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Free Weekly Episode - Roma's Mancini Stun Juventus, Sarri’s Lazio Masterclass Vs Napoli, Fiorentina Shock AC Milan & Much More (Ep. 303)
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From Roma's Gianluca Mancini and Lazio's Matias Vecino scoring screamers to beat Juventus and Napoli respectively making Serie A top 4 race much more open after AC Milan lose to in-form Fiorentina to Inter back to winning ways as well as Champions, Europa and Conference League previews and much, much more as Nima and Carlo break down another eventful weekend in Italian football.
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Italian football podcast.
Show Preview
00:00:11
Speaker
I'm Carlo Garganese here as always with Nima Tavalli. What a weekend of
Napoli's Defeat to Lazio
00:00:17
Speaker
culture. We have such a jam packed show for you today. Napoli,
00:00:22
Speaker
Not as invincible as we thought, Mauricio Sarri shocks his former team.
Milan's Defeat to Fiorentina
00:00:27
Speaker
Milan's upturn in form comes to an end as they are soundly beaten by an improving Fiorentina.
Mourinho's Catenaccio Victory
00:00:34
Speaker
Jose Mourinho wins the Catanaccio Derby against Max Allegri thanks to a wonder goal from the most unlikely player ever.
Inter's Recovery and European Previews
00:00:42
Speaker
Elsewhere we have Inter, they got back to winning ways. Atalanta, they slipped up again and we'll also be previewing Tottenham against Milan in the Champions League and looking ahead to the last 16 of the Europa League and the Conference League, a lot of it Italian.
Podcast Subscription and Engagement
00:01:00
Speaker
teams playing in that. For all our first time listeners, this is our weekly free episode, which we do every Monday, reviewing the weekends area 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 we do throughout the week, including our weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday,
00:01:19
Speaker
where we answer all the questions sent in from our patrons, plus our weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction and much, much more, then go to patreon.com slash T-I-F-P and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. And for all of you listed on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, we'd greatly appreciate a five-star rating and a follow or subscription as this
Major Weekend Games Analysis
00:01:45
Speaker
really helps to spread the gospel of Syria and Italian football. Okay, let's get straight into it.
00:01:53
Speaker
Right, three massive games this weekend in particular to discuss. We'll start off with the Sunday evening game with Roma beating Jose Mourinho versus Max Allegri. It was dubbed the Catenaccio Derby. Two coaches who prefer defending to attacking. Let's start discussing this first from the Roma point of view. One nil win for Roma, the most unlikely of scorers ever.
00:02:23
Speaker
Mancini scoring the goal, Gianluca Mancini with a long-range strike. From the Roma point of view, what are your takeaways, Nima, from this game?
00:02:34
Speaker
I was incredibly impressed by Roma's discipline that they showed, that Rijaluka Mancini for once showed, how compact they were, how united they were, how disciplined they were,
00:02:53
Speaker
well prepared and well organized. They were cohesive. All the things that we didn't see against Cremonese and all the other stuff that kind of where they let their Roman hot heads get the best of them. None of that was there. They were a typical disciplined vintage Mourinho team and their backs were a little bit against the wall. They knew they had to win this in order to stay in the top four race.
00:03:23
Speaker
And that's exactly what they did. And defensively, they were excellent. I was, I mean, the smalling, Ibanez, Mancini, all of them faultless, didn't put a foot wrong throughout. But no, it was, they did really, really well. And also in midfield, I was impressed. I thought I really, really, it was important for Mourinho to get this kind of a performance and result from the team to show that
00:03:53
Speaker
Yes, there are issues with consistency, but against the top teams, let's review the top teams. He's done really, really well. Draw against Milan, beat Inter, draw against Juve, now beat Juve. Napoli is the only team that they lost, but they did well against them.
00:04:15
Speaker
So no, it was really, really good for Mourinho, for Roma after a very difficult week. There's been lots of arguing and fighting and drama after what happened last week when he went up against the fourth official for whatever he said and the red card and the arguing and all that.
00:04:38
Speaker
No, I was really impressed. I was really impressed. But also you have to give shout out to Rui Patricio, who's we've everyone is criticized and quite rightly so. But he was that save on Rabio was that was crazy.
00:04:52
Speaker
Yeah, he's been the worst goalkeeper in Serie A this season, statistically provable, that he's been the worst goalkeeper in Serie A. But that was a world-class save. I thought he also made a really good save from Dean Maria's long shot, which wasn't an easy save either in the second half. And he was a bit more of a calming influence in this game. But yeah, like you said, I think the defense was excellent.
00:05:16
Speaker
They only conceded one big chance from open play with the Ravio header. I mean, yes, Juventus, you know, they had chances, but they were mainly for set pieces. But from open play, really, the back three were excellent. We've questioned Mancini and Ibanez a lot, but, you know, they were really, really good.
00:05:35
Speaker
Manchini though, I mean, I think anybody would have predicted that he would be the winner, score the winner. I mean, once in a lifetime goal, really, let's be honest. I mean, when does he ever score a goal like that? When does he ever score? He hasn't scored for two years. Last time he scored I think was in Serie A was March, March 2021, I think. And it was just a goal out of nowhere. And I think it's one of those goals that it was an amazing goal, but it's one of those goals that
00:06:05
Speaker
You know, he could hit that 100 times and probably only once or twice he would score. It was the first thing that reminded me of was this was a long time ago when I was a young kid when 25 years ago when Nigel Winterburn, who was a left back for Arsenal,
00:06:22
Speaker
who never scored any goals unleashed an absolute rocket from a similar range against Chelsea to win the game. Arsenal versus Chelsea, 3-2, Arsenal came from behind to win that game. And he, again, he was like,
00:06:40
Speaker
Winterburn could have hit that 100 times and he only scored one goal. I still remember the celebration and Mancini was the same. Mancini was decisive in this game because he got Moisakine sent off. I didn't like his behaviour before. He seems to have a fetish for pulling dreadlocks, Mancini. He got him sent off. He is such a douche.
00:07:06
Speaker
But he's the kind of player that he's our douchebag. He's our bastard. He's our bastard. He's a douchebag, but he's our douchebag. Matarazzi was that kind of a guy and Conte was that kind of a guy. But I've got to say, I was so impressed by how disciplined he was. Usually, he can use his head.
00:07:27
Speaker
but he was completely composed. We've got a question on this for Tuesday's Q&A episode about actually, should we be giving Manchini more credit this season? Has he been better? Is it because we see these episodes where he does just
00:07:44
Speaker
just like he's got a screw loose, just does mad things like pulling dreadlocks, he's done it two games in a row now, and all the other stuff that he does where he just loses his mind. And that distracts from actually his defending this season, maybe actually has been better than we think. I think both yes and no. I think it kind of goes together, those things. Yes, I do think he's improved defensively under Mourinho.
00:08:08
Speaker
all of them have. Ibanias has, Mancini has, Smalling has, all of them have. But I also think that he's still a little bit... If he loses his temper and does something crazy, he can still get himself sent off, especially his elbows. He has no control over his elbows when he jumps up. He can hit you in the face and break your nose with that. And he's very unpolished that way. But I do think that he's kind of
00:08:37
Speaker
We've seen less of that in the last few months, yes. And again, if you can continue to make fouls without getting caught, like pulling dreadlocks and whatever, then that's the dark arts. That's part of the game. It's up to the referees to see that.
00:08:58
Speaker
But it's more this kind of crazy stuff that he does, the elbows and the faces and kicking and doing crazy stuff that gets him sent off.
00:09:12
Speaker
But yeah, no, definitely he has improved. But I'm impressed with his, you know, I've always thought, I mean, when Roma played him as a regista during, I think it was, what's his name? Paolo, what's his name? Yes, when he played him there as they had to, because they didn't have any midfielders, everyone was injured.
00:09:32
Speaker
That's when I think he was consistently best at Roma. I don't think he can ever play in a back-four, so I think if there ever was a system shift where Roma moved to a back-four, then maybe move him up in midfield. I do think he has a role to play at Roma, yes, but how good he can be as a defender, I wonder if this is it. I don't think he can get much better.
00:10:01
Speaker
Well, personally, I'm not convinced of him as a holding midfielder because I'm not sure about his passing, but yeah, I do think he has improved under Mourinho. Spin at Solar has definitely improved in the last few games as well. I thought he was, again, impressive in this game. He did one vintage run in the second half where he slowed the ball down, slowed the game down, waited for Quadrado to then make the challenge and then just
00:10:24
Speaker
just swept the ball away from him and went on his run, which was just exactly the kind of thing that Spinet Solar used to do all the time a couple of years ago. So that is really, yeah, it's really positive and it's really lovely to see that Spinet Solar is starting to become a player. I'm not going to dare say he's anything like he was two years ago, but he's starting to have a few more of those moments every game now where you think, hmm, he's got that little bit of a spark back now.
00:10:52
Speaker
And with the squad, it's Nancini, I'm to name the squad in the next week or two for the Euro 2024 qualifiers. It's a tough one for Nancini. Does he get an Italy recall now? It's a difficult one. Italy got a lot of good options down the left-hand side, left back. And Spinet Soler, I think, is putting himself back into the picture, again, for a potential call-up.
00:11:18
Speaker
But yeah, the only other thing I would say from the Roma point of view, as much as we've praised Roma, I've praised Roma, they're defending everything. Ultimately though, and I'll come onto this when we discuss about Juventus, I do think Roma were still lucky to win this game. I don't think they deserve to win it. I think a draw would have definitely been much fairer. I think that
00:11:39
Speaker
Mourinho's choice of Di Bala as the lone striker, I mean, I think if Roma lose this game, he gets criticised for that. I'm not sure I like that choice, to be honest. It gave you, Roma, no depth at all with Pellegrini and Wijnaldum behind. I think they just killed Roma offensively and they really, they created nothing all game. I mean, their goal came from
00:11:59
Speaker
from out of nowhere. That doesn't mean that Roma didn't play a good game, that they weren't good defensively, they weren't structurally good, that they weren't disciplined, all the things that you said. But I just think, you know, offensively, you know, maybe Marina would have been happy with the draw, maybe that's what he was playing for, maybe he wanted to be tight and maybe he thought that, you know, Juventus would concede at least one and that they would be disciplined defensive enough to be able to do that. So maybe that was his plan all along. But I think ultimately, whichever the plan was, I think Roma didn't deserve to win this game.
00:12:29
Speaker
at all. But yeah, it's still a fantastic win for them. It puts them back in the top four and it's a much needed win after that defeat to incriminating in the game before. So it was very, very important for them. We just have to give a shout out to the Roma crowd, man.
00:12:51
Speaker
Like that atmosphere, it was electric. It was absolutely crazy. Packed crowd again, packed capacity crowd, the atmosphere before, during, after, the songs they play. I mean, it's just, you don't need to be a Roma fan to appreciate that. No, not for sure. And that's been one of the beautiful things about Roma this last year or so. Well, under Mourinho, hasn't it?
00:13:16
Speaker
the crowd is getting packed out now, again. And this is the Serie A that we grew up with. Exactly. That's what I was going to say. Napoli packed, Inter packed, Milan packed, Fiorentina packed, like weekend, weekend, lecture capacity. And events was empty. Well, the Deli Alpi was always empty. Exactly. It's exactly like what the Serie A we grew up with.
00:13:38
Speaker
Inventors playing half empty stadiums, everyone in capacity. Half empty stadium with the crowd 10 miles away from them. Exactly. It's literally the city we grew up with. Let's move on to Inventors then and discuss this game from the Inventors points of view. Would you agree that Inventors were unlucky? Yeah, I think so. I mean, when you hit the woodwork, what is it, three times?
00:14:05
Speaker
Well, you can't call that good luck. I mean, you just can't. I didn't think they deserved to lose either. I think it was one of those games where it is just decided by the one goal, the tightest of margins, and in a moment of individual brilliance decided it. And equally as important, like we said, Rupatricio saves, just as important.
00:14:29
Speaker
um on on on Rabio and Di Maria and all that uh you know it's it's it's just you know it's uh i think they were unlucky i i mean the i i felt that Juve were in control of this game for most of the like it just didn't i didn't feel like
00:14:47
Speaker
Oh, for sure. You were shaken by Roma or anything like that. I just felt that you were like they were calm. Maybe, you know, Mourinho, you know, did the Italian thing of luring them into a false sense of security. But no, I think they I think they played well, to be honest, you there.
00:15:06
Speaker
Yeah, I thought it was one of their better games in terms of control of the game. You know how critical I am and how I want Juventus to control the game. I want them to be the bosses on the pitch. I don't want them to go there and allow the opposition to be the bosses and just play counter-attack. And well, Juventus controlled this game. They had 59%, almost 60% possession.
00:15:29
Speaker
They had 14 shots to six. OK, many of those shots were not that threatening, but it still shows that Juventus were the bosses. They were the ones taking the game to Roma. They were the ones with the territorial dominance. They had six corners to two and they hit the woodwork three times, like we said. And like I said before, Roma barely created a single chance. Can you name a single chance? The only half chance I can think of
00:15:52
Speaker
and you can't call Mancini's got a chance. That's just a fantastic shot. They could have closed him down maybe, but you see Mancini taking a shot from 30 yards. I don't think you expect, oh gosh, I need to get out there and throw three men in line of the ball because this is a good long range shoot. I mean, you don't expect Mancini to score from 30 yards out.
00:16:12
Speaker
The only chance I can think of that Roma had half chance was smaller than at the back post at 1-0, where they put across the back post and Shezny mistimed the flight. That was from a very tight angle. I can't think of another chance, even half chance, that Roma had in the game. So I thought Juventus were in control. At the same time, though, if I want to be critical from a
00:16:39
Speaker
from a technical point of view, and let's say an ideological point of view, you know my view, my ideology when it comes to allegory, is two things. First of all, Juventus still don't create enough from open play. They hit the woodwork three times, but two of them came off set pieces. So let's say only, I know it's a big game, you're not expecting to start to create chance after chance after chance in a big game.
00:17:06
Speaker
They created the one big chance from Open Play, the Rabio header, which was a fantastic save from Rui Patricio. But that come of a cross. And this is the problem that I have. And this was what I said on Thursday when I was jokingly saying that
00:17:23
Speaker
after the Torino game, after the Turin Derby, that Juventus played Brexit football, that all four of their goals in that game were from set pieces and crosses. And that kind of sums up, I think, Juventus' problem is that they only create chances from set pieces and crosses.
00:17:40
Speaker
It's never a passing move. It's never opening up the opposition with one twos or patterns of play or a through ball or a chance through the middle, you know, you know, a cut back where you get to the byline and then cut it back into the area. You know, that's the football that generally creates the high quality chances. And, you know, with Juventus, it's just crosses and set pieces or it's a moment of individual brilliance.
00:18:03
Speaker
which isn't through, you know, team coaching or anything, you know, like DeMaria, for example, against non that amazing curling effort into the top corner, you know, you can't coach that, that's just the moment of individual brilliance. And so, you know, I think this is why you've been to struggle, you know, have genuinely struggled over
00:18:20
Speaker
since Allegri's return, they struggled to create and score goals despite having, and let's be honest, now they have them all back, they have such an array of attacking talent. When you've got Di Maria, Kiesa, Vlauovic, we have a segment on Vlauovic so it will come to him and he struggles, you should be creating more chances in open play and Juventus don't create enough from open play and that's
00:18:46
Speaker
Maybe this is the wrong game to highlight that in, but I think it's still a general point to be made in that Juventus' chances, they come from crotters and set-pieces. That's a big problem for me. The other thing that I would be critical of allegory
00:19:05
Speaker
is, you know, this 3-5-1 formation, he just needs to ditch it. He just needs to ditch it. It's too defensive, it's too conservative, and Juventus just don't get enough bodies forward. They can't get enough, they don't have enough attackers on the pitch. And that's, again, that's going to be a problem in scoring goals. You know, they leave Vlovic isolated. Again, we'll come on to Vlovic in a bit and we'll talk about that. But in my opinion, for all the praise that I've given Roma, that we've given Roma, I really think that they were there for the taking in this game in a sense that,
00:19:34
Speaker
because Mourinho played de Vala as a false knight, he completely handed the attack initiative the keys to Juventus to take control of this game, which they did, but they never did it in a way that they were, you know, launching away. I wanted them to just attack Roma, attack, attack, attack, launch away. But when you've got playing a 3-5-1-1 and you've only got Vlawovic supported by Di Maria, who's kind of floating around anyway,
00:19:58
Speaker
I mean, it's very, very difficult to put Roma under really intense pressure, minute after minute, when you've only got one forward who's in horrible form. And De Maria, it's very, very difficult. And you know, he didn't change, he changed to, he put three up front on the hour mark.
00:20:14
Speaker
when they were losing, brought Kiezer on for Fagioli. Pogba came on, he didn't come on to the 77th minute. I mean, okay, he wants to probably with Pogba, he wants to be a little bit careful with him so I can kind of let that off. I can blame him. But the point is that, you know, I just want him to be more excited. I want him to really have a go. I don't think, I think they were still playing with, you know, with the handbrake slightly on in this game. And I think that Mourinho handed him the initiative to
00:20:39
Speaker
I think the counter-argument to that is that, well, Roma are in a well-positioned to counter-attack. If you're going to push them too hard and leave spaces in from behind, I think they would have... With who, though? They didn't have anything to pay. Well, I'm rolling down the left, I think, with, you know, with Vinaldo filling up from deep. I mean, I think you have to... It was a tactical battle between those two, and it was very interesting to watch. But I wouldn't...
00:21:05
Speaker
I understand why he played the way he did this game. As for Allegri 352 or 3511, look, when you have Kostic and Bremer,
00:21:16
Speaker
you have to play a 3-5-2. It's that simple. Kostich cannot play as a fullback or a winger. He's not. He's a wingback and he does really, really well there. And Bremer is Juventus' best defender centrally in a back three. So, you know, that's just how it is. That's how the team has been built and team has been designed. If you want to change that, well, then you've got to get rid of Kostich primarily, because I think you lose him completely as a fullback and he's not a winger.
00:21:45
Speaker
So I don't, you know, at least that's what I think. I'm just off the top of my head. But a 3-5-2. I think if you're making a choice, though, between playing, I mean, even if we accept that Costage can't play as a left back, and I have my doubts as well to be to agree with you. But I mean, if you're making a choice between playing a wing back system in order to play Costage or having a front three of
00:22:09
Speaker
of Kiesa, Modimaria and Vlawovic. I mean, I'm going for the front three. No, no, 343 would work, but a back four, I mean, I just think he can't abandon. Okay, well, yeah, okay. Maybe you've found the solution there, but absolutely don't play a 3511. No, 3511 is a bit, I mean, if you're playing, I don't know, if you're playing Man City, maybe in one game, but
00:22:32
Speaker
3511 I think is a little bit too. In this game, this was the perfect game to really throw it at Roma because I didn't see any counter-attacking threats and we saw that in the game anyway. But where's the counter-attacking threat? D-ball is slow. Vinaldom is old and slow. Pellegrini is slow and in horrible out form. Where's it going to come from? What? Spin at solar? Maybe a little bit.
00:22:54
Speaker
Where else? There's no one else. There's going to be no threat on the back. And Brem is the fastest player in the league, so you're okay anyway on the counter attack. I mean, I think he just needed to throw more caution to the wind in this game. I honestly think that Juve, if Di Maria stays, 3-4-3 is the way forward, because Kiesa Di Maria Vlawic is an interesting trident.
00:23:17
Speaker
And I think given that he has the three back three that he has, I think he can play a bit further up the pitch and press higher up. I really think so. It's very attacking. It's going from one extreme to the other. Yeah, but I think you can do that. If you have those players that you have and if you have a cohesive press and you've balanced in the team, then I think you can do that. But the problem is that Allegri doesn't really want to press high up.
00:23:43
Speaker
Uh, he doesn't want to play like that and I can get that too But I I feel that if I mean if Maurizio Sarri and we're going to get to Latzio and Sarri because I think he's been They I mean they were talking surprises of the season not based on what they've done but in terms of redefining himself If Sarri can redefine himself and become the pragmatic ideologue Well, so can Allegri and I think above all his Juventus record since he took out returned
00:24:11
Speaker
in big games is pathetic. I mean, what is it? Four wins? 26 games? I mean, what are we talking here? It's absolutely unacceptable. No, it's abysmal. It's embarrassing. It's paid $9 billion a year. No, exactly. That is unacceptable.
00:24:28
Speaker
His record against big teams is unacceptable. And that's something he has to shoulder. It's as simple as that. Now, this has got nothing to do with everything going on off the pitch, because I think the results 50 points would put them second. That's acceptable. But the record against the big teams is just not good enough. It really isn't.
00:24:50
Speaker
No and this is why you know I said when everyone was everyone again they make the same mistake every single time they go on a little run of wins and everybody gets excited and says I told you so about allegory and I say the same thing every time people sometimes bloody learn it does what it drives me crazy I said it again last week they won four games in a row everyone's going on about oh I'm gonna get top four oh allegory see yeah
00:25:14
Speaker
I said, wait until Juventus play a bigger team, then we'll see. Because Juventus had a tough run. They still do have a very tough run coming up. Yeah, they do. Any chance of a top four miracle for Juventus. It's over now. The 12 points off top four, you know, and an inferior head to head with 13 games to go. And with so many big teams to play, Inter away, Lazio away, Napoli, Napoli at home coming in the next six games. And they've still got Atalanta away, Milan at home. Very, very tough fixtures coming up. Plus Europe as well. You know, it's not going to happen.
00:25:43
Speaker
If they'd have won this game, they might have had a little bit of a hope. Just on the head-to-head thing, that's no longer relevant in the Serie A. I just wanted to say that because I did the same mistake on the pod as well a few weeks ago. That's just why I copied it. That's just why I said the same thing. No, I double-checked that. So what happens now? Isn't that just for the championship though? Isn't that just for the Scudetto? No, they don't do the inferior. I think they just go off of goal difference now.
00:26:09
Speaker
uh if it's if it's not i mean if it doesn't mean anything like if it's for the like a decisive position they'll probably have a plan i know it's that for the skedetto but yeah i wasn't sure lower down yeah no i i don't think you know from what i understood is that they're gonna they're they're gonna if it's like
00:26:25
Speaker
Either way, it doesn't matter. Anyway, they're not going to, they're not going to, they're not going to get it unless they get their points back. They get their 15, only 15 points back if that's going to happen. But yeah, but basically what I was saying is stop getting carried away, you know, because they've got hard games coming up and their record against the big teams has been absolutely abysmal under Allegri. And this was, and they didn't play bad, but again, they couldn't get, they didn't get the job done. They couldn't get the job, but they couldn't win.
00:26:49
Speaker
I think they will get their 15 points back, but the question is how much punishment will they get for the other stuff? That's the thing. But we have to talk about Moyseken or Kin.
00:27:07
Speaker
It just, to me, what he did was, I remember when Totti, in 2010 Copa Italia Final, for no reason, did, kicked Balotelli, like lost his head and kicked Balotelli from behind. That's what, immediately I thought of that at the same stadium. It was the same kind of meltdown and just losing your head. And what was he thinking he was going to do? The difference, of course, was that Totti played the entire game. This was what, 45 seconds, 29 seconds?
00:27:35
Speaker
You know, grand opening, grand closing. It was crazy. It was absolutely crazy. And he needs to sort himself out. That is unacceptable. Well, yeah, because there was seven... I think they got six or seven minutes of stoppage time that was put up on the board. Plenty of time for Juventus to rescue that game. It was all them. And they still had a chance at the end with Danilo as well. But yeah, that killed them. That absolutely killed them.
00:28:03
Speaker
How many seconds was it? Was it 45 seconds or 30 to 30? I don't think it even touched the ball. No. It's just... First involvement in the game. No, that is unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, we all want to do that.
00:28:21
Speaker
It's about pulling his dreadlocks I think again and all that. Yeah, but you can't do that. You can't lose your brains like that. Like you cannot lose your head like that. It's just you ruin it for your own team. And there was a shot immediately with Allegri's face. We didn't get that and he just said it all.
00:28:41
Speaker
It's just, that is so bad. Yeah, which you understand. Can you blame him? I mean, it was, it was so dumb. Now it's inexcusable and you let your teammates down when you do that. And Ken needs to, you know, he,
00:28:58
Speaker
you know he has he needs to start growing up um and start showing in many ways as a as a person and as a no he really does because i do think there's a player that i never i was never excited about him i never thought he was going to be a national team player you know but when the events are sold into everton i remember saying i remember a lot of the eventers fans were all upset because you know like what what you know what football fans club fans are like whenever you sell it a young young player even if they're absolutely
00:29:25
Speaker
The youth Karens, I call them. Even if they're absolutely crap, because they're a young player, because they're young Italian and grow up in the system, automatically that makes them, oh, you can't sell them and they're all amazing. I was so happy when they sold them as I thought. I thought that was a great business by you. What the hell was going through their minds? They bloody brought him back.
00:29:44
Speaker
I was like, what are they doing? Anyway, talking of strikers that are struggling at Juventus, we have to talk about Dusan Blauwitsch because this is a problem now. This is becoming a big, big problem for Dusan Blauwitsch and for Juventus. And he's been there now for
00:30:04
Speaker
For over a year, he joined in in January 2022 for a fee that will reach 80 million euros becoming the most expensive winter signing in the history of Zepzedia. Juventus thought it was something of a coup. He rejected Arsenal to join UVA. He was just coming back, coming off the back of scoring the most goals in a calendar year in Serie A for over 60 years. He was posting numbers like Harlan and Lewandowski numbers.
00:30:33
Speaker
I mean, people forget, because when they watch him now, just what an absolute phenomenon and sensation this guy was. People were talking of this guy like potential Ballon d'Or winner, people were saying. I mean, more than a year on, how do you look? He looks so unhappy. I mean, it's just...
00:30:59
Speaker
He does not look like someone who's enjoying his football. He doesn't look like he's in harmony. He doesn't look like he's happy. It just doesn't give off. The vibe around it is not very comforting and encouraging.
00:31:19
Speaker
We know he wanted to join Juve, and he really wanted to join Juve, and that's why he rejected Arsenal. And I always thought that Arsenal was not the perfect fit for him, being based on an Arsenal play. I don't think he's that kind of a striker. But I wonder if he isn't regretting that. I'm sure he is.
00:31:39
Speaker
because Arsenal are playing some of the most interesting and exciting football, and they can actually go on and win the Premier League. That's not an impossibility when you keep winning late. And they're doing so without a real number nine. And you're thinking, well, I'm sure Blauwitsch could have adapted somehow, even though he's not. I think, for example, someone like Alexander Isak or Victor Osseman is better adapted to the style of football that Arterta plays at Arsenal than Blauwitsch is.
00:32:08
Speaker
I think he'd still could do something for them. We're reviewing that for the prism of Vlawovic now and not a year ago. I think he would be regretting it because I think we'd be looking at a very different Vlawovic now. If it applies to Arsenal, then the Vlawovic choose a complete shell.
00:32:27
Speaker
of the player that he was at Fiorentina, let alone being a player that you would think going to a bigger club would become a much better player. It's not even that. I mean, he's not only stagnated, he's regressed massively in everything at UVA in every single facet of his game. I mean, obviously the hard numbers show it in terms of the goals. You can see the number of goals that he scored at Juventus compared to the number of goals he scored at Fiorentina.
00:32:53
Speaker
I mean, his form is horrible. I mean, he's got no goals in the last four games. But in nine games this year, in 2023, he's only scored in two of those games. In his last 14 games, the event is he's only scored in four of those 14 matches. So the numbers, the goals show it. But just look at his overall game. And you really just have to watch him just to see this. But from a technical and tactical point of view, he doesn't look close to being a top player. And his first touches is heavy.
00:33:23
Speaker
To be fair, his first touch was always something that probably needed working on at Fiorentina, but it hasn't improved. Not only has it not improved, I think it's quite worse. He's too static. His movement is poor. He's always standing with his back to goal all the time. And when the ball comes, he doesn't protect the ball. He doesn't link up well at all.
00:33:42
Speaker
He struggles bringing others into play. He's not involved in the build-up at all. But he looks slow and heavy-footed over one to two yards. And he's not a slow player. He's got pace. He's quick, but over one to two yards, he just looks very lethargic. That's the thing. It looks lethargic. That's the thing. And that to me suggests that is there something more going on that we don't know about?
00:34:07
Speaker
um has a problem but we're talking about something this is something that's happened since he's since he's joined you know it's not something that's happened just since that groin injury it was it was a groin wasn't it one injury that he would have carried into the world cup um but you know it's everything about him you just like his reading and positioning on crosses i mean he's got costitch one of the best crosses in the world putting balls in for him you can ask for a better crosser you know but you look at he's very static and they know each other from the serbian national team as well so
00:34:35
Speaker
Yeah, Coppella was saying this last night on the on the culture club that that he can't doesn't seem to know how to get away from his marker, which is very worrying. He's just gone backwards since joining you days is his overall game. He hasn't improved his weaknesses and his games have regressed. And, you know, that is you, okay, you could maybe pay some of the blame on the player. But for me, it's on a legary, you know, it's on a leg.
00:34:59
Speaker
I mean, I made them I made the mistake last night. I made the mistake. I have to put my hands up. People say some people say, you know, the top of the fans have a go at me over could have said ski. Well, I double down and could have said ski because I believe that's because I believe in it. I still believe in what I said. I made the mistake of predicting with with with with with with Lowovich.
00:35:19
Speaker
I made the mistake of predicting that he would soon become a world that he would develop into a world-class player when he's when and I made a mistake because and I will never make that mistake again because I should have never said that when his manager was a leg we because a leg we can't develop young attacking players he can't develop young players he can
00:35:35
Speaker
He can, according to him, which I love him for, he said in the pre-match press conference, he was asked specifically this question by a gazetto telosport journalist, and he said, well, actually, I've changed since I became a grandfather. Let's hope that he's not teaching that good with his rank. Let's hope the matter is. I love it. I love the way he said it. I mean, the question was so, oh, now you're starting to play young players now and you
00:36:02
Speaker
you know you you're playing you know you become a young players coach and he says yeah he's so sarcastic but his arms you know crosses his arms and goes back and says yeah i've changed as i become a grandfather i love him he's your sweet max
00:36:19
Speaker
I just I won't make that mistake again. I'm never ever again going to predict that a young player is going to become a big star when his manager is never ever again. Because if if this can happen to Vlauovic, who just looked like an absolute phenomenon, people forget, it's easy to look through at Vlauovic now and think, well, actually, maybe he wasn't as good as we thought he was, you know, he was a phenomenon at Fiorentina. And now he's like, honestly, he's like, I was joking with my friends, he's like watching, he's like watching Andy Carroll at times.
00:36:48
Speaker
the Balkan Andy Caro, Andrea Karolovich. That's what it's like. Andrea Karolovich. That's who's playing up front for Juventus at the moment. But no, but seriously though, I think that from a Legri's point of view, I think that
00:37:08
Speaker
The system, which I've described already, the 3-5-1-1, it doesn't help him. He's isolated. He doesn't have players around him. He doesn't have enough attacking players. He's not involved. He's not feeling and touching the ball enough. Defensive counter-attacking football, a bit like 4-4-2 last season, even worse.
00:37:27
Speaker
I think you're right in what you're saying, that yes, I think Allegri has failed with him. But I also think that it's a... I blame Wlawic for one thing, and this is something I've seen with Serbia as well. He needs to learn to play with his back against the goal. Like, it's as simple as that. He does not know how to do that. And that is on him.
00:37:48
Speaker
Is that on the coach as well? Yeah, exactly. But I think that's where we are with him. I think that mainly it's that he needs to learn how to play with his back against the goal. And if you're going to be that kind of a top striker, teams are going to defend deep against you. That is an important aspect of your game, learning to play with your back against the goal.
00:38:08
Speaker
And that's where he's struggling with right now. For me, most of it is that and the fact that he doesn't, that he seems to become so disappointed and frustrated that it's weighing him down. And that's a mental aspect. I think that is something they need to work with. That's the root of the problem. Now, of course, there's plenty of blame to go around. I think I legally absolutely have to shoulder some of the blame. And I think it's just very difficult.
00:38:34
Speaker
It's very, very difficult for an attacker to develop, young attackers to develop, when they're playing in a legary system. When you're playing in such a counter-attacking system, a 3-5-1-1. The aroma game was different, you meant it's had the ball, but in most games they don't, and they're often counter-attacking. You're getting very few players forward.
00:38:53
Speaker
you know, no patterns of play, everything just crosses and set pieces. Like we said, this kills attackers, it kills young creative and offensive players. And they can't, they can't develop in the, you know, in this kind of system.
Lazio's Tactical Masterclass
00:39:06
Speaker
And, you know, look, it's not just Blauwitsch. If it was only Blauwitsch, we could, we could
00:39:11
Speaker
You know, we could blame Vlaovic and say this is him, but look at Kiesa. Look at Kiesa. Last season before his injury, two goals and two assists in 14 games under Allegri last season before his injury. That was him coming off being one of the best players at Euro 2020. He got 24 goal contributions the season before under Pirlo, who was widely
00:39:32
Speaker
described as a complete clown of a coach. Zero goals in 14 games since since returning this season. Okay he's been you know he's coming off a serious injury but still no goals in 14 games. Look at Locatelli you know he's not an attacker but he's a you know he's a creative midfielder. One of the best midfielders at Euro 2020 wanted by all the major clubs in Europe Arsenal and everyone else
00:39:53
Speaker
He's not scored a goal in over a year. He doesn't have an assist since March 2022. One year with no goals or assists for Locatelli. And that is absolutely damning. And this is the issue. Allegri can't develop players, especially young attacking or creative players. And you know, Vlovich declining.
00:40:12
Speaker
Kiesa declining, Locatelli declining, Moretti not improving. Kean, I don't even want to start with Kean. Some of the youngsters are getting some chances like Fagioli, Illing, Sulay, but will they become top players under Allegri? No, no they won't and I think these players show that.
00:40:29
Speaker
And yeah, I think that if I'm just to finish Nima, if I'm flower bitch, and if I'm Kiazaa, if Allegri, if I'm asking, is Allegri going to be there the next season? If the answer is yes, I'm saying get me out of there, get me find me a new club, because it's terrible for their career. The performances and stats show it.
00:40:49
Speaker
Yeah, no, it's it's it doesn't look good that that aspect of it, absolutely. But I think this this is a very weird season with the World Cup and also the injuries. And I don't know, I I do think that there is something to be said about, you know, because the style of football that Allegri plays, he is a little bit old school. But I do think that it's this notion that they can't he cannot develop young players at all is
00:41:13
Speaker
I don't buy it. I just don't buy it. I don't think that we can say that categorically. I think we can say that it's not a natural progression because of the style of football he plays, but to categorically say that none of them can improve on him. I can accept that. Young defenders, I think allegory can be good for them, like centre backs anyway, but definitely not young. Offensive players, creative players for sure.
00:41:39
Speaker
Anyway, enough of Vlalovic and Juventus. Let's move on to Lazio, because an absolutely incredible win against Napoli. Napoli looked unstoppable. Eight wins in a row, 21 wins in 24 games before this game. Five clean sheets in a row, unbeaten at home all season. Everybody expected another win for Napoli in this game. Lazio without Casale in this game as well.
00:42:08
Speaker
Lazio win 1-0 and Sarri puts on a tactical and defensive masterclass, right? I agree with that. We spoke about this last week as well. This season, this Sarri that we're seeing this season is not the Sarri we saw at Juve, it's not the Sarri we saw at Napoli or Chelsea. This is a different Maurizio Sarri. He's become this kind of
00:42:31
Speaker
He's still the ideologue he's always been. He still has his movements, the triangles, he wants to have possession, but he's also adapted to the reality he's in and created a defensive stability and solidity that we've not really seen Lazio ever deliver.
00:42:50
Speaker
Napoli were good this game. I didn't think Napoli were poor. Against the Inca they were dreadful and Inca just demolished them and should have won 3-4-0 had they had players up front who could be a bit more efficient in front of the net.
00:43:04
Speaker
This wasn't it. Napoli were good. They created chances. The movement was there. It's just that Lazio was so much better. I mean, defensively, especially in the second half, when Lazio were on the ropes a little bit, Napoli increased the ball tempo. They did what they always do when the wingers start centralizing to overload the midfield against teams that closed them down. Lazio were struggling there. But they maintained the composure, the calm, the discipline.
00:43:34
Speaker
and just so weathered the storm, and then a moment of brilliance from Vicino wins them the game. I'm so impressed with Maurizio Sarri. Maurizio Sarri is throwing his hat in the ring for bigger, better jobs. If he's going to play like this, if he's going to be... If this is the Sarri that we've seen this season, if this is the new Sarri, the real Sarri, I wouldn't mind him at Inter, even, to be honest.
00:43:59
Speaker
all perfectly honest with you, I wouldn't mind having that. Because, you know, if you can get
00:44:05
Speaker
Pedro Dzakany and Felipe Anderson to play like that up front. I'm sure you can find two cheaper players to play with Lautaro and do something similar, no? No, it's so, so, so impressive. The way that he, you know, Cataldi, he didn't play Cataldi. He played Vesino as a regista, the same Vesino as a regista that Simone and Zaghi played away last season against Torino and he looked absolutely awful, but Sarri made it work.
00:44:33
Speaker
and Vasino scores the winner. Now, this is Sarri's redemption year. It's the year of redemption for coaches that have been disrespected, from Spaletti to Sarri, and what they've done this season, Sarri, defensively. I mean, we have to talk about those saves by Providel as well. Sweet Jesus.
00:44:52
Speaker
Well, it was one save, wasn't it? I mean, that's what was so impressive about that series' performance. I mean, Napoli created one big moment all game, the Osmond header against the bar, and then Kim and Jay followed up with, and it was a fantastic save from Probodel. That's it.
00:45:08
Speaker
That's all they had. Zelinski had a half chance at Neil Neil, where he kind of screwed it wide. Otherwise, Napoli created nothing cool game and they never really ever looked like creating. They never really got into positions where they were close to creating. They didn't get into positions where you say, right, you know, they just messed up that final pass and that would have been a big chance.
00:45:26
Speaker
they didn't even get into those kinds of positions. You know, it was positionally and in terms of kind of like the positions and the spaces that the lacio players found themselves in, Napoli couldn't find any spaces to play at all. It was like watching a great Italian defensive to play for past. You know, it was like, and we discussed this last week, didn't we, about how kind of the art of defense is completely gone and how modern football, modern rules have made it just so, so difficult to do that. You know, but this wasn't like,
00:45:56
Speaker
This wasn't 10 men in the six yard. No, no, no, no. They ran. That's the thing that impressed me the most was to get the players to sacrifice themselves as much as they did. They defended by blocking out passing lanes and you can only do that
00:46:13
Speaker
by being smart. Through being smart, meaning having your head turned on, but also running. Absolutely. Look at the distance covered in this game and Lazio completely out on Napoli, which I'm telling you is very rare. You know, Napoli, they weren't Lazio, they weren't holding on. You know, they had a line of a block of four and five, but they would, like you said, they were cutting everything off. Yeah.
00:46:36
Speaker
the passing lanes it was just it was a perfectly executed game plan and it felt honestly you know i was i was i was watching this game with a Napoli fan and i was saying it felt like nazio had 22 men on the pitch that's what it felt like but it didn't feel like they had 22 men in the penalty area no it was like they had 11 men in the penalty area and 11 men in the midfield it was like everywhere that that that Napoli moved everywhere that Napoli moved the ball Latin Lazio had
00:47:03
Speaker
full of numbers everywhere. So they moved it into the midfield. Lazio had the midfield packed and cut off. They moved it out wide. There was nowhere to go. There was no spaces. I was looking all the time, where can they put the ball? Where can they spread it? There was nowhere, nowhere for them to go. There was just no answer. So without reviewing this game back and really looking at how they did it, just watching it live, it was incredibly impressive.
00:47:27
Speaker
Now, to me, it really was. And to me, this is something that, you know, we've spoken about this. I've said it the last couple of weeks in the past couple of episodes about Sari becoming this kind of pragmatic ideologue. And I think when you hit it like that, if you get that perfect balance,
00:47:45
Speaker
then you are ready for bigger and better things. You are ready for a top club. And with all due respect to Lazio, I mean a team that plays in the Champions League every year and wants to even have ambitions to go to the latter stages of the Champions League to win the Serie A. I don't think Lazio are going to win the Serie A anytime soon.
00:48:05
Speaker
in order to have the ambitions to, at least realistically. It's been like this all season is my point. This is a new Sarri, he's taken it up a notch and I wonder how much longer he stays at Lazio.
00:48:23
Speaker
It's become more a complete coach. Yeah. I mean, he outthought and they outran Napoli, but they outthought Napoli as well. And again, the defensive record, we spoke about it last week. This is why Lazio have the second best defense in Serie A and it's why they have eight clean sheets in the last 12 games. That is really impressive. Not enough people are talking about that. And they did this without Casale in this game and they had it with Patrick.
00:48:46
Speaker
Patrick playing, who everybody likes to mock. The only thing I would say, just to be fair, I think Patrick maybe should have been sent off early in the second half with the foul at the elbow on Osseman. But I think they deserve the luck. And lastly, they had the biggest chance of the game at 0-0 anyway. Di Lorenzo cleared off the line from
00:49:06
Speaker
from Vicino, and Vicino again with another big game goal. He always seems to score big games, doesn't he Vicino? A lot of things. He was very important. He scores against Lazio at the Olympics to get back to the Champions League, the winning goal against Spurs in the Champions League.
00:49:25
Speaker
that following season on the return and you know hitting you know against Empoli that season to finish another clinch the top four position he's the one who comes on hits the post and Nayangolan scores on the rebound. No he does have that. That was another inspired decision from Sarri starting the scene.
00:49:42
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. And to play him as a regista in front of the defence, almost, because he wanted someone who runs. Hasn't really been particularly his role, is it? No, I remember when Simon Inzaghi played him, like I said, against Torino last year, and he was unwatchable and Inzaghi was
00:50:02
Speaker
destroyed for it, quite rightly so. But this is the thing, that goal by Vasino, go and look at the technique with which he hits that ball. That is incredibly impressive. That's a difficult ball to hit.
00:50:22
Speaker
And he hits it, the technique that he uses to hit it and to, you know, downwards and his body and the full pendulum. It was a beautiful football. Let me tell you, that is one of the hardest skills to hit the ball on the half volley as it's hitting the ball but on the rise. What are the hardest skills in football?
00:50:40
Speaker
It really is. Technically we know that he's got technique but the problem in his career has always been that his performances are dipping and the lows are very low. The highs are high but the lows are very low and that's kind of what killed him at Inter and also the injuries.
00:51:00
Speaker
I have some really good individual displays again in defence, Romanioli again. That's another thing I wanted to talk about. Romanioli's not a quick player, he's never been fast. But Sarri's found the perfect balance defensively to not be too low or too high up. And Romanioli's becoming this kind of player that looks like he's almost, he should start for the national team almost.
00:51:20
Speaker
Like, it's crazy what's the work that Sarri's done in this season throughout. And we know that they can attack. I mean, we don't need to, like, you know, we know how good Sarri's teams play attacking football. But it's this other stuff that is shown this season that just blows my mind.
00:51:36
Speaker
No, for sure. For sure. I thought the fullbacks were great. I've said it before, Maricich is the most underrated player in Syria. He's such an oil team player, isn't he? No one ever, ever talks about this guy. He's just seen as just an ordinary average Joe player.
00:51:52
Speaker
I mean, I try to think of games. I mean, I'm sure there'll be some Laxio fans are probably screaming and maybe saying something. Whenever I watch Laxio play, I never see him getting done. I mean, I know he doesn't, not saying he does much going the other way, but defensively, I never see him getting done. And the job he did against Cloud at Scalia again, I mean, Cloud did very little. I think he got away a couple of times later on, but
00:52:13
Speaker
Apart from that, I thought he marshalled him really well. I thought he saw as well, did really well. Provedel was a calming presence. It was a really, really good performance from the defenders. And Lazio, they're top four chances now. They're in the top four. The confidence this will give them for the top four. And again, talking about Juventus having a terrible record in the big games, well, Lazio's big game record this season. They've beaten all of the seven sisters apart from Juventus this season, Lazio. So, I mean,
00:52:39
Speaker
You can't argue with that again. There's another reason why you can't rule them out for the top four. No, you can't. I'm worried for Inter and Milan with Lazio and Roma winning. This is tightening up like hell and Lazio winning that and Roma winning that, this throws a wrench into the mix.
00:53:02
Speaker
Intermilla need to look out. Intermilla, as I know, weren't happy about Roma and... Well, of course not. Because, I mean, think about it, you know, Inter have a special way, then Porto, then Juve at home, Fiorentina at home after the international break, then Juve in the first leg of the Copa Italia, then Salernitana, Monza and Empoli,
00:53:26
Speaker
home for months, away against Salah and Itana, away against Empoli, who they interlost to at home. Look, there's no room for error here. And then they have their tough moments in the Serie A with Lazio, Roma, Lazio at home, Roma away, Atalanta at home, Napoli away. There is no room for error for Inter here to mess up. And Milan, same thing there. No room for error.
00:53:52
Speaker
These two wins will change the race, the complexion of the race completely. No, for sure. Just on Napoli very, very quickly, I won't go into it too much. I thought that they were a little bit lethargic from an energy point. They looked like they were lacking energy. The intensity in pressing wasn't there as usual. They run miles less than last year. That's the key.
00:54:14
Speaker
That's the key. That's the key. I found it strange though, because I mean, Lazu played on Monday, and Lazu had, and Napoli had two days, had two days, had extra rest. So I do, I do, I did find that strange. I just thought that they looked from a physical point of view, they didn't look on it. And I thought from an individual point of view,
00:54:34
Speaker
Yeah, no one stood out for Napoli. Maybe Kim. I thought Kim was very, very good. He gobbled up in Moble in the game, although it wasn't easy for Moble. He was isolated. But yeah, like I said, they couldn't find the spaces.
00:54:47
Speaker
the wings, Lozano, Cavaro, got nothing out of the fullbacks. I would maybe have a little criticism of Spelletti, which is rare. He didn't have any answers for Sarri, but I think the substitutes, he took too long to substitute. He did a bit of an Antonio Conte-like substitution display from Spelletti. He waited until 70 minutes. He made any subs, and it was clear at that stage that Napoli weren't creating anything. They weren't threatening. They weren't finding the answers. He needed to change it up.
00:55:12
Speaker
he waited till the 70th minute before making any subs. I think he needed to mix it up earlier than that. And that's unlike Spelletti. He doesn't usually do that. When things aren't working, he's not shy to make changes. Maybe he just didn't have the answer. And to be honest, I still don't know what I would have done differently. No, I don't think this was a tactical approach. I think there was no gas in the tank that day. They just seemed unable. Again, the key for me was
00:55:40
Speaker
how they got outran by Lazio. If they wanted to beat this Lazio, they had to run as much and be as intensive enough and crisp passing and movement. They just weren't there that day. Let's not create drama here. They're 15 points clear. They have Atalanta, and then they have two home games now with Atalanta and Eintracht Frankfurt.
00:56:02
Speaker
and then Torino away, which is going to be a tough one. Look, I expect them to turn up against Atalanta at home this
Milan's Tactical Concerns
00:56:12
Speaker
weekend. That's going to be more open. They're not going to play a disciplined game. Well, you'd be surprised. I mean, Gasparini has done this. I don't think they'll be able to pull it off. To maintain that for 90 minutes, yeah. But it's going to be interesting to see how Napoli react to this, because they've got the Champions League as well.
00:56:32
Speaker
So it's an interesting week. It's an interesting week next week for Napoli and for Inter. And like we said, Lazio's win has really opened up the top four rates even more and it's pushed Milan out of the top four rates because they lost to Fiorentina. Their little mini resurgence ended. They won four games in a row. They kept four clean sheets. We said that they've been very solid defensively.
00:56:56
Speaker
throughout that game, throughout that run, but in the first games of that had been probably a little bit disjointed, a bit confused going forward, but they were showing improvements game on game kind of offensively, especially in the Atalanta win, the game before. I thought against Fiorentina, they were neither solid defensively, nor were they fluid or dangerous with the ball going forward either. And I think that this defeat, two-one defeat,
00:57:21
Speaker
was definitely a step backwards for Milan, for certain. Maybe they had half an eye on the Tottenham game, maybe the absence of Rafael Liao. Well, I'm sure that would have played a role too, the absence of Brahim Diaz, I think, definitely, who's been in really good form recently.
00:57:37
Speaker
And also Krunic. I think Krunic not being there was important because he's been defensively very important. The solidity that he provides. I think in general in all phases I think Milan were very poor in this game and they deservedly lost.
00:57:54
Speaker
No, I'm inclined to agree with that. But I think watching this, I felt like... And also, of course, Italiano's record against Pioli, it's one of those things. Pioli struggles against this guy. It seems like his man-man marking all over the pitch bothers him. Because Mila liked to press high up the pitch and annoy, but here he's playing against someone who does the same thing against him.
00:58:22
Speaker
but with more intensity, and it neutralizes Milan. If you remember last week, I said, watch out for this game, because Milan are lacking players. I was expecting Milan to show a reaction to things going so well.
00:58:42
Speaker
as much as this 3, 4, 2, 1 is looking good and defensively they've been solid, I still think there's much area room for improvement. It always felt like the four clean sheets was almost too good to be true at this early stage. So I was kind of expecting, semi-expecting a reaction to that because they're not the finished product in the system. And like you said, the Tottenham game and all that
00:59:07
Speaker
But having said that, look, also in central midfield, I think that's where it is. If you remember, I think it was last week on Monday or Thursday, I said it's going to be interesting to see how Ben-Aser comes back into this. Now, obviously, he's been injured, so we don't want to, you know, he's not fully matched fit and all that. And he was decent, I thought, against Fiorentina. But the balance, defensive balance, when Ben-Aser and Tonali play in that kind of a double pivot in a 3-4-2-1,
00:59:30
Speaker
It's not the same as when Krunic does, because Krunic plays much more simpler football, much more, you know, he has his job, he offers defensive solidity, he helps the back three in a different way. Ben-Assel is a far better footballer, far more gifted in terms of attack, but you lose something when you play defensively speaking, when you play Krunic than when you do Ben-Assel. And Tonali is struggling as well.
00:59:57
Speaker
So the central midfield is an issue. That's the question mark that he needs to answer, that's the problem he needs to resolve, is how to get into Milan's central midfield to play again, to control and dominate games. Because they've not really done that since they switched to this 3-4-2-1.
01:00:17
Speaker
No, and that was always my biggest concern of changing to the three-man back line. Something that Arigosaki said, that basically what has happened is Milan have moved from a team that are progressive and take the game to the opposition. An active team, let's say, to a passive team. They've become a passive team now. They've become a team that want to be solid first, want to defend, and then, you know,
01:00:43
Speaker
counter-attack basically and I think that the department of the field that has suffered the most from that has been the centre of midfield and that is what I'm most worried about looking at this from a long-term point of view you know since even during this full game winning run
01:00:59
Speaker
Milan haven't been the bosses on the pitch in the center of midfield in terms of control, maybe more so against Atlanta, a little bit more against Atlanta, but not really enough. And they're just not winning the center of midfield in matches. And we saw that even against Tottenham, where a game in which Tottenham created nothing, but Tottenham completely controlled and dominated that center of midfield with two novices at center of midfield. They had Oliver Skip and Sa playing at center of midfield, and they totally dominated Milan's
01:01:27
Speaker
Milan's midfielders, which I found very concerning at the time, but Milan were new to the formation, they won the game, so people didn't really think too much of it. But we've seen that throughout this run and we certainly saw it in this game. And I want to see three centre midfielders there, give them an extra man.
01:01:49
Speaker
But I also think it is a mentality thing. You play with a three-man defence, with wing backs, you're going to be more passive than progressive. And this is definitely having the negative effect. And like you said, Tonali, I thought Ben had said, OK, considering he's been out, but Tonali is not playing up to standard right now. He hasn't been for a long time.
01:02:09
Speaker
And even in that Tottenham game, he was very, very cool. And he was way off it in this game again. And I don't know if maybe he's tired. He's played over 30 games this year. He's played more than any midfielder. Maybe he's overplayed. But, you know, after last season's amazing season, you know, he was so key in then winning the Scudetto.
01:02:26
Speaker
He's taken a step back this season and I don't know what to think and what to feel because I love this class. Again, for me, it's the Milan or the young side. I expected this reaction. They overperformed a little bit in the Serie A last season. I think most Milan fans would agree with that and say that. This is kind of a reaction to that because there's still a work in progress. But the most important thing, and this is part of that development, but the most important thing here is they need to
01:02:54
Speaker
they have to finish the top four. It would be an absolute melt. I can't describe in words how dreadful and catastrophic it would be for Milan and Inter to miss the top four, financially speaking. They have to focus on getting that done. It's as simple as that.
01:03:17
Speaker
Yeah, no, for sure. I can't disagree with that. I think they were disappointed in all departments in this game. Defence didn't have that assuredness they've had in recent games. I mean, Tamoori got completely done for the penalty. And I've said it before, and I say it again, he's still too impulsive and aggressive at times. He tries to win balls, he shouldn't try to win. He did that twice in this. He did it on the
01:03:43
Speaker
on the the incident that he currently done him on the touch line which was a great bit of skill to be fair but you know sometimes you just got to stand off and be a little bit more conservative but also he tried to try to challenge for a ball which he had no chance of winning he couldn't challenge for that ball once he currently is independently area and he's goal side of him and he's got his body between the man and the ball
01:04:08
Speaker
Tamoori just has to leave it. He just has to take his chances on Manon. He cannot make a challenge in that position. If he makes any kind of challenge, it's going to be a penalty. What does he do? He makes a challenge and he gives away a penalty. This is the problem with Tamoori. He does this too much. He tries to win balls that he can't win and that's what he needs to cut out and learn. His judgment, he needs to judge situations better. I think that's what the root cause is that he
01:04:36
Speaker
He misreads situations when to not go for the ball and when to go for the ball. I think it's the same problem you see aerially as well. His timing is off. I think his read is a little bit. That's where he needs to improve.
01:04:51
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Okay, just a word on Fiorentina. I think it was a great performance from Fiorentina and the stats show that double the shots, double on target, 11 corners to five. I mean, this is what Italian teams are capable of when it all comes together.
01:05:10
Speaker
which hasn't been enough at all this season. But the good thing is that they are hitting form now and they are starting to score goals, which has been their big, big problem this season. They've won four drawn, one of their last five, they scored 13 goals in that time. I've said it all season, I don't think their attackers are good enough with the exception of Gonzalez when he's on form and when he's fit and he hasn't been all season.
01:05:32
Speaker
He was back to his best in this game. I thought he was fantastic. Even Cabral has been in good form in 2023 and he's got about six goals. He won the penalty with a great bit of skill. If Fiorentina's attackers are doing better, that's good to see.
01:05:48
Speaker
They've all, I've always, I think everybody agrees Bierantino have good midfielders. You know, Amrabbat obviously has won. They won the midfield battle. Dodal though, I want to give a shout out to him because I think everybody expected more of him when he joined. And he's been a big disappointment this season, but he was fantastic in this game. He got the assist and Italiano spoke about him after the game. He said that the reason why he hasn't played well in the first half of the season was because he had a bit of an injury, but also he hadn't played for months, for nine months because of the war.
01:06:17
Speaker
and everything. So I think that obviously played a part. I'm interested to see if he can really now fulfill himself because I really, really liked him at Shactor. I thought he was a fantastic talent at Shactor and Igor as well. I think there's a player there in Igor. He's got monstrous physical.
01:06:35
Speaker
The thing about Igor is when he's having a good game, you know that he's going to have a man-of-the-match performance. When he's that good, you can say because he is a monster. He imposes himself physically on strikers and he gets under the skin and in their faces. But then again, when he's having bad days, equally, he can give up two penalties and be sent off.
01:06:57
Speaker
like it's not, it's a little bit, you know, Jekyll and Hyde with them. Yeah, he's got the role qualities there, a bit like Giau and Milan, they're cool qualities there, it's whether they can be... Yeah, and focus and deliver at a consistently high level, but I agree with you that there is talent there. No, I think if you're in Tina's attacker, our attacks is good enough to do what they're doing in the conference league,
01:07:20
Speaker
If they get to the final of a Coppa Italia, they're playing Cremon is that's not impossible. But I do think that they should be better than 11th. Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, it's just not good. They're on their hitting form now. And they're not far off Europe because because seventh is actually I mean, I mean, ideally, they'd win the conference league, because I don't think they'll finish in a European spot. I think that's a bit too much as well. I mean, exactly. They can be Coppa Italia as well.
01:07:45
Speaker
I mean, if they were to, I don't think they will, because I think they're going to say it's not over. It's not over. They've got a lot to play for. They're hitting form at the right time. And it's looking better. It's looking better than it did a couple
Inter's Victory and Serie A Summary
01:07:56
Speaker
of weeks ago. And also, just a shout out, the 13 minute applause for our story. That was beautiful. That was beautiful. On the anniversary. Okay, just very, very quickly. We're going way over now. We're going to have to start wrapping this up. Interlecce, I mean, quite a routine win for Rinta.
01:08:12
Speaker
Is there much to say about this game? The two biggest points that I noticed, that I think are the main talking points are, or three talking points, it's Brozovic benched Mikitarian plays, Mikitarian scores. And now we're seeing reports in Italy that Inter are unhappy with Brozovic and they actually want to sell him in the summer.
01:08:38
Speaker
and given that where he is in his age and that I think maybe that relationship is coming to an end. Mikitarian has been a great signing for Interk for free. Even when he's looked a little bit burnt out, he has an intelligence and a technical quality and now experience that he knows how to bounce back
01:09:04
Speaker
work himself into this game. And he did start poorly in this game, but he worked himself into it. And he scored that opening goal, which was a great team move. Gorsens, for me, is probably the most biggest positive of this game. First time he's played two games, two 90 minutes in a row, even though he was taken off at the 91st minute for Zanotti,
01:09:25
Speaker
He's starting to show what a player he can be, and he's going to be important for Inter moving forward because they're going to need the conscious play Di Marco. The wing back position is such a demanding position. They need a goal sense in good form, and he's starting to show the player he was at Atalanta that Inter bought.
01:09:44
Speaker
That's a good thing. The last thing is Lautaro, leader, pure leader. This is Inter's captain. Inter had six captains after Barilla was given the armband when Lautaro came off. That's on the management. That's Paul.
01:10:02
Speaker
Handana, which was your captain? Well, that was, you know, Zagi had to bench him because Hanana's level is better. So then it went to Scrinyar. Scrinyar's situation poorly handled, taken away from him. Then it went to Lautaro. We had Daniel D'Ambrosio, captain in Inter as well this season. He's way past it. He's been injured. I mean, and now Barella, look, stop faffing about with the captain's armbat.
01:10:25
Speaker
make Lautaro the captain, period. He showed it as well because when he got the assist from Denzel Dumfries, who was being booed by the San Siro crowd because of making being Denzel Dumfries, especially in the first half, what does he do? He goes up to him and he points at him to show to the crowd that, you know, this is our player, you stand behind him. That's what a leader does. That's what a captain does. Make Lautaro Martinez the permanent captain, period.
01:10:56
Speaker
Okay, right, rest of the Serie A calendar this weekend, Monza 2, Empoli 1, Atalanta 0, Udinese 0, Atalanta's poor form continues, and their top four chances are starting to slip away now. Then we had Spetsi 0, Verona 0, Samp 0, Salerni Town 0, quite a lot of 0-0s in the other matches. And then on Monday evening, we've got Sasualo Clemonese, Torino Bologna,
Champions League Preview: Tottenham vs Milan
01:11:22
Speaker
Champions League this week returns Tottenham vs Milan in London second leg Milan leading 1-0 with that last 16 tie going into the second leg very very tough very very open game that tough to call I should say it's 50-50 isn't it really yeah I mean I don't think it's 50-50 I think Tottenham slightly yeah I mean I'd say 55 Spurs 45 Milan I'm
01:11:51
Speaker
If Milan have one of those days defensively where they shut shop and they decide to just freeze Tottenham out like in the first leg, then they have a chance. They have a big chance. Of course, Mike Mignon being back won't exactly hurt them either. I want Milan to be able to do this for the sake of the Serie A. I would love if all Serie A teams went through.
01:12:20
Speaker
But I can't shake off feeling that the more we get closer to the game, that's kind of swung round. It's tough. It's really tough to call. It's very tough to call. I mean, the home advantage, of course, is gives gives Tottenham, you know, big advantage. But but I don't know if I play. I don't know. Let me ask you something. Would you play Benacer Krunic or would you play Tonali Krunic or would you play Benacer Tonali?
01:12:44
Speaker
I don't know because I feel like Milan have made their bed now. They almost have to play this 3-4-2-1. So that's what I'm saying. Who would you go with? They've made their bed. They're not going to switch back to the formation I think they should play, which is a 4-3-3. They're just not going to do that. So they're going to go with 3-4-2-1. So yeah, I don't know. I'd play Krunic in this game and then pick Milan. I feel like Milan have to show more personality, not more personality, more
01:13:12
Speaker
need to show more ambition than they showed at San Siro. I thought they were too negative in that game, although they didn't concede anything. I think you can't play that negative and conservative away from home when the opposition are going for the goal and got the crowd behind them and Conte back on the bench as well for his first game back. I just think that might be too overwhelming for a team that are just going to be too
01:13:36
Speaker
defensive, too deep. So for that reason, do you start Benisware? Who's going to get his foot on the ball? Who's going to control it a bit more? Or do you go, I don't know. There's force and against and both argue for and against. Do you know what I mean?
01:13:55
Speaker
It's easy to say in hindsight after the game, they should have played Cruenich. I think there's an argument to be made for both. You could say go with Cruenich because they didn't look solid defensively at all. But then this is a game they're playing against.
01:14:12
Speaker
Tottenham, this is going to be the toughest game they will have played in this five-game sequence in terms of the level of players they're playing against and the stadium they're playing in and everything. So it's just really, really hard to call. The good thing is Milan have their injured players back with the exception of Ibrahim Diesso. I'm hoping we'll make it. I think that's really important. We didn't speak about Dicatile before and how bad he was.
01:14:35
Speaker
I mean, I just don't see how you can start to get away in a game like this. No, no, no, no. I think that will be unfair on him as well. Like at this point, I mean, Rafael's back. He's had some rest. I think he's going to be key on the that's going to be key arrested. Yeah. He's somebody that can hurt them for sure. He can certainly, he can certainly hurt them.
01:14:53
Speaker
and then you know Giroud also came off so he quite looked at half an hour rest as well but you've got to remember you know they're not they're planning as a Tottenham team who are in very very bad shape themselves bad form you know they just haven't looked right all season this isn't just a form thing for Tottenham yeah they are fourth but this hasn't looked like an Antonio Conte team it's a team that's lacking like identity they're not progressive at all they're totally reliant on Harry Kane if
01:15:19
Speaker
if Milan can cut out Harry Kane, they've definitely got a big chance because the rest of the attackers have been really bad this season, all of them. So, you know, Conte is obviously probably almost certainly leaving in the season. You know, so I think it could be who's the least bad for one of better English, the least bad team maybe wins this time. You know, it's got a feeling of that. But I think it's a winnable tie for Milan. I do.
01:15:44
Speaker
It is. It is. It's evenly balanced, but I still think it's such a tough ask of Milan. Yeah. But look, if Milan were to go to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It'd be fantastic. It'd be fantastic. Talking about a few absentees as well. Louris, Dias, Suspended, Ben-Sukur is out, Bissou-Mazelle, Hoiberg is back. You know, they're not, you know, they've got some players missing. So it's, they've got their chances, Milan. They've got their chances.
01:16:14
Speaker
They've got a chance, they've got a chance, but it could go either way.
European Competitions Preview
01:16:20
Speaker
Europa League and Conference League, so Europa League, Juventus, Freiburg, and Roma, Rio, Sociedad on Thursday, Conference League, Fiorentina, Siva, Spore, and then Lazio versus AZ, which is played on Tuesday, the Lazio versus AZ game. I think we already previewed this game last week, so we won't do it again. Let's move on to Badgeo and Prem Face of the Week.
01:16:43
Speaker
Okay, Badjo, what you got? Vessino. Vessino goal, Gianluca Mancini goals. You know, these two rockets were just, they were outstanding for the Serie A, and also the crowds that we've seen after Salciro, the atmosphere. Yeah, I want to say the Astorri, the Astorri applause was beautiful. I want to give a shout out. Incredibly. It was, no, it's
01:17:12
Speaker
No, it was really, really fantastic to see. But yeah, no, if we're going on just on the pitch, Vicino's goal is just the knee to his stomach.
01:17:22
Speaker
Yeah. OK. Prem face of the week. Do you
Controversial Opinions and Upcoming Content
01:17:27
Speaker
have one? No, you've got one. I've got one. Right. OK, I'm going to give him a shout out. So it's our Patreon, Samuel Ventress, our good friend who he is I think goes by King Leo on on Twitter. And he he basically. He's like he's like an specialist in finding. Yes, he is. He's a one man prem face researcher.
01:17:48
Speaker
He every single week sends us a load of premises and some of them are by fans. Generally, I don't like including ones by fans because you're always going to get people, sometimes they're trolls as well, who say stuff, just don't even believe in just to wind people up. So we try and stick to people that are footballers or are in the media. So the one we've got this week is Keith Hackett.
01:18:12
Speaker
who was a referee, an English referee, during the 1980s. And he tweeted out that the greatest player he ever refereed in his career, better than Diego Maradona, was Kenny Dalglish. So that's our prime place of the week. I mean, Kenny Dalglish was a fantastic player. Like, let's not, but Maradona, like, stop. Stop it.
01:18:33
Speaker
I know, Douglas was an amazing player. Well, but yeah, I mean, that's just, it was also just the way that the confidence and the, the, the emphasis that he, that he delivered the tweet was, was, was, it was just said so emphatically, like, you know, it's Douglas.
01:18:49
Speaker
Miles better than Maratona. I wonder if I don't even think Belglish believes that. It's so funny because most of the times the people involved don't even agree with opinions. There's no way that I think Sterling would say that he thinks he's better than Pele. I honestly don't think that.
01:19:11
Speaker
Okay, right, let's leave it at that then. We will be back on Tuesday for the Q&A episode. We've got loads of questions this week. We've got like 17 questions from our Patreons, so thanks for that. And then we'll be back again on Thursday for a review of the Champions League Milan Tottenham game. So yeah, big week ahead. Thank you everyone for listening. Have a great week and we will see you on Tuesday. Ciao ciao.