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Inter Win the Derby, Roma's Drama, Prandelli and Genoa, and The Worst Stadium in Serie A (Ep. 8)
129 Plays7 years ago
The Serie A Show's Chloe Beresford, John Solano, and Nima Tavalley discuss Inter's 3-2 Derby victory over Milan, the drama at Roma, Cesare Prandelli's Genoa, and the debate the worst stadium in all of Serie A.
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Setup
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Seria show!
00:00:16
Speaker
And we are back. It's another edition of the city show.
Inter's Performance and Tactical Moves
00:00:21
Speaker
But this time, though, only one of us is going to be happy. Chloe, you made a comment that ever since we've started doing this podcast, our teams have been terrible. Well, I think since you've made that comment, Nima, you're the only one who's had a bit of joy, it seems like this past weekend. Wow. Yeah, I don't know where that performance came from because
00:00:43
Speaker
I did not expect that. I mean, when we did this last episode, Inter then proceeded to play in the Europa League and give the worst performance they could have possibly given, a team that looked completely fragmented, they were all over the place, Paletti seemed like he was panicked, it was frantic, it was basically put, you know, this kind of, you know, make or break situation where the coaches do when they're at their, you know, when they've reached the end of their tether,
00:01:12
Speaker
and it bombed Inca look awful and he accepted responsibility for that and then we go and then you know this the whole equality thing spins three a couple of more times and we go into the Darby and I and I think and I just have absolutely nothing to look forward to I'm thinking all I'm thinking about is how bad aren't you going to get destroyed
00:01:35
Speaker
And Spalletti just simply pulls out a technical masterclass against getting so, where he reverts back to the double pivot in midfield. He almost gives Vassino a free role, a roaming role, as a tréquartista, which means that... And he did very well, didn't he? He did fantastic in that. And then, you know, in interpress, really, really high, Gattuso looks completely, completely out of his depth, like he doesn't know how to counter this.
00:02:04
Speaker
And then you have Inter completely dominating for 60 minutes and should have been 3-0 up by then and ended the game. But that's the difference. This is the reason why Vissino isn't a world-class player. If he was a world-class player, he would have scored three goals. Instead, he just scored once. And he misses sitters that shouldn't be able to be missed.
00:02:26
Speaker
This is nothing new to Fiorentina fans, by the way. Exactly the same. That's why he isn't world-class. He's a good player, but he's not world-class. But no, it was incredible. And Lautaro, I don't know if I've said it on this podcast before, but I want to go on the record and say that I am firmly on the Lautaro train.
00:02:46
Speaker
The guy is footballing IQ and his intelligence, his movement, his ability to read the game, his ability, his technique. Everything, only 21 is simply, simply fantastic. There's no, this guy is the limit for this guy. If he can, if he can start scoring more than, you know, in converting chances more and bring it up to Icardi level, then we're talking a Ballon d'Or winner here because he has everything else.
00:03:12
Speaker
So do you even bring Ikari back into the fold given this?
Icardi's Potential Reentry into Inter
00:03:17
Speaker
Because given how sensitive, in my opinion, the situation is with Inter, you have Roma who are struggling, but are still, regardless, somehow they're still firmly in this race. Nobody's really out of the clear yet. I feel like bringing him would sort of spoil the whole batch. So you just said no, but Chloe, what do you think? Certainly you have to keep him away from this team at the moment.
00:03:42
Speaker
At the moment, yeah, I think it would be
00:03:48
Speaker
in a team environment I think it would be very difficult to integrate him back with all the little side issues that are going on and you know it seems like there's pockets of the squad that you know maybe agree with him and don't agree with him and I think to try and integrate somebody back into that kind of atmosphere would be quite difficult and it probably would play out somehow on the pitch and then you know in such a like you say in a delicate moment we're into trying to
00:04:18
Speaker
consolidate the place in the Champions League, it's probably not the right time.
Milan Derby Tactical Analysis
00:04:23
Speaker
But going back to Sunday night, I just have to say what an advert for Serie A that was, what a fantastic match, it was absolutely fascinating. I don't think Milan
00:04:35
Speaker
even though it finished 3-2, I don't think Milan really looked in danger of winning. They certainly looked like they might equalise had it not been for a last gasp Danilo D'Ambrosio tackle that was superb. But a thought kind of came to me about the Derby when I was just kind of not really thinking about it. So something just came into my head and
00:05:02
Speaker
You know, I thought about Gotuzo and how he has done so well in terms of consistency and getting results and making Milan difficult to beat. But he has, when you think about it in big games, he has been found out tactically.
00:05:20
Speaker
And you think you counter that with how Spelletti is and actually he's you know we know he's a bit wild and he's a bit crazy he's a bit up and down and I think that's where the inconsistency comes from how you can get a performance like that in the Europa League which was so so bad
00:05:38
Speaker
and then such a good performance in the Derby. And he has the ability, conversely, to pull off those big results when they matter. And I think that was maybe the difference on Sunday night, that Gattuso is really good at the bread and butter. But, you know, he came up against Spelletti at his best, which he didn't really have an answer for.
00:06:04
Speaker
Absolutely, but I got to say I was really impressed that in the second half when Gattuso moved things around and they started hurting and that's when and they started really creating chances.
00:06:18
Speaker
um and uh that that like they they've really started you know that that's when it's the gregis palette his first uh game clan started to not work as well as it was uh i found it really interesting to see that um he was able to do that because he's been unable to do that in the darby's before and milan were dangerous i mean they scored twice they
00:06:39
Speaker
by all accounts should have scored the third as well but were unable to and to me that says that Gattuso is learning, he's learning on the job. Oh yeah absolutely. But the thing is that can Milan afford to let him learn of the job? Well that depends on how this season ends. I mean if they finish top four and they win the Copa Italia
00:07:02
Speaker
absolutely give him another goal but I don't think I personally don't think I think that this is the highest level he is he will ever reach. I still think that Antonio Conte would be the perfect suit for them.
00:07:16
Speaker
So with that, in my opinion, I don't I don't think that ruled Roma out of the Champions League race.
Roma's Champions League Struggles
00:07:27
Speaker
But Inter, pulling that one out of their ass, Nima, was the worst, the worst case scenario for Roma, because obviously they were putrid.
00:07:39
Speaker
But I'm curious, is your opinion, either of your opinions, on how this race for the final two Champions League spots is shaping up? Did the Derby affect that in your opinion, or do you think the two Milan-based sides are still the favorites to come out with that? Yeah, I think the two Milanese sides are the favorites, but I wouldn't count Lazio out. For me, Romare out of this. They were pathetic. I mean, with all due respect, that performance
00:08:05
Speaker
I saw against Paul, it was pathetic. This squad, this Roma squad is so in trouble, in so fragmented, so in pieces, and Ranieri is not a magical, he's not a magician. He can get this squad, but the jolt and energy needed
00:08:34
Speaker
you know, what's needed to go forward for this side is a massive overhaul in the summer. You don't even have a, what do you call it, a sporting director. You have a coach that is expressly there just to stay until the summer. To me, Roma, no, Roma need to, this is not working. Roma are out of this race.
00:09:02
Speaker
I think, um, I think Pilates comments, uh, were very interesting. I'm sure we were thinking on this, John, but you know, I think that, I think what he said.
00:09:15
Speaker
about Monty and about the fact that Monty sort of said well plotter wants to go one way and I wanted to go another and plotter says oh no wait a minute we let you do exactly what you want. I think that sort of speaks to the fact that
00:09:34
Speaker
there are probably deeper problems if Monchy's kind of, if Indigy has sort of run riot and just done his own thing and it's not worked. I think obviously we spoke about Ranieri bringing, coming in and giving the side a lift, but if it is mission impossible for him, then you know, if there are those kind of deep-rooted problems, then it might be tougher for him than we first thought.
00:10:05
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think that Roma or sorry, I just wanted to say this that I was surprised. I did not think Roma going into this season. I thought Roma were going to be the ones to challenge Inter for third spot. I honestly did not think that they were going to collapse in the way that they have and it is a collapse.
Roma's Management and Financial Issues
00:10:22
Speaker
It is a complete collapse. It's a collapse in the boardroom. It's a collapse on the pitch. It's a collapse on the bench. I didn't see that coming. Honestly, because I think that Roma is a good enough side on paper as a squad to be able to finish top three, top four. I really, really think that.
00:10:39
Speaker
But i'm here to hear what you think palates comments didn't surprise me i knew something was coming just because he was. Responding to journalist for the first time in like three months so what's it once he started replying to all of us i knew we were we were in for a treat of an interview and words and.
00:10:59
Speaker
He did not disappoint. I give Palat to credit in the sense that my biggest gripe with him is he has one of his best friends, Alex Zekka, essentially overseeing the sporting side of Roma. This guy has never worked in football in his life. He's a hedge fund manager, never once worked in sport.
00:11:22
Speaker
That ends well. But when Palota brought in Manchi and essentially gave him the keys to the car and said, this entire sporting project is yours, I commended him for it because I think that's what he needed. The reason Sabatini left was he and Zekka did not see eye to eye, especially from an analytics standpoint. Roma are very known for their use of analytics and scouting. Sabatini was against that. Manchi came in.
00:11:52
Speaker
Pahlauta gave him everything. He said, you have it your way. We'll stay out of the way. And I commended him for that. But in hindsight, that looks like a mistake because Munchi had no plan B. That was Pahlauta's biggest gripe with him this season.
00:12:10
Speaker
Palota asked, well, what is our plan B? And Munchi said, well, now this, of course, this is according to Palota, but Munchi said, well, our plan B is to keep going with plan A. Jesus, that is terrifying to hear from your sporting director. And this is something that was clear in October, November, that this team clearly had problems.
00:12:32
Speaker
It was evident, and for him not to A. sack the manager at that time, and B. not by a single player in the winter. I actually side with Palalta on this because it was clear things have been going wrong. I think it's nonsensical for Monchi to just sort of continue with this project as is, and to not make any changes whatsoever is absurd.
00:12:55
Speaker
We're seeing what the result of that is. Monchi leaves, Roma are in absolute crisis. And if we have to be honest, if you look at this team, Nima, I do agree on paper, they have enough to finish top four. But if you look at this team,
00:13:11
Speaker
The top wage earners, it is a black hole of the highest degree. It's horrible. Their top two earners are Jeko and Pastore. I mean, that's not good. And for a club, everybody knows what Roma's financial situation is.
00:13:28
Speaker
I mean that is something they cannot afford and now With it looking like Champions League is distant. I do think there's a very small chance Eat that have a much more difficult schedule than the Roma So we'll see what happens Roma have to play Napoli after the break. So Jesus and then Fiorentina after that I won't even mention Chloe would happen the last time they met
00:13:59
Speaker
If Roma can somehow, some way, by some miracle, win their next four against Napoli, Fiorentina Santore, Utanessa, then I think they at least put themselves in a position. Do I think it's going to happen? Hell no. But I'm at least at the point where I'm sort of making peace with it. And oddly enough, this might be something that a Roman needs because... Exactly.
00:14:25
Speaker
I I think if you yeah, I think if you would have continued with the likes of Jekko, um, exactly. A 32 or 33 year old, uh, I feel like you're not really growing. You've reached the apex. Um, I agree. So I think.
00:14:49
Speaker
Yeah, I think this summer presents an instance to You know though you had a small house fire and you're trying to just fix it up I say just let the thing burn to the ground. It's going to get very ugly a lot of ash But then you can build from a new again, and I think that I truly I think that's what they need I really really do this entire club needs an overhaul and
00:15:12
Speaker
I agree and it's the right time to do it just before the stadium starts getting built and you know you need that's what I mean but I mean from what I've read I mean and from all the sources I've talked to all the people who actually know this who know this really well everyone is saying that this time around Palota is going to have like an audition like a long audition period to find
00:15:35
Speaker
the sporting director that roma keep for the next three four years because this is going to be the person who who oversees the project into the new stadium so they're not going to be rushed into this decision by you know they're not going to just take someone like monty who who maybe
00:15:52
Speaker
maybe that was a little bit of a Hail Mary looking back at it because I mean look at him he did brilliantly at Sevilla but yeah but different country you know not knowing the culture coming to a new different you know new football completely new football culture that to me felt a little bit like a Hail Mary but I mean in that case this new sporting project that they're going to start in the summer
00:16:17
Speaker
I keep hammering this, but Maurizio Sarri would be perfect, you know, because he is that, he is a strong man, he's been through, I mean Naples is a crazy place, he's handled that brilliantly, De Laurentiis is nowhere near as difficult to work for as Palota, you know, he's not as volatile, as Palota is nowhere near as volatile as Palota is,
00:16:43
Speaker
And the kind of football he wants to play is exactly the kind of football that Roma wants to play. It's an attractive football. It's kind of ingrained in the club's
Future of Roma's Sporting Direction
00:16:52
Speaker
culture. It's not like Inter. Inter have a club culture where Inter, when they win the Champions League of the European Cup or Grand Inter, it's with Helenio Herrera and Jose Mourinho. It's a different culture altogether. Every club has its own culture. And I think that would be the perfect guy. Now, who should oversee that?
00:17:09
Speaker
you see a lot of people assert Fajiano at Parma I think that would be an intelligent maybe premature move because he's already he's never really I don't know if he's ready to take on a place like it all might if you go from Parma and Roma to me that's like two different galaxies personally I honestly think that and I would and I would be upset if it happened but I think it will happen
00:17:29
Speaker
I hope it doesn't happen, but I think that if you guys, if he goes for El Silio, that would be a brilliant move for everyone involved, because this is a guy that is so adaptable, he has the contacts, he knows exactly what it is to work for a club that has limited financial resources, that is rebuilding, he's done it before, and he's calm. Inter are a crazy club. Roma are a chaotic club. So, you know, I think that would be the correct project.
00:17:55
Speaker
Yeah. Personally, I think it's going to be either Sabatini or Torino's Petraki. That would be good as well. I think either of them would fit the ideal profile for what the Roma needs because they need someone who can build a team. This is no longer about unearthing talents. This is about building something. And I'd be curious to hear what both of you think about this because
00:18:21
Speaker
watching Monchi's spurn arsenal made me laugh a bit inside but i'm curious to hear what you guys think the manner in which he left i thought was i couldn't believe it i couldn't believe it i thought you know i i have to say i i don't blame polotta for bringing him monchi and giving him carte blanche it was
00:18:43
Speaker
possibly a little bit naive, but with his reputation at the time, you know, there were articles being written all over the place of saying, you know, what an amazing, amazing job we've done at Sevilla. If, you know, if any club could just choose a sporting director from anywhere in the world at that time, Manchi was like the hottest name and it seemed like Roma had really pulled off an amazing coup by getting in. I can't remember what you asked me now.
00:19:11
Speaker
well no i i'm just curious no it's fine yeah and i just thought i honestly thought he would go on to another exciting project like like arsenal and try and rebuild his reputation but the fact he's gone back to severe just seems like
00:19:31
Speaker
I failed and I'm going to go crawling back to what's familiar and comfortable for me. And that just seemed like a stunning admission, like he's admitting he can't work anywhere else. It's crazy.
00:19:44
Speaker
Yeah, and you tweeted this to me, Chloe. I mean, do you think this kills his chances of ever working? And I say this a bit tongue in cheek, but I mean, Roma are a bigger club than Sevilla, despite Sevilla having one more. Munchi himself said when he arrived that Roma's budget was double.
00:20:02
Speaker
Sevilla, so I'm curious to what you think. Do you think this spells the end for a big chance for him? Because I genuinely feel like it's not even about him leaving, it's the manner in which he left and it's how quickly he accepted to return to Sevilla.
00:20:18
Speaker
Yeah, like, not like, oh, I'll think about it over the summer or anything else. It's just like, oh, yeah, okay, I'm going back to sphere then. You know, I think another big club would be really, really wary over what happened with Roma and the fact that he's just showed zero ambition. I mean, would he even himself want to go for a bigger club? It doesn't seem like it. No, I think to me that was basically insane.
00:20:44
Speaker
He wanted to give this a shot and he probably felt so burned by the experience that I don't think we'll see him do anything like that for quite some time. I really don't.
00:21:01
Speaker
There's a lot that has to click for something to work. It's not football manager. You don't hire the guy with the world-class reputation. A few clicks later, everything works like clockwork. That's not how it works in real life. These are human beings. They have to be able to work together. They have to find a way to communicate. All that stuff has to click. And you can be really good at your job in terms of finding talent and building. But if you and the owner don't
00:21:30
Speaker
your communication and the personal chemistry isn't working doesn't really matter, does it? At the end of the day, because you won't be able to get results. And the fact that once she decided to turn Arsenal down and go to Sevilla to me just shows that, you know, he wasn't ready to risk that again, but he'd rather go back to a place that he knows that he's in control of, he knows what's expected of him, and, and try to build from there on. And, you know,
00:21:59
Speaker
time will tell if that was a mistake or not. But personally, I think maybe that that was that just shows to me how badly he felt he was burned by the Roma experience. I agree. And I have to say history will not look kindly on him because I mean, let's be clear, look at this Roma side. I mean, they are a disaster. They are. It's a
00:22:24
Speaker
It's failed. It's a failed project. It's literally a failed project. It's in free fall. They sacked the coach who really was never good enough to be at Roma, to begin with. Francesco was a coach that, as a player, he played for Roma, he won a scoretto with Roma, so obviously he did all right with Sassuolo. But he clearly wasn't good enough to be at Roma. And to take this project and lift it like Spalletti did, he did well at Roma.
00:22:54
Speaker
Um, then, then you have, um, you know, then you have the players he brought in replaced Allison with Robin Olson, which was an utter unmitigated disaster. I can't even talk. I have post-traumatic stress disorder from that. I don't, I can't even, I can't even talk about it. Anybody.
00:23:12
Speaker
who has watched Roma in the last decade. The only person that he is behind in terms of the worst goalkeepers, Mauro Coico Cea, who everybody will remember, who has the absolute worst blunder I've ever seen in my life. He catches a corner and it falls out of his hands and he can seize a goal against Caliari, but genuinely.
00:23:35
Speaker
What I don't know what in the world munchy was thinking with that I mean genuinely if you look at the top ten I would take every single goalkeeper Ahead of him every single one. Yeah. Yeah. No, it was it was you know It's one of those things and then and then you know his other signings didn't really work out either I mean son Yolo short and Yolo was the only one that worked out, but that was more a
00:23:58
Speaker
you know, Zanyola is one of the hottest prospects in Italy. It wasn't something that Munchi discovered. I mean, apparently now, now we know that every single sporting director in Italy was, everyone has been talking about Zanyola for a long time. And it was only a matter, you know, it was, it was, it's always going to be a gamble, but, but that's how Inter had to do. They sent away loads of young talented players like Serado in, in Genoa goal.
00:24:20
Speaker
the Genoa goalkeeper, you know, who's been fantastic, by the way, fantastic push gas to Palermo in Serie B, he's doing really well. A lot of players to sasolo for Politano, etc. And a lot of them need to manage to to get renegotiate buybacks into every single one of those players, except for Zaniolo, who was who was supposed to be part of the, you know, was a part of the mangolan deal.
00:24:47
Speaker
So, aside from that, it's been utter disaster. And, you know, he can't run away from that. But that's why I think that when you hire a sporting director,
00:24:59
Speaker
I think that is something you need to be someone that is in that country and in that culture. It's not like buying players and coaches. That is easier to adapt to because world football is now such a global place. But I think when it comes to the sporting directorship, that is clearly something that you still need to keep within your own country.
00:25:21
Speaker
I think because the knowledge and context of the Italian, you know, that you have of the football inside Italy is something that Monti just didn't have. You know, he simply didn't have any and you see the freefall that we have in front of us.
00:25:37
Speaker
And it was kind of you not to bring up Javier Pastore. But I like Pastore. Oh, get the hell out of here. I do. I was really annoyed. How long ago? No, I mean, I thought that in the summer when Spalletti was choosing between Pastore and L'Angolan, I was like, OK, well, you know, he's chosen.
00:26:01
Speaker
Oh my god. Would you prefer a kick in the ass or the face? That's basically the question. It was expensive though, wasn't it? How much did Rama pay for it? Oh my god. Very expensive. It was 25 million euros. Yeah. Very. Yeah. Not good. Not good. It was expensive. It was expensive. Nobody's clear.
Juventus's Rotation Strategy and Genoa
00:26:26
Speaker
Yeah, so to transition before I start weeping, Genoa pulled one out of their backside against Juve.
00:26:35
Speaker
I mean, Speechless doesn't begin to describe that performance. That was... But to be honest, I mean, with all due respect to Genoa, they just... Juve weren't up for it. Let's just get that out of the way. I mean, it was Juve's fourth team that went out there. And they played on par with Genoa, and Genoa were playing like they were fighting for their lives.
00:26:59
Speaker
But let's be honest, I mean, this isn't the first time that Genoa has caused all the problems, and this season. And last season, or maybe the one we should show actually, when Simeone scored at least two goals.
00:27:12
Speaker
Yeah, so, you know, you're always going to have this bogey team syndrome. And I think when, when, when, I mean, for Allegri, it's like, as he said, I mean, we were still, you know, he didn't play with Christiano Ronaldo. He didn't play with any of the, almost any of the players that played in midweek fixtures in the Champions League. You know, what are you going to do?
00:27:30
Speaker
Two points I've mentioned though, Chloe, I know you're gonna wait to hop on this one. But who got he was terrible. He was on the pitch. Oh, he was without question the worst on the pitch. Yeah, he was backing off.
00:27:49
Speaker
And it was, I can't remember who it was that was running forward, but he was backing off, backing off the whole time. Then he decides, oh wait, there's another guy coming. And he sort of half runs towards him and they'll end up in the middle of the two of them. And then generous God. So it, it, that was just dreadful. And I need to me, it proves
00:28:11
Speaker
once again that he is not good enough for Juventus. But I think even though they lost, and I have to say Genoa must take credit for the way that they once again attack Juve without fear. But for Juve, I think even though they lost,
00:28:34
Speaker
Alegri did the right thing. I think that he has been too guilty of not rotating enough and being sort of too cautious, but I think he got it spot on.
00:28:47
Speaker
they were 18 points ahead before they started. Now they're 15. Now they're 15. You know, like Ronaldo got a complete rest. He wasn't even in the squad. And you didn't even travel. Yeah.
00:29:04
Speaker
I think when they've tried in the past to win the Champions League and they've not quite got over that final hurdle, I think you could look back and say well you know maybe if they've not been so keen in the league maybe you know they would
00:29:24
Speaker
have performed a little bit better. And I think at the end of the season, if anybody who was disappointed with that result, who supports Juve, if at the end of the season they've won the Champions League, they're not going to care about losing an unbeaten record. I think even though they're lost, I really think that he did the right thing. And perhaps in the past, that's not been the case. So I think it was a positive negative, if you see what I mean, for them.
00:29:53
Speaker
I agree, but can we at least agree that Prandelli has done incredible things for Genoa this season? Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I'm so happy to be there. For a club who has a big heart, a bit like Fiorentina, that they feel everything so much. I think that was the right place for him.
00:30:21
Speaker
you know, hopefully it stopped this rot of like people like Ivan Djuric coming in and out and in and out. Balardini Djuric. Yeah. The merry-go-round with Balardini and Djuric. I mean, they were basically on a rota, as we said before, wasn't it? Like, it's like, you take the summer shift, I take the autumn shift, and you come back in spring, and then we go around and halves in summer.
00:30:40
Speaker
I mean, no, it was ridiculous. No, but I think Prandelli, I'm really happy to see Prandelli in Genoa. I'm really happy that Gianpaolo is staying at Santoria because that's what the crazy president said in one of his brilliant rants. And I like that because that means that I think that Genoa can, for next season, actually, I think they can be a stable top 10 team.
00:31:07
Speaker
And that raises the profile of that derby as well and brings football into that city and raises the entire, you know, the temperature of football in that city. And I like that. Yeah. I like, you know, that makes me happy. I mean, Genoa are a classic football club in the city. I like it. I really, really, really like it. And I like Prandelli. I mean, he's a really, really likeable person.
00:31:34
Speaker
It's nice to see him do well there, and I hope that he can stay on, because the owner of Genoa is not exactly known for Pritziozzi. That's putting a tame away name. He's not fair.
00:31:55
Speaker
He's clearly meant, you know, he's not, you know, he's not sane. And I mean, and he's not like Zamparini funny, because Zamparini is, you know, we're crazy, because Zamparini, there's the sheer, there's brilliance there as well. Prexiosi is basically
00:32:11
Speaker
He's just shady. And he's not interested in investing in the club either, which I think is terrible really for a club with such historical significance to the league. I'd love to see both of those clubs end up in ownerships.
00:32:29
Speaker
that want to invest and want to, you know, not use the clubs as the way, you know, to make money off of, but like say that, okay, any profit you make, you can invest it into the club. They don't do that. He doesn't do that. He does the same way the Pozzos do in Udinesia, that this is their business that they make money off of. And that's fine if you can run it like the Pozzo family have, who are probably the best
00:32:56
Speaker
the most successful, you know, small to medium sized club owners in Europe, you know, owning a club in La Liga in in Serie A and the Premier League and stabilizing them in those is really
Serie A Relegation Battle and Stadiums
00:33:07
Speaker
impressive. And not to mention all the young talents they get. But Genoa don't do that. It's precisely doesn't really care. It feels like for him, it's just about it's about making money and putting it lining his own pockets, which is sad. Yeah. But
00:33:25
Speaker
They have done well. As you mentioned, Plan deli, I'm, I'm happy to see him bring some more stability to that club. I'm curious. We put a poll out in regards to the last relegation spot. And yeah, I, um, no, basically I wanted to see, cause I thought it was so exciting. The, the whole, uh,
00:33:49
Speaker
the whole relegation thing it's four it's basically four teams within within two two points and Udenierze who i just gave you know was paying tribute to they're they're in a world of trouble they oh sure they have a game in hand against Lazio but
00:34:03
Speaker
given the form that Lazio are in, I expect Lazio to win and Lazio are at home. But yeah, it's basically, you know, and Bologna have woken up. It seems like Mihailovich, they're in the honeymoon period of the Mihailovich era. And that's when things go well.
00:34:22
Speaker
And then and then you have Spal. So four teams within two to two points. And we put a poll out and ask people who they think should be relegated alongside Frosino and in Kievo. And 48 percent of everyone who voted wanted Empoli out.
00:34:36
Speaker
And then second place, 24% wanted Spaal out, 18% Udinesse and fourth place Bologna. I'm inclined to agree. I think Spaal, Bologna and Udinesse are teams I'd like to keep in the city. Well, after the weekend, I want Spaal out. Well, frankly, in my opinion, yeah, I bet. Spaal to Roma or what? Genoa to Juve.
00:35:04
Speaker
No, I think they've made a huge mistake in the fact that they've reappointed Andre Atsouli. They had Andre Atsouli at the beginning. He obviously took them up from Serie B to Serie R.
00:35:21
Speaker
And he was playing very nice, very attractive football, but he wasn't getting the results. So I think it was with a bit of a heavy heart. They got rid of him and they got they brought in the much more pragmatic Yakinie. And, you know, he
00:35:38
Speaker
I know that the football will be terrible under him, but he would have at least, I think, kept them up. And they've now got rid of Yakini and brought Andrea Osoly back, which to me, just doesn't make any sense. And Yakini said in an interview afterwards that he would have kept template up and inclined to agree. But now I don't think they'll stay up because Andrea Osoly
00:36:06
Speaker
He wasn't getting the results before, so why would he get them now? I am fully anti-cap manager. And I really like him. So I'm glad he left. The only one I like is Cosme. He's the only one I can't stand. Oh, he's the Ramanista. That's the only reason why I like him.
00:36:25
Speaker
Oh, okay. Well, that's fair enough. That's fair enough. But he's, but he's not, he's not a football manager. I don't know what he is, but he's not a football man. He's funny characters of Italian. Yeah. Yeah. That he is that he most certainly is, but he's not a football coach. Um, and he's, you know, but no, I mean, I, I, I think it's a shame because, I mean, spa will definitely stay up now after that performance. I think they're good enough. They showed they're good enough.
00:36:51
Speaker
And I like, you know, that stadium is a nice stadium. They have fans, they have a nice fan base. It always looks good. So I like to keep Spal up. And Udinesse as well, I just hope the Pozzo family, you know, remember that before they bought Watford and the big money of the Premier League, that they kind of built all that on Udinesse and kind of returned their attention a little bit to Udinesse, who I think is a really nice club, really likeable club, and one that I want to keep in the city. But Empoli, I mean, you got to
00:37:21
Speaker
Empoli to me are one of those, you know, what's nice about them is that they kind of always, a provincial club that kind of finds players that were a little bit left out at different places that can really make it anywhere and then they come there and then they make it. But in terms of like interest in the Serie A, I mean, Empoli, it's really rather miserable to have them up there. They have a stadium that was outdated in the 1920s.
00:37:49
Speaker
They have their fan bases. It's a small place. They don't have that much support. I don't know. They don't really have a Derby, as you said. People of Florence look down on them and don't even consider them to be a rival and that to be a Derby. I would not miss them, to put it to you that way.
00:38:13
Speaker
Sorry, employee fans. Well, they asked. Yeah. I mean, you mentioned those players who didn't really kick on. The one I always think of is Pasquale, because he has no other qualities other than being able to put a decent free kick. Oh, no, you can't say anything bad about Pasquale. I absolutely love Pasquale. He can't say anything bad about him.
00:38:33
Speaker
Other than the free kicks, I don't know what other defining quality he has, but he is absolutely sensational at them. So yes, he is more power to him. And now, Nima, you. Yes. So, Nima, you mentioned the stadiums. I mean, if we're going to rank which team I want.
00:38:52
Speaker
out of Serie A based on the stadium. First off, Frosinone would have to stay because they... Oh, Kievo, out. Get the hell out, never come back. I swear to God, if they get promoted next season, I will be so angry. Which they will. No, I hate that stadium. It was the worst traumatic... It's basically like,
00:39:19
Speaker
You walk in there and you feel like you're in Mordor. It's a miserable part of Verona. It's ugly. It smells. The whole place is just weird. It's always empty. No, I hate that stadium. I absolutely hate it. All right. So so to end this, Chloe, what is your least favorite stadium? Because Nima and I are firmly in this corner. I will die on this hill. Yeah. The Bentagoti can turn to the ground for all I care.
00:39:47
Speaker
Yeah, I've been to Emply this season and my seat in inverted commas was sitting on a concrete block that looked like, you know, the Emply is really bad, I have to say, with the temporary stands. But I think they have got sort of credible plans for a new one. So there might be some hope there. But yeah, the Bentagodi for me is the worst. I have full house on the Bentagodi.
00:40:14
Speaker
I think that we won't get rid of them now next season, given how things look in Serie B. I think we'll have a lovely return to Brescia and we'll have Palermo back, which is always good because it's nice to have a geographical spread of teams. But I think Hellas will join them. I hope an event to join them because I really liked that stadium. I thought it was a nice stadium.
00:40:43
Speaker
Lecce Pescara or Hellas, you know. Is none of the above now? We're talking stadiums. Yeah, exactly. That's what I was going to say. If we're talking miserable stadiums, then yeah, it's none of the above. I would take Perugia before all of that. Yeah, I'd love great fans there. Absolutely. Yeah. Oh, I hope they get promoted. And an amazing chocolate festival and an amazing chocolate festival they have there in Perugia as well. If anyone's going, just just thrown it in there.
00:41:12
Speaker
if you like chocolate and festival travel tips from Nima there we go yeah no it's awesome
00:41:21
Speaker
All right. Well, Nima, the the in-house chocolate expert. All right. Well, I'm all glad. I'm very glad and pleased that we're all in agreement on the worst data because I don't know how anybody else could disagree. It's what happens to die. You really have. You step foot into the mental gaudy and the atmosphere sucks. The football that cable play sucks. Just nothing.
00:41:51
Speaker
And if you're thirsty in between the amazing entertainment being shown on that pitch and you go to buy a beverage, basically, I have not seen this in any Western world, Western country, other than in Verona at that stadium. Basically, everywhere has a cash register where you get a receipt. Not there. There was a woman there whose phone was showing and had a tramp stamp.
00:42:20
Speaker
She was maybe 25 years too old to wear what she was wearing. The glory years had passed. I was looking at her ass crack and she was putting money in her bra.
00:42:32
Speaker
Okay, I'm not making this up. This actually happened. And there are no women's toilets either, which is just like... I don't know. We can... discussing Italian stadium plumbing is... We can make an hour podcast on that. Bologna. I will never... I'll stop. Yeah. There's a San Siro as well, if you don't have to go to the bathroom. That's why. But if San Siro has other things,
00:43:00
Speaker
The Bente Gordy just has nothing. It's just miserable. So no, I think Hellas are going up, unfortunately. I want Verona. It's nothing against the city of Verona. I like the fact that Verona is a beautiful place. Yeah, it's a beautiful place. It's just that they need to sort that stadium out. And their fan base, they're a little bit too twitchy in their right arms for my taste, to put it like that.
00:43:29
Speaker
All right. Well, if you plan on traveling, there you go. Get in touch with him. He's got the lowdown on everything. Let's end it there before we before. I mean, we're supposed to be advocates of Syria. I feel like 10 minutes. We've everywhere. It's a beautiful country. Just don't go to the stadium in Verona. That's the only way.
00:43:51
Speaker
Okay, easy enough. All right, everybody, we will leave it there. Thank you for listening. If you could continue all the good stuff, right, rate, like, subscribe, review, we would greatly greatly appreciate it. So we will leave it here. And until next time, ciao.