Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Atalanta Host Juventus, Milan Face Napoli, and Lazio Discussion (Ep. 32)
144 Plays6 years ago
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Sponsor Highlight
00:00:01
Speaker
Today's episode is brought to you by Manscaped, the very best in men's below the belt grooming. Jingle balls to the wall, gentlemen. Listen up. It's time to gear up and give yourself the gift of shaving this holiday season. I'm talking about the Manscaped Perfect Package 2.0. Manscaped has redesigned the electric trimmer.
00:00:21
Speaker
Their Lawn Mower 2.0 has proprietary advanced skin safe technology, so this trimmer won't nick or snag your nuts. It's also waterproof, so you can use it in the shower. The Manscape Perfect Package 2.0 also includes the Crop Preserver, an anti-chafing deodorant and moisturizer. You already put deodorant on your armpits, so why not do the same below?
00:00:44
Speaker
The Perfect Package also comes with a pair of Manscaped Boxer Briefs and the Crop Reviver Toner, which will keep your junk feeling fresh. Give yourself the gift of below the belt grooming this holiday season with the Manscaped Perfect Package 2.0. Get 20% off plus free shipping with the code BIGHEADS at manscaped.com. Again, that's promo code BIGHEADS for 20% off plus free shipping at manscaped.com.
00:01:12
Speaker
Clean up below the belt this holiday season and make Santa proud by going to manscaped.com today.
Serie A Matches Overview
00:01:37
Speaker
Hello everybody, we are back with another episode of the Citi A show. The international break is over and we are ready to reconvene again the Citi A calendar and season. So there are actually some pretty enticing matchups this weekend after the international break.
00:01:55
Speaker
Guys, let's start with Atalanta Juve. This one is going to be interesting only because we had the controversy before the break with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sarri and you obviously have an Atalanta side who many of us thought would struggle with the injury of Duvan Zapata. Now, in their previous two league matches, they've drawn, actually in their previous three league matches, they have all drawn
00:02:22
Speaker
That was after they
Atalanta vs. Juventus Analysis
00:02:24
Speaker
hammered. Utenes is 7-1. So Chloe, let's start with you. What are you expecting from this one? I think it's always an entertaining game between the two of them. I think last season, obviously Atalanta beat you by 3-0 and knocked them out of the Copper Italia, which was a huge surprise.
00:02:42
Speaker
But obviously this is, we're now dealing with quite a different UVA than we were last season. Last season I think that Atalanta and in the past as well, Atalanta have had relative success against UVA because Allegri was a little bit cautious and they feast on anyone that's cautious with their ultra attacking approach. And they've got a few draws over the last few seasons.
00:03:09
Speaker
again that win in the Copper Atelier. So you know they do seem to be a bit of a bogey team for Juve but I think now, I think now Sari has made them a little bit bolder, more attacking.
00:03:23
Speaker
that I think it will be a really entertaining game because you'll see two sides going at each other and I think it'll probably be 0-0 now but I predict that there will probably be some goals because UVA have actually been conceding even though they've been winning all the time so yeah I think it should be really good and especially as Atalanta just plateaued a little bit
00:03:47
Speaker
and just dropped down, I think they might have dropped out of the Champions League places now because they were third. So yeah, they've plateaued but UVA were still not 100% sure, the style is quite on point yet.
Juventus's Strategies and Sarri's Impact
00:04:03
Speaker
So yeah, I think it's a good time, a good test for UVA and a good time in the season for neutral fans to watch a good spectacle.
00:04:12
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with everything you said. I just think that this is a really interesting test for Juve under Sarri because usually when teams play against Juve, they've kind of shrunk spaces, they've kind of backed down and not allowed Juve to play their free flowing football. But despite that, Juve always have managed to find ways to break teams down.
00:04:39
Speaker
Atalanta, against Atalanta, it's going to be like an autostrada. It's going to be like a highway. They can easily play pass between the lines. They can easily find space. And I think this is a game that really suits Juventus and Sarri. And I think that this is a game that
00:04:57
Speaker
That's going to be very, that will be decided in who converts because Juventus will definitely get their
Serie A Top Teams and Champions League Race
00:05:05
Speaker
chances. Atalanta we know create a lot of chances. If I'm not mistaken, they're the team that scored the most in the Serie A. So I expect a lot of, I expect it to be goal heavy.
00:05:18
Speaker
But I do think Juva will win, and I wouldn't be surprised if Juva won something like 4-2 or 5-1 or 5-2, something like that. Because I think this is a game where Juva will have lots of space to attack, and I think that they have the quality to completely destroy teams when they're given that space.
00:05:36
Speaker
Yeah, I think so too. I think Juve should win this. Again, with the Champions League midweek, you wonder how they'll approach this one, but I think it should be very straightforward as well. Chloe, you mentioned Atalanta being a bogey team for Juve. They seem to be a bogey team for several of the bigger teams in the city, huh?
00:05:55
Speaker
Inter, Inter, oh my god. Whenever Inter play Atalanta away and the game is at 12.30, like a lunch kickoff, you know Inter are going to get hammered 5-1. Like, he's just, he's just a factor player. Yeah, they're a little bit like them either. They keep beating Furentina. I think maybe they're just good.
00:06:13
Speaker
Yeah, but even during the treble season, or even the season before the treble, when Mourinho, when Atalanta weren't good, I mean, that is the only time under Mourinho I've seen Inter get completely destroyed. It was against Atalanta away. They won 3-0 in the first half. They scored all their three goals in the first half. So they are a bit of a bogey team.
00:06:34
Speaker
Except against Milan, they always lose against Milan. Yeah, well, Chloe, you mentioned, so if we look at the table, they are currently tied on points with Roma at 6-4 and 2, whereas Calleiri are 7-3 and 2, two points ahead of Atalanta Roma in the table sitting fourth.
Debating Serie A's Champions League Contenders
00:06:51
Speaker
Whereas you have Lazio sitting third, Inter second. So for this, this race is entirely interesting for the last two Champions League places because I think we can all agree Juve, Juve Inter will undoubtedly take the first and second spot. Where do we think this, this entire thing will ultimately, or where do we think it's headed? Because obviously it's still early to make a final prediction. We're, we're a third of the way through this Serie A calendar.
00:07:18
Speaker
I thought Caillerie would be good coming into the season. I didn't think they would be Champions League worthy. I thought perhaps Europa League plays, but they're certainly punching above their weight. Lazio, someone mentioned we don't discuss them enough. So here we go. We can discuss Lazio in this conversation as well. But you also have Napoli, who are sitting seventh at the moment. So you have this group of five essentially battling for these last two Champions League places.
00:07:45
Speaker
Do you think that Napoli Roma, the usual suspects, get back on track? Or do you think this is the year where we could have somebody again like Atalanta, Caliri, perhaps even Lazio take one of those places? I honestly think that Roma will finish third and Napoli fourth. I think that Napoli will get it together. I think they have the quality to get it together. And I think that every
00:08:11
Speaker
Everyone, that's because I think there's going to be so many different changes at Napoli next summer with Ancelotti leaving and several players leaving. It's time to make like a brand new start of it again as it's clearly not working and it's imploded. So I think that the pride will kick in. And I think that that's the reason and that's why I think it will work. I think it will get forth. Roma to me are, as I've said, I have them in the Champions League spot and I think they've gone through their worst period.
00:08:41
Speaker
And now they're going to be a really difficult team to beat. We've spoken about Mancini in that deep-lying playmaker role. He's been phenomenal. I wouldn't move him. I don't think Fonseca will. I hope he doesn't. So now, Atalanta fifth. I still think that Atalanta can cede a little bit too much to be able to finish top four. Fifth is great for them. It's not exactly bad to finish fifth for a tiny provincial club.
00:09:10
Speaker
So and Latzio 6 there about. Those are my teams. I have to say I disagree with Nima about Napoli. I don't think they're going to get it together. I think they've come to the end of a cycle and it's kind of all falling apart and I think because it's gone so badly wrong I think
00:09:31
Speaker
it may take a while to put that back together. I think they need some fresh players and fresh ideas. You know, it's still unclear at the moment whether Antolotti is actually going to last the season because he's, you know, even though they said he's staying for now, he seems to be have a bit of still, you know, maybe bad relationship with De Laurentiis. So
00:09:55
Speaker
I'm not so sure about Napoli. I think they will be more like Europa League. But I do agree that Roma will be in there. I think that fourth spot is really interesting. Last season, so many times it changed. And, you know, I think as well as having a title race this year, that that is where the interest is in Serie A. Who's going to get in the Champions League? And, you know, Calgary, I think
00:10:26
Speaker
They may end up dropping slightly into the rope league. I don't know who will get the other fourth spot. It's a tough one. No, I just said Lazio. I noticed neither of you are really picking them for that. But it's not because we dislike Lazio. We don't talk about them enough. Surely we hate them.
00:10:49
Speaker
OK, but OK. Yeah, no, no, but no, but honestly, I really like Lazio. I think I just think that the and I think that a cherubee has been the best defender in the city. He has been great. Yeah, he's.
00:11:03
Speaker
I mean, he's the level that I did not expect him to be this good. There's no doubt about that. I honestly didn't. I knew he was good, but I didn't think he was starting material to replace. I was going to just say that great for the national team as well. Not even club level. Yeah. I mean, he's, he's been, he's been absolutely world-class. There's no doubt about it. And he, he, he's, he's, he's completely replaced Killini. And I didn't think that was possible.
00:11:26
Speaker
I think that I thought I was going to be a weakness in the national team. And in Elazio, he's been really great. There's no doubt about that.
Napoli vs. Milan Preview
00:11:34
Speaker
I just, I just feel that looking at Inzaghi and how they've been, I think they've just been a little bit too, they're a little bit too inconsistent. Now, whether or not, you know, this is all guesswork because I mean, we don't know if, if Inzaghi, if Simona can get this to kind of
00:11:51
Speaker
to balance this out and calibrate this in a way so that they don't hemorrhage goals and immobile it continues to score for fun, then sure, then of course they'll be there in the top four and fighting for the top four places.
00:12:04
Speaker
I just personally think that there are teams that are more ready and prepared, such as Atalanta than Lazio, to take that fourth spot. I do think Roma Napoli will recover their form. Chloe, what makes you so pessimistic on this Napoli situation? I think we've talked about it exhaustingly on these last two episodes.
00:12:27
Speaker
What is it in particular that just doesn't give you the faith that they can recover? I feel that having looked at what Sari has done since leaving Napoli,
00:12:48
Speaker
I actually look back on his time there a little bit differently and actually feel like he got that team massively punching above their weight because of his entire system that worked so well. And I feel that when he left, Antolotti was able to sort of keep that going a little bit. But this season, it's almost like any remainder of
00:13:15
Speaker
Sari's ideas instructions has kind of gone and the team
00:13:22
Speaker
The team was already struggling before they had all this drama. We talked about it quite a lot that they only had two men in midfield and they were being overrun and all that. But I think the reason why I'm pessimistic is that they have multiple issues from the top down. And I don't think that's easy to flip or solve overnight. I do honestly feel that it needs a proper rebuild.
00:13:50
Speaker
Nima, I assume you have a bit more faith than Chloe does in this regard because you did pip them to potentially get the top four. The thing is, though, I agree with what Chloe said. I think it is time for a change, but I do think that the quality is, they have enough quality to pull through, so
Financial Dynamics of Serie A
00:14:11
Speaker
to speak. I do definitely, I think that this comes down to Ancelotti wanting to
00:14:17
Speaker
to leave Napoli in a good shape or a respectable position. And I think to qualify for the Champions League would be just that. And I do think they have the quality to finish top four. As long as that madman just chills out and stops creating
00:14:39
Speaker
you know sending shock waves cuz he is the problem let's let's be honest about it there's a lot of things wrong with napoli but but but he is definitely one of them he has completely created this mess i mean i've been i've been one of those who've been on his side thinking that he's done an absolutely fantastic job
00:14:57
Speaker
bringing lift, what he's done with Napoli, taking them over in Serie D and buying them for one Euro and then consistently having them make a profit, turn a profit in the way they scout players and turn them into superstars and sell them on and then replace them. I think he's done an absolutely fantastic job. But I think that it's time for him to leave now because he's now a liability more than anything else. And his way of running things, which used to be a strength, are no longer
00:15:25
Speaker
a strength, but they are a liability. And I think that if the Qatari Foundation were to make the offer that is being rumoured, I think he should sell. I don't think he will, because I think he enjoys being the bombastic padrone that he is. So I'm sorry to say that, but I think it would be best for everyone involved if he left.
00:15:51
Speaker
because I don't think he has the necessary tools to turn Napoli into a team that wins the Serie A or challenges for the Champions League or anything like that. I think it's a little bit similar to the situation with the Della Valleys at Fiorentina, that while Fiorentina fans were really grateful that they initially saved Fiorentina just like De Laurentiis did with Napoli,
00:16:14
Speaker
that you know eventually that kind of running the team on the budget and not putting much of your own money in and you know self-financing as they call it is is not sustainable and it's it's not ever going to bring prolonged success especially you know you cannot any team can have a good season but they need sustained investment to be good year in year out. Yeah and then it's not and it's not just
00:16:43
Speaker
So, you know, when we say investment, we are aware of the financial fair play rules. What we're talking about is external investment so that, you know, not like off the pitch stuff investment like Suning are doing with Inter or the Agnelli family is doing via their companies at Juve, et cetera, et cetera. So that's that, he completely lacks that. And I agree 100% with that. You need to have, you know,
00:17:12
Speaker
Today, for example, Suning got Inter to sign a multi-million dollar deal with a Chinese music platform that has 800 million users. I mean, that kind of investment and that kind of stuff is something that De Laurentiis doesn't have and Napoli need to have, because they have a massive global fan base in North America alone.
00:17:35
Speaker
there's a couple of million people there. So that are fan base to them and all over Europe. So I absolutely agree with what you said, Chloe. I think they need someone who can take that final step. And De Laurentiis is too much of an old school. He's the last of the old school Italian owners in the style of Morati, Berlusconi, Zamparini, et cetera.
Milan's Struggles and Management Issues
00:17:59
Speaker
You know, that business model is outdated. And I think he's kind of played out his role.
00:18:04
Speaker
Well speaking of it's sort of a meeting of two clubs that are in sort of synonymous chaos because they come up against Milan who currently sit and it's so weird to even say this but Milan sit 14th in the Serie A table. Positive purely. Yeah so so now Napoli 7th, Milan 14th. I don't even know what the make of this one because
00:18:31
Speaker
if you just look on paper you would think Napoli who have won win in their previous five league matches the same with Milan although Milan have three losses in their previous five league matches you would think just on paper that Napoli should without question take care of Milan without any issue but
00:18:52
Speaker
given what we've seen from them in these last few weeks I can honestly say I don't even know what to expect from them anymore because just when you think they might get up for it they might get themselves out of this situation they just play horribly and the situation makes itself worse and then you have Milan who
00:19:13
Speaker
are still sort of figuring things out under Pioli. Obviously they've lost their last two matches. Although Nima, we did talk about how Pioli seems to have at least found his midfield, which shouldn't be touched, right?
00:19:29
Speaker
Those are the players that have to play because this team looks completely balanced that way. They have everything. They have muscles, they have energy, they have physicality, they have idea, they have brains. That midfield is a good midfield.
00:19:44
Speaker
And I think what the back four he played as well is far against Napoli. And I do understand why he plays Czalano Glut on the left wing because he kind of cuts in and covers that side. So no, I think he's found his formation. The only change I would make is probably to bring in Rafael Liao on the left wing against lesser teams where Milan don't have to defend.
00:20:07
Speaker
as much as they do against Annapoli, who will otherwise run riots against them. But I mean, I've been reading that Annapoli could make a change to a 4-3-3, which I think would just against Milan. And I think that is the formation they should be playing. And I think that they have a quality that is better than... They have a team that's better than Milan. It's just that simple. And I think that being at home and, you know, these two weeks kind of letting things cool down, cool off,
00:20:35
Speaker
I do think that these two upcoming games in the Champions League and the Serie A is going to propel Napoli up the table and I think it's also going to give them some peace of mind because let's remember, this is Italy, nothing cools off arguments and let's bygones be bygones as much as wins. If Ancelotti were to win in the Champions League and against Milan, two good performances and two wins, then all of this is almost forgotten. That's how it works.
00:21:05
Speaker
Ah, it is a tricky one. You know, they've both been such a disaster. I think it was really like the battle of who can not mess up the most, I guess. But I did see signs of improvement with Milan, like, you know, you mentioned the midfield and against Juve, they were
00:21:33
Speaker
they did look like they were improving and they did play well for spells in that game. So I feel like you never just know, Napoli could turn up and play amazingly and Milan could just have a complete breakdown again. You just don't know. But from the feeling I get is that Milan are slowly, slowly, slowly improving and that
00:22:02
Speaker
maybe they could just have enough to beat Napoli who are still, I would imagine, reeling from all everything that's been going on. Yeah, I agree. Hey, real quick, I want to talk about a certain Milan player and something he had to say, but first a brief word from our sponsor, MyBookie.
00:22:24
Speaker
Hey NBA, NFL, college basketball fans, are you tired of watching the games from the couch with nothing to gain? MyBookie wants to get your mind off everything else and back on the game. If you join right now, MyBookie will match your deposit halfway all the way up to $1,000. That means if you deposit $2,000, you get an extra $1,000 in free money to play with.
00:22:49
Speaker
So if you're going to bet this season, do the smart thing and go to mybookie.ag because no one gives you more ways to win. That's mybookie.ag and enter promo code late fees. That's promo code L-A-T-E-F-E-E-S to get that 50% match bonus up to $1,000. Visit mybookie.ag today. You play,
00:23:16
Speaker
You win, you get paid with my bookie. Yeah, this is one where it's difficult for me to even make a prediction. Obviously on paper, again, I feel like Napoli are just so ahead of Milan, but...
00:23:36
Speaker
This situation that they're in is so curious, and again, I think they have more quality than Roma, and they were terrible against Roma. Milan, they still feel like they're still trying to find their way. Pioli, again, as I just mentioned in Nima, I feel like he has at least found his midfield, which is something I believe he can build off of, but whether or not they're able to produce goals is where my biggest question mark with them is.
00:24:06
Speaker
Poor peon tech. I don't know what this guy's thinking but for him to be talking about did you guys catch this? It was unbelievable. It was unbelievable. What is ready? We did it doesn't yeah for anyone who doesn't understand what I'm referencing and peon tech in an interview while on national team duty He was mentioning that
00:24:25
Speaker
for his next transfer he would like to be a player who is worth 70 million euros because he was asked about moving on or he was asked about his future and he basically said why was Milan pay 38 million euros for me and in my next move I would like to be 70 million euros. Before we get to that point how about a goal from open play?
00:24:46
Speaker
It's weird. It's weird. This is such a weird thing for him to say. And part of it is like, did he actually say it? Maybe it was some sort of lost in translation in Polish. I haven't yet been able to verify that yet, but it is such a weird, weird thing to say. What a weird thing. Well, and then today you have Chalanoglu talking about, you know, moving on. There's no way he'd be able to say no to Bayern.
00:25:15
Speaker
No, what he actually said was, if Bayern came knocking again on my door, I wouldn't say no to this. What is the scenario? Doorbell rings. That must be Bayern again. Just a very odd thing to say in this very particular moment that they have. No, it's free fall. It's clear. And not only that.
00:25:45
Speaker
as if things weren't weird enough in the land of Milan today on Twitter, Yong Hong Lee, the whole owner, suddenly created an account and he's throwing everyone under the bus. It's just weird. Milan is becoming a weird kind of reality TV. It's really going downhill for them now. It's weird. It's weird. No, but this is really turning out to be weird and it's really falling off at the seams.
00:26:11
Speaker
And it's quite sad to see because with Maldini and Boban, you have the Milan DNA and you have intelligent people because they are intelligent people, but it is absolutely not working. So I don't know. I mean, the Elliott Fund, I mean, maybe they should just try to cut their losses with Milan.
00:26:29
Speaker
and try to just get what money they put out and just try to not make a huge profit to what they had anticipated because this is not looking good. It's interesting. That's all I can say. When I saw that interview with Piontech, just the timing.
00:26:45
Speaker
I mean, how tone deaf can you be? Your team is struggling. You have a huge, huge, huge, huge, huge, huge match coming up against Napoli. And here you are, you're discussing wanting to be a 70 million euros player. I mean, for me, come on.
00:27:00
Speaker
They need to have some kind of press officer that's regulating what they're saying. I know they're on international duty, but somebody to give these guys some coaching about what it's smart to say and not to say in the media. Well, I think he said it on purpose, and so did Chala Noglo. I think it's definitely calculated. It's not very nice. But then again, what are you going to do? The alternative is to go full on Aurelio De Laurentiis, who
00:27:27
Speaker
who finds, what's his name, Elif Elmas, that's the one, Elif Elmas. Yeah, because he spoke with the press and he didn't even talk about Napoli. He just spoke with the press. That's ridiculous, but I mean... That's such a dilarentis thing though, isn't it? But surely these players are employees of Milan.
00:27:51
Speaker
And even when they're on international duty, they are representing Milan and they need to be held accountable to what they say and we shouldn't be allowed to just shoot their mouths off and safe because it's damaging further, further damaging the reputation of Milan, which has already suffered such damage. I really feel that they need somebody at the club to pull it back and just say to the players, look,
Roma's Team Dynamics and Challenges
00:28:20
Speaker
just, you know, say something, they can say something generic. They don't have to, they don't have to say such ridiculous things in the press. No, yeah, I agree. A couple of other matches that are happening, you have Torino Inter, you have Sasuolo Lazio, Verona Fiorentina, Chloe, Fiorentina, what another team, you have no idea what to expect. Verona,
00:28:47
Speaker
Now I know I say the statistic ever for the last like three or four episodes and I've been tweeted that I need to shut up about it. But if I don't have one of the best defenses in all of Syria, and I feel like we haven't discussed that enough. We all thought I think each all three of us had them destined for the drop.
00:29:06
Speaker
But yeah, together with Lech and I have to say though, I mean, they don't score at a very astounding rate, but they at least they're at least giving themselves an opportunity with their stoutness at the back. I have to say, I've been thoroughly impressed.
00:29:22
Speaker
Yeah, they're actually only one place below Fiorentina in the league, their 10th. I mean, who would have thought that at the beginning of the season? I mean, I did have a look at who they'd played and who they were yet to play. And I think their most difficult run of fixtures is yet to come. So it might be a little bit of a false position, but I feel, to be honest, for this match, because
00:29:43
Speaker
Fiorentina have kind of struggled to score at times and struggled to break down stubborn teams and Verona are clearly one of those teams.
00:29:53
Speaker
Yeah. Who else do we have? We have Roma, Brescia. Oh, Mancini against Tonali. Are you kidding me? I'm going to be drooling over that. Sandro Tonali versus Gianluca Mancini in the middle of the park. It's going to be absolutely delicious to watch that. Yeah. Now, Brescia, it's interesting. They sit bottom of the table, recently appointed. Who did they appoint, Nima? Is it Fabio Grosso?
00:30:19
Speaker
So it's interesting because I thought that appointment was a bit odd because he struggled in Serie B and this almost feels like it was more of a kick in the back end sort of appointment where they just need someone to motivate them. In attack particularly they do not look even the slightest bit convincing. Now their defense isn't that good either but in 11 matches they've scored 10 goals, they've conceded 20. Other than Tonali, Balotelli has not been very good.
00:30:48
Speaker
they just they're coming off a four to zero loss against Torino at home so i would think Roma could handle this one pretty easily but it's Roma as you always say you never know with Roma and and no but i honestly think that Roma i mean you see when you watch Zagnolo play now and you watch how Roma play generally it's just
00:31:10
Speaker
They're a joy to watch right now. They're attacking football. Their attack is absolutely brilliant. And their defense is looking really good. Chris Malling has been a revelation. And it's just, you know, we can't say that enough. I think he's, together with Acherabi, they've been fantastic.
00:31:26
Speaker
Have some of them recovered from injury yet, Don? Lorenzo Pellegrini, Mikitarian. Both will be called up this weekend, which is, I think, above all. I mean, if you look at their position in the table, they currently sit sixth. They're six, four, and two. I think the last match against Parma was simply fatigue and injuries finally having caught up to them after a month and a half of just
00:31:51
Speaker
Ravaging, ravaging, ravaging injuries. Now they're going to welcome back Pellegrini, which is interesting because since Pellegrini has been out, we have seen the best Javier Pastore since he arrived at the club. Mictarian, obviously, that's going to be interesting too. You have Genghis Ounder who came back as well.
00:32:12
Speaker
hasn't been playing great, but I'm curious to see how Fonseca manages to balance the squad, because he is slowly starting to get everybody back, and he's going to have a bit of an overload, particularly on the wings. He's going to have Clyver, he's going to have Under, Mkhitaryan, Pellegrini, Pastore, he's going to have a lot of these names that he's going to have to find a way to get all of them in. Now, I
00:32:33
Speaker
I can't even venture to guess who his preferred three behind Jeko would be. I would assume, given how good he was before his injury, Pellegrini is certainly still in there. Zagnolo on the right, and then Mikatarian on the left, but Clyvert has been okay, he's been improving, but he's one of those players where
00:32:51
Speaker
You feel like he takes two steps forward and then he takes one back. So that's what I'm keeping my eye on. I do think they should easily beat Prussia, but I'll be curious to see how he handles the rest of the team. But Zappok, I mean, Spina Zola and Zappok, Zappokosto is gone for the season, isn't he?
00:33:06
Speaker
Until March at least, I mean an ACL. I would assume he doesn't play again. Spina Zola is going to be... He was called up by Mancini for the national team. He was suffering from muscle fatigue, so he withdrew from the squad. But didn't Mancini do that as well, Gianluca Mancini as well? Yes, yes. Are they not serious?
00:33:30
Speaker
No, no, no, no, I think it was, again, I think that was a result of merely having to play every single match for the last month and a half to match. Except for, I mean, but Cristante, how long is he away? Cristante is out until January, February, so they still have a bit of an issue in that two-man midfield, Verutu, Mancini, Dioara, Dioara just returned, so I would assume he plays a pretty big role here in the next couple of weeks.
00:33:59
Speaker
but the curious thing is, again, I've talked about it on the previous two episodes, Florenzi, who has been essentially benched more or less. He is not featured in the last handful of matches. And what happens then? Antonio Conte says, hey, let's go find him. Well, you know, the nice thing is I think a lot of these transfer rumors in regards to Florenzi are more so
00:34:27
Speaker
being created by the media. Flodenzi hasn't said a single word. From a maturity standpoint, he's been fantastic. He hasn't said anything. He said, I'm going to shut up, work, because the most important thing is Roma. Do I think he'll leave? No, but...
Lazio vs. Sassuolo and Serie A Weekend Preview
00:34:42
Speaker
but...
00:34:43
Speaker
if there isn't a chance, even slightly, that he misses out on the Euro, because we have to remember, the interesting thing here was, we were talking about for the Euro 2020, for that right-back position, the names we were talking about all play at Roma. You have Zepakosta, you have Florenzi, and then we've seen Spina Zola being heavily linked to both the right and the left. So it's really interesting that all three guys who are being, essentially fighting for the same place in Mancini's team,
00:35:12
Speaker
I'll play Roma. Now Spina Zola to date, he's had injury problems but Fonseca has made it very clear Spina Zola is a guy he prefers to play on the right. Now Spina Zola said he prefers to play on the left but Kolarov has been sensational this season so he won't be playing on the left but um
00:35:28
Speaker
I will just keep saying what I have been saying about Alessandro Florenzi. He is not an attacker. He is not a defender. He is a matzala in a three-man midfield. Only problem is Roma don't play a three-man midfield. So if it becomes more apparent, in my opinion, that he isn't going to have a big role, I wouldn't be surprised if he moved somewhere on loan.
00:35:52
Speaker
Santoria to me just jumps out immediately Because then yet he loved him when he was here for the for last season in those last few months So i'll be curious to see how that develops. Um But we'll see we'll see where i'd be shocked if you left know what do I expect him to leave though? No, so That's one of those uh wait and see sort of situations. Um, again, somebody said we don't talk about latio enough So real quickly sasuo. Hello. Lazio um
00:36:21
Speaker
Again, this is another team, Lazio, who I appeared on a Celtic, I appeared on a, before the Europa League match against Celtic, I appeared on a Celtic podcast and I said, I expect Lazio to win, but if you were to tell me that they were to lose two, three to one, I wouldn't be even slightly shocked. And they go out and they lose two to one to Celtic. Now, in the following match in the league, they hammer Lecce, but it was a bit controversial because it was a handball that
00:36:57
Speaker
Sasuolo is, there's really not much to say about them. To me, they have turned into such a great story where they maintain their place in the city, but now they've turned into a very just meh sort of team. They don't wow you. They get their results. They don't do anything spectacular in the transfer market. They're not drawing these big names. To me, they're just sort of like a very bland club now. I'm not even,
00:37:12
Speaker
may or may not have been so.
00:37:25
Speaker
Remotely impressed by what they do now, but they they're slowly turning into my cable, which I don't want them to do Don't go down that road This does something impressive bring somebody big in who we should who we didn't think you could draw I mean, I think I actually I understand what you mean. They're becoming like one of the you know blending into the gray like the udina is a thing and
00:37:47
Speaker
You know one of one of one of one of clubs just taking up a place in the city art Yeah, but look what happens when you become you know It's true. It's just you settle for that look at who denies it now I mean yeah, I think they're terrible and I hope they do go down just a little bit of a spark No, no, no, no, let's not go crazy here
00:38:05
Speaker
No, no, no, I think for me, Cesolo, Berardi Caputo, I like that little, you know, this gives me this kind of 90s, mid-table Italian vibe to them. So, no, I think, but they're very inconsistent. And I think this game with Lazio, to me, it's the derby of the inconsistent one.
00:38:27
Speaker
It literally is, because I honestly don't know who will win this game. I think this game could end 4-4, this could end 4-3 to Sasuolo, it could end 4-3 to Lazio, it could end 5-0 to Lazio. I honestly don't know how this could go. The more I look at it, sure, on paper I expect Lazio to win,
00:38:48
Speaker
because they have a better squad, but then you have to play the games and we don't know which Lazio we're going to see. Are we going to see the Lazio against Leixe or are we going to see the Lazio against Celtic?
00:39:00
Speaker
If we see the Lazio against Celtic, then I think Sasawal are going to win this. If it's against Lecev, then I think they're going to blow Sasawal off the park. This makes this so difficult. And to be honest, Berardi is having quite the season as well. And Caputo is a player I actually enjoy watching. He reminds me of...
00:39:20
Speaker
Dario Hubner for some reason. I don't know why, but he just reminds me of this. That is the most random comparison I have ever heard in my life. No, but he just reminds me of these. Remember these 10 to 15, 20 goal Serie A attackers in the mid 90s, early 2000s, the ones that weren't good enough to play in the national team, but they delivered like Spinezi in the mid 2000s. You know what I mean? Like, oh my God. Caputo, Alfredo Donaruma, these strikers are the kind.
00:39:48
Speaker
are the ones that remind me of that. And I quite enjoy that. And I think they do have a decent midfield. But, honestly, immobile will score. We know that. The question is, how many will he score? And will it be enough to keep Sasolo at a distance to go home with three points? I honestly don't know.
00:40:08
Speaker
All right. Well, we talked about Lazio. So for those of you who tweeted us that we don't talk about them enough, I think I'm looking at my my my sheet here and I think we dedicated eight minutes to that. So please.
00:40:23
Speaker
No, not that no, I am not counting that would be very petty of me. I am not counting So there you have it. That's what we think will happen this weekend. So we will be back after the match day next week where we will do our a Match day review and we will be back with another preview it's also exciting because we have the Champions League that we will be able to discuss in the
00:40:47
Speaker
Later episode in the week where we preview the the the weekend full of matches So we are back on regularly scheduled programming. So as always thank you so much for listening and we will talk to you after the weekend. Bye. Bye