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Pioli Leaves Fiorentina, The Race for the Champions League Heats Up, and Serie B (Ep. 10)
136 Plays7 years ago
The Serie A Show's Chloe Beresford, John Solano, and Nima Tavalley discuss Fiorentina's reappointment of Vincenzo Montella, the race for the Champions League, Domenico Berardi's future, and the latest from Serie B.
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Transcript
Introduction and Setting the Stage
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Seria show!
00:00:16
Speaker
Hello everybody, we are back. It's another episode of the CDI show. We hope you are doing well. So the exciting thing is, guys, there are about five different places where we could start with this episode. So I'm sure somebody will find issue with the first topic that we pick, but so be it.
Juventus vs Milan: Controversies and Performances
00:00:37
Speaker
Let's start with the controversial, the highlight match of the weekend. It was Juve, Milan, Chloe, what did you make of it? It kind of went down sort of how I expected in a way because it seems like those matches between those two teams have kind of followed a pattern in recent times where
00:01:02
Speaker
Milan have come out really, really good, really impressive, and it looks like they've maybe got Juve on the ropes. And then Juve come out in the second half and they just kind of destroy them and squash any of their hopes and dreams. But actually, there was more to it than that. It did go like that. But I think that Milan were very unlucky and hard done to by the fact that
00:01:33
Speaker
they should have had a penalty and the fact that UVA's penalty wasn't a penalty in my opinion. I don't like to get too bogged down into the conspiracy theories and the referees and everything like that. But I did think that they were genuinely unlucky there. And it was a shame because it was another great game between the two of them. And we've seen that quite a lot recently, I think.
Handball Rule Inconsistencies Across Leagues
00:02:02
Speaker
Neymar? Yeah, no. So I agree with a lot that Chloe said there. For me it's a bigger issue, this whole thing with the handball this season. We saw it in the Champions League again yesterday between Tottenham and Manchester City. There needs to be clarification on the handball role because right now
00:02:31
Speaker
The discrepancy between one one decision and another is just is a mile wide. It's the Grand Canyon when it comes to the differences of interpretation. And that's why I think they have to. They like they need to. They need to address this issue. Right now, it's a lottery. I mean, Mancini Mancini joke saying next season, every single time the ball touches someone's hand is going to be a penalty. And well, you know, maybe that's to prefer because
00:03:00
Speaker
at least there's a little bit of consistency here in that case. Now it's just, it's a lottery. It literally is a lottery whether or not it's a penalty or not. And it just can't go on like this. But I do think Milan were unlucky. But at the same time, I think Juve were fantastic in the sense that when they wanted to play
00:03:25
Speaker
When it was, it was as if they were like, let's decide this game now. And then they did. Um, and they were completely in control. Uh, and that's the feeling that I've had old, you know, we've had old season when looking at Juventus in the city, uh, that they, they have never ever this entire season been in, been once been in trouble. Um, and that's why I think they're going to wrap up the score to this weekend.
00:03:51
Speaker
yeah and for me the issue in the episode with the handball wouldn't have been nearly as bad because i do agree i thought it was bad i just the lack of consistency the lack of explanation it wouldn't have been that bad but then we saw just a day later in sasuo lolazio
00:04:12
Speaker
in my opinion, one of the most questionable handballs I have ever seen given. And then what we saw on Monday was we saw the Italian Referees Association. They met with each of the clubs in Sidià. Big meeting.
00:04:27
Speaker
And they doubled down on that decision. What did you guys make of that? Because I just, this lack of clarity, this inconsistency is absolutely mind boggling. And you have VAR. And it's just bizarre to me that none of us can agree on what a handball is. Well, that's because again, that's again, that's got to come down from
00:04:50
Speaker
from the IFAB, the International Federation of the Referees, that they have to come, which governs this, which is FIFA's governing refereeing body, that they need to come down, because clearly the rules aren't, there's confusion here. They need to send out all, they need to send out directorship, like just direct what is it and what it isn't, because right now,
00:05:19
Speaker
The interpretations are so wide. It's so big. And that's what causes the confusion, in my opinion. It doesn't matter if you have a if you have a video, you know, if you have a VAR or if you have video assistance, if the interpretation is going to be different. You know, that's not the VAR being, you know, that's not the VAR's fault. You know, if you watch something in slow motion and still interpret it differently than another person who watches it in slow motion.
00:05:44
Speaker
It's not the technology's fault. It's the issue. It's the lack of clarity in terms of what is and what handball isn't. And that's why I think we need to have clarity because right now it's just a model. Yeah, absolutely. The incident itself, if you go off the letter of the law of what should be a handball, it probably wasn't.
00:06:13
Speaker
If you look at every other single decision that's been given in Serie A this season, then it was. D'Ambrosio, that didn't even touch his hand. Exactly.
00:06:30
Speaker
It's been real, real just frustrating because we have this technology and it feels like we're just using it inconsistently. But Juve, they also have a very, very, very, very, very, very important match coming up against Ajax. What are you two expecting from that? The absence of Keilini in my opinion is massive and I think that's a huge blow. Chloe, what do you think?
00:06:58
Speaker
We know what I think about Rugani in his place. But yeah, it'll be tough. There's no doubt it will be tough. But I do think that aside from maybe a performance like in the first leg against Atletico Madrid, that Juve probably have too much quality, even without Keilini in the ranks. And I think
00:07:25
Speaker
I think they'll probably win tonight and I think they'll go through. But, you know, we thought that against Atletico Madrid or we thought it'd be tough, but we didn't expect that performance from UVA. So yeah, I think that I think they'll do it. Yeah. Nima.
00:07:47
Speaker
I agree. I expect them to go through, but I don't expect, um, I don't think it'll be as easy as a lot of people think because I think this, this IX side is, is, has got some, you know, great players in it, some great young players in it. And they've got a lot of, I think they'll surprise a lot of people. Uh, I mean, you know, the real Madrid tie, uh, that kind of showed, you know, that.
00:08:15
Speaker
maybe around Madrid a little bit past it. It's not a balanced team anymore. But for me, I think Ajax will really shake Juve. But in the end, I think Juve being a much more ready team, a much more balanced team, even without Kehlini and Rugani playing, I think Juve will go
Fiorentina's Struggles and Management Decisions
00:08:40
Speaker
through. I think Allegri's got that playing like a self-playing piano right now.
00:08:46
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. And Chloe, we've made it almost 10 minutes. We have not uttered a word about Fiorentina. So it has. It's been quite a 48 hours. So let's look at the positives first. You avoid Eusebio di Francesco.
00:09:08
Speaker
And that's it. To me, that's the only positive. For me, Montella is just a non-starter, in my opinion. I don't know what that does for you. Where is your head with all this? Because this has been truly, truly bizarre. It has. And it all comes from the root cause of every problem with Fiorentina, which is
00:09:32
Speaker
the owners, you know. So to rewind a little bit, we had a terrible defeat versus Frosinone at home at the weekend, which obviously, you know, the owners, after all those draws and then a defeat at home to Frosinone, they had to do, they had to respond in some way. And
00:09:59
Speaker
the way that they did respond was to say that in the next 48 hours following that defeat they were going to talk about Stefano Pioli's future and whether to sack him immediately and it was already pretty clear that he wouldn't be staying beyond the end of the season but they were talking about removing him right away and at the end of the
00:10:26
Speaker
the statement at the end of the sorry the 48 hours or slightly before they came out and said in a the most bizarre statement I have ever ever read basically they said that they were they were sticking with Pioli but that everyone had to respect the shirt and that they had to sort of start fighting for each other and I'm thinking
00:10:55
Speaker
Yeah, but that wasn't the problem. You know, they, everybody was, all the young players in the squad, everybody was trying, everybody was fighting. That wasn't the issue and it was so tone deaf and it was so bizarrely worded and it just shows that they're so, so out of touch with the supporters and what's actually happening. So then yesterday Stefano Pioli said,
00:11:25
Speaker
Basically, it came out that he was quitting and that he was going to release a statement later in the day. And he did. And he said that his professional and both his professional and human qualities were coming into question, which, you know, I can kind of understand from with that really weird statement and who knows what other stupid mistakes they've made.
00:11:52
Speaker
the club because, you know, we've seen it so many times before. I think that Pioli needed to go. I think that his, you know, as I've said before, for several weeks, he didn't really have a clue what, you know, what he was doing on the pitch. But, you know, like he said, his human qualities had come into question. And I think that's so, so unfair to a man that
00:12:20
Speaker
basically single-handedly held up the club when David Airstory died. He, you know, he consoled the players, he spoke to the press at a time when he must have been in shock and grieving as much, if not more, than the rest of them. And I think to treat him like that was just absolutely appalling. In terms of Mantella, so, you know, it very quickly
00:12:48
Speaker
sort of came out that it would be Montella that replaced him. And I think for it to have come out so quickly, it sort of said to me that perhaps they had him lined up for the end of the season anyway, and that they've just brought him in a little bit earlier. I know a lot of people say it's a very weird appointment and a lot of people, based on his past, to clubs are saying that, you know, it's probably a strange move and it's not right.
00:13:17
Speaker
But I actually, you know, I really like Montola and I'm quite quietly optimistic because he had three amazing seasons at Fiorentina and we finished fourth in each one of those. I know it's not gone well for him, it's severe, it's not gone well for him at Milan, but he is good at merging a squad of young players and
00:13:45
Speaker
you know, that's the job that he's got to do now, basically. And if he came in and if he took us even to the Coppa Italia finals, nevermind winning it, it would just be incredible. And I'm willing to give him a chance because of his past. It's bizarre because the way he left, he fell out with the owners and they wouldn't give him the money he needed to take Fiorentina into the Champions League. But I guess now we're not anywhere near that position. We're tense in the league.
00:14:13
Speaker
And so that isn't really, it isn't really an issue. So, you know, I've got my fingers crossed. Um, and let's just see what happens. Sure. Nima, what did you make of it? Um, you know, I'm an, I'm an interfan. I'm used to chaos and stuff. Uh, this was nothing. If you think this is chaos, there was no, there was no, there was no cryptic messages in black and white on Instagram.
00:14:41
Speaker
There were no mis-quotations of Mark Twain. For me, this was not bizarre at all. No one showed their Ts and As, As on TV. No, this was not bizarre at all. This was just a normal resign. No, but seriously. No, I think, De Francesco, that would have been impossible
00:15:08
Speaker
before this, due to the rules in the Serie A that you can't coach to teams within the same season in the Serie A, which I think is a kind of a good rule. But when Montella was announced, I actually reacted the way you did, Chloe. I don't think that, I don't think at all it was, I think it's a really natural, it's a really normal and natural decision. And I think that it's one that Corvino
00:15:36
Speaker
would make because they, you know, it seems so obvious in many ways. He did really well at Sorrentina the last time, as you said. The problem was with the de la Valle brothers, not with anyone else. And he knows the piazza, he knows the city, he knows the club, he knows what's expected of him. And now he's basically coming back as kind of a savior
00:16:05
Speaker
Um, because they're, they're, they're, they're intense. Um, and, you know, being in 10 position, there's only one way up and that there's only one way now and that's up. Uh, so I actually think it's a really clever decision. I think the Francesca would have been so wrong, horribly wrong for so many reasons that I would not have done that.
00:16:25
Speaker
Yeah, I thought different Jessica would have been a disaster. Chloe, are you surprised that they didn't name a caretaker and then wait until the summer and perhaps do have a more more of an extensive search? Because as you said, I mean, this developed incredibly quickly, almost suspiciously quickly. Yeah. Well, it was either a very, very knee-jerk reaction or they'd already got him lined up from the summer. I think if
00:16:56
Speaker
I think if he was already lined up then it makes sense that they didn't get a caretaker because it allows him to finish the season. There's nothing to play for left in the league and he's got this chance in the Copper Italia and it gives him a chance to sort of see where the land lies and see what he might need to do next season. It gives him a massively long introduction for next season and that makes sense but
00:17:25
Speaker
I guess if it was, I think I'm kind of happy that they brought in somebody permanent rather than a caretaker because I think it would have been a real insult to Pioli to bring in a caretaker when it was his work that got them to where they are in the Copper Italia in the first place and to not allow him to finish that and give it to a caretaker just seems like really petty.
00:17:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's probably worked out for the best, except for the way they handled it. That's fair. Nima, your team drew against Atalanta and handed Roma the lifeline of the century
00:18:14
Speaker
So, this Champions League race, from a Roma perspective, I declared it dead in the water, and it takes one weekend to shove my words back into my mouth, and this entire thing is wide open now because Milan lose to Juve, Inter, Atalanta both drop points, Lazio drop points to Sassuolo,
00:18:41
Speaker
This thing is wide open now. This is incredible. I mean, for me, this is really one of the few storylines left in the league, other than perhaps the relegation race. What are you guys thinking about this now? Because this thing has flipped down its head in just one single match day. No, I think it's like we said last week, isn't it? This is basically these two places are a chicken race between the two
Champions League Race: Inter and Competitors
00:19:10
Speaker
You know, those who suck the least. And, you know, that's basically how it's going to be. But I think that, yes, they have handed Inter, I mean, our five points clear. I think Inter will, you know, I was looking, they play so many games at home. They play Roma at home. They play Juve at home. But above all, they play, they play Kievo as well. And they've got frozen on on the weekend for me. I mean, if Inter wins three more games, I think they're going to crunch that third spot.
00:19:39
Speaker
given that if you look at the other team's calendars as well. So I think for Inte and also you have to, you know, this is Atalanta and Atalanta who are one of the most positive surprises of the season, especially attacking football, Inte didn't allow them to get shot on target with Stephane Defray injured. That's impressive. So I think that the defense is working really well, you know, even after Brozovic
00:20:06
Speaker
I think this is a game where if Marcelo Brozovic had played 90 minutes Inter would have won. Now he got injured and that really, really threw a spanner into the works. But then again the Spalletti got it wrong because replacing Brozovic with Raja Nangalan
00:20:26
Speaker
and then moving Vissino back into that position, back deeper down, where he doesn't work. He just simply isn't good enough there. He's good when he can play almost like in that kind of free trécoartista role, where his runs, where his forward runs and his high pressing can do a lot of good. Personally, I would have played Borja Valero as a straight replacement between Brozovic, because those two players are the players with the most similar traits tactically. So I think that's what we're going to see from now on. I think we're going to see a certain
00:20:54
Speaker
We're going to see Borja in that position until Brozovic returns. I don't think Inter will lose against Ranieri's Roma. I think that's a draw. Same thing against Juventus. I don't see them losing that. I think it's a draw. And then the other games, they've got Frosinor, Mikievo, et cetera. These are team. Most of these games are at home. So for me, Inter are our third.
00:21:20
Speaker
Um, but, but your Roma have got a really, I've got a big chance now, uh, and they can really turn this, all the negativity on its head by finishing fourth and Milan, who everyone has been myself included has been, you know, praising Gattuso and praising Milan that could, you know, that, you know, that could end up, uh, being a, uh, missed opportunity and kind of leave that kind of sensation with you that, Oh, they had it in their hands, but they threw it all away. Uh,
00:21:50
Speaker
And so, no, I, it depends. I think this weekend, this will crystallize itself as to who that fourth place will be. Because remember, you know, Lazio, they've got, they've got Udinese and Udinese aren't exactly entirely safe from relegation either. And they've looked really, really well. They're battling for their lives. So, yeah, no, it's going to be, it's going to be really interesting. But in the end, I think,
00:22:18
Speaker
I think after this weekend, it's easier to say. Chloe, what did you, or what's your opinion on this? Because I just, you know, from a pure Roma perspective, I don't want to get my hopes up, but I mean, just last week we were talking about Lazio. You guys mentioned just how well they've been doing, from a managerial standpoint, how well they're coached.
00:22:45
Speaker
And wow, did they blow a huge opportunity, I think, against Saseuolo. And one that I think, I mean, with that handball, they were given a lifeline of a goal. I mean, they should have lost that match. Yeah. I think what...
00:23:00
Speaker
When you look at the table, there's a clear now divide between Torino in eighth and Sampdoria in ninth because Torino got 49 and Samp have got 45. So it's, for that one place, it's now just a five horse race rather than, um, it was more than that before, I think. Um, but obviously Milan and Arsalan, so I've got 52, then Roma just won.
00:23:27
Speaker
point behind them. So Lazio and Torino are slightly at disadvantage. But I was just looking at the Milan's running and actually they've got some tough and quite exciting games. They play Lazio this weekend and then they've got Torino and they've got relegation-threatened Bologna and they've also got Fiorentina. So they do actually have quite a tough run. So I think, I do think Roma could possibly sneak in there because
00:23:58
Speaker
You can't rule them out, they're only one point behind. And we've seen before that Ranieri loves to go at something where a team have been written off. We saw that with Leicester, absolutely.
00:24:16
Speaker
Yeah, Roma have been written off and I think Ranieri loves that kind of challenge where he can get them positive and get them thinking we can do it and they could definitely sneak in there. I think it'll be harder for Lazio or Torino so probably Milan, Natalanto or Roma.
00:24:40
Speaker
Well, we also can't forget that Milan also have their second leg against Lazio in the Coppitalia. So they're also going to have to prioritize, at least to a smaller extent, because there's only one leg left.
00:24:56
Speaker
they're going to have to prioritize what they want to do because it's 0-0 on aggregate. So there's everything to play for in that second leg. And as you mentioned, they do have a difficult run in here. So it's going to be interesting to see how this shapes up because I don't know what to make about this. It is just so intriguing this race for the Champions League place.
00:25:20
Speaker
But Nima, I want to build off something that you said, that you do think Inter will finish third. Do you think, if they finish third, that regardless, that Spalletti is out? Oh, definitely, because this season has... I mean, that would be the only positive thing, because Inter would have finished third, not because of progress. They would have finished third because of a Roman free fall,
00:25:47
Speaker
a Milan in a foundation year, you know, they would they would have finished third by almost by default, not because not so much due to Spaletti or their own, you know, what they've done and what they've done themselves, but they would have finished third despite all the chaos that's been and despite in spite of Spaletti's antics.
00:26:12
Speaker
So now there's no doubt that he's staying. This year has been completely chaotic. And the fact that they finished third is a lot of it is down to Beto Morata. A lot of it is down to having Suning there. I mean, as I said, if these antics were going on during the Marathi years, Inte would be probably battling relegation, like it would be complete freefall. Now there are grownups at the club. There's a structure in place, and therefore there isn't a freefall.
00:26:42
Speaker
No, I don't, I don't see, I don't see Paletti staying. I don't think he, you know, the thing is for Intel, it's about getting out of the settlement agreement. If they can, you know, if they can get out of the settlement agreement with UEFA, then this, which they're on, you know, they're on schedule to do that this June. If they can do that, then they'll just pay him his severance package and send him packing. And then it looks like it's more and more looking like Konta.
00:27:12
Speaker
I don't know what I think, I'm still very conflicted about him or Mourinho, but it seems like it's 50-50 or possibly 55-45 advantage Conte for next season. And we'll see how that goes. But no, I mean, Inter have failed in every single seasonal objective. They'll probably end up with fewer points than they had last season, last season they had 70 points.
00:27:39
Speaker
They won't get that. They won't get there. They've lost more games than they did last year. They didn't reach the Copa Italia goals. So basically, the only reason to finish third is because of Roma's freefall and Milan being in their foundation here, not because of anything else. And that just shows that Spalletti, you can say that, OK, well, Spalletti's job was to get into the Champions League. And sure, he will have done that in both seasons.
00:28:08
Speaker
But this man is not fit to run this club, to run this team. It's just that simple. So we talked about them very briefly last week, and I feel like we didn't give them their just due, even though they missed a huge opportunity at
Torino and Belotti: Surprising Performances
00:28:23
Speaker
the weekend. Torino drew against Parma, but I feel like we're not even
00:28:31
Speaker
Really considering them much of a candidate for this Champions League place, but nonetheless I mean they are right there in the fit in the thick of it just along with everybody else we've had more time to think about it, but What are your guys's opinions on the study? No side because I watched them again. Yes at the weekend They were not good against part of Monday
00:28:51
Speaker
But in previous weeks, I can't get over how impressive they've been. And I feel like they're doing this with the squad that on paper is really inferior to some of the teams behind them or below them in the table. I don't know what to make of them, but part of me is sort of supporting them because they have looked so, so good this season. Yeah.
00:29:15
Speaker
I think they have been absolutely brilliant and Matsari just deserves so much credit from the way that he's gone about his job this season. I think there's too many ifs and buts and I don't think they'll get in there but it would be good to see them getting the Europa League and for there to be something to show for their amazing efforts.
00:29:41
Speaker
I think, you know, last season, I think the fans were really, really unhappy with how mediocre they were. And for them to pull it back this year and we've not really very much more in terms of investment or resources is just, you know, it's incredible really.
00:30:03
Speaker
Yeah, and Bellotti has really had a nice comeback season. He has rebounded extremely well. Yeah, maybe we were all too quick to write him off. Perhaps he just needed some time to recover. Everybody forgets he had that injury to his knee with the ACL, and maybe he just needed time to return.
00:30:28
Speaker
What do you two think of him because for me I think it is if there has ever been a summer for him to make the jump This has to be it. No Yeah, yeah, I think I had a tweet tweeted it or wrote it somewhere that He he sort of chickened out and didn't really move when he was hard that peak season I think he scored either 26 or 27 goals and
00:30:57
Speaker
now he's, he's got to do it or he'll end up, he'll end up like, um, he'll, he'll end up like Balotti because not Balotti, Bharati because, Oh gosh. Yeah. Because you'll just end up linked with people all the time and then just ends up staying. And he needs to make that move now and make himself a, you know,
00:31:22
Speaker
a proper name for his quality. He's got a clear quality. I really like Bellotti. I've been a fan ever since I, you know, ever since I first, you know, his breakout season at Torino. And the reason for that is because he's such a modern striker. He's fast, he's strong, he can score with both feet, he's good in the air. He's a very modern striker. For me, this is, you know,
00:31:52
Speaker
you know, during this 10-year historical low ebb that Italian football has been in in terms of attacking players, especially in terms of attacking players that I can't remember ever previously in Italian football history. He's been the only kind of glimmer of hope in dark periods as the Centravanti, the number nine. For me, he is the number nine that Mancini should build his
00:32:22
Speaker
his team around with the insignias and kesas on the wings that is a team that can win Italy titles that is a team that you know together with with Marcini's ability to bring bringing young players that is now Italy are a team that in my opinion can
00:32:40
Speaker
win the European championships if Bellotti is fit because he's modern and as you guys say also this thing if he leaves in the summer but the thing is I don't see him where should he go because I don't see him if Icardi leaves I don't think he's the natural replacement Bellotti I would love to have him absolutely because I think he's a quality player
00:33:09
Speaker
But I don't think Inter are looking in those terms. They're looking more into the Romelu Lukaku, they're looking more to the Duvan Zapata type of player. Bellotti can play that role, but he's not that kind of a striker. But having said that, I don't know if I think that it's that wrong that he stays at Torino, because
00:33:34
Speaker
Um, you know, it's something beautiful about it, isn't it? I mean, if you look at, you know, the Dinatales, the Caliarellas, you know, these kind of players who are brilliant, but they kind of, they succeed at a smaller club, a smaller piazza. I liked that about Italian football. Um, and, and, uh, you know, Luca Toni never really, never really played, you know, okay, sure. He came to UVA for like five minutes at the twilight of his career.
00:34:03
Speaker
But when he was at his best, he was at his best at Palermo, he was at his best at Fiorentina and then abroad by Munich. Never really at an Inter Milan or a UVA. So maybe that's what Bellotti will do. I think Bellotti might
00:34:19
Speaker
maybe he's a player that could go to the La Liga perhaps or to maybe to the Premier League or even even the Bundesliga topside and take that next salt and equality as the Italians call it the next leap of quality there because I don't I mean Milan Piontek Cottrone Cottrone is an own product Piontek is going to be there for at least five years you know there's no room there and you know if Jeko leaves you know if Roma want to really
00:34:49
Speaker
Yeah, that would be, no, that would be brilliant. I mean, if Roma want to, you know, if Roma are going to rebuild, I mean, I think Bellotti to Roma would be a brilliant move, you know, re-renew, rebuild and all that. Inter don't seem to be wanting that kind of a striker, as I said, and also with the names being discussed, I don't, Mourinho is not, you know, I don't see Mourinho, for me, Bellotti isn't a Mourinho type striker or nor is he a contest striker.
00:35:20
Speaker
So I just don't see that. But so no, I think unless it's Roma, I just don't see where there's no room at the other ends, so to speak. So but I definitely think I really like him. I really, really like him. But I would I want to see him succeed because, as I said, I think at Tridente up front with a in senior kids and below the
00:35:45
Speaker
That's in that midfield with Verratti and Giorginio and Rossagnolo, Barrella, etc. That's title-winning, good for Italy.
00:35:58
Speaker
So Chloe, you just mentioned him, and while we're all talking, I just had to do some Google search on Dominico Berardi. Jesus Christ, this guy. I mean, some of the first things that come up are links to him in Barcelona, links to him in Roma, Inter,
00:36:20
Speaker
Has there ever been a player who has been just overhyped season after season? I mean, if you want to talk about a guy, just massive, massive regret, it's so hard to come up with a bigger, more iconic name than him because it's, I mean, half the time you wouldn't even know he's still at Sasualo. You would just assume he's retired. I mean, he just doesn't,
00:36:48
Speaker
capture. He just he doesn't capture the attention like he did. What happened to him? Everybody can have a theory. What's yours? I think he's a bit he's a bit he's a bit of a coward in a way, I think. You know, I just you know, a lot of at the time when his height was biggest and he was really scoring a lot and you know, a lot of people talking about him and you know, a lot of things he seemed to be saying were like,
00:37:18
Speaker
Oh, I'm really happy at Sasuo and I know players say that, but then they move on anyway, but he just didn't. Um, and I don't know whether it's that it was his choice or that clubs kind of saw that he had this, he didn't have a very strong mentality or I don't know. I don't know why, but he's, he's just doesn't seem very ambitious somehow.
00:37:42
Speaker
I don't know. For me, it's more of a show. I mean, he seems to be a very special character. I mean, this was a guy who should remember that when when co-ownerships were allowed, he was part it was owned basically by Juventus, 50 percent. And he declined Juventus at two, three separate occasions because
00:38:00
Speaker
I think this is a guy who, his character, you know, he's that kind of a character. I don't know if it's cowardice or whatever, but this is a guy who needs to be, I don't know, he doesn't strike me as a person who walks into a room and dominates it. He's not an alpha male in that sense. And I think at a club like Juve Inter Milan, where you got to take your own, you got to
00:38:27
Speaker
He seems to me like a little bit too shy and timid. And that's what a lot of his youth coaches have said about him as well, that the guy is very shy, he's very timid, he doesn't like the spotlight on him too much.
00:38:43
Speaker
Um, so he's not a modern footballer in that sense at all. Um, but, but he seems happy at Sasolo. And, and again, as I said before, the time time to the, you know, the de natalism, the quality or else, et cetera, there is, this is something that I, this is an aspect of Italian football that I absolutely love. Um, I like it when you have these players.
00:39:04
Speaker
who are young or no matter what age they are, they stay at these clubs. They stay at these medium-sized clubs, what we call mid-table clubs or even bottom-table clubs. And they're happy with life and they don't want the millions and the titles and all the glamour. And I think that's pretty beautiful.
00:39:28
Speaker
Well, way to make Chloe and I seem like complete assholes. Yeah, I know. I didn't mean to. I'm thinking, oh, maybe I was rather hot. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, it's no, I just, he is, but like with him, it's because if you remember, I mean, what his breakthrough season, when he scored four against Mila, I think he scored six goals against them in two games. He got illegally sacked even.
00:39:59
Speaker
That game that was the game that I like you got sacked for Milan You know, he he immediately like he just shies away from the attempts and he just looks so incredibly uncomfortable whenever he's being interviewed and whenever he's He's being like under focus and he I think he is one of those people who likes it at a smaller place I think that kind of life is
00:40:21
Speaker
to a lesser extent, like a Gilardino. Remember that kind of player that doesn't really, can't really take it at a really big place. I mean, Gilardino was excellent. Parma was okay at Milan, but he never really got going. He was good at Fiorentina. So I think maybe that's the kind of character he is.
00:40:44
Speaker
Well, I will try not to take that as a slight, but let's shift gears real quick. The relegation race, it is happening. As a fellow Venetian, thank Christ we won't have to hear from this club for a full calendar year.
Relegation Battles and Serie B Promotion Prospects
00:41:06
Speaker
Quievo Verona, goodbye. Arrivederci. We won't miss you, but
00:41:13
Speaker
Once again, they get pumped, this time at the hands of Bologna, and then, Empoli, they lose to Udenese, so now they find themselves in the relegation zone. This race is just as exciting as the Champions League one, because you could pick three different sides as to who could go down. I'm so excited about this race, and also with Frosinone, I mean, this is also another aspect.
00:41:40
Speaker
frozen on are only seven points now. They're on 23 points. They're only seven off the mark of being, you know, of being able to stay up. I mean, from the, from the, from that spot, I mean, this is turning into even a four or five teams into this. It's so exciting. This relegation battle of the season is going to be, I, it's so incredibly exciting. And, and, and, you know, Empoli and Bologna and, you know, Spal and Udineer say that, you know, they, they win.
00:42:07
Speaker
All these teams keep winning now, which is what's so exciting. Usually in a relegation battle, when you see a strong run of form like the one Spal had, that means, okay, they're safe, but they're not safe because the others are winning now. You know, one week, Empoli is winning, when Spal is losing. Then the next week, Spal wins and Empoli loses. And then you have Bologna in the middle. Now it's incredibly exciting. And that's why I said that after this weekend, we'll see in regards to the Champions League, because Roma play Udenessa,
00:42:36
Speaker
Um, you know, that's going to be so important for, for the relegation battle. You've got Fiorentina Bologna, you know, Montella's first game in charge, uh, against the Bologna. And then, and then you've got, you know, Frosinone playing it, uh, playing against Inter and then you got Atalanta hosting Empoli. I mean, this, you know, and then all of those teams are involved in one shape way or another into.
00:43:05
Speaker
in the Champions League race or the relegation race. So this weekend is pretty much a water divider as to how things will go.
00:43:16
Speaker
Chloe, who do you want to see go down? Has it changed at all? Because I, my opinion, just because I like having Mihailovic in the league, I don't want to see Bologna go down. We've all agreed that it'd be best for Bologna to stay. They're one of those historic, fixated city art clubs.
00:43:35
Speaker
But Andre Itzoli has actually been getting something out of Empoli. They have two victories in their last five, which, oddly enough, would usually be enough to get you above that hump. But they find themselves in 18th. So what do you make of it? I was having a little look at this earlier on today. And I think I was going to say with Mihailovic that Bologna will stay up because he's so
00:44:05
Speaker
We know how he is as a coach and he's very tenacious and everything else, but I actually looked and they, I think, looking at it, they probably have the hardest run in. Who I want to go down, for me, is probably Udinese. I do, I know Nima and probably Udon, they're not keen on Emily, but I, this,
00:44:33
Speaker
their values and their ethos, I do quite like it. So I think Bologna have Milan, Napoli, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, they have a really hard running so I'm kind of thinking that they're going to struggle to stay up now because I think they're only two points ahead of Empoli.
00:45:00
Speaker
I think, yeah, I think who I want to go down would probably be Udinese because I don't like the sort of clownish way in which they're being run by hiring and firing the coaches and sending place to Watford and I just don't like that. Even though they have a cool stadium, I don't like that. So who I want to go down, Udinese, who I think might go down, sadly, maybe Bologna.
00:45:27
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, Empoli, two of their next three matches, so they have Atalanta on Monday, and then they face Spal, and then they face Polonia. I mean, we'll have a pretty clear understanding after that run right there, whether or not they're going to be the ones to go down. So it is an exciting race. I'm not as excited about it as Nima is, because you could just hear the elation of his voice. I know.
00:45:50
Speaker
I love that enthusiasm. I was about to interject, but you sounded so excited. I didn't want to... I love the Seria. I really, really love the Seria, like all aspects of it. And also the Seria B is going to be so exciting as well. If you look at who's coming up and who's going down and then you have Quievo going down the Campanelli era coming to an end almost, which has been extraordinary in and of itself.
00:46:17
Speaker
local block team like Kievo, just from a part of the city, have been able to stay in the city for such a long time. What's going to happen there? Now, there's so much excitement going on in Italian football right now. If you're into that kind of stuff and if you're into the directoral sport TV fixation that I have and the Italian football projects and how they are built, there's so much going on. I'm really, really, really excited.
00:46:45
Speaker
So I don't know about you guys, we can talk about, let's end it here, we'll end it with the Syria B race, who we want to see promoted. Nima, I think you've mentioned this in a previous episode, but I am a fan of having geographical diversity amongst Syria.
00:47:04
Speaker
Obviously with Roma, they're sort of in their own little world with Lazio. Frozenone is now close by, but there's the potential that they go down. Napoli, it's very clear that if you look at a map of the clubs in Serie A, it's heavily leaning towards the north, which is nothing new. But I always have a soft spot for some of the clubs that are more southern or centrally located, even the ones in Sicily.
00:47:31
Speaker
So that's why as much of a shit-house club Palermo is, they at least bring some geographic diversity to the league. Say what you want about Maurizio Zapparini, but again, they at least bring something different. But if we look at the Serie B table now, we have Brescia, Lecce, Palermo, Benevento, Verona at the top.
00:47:56
Speaker
Who would you like to see come? Who do you want to see arrive? If it were up to me, it would be Leche Palermo and Benevento. Leche is a team we haven't seen in a long time in the Serie A. It's going to be really interesting to see if they can make it, what they do. Palermo, nobody knows who owns that club. Zamparini, I have a fascination with Maurizio Zamparini,
00:48:25
Speaker
Benvento, I fell in love with that stadium and the fact that they're basically this tiny little place, this tiny little club just outside of Naples, pretty much. Brescia, we know them, they're renowned for their ability to harness and develop young talent. They have one now, Sandro Tonali. Tonali, who's everyone's eyes on, talking about him as some sort of a next Verati, Pierlo, Giorginio character. They're doing really, really well.
00:48:55
Speaker
But if it were up to me, it would be Brescia, Palermo and Benimento. But that's not going to happen because Brescia is three points clear in top spot with one game in hand. So Brescia will definitely go up. As long as Palermo go up, I want Brescia and Palermo to go up because I think it would be really interesting. So you mentioned Brescia without even mentioning Massimo Cellino.
00:49:22
Speaker
we would welcome back the legend. Yeah, he's funny. I mean, the man is crazy. When we're talking about entertaining crazy football presidents, Massimo Cellino is definitely up there. But I feel that he's let me down after Leeds. Like he's not been as crazy and outspoken as he was during the Caliari years when he was speaking on the beach loudly for everyone who wanted to listen and Sardinia.
00:49:47
Speaker
about when he was going to sell Rajana in Golan. He's a rock star. He's really funny. But he knows his stuff. I mean, despite all the craziness, he's done well with his clubs. Brescia looked to be coming back to the Serie A. So, yeah. I agree with Nima in the way that I like coming to polo in Serie A.
00:50:16
Speaker
they're a good team to have and also lecture as well because they've not been in, it's something really different, not been in for quite a long time. With Benevento, I love the fans, I think they were amazing when they had that season in Serie A and they're so small and the fact that last time round they'd never been in Serie A before, it was a great, great story but I think
00:50:43
Speaker
They proved with their record-breaking rubbishness that they weren't fit to be in Serie A, and I wouldn't really like to see them humiliated again like that, because then it just becomes a bit embarrassing for them, and I just kind of feel for them a bit in that respect. So, I don't know, really. I think I'll ask Verona, a club that
00:51:12
Speaker
They, they, they're a bit yo-yo, but they do have the fan base and the infrastructure maybe to support a seasonings area. I just, I like to see them come up and kind of hold their own and not just go straight back down. So that's, that's really what I'm looking for and, and to provide a bit of interest. And I think certainly let Chain Palomo do that. Yeah. Can we not have one year?
00:51:37
Speaker
Can we just have one year without that horrible stadium in the city? That's all I ask for. One year's respite. Just one year's respite from that stadium. That is all I want. Then we can have both Keivo and Hela's back. Like having both back to compensate. I mean, cause as John and I have said, that stadium is just, oh,
00:52:00
Speaker
It is where happiness goes to die. It's just that simple. Yeah, I agree. I don't want Verona to come up. I agree, Chloe, on Benevento. I would actually like to see Brescia, Lece, and I didn't mention them, but Pescada as well. It's been a while since we've seen them, but sort of the point you made with Benevento, Chloe, the season they were up, I don't know if anybody remembers, but they were
00:52:31
Speaker
Dreadful. Absolutely dreadful. So we'll end it there with some high-quality Sedia B-talk, which is always exciting. Definitely ending the episode with Relegation and Sedia B-talk, I'm sure, is going to capture everybody's attention at the very end. So that's what we aim to do.
00:52:55
Speaker
So we will leave it there, everyone. As always, thank you so much for listening. If you could continue to like, rate, subscribe, review, all of that stuff. We would greatly, greatly appreciate it. None of this is possible without you. So until next time, we will talk to you then. Bye-bye.