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Yildiz Crowns LEGENDARY Inter Milan 4-4 Juventus Classic, Napoli Pull Clear, Retegui On Fire, Roma Crisis & Much More (Ep. 466)
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From Juventus new star boy Kenan Yildiz crowning the craziest Derby D'Italia of all time, Piotr Zielinski penalty brace for Inter Milan, Antonio Conte and Napoli go 4 points clear, Mateo Retegui and Atalanta on FIRE, Fiorentina smash Roma who are in complete free-fall, the flood chaos prompting Bologna vs AC Milan to be postponed, to Nuno Tavares continues to impress for Lazio, and preview of all midweek Serie A matches as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week, plus much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from Match Day 9 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season.
Every Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast is free for all. To NEVER miss an episode of The Italian Football Podcast (and support the show), go to Patreon.com/TIFP or Spotify to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
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Transcript
Introduction to the Italian Football Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Italian Football Podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavalli. What a show we have for you for today.
Derby d'Italia: Inter vs Juventus Classic Match
00:00:17
Speaker
A legendary Derby d'Italia between Inter and Juventus. I can't believe I'm actually saying this.
00:00:23
Speaker
finished 4-4, an eight-goal thriller in and what will go down and in history as one of the the greatest and most chaotic Serie A matches of of all time. there's There's so much to talk about there.
Napoli's Rise: Di Lorenzo Shines
00:00:36
Speaker
and the The winners, though, of the weekend are Napoli, who pulled clear at the top of the table as they win again against Lecce with match winner Giovanni Di Lorenzo, also now back to his best.
Atalanta's Dominance Against Verona
00:00:48
Speaker
Atalanta are in great form and they are pushing very hard at the top as they hit Verona for six with Mateo Retugi already up to double figures for the season. Can anybody stop him from taking the Capo Cananiere crown? Lazio win again, they're doing really, really well.
Roma's Crisis: Should the Friedkins Sell?
00:01:06
Speaker
But Roma are in complete crisis ah with Ivan Urich now on the brink of the sack.
00:01:13
Speaker
and Daniel De Rossi potentially being brought back after a 5-1 threshing by a Fiorentina team who are also in amazing form. um We will ask the question whether the Friedkins, the owners, should look to sell the club now because that club is a complete
Midweek Serie A Preview: Milan vs Napoli
00:01:31
Speaker
mess. We will also preview the the midweek round in Serie A which includes an absolutely massive game but between Milan and Napoli. Milan not playing this weekend after their match was postponed, also in very chaotic circumstances. We'll also have the usual Baggio, Prem Face and Celia as of the week.
Support and Subscribe to the Podcast
00:01:51
Speaker
For all our first-time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend's Celia action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q and&A episode every Tuesday, where we answer all the questions from our Patreons, plus the
00:02:09
Speaker
the the weekly thursday midweek review show plus interviews post-match reaction are much much more than go to patreon dot.com slash TIP and become subscribed for just $2.99 a plus VAT you can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify we've got the link in the description same price and terms for all of you that do listen on spat Spotify Apple and iTunes podcasts would really appreciate If you give us a five star rating, give us a follow and a like. Also, please do subscribe to us on YouTube. We've been doing that for around a year and we do put content out there that isn't elsewhere. and That really also helps us to grow and do more content for you guys.
00:02:49
Speaker
Okay then, let's get into today's show. So only one place to start, what a match, absolute thriller at San Siro, 4-4 between Inter and Juventus. Before we actually talk about Inter, before we talk about Juve and there's so much to talk about for for both teams which will break it down team by team.
00:03:10
Speaker
First of all though, Nimr, this is one of the greatest Serie A games of all time. Yes, the defending was bad. There was no defending. Something doesn't exist, it can't be bad. There was no defending. We'll get to that. But if we talk about this first just as a spectacle for the neutrals, for those that are not traditional or regular Serie A fans watching this game,
00:03:37
Speaker
I mean, what a game to watch. It had everything. It ebbed and flowed. It had comebacks. It had missed chances. It had two penalties. It had great goals. It it was an unbelievable match for the neutral, wasn't it? was If you're talking advert for Serie A in terms of for the neutral and casual that wants entertainment, you can't get any better than that. It was insane. Packed sand seed or evening game.
00:04:04
Speaker
two of the two two of the biggest teams in the world, not, you know, two of the biggest clubs in the world football, not just historically and not just in Italy, going at each other back and forth, all the subplots, crazy goals, crazy mistakes, drama, um teenagers coming on from the bench and scoring, scoring a brace to, you know, to show, you know,
00:04:33
Speaker
to show that they they are the future. and and i you know It was crazy. it was It had everything. It literally had everything. and For me, if one thing that we have been speaking about... um this this weekend was good by the referees. There's just one game where it was a horrid mistake by a referee. But other than that, I think whatever this was back to the first six six match days. This was overall a very high refereeing round. The Napoli game was insane. that the One of the most blatant penalties I've ever seen in my life was not given.
00:05:05
Speaker
for an Apple League in that game. But other than that, this this this weekend was back to where we were before. And I'm happy about that. And this this game was not decided or impacted at all by the referee, was like who actually had a struggled in the Champions League and was very criticized after an Atletico Madrid game by Atletico Madrid. Correctly so. But he got his shit together here. And it was a very, very good game. So I'm very happy about that. um No, it was it was mental. There's no other way to put it. I don't even know where to begin. I mean, it's it's such an impossible game to analyze other than the first two minutes Juva wanted to show who they were, then Inter took over and worked themselves in. And then from the 15th minute on until when Inter got that penalty until the 93rd minute when the game ended,
00:05:55
Speaker
they They just went crazy. The game just went completely haywire. And you just felt that this could have ended. eight, eight, six, six. It was just, it was crazy. Completely crazy. Yeah. Have a look at the XGs of both teams. It's like three each or something. This is mad. Absolutely mad game. It was, it was, it was an unbelievable match. I was hung over. So I actually like really, it was really enjoyable for me. Sat back and it just enjoyed it. But it was, it was, uh, yeah, I mean, so I mean, when I think back to like the greatest games that I've watched,
00:06:35
Speaker
You know, probably some of the the games in the 90s and 2000s were of a higher quality because defending wasn't as bad. But, you know, I'm thinking of, like, the 5-4 game, Roma 4 into 5. That comes to mind. Roy Hodgson was in charge of Inter then, if I remember. Yeah, I'm thinking Lazio 4, Milan 4. I'm thinking... What other games? Juventus 3, Fiorentina 2. That immediately comes to mind. The Del Piero.
00:07:03
Speaker
go ah I mean, it's up there, I think, with those matches. I think it's the most entertaining. Like, for sheer entertainment, this was the most entertaining game in the Serie A in the last 5-10 years. I can't think of a game that's more entertaining than this. This was this had everything. It was just back and forth. and And it felt like it went on forever as well. like
00:07:29
Speaker
yeah I was looking at the watch. like i was Is it only the 70th minute? like There was so much entered. So much had happened by the 70th minute that it just felt like, oh, we've got 20 more minutes of this. yeah um it It was crazy, absolutely mental. um And you look at, like you said, the stats were insane. i mean 18 shots to 10. Well, nobody predicted this, Nima, did they? Absolutely. What did everybody have? Probably 1-0 or it was incredible but let's let's let's break this down team by team and we will talk a lot about defending for both teams because they were both defenders were equally bad in this game but if we let's start with Inter first let's start with Inter as the home team um I mean how do you
00:08:32
Speaker
how the First of all, let's start with the defending with Inter. Let's start with the bad. within because I actually thought there was more more more negatives for Inter in the bigger picture than there was for Juventus, but I'll explain my reasons why when we get to Juventus. Let's start with the defending for Inter. What the hell happened to Inter's defending in this game? What happened was...
00:08:53
Speaker
what we've seen all season. This wasn't new. um It was conceding chances in areas that you just cannot concede. You cannot concede shots and chances that centrally, especially in the first half. um the The movement, the the the the the structure, they didn't have any.
00:09:21
Speaker
That's what annoys me. The word de Frei is where Zielinski is, where Pavard is, where they all are. It's as if they've decided that they hadn't spoken on how to defend. There was no structure at all. Stefan de Frei, we know, when the ball is put behind him, he struggles, and he did so again for the first goal. The second goal Francisco Conseco made Mikitarion look old, very old, um and just pulled down his pants.
00:10:01
Speaker
um and but he shouldn't be in that position to begin with. There was no structure defensively for Inter. And i have I think I've got a theory as to why that is, because it's not we' what nine Serie A games now into the season. We are three three games in the Champions League. Inter have conceded 13 goals.
00:10:25
Speaker
um in this in the Serie A. That's nine less than they conceded all season last year. So so this, and and you know, it's not just this game. i look I look at this season so far as the way that it's it's more, people are drawing similarities to Simon Inzaghi's second season, but I think that's completely wrong. I'm drawing similarities to his first season.
00:10:53
Speaker
where he unleashed Inter's firepower he from day one. And I felt that Inter weren't balanced. The difference is, of course, that this is a far, far superior team to that Inter of his first season in terms of personnel and firepower and midfield and depth and everything. But I think there's a reason for that he's done he's done this.
00:11:16
Speaker
I think the mistake was the preseason. They overworked the players. I think the mistake was Laotaro coming back and cutting his holiday short after the Copa America. It was a very honorable thing to do, but it was a mistake. He should have rested. Because he is an symbol, an embodiment of everything that's wrong with Inter now.
00:11:39
Speaker
They don't have 90-minute fitness in them. They look slow. They look sluggish. They look unfit. They look disjointed. But they have individual quality and individual skill to win games on their own and to create moments of magic. That they have. But as a unit there is no unit. There is no balance whatsoever. They're not there. I mean, ni Inter conceded four goals from Open Play yesterday.
00:12:07
Speaker
four, Juventus had five shots on target, four were goals, and all four of them were, you can't blame someone for a single one of those goals because his defence just wasn't there.
00:12:21
Speaker
And I thought this i thought the the second yield is 4-4 gold. I don't blame some of that because it came through the defender's legs and and anybody that's played knows that if you coach through the defender's legs, it's always very, very difficult for the goalkeeper. I don't blame him for it. but you could say maybe you know a top top goal you've got on the the peak of his form maybe he saves that because he you know he gets two hands to it and it and it goes under him but i definitely don't blame him for it but generally speaking i agree i agree with the i think it's it's it's obvious because
00:12:59
Speaker
that and And I think the reason for this is, like I said, the preseason, they overworked them. They they were counting on, a that that they they think that, you know, the the calculation was 11 month season, longest season of of the of the year, right? So we need to really, really have everyone going. And then of course you had the Euros and the Copa America, so the players were already tired.
00:13:22
Speaker
um I think we've seen that from match day one. It's it's not the same Inter as last season. and Last season this Inter would never have conceded two goals, much less four, and they would have won that 2-0. They would have closed the game away because they were so solid and because they had the energy to do the hard work without possession.
00:13:43
Speaker
all the team did as a unit cohesively this year they did they don't do it they have it for about 40-50 minutes but then they can't do it and mean zag is not stupid he knows this um his post-match comments to me are add fuel to this fire when he says things like we you know we had eight we could have scored eight goals that tells me where his mind is he wants his enter to right now to so to win games six four eight three eight seven like we're gonna concede but we're gonna score more than the opposition now this is not i i don't think this is a long-term strategy i think his his his thing is his thinking is
00:14:23
Speaker
until the team recovers and we're in a good phase where where we where we are match fit and I can then have them doing that work. Right now what I can do is because they don't have the energy and they're all getting injured with muscle injuries which are all down to being overworked, what can I do? Well I need to unleash their firepower and that's what he's doing.
00:14:46
Speaker
um And so far it's worked all right. I mean, I'm not one of those who thinks, I don't think it's tenable long term, absolutely not, um to win the scoredetto or win anything, but when we were on match day nine, and I think when you're in the preliminary stages of the season,
00:15:05
Speaker
um and you have these energy issues, and it's not just energy, it's a mental exhaustion as well, I think it's you know it's it's okay to do that. But the the thing is that it's it's a risk, because once you do that, it becomes di more difficult to kind of bring everything back together. But I so i assume he trusts his players and I assume that he he knows that, okay, once I have them in peak match fitness, then we can go back to doing what we're doing. Because to be fair to him, we did see Inter defend extremely well um against Man City and the Champions League, where they didn't do anything. They were outstanding. They outrun, outfought, outthought, did everything they they were supposed to do in that game defensively. They were fantastic. It was the Inter of last season. It's the only time this season that we've seen the Inter of last season.
00:15:55
Speaker
But that's where where where I see that Inter are right now. And and and um and that's I'm basing that on the nine games I've seen in the Serie A. And it's it's a bit when you do that against the big teams,
00:16:12
Speaker
like Milan, like Juve, Roma, Napoli, etc. in the Serie A, you will struggle to beat them because the Serie A is again a league where whoever is the most prudent defensively wins the big games and as and as a result and as a consequence the title.
00:16:31
Speaker
um And I think the same could be said about Juve as well, who, unlike Inter, have been very prudent defensively until the last week, where they are just completely open, from Stuttgart to the David Italia game. If we're going to talk about the individuals... Let me just let me stop you there on Inter. With the defending as a whole, um which I agree with, generally. I mean, it's 13 goals in nine games.
00:16:59
Speaker
Is yeah, I mean for inside that's just that's shocking but I I do think that the and i've said this all season I think the midfield is not helping into I I said it in our in our in our preview I also went on takushama's channel and I said it's on there as well and it and and sharma agreed with me that my biggest disappointment of into this season has ah has been the midfield, the the lack of ability to to, the inability to control games this season, which we again saw in this game as well. And of course the pressure that that is actually, the extra pressure that that is putting on the defence and making it more difficult for the defence. This isn't something that can just be put on the defenders, not playing well enough. defendant This is a collective thing. And yeah yeah in this particular game,
00:17:44
Speaker
um it's not his fault because obviously Charlie Nogli's out and then Charlie Nogli's out. Aslani is not doing that. And then Aslani wasn't fit enough to start so you've got both your your your there but if your players there. um Zielinski had a shocker. I mean, he's got the two penalties, but as a protective midfielder, no he didn't offer protect him. He didn't protect the off defense. He was awful. He was great going forward. but so Yeah. But that puts so much pressure on the defense. There were so many transitions, especially in the first half where, where, and we'll come to you, but I thought that tactically, um, Mota out coached in Zaghi in the first half, despite losing three, two at half time, um, on the transitions and cutting through and finding those spaces in the gaps.
00:18:29
Speaker
in between the defence and the midfield. Zelensky, it's not really his fault, it's not his role, but I would have you know i would have played Barella again there and I especially would have put Barella there in the second half when you're 4-2 up and you just need to manage the game and you can see you can already see how much you struggled in that area in the first half I think I put that on Inzaghi as well. He should have just moved Barela there, played Zielinski a little bit further forward and just shut down the game at 4-2 because that's also unforgivable. To be 4-2 up and Inter were on top in the second half. Inter were a better team in the second half. Juventus were the better team overall play. First half, second half, Inter were in control. They went 4-2 up. You think there's no way that Juventus are going to come back from here. Well, that's not what I thought at all. What I thought and I tweeted as much is
00:19:16
Speaker
This game can finish 4-4 because Inter were not in control of that game. Inter created chances. They created chance after chance after chance. Dunfries missed a sitter. Lautaro missed. Just missed. Great saves by Di Gregorio on long shots from Di Marco from Barrella.
00:19:33
Speaker
but Inter were not in control. They were never in control. They were absolutely not in control. No one was in control of that. No, they weren't in control. If anyone was in control of that, they wouldn't do that. What I'm saying is, they were the better team in the second half. They created more chances. I don't know if they were the better team. I think they created more better chances. Until Yieldis came on, Juventus weren't creating anything second half. My overall point is,
00:19:58
Speaker
Zelinski was struggling and and and it and it seemed to it seems to be quite proven in this game that he was unable to protect the defence and help the defence. Four-two up in Zaghi should have been more pragmatic and just said, you know what, let's put Barello in front of the defence because he's going to be able to short shore things up and stop us from conceding and being so open. Because it's unforgivable to concede those goals, in to be so open in the way that you concede those two goals. So I think it's a yeah it's a collective it's a collective thing, but it's also on the the lack of protection from from the central defensive midfield. There is no, it's it's' they just not there and Zielinski as a regista works if you're playing against Empo Lienvenetia but it doesn't work against Juve and I think Zielinski needs to understand that and what the thing is that it does it can work
00:20:47
Speaker
if you have a team that is fit mentally and physically so that they can run and cover for one another. Inter aren't there, they just are not there. um And they they this season so far they're not there. And Mikitalian I think is also another brilliant example. Torrid first half. Brilliant individual skill for the goal. Although Iuba's defense is just embarrassing ball-watching.
00:21:13
Speaker
um But it was great. It was fantastic. That was actually the one goal I don't like. I go a little bit easy on U-bay for the club. I thought it was a brilliant goal. I thought it was a brilliant team, the passing. The passing was fantastic. But if you look at the movement from Danilo and Kalulu, they were all watching like children.
00:21:28
Speaker
its it it was It was embarrassing. the The defense was embarrassing for both teams. But regardless, Mikitarians, same thing there. he did not he looked He looked out of it. He looked unfit. um He couldn't keep up with the pace. um and But he scored a brilliant individual goal. like Again, this inter, this season, is is a team that's mentally and physically a bit drained. They worked them wrong. They prepared them wrongly, in my opinion. in overwork them and in the first half, in in in the in the summer, in the pre-season. And so now they're ping now they're playing catch-up. And the best way to play catch-up from Zagi's perspective is, okay, until we do reach those fitness levels that we will reach down the road when Chelanog goes back, when everyone is back.
00:22:16
Speaker
then attack is the best defense. Now, I agree with you on on the face of things of this just this game. I think it would have been better to play Zilinski as a Metzala. However, let's remember Zilinski asked to be taken off because he was feeling fatigued and that's why he was taken off and replaced by Fratezi, who in turn had a ah was was left midweek with an ice pack on his leg. So,
00:22:42
Speaker
the The the the the energy levels and the fatigue levels is a real thing and then and that was a game where Carlos Augusto just well He's gone for at least four or five weeks with with with the muscle there. Like again, they have been wrong They've not trained them. Well, they've over trained them in the summer and and it's done and it's showing so far but overall I think it's um I think it's not Not the end of the world. It's not the end of the world for the simple reason that Inter are just four points behind Napoli were a matchday nine. These issues can be fixed. We know that Inter can play that like that. um But what needs to happen and what absolutely has to, ah the most important thing is Lautaro Martinez needs, Inter need to get Lautaro back into into shape because
00:23:37
Speaker
Yesterday, he was frustrating to watch. his mo He looks fat and slow. He looks like a sack of potatoes on the pitch. like if Like a 10 kilo sack of potatoes thrown onto the floor. That's how he moves. I love that. And it's like... I'm laughing because that's the term that my parents used to use when when I was at lower school, whenever there was like a little podgy kid who used to say, oh no, it's not nice, is it? No, it's, I think it's... A sack of potatoes is something that we say in Iran as well. It's a brilliant insult. But he moves like a sack of 10 kilo potatoes. like it's just I think the reason is like, exactly as you said, is is the amount of games he's playing, he's averaging 50 games a season, club games, that is, every single season since the pre-COVID season. And when you add that, as I go on and but on and on about every single, when you add in that there's been no rest since since before COVID. every There's been no summer or proper seasonal or summer rest for the players.
00:24:42
Speaker
since Covid, then eventually it does take its toll, especially when you cut your holiday short. Look at it, look at it now, 1819, from 1819 season. He's played club games 35 following season 49, then 48, then 49 in 22, 23, 57 last season 44. Like that's just club games for Inter. That's not even counting Argentina. No. It's just. Yeah. And then you've got the, you've got the world cup. You've got, you've got. Two cup America, three cup America, America's every, every day now in, in South America, three cup America's and what one world cup.
00:25:20
Speaker
yeah it's you know it's um it's he is oh he is getting overworked but they need to manage his fitness levels and i know that he's one of those players that they struggle with generally anyway and then of course you've got a cherbie gone uh as well um now look uh i i think i understand i think why he want he he didn't you know the zilinski point i understand why zaghi didn't play baralla's arigista um because he felt that Barilla gives more control because when you got Denzel Dumfries on the right who actually had a decent game but he's still Denzel Dumfries. He still doesn't believe doesn't know what positioning is even though yesterday he was actually pretty good in positioning wise but again you saw for the last goal he he doesn't he you know he drops when he's not supposed to he pushes but he's he's a funny guy like i just i don't even get up selling more i just laugh when he plays because he's he's like a you know he does
00:26:13
Speaker
He misses sitters. He trips over his own feet. He can't break a goal. He got a goal and won a penalty. So I think he was. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying. Like he's he's and then he scores a fantastic finish. That was a good finish by him. Like just right there in the angle in the court. Like he's a comedy player. I just I can't even I just laugh every time I see him. And again, I thought he had a he had a he had a good game overall by by Dunfry standards.
00:26:41
Speaker
um and but And I thought that in the first half, particularly, they used Dunfries really well. The fact that you know when he when he crosses the ball early behind the defence, he's actually really good. And his pushing and his aggression and his physique and his physical ability and his mental strength is is is you know really good. And he's a fighter. Dunfries is a fighter.
00:27:01
Speaker
but But, you know, it is what it is. um And Darien can't play week in, week out at this age. So, you know, you're just going to have to hope, you know, sometimes you just got to hope for the best. um And that's a little bit what Inter are right now. and And they do have the quality to oversee these teams. But long term, especially if you're going to play, you know, in the Serie A, this is going to hurt them. um But I mean, it would be, if it would it feels incredibly disingenuous.
00:27:29
Speaker
to after Inter lost to Derby and a shit and in a really poor performance, they've been on a five game winning streak. Attacking wise, they were very good against Juve, even though they missed quite a bit. A draw against Juve is not the end of the world.
00:27:44
Speaker
um and And they do have the quality to to win these small games so far. Now you've got Empoli and Venezia, they have to win those. Then it's Arsenal and Napoli, you know, baptism by fire again before the international break. And somewhere there, you know, in intercar, you know, inter pretty much they have to win against Venezia and Empoli. And then if they can do something against Napoli and then turn, you know, even though it's three, four days after the Arsenal game,
00:28:13
Speaker
that's That's what I'm looking at. um no welcome I'll know where Inter are this season by night by midnight on the 10th, Central European time, 10th of November, because then I'll know how they reacted, how they behaved against Arsenal, and more importantly, how they reacted four days later against Napoli. I personally think if I'm Antonio Conte, I am thrilled when I saw that game yesterday. And I'm thinking I can actually do a miracle here.
00:28:41
Speaker
Yeah, well let's move on to Juventus because for me, I i look at it i look for Juventus more that the glass is half full from Juventus' point of view and the reason for that is, and and we will get to the defending and how bad the defending was ah in a little bit, but to start with the positive,
00:29:01
Speaker
positives with the Juventus, whereas with Inter I'd like to start more with the negatives because that's just just how I see things between where the two clubs are in their development right now. With the Juventus, I think that if you ignore the defending, um this was actually like a really, really positive performance for Juve when you consider just how decimated they were for this game. I mean, Koop miners, Nico Gonzalez, Douglas Louise as well, and Gatti, not fit to start, which I kind of half predicted as well. That's why he didn't play against Stuttgart, and it's why he didn't go to the international, but they're managing kind of an injury with him. It's not quite clear what, but my understanding is they're managing his condition at the moment, and which means you have to play Danilo, who we'll get to, don't worry. And I think that it was very, very positive to see them go toe to toe with Inter away at the San Siro Light
00:29:53
Speaker
like this. I think that's very encouraging. I thought that in the first half, despite going 3-2 behind at a hard time, I thought that they actually, Mota actually outthought tactically ah in Zagi in the first half. I mean, it was just really defensive brain farts that conceived two stupid, pet ridiculous penalties that they gave away, just catastrophic defending to give away those penalties. Otherwise, tactically, they were they had Inter's number. they were They were really causing Inter so many problems, you know as we discussed when we discussed in Zelensky, getting in between the lines, especially they were targeting, the the motto was targeting Inter's left flank, and Conse Sal was causing so many problems.
00:30:35
Speaker
every time he got the ball he was getting you know DiMarco was a little bit too far forward and then you know the the the when he was running at players he that they were so scared of him uh and you know what way I was doing really really well um he I mean he scored and and he nearly scored ah another goal with a great curler uh even Vlovich was was doing quite well Vlovich's movement was was actually pretty decent uh in this game I mean if we saw the way that he his movement for the for for his goal was was pretty good. He saw that the ball over to Makeni had already moved to create space for himself to to to then have the tap-in. um I thought that in the first half, Motta really, I don't want to go as far as saying, outcoached in Zaghi, but he he outperformed in Zaghi in that first half tactically. I thought his selections and his substitutions um paid off as well. I mean, he started Weyer on the left wing instead of Yildiz,
00:31:27
Speaker
and yielders have been in really bad form going into this game and probably been overworked as well, overplayed. Weyer started on the left and I've been a you know quite a harsh grid critic of Weyer and McKinney. He started McKinney at number 10. The two Americans really did well in this game. Weyer scored one, he nearly scored a second and then he then automates the decision to bring on the yielders uh... as well as some other kind of attacking substitutions like umb baoola and they started to call into real problems in that in that last on a fifteen minutes to to rescue the game so i think that there's lots of positives to take from there also for promoters point of view i know some of the criticism for the use of the new low but he was kind of forced to use it because of the because that's he wasn't that's not to start me who else do you use uh... so that's that's that's the from a from a team point of view and from the managers point of view i'm i'm very
00:32:16
Speaker
I'm very happy with what so I saw from the Juventus point of view. Then there was good individual performance. So I thought, Konsei Sal showed again like what ah what a great talent he is. I mean, he caused all kinds of problems. Inter couldn't handle him at all. Every time he picked up the ball, he was running at them. He was beating men. He got a great assist.
00:32:33
Speaker
I thought Wlawicz did better. we've We've been very, very critical of him. I don't want to say he's outstanding, but i thought I thought he did his job well in this game. you scored um He He never scored in San Sierra. He broke that jinx. And um the Americans, as I said, the the Americans were good in this game. And I've been the biggest critic. I've really laid into them, especially Makeni. Makeni got two assists.
00:32:58
Speaker
he he He is very good at kind of getting into those positions, attacking the space, and and he showed composure as well for that assist for Vlawovic. And then, of course, there's Yildiz, who we have to we have to we have to talk about, Yildiz, because he he has been very heavily criticized, ah singled out probably a little bit unfairly for a 19-year-old, but the the fact remains, he hadn't scored in Serie A this season, and and his numbers hadn't been good enough this season. And then he comes on,
00:33:27
Speaker
And he scores two two great finishes. He probably should have had a hat trick. Probably his easiest chance was was the one he put over from Savonas Cross. he you know He could have had a hat trick. I mean, Yildiz definitely, he showed he showed like anyone that says, oh, Yildiz is overrated and all this and that. You saw his talent. This is a player that's going to be a top player. As I said on my post-match reaction, yeah last night a star was born.
00:33:54
Speaker
Kienan Yildiz is a star, and we saw a star being born. And we saw a star being born after, as I said on my post-match reaction, for patrons only. um It was when, even at the age of 19, when you're unfairly criticized and targeted, as Yale Yildiz was, and we both said it last week, when you come on as a substitute in that situation, and you perform and score a brace,
00:34:24
Speaker
that only only special players do that and you do that at 19 and i think consei sao and yieldis well both of them both of them last night showed that they are for me more yieldis more than consei sao but but they showed that the the future is bright for uwe in attack because those two players Especially Yildiz. What a player he is. What a magical little player he is. Him and Ardagulir. What have Turkey got going on? These two little teenagers. they are just it's It's just stunning to watch.
00:35:02
Speaker
The way he holds the ball, the way he caresses the ball, like like just he's he's he's a superstar. he's he's The way that he, the the beautiful, elegant way that he he, when he gets the ball, you just feel something's going to happen. He's going to do something.
00:35:21
Speaker
um He's got that aura about him, that's that that zest about him. and he's and it was It was truly, truly remarkable. He's a fantastic player. He's a fantastic talent. And Tiago Mota is managing him perfectly and knowing what to do with him. And he seems mature enough to handle things properly. This is how you respond to your critics.
00:35:45
Speaker
You come on as a substitute in the David Italia, where you score two goals and you rescue a point for your team. That's how you show that you are ready to be a pillar at a big club. That shows mental strength as well. That shows mental strength, that shows quality, that shows that that shows everything you want to see from a star. And yesterday, in my opinion, a new star was born on the Séas Yeah. And also just adding on that about his mental strength, I would extend that to the team as a whole as well, because, you know, Juventus are 4-2 down at San Siro and also the way that they went 4-2 down in that, you know, they're 2-1 up. They've recovered from 1-0 down. they've They've turned the game around. They're 2-1 up. They're, you know, things are looking really, really good. And then to be struck by a double sucker punch like that with a great racketarian goal, kind of almost, you know,
00:36:33
Speaker
unexpected in the way they were such a great team move. um And then to then consider another disastrous penalty to go 3-2 down just just minutes later after that, then to go 4-2 down with with with ah with the goal from Dunfries and then Inter maybe could have finished off the game.
00:36:51
Speaker
um at that point and you're thinking, you know, you're you're really, you know, it looks unlikely you can get anything. And then to show the that fight and the the the mental qualities, to to come back and rescue a draw against the champions, four-two down your rivals, um you know, with a young team as well. I mean, I think that that was really, really impressive and it's not the first time we've seen this these fights and qualities. Obviously, there the best example of of that is the the game against Leipzig when they're two-one down and a man down and they come back and they win that game they show incredible fight so that shows that again that Motta is instilling you know which is why I'm positive for the future events because you can see what he's building there um and so that that's very very positive. and So um i I'm looking at this more as the glass half full but we do of course have to talk about the defending because just like Inter's defending
00:37:45
Speaker
I mean Juventus' defending is an absolute, it's a horror show in this game. I mean, considering that they'd only conceded one goal in eight games instead of yeah before this, so they could see three in one half and and four in this match as a whole, but it's the manner of the goals that they concede, which is which is what is worse. I mean, I'm not as critical on the Macatarian goal, but the the two penalties are just a joke.
00:38:09
Speaker
i mean I mean, honestly, I mean, that's the kind of stuff you if you saw that walking your dog on on a Sunday morning and in a pub league in love at Bedford, you'd laugh. You'd laugh. You'd laugh at Danilo swiping his leg, you know, not seeing the guy behind him like a drunk.
00:38:29
Speaker
And like he's just had another night out the night before and kicks at him and then the Kaluli one in some ways even funnier. Some ways even worse. That's even funnier for me. He just swipes his leg. He looked like he kicked him in the in the in the arse. Like when I first saw that, I was like, why is he kicking him in the butt? I don't know. I just swiped straight through them. I should just clear up some because I have I have seen some people saying, oh, whether he handled it.
00:38:52
Speaker
the fact The thing is, he kicks him just before he handballs. If he'd handballed it first, then it it's not a penalty, it's a handball. So that's why it was a penalty. But I mean, even still, it's just... I burst out laughing because it's it's Dumfries as well, and Daniel and Kalulu. And it's like... That entire action was just comedy. I think that summed up that game, the organ out the quote-unquote organization of that game. It was calamity. It was public pub defending. Sunday league drunk drunkards, university students smoking on the pitch defending. like Literally, that's how it looked. when I'm thinking of 40-year-olds. like that nice but but that that was When he kicked him, I was like,
00:39:37
Speaker
What the hell did he just do? I couldn't believe it. like what what And I was thinking the only way this doesn't become a penalty is if it touched Dunford's hands first and and it didn't. It literally was just a fraction. But it was it was calamitous. It was a joke. It's absolutely awful. it's it just just ah he was a like car You can't believe at this level that you're seeing. yeah That's exactly my reaction. I could not believe that at this level they, you see defending like that. yeah um It was, it was. And then the Dumfries goal. What the hell is that? I mean, it's from a corner. He's left all on his own at the back post in acres of space. And he has the time even to control it first. Doesn't even hit it first time. He controls it and then he shoots. It's a great finish, but there's never in a million years that should, should he have the time to, to, for starters, you shouldn't be all alone, but but but you should not have the time to take the ball down and shoot it.
00:40:32
Speaker
I mean, that's just that's just horrific defending. So I mean, three of the four goals are just huge defensive offensive errors. And the Macatarian goal, I mean, listen, there's always, you can always criticize defenses for every goal because you don't, if every defense plays well, if if you defend well, you never score a goal. It's a game finishes nil, nil.
00:40:52
Speaker
But i I would like to give the credit more to to to what I thought was a fantastic team goal and a great finish as well, to be fair, front from Dami's. I thought it was a brilliant team goal. So I'm not so critical on on that one, but the other three, my God, I mean, that's just, it's comical. It is, it really is.
00:41:14
Speaker
Yeah, no, I mean, it's it it was beyond comical. it was it was It was a joke. But that brings me on to... But I just want to say one thing, though. I think, yes, I understand why Juver fans and Juver feel that the Glasses are more half full for them because they were, you know, people keep banging on about 4-2. It's just a two goal deficit. It's like coming back from 0-2 or 1-3.
00:41:35
Speaker
It's not four two sounds bigger than then it's a two goal deficit. You've it came back from a two goal deficit. That's it um It wasn't a it was a four nil to four four, but the strew the good thing for you is Yes, again, they show mental strength like they've done in the Champions League like they do all the time They he's built a mentality there that they never give up and and that's good but still I want to talk about... You can't... cons wait you The way that you... you know It's great to come back from nil 1 or 1 to 2-1, but to to fall apart like you did, making those idiotic mistakes from 2-1 to 2-3 is not good enough. And then, if we're perfectly honest, just like against Stuttgart, they're completely wide open for about half an hour. And if Inter are a little bit more clinical, that's 5-2, 6-2 game over.
00:42:30
Speaker
so they they They got away with one there. So yes, I understand that if you come down from a two goal deficit to equalize at the death. You're obviously going to be more positive and and it's more positive for you. But if i'm I'm looking at this and I'm thinking I'm concerned for both of them, they don't, right now, neither of those these two teams look like Scudetto. Motta definitely played they played more open than than usual in this game, um even you know especially when they when they were 4-2 down. It was kind of un-Motta-like, the way that they played so open. but
00:43:02
Speaker
but we i mean We have to talk about you know the individual individuals in defence, and in particular one man in particular, and that is Danilo. It's quite clear now that that this guy is it completely finished. For starters, the joke of the penalty conceded for the but the kick on Taram, but just his defending in in general, in in this game, i mean he's just He's just not on the not at the pace. He's just off the pace. He's he's one yard behind everyone else. in the way And that was shown with the penalty. you know he He moved much slower than Taram, who's one yard behind Taram. And that's just kind of how he's playing all the time right now. He's a yard behind his opponent. That was the same thing in the Stuttgart, the penalty that he against Stuttgart. He's conceded two penalties this week. He did a horror week. Two penalties conceded, a red card.
00:43:52
Speaker
and he's just a step behind. he did he he he did He should have got a yellow right at the start of the game when he when he when he was too late for a challenge and he totally took out, I can't remember who it was, he took one in at play around the third or fourth.
00:44:05
Speaker
i think yeah radical because he because he's too as he's too late to the challenges. um He's 33, so he's not ancient, but he's hes like obviously aged really, really badly. and um you know he i mean You know my opinion on him, I've never um've never considered him a Juventus level player.
00:44:24
Speaker
And it triggers me when when when I see Juventus fans that are like, ah danillo you know you know they the Nilo as like you know one of the key players for Juventus. That for me, if if you've ever considered the Nilo a key Juventus player or a Juventus level player, you have low standards.
00:44:42
Speaker
because that's not, he doesn't, he's may he's not with he's not, he's never been of the standards befitting of Juventus. And now he's even worse. And, you know, I, but the Juventus can't play there. The problem is, Juventus have so few options, like Gatti's out, obviously Bremen's out for the season. Gatti's not, they're managing him, he's not fit enough to play like a full game right now. And and and so like, who else do you play there? Like there's not really any other options when you don't even have really a right back either.
00:45:10
Speaker
you know, who else do you play? I mean, the only other alternative is maybe you try Locatelli or Taram, you try and train them into a centre-back. I don't know, because there's nothing else you can do. You can maybe play Cabal at left-back, and then you play Cabal at left-back, means you have to play Cambiaso. I'm sorry, you play Cabal at left-centre-back, it means you have to play Cambiaso at left-back, which means Savona has to start at right-back, and then you don't have any other options. And I mean, Savona's been, he played well actually, Savona, when he came on in this game. but he's been poor as a starter in the last few games. So really Danilo has had to play in this game. I don't really see any other alternatives. I don't blame Mozart for playing Danilo. Maybe he needs to look at playing Accenture at the Accenture midfielder there until January and when Juventus simply have to sign Accenture. Or, well, we do we do know that Danilo, my issue is this, Danilo cannot, cannot play.
00:46:00
Speaker
as a right centre back in a back four. It just doesn't work. He can't do it. If you're going to play Danny Lo as a centre back, he has to be to the right of a back three. It's as simple as that. Doesn't work. He he doesn't know how to interpret the role. He doesn't know what he's doing. He looks just off it, ah clueless, like a buffoon. Well, that's not going to happen. They're not going to go to a back three.
00:46:23
Speaker
so that the so the So the issue is, you know you just cannot play him um in in a back four. I think that's that's the issue. He doesn't know how to interpret the role. And at the ripe old age of 33 and 34, he ain't going to exactly like learn to interpret that role. no But no, it's so so for me, it's it's it's more an issue of that. you've ever have i mean gentlyly said But yeah, Juventus need to sign a different agenda. Juventus said they will sign one and and they have to. I mean, that's absolutely clear. I mean, the the butt the absence of Bremmer is now being seen. yeah that the the prema took Before Bremmer's injury, Juventus conceded one goal in seven games. Since Bremmer's injury, they conceded eight goals in in in five games. So I mean, that that says it all. And this is why losing Bremmer was
00:47:08
Speaker
so devastating for Juventus' hopes of the Scudetto challenge. We're seeing the the effect that that's having. In Europe, of course, as as well, it's going to be even more because the level per level of the teams are going to be... When you play against top level teams like Inter and like you're going to play more in the Champions League, then you know you can't you just can't get away with with players like Danilo. I mean, they're not even getting away with Danilo against the against the the weaker teams in Serie A. So, I mean, yeah, is is he's he's he's finished. He's completely finished. I think that's that's clear for everyone to see. um So that's the question. I mean, even Kalulu wasn't good in this game either. He's been great. He's been fantastic. He's been he's been a ah magnificent sign. and But he he he struggled in this game as well. They both struggled. Centre back.
00:47:55
Speaker
And that that was against an inter-attack in which Lautaro was not playing well. Taram I thought was outstanding again and he he caused both of them nightmares and in this game, I thought. um But yeah, that's that's the negatives.
00:48:11
Speaker
um Juventus pulled five points behind Napoli, which obviously is a blow. You can't let Napoli pull away, but I think it was important that Juventus stayed in touch with Inse. Inse remained only one point ahead. And as we'll come on to with Napoli, Napoli have a tough run coming up now. So the hope is that for Juventus that the Napoli can maybe drop some points in this next sequence and they can get a little bit closer to Napoli. But it was important to stay in touch with Inse because if Inse pulled four points away,
00:48:41
Speaker
Four points behind Inter, six points behind Napoli, then then yeah then then and then you risk really being you know forward and too far behind it to ah ah really be still be a challenger. I don't think it's that big of a deal to four, four, five points behind Napoli and match they nine, because I don't think four, five points is that much, um to be perfectly honest with you. um i I think that it's It's unfortunate, of course, you don't want to do that. um But you also ah have to take into consideration that, you know, it's it's 29 games left to play. Napoli have only well, if if we look at the games that they've played, they've they've not they've played you there. But other than that, they've played Verona, Parma,
00:49:37
Speaker
Cagliari, Bologna, Montza, Como, Empoli, Lecce. Next games coming up are Milan away, Atalanta at home, Inter away, Roma at home, Torino away.
00:49:53
Speaker
And then they got Lazio after the international break. So I'm not worried about like having been four points behind Kante after Kante has played bottom half teams, except for Juve. I mean, i'm I'm really not a mid table teams. I'm really, really not that worried from a Scudetto point of view.
00:50:09
Speaker
But if I'm Antonio Conte and I looked at that game yesterday and knowing how meticulous and how detailed and how obsessive he is when studying his opponent,
00:50:24
Speaker
It was Christmas Eve last night for Conte. He was thrilled. He would have been thrilled. And he would the other reason he'll be thrilled is because his Napoli won again. and so they know he's the look he looks at those He's looking at Yngter and Juve and he's going, Oh my God, I'm going to have fun with these when I play them.
00:50:42
Speaker
Do you know what I mean? like so He's rubbing his hands going, oh, I'm going to have some fun. Well, yeah. ki Yeah. Well, let's move on to Napoli's game. They win again against Lecce 1-0. They find a way to win. 0-0 with 20 minutes to go. And then Di Lorenzo forces ah a scrappy goal over the line from a corner. And he does it in a game where he actually rotated the attack as well, rested in Nevada and Polytano.
00:51:08
Speaker
And, I mean, listen, Napoli did deserve to win this game. They were the better team. They had a lot of shots, but they actually struggled to create clear big chances before the goal. And, you know, this could easily could have finished, could have finished 0-0, but they they find the way. That's what Conte teams seem to be, that's what they seem to be doing right now. They find a way to score in any way possible. And this game is with a court off a corner. And I want to, I want to praise Di Lorenzo first because You know, I think you said it before. You said Conte will bring him back to his best and and he has. I mean, he's he's been fantastic this season. jam He's got five goals this season now in all competition. And he's playing him as a right center back or a right or a full back, which is his natural position. And it's more of a if you look at how Napoli transition, he he kind of he he he plays as a full back or as a right center back in the back three, which is where he should play. And and he's he's and Bonjourno
00:52:02
Speaker
and and him are the players that have improved the most, in my opinion, um under contest social. We know about Rahmani. Rahmani had a bad season last season. No, but listen, we know about Rahmani. Rahmani is Robin to Batman. He needs Batman next time, whether it's Cully Bally or whether it's Kim Min-J. If he has someone who can hold his hands, he's a serviceable player. he's he He can't lead a defense.
00:52:29
Speaker
But when he's got Bongiorno, who saved a goal again, clearance off the line, um yesterday, ah when he's got him, when someone of that quality next to him, he shines. So I'm not surprised at all about that. But I mean, talking about defenses, though, Nima, I mean, we talked about, you you know, Juventus and Inter defended, not like Scudetto winners at all. um Napoli have now conceded one goal in the last seven matches. I mean, it's it's That is good at winning form. That's Antonio Conte. That's Antonio Conte things. And I'm not surprised. If nothing, that man knows how to compact up a team. He knows how to tighten them up. But for me, it would be like we have to mention.
00:53:19
Speaker
that penalty that was not given to Napoli is one of the most insane decisions. I don't understand how they saw that and they didn didn't give that penalty. I just don't get it. I gave a throw in instead to lecture. It was insane. that I don't think you're even allowed to do that in wrestling.
00:53:36
Speaker
Like, it was insane. It was it was a flattening of, um I think it was Neresh, who, or it was Nganz, who was headed the ball away, and he got completely flattened in the penalty area. And the i to me, that's just astonishing how that was in a penalty. you know There was nothing on the um on the ball. The ball was already away. It wasn't even close to, it was crazy, absolutely crazy. um But so no, Napoli deserved to win, but they, you know, this is the part of,
00:54:06
Speaker
the year we've seen this with Conte, around this time the enthusiasm wears off and it starts to get a little bit difficult and they start grinding out the results if they're going to do well. Well the taset test is now the acid now, built up a nice lead at the top, they're in good form, they're not defensive, they look really really solid, and they're always they find in a way and but now you know they they the next four games on Milan away on Tuesday, Atalanta at home at the weekend So two games in one week, two tough games in one week. We know Conte struggled with that all his whole career. Then Inter away and then Roma. Well, maybe we shouldn't we shouldn't count Roma as a tough game right now. But Roma at home, four big teams on paper. And so I think, listen, we'll know more after the end of this four game run.
00:54:55
Speaker
where Napoli exactly where Napoli are. Are they the real deal? Are they, I mean, listen, if they come out of those four games and they've still got like a four or five point lead, then it's different. Then then it's different. Then it's different. Because again, they've played Lece, Empoli, Como, Monza, Cagliari, Parma, Bologna, Verona and Juva. Those are the teams they've played.
00:55:17
Speaker
um Now, they're like I said, they're playing Milan, but they're playing a Milan who will be missing players because the circus we saw surrounding whether or not the game should be played shouldn't be played shouldn't be played shouldn't be played. I mean, it's it's just madness to me that they don't have a contingency plan after COVID still in place for natural disasters.
00:55:37
Speaker
It's astonishing or unforeseen events, regardless if it's a natural disaster or whatever. It is still astonishing to me. No, but this is astonishing to me that they do not have a contingency. I also loved how people that have no authority calling off games as well. Well, the mayor of the city can. He can absolutely. But you know what I mean? The way that the whole process works. His responsibilities towards his citizens, if he feels that he can't guarantee safety, Yeah, but how that everything is not aligned, like, you know, it gets cooled off with others without even knowing that the game's been cooled off. And it's just it's just completely chaos. But for me, it's a Serie A thing as well. Like, they should understand that when there when there's been a severe serious flood where people have died and which is the case in Emilia Romagna, it's been a horrible situation.
00:56:25
Speaker
Right? um and and And you have that situation. You should be aware that this there is a risk that this game could be called off or that it can't be played with crowd with a crowd or that you need to find a neutral venue. Well, for the love of Christ, you should have that contingency plan in place. Because now, when's this game going to be played?
00:56:45
Speaker
February? They reckon January or February, yeah. I mean, it's it's just, it's dumb. um and And of course now Milan go into this game with key players missing against Napoli. I've got to tell you, Hernandez and Reinders are out for this game. So, I mean, from from Napoli's point of view, that I think it adds to the feeling right now that, you know, I'm not going to call them lucky, but the feeling that just the little things seem to be going into, go Napoli's way right now. That could change. But and up until this point of the season,
00:57:12
Speaker
little things have been going their way, you know, ah penalty that the the ridiculous penalty they got to be, um who was it against? Emply, wasn't it? that Which was just a scandalous penalty, they got to win that game. Then, you know, you went as finishing as a draw, perfect, you know, winning the game with a corner. I mean, some of this is, you make your own luck.
00:57:33
Speaker
but you know, just the little things seem to be going their way. And even this, you know, the Milan game gets called off and Milan are without they two two of the the most important players for the match. and And, you know, so right now, everything seems to be going Napoli's way, but they're gonna now they're going to have their real they up their real big test. No, absolutely. One one hundred percent. and I agree with that. It literally is a case of it feels a little bit like it's it's his year a little bit, you know, a little bit, it feels like it. um But um then again, like I said, they should have had a penalty against Lecce, but they resolve it, it's called a scrappy goal. um And Bonjourno made a goal line clearance headed, that was just
00:58:21
Speaker
It was very good. Yeah, fantastic. Let's move on there, Nima too. Let's start racing through the other stuff because we've still got Roma to really dig our teeth into. Atalanta first thrashed Verona 6-1. After failing to score against Celtic in midweek, which was very, very frustrating in the Champions League, they they really did let out their frustration on poor Verona. and The game was over within 15 minutes and some some brilliant Atalanta attacking, some brilliant goals, brilliant finishing.
00:58:49
Speaker
Lookman and Rettaghi were the the two stars of the show once again, those who are really forming a great partnership, I think. Lookman, two goals, two assists. Rettaghi, two goals. He's now up to double figures, 10 goals for the season in Serie A. You predicted, I have to say, you were the first to predict this anywhere. I soon jumped on the wagon about a week after, and because I saw straight away that you know I could see it happening. Rettaghi, is he going to be a Capricorn in the area? I think there's no doubt about that. And the reason why I said that is because what that this was before having watched him this season where he has taken huge steps of improvement, which we haven't seen before. His hold-up play, his link-up play, his movement in build-up, putting players in into position. That's things we haven't seen before from him.
00:59:38
Speaker
But what we had seen from him was that Ariali, he's a monster and he's a killer in the box. And my thinking behind that was, well, if you play, if you're a killer in the box and you've got an Atalanta who creates so many chances, you're just going to by virtue of the odds have so many chances to score and he's a penalty taker. So for me, it was, it was a no brainer that he was going to be the Cabacana Mieda. However, now I'm thinking after 10 goals in nine games, or, you know, I'm thinking,
01:00:08
Speaker
Are we potentially looking at someone who can break Gonzalo Higuain and Chirimobula's record at 36? Because he's looking like a monster. um I know people will say, well, you know, we said the same thing about Lautaro and Victor Rosim and the last two seasons, and that's fair, we did. But the difference is that, of course, that Napoli won the Scoredetto in March, essentially, and did and jogged home for the rest of the season. Lauta Inter won the Scoredetto in March and Lautaro and Interwar on holiday for three months afterwards.
01:00:40
Speaker
Atalanta don't have that luxury. They're not going to win this Guaretto. And they're going to have they're goingnna have to fight until matchday 36, 37, 38 to secure their seasonal objectives of top four. So they don't have that objective. And and if he can be injury free, he's going to have to fight all the way to the end. And that to me suggests, especially towards the end and and in the Serie A, when you reach April, May,
01:01:07
Speaker
and you play against these empolis and caliaries who have secured, avoided the drop, they go on holiday. So there's goals to be had. I agree. And he takes the penalties as well. As I said, he takes the penalties as well, even though he missed one against Arsenal. I can't be able to forgive him for that. He pokes the ball really well. No, he does. But I'll probably never be able to forgive him for missing that penalty against Arsenal because Atalanta was so much better than Arsenal in that game.
01:01:35
Speaker
um And it really, really annoyed me that he didn't win that. But no, no, look, Retegi, if you look at also Lukman and Retegi as well, what a partnership they are. The way that Retegi flicks on and backheels him and he just comes in there with his technique and pace. Yeah, sure. And he's got a shot on him as well. Now, Atalanta are just an absolute joy to watch. And but above all, Charles charles de Kettelare. I mean, that goal, did you see it?
01:02:04
Speaker
that is quality brilliant that is quality only quality players can score up i thought there's a lot of great goals in this game actually even though even the gold from verona was was was fantastic yeah it was there's a fantastic goal by saw yeah power is an any under depression now nine goals seeed in their last last two games so he needs to yeah he needs to watch himself otherwise he could he could be at risk of the sack. I'll tell you who is at risk of the sack is Ivan Urich we're recording this on on Monday morning so by the time some of you guys listen to this there is every possibility that that Ivan Urich could have actually been sacked and because Monday is going to be a very key day for discussing his his future because Roma get thrashed 5-1 by Fiorentina at the at the Frankie it was
01:02:50
Speaker
a total mess of performance. listen to this xg that you're on seeing had in this game three point eight x i mean It's a team that that looks so broken, so clueless. tactically there was just no fight and as I think it looked like a team that wasn't playing for their manager and and and and the manager that maybe has lost the dressing room and and that was proven with ah halftime subsituttion the that he made where he took off Cristante, Angelino and Mancini And the I'm not sure about Angelina, but Cristante and Mancini didn't reappear for the second half on the bench. They didn't sit on the bench for the second half. So it appears to me that he he's he's lost. He doesn't have the dressing room with him, which is kind of surprising, because it's actually one thing that I thought I would have associated with Yurich. But yeah, it's it was a total mess of a performance. They were so open.
01:03:46
Speaker
which again you don't associate with a Yurich team. Yurich teams are usually quite good defensively and it just had the look of the end for Yurich. Just the look and the feel of this game, the look of the players on like Di Bala, look at the way that he was looking on the bench when he was taken off. Yurich looked like a broken man. I mean I should never have been appointed. This this is not a Yurich, Ivan Yurich team. And I like Ivan Yurich, but I want Ivan Yurich to take a job where he would have a full pre-season, a proper Mercata, where he could impose his football. This is this was stupid. And now this talk of calling De Rossi and bringing him back. It's like the Friedkins, I'm sorry, but they're completely clueless. They don't know what they're doing.
01:04:31
Speaker
Well, that let me ask you the question. Let me ask you the question then. Should the Friedkins, now they're under, obviously, in incredible pressure from the fans. should the freakin' sell Romanelle? Should they sell Romanelle? I mean, look at, just look at what, I mean, this summer has been, it's been a horror show from from start to finish. I mean, you know, De Rossi was sacked a few games into the season in a sacking that was handled so, so badly. And the CEO, the the former CEO, Lina Sulukwu, that woman, as you call her, was resigned of,
01:05:06
Speaker
Pretty much straight after because of the abuse and and we should say which we won't know the threats that that she got from from the Roma fans and But also if you just look at the way at the home upper management Not just the CEO but the sporting director Florence Gasol for you came in very very highly rated from France By the way, I've known about this guy for a couple of years and how highly rated it he is. And I don't want to write him off after one summer because I think he's coming to a very, very difficult situation. He was actually wanted by Manchester United as well. um I mean, he's overseen really a shocking summer market. um I don't want to put it all on him because there's obviously other people that are involved. but
01:05:43
Speaker
it As I've discussed, as i've i've said for since the start, you know it was a terrible market. the The way that they constructed the team and the squad signing. Some players that can play in some systems, some that can can play in another system. no Bring it in. Matias Sule is your marquee signing and you can't play with Paolo Di Bala.
01:06:04
Speaker
And then you play you play ah a system that doesn't have wingers and you bring in a manager that you're rich for the Rossi who's he doesn't play wingers and And then you know to make matters worse, you know, they then you bring in free transfers like who knows who hasn't even played and and comes on against Biorentina. That sums up everything. He comes on for his debut um after Pemosa got sent off and you're already getting hammered for one. And Hamels then scores a bizarre own goal on his debut four minutes into his debut. I mean, you've got that. So the transfer market's been a horror show. And then the Friedkins themselves going by Everton in in the the Premier League. So you' know you know you're not fully focused on Roma.
01:06:48
Speaker
your 10th place in Serie A, you have two wins in nine games in Serie A on the pitch, off the pitch, is so is the fans, are you've lost the fans. I mean,
01:07:00
Speaker
what something what what happens now, Nima? Should the Freekin sell the club? If they can't focus and create a structure in place, then yes, because it's a waste of everyone's time.
01:07:16
Speaker
Roma deserve better than this, than this circus, than this complete and utter telenovela that Roma have become now under the frequency. I don't I don't think that, I've no doubt that this is not what they wanted. I've no doubt that this is not what they had planned or envis envisaged for for themselves this season. But it's like this keeps happening. Had it not been for Mourinho or De Rossi, this would have happened already a couple of seasons ago.
01:07:52
Speaker
And that's what I don't like. It's the fact that they don't see so they can't seem to get the managerial roles pointed correctly so that they can start building something. Instead, it's like gaffer tape together structurally.
01:08:08
Speaker
on the side of the pitch and then they don't seem to have the patience and Rome, more importantly, Rome is a difficult place. You're always under pressure. You're always under criticism. It's a very heated piazza. It's a very hot piazza. It's like Naples, Rome. These places are very, very special places. So you're going to have to be able to handle that.
01:08:33
Speaker
And they seem to be very reactive. And they don't seem to understand that you can't do certain things. You can't just throw De Rossi and Mourinho out to the trash like that, that reactively. And I don't know how how much truth there is to them calling De Rossi back. I mean, that would be the, you know, he loves the club.
01:08:56
Speaker
And if it's possible to to to recover that relationship, they probably should do that. Now I'm seeing links to Mancini and Sari. regardless Again, let's say they appoint Mancini or Sari.
01:09:09
Speaker
What do Mancini, Sarri, De Rossi, and Yurich and Mourinho have in common? That'll be the four last coaches of Roma. There's nothing. It's just throwing shit at a wall and hoping something sticks. yeah Off the pitch, I think they are they've done some really good things. I think they've done a fantastic job. They've invested a lot, but they don't understand football, and that's fine. An owner doesn't need to understand football, but the owner needs to appoint someone who does.
01:09:36
Speaker
You know, Suning did not understand football. They first appointed Sabatini. That didn't work out. They appointed Marotta. Yeah. The best club, the best club. And that's to me a good ownership, a good ownership is does exactly that. you you You give, you point the right person in the right place.
01:09:55
Speaker
Yeah, the best run clubs snimer are always the clubs where everything is aligned. um but Obviously, and a coach, a manager is very, very important. It's vitally important. um But a well-run club is a club that isn't isn't completely reliant on their manager that that can work well and has a system and a structure where the manager, when he leaves,
01:10:19
Speaker
Someone else if you import the right manager can come in and and you know freaks up with the transfer market You're buying players not necessarily for for a certain manager or certain, you know it's it like Atalanta do. you know they they They have a structure that's so well oiled that, yes, okay, Gasparini is hugely important, but if they buy they bring in a coach who who is similar to Gasparini, well, you know they they have a certain way of doing things, whereas with
01:10:49
Speaker
with Rover, like you said, they jump around from one type of manager to another type of manager, to a manager that plays attacking, to a manager that plays defensive, to a manager that plays a wingers, to a manager that doesn't play with wingers. And then when they're buying players, they're buying players that don't suit one or or one side of a system or the other. There's no actual structure. It's not streamlined to work in a certain way, which is why it's been why it's so chaotic. And then when you bring in Durec,
01:11:13
Speaker
you bring them bring it in a manager who doesn't even fit those players that you've got anyway and it's and it's just you know what I mean it's just a complete it's just a complete mess there's there's there doesn't seem to be any system in place
01:11:27
Speaker
No, football on the football side of things that as i should I should say, on the football side there doesn't seem to be and any kind of proper strategy. No, on the pitch. Off the pitch they've done a really good job, they've done all the right moves, but the problem is on the pitch they they they haven't been able to find a sporting director or a sporting... so they don't trust whoever it is, they don't trust that person.
01:11:47
Speaker
and they bring on to let them handle it, even when things get tough. um and and and and and And that's the problem here. they they They seem to like shoot from the hip. And now you've got the Everton thing as well, which will piss the Roma fans off even more. And they're already angry. um So now there's complete confusion. and and and And that's never good. That's never a good good place to be. and And I think that it's, for me, it's almost inevitable now that Yurich leaves.
01:12:17
Speaker
It wouldn't surprise me if Yurij resigned himself because this is just such a shit show with who they bring in. I don't think it matters because the problems are still going to be there. And they need to this season, it feels like it's already kind of it's over for Rama. It's literally just damage control. Yeah. And we're all and we're just in October. A squad has been constructed so badly that I don't see whoever you bring in can possibly put together a working system that all players are suitable. If you play one system, you're going to have to leave out one or two of your stars. To be honest with you, the only person... If you play a winger system, Di Barla can't play. If you play a system without wingers, then Zulei can't play. So you're already screwed there. You have a lack of pace in the team.
01:13:04
Speaker
I mean, how we how we ah we go back to i mean the Fiorentina game, how on earth, after everything that happened, we're going back to a what two two players behind playing behind a one, behind the behind the one system, when it when it was quite clear early on in the season that that wasn't working four for De Rossi. And we're going back to, what, Di Barla and Pellegrini with zero pace, behind Dovbic with zero pace, when it was clear early on in the season.
01:13:28
Speaker
that Roma were struggling so badly, was was the reason why was because they were playing players that had no pace and there was no speed and and everything was central and there was no width, no width, no width, no speed was the reason why Roma had such a disastrous start to the season. and and And what, we've gone back to that now?
01:13:47
Speaker
I mean, that's also also on Yurich, but... Yeah, but Yurich plays 3-4-2-1. This is again, it's a stupid appointment. You don't appoint Ivan Yurich and don't play 3-4-2-1. That's how he plays his football. Again, I don't blame Yurich for being Yurich. I blame the Friedkins for sacking Darossi, not giving him what he wanted in the summer, and then appointing Yurich, which has no... doesn't work with the squad at all. Like it's again, it goes back to the, you know, the fish rots from the head down, Chinese programs. Even defensively. I mean, you expect Roma to, you expect Newridge team to at least be good defensively in that shot. Yeah, you do. In Celleck. Can I just say this Celleck. Oh my God. What this guy must be the worst before we defend the Rizzeria right now. I mean, he's he's given away, I want to say goal a game. ah How many goals did he give away in this game? I mean, the penalty, the goal he gave away was against Inse was Shambolic, the missed control. And then the penalty, and I mean,
01:14:39
Speaker
number The number of shambolic penalties considered this weekend, I mean, i mean unbelievable. Chelic was right up there. That was that was also ah Sunday league pub defending at Bedford Park. I mean, that was but was drunk defending. and Yeah, i it's it's really bad. It's really bad for Roma. But Fiorentina are in great form. They've got five wins in a row. They've scored 15 goals in their last three games. They're up to joint fourth in the table.
01:15:02
Speaker
Paladino has really turned it around then and and I want to give credit to Paladino because he's shown that actually he can be adaptable as a manager because he realized it wasn't working.
Fiorentina's Transformation with Palladino
01:15:11
Speaker
Fiorentino were really, really struggling at the start of the season. They were playing badly and they didn't look like they they had anything. He changed to a back four and since they've gone to a back four, they've been a completely different team. They're free flowing, they're free scoring, they're scoring for fun.
01:15:26
Speaker
And I have to praise Palladino. He realised and accepted that he couldn't play with a back three, even though that was the system that he likes to use. And he went to a back four and he's made it work. And they have to do that as a manager just sometimes. You have to accept that the system that you like playing doesn't work and you have to be adaptable enough to do it. And he's gone up in my estimation so much by showing that he's been been willing to do that. And and he's actually so you know in this this great run they've gone on, it's is it' ah is actually working, so I have to say well done to Palladino for that. and you know He's got he's got and a core of players now, um and we're talking about the transfer market, we've been very critical of Daniel Prade, but his his some of his key signings are really, really shining because Moisakine was again great, two goals, won the penalty, he's got seven in all competitions and and
01:16:16
Speaker
And he caused all kinds of problems in this game. and But Borve, i thought I thought it was really, really good in this game. He got a goal and an assist. Great performance. He was kind of everywhere, all action. And Adelie as well um is really picking up nicely. And I think he's definitely added something to the midfield. He got the assist. And Borve, Borve, Borve, Borve.
01:16:39
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, am all three of that those things, I think, have been really good. Did you see Eduardo Bove's agent has been teasing the ex-Roma CEO, Lina Suluku, in the comment section on Instagram? um ah Diego Tavano responds to Bove's latest Instagram post saying, Adrena Lina.
01:17:03
Speaker
Well, yeah, so yeah, I mean, obviously, yeah, there's something that that they're not too happy about that. But but yeah, it's it's so I think if you're into finally it's coming together for Fiorentina after, you know, they actually OK, nine goals conceded in nine games might not be the best, but but it's starting to come together. It's looking really, really good. And not just this game, but the fact that let's be honest,
01:17:32
Speaker
They've beaten they beat Milan, they beat Leccia 6-0, they beat Sankallen 4-2, now they've beaten Fiorenti in Roma 5-1. That's what? 15 goals in three games, conceding only three. 15-3 goal difference in the last three games.
01:17:52
Speaker
Fiorentina are an absolute fire um and it's it's coming together for Palladino and and he's he's he's doing what none of his predecessors could do it seems like in the in in the years that where they were there um and and he's doing it and and I'm starting to feel that fairly happy about the fact that Fiorentina could finally under under paladino actually win something important and and and and finishing the top six where they where they i know that that's where they want to be um obviously you know i want to see
01:18:36
Speaker
Parisi and Caio their play but Fiorentina want to have success and and if this team gives them success then you know great but yeah I'm um' I think they you know Yasin Adli you know how much I love that player I think he's a wonderful little player. Bove is also a favorite of mine I think Gorsens has turned out to be a really smart signing as Yeah, that's that's another
Lazio's Stellar Performances and Europa League Hopes
01:18:55
Speaker
one. That's a fourth sign in. Prior to that, we've been critical of him, but his transfer market has has has worked. that Even Colpani has been a little bit better in recent games as well. We started to chip in. so this felt Fair play to Prior there. He seems to have done well.
01:19:11
Speaker
No, he's done well this time around. I want to also want to praise Komutso, the young, I think he said a teenager at centre back. He won every deal in this game and he also got praised by Palladino, so he's got a big future ahead of him. So yeah, um we we kind of where we we might have a another promising young Italian centre back hopefully coming through there. So yeah, it's it's um positive times for Fiorentino, also positive times for for Lazio, who who win again, 3-0 against Genoa.
01:19:40
Speaker
and And again, Nuno Tavares, two assists in this game. This guy, this guy's unbelievable. He's unbelievable. He is, he is a force of nature. Some of his runs from end to end, like the run he did in the build up to the Nozzling goal. yeah I mean, this guy, I mean, I think you said last week, the end of the season. No, no, that's yeah that's who you're going to have big teams around Europe trying to sign this guy at the end of the season because he is He's like, he's kind of a bit, he's a bit like Teo Hernandez at his best, isn't he? The way, the so far this season, the way that he does those, those runs and he just drives with the ball and no- He's more powerful than, and he's only 24 as well. Like he, he's, he's, um he's powerful. Like it's, it's like, he's more, Teo is, is not, you know, Teo has pace and technique and so does Tavares, but Tavares is also much more physical presence.
01:20:33
Speaker
than Theo is. And his crosses and timings is what really impresses me the most. oh so na It's it's he's been outstanding and in if he continues like this Every single team in in in in in the city other the top teams are gonna be flocking around him Antonio Conte is looking at that and drooling So is sorry in there. So are you there? So are me and everybody's looking at that and they're drooling
01:21:04
Speaker
yeah Yeah, because he's he's he's unbelievable. i said that He's been the signing of the system. I got a lot of stick because I remember when Arsenal signed him and I said ah ah this guy has something and and then it didn't really work out for him at Arsenal. He struggled defensively. He still needs to improve defensively. and but But I knew that there was a top player there. I knew it. You could see that that he has these qualities that, you know, the way that he, especially going forward,
01:21:29
Speaker
flying kind of full back. He has those qualities. I could see it at Arsenal and I'm really happy for him that you he's started to show it because there is a really really quality player there and yeah I mean he's he's such a weapon for Lazio and yeah Lazio got another good win and Nozlin came in and scored a really really great goal.
01:21:49
Speaker
Unless you have depth and and and in and and potential in their attacking, so Kanye is out of this game, Nozzling comes in and scores. um you know and then Even Pedro, at 37 years old, is still doing doing great. He's still going strong. Second second goal this week. He scored the scored in the Europa ah League as well. His second home game in a row in Serie A after the he scored the win against Empoli. He got four this season. He's doing really, really well. Ravela as well is having an excellent start this season. It's the Ravela that we hope to see when when he joined Lazio. He's always involved, always wants the ball, wins the ball.
01:22:26
Speaker
um yeah fearless kind of player I want to raise a little bit of a warning finger or like a little bit of a warning watch out for Lazio in the Europa League I think they can go far I think given the structure of this as well I think there's they're almost a shoe in to finish in the top eight which will give them a bye if I'm not mistaken to the next round um and from then on I look at that, I look at the teams there, and I gotta be honest with you, except for Man United and Tottenham, who are a mess defensively, and mit Frankfurt, but other than that, like most of those teams, Lazio can beat. I really think Lazio can go far in this tournament and potentially even cause a huge upset by winning it.
01:23:19
Speaker
ah really Well, they they've actually been rotating their team in Europa. They've been playing mainly like their backups. And like I said, I think it shows actually Lazio have better depth than and maybe the certainly an attack. Lazio actually have pretty damn good good to good good options in attack. At full back they've got decent decent backup options, at full back as well. um theyre they yeah Maybe the midfielders could do with some more with with some more depth, but yeah I think they're doing ah doing really really great. and and and you know Now, do you know how tight it is from second to seventh?
Competitive Serie A Standings and Top Four Predictions
01:23:53
Speaker
in in the Sierra Napoli have got a first with 22 but then you've got Inter in second with 18, Juventus third with 17 and then you've got Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lazio all joint fourth with 16 and then you've got Milan who've got 14 points but they've got a game in hand so they win that game in hand against Bologna they got to 17 joint with Juventus so I mean it's so so tight from second to seventh now which is really really good to see it's making it for a really kind of exciting Serie A season because we you know we thought it was probably top four or top five, we thought was an absolute guarantee. But now we're seeing actually the likes of Lazio and Fiorentino are actually start showing that they could they can actually maybe putting a bit of a challenge themselves ah against these big bigger teams. So that's really, really good to see. And it's made for for, I think, a fantastic kind of first quarter to the Serie A season.
01:24:47
Speaker
Absolutely. and now it's it's ah I'm really, really impressed with Lazio. I still think that, for me, the top four is Mi Lan Juve Inter Napoli. I think those are the top four because I think they're just head and shoulders above everybody else.
01:25:03
Speaker
um even Milan with their problems, I think i just qualitatively too good to to to mess it up. um But the Fiorentina, Atalanta and Lazio, they're going to give everyone a run for their money because Roma are out. I don't care who takes over, even if Sarri takes over. And I think Sarri is probably their best option because I think Sarri knows how to handle difficult environments. He's been at big clubs.
01:25:29
Speaker
you know he he He knows how to handle a squad not suited to him. But regardless, I just don't see Roma coming back into a top four fight. I just don't see that, no matter who the coach is. yeah um Although I would love to see Sarri at Roma, I think it would be an ideal appointment.
01:25:50
Speaker
but It's, um regardless, I think the top four is there, but I think the the rest, Atalanta Fiorentina Lazio, that's, thats ah it's a spicy, they they can they can they can cause upsets, absolutely, especially Atalanta. Genoa though, quick note on them, obviously, they've they're going to sign Balotelli now, they've confirmed that he will join officially on Monday or I think Tuesday. We know it's desperation desperation stuff, out but a quick note on that, I mean,
01:26:17
Speaker
Yeah, is can he help? Can he do anything to save them this season? Or are we looking at a Genoa team that looks like it's probably destined to go down?
Genoa's Fight Against Relegation
01:26:28
Speaker
It's better than what they've got. I mean, they you know, they shouldn't be in the situation to begin with. I don't think they're destined for for the drop, but they're going to be there about. The teams I'm worried about is Venetia Lecce Genoa Verona.
01:26:42
Speaker
um Those are the ones I'm worried about, Parma perhaps. But other than that, like but I do think that Genoa will survive. I still think that. I think I'm more worried about Lece and Verona and and Venezia than I am for Genoa. I think at the end of the day, Gielardino will sort it out um or or they will sort out, they have the quality to do so.
01:27:05
Speaker
I think what what he will do, Balotelli, is he will probably create more space for players like Vitigna and Pinamonte to shine in Excel. Um, because he can, you know, because of the player he is. Um, but, uh, you know, it's, it's, it's a situation they shouldn't have found themselves in to begin with. And, and they, and, and, and now we've understood now after everything that's happened with, with, with the owners, it's, we've understood that this was, uh, this was, this is, you know, they got the, the Genoa fans were fooled and, and.
01:27:40
Speaker
It's not a good, you know, and and Genoa find themselves in all sorts of trouble. And I hope that they can pull out because again, Genoa, Sampdoria, we want these clubs in the Serie A. The Serie A deserves to have Derby de la Lantana. It's one of the most beautiful dabbies in all of European football. So I hope they survive and I hope Sampdoria comes up.
01:28:00
Speaker
Yeah, um just run down the other fixtures. So Udenezer beat Callery 2-0, they're right up there as well. Torino beat Korma 1-0, and they're also doing well, top half of the table. And then Parma 1, Empoli 1, and Monza 2, Venezia 2.
Lorenzo Luca's Rise at Udinese
01:28:16
Speaker
We have to talk about briefly about Udenezer.
01:28:19
Speaker
they it's not the Lorenzo Luca is is starting to really, really come to his own. He is an absolute monster. And even in this game, and Keenan Davis as well, I mean that that goal, power, technique, pace, composure, it was it was brilliant. Now they're looking really, really good.
01:28:40
Speaker
um And you know compliments to Kostaronyaich, who we had Maduka Okoyo on, who said you know he's a great coach and he's got them believing in themselves and he's completely different. and you know You can tell that this is a in ssi and pretty much the same players who who really believe in what they're doing.
01:29:02
Speaker
um and and and are doing and and are doing really, really well. They're playing some good football, they're solid defensively, they're a difficult team to break down and Lorenzo Luca up front is a monster. I really think he should be in the Italy squad. I think he's done more than enough to be in the Italy squad.
01:29:19
Speaker
He made his debut, didn't he? Yeah. but um yeah he's yeah He's doing great. He's actually been linked to Juventus as well. and I'm not surprised at that because he's such a physical presence um and and he's he's not like Petania who's heavy. He's actually pretty light on his feet.
01:29:41
Speaker
being tall and big. He's not that kind of boom boom like giant heavy touch like Lukaku kind of. No, he like in terms of movement, he's not heavy at all. He's pretty light on his feet. He's pretty quick and and it's he he causes teams problems and he's quite turning out to be quite the little poacher as well.
01:30:04
Speaker
So now I'm really impressed by him so far this season and and we'll see where he goes. But I hope he stays for Urinese until the end of the season at least. i mean i'm you know we don't want to I want these small teams to at least enjoy their stars for one season, not just six months.
01:30:20
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, that's fair enough. um Right, let's move on to some midweek round of Serie A.
Impactful Midweek Games: Milan vs Napoli Title Implications
01:30:28
Speaker
So I'm just going to read out the fixtures. We've got Caliri Bologna, Lecce Verona and Milan Napoli on Tuesday, Empoli Inter, Benetzi Udenese, Atalanta Monza, Juventus Parma on Wednesday and Genoa Fiorentina, Como Lazio and the Roma Torino on Thursday. There's one game, of course, that stands out among all the rest and that is Milan Napoli.
01:30:50
Speaker
which is going to be a huge, huge game in the in the the race for the title. If Napoli win, they will actually go temporarily, they will go seven points clear at the top temporarily before obviously Inter and Uve play. But and in to Milan, they will actually go 11 points ahead of Milan already.
01:31:14
Speaker
And I think even though they have a game in hand, I think you don't make that up on Antonio Conte playing once a week. So for Milan, this is actually a crucial, crucial game for for for Milan. If they actually want themselves to be um you know fighting for for for the Scudetto, which obviously they they they have ambitions to do, then they certainly can't lose this game. But also they they want to be really be winning this match to try and try and yeah lay down a marker that they can it can be there this season.
01:31:43
Speaker
agreed 100%. Nothing more to add to that other than than Milan could potentially be out of the Tskoretto race by Wednesday.
01:31:56
Speaker
lost to Napoli 11 points even if they have a game in hand they're not making up eight points so yeah potentially yeah it's it's not it's it's uh Milan can't afford to lose that game but that's that's all i'm gonna say because yeah no no liy they just kind't of afford exactly And we'll see we'll see who the manager is for for Roma in the last game of the midweek round against Torino. Right, let's finish off with Baggio, Premface and Celia as of the week. So Baggio for me is Juventus versus or Inter versus Juventus, I mean for the neutrals, the neutral spectacle, I mean just
01:32:37
Speaker
Just a magical game. Let's celebrate the just the beauty of that game, rather than the defending. ah but The lack thereof. The lack of defending, yeah. it was it was It was fantastic to see. It was an entertaining round. For me, it's the Serie A. The goals galore. We've seen so many goals and good goals in the Serie A this weekend. I mean, even Monza Venezia had four goals in the first half.
01:33:06
Speaker
Like yeah it was it was absolutely mad. um the Crazy, crazy. I mean, 6-1 Verona, 5-1 Fiorentina. And even games like Napoli, Lecce and Torino Como that finished just 1-0, there were loads of chances in those games. So it was a very, very entertaining weekend. Yeah, it really was. um Prem Face of the Week, I have won.
01:33:30
Speaker
It's our good old friend Inula Aluco, who was a pundit on the game between Tottenham and... I'm sorry, I can't remember the game they played. Tottenham against a team in the Europa League. Charlton scored a penalty, a pen-income penalty. And Aluco called it a panaca penalty. Oh my gosh. She is, she really is so bad. It's actually...
01:33:59
Speaker
It's actually quite embarrassing that she still, you know, I don't want someone to lose their job, but it's embarrassing that she she has a position on on TV. She's every single week, she makes gaff off the gaff off the gaff. She doesn't have a job. I got one sent in from one of our patrons, Luke Taylor, who i I've not heard it. And I don't think he's lying because I know he isn't, but I need i need audio evidence of this. So if anyone's listening and have got it, please tag me.
01:34:28
Speaker
on social media at Nima Tavroude because I need to hear this. Apparently the commentators in the newance new Newcastle Chelsea game said that Cole Palmer is in the same conversation as Gianfranco Zola. That might be possible actually that that's true because after the game Cole Palmer was asked about Gianfranco Zola and you know did he how much of a great player he he was. And Cole Palmer says he'd he'd never seen him play. But he did say that, but he did say and this just sums up, this just sums up some of the younger generation, doesn't it? Nono rant coming on now. ah the that He said that he had seen him play on FIFA and that he was an icon, like an icon on FIFA, a FIFA icon. right So he goes, he must have been a great player because because he was a FIFA icon.
01:35:19
Speaker
Which was brilliant. I actually do not have another supreme face which has just come to mind and that is James Madison called it's called the Mickey Moore the the new Neymar said he played like Neymar again in that same Europa League match as well. He called him the new Neymar and which was quite amusing because then at the weekend, Mickey Moore, Mickey Moore was actually a really, really talented player. i want to tell it pis i I watched him at youth level and he'sri he is really, really talented. But it was quite amusing because at the weekend, Mickey Moore made his first start for Tottenham. And he he, everybody was obviously talking about him being the new Neymar and giving him the big, you know, the big and um preview to the game. And and he was playing against Crystal Palace.
01:36:09
Speaker
and in that game. He had ah read it out. Zero goals, zero assists, zero shots, zero chances created, zero successful dribbles, zero accurate crosses, zero final third entries, zero touches in the box. So yeah, not not really the new Neymar.
01:36:31
Speaker
a Cole Palmer, Gianfranco Zola conversation. New Mickey, oh God, oh. Mickey Moore as well. He just has that name that wants to make you, that just sounds like prim face kind of name, doesn't he? Mickey Moore. Mickey Moore. He does, he can literally just say. Best in the world, the new name of our best player in the world, Mickey Moore. What's his name? My good friend, who I love. Like you've got the mask on, I always forget his name. Mike Samuel. Yeah, Mike Samuel. I can just literally hear him say that. He's the new name he is.
01:37:05
Speaker
Love it. Right, Saria Ass of the Week. I have two. First of all, Simone and Zaki. but I love this. I love him for this. Sibani Zaghi going full on Max Allegri. People comparing Thiago Moza to so Max Allegri, I mean he put that to bed with that 4-4 but that all would have ended. But Sibani Zaghi saying when when people were complaining about him given not giving in to youngsters a chance.
01:37:35
Speaker
He said that they need to learn their apprenticeship. and and in in in steady They used to serve their apprenticeship instead he achieved, like him and his brother Pipro did. Yeah, we first were in Serichi, then Seria B, then Seria. I love that. I absolutely love it. um I absolutely love that. And I love how that triggers you. It really did trigger me. It really did trigger me. Someone put it in our group, didn't it didn't they? I've got to say, Lele Adani is just, he's a walking Seria.
01:38:07
Speaker
What's he, what's he done now? I like him too, but he's insane. I think his tactical analysis is really, really good, but. Yeah, but he's over the top. What's he done now? He had this, um, I think it was on TikTok or whatever he, whatever he did or put up something about some weird, passionate, crazy, big eyed rant about how sex and football are the same. Oh, okay. All right. Okay.
01:38:35
Speaker
I mean you know I don't know where this clip was from and it felt like it was AI but it it wasn't. He's literally talking about the the passion in football and the passion in sex and then the climax in football when you score a goal and the climax in sex and he was just uh maybe he's been watching too much train spotting I don't know what he's been watching but it was just so weird and so stereotypical and just ah he was too much man. Yeah he can be a little bit of a fanboy sometimes. You reckon? When he gets excited about like messing with you. You reckon like joining the World Cup when he's sitting there with an Argentina shirt on, commentating, I mean come on. It's embarrassing. Unless he does a sideways pass and then he literally
01:39:21
Speaker
does what you just described. Well, yeah, he does. No, it was, it was very, very good. The other story I asked for the week is Roberto Mancini, sat as Saudi Arabia manager just over a year after leaving the Italy job and he goes to take the money in, in Saudi Arabia. And I mean, I guess he'll still get a nice payoff from Saudi Arabia, but yeah, he really did bad there. Really, really, really, really bad performance. And he, he's just the way he held himself. We know he's a very, um <unk>ile person and any that you know he the way that he kind of yeah pissed off the fans. Didn't he give a finger to the the Saudi Arabia fans? Well he just walked off before the penalty shootout. Yeah but he did it last week in his last match as well. I don't know if he flipped the finger but he he had an argument with Saudi fans that were criticising him.
01:40:11
Speaker
Yeah, but he was he was miserable. He was unhappy there. He was not happy there at all. And and in Mancho, is as we've seen his entire career, he's the kind of guy who needs to be happy often on the pitch. He's a little bit like Balotelli. When he's not happy, he's miserable. um And he is it's a bit like Mourinho and Conte. And content when they're miss when they're not happy, they they they don't have kind of this diplomatic middle gray area. They're either really happy or they suck the energy out of a room by just walking into it.
01:40:40
Speaker
like there' just There's no in-between with them. um and he He was not happy. though it was It was evident early on. and The Saudis are thrilled to get rid of him. I've spoken to many many Saudi journalists who are like,
01:40:53
Speaker
Yeah, I love the guy as a coach before, but we're very happy to see him go. He was horrible. He was just a toxic person. They they they used the word toxic about him. Everything about him was toxic. I think what's next for Mancho after a little bit of a break is being linked to the Manchester United job. I think he already has been. Well, there you go. that's um all it you has yeah yeah Manchini being free.
01:41:21
Speaker
means whysoever he'll do that to city same with the roma job isn't it is this whether he'll do that to to laia yeah haven yeah I don't think he cares about Citi as much as he cares about Lazio. But we'll see. He is very much loved at Citi. And with that investigation going on, with in which he's very heavily implicated, he might not want to piss them off. We'll see. um Right. um Yeah, let's see about that. um Thank you everybody for listening. We will be back again.
01:41:49
Speaker
for Q and&A episode probably will come out on Wednesday and then we will have the Thursday episode which will be a reaction to the Tuesday and Wednesday games. Yeah, the midweek review of the city. I'm previewing the weekend's action as well. The games are, you know, we're we're fully on, the season really starts now. That's how I feel. Like now the season really starts. There's games every three days and it's important games and yeah. Yeah, for sure. Thanks everyone for listening. Have a good week. Ciao ciao.