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Lautaro’s Inter Milan Conquer Lazio In Rome, Genoa End Juventus Run, Simic’s Dream AC Milan Debut, Bologna Fairytale, Champions League Last-16 Draw & Much More (Ep. 386)
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From a Lautaro Martinez led Inter Milan conquering Lazio in Rome, Genoa end Juventus winning streak as Dusan Vlahovic continues to struggle, AC Milan youngster Jan-Carlo Simic makes dream debut, Victor Osimhen stars as Napoli back to winning ways, toxic José Mourinho and his Roma lose against fairytale Bologna who are pushing for a top 4 Serie A finish, to Champions League Round of 16 and Europa League play-off reaction and analysis as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from a jampacked weekend in Italian football.
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Transcript
Introduction and Patreon Support
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the Italian football podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tovale and on today's show we will review the weekend Serie A action as Inter go four points clear after another impressive win this time
00:00:22
Speaker
in Rome against Lazio. Juventus' good run comes to an end with a disappointing draw at Genoa. It's a dream debut for Giancarlo Simic, the Milan youngster who scored on his debut as Milan beat Monza. Napoli returned to winning ways in Serie A thanks to a monstrous Victor Rosimond.
00:00:43
Speaker
Bologna, though, stay forth ahead of Napoli with another big scalp as they beat Roma with Jose Mourinho causing yet more controversy. We're also going to react to the Champions League last 16 draws, some really tough games for Inter, Napoli and Lazio. And also we will react to the Europa League draw and we'll do the usual Badgio, Prem Face and Serie A of the week.
00:01:13
Speaker
For all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Serie action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday where we answer all our questions from our patrons, plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post match reaction and much, much more, then go to patreon.com
00:01:38
Speaker
and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. And now you can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. We'll provide the link in the description. It's the same price, same terms. And for all of you that listen on Spotify, Apple, and iTunes Podcast, we'd really appreciate if you give us a five-star rating, give us a follow and a like. We're on YouTube as well. It really helps us grow and do more quality content for you guys.
Inter Milan's Performance and Scudetto Hopes
00:02:03
Speaker
OK, so let's get into today's show. OK, so we start off with Inter, who, as I said there in the introduction, go four points clear at the top after beating Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. And Nima, I think this game again shows what a fantastic team this Inter team are, because in my opinion, they played against a Lazio team who I actually think played pretty well in this game.
00:02:32
Speaker
Oh, I agree 100%. I think Lazio were better than Inter, especially in the first half. But they didn't create that much. They just had one big chance with Immobula header that didn't even hit the target. But other than that,
00:02:48
Speaker
I think Lazio played better. But this is the thing, this Inter side, now Inter have played all the big seven, traditional big seven, and the statistics on display are truly unbelievable. I mean, they've played Milan, Lazio, Napoli, Juve, Fiorentina, Roma, and Atalanta.
00:03:15
Speaker
And if I'm not mistaken, I mean, they've won six, drawn one. That was the one against Juva. But every other team, they've kind of beaten comprehensively, and they've kept so many clean sheets doing so. This is a team, this is an interside that has matured incredibly together with their coach. This is an interside that knows how to suffer, that knows how to stay in games,
00:03:42
Speaker
when even when things aren't working, when the opposition is putting you under pressure, but they work as a unit in both phases. And above all, their side that is ruthless. You make a mistake against Yinta, they will punish you.
00:03:59
Speaker
And one thing that I want to get to as well is the passing, because I think the way that they manage these situations is through their superior ability to pass the ball and keep it, retain possession. I can't remember an interside that wherever this safe passes in my lifetime, this ability to... I mean, if you allow inter, they can retain possession until the cows come home without losing it.
00:04:30
Speaker
And it's remarkable. And all of these things are the hallmark, because this always goes to the versatility point. Inter can play without the ball, they can play with the ball. They can suffer, they can hurt you in very many different ways. And we saw that against Lazio. You press Inter high up, and they can't play their way through, they'll just play a high ball, and they've got Turam who can win the ball.
00:04:52
Speaker
playing a bit more like content. But also, as we saw yesterday, they can really play their way thanks to their passing and their passing schemes through any situation. All of these things, the versatility, the ability to suffer, the maturity, the ruthlessness, these are hallmarks of a championship-winning team. That's what I'm thinking there are now. I think there's no hiding away now. This is into our clear, clear favorites.
00:05:22
Speaker
They're on their own route. If they win the next three games, they will have 50 points at the halfway point, which is exactly what Napoli had. This is this is in the score to now to lose. It is even though they're only four points ahead of you. We can't, you know, we're so far into the season now that you can't you can't hide away from that
Inter's Strong Position in Serie A
00:05:42
Speaker
fact.
00:05:44
Speaker
No, no, you can't. Absolutely. Inter are in an incredible position to win the Scudetto. I mean, I would even go so far as to say that, you know, into almost have to lose it from here to look at the points difference is plus four on Juventus, which is, you know, it's not, you know, it's not that significant at this stage, but it's still important. Plus nine on Milan, plus 14 on Napoli, which is massively significant.
00:06:08
Speaker
But what I think is key is look at the fixture list and look at who Inter have played so far this season. They've already played Juventus, Napoli, Atalanta, Lazio away and Milan of course is a neutral venue. So the only big team that Inter have to play away from home in the second half of the season is Roma.
00:06:26
Speaker
Or Fiorentina, too. Fiorentina, too. Well, Fiorentina, yeah, I guess we can kind of count that. But, I mean, the really big teams, the teams, you know, right at the top, challenging for top four, you know, they played all of them already, except for Roma. So when you add to that, you know, the points difference, they add to that the fact that Inter have the best team, they have the best and the deepest squad, they statistically
00:06:48
Speaker
and I would add on paper have the best attack and the best I mean Napoli might argue against that the best attack but certainly on on statistically in terms of the golf scored and everything chances created the best attack they have the best defense I mean
00:07:03
Speaker
I think there's also the chance that Inter could even run away with this. And also, Inter have a great run of fixtures now in the next four to five weeks up until the end of January, where there's a slightly difficult run that comes up. Until then, Inter can go on a winning run. So I think Inter are in a great, great position. But the one thing I wanted to expand on, the point that you just made there, is
00:07:26
Speaker
twofold, Inter's defence and the defence and the team knowing how to suffer.
Inter's Defense and Offensive Concerns
00:07:32
Speaker
I think that's absolutely key because I think that Lazio were the better team in the first half in a similar way to that Napoli were the better team in the first half when they played at the Maradona. And in both of those games, both Lazio and Napoli were dominating territory, they were in the Inter's half, they were pressing really well, they were winning it back quite quickly, Inter were struggling to get out,
00:07:55
Speaker
But despite all that...
00:07:57
Speaker
Neither team, neither Napoli in that first half or Lazio in the first half on Sunday night, barely created anything. And Inter's defense was so strong. And, I mean, I actually think the only big chance that Lazio had in this whole game was the Ravela chance when he went on the run in the second half and it just kind of opened up for him. And he was one-on-one, but then I think he just got a bit tired and he lost his balance and, you know, someone made the save. But Inter know how to suffer
00:08:25
Speaker
without actually suffering. If that makes sense. We're not talking suffering where the team has chance after chance and you can say, well, they don't concede that much. Yeah. That's what I mean. Yeah. Yeah. They don't concede that much. And I think that against Lazio, we saw that the defense is incredibly solid. I mean,
00:08:40
Speaker
And also, is it a weakened defence? I mean, it's a defence that's got players out. Do you know what I mean? No Pavard, D'Amián was playing as a right wing back. He's Cuadrado, Pastoni just came back from injury, Dafry is out. When it comes to depth, I think, yes, Inter have depth in defence, they do. Midfield, I would say they have depth, but they have no depth in attack.
00:09:02
Speaker
Well, I think that's it. I think that's the key point. I think the only way that I can see into not winning the Scudetto is if something happens. Let's just say Lautaro gets out for three months and maybe then Torram's out for a while a little bit as well. You know, like if something happens, they get a bad injury, a lot of bad injuries in the attack.
00:09:18
Speaker
that could slow them down. Otherwise, I mean, this inter-team looks the complete package. They can play in different ways. They can defend. They can attack. They can suffer. They can play on the counter. They can play with the ball. They're so strong mentally. They're so good on set pieces. I mean, they can play you technically. They can play you physically. You know, they're so complete. And that's what gives me hope. We'll talk about the Atlético Madrid drawing a bit later on. But, you know, that's what gives me hope also for that game is that I just feel like
00:09:46
Speaker
this inter-team, it's like, however you try and play them, I feel like they've got the answers. They do. They're very versatile. They're very, very versatile. They can play catch a vertical. They can play without position with with position. They're unbelievable. Like I said, it's probably the best. I can't remember watching an interside that was this safe passes that were this good at retaining possession that could have so many passing schemes scare me that had so many passing lanes. This isn't just
00:10:13
Speaker
random possession. They have possession that matters and they have an idea, a clear cookie. And they can manage games as well, that they can take breathers in games. They can take 20 minutes out of a game and just breathe, take a breather and then get back on it.
00:10:29
Speaker
They just look like an incredibly mature team. And I've said it so many times, and I want to keep repeating myself, but I do feel like that Champions League final has given them so much from a mental point of view, so much. They look so sure in themselves. Whatever happens, even when they go behind like they did against Juventus, they just... They don't stress. Yeah, they don't stress. They just look the complete thing. They just look the complete package. I can't see any weaknesses. I'm trying to look for them because I want a title race.
Lazio's Performance and Challenges
00:10:58
Speaker
You know, nothing to do with the event that's saying, I want a title race. We all, I think, well, in Japan's time, you know, I mean, we don't want to see you into win by 20 points. It's not good for the Serie A. But, you know, I just think it's a look really great. They look great. And obviously they've got the players up front that make the difference. I mean,
00:11:13
Speaker
They pounce and that's another difference, another thing that Inter have improved this season. They're a lot more clinical in attack. Remember in Zaghi's first season, do you remember the XG table in the season that Milan won it? Which was insane, like Inter's expected goals and expected points was off the charts, but they were missing chance after chance. They were having games where they had like XGs of four and not winning.
00:11:36
Speaker
And also last season as well, the same thing with Lukaku. I mean, it was the same. It's been the same problem. Even Lautaro, to an extent, had those games as well. Oh, without a doubt, of course. Without a doubt, because I mean, that's what I was saying. I mean, I never thought that Lautaro would become the killer in the box that he's become. But Inter have patiently built around him and decided that he's going to be the man that they build around. And Lautaro has taken step by step for the last two seasons to the point where he is now
00:12:03
Speaker
and where he's two goals away I think I saw a stat where he's now what two or three goals away from from equalling the all-time goal tally by an interplayer for a calendar year at 32. I think he's got the most since 2000 I believe.
00:12:20
Speaker
2000, yeah, but I'm talking about in the calendar year and all of interest history. 32 is the record and I think he's on 29 now. Who is that out of interest? I think it was. I think it was. I think I saw a star on that. I can't remember exactly, but yeah. I mean, he's become ruthless now, Laotaro. He's become ruthless. I mean, you know,
00:12:42
Speaker
Okay, he's one-on-one. You expect a top world-class striker to put one away, but it wasn't that easy. You had to take it round him. He then had to come in from the angle. You know, the defender slid on on the ground. You know...
00:12:52
Speaker
That was Inter's first chance of the game. You know, in Latvia with a better team up into that stage. But this is what Inter have become now. They've become ruthless as well. And Lautaro is great. I mean, even Taram has taken his chances now. I mean, you know, Taram, that's his weakness. He's not the most clinical. But even recently, he's putting his chances away as well. I mean, 22 goals between Lautaro and Taram. Taram's a joint assist man, top assist man in Serie A.
00:13:19
Speaker
Yeah, I just double-checked. It's Istvan Nejers, 32.
00:13:29
Speaker
Yeah, it's the number of, yeah, it's 32. Yeah, it's 32 for the calendar year with East van Neer. He's got two games left. Yeah. And he's on 30 now. If I'm not, no, he's on 29. Yeah, he's on... And I think, I think Dusan Vlaovic got 33 if I'm not mistaken. That amazing season before.
00:13:51
Speaker
before yeah it all went wrong but yeah um amazing yeah um okay um well let's let's talk about Lazio then because I repeat I thought this was actually I actually thought this was maybe even Lazio's best performance of the season like if we consider the level of team they're playing against I thought they were really I thought they were really good I thought they the first half that they dropped Luis Alberto who has been clearly their best player this season
00:14:15
Speaker
But I actually think it worked in the way that they were able to press as a team and with the intensity And I thought Ravela started to show not consistently throughout the whole game, but in stages of this game He started to show his potential and like what he could be and obviously he did that He did that great run, which you know, it's a shame of the bad finish, but that was a great run and
00:14:40
Speaker
I thought that, yeah, I thought Lazio were good. Obviously, he didn't create that much other than that Ravella chance, that immobile one that you said. But I thought there were positives for Lazio from this game. I agree. I agree. I think so as well. I think Ravella was a big positive. I think one thing, though, that I think was a big negative is Daichi Kamada. I'm so disappointed. I expected so much more from him.
00:15:10
Speaker
and he's just not worked well at all in that system in Lazio and I think it's a shame because I really really thought I mean I had him as my breakout player this season and he's far from that he's not even close to that he's actually been pretty much he's a candidate for flop of the season if we're perfectly honest
00:15:29
Speaker
And I'm really disappointed in that. And I think it's sad to see because you look at this Lazio side and you see Luis Alberto, Ciro Immobula, Daichi Kamada, none of these players can make it work with them in the system. And that's a problem.
00:15:45
Speaker
I thought he was a bit better in this game, though, if I'm honest. I thought he did all right in this game. As a season, yes, you're right. Absolutely. He's been a massive diswoman. But I thought, I just wonder whether maybe he's just incompatible with Luis Alberto. Yeah, I think that's it. But yeah, I think there were positives. Look, we still saw the weaknesses in Latu in the sense that
00:16:07
Speaker
OK, the defense was didn't make any mistakes last season. They make a horrific mistake. Her marriage does for the goal. I mean, that's just I mean, making a blind pass like that. I mean, that's just unforgivable. And then, of course, the attack.
00:16:22
Speaker
is lacking a cutting edge. It's been blunt. It's completely blunt. There's no killer instinct. It doesn't feel like it has it. Immobula is trying to be that player, but he isn't that player in the Saudi system.
00:16:38
Speaker
And look, I say again, this is what happens when you try to shoehorn too much square pegs around holes. You have a coach who has a very clear idea of how he wants to play.
00:16:53
Speaker
and you sold Milenko Vitsavich who was imperative in that role and you didn't replace him with someone that really fits and then you got Immobulus getting on in years and it's at some point it doesn't work and I think that's what we're seeing now.
00:17:10
Speaker
It's a shame because I don't think, I don't think Lazzie are finishing in the European spots now. Honestly, I don't think they do. And I think... It's going to be difficult, but they're not scoring goals. And that's always going to be a problem. They're really, they're missing Sir Milinkovich Savage's goals and they're missing the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,
00:17:39
Speaker
You know, I've never been the biggest Zakhani fan. I think he's got two goals, got no assists this season, Zakhani. I've never been, I've never thought he's a top player. So, you know, I think that, yeah. Let's be fair to Lazio. They do have, I mean, they've got Empoli away, Frosinone at home, Udenensei away, Leche at home. These are four easy winnable games before we reached the halfway point or just over the halfway point. And if they win all four, they got 12 points, you know, that takes off the pressure.
00:18:07
Speaker
a little bit. And then they got Torino, and before they go into Napoli and Atalanta and February, and then of course Bayern. But no, it's a tricky one. Yeah, it's a tricky one.
Juventus' Scoring Issues
00:18:25
Speaker
Okay, let's move on to Juventus then. They had to beat Genoa really to keep toe-to-toe with Inter because this Inter team is really not going to give up too much, I don't think, this season. So it is on Juventus to have to keep on winning. They drew 1-1.
00:18:42
Speaker
with Genoa away. Juventus had been on a really good winning run. They'd had seven wins in eight going into this game. My biggest takeaway from this game is that it showed that that winning run, having that kind of winning run, which is what they need if they're going to try and stick with Inter, is that winning run is going to be unsustainable while a number of certain things
00:19:09
Speaker
are true and I'm going to read out, I'm going to explain what those things are. Number one, it's unsustainable to keep scoring one goal a game
00:19:20
Speaker
or by winning by one goal. And I disregard how Juventus play. I'm just talking about that simple fact. Scoring one goal a game or winning by one goal is unsustainable. And Juventus' last six wins before the Genoa game had all been by one goal. Four of them were by one nil. You can't keep playing
00:19:42
Speaker
to win by one goal. It's just impossible in modern football regardless of how you're playing. Number two, you can't keep winning with your goals coming off corners or by defenders. And Juventus' last three wins, the winners were scored by defenders, the previous two by, of course, by Federico Gatti.
00:20:01
Speaker
Number three, you can't keep winning when your attackers are scoring so few goals and not scoring and or not scoring from open play at all. Now, Blauwitsch and Kayser, which I said last week, I mean, Kayser scored a penalty in this game, but Blauwitsch and Kayser both now have five goals each this season. The majority of those, of course, were at the start of the season when they had that good start in the first three or four games. Many of them are penalties, of course.
00:20:29
Speaker
Keen, Moisa Ken, who's out for the next month with an injury, even though we've praised him this season, how much his overall game has come on, but he has zero goals this season. Milik, I think, has been bad. I would even go as far as in many games terrible in this calendar year, not just this season. So it's unsustainable with that level of goal-scoring output from your attackers.
00:20:57
Speaker
The last five wins again that you have to have had the winners have come from defenders Or from midfielders. So, you know that you had the Meretti goal against Fiorentina you had to look at Locatelli goal against Milan and Gatti actually Is Juventus his third top scorer this season with with three goals So the point i'm making is yeah, it's been a good run by Juventus this run of wins This isn't to take anything away from Allegri and what he's got out of, you know
00:21:22
Speaker
a team that's had missing players had Pogba and and Pajolio isn't the strongest Juventus team of all time but I think
00:21:32
Speaker
While, though, what I've just read out is the case, this result was always coming. If Juventus are unable to start scoring more than one a game, if the attackers don't start scoring, then there's no way that they can challenge Inter, just no way at all. So I think that's my biggest takeaway, the unsustainability of continuing a run while all those factors are true.
00:21:57
Speaker
I think I agree with all of that. The only thing I would say is that I think Juventus against Genoa, they actually created quite a bit. They had most of the possession, and especially in the first half, I thought they really created.
00:22:14
Speaker
It's like you said, the killer instinct isn't there. But of all the games, I'm surprised that they dropped points in this game, Juva, because I thought they just felt in control. The other games against Monza and that, they felt a little bit under pressure.
00:22:35
Speaker
Here, I didn't think you were all going to drop points in this game, so I'm actually a little bit surprised given how it looked and how you were played. The reason why I'm not more critical and I'm not ranting and raving as I maybe would have done last season is, again, like I said, I look at the bottom line in terms of chance creation. I don't think Juventus created that much in this game, not enough for my liking, but I look at the bottom line, I look at the XG. Juventus had an XG of, I think, just over two.
00:23:01
Speaker
general had the next G of I think 0.8. So again, based on those, those statistics, Juventus are going to get more are going to generally going to win these games on the whole if they continue that. So that's why I'm not too critical. I thought the first half, you know, they were they were decent, I wouldn't say excellent.
00:23:21
Speaker
The second half, I did think they were very poor in the second half. And again, I look at how Juventus create their chances. They don't create enough from open play still. And most of the chances in this game, I mean, it was the penalty. And that came from a mistake. And then the Bremmer chance at the end, he should have scored. That came from a corner. But I mean, from a negative point of view,
00:23:47
Speaker
Vlalovic was pathetic again, pathetic. He missed a really good chance at 0-0 with a great cross from Kieser. Kieser I thought was Juventus' best player. He put in a fantastic cross for Vlalovic and he put that over. He was taken off midway through the second half. He's also now
00:24:03
Speaker
either been taken off or taken himself off penalties, which again is another not a good sign in terms of, I mean, I think it's the right thing to do because he's missed so many penalties, but it just shows where Vlovich is at, the lack of confidence he's got, just where his Juventus career has come, that he's now, he's a number nine, he's taken himself off, he's been taken off the penalties. I mean, so, I mean, Vlovich is just not working for him.
00:24:27
Speaker
the other person the other the other player i wanted to to uh the other point i wanted to raise is fabio miretti um because i feel like we've probably taken too long to speak to to highlight this uh well i have anyway and that is that
00:24:43
Speaker
Yes, when he'd come through, burst through on the scene, you know, he got a lot of Juventus fans and Italian fans, got excited about him. You know, he's a player that, you know, he's got potential. There's a technical talent there. But let's be honest, the last two seasons, this season and last season, he's been anonymous. He's just not contributing at all. He's got no goals. He had no goals and two assists last season. He's got one goal, no assists this season. That's the only goal he's scored in his whole Juventus career.
00:25:11
Speaker
Anonymous again in this game as well. I mean he's not improved. He's not improved at all And this is where I am again I am going to criticize allegory because again, it underlines the issue that that We had what I have with allegory the most people have with allegories.
Critique of Allegri's Management
00:25:26
Speaker
He just doesn't develop young I don't see that development of young players especially offensive players players from the midfield midfield and attack offensive ones and This is the kind of the problem
00:25:38
Speaker
I have with Allegri is that I feel like you can only really justify having Allegri as your manager if he wins you the league, regardless of how strong or weak your team is. And again, I say again, this isn't a great Juventus team and he's been doing well this season in terms of points. But Allegri doesn't build or develop players, youngsters like Moretti, like Kieza, like Vlauovic, he doesn't improve these players to get them to a point where
00:26:01
Speaker
you know, you see the progress being made. So with Allegri, if you don't win the title, then the next season, well, these players are still where they were before, and your team is no closer to being ready to win in terms of developing these players for the next coach, you know, a new coach comes next season.
00:26:19
Speaker
that is my that's my one criticism of Olegri and I haven't criticized him a lot Nima recently you've got to give me that you've got to give me that but you know this is my problem so that's a wider point on the Meretti point but just focusing just on on Meretti yeah he's still young maybe you know I don't think it's too harsh for me to say that in two in two seasons this guy you know he's not he's not improving he's not he's not improving at all
00:26:46
Speaker
No, I think Miretti, I'm not, I was never excited about Miretti, I was always more excited about Fagioli and Rovella at Uwe than I was about Miretti, so I'm not gonna judge Allegri too much about that. But I do think there is, I mean, you know, you look at his career and it's undeniably true, he doesn't, especially attacking wise, I think defensively there's, there are different, you know, you can see different things there, but
00:27:13
Speaker
Attacking-wise, he doesn't develop players. Players don't improve in attacking under him. Let's put it that way. And that is on him. That is entirely on him. And I think that is a big problem. But then again, I don't think he's going to stay at you over this season as well. I think this is going to be his last season and in charge. So I think that will resolve itself, so to speak.
00:27:39
Speaker
Yeah, I would say that Rabio was missed. Definitely he was missed in this game. We saw kind of how important he was. The midfield is gutted at the moment, but Rabio definitely has helped keep it together, hasn't he, with all these plays out. I thought, like I said, he was really poor, especially the second half, he's given away a lot of balls. And yeah, not good at all.
Juventus vs. Genoa Penalty Controversy
00:28:03
Speaker
I don't really want to talk much about the penalties. I hate talking about it, but it was a penalty.
00:28:07
Speaker
Well, that's the thing, though, I don't I'm not entirely sure it was because we saw the similar situation in the interlaxial game and the same same interpretation prevailed. And that is if the ball touches a player's body part, one player ball touches his body part and then touches his arm, bounces off his knee or bounces off his his his stomach as with what's his name? Lazio. And then hits his arm. The referees don't seem to want to interpret the rule to make that a handball offense.
00:28:37
Speaker
Now personally, I don't care what the rule law is. I just wanted applied the same across the board I think both of them are penalties, but I also understand and recognize that There is I mean if a ball bounces off one part of your body onto your arm You basically have no chance to get your arm out of the way. The issue with this is that
00:29:02
Speaker
I'm just speaking specifically on the Juventus one here, is that Bani it was, his arm is already out there before it hits his body. So it's not like it hits his body and then his arm then moves into an unnatural position, which is what happened with the Newcastle one, which caused such a controversy.
00:29:23
Speaker
This is what Luca Morelli said after the game. He goes, it's a penalty. The VAR may have been fooled by the first touch with the thigh, but that is not influential because the arm was already wide. This is a clear penalty kick. I can't understand why the VAR didn't recall Massa. This is a thing, though. It's about interpretation because one of the criteria that they use for the arm or for the handball is
00:29:51
Speaker
In order to determine that the contact with the ball was a handball offense, the referee uses three general criteria. One, if the player moved his hand or arm to the ball, i.e. deliberate, or if the player had sufficient reaction time to move his hand or arm out of the way of the flight of the ball and fail to do so, again deliberate.
00:30:10
Speaker
or if the player had his hand or arm in an unnatural position, including from the sides or above the shoulder lever, making their body bigger. So it's not as clear cut as that because of the instructions the referee have received. And this is why, again, I want to...
00:30:26
Speaker
They have to clarify what this law, this handball law, they have confused this completely because the same thing happened with Lazio Inter as well. They're the very similar situation, bounced off a body part up until the arm, the arm is outside, but they applied the same interpretation in these two instances.
00:30:47
Speaker
But the problem is that there is so much confusion and the issue of deliberate, again, were there. I think that you need to stick with one interpretation that is clear. And after one or two seasons, the players will understand. Everyone will understand, because right now,
00:31:07
Speaker
It's very it comes across really arbitrarily and it's there's a lot of confusion and that's why we have these this discussion and these discuss you know these these these debates which are quite exhausting yeah but you understand that they occur and the reason they occur is because they have created all this confusion surrounding the humble rule.
00:31:29
Speaker
Well, they got to, haven't they? Otherwise, if IFAB and the rule makers didn't have rules to change every single year unnecessarily, then they wouldn't be able to justify their position. I have to say, that red card, Malinowski should not just have received a red card. I think he should have been suspended for two, three games. That was a shocking tackle.
00:31:49
Speaker
yeah to be honest with you though it was a red card it doesn't affect the result it was no it doesn't so i don't i don't usually moan that much about you know i do because that are that is a dangerous that is dangerous yeah he could have broken his leg broken his leg that that pissed me off because
00:32:07
Speaker
I couldn't believe. Those are the kinds of challenges that Maradona used to suffer in the 80s. We moved away from that, but that was genuinely shocking. That pissed me off because I don't want to see horror tackles like that.
00:32:22
Speaker
I don't want to see Roy Keane, Horland tackles ever again. I don't like that. I mean, I like tackling and I think there should be physical aspect of it, but I don't want to see horror tackles. That was a horror tackle. I'm just glad, you know, they couldn't have been out for the rest of the season.
Goodmanson's Rising Talent
00:32:43
Speaker
No, no, yeah, he could have done. He could have done. Just before we go, I just want to give another word of praise for Albert Goodmanson. We picked him out. We did a profile on him earlier in the season. You can find it on our YouTube channel. He's been one of the revelations of the Serie A season this season. And again, I mean, he scored the equalizer for Genoa.
00:33:04
Speaker
I think he's fantastic. I think he's going to join a bigger club next. Well, actually, some big clubs. Napoli were looking at him this summer, actually, as a replacement for when Lozano left and they were looking for new wide men. Yeah, I mean, he plays more from the left, but he's been playing in a front suit for Genoa. He's very versatile. Great dribbler. Now he's statistically the fourth best dribbler.
00:33:29
Speaker
in Syria. Do you want to know who the top three are, Nimr? Well, Turam has to be among them. No, he's not. Really? No, he's not. If you've been listening to me in recent weeks, you'll know who the number one is by a mile.
00:33:47
Speaker
Mateus Sulay is number one, Kvychia Kvaretskaya is, well actually, joint second, Kvara, with Lamek Banda, who has been amazing. Where's Liao? Is he on there at all? Liao is sixth. Yeah, Liao is sixth. Fifth is Festi Ebosele, who we're going to get on the pod this season. We've been promised him, so yeah.
00:34:10
Speaker
Yeah, cool. Right. Okay. Let's move on to Milan
Milan's Youth Integration and Success
00:34:14
Speaker
then. Milan versus Monza. Milan win. Did it finish 3-0 in the end? Yeah, it did. And Milan were wonderful. I love this. This performance from start to finish was fantastic. The 3-4-3.
00:34:29
Speaker
as some people on this podcast have been banging on for years now, this Milan, either you move to Sarri or you're bringing content, you play a 3-4-3. I loved Milan in this game. I thought they were outstanding. They looked so clear, coherent in what they wanted to do. They were balanced all over the pitch. We talk on this part a lot about Italian people.
00:34:55
Speaker
teams not giving. The big clubs don't play the youngsters. Well, we have to praise Milan here because they had two kids on. I know they had to do it due to injuries, but they still played them.
00:35:11
Speaker
You know, I know he started with Pobe again, he got injured, but they did play with Barthesagi and Juan Carlos Simic who scored. And it was, I loved Milan in this game. I thought everyone were, you know, they just show that this is how this team should play. And with Ciao, Kalulu back, I even think Calabria as a right center back could work. I think Conte would love him there. The only thing they're missing is a right wing back and a proper striker.
00:35:41
Speaker
and with content, then this team is flying. What are you suggesting, Nema? Can't say next season. Is that what you're trying to suggest? I'm saying that Antonio, if Mila want to win Escudetto, they bring in Antonio content next season and they bring with him Romelu Lukaku or whoever he wants to keep him quiet. It's interesting because listen,
00:36:02
Speaker
What I was against with the back three is a 3-5-2. I'm against the 3-5-2. I just don't think Rafael Liao, you cannot play him in a 3-5-2. It doesn't work. He doesn't like it. He can't play in that role. He doesn't have the movements to play in the role. In a 3-4-3, he can play. Yes, he can play in a 3-4-3. He can play as a wide attacker. So for that reason... We get the best out of both worlds here because I want to see Liao centralized.
00:36:26
Speaker
There is always the concern there with the 343 is it to attacking. Against better teams, I would always have those concerns. But the thing is with Leao is I want him to be more centralized, but I also want him, kind of like Henri was, in the sense that I want him to start from the left, but I want him to be more centralized.
00:36:45
Speaker
I don't want to play him in a two-man attack, because I think that would lose some of his qualities. But in a 3-4-3, you kind of get the best of both worlds in the sense that he is more centralized, but he starts from a wing. And I think you get the best out of him there, because when he drops that shoulder and runs past players, when he dribbles, they just can't catch him. So I think a 3-4-3, I mean, Konta, we know he can play a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2 on how women play with the numbers.
00:37:12
Speaker
And I thought Pulisic was good in that role as well. I really liked him in that role. Although this is what I'm saying. Right, the standout player for me was Reinders. I thought he was fantastic in this game. He scored. Brilliant, brilliant play from him in the build up to the to the Yokofor, the Yokofor goal. That was a great team goal, by the way. Great, great, great passing move. Great patterns of play. Reinders, Giroud, the Yokofor finishing it off.
00:37:37
Speaker
But yeah, Reinders was great. He has potential. I even said that last week after the Newcastle game, didn't I? Or before the Newcastle game. You know, he has those kind of those little bursts and surges that break the press, which only a handful of players have. Don't get many players that have that ability to break the press. It kind of does remind me in some cases, reminds me of a bit like a young Matej Kovacic in the way that he does those little bursts and surges.
00:38:02
Speaker
You know, he obviously we needed to start scoring more goals, just like that's being coverage. It's his big weakness in his career is he doesn't score or assist enough, doesn't impact the opposition goal enough. But in terms of, yeah, I mean, he has those. I thought it was great. I thought Reinders was great. I thought Mila were fantastic. It's a great story. Simich, that's a great story. He's the third youngest Milan scorer in the three points a win era after Paloski and Pato.
00:38:32
Speaker
And just on the point you made about the youngsters, as well as Simic and Batazaki who played. I mean, Milan have a really interesting youth production at the moment. The primavera are doing very well under Abati.
00:38:47
Speaker
And, you know, they've given game time to other primavera places. Come out there, of course. We all know that we should praise Milan for that kind of check a trail race was also very well well rated. And we've wanted this. We've been asking for this. So I think we should praise Milan for this, that they're actually a top side in Italian football is starting to integrate the kids. And they do have a pretty young project generally anyway. They do.
00:39:11
Speaker
They do. We should praise Milan for that. I think they're going against the grain. So that's good. I also want to just just want to give a praise again to Mike Mignon because on a week where he made that absolutely insane save from Bruno G. I'm going to call him. And he made another brilliant save in this game from Colpani. Yeah, he did. That was superb. He was superb. But he wasn't the goalkeeper of the game. That was the Gregorio. He was unbelievable.
00:39:39
Speaker
in this game. I've seen some people starting to compare him to Vicario and he is having that similar kind of impact isn't he this season as Vicario. Unbelievable and he was the man of the match and he conceded three goals. I mean that just tells you everything. But there is one big there is one big negative, Nima.
00:39:59
Speaker
And this is unbelievable. Another injury. Not another injury, another two injuries. Paul Baker's gone off injured in the midway through the first half and Simic has come on. Okafo scores and looks really bright when he came on. And he almost immediately after scoring he gets injured and he comes off.
00:40:17
Speaker
So, I mean, Okafo is a joke, how many injuries he gets. Yeah, but I can't blame Milan for that. I mean, the guy, it looked like he injured himself celebrating the goal for goodness sake. It's getting ridiculous now. I mean, come on. Yeah. But yeah, Pobega, that's again, we're hitting 30 muscle injuries now since the season started. It's insane, isn't it? No.
00:40:45
Speaker
I have no words for this. Yeah, no words. Napoli. Let's move on to Napoli then. Crucial win for Napoli. Must win game against Calgary.
Napoli's Key Player Performances
00:40:53
Speaker
Wasn't perfect. I mean, Calgary had some big chances themselves and they could have got a draw, but I think the big
00:41:01
Speaker
Well, there's two big takeaways for me in this game. Number one, Victor Rosseman, back to his brilliant best, certainly in those closing stages. I mean, he scores that header, a bullet header. Squiffay should have saved it, but anyway. But his assist for Quiet Scalia was out of this world. I mean, the ball juggling in the penalty area and then the determination.
00:41:26
Speaker
to get the ball across. Whatever all these prem face fans, I saw it, prem faces on Twitter saying, oh, you would never be able to do that in the Premier League. James Tarkovsky wouldn't let him do that. But that was brilliant. That was absolutely fantastic. And so, yeah, we saw the importance of Osseman. Kavada was good again, scored the goal, the whole front. Politana, can I just say, Politana has one of the best first touches in football.
00:41:55
Speaker
His first touch every time, he just kills it dead every single time. He was unlucky, I thought, with a disallowed goal. So that's the number one point, Osseman. The second point is the importance of Mario Rui. Because the last few weeks, Napoli have been out without Mario Rui. They've been without
00:42:14
Speaker
Olivera. I think Mario Rui, he came on in this game, he immediately gets the assist after coming on. We saw how important Mario Rui is to this Napoli team. He is so undervalued, I think, Mario Rui. He gives that left side of Napoli that dimension that they just don't have, either with Olivera, but certainly when neither Olivera or
00:42:39
Speaker
or Mario Wie have been there. They've just had no left-hand side when they've had to play Natan or Wanchi Zeus on the left. They've had nothing at all. Mario Wie just gives them that balance. He gives them that attacking thrust. And he is an absolute assist machine, Mario Wie. I mean, the number of assists. I can't remember how many assists he got last season, but... It was a lot. He was quite an assist machine. Yeah. But yeah, no, I agree.
00:43:06
Speaker
I'm just looking now at how many assists he got last season. Let's have a look. I think it was double figures, wasn't it? He got six assists in Serie A, but he got a bunch in the Champions League as well. He's very, very important for them.
00:43:26
Speaker
No, I remember under Spalletti, he was very important for how Napoli played and down the left flank. Rachmani though, Rachmani this season, what has happened to him? I don't think anything has happened to him. I think we need to reconcile the fact that before these previous seasons at Napoli he's played next to world-class defenders and this season he isn't playing next to world-class defenders and so he has to carry Napoli and his weaknesses are being
00:43:55
Speaker
exposed. He doesn't have Khuli Bali, he doesn't have Kim next to him, and so he just isn't the leader that we all thought he was because his weaknesses were being masked by Khuli Bali and Kim Min Jae, who when he played next to them were world-class defenders. I think it's really
00:44:10
Speaker
I think I think it probably is. I think it probably is. I think you're right. Maybe he's getting a little bit past his best, but he shouldn't be because he's not that old. He's think he's 29. He was done by the goal by LaVumba, who's actually really, really talented player, LaVumba. And yeah, I thought calorie did decently. They were well organized when they were just 10 men behind the pool.
00:44:30
Speaker
But they did create some chances. I mean, I think it was Nantes who had a one-on-one. And Nantes was good. Macumbu was really good in midfield as well. And of course Pavoletti, if you put crosses into him, he's always going to be a handful in the box. And of course he scored. So yeah, Callery, I think about what you said about this relegation race. Callery, an interesting one. I think that they're going to fight against relegation.
Salernitana's Relegation Battle
00:44:57
Speaker
Barring Salah and Itana, who unfortunately I think are going down, unless they do give me a Christmas gift and sack Philip Winzagi and bring back David and Akunikola for another... Don't bet against it.
00:45:11
Speaker
for another six months of shoe-throwing and the greatest escape in recent years that he did with Salah Nittan a couple of years ago. I would love if David and Kola came back.
00:45:26
Speaker
And I would do it now, because they've got some really difficult games. They've got Atalanta away, Milan at home, and then they've got Helas Verona. Now, if they don't at least take four points from those games, or at minimum three against Verona,
00:45:46
Speaker
I mean, this thing could be over by the end of January because then they play Juve and Napoli and Roma. So they need to act quickly. And I would love it. And I love that. I love that fan base. I love that.
00:46:00
Speaker
that piazza, it would be such a shame if they left, if they got relegated. So please, please bring back the shoe thrower back and let's have some fun. Let's make all three relegated. This will be like literally the holy grail for me. In the past, it's always been one spot that's been exciting towards the end.
00:46:21
Speaker
Now, if Salah Nittan has started winning, all three relegation spots are going to be up for... It's all three are up for play. That would be just unbelievable going into April, May.
00:46:34
Speaker
No, that will be nothing exciting anymore. Let's move on to Bologna against Roma.
Bologna's European Ambitions
00:46:45
Speaker
Bologna just do not stop. They do not stop. They win this 2-0. Deservedly win this. They stay fourth. They open three points on Roma.
00:46:58
Speaker
Before we go into the game, let's ask this question. We did ask this question a month ago, and it did feel very, very premature back then. Maybe it's still premature now, but can Bologna really go all the way and get a Champions League place? Well, they can finish in the top five, but I don't think they'll finish fourth. I think Napoli will wake up now, and they'll get that fourth spot. But I think the fifth spot is up for grabs, and there...
00:47:28
Speaker
I mean, look at this NIMO this season. Look at their record against the big teams this season. They've beaten Roma. They've beaten Lazio. They've drawn with Juventus. They've drawn with Napoli. They've drawn with Inter. They've drawn with Inter away. They drew with Inter. Maybe gave them the most problems anybody's given them this season. Maybe. They drew you over away as well.
00:47:46
Speaker
Yeah, no, no, Juventus, they were at home. They were at home. No, no, it was, it was Juventus at home. Was it Juventus? Oh, sorry. Yeah, you're right. You're right. Yeah. Sorry about that. Yeah. Yeah. It's only Milan they lost. Yeah, Milan they were. Yeah, absolutely right. So I mean, that they've been consistently, consistently fantastic against the big teams this season. Not just that. That would suggest that they can. Yeah, it does suggest that. But if they play good football as well. Yeah.
00:48:15
Speaker
It's, it's, I don't, I look at that Bologna game, I see a lot of interesting, exciting players, but I don't see anything, because I'm not, I'm not as, you know, you know, head over heels in love with Zirke like you guys are. I'm a little bit more cautious. I think that, you know, when Remo Froiler plays like that, it's, to me, that should suggest that this is a club that is
00:48:45
Speaker
coached by a very good coach, but also a club that feels well, that is healthy on and off the pitch. And Sartori, the technical director, just look at his career. He was the architect behind the miracle for 20 years at Quievo.
00:49:02
Speaker
He was at Atalanta, and we saw what he did at Atalanta. That's when they were in their lattice at the Champions League. And now he's repeating this miracle at Bologna. Sartori, everything this man touches turns into gold. And he's created an environment where players all succeed, and they take the next step, or over-perform, and are better than the sum of their parts.
00:49:26
Speaker
I don't want to take anything away from Thiago Mota,
Roma's Struggles and Mourinho's Decisions
00:49:29
Speaker
but this is kind of why I was critical of Sini Sami Haylovich when he was at Bologna in Arrested Soul. I felt Bologna underperformed somewhat. Now they're overperforming.
00:49:39
Speaker
But it's incredibly impressive to see what Bologna are doing. It really is. And Tiago Mota, that I will give him praise for. The football they played against Roma was so impressive. So impressive. The way that they played themselves through from the back against the Roma side that aren't easy to break down,
00:50:01
Speaker
And the way that the patient build up, no, it was incredibly impressive. He is a coach for a big team. There's no doubt about it. There's no doubt about it. I mean, the goal, the moral goal sums up Thiago Motta's football, the passing patterns, the triangles, the creating the angles and the space and the movements off the ball to open up the teams.
00:50:26
Speaker
the ability to play out and play through the press, always finding the right solutions to get out and making it look really easy as well in terms of creating those spaces, the movements of the ball to create those spaces. That's just the work of a coach that is a modern coach and is on the training ground, is doing fantastic stuff with his players.
00:50:55
Speaker
Bologna, I don't think they're going to be able to keep hold. I'm sure they're not going to be able to keep hold of Tiago Motta past this season. So just enjoy him while you can, Bologna, because what he's doing with this Bologna team is amazing. And you're right. You look at their team and the team isn't full of stars, really. There's some good players. There's some very good players. I mean, I like
00:51:21
Speaker
I mean, I like Dan and Doy. I think he's got, I think he's very, very, very good. Got pace. He's good at direct attack. He's not very good finisher at all. His final ball is not always up to it. But, you know, he's a dangerous player. You know, or Solini is not a top player, but he's, you know, he's a good player to watch. You know, then you then you've got, you know, I mean, Lewis Ferguson is a goal threat. He's been scoring goals. Salah makers.
00:51:47
Speaker
I mean, these are good to very good players, but they're not, you know, they're not top players. They're not players that they don't have players that that should be put in Bologna anywhere close to a to a Champions League place. Yeah, you know, I think. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. But Calafiori, again, Spaletti has to call him up.
00:52:10
Speaker
He has to call him up for the Italy national team. He is that good. You know, when you consistently play well against the best strikers in the league and you do so for a team that is overperforming and is in the top four when they have no business being there, Calafiori needs a call up to the Italy national team just so they can look at him at least.
00:52:33
Speaker
Yeah, well, we've had to be struggling for centre backs. The unfortunate thing, the unfortunate, yeah, no, I agree. But the unfortunate thing, of course, is that it would be nice if he was a right centre back, you know, the left centre back, we've got a chair B, we've got a Bastani. We're really struggling for right centre backs, aren't we? But yeah, I agree. It's great to see him developing. Let's hope you can carry on. I do have to say that Xerxes has been
00:52:57
Speaker
the surprise revelation of the season. We've spoken about him before. Again, he was amazing in this game. They couldn't get near him. Everything that went up to him, he's just so physically strong. He holds it up so well. He gets out of tight spaces with his quick feet, brings others into play.
00:53:17
Speaker
He's just an outlet at all times. He relieves the pressure. He's been great. Bologna has been fantastic. This is the best Bologna now since the late 1990s when we were growing up as kids. They got to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. They won the Intertota Cup. They had players like Giuseppe Signori, Kenneth Anderson, who we had on our podcast and told us some great stories about that Bologna team.
00:53:41
Speaker
you know, Marocchi. I mean, the season before that, they had Roberto Baggio, who had an amazing season to get back in the Italy squad for the World Cup. I mean, that Bologna team was a great Bologna team to watch back then. This is the best Bologna team. If I'm not mistaken, I don't think they've been in Europe since then. Like, since that season. I don't think they've been in Europe again since then. I can't remember. Unless I'm forgetting. I can't remember them being back in Europe. So, I mean, if they get back into Europe, that would be great. But from the rover point of view, though, Nima,
00:54:12
Speaker
there's only one but there's one thing we have to talk about Jose Mourinho going full Mourinho and taking off Renato Sanchez 19 minutes after bringing him in as a sub I mean there's two sides to this number one the Renato Sanchez side of things I mean this transfer's turning into a total disaster he's he's he had three different injuries already he's missed 13 games due to injury when he has played like he's barely hasn't really been fit and he hasn't all hasn't played well full stop
00:54:42
Speaker
And together with Houssémoire, who on paper look like really good sign-ins, neither of them have worked. It looks like they've given up with the OA already. And judging on this, I know Mourinho apologizes after the game, but it's not looking good for Hiron Jose Sanchez either.
00:54:57
Speaker
No, it's not. And Mourinho, like I said on the Monday pod a few, I think last week with Adrian when he was on, this is, I've never seen Mourinho like this because he's got, he's actually got a very golden chance to get Roma back into the Champions League in what is essentially his last season in charge at Roma.
00:55:19
Speaker
I can't imagine this continuing past this season, but he's ruining it by his negative body language, his negative attitude. It's one thing to create an us against the world mentality, but Mourinho is just
00:55:38
Speaker
gone full-on toxic against everything and everyone and that and there's no need for them to be that they're actually you know i think i thought in the last month or so they were they'd won the most points in the city after intaran and yulva like there was you know things were looking good for them he he there was no need there's no need for him to go this toxic
00:56:01
Speaker
You know, I get the whole, you know, it's one thing if he is criticising other people and referees and putting the pressure on them to give his team an advantage, that's fine.
Italian Teams in Champions League
00:56:10
Speaker
But he's gone full toxic internally now as well. And that is, Roma's an already very unstable place. He's not helping. And to be honest, I think for large parts of that game, Bologna outplayed Roma.
00:56:28
Speaker
Yeah, I looked at the XG in the first half and it was 0.13 for Roma. I mean, listen, it was never going to be easy, especially attacking wise when you're without Di Bala and Lukaku, but that is also down to Mourinho and just like what he has instilled into his team.
00:56:47
Speaker
increasingly over his time at Roma but and it's really come some you know gone too far this season like just overly aggressive dirty I think it was the word you used yeah dirty undisciplined lacking discipline and getting red cards and suspensions and then you know this is what happens when you when you when you're like that
00:57:06
Speaker
So yeah, it's Roman need to get themselves together. They're still very much in the race for the top four, but yeah, this was not a good game for them. The rest of the weekend games, Lecce 2, Flossinone 1, Torino 1, Empoli 0, Fiorentina, who are right up there as well for the top four race still, and Udineze 2, Sasuolo 2, late comeback for Sasuolo. I mean, those, I gotta say, those two games were insane. Udineze were 2-0 up.
00:57:34
Speaker
things were going great. They get one man sent off with one of the dumbest challenges I've ever seen. Okay, the penalty, the first penalty was dubious. The second penalty was clear as day. That was two points thrown away. If I was in Udo Nesefan, I'd be fuming. They've done that a lot this season. They've run away late on, quite a few games.
00:57:53
Speaker
unnecessarily for no reason as well and it's just like they can't afford to do that and Verona, okay Taracana was unbelievable in that game saving but Verona will be kicking themselves. Engong missed three sitters and I mean three sitters. One was an open goal from a yard out. It was just insane how they didn't get a point in that game Verona and Verona can't afford to miss three sitters in a game.
00:58:18
Speaker
And Fiorentina were lucky to win that game. And I think they were, they will acknowledge that. But that was an important win for them. But yeah, no, it was it was a weird, weird, weird afternoon in the city. Yeah, it certainly was. Right. OK, let's move on and talk about the Champions League last 16 draw, which was done on well, just about an hour ago since we recorded this early afternoon on on
00:58:45
Speaker
on Monday. So I'll read out the eight fixtures. It's not been a great draw for the Italian teams. Porto versus Arsenal, Napoli, Barcelona, PSG, Real Socio Dad, Inter, Atletico Madrid, PSV, Borussia Dortmund, Lazio versus Bayern Munich, Copenhagen, Man City, Leipzig, Real Madrid. The Italian teams will play the first legs at home because they were their runners up in their group. So let's go through this one by one. Let's start with Inter then, Atletico Madrid.
00:59:14
Speaker
How do you feel about that, Nemo? I mean, on paper, it's a 50-50. Some would say maybe into our slight favorites. I wouldn't. I'd say it's a 50-50 game. Atletico Madrid are no mugs. And Cholo Simeone, they're a gritty side, Atletico. And they're a difficult side to break down. And inter-struggle against gritty sides.
00:59:41
Speaker
They have a lot of talent in that team, Griezmann, Morata. Morata is having the season of his lifetime, Griezmann has been excellent. Saul, Koke, Llorente, De Paul, they have Jan Oblak, a fantastic goalkeeper. They are a good side, it's going to be difficult for
01:00:02
Speaker
for Inter. I would have preferred Inter to be drawn with Man City, like I said on Monday, for the reasons I outlined on the Monday pod. But of course,
01:00:15
Speaker
You know, this is going to be played in February, March, so we're quite a lot, quite a bit away from that. So we don't know how both of these teams go into these games. But on paper, it's one of the better draws Inter could have gotten. I mean, because obviously Bayern Munich would have been a nightmare, because I think they're the strongest side left in the Champions League.
01:00:34
Speaker
arsenal city are all you know yeah i mean the positive way of looking this is inter have missed the big big big guns so they've missed whatever you want to say about man city you know you've missed you don't want to hide man city you don't want to play realm and trade you don't want to play uh by munich and you probably want to miss arsenal as well so you've missed the kind of like the four teams that you really don't want to play so you're really you know the the only on paper if we're talking about just on paper the only better draw i think that on paper
01:01:03
Speaker
Inter could have got was probably Bruce your Dortmund. Yeah, so in that sense, that's the positive way of looking at it You know, but the negative is that you know, it's the kind of team that
01:01:15
Speaker
they're going to play smart tactically. They're not going to leave the spaces in behind, which Inter are so good at exploiting. So it's going to be tricky from that point of view. And like you said, Griezmann and Morata have been on fire this season. They've been really, really good. No, they have quality players. They have a quality midfield, Atletico Madrid, and they have a coach who
01:01:36
Speaker
who is always prepared tactically. But I think Simona should approach this game the same way he approached the Napoli game away, the same way he approached maybe City in the Champions League final as well. If he does that and basically
01:01:52
Speaker
you know, because I don't think this is going to be a high scoring affair. I think it's going to be very tight. And if you can be ruthless, then yeah, then then the good thing is that I feel like into can match athletes go out physically. Now, that's, that's for sure. And that's where I'd let go physically and mentally, I'd let her go so good, physically and mentally. And I feel like that's what I was saying before about how complete insura I feel like that they can
01:02:17
Speaker
They can match them there. They've got the experience, get into the final. They've got the physical, powerful players. They can match them on set pieces. We know how dangerous that letter card set pieces. So I feel like they can match them. They can match that letter code strengths. And then I feel like they've got the extra quality to have to be better. They've got better quality than that letter code. So yeah.
01:02:37
Speaker
And two former teammates at Lazio playing each other, Simeone having played at Inter, Lautaro having already done a medical design for Atletico before signing for Inter. I mean, there's lots of talking points and... Yeah, lots of subplots. Let's move on to the other two. Let's start off with Napoli. Napoli against Barcelona. I'm not sure how to feel about this one because I feel like, again with Napoli, I think I said the other day before the draw that the way that Napoli are playing now,
01:03:06
Speaker
I would back every other team to beat Napoli over two legs, the way that Napoli have been this season, the form that they're in, the way they're playing. But, you know, two months is a long time, so we hope that Napoli are better. But I also did also add that Barcelona are also really struggling this season. They're not playing well.
01:03:24
Speaker
There's a lot of, you know, Javi's under a lot of pressure. Robert Lewandowski is starting to look, he looked his age now, Robert Lewandowski. He's not looking like the same Lewandowski. I'm not going to write, they're going to write him off, but he's not looking like the same Robert Lewandowski. And, you know, the Barcelona defense looks like it has, it can concede goals and when you've got two world class attackers. So, you know, I'm trying to be optimistic.
01:03:53
Speaker
What do you think? My biggest concern is what it's been all season and that is...
01:03:59
Speaker
I just think that with Rudy Garcia, now we're all too much sorry, I just think they're ex-coaches and I don't trust them against anyone. That's my issue. I think you're right. I think your concerns that you're raising are true and valid. I tweeted out my dream draw and I had Napoli against Barcelona because I think Napoli have the quality to hurt this Barcelona. I really do think so.
01:04:23
Speaker
come into that game with confidence and they need to come into that game with Osimeng, Fritscha, Raspadori all on fire and wanting to do this. They have to put all the negativity and nonsense on one side and try to win a few couple of games and build a winning streak in the Serie A to be in a more comfortable position in the league and then go into that. I think this is 51-49 for Barcelona. I think this is a very evenly game.
01:04:51
Speaker
match the match tie and I think Napoli have every chance to go through I really do think so it's going to be very exciting I think we're going to see lots of goals but it's I give Napoli a very good chance to go through for me it's almost 50-50 slight advantage for Barcelona
01:05:10
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not sure I'm as positive as you are, but let's just hope that Napoli can turn things around. If they play like they do this season, I don't give them any chance. Finally, though, one thing that we certainly can't give it any chance or we can't even give a hope in hell, really, of them going through.
01:05:30
Speaker
It's Lazio against Bayern Munich. The question here isn't really who's going through it, it's how many goals are Bayern Munich going to win by? Let me put it to you this way, even if Lazio, because the first leg will be played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where we've had magical nights before, even if Lazio win by a goal, 1-0, or two goals, by some miracle at the Olimpico, Bayern is going to rip them apart at home.
01:05:56
Speaker
Like it's just Bayern Munich at home and the second leg are just another animal. You need to have at least three goal lead going into the in a tie with that when you play them away, because the way that they just the machine, I mean, I know they struggle in the Bundesliga and they feel like they're playing at 50 percent of their potential. But it's I just look at them and I just
01:06:20
Speaker
This is literally the worst draw that Latio could have gotten. Literally the worst draw. And it ends here. But it's been a good run for Latio. They got through. They've done what we could ask of them. I hope that they can make their fans happy in the first leg at home at the Stadio Limpico and maybe get a result there. But then a way to Bayern. Like you said, the question is not if Bayern go through. The question is by how many goals?
01:06:50
Speaker
Absolutely. Yeah. Right. Okay. I do have to say the English team's got got two, two great drawers, didn't they? Man City gets Copenhagen. I mean, I mean, you just come in, you just can't, you just can't make it up, can you? Man City, when's the last time Man City ever had a hard draw in these in these knockout, early knockout, they always seem to get the group
01:07:10
Speaker
stage even. And Arsenal got Porto. Porto always are nasty. They're kind of like a mini Atletico Madrid. But yeah, I mean, it's again, looking at the other teams in the draw, Arsenal are going to be very happy with that. Europa League draw. Two Italian teams in this. This is for the playoff rounds.
Europa League Draw and Italian Teams
01:07:31
Speaker
The teams that finished second in the Europa League were playing against the teams that finished third in the Champions League.
01:07:38
Speaker
So Milan have got red, Milan coming down from the Champions League and Roma have got Firenord. That Roma-Firenord, I mean, these two teams, they play each other every single year. This is the third. This is the 21-22 season. It's the fifth knockout stage game between Firenord and Roma. They played in the conference league final. They played last year, I think it was in Europa League. Quarterfinal. Quarterfinal, yeah. And then now again in the playoff round.
01:08:05
Speaker
It's always been toxic and they absolutely don't like each other and the question is not if Mourinho gets sent off, the question is when Mourinho gets sent off in this game and in which one of the legs. I can't wait for the pre-match press conference because what's his name, the manager of Fire North? Because I remember he was having a go at Mourinho so he doesn't like the football he plays and everything.
01:08:31
Speaker
Yeah, no, it's not a great draw, though, because we find out a good I, I, I was really impressed with them against Atletico Madrid in the first game, but they deserve to win that game. And then, and then they played against Lazio, the hammered Lazio in Holland. And then they were
01:08:49
Speaker
they didn't deserve to lose at the Sadio Limpico. They deserved at least a draw in that game. So I think it's going to be difficult. It's going to be a difficult game, but obviously the fact that Roma probably had the psychological advantage having won those games. As for Milan,
01:09:04
Speaker
Ren having a disastrous season. They're fighting against relegation. They're really good last season. They're fighting against relegation and they're fourth from bottom in Lika. So, again, like Napoli, if it's the Ren that are playing now, then you're picking Milan every day of the week. But if it's an improved Ren, it could be a little bit more difficult.
01:09:23
Speaker
At Salanta are already in the last 16 draw because they won their group and the same is the case for Fiorentino in the conference league as well. They don't play. So we won't know who they're playing in the last 16 until the next playoff round fixtures are played.
Closing Segments and Humorous Tidbits
01:09:38
Speaker
Okay, let's finish off with Baggio, Prem Face and Serie A's of the week. Baggio of the week. I've got one. I've just written it down. Do you have one?
01:09:49
Speaker
I've got the moment that Crystal Palace are losing 2-0 to Manchester City at the weekend, they scored to make it 2-1, then they equalised the 6 minute of injury time and the images of Roy Hodgson laughing
01:10:06
Speaker
at, laughing at Pep Guardiola in his face are just hilarious. It just, I love, I love Roy Hodgson. I love Roy Hodgson. I love how grumpy he is. He's just a grumpy old man. Like, I just love it. Like, even when like, palace score, like, he's just a grump, isn't he? He's just an old grump. I love it. I love it. The reason you love it is because you recognize yourself.
01:10:30
Speaker
That's me, isn't it? When I get older, or maybe now, or maybe now. It reminds me of when Roy Hodgson came on our podcast, I think I told the story. And we try to, like we finish off with most of our interviews, we play a rapid fire game where we give the interviewee two options.
01:10:55
Speaker
Messi Messi or Ronaldo and they just have to choose one or the other Pelé or Maradona, you know pizza or fish and chips So so we started doing that with Roy Hodgson and he he hated it so much He got so grumpy and he started like first of all, he quoted Oscar Wilde saying all comparisons are odious And then he just
01:11:17
Speaker
Nimmer like I was kind of frantically like messaging Nimmer said let's just stop the game. He doesn't enjoy this like he doesn't want to play it. Let's just stop it. But Nimmer didn't see the message or just ignore the message. And Nimmer just carried on asking the questions to him. And he was getting increasingly angry and angrier getting redder and redder. And then he just snapped and he goes,
01:11:38
Speaker
Don't wanna play in this game because I don't even know why why am I come on this podcast? I don't even know why I came on this podcast Very very funny
01:11:53
Speaker
Talked about funny Prem face of the week gone. Do you want to do this one? No, you do that either. I I just you know, you do it you You kind of did the best parody Well, that's what I mean. I've done enough of it. Okay, Jason Cundee so Jason Cundee of talkspaw and everybody that knows Jason Cundee or Jason Cundee as we call him is that he says a lot of stupid things a lot of prim face things so you would think Nima the having
01:12:22
Speaker
Like, banged on for the whole group stage about how Newcastle should be qualifying and the best team in the group. You'd have thought that when Newcastle actually get knocked out of the Champions League and finished last and lose at home to Milan, that you would kind of become a little bit humble and maybe say, okay, fair play, but no.
01:12:44
Speaker
Newcastle have gone out of the Champions League straight after the game. Jason Kandy says that Newcastle would win the Serie A and they would win Liga. They would they would finish above PSG in Liga and win the title and they would finish above Milan and above Inter as well and win the Serie A title. And he also added that they would go toe to toe with Dortmund to win the Bundesliga. So they don't exist, apparently.
01:13:11
Speaker
He is unbelievable. The thing is though, one thing about Jason Kandy is this. He's entertaining because he's so defiant in sticking to his guns with nonsense that it becomes funny.
01:13:32
Speaker
You know, it becomes genuinely entertaining. He's defiant. He reminds me of this American broadcaster, a sport, who is just the same way with American sports, Mike Francesa. He is the British English version of Mike Francesa and just defiantly refuses to admit that he's wrong. And when he's confronted with things that he said in the past that he's wrong, he just blindly says, I never said that.
01:13:56
Speaker
It reminds me of the the footballing version of Alf Garnett. I don't know if you've ever seen, if you haven't, actually I probably wouldn't recommend you see it, but it's kind of an infamous TV from the 1960s and 70s in England, one of the most infamous TV characters. It's from a from a program, British sitcom called Till Death Do Us Part. And this Alf Garnett is this like this working class racist who is he's a he's like he's always
01:14:24
Speaker
he's always complaining and moaning, but you know, and he's all and yeah, anyway, he's people if you know, you know, he provides you about guard it. He's just so loud and proud with his yeah, well, yeah, well, exactly. And that's how I feel. That's exactly what Jason can do, but is in entertaining as well.
01:14:44
Speaker
Listen, he is entertaining. I will give you that much. I think he's more entertaining than most people on that radio channel, if I'm perfectly honest, on Talkspot. He's funny because he's so, he is entertaining and he talks so much rubbish and he just never, ever gives up, which is just hilarious. And he can't ever like, you know, say I was wrong or anything. Instead, he just doubles and triples down and just gets so... I mean, how can you say that after new cars have gone out? They just got out and come bottom.
01:15:14
Speaker
because the Champions League group and he said they could have win the Serie A win the league. His entire shtick was that they underperformed and I think he was building towards Eddie Howe. You know, I should have done better or whatever with this squad.
01:15:33
Speaker
Um, I think that's what he was building to. Um, but yeah, never defends Jason country. I don't defend him. I just think he's incredibly entertaining. I do think he's very entertaining and he's so, he's so like, for me, it's like my friend says, if you know, you know, I mean, he, he's just out there, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's very, very funny. It's entertaining. It's very entertaining. Okay. Talking about, well, not, I would say definitely not entertaining. Um,
01:16:00
Speaker
Zaria asks of the week. Go on, you take away this one. There's three. There's three this week, but I mean, there's probably more. The Reindeer's goal, when after Reindeer scores and they post a photo of him and then they delete it and says he's got serious Riz. Now, from what I understand, what Riz? I know what Riz is, and I don't have to ask youth offenders either, like what it means. I know what Riz means. I know what it means. It means charisma. It means charisma. Yeah, but doesn't it also mean to chat someone up?
01:16:29
Speaker
Well, yeah, sort of that kind of charisma. Yeah. And how's that relating to Reinders? Well, that's the point. That's what makes it an ass. I mean, it doesn't make any sense. No, they deleted it as well. Yeah. Yeah, it makes no sense. It makes no sense at all. And then the Kanye West post. I didn't get that either. So they posted a picture of Federico Chiesa kind of pulling a kind of frustrated kind of face and then they put the caption
01:16:58
Speaker
at Kanye West didn't drop today. What does that mean?
01:17:03
Speaker
Again, I don't know does it drop an album? Maybe the keys apparently keys are supposed to be unhappy about the fact that Kanye West didn't drop It's just weird and that's the moment when you see yourself on the big screen at the stadium like Yeah, they put they posted a video of a woman at the stadium and then she sees she sees on camp She sees herself on camera and they just put the moment when you see yourself on the big screen at the stadium So again, I mean
01:17:32
Speaker
I don't know. I don't know what her expression wasn't like. It's one thing if people are happy and oh, she didn't even do that. So I mean, if it's a kind of a noteworthy expression, like they pull like, you know, this is something memorable, you know, something that stands out. But it wasn't. It was just a woman looking at the camera and not even even smile. She didn't even do anything like if she had done that and we're like, oh, look at me. I'm on the camera and fine. But it was just a woman who saw herself on the camera and didn't even acknowledge it.
01:18:06
Speaker
What can you say? Conquering North America. Remember they've conquered North America. They need to be set on a marketing course. I think that's what they need to do.
01:18:19
Speaker
So that's just three, but I mean, there's so many every single every single week. Just just all you have to do is just follow the Syria. Yeah. Follow them and send them to us as well. Do you ever see anything? We don't we're not going to just do the Syria. We're going to do clubs as well. Like we had you met us last week for the Henry Kissinger post. But but yes, we will do it. And of course, the Italian players of Oscar del Calcho last week with creature quite clearly misspelled romanized his name. Yeah. On an award.
01:18:49
Speaker
I misspelled it. That's unbelievable. That reminds me when I was 15 years old, I won the top goalscorer award for my football team and the 15s team. And the award that I got had
01:19:04
Speaker
do you know what it had written on the award well if it's gargamel i'll die no no no no it didn't have my name on it it just said tgs that's what it had it meant top goal scorer but instead of writing top goal scorer they just got they just got tgs written on it
01:19:19
Speaker
that was my award the print shop charges per letter well that's what i assume that was the case yeah that was the case yes oh it was that old christmas party i went up to collect the award i looked at it he said tgs it's like what the fuck's this right yes i couldn't die tgs oh dear
01:19:43
Speaker
Right.
Upcoming Content Announcements
01:19:44
Speaker
Okay. This was just for my this was just for my under 15 local site. This was Bedford. Yeah, in Bedford. Yeah, in Bedford. Yeah, that's my Bedford story for today. Brilliant, brilliant. Great.
01:20:00
Speaker
Okay, right. Let's leave it at that. So we'll be back on Tuesday for the Q&A. Then we have, we can announce it actually. So we did, we did an interview today this morning with Paul Ince, the former Inter and Medic United players, which was fantastic. Some of the stories he told us were absolutely amazing. He told us about a party that he had in, we won't give it all away, a party that was held by Nicola Berti, who was a party animal. And at that party,
01:20:30
Speaker
There was all these, the characters, movie stars. Joe Pesci was there. Joe Pesci was one of them. Yeah, we won't give away any more of it, but it was an amazing story. So yeah, we were going to release it. Unfortunately, we can't release it as a pod, which we're really disappointed about because we couldn't get the clearance to publish it as a pod. We will be publishing it as an article, so you'll still be able to read it. It was a great, great interview.
01:20:55
Speaker
fantastic, some fantastic, fantastic, amazing anecdotes and stories from his time inside stuff that I hadn't heard about, actually. So it's really, really interesting. So I recommend reading that. And then we're going to do we're going to do a podcast on the on the the weekend games as well. Over Christmas, we are going to do it. And so that will be the final part of the week. Yeah, at some point, we'll do that. And it'll be much more we'll do like, we'll do a
01:21:25
Speaker
Yeah, we're going to do it around Christmas, so you guys will go to something and listen to it over Christmas. And then we'll be back either on New Year's or around New Year's again, and then we're back to normal again. So just next week, there won't be a Q&A pod, but we'll be back with a Q&A pod after that. But yeah, this week, Q&A Tuesday, Poland's written article out on Wednesday, Thursday. And then we'll do a reaction to the weekdays, Friday, Saturdays, Serie A games on the Sunday.
01:21:55
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's how it will work out. Yeah, yeah. Great. Okay, right. Let's leave it at that. Have a good week, everyone. We'll see you on Tuesday for the Q&A. Ciao ciao.