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Serie A January Transfer Window Reaction (Ep. 40)
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Transcript
Welcome and Introductions
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Seria show!
00:00:16
Speaker
Hello, everybody. Welcome back to another edition of The City Ah Show. I hope you're all doing well. I am joined by Chloe and Nima.
Transfer Market Buzz
00:00:24
Speaker
How are you two? Just a couple of days. Well, less than 24 hours left in the transfer market. Are we are we ready for this to be over? Because I know I am. Oh, for God's God. Yes. I have had enough. Like you can have too much of the good stuff and
00:00:41
Speaker
Although this has been an amazing month for Inter and we've had an amazing month for Inter and everything's been great. I cannot wait to get back to the normal stuff again. I've really had enough. All right. Well, you know, let's change things up. So we will obviously discuss Napoli, Juve and then the very odd Derby draw between Roma and Lazio.
SPAL's Winning Moves
00:01:05
Speaker
Let's start real quick, though, with the transfer market.
00:01:08
Speaker
I want you each to give me one team who you consider a winner and a loser in January, who's improved the most, who you think lost an opportunity to improve more. Let's start with our winners, though. I'm just going to say it. Spa. They bring in. Done. You stole mine. I was just literally going to say that one.
00:01:29
Speaker
Well, because I know one of your favorite players joined them, Brian Dabo. They have looked significantly better in recent weeks, in my opinion. Whether or not they also got Bonafazzi from Torino, who's a guy I really like.
Inter's Praise and Torino's Struggles
00:01:44
Speaker
I can't even begin to explain what is happening at Torino this season. It's maddening. And I know Nima, you're a big fan, big fan. There was word of another Ritero coming from Katsarizman.
00:01:57
Speaker
So, we can get to that in a little bit, but Spalle brought in Bonifazzi, they brought in Brian Dabo, and I think they've done very well with the soon-to-be sale of Patania Tinapoli, almost 20 million euros. They keep him for the rest of the season alone.
00:02:15
Speaker
I think they've done tremendously well and I think above all they have given themselves a much better opportunity for survival than the counterparts who they are
Napoli's Smart Signings
00:02:27
Speaker
facing to avoid the drop. Who do you two pick as your winners for the January transfer market? I would say, I mean, the thing is,
00:02:36
Speaker
If you look at the biggest and best signing, it's Christian Ericsson. I mean, for 20 million euros to buy a player of that caliber, there's no discussion. But if you look at, I'm actually really impressed with what Napoli is looking to do. I mean, they've already begun the rebuild. The fact that they're signing Katanya, I think, is an incredibly intelligent signing. Politano is a very good signing. I think he'll do excellently there.
00:03:03
Speaker
And already you're starting to see the signs of something going on there that is very, very, that's encouraging for Napoli fans who've had absolutely nothing to be happy about. There's a lot of encouraging signs there. And that to me is looking really good. But if we look overall, I think the best
00:03:28
Speaker
It depends
Fiorentina's Future Success
00:03:29
Speaker
on how it goes because I think a lot of, for me Fiorentina are looking, if they get these deals over the line, they're looking really good. I think Duncan is an excellent signing, I think.
00:03:41
Speaker
if they get, who's the name eludes me right now, also from Genoa. Oh, Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian. Christian
00:04:00
Speaker
I mean, talk about a brilliant move. Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. And certainly, Fiodentina are getting him at a cut rate price too, Chloe, because he's obviously out with the ACL injury. He'll be back tentatively slated for March, I should say. I think, Fiodentina, they were going to be my backup. I think they've done brilliantly in January.
00:04:24
Speaker
Yeah I think yeah some smart moves there and I think they've been able to get Kwame because he's injured and you know that they're sort of taking a slight risk on him in that way has allowed them to capture a signing that they may have missed out on if he was
00:04:43
Speaker
in top form and playing every week. So I think that was a smart move because if you want to improve, you do have to take some risks along the way because you can't just attract the top players, just because you've got an owner who's willing to spend money. Who else has impressed you? I have to say a little bit Atalanta because they've managed to bring back Mataya Kaldare after failed moves to Juve and Milan as well.
00:05:13
Speaker
And they've also shipped out Masiello, a veteran centre half, and I think that shows that there's no room for sentiment. They've brought in a younger player, one that knows the club, one that can revitalise his career, and got rid of, although he's been a loyal servant to the club, somebody who is probably reaching the end of his career now. So yeah, I was quite impressed with them as well on The Quiet.
00:05:42
Speaker
Okay, now on
Milan's Mixed Transfers
00:05:43
Speaker
the opposite end of things, I think we all might have the same loser. Is it Milan? I don't know what to call Milan. I don't understand what they're doing. And they sold Piontek and they managed to get 27 million euros for Piontek, which just in and of itself is a genius move. I mean, the form this guy has been in, I don't understand how they've managed to get paid for him at all, but they got 27 million for him. And that is, you know,
00:06:12
Speaker
You know, that's a great piece of business for Mila. But I mean, other than that, that's exactly what happens when you bring someone like Ibrahim of the Chin. Then you start raising the level of the others. I mean, Léao has been amazing since Ibra came in, and Rebic as well. Ben-Aser we already knew was good. So I think they don't
00:06:37
Speaker
They've actually got a realistic chance now of finishing in the top six, which is genuinely astounding given the insane season they've had.
00:06:46
Speaker
So I think they don't really need to do anything right now because if it's going well, keep tight the ship until the summer and then in the summer make a real decision on who stays and who goes and where you're going and start building properly from the beginning because the Jampalo project was doomed to fail. Everybody knew that. Peoli is not a long-term solution. Nila need to find their long-term solution.
00:07:19
Speaker
If Lazio fans will probably hate me for this, but I honestly think that Simoni Inzagi is the coach that Milan should move heaven and earth to get. He's showed what a fantastic coach he is, he shows that he's a winning coach and he showed that he can get players to develop and overperform. So I think Milan, I don't just study the ship until the summer and then build a real serious project.
00:07:44
Speaker
Well, hang on. I think it's clear, at least to an extent, they're trying to save on the wages. I mean, Suzo, you get out of there. Pepe Reina, you save on his wages as well. You obviously get a big fee for Piontec, but I thought they're so close to a European place now. Go for
Juve's Midfield Conundrum
00:08:01
Speaker
it. Just get one big acquisition. It's not like you need
00:08:05
Speaker
two, three, or four, I think I would try and go for someone goalscore alongside Ibrahimovic, because as you said, Liao has been good, but it's not like he's been scoring buckets of goals. But Rebic could. I mean, that's the thing though, isn't it? I mean, Rebic could could easily be that player and he looks happy. He looks energetic. He looks, you know, it's not just that he's playing
00:08:28
Speaker
you know they scoring goals is the fact that he has a completely different body language now he looks like a completely different person and I think that is the mentality you get when you get someone like Ibrahim there someone who's won it all who's a legend though a living legend and he comes in there with his professionalism and he lifts these players their their minds he gets you know the quality of the training increases the concentration increases everybody you know brings out the best of themselves every day and then you notice that they improve
00:08:57
Speaker
I mean, Leauk says that Ibrahim, which is like my brother, Rebic is in love with him as well. I mean, he's a catalyst at his age and in his stage. And that's important for a club like Milan. I shouldn't, you know, all the expectations that when you're at a big club, at a big piazza, all those things that can weigh you down, when you have someone who can shoulder it and lead by example, both on and off the pitch, then that can actually become something that people, that speaks for you.
00:09:24
Speaker
I tend to agree with that. However, Zlatan is obviously 38 years old. It's clearly a short-term solution. So what happened is fine while it's working now. Obviously, they felt that Piontek needed to move on. He was not going to be able to raise his level again to what it was before. That's all fine except
00:09:50
Speaker
they've had so many times where they've had to start again and refresh. And this cycle with Ibrahimovic is clearly gonna be a temporary one because it can only play for so long. So then what are they gonna do then? I just worry about the short-termism and lack of a seeming long-term plan there. Agreed. But that's why I mean, just get the ship into Harvard until June and then from there, make a serious attempt because
00:10:20
Speaker
I mean, if they finish in the top six with this season, this insane season, that's unbelievable. That's my issue with them. You're so close now. Just bring in one reinforcement in that attack and I think you'll be fine. That's the part I've been most disappointed with them.
00:10:36
Speaker
I think we're all shocked at how much they actually got for PionTech now. It was his amortized value, which is great business. He's somehow earning double what he was earning at Milan, which is insane. I seriously question what they've been watching as opposed to what us who watch the league every single week are seeing from him. But, I mean, my goodness, plus you're saving on the wages from, as I said, the likes of all those who left Peperena as well. So why not reinvest that? Aside from Milan though.
00:11:07
Speaker
What about Juve? Yeah, Juve. Come on, what are you doing? What on earth is going on? What are they doing? And I mean, they literally have not reinforced at all. And now Piazza could be gone because he doesn't suit the club fair enough. And then Emre Chan, I mean, their problem has been the midfield and now they're selling him to Borussia Dortmund for 30 million euros. I mean, I was surprised. I honestly thought that
00:11:29
Speaker
they were going to do something to galvanize or do something but they really haven't and to be honest I mean what have you got to why should they I mean they're top of the league they won their Champions League group easily they're in the semi-finals of the Copa Italia okay they lost the super Copa but I mean meh who cares right so you know to me they don't really need to do anything but I didn't expect them to
00:11:55
Speaker
to be this
Roma's Strategic Moves
00:11:57
Speaker
passive in terms of players in. I really didn't. I mean, this is all about the Champions League, though, right? I don't think anyone who has watched them this season would be convinced that, as currently constructed, that they can win the Champions League. I thought, honestly, I thought they would limp into January and by limp. Obviously, I'm using hyperbole, the top of the table. But we clearly haven't seen the best JUVA.
00:12:23
Speaker
I thought, as Nima Yu just said, we all thought that the midfield was something that sort of needed reconstruction. I thought this would be their opportunity, and I'm astounded Paratichi hasn't taken it.
00:12:35
Speaker
The only thing here is, if you think about it, how many times have clubs brought in players in January for Maurizio Sarri and he's never used them? I think he likes to, obviously we know he likes to stick with the players that he can work with, the ones that he likes.
00:12:57
Speaker
So maybe it's a case of Juve think, well, if they've had a conversation with him and he thinks he can make the squad that they've got work, and if he says, well, if you're bringing in any new signings, I'm not going to play them anyway, you know, what really would be the point in doing that? Juve are too smart for that. As you're saying this, as we're talking about, Milan just signed a 20-year-old midfielder from Belgium called Alexei Selimakers.
00:13:25
Speaker
I have no idea who that is. He's from Anderlecht. He's been playing, he's played for all the under 19s, another 21s in Belgium, which we all know says something because Belgian youth is of very high quality. So it just goes, he can play in midfield and defense apparently. I've not watched them, so I don't know. Unlike some people who pretend on Twitter that they know the Zimbabwean third division under 19 year olds, I don't.
00:13:54
Speaker
I'm not going to pretend. I watch the Serie A, and I watch the Serie B, and I watch the Swedish league, and that's about it. So at least, yeah, Premier League as well, but that's about it. That's all I got time for. But, you know, let's see what this is. I mean, if Milan are going to buy young players, then they've found that this guy in the
00:14:19
Speaker
in the Belgian First Division is a way to go, then why not? Is there anything else in regards to the transfer market that we all liked? Nima, I just want to bump what you said earlier. I think we all agree that Napoli, they are hitting the reset button, and I think they are bringing in fantastic building blocks in order to do so.
Transfer Strategy Analysis
00:14:40
Speaker
Agreed. I want to talk about Roma, because I don't understand what the hell these self-tavigo players and
00:14:47
Speaker
Or like, what is going on there? I don't understand that. I want you to explain that to me. I think I've liked every single thing Roma have done to this point. Get rid of Florenzi, probably number one on the whole team. That's the only reason you're happy. No, in all seriousness, I think a dry loan for him is
00:15:10
Speaker
and for Roma a pretty dire scenario because the prospect of him returning really helps nobody. The fact they couldn't even get an option to buy included in there from my point of view was actually disappointing.
00:15:25
Speaker
As for the incoming though, they got Perez from Barcelona, Gonzalo VR from Elche, and then Ibanez from Atalanta. Now, I'm not going to pretend that I was watching the second division of the Spanish League and I can say everything I can about VR. From people I've talked to, I have a couple of journalists or friends who write at sport.
00:15:45
Speaker
They speak very highly of him. Ibanez of Antalanta, really another unknown quantity. He'll replace Chetine, who's probably going to go out on loan. But Perez, though, is really the one who will capture your eyes for Roma, because they needed somebody on the right. I think when we look back on it,
00:16:06
Speaker
The fact that the Spinozola Poletano operation fell through I think is going to be a blessing in disguise because Spinozola is a good player. Sensational doesn't even begin to describe how he's been since that fell through. I really like him. I really, really like that player and I'm a bit pissed off that he didn't get out. I really, really rate him and I would have preferred him over
00:16:29
Speaker
34 35 year old Ashley young well Call it off for the Roma has not had a good season defensively. Yeah, he still scores a free kicks. That's all fun and well Defensively though. He's a massive liability. He's never been good defensive need to be honest. Well spin that's all of them You're you're you're you're certainly not going to get the goals that you would that you do from call it off but spin that Zola in my opinion has been
00:16:58
Speaker
Arguably, Roma's best fullback this season. Santon, I can't even describe what that was in the derby, but that was, I mean, a masterclass. He was sensational. So, Roma needed a right winger. I was kind of hoping they would kiss Kalinic goodbye.
00:17:15
Speaker
Chloe, this guy is like, I'll be as kind as I can, but he's sort of like, you know, an STD or an STI, whatever your preferred vernacular is. Once he shows up, you can't get rid of him.
00:17:31
Speaker
Yeah. He's like herpes. He keeps coming back. He's like herpes. Hasn't scored a goal yet. He has had good performances in terms of movement and offering goal scoring opportunities, but just so bad. So I was actually hoping Roma would find an alternative to Jekyll. I was really hoping for Moisakim, but I knew that was very unlikely. But bringing in Perez, I think... El Shadaoui. Oh, that won't happen. That's El Shadaoui's brother,
00:17:57
Speaker
planting stories. El-Shadawi earns 14 million nets. The most Roma could pay him would probably be 3 million. I will say this, he doesn't want to come back. I just don't know how Roma would be able to pull that off between fee and wages. I just don't see it. Well, clearly he has to, you know, agree to not get the wages. Yeah, I mean, sure.
00:18:23
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, we're talking a huge wage cut for him. Depends how badly he wants to come back, I guess. Exactly, exactly. Well, in fairness, I thought him going to China would completely ruin any hopes of the Euroform, but Mancini has continued to call him. So maybe he will just view it as a, hey, you know what, I'll stay here until the summer and see what happens. But Perez has been doing well in China, to be honest. I mean, he won the Chinese Cup with his Shanghai.
00:18:47
Speaker
And he's been doing pretty well. I mean, let's, you know, okay. The Chinese league is on the best in the world, but he's been doing well. Yeah. I can't pretend that I've followed him over there.
Roma's Missed Opportunities
00:18:56
Speaker
Um, but yeah, I've watched him a little bit because I, I, I, I, I really like him. I really like him. He's one of my, one of my guilty pleasures, so to speak. I really like, I think he's a cool player and I've always liked the way he, like as a player and therefore I really liked him at all my.
00:19:12
Speaker
I really, and I followed him in China because of that a little bit. No, I'm not going to say I've watched every single game. No, but from what I've seen he's done really well. Again, I don't, I don't know the Chinese under 19 third division. I don't know.
00:19:27
Speaker
Well, he's certainly a player that aroma could use. Jeko still struggling to find the back of the net this season. I believe he's on nine goals. I'm very eager to see Perez though, because he's highly rated by just about everybody you talk to. Even the Barcelona supporters, they were very upset that they weren't at least retaining some sort of buyback option on him.
00:19:49
Speaker
and the price. I was very surprised to see him back. I didn't realise and then watch the Darby at the weekend and I was like, that's Bruno Perez. It was really, really weird. I'd miss that news that he was back. Me too. Well, I was talking about the Carls Perez, the new guy, but we could talk about Bruno Perez too.
00:20:08
Speaker
Honestly, I was like, Chloe, I was like, is he there? What? Bruno Perez? Like, what? No, no, Carlos Perez. Sorry, I got to add the accent on the end. I'm sorry. But I am glad because Roma for Perez.
Upcoming Match Highlights
00:20:24
Speaker
They pay right around 14 million euros. They were going to pay double that for Politano. Just from Roma standpoint, I don't know how you could afford to do that. Dig yourself a hole and lose Spinozola in the meantime. So I think Roma have actually done pretty well this window, far more active than what they usually are. And the sporting director, Petraki, said they're not done yet.
00:20:51
Speaker
But anyway, anything we want to add about, so Napoli defeated Juve, terrible performance from Juve, Roma Lazio drew, okay, two terrible goalkeeping displays, or I should say two terrible goalkeeping episodes. I don't really think beyond that, that pretty much sums up both matches pretty nicely.
00:21:12
Speaker
But for this weekend, though, there really aren't that many matches that jump off the page. But you have a Fiordantina, Chloe, is always one that catches everybody's eye because it's always a heated sort of affair. Fiordantina are obviously undergoing this rebirth in January.
Fiorentina's Confidence Boost
00:21:30
Speaker
I loved everything they've done, Kwame. And Nima, I think you mentioned him in passing, but Duncan from Sasuolo. I have to admit, love him. Love him. I do. I've admired him for ages.
00:21:42
Speaker
He's one of those players that when he came up with youth ranks at Inter, you knew he was going to make it in the Serie A because he has presence on the pitch. He's a mean player to play against, and he's a tactically pretty sound, intelligent player. He's got a good shot on him, and I think he's done really well at Sassuolo, and he's one of those players that was maybe not good enough to play at Inter, but there is a player there.
00:22:10
Speaker
And I'm really, really, I'm really looking forward to see what he can do with Fiorentina. Really, really. Yeah, so am I. Yeah. So, Chloe, are you at all confident for this one? We also have to say, Kuchterone, coming from Wolverhampton, his look good so far. Perfect signing. Isn't he exactly what they need? Yeah, I was so, so pleased. That's exactly the kind of signing that you want Fiorentina to make. Not some real veteran.
00:22:38
Speaker
who's at the end of his career, I mean no disrespect to Rubri but you know not somebody who you can't rely on to play every single match, not some youngster that you've really never heard of but somebody who you know and who you know has potential and who's at a good age and hungry for goals and hungry to prove himself, it was just the perfect signing really and they needed a striker and goals for such a long time, they not really had a proper striker for
00:23:07
Speaker
Absolutely, ages. So, yeah, really pleased with Catroni. I'm not massively confident, I have to say, for the weekend, mainly because both Cassares and Milenkovic are both suspended. Yes, I was just about to mention that.
00:23:24
Speaker
Yeah and obviously they've been playing the back three. Maybe it's the right time because I think I'm not sure the 3-5-2 is particularly good and Yakini hasn't changed it since you know he took over from Montela so I'm wondering whether this is now the time where we'll revert to a back four and we might be able to see them playing a bit more free flow. I mean
00:23:48
Speaker
What did you think last night, Nima? I thought, obviously, Inter had more individual quality, but I did think Fiorentina did pretty well on the whole. Oh, for sure. I thought Fiorentina did really well. I thought they defended really well. I knew they were going to be tough team to beat, but I thought they really gave Inter a run for their money, and they were much better organized than under Montela.
00:24:15
Speaker
ever under Montela. So, no, I really like this, Fiorentina. I mean, it's going to be so interesting to see who Comisso decides to take charge in Fiorentina from the summer and how they build around that, because I think there's no doubt in my mind that her kids are being shipped off in the summer. It's clear that his head is not in Fiorentina, he's not playing as well, and I think Comisso
00:24:44
Speaker
I think everyone's going to cut their losses. He's going to cash in and send them on and try to rebuild something with players who want to be there. And I think that's the right move to do.
Napoli's Resurgence
00:24:55
Speaker
And it's going to be really exciting if we get Signor's validity into Florence, if we can get him to leave his vineyard for five seconds. And to be honest, if I had a vineyard in Tuscany, you wouldn't wild, the jaws of life couldn't drag me away from my vineyard. It's heaven on earth. If you've ever blessed enough to have the possibility to visit a vineyard in
00:25:18
Speaker
in Tuscany, you'll know what I'm talking about. It is heaven on earth. Okay, that's all nice, but who wins? That was a beautiful sentiment, but I didn't hear anything in regards to a winner though. Chloe clearly said she didn't think Fiorentina would hit anything in this one. I actually think, I'm going to say a draw. Now you tell me, Nima. I think draw. I think draw as well. Sorry to be so harsh on my own team, but I think you very well win.
00:25:46
Speaker
But the thing is, it is a way, if it was at home, Fiorentina, I think Fiorentina could even win that game. But I think after having lost away against Napoli, I mean, the thing with Juva, it's so typically them, isn't it? To kind of, when everyone's hacking on them and saying that they're crap and they're not gonna win anything, let me just come out. And they just come out, and then that Ronaldo scores four goals, and Di Bala has one of those Di Bala days where he looks unplayable.
00:26:13
Speaker
and all is well in the land of the Aniele again. It's just to me, but I do think that it won't be as easy. I don't think it will be easy. I think you will win.
00:26:23
Speaker
but I don't think it'll be as easy. I could see this ending in a draw, I really could. But I think the good thing is, after this weekend that we've just had, is that we still have a title race. That Interdrew, you know, and Lazio drew, and Juve very uncharacteristically didn't take the chance to just stamp on them while they were down, you know? And with that defeat, it keeps things nice and tight, and it keeps things interesting.
00:26:51
Speaker
We have to talk about that because to me I thought we could see the turnaround begin for Napoli already against Lazio and the Copa Italia. They played like a completely different team and now and then against Juventus they were sensational. Insinia is played like the insignia that we've all grown to love. When he's this good he is one of the few players in the world that I'd pay
00:27:14
Speaker
100 euros to watch, to paraphrase Mr. Maradona.
Show Wrap-up and Future Matches
00:27:19
Speaker
He is so damn good. Costas Manolas has shown what a world-class defender he can be when he's in form. Napoli has some great building blocks to build on, and I don't think they'll make it to the European places, but I do see them as a contender for the Copa Italia, and God knows what can happen in the Champions League.
00:27:40
Speaker
Yeah, what else do we have? We have Uteneze Inter, we have Samp Napoli, we have Sasuo Oloroma, Lazio Spal. So beyond that, the next match day where you have the Derby Four, you have Inter, you have Milan, and then you have Fiorentina hosting Atalata. So next match day is surely a bit more appetizing than this one, but we will be back after the weekend to obviously digest everything that happens in preview.
00:28:06
Speaker
the following weekend slate of matches. So, as always, thank you so much for listening and we will talk to you next week. Bye bye.