to this podcast, you can also watch this show
00:01:01
Speaker
info on our YouTube page. A lot of you complain that you don't see us enough, so here we are. and For those of you that that do want to receive all of our content network that we do each week, then go to patreon dot.com slash TIP and become a subscriber for just £2.99 a month plus VAT. We're going to be doing lots of exciting content during the new Serie A season. Our usual free Monday show, of course,
00:01:29
Speaker
our weekly Q and&A with Patreons, our midweek review show, and plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more. So go to patreon dot.com slash TIP for that.
Transfer Market & Excitement
00:01:43
Speaker
um Lots to look forward to, but the the first thing I want to ask you, Nima, is just how excited are you for the for the new Serie A season? Because it seems like a long time away, what with the transfer market and of course Euro 2024, which was a disaster for for Italy. and How excited are you?
00:02:03
Speaker
Well, I'm very excited and i'm really looking forward to it. It's been one of the more boring transfer summers that I can remember, not just for Inter, but overall in Serie A. I think it's been a bit sluggish. I mean, Juve have done lots of work, but for everyone else, it's been a bit sluggish, hasn't it? It's been a bit so-and-so, things aren't getting done as quickly. And even for Juve, things aren't getting done as quickly, which I'm sure we're going to get into.
00:02:28
Speaker
Antonio Conte is already angry, but I mean, you know, you get your money back. You don't get any odds on that. You just get your money back if you would have bet on that. um He's always angry. He's never happy, is he? um so and But generally, i'd say it's been rather slow summer for for the Italian clubs and and was were as far as Inter is concerned, it's been it's been absolutely it's been the most boring Mercato. I've done this since 2012, and I can't remember a transfer window more boring.
00:02:56
Speaker
and more dead for her into than the ever. But speaking of the shirt that you said I'm wearing, it's one of our patrons actually. She has a company called Tell I Die FC. She's got her own print shop and her name is JR Bell. I had the the the Euro preview one that we did. I was wearing another shirt that she made from which was an homage to 1968 Italy team and this one is her into one.
00:03:19
Speaker
one of her into one. She does all sorts. She does all all sorts of clubs and and and not just Italian clubs. And she's a patron of ours and has been for a long time. So I thought I'd give her a bit of a shout out um for that. But no, to answer your question, I'm really, really excited, super excited. I can't wait to get started. There's so many things that need answering. There's so many different projects, so many projects rebooting, so many new coaches. So there's lots and lots and lots to answer.
00:03:48
Speaker
Yeah, and we will get into all of that. but But for me, I think after the disappointment appointment of Euro 2024, you just want to forget about it. And the only way you can do that is with football. And there's been that long wait since since since Italy went out of the of the of the Euros. But is is there's so much to look forward to. Lots of new coaches, lots of new projects, um the drama of the pitch, like even when the football is is not that exciting and it will be exciting. but Even when the football is not like it was in the 80s, in the 1990s, when Serie A was the the most beautiful and the best league in the world, you know there's always so many great storylines between the clubs, between the coaches.
00:04:34
Speaker
the presidents, the volcanic presidents, the arguments in the media, which I know you love, Nima, and the soap operas. I mean, there isn't a league like Serie A. And of course, the competitive nature, I think, is what also makes it great. Because if there's one bad thing about club football today is that it's, you know, most of the leagues are so, so predictable, certainly when it comes to title races. I mean, you look at, I mean, Man City, was it four, four titles in a row?
00:05:04
Speaker
yeah and we still see them type of you know we still you can't tell me p man city aren't favorites to win the epl PSG, how many titles have they won in the last 10 years? By Munich only this is only the first time in what 11 years? 12 years or wherever it is they didn't win the title um and then Spain okay it's either Real Madrid or Barcelona So it's completely going to be over El Madrid because they're building a super team. Yeah. Whereas in Italy, in Italy, you know, no one has retained the title since Juventus in 2020. Five different winners. Okay. Into one it twice, but every year it's a different winner for five years in a row. And, you know, there's Although in of the favourites will come into that, of course, there's every possibility that it won't be into this season. So that, I think, is what makes this Serie A exciting and and why people will be watching it. It's it's the the unknown factor there.
Team Strengths & Recording Context
00:06:04
Speaker
um But let's now, Nima, move through the teams, the big teams, really. um And let's look at the probable 11s for the new season, and then we can discuss the strengths and the weaknesses of of each team. And bear in mind that everybody that's that's watching this, that the we're recording this on August the 6th, and there's there's three weeks over three weeks to go until the transfer window closes. so you know a number of these teams will change between now and the end of the window. And these teams will change also. you know They're still ah over a week, a week and a half to go until the season starts. So some of these teams will change slightly when the when the new season kicks off um as well. So just just bear that in mind. But let's start off with the champions, with your team, them at Inter.
Inter's Strategy & Depth
00:06:54
Speaker
Flashing up on the screen now should be Inter's probable start in 11 for the new season.
00:07:02
Speaker
um I mean, it's the same team as last season, never basically, isn't it? um What was your take on on on this inter-team? Well, I mean, it's, excuse me. Yes, it is the same in the team. And the problem last season for Intel was the depth or lack thereof, especially in attack. Well, they have kind of addressed that because Alexis Sanchez out met the economy and is a massive improvement. um And in midfield as well, Zielinski's come in the class and sense of left. So there is improvement there. They've got rid of our data and brought in Joseph Martinez. So they've they've improved the depth. There's no doubt about that.
00:07:42
Speaker
But it is pretty much the same team. But it's going to be something like 50, 60 games into our own five competitions. So it's lots lots of players are going to get time to play. um I need to need it to improve the depth. And they kind of have, um even though, of course, I still think that the defense is a question mark. Because I don't think I saw a decline last season of Francesco Acherbi. I think Stephane de Fry,
00:08:11
Speaker
has not been the same player since the season he won the Serie A Defender of the Year. um i I do think that there is there is cause for concern, but they seem they don't seem kind concerned. um you know Marotta and those guys are looking at this going, no, we've got enough to win the league this season and maybe do something in the Champions League. I'm not as convinced um that that is the right decision.
00:08:39
Speaker
I would have preferred to have been a bit more proactive. But then again, you also have Jan Bizek, who was really impressive last season and has been very impressive during the preseason. And so they can probably, you know, they're probably thinking that he will probably take more steps as well. But other than that, look, I think they have the Serie A MVP, they have the Serie A Cup in the Cavalcannoniere, they have a goalkeeper who has the most clean sheets, they have the best defense.
00:09:06
Speaker
Now they also have the best squad in terms of depth, if you ask me, and they have continuity. Simone Inzaghi extended by a year. He will continue to play, or so he will continue to stay, but I think he's going to develop how to play. I think we're going to see Inzaghi want to move forward to a 3-4-2-1.
00:09:24
Speaker
from A352. I think he understands that if you don't, every team in the league has studied Inter even though Inter can play in very many different ways. Last season they definitely showed that they can attack and hurt you in very very many different ways.
00:09:40
Speaker
But I think he wants to positionally shift to work towards a 3-4-2-1, which also explains the Federico Chiesa rumors arriving on a free transfer next summer, because I think that's where they would would would want to have him join. So one who will be the one in attack? Will it be Toram or will it be Lautaro? No, Lautaro is going to be is the captain. He's going to be but what he he will He's the number one starter. Everybody knows that. this who will be the If it's a 3-4-2-1, who will be the striker, the lone striker? It will be Laudtaro.
00:10:11
Speaker
If it's a three, I think it's going to be Lautaro. The thing with Inzaghi's system is that it's very fluid. It depends on who's in like occupying that space when the ball comes. It can sometimes be Taram. It can sometimes be It can If Kiers adjoins, it can even be him once. Because again, Inzaghi's system is about is very fluid. It's about creating numerical advantages and triangles.
00:10:41
Speaker
and being able to capitalize on that on ah when when faced against the opposition's goal. ah where so So I think it depends. But I'd say if I was to choose one player that probably find himself in that position more often than not, I'd probably go with Lautaro. If they change, if they go towards that 3, 4, 2, 1, which I'm kind of expecting them to do. Not completely shift, but work towards it. And then next season, make the shift completely. That's how I see it.
00:11:10
Speaker
Yeah, I think Inter definitely start as ah as ah strong favourites. I think, and I mean, ah you've said it all, they're the strongest and and and they're the most settled team. um You know, almost every other team has changed coach and Inter have got that continuity. Like you said, they've got the deepest and the most experienced squad. um They still have the best defence, although that could be, like you say, the one area that if things don't go right, if some of their players, like Acheve, like Divrai, Darmian as well, I would add to that, you know, start to decline even more, then that could be an issue. Makitarian as well in in in in midfield. So, there are a few ageing players and then, as always, an injury to Lautaro Martinez will always take a lot away from him, even if I think they have definitely strengthened their depth and in attack with Tadami. So,
00:12:07
Speaker
I think the answer of the team to beat for sure. um But let's move on to to Milan now. So we can see that they're 11 there
Milan's Challenges & Strategies
00:12:19
Speaker
on the screen. I mean, there will be ah some definite changes to this by the by the time of the the start of the season and also certainly by the end of the window the Milana still going to sign at a central midfielder for sure. Porfana is the is the favourite to be there he will come in at central midfield probably for for Beneser if he joins and then Milana looking for for another striker
00:12:47
Speaker
and they're looking for a right back as well. Emerson Royale, they're in in advanced negotiations as at the time of recording for him, so he would probably go to right back. so So those will be the changes for for Milan. um But I think for Milan, the key thing for Milan is that they've kept their star players, their three stars, Liao,
00:13:10
Speaker
manon and too andamass It looks almost certain that they are going to stay. They've added an experienced winner ah in attack, Morata, who can handle the pressure of replacing someone like Shirood. There is still lots of firepower in attack. um We've got some interesting young players, Pavlovic, young, a talented young defender, we'll have to see how he does for Fauna if he joins.
00:13:34
Speaker
um So those are the positives from the negative point of view, though, for Milan, I think not as many guarantees as into certainly when it comes to consistency. That has been a problem for Milan, lack of consistency over the last couple of years. The coach is a question mark. I mean, in preseason so far.
00:13:52
Speaker
They've looked really, really good, but it's pre-season. The question mark over is Fonseca a winner? Until he wins something for a big team, that question mark will always be there. And also, you know, it's time for Rafael Liao to step up as a consistent world-class star, not just moments not just stretches of one month here two months there you know include and I include the season that Milan won it yeah he got hot for about three months in that season led them to the Scudetto but actually over the course even over the course of that whole season he wasn't consistently great it's time for Liao there's no more excuses now it's time for Liao to step up and be have a consistently great season if Milan are going to make that step up um
00:14:33
Speaker
And the other question mark I think is will Murata bring enough goals and also the defence. The defence was a big problem under Pioli, they were very leaky. um Emerson Royale, is he that enough of an upgrade over Calabria? Is he an upgrade at all? ah Which was a weak area and Pavlovic, will he be an upgrade on Mialik Tial? And can they then play as a unit? So I think Milano, again, just like last season, I think we we said the same thing last season, it's going to be really, really exciting to see to see what Milan do this season. It's quite hard to predict, actually. It's very hard to predict. um I mean, if we're talking about Alvaro Morata,
00:15:15
Speaker
I think what he does, he will score about 10, 15 goals. But other than that, I think he's been brought in to put Pulisic and lay above all, Liao in more goal scoring positions and for them to then be able to convert more. um I think Milan will be much more fluid in attack when Giroud isn't there with Morata there. He's a much more dynamic player. He's a very, very intelligent player. He's very good at putting making those around him better.
00:15:44
Speaker
um So I expect to see Liao more centralised in the sense that I expect him to find himself more in goalscoring positions this season, Rafael Liao, than we saw last season. Because there were for large stretches of last season, Stefano Pioli was using Rafael Liao in the build-up phase.
00:16:06
Speaker
um I don't think we're going to see that as much this this time around. I think we're going to see a Rafael Liao that's going to be much more focused on scoring and I think it's time for him to do that because I think you know if he's if you look at this Milan squad and who's going to be the leader in attack well it is Rafael Liao he is the talisman he is the big shining diamond. He is the, you know, as as during the Berlusconi era, they would call him the gold letter player. um That's who Rafael Liao is at this Milan. And that's that's what I think Fonseca is going to try to get get him to be. Pulisic, I think, had a great first season. I think he's going to build on that and get the goals he's got. He's got in terms of the Mercato, I'm a little bit question question mark around Pavlovic, because I know he's a good he's good in the air and he's a mean and he's a physical player.
00:16:58
Speaker
But I don't think it's a because milan's Milan's defense have been a little bit too good, a little bit too much good boys. They need a mean son of a bitch in there. And the problem with with with Pablo, which is that he's not very quick. um And if they're going to play with a high line, you know, there's less question marks there. But I do think the most positive thing is he's They've been able to keep the big stars. um i'm I don't think, in my opinion, that Emerson Royale is that much. Of course, it's an upgrade on Calabria. There's no doubt about that. But the question is, how much?
00:17:36
Speaker
I'm not sure. I'm not even sure about that, to be honest. I've been watching him in the Premier League for Tottenham. If it's the Tottenham Emerson Royale, then I don't think he's even an upgrade and collaborate. If it's the Emerson Royale from before Tottenham, maybe. But yeah, I agree with you. I think the defence... I think the Serie A suits Emerson Royale more than the Premier League does. I think he'll enjoy his football more in Italy than he did in the Premier League.
00:18:04
Speaker
um But ah overall, I think there is question marks around that, ah as you so well alluded to and and explained. I don't think, I don't see Milan this season as a scoreto contender. I don't. Really? No, I don't.
00:18:19
Speaker
i don't i don't I don't think they're quite there. i don't I don't think they're quite there. I mean, again, it's the 8th or 6th of August. I mean, you know, my final predictions, I always make them after the Medcalfa closure. Absolutely. And don't think I think that's that that's the same for me as well. it depends It depends, you know, do they get these transfers done? They're silly negotiations with with with Forfana and and the others. But so ah listen, I think if things come together for Milan, which they didn't last season,
00:18:47
Speaker
I think they can be a Scudetto challenger but you know it's it's one of those that it's quite difficult to predict. They have looked very good in pre-season, I have to be honest, they've beaten some big teams in pre-season and it's also going to be, I'm also very excited and this is probably the thing I'm most excited about with Fonseca is that he has shown that he is good with young players and I've I really am hoping and praying that he gives some of these youngsters a chance. Liberale, who will come onto afters, look really good in pre-season. And then, of course, there's Camada and there's some of the other Milan puturo players. This is the first season for the Milan and the 23 team playing in Serie A. You know, it will be interesting to see if Fonseca can give some of these guys a chance because they've got so many talented young teenagers, ah Milan, who you just don't know. that could They could.
00:19:36
Speaker
you know, take Milan up a level, who knows? um so Exactly, there is there's a very no cle land um like just but so am i that there's there's an unknown for sure with Milan. But I mean, as I said, I want to reserve my final judgment until after the Metacato.
00:19:51
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. Talking of the unknown, let's move on to Juventus now.
Juventus' Transitional Phase
00:19:55
Speaker
um They are the team that have revolutionised the most in so many different ways um over the the the summer market, and they will revolutionise even more between now and the window. Now, the formation, the probable 11 that you see on the screen right now is going to change dramatically and between now. That's the sirens going off, the the EDL have started the attack.
00:20:20
Speaker
tomorrow night, it's supposed to be Wednesday, 8pm. They've announced the time when they're going to that. Yeah, that's the information that's coming from my sources over there, but we'll see. But yes, the Juventus team,
00:20:38
Speaker
um is, yeah I mean, as you can see, so many so many changes. There's already five five new members of the starting 11 on that screen there. ah This team will change ah massively. Juventus will sign another centre-back. Todibo, it looks like it's going to be there in and in advanced negotiations right now to sign him. So he will kind of centre-back alongside Bremme and then Danilo will probably move over to write that because the way that Motta, it seems he wants to play is he wants to build up with a three and it'll probably be Danilo, Bremer and maybe Todibo in the build up phase. and We'll see, but Danilo will probably go right and then left I would imagine will be Cambiezo.
00:21:22
Speaker
Then in the center center of midfield, it it probably will stay with Douglas Luiz and Turan, but the trequartisti, the three attacking midfielders beyond the one, um that definitely won't be Keita and Fajioli. And Keita has been told very clearly, he has no future in the club, he has to lead, so it won't be him.
00:21:41
Speaker
and it won't be fajale there. Coupe miners will be the the central attack and we feel that if that deal gets done, but we'll see if that deal can be closed, especially with the Skamaka injury, if that complicates things, we'll see there. And then Juventus will also sign at least one, I would say very likely two, wingers, in which case the right winger will definitely change. And then the left winger, depending on his seniority, might even be the first choice over Yielders as well well. We'll have to see all certainly a rotation play.
00:22:10
Speaker
Juventus is very hard. I mean, right now what we can say for certain about Juventus is they started the transfer market on fire, bringing in a lot of players very early, ah selling a lot of players as well. But then it kind of it grounds the whole and it's been like that for a few weeks now. And we can see clearly from this team that Juventus are very incomplete.
00:22:32
Speaker
um They are very, like very short in attack. And if Juventus go into the season like this, then they're going to struggle. But this isn't going to be a team that that goes into the the new season. The Juventus are all going to be bringing in new players because they have to. So lots still to do, Juventus. There's still a work in progress. But what we can say is that there's new hope and there's new optimism of the many years of of hopelessness, really, among the Juventus fans. Max Allegri,
00:23:01
Speaker
has been replaced by Tiago Motta who you know, is one of the best young ah up and coming coaches in in not just in Italy, in Europe. I mean, what he did with with Bologna was was fantastic. um But, you know, it's not Juventus fans can't expect this Juventus team to suddenly win overnight. There's too many changes. There's so many changes. ah So many new players in the team. They're changing in style of play dramatically. They're going from a
00:23:33
Speaker
from a ah team that's you know defends deep and counterattacked to a team that wants to control possession and and dominate the ball and be and be progressive and press I mean that's a huge change around for having played for three years under Allegri to suddenly change like that is a lot of a lack of experience in this team um you know if you look certainly in the Champions League I think it's going to be going to be quite difficult for you to enter the Champions League. I mean, look at the like number of players, number of matches that these players have played in the Champions League. And there's, you know, there's still gaps and there's still question marks in the team. So I think the top four is probably
00:24:11
Speaker
realistic um but without limits because Juventus should always have be without limits. It's Juventus, they're the most successful team in in Italy and at the end of the day they still have some some top players. I mean I think Douglas Luiz will be a top sign-in, Koop miners if he comes in will be will be a fantastic sign-in um and then again like Milan it depends how the the the pieces of the jigsaw come into place, how certain players do. Does Vlovich suddenly realise his potential? I mean, he's looked bad in pre-season. He's looked just as bad in pre-season as he has ah in the last two seasons. He needs to step up if Juventus are going to have ah an excellent season. Defense needs to so improve. Can Bremen play in a back four? Can he play with the ball, which is what Motta requires? is There's lots of question marks. It's such a revolution. So again, like Milan, it's going to be fascinating to see how Juventus do this season. number
00:25:08
Speaker
Juventus are in an even bigger but question mark because I don't, you know, it's it's ah August 6th and Juventus are missing several key positions in their squad. um If Kiasas leaves, they need to sign a winger. ah They're going to need a backup striker. Kefran Taram, I think, is a good signing. Douglas leaves for sure. But Tocop minus has not been signed. um Well, you know, Makeni has not been sold. I mean, there's lots of lots of question marks around this this uva side. And if we're talking about preseason, Juventus have not looked good in preseason.
00:25:45
Speaker
um they've looked actually abhorrent in pre-season. I mean, I don't draw any conclusions from that at all, because I think pre-season, for me, I don't even really bother with... I watch with one eye on on all teams' pre-seasons, because I think it doesn't really say anything, because they they're really, really training hard. It's pre-season training. Players are tired. It's just about... you know but it's It's their time to build themselves up, really.
00:26:12
Speaker
um So I'm not too bothered about that, to be honest. um But I do think there's so many question marks that I just don't see I don't see you realistically challenging for this correto the this season. I think top four is where they should be. And like you said, Bremer in a back four has never looked good. Can he do it? Is Mota the man to make him do it? Well, that would be great for Brazil, too, the national team, because then they they can use him in that system because, you know, the so far he's had problems, you know, getting into that team or squad because of the fact that he can only play in a back three.
00:26:51
Speaker
um So, you know, it's, um there's lots of question marks, but it is a revolution. It's the first year, it's year zero for U of A after so many years of essentially trying to wobble and stay afloat. Now it's a completely new slate. new ownership or sort of sorry The new directors um have their own guy and they've they they They're going to need a couple of wind transfer windows to get going. um But it's been it's been it's been interesting to see. But there's still lots of work to do for Juntholi or Huntholi as the Yuba... Which I have now seen now and it is is as good as you described it. It's so good.
00:27:40
Speaker
Absolutely. Listen, and a lot of a lot on the success of the event of the season will depend on on what Juntz Ali or Juntz Ali can do so between now and and and and the end of the summer. I mean, you can see clearly that the events need wingers. Where are the goals going to come from in this team without without bringing it in a second talent and we have to see. I mean, you know, there's there's a lot of names um on that winger shortlist.
00:28:03
Speaker
you know there's there's Gonzalez, but Nico Gonzalez of Fiorentina, there's Sancho Manunite, there's Galeno, Consez São of Porto, there was Adeyemi, I don't think that will happen now, you know and of course there's Cook Mine as well because Juventus need an attacking central midfielder to play, they haven't got one, I mean they've got Meretti,
00:28:20
Speaker
maybe, but I mean, yeah, you can't go with Meretti and Paggioli is clearly not a takkesset from a field of number 10. So there's a lot of, yeah, a lot ah lots of work for Junzfi to do, to to to to to make to make these things work for Juventus. Let's move on to Atalanta.
00:28:39
Speaker
um Until a couple of days ago, um i was I was really, really you know excited for Atalanta.
Atalanta's Scudetto Challenges
00:28:47
Speaker
And I was going to say, I was thinking, what am I going to say about Atalanta on this show? And I was going to say that you know they could definitely, ah in fact, I was going to say, we shouldn't be calling them a dark force for the Scudetto anymore. We should be calling them as ah as a potential, really a potential challenger for the Scudetto. And then, of course, we saw what happened. Jean-Luc Oskamaka tore his ACL.
00:29:07
Speaker
um which we'll come on to. we I want to discuss that later on in the show. um And you know, Scalvini is already going to miss probably two thirds of the season with an ACL. Koop miners, I mean, do they sell him? No, that's a big question. mark but You're talking about two or three key pillars of the team.
00:29:27
Speaker
just completely taken out. And all of a sudden you're thinking, wow, I mean, look at I mean, the start of the the probable 11 is up there. I mean, Scamaka's name is still on there, I believe. And so is Koop miners. But you take those two out as well. And all of a sudden, that team is looking so much less formidable. And it's it's just gutting, isn't it? It's just it's just ahead of the new season. it It really just takes away all the oxygen going into the into the new campaign, doesn't it?
00:29:55
Speaker
No, it does. It it literally just flattens all the positivity around Atalanta, um that you know as as in which I did with you know in my Atalanta Mercato Dita with Fabio Genari, he said you know the S word is forbidden at Atalanta, but now not ah now it doesn't matter if it's forbidden or not, because it's absolutely not happening. If they lose cup miners with Skamaka and s Scalvini gone, I think they're going to have to focus on staying in the top four. but i mean that that that Even that becomes difficult now.
00:30:34
Speaker
um Zagnolo's a huge question mark. I think they can mitigate for Skamaka somewhat with the Kettler. Because the Kettler can play in that hole and they can play look coming up front. Elby Laltore, I think, is going to have a good season if he stays. um So they can mitigate for that. But if Korp miners goes, well, what the hell do they do? I mean, he is so important.
00:31:00
Speaker
um So yeah, yeah um I think it's a shame because we could we we were I think we were in for potentially one of those historic you know fairy tale things. That's what frustrates me the most, is because as we said as I said in my introduction you know at the top, you know why am I and looking forward to the Serie A season? Because you know there's been so many different winners, but we're also getting these lovely stories. you know Inter, when they won their first good letter, they hadn't won since 2010. Milan hadn't won since 2011. Napoli hadn't won since 1990 with Maradona. These teams that haven't been winning for years are suddenly you know challenging and winning it. At Atlanta, yes, they you still wouldn't expect them to win it, but they but they could do.
00:31:49
Speaker
you know they could do they've got the plays i mean look at Look at the teams that Atalanta beat to win the Europa League last season. They beat all big Champions League teams. They beat Liverpool at Anfield. They beat Leverkusen, probably the best domestic team in Europe.
00:32:05
Speaker
certainly in league terms last season. They beat Marseille, they got to the final of the Coppa Italia as well. you know In Serie A they were beating big teams in Serie A, they beat Juventus, they beat other top sides.
00:32:24
Speaker
They've shown that that they they can they can you know they can battle it out with the big teams. And then this happens, and it's gutting. It is gutting. I still think that there'll be a top team, because they're a system team. And whoever comes into the system, you know that's the that's the strength of Gasparini. But you can't lose this many top players and expect to be able to replace them. ah you know there's there's We have to see now, how does Zagnolo do, for example?
00:32:53
Speaker
you know there's more pressure on him now because before he was like, okay, he's a squad player. He could come in and maybe he can slowly improve, slowly improve and maybe in the in the new year start to start to show his best. Now they they actually more reliant on him. They need, they need him to start to show and then who do they replace, come back with them and they're going to have to probably go out and sign a striker. Well, who is it? They sign, you know,
00:33:17
Speaker
ah So there's there's more question marks now about Atalanta, and that's a shame. that's a shame The Real Madrid game also, which I know is a big, big match for them. Oh, it's huge. and as yeah As Fabio Gennari said in in the interview I did with them, it's it's a historic game for them. like They are absolutely entice the entire town, city of Bergamo. is like They can't wait for that. So yeah, no, this this really does harm things. And it's also a shame because Skamaka was finally, you know, had a good season, had did it was having a good preseason. This is going to be his his season of, you know, but he's going to establish himself. And then this happens. And well, this in entire season is right off for both him and Skalvini. And I wonder if if that's not it.
00:34:04
Speaker
for Enskamaka's career at the highest level. Well, I mean, we've seen it, unfortunately, with Kiesa and Zanyala.
00:34:15
Speaker
They've destroyed their top level careers. let's Let's be honest, and we can pray and hope that Gasparini can
Injury Concerns in Serie A
00:34:21
Speaker
produce another miracle. and We can pray and hope that Kiesa pulls it out. But I mean, if we're if we're thinking with our heads and what we've seen, they're not you know and And what usually happens with aco a lot of most of these ACO victims, i mean it's this this is is i mean it's just so sad. And he's in the peak of his career now. He's coming into the peak. And and it's it's just awful. And this is this was destroyed. It's the national team more than anyone else because
00:34:49
Speaker
you know we're at a stage where we struggle to produce players. We don't produce, we don't have that abundance of players like we did. you know And when we get top talents, like Kiesa, like Zaniolo, when he burst onto the scene with those you know in the Champions League as a teenager and and he was just blew everyone away, we don't get players like this. you know And then when they come along,
00:35:12
Speaker
they but they They tear their ACLs and and then we lose and we lose them. And this has happened so many times. it's not I'm sorry. It's not a coincidence. you know It's not a coincidence. And people can can put their heads in the sand and say, oh, it's just bad luck. Or you can't.
00:35:25
Speaker
you can't, you know, you can't train or or or or protect yourself against ACLs, you can. No, you can't train yourself against, buttra but that's that's kind of, yes, no, you can't, you know, and when the accidents happen. The issue is, I don't think this is a Serie A issue. I think this is a complicated issue that we see all over Europe. I think there's a combination of factors here. I think when it comes from an Italian point of view, I think it's got to do with Well, the pictures but and the stay, you know, the the that Italy has fallen behind on things that we see, infrastructure and research and science, sports science, which we know they've fallen behind on to to the Premier League. But it's also the number of games. And I think that is something that, you know, football is is not is is, you know, it's it's a it's a special kind of game. And I think
00:36:17
Speaker
When you put that much, it's 90 minutes plus extra time added time, 50, 60, 70 games a season. At some point, you know, these guys, how much you train them still. I totally agree. And then, and bone. I mean, there's no doubt about that. you You know, you, you, when you have, when your muscles are weak, your core is weak. When you're, when you've got fatigue, when you're tired, that, that, that that is a risk factor with, with ACLs.
00:36:47
Speaker
so that that That is a way to to to to to protect yourself. Of course, some of it is just down to physiologically. um of A lot of it is down to the pitchers. And that's where Italian pitchers and training pitchers are not up to standard. And that doesn't help either, especially in pre-season when the pitchers are dry and there's no give in the ground. um you know you're Again, that that raises the chances, increases the chances. but tiredness, fatigue and the number of games but also the physical, this is where Italy comes in, the the physical training, there's too much emphasis and I've spoken to a lot of coaches in Italy, too much emphasis on physical training, running, running players into the ground to get them fit, fit, fit, fit, puts too much pressure and that added with the number of games, there's just no rest
00:37:36
Speaker
and you know so and And I'm not just talking about ACLs. I'm talking also about injuries in general. you know Look at the number of injuries Italy had going into the Euros. They weren't all ACLs. There was lots of other injuries, muscle injuries. How many players Italy were the most affected seen, probably along with Holland, with injuries in the Euros? And that's also down to to the way that that we do things. So I think you know we need to we need we really do need to look into to that from our side we can't just blame it just on you know no i think it's a combination um i thinks combination ah of many many things uh all at once but i do think that the number that is one i'm looking at like at the end of the day i think it just becomes inhuman because everyone wants to compare with ice hockey it's a completely different kind of sport and movement uh same with basketball you move differently football is you know the the way the kind of pressure and
00:38:31
Speaker
that you put on your muscles is different in these games. um Football is is is both endurance and speed and and and explosive explosivity. um These other ah other sports are different and they don't play for 90 minutes like that.
00:38:46
Speaker
and as we've said them as we said, I think I said on ah on a recent show, that, you know, basically since 20, since the summer of 2019, basically, we've had for five years, players, European players have not had a a proper rest. Since 2020 was COVID. So we had the summer this the summer, the summer season, didn't we? During the during the the season, then we quickly started the new season.
00:39:15
Speaker
then in in Then we had the Euros that was pushed back. So the summer of 2021, there was no rest. We had the Euros. And in 2022, there was a so a summer break, but there was the mid-season World Cup, which elongated that season, both. It started earlier and it finished and it finished later. There was no rest in 2022. And then, you know, and then, and then And then again, obviously the 2024 euros. And then you have next year, we have this this ridiculous club World Cup, which which which means, you know, then you've got the World Cup in 2026. So how do you think the players are going to be that 2026 World Cup? I mean, it's going to be I mean, we saw how bad the football was in this euros, which I think a lot of it is down to 15. Absolutely. Yeah.
00:40:09
Speaker
no and't and know is No, I think you need I mean, I think they need to make the squads bigger and I think they need to allow for all the top league teams to have bigger squads and to play less game so that's the number one you know no theys not they need let's get to the cause before we get to the so before we get to the the well they're not going to They're not going to decrease the games because the Champions League is now longer and So what I'm saying is they fine. You need 30 squad players then. You need you need rosters of 26 to 30 squad. You can't go around on 23, 24 players playing 60, 70 games. It's just not possible. It is not possible.
00:40:50
Speaker
It's just not possible. So you're going to you're going to have to have bigger squads. That is the solution. And in order to do that, you're going to need more money. And if you need more money, that means that you need financial fair play rules in place that take into consideration. simple Yeah.
00:41:05
Speaker
it's a mess let's Let's move on though, let's move on to Napoli talking about managers who who likes to i was going to say run his players into the grave.
Napoli's Strategy with Conte
00:41:13
Speaker
So Napoli again, fascinating to see to see what Napoli, new coach of course with Antonio Conte, which is the biggest story. and so the The probable 11 is up on your screen there.
00:41:25
Speaker
but there will still be changes. The big one, of course, is Victor Osseman, who we expect to leave and be replaced by Conte's son, that's sir as Thomas Tuchel once to have said. He said, look, he said, it he said, there's your daddy to look at and watching.
00:41:46
Speaker
Yeah, which Lukaku didn't take very well. and But so yeah, we're expecting Osman to be replaced by Lukaku. But of course, it's reliant on Napoli actually being able to sell Osman and finding in a buyer who's prepared to pay what is now 100 million that Napoli are asking for. And and and and they're really struggling to find someone who's who's prepared to pay even close to to what I mean, originally, they wanted the 130 million clause paid.
00:42:10
Speaker
So it's not a guarantee that the Ossemane is, it would have not surprised me if at the start of the season Ossemane is still the Napoli striker and and it's going to go down to closer to the end of the window. um is it said that That situation is a bit of a mess and that is holding up the rest of Napoli's transfer market. I mean, and the Alessandro Bronggiorno is coming in defence,
00:42:33
Speaker
Spin out solo has come in ah left left the the left wing back of course Conte will play his 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 formation or 3-4-3 we'll have to see how exactly it plays out ah he will sign another centre midfielder that's for sure maybe another centre back as well maybe another attacker we we'll have to see so There's still a lot of work to do for fa Napoli. That team that you'll see that you've seen there on the screen is going to change a lot. But the key that NIMA is going to be really the Conte factor, isn't it? Because we've seen it before with Antonio Conte. Napoli, they're not in Europe, playing once a week. Conte is the best coach in the world, isn't he?
00:43:18
Speaker
Well, he's won the league twice in a row playing ah playing once a week. um but The last two times he did it with Juva and Chelsea, he won the league from disastrous previous seasons.
00:43:30
Speaker
the only and within until they went out before Christmas, didn't they? And then he won the league when they weren't. Yeah, when they were playing once a week. Yeah, exactly. That's half a season of him playing once a week. Yeah. um But the because, you know, he is he is a genius, a practical genius in the sense that he prepares meticulously and almost um with a sense of ah manically for games. The problem is you can't do that for three games a week. You can't prepare like that for three games a week. But he is the best coach in the world by far when there's only one game a week and and he's proven.
00:44:00
Speaker
that time and time again. um so the problem So the problem for him is, or as we've seen already, he's grumbling over Lukaku not being done, and the winger not being done, and you know there's rumors of him threatening to resign, and so on and so forth. Look, I think this needs to, De Laurenti, or whoever is in charge, needs to handle this. I would not at this point exclude Antonio Conte taking his bags and walking out the door before the first game is played. Literally would not do that.
00:44:33
Speaker
um i'm not I wouldn't. I would not exclude that at all. if If he will not go into that season without his number one striker and and and and an annoyed Aussieman who doesn't want to stay and without having a winger where he's forced to play Politano, which he doesn't want to do, he's not he's not going to accept that.
00:44:52
Speaker
and And I think Napoli need to be careful here. They're playing with fire. They are playing with fire here. But if he stays, if he gets his Lukaku, if Osiman is sold, and he gets another winger to replace to play there, look, they are in the title race. I think there's no doubt about that. I think the sheer fact of the system coach that he is,
00:45:17
Speaker
the preparation, ah the the defense being the biggest problem which he has resolved with Bonjourno I think is we all know that if Konta stays there Bonjourno's going to be mentioned amongst the best defenders in the world because that's what Konta does um and Anguissa is going to be unbelievable. Lobotka question mark but I think you'll be able to mitigate for that with other players Spinazzola is an intelligent signing. It suits Conte's system.
00:45:45
Speaker
um And he um and he he he um he will also have, in terms of in terms of system, he's got he's got also someone who I think is going to really enjoy playing for Antonio Conte is Pasquale Mazzocchi. I think he's going to absolutely love playing for Antonio Conte. He's from Naples as well. So that's going to mean a lot for him.
00:46:09
Speaker
um I think he's going to have a good season under Conte. it is There's lots of things speaking for Napoli and it is the system. It's Conte, but I still maintain and he's got Raspadori there as well. I still maintain that if Antonio Conte plays a 3-5-2 I think he will he will probably win the Serie A this season. If he plays a 3-4-2-1, I think with Lobotka there are some question marks there. But i think I do think they're going to be in a title race if Konta stays regardless. I think the guarantees with Konta is he'll sort out that defence, which was her horrendous last season. and I think Point John should be a guarantee.
00:46:48
Speaker
because he's seemed he's very much a conse play although I do think still Napoli need another centre pack which I think they will get before the end of the market otherwise Conse probably will pack his bags. They cut at scalier for me, is the most talented player in the league. I mean, we can say that maybe Lazaro is the best player in the league, but I think Kvalet's game, there isn't a more gifted player and than Kvalet's game. And maybe Rafael Liao might argue that case, but I mean, the talent he has, what he can do is is incredible. And we'll see if Concy can bring that out from him. You know, Kvalet has been more of a winger. I do think he has the game, though, to adapt, to play in a more central role, to be kind of
00:47:31
Speaker
for Son, know what Conte did with Son, maybe be that kind of player that can come in centrally as well. Conte will have them fitter and and hungrier than than than any other team in the league. There's no doubt about that. But at the same time, look, Napoli still clearly have gaps in this team and this squad, especially the one that we're looking at that you know that's going to start the season without without new silence. there's There's no doubt about that.
00:48:00
Speaker
loboka I think there's a question mark, is he a Conte player? There's definitely a question mark there because he's not the kind of player that's going to cover every blade. He's going to have that intensity. He's fantastic, short game, passing game, controlling game, but is he the Conte type of player? I don't know.
00:48:16
Speaker
um and you know On paper, yeah, I still think there's gaps there. And just because you're playing one game in a week, which is a massive advantage, it doesn't mean that that automatically eliminates the weaknesses that you have in your team squad. And then the best example of that is Juventus, under Allegri last season. you know I remember at the beginning of the season, a lot of people said, ah, but Juventus, they're only playing one game a week. That that automatically makes them title challenges. well
00:48:49
Speaker
Yeah but there's a difference. You have to look at the the quality of the players at at their disposal as well. some like room That's absolutely true but Juventus were in a title race until January. They were literally one point, I think there were one point ahead of Inter at some point, well into the season but it's ah' there's a difference between Allegli and Conte. Conte is a different kettle of fish completely and Conte has won leagues playing once a week where we're taking over a Uwe that I mean that was a Uwe that hadn't won anything for a long time so and he develops players so there's there's a little bit of difference between Allegri and Konta there yeah no no I agree I agree that let's move on to Rymer now um
00:49:31
Speaker
The probable 11 will be coming up on your screen. Roma have been one of the most active teams um in Serie A, this summer transfer window. And they've made a couple of really, really big hoops in Artem Dovbic, who was the the top scorer of La Liga with Girona last season. And of course, Mattias Soulay, who I think we're talking it financially is an incredible sign in. I mean, I have no doubt you've entered under sold in 26 million plus 2 million in bonuses and potentially another 2 million, but in hard to earn away. So anyways I mean, I think that's, that's incredible business from, from, from Roma. Dov Bic lot of money. um He needs to score the goals to to to to guarantee that. And then Lefé as well. So,
00:50:23
Speaker
I think you know Roma, roma um as we said in a recent show, it's good to see them able to spend money have to show ambition again, which they haven't been able to do for a few years because they've been so restricted by financial fair play and by UEFA.
Roma & Lazio's Season Outlook
00:50:43
Speaker
I still think they're outsiders for the top four right now. um I still think that there are question marks over how they fit DiBala, Soule, Dovbic in the same team. Like, you know, DiBala is not really a winger. Is it two beyond one? Where does DiBala play? that That, I think, is is an interesting one. um So that that's the question. right They might not even buy another winger. They would not surprise you if they buy another winger. Well, they will buy another winger. I mean, we did I did a... by the time this is out, you will have we will have already published our...
00:51:23
Speaker
roma mercato difti with il romanista and ralia romanista andrea di carlo where we spoke about his mentions very clearly that they want another winger and they're deaf out to get another winger. Probably another central midfielder too because they feel that they lack a midfielder that has more physical presence there. So they're not really done and they need a backup striker as well because they're looking to offload Tammy Abraham of course for the right price. So they've they've done quite a lot of work but there's still a bit of work to do for Roma.
00:51:55
Speaker
um I do think that with with what's happened to Atalanta, again we're at 6th of August, depends on where we are at the end of the Mercato, but I think this opens up things a bit for Roma to maybe even challenge for 4th spot um with all the insecurities around the other the other teams. um I think for me it's like the top six, I mean they are in a league of their own,
00:52:19
Speaker
But you can seriously, credibly make an argument for any of them to, for three of them to win the league and for any and the other three to finish in the top four as well. So it's it's very, very, very difficult to to say anything definitive right now. um But with the fence that the fence definitely still ah is weak, I think, for me. It's weak. The right back, they need a new right back. Chelic for sure. Mancini and Dica center back.
00:52:47
Speaker
you know, it's not going to scare attackers. Angelino. good Good player, but again, like i don't think I think that defence is good because especially when Paredes is protecting him, although Paredes was very, very good. and He was very good last season. But again, he's not the kind of player that will help protect a leaky defence. He's more the other way, good at controlling the game, dictating the game. but not And that's exactly what Andrea said. That's exactly what Andrea said, that you need to have a midfielder with physical presence who can break up the game.
00:53:21
Speaker
and win balls and provide defensibility. Let's move to the other side of Rome, Lazio, and let's look at their start in 11. A lot of change at Lazio this summer and they've got a new manager as well, of course, Marco Baroni and They've lost in Marbella, they've lost Luis Alberto, having already lost, well, they lost Felipe Anderson as well, haven't already lost Sergei Milinkovich-Savitch last year. So, I mean, the whole nucleus of the team that's done really well for the last four or five years and went close to winning the Scudetto in the Covid season, I mean, that's gone now. It's the end of an era and it's a new era now for Palacio, sorry. And I think it's going to be a transitional season for Palacio. Would you agree with that? I think 100%. I think 7th is where I have them. I think it's a transitional season. I think Baroni is a good coach. He worked a miracle at Hellas last season. He did brilliantly with lecture.
00:54:25
Speaker
I think he's a solid coach. I i think this is, I think he'll get them seventh and that's where we can kind of keep them. it's It's a little bit of a year zero reboot for them. I like some of their signings that they bought. Castro Vili is a player I've really, really rated.
00:54:43
Speaker
ah had so had some horrible injury seasons. um Noslin great you know did ah did really well pianni nosle and not and and heas last season. um well but i just When I look at that attack, I feel like I'm missing... I think everything looks good and decent. I just feel like I'm lacking bite up front. Chiro Immobil has left Lazio.
00:55:06
Speaker
who's going to score the goals? And I think that's going to be something that haunts Lazio for the next couple of seasons, finding the goal scorer. Yeah. Yeah. Not something I liked. I mean, I think he was a big reason why Verona stayed up. So, you know, he could push on, you know, Tavares, you know, Travant,
00:55:25
Speaker
I'm not going to try and pronounce his name because I'm in the picture. Do you want to do it? Do you want to help me? Who are you? Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao. Ciao.
00:55:46
Speaker
yeah but his body broken and you know so Another Italian player that I loved that got completely ruined by by ridiculous injuries. There you go. It's annoying me.
00:56:00
Speaker
Yeah, Fiorentina. No, Bologna. Bologna. Let's do Bologna first. So Bologna, I mean, fairy tale season, one of the great achievements in Serie A of the century to get into the Champions League, having not even been in Europe this 21st century.
Bologna & Fiorentina's Transitions
00:56:18
Speaker
what a job Thiago Motta did, but they've lost all the key players, key people of that of that historic season. You know, they've lost their coach, Motta, they've lost Joshua Zixi, their striker's gone to Man United, and they've lost Calafuri, Ricardo Calafuri's gone to Arsenal,
00:56:36
Speaker
And they've lost Lewis Ferguson for most of the season, certainly the first two thirds of the season due to another ACL. So again, it's going to be so, so difficult. They've got a new manager in terms of Italiano, which I think for a team of Bologna's level, they've done well, I think, to get to get someone like Italiano.
00:56:56
Speaker
But when you look at the team, you know, look at that team, I still think they've got lots of good players, lots of very serviceable players that will do a job. They work hard for the team. And I certainly don't think the Bologna are going to collapse. I don't think they're going to be awful. I don't think they're going to be. I think they'll still be top half. But, you know, I think it's it's when you add the Champions League football as well, the next three games they're going to have to play.
00:57:21
Speaker
um is It's going to be very, very hard for them to get even even close to what they achieved last season, isn't it? Oh, they're not going to be anywhere near the top five. They're not going to be in a European spot at all. This is a team that screams mid-table mediocrity.
00:57:38
Speaker
um I think the the attack you know Vincenzo Italiano is exactly where he should be, Bologna is where he should be. I don't see I think they'll probably they could probably surprise one or two you know maybe cause an upset in the Champions League and somehow get through to the knockout stages but that's what'll end. I don't see them finishing higher than eight, nine, ten somewhere there. It's a very very mediocre team. I think that you know they've the players that they've brought in are nowhere near at the level of the ones that have left. But there are players, if Jesper Karlsson stays, he was a huge signing for them when they signed him. He didn't really gel under Mota. this is If they can get him going, they have a potential big player there that they can sell because he he's he he can he's got lots of talent.
00:58:26
Speaker
um But other than that, I mean, I'm not you know i'm not too impressed by Emil Holm as a right back. i'm not I've never really seen, even when he played in Gothenburg, which is my team in here in Sweden, I wasn't really that too impressed with him either. I'm not too impressed with Kambjagi, Dalinga, jury still out on Dalinga. But now look, it's we're talking 8-9-10 here.
00:58:52
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think there'll be top half. I think there'll be top half because I think that some of the teams in the bottom half of the table are are pretty weak. and But I think that that's that's what you're looking at. 8, 9, 7, maybe 7, maybe at the very, very most if things go right for them and things go wrong for some of the other teams. but Yeah, then they're definitely not going to challenge anywhere near the Champions League places. Let's move on to Fiorentina now. The probable leaven there is on your screen. um So they have a new coach as well. ah Italiano has left, as we said, and the Rafaeli Palladino has come in from Monza.
00:59:33
Speaker
um He's going to go change to a back three now, so they're going to go to 3-4-2-1 from the back four that the Italiano played to another back three. That is a feature of Serie A which i I'm not against the back three. I know you like to some like make fun of me and paint it as if I'm totally against back three, as if I think that's anti-football. I'm not against back three, but I think too many matt there's too many managers in Italy that play back threes and I don't think that is always the best preparation for for playing in Europe and certainly for the national team as well as we've seen we've suffered a lot because defenders can't play in a back four or players are not used to playing in a back four but anyway
01:00:15
Speaker
that three they'll go to. Moisakine will be the striker. I mean, Fiorentina have had some terrible strikers and reasoniers who have let them down. Certainly, I think, let Italiano down. Let's stop Italiano from maybe doing more during his time. But he's come in now, so we'll see if a player that didn't score a single goal in the season last season could can improve things there. Judging by his that viral video of him trying to shoot a giant darts board with kids. Let's hope he does better than that. Pongracic will come into the fence. Now the big one is, before the end of the market, it looks like Nico Gonzalez is probably going to leave Juventus and Atalanta, but maybe Juventus the favourites as we're recording.
01:01:01
Speaker
Looks like he's gonna leave it. It looks like Goodmanson might come in so that is interesting because I think you've got Goodmanson You've got moisture keen who saw it's still a handful whether he's scoring or not. He's a handful. He's got pays He's physical there might be more goals in the in this fear and senior team um this season, but they still there's still clear gaps, especially if we look at that central midfield, they need to get in another central midfielder, don't they, there's no doubt about that. And the defence still looks a little bit leaky. So Fiorentina are one of these teams that it's hard to see them being too ambitious this season, seventh place at most they can aim for. Yeah, it's, I mean, Paladino coming in is interesting. um I'm really happy that he has.
01:01:47
Speaker
coming there. i think I think Italiana was way out of his depth. I'm happy to see Fabiano Parisi getting a chance. I hope Michael Coyote is given the chance as well, otherwise they should sell him because I think when it comes to talent, I know we're going to talk about that, but I have two Fiorentina players as my potential breakout players this season. Beltran, Moise Ken is no goal scorer. Nico Gonzalez leaving and Gudmundsson coming in is an interesting one. I think Gudmundsson as a starter
01:02:21
Speaker
Fiorentina is his level. i don't see I don't think Goodmanson is good enough to start for an Inter Milan or Juve. I think he's a rotation player at those clubs at most. But if Fiorentina, he starts and I think he'll be serviceable. But Nico Gonzalez is leaving. I mean, if Nico Gonzalez goes to Juve, that is a huge coup by Juve. And again, I hate to be repetitious, but I remember the day that Rocco Benito Theo Rocco Benito's took over Fiorentina and obviously he was a uventino fan growing up He's born in Italy, but when he took over he said I'm not going to see a Rocco. He said I'm not gonna do another Roberto bad job I'm not gonna sell anything to you then he ended up selling kids of law which and now potentially Nico Gonzalez to you but so He did he did bad job
01:03:12
Speaker
well, together maybe all those three players are half of Bajo in terms of quality, but he's done a Bajo times three when it comes to selling star players to Juve, you know, which is really, really interesting. um and and and And he, you know, that that is something that in the city of Florence is borderline unforgivable. um So it's going to be, you know, if they start stumbling, people are going to remind him of that.
01:03:39
Speaker
Florence is a very, very special city. It's a very proud city. um And, you know, they're not, they're already not too happy with some of the things he's done. um So we'll see. But I do think Paladino, like you said, seven, six, seven, somewhere there um is is where I have them. I'm really excited to see what Paladino can do with this site.
01:04:02
Speaker
Yeah, it's a big season for Paladino as well. We'll come to the coaches in a
Como's Ambitious Moves
01:04:06
Speaker
bit. Finally, before we we do our predictions, I just want to look at Como's team because they are the new team on the block and a very, very interesting story because because they have the the richest owners in in all of Serie A. They've spent a lot of money, this this transfer market, they brought in a lot of A lot of players, um a lot of established players, big name players, ah many of them passed their best. i mean Pepe Reina is is 30, Belotti, you know, Andrea Belotti is over 30.
01:04:41
Speaker
Rafael Varán is one hell of a coop, really. i mean he's he's He's still only 31, actually. yeah yeah yeah He's old to all that. Massatelli from Focinone and and a number of a few other names as as well. They've spent a lot of money.
01:04:57
Speaker
um What do we expect from Cuomo, both this season and also longer term? Is this a flash in the pan? is this is this What do you think? Is this something that's just going to fizzle out a bit like Monza maybe sort of did? Yeah, ah that's exactly what I expect them to do, um to fizzle out a bit like Monza. I expect them to to finish 12, 13 somewhere there. um i think um I think they're good enough to finish to to survive in the city.
01:05:30
Speaker
and especially Ali Yassim is an interesting player who they signed um ah in terms of the rest of them are like you said it's experience in order to stay up but Ali Yassim is an interesting sign for real. um Other than that I'm you know this talk of you know Stefano Senzi coming in this talk of Nicholasi Cavillia They're essentially bringing in players, name players, and they've got Cesc Fabregas, who's never really been a coach, who's just a big name in football, and we'll see what he can do and what they can do. But one thing that is certain is that they're not going to, you know, it's a small place, it's a beautiful place, it's not one of Italy's more crazy cities in terms of curva and pressure from the fans.
01:06:13
Speaker
We don't even know if they're going to play in their own home stadium at the time of recording because of, you know, the Giuseppe Sinigaglia doesn't fulfill requirements, any of our requirements. um i don't I don't expect them to do much more than stay up and then, I don't know, so kind of fizzle out. But I do want to raise a little finger for for for Ali Yassin, who is is an interesting player.
01:06:37
Speaker
Okay, what out watch out for him then.
Predictions for Top Teams
01:06:40
Speaker
um Right, what we're going to do now is we're going to do our predictions and full for the new Serie A season. We're going to go through one by one. We'll start off with the Scudetto winners, Nima. So I am going to go for Inter, as explained before. I think they have the best team, the best squad, the deepest and the most experienced squad, the most continuity.
01:07:02
Speaker
And I think that there's no doubt that they are the favorites. So to win, it's going to say never.
01:07:12
Speaker
It's really difficult. Look, i'm I'm not going to say who's going to win it, but I think if if Antonio Conte stays, that means that Antonio Conte is going to get what he wants. And if Antonio Conte gets will get what he wants, I think it's a two horse race between Inter and Apple. I couldn't tell you who who will win. I mean, it's like I said, it's a month left.
01:07:31
Speaker
But yeah, somewhere there, Internapoli of Antonio Conte stays, because that means he'll hear he will have gotten what he wants. um And i don't think I don't see anyone running away with it, with like 15, 16, 17, 19 points you know clear of the second spot. I think it's going to be much tighter than that. But I think it's, as things stand today on the 6th of August, I think it's Internapoli.
01:07:55
Speaker
Yeah, of course, this comes with the caveat that they're still three weeks ago in the transfer window, a lot can change. So don't post this like in April next year and say, oh, look what Carlo and Nimmer said. Yeah, don't no no we're but we're going to, when the Mercado closes, that's when I'll come with my full list of like, we we both will with our full list of who'll do what and whatnot.
01:08:17
Speaker
Okay, Champions League qualifiers. So let's go, when I say Champions League qualifiers, obviously five qualified last season, let's let's say top four. Four teams that are guaranteed to be in the Champions League. So I'm going to go for, and this is not in any order necessarily, I'm going to go for Inter, Milan, Juventus and Napoli. I originally thought that I couldn't call it like far four from the five, including Atalanta. But with what's happened with Skamaka now and if Koop miners leaves as well, I just think that that could be the difference but between Atalanta getting in or out of of of the Champions League places. So I'm going for those four.
01:09:02
Speaker
I have the exact same four, and I've got nothing more to add. It is going to be those four that end in the that finished top four. that's That's how I see it. Maybe be Roma can threaten Napoli or Milan for fifth, but that's a launch. If there's one of those four that maybe don't get in, it would be Juventus on the back of having a disastrous end to the... to the your or nos I think if this Juventus team that we we we've seen right now on August the 6th plays the Serie A season, I actually think they probably won't get in the top four with this current squad, current team they have, but I expect a lot of players to come in between now and the and the market. that
01:09:45
Speaker
that makes them a a definite top four team. So let's see what happens. um Europa League and and Conference League qualifies again. We're basing this on the idea that first or fourth is Champions League, fifth and sixth will get Europa League, because I'm going to assume that the Copper Italia winners are are a team that's in the Champions League or Europa League, and then seventh gets Conference League. So let's assume fifth and sixth Europa League, seventh Conference League,
01:10:15
Speaker
um I am going to say Atalanta and ror but fifth and six ah to answer of fifth Roma Roma 6th. And then I think I think that's definite. i'm I'm pretty confident that the top six will be will be Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Roma and Atlanta. I'm almost certain of that. Then the question is, come seventh. And I think that that is really, really hard to call. I think there's Lazio, there's Fiorentina.
01:10:49
Speaker
there's Bologna maybe and then is there a surprise could there be a surprise team like Bologna were surprised last season and even though they ended up finishing higher is there a ah Torino or Monza even a co a Como, I would say maybe even a Genoa. Genoa have looked pretty good in pre-season. Obviously, they might lose Goodmanson, which will be which would would be a very, very big blow for them. So I wouldn't rule out a surprise team coming 7th because I don't think that Lazio, Fiorentina and Bologna are strong enough that we can guarantee one of them will fish finish 7th. So 5th and 6th, I'm certain. 7th. Impossible to call right now on August the 6th.
01:11:31
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think the top six are exactly that. Intermilla, Yuvanapoli, Roma, Atalanta, in that, not in that order, but those are the top six. Fiorentina, Lazio, just outside the top six. um but That's my top eight. um I couldn't tell you in which order they're all going to finish, but my top four are Intermilla, Yuvanapoli, and then Roma, Atalanta, for for for a Ropali.
01:11:54
Speaker
and then Lazio Fiorentina. You still think Lazio will do it? No, no, I i think Lazio Fiorentina for conference league. so could be Yeah, out of those two. yeah i mean I think the seventh place may get a low points tally this season. um So that's the reason why I think a surprise team could could nick in good nick it, maybe.
01:12:16
Speaker
you know you have it was the same last season, wasn't it? I mean, we had like definitely in 10th and you had Torino like with like the third lowest goal tally in the league that were nearly, nearly got into Europe last season. So obviously we hope that the teams, our teams do well in Europe again and then we get more places in Europe. I don't think that would be the case because of the Champions League this season, but you know, We'll see. Relegation, though. I know this is your favourite topic. No one loves a relegation race more than
Relegation Candidates
01:12:46
Speaker
you. Last season, it was Prossinanes, Sassuola and Selena Tane, who were relegated to Serie B, who maybe you wouldn't have had that for relegation at the start of the season. And then they all went down. So it would be quite fascinating to see. But the newly promoted teams are Parma, Como and Venezia.
01:13:07
Speaker
um So first of all, I guess we should we should speak very quickly about the the promoted teams. What do we expect from them? And Venezia third in Celia B last season with 10 losses. Their signings haven't really made done much. They've got Dean Francesco as coach. For that reason, I have them as a team to go down. Koma, as we said, they've spent so much, and I think they will continue to spend. And they will spend loads in January if they're in trouble as well. So I think Koma will stay up. And Parma,
01:13:37
Speaker
um they've looked good in pre-season, they hammered at Atlanta and they they seem to be well, they haven't signed many players, they seem to be very well drilled and there very fluid team that understand everyone. So I think they could potentially stay up as well, maybe Palmer, but I would say the teams right now, I've had to pick three to go down, I would say Venezia for the reason I said.
01:13:59
Speaker
um Empoli have lost a lot of players this summer, and like last season, I look at their attack, Piazzi, Esposito, Caputo, I think they've just signed to Colombo. Even with Colombo, who who I hope breaks up, because I think the talent is there, but I ask myself, where is Paul Pogba? I ask myself, where the where are the girls coming from? Where is Paul Pogba in all of this? Where's Paul Pogba in all of this? But where are the goals coming from, from I ask myself. And Deversa as a coach as well. So I think Venezia, Empley, and then I'm looking at um maybe Callery, maybe, I mean, Lecce, maybe, although Lecce, I trust in Corvino to find the players, to keep them up. So I trust in Lecce. Yeah, Verona, maybe. Tough. Tough to call. Tough to call.
01:15:02
Speaker
It's very tough to call, um and that's why the relegation battle is so beautiful, um but I think Empoli Venezia, Helas Caliari are the main candidates. Part of my think will stay up.
01:15:19
Speaker
a lecture I think should be able to stay up or do you need say I'm a little bit concerned about but but honestly I am really worried about Torino this has been a disastrous summer um in my opinion for Torino this has been absolutely terrible um they've they've they've not they've they they haven't really I mean defense is completely new defense If they're completely new defense, they have Paolo Vannoli in charge, which makes absolutely no sense to me. um
01:15:56
Speaker
what can There's so much going on. you know ge They've lost their entire defense. Bonjourno is a huge loss for them. ah The attack was a problem before. I'm not entirely sure Che Adams is going to be the answer to their prayers. How old, you know, how, you know. He's not going to revolutionize their defense. Their attack is Che. No, Che Adams isn't going to revolutionize their defense. um wasn't Sorry, their attack. um i'm I'm scared um what what of they can find themselves.
01:16:30
Speaker
in a situation like Sassuolo did last season. I mean, Bella Nova's there, there's talk of him, what you know there's been links of him leaving on Roma, but I think you'll end up staying. Zapata and Sanabria don't exactly fill me with confidence up front. Valentino valentino Lazaro,
01:16:47
Speaker
I never liked. I would say on Torino, I agree that they've gone quite far backwards this this summer. and If I was a Torino fan, I'd be really disappointed.
01:17:01
Speaker
but I look at the number of ah teams down the bottom. There's so many weaker teams. Yes, there is, but so there was solo too. Well, yeah, that's true. That's true. Yeah. I mean, I guess there's there's always the manager angle, but I think no of van all makes the issue is that last season there was about I think, I remember, there was about eight teams that got under 40 points in Serie A last season. 40 points is generally seen as the magic mark to avoid relegation in any in any league that's and that's a 20-team league. And there were four teams that really had relegation numbers last season, and it was just a case of, well, who managed to, which teams managed to do the least bad out of of all of them, managed to stay up. And there's so many of the those teams still, in my opinion, this season,
01:17:50
Speaker
that are going to be under 40 points. And I look at Torino and I think they've got to be better than most teams, especially with, I still think there's enough goals there to keep them up. But then again, I said last season, they were, the Sasola had enough goals in Berardi and Laurente and then they didn't stay up. So you can't underestimate the importance of a of a coach and well that's exactly that's exactly that's exactly what I'm worried and but that they scare me Torino really really scares me uh for this particular reason and and the same reason that I'm also really worried about Udeniese because I don't
01:18:29
Speaker
They barely survived last year. And Alexis Sanchez may be coming back. So that would be fantastic. Well, that's just that's just cultural, you know, that's Christmas Day for cultural romantics. I mean, him returning back to to with next to Lorenzo Luca, you got Tovan there in summers each days.
01:18:46
Speaker
Lovric, if he can return from his injury, who he interviewed, and Biol, who's been has ah he has been you know chased by everyone. He was brilliant in the Euros. yeah He was really good in the Euros. But, no, look, I think they've got decent players. I just don't know what to make of this this this coaching appointment. Well, we will see. Costa Rognache. Yeah, no, I agree. He's completely unknown.
Player Predictions & Breakouts
01:19:10
Speaker
Let's move on to Capo Cananiele. I mean, I have to go for Lautaro Martinez again because One, because I think he was for a lot of goals, but two, because I'm looking at the ah the the other potential contenders and I just can't make the argument for them scoring more. Osseman, you know, he's going to leave. Otherwise, I would have potentially put him. Dobvik, I mean, it's very hard to say.
01:19:37
Speaker
Morata, I don't think, but certainly won't score enough goals. Vlovich, I mean, he needs to improve massively. And, you know, Mota teams are not, don't generally score or create loads and loads of chances. so I can't, I can't argue against, against, the against Lautaro. Lautaro, Leo, Clara, I think it's going to be one of those three. um I think,
01:20:05
Speaker
both Kvara and Liao are going to find themselves in more goal-scoring positions because if Antonio Conte stays that means Romelu Lukaku will come and Romelu Lukaku, albeit he's not as quick as he once was, he's not as aggressive as he once was in terms of attacking space um and acceleration and all that but what he still does by far the best in the world that is to be the hold-up guy, playing with his back against the goal. Nobody comes near him and he's going to play off Kvara into space, in his system, in in that system. um and And so for me, Kvara is going to really enjoy it. Same thing there, Morata is going to put Liao into all sorts of goal-scoring positions. I think it's one of those three, Kvara, Liao or Lautaro.
01:20:49
Speaker
Yeah. Player of the season. I'm going to just to be different because I don't want to go all into it. I'm going to go for Kavada. I think he he he will have a bit of a rebound season. This season is going to be playing once a week. He's going to be getting into more goal scoring areas, which which probably strengthens your argument that he could potentially be a challenger. um And i again, you know, I'm trying to pick a player that We'll try, we we'll light up the games for us. We don't have many of these, as we complain all the time, it's well we don't have many of these players that are individuals. And he's definitely one of the few in all of football, in all of Europe, really, that can but can do the individual magic. And so I'm going to go for Kavada. I have Kavada or Liao or Lautaro for the same reason as before, but I also want to
01:21:41
Speaker
Nicola Barella, I think, is going to take much more responsibility, Arinta, in the attacking phase and in the build more than he does in the defensive phase this season. And I think by just by virtue of him doing that, that will free up him to score more goals, make more assists.
01:22:00
Speaker
and cement his position as the best midfielder you know in all of Serie A. I think last season it was Chalanoglu, but I think this season is going to be Barilla, and I think Barilla is going to have to... I expect to see more from Barilla this season going forward than we've done perhaps last season. Okay, right. um I was going to go for Breakout star, best transfer and worst transfer, but we'll do that um in due course. because we still have we can do the bri We can do the breakout stars. yeah we know we can do that We've got a separate segment on this. I'll ask you for one when when we go through the breakout stars because we're one hour and 22 minutes into the show. and We still have quite a lot to to get through on here. As always, we we we don't know when to stop talking. and so Let's do five new signings to watch the season. Everybody loves the transfer market, the Mercato.
01:23:00
Speaker
I've picked out five names. and One of them hasn't actually signed yet. But you're wishing it into existence. Yes, I've wished it. I've manifested it. Alvaro Morata, number one for Milan. um Brilliant Euros. Of course, won it. Very underrated player for me. Like you said, makes plays around the better experience. The question mark is, will you bring the goals needed for number nine?
01:23:26
Speaker
but but, you know, he will probably make the plays around him score more goals. But the big question for you, Nemo, is, for me, I won't ask you, is Wilma Milan regret signing him instead of Zixe, Joshua Zixe, who was their initial first choice number nine?
01:23:41
Speaker
Oh, that's an interesting question. ah They're completely different players. um I think regret in the sense financially, yes. they they they They can start regretting that now because they say they would have been able to sell for 100 million. They're not going to get anything back from Morata. But whether or not he they will regret in terms of what he delivers on the pitch,
01:24:05
Speaker
I'm not entirely sure, because I think Morata is such an interesting player and such an intelligent player, and I think it depends on how how much he's able to get populisic and now to score. And, of course, ah Tijani Reindeer, who I think is going to benefit greatly as well from Morata. I think both Ruben Loftuscik and Reindeer are going to benefit from Morata because of his movement and link up play. So I don't think they're going to regret that way.
01:24:31
Speaker
um because I think he's going to be very important for them. I think he's going to be a very good signing
Potential Signings & Young Stars
01:24:36
Speaker
for them. But financially, absolutely, because there's no resale value in Morata, while Zixe, there's lots of resale value. For sure. Okay, player number two, who hasn't signed yet at the time we of recording, but I'm expecting him to. You're wishing he will. Two koop miners for Juventus.
01:24:55
Speaker
um For me, he was the best centre midfielder in Italy last season after Cello Nogli. He's tactically the most adaptable midfielder in Serie A, even more so than Barella, in my opinion, because he can play as an attacking midfielder, which is where Motta wants to play him. He's the number 10. He can play as a defensive midfielder, as a regista, he can play as a Metzala, he can even play as as's a centre back as well and and build the play from there. I mean, he he's so complete tactically.
01:25:23
Speaker
um and I think he is key to the Smottersport 2-3-1 working. 15 goals, seven assists, i mean I mean the numbers are amazing, and as well as being a great player. um I think he's the player that can move the needle for Juventus, isn't he? No, he is, if he signs. um But I'm starting to feel that he won't end up signing for Yulba.
01:25:44
Speaker
And I feel that this the more this drags on, I think it's it's less and less likely that he does. But I've kind of gone with a similar thing that one player that hasn't been done yet, which I think will be done, I think Romelu Lukaku will end up at Napoli. And I think he will be in incredibly important.
01:26:01
Speaker
for Napoli's season, finishing in the top two and potentially winning the score. Not because of the goals he'll score, but because of the fact that he is those the his ability to hold up the ball and play off,
01:26:14
Speaker
raspaorri caratellia and making them, putting them in Konta's culture vertical system, he's going to be incredibly important um and he's going to help, you know, that that's going to win them lots of points. I think he'll score his 10-15 goals but I think tactically he's going to be imperative for Napoli because i i'm I'm certain he wast he will join Napoli.
01:26:39
Speaker
Yeah, yeah ah definitely a sign-in to watch, there's no doubt about it. The same with Nikola Zagnolo, and we're not saying these players are going to be great sign-ins, by the way. We're saying that these are sign-ins to watch for many different reasons. And Zagnolo is you know someone that was, as we said before, he was a generational player when he burst onto the scene with with Roma as ah as a teenager. you know Then you know two two ACLs ah destroyed his career. He's not been the same player since. um you know He had a terrible season with Aston Villa last season.
01:27:08
Speaker
great story and that he asked Atalanta to sign in, and they did. He went to Atalanta. I mean, that's just an interesting story. Well, via Marco Boriello, which I also think is absolutely brilliant, because Boriello is just, of course, Zagnolo and Boriello are friends. Of course they are. Part of the problem.
01:27:32
Speaker
Part of it is how you look at it. From a footballing point of view, part of the problem, from a socialising. So in terms of socialising, I mean, yeah, Borealo. I'm sure they've had lots of fun in Ibiza. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, along with like Borealo loves to talk about him and his mate. Borealo loves to talk about him and his mate. Borealo loves to talk about him and his and mate. these guys. Borealo loves to Especially Borielo was talking about talk his friends from Ibiza, I mean he went to Ibiza about him and his because his friends were there, what was the mate. end of his career? Of course, of course. I mean the question here is look, Atalanta have resurrected so many players in recent years, I mean last season they resurrected the Quetzaler and until what's just happened, Skamaka, can they resurrect Zagnolo or is that
01:28:14
Speaker
is that once Is that one miracle too big? for for us to let it a Look, if Gasperini resurrects Agnolo, they should probably build a statue of him. It would be one of the greatest miracles in terms of player development that we've ever seen.
01:28:32
Speaker
i I'm not counting on it. And that's why I don't have him on my plays on my five list, five signings to watch. I've got Alessandro Buongiorno. I think Alessandro Buongiorno in twelve months in six eight between six to nine months time, 10 months time, will be talking about Alessandro Buongiorno as one of the best central defenders in the world. And it's going to all be down to Antonio Conte getting the best out of him and him being able to improve and take that step. I think he's going to be an absolute revelation.
01:29:02
Speaker
Yeah, I think he's a guarantee in Conte's system, in a back three. Mateus Sulle definitely wants to watch the landmark signing of the summer for Roma. Juventus didn't want to sell him, I can tell you that, I know that. Motta wanted to keep him, Motta really likes him. He had the best dribbling numbers for most of last season at Frosinone, despite being at Frosinone in Serie A.
01:29:25
Speaker
Can he raise a level of Roma? Can he combine tactically with Di Bala? That's going to be the key, how they fit him and Di Bala. And Di Bala is always a tactical problem. He's always a formation of problem, Di Bala. I think he will start a right wing sule, I would imagine. um He's ah yeah very, very excited and silent. And I'm very much looking forward to him. um And my final one I've got here is Rafael Varan, Nima.
01:29:54
Speaker
because I think that's just an incredible coupe for Como and Celia. I mean, he's a real Madrid and, he's a legend. he's ah He's one of the greatest defenders in modern times. Real Madrid, France, won everything. He's still only 31. The question is, does he pave the way for more signings for Como? You know, Chester Africa is the manager, he's a legend as well, riches owners in Serie A. You know, is it just a fad or is it, you know, is this something that does he pave the way for more of these kinds of signings? So that's gonna be interesting.
01:30:24
Speaker
um But the big question mark for me is, you know, is he going to be fit? You know, we know he's got a dodgy knee and he's been very injury prone in the last few years. That's the big question mark, because if he stays fit, I mean, it's going to be fantastic to watch him in Serie A.
01:30:41
Speaker
Look, between Raphael Varan and Matthias Sulla, I've got them on my five signings to watch too, but i just and I've got nothing more to add other than you said. I just want to add Pyotr Zielinski. I think he's very underrated. um I think in the Inzagi system, he can be very lethal. um So i think he's oh he's also one i'm um I'm looking out for as well. So yeah, yeah but those are my six, kind of, if you will. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I've got plenty of players to look out for. But now I want to look at possible breakout stars to watch this season. So these are players that are more unknown, players that are not established, a little bit more unheralded. ah Last season, we had quite a few real breakout stars. He kind of came out of nowhere. We had Zixi, who was a bit of a laughingstock. Let's be honest, this time last year, he was seen as a bit of a joke, Zixi.
01:31:28
Speaker
so it's incredible ricotta califuri who was seen as somebody that having also done his acl there's another italian player that is acl another roma player roma is like the the the elephant's graveyard for acls isn't it califuri that is acl and then Sulu was also a breakout star because again, not only anybody expected Sulu to reach those levels, I didn't. I haven't watched a lot of him at Juventus. I didn't think he he had that in him to have the season the for the first half of the season anyway that he had. So the question is who will explode
01:32:03
Speaker
This season is very, very this is always very, very difficult and you're always on a hide into nothing because you can always this can always explode in your face. But I've got three. The first I've got is.
01:32:16
Speaker
Dan and Doi for Bologna. Now, if Tiago Motta was still at Bologna, I would have said this confidently that I think he he could have really broken out his season. Now that there's a new manager, this is one which is is a little bit harder little harder to say whether whether he he can go on to the next level. But he's a very young winger. He had a decent first season for Lonnie. He was important for the team in the way that he worked hard, the way he pressed, the way that he chased back, but his goals and assists numbers and his final ball, his final product, were actually a little bit disappointing, to be honest, and that is his weakness.
01:32:54
Speaker
But you can see that he has the raw qualities. He's got lightning pace. He can dribble, beat his man. He should be scoring and assisting a lot more than he did for Poloni last season. And I think at the Euros, he showed just what he can do when it all comes together. He scored against Germany. He destroyed Germany and Italy in those two games against two big teams. And He's, he's quite tactically quite flexible as we can play on the right and play on the left. He even can play in the middle. um He's, he's a, he's a real, real live wire of a player and he's wanted by bigger clubs. And and I saw that Inter were looking at him early in the summer and also some Premier League teams as well. So I think there's potential, let's say the raw qualities are there that with the right manager, right system, if it all comes together, he could, he could be a ah potential breakout, I would say.
01:33:48
Speaker
I 100% agree with that, but I don't have him on my list. I've got... Fabiano Parisi, who finally gets to play as a wingback and he gets to play a Fiorentina under a coach who's good at developing young players. And i have so I have so much, I have so many expectations for Parisi. He's a dribbler, he's good at crossing, good decent shooter. No, I think he's going to be one to an absolute full breakout this season.
01:34:19
Speaker
I hope so. I hope so because I think he, again, I think he has the raw qualities. He's got blistering pace and check out our, check out our profile deep dive. We did on him a while ago. Yeah. Yeah. On our YouTube the page for sure.
01:34:34
Speaker
yeah Yeah, no, I think he has the raw qualities and he made a bad career choice moving to Fiorentino last season. He shouldn't have gone there when there was a player already in his position, but let's hope that he he gets that chance this season. um My second player I've got here is Marco Prescanini.
01:34:51
Speaker
who currently still is still is actually playing for a CDB club. He's still at Frosinone, who got relegated. He's a former Milan youth player, actually. And he's he really improved last season under the Francesco, which is one of the things that the French is very good at. He's very good at improving players. He's got a really, really excellent left foot. Great shot.
01:35:14
Speaker
physical qualities. um He's a goal threat. I think he's got four goals, four or five goals last season. He's wanted by most of the big clubs actually in this area. Atalanta, Juventus, Napoli have been the favourites to sign him. We'll see if they actually sign him.
01:35:32
Speaker
um I like him, he's he's just got something about him that I like. um So, Brescianini, if he joins the right club, he's one that I'm hoping, also for Italy's sake, I'm hoping for Italy's sake that he can he can break out.
01:35:51
Speaker
I don't have him, but I agree with everything he said. I've got another Fiorentina player who we've also done a profile deep dive on a little while back. It's Michael Caiore. I think this kid is the future of Italy national team on the right side. um I just absolutely love everything about him. I think he's so mature for his age. I think he's he's got pretty much every single quality you need to be a good fullback. My only question is, of course, now Fiorentina are going to play us with wingbacks, Dodo is back.
01:36:22
Speaker
ah It really annoys me. I really hope Keote is either loaned out or sold because I really think he can do. He's going to be a monster down that right wing. Yeah, he's got all the physical qualities, the raw qualities again. Technically, I think he needs to improve a little bit, but but um but he let's hope he doesn't rot on the on the bench no this miss this season. Let's really pray on that. um Talking about Italian youngsters, my final breakout stars. I'm hoping, this is more from hope rather than expectation, is Mateo Liberale. He's 17 years old. um He's an attacking midfielder. He's a fantasista. And along with Camada, he is the most exciting
01:37:04
Speaker
um team talent that Italy has and both of those players from Milan, of course, he has been labeled the Italian Phil Foden by Milan legend Alessandro Costa-Curta. He was also called a football genius on our part when we did a a special interview with the Italy under 17 match analyst about a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, Andrea Loya-Cono called him a footballing genius. Yeah. and And he's had a wonderful preseason as well. I think he's going to be you know,
01:37:35
Speaker
It would be lovely if he could have that could have a breakout season under Fonseca. And from what I've understood Fonseca is going to use in both training with the first team and with the... That's what he said. He says he's going to use him to play for both teams. He doesn't want to loan him out. Apparently some set of B teams wanted to loan him. And Fonseca says, no, we want I want him under my eyes.
01:37:56
Speaker
it will combine between the Milan Furturo and the the first team. Let's hope he he gets plenty of time in in the first time because in pre-season what I've seen with Milan against Real Madrid, he got the assist against Real Madrid for Trucoese's winner ah in that pre-season win. He got brilliant nut making that game as well. He's so good on the ball, so good in tight spaces and he he of course he was a key member of the Italy under 17 European champions this this this this summer and just look at the goal he scored against England wow
Impact of New Coaches
01:38:29
Speaker
the close ball control on dribbling and so so yeah let's let's let's hope that that that's that's liberale can can break out again for Italy's Italy's sake
01:38:41
Speaker
I've got another player as a potential breakout star. Aside from Jesper Karlsson at Bologna, who, if he stays, I think, and under, Italiano can do some fantastic thing. It's Ali Asin at Como. This 20-year-old Iraqi international, who was the top goal scorer of the Asian Cup under 23 this past summer, made his debut as a 14-year-old in the Iraqi top flight. He's a very exciting player.
01:39:08
Speaker
um and And he could be quite the traction in the city. yeah He's only 20 years old, as I said, and and he could be a really, really interesting one to watch out for. Yes definitely definitely one to watch for sure. um The coaches, now one of the biggest talking points in in Serie A this season is there has been a coaching revolution. yeah I mean listen listen to this. 14 new coaches in Serie A. That is absolutely insane. The only teams who have the same manager are Inter, Atalanta, Roma, Genoa, Lecce.
01:39:45
Speaker
and Parma. And Parma of course came up and from from Sedia B. It's only five coaches that were in Serie A. Just a comment before we go to the ones that have made changes. In Zaghi staying at Inter of course, Atalanta, Jampier Gasperini, De Rossi, Roma, not much to say that. But the other three, especially two of them, are really interesting. Fabio Pecchia at Parma and Alberto Gielardino at Genoa I think Gielardino is one of those coaches who's going to be coaching a top team pretty soon. Pekja is one that I've been waiting to see for him to grow. And Luca Gotti did an absolutely brilliant job at lecture. So those are really interesting coaches that have all stayed. It's going to be interesting to see how finally what Fabio Pekja can do in the Serie A.
01:40:31
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. um Let's run down the new coaches and and we're going to have to be really quick on this because we are going on for so long here. Marco Barone for Eagle Tudor at Lazio, as we said, transitional season um going to be very, very difficult for Barone, isn't it? I think he's going to do well. He's going to be, they're going to be stable, but they're not going to be too exciting. I think seventh, they are. The question for me is who's going to score the goals?
01:41:01
Speaker
I think one season, Paroni, transitional season, then when they're ready to to to try and make that step up and become what Lazio really are again, I think they're replacing. Unfortunately, that's what I see. I think Lotitos appointed him because he knows it's going to be a difficult season and he wants to wait before appointing a bigger coach. Bologna, Vincenzo Italiano for Thiago Mozzo, we discussed this already.
01:41:26
Speaker
a good appointment for Bologna but obviously losing all those players is going to be very very difficult for Italiano. I wanted Italiano at Bologna even before Mihailovic was appointed at Bologna because I think this that this is the right place for him to be and they've got the right makeup of players ah and in terms of young players that is perfect for him.
01:41:46
Speaker
Yeah, and I think his book was similar enough to Motta that it is it should be too difficult for the players to to adapt to his football. Fiorentina, Raffaele Palladino for Italiano. and We've discussed a little bit about Palladino. You said already, you know, good with young players, Italian players as well. and So so this is ah I think this is a big season for Palladino because he he kind burst into the scene with Monza so well in his first season and second season.
01:42:13
Speaker
kind of stagnated a little bit. So this is ah this is a big ah big season to see just how far his his career can go, I think, by Paladino. Yeah, I have nothing more to add to that, really. I it goingnna be i just i just hope that Coyote and Parisi have a great development under it. Monzello. Paladino replaced at Monza by Alessandro Nestor.
01:42:39
Speaker
This is ah a bit of a gamble, isn't it? This is a bit of a galliani appointing someone that he knows, the the kind of... This is a galliani appointing Clarins Seidorf at Milan. That's how I feel. But then again, we've waited to see if Alessandro Nesta can be a great coach and Monza isn't exactly the most difficult Piazza with the most pressure. Yes, not the most demanding from the fans. So it's going to be interesting to see what he can do.
01:43:08
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I for one really hope that the he does well because... I've met him and he's ah they just the most amazing person. like yeah He's such a great guy and it would be fancy. He's one of football's good guys. Let me probably put it that way. He's one of football's good guys and you want good people to do well but yeah it's it's yeah it's it's going to be difficult. um Napoli of course, Conte for for Francesco Calzone and we've discussed a lot about Conte already so we don't really need to
01:43:42
Speaker
need to to to discuss any more. Torino Paolo Vannoli for Ivan Jurevic, again we discussed you. I think Vannoli is going to be is a candidate for one of the first coaches to lose his job this season in the Serie A. Yeah, you've expressed your your reservations there on Vannoli. Udenez is, ah I mean we have to say, completely unknown. I don't know. I don't know.
01:44:06
Speaker
for Canavaro. Surprising that Canavaro didn't keep his job really, wasn't it? After he saved, it was amazing. It had a really good record actually. He did. as if you look at his ideas stuff like his I think the only game he lost was was Roma. The Roma game, which wasn't even a game, was it? Yeah.
01:44:22
Speaker
yeah yeah how easy Caliari, I've got one survival specialist for another, Davide Nicola for Claudio Ranieri. How gritty aren't Caliari going to be with Davide Nicola? You know what, I won't rule out that Ranieri comes back at some point. Even though he's retired, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes like they're in relegation trouble. But Davide Nicola, me too. And somehow, I mean, Davide Nicola is a Caliari.
01:44:53
Speaker
It's just going to be ice. For those of us who love the relegation scraps, this is brilliant. There it really is. tiago mota for max allegri um Yeah, I mean, I think, as we said before, is, is one of the most exciting young coaches in in Europe. But he's now coaching a big team. This is his first big team. So it is a step up for Mota. And he but I think he's pragmatic enough. And the he's not, he's an ideologue in a way, he's a system man, he has his ideas. But I think
01:45:27
Speaker
he does still have that you know defensive so he' shown that defensive solidity as well as being a coach that wants to control the game. So I think that that for that reason, I'm not as worried about him as maybe you know you would have had a worry with some other coaches. But so he yeah he has got a job on his hands because it's a revolution at Juventus and it's going to be very, very difficult with so many new players. Very, very hard for him. It's definitely more optimism now for Juventus fans. They can hope again with Motta. Milan Fonseca for Pioli, you know,
01:46:06
Speaker
Not an appointment that many Milan fans wanted, let's be honest. um But I think he's already kind of won them over, hasn't he, pre-season? So there's a little bit more excitement among Milan fans. But it was the right time to to move on from Bioli. I think we both agree there. Now it's up to Fonseca to prove that he's the, you know, was the right appointment. Verona, Nima, Paolo Zanetti for Marco Barone. What do you think of this one?
01:46:32
Speaker
I think we're talking another coach who's going to lose his job very quickly. Paolo Zanetti at Verona makes no sense to me. he's he's not a but That's not what Verona are. And if they're going to hemorrhage goals, I wonder if he doesn't get sack is he gets sacked Yeah. Venezia, Di Francesco from Paolo Vannoli. I mean, this guy, he keeps getting these jobs, doesn't he? I don't understand that.
01:47:02
Speaker
Um, they're going to get relegated and who's going to get them relegated and I don't understand it. I really want to produce lots of top players. Well, well, there's going to be goals. Yeah. I mean, there's going to be goals ah for sure. so we shouldn't complain We shouldn't complain too much as neutrals. Emply, Roberto diverse for David in your goal. Again, it's another one that's.
01:47:30
Speaker
you'd worry a little bit for Daversa if he's going to blast till Christmas. Yeah, no. Daversa, I'm more confident about than I am about de Francesco Zanitti Vannoli and only of these guys. um But, yeah, I do. When does, and I mean, you talked about if Ranieri comes back, well, when does Andrea Zoli come back? yeah of um So, yeah, no, but I think that Daversa will be fine.
01:48:00
Speaker
I think, you know, finally, Komo chess, Fabregas for a sign Roberts, Fabregas got his coaching badges, as that was always the plan that he would be the coach. I mean, again, bit of an unknown quantity. We know he was an incredible player. I've seen him doing punditry and he he's he's got a fantastic football brain. You can tell the way he talks is understanding of the game is is is brilliant. Can he get those ideas across this mortar management than just understanding football, having good ideas, you've got to be able to so to get those ideas across, to be able to coach, to be on the training ground, to be able to motivate, to be able to man-manage to to all of these things. There's so much and that you have to do in front of the media, yeah everything. So again, complete unknown which with Fabregas, how he's going to do. Okay, right.
01:48:59
Speaker
Penultimate segment now, the kits,
Serie A Kits & Humorous Predictions
01:49:04
Speaker
Serie A kits. We know that there's very few... countries or leagues that do as many beautiful kits as as Serie A does. But they they're not all beautiful. some of that Some of them are also pretty bad as well and then there's no difference no no no difference to that this season. So what we're going to do is I'm going to pick one kit that I love and one kit that I hate and Nimr is going to do the same. So let's start off with the kits that we love. I'll go first.
01:49:35
Speaker
I am going to pick for the kit that I i love the most. I'm going for Bologna's Away kit which should be coming on your screen now and I just love that. It's the simplicity of it. um I love the the the the red and the red and black, was it blue, dark blue, that goes across um horizontally on the kit. um Reminds me of of some of the away kits in the in the kind of like the early to mid 90s in Syria. I remember Genoa and Milan used to have a kit like this in the
01:50:15
Speaker
When Genoa beat Liverpool in the UEFA Cup back in the early 90s, I think they had an away kit that was similar to this. I love this kit. Beautiful, beautiful kit. That's my favourite kit. yeah I can't choose between Fiorentina and Genoa's home kits. Classic kits. Kappa,
01:50:38
Speaker
beautiful, beautiful. Genoa's home kit is just, it's vintage, old-school, it's absolutely stunning. Same with Fiorentina, beautiful purple colour, not much to say. Now look, it's, to me, those two, and of course it's a cup, I've have done them both.
01:50:55
Speaker
the best ti in the world. And it's not the turn of the 21st century. They were was that peak. Yeah, but they're still the best list of great. Yeah, they I don't think anyone does shirts like that, but they're by far the best.
01:51:10
Speaker
It's just, it's not a hood. The reason why I'm laughing now is because I've just realised that we've both gone for the same team with all our skits. Whoever did that should be locked up.
01:51:26
Speaker
Well, they should be in prison. It's a crime. Roma have one of the most beautiful colors. And it's it's the it's like it like to create a beautiful Roma shirt is like shooting fish in a barrel. And somehow they've managed to shoot themselves in the face. I mean, this is so ugly.
01:51:44
Speaker
Well, first of all, first of all, let's let's let's go with mine. I'm going with the Roma home shirt as my work. Three of them are awful. This is, as you can see on the screen, this is just disgusting. I mean, what have they done with it? but Number one, it's number one, it's not the Roma color. It's not faded. It's too faded. The lines.
01:52:04
Speaker
The vertical lines that go down the shirt are horrific. I mean, all for me. What are you doing lines on a Roma shirt? Roma home shirt should not have lines going through it. They're they're not a strike team.
01:52:17
Speaker
they're not you' and i I know the lines are ah very thin, but they're not Juventus, they're not Inter, they're not Milan. Roma home kit should not have stripes on it. I mean, that's horrific as well. And it's just awful. It's just horrible. it it's it's just The whole design, is everything about it is horrible.
01:52:38
Speaker
The song goes, jala come eroe roso comic cor emo as yellow as the sun, as red as my blood. that is If that is the color of your red, you need to rush to an emergency room. It is the ugliest red I've ever seen and it's not yellow, it looks brown.
01:52:58
Speaker
They've ruined it. It looks like a blood red. It looks like blood. This this this this this I've been been a few days old. Well, that's what I'm saying. If your blood looks like that rush to the emergency room, you have an infection. So doctors should look at you. It's something like that. Can you just can you just describe the away kit? It should be. No, it's horrible. It is. It's all ugly. Well, I'm looking at it now.
01:53:23
Speaker
um I mean, what is that? It's kind of white with, it's like someone splashed paint over it or splashed.
01:53:35
Speaker
like a fruit drink, like ah like a strawberry fruit drink over the shirt. i mean it looks like each It looks like a six-year-old had had a was eating food and and had an accident. yeah and then more six year old like A six got a paint palette and he's just throwing paint at a wall. And then you've got the third kit that looks like Barcelona's from mid-90s oh my gosh yes yes yes it does doesn't it it looks like the Barcelona from the mid-90s it does the ugly ones oh my gosh yeah you know what and it's it's truly ugly they have a ruined it what have they done
01:54:24
Speaker
What have they done? The only thing I like about these things is that they've got different logos for each one, and they've got like old, you know, the the the home team has got the modern logo, this the away team has got the classic, like an older logo, and the third one even older than that. That's the only thing that I like about it. The rest is an abomination and a crime against Roma and Calcho. What in God's name have Adidas been thinking here?
01:54:48
Speaker
Yeah, it's awful. It's absolutely awful. And and but it it doesn't surprise me because I don't know if this guy has it had anything to do with it. But do you remember that story a few weeks ago of the Roma commercial chief? Oh, yeah, yeah, you've got to spend this because the Latzia shirt. He got suspended because he designed some, was it a Roma training shirt? Yeah, it was a training shirt. In the light blue, sky blue with Latzia. He got suspended. So I'm thinking that the same guy did that. I don't think he was involved. I don't think he designed it because it's an Adidas design, but I think he's kind of been involved. Well, that's exactly it. I think
01:55:30
Speaker
I think that's it. They've been they've been involved in the decision making process and it's absolutely horrible. I haven't said that though. I think that Lazio shirt would have been nicer, nicer than these abominations. I mean, these they are an abomination. They are an absolute abomination. They're actually up there with the worst kits I've ever seen.
01:55:47
Speaker
Me too. i mean im you going to meet the ugliest kid I'm just thinking off the top of my head, worst kits ever. Those of you that are watching and listening, what are your worst kits? Yeah, let us know in the comments on YouTube. I'm thinking Man United had a great kit in the 1990s. Remember that.
01:56:02
Speaker
Yeah. Oh my God. That was all awful. Awful. Let us know and if you're on YouTube. Let us know in the comments the ugliest shirts that you can remember with links. Let's have an u u off ugly off in terms of horrible shirts. um I think romas these these three Roma shirts are the ugliest shirts I've seen. know Together with Intersprite kit, third kit a few years ago. That was genuinely an eyesore. Juventus Hello Kitty one was ugly as hell.
01:56:31
Speaker
um It's been quite a few. Yeah, Juventus have had some bad ones. But I mean, generally, it's hard to go wrong with it with with Italian kits. They're so beautiful. They're they're they're natural traditional colors and designs. you can't it's It's really difficult to mess things up. you know it's know It's really, really difficult. yet Yeah, somehow they have. OK, right. to to To finish off, I think everybody's going to love this. We've saved the best till last.
01:57:01
Speaker
So we are going to finish off with a funny segment. 10 things to expect in Serie A. I mean, I've got 10 on here. I don't know, Nimr, whether you've added some more. If you have, you can... No, I think I've got one at the end. I think these are all 10. OK, all right. We'll have yours as a bonus at the end, right? I'm going to read out each one and then we can have a little bit of fun with it. So these are 10 things that are exaggerated, but actually maybe not that exaggerated and actually there's very very real chance. Let's put it this way, this is there's this could actually happen, like some of these could actually happen. Yes they could, they could. So these are 10 things to expect in Syria this season, 10 crazy funny things to happen. That can only happen, it's like the Syria ass of the week that hasn't happened yet but could happen in the next few weeks. Could and probably will happen. Yeah exactly.
01:57:59
Speaker
So let's start off with number one, right? Antonio Conte complains about Napoli's transfer market and has a fistfight with Aurelio De Laurentiis by the end of August.
01:58:11
Speaker
I mean, this has maybe already happened. I was going to say, he there's talk of him resigning and disgust if he doesn't get his plans.
01:58:20
Speaker
I mean, it's a guarantee, isn't it? is is it' That's going to end badly. Antonio can't say complaining about the Medcato. I mean, is is is the it's going to happen. Number two.
01:58:32
Speaker
Max Allegri fans call for Allegri to replace Thiago Motta after Juventus lose their first game of the season. That's kind of already happened as when you were lost in Nunberg, didn't it? We've all done that. But yeah, that's complete. But they're in the right place, aren't they? Everybody calls Allegri a terrorist. I mean, Nuremberg, Nuremberg is a Nuremberg tribe also. Jesus. Maybe took that a little bit far. Number three.
01:59:01
Speaker
ah AC Milan ban all Italians. from Oh, God. Oh, dear. I'm sure you all love the image that we just flashed up there on the screen of Nigel Farage. But so I mean, it has been discussed a lot. There is a serious side to this that there are probably almost certainly going to be no Italians in the in the start of the season, obviously.
01:59:26
Speaker
the coach isn't Italian either as well. I mean, from the Italian national team point of view, this is a problem, isn't it? It's not good when the top three, when you have that little for the... Well, inter-OK, to be fair, inter-OK. Yeah, you'll be fine, but you'll win Milan or not, and that's a problem.
01:59:45
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Number four, we we have to have a prim face in here, a prim face point. Inter play Aston Villa in the Champions League. The English media say that not a single interplay would get in the Aston Villa team and the Aston Villa would win the Serie A. Yeah, that's I'm surprised that hasn't happened already.
02:00:07
Speaker
like it Yeah, but that that's less a guarantee. That's totally going to happen. Bet your house on that happening. Point number five, Serie A teams get robbed in Europe.
02:00:20
Speaker
and excited i that the Italian discrimination but that you love so much. Yeah. Number six, the stadium projects of Milan, Inter, Roma and Fiorentina all collapse.
02:00:38
Speaker
a Chances of that, Nima? Yeah, that can happen. That can absolutely happen. Fiorentina... Milan Intera, I think, as I've said, I think they're going to stay at the Sancina, going to refurbish it. Roma... i'm I'm a little bit, you know, I've caught the hype bug that Andrea DiCarlo ah had when we did the interview yesterday. Fiorentina I think now is actually it's a bigger chance of that happening because now everyone's on board they're all friends now so yeah but yeah this is a shitshow it's an absolute shitshow.
02:01:13
Speaker
yeah um Fiorentina are actually trying to collapse their own savior at the moment. It's not even the it's not even the the political or the bureaucracy that stops it happening. Number seven, this is a guarantee, 100% guarantee. A Seria anti-racism campaign goes all wrong as players come out for their matches in blackface. Oh, dear.
02:01:45
Speaker
I mean, I mean, if it's not blackface, it's going to be something. It's going to be something really inappropriate. It's going to be something really, really inappropriate, like their anti gypsy campaign, like their anti race. What was the anti? I was trying to remember. Don't call me. Yeah, it was. Don't call me gypsy. That was the campaign. The hashtag or something. Yeah, yeah you don't do that for the anti racism campaigns. Horrible. Horrible. Something else. Yeah. it um of which one Again, I would not I would not put that past them.
02:02:11
Speaker
I would not put that past them either. I would not put that past them either. Okay, point number eight. This isn't really a funny one, but it's a guarantee, unfortunately. At least three more young Italian stars tear their ACL and everyone just calls it bad luck and coincidence.
02:02:29
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, we've already said everything there is to be said about that, to be honest. there's it's It's bad luck, but it's also damn too bad the way that they train, being archaic,
02:02:42
Speaker
It's also down to the number of games, not um too many too many games for for not enough players. There's there's talk you know preparation, all of the above. you know It's all of the above. OK, number nine. Torino president Urbana Cairo invites Prince Andrew, R. Kelly, and Woody Allen to watch a Torino game.
02:03:08
Speaker
for no reason other than they are famous and he liked famous people. um Yes, he's done that in the past, although Kevin Spacey was cleared of all charges, but he wasn't at the time and it was really inappropriate and unnecessary. But again, and there was no need for it. It was so random, very random. Out of nowhere. Point number 10, Celia announced a partnership with American influencer Aisho Speed.
02:03:39
Speaker
A quote, a statement from the League of Cauchy read, read, I show speed is going to save us. He's going to be involved or they've already had these other idiots with with the guy naked chef or whatever. It's just it's yeah, it's going to be something really stupid. How do I show speed? Milan had him. Milan had him doing some move. First one to move is gay. Gay. Yeah. was his life you dream a it child this This seems to be the new commercial uh tactics from from seria and from italian clubs higher influencers but that that's it that's their that's their new commercial yeah policy pay them ridiculous amounts of money it's embarrassing for a flash in a pan no actual growth whatsoever it just gives you a lot a little likes and views on a on one video and then that's it
02:04:33
Speaker
I said yeah they are not even your time and not even not even your target audience yeah exactly exactly and this is this is what we're talking about it's good no idea what they're doing no structure just throw shit at a wall and hope something sticks yeah that's what they do And of course, I've got my final one and that's selected to be set by the FIGC after Italy failed in the Nations League um and and and and and the elections are held in November and a lady is going to be replacing him and you're going to be hunger striking outside of the Italian embassy in London.
02:05:09
Speaker
Oh my gosh. You know what? I don't think I hunger strike. I think... Go do a, what do you call it? Harakiri in front of the ritual. Yeah. Yeah. Or like the Buddhists during the Vietnam War. Self-emolate. Self-emolate myself. Yes, self-emolate in front of the Italian embassy.
02:05:33
Speaker
because Max Alegre takes over and he's going to probably say, as if that weren't bad, you know Alegre is going to say something Alegri-esque to piss you off even more, just to add that bit of salt to injury about, I don't know, youngsters need to prove themselves. Yeah, and Mateo Liberlale needs to serve his apprentice service apprenticeship instead of your team. How are we going to get through a season about Max Alegre? How are you going to through it actually?
02:06:03
Speaker
I will get through it because I do expect Allegri to return to Italian football. I think you will, I think, I actually think that there is a big chance you could take over the international team. I just don't want to say it too much to you because it depresses you too much. But I actually think that can happen. I think Spaletti's days are numbered. and yeah Well, if someone um needs to find a striker, I mean, who the hell are we going to have as our striker? this I mean, thank God that the the qualifiers, the World Cup qualifiers, don't start until... March? Yeah, March. It might even be June if we somehow win our Nations League game. So it's the nation Nations League group. So at least that gives us a little bit more time to somehow fire the striker in some ways. I don't know who the hell we're going to play up front.
02:06:49
Speaker
OK, well, that is a very, very long preview show. We said it would be comprehensive. and it All it was. It's over two hours long. This is now the longest show we've ever done. Yes, without a doubt. Yeah, yeah, mad. um But um thank you, Nemo. Thank you.
02:07:06
Speaker
Everyone but for for listening and for for for watching and the Serie A season, as I said, starts on Saturday, August 17th. As always, we will be be covering the Serie A and everything Italian football related this season on the Italian Football Podcast, and a minimum of three shows a week.
02:07:25
Speaker
including our free weekly show every Monday, our weekly Q and&A every ah Tuesday, where we answer all the questions from our Patreons, our weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more. um To receive all of our content, then go to patreon dot.com slash CIFP and become a subscriber, which is 299 a month, plus VAT. You can also sign up to be a pay subscriber on Spotify. The link is in the description.
02:07:51
Speaker
ah same price, same terms. We're also on YouTube, of course, for those of you that are watching the show, those of you that are listening, do ah subscribe to us on YouTube because we are going to be producing more of these video episodes just for just for YouTube, like this one, as well as other content and that will be on YouTube as well. um so So subscribe to us there. We we are growing really fast. We we have over 3,000 subscribers now, and we only really, to be honest, started doing this properly about a year ago on youtube and so thank you to everyone that that that have subscribed already and for all of you that do listen on spotify apple and on ah itunes podcast we really appreciate you give us a five star rating and give us a follow on those platforms as well it just means that we can do do more more content for for you guys so
02:08:43
Speaker
Thank you, everyone. And we'll also i can we can reveal now that in September, starting September, we're going to start a subscription service on on YouTube as well, which here, which we offering the same things we do on Patreon, but to to YouTube audience as well. So you can get the Q and&A and all the other stuff as well um on on YouTube as well. For those of you who who enjoy the show.
02:09:07
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Thank you, everyone. Enjoy the new Serie A season. Do let us know in the comments what you expect from this Serie A season, who you think is going to win the Scletto, who you think is going to be placed to watch out for. you know your couple can yeah who can ya yeah any talking points MVP and also the ugliest shirts we need to see the ugly shirts and also add your own crazy things that you might think will happen this season yes that we did as well so just get involved and and remember too if you're watching on youtube hit that you know like button yeah yeah but i mean the community that we're building in is really great it's really special and i just find that some of the conversation um yeah you know in youtube the
02:09:48
Speaker
YouTube comments but also you know on Patreon we have a little community page that's quite new isn't it for Patreon where a lot of our Patreons, our subscribers, they chat and they start some really really great topics and it's fantastic to see and we learn a lot from it as well. Some of the questions that we got, we had a fantastic question didn't we about the numbers that Italians in Serie A last week you know starting yeah yeah the so keep up keep up at that as well because you add a lot to to to the conversation and to the show and and you know I think it's great so so yeah thank you everybody for that um we will see you well next depending on when you listen and or watch this we will see you next time ah but so enjoy the Serie A season
02:10:37
Speaker
yeahcha