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The 2019/2020 Serie A Season Finale (Ep. 51) image

The 2019/2020 Serie A Season Finale (Ep. 51)

The Italian Football Podcast
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Transcript

Introduction and Season Finale

00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Seria show!
00:00:16
Speaker
Hello, everybody. Welcome back. It is the season finale episode of the city show. We hope you are doing well. I know it's been a couple of weeks, but we are back.

Season Drama: Roma's Changes

00:00:25
Speaker
We are here to review the season. Some of you may be happy that the season is over, probably talking about Chloe and myself. Some of you may be not. For me, the season felt like it took two years and
00:00:39
Speaker
somehow uh it was really only 10 months but yeah this season took forever uh and the drama hasn't ended though because Nima we got Conte Chloe we have Yakini he is confirmed as uh the Fiorentina manager for next season Roma going through this stupid takeover that has been going up 10 months so
00:01:03
Speaker
If if there ever has been a need for a break, I would say it's now.

Season Review: Teams and Players

00:01:08
Speaker
So what we'll be doing is we'll be going through our team of the season. We'll be doing a player of the season, our most positive surprise, our most negative surprise. We'll discuss a little bit of the three clubs I just mentioned, Roma, Interfiore and Tina. And then we'll talk about Nima's weird fetish with teams promoted from the city of B. So
00:01:32
Speaker
The serie of the fetish with Neema Thali, yeah. No, good. Yeah, at OnlyFans.com. Let's start with, though, our theme of the season.
00:01:46
Speaker
So it seems like this probably isn't going to be exactly groundbreaking. I might try to deviate just be a weird hipster, but it seems like regardless of the podcast, the article, whoever you listen to, it seems pretty consistent that mostly everybody has essentially the exact same team of the season. So I don't think anything we're going to reveal here or say for our team of the season is going to be groundbreaking, but
00:02:13
Speaker
That's okay. So I'll do defense. Who's got midfield? Me, I think. Is that you, Nima? Chloe's got the midfield though. Yeah. Okay. And then Nima will do the attack. Yes. So, all

Defensive Highlights and Standouts

00:02:25
Speaker
right. I'm going to start with defense. And just to be a hipster, this is a guy at goalkeeper that I know Nima you really like. And
00:02:35
Speaker
In fairness, he's not a guy we talk about a lot because he is part of Udinese, which is just one of those teams that is just there. They're like wallpaper. They're just there. They blend in. A team that I was kind of hoping maybe they would get relegated, but after I saw Watford get relegated, I thought, oh, that'd be a little too harsh. So I'm going to go with Juan Musso in goal. For those of you who don't know, actually, I would assume many of you probably don't know this.
00:03:02
Speaker
But the best save percentage in all of the city are one of the best, most talented goalkeepers in all of Syria, in my opinion. Guys, he kind of flew under the radar this season just because, again, you're not really watching with a native for anybody else other than maybe the power. And that's it. Lasagna, maybe. Oh, maybe. Yeah, I think there have been link to this guy. I've been watching who I'm also. And also I've been looking at Ken Sama, the Swedish wingback.
00:03:32
Speaker
because I think I wanted to see how he would do, because he flopped at Watford, but he's been pretty decent there. So no, for me, Juan Musa, you have to buy him. I know it's, you know, Odinneza aren't easy to do business with, but to me, he is the best goalkeeper, you know, of the Serie A this season, I'd say, consistently. And he's played for a really, really bad team, and he's been really... Very bad. We have to say, they are very bad.
00:03:59
Speaker
They are unwatchable at times, to be perfectly honest. It's one thing to be bad, but play decent football, like Lecce, right? Yeah. They're so entertaining. They're entertaining as hell, but they suck. But that's okay. They're at least a fun watch. Utenese. I mean, it feels like we're going on a decade with them where they're just
00:04:23
Speaker
One of if not the most just unwatchable club in all the city odd because they don't do anything to like grab your attention But yeah, other than a couple players for me Yeah, just they're not worth watching Right back. I have Juan Cuadro It's not exactly a huge List of talent at this role. So I went with the I don't know I guess the least worst of them all I guess you would say
00:04:53
Speaker
Okay. Wingback. He's a wingback. Come on. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry. Central defenders. I went with DeVry and then Echerbe and then it left back tail Hernandez. I think pretty much other than Quattro, I would say the other three at the back were pretty much a consensus, right?
00:05:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. I think Milankovitch at Fiorentina has, I know he's played the most minutes of anyone in Serie A this season. So he's been a really consistent performer, he's scored five goals, and he's just a real quality defender. And, you know, everyone kind of thought that Petcello was the best then to back up Fiorentina, but Milankovitch has really, really eclipsed him. And I think he's, you know, he's maybe worth an honourable mention in the theme.
00:05:43
Speaker
I didn't hear him. Did you choose De Frei? Because I think he's been the best. I did, yeah. I think he was without doubt the best central defender in the league. I think it was without a doubt. I think him... I think De Licht has, you know, he's gotten a lot of stick, but given how he... It was difficult for him always. He went from the Eredivisia to Serie A and he was going to have some teething problems. But after that, I think he's been really, really good. And I think a lot of it has been exaggerated critique against him to be honest.
00:06:11
Speaker
Yeah, latterly, he looked excellent. Yeah, he came on at the end very well. And I think when he wasn't there, right, it was pretty glaring that Juve were much weaker without him, no? For sure, for sure, for sure. And left back, who did you go with? Who did you go with left back? I missed that. Teo Hernandez, come on. Oh, sorry. I thought he was without doubt the best left hand, obviously. Yeah, it's hard to disagree with that. Yeah, for sure.
00:06:33
Speaker
All right, Chloe Midfield.

Midfield and Forward Selections

00:06:35
Speaker
Okay, so I've gone with Amrabbath from Hairless Verona because he's just looked so good. Phenomenal. Yeah, I'm really excited to see him, if you haven't seen the next season, although he got himself banned for the first game, which
00:06:50
Speaker
was really annoying. I think Ben Asser at Milan, it was kind of a bit of a toss-up between him. Kesier's done really well, but mainly since the restart.
00:07:06
Speaker
I think Ben Asser has adapted really well from coming from Empley and Pioli's got the midfield working really really well and he's been probably the more consistent of the two so I've put him in there and I've gone for a bit of a curve ball with Locatelli at Sosuolo because I think in general in general we've kind of
00:07:31
Speaker
we're struggling a little bit for midfielders this season, for good midfielders in Serie A somehow. And in their MVP awards they had Papu Gomez as a midfielder and I'm just not having that. To me he's not a midfielder. I don't understand that at all. He doesn't even play that role. I agree with you there. I agree with you there. I think Benacer and
00:07:59
Speaker
And Amrabbath, I mean, I've been drooling about them and over them, how they played. I think they've been phenomenal. They've really stood out. Amrabbath particularly has been absolutely fantastic, in my opinion. I think he's... What a breakthrough. What an absolutely fantastic breakthrough.
00:08:17
Speaker
I think as well just a little mention for Ben Tanka at UVA as well because he's on the quiet, he's really come on and I think that Pjanic has struggled to play that in inverted commas, Giorginio, Rolf Assari but
00:08:33
Speaker
and bent anchor is as stepped into that steps into that gap and if you look at his passing stats he's done really really well so yeah he's probably another one just just outside the top for me all right Nima put Lukaku in let's get it over with no I'm gonna I mean that's the thing I mean
00:08:52
Speaker
It's um I'm gonna I mean yeah I have I'm gonna play with the fourth like we're playing a 4-3-3 here and I and You have to have immobile because he called the record of course Yeah, there's no discussion there and then and then for me Paulo Di Bala has been magical Under sari is the old power Di Bala
00:09:13
Speaker
And you can't get away from Cristiano Ronaldo who scores 30 goals as well. So I'm sorry, Rom doesn't make it. I love him and I think he's been phenomenal. But in the Serie A, this is the team is of the Serie A team. I think Dubala on one wing and Cristiano on the other. And then you have to have Immobula because it just, you know, it would be unfair not to. So that's why. OK, so then I guess
00:09:41
Speaker
parlaying that into player of the season. This has been really weird because I saw a little bit of the Twitter vial that can come from the Cristiano Ronaldo fanboys, which was interesting. Yeah, they're a strange bunch, aren't they? Oh, man, it's like, who cares, you know? Okay, so player of the season. Is it immobile then, yeah?
00:10:11
Speaker
I think so. I would go with that. If you score 36 goals, if you equal the record, it is phenomenal. I don't want to hear any nonsense about 12 penalties. It's not his fault he got 12 penalties. You still have to score the damn things. I don't think that takes away anything from him. I think he's been unplayable for most of the time.
00:10:35
Speaker
and that Lazio with Luis Alberto. I mean, that's the thing. Just imagine, it's been a really good Serie A season in the sense that we've not been able to get in Duban Zapata, Luis Muriel, Illicic, and Alejandro Papugomez, and all these other players, or Lucaco, etc. So it's been a very good season in terms of attack, or Luis Alberto, my own personal favorite. So no, I'd go with
00:10:59
Speaker
So I think, yeah, for me, it's got to be mobular. I mean, you have to give credit where credit is due. Yeah, I think so. I don't think you can do anything else. However,
00:11:13
Speaker
I'm personally not keen on watching him play. I would like to give the award to Papu Gomez because I think 16 assists is just a phenomenal number. And when you watch Atalanta, I mean, they've scored 98 goals. When you watch them,
00:11:30
Speaker
He is the engine behind that attack and his tireless running, his sublime skills, his determination, everything. He's the embodiment of Atalanta, the way that they play. And, you know, although we kind of have to give it to, we have to give it to a mobile. You can't score 36 goals and not get the award.
00:11:53
Speaker
I do want to flag up the fact I would like to give it to Popo Gomes and I think it's just so indicative of the quality that's been around the league in this year that it's such a difficult, you know, that we're kind of torn about it even though there is a clear winner.
00:12:10
Speaker
Yeah. And Luis Alberto as well, I mean, if you're talking assists, I mean, he had a ridiculous amount of assists. I think, what was it, 15 of immobilist gold? Yeah, just one less. He had 15 assists and Papu had 16, so he was just one less. Yeah. And it was, I mean, 15 assists to immobila. I mean, like something like that crazy. It's truly remarkable.
00:12:33
Speaker
No, I agree. I agree. I think so. And Dubala has been phenomenal as well. So no, it's been a very interesting season in terms of the attack has been, it's been, you know, the city, the old stereotype of the city being a defensive league doesn't really stand up this season. The attacks have been phenomenal. The defense is not so much. So I think that's indicative of this season.
00:12:56
Speaker
Yeah, more goals than any of the top five European league. Oh, yeah. 98 from Atlanta alone. Yeah. Yeah. Jesus.

Surprises and VAR Frustrations

00:13:05
Speaker
I felt good about that. And then I looked at the penalties and I felt less good about that. I don't know if you guys saw the statistics. Oh, my gosh. Whatever we have to change to just stop this, I'm all for it. I don't know what that entails. Just please. Yeah, we can have this.
00:13:23
Speaker
we bring in Colina and we remove Rizzoli because anything that any organization run by Nicola Rizzoli is going to be as incompetent as Nicola Rizzoli and give bring in Colina there like just let Pierluigi Colina do it and he's not incompetent but Rizzoli is you know let's move on because this is ridiculous it's the you know it's the lack of in my opinion the lack of consistency and unnecessary
00:13:52
Speaker
you know, the unnecessary confusion that they create. And it's his organization and he doesn't know how to run it. And I hope there's rumors of maybe, you know, not Colina coming in and taking over, but at least being the guy who tells the referees what to do. I think that's good. Anytime Colina's involved, I'm happy.
00:14:11
Speaker
Yeah, I just something has to change. I agree. This was unbearable watching. Watching two penalties every man. I mean, it was just absurd and we know how you feel. So most positive surprise of the season.
00:14:30
Speaker
I probably am going to steal this one just because Chloe brought it up, but Sasuolo, just everything about them. It's, I'm not saying any particular player. I'm not even saying that Zerbe, although again, please cool it with the pep comparisons that just stop. But for me, yeah, I mean, watching from where they were a few years ago with different at Chesco playing just, I mean, not the greatest of football, but still effective to now playing effective, aesthetically pleasing football.
00:15:00
Speaker
they have turned into like the hipster's dream now. And I for one, I very much enjoy liking them. And I did not expect that because did said to be he was linked to Roma before they appointed Paulo Fonseca. I did not want him. He undoubtedly proved me wrong this season because I thought Sasualo were phenomenal. Yeah, and he's committed to them for another year as well, which I think is
00:15:24
Speaker
You know, there was definitely interest there from other clubs, probably Fiorentina being one of them. And he's like, no, you know, I want to finish this project. And I don't blame him, to be honest. Like, Sasualo are having fun in a big way. And that comes across when you're watching. It's really infectious. It's hard not to be swept away by it and taken in. I mean, that 3-3 with Juve was absolutely brilliant. Just so entertaining. And, you know, long may that continue.
00:15:55
Speaker
Yeah, I think they've been, I mean, attacking, well, aside from Atalanta, they're the only other team with three players who scored more than 10 goals, Berardi, Boga, and Chicho, my favorite person in Italy, who is playing football right now, Chicho Caputo, who, Chicho alla nazionale, that's all we say, hashtag Chicho alla nazionale. So, no, but I mean, if we're talking the positive surprise, it can't be anyone else. I mean, it cannot be anyone else than the,
00:16:22
Speaker
than a teenager who played his first senior season ever in Dejan Kulosevsky scoring 10 goals, 8 assists. I mean, what is that? The guy played junior football last season. This is his first season. He gets sold to you for 40 million euros and he's the best player in Panama.
00:16:40
Speaker
He just can't stop running. I mean, it's unbelievable how this guy is. He doesn't even got lungs of steel. It's mad. It's crazy. And I'm really, really looking forward to see what he can do with Sarri if he plays. And that's the thing. We don't know what his best position is. Is it a tracortista? Is it a winger? Is it a Metzala? We don't know. We don't know because he can play in all three. It's crazy. He's a mon. He's a freak. He's a freak. He's a freak in nature. And it's going to be so interesting to see what you do with him.
00:17:11
Speaker
It was hilarious watching Parma all of this season because they literally had no, I mean, De Versa had the tactical acumen of that guy. I'm pretty sure I could fit in the palm of my hand.
00:17:21
Speaker
His entire game plan is, you know what, guys, sit deep and then hoof it to Kuliszewski or Jovino. I mean, that's it. And Jovino stops running after the first 20 minutes, so then you're only likely to run after him. Yes, he does. Yes, he does, yeah. Yeah, for him to stick out in that team under that manager really says something because, yeah, he's not exactly working with... Yeah, he's not exactly working with Pep there.
00:17:50
Speaker
Not exactly, no. And Koulaszewski, if you watch him, you get so annoyed with his teammates because he creates these brilliant chances and then they're just not there where he wants them to be. And he's just so propped. And I think that he's really funny because he's clearly way above palm to the players. He's clearly so much better than the rest of them. Can you just think of how many goals Cristiano Ronaldo was going to score with Di Barla and that guy feeding him? I mean, it's just
00:18:19
Speaker
It's really ridiculous, but we have to give a shout out also to Helas Verona, who I had dead last and who were fighting for European spots. I mean, that's not a surprise. Who knows what I mean? What is, you know, that.
00:18:30
Speaker
Well, what is a surprise? It was it was it was really, really interesting to see. And Yurich, who I was just like you, John, and I think you, Chloe, we were we thought he this guy was the worst manager in the city, but it just worked. I mean, the football they played that week against against Milan, Juve and Lazio was world class. I mean, they got five points.
00:18:49
Speaker
Well, okay, so he is a Gasparini prodigy, and maybe he's taking the same trajectory as him, because remember, this guy, he stays a gen when he does well, he goes to ink that and we think he is all, you know, now we think he, you know, he's totally crap. He jumps around from job to job and then he finds the right job and he thrives there.
00:19:11
Speaker
Maybe this is it for him. I don't know. Other than getting the big job, although we did see him linked to Torino, Fiorentina, I was actually quite surprised that he's going to stay with them. Yeah, like with Deserbe.
00:19:28
Speaker
you know, he wants to carry on with the projects. And you can't really blame him for that. No, yeah, not it. I mean, they they punched way above their weight, way above their weight. So I think it would have been foolish for him, especially if he were to leave for somebody like Torino. I mean, come on. Yeah, definitely the right decision to remain at Verona despite that stadium.
00:19:49
Speaker
Nima, you can go first.

Club Inconsistencies and Disappointments

00:19:52
Speaker
Most negative surprise. Jesus, where do I even begin with this one? Yeah, I'm going to go with Before Christmas and Napoli After Christmas Roma. I mean, the clown show that we've been witnessing at both of those clubs before Christmas and after Christmas is underfitting both of those clubs and those fan bases. I just
00:20:15
Speaker
It pisses me off. I don't even support either of those teams, but the absolute shit show before Christmas with suing players and Ritiro and players refusing and then Ancelotti getting sacked and then Gattus are coming in there and fixing everything and everything working out and they're looking really good and now they're winning Coppitalia and they're buying players and they're going to
00:20:39
Speaker
you know, try to go for the scoretto. And then you have Roma who made the exact opposite journey. They looked really well. I had them finishing fourth. Everything was looking good. And then you have Paloton destroying everything. It's like, you know, he took that club and just decided, no, we can't have this going so well.
00:20:57
Speaker
So he picks a fight with everyone at the club and Patraki is, I don't know, suspended, sued. I don't know what's going on there. And then you have, I feel, I really, I really want to give, I don't know what you feel, John, about this. This is your team and you cover them brilliantly and much better than anyone else. So I don't know what your thoughts is, but I want to give Fonseca a hell of a lot of credit because he had to manage a hell of a difficult situation.
00:21:19
Speaker
Yeah, I give them a ton of credit. I think they showed something in the last part of the season with I think they got seven wins or I'm sorry, seven good results to end the season. They went seven undefeated to end the season. But right before that, they had a three match losing streak. So and that essentially cost them a Champions League play. So
00:21:41
Speaker
really, you have to take the good with the bad. Fonseca, I think very abundantly clear he should have switched systems much earlier. For me, this Roma was never built to play a 4-2-3-1. They didn't have the midfield for it.
00:21:57
Speaker
So, since they switched to the 3-4-2-1, they look completely different. They look good. They look really good. They look very good. It's just a shame he didn't do it sooner. Because, yeah, after the start, they went against Sampdoria, then they have terrible results against the likes of Udinese and Milan. Unacceptable, and that cost them a Champions League place. Chloe, your most negative surprise?
00:22:21
Speaker
I think. Is it Fiorentina? Let's not even go there. I don't think I expected them to do that well so probably it wasn't that much of a surprise but no I'd have to say Lazio because you know they were right up there going into the unforeseen break due to Covid
00:22:43
Speaker
they you know they really looked like they were going to challenge for the title and to see them fall apart in that way was just really disappointing and you know I guess we thought teams might struggle after the break but for me the negative surprise was that they collapsed completely and they just they didn't even
00:23:06
Speaker
they didn't even mount any kind of challenge they just kept losing over and over again and we know that the squad is thin and we know you know all the various reasons why but it was still a disappointment to me that we didn't end up with the title race that we thought we were going to have. The the meltdown in the last part of the season just seemed crazy
00:23:24
Speaker
And it's such a, the part that I probably hated most about it was in Zagi, we were praising him all season. Hey, maybe he's turned a corner. And then he goes to the, the whining, the complaining, our schedule. It's like he took a, you know, him and Conte are on the same vitamin regimen or something.
00:23:43
Speaker
I mean, he started complaining about the schedule. That was about the panel. He complains Konta has a nuclear meltdown. There's a difference. You know, Imane doesn't go in there and says that, you know, the way that Konta did this, I mean, it was, it was clear that he had, this was premeditated, but he was, but he winds himself up. He went from little protection in 15 minutes to zero protection to absolutely no goddamn protection. Like it's just,
00:24:12
Speaker
it's you know the guy has zero impulse control it's a cover for his own failings like yes thank you he cannot admit where he is wrong he cannot say it was my mistake we're gonna learn from this unless he is like
00:24:29
Speaker
winning week in week out and getting all the praise. He just cannot cope. And, you know, that's something as a coach, you kind of have to learn how to do. You are going to have good times and bad times. You're not going to win the league every single year. And he's just not mentally prepared for anything other than than winning a Serie A title. And that really he needs to have some therapy or something because he's just not going to do that.

Conte's Challenges and Speculations

00:24:56
Speaker
But the thing is that, you know,
00:24:58
Speaker
This is what pisses me off, because before he came, he said, I'll never take a team that can't win a title. And he took it and said he wants to, you know, he didn't, you know, that was that was clearly the goal, win the title within two years. I think what's really pissed him off a lot of it, although a lot of the stuff he said was true, but he just always takes it too far and has no impulse control. So he has to take it too far. But but he did make some good points about the club and not, you know, in some of the things he said in terms of
00:25:27
Speaker
you know, protecting the club and protection that he wanted that he should have had, but he didn't get all of that. You know, he makes good points, but I think the thing that really pisses him off the most is the fact that you were there for the taking and you could have done it despite not being the best team on paper. And he screwed it up.
00:25:47
Speaker
He screwed it up when he tactically rotated into a way against Bologna, Sasuolo. That's just after the lockdown, even earlier, before that. So I think that a lot of it is also that. But as you said, Chloe, the man has literally no self-awareness. He can never do anything wrong. It's always someone else's fault. And so he has to lose, you know, he loses his mind, you know? So it's just really exhausting.
00:26:14
Speaker
It's really exhausting to watch him. And I gotta be honest with you, after those 48 hours that ensued with the complete shit show that started after the game was over, and those four interviews he did, and then the following day with the shockwaves that that sent, and then the day after that on Monday,
00:26:33
Speaker
when when everyone was basically saying Allegri was there and then all of a sudden he goes out and says he's going to steal our publica and enter sign Alexei Sanchez. I mean, it's not it's not even path sites FC bipolar, you know, this is this is we're bipolar into our bipolar. And it's just it's just it's draining to have to you know, it's just draining. But it is that this isn't that you know, you this is how it works. And you know, it's just you got to take the good with the bad.
00:27:02
Speaker
I guess I wouldn't have it any other way, but it would be nice if the coach of Inter was not the, you know, he will, he, when he took over, he said, I want Inter to stop being Pazza. Well, then maybe you should stay on your meds, dude. Yeah, exactly. Stay on your meds, dude. Like you're the one who are creating all the Pazza right now. So yeah. So you think he remains though? No, no, no, no. I think Inter win the Europa League and then it's the perfect mic drop moment for him.
00:27:30
Speaker
Oh my god, so they're going to eat. So what do they do then? Because that's salary, 11 million euros net. I mean, come on. It's my opinion. I mean, this isn't me reporting anything. This is just my gut feeling. Inter are going to go really far in the Europa League. They're probably going to win it. And they're going to part ways mutual termination. I think you can't attack the president, a young Chinese guy whose dad is watching him, who's building him up to be
00:27:59
Speaker
uh you know the guy who takes over the suning empire and runs that and you know he's already under a lot of pressure and question because of his age and because of the fact that he's not italian and the way he just dismisses him that that has to have ramifications you know and the way he threw marota under the bus who's been nothing but supportive of this guy and backing this guy all the way i mean that's another thing 55 minutes ago this meltdown commenced marota was out there talking about
00:28:27
Speaker
what a fantastic job Antonio Conte has done, and we're going to build from this. And then he comes in there and just throws everyone who works behind the desk at the club. I mean, literally said, between the warehouse guy and the chefs and the cleaners and the players, I'm happy with everyone, but I'm going to stop there. Moroza must be like, this guy? Why did I decide to work with him again in the club? They gave him Orelli. They've given him so many filters to calm him down. And he just breaks every one of them.
00:28:57
Speaker
He's, you know, the thing is, but you have to say this again, it's such a shame because he's an absolutely fantastic coach. Oh, I know. That's the thing out of all. He's an absolutely fantastic coach. He's phenomenal. I've seen firsthand front row seats, what he's done to this team, which is simply phenomenal, simply phenomenal. The way he's.
00:29:19
Speaker
transform this team to to play some amazing football and you know the movement and the intelligence that he's you know the level that he's elevated this these these some mediocre players too it's just amazing and and you know he's his own worst enemy that's the only thing i can say
00:29:39
Speaker
I, that's yeah, that would probably be a very fair summary. Like if you could just describe that guy too. And it's so interesting too, because he is like the perfect bridge to overtake a team from Spaletti, right? You know, Spaletti, this guy who, okay, he's won a few cups. He won a league in Russia. But it felt like that last piece they were missing was a manager to take them over the finish line. And it felt like, you know, Conte is that guy, right? Yeah. On paper. On paper. He's absolutely that guy.
00:30:07
Speaker
He can't control himself. This is exactly why I didn't want him, because again, his tantrums at Juve are a stable club. At Chelsea, compared to Inter, they are a stable club. But Inter aren't a stable club, so it's plutonium, meat, gasoline tank, and let's put it all next to an oven and hope that it doesn't blow up. I mean, it's just...
00:30:33
Speaker
I thought I thought it would really work out because I thought especially when he came in and he was like oh get rid of the the bad influences you know Icardi, Nango and Perisic they can go and I thought and he was like oh we we need to stop calling ourselves pats that into and all this and I thought oh he's gonna knuckle him down he's gonna get them with his you know he's very
00:30:58
Speaker
um intense training regime is going to really sort them out and this is going to really work and he's going to be the right guy and but then you forget that he's just he can't cope with criticism or any kind of perceived failure and yeah like like you said Nemo into uve were good at managing him and and keeping him you know obviously did boil over at uve but not as much but
00:31:26
Speaker
into a kind of maybe not used to keeping someone like that under control and he's very much it's my way or no way and then and then you get these random explosions that we've had and and you know I'm kind of disappointed I thought he was the guy to sort into out and get them consistent after Spelletti.

Rocco Comiso's Impact

00:31:46
Speaker
Well, I'm glad we didn't record when this happened, but you know who does have the most underrated interviews is Rocco Comiso, Chloe. So, you know, we were going to talk about the futures of Roma Inte Fiorentina just in general. But after Roma got that penalty, I have to say the best part of that entire thing was
00:32:07
Speaker
go mad at just the league and the injustices that pretty much happened in succession to Fiorentina. That was hilarious. Loved the guy. I think he's great for Italian football. So we talked about they tabbed, uh, Yakini for next season. And it was really weird because he went on a, did you hear the rant where he went on about how there's so much fake news, the whole thing with De Rossi never happened. What do you make of what they're doing?
00:32:38
Speaker
I mean he said he was like obviously I like to be clear there's some things that you have to keep under wraps because like transfers you're dealing with other clubs and it's not fair to you know just blur everything out but he was like in terms of a manager if you
00:32:55
Speaker
instead of making up fake stuff, just ask me and I'll tell you. He is very straightforward. And I think what you said, John, about him being good for Italian football is really true because he is just a zero bullshit approach, basically. He obviously has the advantage of he is Italian, he was born in Italy, so he
00:33:19
Speaker
he's got all the good parts of being Italian but he's because he's moved to the US he can see things from a different perspective whereas people who have stayed in Italy don't necessarily have that and he can he can see that just certain things like refereeing stupid errors you can see the ridiculous hold-ups with building stadiums and making progress and he just comes out and says it and I think
00:33:48
Speaker
that is what Seriat needs because there are too many people in Italian football who don't speak out and don't say things for fear of repercussions, fear of upsetting the wrong person and all that has kept Seriat down and it's kept it from progressing and making the necessary changes to modernize the League and I think people like Rocco Camuso who
00:34:14
Speaker
is outspoken and who just says, like, it's like the Emperor's new clothes that everybody's like saying, Oh, you know, you look fantastic when he's actually got no clothes on and Rocco has just come in and said, mate, you're naked, you know. And you know, I mean, he's saying how it is. And, and, and I think that's what really needs the league. It really does.
00:34:37
Speaker
No, I really think he's been the best character to come in and also the fact that he plays the accordion and the fact that he. No, but like all all of that, like he just he's just a character from the Soprano. But without without. Yeah. OK, his voice is the best thing I have ever heard in my entire life, first off. OK. Yeah. His Italian is the best. I mean, the Italian he has is this this mix of
00:35:06
Speaker
Calabrese Italian and the mic and the end and English that they came up with with the immigrants the first-generation immigrants came up with on the East Coast I mean the stuff he says the tifacio not job by the Bronx. I mean, I just I die for that I'll do a job on you like back in the Bronx I Want a loop of just him saying okay And then there's certain this like
00:35:35
Speaker
There's certain words he can't think of the Italian for, so he just says it and he works. Yeah, he goes, yeah, he'll say the whole sense perfectly and then he'll just come up with a random word. It's hilarious. I love him. I love him. I absolutely love him the bits. And it's just, no, I,
00:36:02
Speaker
I love the man to bits. Like, I think we all do. See Oroko for president. Like, he's exactly what they need. The sleep

Social Media and Farewell

00:36:09
Speaker
needs. Roma, just because I'm going on five hours of sleep, just follow me on Twitter. I don't feel like talking about it. I've had enough of this. Um, you're trending in Rome. I just got to say that Solano is trending. If you live in Rome and go on Twitter number 17 for now, that when we started recording this,
00:36:29
Speaker
God knows how much higher you've gone since then. But it turns out that you actually knew what the hell you're talking about. Imagine that. You actually do your research and do your job properly. Imagine that. Oh, right. Yeah. No, it's amazing. No, seriously, we've got to give you credit for that. Because you said from the beginning, this Kuwaiti thing was just nonsense. And it was nonsense. And it turned out to be nonsense. So well done, John.
00:36:51
Speaker
And the fact that, but then again, you have the best trolls and the best online arguments of anyone in the world. And now you're trending in Rome on Twitter. I get roped into these conversations so easily. It's unbelievable.
00:37:09
Speaker
I think the song of the season has to be the remake of the Boom Funk M6 song. I'm sorry, it's just brilliant. What would you agree with that? Which one do you think is the most fun? Yeah, no, that one's my favorite. I mean, I've always been a fan of Solano and then a naughty word or a naughty phrase following that. I'd prefer not to say it, but yeah. Solano.
00:37:34
Speaker
Yeah, sorry. It's the best. It's OK. It's OK. No, it's fine. It's fine. We're going to get back on track just for just for now, because it's just such a weirdo. You like talking about this stuff. Let's talk. Let's talk about the teams that are getting promoted to the city. I'm so excited. Yeah, we know. Yeah, we know you're so excited. We know. We know. This is such a really interesting project coming on. Kamil Glick might be coming there or I think he is coming there.
00:38:04
Speaker
Benavento people, people in Zaghi, remember him? He won, they won the Serie B, they're coming up again. And he's building quite the interesting team. And I think this could be, you know, this is make or break for people because, you know, he needed, I think he should have stayed in the Serie B longer before he came to the Serie A. He needed that experience. And now... Well, taking that Milan job so early was... Yeah, it was wrong. You know, it was wrong. And he learned from that. And then the Bologna job was a complete disaster. They almost got relegated.
00:38:31
Speaker
So now he's at Benevento and they won the Serie B and he's brought them back to the Serie A and he's playing a 4-4-2 and I'm really excited to see what he can do with that team. And they're really exciting. And I really like that stadium and I like the fact that we have a more geographical spread. We have a team from Campania coming up with Benevento. It's going to be a derby with Napoli. So that's going to be interesting. And then we have Crotona, the Sharks.
00:38:53
Speaker
We're coming up from the south of Italy. And that's going to be really interesting to see as well. I don't even need to see what they do this summer. They're going down. No. Stop being like that. No. They were amazing last time as well. Yeah, they really were. As a mentor, to be fair.
00:39:10
Speaker
I mean, I'm looking at the roster right now. So hold on to your, everybody buckle up. So this is, these are the, these are the sort of names you can expect to see the, of course, the legendary Nicholas Spoli. Everybody remembers him from Katanya.
00:39:27
Speaker
was purchased by Roma, and I believe he made a single appearance, and I believe it was under 15 minutes. So of course, can't wait to watch him. Maxi Lopez, everybody, everybody in the world is Team Maxi Lopez, right?
00:39:43
Speaker
Legend. We'll get you about three goals per season. Can't wait to see that. Yeah. Despite the hater, John, the hate spread by the hater Solano, I'm going to I'm going to be watching the last playoff as well. And that's really interesting. Go specia pordenone cita de la quievo Verona empoly and frozen on it. Who are playing off for the last spot? How? Oh, my God. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. My team there. I'm really, I really like them.
00:40:11
Speaker
I think that, you know, but I really want to get Kiavo up because I think we need a Verona Darby's to be honest.
00:40:25
Speaker
We really don't. That's the thing. We don't. No, we don't. As someone from Veneto, let me speak for the Venetians, please. We don't need one. I promise you. This is something nobody is asking for. I promise you. There is literally nobody in the world asking for this.
00:40:50
Speaker
No, but Pordenone would be interesting because they're like the Carpi, aren't they? They're such a tiny team. Very tiny, yeah.
00:41:00
Speaker
No, it's an interesting team and they're really fun on social media. I remember when they played that, they started like they were the heroes that season in social media, the way they just, you know, took the piss out of everything and everyone, including themselves. So I'm really looking forward, I mean, either them or Kievo, I would love to see come up, because I think it would be fun. Oh, come on. Kievo and fun in the same sentence. Yeah, we need a Verona Darby. We need a Verona Darby. They need a new stadium.
00:41:28
Speaker
But we need a new Verona derby. So I'm gonna go Verona and Pordenona are my teams. And Pordenona play their home games at the Dutch Arena. Because their stadium is way too small. It's not even a stadium. It's a field. It's a pitch. You actually put cable Verona and fun in the same sentence. This season needs to end, please. Is there anything left? Oh my god.
00:41:57
Speaker
Oh, dear. No, no, but this is gonna be fun. I will see what happens. But I'm really, I'm really happy that although we lost, we lost lecture team from the south, we're getting two teams from the south, because I think we need you know, the more geographical spread we have, the better it is fully. All right. So before we go, I give the floor to you, Chloe. Okay, yeah. It's kind of a sad, a sad announcement. I'm
00:42:21
Speaker
after just having an absolute ball on the Serie A show and so much fun with John and Nima. Fortunately from next season onwards I'm stepping down. It was a really really difficult decision to make. I've got my newsletter and a podcast alongside that and it's taken a lot more time than I thought to kind of get it up and running and
00:42:49
Speaker
and get the subscribers that it needs to thrive and just with personal commitments and that it was it's just going to be too much especially as we've discussed an expansion for the Seria show which is going to be really exciting. So I didn't want to be a burden to the other two guys, I didn't want to
00:43:12
Speaker
not be able to, you know, they're hoping to do two shows a week and it was just going to be a bit too much for me. But, you know, I never say never to if they want me to come back for the odd show. I'm happy to if they'll have me to come back on. And I know that it's going to be strength to strength because it's just such a great show. And it really I really am torn because I really have loved it so much. And I know you guys that listen can tell that we have fun. So
00:43:40
Speaker
Yeah, I'm sorry. And, you know, good luck to you both. Well, we both John and I will miss you like hell. It was it was so fun. We've had so much fun, as you say, doing this. And we will definitely have you back as a guest. No doubt about that.
00:43:55
Speaker
Yeah, Jesus, that came off as super depressing. No one's dying. No, no, no, we're all still friends. Nobody stabbed anybody in the back. It's really just that simple. I wish, I wish we had a better story other than that. I mean, we could fill up another 15 minutes of time, but yeah, really just
00:44:17
Speaker
Yeah and as close said the you know we are gonna expand and we're gonna release all that news later on and that's kind of what this was there was simply not time and sometimes.
00:44:27
Speaker
That happens, life happens and you gotta take care of, you know, you gotta prioritize. And unfortunately this happened with Chloe. For Chloe, she had to prioritize other things, but we're all friends. Everything's great. No one's dying. We're all friends. So we're just gonna continue working and separately, but we will definitely have Chloe on. There's no doubt about that. And I wanna thank you so much for everything, Chloe. It was an absolute pleasure to sit and talk with you on a weekly basis. We really have fun together and we've laughed so much.
00:44:57
Speaker
I'm going to miss you. Good luck in Boca Luco with everything. Absolutely. So before we go, before the show ends, if you want to follow our madness on social media.
00:45:11
Speaker
From now until the new season commences, you can find Chloe at Chloe J. Beresford. That's B-E-R-E-S-F-O-R-D. You can find Mima probably whining about Conte at N-I-M-A-T-A-V-R-O-O-D. And then you can find me
00:45:36
Speaker
trying to sleep or fighting with somebody at Solano underscore five six. So join us for the summer. We'll be talking football in between the time transfers, but we're not going anywhere. Chloe's not going anywhere. It'll just be a slightly different lineup going forward. But yeah, yeah, which which will announce in short in due time before the next season.
00:45:59
Speaker
what the new format is and who we're gonna have as a substitute for Chloe and all that stuff. So stay tuned for that, watch this space. Yes, so on behalf of all three of us, we thank you so much for hanging out with us all season, laughing, crying from laughter, I guess we would say all season. We know this has been very, very long. We know it's been a very odd, difficult,
00:46:26
Speaker
Summer for just about everybody, no matter where you are in the world. So we hope we could have, we hope we brought at least a moment of levity for you to take away from all the crap happening right now. Um, so we thank you for listening. We thank you for the support. Thank you so, so much. We will be back soon. So we will talk to you then. Bye bye.