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AC Milan Rafael Leao & Theo Crisis, Lukaku Napoli Dream Debut, Juve Halted By Roma, Inter Milan Destroy Atalanta & Much More (Ep. 451)
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From AC Milan Rafael Leao - Theo Hernandez crisis, Paulo Fonseca under pressure after another two goals conceded, Nuno Tavares MOTM in Lazio excellent 2nd half reaction to 1st half shocker, Juventus stopped by Roma in Thiago Motta vs Daniele De Rossi tactical chess match, Inter Milan demolish Atalanta after Nicolo Barella wondergoal, to Gasperini and La Dea need to snap out of their depression, Big Romelu Lukaku dream Napoli debut, and Victor Osimhen mess, and preview of France Vs Italy in Nations League, as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from Match Day 3 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season.
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Transcript
Milan's Crisis and Coach Fonseca's Decisions
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. hello everybody and welcome to the italian football podcast the official podcast of football italia i'm carlo gargesi joined as always by nimitvalli on today's show we will review the weekend earlier action in what was brilliant match day The biggest story, well there is only one huge huge story and that is at Milan. It's a full-blown crisis there after Paolo Conseca dropped both Rafa Liao and Teo Hernandez for the 2-2 draw with Lazio with possible
00:00:37
Speaker
Well, let's say probable dressing room upheaval and just two points from three games. These are really, really difficult times for Fonseca and Milan. We'll be discussing that. Romelu Lukaku had the dream debut for Napoli as he came off the bench to score and inspire Napoli to a late, late comeback win against Parma, two goals in injury time. Champions Inter sent out a Scudetto message by thrashing Atalanta 4-0 thanks to an inspired Marcus Turan.
00:01:04
Speaker
Juventus couldn't respond as they drew 0-0 at home to ah to a much better Roma team in ah in what was a ah pretty drab game. and We'll also look ahead to the the Nations League um kicking off as Italy played their first game since the the Euro 2024 disaster. We'll preview the match in Paris against France on Friday and look ahead to the to the prospects for the Azuri going forward. We'll also have our usual bad joke, prim face and Celia ass of the week. For all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Celia action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week,
00:01:52
Speaker
including a weekly Q and&A episode every Tuesday, where we answer all of the questions from our Patreons, plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more, then go to patreon dot.com, slash T-I-F-P, and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month, plus VAT. You can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. We'll provide the link in the description.
00:02:13
Speaker
It is the same price and terms and for all of you that listen on Spotify, Apple and iTunes podcasts, we'd really appreciate if you give us ah a five star rating, give us a following a like um and also ah subscribe to us on on YouTube and give us a like there and as well. and we We're producing a lot of content on on YouTube now that you can't and necessarily get elsewhere.
00:02:37
Speaker
and we're really, really ah building a nice ah community there as well. So all of that really helps us to to grow and do more content for you guys. OK, let's get into today's show. So there is there's only one place to start, and that is the ah crisis because it is a crisis. Let's not be about the bush that is at Milan, just three games into the new season, three games into the reign of Paolo Fonseca. And and it's it's quite incredible that we're already here. And I think when Paolo Fonseca got the job,
00:03:14
Speaker
um there were a lot of reservations from Milan fans and from us in particular and we couldn't understand why Milan went for Fonseca when there was you know other options probably better options out there and but here we are three games in and it already is on the brink of of completely falling apart ah and we have to start off though Nima with and then we'll talk about Fonseca more you know, in terms of where this leaves him going forward. We have to talk about the, the, the, the Tio, Tio Hernandez, Rafael Liat situation, and because it is very, very messy. ah What happened was before the game against Lazio on Saturday, Fonseca decided to drop ah both players.
00:04:03
Speaker
and Before the game, he explained it as Teo not being fully fit, 100% match fit. Liao, he didn't really give an explanation other than it's for the good of the team. um So that that was a clear that's a clear drop in. He's been dropped for for technical reasons. um and And then it all got worse um during the game. Both players came on with 2-1 down. They combined.
00:04:32
Speaker
ah and Liao equalised one of his first touches of the game. Immediately after that goal, there was a cooling break ah and all of the Milan squad went over to the side of the pitch for you know to to to cool down and and to have a drink and and to receive you know a group of tactical instructions from Fonseca, huddled together. And then on the other side of the pitch, completely on the other side, Teo Hernandez and Liao ah didn't go over.
00:05:00
Speaker
um and they they stood there by themselves um away from away from the squad. Obviously, terrible look. They've got huge criticism for it. After the game, Fonseca kind of brushed it off, diplomatically said, you know, they'd only just come on. They didn't need to come over. And Teo basically said said the the same thing in an interview after. He said, look, we'd only been on for two minutes. We didn't need to come over.
00:05:26
Speaker
um We didn't need the cooling break. We didn't need the cooling break even though say Hernandez is there having a drink ah on the side of the pitch So yeah, that doesn't that doesn't doesn't make any sense um So listen, it's um Let's just call bullshit on all of that. Let's cool bullshit on all of these explanations because it's obvious it is it's obvious that there's a problem there already I think but It's, they knew what they were doing. Like, both Liao and Teo knew what they were doing. This, we didn't need a cooling break. We'd only been on for two minutes. We're ready to help the team and try to win this game. It's gone nothing against the team or the coach. We're together. Now all we need to do is work together to win other games. People talk. They say a lot of untrue things. Rafa and I are always with the team and ready to help. That's the most important thing. And that's what Teo and Anders told me on TV. That's absolute bullshit.
00:06:20
Speaker
um They know we everyone with a functioning brain could see what was going on um and throughout in the I think it was in the It was in the 70th minute or something like that um When the Milan fans well, actually no, I talked after the game Milan fans at the Orleans before booed the team um Milan are not in a good place. There's no doubt about that in terms of the Footballing, if you leave the tactics aside, I'm talking about the vibe around the club. I'm talking about the situation ambientale, as they call it in Italian, the the the the environment around the the team. There's something not on. It's not it's not rosy. It's not harmony.
00:07:09
Speaker
um and Teo and Liao knew exactly what they were doing. this was like they wanted They could have just run over. i mean This notion that we we didn't need a cooling break, we'd only been on for two minutes. Yeah, that may be true, but it's it's it's demonstrably shown. to take To take a stand like that, that but that is ah that is a choice.
00:07:29
Speaker
And it's not about the cooling down either. ima not about it's It's about showing togetherness and it's about an opportunity to get tactical instructions together as a team. This isn't about your you need a drink. Okay. Yes. For for the reasons of safe health and safety and everything. That's why the Serie A brought it in. But in terms of the use of terms yeah of of how teams use it, this is an opportunity. This is a way you have to show togetherness. is two two it Listen, there's not even we don't need to sit here and explain it. Everybody knows everybody saw it. And I think for me, the fact that Milan fans at this Olympic or jeering the squad, i've ah booing the squad, I think what Antonio Vitiello, who runs Milan News um and is more often than not pretty much the unofficial Milan person, the Milan spokesperson,
00:08:20
Speaker
um He tweeted after the game, Milan go to the international break with only two points out of nine available. Six goals conceded in three games, many times in the same way, often conceded playing a very high defense, but above all signs of cracks within the dressing room.
00:08:37
Speaker
yeah like that there's no we don't need to pretend that there's that this is that some everything is rosy here clearly something is wrong um it's not working something is not working i'm not even talking about the tactics i'm talking about off the pitch now we all get into the tactics yeah um but there is something not working what it is um what what precipitated it all that stuff well i think i have an opinion on that which which which i'll come to when we speak to speak about vanca but
00:09:09
Speaker
just to make another point about this tetioli out situation um i think I think there's lots of parties to blame here. Teo, Liao, as we've we've just criticized them for their that their actions. i I've even said last week, I don't believe that they're team players. I didn't like their attitude, ah not you know in in in the first two match days either. ah And um you know i just I just don't like their demeanor. I don't believe they they behave like leaders. And that's something that we said that I spoke about when I was very critical of them last week. And and that's been shown here. So I'm sure that's all come into it. But I think from Ponceca's point of view,
00:09:46
Speaker
Drop in Liao and Teo Hernandez on match day three when you've only got one point from your first two games and you're already under pressure when you're a new manager at a new club and they're your big players.
00:09:59
Speaker
win draw or lose and I said that to you remember I sent you a voice note before the game I said win draw or lose in this game this decision can only cause problems big big problems going further forward even if they'd have won this game I think that this was this was going to create cracks Even if they only came out, you know, later on in the season, you just cannot make this decision. You cannot drop your two biggest players, three games into the season, in the way that this has been done. You know, the build up of them already being criticized. It's just a terrible look. I mean, what's the relationship going to be like with Fonseca, Teo and Liao? Now, go for it. We can already see. Can that relationship be repaired? What is the dressing room going to be like? It already looks like it's
00:10:46
Speaker
is divided. ah you know um How does, what what what authority thus one second Is Fonseca going to have going forward now, especially after what Teo and Liao have humiliated him in front of the whole whole of it, the whole of the world? How can he possibly have authority after this? I mean, it's is is absolute it's a disaster. It's an absolute disaster from from that point of view. So I think if Fonseca hadn't have dropped them, he would have avoided all of this. I think that i think that was a big mistake. from from I don't know. i don't know
00:11:21
Speaker
why
Fonseca's Leadership and Future at Milan
00:11:22
Speaker
he did it. I don't know what was behind it, if there's been some problems on the side, things not working. I know there's a thing with Teo's contract as well, if I'm not mistaken, that Mila wanted to extend, or there was something during the Euro that fails me now, were he where became kind of a non-sequitur, kind of a non a-ridiculous talking point,
00:11:46
Speaker
But nonetheless, um there was you know his his contract expires in in summer of 2026. Milan won't extend. He doesn't seem too excited. There were some reports, which I don't give too much credence to, that he wanted to leave in the summer. which was what that Now I remember that was what the Euro thing was about.
00:12:07
Speaker
Look, these right there there are rumblings there. And he's ah he's unhappy about Maldini as well, so Hernandez. Well, Leo wasn't too happy either about that, if we remember. But look, it's it's um they yeah it's it's not it's not been handled well. That we can say. I don't i don't want to go into Fonseca, because I think these are above at least these issues are above his pay grade, if I'm honest. I think Milan's restructuring, um evidently, has not been good.
00:12:37
Speaker
um their post-Maldini restructuring has evidently not been good. And I'm not talking about the mercato now, I'm talking about the togetherness of the team, um building a unit, having everyone happy. Maldini was a master at keeping everyone happy at Milan. He was a master at embodying what Milanismo is.
00:13:00
Speaker
um And everyone listened when Maldini talks you listen, you know, even Thierry Henry you saw on TV He started giving like a school child when Maldini starts talking like it's it's just that's just something he just has that now He has that charisma. He has that respect with him when he walks into a room Zlatan was supposed to I guess be some sort of be that role as well um It's very unfortunate Timing of it that he's on holiday while this well, can I just say that I? i Want to talk about this Latin because I think this this situation is Latin is ridiculous, right? First of all, he's on holiday. Why the hell is he on holiday? well no look look I want to he if human beings have a right. Yes, he should be on holiday during the season They're on they're on they're on an international break next week. Go on holiday then. I'm sorry that this is really that's what I was thinking
00:13:49
Speaker
Go on holiday during the... Well, that's what I mean, the unfortunate, how the timing of this was going on. It's not unfortunate. It's unfortunate for the look, but why is he on holiday now? Unless he has something, some really unavoidable family situation, something going on. I'm sorry, there's absolutely ridiculous. You've got an international break for the next two weeks now. Go on holiday then, or go on holiday during the summer, during Fela Gosto, like the rest of them, you know? I mean, this is... Like the rest of Italy.
00:14:18
Speaker
ah Like the rest of Italy does. I mean, it it this is ridiculous. because ah What is that? I don't even know what his position is. He's a key director and he so but he's ah and he's a figurehead of the club, like a Maldini figurehead of the club, right? He is not behaving like a director, right? He plays that stupid game with eyeshow speed, first one to move his game. What any serious director plays that game? Can you imagine Marotta doing that with with with an influencer? like I don't know, Juntoli or Señor Juntoli as he's been renamed. And it just adds to the whole idea of this is not serious. And then there's the Champions League draw on Friday, which Zlatan is part of this big movie production, big movie they did with him, Del Piero. What's that got to do with anything?
00:15:06
Speaker
he he was the star of that show. Yeah, I know, but what's that got to do with this? It's got a lot to do with it. he' got It's got a lot to do with it. Why is he playing this bit he's playing this big movie movie star? He's basically playing like a movie star and he was playing and he's playing off his his ego and his personality, like this whole kind of like this this whole image of what Zlatan's being.
00:15:26
Speaker
which is not befitting of a director trying to be serious. And he's the star of this this big movie on on on the Friday of the Champions League draw. He's supposed to be the director. This is supposed to be serious. He's not supposed to be this this whole kind of... this ah i He's become like a parody of himself now. yeah It's a joke. you know When Milan are in a serious situation as they are now, but two two points from three from from three games, the whole club is in crisis. You've got Zlatan playing games with iShow Speed. You've got Zlatan being a movie star in ah in ah in ah in a championkin in a Champions League ah ah film ahead of the Champions League draw.
00:16:02
Speaker
you know he it's like I don't know. It's like Melana using him. Maybe they're using him in a way that they think that he can bring attraction to the club. Of course it is. That's exactly what they're doing. But this is not bringing success on the pitch. No, but the problem... Well, that's exactly it. Then I guess his role... Becoming a circus. Zlatan is becoming a bit of a circus. Well, then that's the thing. Then I don' then i think we shouldn't look at Zlatan as the director who we thought we all thought he was going to be. That he was going to be making the director of that. Well, that's exactly it. I think he's more of an ambassador. So far, that's what it seems it is. And therefore, if he's an ambassador, I don't think, you know, I don't see how, you know, what role, you know, then he shouldn't have a role, a technical role within the club in the sense of between the club and between the players and, you know, basically being Maldini and Ricky Massara and making everyone happy. Like, that's not his role then. Then who is that person?
00:16:55
Speaker
if if we leave aside what Zlatan is doing, if he's the brand ambassador, which is fine i think that's probably make him that take him the brand well which is fine. I think that's probably a good idea to do because he's a huge name. He was very successful in the US. People loved him. He was on you know talk shows and night shows doing his Zlatan stuff and people fell in love with him. I mean, when he took out when he took out a full-page ad himself when he signed for LA Galaxy and said, LA, you're welcome. um I mean, stuff like that. That works in America. It works in Hollywood. He's a superstar, and that's great. Then let him be that. who is My question is then, who is supposed to be the Maldini, the link keeping the peace in the house? Because what? Is it Moncada? Is it Fulani? Who is it? Because whoever it is, they're not doing their job.
00:17:46
Speaker
and it's that's the point that's the point that's the point basically the point i'm making here yeah you know Zlatan is not is not behaving like someone that's supposed to be there he's got he's out there playing he's out there playing the first one to move his gay games i mean i mean um mean No, but it's like, no, no i'm I'm saying like my my point is that's fine if he's not doing that. If he's if he's supposed to be more like the brand ambassador and then sometimes when needed upon, he comes in to the dressing room. I mean, I think I tweeted it out even saying, you know, I know he's retired, but maybe him lacing up his boots and doing a training or session or two wouldn't be such a bad idea, because one thing we do know from his career when he played
00:18:32
Speaker
is that the quality I mean every Swedish national team coach even the ones who didn't like him said he's unbelievable in training because everyone's concentration everyone's quality of training increases by 20-30% when he's in training because he demands that he goes into training the way he goes into games maybe they need that. They need that professionalism. Maybe he should just go in there and do a training or session or two to sort this stuff. I don't, you know, that that's just, you know, spitball. If he's given a serious role and a serious, title a serious way, hasn't got a title, they know what it's titled, a serious position, which he claims. He's a senior director or yeah senior advisor, senior advisor, I think they call him, senior advisor at Redbird.
00:19:17
Speaker
Yeah. But anyway, listen, to come on to the point, to come on to the point, the the result of all this, this chaos is that Fonseca is now under big, big pressure. They've got two points from three games. The performances have been very, very bad. and The second game was a disaster. Again, it was horrific against Parma. This game against Lazio, they were much more solid in the first half. ah They were much more organized. They were playing much more like a team.
00:19:44
Speaker
yeah in that in that first half, which is positive, but they weren't creating much. Then the second half, it it all fell apart, and the second half was a disaster. Lazio completely dominated the second half, and Fonseca wasn't able to really make any changes until belatively, and then luckily, Liao came on and managed to get a draw, but that it was it was horrible. He's making very questionable choices, like the first game with starting choices. The first game obviously with seller makers at left back and some of those other emissions. And then this game, of course, with dropping Liao and Teo Hernandez, was just which has just caused chaos, that that decision. He's not, right like I said, not reacting where well in games well at all. Let's not sugarcoat it. He risked the sack later this month. In fact, SkySport Italia, who were are very, very accurate usually on these these things, have said that he's safe for now, but
00:20:41
Speaker
there's in the middle of the month, there's the Champions League game against Liverpool, ah September the 17th and then a few days later there's the Milan Derby. If they lose those two games, um I think there's a very real chance, you know, if all this stuff off the pitch is there as well, I think there's a very real chance he could he could be sacked. But if he's sacked after match day four or five and one day into one one match day into the Champions League,
00:21:06
Speaker
then who someone at the directorial directorial level will have to resign, because that is an epic, epic admission of your own incompetence. If you sack someone this early on, who, you you know, it's not like Milan were desperate, they took their time in finding a purely replacement, meaning thorough thought and analysis has to have gone into this. If you get it that wrong after you've spent four months finding a replacement and you have to get rid of him, not just because of the results but because of a fractured dressing room, you should probably exit the door with him.
00:21:51
Speaker
because you're clearly incompetent. They're screwing up and making mistakes. And then there's this. Yeah. I think everyone's screwing up here. I think obviously that it starts with the management as we've we've gone through ah and also the decision set to hire this guy.
00:22:06
Speaker
but But also Fonseca is making big mistakes. he's he's been His own performance has been horrendous in these three in these three games, starting from the decisions of of who he puts on the team sheet, ah how he's reacting in games, the way that that nobody seems to understand. Musa said after the game against Parma,
00:22:29
Speaker
The players didn't know when to press and when to stay back. i mean That's huge. That's insane. That's hugely concern and you know ah that's insane comment that is an insane comment. You've had a full pre-season and yet you know nothing.
00:22:46
Speaker
and It's, I don't know. i it's It's not good. And mentally, they also don't look good either. That was the other point. It was made technical. Well, actually, I disagree with that slightly because I thought.
00:23:00
Speaker
the way that Milan bounced back. Like first, Lazio in the beginning of this game, he was really like, Lazio were good in the beginning. Pavlovic made that fantastic last ring save. The team gets energy. They were compact. They take the lead. They shut the game down half time, but only makes changes that completely changes the game. Again, this is a very underrated coach, technically and tactically. We have to give credit credit to for appointing him.
00:23:28
Speaker
and he just goes to show Marotta knows his Calcho. He prays Lazio for that appointment. um Turn the game on his head. They they go to one up, but then Fonseca reacts and brings on his players and they equalize And if I feel towards the end of that game, Milan could have actually won it. I think Lazio were good, but we're going to talk about them later, but i I actually felt that there was a reaction. I thought that Lazio came out straight away dominant in the second half. Milan were just awful in the second half. yeah do robin were turned on they were off They were just giving the ball away. Lazio were creating, getting them behind. and They scored the two goals. and But it was clear, even before they equalised, or before they certainly after they equalised, before they scored the second goal,
00:24:13
Speaker
that Milan work were totally falling apart, and Fonseca needed to make changes, and he was too late. He waited until they were behind. He didn't make any subs until 20 minutes to go. Yeah, that that's what I mean. like why was You can divide the game like that in the sense that Lazio started well, Milan worked or worked themselves into it, half-time, but only makes two excellent with a couple of excellent changes, turns the game on its head, Milan falling apart,
00:24:39
Speaker
Then Fonseca reacts, they score, and towards the end it felt like Milan could actually go on and win this. but So I don't think that there's um there's a mental problem or or or stuff like that. I think it's more... like you do still see reaction from the players at this stage when Fronseca does things and that's that's the only problem to be completely be dominated for 25 minutes you know after having yeah that is a worry though the to fall apart like that yeah that's what i meant like when you're a opposition yeah i mean when you're opposition when your opponent makes tactical changes like Varoni did and you just fall apart
00:25:19
Speaker
And it's of like it feels like the wheels come up. That's not good. That's not what you want. um There's always going to be 60 points, you know moments in games when your opponent dominates possession or creates chance. That's just par football.
00:25:33
Speaker
But to fall apart, the free fall, that is concerning. That is very concerning. Well, they've got the next year next, so they have to win that game. isn' No, it's when it's at home. I mean, if they if they don't win that, then then it's ah yeah. But we'll see. I mean, it's it's it's it's in it's it's just I don't I don't know what to make of all this. i You see, I think that's the biggest problem. I feel there's so much confusion around Mila.
00:26:01
Speaker
yeah and And that's what I find so strange. but It's very confused. Everything feels very confused. what who's doing what who's Who's supposed to do what role at the direct the directorial and managerial level? Who's supposed to be the link between the squad and the um and the club? Who's supposed to make sure that everyone's happy, like the father of the house, in the sense that Marini was, who's tactically Fonseca and the players are still not on the same page, which is not good, but it can happen when you have a new coach.
00:26:29
Speaker
Like all of these, it just feels very, very confused. And when you have confusion, you will have frustration. Yeah, there's confusion and there's there's there's lack of control as well. And that also comes down to the manager. you know you've got Manager has to be have the character and personality to be able to so control big personality. Some managers can do it, some managers can't some managers can't do it. And the question there are question marks now whether Fonseca has that character and personality to have the respect of big personalities like
00:26:59
Speaker
like the Rafael Liao and Teo Hernandez. Right now, it doesn't look like lucky he has. you know This wouldn't happen if Carlo Ancelotti was coach, for example, because he's probably the best ever at managing big personalities and characters. you know um Some managers can't do it. like Rafa Benitez couldn't do it, for example. every every single know Every single bird personality that's ever worked with him despised him.
00:27:22
Speaker
you know, Gasparini, there's question marks, whether he's somebody that can handle personality, you know, it's just some coaches can do it, some can't. And when you go into a club as big as Milan, and you've got these players, you have to be able to handle it. And that's another reason why it's like I said, last week, it's madness when you're picking a coach based purely on analytics and theory.
00:27:43
Speaker
because there's intangibles in football like being able to handle the dressing room. You know, ah there's things like that where character and personality and not stats and ah numbers and and XGs and and these kinds of things come into it. And and I just feel like this Ponceca appointment as a Ponceca appointment, like I said, logic it was purely done on theory. It was done on theory. My thing is my my problem with violence as I voiced at the time is that I feel that the theory is continuation of Pioli with a slight tweak whilst I would have rather have brought in Sarri who is build on what Pioli did, but renew it and refresh it. Now it just feels completely confused.
00:28:21
Speaker
The pressing, especially, Milan are wide open. i mean I think it was in the six fifty fifth or between the and 65th minute, I think I made a note, where Milan was so narrow, like the distance between the defender and the striker, they literally fit in the frame. And Lazio were loving it. I mean, if they had actually a decent ball-playing regista, you just put the ball behind the back of the defender and you're free on goal.
00:28:51
Speaker
and stretch them, like simple stuff. They've been getting really slaughtered down the the wide in the wide pockets between the the full backs. yeah ah but i mean this guy Emerson Royale has been an unmitigated disaster. So his first two goes, he was absolutely torn apart by Nuno Tavares. And I want to talk about Lazio now. Let's talk about Lazio. I just want to give praise because I thought Pavlovic was was very good. yeah he was like He made mistakes, yes, but he he he i mean it felt like it was just him for for for large parts of that game. same same Same as against Palmer, he was a oneman defense one It really feels like he was alone um in defense doing showing leadership. That is very important. That's a character player. I think he's going to be incredibly useful for Milan moving forward. But again, he's not the quickest in the world.
00:29:45
Speaker
and if there' there's going to be moments where he's going to be late, if they're going to play with such a high line, because he's the one who has to make those runs. And sometimes he's not going to be able to do that. And he could get himself sent off or he could, did you see what I'm saying? Like, i'm not yeah, I'm not sure he's that slow, but I need to see a bit more of him. and yeah but He's not the fastest in the world. Is it not? We're not talking. from what I've seen of him. I don't, I don't think NASA and especially when you're in your're next to tomorrow, I think it's more of a just It's just a total mess organization. i'm i'm I'm just saying that I think that, yes, he's he's been there so far so good, but it's risky as hell. no it's been easy He's had a good start. he's He's been one of the few positives so far this season, whereas Emerson has been absolutely horrific. I was watching
00:30:30
Speaker
one Milan podcast to say, how is it possible that we found a right back that's worse than a Calabria? Anybody that's watched Tottenham, any Tottenham fans... That wasn't hard, was it, to understand? I mean... Yeah, 20 million or just up to 20 million people. I mean, Nuno Tavares, let's talk about that. Nuno Tavares was man of the match in this game. He was outstanding. He was a force of nature down the left flank. I always thought, I mean, he's mocked by Arsenal fans, I always thought,
00:31:00
Speaker
secretly. I always thought there was a player there at Arsenal. um his His final ball and decision-making and everything has let him down. and and and But i mean he's he I thought he was outstanding in this game. He got two assists and he was just, I mean, he destroyed. He absolutely destroyed Emerson in this game. So I think that's a real, real positive for Lazia going forward. East Jackson was excellent too. I really liked him.
00:31:26
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, listen, I think that last year were very bad in the first half. They were very bad, but they were they were very good in the second. about I mean, I think also this wasn't a very good quality game from both teams. I think that a neutral watching this game would have thought this is not a good quality football game. But so I have to say, well done to but only for turning things around. and he He he saw what was wrong at halftime and he made the changes. And um and, you know, last year turned it around and And they they they they dominated most of the second half. And so they they they. Yeah, I think I think they're going to have a good season. That's it. I think right now they're probably favorites for that last European spot right right now. So I'm somewhere there. I probably don't have a shock. I don't have to say that probably don't have a shocker. His fault on the privilege Pavlovic goal.
00:32:20
Speaker
um You know, he came flying out and missed it and then I think he could have done better and in the in the for the Liao guy as well. but It was wasn't the best hit shot. It was kind of straight at him, kind of went through him. And it was a yeah game pain to forget for Providel. But overall, I think Lazio will be be quite happy. Four points from the first three games, and something to build on for them.
00:32:46
Speaker
No, it was. I thought the reaction, especially the the the second half, those two changes with Marushic and Isakson coming on, and they they looked they reacted well and and Nuno Tovares was just you know marauding down that flank, was was was was a weapon that they're going to to to use, um which I think was...
Clarification of Football Rules: Handball
00:33:06
Speaker
No, no they were good, but I just wanted to talk on those two handball issues because I think they're very interesting and I think the referee and the VAR got it right.
00:33:15
Speaker
Because now, now the handball rule is as follows. For the purposes of determining handball offenses, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of a player's hand arm with a ball is an offense. It is an offense if a player, A, deliberately touches the ball with their hand arm, for example, moving the hand arm towards the ball. B, touches the ball with their hand arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger.
00:33:43
Speaker
A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand arm is not a consequence of or justifiable by the player's body movement for that specific position or situation. By having their hand arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand arm being hit by the ball and being penalized. And then, of course, scores in an opponent's goal directly from their hand arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper, immediately after the ball has touched their hand arm, even if accidental.
00:34:11
Speaker
so So those two last are about the goals. But this is interesting because I think that when you look at both of those movements, you can't at all say there's anything deliberate by with with those hand balls because the movement mean ricochets and bouncing. And and when youre trying to when you tackle a ball and it bounces off another and it hits your arm, I think they might have actually got it right the way that they now with a handball rule. I think the fact that it has to be a deliberate element and that the movement, and and they've defined a naturally making your body unnaturally bigger by saying that you look at the whole situation, meaning the movement of the arm has to be justifiable um and and and you know has to be a consequence of that is justifiable by the player's body movement for that specific situation. I think when you do it like that, you release it from, you make it
00:35:08
Speaker
kind of, you have to look at the whole situation, if it's a handball offense. And I think they got it absolutely spot on in this. So far I have to say, the referees in terms of handball and their interpretation of such, in most games that I've seen, I think it's been very, very good. We've been very critical in the past, but I think so far- Yeah, we haven't had to complain about the refs too much. Yeah, too much. No, I think they've all got, I think they've all got, the same thing in the Roma game, Roma Juve game.
00:35:36
Speaker
like You can't say that Bremmer touches the ball deliberately when it bounces like that, you just can't. It's a What's he going to do? I mean, he's not, you know, you can't react that quick. But from a legal point of view, which is really interesting is, we I mean, it's all moot in that situation. But I was having this discussion with Patrick Kendrick yesterday. that I was like, from a legal point of view, just ah I know it's a moot point, but because it doesn't clear the first hurdle, but is Bremmer's, can you say that his hand in that position, in that situation, is a consequence or justifiable by his body movement? I'm not so sure, but that's more like, you know, academic debate. But the first hurdle obviously is is not clear. so yeah Yeah, it's a ricochet. yeah But it's it's just an interesting one. But no, I have to say, I think the referees have got it absolutely spawned so far.
00:36:25
Speaker
I really do. I think that they've been very, very good. Whatever they've done, whatever tweaking they've done over the summer, is so far, so good, long may it continue. Yeah, don't hold your breath. Juventus Roma. That DL.
Juventus vs Roma: Challenges and Strategies
00:36:39
Speaker
Taking a chainsaw to me. Juventus Roma, not too much to talk about this, this game. This was a drab game. I mean, Juventus' 100% record is over. Neil-Neil Dror with Roma. So there are no teams in Serie A now who have won won all four games. There's four teams on on seven points, Inse, Juventus, Torino and Udeneza. So, I mean, this was the first real test for Juventus after playing Comon and Verona. And I think this game showed that Juventus are still a work in progress. um they They played against the team that was
00:37:13
Speaker
well set up and organized. um And I think that two halves, the first half, Juventus were really lacking in quality going forward. Both teams really just cancelled each other out. um And then in the second half, Juventus brought on their new offensive signings. Koop miners and Conseil Sal came on at half time.
00:37:33
Speaker
um the Douglas Luiz came on a little bit later, I mean he's played already, and then Nicole Gonzalez came on for his for his debut as well. Juventus were completely dominant second half in terms of possession and territory, but again, they struggled to create anything really of note. I think in the whole game, Juventus had two kind of half chances with Vlawovic,
00:37:55
Speaker
that was pretty much it. Roma created nothing at all in the entire game. um So so you know this this this wasn't a good game. Juventus are a work in progress. Juventus fans can't get too carried away by those two wins. What we've seen is that this is a team that is definitely going to progress and is definitely going to be going to have a good season we'll see how just how good it can be um but it's a team that you know it's going to take a bit of time there's so many new top signings over half a team
00:38:29
Speaker
it's going to take time for for them to work out what Motta wants, to to understand all the patterns and the positional play. You know, in these first three games, Motta has basically used players that were there from last season. He's only really used one or two outfield players, new signings. Again, in this game, just one new outfield player, new signing outfield, perhaps Cabal, who came off at halftime, and then obviously the goalkeeper, Dica Gorio.
00:38:56
Speaker
That is a sign that you know, it's going to take you know, what is going to be bedding them in slowly. um But so but overall, I think that the positives for Juventus are third clean sheet in a row, third game in a row where they didn't even concede a chance. um And they you know, they haven't conceded a goal. So so yeah, I think I think it's ah I want to take the positives from this for Juventus.
00:39:21
Speaker
um I don't think it was that. Look, I think it was a very tactical game. It was a tactical battle between Darossi and Tiago Mota, and it was a very interesting tactical battle um to watch ah to watch how they kind of tried to hurt the other one. It was two coaches who respect each other um and didn't want to give away too much. Juventus are ridiculously defensively solid. Like we were talking, everyone was talking about how their defense might be their Achilles heel.
00:39:49
Speaker
they are ridiculously defensively solid. Like they look impenetrable at times. And that, coupled with the sheer raw attacking talent that they have, and we know that Tiago Mota knows how to build attacking patterns of play, that makes them Well, this is why I have them winning the Scudetto this year. I think they are, if they're looking this solid, this early, when you still have these teething issues, I mean, it's it's just, you know, just it's going to look much better in a couple of months time when they're flying and shooting and firing on all cylinders. So I was impressed by Juventus Solidity, ah very impressed by Juventus Solidity. um I was
00:40:31
Speaker
particularly impressed with the solutions in the final third to De Rossi trying to, in midfield, trying to clog it up. it was you will see you see You see how useful Coop Miners and Douglas Luis are going to be. You can already see that. that there was there was I think it was a 78th minute or something like that when when Coop dropped deep and just because of the movement, he was able to just bypass all of Rama's press and block.
00:41:08
Speaker
by playing it right down the middle between two other midfielders, a beautiful pass. And it was like six players bypassed that way because of the movement and the shape. It was very, very interesting to see. um So, you know, for for, you know, these two are, De Rossi and Thiago Motta are gonna, you know, these, these, they're still early in their careers, but it was, from a tactical point of view, it was very interesting to see them It was a very tactical game. I think the XG combined XG in this game was less than one 0.6 or something. ki yeah and It was an 0.9 together combined. Well, yeah, why not the the program I use said 0.67 combined XG. So yeah, it was very, very, there were mean there were no chances at hardly at all. A couple of half chances for Flauvitch. Juventus struggled to break down Roma, the deep defence. I think that's a scenario Juventus are going to face a lot this season. And that is actually
00:41:59
Speaker
Was actually one of Motters weaknesses with Bologna. It was breaking down deep and packed the fences And actually the the xg for Bologna last season was actually pretty low for a team that did so so well And that is one of Motters weaknesses. I think that's something where he needs it I think that's something that he still needs to in order to to to improve but obviously very young coach that is where because I The reason why Mota's teams are and why Juventus have been so impenetrable, as you said, is because the way that they control possession and the way they set up their players in possession means that
00:42:38
Speaker
that it's very, very difficult for for for the opponents to get the ball off them and then launch attacks, transitions and <unk>s to hurt Juventus on those transitions because they're all well set up. The problem is though that Motta sets up his players in positions that also makes it difficult and doesn't leave them open um to those attacks and that means they don't push them forward, and don't don't they don't overload as much and that makes that makes it difficult sometimes makes it difficult so to create chances and I think we saw that in this game against Roma and I think one thing that probably Juventus are missing and they are going to miss this season is
00:43:16
Speaker
that centre back that can offer the press break and give them the extra man. ah That's clearly lacking in this Juventus team and that's why they wanted to sign Calipheorie and that's what Calipheorie brought at Bologna. We saw in this game where De Rossi was neutralising it and closing it up. That is when you need the man to come from defence, give you that extra man. Juventus don't have that and that is where these kind of games, you know, we'll see. Because obviously the Juventus' top signs, they're not fully fit.
00:43:44
Speaker
um You know, if Coop Miners wasn't fully fit, you could see, um you know, Gonzalez hasn't played at all. ah Douglas Louise hasn't been fully fit. And that's why it's been used. And so I think after the international break, they, you know, they'll start to their fitness will start to build and and we'll see what they bring, they'll bring that extra quality.
00:44:02
Speaker
to Juventus, but that's just that was just a one side point though. I think that that we're going to see this scenario because Juventus are going to dominate possession, they're going to face deep defences, but that's also a positive in the sense that it shows that the respect that that teams are going to start giving Juventus. They didn't get that respect from the last few seasons because they knew they were vulnerable and they knew they could get at them.
00:44:22
Speaker
I actually think that teams that come at Juventus will probably suffer more because Motta knows how to break them down with those patterns when they're open. So yeah, tactical point of view, very, very interesting. I do want to praise De Rossi, though. I do want to praise De Rossi because I think that's... I love him. I just love him. He made a big call. You know, he dropped Di Bala. He changed the formation to, well, it was 4-2-3-1-slash-4-3-3. More of a 4-2-3-1, really. But, um you know, obviously Pellegrini dropping deeper.
00:44:51
Speaker
um dropping Di Bala and Paredes, not playing Di Bala and Soulei together. um and, you know, going with Selamaker's, Dobbit, Sulay up front, three, you know, new summer signers, but playing the youngster, Pizzilli, 19 years ago, I thought was really good, actually, in my field. These are brave choices. And they were very organised and balanced. The first half, I thought they were Juventus equal in all phases, albeit without creating anything, but they were Juventus. The second half, they were dominated in possession and territory. But again, because C did no, no real chances. And I think in the end,
00:45:25
Speaker
I think they deserve the Neil-Neil draw. I don't think anybody, certainly Juventus, I don't think Juventus did enough to win this game. I think Neil-Neil was the right result. So that that's on De Rossi. Tactically, he worked out how to neutralise Motta. Juventus couldn't get the overloads that they've got in lot in the last games. Juventus' pressing wasn't effective like it was in the last games.
00:45:49
Speaker
um and And De Rossi tactically showed that tactically he's very astute. So I think well done various to De Rossi in this game. Absolutely. And I agree with you because this comes... I just want to echo everything he said and I just want to add that this comes on the back of him being criticized these opening games for tactical... you know He was being questioned tactically in in the Italian press.
00:46:15
Speaker
And then he comes up and turns up with that. And and and also, one more thing. Gianluca, Mancini and Indica in a back four were fantastic. And that's great news for Italy national team, because if Mancini can play in a back four as the right center back, fantastic. That's great news for Italy. They were really, really good. And he his his long ball passing as well, which we know Mancini's passing is one of his strengths.
00:46:42
Speaker
that's i'm I'm starting to think maybe you know if he can continue like this then he he should be a starter for Italy if if Spaletti intends to continue with the back four. Yeah because we'll come to that later I don't think he is but yeah you come because they were outstanding both they were rocks they didn't put a foot wrong they gobbled up Blauwitsch by the way who who was the big negative for the event so I should have thought he was horrendous his touch was awful um and but but and Dikram and Jean dominated and they were they were great I thought Colne came on had a good debut as well Yeah, i I was. I'm glad you brought him up. I was really impressed by him. Yeah. His substitution, because what he did was not just offer the physical side, which until the ball winning side, he's actually really technical and pretty explosive um driving the ball forwards. I think it's going to be very useful for Roma, if you know, just yeah based on that. Now, I really liked Roma in this game. I thought they were really the only negatives for Roma. Talk about. So just just talk about ah giving an answer.
00:47:40
Speaker
if you you know when when you're questioned. um and that was last yeah And he andnie was himself as well. That's what I like about him. This is something that I don't like about Spelletti, which we'll come on to later. like De Rossi was himself in this game. He finally said, you know what? I'm not going to try and fit Di Bala and Sulay in together using a system which is not really me. you know I'm going to play my system and then we'll see where we go from there. And he played the system he wanted to use and and it worked. The negatives is that the attack offered absolutely nothing at all. Roma didn't create a single chance in this game. They had a ah long shot at the end that went just wide from
00:48:16
Speaker
From Angelino, that's it. So that is that is that is a that is something that obviously, you know they They that they attack needs to offer something but you know, you got to look at the opponent Obviously this did this was a this was a damage ah damage limitation exercise They want to go into the breath into the international break with a good result ah something to build on they have something to build on now and but they are going to have to start offering a bit more in attack and obviously they'll have to open up more in order to do that. So will it work as well against weaker opposition? but Every game is different and and so this this is these are the you know different questions that will have to be the answered. They passed this test. and The biggest concern for Roma, in in not just in this game but but in the three games as a whole, is Dov Bic has offered absolutely nothing so far. He was the the big sign. he He's been
00:49:06
Speaker
yeah anonymous in these last few games. There's obviously a simple reason for that, is that if you watch anybody that watched him at Girona will tell you that most of his goals came off headers of crosses. He needs crosses into the box. You're not going to get that with a 4-3-2-1, which is what they played in the first you know played in the first two games. You're not going to get that with Dibala and Sulay. Well, you might might do with Sulay who's playing on the wing, but not with Dibala.
00:49:28
Speaker
um So going to a 4-3-3 in this game, you know, that will help Dovbic. Obviously, no crosses were coming to the box because Roma were so, you know, cautious and and everything. So they if they're going to get the best out of Dovbic, they're going to have to start playing through his strengths. Otherwise, he's he's gonna be a he's going to be a big money failure. Don't put footballs into the box. Dovbic's not going to score goals. So that is something for De Rossi. He needs to... Agreed. Put more crosses in. More crosses. Agreed.
00:49:56
Speaker
um Yeah, I just wanted to know that the Mercatos closed. um I want to give our I will not close for Roma because he's also about to come in on a free transfer. Yeah. But I mean, he's a free transfer. They're getting their selling smalling as well. I think doesn't they have Matt's whom else as well. They're looking at him. Yeah, potentially. But I don't know if they're bringing him in now that her mother. Yeah, I think it's a smart. I think they've done well. I think they. Yeah, I think they've they've done well.
00:50:22
Speaker
But no, I mean, I just want to give, I think we should give our predictions once, I mean, now ah when we're done. And it's the Mercatus close. So I've got Juve first, Inter second, Napoli third. I have all three of these teams north of 85 points. I think it's going to be tight, a three-horse race. um Then I've got Milan fourth, Roma, Atalanta, Lazio, Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Monza, Parma, Audinese, Genoa, Lecce, Caliari, Helas.
00:50:52
Speaker
And 18, 19, 20, I've got Como and Polivenezia. My capo caroneere is Rettegi. I think he's going to score 25-30 goals. um I think Turam is going to be Inter's best goal scorer in the league. And as I said before the season started, um and I think this might be the last summer we see. This season we see of Turam, unfortunately, at Inter. I think PSG are going to come in for him. I think we're going to have a situation where Liao, Kvarav, Laovic, Turam,
00:51:21
Speaker
reagy All score north of 20 league goals. Copa Italia. I've got Inter. Super Copa. I've got Inter. Breakout player Dennis Mann. I think he's going to be the, everyone's going to fight over him in January.
00:51:35
Speaker
Breakout player at the Under-21 player, Jacobo Fazzini-Empoli. I think he's he's going to have a great season. I think top-miners are going to be the Serie A MVP, and I'm hoping that Michael Coyote will be the Under-21 MVP.
00:51:49
Speaker
um or that No, but I'm really, I'm really annoyed with what they're, I mean, they got ghosts as now. So Parisian coyota, what's the point? and Yeah. anyway yeah sun praise yeah okay yeah just Just one thing, dark host to win the Serie A at Atlanta. I think internet Atlanta will go the farthest in the Champions League. And I think Roma are dark horses to win the Europa League.
00:52:09
Speaker
And Fiorentina have to win the conference league. I mean, they just have to. I mean, come on, for goodness sakes. OK, well, there you go. He's given you the everything, every prediction on on Earth there.
Inter's Scudetto Ambitions and Tactical Brilliance
00:52:21
Speaker
and We have to move on otherwise. No, no, no, no. Your predictions are who do you think is going to win? I'm not going to go through everything also because I haven't thought about it, but so but so sprung that on me. But I agree with the top three. There's no doubt about that. Not not in position. order I mean, I think there's an answer have to be favourites. There's no doubt about that.
00:52:38
Speaker
and You know, they've they've they've got the they've they've they've got the experience, they've got the and they've won before, they've they've got the they've still got the best squad and the best team and the deepest squad, um you know, and Juventus are a work in progress. There's no doubt about the they that. They're the favourites. It doesn't mean Juventus can't win, um but um that so I would have to go into Juventus.
00:52:58
Speaker
ah Napoli, but now fourth I'm um'm um'm starting to have question marks because it could it could easily be a complete disaster season for Milan and So I don't know who I'm gonna go with before place I'm probably gonna still stick with Milan though and even if it means Fonseca sat and someone else comes in so So let's go with that. But i'll give it I'll give you in the Q and&A episode, I'll give you the rest of mine i'll give the rest of my my predictions in the Q and&A. What's about edit it but a little think but about the rest. I'll send you the tweet that I sent that I put out and then and then you can just basically answer your version of that. It's a bit of funny. Yeah. Okay. Inter, they do send out a Scudetto statement thrashing at Atlanta. Was it 4.0 in the end? I'm i'm forgetting how many people. I think that they showed
00:53:44
Speaker
Juventus and the others that they are the team to beat. If you're going to win the Scletta, you have to finish with Arvinta this season. Taran's performance, though, i mean he he's started this season on fire, never. No, he's ah he's his weakness has been his goal scoring and goal squandering, and he was you know he's hit he hit the post.
00:54:06
Speaker
was unlucky as well. um he no He could have had a hat trick. um he's now he's he's He's scoring those goal poacher goals now, the toe pokes, the un-sexy goals, the the ugly goals, but which really are important. If he gets that into his game, we are talking about a world-class striker, you know because he has no other weaknesses. He's technically brilliant, he's quick, he can beat his man, we know he can shoot,
00:54:34
Speaker
and the problem has been his efficiency in front of goal. He misses too much. If he's going to adapt, if he's going to fix that problem too and become the goal poacher, starts calling goal poacher goals, well, then what are his weaknesses? Because then he doesn't have any. So, no, he was fantastic. He's got four nice brace in two goals. One, you know, brace, yeah, he's got a brace twice, once against Genoa and now against Atalanta.
00:55:03
Speaker
I think what I like the most was because Inter fans have been really having a complete meltdown. Oh, we don't look good. the preseason, you know, there are problems there. We didn't sign enough players, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, to which I've called bullshit on all of that. And I've said that it's it's obvious that Intel's preseason regime this summer was far more intense and it was intense because it's an 11 month long season. And so they were always going to look very, very tired going into those first couple of games. Well, now they don't train as intensely. They they they focus more on match fitness and and tactical fitness and and tactical astuteness.
00:55:41
Speaker
with three games in, you're starting to see in fire the the inter that we're used to seeing, um where they're they're not as tired physically and they can actually start performing on the pitch. And you saw that against Atalanta. I mean, the the first opening goal Look, it's an own goal, but look at the passing and the movements. You talk about patterns of play. Oh, the positional rotation was amazing. Yeah, I mean, it's it's a dance. It's the lemon dance. You know, it's a left-winger. The central, the attacker is the defender. The midfielders, I mean, it's all organized. You can't keep up with this. I mean, look, if if his name was
00:56:22
Speaker
If Simon Inzagi was Simon Inzages and was a Spanish coach at, I don't know, Real Sociedad, everyone would be salivating at the mouth. Inzages. Yeah. Or if his name was Simon Zigzag and did it for Bournemouth, you'd all be wanting him to, you know, but you know oh, the new pep.
00:56:41
Speaker
But it's it's just it's he's been doing this for 12 to 18 months, even before that at Lazio as well for five and a half years. This is he's he's really a generational coach. The stuff that he has them doing. Supercoach. He is a supercoach. He's tactically unbelievable. Like who else does it? Well, who else plays like this? And it's and it's not confusion. He just confuses his opponents, but his players know exactly what they're doing.
00:57:08
Speaker
Inter can hurt you in so many different ways. And that's the thing about him. He wants to be able to to to tactically hurt teams in pretty much so many different ways that he has them guessing, second guessing, so they can't defend against Inter. And you saw that the way that they absorb the pressure from Atalanta, who were poor, that's true. But the way that they switch things around, the positional changes, the movement, the ball going on a strip like a string between them, these triangles that I keep talking about that he loves to do, you know, creating
00:57:41
Speaker
numerical advantages in triangles, mixing it up both vertically and horizontally. No one can keep up with it. The third man runs. The third man runs are very good friends. Third, fourth, fifth. I mean, it's not just one. And then you have the individual brilliance. You have Niccolo Barela, who, I mean, this is the Barela I want to see this season, with no shackles on his feet, with Darmian rather than Dumfries, so that he can start expressing his true talent.
00:58:10
Speaker
And that is just unbelievably beautiful, that goal. It's just what Barilla can do. I really hope Nzagi continues with this because we've had, since he joined Inter, he's had to have hes had take one for the team. Well, now I want the team to take one for him and let him express himself because the talent is unbelievable.
00:58:31
Speaker
he's he is he he he he could I wouldn't say he's there yet, but if he continues down this road, we could be talking about the best central midfielder in the world. no doubt about it, if he continues like this. he was He's unplayable when he's like this. yeah His shooting is fantastic, his crossing, his movement, his passing. He has everything. and And the engine, he never stops running either. So no, it was beautiful to see. I absolutely loved watching how he could play.
00:58:58
Speaker
in this when they play like this? They were they were great, and but Atalanta were awful. And let's but let's be honest, their sum has been horrific. It goes from bad to worse. I'll just echo what I've said. They've just lost far too many important players and characters. Koop Miners, Gamaka, Skalvini, obviously Lukman was out, and Hien was out, which didn't those two being out didn't didn't help, obviously, a lot ah in this game. but I think this game showed how far off they are as being a potential Scudetto challenger due to these losses. you You can't. You can't. And this showed that the gap. um And it's worrying. you know There starts the season, even though they had that 4-0, they played four games. They've won one and lost. They've already lost three games already. Eight conceded already and you know so far. So it is a bit concerning. um
00:59:52
Speaker
The defending this season has been the biggest concern. it's is Their defense has been awful this this season. um They were abysmal on the goals here. i mean The third goal and the fourth goal especially, just look at the defending on that. I mean, Jim City getting outleaped by Makedarian.
01:00:10
Speaker
the they are lacking another fifth natural centre midfielder next to Ederson. Ederson has been poor last few games, but there's too much on him to do everything in that centre mid. It's alright when Daroon plays next to him or Koop Miners plays next to him, obviously Koop Miners is gone, but Koop Miners is left now.
01:00:46
Speaker
and Daroon has having is been having to to play in defence because of the emergency situation in defence a lot. So it's meant that Edison is having to play next to someone like Passevic, who I just think is not a centre midfielder at all. Whenever Passevic plays centre midfielder, Atalanta seem to get torn, they seem to just come straight through them ah and I think that that was I mean they brought Suleimana we'll see if they can do their magic with developing him like they do with so many players but I think that that is a but that is a probable weakness especially if they're they're playing two-man sentiment in fields you know like 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 I think they're very exposed there and that doesn't help the defense either um so yeah ah it's a bit concerning for Atlanta because I think like they're They're also displaying a bit of a defeatist attitude, I think at the moment, from like what they're saying in the media, but almost like they're feeling sorry for themselves. they I think they knew at the end of last season that they weren't far off being a Scudetto challenger with a good market. They proudly said, we're not going to sell anybody. um you know We're going to keep the team together. We're going to try and improve. you know We're actually going to go for the Scudetto. That's what Gasparini Picasi was saying. And then they see what happened in the summer, i'm losing
01:01:58
Speaker
losing coop monitors, which I think was expected, but the injuries more like it. And then they're obviously looking and trying to push himself out. And, and I think that they feel like a bit defeated by that, and a bit deflated. And, um you know, they, they, they need to get the positivity back, because I think that's the best thing about Atalanta is the positive positivity, and how refreshing they are as a team.
01:02:22
Speaker
So it's, yeah, it's a bit, I mean, I'm sure that they'll turn it around and I'm sure they'll have a good season because that's what they do and they always do. But we saw in this game just how far off they are. the the the very best. And Gasparinis needs to get it to get over the sulking. um it's He's going to ruin... like He needs to stop feeling sorry for himself. um Yes, it's unfair. I agree with the reason, but you don't have that luxury. The sulking and the attitude around Atalante is, woe is me, woe is me. And they have a point. They have been screwed over. They didn't want this. They had an outside scoreto challenge, and I still think they are dark horses.
01:03:01
Speaker
but The season started. Stop sulking, sort it out, do what you need to do to get back to it because the season is far from over. You can still have a fantastic season. um You can still do something in Europe. I think that's the bigger chance because the football they play, as they've shown, pays off more in Europe than it does in the Serie A.
01:03:18
Speaker
um and And they can do something fantastic and potentially magical. So whatever it is, stop feeling sorry for yourself, suck it up and get on with it. But that's how I feel about the vibe around Atalanta right now. I get that they're disappointed. I 100% understand and I think they have a point and right to feel upset, but they need to get look when reintegrated. They need to stop feeling sorry about themselves and they need to start doing what they used to do and and and believing in themselves and and create something and move forward instead of dwelling on the past and what could have been. That's, you know, because they, I mean, some might teach Bela Nova. I mean, they have fantastic players. Yeah, they made the debuts in this game. Yeah. yeah I mean, look, Bela Nova on the right is is outstanding. You know, it's you can you can do something. OK, they were decimated in defense. You know, you can lose. Fine. Whatever. A misery never comes alone. Right. I get that. But don't sulk. Move on. Absolutely.
01:04:15
Speaker
Yeah, well, let's move on to Napoli Palmer then. Speaking of not sulking and fighting. The dream debut for Romelu Lukaku. This was um another crazy, amazing game. um It really was. And Lukaku scores on his debut. He almost scored with his first touch of his Napoli career, by the way. He was offside, it wouldn't have counted. yeah I was willing that in because that would have been the an amazing story. but he i mean But he made the difference in this game with his presence, I think. I mean, obviously,
01:04:43
Speaker
It was conditioned by the red card to Suzuki and then Del Prato, outfield play, go in and go. But if you actually look at the threat level of Napoli before Lukaku came on and after Lukaku came on, I mean, it was just a world of difference. And see he obviously scored to make it 1-1 in the 90 second minute. And then another new sign in Nerez got the assist for the Anguisa header, 96 minutes. So I think a big two big talk about this game, Lukaku is going to be a big weapon.
01:05:12
Speaker
for Conte, you can already see and that how how they're going to play and and what he's going to provide, especially next to someone like Kvada. But also, you know, we saw the Conte, Antonio Conte spirit in this game, yeah which I never had any concern about after that first game. I knew that would come just whether the the quality will will will come over the course of the season. and We saw that spirit. They never gave up. They were wave after wave after wave of attack in the last, well, ever since Suzuki with the red card. And they and and so they they they they they they got the win. Yeah, this is what I've been telling Napoli fans who are all doom and gloom and angry and, oh, whoa, everything's going to go to
Napoli Under Conte: Lukaku's Impact
01:05:55
Speaker
hell. And it we don't have a team. where We're crap. We're this. We're that.
01:05:59
Speaker
calm down. This is Conte is right on schedule. This is how it looks in the beginning of the season under Antonio Conte after after everything is difficult in the Mercato and and know it's controlled chaos. you know What his teams have are character and there's a systematic way that they attack.
01:06:19
Speaker
um and end defend. It just takes time. I mean, I can't remember a friend of mine used to refer to contest teams as marching bands, right? You need every instrument to be fine-tuned for a marching band to sound good. If one instrument sounds bad, it doesn't feel right, but it takes time to get there because his team, his football is like a marching band. And now it's it's actually pretty, it sounds pretty good, given where we are in the season.
01:06:48
Speaker
And the reaction is just was was fantastic. And Kvara and Lukaku, like I said, Kvara, I think, is could potentially win win the Cabo Canonieri because of the fact that Lukaku will play him on. And Kvara's speed and Kvara's technical ability, he's going to have lots of chances to score. um So no, this is going to be good for Napoli. And they have one game a week.
01:07:15
Speaker
um and to to to to to focus on. So there's no doubt in my mind that they're going to be in the Scudetto race. And now they've got McTominay and Gilmore, and these are players that work for Conte. People say, oh, you know it's so they they haven't bought any anything like quality and compared to, yeah, but you have to look at the system. Who is coming in to do what in what system? And Conte is, if anything, a system coach. So they they will be there about.
01:07:45
Speaker
um and you know well it's it's it's gonna be dramatic and it's gonna be very fun to watch I mean did you see the scenes at the nine well not hundred and third minute or whatever it was it was just you know conte it's it's it's box office you know it's it's very it's very entertaining to watch it's you can't stop watching it the way that he the way his antics on the sidelines screaming and shouting. yeah It's not acting. it's This is who he is. who palm harm like let so yeah And is in in years in a city that is volcanic. And I don't mean that you know literally and figuratively. Yeah, for sure. We're going to have to speed up now because we're going way over. Parma, just a quick point on them. um I thought they were very good again in the first half, deservedly ahead. Napoli-Pore in the first half.
01:08:33
Speaker
Yeah, but the second half they I mean even before the red card Napoli were really piling on the pressure and they they withheld it fair play to them to the 92nd minute um Obviously the red cards as Azuki, which I know Pekki was unhappy about but I think it was a red. It was a dangerous play um that But so yeah, the same same as always. Parma are going to be very exciting to watch this season. They will score a lot of goals, but they are going to concede a lot of goals. They're too easy to create chances against them. Napoli had 29 shots in this game, and which is which is kind of Eric Tanhag managed United level numbers last season. Every game, Tanhag, they were having like teams were having 20 to 30 shots every game against them last season. So that is something they need to be a bit careful of. We don't want them to be a Fozinone who
01:09:18
Speaker
who were brilliant at the start of the season and then were just way too open. They have to be a little bit careful, but I think they ah be they're they're going to be very exciting seem to to watch this season. I think they're going to do well. Victor Osseman, just a quick point on that. We'll have more time to talk about this. I know there's a question in the Q and&A about him, but so ah what a disaster this is for for for all sides, for Napoli, for Osseman, that he didn't get the transfer. His transfer to Allali fell through.
01:09:47
Speaker
and despite having agreed a contract of 40 million a season and Napoli asked for an extra 5 million to the 80 million that was offered and it fell through and the two, Osseman and Napoli are furious at each other, um barely on so on speaking terms. He's been frozen out of the squad, i going to be training on his own.
01:10:06
Speaker
ah The Saudi window I thought was open for a month, I've just learned that it's closing today. Yeah, on the 2nd of September. Yeah, I believe at first it was supposed to be October. Me too. But apparently is what it is, is today. By the time you guys have listened to this, it'll probably be just about closing.
01:10:22
Speaker
um I mean, Napoli have botched this so much. Napoli have screwed this up, I'm sorry. What's going to happen? He can't stay in the stands for six months until January, but I mean, he probably is going to have to. I mean, there's nowhere else to go. Where else can he go? Turkey? ah Mexico? I mean, I don't know, he's cut out, still open. I don't know. I mean, it's it's it's a disaster. He's a complete, from a financial point of view, it's a disaster for Napoli. But it's, I mean, Conte is strong enough that he'll be able to create a squad even if he's there.
01:10:51
Speaker
ah being a pain in ah in the butt for the next six months, but i don't because come as a bigger but I don't have a concern about that. I just think it's just it's just it's just a shambles. it' nice i People want to blame Victor Osm and I blame, I'm sorry, but when you've got five million here and there,
01:11:13
Speaker
You know, it's just what's worth it. like First of all, we have to sometimes, you know, Giuntoli took a three million minus valenza on quieza to get rid of the problem.
01:11:27
Speaker
five million where you're making just plus, I mean, it's these this this is where de la vente's ego gets in his way, you know? And and and his his ridiculous behavior, this is stupid because now, yes, Conte is strong enough to handle this situation, but financially, this is not good for Napoli. He is on huge wages. You're going to have the, I think he's the highest paid player in the league together with Lautaro and Dusan.
01:11:55
Speaker
So you're going to have him in the stands for six months doing nothing because you wanted another five million extra. I mean, come on. It's it's ridiculous. It's bad business. And it's it's stupid because now he's pissed he was he was going to make 40 million net a season. No, it's it's silly. It's really, really silly. Yeah. Well, I wonder, though, I just have to put this out there. If Konta can get him back into the squad,
01:12:24
Speaker
Think about it. Osseman, Lukaku, Khvara, Rasbadori. That's the best attacking fight. Well, I don't see why you don't usually use them if you've got in, but I don't know. I'm not sure those two can play together, to be honest with you. Khvara and Osseman can? I don't think so. Khvara and Osseman? No. Why can't Khvara and Osseman play together? They're two similar. They're number nines. I don't think you can play two number nines together. You mean Lukaku and Osseman?
01:12:48
Speaker
Yeah, sorry. Yeah, that's what I was like. fire anos What did I say? yeah You said, I said, you said, yeah, you can't, you don't, I'm sorry. No, I bet you can't. I was like, I was like, no, no, look, I call an awesome one play together, but also in this system, like that, it works. It absolutely works. Cause if they're in Europe, maybe, but they're playing once a week, it's, uh, yeah, I don't know. Um, this, this, uh, just go through the rest of the, the, the fixtures. We don't have time. We don't have time to all this, but let's see. Neil Torino, one Bologna, one employee, one literally one.
Serie A Highlights and Upcoming Features
01:13:18
Speaker
Calliore, Neil, Veronina two months or two, played five, drawn five for Veronina's season. Genoa nil, Verona 2, Udenezi 1, Komo nil. Those are the rest of the seriac pictures. So just two things, or three things. Lecce 1, thank God. Fantastic game to watch. I hope you were watching that. Of course you did. Torino Venezia was outstanding. It was so many world-class saves. Vanya Milinkovic-Savage is insane. And Jesse Joronen was crazy, too, in that game.
01:13:52
Speaker
um Verona and Udenezer winning impressive. yeah yeah Very impressive. yeah yeah while while we're talking While we're talking about Udenezer, Maduka Okoye, we've got an interview with him that was going to drop this this week. he has been He is, let's say he is, one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A. In the last year or so, but so far this season, Udenezer How many calls has he let in so far this season? I think just is it just the one? I mean, yeah, they're they're joint top of the table with an answer. You're on seven points. Yeah, so great stuff. Great stuff. Check out our interview should be coming out with Wednesday, Thursday, something. this It was a champion. Yeah. Yeah. he It's going to be a video as well. So it's going to be an audio and a video search. You can check it out on YouTube as well. That's right. Champions League draw was on Friday. I'm just going to skip over that. We'll be doing a ah Champions League new season preview show like we did for the Serie A show. We'll do that next week. So just we'll
Nations League: Italy's Tactical Questions
01:14:47
Speaker
skip that and we'll do that properly next week. And just before we finish off, though, with Celia with Badgeo, Premface and Celias of the week, um it's international break now and it is the start of the Nations League. And it's ah it's these first game
01:15:05
Speaker
since that Euro 2024. Disaster. Italy are in Nations League Group A Group 2. Nations League A Group 2 with France, Belgium and another team. And the format is each team will play six matches within their group using the home and away round robin format and in September, October and November. The winners and runners up of each group will go through to the quarterfinals. There's an extra knockout round this this year.
01:15:36
Speaker
and was just semi-finals last time in which only the group winners went through. So winners and runners-up go through. The four third-place teams of of the group will play against the four runners-up of League B, which is like the league below ours, because we are in the top league, and that would be for a relegation player to avoid relegation to to League B.
01:16:00
Speaker
um So so yeah that starts this week, and Italy playing against France in in Paris on on Friday. um So first of all, um this is Italy's first game since the disaster of Euro 2024. Luciano Spelletti keeps his job.
01:16:21
Speaker
um you you I know that you're a little bit concerned, and I'm starting to feel that way now as well, um and and I'll explain why in a bit. um You're a little bit concerned about Spelletti, how long he's going to last in this job, aren't you? Yes, because as I said in our post-mortem Euros, if that you can't we can't keep doing this back and forth now.
01:16:48
Speaker
Either you play your system, your identity, your 4-3-2 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 hybrid, which you've been so successful with in your career, or you leave. Because, evidently, what we saw in the Euros is that you don't you're not comfortable with a 3-5-2-1 or a 3-4-2-1, and the players don't can't interpret it the way you want it to either. So, either you do it your way,
01:17:16
Speaker
or fully your way, or you don't. This is just a waste of time. Because now there's the this stuff that I've been hearing about him trying to do the three, five, like, no, it doesn't work. It clearly doesn't work. No, and I agree. And that's, that's the biggest, that's the reason why I am, I'm feeling a little bit concerned and and know a bit I'm lacking enthusiasm a little bit for then for for this new Italy because I'm not sure if I see a new Italy if he's going to go with it. I just don't think he should go with a back three because it's not him. like i'm not saying that the back two um it's not that i'm not so I'm not saying that the back three isn't the best system for the players that we have. I think there's definitely an argument to say that it is.
01:18:06
Speaker
but my my speech is why i want to play But my issue is that Spelletti has made his career not through playing a back three. so why would you why would you your you your It just defeats the whole concept of having Spelletti if he's going to play a back three. I don't know whether we're going to see the best of Spelletti and then it's even worse if he's going to be flip-flopping.
01:18:32
Speaker
between the systems that's even worse but the squad this is exactly what i'm the squad that he's picked and i'll read through the squad suggests almost certainly that for this game against france he's going to be going with the back three so his squad is donaruma merette vicario gold keepers defenders bastoni bella nova buongiorno califuri cambiaso di lorenzo di marco gati ocoli from lesta udoji midfielders bracianini fagioli fratzez y pelegrini ritchie tonali and attackers, four attackers only, Kean, Raspadori, Retigey, Zakhani. So the new players are Okoli, first call up, pretty bizarre, but in my opinion, because he's not even been the regular for Leicester this season. Odorji, Brescanini, Tonali's back from his betting ban, and Moisakine returns. Dropped from Euro 2024 squad, Damián Mancini, Cristante Forunco, Barrella, because he's getting no surgery, otherwise he would be in, Jorginho Kiesa,
01:19:28
Speaker
elharrawi and then the injuries are Berardi, Scalvini and Scamaccolo's last two, of course, ACL. And Nocherbi, of course, isn't called up. And Nocherbi as well. And there's there's no return for Locatelli, which is quite interesting, since he started the season quite well. um So based on that squad, I think it's clear he's going to go with a back three for this game, and because there's only four four attackers, and only one winger in his squad, and that's Zacagni. So I think it's pretty clear he's going to go 3-5-2 No, I hope he goes a 3-5-2. This is what I'm saying I hope he goes with a 3-5-2 and I hope that you know he understands that because I mean let's remember he did start his career playing a 3-5-2 I maintain still that the most important players in a Spaletti system is the midfield three how he forms them and
01:20:24
Speaker
the the the way that they go between a 2 and a 1, like the 4-3-3-4-2-3-1, that's the key in in a Spaletti system, the way I see it. I think he can still express the football he wants to do, but if you but by playing a formation, that is 3-5-2, at least in the way it starts, because the formations are very fluid in football, and especially in Spaletti system too, right?
01:20:47
Speaker
but The reason my point is it's Paletti who doesn't seem to believe in it as we saw in the euros And if he doesn't believe in it, then he shouldn't do it unless of course He's changed his mind and now all of a sudden discovered three months later that oh actually I can make you work in a back three, but that's great But just for the love of God stop this fidgeting back and forth make a decision stick to it and go with it no matter what anyone says. Yeah. I mean, I agree with that. I just, again, I'm just concerned that the, I don't, you know, the way that Spelletti's Spelletti plays and everything that we've seen in his career and he's in his mid sixties, he, you know, that's not his system. And that isn't what, you know, how he creates his, his football and his patterns and everything isn't with a, isn't with that system. And I just, I don't know whether we're going to see the real Spelletti using a back three. And that's, you know, that is my, that is my concern. I'd rather him be
01:21:43
Speaker
true to himself. Be who he is. Play for the back four. Play your system. If you fail, you fail, but don't, you know, use a system try to appease others, if it's the media, walk into the players, or if it's a bit of both, and do a system, and then you fail anyway. It's just like, well, what was the point? You never gave yourself a try. So that's my concern. But if I'm going to go through the probable 11, then we're going to France. is We're recording this on Monday, so so you know we have to see what happens in training over the next few days. But I think it will be about three.
01:22:16
Speaker
So, you know, in goal, we we're probably looking at Donnarumma unless he he wants to test out one of the others. um Back three, we're probably looking at Di Lorenzo Buongiorno Bastani. Calipari has not played much at all for Arsenal, so I don't see him starting.
01:22:32
Speaker
um And gat Gatti could be rewarded for his Juventus for him. He's been outstanding this season. he was And we should have said before he was outstanding in the Juventus game against Roma, it was Juventus' best player. But yeah that's in a back four, not in a back three. So again, we're seeing the difference here. um The wing backs, I mean, we're probably, maybe Cambiasso and Nodorci, if Spelletti is going to go forward with what he said at the end of the Euros was that he wants players that are more you know, probably modern players with more energy, more intensity, then maybe he goes Adorgi over DiMarco. I don't know, but so it'll be probably Cambiazzo and Adorgi or DiMarco. The midfield is a really difficult one. I mean, Tonali and Protesi have not played enough this season to to suggest that they should start in this game. So logically, you're probably looking at three from Fagioli, Peregrini, Ricci and Breccinini at Centre midfield, you'd think.
01:23:27
Speaker
um I would probably expect Fagioli to start because Spelletti likes him and he's been playing all of Juventus' games. um And then an attack, I think you're looking at two from Retigui, Keenan and Raspadori. Retigui and Keenan have started the season well in terms of goals, so maybe those maybe those two and to to to to start with. Obviously, there is another game so he could mix things up. So it's it's a little bit uncertain right now what what the what the team will be, but I think we can probably safely say it will be a back three.
01:23:58
Speaker
um As for France, I'll read through their squad. Ariola, Manon, Samba, goalkeepers, defenders, Klaus, Forfana, Chelsea, Hernandez, Conate, Kunde, Ferland-Mendy, Saliba, Upermicano, midfielders, Forfana, Milan, Kante, Kone,
01:24:17
Speaker
of Roma, Tuomeini, Anzea, Emery, and then forwards are bacola Barcola, Dembele, and he said Bacalada, Dembele, Griezmann, Muani, Mbappe, Olise, and Marcus, Saram. The new players in the squad are Olise and Manouconic. The play is dropped from the Euros, Pavard, Koman,
01:24:37
Speaker
Rabio of course doesn't have a club and Giroud has as retired from from international football. um so So yeah I mean the talking points are Mbappe is finally off the mark at Madrid in La Liga he struggled a little bit at the start but he scored two at the weekend and of course Deschamps staying after you know I think probably would have been time for France to move on to be honest he's been there for 12 years but He's unmovable there for for France. A possible start at 11. I think we're probably looking 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 based on what we've seen recently from Deschamps. It depends on where the Griezmann starts. I mean, the defence, we're probably looking at Manon, Conde, Pomecano, Orconati alongside Saliba. Tejanandis may not start because he hasn't really played that much enough for Milan so far this season, so I think Mendy and Madrid will start at left-back.
01:25:31
Speaker
then in midfield, you're probably looking at Chua Men, Ikante, and maybe one other, maybe Zeir Emery, Griezmann in the hole, and then Mbappe and Taram up front, it's probably what I would would would would predict, unless they go for a winger system, in which case, um you take out Taram from the hole, and either play Taram, sorry, take out Griezmann from the hole, and either play him in a centre midfield, or you drop him altogether, and in which case you have Mbappe and one of Dembele, Barcola or Lise on the wings. Barcola's been playing very good for PSG, so I'd probably predict he would start. And then Taram and Moani as the as a central striker. so i've got enough I've got nothing to add to that. I do want to get a prediction off you though, Nemo. What's your prediction for this game?
01:26:23
Speaker
It's not good. i think It's not, is it? I'm sorry, but I think they're going to be torn apart, Italy. I really do. I think they're going to be torn apart. I think there's going to be so much confusion, like we saw in the Euros. I hope I'm wrong, obviously. God, I hope I'm wrong. But umm um'm I'm scared that he's going to... I'm scared Italy are going to get ripped apart. 2-3-0.
01:26:48
Speaker
Yeah, I think I think they're loose. um I don't think they will be torn apart for the reason that France generally don't destroy teams. It's just the way they play. I mean, Deschamps is a bit of the gar of self gate of French football, isn't he? It sounds like a horrible, horrible insult. I don't mean that in terms of success. I mean that in terms of just the way they play. They're very defensive and not defensive, but they're very methodical and and they're not that expansive and they they they don't really commit, overcommit. And also their midfield probably lacks creativity as well. The French football is really crying out for some some kind of technical creative
01:27:33
Speaker
ball play and centre midfields, they're very much kind of runners, athletes. Whenever I see Upamikano in a Bayern Munich lineup or a France lineup, there's always a chance of talent they have. I'm i'm immediately reminded of that meme of ah what's a polar bear doing in Texas? like What is he doing there? He has no business in the squad, let alone in the lineup. I just don't think he's good enough. He is a blithering idiot.
01:27:59
Speaker
It really is. a with Headless chicken. It's so rash. like he can't there's no He just charges into things. If only Italy had class attackers to make to make the most of it. I'm going to say 2-0 France. 2-3-0 France. and I don't think they'll hammer Italy because, like I said, it's just not how France played. I hope so.
01:28:24
Speaker
yeah I hope so. You hope we only lose 2-0. No, I hope we don't get hammered. and That's why I hope. Yeah.
Football Culture and Humorous Incidents
01:28:30
Speaker
Okay. Let's finish with Badger, Premface and Sadie at Ass of the Week. So Badger of the Week, I'm going for the Lazio tribute to Ericsson. I thought that was absolutely beautiful. Stunning. And just a tribute to Ericsson. I thought it was really, really well done across the across the Italian football. That's the best of Italian football, as we say on this pod all the time. No one honours their heroes.
01:28:53
Speaker
No, no. And the fall of like a like um it's not Italian football. It's it's unique. it's It's an aspect of Italian culture that they express in their football, which is perfected. It's it's nothing like it. It's truly it's always with honor, with dignity, sincere. And it doesn't feel contrived. It doesn't feel like fake. It feels honest. It feels sincere. It feels it comes across as
01:29:23
Speaker
heartfelt and it's beautiful. It's really beautiful. But I also have to say, Nicola Varela's volley is just perfection. that That's Badger of the Week as well for me. like it's just What is he doing? I mean, he's bending that way and the curve on the ball is just... Yeah, magical. Prem face of the week is Nimr. Not Nimr, not anything Nimr did though. Nimr appeared on Talksport on, where should we both appear? We were both on Talksport. Yeah, you were both on. I went on to talk about Sven Gore and Ericsson. Who did you talk to? Hawksby and Jacobs.
01:30:04
Speaker
It was during the afternoon, late evening or early evening, late afternoon. Yeah. um And then Nimr appeared to talk about Kieser and Kieser's move to Liverpool and Austin and Austin in a way. Nimr spoke to Rory the Tory and it was quite cordial with him, apart from a little little burns at the end. No, I just said that I don't think, you know, I don't think Chelsea are going to win anything. He didn't like that. I said they're not going to win anything important and he's not going to make lots of make lots of money, which is what... You were both cordial to each other, I thought. i feel like haard you like respect But then at the end, when he when they said that i they hoped that I was wrong about Kiazaa and I simply just said, you mean that you hope I'm as wrong as Rory was about Haaland joining the city.
01:30:46
Speaker
Well, yeah he laughed at that, he took that quite well. yeah I was hoping he would bite back, but he didn't. um But yes, no, the the Prem Face has talked sports spelling of your name on their screen. Apparently, NIMA, if I'm correct, you sense actually sent them your name, yeah yeah but somehow they spelt it as NIMA Tevali. But what I've got I've got a late, ah late entry sent in by our patron Misa Kulikian. This is gold. Whilst you were talking ah today on the were recording this, I had to mute my mic because I was laughing uncontrollably. So Richard Keys um wanted wanted to weigh in on Declan Rice getting sent off his second yellow for time wasting on the weekend.
01:31:50
Speaker
And he tweets, what don't you understand? He was correctly booked. It's simple. He let himself and his team down. And there's nothing wrong with that. The only problem is that Richard Keys quote tweeted a video tribute to Hulk Hogan whilst tweeting that out. Yes. Yes.
01:32:11
Speaker
He wanted to tweet out a video of Declan Rice getting sent off for someone commenting on that, but instead he quote tweeted a tweet from the 11th of August 2024 for an account called On This Day in the World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, wwe that says 10 years ago in WWE w e Raw, a nice video tribute to Hulk Hogan on the Hulkster's 66th birthday, which includes some rarely seen footage.
01:32:38
Speaker
It's gold. yes That guy, mate. That guy. I just I can't stop laughing at that. It's it's hilarious. And then there's and someone the replies and the replies are just gold. Like I can't stop laughing. One guy is going quite right. Hogan's always gone into the business for himself.
01:33:04
Speaker
um Richard Keyes never be surprised by anything Richard Keyes says. And someone's replied, it someone's got somehow you've got yellow cards mixed up with the yellow trunks and ended up here. Very strange. Good. Well, I can better that with Celia Ass of the Week. So this is Juventus' official announcement of Toon Koopmeiners joining, eventually joining the Juventus from Atalanta and they put up this I don't know what the hell is this description of coop miners on the on the on the on the post, and they described him as fluid as the lymph. What the hell is that? What does that mean? What does that mean? Can someone tell me what that means? I don't understand it. I think that I googled this, and I think like the lymph is supposed to be fluid, but it's no one's ever used that as an expression or to explain anything, is it?
01:34:01
Speaker
but don't like your lymphatic fluid to kind of, do you know what I mean? Like the fluid that, that, that comes from your, your, what's the word, like your, so your, your sales is the, maybe the right way. Like like it's lymphatic fluid, like, okay. But the yeah, but what's that got to do with? I don't know. I don't know. Maybe they just want to say that Luke Koopman is as a fluid, fluid play. Oh, it's just again, Saria,
01:34:28
Speaker
Marketing. So yeah, what does it mean? Like if something yeah, I understand that but it's not a bit Far-fetched. It's just it's just weird doesn't make any sense. I can't find have they deleted it Because I can't find it possibly Because everyone was ripping the hell out of them like although all the all the replies were what? What?
01:34:52
Speaker
UVA admin on crack, like things like that. Like that's, that's cool. Was that the CER account or was it the UVA account? It was the UVA analysis account. Yeah. Okay. I, I, yeah, it's, I think they've, I think they all hire the same company to do it for them. It's possible. Yeah. I really think that it's, they've hired a marketing agency or they hired some, some social media marketing agency.
01:35:17
Speaker
All of them are working with the same like inter you've all of them are just work. they They're not doing it in-house. They've put it on on like ah to to to to to a company and I think they're the ones. They've got the Italian account. They got the Seria account. They got the you've monopoly. of of Yeah. yeah i think it's I think it's one of them like because a lot of this stuff sounds the same. Yeah. doesn't I agree. Yeah. I actually think you're probably right. I think you're probably right.
01:35:46
Speaker
But yeah, no's i that they did one which I sent to you, which made me laugh. Yeah, it was the Robocop one. Yeah. It was Robocop.
01:35:57
Speaker
roboku Yeah. and And then, of course, of the the one he's gone from being fluid as a lymph to his robotic as a robot. Which one is it and then you busy is he robotic or is he fluid?
01:36:13
Speaker
And then you've got Scott McTominay in the most with looking like a terminator and they've called him Mac Terminator with a robot arm.
01:36:26
Speaker
yeah okay anyway let's leave it at that um we'll be back we'll be back this week with a Q and&A and also we'll have an interview with Maduka Okoye that's what we've definitely got coming up this week okay thanks everybody for listening and it'll be out on youtube and patreon and so on so make sure to check those out yeah thank you everyone for listening we'll see you next time ciao ciao