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Serie A Clubs Winners & Losers Of The Summer Transfer Window (Extended Clip From Q & A Pod)
2.3k Plays1 year ago
Who were the winners and losers of the summer transfer market patron Anthony asks in this week's Q & A Pod? And Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese answer that plus discuss the latest Serie A transfer news before Dead Line Day, as well as debate, analyze and grade which club in Italy has done the best business this summer.
From Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, AS Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, Atalanta and Napoli to Teun Koopmeiners, Romelu Lukaku, Mehdi Taremi, Alvaro Morata and more.
This is an extended clip from this weeks Q & A episode of The Italian Football Podcast available only to patrons on Patreon.com/TIFP
To send in your questions as well as listen to this & all other full episodes of The Italian Football Podcast (with no ads), go to Patreon.com/TIFP OR Spotify to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
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Transcript
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Right, final question comes from, let me just, I got my notes here, ah comes from Anthony Sormani who says, hi guys, great work on the pod as always. I thank you for the beautiful interviews you shared with Sven Goran-Eriksen. It was like a mini documentary in his career, a great guy who will be solely missed. My question for the pod is who have been the winners and losers of the transfer window for you guys?
00:00:31
Speaker
Well, first of all, thank you so much. And yeah, yesterday was an intense day emotionally, um or Monday, I should say. And it was, it felt good to be able to at least, you know, document, you know, put out what we did with him. And he was, again, Sven was, you know, it was our second ever episode of the Italian football podcast. well He was our very first guest.
00:00:57
Speaker
um And he he was just very, very kind and gracious. And he came on twice. And it was lovely memories and lovely interviews. um And it feels good to have been able to document his his illustrious career.
00:01:14
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. That that first interview we did, them especially as ah an interview, I will cherish. It was one of the favorite interviews I've ever done. it was it was I remember just when we were we were sat down talking to him and just, just like it was like such a pleasure listening to him, telling these ah these stories, these incredible stories about his career. I absolutely loved it. So yeah, I would definitely advise all of you that haven't ah listen to those interviews. ah it's is ona It's on all our platforms. but yeah you and you' made it free Yeah, we both together. ah We edit them together. There's a beginning intro where I do like a eulogy and then there's the first interview and then there's the second interview and we put them all together and they're all up on any platform for everyone to listen to.
00:01:59
Speaker
Yeah, that's right. um So yeah, winners and losers of the transfer market. Well, we're recording this on Wednesday, Wednesday afternoon. So there's still two days left before the transfer window closes. So some of this could change slightly. But I think we've got a rough overview of who the winners and losers are. um I guess we could do a ah could grade the clubs as well after as well. But let's let's pick winners. I mean, for me, that there there is one clear winner.
00:02:26
Speaker
here and that is Juventus and Cristiano Giuntoli, the two of them together. Let's combine the two together. um they are They are huge winners in this market. I think that ah there were question marks a few weeks ago when everything slowed down and we wondered are Juventus going to be able to complete their squad and complete their team and Giuntoli has answered that now. um In the in the last you know the last days, last week or so of of the market,
00:02:54
Speaker
um I wouldn't give it a 10 out of 10. I think it would have been a 10 out of 10 if he'd have brought in the centre back that the he intended to in which case Califiori first or the B target.
00:03:08
Speaker
so depot He failed to bring those in and he was forced to go for Kalulu, which is a bit of a gamble. If you'd have got either Kalifuria or Todibo, I would have given it a 10 out of 10. It would have been perfection. But I'm going to give it a 9 out of 10. And I mean, you look at there's so many things. First of all, player for player.
00:03:25
Speaker
ah the team has been strengthened so much. I mean, the midfield is absolutely formidable now. I mean, Taran, Douglas Louise, Coupe miners, all brought in. and When you add that they've already got Fagioli and Locatelli already look like they're being rehabilitated to an extent by Motta, then you know he's brought in two new wingers, Consesel and Nico Gonzalez. And as we discuss him, we'll see if it gets completed. They're in negotiations to complete the Sancho deal. That could be done as well. and If they bring in three wingers, you know, with yielders as well, they've got four wingers for two positions. um So the midfield and the wide positions are, are you know,
00:04:09
Speaker
Looking good. um The defence is not the strongest, but you know I think that that is a slight weakness for Juventus, the defence, but the midfield is so strong and the way that most teams play in terms of controlling the game and keeping it away from the defence.
00:04:24
Speaker
and I think that will limit to an extent that those weaknesses in defense but i mean if you look at where youve events are started where they come from. Personal why is it improve so much and also for a financial point of view so far i'm ahead of the cool minus deal they were basically even on that spend.
00:04:41
Speaker
and That will now they will that there will be a that will now go up now, but they're also even says as we're speaking They're going to sell Kiaza. They're also offloading a few other players as well So by the end of the market you've enters actually won't have spent that much money And they've improved the squad that much and also if you look at the accounts, they've cut the salary bill They've got so many expensive earners off their books, you know the likes of ah alexandro um Chesney um kieza um Kiezer There's some other names that i'm I'm forgetting and as well like they so he's done an incredible rock ah ah job ah Both from a financial point of view and sweat but and of course the alia mater probably the best sign probably could be the best sign in the world That's my winner
00:05:26
Speaker
um I have Juventus and Atalanta and Inter as winners. um Like one, two, three. um Because I look at it, my my rating is I give a rating for players in, I give a rating for players out and then divide it by two and that's the sum I give them. I think Juventus players in is a nine. The only reason I don't give them a 10 is because of the debacle with the central defender.
00:05:54
Speaker
As for players out, it's a 5. It's poor. You didn't get $13 million for Federico Chiesa. You couldn't sell Western McKinney. I mean, these these you had to give him a contract extension. You couldn't sell Wojciech Szesny and he instead decided to hang up his boots.
00:06:10
Speaker
it's just, you know, it's it's not it's not good. So nine plus five divided by two, that's ah that's that gives you a, um yeah but but yeah, seven, nine plus five equals 14, divided by two, that's a seven. For Atalanta, I give them a six and a half. Players in are not as good as the players out, but they literally could not have done any better, given the situation they've been.
00:06:40
Speaker
in it, they find themselves in. um you know it's it's um it's It's truly it's it's it's unfair and it pisses me off, um but I really think they couldn't have done a better job because you know they did not want to be in this situation, but they they they had to do it and they couldn't have done it better. um So six and a half ah players in, I'd say seven,
00:07:08
Speaker
um ah players out like losing in and out I'd say seven and six together it's 13 at six and a half in that I give so far an overall a six because I look at you also have to look at who did those players replace it's taught me better than Alexei Sanchez today absolutely is Martinez better than Aldero no doubt um Is Zielinski better than Sensi and Klassen? Undoubtedly. um So, um and then you have to look at, you know, if Thomas Palacios comes in, um you know, they got to show up a youngster for the future, similar to the B-Sec. He's very highly rated.
00:07:54
Speaker
I give them a six. um I think players in maybe six. Yeah, six players out six because they didn't weren't able to sell any of them. Many of them were just free transfers and loans that ended. So somewhere there, six is is what i what I would give them. Those are my winners and losers so far in the reservation for the winners yeah losers um well for losers i've got um i've got a few for losers bologna are the big losers of course um los diago moza their coach los joshua zix a los califuri los salamakers um i mean three of their
00:08:32
Speaker
Well, they're two best players and then one of their other key players. ah You know, and of course, when you add to that, the the ACL injury to to Ferguson as well, I mean, they've been absolutely gutted. The players that they've brought in at Polonia are, you know, and they're not bad, but they're not. They're way off the quality of the players that they've lost. And, you know, one of the players that they brought in, Kambyaki has done his ACL when he's out for the season. ah You know, the Dalinga, Erlich, Pobega,
00:09:01
Speaker
Ealing Junior, Holm, Miranda. um you know so you know Decents are good players, these, but way off the quality. So they've downgraded massively. So that is the epitome of a loser.
00:09:16
Speaker
um Monza, as well, have as a loser. They've lost Colpani, Di Gregorio, Carboni, three talented players. And again, the players they brought in are weaker. Sensi, but we know he's going to be injured a lot. He's a good player. Maldini stepped up a little bit, you know, ah obviously some doubts on Nesta as well as the coach. Torino lost, either as a loser as well, they've lost their entire defense.
00:09:40
Speaker
Los Buongiorno, the best player, Los Belenova, of course, and they've not really replaced these guys, to be honest with you, proper, not near, obviously, again, not to the same quality. They've had good starts this season, but it's only two games, and I think they've also rode their luck in those games as well. So, it's a long season ahead for Torino and the player. In terms of, I think they'll be fine, not saying they're going to get relegated, but I think that they definitely the quality of the team and the squad has gone down quite a bit. And in general, a loss to Retigui and Gudmundsson. Again, if you're looking at the quality of the team, the players, they've definitely downgraded losing those two, probably their two best players. So they've lost them. And again, the players they've brought in not of the same quality. Keeping Giudardino there was good. And again, they've had a good start this season. They'll be fine. They're not going to get eradicated or anything, but I think it's a disappointment for the fans.
00:10:36
Speaker
I've got nothing else to add to that. The only thing I wanted to add is Milan. i have them is yeah well let's do let's let's do that this Let's go through the rest of the other big teams. No, I just wanted to say I have Milan and Inter shared third. just Oh really? yeah okay see me like what What grade did you give for Inter? Remind me? Six. So you would give Milan a six out of ten?
00:10:54
Speaker
Yeah, would I would. I think that because i'm i'm I'm expecting them to bring in te Tammy Abraham and I'm expecting them to bring in Adrian Rabior. I think Adrian Rabior addresses issues.
00:11:09
Speaker
that this Milan team has. You know how much I rate him. I think he's a very tactically intelligent player. If he's used properly, I think he's in both phases. He provides balance that I think this Milan team needs. And I think Tammy Abraham, who's not by any stretch of the imagination a, you know, a prolific goal scorer, but what he is, is someone who never stops running, creating space for other people and a poor man's morata.
00:11:38
Speaker
that creates space for Pulisage, for Leao, for others um to score. So i think i think that it's an intelligent I think these are intelligent signings if you look at what they want to do ah with Fonseca, if that makes sense.
00:11:54
Speaker
um If they bring him in so I think not, you know, it would have been if they had gotten ZX I would have given him much higher. i think there's Yeah, it's difficult once a rate Milan because again, we have to see how they end the market but yeah, I think that there's good and bad like there's there's players they brought in that that could give us cause for optimism if they realised kind of the potential they've got. So I'm looking at Pavlovic, I'm looking at Fofana and even though he's 31 going to turn 32, Morata, I do think that he can bring a lot to the team. Then there's also some silence which kind of lie
00:12:31
Speaker
you know I'm not I'm really like Emerson Royale and Abraham coming off an ACL ah barely played since coming back from his ACL that doesn't you know that doesn't give me lots of optimism to be honest um and you know Rabio coming in I mean I think that it's a free agent okay he's on a big big salary Yeah, I think he's a good player, but ah you know, I've never been the biggest Rabio fan. he's I know he's not my kind of agree on that. He's not my kind of player. You know, he's just not not my client I think he's a useful player. Like my thing with Rabio is he's useful if used correctly. I thought it was useful. like I think he's been useful for France. I think he's been useful for you over PSG. He's not a sexy name. But if you use him properly, I think he's very intelligent on the pink I think it's useful. I think that's a good way of describing it, but I don't know whether useful wins you titles. you know I mean, that's that's that's the issue. Well, his CV shows that you do. Well, I mean, really, I mean, that you've been to see won the title in his first season, but he was ah wasn't an important player. He was just a
00:13:34
Speaker
bit and you know, just a rotation player in his first season and then it's been a disaster for Juventus in his last season. I don't think winning with PSG counts for anything because of PSG. So, you know, other don't i I don't I don't think you can really build with a team. i don't think he I don't think he makes Milan seriously strong, but, you know, we'll see. um so milla yeah So what would I give Milan? um I'd probably give them... I'd probably give them a six, you know yeah just give which which I don't think is good and I don't think is bad. I think it's it's just okay. and But then, of course, we do have to type factor in the coach as well. Fonseca, of whom there's very, very big question marks over. So, yeah, let me bring that down. Napoli, would you give Napoli a 10? This is a difficult one for me as well. This is so difficult because it's not done yet. um Because I think a lot of it hinges on Aussie man.
00:14:31
Speaker
Now he's got Lukaku and Osseman, and they need to sort that out. um But if Osseman were to leave for 60, 70 million or however much it is,
00:14:44
Speaker
And you look at how useful those players are. And I think Bonjourno is potentially one of the signings of the season. I think it's a fantastic sleeve fantastically smart signing that is exactly what they need. um And he will work perfectly under Antonio Conte. And I think we might be here talking, like I said, I think we will be talking about Bonjourno as one of the best defenders in Europe in about nine months time, because Conte is going to turn him into that.
00:15:11
Speaker
Um, so that's one aspect of it. Um, and then I look at what other players they brought in and I look at, so somewhere five and out six, I mean, Antonio Conte is also a new signing. I think together with Thiago Motto, that's the appointment and that's the coaching coup of, you know, of the season potentially. Right. Um, so somewhere were six, six and a half, but I think I, will again, I want a little asterix next to all of these. I want to wait and see the last week, see what happens, but somewhere there six, six and a half.
00:15:41
Speaker
Because again, I look at what well the player comes in is intended to do, right? Lukaku is not going to be the goal scorer. Lukaku is going to help Chicha score. I think he's going to win the ball high up for Chicha to attack the space. And so Chicha has to score a lot. I think he's going to be the main goal scorer. Lukaku is going to be important in in the build up phase.
00:16:09
Speaker
um I think they're going to be in the title race, like I said, three horse race, Intermilla, Interjueva, Napoli. um And I think someone like Spinazzola is going to be very useful. Madzoki is almost like a new signing. He just won the lottery with Kante coming to Napoli. um so and And I think the rest of the players work in that system. um So all in all, I'd say six, six and a half, somewhere there.
00:16:38
Speaker
Yeah, um ah ah soon I'd probably go... If we're if we're discounting Conte from the equation...
00:16:49
Speaker
I'd probably say six at most, maybe 5.5. If we include in Conte, then 6.5 probably because I think Conte is a great sign in, but other than Buongiorno, I'm not impressed by by the rest of the market. Lukaku I think will do a job, but obviously you're he's replacing Osseman who I think is ah is ah is a superior player to Lukaku.
00:17:15
Speaker
And then the other sign-ins just don't impress me. You know, like McTominay, Gilmour, if these two guys come in, I think McTominay definitely will. He's having his medical as we speak. You know, Nerez, I think the money being spent I don't think was befitting of where I see a team that wants to challenge for, you know, major sign-ins. I think Rafa Marine could be a good sign-in.
00:17:38
Speaker
I haven't seen, I don't know how much you've seen of him, but I haven't seen ah much of him to to so make it. I think it could potentially be a good signing. um I think the fact that, you know, I'm surprised they sent Natan on loan. I thought he was going to be given a chance. um Look, I think, you know, I do think that um they I think Rafa Marine is like, not just Rafa Marine, but just the players that they're bringing. Does McTominay work in a contest system? Yes, absolutely. um That's the role the role he's going to fill fill it fill in. Again, yeah that's what I look at.
00:18:19
Speaker
um Bonjourno, as I said, I think Neresh is going to be very useful um for them when they play a 3-4-2-1 with Huicha and Neresh on either wing of Lukaku. Raspadori, people have forgotten about him. I think he's going to have a renaissance under Kante as well. I think against Binadzola works for him. um No, I think they've done they've brought in what he needs to do to build something, okay?
00:18:47
Speaker
and I think these players all work in the content system. um So more than the quality of players comparing them, you also have to look at, like I said, okay do they replace, like I said, with Intel? I look at who they replaced, and then I also look at if they fit the system.
00:19:06
Speaker
And I think someone, you know and these players that come in, I think fit the coach's system more as well. I think there's many parameters to take into consideration. yeah And and oh that's why I kind of rate it on. yeah so So I have me i have i have Napoli, Milan, Inter in the same area, Juventus, Atalanta, clear ahead of everyone else, but Milan, Napoli,
00:19:30
Speaker
enter and the same OK, well, talking about fitness system, this is probably the biggest concern with Roma. So what do you give Roma's rate? What would you give Roma's market? I mean, they brought in Dobbik, Sulay, Dal, Lefey, Abdul Hamid, obviously Kept, Dibala, Sangare, they've let lost Kumbula, Sulbakan, Beloti, Yoar. I think the players they've sold is one good.
00:20:00
Speaker
Or they might leave as well. Abraham might leave as well. Yeah, I think they've done well to sell. And I think if seller makers comes in, that'll be good for them too. Because I think he actually works on the Y. I mean, now they have wingers. and Yeah, they need to someone like that. yeah Yeah. So I actually think they're doing a decent job.
00:20:24
Speaker
um and And I mean Kevin, what's his name? um Kevin Danso. I mean, I'm looking at it now. so dovbi sule lefe angelinio dall abdel hamid matthew ryan kevin dunsau salamakerrs That's a decent, that's that's that's decent for Roma. So somewhere six, six and a half, six probably is where. um I'm giving it a six and purely because i you know I don't see, for everything that I've said so many times over the last few days, I don't want to repeat myself over and over again, I just,
00:20:57
Speaker
want to see how De Rossi can possibly get this into a working team, the lack of the lack of width in particular in this team. A seller may, because I think we'll address that a little bit, but so yeah, Roma are lacking wide players, I think. So I would say six at most, at six at most, maybe 5.5. Let's do Lazio.
00:21:24
Speaker
It's, I think they've had a good market. I really do. I think they've had a decent market. It kind of depends. that I'm seeing them interested in Fazini from Empoli, for Louruncho, you know, these are... So far they brought India, Testravilly, Nunotso Vares, Bashirou, Ciauana and Noslin.
00:21:44
Speaker
Those are the players they've brought in. They've lost Cancilieri, Immobole, Luis Alberto, Realmordo, Felipe Anderson, Camada, Cepe, Marco Santonio. There's a lot more pace in the team and there's a lot less experience in the team. There's a lot more youth, there's a lot less age in the team. So that's the changes really in the team. But it was something that needed to be done. So I think we have to give them a little bit of leeway for that. We really do. That's exactly what I'm saying. I give them a six.
00:22:12
Speaker
Yeah, same here. I think they need it. this is like at the Finally, they're able to build a project after basically trying to clean up after Palota for three years. So I give them a little bit of leeway here. um and And sorry, not just Palota when I say, no, Lazio, I'm talking about um ah like if we if we look at like it's It's the same situation at both Rome clubs, isn't it? like You have ah pretty much year zero at both clubs, and I think we both have to give them a little bit of leeway because it's not easy for Lazio or Roma with the revenue streams they have.
00:22:47
Speaker
to try to rebuild in one summer when one era ends ah for different reasons. Of course, Roma had to clean up after Palota, Palotito has to, you know, the Milinkovitch-Savage-Ciro-Immobula era has come to an end.
00:23:04
Speaker
So I look at them kind of with the similarly there, give them both a better lead weight and give them a six. Fiorentina. Fiorentina, let me read out who they've who they've brought in and who they they've sold. So Goodmanson, Richardson, De Gea, Colpani, Pongacic, Keene are the plays they've brought in. And the plays that have gone out are Nico Gonzalez,
00:23:32
Speaker
andzilla Milenkoviฤ, Duncan, Kastrovili, Maxim Lopez, and the end of loans for a few players as well. This isn't good. I'm sorry. This is not good.
00:23:50
Speaker
It's Fiorentina fans are furious and they have every right to be. Yasin Adhghi's coming in as well. Do you think the team's weaker this season? Well Amrabad is back and looks like he's staying. Is he going to stay or is he going to go to Fenabachi? I think they're in therere in talks possibly. He could possibly could leave.
00:24:09
Speaker
If they're bringing in Adley, that makes me think that maybe he is leaving. Yeah, that's fair enough. But we'll see. We'll see you with that. I don't know. I think that I can't say they've improved by much, if at all.
00:24:25
Speaker
But they are also kind of, I mean, Richardson came in as well, like you mentioned, he's young player won the one Olympic bronze with Morocco. Look, it's um it's an interesting one and they're switching systems. It's a new coach. They're going to back through, playing a three, four, two, one, and he's been very clear. I don't, you know, David De Gea has been what? He's been he's been on holiday for 18 months. I mean, it's it's a weird, it's a weird. I think Gudmundsson's a great sign in. It's a Gudmundsson, yeah. Pongricic has been horrible so far. Kean can be useful, but obviously we know he's not a great scorer, great finisher.
00:25:00
Speaker
Yes, I hope. is it difficult one yeah Potentially, I don't think they're any weaker. And then maybe then it depends how how these players do, you know, how they how they show themselves. I'm going to go six.
00:25:15
Speaker
No, five and a half for me. I expected more. I expected more. um I have i have most of the my most of my teams around six. you know i i think there'd been neither A lot of these have been neither good or neither bad. I see most of these teams, I don't see these big teams improving much, but I don't see them or if at all, but I don't see them don't see them getting worse either. I think that's been kind of the the theme the theme for all the for the big clubs, that is. that They've all kind of stayed the same sort of level. um I would agree with you that Inter, I think, have improved a little bit thewet the depth of the squad, not necessarily the first team, the depth. So I would ah i would say Inter have have slightly improved.
00:25:57
Speaker
But the other teams, I think, are all about the same kind of level as they are, except for Juventus, who have obviously improved massively. Apart from that, I think the big teams have all pretty much stayed the same. ah In terms of the players, ah the managers, I think, some have improved, you know, are better because of their managers, like Napoli, for example, um you know, in the uuver you you want to say you've as well, Juventus as well. But obviously, Juventus, as I've already said, have improved because of the squad.
00:26:25
Speaker
um And then apart from those losers, which we mentioned before, um I think that's kind of been the theme of Serie A. It's a bit of a boring answer, but I think, you know, to be fair, I think that's kind of how it's been. but That's the state of where football Italian football is. They can't improve, except for if you do like Juve, which, you know, they've they've done a revolution.
00:26:51
Speaker
and they've got owners that back them. But that's that's kind of where we are. you know Inter and Milan are owned by hedge funds. People forget that. yeah um they're not They're not going to invest. They're in there to make money, grow the brand, sell, make lots of money. So that you know that that that also conditions it a lot. Roma do have an ownership.
00:27:14
Speaker
who wants to invest, but they've had to clean up from the previous owner for the last three years. Yeah, that's that's the one thing I would say, I would just to add, I've said it before about Roma, I think the fact that they've spent 100 million on players, I know it's not net, but the fact that they've spent 100 million and I don't really see them improving, they've had 100 million, even if theyve they've sold plays to make that money, it's been like, here's 100 million, go out and buy some players and prove your team. And I don't feel like they've really improved as a result of that. And that for me,
00:27:46
Speaker
I take away half a mark for that, so I'm going to go 5.5 for Raima because of that as a result. I feel like if you're feel're going out and spending 100 million on players, I expect you to improve. and that that's So that's a disappointment for me. Yeah, fair enough.
00:28:03
Speaker
Right, that's the longest Q and&A pod we have ever done, I think, two hours. um um So yeah, that's all we have time for. Please do you keep sending in your questions via DM on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email, but preferably via DM on Patreon.
00:28:24
Speaker
ah We'll be back next week ah for a full Monday Roundup, as well as a full Mercado breakdown as well, where we know who's gone where and just quickly go through our ratings and a final Serie A prediction and much, much more. So until next time, take care of yourselves and each other. Ciao ciao.