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Scudetto Race, European Battle & Relegation Drama (Episode #42)
16 Plays2 months ago
Vos, Logs, and Motts are back with another episode of Calcio Culture, diving into the latest twists and turns of the Serie A season. The Scudetto race remains unpredictable as Napoli struggles with three straight draws, Atalanta’s shaky form raises concerns, and Inter stays steadily in the race.
In the battle for European spots, Juventus is starting to click as Thiago Motta pieces things together, while Lazio and Fiorentina jostle for position. Milan, on the other hand, continues to be unpredictable. With a crucial matchup against Bologna looming, the pressure is on. Roma, meanwhile, is quietly surging—undefeated in the league since mid-December and looking dangerous.
At the bottom of the table, the relegation fight is in full swing. Monza sits in last, while Parma, Lecce, Verona, and Empoli are battling to stay alive. Como and Cagliari are trying to pull away, but no one is safe yet.
The Italian clubs' outlook for the remaining European competitions is just as chaotic. Milan and Atalanta crash out of the Champions League, Juventus is a step away from advancing, and Roma faces a decisive second leg against Porto after a tight 1-1 first-leg draw. Fiorentina and Lazio wait for their next matchups, looking to make deep runs in their respective tournaments.
As always, the episode wraps up with the Culpi di Luna with the hosts’ betting picks. Can they hit a winner this week? Tune in to Calcio Culture and join the conversation on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @calcioculturefc. The season is heating up—don’t miss it.
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Transcript
00:00:07
Speaker
Welcome back.
Introduction of Hosts and Episode Overview
00:00:08
Speaker
This is your favorite Serie A podcast, Kaltro Culture. And we got the whole crew today to take you through all things Serie A. This is your host, Vos, joined by both my co-hosts, Loges and Motts.
00:00:22
Speaker
Bye, Zons. It's always great to have you guys. We missed a week. Really, really gearing up here to have a great episode and just ah looking forward to talking some footy today.
Serie A Weekend Recap
00:00:32
Speaker
What a weekend we're coming off of for couch out specifically for obviously my boys in black and white.
00:00:40
Speaker
Everybody was dropping points besides the zebras. You absolutely love to see it. Excited to talk about what happened last week. What happened today? so excited for this one.
00:00:53
Speaker
A lot of things going on. We saw a great goal from Mateus Soule this past weekend to win it for Roma. So a lot of good things going on up and down the table. But today, guys, we're mixing it up a little bit. We're going to scrap our normal
Serie A Standings and Analysis
00:01:03
Speaker
routine here. Instead of talking match day and match weekends, we're going to taking a look at the table as a whole.
00:01:09
Speaker
Things have really gotten mixed up over the last couple of weeks. And we have kind of gone from Napoli running away with it to a little bit of a pullback here. Opportunities up and down the table for teams to run in.
00:01:20
Speaker
And we haven't really gone through the whole table. in a while. So we think it's time to revisit it, revisit the Scudetto race, revisit the Champions League spots, the Europa League spots, and all the way down to who is actually being relegated this season.
00:01:35
Speaker
There's a lot of interesting things
Italian Football: Managerial Changes and Challenges
00:01:36
Speaker
going on. um Before we start that, we just want to touch on a little bit of news that's come up over the last couple of weeks. ah In Monza, we saw Nesta was brought back, which is a little bit interesting, very weird situation there.
00:01:47
Speaker
But that was a guy we were kind of high on. And ultimately, his departure from Lonzo did not help the situation. So maybe this is a case of you don't know what you got till it's gone. Like, I don't i don't know. Classic, classic, classic Calcio here.
00:02:02
Speaker
Let's fire a guy. Let's bring him back. Let's fire him again. Let's bring him back. They just are always out of whack, not and not in lockstep, not organized, just classic, classic Italian football. You love it. You don't actually love it, but you got to love it because, you know, this is probably not the last time this going to happen.
00:02:20
Speaker
In his defense, he's got a skeleton crew over there in Monza. So I think that they were just you getting somebody in for the rest of the season. They didn't like the market and they need to gear up for Siri B. Yeah, that is true.
00:02:32
Speaker
That's a good point. i'm Another team um down in the relegation zone, Parma. They moved on from their coach, I think I believe it's pronounced Pescia. tough for him. He started really well, was kind of caught the league by storm, which we, we called the league by surprise. I mean, which we do see sometimes with these newly promoted teams that are willing to be a little bit more expansive and bring it to people that has obviously cooled off and they're down in 18th place. One point out of um staying up, I guess at this point.
00:03:01
Speaker
So I, I can't really knock this one. It probably made sense. Maybe get a little bit of bump with their new coach, Chibu, who I don't know all that much about. But regardless, I think this was just and a change was needed. And this is kind of what they had to do.
00:03:15
Speaker
Chivu is actually highly touted. I've never, I don't know his tactics or whatnot, but I know that he had some good success where he was previously. this is a This is your classic. They were a one-trick pony.
00:03:26
Speaker
They, again, like Bo said, took the took the league kind of by surprise and they were all out of attack. That only lasts for so long and people, the teams figured them out and they they haven't won games that they need to win to stay out of that relegation zone. Lost four of their last five.
00:03:41
Speaker
Yeah, this was needed. I mean, they've to even further their four of the last fives, they haven't won a game and nine, 10, like 12, like 14, 15
Parma's Relegation Struggles
00:03:52
Speaker
games. So it's definitely needed. Also, they they got way too many red cards. And in my opinion, that at the end of the day, that comes down to discipline and and how you're coaching your your boys, especially with a team that has to kind of sit back and counter like Parma needs to because they don't have the players that um a higher level team does. So that comes down to coaching in my opinion. And that is a big reflection on the manager and my personal opinion. And the amount of red cards that they stacked up this season is actually insane, especially in the beginning half of the season. I think they have a red card every game.
00:04:24
Speaker
And I think they've finished the season so far. have think of it seven or eight on the year, which is way more than ah you should be having. And, and not even, we're not even done with the season and they have seven or eight. So I think it was needed and we'll see how they can bounce back with their new appointment.
00:04:40
Speaker
Yeah, and last last point, I think that just echoes manager change was needed. ah From 11th to 20th, they have the second most goals conceded. Second most goals conceded in the league um altogether. And then from 11th to 20th, they have the second most or tied for most goals scored.
00:04:55
Speaker
So it just shows like you got to figure something out. Like you can't be both ends of the extreme. You're not at Atlanta here. Or you can just go guns blazing and win games. um But that that's kind of a little preview of the relegation battle.
00:05:07
Speaker
But we're going to start it from the top here for our table, taking a look at this the the table.
Scudetto Race: Napoli, Atalanta, and Inter
00:05:12
Speaker
Obviously, it's the Scudetto race that we we need to talk about. A couple of weeks ago, we had kind of counted Atalanta out. I think there were seven or eight points back at one point, and they were playing a lot worse.
00:05:24
Speaker
couldn't Couldn't get results, couldn't get wins. And Napoli were looking good. Inter have kind of been the same piece they've been all year and just slowly rolling along. Things have a little bit changed now.
00:05:35
Speaker
Atalanta are five points off. Inter are two points off of Napoli. And this is going in the back of Napoli team that didn't reinforce the squad over the the January window. And we saw the departure of Carrad Scalia.
00:05:47
Speaker
And I think as a group, we kind of predicted there is going to be a little bit of a fall off if you don't replace Carrad. And that's kind of what we've seen, I would say. It's definitely what we've seen. They've drawn the last three. i think that their wins that they got against Adelante and Napoli kind of were false hope ah or made them think, oh, maybe we don't need replace him when obviously you did need to replace him because of the offense that he provided and just his service and just having him on the field, the threat that he is and the the eyes that you need to have on him at all time, not...
00:06:22
Speaker
ah Replacing him is going to hurt them in the long run. They've already had to resort back to Conte's 3-5-2, which they've done they did last game, and it still didn't help them as they tied another game.
00:06:34
Speaker
Granted, it was to Lazio, so it's not the easiest opponent, but those are games when you have Cavada, you might end up winning because of what the threat that he is on the field. or even an Eddie Emmy or a Garnaccio that they were looking at. So not replacing him, I really, really think is going to hurt Napoli and haunt Napoli in the future and down the stretch. And I i I've been saying this whole year, Napoli is going win the Scudetto Napoli is going win the Scudetto without replacing him.
00:07:02
Speaker
I don't see where their goals come from anymore consistently. And I officially think they are not going to win the Scudetto and it's in there's race to lose, even though they're up two points right now.
00:07:15
Speaker
I just don't see where those goals can come from. Obviously, they're coming from Scott right now, but can he continue that form? Like it's going to be tough. Lukaku's kind of obviously a shell of himself. Politano is more of a crosser.
00:07:28
Speaker
If, if one of those, if David Neres goes down, which I think he is injured, now gotta, you gotta to rely on Raspardori. I just don't see the depth and the quality in Napoli anymore without replacing him and without Kavada in order to make, to win a Scudetto.
00:07:44
Speaker
Sneaky storyline storyline here that obviously Kavira-Skelia takes the lead on, but underneath it all, you look at their last, well, you look at their entire season, right? And you compare them to the other two teams in the Scudetto race.
00:07:57
Speaker
Least goals against, 19 for the season, but out of the top three, they are five five back of the next, actually, no, they're 13 back from Atalanta on goals four.
00:08:11
Speaker
And so even without Kavira, goal scoring is not their strength, but they could get they usually get one early and they can they can hold themselves on. Their last three games that they've now tied have been 80 plus or or they've they haven't scored the last goal, meaning that their defense is becoming an issue.
00:08:29
Speaker
And I think that's more so a lack of of concentration towards the end of the game, which we talked about with other teams. But when you don't score a lot of goals and you don't have that firepower up front, that needs to be their number one focus. And we've touched on this before.
00:08:44
Speaker
Lazio loves winning games 1-0. But if they're going to let in more goals than they're used to, they need to start scoring. And so I think actually if they can refocus again and make the defense there their forefront and the thing that they the tout themselves on, that they're not out of this race. I don't think that that enters that much further ahead of them if they get their defense back to what it was in the beginning of the season.
00:09:08
Speaker
Roma, they give it a 90-second goal. Wouldn't that say they give it a 68th minute? again, they were...
00:09:14
Speaker
It was late in the game and Lazio, same thing. I think 86th minute to Dia. So their defense is now becoming something that they need to work on when everyone else is so focused on why isn't their offense working. It wasn't that their offense isn't working. They're still scoring goals at a reasonable cliff. 41 for the season. OK, but their defense is now letting up late goals, which is becoming, I think, the main issue here, which you don't you wouldn't foresee at a Conte from the beginning of the season.
00:09:40
Speaker
Where I think that we're going to start seeing the issue more and more is they' this is kind of a team that's built to to play in big games, like play against good opposition. Without Cavada, I think we're going to see them more so struggle breaking down teams that are maybe worse than them because they don't really have a like a number 10 per se. Like Scott McTominay obviously plays there, but when Kavira Skelly was playing and they needed to break down a team, he was kind of the guy that would drop in and be creative force.
00:10:07
Speaker
And when Scott McTominay is more of a... get in the box and finish the move kind of guy. Like Cavada could always do that, but I think they're really going to see that being the issue. And it's, are they going to be able to get three points against teams worse than them?
00:10:20
Speaker
I'm not sure. And when we look at the other two tables and we can kind or the other two teams that are chasing them, we can kind of kick it onto them now. And Inter and Atalanta are two teams that that don't struggle to score against bad teams. And they they win the games they are supposed to win most of the time.
00:10:37
Speaker
But they're it's very surprising when they don't. Huge asterisk. Huge asterisk after this weekend, obviously. And Derby d'Italia, we saw some things there. But Mats, for you, why are you now edging Inter to win this over both Napoli and Atalanta?
00:10:51
Speaker
I'm edging Inter because just a talent of of the squad depth and they've been there, done that. Now, Napoli lose another guy in Cavada that has been there, done that. So they really don't have too many left of their Scudetto winning season and Inter have everybody left.
00:11:08
Speaker
They did it last year. the The problem with Inter that they've had this year is they just, for whatever reason, they lack concentration. Kind of what I have a similar take to into what Logan just said about Napoli.
00:11:20
Speaker
For whatever reason, they just cannot figure it out and and finish a game or go get a goal to win the game. Like they lack that concentration in the end. The only time I've seen them really have that was against Milan when they were able to go tie.
00:11:37
Speaker
But they're they' that's going to that's going to get a tie. That's not going to get three points. So in the games that you expect Inter, a team that ran away with this guy do last year, having finishing with 19 points ah higher than the second place team and allowing like a total of 25 goals you expect them to be playing much better than they are and you expect them to go in and dominate most games which they do against the the lesser squads or the less big squads but i think they struggle against the squads that are of their caliber when they shouldn't be and it goes to show them struggling against juventus right they dropped
00:12:15
Speaker
They've tied Juventus and lost Juventus. They lost to Milan and they tied Milan. The only one that they really play good against is Atalanta because for whatever reason, Inzaghi's system is just so much.
00:12:26
Speaker
It just kills Gasparini's system. But if you look at those big games, that they lost to Fiorentina, right? Like they're dropping games against these larger like squads or these higher up at the table of teams.
00:12:40
Speaker
And you would expect them to beat these game beat the beat these teams because who they are, what they did last year, who they've added. It's just another year of continuity with Inter. So they lack concentration and they kind of can't get it done on the bigger games is what is my opinion Inter. But with that said, I still think they're going to win the Scredactor now because of Napoli's lack of depth and lack of firepower up top. And just they're going to struggle to score.
00:13:06
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, their their depth is the biggest thing. that I mean, they're by far the deepest team in Serie A, and they went out in January made it even deeper. I mean, Zalewski's come in and and been a great role player, great super sub for them. And Zielinski's getting a little bit more comfortable in the midfield there. He's coming on a little earlier, which is nice to see.
00:13:25
Speaker
And then when you look at the fact that I think they finally have solidified Dumfries as we're not taking him out, that's been ah a great additive for them as well. But i have no I don't really have any concerns with Inter at the moment.
00:13:37
Speaker
They don't give me any cause for concern. They may get a little bit caught up in the three competitions and wanting to go after the Champions League, which you know could bite them. But um I don't foresee that being the issue here. And I will also discount their performance against Fiorentina in the first leg because of how they responded in the second leg. I mean, they they completely turned that around. And if you look at that on an aggregate, I think that that um was a reasonable outcome against a Fiorentina team, which they got Fiorentina on their very best day in the first leg of that that week. So...
00:14:09
Speaker
to In my opinion, Inter is in the forefront. They're best positioned to take the Scudetto, but I'm not sure that it's going to be. and um i' not I'm not sure. It's for sure not going to be a 19 point, 16 point, you know, winning difference by the end the season. There's going to be some guys around them that are going to give them a little bit of trouble.
00:14:30
Speaker
The Inter one, it's interesting because I think what you just said, Luggs, is an important point. They're definitely the best position to go in it, right? Two points back, your squad is vastly superior to Napoli.
00:14:43
Speaker
Like on a player-to-player basis, you're starting eleven Like, are any Napoli players even getting into the Inter 11? Like their bench 11 would gain, would get into the Napoli starting 11. Like some of their bench players are easily getting into Napoli starting 11. Yeah, and you could say the same thing about Adelanto, who's below them.
00:15:02
Speaker
And I think Mott said the other good thing in the Fiorentina game they lost. That was an Inter lacking the mentality kind of game. They just didn't show up at any point in time in that game. And you've said it a lot this season, Lose.
00:15:15
Speaker
You haven't seen the best of Barella. would say that that's very true. And it's kind of like some of these guys that have just been there, done that. They lost the Champions League final. They won the Scudetto. And now it's kind of...
00:15:26
Speaker
a little bit of no man's land. you Dynasties are from players that can continue to have the drive and go continue to win things. Manchester City, like we see Kyle Walker clearly has that attitude now with Milan.
00:15:39
Speaker
Maybe these interplayers don't have it, and we're going to see it in the rest of the season. There's 13 games left. If they're going to be a dynasty and Inzaghi's going to be... Like, if they're the next Juventus, I don't think they are that.
00:15:50
Speaker
I don't think Serie is the landscape where can go win nine, ten Scudettos in a row anymore. But who's to say they can't... There's no reason that they can't win. the next three or so. And this is the season where that has to happen if they want to be a dynasty.
00:16:06
Speaker
And the players need to show that they're capable of doing that this season. Also, I'd say another player, a huge player for them that has 100% had a regression this season is obviously Letar Martinez, which we've always said he's a very streaky striker.
00:16:22
Speaker
He kind of showed way more consistency than we we've seen in the past last season. And that's one of the reasons why they beat or won the Scudato by 19 points and ran away with it by so many points.
00:16:34
Speaker
But he's been very, very streaky this season. He's kind of gotten to his old form in 2025. But once again, against Juventus this last week, he had multiple chances that he needs to put away. And and then they probably get a point or even a win against Juventus if he puts those away. So that's one thing that's been hurting them. And then I've said it again.
00:16:55
Speaker
i said it on my last rant and I'll say it again. It's their defense. And I don't know what has changed. I know that a Cheruby is a year older. I don't think he's much worse. Same with Pavard and same with DeVry, but like they are not as good defensively anymore. People can break them down and score.
00:17:10
Speaker
And it goes to show they've, they've allowed more goals this season already in 25 games. And they did all of last season. And that's, That's been their Achilles heel. And that could be Barella. Hakan's also taking a small step back with the way he controls the game. Barella as well.
00:17:24
Speaker
Lataro. So all these players taking small step backs, I think, is the reason why we're seeing Inter is now in the mix rather than running away with it. But because of their quality and depth, I think they get it done.
00:17:36
Speaker
That's huge point, Mons. The inconsistency from Lattaro and especially not being propped up by Teron as of late has been a huge concern. Over the last, don't know, four or five games, again, he gets great service into the box of ground pass across the middle and the finishing that he had last season, it was automatic.
00:17:54
Speaker
This season, it's he's skying every shot. It's going wide. It's not pinpoint like it used to be, like it was last season. So that's been a huge thing. But it also just goes to show that you're right, Vos. It needs to happen this season because they didn't do anything last summer.
00:18:10
Speaker
nothing of substance last summer to continue to make sure that they had that gap into this year. Everyone else around them got significantly better. Obviously, Inter was far better than everyone else at the end of last season. So there was some reasoning behind that. You maybe don't need to go out and and really make make a big splash.
00:18:29
Speaker
If they can win the Scudetto this season, there already are some huge links in the summer that they will not rebuild, but they'll replenish those reserves. And then they're going to be an absolute problem next season, especially with the confidence coming off a Scudetto win again.
00:18:45
Speaker
Yeah, and and just to kind of roll out of Inter here, with all this being said, they're number one in the league in XG differential, which is essentially your chances created minus the chances scored.
00:18:57
Speaker
And they have a seven-point gap. um So that that kind of tells the tale, right? They've still been great. If they just converted a couple of chances, they would be in better shape.
00:19:08
Speaker
And that kind of moves on to the point that I want to make about Atalanta, who is second in the table if you if you do that. which kind of shows what we've been saying all year about them not converting their chances.
00:19:19
Speaker
We saw them got knocked out of the Champions League today, we're gonna which we're going to talk about a in a little bit more depth in a little bit. But it was just more of what we've seen all year. Hitting posts, creating chances, but not scoring. and It's endless, and they're always going to concede, and yet they're still here.
00:19:36
Speaker
They are five points back. and are probably better positions than Napoli are at this point, in my opinion, to win more games than at the end of the year here. And it's going to be a question of have they put that Atalanta, is what Mons has been saying over the last month, two months, where they're just losing random games, losing games they should win, and then not getting even draws or anything, and just dropping points left and right.
00:20:01
Speaker
If they put the worst part of their season behind them, and now go on and can repeat what they did at the beginning the season, they can win this. They only have to make up five points, which is very doable.
00:20:14
Speaker
that's That's why you have to win. You have to win every single game because you never know who's going to drop points on any given weekend. You have to go out no matter what and win games. And I think some some teams out there are so are certainly going into some matchups and saying, let's walk away with the draw.
00:20:31
Speaker
You cannot. At the top of the table, you cannot go into any game thinking, I want to draw. You need to win every single game because unless you're at the top of the table like Napoli, we just said, you still need to win every game.
00:20:42
Speaker
Three points is substantially better than one at this rate. The other thing is the outlook, at least for Atlanta for the rest of the season, no more Champions League. And so they have a little bit of of time and a little bit more leeway to rest up, get some of these injuries behind them and really move forward with a lot more confidence, a lot more continuity.
00:21:02
Speaker
And if they can get past what I'm seeing now is a little bit of immaturity from some of their players, I think that that's going huge. Gasparini really needs to instill in them that they are in every game.
00:21:14
Speaker
I think today was a huge a huge example of that kind of against Bruges. They went out, they were behind a bunch of goals, so be it. But even even still, they were just erratic the entire time, which is, again, a little bit of immaturity, a little bit of we haven't been here before.
00:21:30
Speaker
So if Gasparini can calm them down a little bit here, get back to their ways of of getting four goals a game, finishing, making sure that their XG isn't nine times higher than their actual goal scored, this Atalanta team is for sure going to end up top two.
00:21:46
Speaker
I think that Atalanta getting knocked out of the Champions League is a blessing in disguise for them because they obviously wanted to go far in that competition. I will say we didn't talk about it that much less like the other game, but their PK that Club Rouge was awarded was just not a PK at all. So.
00:22:04
Speaker
They were definitely behind the eight ball, but Bruges came out and just dominated today and kind of made it made that not controversial because wouldn't have mattered even if they gave that or not. But the reason why, getting going back to them in the league, is why I think they are...
00:22:18
Speaker
Want to say out of the race? I'm not going to say officially because of the fact that, like Logan said, they're out of the Champions League. So it's no longer two competitions. They only need to manage one. That will make it easier for the players in Gasparini.
00:22:31
Speaker
But I'm very, very close to saying that they're out of the race because over their last 10 games, they are two wins, five draws and three losses. That's terrible form. The only reason why they're even still on in third is because they were really, really hot in the beginning part of the season and all the other teams have were stumbling and struggling in the beginning part of the season.
00:22:54
Speaker
If they, and we've we've seen it, if Retteggie goes down, if Lookman goes down, they are screwed. They don't have other options besides CDK. So I really think it's going to come down to health for them and if they can stay healthy and make this late run. But I really think number one for Atalanta is...
00:23:12
Speaker
is that ship has sailed and now that's fighting for a Champions League spot, which I do think they will end up locking up, whether that's two, three or four. I don't know, but I don't see them winning the Scudetto this year.
00:23:25
Speaker
But i want to argue I want to argue that point because that's that's true for a lot of teams, almost every team. If they lose their top two players, like, yeah, they're going to be they're gonna be ah out of luck. But As opposed to when you look at Napoli, Atalanta still have guys behind them that can step up and can be good.
00:23:42
Speaker
mean, Paslich has been scoring. he's not It's not like he hasn't been helping out the team at all. Brescianini's taken a step back from the beginning of the season, but he has it in him to step up. Samarjic hasn't gotten a ton of minutes, and and I think that if he does get a little bit more and get a little bit more forward like they used to play with Koopminers,
00:23:59
Speaker
I think that that guy can can really shine through. Bellanova's been a non-factor, but when the way that he used to play on Torino, if he can get back to that kind of play style, like that's huge. And so, yeah, you lose the top scorer in Serie yeah, you're going to be down in the dumps. That's fair.
00:24:16
Speaker
But what I'll say to that, so what my counterpoint to that would be, like those guys, are are they good? Are they electric? Can they score? Can they create? Can they make things happen on the pitch? Yes. None of them, besides the Europa League final, like the Europa League win, they haven't done anything and they haven't done anything in the Serie A. And I think it takes a group like that that shows their immaturity, that is young, to learn how to win in a season.
00:24:39
Speaker
right So they could I said they could finish in second. I do not see them winning the Scudetto. They need to learn how to win a Scudetto. They need to learn how to... get three points or one point when needed out of the games.
00:24:51
Speaker
And I think that's going to take this season with their young roster. They only have kind of look men and pass which and then a little bit of their defense that that has kind of been there and done that and and can like give them wisdom. I know Gasparini has been around forever, but he's never it's only won one trophy. Right. So I think they need to learn how to do it in order to actually win the Scudetto.
00:25:13
Speaker
And whether that be this season or next season, they need to get that experience under their belt before they can go and make a Scudetto run. think they're going win it. I do. I feel really good about that. I think there's a couple of things. One correction on you. Look, Bellanova has been nasty all season. He has six assists leading the team.
00:25:29
Speaker
Very good. The other thing is Lookman. So they lost out on Skamaka and Skalvini being their kind of January signings. Lookman has just gotten healthy and in the last like week or so in playing. And we saw how big of an impact he has when he comes on today. And Mott's your point.
00:25:48
Speaker
If they lose one over Tege or Lookman like and they go down, they they're not going to be able to. but that They need one of those two guys to win their games and to score their goals. But there's two guys, maybe three guys I'm really looking at that need to step up if they're going pull us off.
00:26:05
Speaker
Number one is Samaricic. I think that was a really good shout. When he's played, he's played well, but he's been another one of the guys that has missed a lot of good opportunities and not converted them. Ritegi needs to score his penalties, that's another thing that we're talk about a little bit.
00:26:18
Speaker
The other two guys, CDK, need to start scoring more goals or assisting more goals. He does a lot of things well, and he gets on the ball and advances it into nice positions.
00:26:28
Speaker
But you are playing as one of the number nines, and you need to start burying your chances in allowing Ritegi to have a little less pressure. Because Ritegi can't just score every game. like It's not realistic.
00:26:40
Speaker
This season he has 23 goal contributions in 23 games, which is ludicrous. Lookman has 15 and 17. The last guy I'm going to highlight, Lokes, also mentioned this guy is Mario Pasolich.
00:26:53
Speaker
We've only seen the best of him in the Champions League this season. And that's kind of been his MO his entire time at Atalanta. When they made their really um deep run a couple years ago and lost to PSG, he was maybe the best player on the team for for a lot of that run, scoring a lot of goals, creating a lot of goals.
00:27:11
Speaker
We've seen that he can still do it. He needs to do it when the spotlight's a little less bright in the game, so you got to get motivated. motivated to play in. When you're in Sardinia against Calgary and it's not necessarily a glamorous game, everybody needs to motivate to go win those games. You can't be dropping points there against Verona, those kind of things.
00:27:30
Speaker
I think they can still do it if a couple guys step up because Matsu said it, Inter's mentality isn't there. It's something I'm calling them out on that if they're going to be a dynasty, they need to do it.
00:27:41
Speaker
I don't think it's going to happen because I haven't seen it enough this season. And I think there are a couple players at Atalanta that have that mentality. and can go on and win this. i I really think it.
00:27:52
Speaker
I think if it's going to happen, it's this year. Because I think in the summer, they're going to lose some of the players that they that are he's. Yeah, Luckman might be out. Ritegi, it's going to hard to keep him if he keeps his goal scoring up.
00:28:08
Speaker
Because people pay top dollar for somebody who buries those the chances that Ritegi has been burying. So I agree. Ederson's going to be hard to hold on Darun has been really good this season, and he's not getting any younger. He's going to be 34.
00:28:22
Speaker
There's just some really big pieces that are are probably not going to be here. We'll see if they can get it done. I personally don't think they have a chance. I think they have a chance. I just don't. they A lot of things need to go right.
00:28:36
Speaker
like i mean, Vos, everything you just said is correct, but that has to happen. Inter can go out there and some of those things can still fall through and they can be okay. Atalanta need these things to happen in order for them to have a chance.
00:28:48
Speaker
I think that, like I said, blessing disguise that they're out of the Champions League because now they can really focus on it. And that might be able to kind of slingshot them to have a chance.
Race for European Spots in Serie A
00:28:59
Speaker
But we'll see what happens. right, moving on, we got the next part of the table here. That's a Scudetto race. We're kind of saying everybody else not really having a chance. So we're going to look at another really important caveat here.
00:29:12
Speaker
We're looking at European spots. As things stand, it does not look like the Serie A is going to have fifth Champions League spot, which is really important for this race now. And that's because the Premier League is most likely going to have one.
00:29:24
Speaker
And it's kind of looking like La Liga, depending on what does have it. So for now, we're going to assume Champions League spot is number four, five is your hopefully six is conference league, which kind of sets the stage for this next conversation, which makes this crazy, especially with how close it is between four to seven, even eight.
00:29:44
Speaker
Yeah. And let's go right into fourth place because this is maybe the hottest team in the league right now. And that is the black and white. you a it's been it's been one person it's been taking out one player slotting in one other player that fits the coaches system and it's obviously cola moany and you can see you can see you've been just starting to play the way that mono was playing with bologna last year holding the ball being able to flick the ball to a winger or flick the ball back to a center mid to keep possession which dusan blaovic just could not do
00:30:20
Speaker
um And I think that it's only going to continue with Kola Mouane. And now you're starting to see Juventus take the personality of Thiago Mata and the the guys kind of fight for the badge and things that weren't happening earlier on in the season, like going to get a win, ah doing what's needed to get the last goal to to get the three points are now happening. And it's it's it's a little bit of...
00:30:45
Speaker
the style of play, but it's also because the man, Colomona, you can actually just get him the ball and say, go win the game. Like he has the X factor that you don't need to create.
00:30:57
Speaker
He can create score and assist in, in, in a play that is not as, is, is, There's nothing there. Like the game against, against Inter, he literally made a chance out of nothing.
00:31:09
Speaker
He got by four guys and then touched it to Concei Sao who slotted it home. And there was like, Doosan would have never been able to do that. He can create something out of nothing. And that's the X factor that we were missing.
Juventus' New Additions and Challenges
00:31:21
Speaker
That paired with the other lone player that's not a Juventus player, that is a Chelsea player, Renato Vega, he is kind of playing that Calafiore role. He's progressing the ball when we have it in the back, which Kalulu and Gatti weren't doing. They were just passing it side to side.
00:31:39
Speaker
Vega looks to pass it forward. So that allows Locatelli, Coop Miners, Douglas Luiz, McKinney, whoever's in the midfield, Teram, to also pass it forward and to just keep pushing it and keep pushing it forward and create chances, which we've been doing way more ever since we've gotten Cola Moani Renato Vega. So those two additions, I was was not in love with them when it happened because we don't have options to buy.
00:32:03
Speaker
So they're not Juventus players. And so it's always said, don't fall in love with the lone player. But i've I've already fallen in love with them because the passion they play with and the skill that they have, we need to get them both back. We'll see what happens there.
00:32:16
Speaker
But we're we are starting to figure things out. Now, obviously, it's a small sample size, right? It's just a win against Inter. You beat PSV. You've won your last three games. But we know this Juventus team has struggled to get wins in the end.
00:32:28
Speaker
So we'll see what happens down the stretch here. But I really think with the addition of Kola Mwani, Renato Vega, when we start getting guys back from injury like Kalulu, um combi also being able to keep him from the winter transfer market that's going to help us in the long run make a realistic push for the third place we are there's no chance that we can come in first or second but we're only five points off at atlanta for third and with this race being so tight we're gonna need to juventus is gonna need to start uh stringing points together to get a breathing room because if Juventus don't make Champions League I don't know what's going to happen next year because we have a lot of guys that we need to pay for like Kola Moani is gone if we don't make Champions League for sure he's not coming back same with Ronto Vega so it's going key for Juve to make the Champions League but with the players that we've got and the depth that we got I think we can make a realistic push
00:33:21
Speaker
they look really scary, and I think and you hit the nail on the head there, Monts, it's incredibly important to have that point man up top. It changes the entire way of playing for any team. And you look at the top, I mean, there's a team down the table a little bit that just got one, and we've been playing they've been playing significantly better.
00:33:40
Speaker
um But you look at the top teams. Lataro, Teron, Rattagi. Now you have Colomawani. Castellanos kind of does that for Lazio, but it's really a combination of him and Zekanyi, Fiorentina, Moise Keane, right? So having that point guy up top to run the offense through and to create those opportunities is an absolute game changer. Vlahovic is out the door.
00:34:02
Speaker
The way that Kolo's been playing has completely diminished whatever Vlahovic had going for him. And I think that his his price tag has gone down significantly because of this. um But I think another change that's been, or that should continue,
00:34:15
Speaker
is the in the inclusion of Konsei Sao. It takes a lot of pressure off of Yieldis to not have to be you know the wonder kid and the in the star of the offense, maybe coming off the bench, every single not every single game, but for the most part and can play as a role player, even though he's wearing the 10.
00:34:35
Speaker
That's a lot of pressure as ah as a 19 year old, 20 year old, for the Nezzerzer, the Biancanary. And so having Couch and Sal out there as a creator, as an assist mate, what are you laughing about?
00:34:47
Speaker
That's their name. I'm not saying black and white. Well, you said something other than know. I don't want to talk about that in turn. But I think that that's been a huge change. Nico really needs to pick his game up.
00:34:59
Speaker
I mean, that he really needs to fill into what he used to be for Fiorentina. Nico's offensively hasn't been there, but especially in this game against Inter, Savona was getting dogged by Dumfries.
00:35:10
Speaker
Savona's not good. phone to He's young. He's got to get used to league, like putting him up against Dumfries, who we were literally saying last episode is the best wing back in the world is not what you should be doing. But Nico at the second half, he was working back so much to help out with Dumfries.
00:35:26
Speaker
So, yes, I agree. Nico's offensively hasn't been there. he can't dribble past the cone. But he sacrifices. He has the attitude you want for a Juventus player where it's like, i will do the dirty work for the badge. I'll do what I need to do for my team to win, which i i respect. But I do agree.
00:35:41
Speaker
He's been very underwhelming offensively. But that's that's his main, I would say that that's the weird reason that you guys bought him. So that's, he does need to pick that up. Wes, the fact that he's just played every single position and done it extremely well is is so promising. He wore the he wore the captain's ban over the weekend, which I think is huge and good for him.
00:36:01
Speaker
And I'm sure Vos is going to touch on this, but I keep saying it and I've tried to explain it to you guys over the weekend. Coop is in the right spot now. Cool Miners is in the right spot.
00:36:13
Speaker
He needs to start where he started for Atalanta. And you look at the average positioning for him against Inter. And yes, he started in the pivot, but he got up the pitch the entire time. And Terram was able to stay back and hold that sixth spot.
00:36:26
Speaker
And I think he plays significantly better with Terram than he does with Locatelli. Locatelli came in and I don't think that was a good a good showing by him, nor has he had a good showing the last couple of games. But Koop needs to get going from that spot. I think he will starting a little bit further down the pitch and allowing him the opportunities to go forward instead of being that second striker starting at the back line and and playing back to the goal.
00:36:48
Speaker
That's not a strong suit. Strong suit is driving the ball forward and being able to get into scoring opportunities at the top of the box. That's going to huge change going forward. Yeah, realistically, all these changes are kind of show why we've kind of backed Juve and be back Tiago Mata all year, regardless of all the issue.
00:37:06
Speaker
The Bowens were there. And when we're looking back on this now, it's it's kind of so obvious that the issue was Dusan Vlahovic and not having the right guy there because we saw what he could do with Joshua Zerkse last year.
00:37:19
Speaker
And most people prior to that season, LaBelloni would have said, Randall Kolomwani is a much better player. So it's just kind of like, now that they have a creative force up top, who's also a scoring force, like this is just obviously what they needed to fix the issue.
00:37:33
Speaker
And now we're seeing that immediately pay dividends. And basically you can get hurt from all over the field now because... Yildiz, Kolomawani, Kukminers, Conchacellic, you have all these guys that they're all that.
00:37:46
Speaker
They're all scorers and creators, which is what Thiago Matzah was wanting to do at Bologna and was able to do with some of these guys and kind of elevate everybody and not make it, oh, this guy has to score for us to win kind of thing.
00:37:59
Speaker
And now we have that at Juve. Yeah. And you you you said that both at the beginning of the season. What is Mata going to be able to do with Vlaovic, who's a totally different build than Joshua Zerkse?
00:38:11
Speaker
Obviously, Vlaovic is not the guy and in the Mata system. What he needs the striker to do is way more than Vlaovic can. And Vlaovic just came out and said, like, Tiago Mata needs me to run back on defense too much.
00:38:23
Speaker
on On Serbia, I'm better because I play with a second striker. And like hearing that, Mata's just going to not, obviously not love that when you're saying that to the ah to the media. And then you see a guy like Kola Mouani against Inter who passed it away. He gave the ball away at the top of the box to Inter and he ran all the way back. He didn't make the tackle to stop the transition.
00:38:43
Speaker
way it did, but he was right there to then make sure Juventus kept the ball. So just the work rate he has off the ball, what he can do in terms of creating on the ball, how he can finish, how he you can just give him an opportunity and he can score out of nothing.
00:38:57
Speaker
That is what Mata needs in his system. And that's going to open up the the wing for Konsei Sal, the midfield for Yildiz. But I know said it before, but I'd just like to touch on it one more time.
00:39:08
Speaker
Vernato Vega is also a key ah key part in this because he progresses the play rather than Locatelli or anybody. Like he had, again, who do we play? i think it was Empoli.
00:39:20
Speaker
He had 17 passes in the box. like seven And he's a center back. 17 passes that made it into the final third of the opponent for a center back just means now, or no, it was against PSV. That's what that's who it was against.
00:39:33
Speaker
That means now Locatelli can get further up. Coop Miners can be in his normal spot. and And that's what we're seeing. Also, what we're seeing as well is I want to give this guy flowers because he's been balling way up.
00:39:44
Speaker
But absolutely moved to right back and has been beast back there, just making forward runs, putting in great balls. He needs to stop taking 20 yard shots so much, but he's been a beast. And I think that with the players we now have in the locker room,
00:40:00
Speaker
it it's really given Mata the full flexibility to kind of show his system. and And we're seeing kind of the the flowers of his system and what what but he was able to do with Bologna last year.
00:40:10
Speaker
Shout out Allegri for making Tim Way at the right back he is today, though. I have to give it to him. Well, and one more thing, and just to finish giving Colomawani his absolute pasture of flowers that we've been giving him.
00:40:24
Speaker
One thing that Mata's brought up that I think really needs to hit home here is His instincts in the box are second to none. If you look at all of his goals so far, or even the assist to Constance out, he doesn't pick up his head at all.
00:40:37
Speaker
He already knows where he is on the pitch and is able to make a decision without picking it back up as soon as the ball gets to him, which makes a huge difference when you're a striker, having that in that instinct behind it. that's what That's what creates the great strikers from the just okay strikers, when you when you can just know exactly where you are on the pitch, where the goalie is, where your defenders are, where your're own where your own players are, right?
00:40:58
Speaker
And him coming in and playing five games and already feeling that comfortable to finish where he's finished and and be able to make plays where he has is something that needs to be watched throughout the rest of the season because it's not something that you're normally seeing from nines these days.
00:41:14
Speaker
and and And it needs to be said, this is a guy that ah the team spent $95 million dollars for. So he has at top quality, like world-class quality. It's just consistency, which is kind of what we've seen a lot of guys Serie A. But if you have a goal, if you have a striker scoring goals consistently, his confidence is going be through the roof. He's going to doing stuff that he he wouldn't necessarily try when he's not scoring goals, and it's just going to make him look and seem better and grow that confidence. So the sky's the limit with Kolo now because of the confidence that Mott has instilled in him and what's what he's been able to do on the pitch. So I'm i'm very excited to see more ah to come from him.
Lazio's Consistent Performance
00:41:51
Speaker
But Juve in fourth place on 46 points in that Champions League spot. couple teams chasing them. Number one in fifth place is Lazio, also on 46 points.
00:42:03
Speaker
And this has been a great team all season. I've been saying it. I've been starting been starting to get it out there. Guendouzi, Ravella, maybe best midfield pairing this season in the league. I think there's a legitimate argument there.
00:42:16
Speaker
They've been phenomenal. But for for me, this team, out of everybody in the league, they have been the most pragmatic, most practical, most consistent, just doing their thing the entire season.
00:42:31
Speaker
And they've been here. They've been like three, four, five the whole season. And I don't really see a way where they give this up to anybody else. I see this being Juve for Lazio five, but it could be vice versa.
00:42:45
Speaker
Like I think Lazio had been good enough to do that. I would say they're significantly better than that next group that's chasing these two teams. I think in the end, Juve will probably edge it just because of their squad. And their squad is stronger, right? Like player to player, they they are better.
00:43:01
Speaker
And I think this Lazio team is ah still in their first rendition of what their best self is going to be. But I just see that Lazio at their worst season has just been good enough to like get draws. like They don't really lose a lot of games.
00:43:14
Speaker
They create enough opportunities. They've had a consistent goal score goal scorers. India and Cassianos. And then you sprinkle on with some Zacani goals, Isiksen goals, just all around players performing well.
00:43:28
Speaker
And their biggest weakness was their center back. And that has gotten better. I still think that is their weak point, but I love this team. I love how they play. They're a great watch. And i I hope they can get to compete for that fourth spot, but at worst, hold this pit spot.
00:43:45
Speaker
Would it surprise you if I told you that and they have two more losses than Milan this season? Because they do lose games. my i'm I'm not sold on Lazio. And I think that Ravella, and I said it the other day, I think Ravella has a shout for team of the season in the midfield spot. I think he's been phenomenal. I think Guendouzi is not that good.
00:44:02
Speaker
don't think he's ever been that good. and I mean, he's a role player, but he's no he's not a guy that's that you want to your lineup if you're going after these kinds of spots. I do agree that they're probably the most consistent team in the league.
00:44:13
Speaker
They don't have, their lows aren't that low, but their highs also aren't that high. Goal difference of 13. So nothing to me shouts that they're phenomenal.
00:44:24
Speaker
I think that where they're going to end up is probably six or seven, but not by their own doing. I think it'll be because teams below them will finish out stronger again because this Lazio team again,
00:44:37
Speaker
has been getting it done, but just enough, just getting it done. They haven't been excelling, and I don't think they have they have the talent on the pitch to really take over the the last third of this season.
00:44:50
Speaker
I think a lot of their – Isiksen has been a nice addition to their scoring profile, um but Castellanos has been a little bit inconsistent. Zucani has fallen off, but that was a little bit of an injury spell.
00:45:02
Speaker
And so i I'm not sure this one. I'm just not sure about Lazio. I can see them staying in fifth, but I think if other teams get hot, Lazio's not going to get hot enough to keep up with them.
00:45:13
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with a lot with Logan just said, Lazio frustrate me because, but it's like, they're frustrating me because they're overachieving them what I thought that they would be able to do, which is props to them.
00:45:23
Speaker
I agree with Logan in terms of, I don't think, uh, poor man Rabiot is a good player. Like he's not gonna, he's not getting you, he's not making consistent, uh, in a squad that's in a Champions League squad or going deep in a Champions League.
00:45:37
Speaker
Um, But they proved me wrong week in and week out. ah So there's something to be said there. I'm still sticking with the fact that they are going to drop and things are going to level out here.
00:45:48
Speaker
And they're going to because not because of their squad. I just think the teams below them added players in the winter window. That's going to allow them to.
00:46:00
Speaker
past Lazio. Lazio, once again, just like in the summer, didn't do a whole lot. They kind of just stayed where they were. They are building on their continuity and they do get results.
00:46:11
Speaker
But I think that the additions that Fiorentina made and the additions that Milan made, I think that Bologna playing the way they are and even Roma with Ranieri riding the ship, I just think they're going to finish out the season stronger than a team like Lazio and they will end up falling.
00:46:27
Speaker
But I've said that all season long and I've been wrong the entire season. So I can continue to be wrong about Lazio. I mean, I think you guys are severely... down playing how great of a season Grant Duzzi has had.
00:46:41
Speaker
He's number one in progressive passes in the entire league in his top six for total completed passes. That is insane.
00:46:52
Speaker
Like you realize how aggressive that is and then pair with that Ravella is like top 10 in every defensive metric in the league. Like it is a perfect midfield pairing and I don't know how you can make an argument that you think you're going to fall off. Like they...
00:47:07
Speaker
Well, brother, listen, i mean, how much how much more do you think Pedro can add to this team? The guy is ancient and is putting up numbers where he should not be. There's going to there has to be reversions of the mean on some of these guys. And I think it's going to come hard.
00:47:21
Speaker
I also you could throw any he stat at me for that man. And I my will not into my opinion that he's not a good player. Like he could, he could have, he could have 12 goals in a season and I'll say that's a fluke season. Watch what he does next year.
00:47:34
Speaker
I mean, he would be Juventus' best midfielder this season. No, he would not be. on your words is a better midfielder, a better player than John Duzi this season?
00:47:45
Speaker
Taram, McKinney, Also, Mr. Statman, can we talk about one guy? And I'm not sure I'd need you to actually look it up. Where is Nuno these days in terms of his production? Because he started off so, so hot and carried this offense for a lot of the beginning of the season.
00:48:00
Speaker
Is he continuing to do that? Haven't heard his name too much in the last couple of months. I'm sure he's still producing, but... That was a huge. and is you if you If you are correct about this, he has nine assists on the season.
00:48:12
Speaker
If you are correct, it's six in the first three games. Their best player to start the season has not done anything in months, and yet they are still exactly where they have been. Where is the drop off?
00:48:23
Speaker
Nuno Tavares is their best player. At the beginning of the season, he definitely was. Right, but he's not their best player. So he they were their not best player was carrying them, and now their best player is a six who doesn't score.
00:48:34
Speaker
Most progressive fastest in the league, brother. So is this just Torino? Is this a Torino team with better strikers, with with healthier teams? I think it's a, we're also discounting Barone and how good of a coach he's been this season.
00:48:48
Speaker
He's made a board. I've given them, I said like they are having a
Fiorentina's Growth and European Impact
00:48:52
Speaker
great season. I don't think it will continue. I, and it's not because of Lazio or Barone or anybody in their house or camp.
00:49:00
Speaker
I think it's just because the, the teams behind them are better and they've done more to make the push in the winter window at Lazio did not do. I like it.
00:49:12
Speaker
That's kind of my take with Lazio. They also don't have and they don't have an eagle handler right now, so they're in disarray. No, I'm sure they do. Not as famous for obvious reasons. but Keep it rolling then to the teams that are or trying to chase are are chasing Lazio.
00:49:27
Speaker
uveein laio Sixth place is Fiorentina on 42 points. This is another team that looks like their worst portion of the season is behind them. Albeit, they just lost two in a row after winning three in a row.
00:49:40
Speaker
One of them was against Inter, who would they also just beat in. So it's kind of a mixed bag. I don't read too much into it. And Motsy, your point, I think Fiorentina is a great team. i I love everything they're doing.
00:49:51
Speaker
And I think it's a long-term project. where I'm kind of giving the edge to Lazio. Because I do think Fiorentina's squad is better. I think Fiorentina's squad is one of the best in the league.
00:50:01
Speaker
And in a year from now, we're going to be looking at them as like pushing the Champions League area just because of how they're going to develop. I back Barone at this point more than Palladino because um the way that Palladino has had to deal with adversity this year and he had that long stretch where they weren't winning games and they dropped a lot of points. That's why they're here.
00:50:22
Speaker
I haven't seen Barone do that. and Barone came from a very – he had this – Wait, I'm confused. You back Palladino over Barone? Right now, have Barone over Palladino.
00:50:34
Speaker
Sorry, that makes up my words. yeah That's why I think Lazio will finish higher this season. Where Barone is in his personal development as a coach, I think he's ahead of Palladino. I think Palladino, again, is also in line.
00:50:47
Speaker
also in line with this Fiorentina team. We all are saying like every BNM Fiorentina is going to continue to get better apart from maybe Moise a King because he's kind of like at his peak.
00:50:58
Speaker
But Palladino hasn't really been in this situation before. He's never coached like a really competitive team like this before. And it's learning. I mean, Yeah, that's that's my issue. I see your point.
00:51:09
Speaker
I see your point. But what I'll say is Paul Adino came from Monza. They have 14 points and they didn't lose a whole lot of players. They lost Copani and Barone came from Verona and they're they 23 points 16. like.
00:51:26
Speaker
like And to that point, I say you take Paladino off Monza, look how bad they're doing. You take Baroni off Verona. They're still doing bad, but they're right around where they were with Baroni. They probably maybe had six more points at this point in the season.
00:51:42
Speaker
So I back Paladino, and that's why I'm going Fiorentina and also the players. And I just think that though they are going to be the team that Juventus and Atalanta fight for. That fourth spot is Fiorentina with the guys that they have.
00:51:55
Speaker
I did watch the Como game. They played for Jolie too far up the pitch. They were playing him as a 10. You need to drop him back. He's more comfortable as a six, which is controlling the tempo, pure low roll.
00:52:07
Speaker
um So he needs to make that change. And I think that will help them out a lot. We haven't seen the best of Gudmundsen. Their wingbacks are just so good in Gosens and Dodo, Kodo, whatever whatever his name is. Dodo is a beast. du He's all over the pitch.
00:52:25
Speaker
um They have De Gea who's kind of been there, done that in another league, the leader on the field. And and i that's why I'm i'm backing Fiorentina for the similar reason that you are just opposite. I think I trust Palladino more than I trust Barone.
00:52:42
Speaker
This one could be interesting throughout the to the end of the season because it's an interesting just a big juxtaposition to Lazio, where, again, like I just said, Lazio's highs aren't that high, but their lows are certainly not that low.
00:52:54
Speaker
Fiorentina's are their highs are through the fucking roof, but their lows are really bad. I will say this game against Como, couple of players out of position, also didn't have Moise. a He was suspended.
00:53:08
Speaker
So that was a little tough. Zanielo's not the guy you want as a lone nine from my experiences with him. And like you said, Monsavigoli in the 10 is not exactly his spot. But this Fiorentina team is electric and can turn it on when they need to.
00:53:22
Speaker
they just They need to not drop points like this against a Como team, even if they are out of and of a player like he. They did bring in Goodmanson. He got hurt. So that was a little bit of a tough scene as well.
00:53:34
Speaker
Como was on a hot streak. They got him a tough time. I think if this Fiorentina team can make runs like they had in the beginning of the season, and I'll argue myself, they had to say the exact same run that they had. Lazio had the same exact run and beat them out for team of the month.
00:53:49
Speaker
But if I think Fiorentina has the the gas, the juice behind them to finish out the season stronger than Lazio. That's my take. so That's a pure gut feeling. I'm not going to i'm not going to give you any Veroni, Palladino stats here, but I do feel like this Fiorentina team this season has it. They have something that is going to turn this around and and get them out of a little bit of a hole here. this It's been a hole since the beginning the of 2025, and I think that they will turn it around.
00:54:19
Speaker
I also think a big factor in this race, and and we'll get into how this could benefit even Milan, is Lazio and Fiorentina are both in still in the Europa League or in their European leagues.
00:54:32
Speaker
And Fiorentina is back to go to the finals like they do every year. So they're expecting that, which Palladino, to your point, Boas, has never managed two competitions. So that is something to keep an eye on, how far they go. If they're in that competition late on.
00:54:46
Speaker
same thing Same thing with Polarone, too. It's kind of crazy. Yeah. And Lazio maybe aren't back. Number one seeds in their respective competition. latin and that's what I was going to say. Lazio maybe aren't back to go to the finals, but being the number one seed, now you're kind of not expected, but you are, you have a good path to get to the final. So I think that because if one of those teams gets knocked out before the other, that could give them the edge where now we're just concentrating on one, um but it'll be interesting to see.
00:55:15
Speaker
On my last point on against Fiorentina, I think what they're going to be missing to be able to to hit that next level is Goodman. And the injury their injury looks like he's going to be out for another significant portion.
00:55:28
Speaker
And if if they had him, it which when he's played, they've just looked even better than they have been. And without that, like that's the button I would push to be like, this is the guy that brings them to the next level and they don't have that button right now.
00:55:43
Speaker
And when you look around the team, it's like nobody else is really a goal scoring machine kind of thing. Kulpani has not been what we've all kind of expected of him this season. He's been okay at best.
00:55:55
Speaker
And that's kind of why they brought him full of Ronshu, who's not really going to be good ah prolific goal scoring winger either. ah They move Beltran out to the wing. I just don't see any more guys apart from Moise Keane who's going to be able to like lead this team on and there.
00:56:09
Speaker
um But that's
Milan's Challenges and Team Dynamics
00:56:10
Speaker
enough on them. i That's going to be an interesting... story that's going to all fall unfold over the next two to three years. What is Lazio going to be? What is Fiorentina going to be in two to three years? just Just based on what they've done this season.
00:56:23
Speaker
But yeah, so Fiorentina's on 42 points. They're four points behind Lazio right now, Lazio and Juve. So they're in sixth place in the Conference League spot right now as everything stands. Behind them is Milan on 41 points with a game in hand, just a one point to make up and ah five points back from Lazio and Juve for that European spot, Europa League spot, Champions League spot.
00:56:44
Speaker
And Luggs, I'm kicking it to you here. There's a fresh wound. There's a fresh wound today. So it's a little, it's, I've gone back and forth. I've gone through the five stages of grief today already.
00:56:57
Speaker
I've come to the conclusion that I okay. We're going to move forward. We're going good. This is a strong team. It was really tough to see us go from Rotterdam last week to now San Siro this week and give up points to Feyenoord team who had 14 injuries.
00:57:18
Speaker
They had five missing starters. We bought their best player for 35 million dollars euros two weeks ago. Feyenoord also fired their manager eight days ago and we put up a stinker twice.
00:57:32
Speaker
we I've lost a ton of money. I'm down bad. And it's tough to see us leave the Champions League where that's kind of been our bright spot this the season.
00:57:43
Speaker
it's pretty and so And it's not consistent at all, but it was our more consistent competition when you compare it to the regular season. With all that being said, this team is going to go far. I'm calling for top four.
00:57:56
Speaker
We made the moves in the window to go top four. we made these more We made these moves. these moves. To get us further in the Champions League.
00:58:08
Speaker
But now that we don't have the Champions League, we have one clear thing to do, and that's to get back to the Champions League next season. Cohnson Sow is not going to take this lightly. He's pissed.
00:58:20
Speaker
He's livid, as he should be. There are two main guys... that absolutely have the targets on their back in terms of what is going on, what are you doing, and it's unfortunately our perennially two best players.
00:58:36
Speaker
Nothing can explain Tao's dramatics today, both on the initial yellow card, terrible foul, and then diving like that in the box. When you know you're on a yellow card,
00:58:49
Speaker
you don't You don't need to do that. VAR exists. If it was a foul, you're going to get it called. And if it wasn't a foul, then they're going to call it back. So no need for it. You're also 6-2, and you probably could have just kept the ball.
00:59:02
Speaker
Not really sure what was going on there. And he just hasn't been consistent. He hasn't been the tail of past Obviously, our backside defense is horrendous. and so how How is this team finishing top four? Can you get get to that point? I'm going to get there, but I also want to shit on Leal for a second.
00:59:19
Speaker
Before you shit on Leal, just want to say the game today, before Tao dives and goes down, you guys are down 10 men. I mean, it was a domination. That's where I'm getting to. thank You guys want to push me along. Let me let me have my... I'm grieving after today.
00:59:39
Speaker
But Leao also just the headspace, and it made me feel this more than usual after having to watch Lookman's performance right after our game today. Because as I said today, Lookman is better than Leao.
00:59:53
Speaker
It's so clear, and it's a little bit of a skill level thing, but more so mindset. And the fact that Lookman is hungry. That guy, is he just plays for that badge. Even though he wanted to leave last summer, he's probably to leave this summer. That guy plays for the badge. Leao is just...
01:00:08
Speaker
out there, lax days, golden, kind of not like picking daisies, which we've talked about before. And even though we were dominating in the first half, I thought our best off offensive chances came from the other side of the field.
01:00:20
Speaker
Every time that layout got the ball, was the same move. And it worked maybe twice out of 15 times. It was the classic, let's kick it by this guy and and chase after it. Guy's the fastest man on on the planet, but at some point, it's not going that's not going to cut it.
01:00:33
Speaker
So with all of that being said as the backdrop, the rest of the squad is in the right direction and we've got the players to go far. We've got the players to turn this around. We've got the manager to turn this around.
01:00:46
Speaker
Why we take off Pulisic in a situation where we know that he's going to be the but most fiery player on the field at the end of the game is a little bit beyond me. I was saying in our text during the game, Pulisic needs to be on the field all the time.
01:01:00
Speaker
I know that we just got, I know we just got Joao. but And he's the pretty the pretty new signing, but he's also a little lackadaisical. Some of us his flicks and chips are not necessary, and so that kind of gets in the way of his otherwise really good performances.
01:01:15
Speaker
But the biggest difference, and and it's the same thing for Juve, we finally have a nine. A tremendous nine. Santi Jimenez has been phenomenal in the in the first four or five games that he's played for us, three games maybe even.
01:01:29
Speaker
And to say that that hasn't been the biggest difference would be just insane. So we finally have a nine. He makes runs. He opens up play. He draws defenders out. He's aggressive on the touchline.
01:01:41
Speaker
I mean, the guy, he's instinctual. His left foot is magical. We finally have that figured out. And now we can have Tammy come in as as a second nine. Whether they play together or not, it doesn't matter to me.
01:01:53
Speaker
It gives Tammy some real competition. I know that Tammy's a player that doesn't just want to sit on the bench. He's going to want to go out there and fight for even though he has no chance of getting in that spot. Our midfield is awesome.
01:02:04
Speaker
I know Fofana wasn't playing for the most part today. Moose has been in in great form. Rinders is obviously there. Pulisic has been playing well. Our defense has looked astounding. Pavlovich is back to what we thought he was going to be after when we saw them in January. I think he took that to heart.
01:02:19
Speaker
Shaw even had a great game today. And i'll I'll say that to more. He's been playing well. So it's nice to have those guys flip-flop back and forth. And I think a lot of that goes to Kyle Walker's leadership in the back.
01:02:30
Speaker
And then our bench has been built out. Alex Jimenez wasn't allowed. We don't have on the UCL squad, so we couldn't play him today, but he's been phenomenal. He's on the pitch. We have Sutil, who I think can come in as we give him some more minutes that he'll be ah he'll be able to add more than what Okafor was adding before.
01:02:45
Speaker
And if Mignon doesn't give up absolute pizzas, then we're in good shape in the back. This team is dangerous. It has the talent. It has the manager with the fire. And I don't think that these teams in front of them, being Fiorentina,
01:02:59
Speaker
Lazio and I'll even say Bologna right next to us. They don't have what we have now. So yeah, it's a fourth place. Fourth place is Juventus who has what you have. Well, and I'm going to say it, that I think we're going to play out and be better than you guys. You heard here. I understand your point. I actually feel better about Milan right now than I felt at any point the entire season.
01:03:21
Speaker
And I still don't think they are better than Fiorentina, Lazio, or Juve. And i don't, wear where do you think that this miraculous jump in play is going to come from?
01:03:33
Speaker
Well, we have one competition now. Right. And I think that if we get we understand that certain players cannot come off the pitch in certain situations, which we should find out after today. yeah But the other thing that pool such is I think I don't think he's capable of playing full 90s. Like he he is. He is.
01:03:50
Speaker
He totally does it for America all the time. Like 25. yeah we He's perpetually hurt. And he has been his whole career because he can't play full ninety s I think he can play a full 90.
01:04:01
Speaker
He's been playing full 90 this whole season. This is what I took from what Logan said. there's And it was mainly about the Liao-Lukman thing. And it's what you said, why you think Lukman's better, because his mindset. And it goes back to what I was talking about when Napoli played Juventus, their mindset. Mindset can make...
01:04:18
Speaker
football player and I think that Milan's mindset is the reason why their consistency is not never there they have the players to go on and and go deep in the in the Champions League or make the top four run but their best players being or not they' i don't want to say their best players anymore because I don't think they're their best players anymore Their most tender players being Liao and Teo.
01:04:43
Speaker
Those are the guys you kind of follow when you are in a team. They are also probably they have a lot of quality. I think probably Christian has passed Liao as as a better player because of his mindset, though, and his hunger.
01:04:57
Speaker
Teo and Liao don't have that, and it makes their consistency bad, which then the team follows after. Kind of similar to how I said yeah your team takes on your manager's personality.
01:05:09
Speaker
You can also take on your leader's personality. And the leaders that Milan have do not. They lack the mindset, which means they lack the consistency, which then trickles down to everybody else.
01:05:20
Speaker
Now, I think you got players in there. in your striker, in Christian Pulisic, in Reinders, that have the mindset and the consistency, like in your your manager, Concei Sao.
01:05:31
Speaker
I think the best case, the best thing Milan can do is, I don't think they finish top four, is get a Europa League spot, kick Tio and Liao out, finally move on from them, take those cancers, remove them, and then have different leaders that have the mindset and then the consistency.
01:05:48
Speaker
And then then you'll see the how dangerous this Milan team can be. And i I agree with that. I think Satie Menes, you doubt it looks, is going to be a prolific goal scorer in this league, definitely.
01:06:00
Speaker
The other guy that has really stood out to me is Jao Felix. I think this is the best version of Jao Felix that I've ever seen. He's kind of playing as like a pure pen, more or less, right? And... We're seeing everything he does well in every time he picks up the ball. Like he wants to pick it up. He wants to progress play.
01:06:17
Speaker
He wants to pick it up. He wants to get into the box. He wants to be a creative force. He wants to score goals. And we haven't seen that from him in years, I don't think. The other thing I really liked about him, he's played at a very high level elsewhere before this.
01:06:30
Speaker
And the way he pressed, he was calling out, you're okay, I'm for i'm pressing. like It was so coordinated. And I see him actually becoming a leader on the scene now, which would be huge for them. And this kind of pure number 10, don't think it was, that wasn't really what Reinders was, but it was kind of being forced to play there.
01:06:48
Speaker
And Joe Felix is that perfect in between of a a nine and like a a classic 10 that this team really needed. But I still don't think Milan do it.
01:06:58
Speaker
Like i look at I look at the teams around them and Contra Sal was the worst coach out of all the teams around them. And to get all of these pieces right, they need the perfect coach to do it.
01:07:12
Speaker
And they thought they may have had it at the beginning of the year. I still don't think Contra Sal was quite the guy be able to put all these creative pieces together. I think Vicenza's Italianos a better coach. I think Paul Dino's a better coach. I think we're on. He's a better coach, which is why I just, I don't see that gap. I, they just haven't done enough for me to say like, you are capable of jumping these teams.
01:07:32
Speaker
And I still am not sold on Pavlovich. He is. He can't pass the ball more than five yards. Like,
01:07:41
Speaker
you just He just isn't good enough to be playing for a top-level team from what I've seen. Well, he's a bad Nicolas Soule. I mean, clearly. and it was It was hilarious to see him in the last couple of minutes that I try to be in the midfield.
01:07:53
Speaker
He was stumbling and bumping. So, no, he can't be on. if We don't have a center back that can play in the ball. That's been known. That's fine. What I will say is, though, and to Mats' original point, if you watch the first half, which I know you did, of today, that is a significantly different AC Milan team than we've seen the entire season. You're playing against Feyenoord at home. mike this shouldn't like And you need a win. And you need a win. like they were They were bringing it to them. like It is mind-blowing, though, because it's a completely different team.
01:08:22
Speaker
This is a whole different squad. And I think that you would know more than anybody that when you... This... i'm I've moved past wanting to have attack have tactics. We're not going to have tactics.
01:08:33
Speaker
Pioli, that was my qualm of Pioli. We didn't have tactics. we we are not We are not there. We made too many changes in the window to have tactics. And so what is it now? It's a man manager who needs to put the best players in their best spots.
01:08:46
Speaker
And I think that we can have a full 11 where we do that. And when you, and the biggest change from that Pioli team to now is we still have that left side that Teo and Leao are going to do whatever the fuck they want.
01:08:58
Speaker
So be it. there's There's no changing that. Fine. Let them do what they want to do. But then you look at the other side of the offense and we finally have concrete continuity possession and an attacking possession, not just holding the ball and doing nothing with it.
01:09:15
Speaker
the right That right side was non-existent for Pioli. It was. now we finally And now we finally have a couple of players over there. Kyle Walker, Pulisic, Joao was moving out to the right.
01:09:26
Speaker
And then you had Santi moving back and forth because he knows exactly where to be on the pitch. That is a completely different offense than we've had the entire season. that We had it entirely with Pioli. And I think that that's going to be a huge difference maker.
01:09:37
Speaker
It's so funny how like under Pioli when you guys won the Scudetto, it was just Liao and Tio just going out there and making shit up. Yeah, but even and like even then though, that is man management. Like nobody's been able to get that out of Liao.
01:09:51
Speaker
Like that is something. But they were just making shit up and being undisciplined. And it worked. But I think it only worked because it it was a fluke year and in the Serie A where Inter lost ton of games. Juve were in shambles. Atalanta didn't have it as figured out as they did.
01:10:08
Speaker
And Liao and Tier just making shit up worked. Now, all of a sudden, and you you still have them making shit up. and But they're terrible at it now. Because more people are organized and have their shit together, unlike that season. And you'll see you see what continuity and organization does because now the right side is just way better because they're organized and they have a mindset and they they sacrifice and they care.
01:10:31
Speaker
Whereas T.O. and Leia were just like, we don't give a shit. We we know we're talented because we want to Scudetto just making shit up on this side of the field. So we're going to continue to do that. And we're not trying to win a Scudetto. We're trying to get to fourth. And if we win against Bologna, which we need to we need to win against Bologna on Monday...
01:10:48
Speaker
We also need to win the first game. If we win that could we win both these games, we're two points clear. don't think, Logan. i think and then lot I think that we're better than Lazio. You assume they get six points from Bologna twice is is not... It's Torino, then Bologna.
01:11:04
Speaker
Bologna is not an easy team to go get three fucking points we need to win that game. You said you're going to finish in fourth. We're going to finish in fourth. ah Okay, so in eighth place, tied with Milan, they both have a game at hand against each other being played on Monday day is Bologna.
01:11:23
Speaker
Why is Milan better than Bologna? like i don't I don't think they are. Bologna have better players. They're not a better team, though, because Bologna play... Milan better lawyer have better players.
01:11:34
Speaker
Yeah, Milan, my bad. Milan have better players. Bologna are a better team, and that... can go a long way when 11 are, are together in synergy playing together. Whereas Milan have nine playing together and two doing whatever they want.
01:11:48
Speaker
I think some, you're going to have to, it's going to be tough for Milan to beat Bologna and Milan to even play. pass Bologna in the standings or continue to pass them with when you play on the pitch with nine guys and Bologna play on the pitch with 11 like I think that alone is going to make it tough for Milan I i do think though that the reason why Logs is saying Milan is better is just because flat out no denying it they have better players like there is no argument there Milan just have better players Bologna also don't have a front attack that I think is as lethal as some other teams. Granted, they have more goals in ace than Milan.
01:12:28
Speaker
Dan and Doy is ah disgusting. He's a great player. Castro. Castro's not not that guy. Castro is that guy. Castro is that guy. Yeah, and then Lewis ferson Ferguson. Ferguson, Gonsard, Odegaard. Orselini.
01:12:41
Speaker
This team is... This is Bologna is going to finish higher than Milan. I am very certain of it. Number one reason this team goes into games with an objective or result in a way of going about getting that result.
01:12:57
Speaker
They can play for a draw and get a draw when they want. They can play for a win and get a win when they want. Milan just go into every way, every game, just guns blazing. Whatever happens, happens.
01:13:08
Speaker
Italiano, the worst part of Italiano is Italiano ball. The best part of Italiano is Italiano ball. They get result. Sometimes it's horrible to watch. Other times, phenomenal football masterpiece.
01:13:22
Speaker
And that's what he's going to do for the rest of the season. It took like 10 games for them to learn how to do it. Then they got everybody back that was injured and they're doing it. And I don't think Milan are going to beat them.
01:13:33
Speaker
So, Vos, you think Milan don't finish in a in a European
Roma's Tactical Revival under Ranieri
01:13:39
Speaker
spot? No, I don't. I think Lazio, Fiorentina, Bologna, Roma are better right now.
01:13:47
Speaker
Milan have the players though They're just the their consistency, like pound for pound. You put Milan's lineup up against anybody. They are probably one, two or three. it doesn't matter. This is their consistency. I agree. I agree. Not like not every team.
01:14:01
Speaker
You know who that works for? Pretty much one team in the world. Real Madrid. They buy all the best players in the world. And because they buy such a high caliber of player, they're capable of doing it.
01:14:12
Speaker
When you're buying guys that are just under that, it doesn't get you there. That's why Atalanta is in third place and Napoli are in first place. They have. i you i plane You could put i need to write teams above them.
01:14:24
Speaker
I kind of agree with Vos here. I think and it goes back to playing with 11 versus playing with nine. You play with 11. need to play the whole think respect the badges of these teams around them enough. I don't think you understand.
01:14:36
Speaker
Did you know that Fonseca is not our coach anymore? I don't know if you heard the news or if that's been... What has Coach Asob done? my My season started Feb 1. This is a completely new team.
01:14:48
Speaker
This is not the same team. We brought in three new starters. And a better bench player than what Napoli signed. So I don't know where you're coming. You're stuck in the October Milan.
01:15:01
Speaker
This is February. Okay. This is after a January window. That one league, which was the best window in Serie A. But you need to change that mindset. The only player you brought in, though, that can potentially help change the mindset is Kai Walker. Jiao Felix, I would put right in the bubble with Tio and Liao.
01:15:21
Speaker
He lacks consistency with his mindset. um I don't know too much about the striker, right? he He looks like he doesn't lack the mindset and consistency based off of the the first couple of games he's played for.
01:15:34
Speaker
But I mean, you you said your season started February 1. Go look at the results. Yes, they beat Roma badly. They tied Inter. They beat Empoli, got a red card, and then they lost in the Champions League game. They only beat Verona 1-0, and then they tied Feyenoord again with another red card. So like there's no discipline.
01:15:53
Speaker
ah still You still aren't playing that well, even with the the talent you brought in. yeah with the talk Your argument is that they're going to pass all these teams around them because the players they brought in might perform.
01:16:04
Speaker
In the summer, they brought in a bunch of good players and it didn't work. like Just because they bring in good players doesn't mean like, okay, they are automatically better now. That has never been the case. That's why Rome are in ninth place still.
01:16:14
Speaker
They had maybe the best summer of any team in the league and it didn't work. like Just bringing in good players doesn't just make you better. We should have scored three or four against Verona, and we were playing the best soccer I've ever seen before Teo got a red card today.
01:16:29
Speaker
That's all I'm saying. We can leave it at that. The results will show for themselves, and I'll see you in in four months. All right, back to Bologna. Not in fourth place, you all. Yeah, no. I mean, back to Bologna, let me just wrap up on them. um They're like Lazio. They just started slower and have a little bit worse their squad, I would say. I think Italiano is probably the best coach up to Thiago Monta kind of thing.
01:16:53
Speaker
You've been there, done that, yeah but at least for the most part in terms of getting to to your European League finals. I like Bologna. I think they started slow. i really It's hard to say who's going to finish where because of how close this race is.
01:17:09
Speaker
So I don't know where I can say that they're confidently going to to finish in this in this race, but I can confidently say Bologna is going to go the and the rest of the season in this race and have a realistic shot at the sixth spot and maybe even the fifth spot with their squad, their continuity, how they play, and their coach.
01:17:29
Speaker
I will hold my my words. I don't think this Bologna team's that good. I think Italian was a great coach, but I don't think this team's that good. I think Bologna are finishing six or seven. Okay, so they go up one spot.
01:17:41
Speaker
Yes, and Milan are going to go down two. Because this next thing we're talking about, I think, is going to go on of run. Finish in sixth. And that brings us to ninth place, Roma, who are five points off of the fifth place or the sixth spot, which is held by Fiorentina, who are on 42 points.
01:17:59
Speaker
Roma, I mean, what really sums it up is what's happened since Claudio Rundieri has gotten there. They're a completely different team. He's getting the most out of these players that we have been screaming for to play good.
01:18:11
Speaker
Dybala's playing well again. Sule is playing well. Kone continuing to do well. He seemed to have sort out a lot of the things that were going wrong. They've got four wins in their last five, the one being a draw.
01:18:23
Speaker
This is phenomenal. Undefeated in the league since December 15th. Six wins in their last nine. Consistency. Piling up points amongst teams that aren't piling up points.
01:18:36
Speaker
Yeah. And just just to point out, there was one loss in there in the Copa. To Milan. To a better team, I would say. Yeah. three one 3-1. Pretty astounding.
01:18:47
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, listen, me Roma with Ranieri are doing what they couldn't do ah with any other coach, and that's just tie game, tie those big games and beat the the lesser clubs that you should be winning, right? They tied Milan in the league. They tied Napoli.
01:19:04
Speaker
They tied Bologna. Those are all games that... Prior to Ranieri, they probably lose. They even beat Lazio, which for the Roma supporters, like beating Lazio is a huge thing in and of itself. So that's another win on the season, right?
01:19:20
Speaker
Try to get all six points against Lazio for that that derby. So they there're they're getting the points when it's needed. They're capitalizing on the lower level teams, getting full three points, and they are...
01:19:32
Speaker
in my opinion, fully back in this race. In every game, they're getting more and more continuity. They're learning how to play with each other. We're seeing Sule find out, and find his form. He had that amazing free kick goal um against who they played, Venezia or Verona, whoever it was.
01:19:48
Speaker
last week. Dybala's Dybala. Kone is one, I think, one of the best midfielders this season. And they're just, their their defense is playing more secure in the back. they're not letting They're not leaking in as many goals as they were at the start of the season.
01:20:03
Speaker
So he's definitely just kind of righting the ship in terms of just getting everybody back under on the same page, getting the best out of the guys that they're signing. Dovig's been playing well and doing a very good job, in my opinion, of shuffling the squad.
01:20:17
Speaker
It's never the same lineup. It's always different guys. He's getting the most out of everybody, which is obviously great. The big question is, where do we where do they go from here at the end of the season? Where can they finish? How well can he...
01:20:29
Speaker
What good of a run can they push to end of the season? And then where do they go from here? Because I'm pretty sure it's pretty well known that he's just a bandaid fix. Done a great job with that fix. But who do they get next year?
01:20:40
Speaker
And how can they improve? Because they can't do this again with the money they spent last summer, right? They're going to have most of the same squad. Maybe Dybala's gone, maybe a few other guys. But for the most part, they're going to have the same squad. This squad is good enough to be in the top four.
01:20:54
Speaker
So they got to bring in a guy who can get that out of them. Yeah, mean, Ranieri was the best guy to bring in for the situation and a not to harp on it, but it all goes back to mindset and this guy threw him through at least for the badge. And I think that everyone else is following suit there. So it's obviously incredibly important to have the guy at the helm with that mindset, with that attitude.
01:21:14
Speaker
where i Where my concern falls is here. If Roma is to make the move that Vos thinks they're going to make, they need to do it in the next four or five games. Because when they get to the back the back end of this last third, their last eight games, they play six teams that are ahead of them.
01:21:33
Speaker
That is not easy. That's not going to be fun for them. They play a ton of great teams on that back half. And if they can't get going now, if they can't get as many points as they can now, I don't see it happening in those last eight games.
01:21:48
Speaker
I mean, I'll say they've they play well against those teams ahead of them. i I think they look at that as an opportunity to pick up points rather than a, we need to get through these games. I genuinely think that the mentality of the squad has turned around a lot.
01:22:04
Speaker
And I think those teams need to be scared of them at this point too. Like, Anybody above you for any of these teams are, I think they're all looking at them like we are capable of winning this.
01:22:16
Speaker
It's just about how the different teams go about winning, getting a result in those games. And I still have Milan at the bottom of my list. I mean, it's going to be, this is going to be an incredible race. Incredible. this I couldn't tell you you where we're nine to four going to finish in this, in this.
01:22:33
Speaker
but I even throw out a link. Let's do our, let's do our prediction here. So four to nine of everybody we just mentioned because it's so tough. Atlanta in there, but you got to make your picks.
01:22:44
Speaker
It's so tough off rip, too. i have I'll do Atalanta at four. You've a three. Yeah. that Wow.
01:22:55
Speaker
Yep. Fiorentina at five. um Milan at six. You're writing this down? Yeah. ah Bologna at... Oh, no.
01:23:09
Speaker
yeah master that I don't know. roma Roma at seven. Bologna... No. geez i don't I don't think Latitude makes that big of a stumble.
01:23:28
Speaker
I'll go. I've got it already locked. I've got the crystal ball. Milan, Juve, Fiorentina, Lazio in seven. Bologna stays where they are in eight and Roma stays where they are in nine.
01:23:40
Speaker
The back half of Roma's schedule is too big to overcome and move up this table. Bologna is as good as they're ever going to get. Lazio, again, like I said, and this is contingent on Fiorentina playing to the the capability that I think they have.
01:23:55
Speaker
Lazio drops a couple of points, a couple of spots, but not because of their own performances. Fiorentina lights it up. Juve is good. Milan is better. Milan is not better. All right, here's mine. I know mine too.
01:24:07
Speaker
Four to nine. Juve, Lazio, Roma, Fiorentina. Oh, no. We're with Bologna then. Fuck. Juve, Lazio, Roma, Bologna, Fiorentina, Milan.
01:24:24
Speaker
Milan in nine. I got mine. Milan is in nine. I got mine now. Who put a jersey on that? What, do you get every other position on the table?
01:24:36
Speaker
No, i'll i'll take I'll take four or five and you get the rest. Done. Okay, for you heard it here, Jersey. Milan need to finish four or fifth. Logan gets a jersey.
01:24:46
Speaker
If anywhere else, so if it's three or two, Logan goes to the jersey. I'll give All right, so we have that bet. I've finally decided where my guys are at.
01:24:58
Speaker
We have Atalanta 4, Fiorentina 5, Milan 6, Bologna 7, Lancio 8, Roma 9. I agree with what Logan said. I think as well as Roma has been playing, and I think they've been much better, it's just too much to overcome at this point in the season.
01:25:13
Speaker
That's what I got, but I could be totally wrong about all of these. What I'd like to do, I know don't want to spend too much more time. We want to go to the Colby and whatnot. But what I want to do with all of us is take our predictions we had at the beginning the season and cross-check at the end.
01:25:28
Speaker
See who's the closest. Yeah, definitely. We will do that. I mean, to keep it rolling here, guys, there is a little bit more table we're going talk about. We're not going to spend too much time on this. um We've got 10, 11, and 12, which we're deeming as no man's land.
Mid-Table Teams' Performances
01:25:40
Speaker
Not going to make a push. Not going to go down.
01:25:42
Speaker
Udinese, 10. Genoa, 11. Torino, 12. so rainno twelve The only notable thing here for me is that Jen was in this spot, which is phenomenal for them. Patty Cakes, Patrick Vieira has done a great job since he's taken the helm.
01:25:55
Speaker
And for Jen to be in 11th here has been a great run for them. I don't foresee them ah dropping into the look group that we are going to about in a second. Yeah, and to and just wrap up on Torino. they've been They've been very good over the last month, which is kind of how they started the season. They had a big slip when they lost two rounds of Pata, but they're they're fully bad. She's my boy.
01:26:12
Speaker
They're a bad team to play right now. I think everybody's kind of like, fuck. Got play Torino. I'm not betting. but I'm saying that because I'm no longer betting against Torino. And there was a period of time where I was.
01:26:23
Speaker
Also, i just say Udinese from last season and this season, very, very large improvements. They were two points off of relegation last year. Udinese is a team that we kind of look at as like a team that is always in the Serie A year in and year out.
01:26:37
Speaker
So they kind of are very sitting, very comfortable at 10th and way better. They had finished with 36 points last season and they have 33 this season. So they write the ship. I think Vose is right. I'd rather, I'd rather play Torino than Udinese.
01:26:50
Speaker
Yeah, I'm just saying from their standpoint and looking at it, Unesta sees a much better season than last year. Much better. can't Cannot have any complaints. The last part of the table we got to talk about relegation.
Relegation Battle in Serie A
01:27:01
Speaker
We're going to knock off 20 and 19 here because Monza and Venezia.
01:27:05
Speaker
Monza's on 14 points. Venezia's on 16. That's 19 and 20. They are realistically going down. They're five points from from safety. In 18th place is Parma, who are in that last relegation spot on 20 points.
01:27:21
Speaker
So our relegation battle, we're really saying is 13 to 18. Between those spots, there's a total of five points. Notably at the top is Como, Calgary, and Lesche on 25 points. Then we go down to 16 with Hellas Verona on 23 and Empoli on 21.
01:27:35
Speaker
and em on twenty one How do you guys want to talk about this? Because there's a lot of teams here. i For me, it's kind surprising that it's still this close because i pull out a couple teams from this battle that are significantly better than the rest, in my opinion. na i Come on.
01:27:52
Speaker
Como is the one that I would say has. I don't know how they're still here. They've had a tough go. I mean, I think that they've played every good team that they are they have to on their schedule, and they have a little bit of an easier go going forward, and they have a lot of talent.
01:28:04
Speaker
I mean, Chuck Fabregas has done a phenomenal job here. Nico Paz is a star in the making. Kamos should be clear of this relegation battle within the next couple of weeks. I also think Caliari's... The next three games are...
01:28:16
Speaker
Napoli, then Roma, then they got Venezia, then they got Milan. So I wouldn't say they're out of it yet. keep giving him flowers, but if he's got the best squad out of all the teams down here, should they not be clear already?
01:28:29
Speaker
I mean, they're not clear, but they are the best. They are doing the best out of them all. right They have the most goals. Their issue is they're they're kind of leaky in the back, but that will come with a lesser squad. and So i kind of I'm agreeing with Logan here. I know that you're not disagreeing with Logan, Boast. I just think that these guys, will will they will be safe.
01:28:47
Speaker
no matter how close it is and who they they're playing. I think star boys and their two, two guys up top. They will be safe. Who I think is going to go down is I think it's going to be a battle between Empoli and Lecce.
01:29:01
Speaker
I don't know how Lecce have 25 points. I feel like they were the punching bag for a lot long portion of the season. Deleche seem to capitalize on the worst teams. Like they beat Parma, they beat Empoli.
01:29:13
Speaker
So that goes well for them, but I don't see it ah staying consistent in them keeping that form. I also think Parma have too good players two to go down. I think that their players will show themselves and they'll they'll get out of it. And Empoli started off hot.
01:29:28
Speaker
They were at one point leading the league in the and ah the race very early on. Since then, have very cooled off. I don't love their players. i don't love their style of play. They don't score a lot of goals, only 22. And that's the main thing I'm judging this off of.
01:29:42
Speaker
Lecce and Empoli have the least amount of goals besides the ones that are in relegation here. So if you don't score goals, you can't win games. And I think that that is going to show later on in the season. And I think Empoli or Lecce go down.
01:29:56
Speaker
Yeah, Embly is a little scary, although their last five games have been Milan, Inter, Bologna, Roma. It's not been fun.
01:30:08
Speaker
I don't know where their pump their push-up gets, though. I think Parma may have that manager bump, and that could really that could really propel them. I think in this spot, for these last couple of teams,
01:30:22
Speaker
And every game counts and every win counts. Even if you just go one win in five, that's three more points than some other teams are going to go for. it So even just getting one win in five, you need to just find where you can get a point here, three points there.
01:30:36
Speaker
If you're playing, you know, if Empoli's playing a Parma or Vernetia or Monza, they need to win those games. I think they will. I think they have some, they have good players. They just need to show up. Yossi's good. and And my boy, Lorenzo Colombo is out there, but I'm not sure that he's done too much this season.
01:30:51
Speaker
I think Empoli should be clear. I think Lecce far worse team. So who's going down for you? Lecce. You got Empoli-wise? I have either one of those two, Lecce or Empoli.
01:31:03
Speaker
See, I have a little bit different take on Lecce. Lecce, for the most part, has always been in games, which makes me think they're going to be okay. like They have a way of just staying in these games that we we think they shouldn't be in.
01:31:17
Speaker
Verona, on the other hand, is so wildly inconsistent that I think it's more so a battle between them and Empoli. Empoli have been horrible so for the last couple of months, but Verona have just slowly been falling further and further and further down the table.
01:31:33
Speaker
And I could see that continuing. Um... I think Verona are going to go down. I think Verona are going to go down. I have the worst defense I've ever seen. At one point, I'm Emily defended very well.
01:31:45
Speaker
And I think they'll be able to recreate that at one point. Verona have not done anything right since like the first three games. And I for the same reason, Parma is too good to go down. Like they have a lot of really good players. And I think they just kind of spiraled.
01:32:00
Speaker
But I think they get the manager bump as well. And it's Verona going down. So we have Lecce, Empoli, Verona that we all think Parma will come out of this 18 spot and one of those three will drop down.
01:32:12
Speaker
We're pretty confident. Como and Caliari will stick in the ah top flight Italian league. Yeah, definitely. But that wraps up our table, guys. A couple of things we've got to highlight before we go to the Colby, everybody's favorite part.
01:32:27
Speaker
European competition is going on We mentioned it a bunch today. ah Champions League, AC Milan, got knocked out and Atalanta got
Importance of European Competitions for Serie A
01:32:34
Speaker
knocked out. As we record, Juventus are playing tomorrow. They're playing PSV in Turin. They kind of have one leg in already.
01:32:41
Speaker
Oh, it's in Netherlands? Yeah. Okay, so they're at PSV. At Eindhoven. Go to one logs. I love that. They've got one leg in the next round already. They're up two to one on aggregate. In the Europa League, we have Roma hosting Porto one-to-one in aggregate. That's a big game for this team.
01:32:58
Speaker
Massive game. That's going to a good one. Lazio are still not playing yet because they've won the but they came in first and in the qualifications. And then in the Conference League, we have the same thing. Fiorentina are also on a bye as they we came in first place.
01:33:11
Speaker
which what all these teams All these teams in the A that are playing in European competitions, we need to root for, especially with how tight this this top four race is. We need that fifth spot, especially if you are Logues or myself being Milan and Juventus fans.
01:33:28
Speaker
You need that extra spot for the next season to get the cash. It's not looking great because we had two early exits in Milan and Atalanta, but we still have some squads. Inter wasn't mentioned in here because they obviously have the bye, but we need all of these teams to go forward to try to win that fifth spot because right now it's not looking too promising.
01:33:48
Speaker
Orza-Juve, baby, let's go.
01:33:51
Speaker
Colpi di Luna Colby. I'm proud of this. lot going on with Colby.
Betting Picks and Community Engagement
01:33:58
Speaker
We did not post one last week, but just to give you guys the heads up as to what happened, I got it wrong.
01:34:04
Speaker
Mots and Lokes got it right. So they both did win two weeks ago, though. Colby hit two weeks ago. Yeah. So that's it what, the fifth? fifth Fifth, yeah. and That was two or three.
01:34:16
Speaker
Out of the last, like, four or five, something like that. And we're 25 total copies we've done are a little less than 25, but we'll call it 25. So what that's pretty good percentage. And like I said, it really only counts in the 10th game because then mayhem stops happening. So it's really like five out of 15.
01:34:34
Speaker
So it's very, very good for a parlay. And so do we got. love zero own arms later Last time you stole them all. So we'll let you kick it off. Well, listen, I'm hot.
01:34:46
Speaker
Five in a row here going into match week 26. I know I shat on them a bit this episode. Still a strong team and they're playing some dog shit team out in Parma. Bologna money line minus 110 is absurd value.
01:34:59
Speaker
You have to take that. Minus 110, Baloney Moneyline. um I'll go my next, my pick next. I've been taking some comfortable picks throughout this. i started off pretty slow doing, having my leg be Juventus Moneyline every single week and them tying every game. So I had to take some value to kind of, uh,
01:35:19
Speaker
improve my record. We are now 58% on the season, which I will take all day long. um So now we're going to add some value to the Colby here. We're going with the hottest guy in Syria to score an anytime goal and Kolo Mwani. I'm going to shout out my boy Pepe here because I listen to obviously his channel and always like, show me the Mwani, show me the Mwani, show me the Mwani.
01:35:41
Speaker
So Kolo Mwani is going to show us the Mwani and anytime goal plus 170. Kolo Mwani. Lock it in. i' To wrap things up, I've got Fiorentina money line minus 110. They're at Verona. I just gassed up Fiorentina. I just shat on Verona.
01:35:59
Speaker
Very similar reason to Logue's there. um i think this is just some value. Minus 110 doesn't make a lot of sense to me here. Are these trap bets?
01:36:11
Speaker
One of them definitely has to be for them both to be this way. But we're following him and embrace the whole Colby to plus 884. It's a pretty fat one. That's a juicy one as compared to the last couple of weeks. This is juicy. This is juicy. Anytime you put in an anytime goal scorer in there, it's going to bump up.
01:36:30
Speaker
I'm also, I don't mean to go back on our conversation because I want to wrap this episode up. It's been a great episode. But I'm realizing that I have a bet that Roma will finish higher than Lazio.
01:36:40
Speaker
So I'm switching Lazio finish in ninth and Roma finish in eighth. Let's go, Mons. Sign off. All right, Mons. Get to the right here. ah Well, Logs, let us let them know where they can follow us. Well, listen, listen, Baizans. I want this episode to go down as a marker in the season. We are going to Match Week 26. I made some pretty big calls, some pretty big hot takes.
01:37:04
Speaker
I want you to remember Match Week 26 is when I established this AC Milan to be playing in the Champions League next year. I called it now. where you can follow us to make sure that this comes to fruition is anywhere you want. Really.
01:37:19
Speaker
We're on Tik TOK, YouTube, Instagram, Instagram, and X at cultural culture FC. but And listen, we're making a big push on YouTube. Please give us a follow out there. Subscribe, watch the videos, watch the pot on YouTube. If you weren't.
01:37:34
Speaker
And if you're not listening on YouTube, you can listen on your favorite podcast sites, Spotify and Apple pods. Got video now too. We got bids. Like and comment on YouTube. It pushes the video ah to more. Please, please, please. More Paisanos to listen.
01:37:50
Speaker
ah Thank you guys for right but listening. We appreciate you guys week in and week out. We wouldn't be here without you guys. are Our great fan club, the Paisanos.
01:38:01
Speaker
um Do not be a gaggootz in Forza Calcio culture.