Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Lazio Hammer Roma, Inter Drop to Cagliari, and Di Francesco's Future (Ep. 6)
135 Plays7 years ago
The Serie A Show's Chloe Beresford, John Solano, and Nima Tavalley discuss the latest installment of the Derby della Capitale, Inter's loss to Cagliari, and the future of Eusebio Di Francesco.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Hosts' Disappointment
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Seria show!
00:00:16
Speaker
And we are back. Welcome everybody to another edition of The City Show. I think this is the first time where all three of us aren't exactly thrilled with the performances of her clubs at the weekend. No. Can't say I'm too happy. To be honest, I thought we should really just cancel. I think we all lost.
Drama and Controversies in Juve-Napoli Match
00:00:41
Speaker
So just let Antonio Cassano speak for the next hour. Well, I figured just to we could put all of our issues in the back burner and why not start with Juve Napoli, which was not short of drama at all.
00:01:00
Speaker
Just from that standpoint, what did you guys make of that? Because I have to be honest with you, I thought, I mean, if you want to just talk about a poorly officiated game from every point of view, Mr. Roki gave it to us.
00:01:14
Speaker
I mean, for me, I mean, the thing is, I think a lot of these things have to do with the fact that it's Rocky, it's the Serie A. Rocky obviously is, you know, we spoke about him last, I think it was a week before the week before that, about his history and the history he has with Juventus. But I got to be honest, I've spoken to four different referees from four different parts of the world who all are like registered, like who have been trained and officiated at rather a pretty high level and support.
00:01:43
Speaker
any don't support any of those teams that played yesterday. And they
Inconsistencies in Serie A Refereeing
00:01:47
Speaker
all say that the sending off of merit is nothing to discuss. It is a sending off. No discussion. The handball. I mean, both every single person, every single one of them I spoke to said that given how the city referees judge handball now,
00:02:04
Speaker
That's a penalty. I mean, if D'Ambrosio is a handball, if what happened to Sanchez, if Argentina is a handball, Fernandez is a handball, that's also a handball. The only thing they thought was, most of the referees I've spoken to, what they thought was a bad call was,
00:02:22
Speaker
You know, they agree with the pianist thing, they thought that was a straight red two. They were more upset with Rocky's behavior of this hugging players when they're sent off and this kind of, and it's not the first time he did this, I remember in 2010 that infamous Darby, Milan Darby,
00:02:39
Speaker
when you know when he sent off two inter players and he's basically consoling Marco Boriello touching his cheeks and like talking to him like he's a long lost son or something I mean this is this is how he behaves he's a he's a touchy feely character Rocky and he and again like you said last week John
00:02:56
Speaker
this league just can't stay out of their own way. The optics of this are not good when you have such a heated game and you have controversial issues. For
Juve vs. Napoli: First Half vs. Second Half
00:03:10
Speaker
me, the mistakes he did, for me, the problem is that he wasn't consistent. I mean, the first yellow card on Koulibaly was non-existent.
00:03:20
Speaker
then Koulibaly should have at least had a yellow card when he attacked Diwala. Again, with this compensation and what I call the Italian Okidok, make two wrongs, make one right. So that's what, again, we're back at the heart of the issue here. The compensation culture. At least that's what I thought.
00:03:42
Speaker
Yeah, I tend to agree. I think the descending off was correct. That was my initial reaction that, okay, there was no contact, but we can't always be... I think people are looking for contact all the time and with ascending off and dangerous play, it's not always about the contact.
00:04:07
Speaker
you look at the rules, it's about the intent and if you were going for that. And to me, it did look like a sending off. Again, as Neema said with the handball, so many of those have been given. For me, none of them are a penalty. None of them. But okay, if one is, they all are, at least it's consistently bad. But
00:04:29
Speaker
I think, in general, what a fascinating game. Juve in the first half seemed to be, after their two terrible performances, they seemed to be back-looking confident, they seemed to really recover their stride and I thought immense credit to them for
00:04:49
Speaker
pulling up their performance after lots of uncharacteristic sort of turmoil there and then we had both teams going down to 10 men and then it was all Napoli.
Juve's Serie A Dominance vs. Champions League Struggles
00:05:02
Speaker
I was absolutely convinced they were going to equalise because they just kept coming and coming forward and I think it was unfortunate obviously that Insinia missed the penalty but
00:05:13
Speaker
You could tell because he is that kind of character that he's a homegrown player and he knows what it means. He was always going to miss that penalty because it almost meant too much to him. I saw a stat that said actually of seven penalties he's only missed two and both of those have been against Juventus. So that to me says it all.
00:05:37
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. But all in all, a really entertaining and interesting game for me. It was sorry, I just got to say for me, I was really impressed with how Juventus could be two nil up without really playing well and impressing and being impressive at all. And then all of a sudden, you know,
00:05:56
Speaker
You know, it's like it's like this this is this game is such a miniature city eyes in it in the sense that Juventus are Me even though they're in bad form even though they're not playing well when they stumble when the other teams in this league just simply don't have what it takes to To capitalize and put you've under pressure even when given the chance And that's why you are gonna win a gonna win their eighth school Eto in a row
00:06:28
Speaker
Yeah and it's quite interesting because just a couple of, I mean it wasn't too long ago that they were playing terrible in the Champions League and they come back to the league and despite playing really really poorly they still manage the result and I don't know what you guys think about this but
00:06:47
Speaker
What
Juve's Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny
00:06:48
Speaker
there has to be some sort of correlation between them walking through Syria and Them struggling in the champions like do you believe in that or is it just me because I I truly think that Yeah, I mean we have to be honest here. I mean they're getting Six seven maybe eight big big big time matches in the league and
00:07:11
Speaker
And then they go out and struggle in Europe, and I think that's a problem. Frankly, I was hoping for yesterday, I wanted Napoli to win because, you know, I wanted to have Juve again, sort of have to grit their teeth a little more than what they had to. Yeah, I think it's...
00:07:30
Speaker
They sang Ronaldo because they were so desperate to win the Champions League but who would have thought that bringing him in and raising their level yet again in terms of their squad of players would mean that it was actually more difficult for them when it came to the Champions League because they are getting away with murder in the league. They still haven't laughed this much
00:07:57
Speaker
but they've been dreadful, absolutely dreadful. It must be so hard to raise your game after that if you've not been given a test and then you come up against a team like Athletico Madrid who come at you like 100 miles an hour you can't even blink because they're so high tempo and they work so hard and you know I think that's why we saw the performance that we did against Athletico because
00:08:24
Speaker
they've just been coasting and all of a sudden they get this tough test and they're nowhere. For me it's also a little bit about how Allegri throughout the years, I mean this is his fifth season, he's won four doubles in a row, this season, every season Juventus never start the league well, they never start the season well, this season they were coasting through August, September, October
00:08:50
Speaker
And
Allegri's Challenges and Future Speculation
00:08:51
Speaker
it's like I said last week, it's as if the season starts now for them, whilst it actually does start now. Now is when they need to be at their peak, now is when they need to find their form, and they have absolutely no form. And I think a lot of it has to also do with that, the fence is so shaky. I think we can say that re-signing Bonucci, this tactic that they had of
00:09:16
Speaker
being good today and now to win the Champions League. It's a gamble that simply hasn't paid off because Bonucci's best days as a central defender, in my opinion, are way behind him. And I think we've seen that. Keilini, no, I think Keilini was fantastic. He's always good.
00:09:35
Speaker
But it's just so weird to see that this season was the season where Juve were supposed to really come to their peak around this point. Now is the time where everything is supposed to just fly for them. And the game against Bologna and even against Napoli where they did better than against Bologna
00:09:53
Speaker
At times, Bologna, when you were there, Chloe, they were unwatchable. It was painful to watch. It was dreadful. But still, I think it's more of a mental issue as well with them in the Champions League. I think this notion that they've lost seven finals in a row, two of which have come in the past four years,
00:10:17
Speaker
alone, that is a mental block that I don't know, honestly, if Marcus Allegri is the right person to take them past that hurdle.
00:10:32
Speaker
It seems to be the first time where he's really sort of experienced some turmoil. This period that he's going through, you know, he's shut his social media accounts and it seems like he's, all the body language and all the signs seem like he's retreating within himself because of this, you know, of what's going on with them. And the more he does that, the more kind of
00:10:57
Speaker
it reflects on the pitch because they are sort of contracting and they're not playing to their capabilities. And going back to the Bonucci thing, I saw an interview with Bonattia earlier today that he was saying about, you know, he was told
00:11:17
Speaker
at the big when Bonucci came back that they would still be playing time for him and you know all this um you know he was given those assurances and then Bonucci came back and all of a sudden that wasn't the case and I think bringing Bonucci back like Nima said he was a gamble that didn't pay off he he wasn't the player that left Juve they perhaps thought that he would come back and he would suddenly transform back into the old Bonucci and he didn't
00:11:41
Speaker
And as a result, they lost Benatea, who was good enough to play in the team. He, the current Benucci, you know, Benatea is better than, you know, I think there's no doubt about that. And then, yeah, and then they've also lost Mataya Kaldara as well in all of that. So they had someone who was good enough for now in
00:12:07
Speaker
Benatea and good enough for the future in Kaldara and they've just let all that go for the sake of a Benucci, you know, who is not the man he used to be. And the irony being that the person who was against these win today, this kind of win today bringing stars today to win Champions League this season strategy was Beppe Marotta who's in a world of trouble at Inter, he's just taken over there.
00:12:37
Speaker
Yeah, it is interesting. Again, I feel like there is a correlation between their walk in the park in the league and their struggles in Europe. And obviously, you guys mentioned when they brought in Ronaldo, I mean, it was a clear sign of what the objective was.
00:12:54
Speaker
And yet, they're likely, I mean, I don't want to say that. They could obviously turn the tyre around. What are you guys expecting? Do you think they can ultimately turn around because I have serious, serious doubts? Any other team against the, except for Athletic Madrid, yes, but the way that they play so compact.
00:13:14
Speaker
I mean, if you talk about, you know, if Mourinho gets criticized for playing parking the bus football, then what can you say about Simeone's 442, where he shrinks every millimeter in that midfield and goes on the counter? Sure, they have great passing and they're technical, but it's hardly tikitaka football, if we're completely honest. Juves struggle with that. And if we remember, you know,
00:13:38
Speaker
Atletico Madrid, towards the end, you know, they caused Real some troubles, obviously not in the Champions League, but in the Copa del Rey and in the league, etc. I mean, that gap was closed
Debate: Conte vs. Allegri for Juve
00:13:50
Speaker
off by Atletico in the league, at least, and the Copa del Rey. So I don't think so. I mean, sure. I mean, it's at the Juventus Stadium, you know, if you have one of those
00:14:04
Speaker
Allegri, if Allegri reads the game better than he, miles better than he did at the Wanda Metropolitano, then sure, of course it's not over, but I just don't see how Jube are going to win 3-0 and not concede. I just don't see that. No, I think it seems very unlikely that
00:14:22
Speaker
I think if we've learned anything from the past few years, it's never to think that you've been dead and buried because I've made that mistake before and they come back whenever you think that they can't. So I would never say they definitely can't come back. But like Nima says, I think it's possibly unlikely. And although Allegri does seem to be struggling at the moment, we mustn't forget that he
00:14:50
Speaker
is an exceptional coach. You know, I'm not sure whether he can now bring Juve the Champions League. I think if he can't do it this year, they definitely need a change. But yeah, I never would write them off just because.
00:15:08
Speaker
Yeah, no, FC Walk is dead. There's nothing bad about that. But who could you realistically, I mean, seriously, who could you realistically bring in for Legri? Because I just think the list of candidates is just so, so small. I think I'm going to be honest here. And I think now would be an ideal moment to bring Antonio Conte back.
00:15:30
Speaker
uh because i think with you know now because for me there's only really two jobs he can take it's he you know there's only like inter him and marota i think there's been you know they didn't exactly live on good terms marota's gone uh content content knows uva he has a he he knows how to get
00:15:50
Speaker
He knows that club, everyone will listen to him, everyone will unite behind him. They apparently don't have any problem spending a lot of money now these days. So no, I think in an ideal world, I think Antonio Conte would be brilliant for this team to give it like this kind of rejuvenation after four years of Allegri, five years of Allegri that I think they need. But other than that,
00:16:17
Speaker
You know, your guess is as good as mine because they're, I mean, Mourinho would never go there. I mean, I don't think you get a good reception.
00:16:27
Speaker
No, but he would never go and they wouldn't want him. So, you know, so that's not going to happen. Who else would it be? I mean, you know, and personally, I'd rather, you know, drink my own my own feces than have Alegri at Inte because that would be just a complete disaster. You know, it would just that I have nightmares about this rumor that Alegri, my co-tinte.
00:16:50
Speaker
he just he would never work I think that his way of taking on the squad his way of communicating sure him and Marotta get along well but he wouldn't get along with anyone at that club so no I agree with you it's I mean aside from Conte I don't right now today I don't really see I mean they've mentioned Zidane haven't they but I mean
00:17:15
Speaker
who yeah okay he's won the champions like three times in a row with Real Madrid but who knows if he can do it outside of that it's it's a little bit of a risky
00:17:26
Speaker
risky experiment especially as they know they've after this year they've probably only got one more year of Pete Ronaldo to do it so you know if they do make a change in the summer they've absolutely got to get it right and I think you're right about Conte I think he could galvanize them and get them going again but I'm not sure whether he can pull off the Champions League I think
00:17:49
Speaker
I don't know, maybe he has a bit of a ceiling and he's so one track minded and so determined that I'm not sure whether he could pull it off. What do you think, John?
00:18:07
Speaker
Well, I think it's difficult. Conte is one of the names that is most obvious in my opinion. I agree with you, Nima. But as Chloe just mentioned, if we look at his champion's record, it is not good. I mean, even at Chelsea, not good at all. I mean, he got hammered by Roma. And even at Juve, he had problems. So he seems like one of those managers that is built for the marathon, as opposed to the short race.
00:18:38
Speaker
that is the champions league the knockout competition and i don't know i i just i'm always the believer of the adage the grass is always greener and i understand that fans supporters they will get annoyed by a legary should they not win the champions league but i think
00:18:54
Speaker
Once you're near the top of the mountain like they are they're near the top the the the list of viable candidates just grow smaller and smaller and smaller that There's only there's so few options that it almost becomes a detriment to you if it doesn't work almost forcing you to keep on Yeah, they're really kind of pushed into a corner with it. I think
00:19:18
Speaker
I think Zidane is a good shout, actually, now that I think about it, because Konté, I mean, for me, it's either Real Madrid or Juve. I think that's a good shout, Zidane.
Inter's Preparations and Mental Challenges
00:19:29
Speaker
But then again, as you said, it's a huge, huge gamble. Yeah, can he do it outside of Madrid? I mean, they were built to win the Champions League.
00:19:38
Speaker
Exactly, they'd already won the Champions League. Yeah, I'm not taking anything away from his achievement, but you know, I think it would certainly be more difficult with Juve having, because they've not won it for so long. I mean, you know, they could go for somebody like Pochettino, you know, somebody, a bit of a wildcard, but again, are they going to gamble on something like that that may or may not work? You know, he's kind of a forward thinking,
00:20:07
Speaker
coach but you know we have no idea if he can pull something like that off.
00:20:16
Speaker
Hmm. Yeah, that's interesting. So I wanted to do Lazio Roman next, but I'm still triggered by the prospect of talking about it. So, Nemo, we're going to force you to suffer. We had another case of wonderful television brought to us by Antonio Cassano and Juan Benara. Jesus Christ.
00:20:36
Speaker
So I have to say, all of us were probably very upset with each of our respective clubs at the weekend. The only joy Nima that I received was watching Luca Pellegrini take Danilo D'Ambrogio and just sit him over his lap and just spank constantly like a child.
00:20:56
Speaker
Wow what I don't even know That was a very very very bizarre match because I thought Cal Yeti were brilliant. I thought they were absolutely brilliant How they were great. I don't want to take anything away from them. But if we're talking about poor refereeing What are you gonna say about what Luca Banti did in that game?
00:21:16
Speaker
how Chigarini was not sent off after 20 minutes is beyond me. You already have a yellow card and then you do that and you don't even get a talking to. This is the time and time over again and this incompetence and being at the fragile mental state that they are, this becomes so much bigger at the club.
00:21:35
Speaker
And I wouldn't be worried if players like Scrinyardefray were continuously stable, but when you can see that they are shaken, this is the first time for both of these guys since coming to Inter that they are visibly, mentally shaken. This Icardi situation has shaken this team to its core, and it's shaken the club to its core, and they need to sort that out. And obviously, him Icardi going out and putting up that
00:22:04
Speaker
the most childish letter, me, me, me, and me, and me, and me, and me, and me. That's basically what I was on Instagram, where he was basically belly aching about how the world is such a horrible place for him, and how everyone is so mean to him. And it's like, what are you trying to prove? And then you have Antonio Cassano basically telling Wanda off on Tikitaka this disgusting, this horrible TV show,
00:22:33
Speaker
where she says that you know you can't go out and say the things that you do and that's the reason why this mess has happened and she clearly shows that she's an idiot when when she in her response when she you can see in her eyes that she does not even comprehend that as his agent she cannot say certain things
00:22:52
Speaker
I mean her reaction is I mean I don't play for ink that I'm outside of the dressing room like well I'm just saying my opinion what's wrong with that which has got to be the dumbest thing anyone is selling culture for a very very long time it's just you know in there are in a really really bad place right now and with the
00:23:10
Speaker
Darby coming up and as I texted you guys and you John don't be upset because I'm going, you know, we enter fans are going to have our ass handed back to us from Christophe Piontek in two weeks time because this Milan in harmony and this entering complete disarray
00:23:27
Speaker
I'm dreading a complete blowout win for Mila because Inter are really, really mentally not there. And I think the game against Caliari showed that when they play a team that's fired up, right now this team is weak mentally and they're drained. They don't seem to have something to fall back on. And Spalletti, I got to say, I've been kind of on the
00:23:54
Speaker
On the fence of, you know, will he stay? Should he stay? And it is clear that he will, you know, I can't, the way I reinterpret the signs, there is no way that Spalletti stays beyond this summer. Even if he gets them to a Champions League third spot, even if he gets them to a quarterfinal, semi-final, or even a Europa League title, he's out of there. I mean, it's quite evident
00:24:18
Speaker
to see that this club, that they need to clear out. I think in the summer is going to be a big clear out. I think Marotta is going to put a stamp. Spaletti is going to leave. I think Paris Ichenica definitely going to leave. Then we'll see who will take over. And my money right now is on Mourinho. That would be interesting. Just when you saw the drama was over.
00:24:46
Speaker
No, this is what we say day in and day out. I mean, even if the football is not so entertaining at times, which can't be said of the case since we started this podcast, it's been mayhem every single week. Even when the football, those few times this season when the football hasn't been so great, the drama and the soap opera surrounding this league is, you know, it keeps you entertained.
00:25:13
Speaker
I mean, just think about it. Next season, you will see Morino at Inter, sorry at Roma. Let's pop the popcorn already. So before we get into more of the drama, I just have to say he is one of the most underappreciated strikers, I think.
00:25:35
Speaker
Pavoletti that goal was absolutely sensational and you want to talk about like the least modern day striker there is in the world yet it's still semi-effective it is him because he does he if you want to talk about an old classic number nine that is him in every way shape and form. Viper isn't he like a little classic fox in the box you know give him an inch and he'll just take it and it's so interesting to see
00:26:03
Speaker
I mean that finish you know that early cross from Sarna and then his his timing to run to that ball and then just whack it with everything he's got and and before I think you know before half a second has even gone it's in the back of the net there's no you can't save you know you can't save shots like that and even if you could Handano which is not the guy to do it his his reactions I think that's also another position in Ternita
00:26:29
Speaker
revisit in the summer because this guy's reaction is not what it used to be it's looking it's looking slow it's looking really slow it's looking like you know like when your grandmother stands up really slowly
00:26:50
Speaker
Yeah, Grandpa Hamdanovich. And then I've always been on his side, but it is, you know, I mean, I don't mind having him as a second-choice keeper, but at all, that's a good keeper to have, like Toldo, you know, there's that precedent at Intel for it. But I don't see, like, you're seeing things that you never used to see before. And I've always been on his side, and I've always thought that
00:27:12
Speaker
you know people exaggerate but but it's it's his best years are behind uh all right well that's a good segue then i'd okay let me muster this up so let's talk about gold keepers and roe swedish gold keepers and roe let's talk about gold keepers and roma um okay robin olson when you arrived i i i i defended you to the death
00:27:39
Speaker
to my I can't even muster up the word so Robin Olson is not good You can obviously speak to this so
00:27:55
Speaker
I became very depressed because we, over at my website, we interviewed the agent of Alessio Cranio of Caillerie and if you want to talk about up and coming shot stoppers, so I think he's fantastic. He's incredible. I think he has every tool in the box that can make him a top top goalkeeper.
00:28:17
Speaker
And then I had to go watch Robin Olsen. I don't even know what that was. The guy, when he dives, it almost looks like someone snipes him from the stands and he just falls. He doesn't even dive. He just collapses like a building. But I just don't understand how...
00:28:37
Speaker
like i mean i as i treated it out i i have really not i can't remember the last time i saw a goal a goalkeeper so consistently out of his depth over a season as roby nelson has been at at at roma and and it's just it's unbelievable i mean he he runs out when he shouldn't run out he stays in the goal
Roma's Defensive Issues and Transfer Critiques
00:28:59
Speaker
when he really should be running out. That whole situation for the penalty, he should have run out. I mean, you know, Correa was almost in the goal by the time he was fouled for the penalty. And Robin also was standing on his line. And then you have the third goal. That's also something else. How can you not keep that shot out? It's as if, you know, we're talking basics in goalkeeping now, pushing the shot out.
00:29:25
Speaker
it's like his hands are like he can't calibrate his hands to push the shot out and he says he gives it a push in and it just it just looks so so weird he had one against frozen on it where he got both gloves on and it goes it's it i have never seen a goalkeeper save the ball yet still concede it's the most bizarre i i it's kind of made of jelly yeah it's it's
00:29:52
Speaker
But that's the weird part and I think this has got to do with the fact that
00:29:56
Speaker
Monchi signed a good goalkeeper in his mind, but with a good goalkeeper that has never ever played with a defence that is so high up as Roma. And it's a new culture, it's a new league, it's a new country. He comes from the Danish league to the Serie A. And then all of us, he's playing for a team that's supposed to be in the top four and go to the quarterfinals, semi-finals of the Champions League, replacing maybe the best goalkeeper in the world in Alisson-Bekker,
00:30:21
Speaker
I mean of all the poor scouting efforts this is this is Marco Branca poor scouting I mean this is this is this is really really poor by Monchi you cannot you know you cannot fail in such a important imperative position such as the goalkeeping line because that Roma defense is shocking enough as it is I mean Fatsi or Juan Santon
00:30:45
Speaker
you know it's basically all you want to hear is that you know circus Benny Hill music when you just mention their name you know so so you need to have a goalkeeper that can give that you know that can give that security Robin Olsen is not that guy he really isn't and I just can't see how how he will stay beyond like him and Monchi they're they're gone this summer like I just can't see Roma together with DJ be Francesca I think
00:31:12
Speaker
you know, with John saying that he defended him at first, I think, you know, obviously, when Roma sold Alice on, it was a kind of a case of, okay, they've got this guy, like, I didn't know much about him, as many people didn't. And, you know, you think, oh, wow, it's okay, it's Monchi, this is what he does, you know, he sells people for a lot of money. And
00:31:33
Speaker
and he buys people in cheap and they turn out to be brilliant and that's fine and you don't really you know bat an eyelid but or I didn't at least and then he starts to play and you're like oh okay well you know it just I think the faith in what Monty had done before kind of gave him a bit of a leeway and he's just kind of gone out of control with it somehow
00:32:00
Speaker
Well, he's failed. He's failed, except for Zamiolo. It's been a gigantic failure. Yeah, I mean, this past summer, looking back on it, I mean, Javier Pastore, I mean... What happened there? I mean, I... He's constantly injured, or what's going on there? I think the biggest mistake was bringing him in with the thought that he could be a matzala.
00:32:23
Speaker
He has never played there. He is not a runner. I think if you could find 10 adjectives to describe past story, that wouldn't make the top 500. And my goodness, I think that was the first mistake, bringing him in to play in a 4-3-3.
00:32:44
Speaker
I think paying him. He's the second highest earner at Roma behind Jeko. Wow, another huge mistake. And again, they brought in guys like Christante. They had Lorenzo Pellegrini. It was just a position that they didn't necessarily need. I think the midfield needed a revamp, but I don't think it needed a Javier Pastore.
00:33:09
Speaker
the biggest regret is frankly they had Ajax midfielder Zayek in the bag in the bag and they didn't they didn't finish the deal they let it go awry they let it expire so to speak and now anybody who watches who's watched Zayek this season he's sensational and
00:33:31
Speaker
it has been just depressing and Nima you mentioned the defense you know i can i can make fun of Javier Pastore all i want it's very easy but this defense is i mean if Juan Jesus is the answer
00:33:45
Speaker
You're asking the wrong question. Listen, I make fun of him a lot. Fazio is a Finnish player, but the one for me, Florienzi, I just...
00:34:01
Speaker
But the thing is that with Florenti, he's not a full back. Let's be honest, I think it's clear to say that he shouldn't play in that position. And he's been playing there as a makeshift. I do think he's a good player. I think maybe in a midfield role, central midfield role as a Metzala perhaps, is where he should play. But as a full back, the guy doesn't know what positioning is on the wing. He clearly doesn't know what he's doing.
00:34:29
Speaker
you know it's times it gets a bit embarrassing because you think this is a professional footballer I mean you look at someone like Zagnolo who can play every single midfield position and now is even helping out on the wing and doing a damn good job and then you have a player like Florenti who's a national team player and his positioning and his defending is
00:34:51
Speaker
to call it atrocious would be a compliment. It's unwatchable. It's really, really painful to watch. And then you have a, you know, this against the Lazio team. And I got to say, I am so impressed by Simone Inzagi. You know, we've made fun of his whinging in this past, you know, these past few episodes, but the way Lazio and the way Simone Inzagi
00:35:15
Speaker
the way he approached this game, the way how solid they were defensively, how solid they were and cohesive they were as a unit, the way they tactically just completely outplayed, how he outplayed di Francesco, that really impressed me. I was stunned, I thought that I was to be honest, I was stunned. I didn't think he had anything.
00:35:37
Speaker
Well, neither did I. And I think that when we're talking about Juventus, I mean, I think that that is the next Juve coach, Simonian Zaghi. I mean, if he can maintain and show that he can build defensively, solidity, defensive solidity like that, I think he would be an ideal coach for Juventus.
00:35:56
Speaker
Are you sure you're not just making that statement as an interfan, not wanting them to do well? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, honestly, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, honestly, honestly, like, because I have been a fan of Inzaghi's coaching and the results he's gotten. My only criticism towards him throughout these past few years has been that the defence has been open doors. But now, this season, when it hasn't been clicking offensively,
00:36:23
Speaker
they looked so much more solid in the back. And against Roma, they were fantastic. Bastos was perhaps the man of the match. I mean, what a performance. And I did not see him give... I mean, if we're talking about not having it in him, I did not see Bastos ever giving a performance like that in any game, let alone a Jerome Darby against a Roma team who, attacking-wise, were really, really strong.
00:36:49
Speaker
So, no, I was really, really, really impressed. But I've got to say, did you see... I don't know if, John, you were probably so upset that you probably missed it, because that's the kind of thing you notice when you're neutral. But did you see when Lazio scored the first goal and Simoni and Zagie didn't even celebrate, but he turns to the fourth official and goes, is it good? Is it good? Var obsession.
00:37:16
Speaker
That guy is so obsessed with the bar. It's really comedy. I mean, you're saying Spalletti watch. I was on the exact watch. It was hilarious. It was hilarious. Well, and now Lazio still have a match in hand.
Race for Champions League Spots Heats Up
00:37:32
Speaker
And should they win that? I mean, they will be right there in the thick of it. The past couple of episodes, we've been really saying it's down to Inter, Roma and Milan. But
00:37:44
Speaker
I mean, should Lazio win their match in hand, they'll be level on points with Roma, they'll be 3 behind Inter, and then they'll be 4 behind Milan. So now it's become a 4 club race for 2 places.
00:38:03
Speaker
and two cities. That's the interesting part. As a week goes by, it sounds a lot for how exciting, apart from obviously the top place, but how exciting this league is that we're talking about different teams reaching the Champions League every week because the positions are changing so much and it's really
00:38:28
Speaker
fascinating to see it all play out really and how quickly one team slips up and another team straight away is taking advantage of it. So it's really tough to call at the moment.
00:38:42
Speaker
Yeah and I and sorry one of the I mean one of the clubs frankly we're not talking about and they're I mean they're only three points behind as well and Chloe I don't want to bring this up now for you I mean what a what a performance by them I mean you want to talk about high flying that was
00:39:05
Speaker
they were they were amazing I have to say I hold my hands up they were amazing I think it didn't help that again they the absence of a credible Fiorentina midfield just allowed them to just waltz straight through just as they did in the cup match when they got those two early goals you know
00:39:28
Speaker
Again, two of the three goals were caused by long runs when they were not picked up by anyone and then they're putting that defence, which is already a bit shaky, under pressure because there's just huge holes in the midfield and purely still hasn't got it sorted.
00:39:45
Speaker
But that's not to take anything away from Atalanta. The way that they play and the way that they're ready to take advantage of that is phenomenal. And I just really admire the way that they just go all out to attack.
00:40:01
Speaker
When
Atalanta's Unique Style and Effectiveness
00:40:01
Speaker
Gasparini's football works, it is an absolute joy to watch. It's a bit like Sarri, isn't it? No comparisons between how they play at all. There really are two coaches that
00:40:16
Speaker
Either it works or it looks atrocious. Either it's Chelsea under Sarri or it's Napoli under Sarri. Either it's Inter under Gasparini or it's the Genoa under Gasparini or the Atalanta under Gasparini. They don't have any... They have to get that to work. It's 100% or nothing. It really is either or with them. There's no getting it to work to 60%. It's either 100% or nothing with them.
00:40:44
Speaker
And it's so interesting to see, I mean, some of those goals, I think it's Fiorentina where, I mean, that is just football propaganda at times. But as I said before, the Pioli high is short and sweet. When it comes crashing down, it comes like a ton of bricks.
00:41:02
Speaker
that man, I don't understand how you could drive a lorry through the Florentina's midfield against Natalanta. The holes in that defence in midfield, it was as if Florentina were playing with nine men at times. And that is just seperately down to him. It's been the midfield, you know, a lot of people sort of point to the defence, but the midfield has been a problem ever since the beginning of the season that he's
00:41:27
Speaker
failed to get it right, even though he's got the right players in the squad to be able to formulate a credible midfield, he's just not done it. And he's just making the same mistakes again and again. And I just don't understand why he can't see that and why he's not rectified it. Again, I absolutely love Pioli. As a man, in a lot of ways, I really hope he stays.
00:41:56
Speaker
But, you know, they can't keep playing like that. It's ludicrous the way that teams are just walking straight through. I mean, like Nima says, it looks like they have nine men. Where are these players if they're not in the middle of the pitch? What are they doing?
00:42:15
Speaker
I know you can't stand the other Baldies, but I honestly think that he would sort that out if Fiorentina. I think Fiorentina and Luis Paletti would be really dangerous. I mean, that attack, if Fiorentina can keep Muriel, Simeone, and Kiesa for next season, and Brian Davo, and all the Benazis and all that.
00:42:40
Speaker
I really think that Spoletti could work wonders with Fiorentina. Well, if we could have, let's keep Fiorenti's personality and we'll take some of Spoletti's kind of tactics, even though I'm not 100% convinced about him. I think if we're talking about getting into the Champions League and winning the league, maybe Spoletti's not your man, but he could probably maybe do a little bit more than
00:43:08
Speaker
than
Fiorentina's Midfield Struggles
00:43:08
Speaker
what Peoli is doing at the moment. I just don't think I could bear it. I just don't think I could bear it. I'll take the defeat. Just leave Peoli where I did it. And Nima, you just mentioned Gasparini, and within the last few hours, he has actually been linked to Roma. So I think you mentioned this in one of the earlier episodes.
00:43:34
Speaker
What went wrong with him at Inter? Everything. He joined a side that not too long before had obviously won the treble. Everybody knows the type of football that he plays. I mean, it's the same thing, no matter where he goes. Where you have managers who adapt their system to the players, it is not the case with him. It doesn't matter if you were playing a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, whatever. You're playing three at the back, whether you like it or not.
00:44:03
Speaker
Do you think it was strictly the system or what went wrong? Because you mentioned everything but everything no seriously everything it was it was it was a squad that was completely poorly constructed they just brought in Diego for a land to replace Samuel Eto
00:44:22
Speaker
I mean, just that says it really all. Diego Forlan had his peak three years earlier. They played a three-man defense which just simply none of the players bought into.
00:44:41
Speaker
I'm not anyone who has ever followed me and knows me, knows that I'm not the biggest fan of the kurbanor, interest kurbanor. I remember them in the beginning of the season putting up a very crude banner about Gasperini towards Morati, saying, President Morati,
00:45:00
Speaker
you know, getting Gasparini as a coach and asking him not to play with a three-man defense is like going to a prostitute and asking for milk, which is really disgusting. But the point they're saying is pretty much basically, look, you can't bring him
00:45:22
Speaker
You know, you can't have Gasperini and not let him play with a three-man defense. How many matches did he last? Was it like six? Three or four? Four or five, something like that. He lost a super. Oh my gosh. I mean, it all came crashing down against Novara when Cambiaso goes onto the pitch and takes over the role as the coach and says to everybody,
00:45:43
Speaker
after the three-nil down were playing with a back four. I mean that's when you know it's over. Like, you know, it's over. When Cambiaso takes it upon himself as the captain, you know, as the leader of that squad, then like, dude, you're out of here. You know, it was over by then. It was over then.
00:46:01
Speaker
and then they go for another so typical of Morati to you know go from Gasparini to Claudio Ranieri and then from Ranieri to Stramachoni it was barely a coach I mean it was it was that I mean it was just it was just jumping around it was basically like uh you know just just a three-year-old go loose with a with a with a with a crayon on a white piece of paper jumping around it was just
00:46:22
Speaker
Well, and before Gasparini it was Leonardo, no? Yeah, Leonardo, I mean, he was, what he did after Benitez was basically lift the confidence of that theme and playing his quattro d'hue Fantasia, which was basically his brilliant tactical notion that if you play, if you're always attacking with four players, the opposition will be so, will struggle to attack you.
00:46:49
Speaker
or they will just pass the ball past you and you lose 2-5 against Schalke no Fier at home in the Champions League and you get hammered in the Milan derby 3-0 after 20 minutes against Alegri. But he did the best he could. He got into winning so many matches in a row, into one of the Copa Italia, they finished second. The disaster was to a point Benitez. That was so typical of Morati, wasn't it? He always kind of got it right towards the end.
00:47:18
Speaker
I just wish he would have gotten it right from the beginning. You know, if you're gonna, if you're gonna have, you know, if you're gonna have, you know, they should have brought in Ranieri from the beginning. They shouldn't even have allowed, what's his name, Gasparini, anywhere near Inter. That was just a bad idea. Well, you've quickly thrown cold water on the positive aspects I had of him potentially. The thing is, I think no, but seriously, I mean,
00:47:48
Speaker
Roma is a different thing because you have a completely different squad you
00:47:53
Speaker
You have a, you know, I think a lot will change at Roma. I think at Inter, it was a disaster. I mean, this was during the beginning of the financial fair play woes. It was an owner who wanted to sell, you know, it was basically in the middle of, you know, everything, the glory days were well and past Inter. Inter were on their way down and looking to, you know, Morati was looking for anyone to take the club, basically. And that's why we got a person like Eric Tohir to even buy the club.
00:48:22
Speaker
in the first place. But Roma, I think Gasperini Roma is an intriguing possibility. Personally, I'd like him to stay at Atalanta because I don't think he's got the big club mentality. I honestly don't think, you know, some players and some coaches don't make it at big clubs. Gasperini cuts the mustard at Genoa and Atalanta, but in Rome... No, I think you're right. I think you're right.
00:48:51
Speaker
By the way John, we haven't discussed the elephant in the room of Paolo Sousa.
00:49:02
Speaker
like so me let's discuss what happened so i um so roma's um they're the the the gentleman who manages their press for the club we all bombard him me and a lot of other journalists with websites newspapers yada yada yada we bombard him
00:49:23
Speaker
after
Potential Management Changes at Roma
00:49:23
Speaker
poor results, just to essentially get dirt. And obviously being the professional he is, we all caught wind of a very, very long meeting after the Derby that didn't involve Deef and Francesco.
00:49:39
Speaker
Now, this is normal, but they met for like two hours, which is extremely unusual. And we asked him what's going on here. Is there going to be some news? And he says very diplomatically, well, it's very normal for the club's hierarchy to meet after such a result. Yeah, OK.
00:50:01
Speaker
After this meeting, it emerges from Sky Sport that Di Francesco has to beat Porto or he's getting sacked. And then, simultaneously, the news comes out that Paolo Sosa is in talks with Bordeaux in Ligue 1. And it seems like the timing of that was very interesting, as if a, come and get me Roma, or else,
00:50:25
Speaker
He keeps counting himself. He keeps putting himself forward for the Roma job. And oddly enough, guess who is going to be in attendance of Porto Roma in Portugal. It is going to be Paulo Sosa himself. He is going to the match. Confirmed. Absolutely confirmed. So if you want to talk about awkward.
00:50:50
Speaker
Hey Usabeo, just look up there. Wave to your replacement. Chloe, I have to tell you, I'm absolutely terrified. Terrified. I would have tried to warn people on this. Now that Ranieri got the sack from Fulham, I think it is a no-brainer to bring him in for these last four months. It makes every bit of sense in the world. He's the Romanista. He knows the environment. Chloe, I have to tell you, the prospect of Sosa,
00:51:19
Speaker
Every time he's linked with a club, people are obviously talking about him on Twitter and then at some point in the conversation, someone inevitably tags me in and says, what did you think of him at Fiorentina? And you look up at the conversation and people are like, yeah, he's really good, you know, he didn't really think that Fiorentina. And I'm like,
00:51:42
Speaker
The thing was, as we all three of us follow a particular club and watch them every single week, you know that there are people out there who have a casual interest in the league that don't see things the way that you see them because you're watching the matches every week.
00:52:05
Speaker
And, you know, from the from that outsiders point of view, Fiorentina in the first six months on the Palastuza went to the top of Seria for the first time since 1999. So, you know, that is seen as a huge achievement. And, you know, it was amazing. But what they didn't realize was that
00:52:28
Speaker
Vincenzo Mantella who came before Sousa had got Fiorentina to three and fourth place finishes in a row. He'd got them to Europa League semi-final and he had a good squad and he'd got them playing well and he wasn't dismissed for football reasons. He was basically dismissed because he asked for more money and the owners didn't want to give it to him because they were on the brink of Champions League because at that time there were only three Champions League places.
00:52:56
Speaker
So as soon as it comes in and himmy
00:52:59
Speaker
you know, Karanic and Illicic for that first six months were on fire. And he just also interclicked for Sousa, but it soon became clear, if you were watching every week, that he changed his tactics and his team selection every single week. And there was no coherent idea whatsoever of his approach of what he was doing. He was clueless. And for a team
00:53:27
Speaker
like Roma, who are already struggling with those kind of issues with De Francesco, bringing in Paolo Sousa was literally the worst person imaginable to replace him, you know, and not only that, but he is, he revealed himself to be a very awkward and very obnoxious character, which, you know, he'd fallen out with some owners in England in the past. And
00:53:54
Speaker
you know he's sort of he's had various issues before and he seems to be this very nice very charismatic smiling character and then you know I another sort of press conference story there was this guy that was asking about the crossing you know you know what I tell him reporters are like they want an answer to their particular question and they will keep asking it until they get an answer
00:54:22
Speaker
so they're asking him about crossing and he's waffling and he's saying yes well this team is growing and blah de blah de blah and he's all nice and he's all smiles with this guy and then when the press conference finishes he pulls this guy to one side in the corridor and runs into him completely so he's perfectly nice to him in front of everyone else
00:54:46
Speaker
And then he's awful to him afterwards. And, you know, this is the kind of character that Paolo Sousa is. He's divisive. And he, when in the last six months of his tenure, Saponara and Sportiello were brought in by Corvina, which, you know, they were fantastic signings.
00:55:04
Speaker
And because Susan knew that they weren't going to renew his contract at the end of the time, he just refused to play them. And you just carried on. So, you know, just an absolute warning that Roman must stay clear of him, you know, if at all possible. I mean, talk about awkward. I mean, it's more awkward. I think we're maybe not more awkward, but probably the same level of awkwardness.
00:55:31
Speaker
that it is at a Wanda Nara Ikari Maxi Lopez birthday party with his children. When you have those three all wishing little valu a happy birthday, you could cut the tension with a knife. I mean, and the fact, I mean, it's such a disrespectful thing to do, isn't it? It's tough. Paolo Sorsa too, to even, you know, if it's, you know, you're saying it's confirmed that he's going to sit in the stands and put that extra, I mean, that is just so low. I think that is so low.
00:56:02
Speaker
yeah so maybe both of you can make me feel better do they get it done on wednesday because i think so i feel like there's there's two sides of the pendulum here and one of them um it's it changes the mood dramatically we're much happier whereas the other side of the pendulum
00:56:23
Speaker
um the car which was already in an accident the bridge that the car is sitting on collapses and just goes tumbling down a mountainside because it's an absolute nightmare
00:56:37
Speaker
As far as Zuza comes to save them all. Yeah, no. Carlos Zuza does not come to save anything. I think he would be like trying to put out a fire with a tank of gasoline. I mean, it's just, it wouldn't work. And he's hardly the calm, cool, collected head that could walk in there and
00:56:55
Speaker
Ranieri is that guy, I think Montela even, I think Montela even would be a good shout to just bring the ship home. I mean, he's been there, he had the fantastic tenure there as a player. He was also decent when he started his career there. I think it would be a good kind of launching pad for him as well to kind of just bring the ship home at Roma. I think anyone, but you know,
00:57:20
Speaker
If you bring in Taulo Source, I mean, you'd be missing the days of Zaman when it comes to hemorrhaging goals. I mean, it will just be on. I mean, then then we'd really be then then I then you'd really be on. This would no longer be a podcast. This would be a therapy session because you're preventing you from killing yourself, committing ritual suicide.
00:57:44
Speaker
Well, I mean, I could always use therapy, but when you're a Roma supporter, you know, generally, you know, they use football to make you feel better about yourself, the beautiful game. Oh, no. I mean, lately, I mean, it's felt more like a chore watching this, Roma. So hopefully, welcome to the past decade of being an Interfan.
00:58:05
Speaker
I think that's horrible. I think that's horrible when you have a coach that makes you lose enjoyment of watching your team. I mean, to be honest, that's what Sousa did at Fiorentina for me. I just, you know, I just used to think, oh God, not another game. It's such a shame because, you know, you want to look forward to the matches and you want to be excited about it.
00:58:28
Speaker
You know, the song coach. It was angst, exactly like you say. It was angst every week when Mazzari was coach Avente. Every week I was like, oh God, not again. Not 90 minutes of this miserable guy going there.
00:58:43
Speaker
grumpy, blaming everything, barking, biting bottles, playing this anti-football. And then in the press conference where he blames the rain, the sun, the moon, the diarrhea, everyone except himself. It really is a horrible place to be. And for me, Matsari really sucked the joy out of watching Intel. I've never really felt that depressed.
00:59:04
Speaker
as a fan, ever, than I did during my time. Incidentally, it's doing very well at Torino, though. I was just going to say that. Again, another coach that does well, maybe not at one of the traditional big clubs, but at a club that is just below, you know, just below the top three, if you will.
00:59:25
Speaker
did well at San Toria, did well at Napoli, did really well at Napoli, still very loved at Napoli, has done an excellent job at Torino. So, you know, I think, you know, it's these characters are, you know, he works in the Serie A. He was at, it was a complete circus when he was at Watford, just listening to him speak English. Oh, it was sickening. So real experience to say the name.
00:59:56
Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, there are people who actually want Roma supporters, who want Roma to lose because it would mean Di Francesco would go. I mean, that's the point where it's insane. I think it's insane as well. But he really has driven people to the brink where
01:00:15
Speaker
It's hard to imagine that this guy, I mean if you would have just rewound to a year ago, I mean he was on the brink of taking this team to the Champions League semi finals for the first time since the 80s and it's just astonishing how much can actually change in football.
01:00:33
Speaker
how you view somebody in a year and it's just crazy how much has happened to the point where he's gone from hero to zero in just a short amount of time. If you had to, if the entire blame for Roman's situation is 100%
Bologna's Relegation Concerns and Historical Significance
01:00:50
Speaker
How much would you hand out to Monchi and how much would you hand out to Di Francesco? I would make it 60-40 to Di Francesco because I think this team is good enough for top four. They just have a manager who, I mean, listen, you could buy, you could take the players on Santoria and
01:01:12
Speaker
With a good manager, they're beating the teams at Quievo, Spal, Utenese. This Roma cannot. If you look at who they've dropped points to this year, it is so clearly evident that it's a man management team. He said after the match against Lazio, he said we didn't have the right motivation.
01:01:31
Speaker
I'm sitting there. My jaw dropped to the floor. I mean, I'm sitting there. I'm saying you actually hold on now. Wait a minute. You actually said that. It's a derby against Lazio. And you said we didn't have the right motivation. How is that even possible? So stupid. It's unbelievably stupid.
01:01:55
Speaker
and he just goes to show that he was never the right coach for Roma. As a player he could handle it but as a coach he's just not good enough and I don't think we'll ever see him at a big club again after Roma because it's been such a pain watching him at Roma and he looks in pain.
01:02:14
Speaker
and everything around Roma, everyone looks in pain, it's just agony. So I do kind of have an understanding for why they just want to lose to get rid of him, because to get that new energy, because Roma right now, it's like a funeral. They have the cheer of a, it's the cheer of a boneyard, pretty much, looking at Roma right now.
01:02:34
Speaker
Yeah, and frankly, I think Renieri, if he were to arrive, would absolutely bring the the festive atmosphere that has not been there for the longest time. I mean, people, I mean, he didn't leave under the best circumstances. They were doing really poor when he was sacked. Obviously, the season before, I mean, you could well attest, I mean,
01:02:53
Speaker
they were just that close from winning the Scudetto they were I mean all they had to do is grab it and they completely got it wrong against Amtoria but I think he'd really be the jolt in the arm that they need but Chloe I will be firmly watching Fiorentina this weekend because they face Lazio they face them in Tuscany
01:03:15
Speaker
And if you are a Roma supporter, you are absolutely, unequivocally, 1000% watching this match with a keen eye because Roma don't play until Monday. If you want to take a Lazio is the big match on Sunday, the late one that everybody in Europe tends to watch.
01:03:32
Speaker
So hopefully they don't get it wrong. But do you think Fiorentina can pull it out? Because again, against Atalanta, they weren't great. But you don't know what you're getting with this Fiorentina. You don't. You don't. You don't know if it just clicks into place, you know, like it did in that unmentionable match from the Copper Italia. You know, if it clicks into place, they can be just brilliant. And, you know,
01:04:02
Speaker
with Luis Muriel and Chiesa, you know, they can pull things out of nothing. So, but I hate to kind of put a damp note on it, but Fiorentino have a really bad record against Lazio. But who knows? I'm hoping we can do you a favor, but it will be a tough game. I think I went to Fiorentino Lazio last season. I think it ended
01:04:29
Speaker
4-3 to Lazio or something. It was crazy, another crazy game, but yeah, we don't seem to do well against them for some reason. And then me, Lana Rachevo, Nima Inter are hosting Spao. That is, what do you think?
01:04:49
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. They have to win. There's no, they have to win. I mean, let's be, this is Spal at home. You know, it's, it's Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday in the Europa League away. And then it's Spal and then Eintracht at home and then the Darby. So this, these four weeks, I don't want to go too far ahead, but if Inter out of the top four, I think Spaletti will be axed.
01:05:14
Speaker
I think there's a real real chance because he needs to sort it out. The players again need to rally around him to deliver at least four points in the Serie A. A draw against Milan is acceptable, a win against Baal is
01:05:31
Speaker
is a minimum and then you know if they get past Eintracht Frankfurt that gives them that morale boost because then they're in the quarterfinals of the Europa League and that's about what you could expect given that I think Napoli and Chelsea and Arsenal are the favorites to win that in my opinion.
01:05:51
Speaker
Yeah. And then we also have Juve, Uteneza, Sassuolo, Napoli, Sampdoria, Atalanta, which should be a good one. That's going to be an awesome game. That is the game I'm looking forward to. It's going to be so cool. I mean, there's so many sub stories to that as well. Caliarella, you know, shared top goalscorer in the Serie A. You have Gasparini, who used to coach in Genoa, playing, you know, there's a lot going on there. And it's two very different football philosophies to play each other. I mean, you have the
01:06:17
Speaker
classic 4-3, 1-2 of Gianpaolo against the 3-4-3 of Gasperini. The wings will be decisive in that game. It's going to be intense that game.
01:06:28
Speaker
Very true, and then Roma have Empoli. Real quickly, we haven't discussed it, but we'll end it on this. So the relegation battle, we were all hoping Bologna would avoid the drop, but it is becoming very, very more apparent that they...
01:06:47
Speaker
Listen, Kyivor at 10 points, Frozannoni at 17, Bologna at 18, Empoli 22, Spal 23. So I would hate to see one of those just, I mean, you think of Serie A and Bologna is always one of those teams. Just such everything about that club I love. It would pain me to see them make the drops. Me too. Me too. And especially with this new stadium they got going to have a decent owner. I think, you know, they just they need to find the right sporting directorship.
01:07:17
Speaker
to like they did with Corvino and let that guy roll with it because appointing people in Zaghi was just a silly, silly mistake and then they brought in Niha who, you know, there are two things that work in mysterious ways, one is God and the other is an Isami Hayalovic, you never know what you're gonna get, you know, so it's like
01:07:37
Speaker
It's like living with a gunpowder keg. You never know what's going to happen with him. You say Paolo Sosa lacks clarity and consistency. Mija is Mija. He's full on Mija. So anything can happen there. But I would so love it if Polonia
01:07:55
Speaker
would stay up. Empoli, but you got to give it to Empoli too. I saw that game against Parma and they just don't give up. I mean, Caputo is this, I mean, when you talk about the classic Serie A striker, for me, Caputo is the Dario Hubna of the past, this kind of striker that plays for the lower league teams.
01:08:13
Speaker
but always gets his 10-15-20 goals every season, you know, the Gionnata Spinesi, the Dario Hovna, you know, that kind of striker, and he scores again, and this team, they just do not give up and polly, and they got a point against Parma when they probably shouldn't have, and that's why they're 22 and Bologna at 18, and I think this weekend is really last chance saloon.
01:08:37
Speaker
for Bologna. Although there are quite a lot of games to play but they really need to win because four points is quite a lot to take in with only 10 games, 10-11 games that you play. We will leave it there. There's a busy week of football again. We have Roma and the Champions League. We have some pretty good matches at the weekend.
01:08:54
Speaker
We will be back next week to discuss all of that. So thank you everyone for listening. If you could continue to rate, subscribe, all that good stuff on the various platforms, we would really, really appreciate it. So we will leave it there and until next time, ciao.