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Full Free Episode - Mercato Winners & Losers, Milan's 14 Penalties, Destro Alla Nazionale, Etc (Ep. 94)
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Transcript
Introduction & Patreon Promotion
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast with John Solano, Carlo Garganese and Nima Tuvali.
00:00:24
Speaker
Hello everybody and welcome to the deadline day edition of the Italian football podcast. We hope that you are doing well as a reminder since it is the first episode of
Exclusive Interviews with Football Figures
00:00:36
Speaker
the month. It is in fact a free episode so if you enjoy what you hear and you would like to gain access to all of our episodes for $2.99 per month you can go to patreon.com slash
00:00:48
Speaker
T-I-F-P and that gets you access to our two episodes per week which includes our weekly review episode of the previous match day and our weekly interview episode where we bring on people throughout the footballing world.
Transfer Market Winners & Analysis
00:01:02
Speaker
We have had club presidents such as Joe Takopina on the podcast. We've had managers such as Fenghorne Erickson on the podcast. So there's a very good variety of people that we bring on
00:01:14
Speaker
on the weekly interview episode so again patreon.com slash T-I-F-P again patreon.com slash T-I-F-P to become a patron for $2.99 per month okay Nima Carlo it's deadline day we don't anticipate any last minute huge bombs being dropped by some club throughout the city
00:01:39
Speaker
So let's get into all of the transfer happenings that took place this month. Let's review and debate who the winners, who the losers were, and who improved their prospects at either making a Champions League, making a run for the Scudetto, or who put themselves at risk for potential relegation. So let's jump into that now.
00:02:02
Speaker
Okay, even though it's a pandemic, I have been surprised by the level of activity that we have seen so far in January. Now, we haven't seen the huge big money move, but we have seen a couple of interesting things. And obviously, they're worth talking about here. But let's start with the winners of the transfer market. Let's take this from a broad point of view. Then in a moment here, I'll discuss each of the transfers that have happened. I'll go through the 20 biggest ones. But
00:02:31
Speaker
Let's take this from a broader point of view. Each of us were going to pick a winner. I think we might have a couple of repeats.
Atalanta's Strategic Moves
00:02:38
Speaker
Carlo, let's start with you.
00:02:41
Speaker
I'm going to go with Atalanta for my winners of the market for a number of reasons. First of all, there's the whole Papigomez issue, which has caused chaos there. They've sold him, but they've sold him abroad, so they haven't strengthened a Serie A rival. They didn't get a huge amount of money for him, but remember, he's 33 now.
00:03:03
Speaker
And, you know, what we've seen so far is that Atalanta have actually been better since he was frozen out of the team and until their loss against Lazio yesterday, which came about partly because they rested players ahead of the Coppertale semifinal this week and they'd gone 14 games unbeaten.
00:03:22
Speaker
And they've really stepped it up in form. They've had some really great results, scoring lots of goals again. So they've sold Papu Gomez. They've also done a brilliant deal, I think, in the sale of Ahmed Diallo to Man United. Now, he is a great talent. He's a fantastic talent. But to make 30 million euros for a player who had just played three games, I mean, for me, that's amazing business. I mean, he could go on to become a fantastic player.
00:03:51
Speaker
even even if he does that's that's great great money and just reinforces that you know this is a club that uh you know there is for me no pound for pound there's no better run club in the world than that's really given their resources they look at their academy from their world class academy to the scouting to the coaching to the development of these players and to the incredible results so so wonderful and they've also brought in a couple of of of interesting players victor kovolenko very highly rated for a very nominal fee from
00:04:20
Speaker
from Shattar and Joachim Mele as well, Wingback. So I think they've done very, very well this market. They've continued on their trend of fantastic work.
00:04:36
Speaker
Nima, how
Milan & Parma's Transfer Activities
00:04:37
Speaker
about you? I think me and you might have the same one, and I think, given how much we slated them, just four or five months ago, I think it is worth giving them a lot of credit. Absolutely. But before I get ahead of myself, you're picking Panama, right?
00:04:52
Speaker
Well, no. I was choosing between them. You just ruined that entire build up. No, I didn't. I didn't, because I was choosing between them and Milan. And given that it's deadline day, I'm seeing Callejón, I'm seeing things that they want to do, Parma, that is, and it's looking really, you know, it's the, you know, and Graziano Pelle, I think would do a good job for them to keep them up, to be honest.
00:05:13
Speaker
So, but no, for me, it's Milan. I think Milan have done exactly what they needed to do. They managed to get paid for Mosaccio, which is a 30-year-old who's not been good. That's good business. They managed to loan in Tomori, who I think will do a job for them. He's fast and he's already looking pretty good. It's a loan with an option to buy. And then they got a backup to Ibrahimovic in Mario Manjukic, who will
00:05:36
Speaker
do exactly that, a backup job. So to me, I think they did. I mean, I had Atalanta as my winner, but since Carlo took it, you know, second place, I have Milan and Parma kind of joint. I think they've done exactly what needed to be done.
00:05:53
Speaker
Parma, for me, finally purchasing players that I have confirmed exist. That have Wikipedia pages. Well, hold on. Dennis Mann is a really, really good player. I've spoken to his agent a number of times. She has been shopping him throughout the city for almost two years now. She was pretty adamant that he would ultimately land at somebody like a Milan, Roma, Napoli.
00:06:23
Speaker
And I think for Parma to end up getting him, and let's be honest here guys, did you expect him to shell out that kind of money on a single player? Because I didn't. I did not see them willing to spend that sort of money in January during a pandemic.
00:06:40
Speaker
And again, for how much I was critical of the new ownership and I think, didn't all three of us pretty much agree that they were the worst transfer market in the summer? Correct me if I'm wrong. No, no, I had them as a, as a, as a, as a, as a relegation candidate. Right, right. Yeah. We all thought they were the losers of the previous transfer window by a pretty healthy margin.
00:07:02
Speaker
and they also bring in Conte from Milan a guy very good guy very good yeah you know he's one of those guys that when you leave Atalanta maybe there's just a slight you know you carry on your form for a very slight period but over the long run it just seems to diminish and he looks like one of those Atalanta fools gold players but I actually like him so I don't I don't think he actually falls within that group
00:07:27
Speaker
No, and also the injuries he's had. We should exactly give them a chance of staying up because I think they were, you know, almost destined for relegation the way that they've been going for sure. They need goals. They need goals. They brought in players that can make the difference going forward. Well, I have to wait and see. I mean, Kaye Hon and Graziano Pella are done yet, but I think Graziano Pella can definitely do something for them.
00:07:51
Speaker
I think he, and they're also kind of, there's rumors of them wanting to get Edder, but he's got his heart sent on a return and a reunion with Antonio Conte. Heaven forbid that were to materialize. But that's what they've got. And I think if they manage to get one of those two or those players, then I think they'll stay up.
00:08:11
Speaker
just just to follow up on on um on john salano um what you said dennis man um his agent is that anna maria prodan by that is yes you kept that quiet didn't you she's why not i mean she's the former playmate i mean she's been an absolute sensation in in in romania i don't know if you see well i didn't want to i didn't want to bring that up i only know her for one thing and one thing only and that's for her yeah carlo you sexist
00:08:38
Speaker
Can we bring her on the show to talk about Dennis Mann, obviously? I'm sure we can. She's one of those people who when you text her or message her, she automatically calls. So sort of like Manona when we first gave her a mobile phone.
00:08:55
Speaker
When she attempted to text, she just said, you know, no, forget that. I'm just going to call. You're comparing. You're comparing Anna Maria Prodance. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Hold on. Yeah, that was a bad setup. I have to set the record straight, but.
00:09:11
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, that is his agent. Very, very lovely woman. And again, I only know her for her football dealings, Carlo, and I don't even know what a playmate is. Never heard of what you're talking about. So I know my wife definitely listens to this show.
00:09:29
Speaker
this is a free this is also a free episode so unless he's a patreon so everybody yeah so let's get around let's get around to tell us okay well because he's a great because because he is really highly rated player he is and i have to tell you yeah he was very very very close to both roma napoli at one point so i i think for parma to ultimately end up with his signature
00:09:55
Speaker
I think it's a huge huge coop for them and Carlo you said it best they need goals um I I think a lot of their hopes in staying up could ultimately be connected to De Versa now I have to eat a little bit of crow because I I thought that uh I thought their appointment of the previous manager who I don't want to mention by name because he embarrassed me uh made a fool of me
00:10:22
Speaker
Uh, I was actually happy for his appointment because he did relatively well at leche a leche that showed no motivation wanting to stay up in the city last season
Parma's Management & Performance
00:10:31
Speaker
whatsoever So, um, yeah, I mean the verse, uh, it's not like you're getting a tactical genius here It's hoof the ball forward to jervino and then stay compact at the back you know, I guess I would like to see a bit more organization up front but Yeah
00:10:49
Speaker
But with Livarani, you didn't see any organization from Mitterfield and down. I mean, they were bad. They were awful. I mean, his lecheside was absolutely atrocious defensively. They looked good going forward. But to me, that's at least hit you for goals, though. That was the thing. Yeah, I mean, for me, that's a Serie B coach. He's not a Serie A coach. I think Daversa is. Palma is his level. I don't want to see him at any other club that higher up than Palma. I think a mid table club is where he's at.
00:11:16
Speaker
But I think he'll definitely get the job done for Panama. And I want Panama to stay up because I...
00:11:23
Speaker
It's a beautiful city, it's a really, it's a good piazza to visit and it's a, you know, it's, we remember, you know, I have fond memories from Parma in the 90s and, you know, when they had some of the best players in Europe and had a fantastic team. I mean, remember Buffon, Turam, Zola, Stojcov, Brullin, I mean, they had a fantastic, Canavaro, I mean, it was a fantastic, you know, club and
00:11:49
Speaker
It would be nice to have... Yeah, now they have some guy named Cornelius, who spores once every full moon, I guess. He's called Mateo Destro, that's for sure. Oh, hold on, okay. We'll get into him later, because I've been holding that card in my back pocket for a couple of weeks now. Hashtag Destro Alanationale.
00:12:10
Speaker
Yes, please, please. Losers of the transfer market. Kill me now. Losers. Who are the losers? I
Arkadiusz Milik's Career Moves
00:12:18
Speaker
see. I can hear Carlo dying on the inside. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, we'll get to him later because I can't wait to bring him up. Again, I've been holding onto that one for a couple of weeks since I've been gone.
00:12:28
Speaker
All right, losers of the transfer market. And I think we could pick individuals in this one as well. Carlo, I think you're going to take someone who I think is a indefinite loser in this one. And it is... Attic-mitic. Oh, big time. Big time.
00:12:43
Speaker
Yeah because because this is a player who I mean I've never I've never considered him a leap forward I've never thought that he's someone that's good enough to say be the first choice striker for say a Juventus or or you know even one of the top European clubs or or even an Inter or a Midland but I think he's definitely good enough to be in the squad of a big of a big club to be say the third or fourth striker of an Inter of a Juventus of a
00:13:08
Speaker
or to be the starting striker of a club just slightly below those clubs, you know, teams that are fighting for Champions League football in a big league, you know, and include the Premier League, I include La Liga, I include Serie A. So to see... Wait a minute, I have to ask you to interrupt. Is that strictly because of his playing ability or because he has the knees that, again, Manona probably has the muscle and ligament equivalent as him in his knees? Does that have anything to do with it?
00:13:36
Speaker
Well, yeah, I mean, that's that's a fair point. I mean, I think we I think we should take into account the fact that he is injury prone and and if you ever if you're going to spend big money on a player like Milik and that includes what salary as well, then you do need to take that into into account. But, you know, his scoring record is still very, very good. I mean, it's, you know, one in two roughly, isn't it? And and, you know, I think that he's definitely
00:14:01
Speaker
worthy of a club. When I say bigger than Marseille, I'm totally acknowledging that this is a historically and traditionally massive club. But unfortunately, the way that European football has gone now in destroying the smaller leagues and these kind of clubs, unfortunately, they're not, you know, they're not one of the biggest, biggest clubs in Europe anymore. Now, you know, the moment he moves there, their their supporters do a coup and overtake their club headquarters. So
00:14:29
Speaker
I mean, I guess if Milik was my headline signing in some time, I'd probably be tempted to storm my team's training facilities. Yeah, well, the president, the Marseille president actually compared that to the storming of the US Capitol, which I found quite amusing. I love when people lose their shit and draw these ridiculous comparisons all the time. I think that's the theme of this week, ridiculous over-the-top comparison. But Sepp Blatter, when he compared
00:14:57
Speaker
Who did he compare to slavery, to slaves? That was Mourinho comparing Galas, I think, to a modern day slave because he didn't want to play for the national team and was forced to apologise, quite rightly as well. Hang on, real quick though, just a word on music.
00:15:15
Speaker
You know, the thing with him is, first off, did we see the buyout clause that they included in his deal? Did you see that it's a, I believe, 12 or 13 million euros buyout clause? So Marseille, who just purchased this guy, I think it was seven and a half, give or take, million euros, and then there's a sell-on clause on top of that. And on top of that, there was a 12 to 13 million euros buyout clause? What are they doing?
00:15:44
Speaker
you know i have a six-year-old daughter i can if i just wrote what i just set out on paper and showed her how the numbers worked i think even she would agree that is stupid so they're in a desperate they're in a desperate situation they're like mid table and a ninth in leaguer they often they've lost four in a row
00:16:00
Speaker
there, there's all this chaos, which you've just mentioned off the pitch. And, you know, they're in a desperate situation. But from Millik's point of view, I mean, is he going there for the long term? Or is he only going there just because he needs football before the Euros? That's, that's the big question. Yeah, I think that's the latter is definitely
00:16:18
Speaker
Definitely has to be. Are you surprised he didn't stay within the city? I thought for sure Roma could go back in for him Especially after this Jekyll stuff. I'm happy Roma didn't because I think we'll go back. Yeah Well, I'm happy Roma didn't for Roma's sake because I think they you know and to me that's a that's a health that's a sign of health from Roma that they don't go after these
00:16:40
Speaker
Because I don't I don't rate Milik. Milik doesn't improve Roma. I don't see him. So if we were to put again, I have to ask you this now, Nima. So if we were to put aside the injury stuff and we were just strictly we're going from the basis that this guy can play 38 matches, you still don't like him.
00:16:57
Speaker
No, I think he's maybe at a few I think his level is a Fiorentina, Lazio, but not even Lazio actually, because Lazio are our Champions League side now. Just a Ropa League contender. I don't see him as a as a Champions League player. I don't, I really don't. I've seen him for many years and I just don't think he's got what it takes to be at that level. And I think it's good for Roma. This is good for Roma in the long run because
00:17:25
Speaker
with Jeko leaving in the summer, you have Borka Mayoral, who's banging in golf for fun, then you actually have money to go after your big dream, which is Bellotti. And that would do, that's good for Italian football, that's good for Roma, that's good for everyone involved. We've had this discussion before. We've had this discussion before. I'm surprised. I like him. I'm surprised. Carlo, I mean, you've, I mean, they were pursuing this guy five to six months ago. Had Sari remained at the club, there's a very,
00:17:53
Speaker
high possibility that he's a new vet right now yeah i think as a as a third or maybe more so a fourth striker for Juventus i think that i think that would be a good buy as a ball striker as a first as a first choice striker that's that's meant to be the person that leads you to the title or to to the Champions League glory like Nimr says no i don't think he's elite but as a backup forward i think
00:18:14
Speaker
providing he's happy to do that. I think absolutely he does a job. He scores roughly one in two goals. He can hold the ball up. I think he's a good player, but I think he definitely does lack something to be
00:18:29
Speaker
to be right
Crotone & Torino's Transfer Struggles
00:18:30
Speaker
at the top. We've seen that in the big moments in Champions League games where he's, you know, missed big chances when it really matters. I mean, he caused Napoli that knocking out Liverpool that we hear they won the Champions League, didn't he? When he missed that big chance, you know, those kind of big clutch moments, he falls a little bit short.
00:18:45
Speaker
Interesting. All right, Nima. A loser, a club, a player. Who is it for you? Kirotona. Kirotona are the losers. They are dead last. They're going to get knocked out. They're going to leave. They're not even trying to stay in the city. I don't know what they're doing. They have to be the last one. They've done nothing.
00:19:09
Speaker
Yeah, that's great for those ambitions to go up again in the city. With zero goals this season. Yeah, no, I don't. I'm disappointed. I expected more. I like their player, Junior Macias, I think his name is. And he's done really well. I don't think he'll stay there. And Simi always scores goals for them in short bursts. But the rest of the squad is not good.
00:19:33
Speaker
Short bursts is probably the best way to describe it. Yeah, they were my loser. There are so many because I had three or four clubs written down here. I had Sampdoria as well. I feel as if Ranieri is really pulling way more out of that team than should be asked of a gentleman of his ripe old age.
00:19:59
Speaker
Now listen, they're doing phenomenally well. Again, I think if you just look at the teams who are punching above their weight, I think Somp is the number one contender to fill that title. I just feel like in terms of individual quality, they are so lacking. Torino too was one for me that I thought was a loser. I mean, I don't even want to go through the managerial situation, but
00:20:28
Speaker
they stink they suck man yeah i think they're gonna be they're gonna be they're gonna struggle like hell i like the signing of mandragora i think oh come on he just did his knee i i think that's that yeah if he can stay fit i think it's a good sign if he's recovered but he might not
00:20:45
Speaker
Yeah, but I mean, I like what they've done. They needed an attacker. They needed an attacker. Yes, exactly. No, they do. They do. I mean, if they stay up, it's a miracle because they're in complete freefall. And I feel bad for Andrea Bellotti, who is just wasting away there.
00:21:04
Speaker
They've I don't it's so strange ever since petraki left that club. It's just been complete freefall And the owner there has not been able to to to at all address the needs of this club in In the adequate way and and I look at that squad and they've got some decent players I mean obviously losing mate to to Milan was you know, that wasn't you don't that didn't exactly strengthen them but
00:21:30
Speaker
You know, he wasn't exactly. Yeah, I don't rate him. Yeah, he wasn't the player he was a few seasons ago when he kind of burst onto the scene. But I don't know. I'm worried for Torino. I'm more worried for Torino, Benevento and Parma.
Papu Gomez's Impact & Departure
00:21:45
Speaker
The only other loser I would add is probably Papu Gomez.
00:21:49
Speaker
because, yes, I mean, Sevilla, you know, Sevilla are a very good team in the Champions League last 16. And, you know, let's hope he does well there. But, you know, Atalanta was, you know, the love of his life. You know, that was his home. And whatever happened, we don't really know exactly what went on, who was to blame. But it's still sad to, you know, to be to leave the club, you know, leave the place you didn't really want to leave, I think, deep down.
00:22:17
Speaker
And you know, I don't think it can get any better for him. You can only go down now, I think.
00:22:24
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, and in fairness, you mentioned it, his age, it's not as if we're discussing a 26, 27 year old in his prime. This is a guy who has maybe, at best, two seasons of top level football left in him. And listen, the way it ended, I think is the most heartbreaking thing of all, because you have a guy who's been there for so long.
00:22:47
Speaker
to see it end in that manner really does really does sting a little bit i think that's probably what we're most upset about the most of that story right it's not as if again at the lot of the flying without him it's not as if they lost you know one of these uh a world-class player who was just entering his prime that just got pipped by a giant spander side this was a 33 year old it was more so the left story right that that's really
00:23:13
Speaker
I take issue with that because I take issue with that because in my opinion last season Papo Gomez was consistently the best player in the Serie A and he was good this season as well and he was a he was a Weapon in their arsenal that they no longer have and I think that is why they won't make the top four made in the long run I have I agree 100% with you both that
00:23:36
Speaker
the long run we're talking about a 33 year old with zero resale value and it was probably the wise thing to part ways with him but in the summer this season they actually had it they i think he had a role to play at that club and i think him leaving kind of makes them weaker it doesn't make him stronger and
00:23:53
Speaker
you know but then again maybe they wouldn't have received any money for him in the summer either you don't know so at some point you know you got to evaluate these things and weigh him against each other but but i mean obviously the reason he leaves is because of the argument with gasperini who we know is about as nice as a visit to the orthodontist so
00:24:11
Speaker
you know he can pick a fight with Buddha and Jesus himself so you know it's that's just how he is Gasparini so it's it is what it is but I use Jesus who is papa or gasps Gasparini the miracles that he's been yeah
00:24:28
Speaker
Yeah, no, no, no, but it's I think it's it is it is what it is. And I think he's very sad to go. And I don't I expect him to fail in Sevilla, to be honest, because I don't think his heart is in it. I think he found the perfect club, the perfect everything was perfect for him there at Atalanta. And we've seen how he how Papu needs to be happy. He needs to be settled around him to be to succeed. And I don't think I think Sevilla is too big of a club for him to succeed.
00:24:55
Speaker
Yeah, I thought for sure if he were to leave Atalanta, it would just go back to Argentina or something. I don't see this going very well if I'm quite honest. Now, Monchi, of course everybody's going to praise him for this, and that in and of itself angers me, but whatever.
00:25:15
Speaker
uh before i break down sort of like the 20 biggest transfers any final thoughts in regards to the transfer market in the city ah from either of you anything that surprised you shocked you for me for me eventers will i don't want to call them a loser but if they don't get
00:25:32
Speaker
I mean, by the time everyone listens to this, we'll know whether Juventus have signed another forward or not. But Juventus really needed to sign, their target was to sign another forward in January. And they really, really needed to sign someone because they've only got three natural centre forwards.
00:25:50
Speaker
one of those is Di Bala who's you know really having problems physically and this season and the other one is it's not a natural forward it's it's Kudosevski who I think has actually done all right there but but even still Juventus with so many games still to play between now the end of the season if Juventus really want to
00:26:08
Speaker
you know, try and go all the way in, in, in the two big competitions, the champions league and, and said, yeah, they need another body in attack. Um, otherwise they're just going to be exhausted by the time, by the time March, April comes along and they're totally relying on, on the lights of Ronaldo and Morata staying fit. So they really needed someone and they haven't got someone they've left it very, very late. So, so I wouldn't call them a loser, but I think it's definitely a knock to their chances for the rest of the season.
00:26:34
Speaker
Before I go into, again, the biggest 20 transfers here, and then we move on to the results. As far as the Champions League race goes, does what either of the clubs in this battle, which is absolutely incredible. This one through seven is absolutely insane right now. There is no league more exciting right now than the City.
00:26:57
Speaker
does what any of these clubs did in the transfer market. Does that alter your opinion as to how they could potentially finish within the top four, outside of the top four, scurrito, non-scurrito? Was there anybody who did business this month that you think greatly impacted their chances one way or the other?
00:27:17
Speaker
I think Roma, for sure. Roma have an incredibly prolific attack, and they strengthen that with Stephen Elshadawi, who I think will just fit in brilliantly into that attack. The Brian Reynolds deal, I don't know, it's always...
00:27:34
Speaker
I don't watch as much MLS as I perhaps should, but it's also a big, big transition from sorry. No, I don't know anything about I've never watched a second of MLS
Key Transfers & Milan's Competitiveness
00:27:44
Speaker
football. No, exactly. And we don't know what that is. And it's also a huge, you know, it's a huge step when you change countries and leagues and the Serie A is far better than the MLS. And it's going to take some time for him. I think he's more of a future thing. But if he can
00:27:59
Speaker
hit the ground running, then Roma have once again proven to be very good at finding unknown players and turning them into good players and then maybe perhaps cashing in on them to finance other players, as they always do. Roma are very good at this. Especially the past 10 years, Roma have been phenomenal at this. I think we saw yesterday what they did against one of the best defenses in the Serie A against Hellas Verona. They just completely mopped the floor with them.
00:28:28
Speaker
they are that good. So I think Roma definitely strengthened their chances to get that fourth spot.
00:28:38
Speaker
Carlo, what about you? Did anybody move their... Did the thermometer or the needle move one way or the other for you? Not significantly, to be honest. No real difference to me because no silence that you would say, right, that is going to make them a Scudetto winner or that is going to make them a definite sure thing for the Champions League. I didn't see any of those deals.
00:29:00
Speaker
I mean, I mentioned about Juventus lacking that fourth forward. I mean, Juventus should still get in the Champions League. No, I think they could have done with a fourth forward if they really wanted to push far in. I think the squad is going to be important. Squad depth is important between now because there's so many games still to play. You know, there's potentially over 30 matches to play in three and a half months plus three
00:29:23
Speaker
well-qualified as well at the end of March. I mean, it's inhumane, the number of games that are having to be played. And I think injuries, how many injuries, how many, you know, coronavirus, how many plays are out with that between now and the end of the season, that's going to be important. So squad is definitely going to come into it, having that squad depth.
00:29:41
Speaker
for sure yeah completely agree all right so very quickly before we get to the match day results review debate here is just a quick breakdown of the biggest transfers that have happened so far in the city from a incoming and outgoing perspective so we had Papu Gomesco from Atalanta to Sevilla Joaquim Maile from Genk to Atalanta Victor Kovalenko went from Shakhtar to Atalanta
00:30:09
Speaker
You had Raja Nangolango from Inter to Cagliari. Milan they welcomed Ficayo Tomori from Chelsea, a familiar face, Mario Mandzukic. And Mete from Torino. Meanwhile we had Nicolo Ravella move from Genoa to Juve. While Roma welcomed Stefan El-Shirawi back to the club. And Brian Reynolds from FC Dallas.
00:30:34
Speaker
Their crosstown rivals, Lazio, they welcomed Matteo Musaccio from Milan. Fiorentina, they acquired Alexander Kocarin from Spartak, Moscow. Meanwhile, Genoa, with a very, very interesting acquisition as they brought Kevin Strotman to the club from Marseille. Meanwhile, Marseille acquired Eric Milik from Napoli. Mentioning them again, Parma, they acquired Dennis Mann and Joshua Zirksi.
00:31:04
Speaker
Kevin Lasagna went from Udinese to Verona. For their part, Udinese acquired very, very interesting and pretty highly rated prospect from Manchester City, Jaden Braff, and they also acquired Llorente from Napoli. Phew, okay, I think that is it. Now, let's catch our breath and let's get back to things on the pitch and let's talk about what happened this past weekend.
00:31:30
Speaker
Okay, enough transfer. Let's get back to the stuff that happened on the pitch. Let's start though at the top of the table, Milan. They bounced back from the disappointment in the derby in the midweek in the Copa Italia.
00:31:45
Speaker
uh they win do we want to where do we want to start with this one the bad with the copa italia do we want to get into the controversial with the penalties or do we want to get into the the good and say once again absolutely nobody in their sane or right mind expected them to be top at the table at this point of the season
00:32:11
Speaker
I think it's becoming a bit of a parody of itself, how people keep repeating to themselves that Milan will drop points as if you say it enough times. You will it into existence just by speaking? Yeah, exactly. This is not a short burst of form. Milan have been consistently delivering at this level since January 2020.
00:32:38
Speaker
And people will just have to realize that they are this good. Whether or not they're over-performing or not, you know, minimally over-performing, we'll have to wait and see. But to me, Milan are this good. They are a top 14 in the Serie A. They've proven that. You know, form is temporary, class is permanent. It's 13 months now. The luck discussion, as some people want to say, that Milan are lucky.
00:33:04
Speaker
Look, the 14 penalties they've had this season, instead of just obsessing about the number of penalties, look at the actual penalty situations. Not a single one is wrong. Every single one, or let me put it to you this way, 80% of those penalties are the ones that we saw against Bologna, where Dykes thinks that he gives a next swing to Rafael Leao in the penalty area.
00:33:29
Speaker
And Somauro acts like a Somaro and grabs the ball with both hands in the penalty area. I mean, it's insane. It's asinine, some of the things I've seen defenders do against Mila this season. And it's not even a discussion. I understand that people are upset when they look at their own teams and say, well, we weren't given penalties. But you see, you've got to be able to chew gum and walk at the same time. These things are not related.
00:33:57
Speaker
Milan getting penalties that they should have does not take away penalties from Inter Roma, Napoli or Juve. It's not like we have a set bag of penalties to give away and the more Milan get that the others don't get any. No. The issue is that there is a lack of consistency in the other games where at least three penalties haven't been given to Inter 3-4 to Roma, etc, etc. That's the problem.
00:34:19
Speaker
But you can't say that Milan haven't gotten wrong, you know, have been awarded penalties that weren't penalties. It's just not true. It doesn't stand to scrutiny when you actually look at the penalty situations themselves, every single 14 of them. It is an anomaly for sure, but.
00:34:36
Speaker
then maybe learn to defend against them. I mean, clearly that's something that Milan do that forces defenders to make these god-awful mistakes. I think that's the aspect of it that I look at anyway.
00:34:51
Speaker
Hmm. Carlo, what about for you? Is this penalties awarded thing overblown? Does it sort of not give or lend itself to giving not enough credit to Milan? Because I feel like this is starting to become the talking point as opposed to how good they've actually been.
00:35:12
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. You go back to March last year when this incredible run started and it can't be luck. You can't be lucky for 10 months. You can be lucky for a few games, a few weeks, maybe a few months if you're really lucky, but you can't be lucky for 10 months.
00:35:30
Speaker
And I thought they were fantastic at the weekend. Once again, we've said it so many times in the show that every single time they're asked questions, they respond. And they lost to Juventus, they responded and won the next two games. Then they lost to, and they got absolutely hammered by Atalanta. And then they lost in the Derby as well with everything that happened with Slaton and Lukaku. I know we'll talk about that after. And again, they responded with a completely dominant win
00:36:00
Speaker
created so many chances in the in the first half and yes the penalties of course it's going to be a talking point because they've had so many more penalties than than than everyone else than anyone else in in said yeah but you know like Nima says you have to look at the fact that
00:36:16
Speaker
were they penalties and and I agree that all of them I think there was only one which may have been the game against Lazio where there was a there was a questionable one but if I remember correctly Lazio then got a ridiculous decision of their own in the same game which I was about to say I don't know if that's the Lazio one or maybe it was the Roma one too because the Roma got a dubious one and the Milan got a dubious one so you know they ultimately equalled each other out so yeah exactly
00:36:41
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's overblown. Again, this is a very nuanced conversation. You can't just look at the number and say, oh, well, they're cheating. No, you have to look at every single decision. And if it was a penalty, guess what? It's a penalty. They should get it.
00:37:00
Speaker
Well, I mean, for me, it's like, well, then people say, well, why don't you get the same penalties? And I say, well, that's a different discussion. Like there's no correlation here. Again, it's not again like it's not like we have a bag of candy. And if we give 14 to Milan, the rest have to do without. It doesn't work like that. You know, it's childish. It's to think like that. It's not, you know, Milan Milan's penalties. Every single one has been a penalty. The issue is when the Inter haven't been given.
00:37:28
Speaker
the three or four they should have, or Roma, or Napoli, or Juve, or et cetera, et cetera. Yeah, but that's not Mila's fault. That's not Mila's fault. What I would say though, what I would say is two points, positive points. One, Tomori, I thought he started pretty well. I thought he did decently against Inter. The game was really lost after the Zlatan red card, and it was just Inter totally dominant after that.
00:37:52
Speaker
Um, but um, but again, I thought he was good at the weekend and and you have to say don that. Um, uh, I mean, just, just ridiculous. I mean, three, three, three world-class saves two of them, uh, on one-on-ones and you know, I tweeted it me, I think me and Nimitz both tweeted it and, and we were absolutely bombarded with thousands of angry replies from incels who just,
00:38:17
Speaker
We're just like, how dare you say that Bonnarooma is the best. I tweeted that Donarooma was the best at one on ones in the world. And I said that.
00:38:27
Speaker
I would probably have him third in my list of best goalkeepers in the world right now after Alisson and Oblak. I think Nimr said he would have him after Oblak and Neuer. And this guy is an absolute phenomenon. And on one on ones, he's just so big. I mean, six foot five, six foot six, he fills up so much of the goal. He's so commanding, so imposing. I just think that forwards just, they just,
00:38:55
Speaker
freeze when they see him in front of them psychologically more than anything and that's how he makes most of these saves same on penalties as well he's a unbelievable goalkeeper for me after i mean alison oblak and noir are are the three best in the world for me they're they're they're they're they're they're a little bit they're they're the ones who are above everyone else and then you have a little bit of a distance not much to
00:39:19
Speaker
Two were Terishteh again, the Manchester City goalkeeper whose name eludes me now. Edison. Edison, thank you. And Don Aruma. I hold them slightly below, but then look at his age. He's 22. It's remarkable how quickly he reacts, how good he's become with his feet.
00:39:43
Speaker
He's an absolute monster. It's as if defenders are difficult. Milan have a good defense and once you get past them you gotta go up against this monster. It's like when you were playing a video game as a kid and you get past a difficult level then you have the big boss to beat at the end.
00:40:01
Speaker
I say he's he's an absolute he's a towering presence and he dominates he looks huge when he comes at you and the way he cut reads the game to cut the the the the lines for the for the for strikers to finish it's it's
00:40:16
Speaker
It's phenomenal. He's really fantastic. Dr. Robotnik on the Sonic. Exactly. 80s reference. Hello. They just revealed our age there. But no, but seriously, he will be the best goalkeeper in the world for sure. And I think if he has a normal career trajectory given where this is going, if it continues like this,
00:40:45
Speaker
It wouldn't surprise me if we were talking about him in 18, 20 years' time when he hangs up his gloves that he's the best goalkeeper of all time, without a doubt, because he's genuinely amazing. No, he's not. He's not better than Noer. Noer is the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Look, I think that, no, the Noer discussion, I think you have to be nuanced. I mean, I think we were speaking about this ourselves, Irmin, and what's happening. The way I look at this is it's always difficult to compare different eras of football because the game has evolved so much, preparation, everything, right? And Sepp Meyer,
00:41:14
Speaker
won the World Cup, won the European Championships, three European Cup Champions League in a row. There's no doubt about who the best goalkeeper in the world was back then, right? But then, you know, you have Buffon and Zof, who kind of changed it, changed the goalkeeping, and then you have Noyet, who really changed it. So, I mean, it's
00:41:34
Speaker
It's hard to compare goalkeepers, I think, or best players in different eras. For me, I think I was having a conversation with somebody who runs the Bundesliga English account about Alex Schaeffer that I'm not there yet, but if he continues like this Neuer and keeps winning Champions Leagues and maybe Euros,
00:41:56
Speaker
you know, he's definitely throwing in his hat to be considered amongst the best of all time, for sure. Because it's one thing for him to, you know, when he came, but he was gone for four or five years because of an injury and he returned better than before, which is incredibly impressive. I know, but I think you have to you have to look at there's no doubt he's one of the all time greats and he's a pioneer in the way that you know, the sweeper keeper and the difference that he made, you know, just like
00:42:23
Speaker
you know, other players have made, you know, Beckenbauer was to as a sweeper in the defensive position like Saki was with the high press and you know, there's all these pioneers and he will always be remembered for that.
00:42:36
Speaker
But the greatest goalkeeper of all time, you know, you're looking at someone who for five years from 2010 or 2011 he joined Bayern until 2016 was, yes, the best goalkeeper in the world and an absolute phenomenon. But then for four years after that, you know, he totally fell off a cliff, partly because of the injury. But also, you know, he was in bad form as well after he came back. And then he has this amazing comeback renaissance last season for one year. And now all of a sudden, people just forget about the four or five years where he did absolutely nothing.
00:43:06
Speaker
And you know, so we basically judging him on five or six years a world-class level when you compare that to some of these other pass goalkeepers but fun especially who you know was world-class really for almost 20 years really 15 to 20 years until yes the last few years he's old and he's just you know, he's just you know, he's just a backup and everything but
Great Goalkeepers Debate
00:43:25
Speaker
But, you know, how can you just cannot compare the longevity of longevity of Buffon to Neuer? It's just it's just ridiculous. I think you have to wait until both of them are finished with their careers to compare. I think it's it's but I do think that if Neuer continues like this and for two, three, four, five years more, then then he's he's throwing his hat and he has a serious stake to make that claim.
00:43:48
Speaker
All right, moving on, we had Lazio give a pretty resounding L to Atalanta. Carl, you mentioned this off the bat, okay? So Atalanta, they did prioritize their upcoming Copa Italia match. But we were critical earlier in the season when they were struggling. We had some question marks about their depth.
00:44:14
Speaker
We have the Copa Italia again started this month. We have Europe starting in the coming weeks. Are we at all concerned about that again? Is that going to affect them? Because now is when all of the questions that we had about them and when they, let's be clear, I know they're flying right now, but do we remember how poorly they started the season? I mean, they were very bad.
00:44:37
Speaker
Are we at all concerned that they could fall into that sort of this lull where they just cannot manage all of these matches on a weekly basis? It's a tough one. I think everyone's in the same position, really, in that respect.
Atalanta's Depth & Copa Italia Ambitions
00:44:53
Speaker
But what I do think is that, yes, while they have a lot of depth in the attacking position, so much so that they've got rid of Papu, not played him for two months and basically not missed him at all.
00:45:05
Speaker
and actually scored more goals without him, they do lack depth in two key areas for me. One is the wing back areas. Whenever Hatterberg and or Gosens don't play, they seem to struggle. And also in central midfield, where they have basically only two central midfielders, two natural central midfielders, that's Froiler and their own. As soon as one of them goes out, all of a sudden they look very, very open
00:45:29
Speaker
uh especially on the counter attack that those two just are so important for them and in the game against Lazio they they they were not playing either of their two first choice wing backs um and i'm not sure if De Rone and Froiler played if one of them was out i can't i can't remember
00:45:45
Speaker
But, you know, they were without their first choice wing backs and, you know, that's a completely dominated the game. They scored three. They could have had five or six. I think they also hit the post and Lazary missed a one on one. Milikovich Savage went twice, went close twice. You know, Lazio were really completely dominant. And, you know, shout out to Lazio as well. They've now won five games in a row.
00:46:09
Speaker
and they were right back in the top four race. They looked out of it. I mean, we almost wrote them off, you know, not long ago. And now they're right in form themselves. So, yeah, I think it's a bit of both. And you do also have to take into account the fact that Atalanta rested players and Lazio prioritised the league. In the Coppa Italia game last midweek, which Atalanta won,
00:46:30
Speaker
it was Lazio who rested all their first team players whereas this time Lazio played basically their first choice team and Atalanta rested some players so you have to take that into account as well. I think for sure I think given that Simona has already won the Copa Italia and the Super Copa you know it's more important for him to get this Lazio to the Champions League more consistently while Atalanta although they're not throwing the race for the Champions League they looked at this and said we need to have a trophy to kind of
00:46:58
Speaker
You know mark our great form and I think they really want to go for that Champions League trophy. It's our your copitalia trophy because they you know, they don't have that and I think they I think that's something that they really want to do because It would it would really put the really put the cherry on the on the icing on the cake wouldn't it to win something with this fantastic team
00:47:22
Speaker
but Lazio Simone, I mean, this is who I want to replace Antonio Conte. I've said it a hundred times. He's shown it. He's shown what a good coach he is. He's ready to take that step. And it wouldn't even be that much of a change because he kind of uses the same formation as Antonio Conte as well. So this is my guy. I'm comfortable to say that this is my guy. I want to see him in the next season.
00:47:49
Speaker
Elsewhere, we had Torino and Fioretina draw 1-1. Inter, they handled. Benevento 4-0. Roma defeated Verona last night. 3-1. Juve defeated Samp. 2-0. And Calieri, how? Mister di Francesco, for my word.
00:48:11
Speaker
They draw to Sasualo one-to-one at home. He was given a contract extension. They haven't won in 13 match days. And they announced it immediately after a loss. I don't even care about the renewal. I care about the timing of the announcement. Only Cal Yeti would do that. It is unbelievable. But before we move on to Baggio and Ventura of the Week,
00:48:35
Speaker
we have to talk about my main man, Mattia Destro, okay?
Mattia Destro's Surprising Form
00:48:40
Speaker
A guy who was, he's a meme, okay? He is a meme player. Roma, his best goal scoring season of his career, he had a knee injury, he comes back, and he looks like he weighs, you know, again, this is an anti-body shaming podcast, so I'm not going to speculate on what the actual number was, but
00:49:04
Speaker
He didn't look like a footballer, that's for sure. You could even debate that even now he doesn't really look like a footballer, but now he's scoring goals. Guys, this is unbelievable. It defies logic, it defies anything you have ever known, any preconceived notion that you had about football. Nine goals, nine goals for Mattia Destro, and
00:49:30
Speaker
The interesting thing with him is I've always thought he was talented. I swear. I'm not going to sit here and say that I predicted this, but I always thought that he was talented. I thought the move to Bologna was stupid. He lacked all the motivation in the world for that.
00:49:51
Speaker
So are we saying it? Are we saying it now? Is this the official platform where we will lead the Destro to the Azuri in the Euros? Are we taking that snap?
00:50:10
Speaker
Mattia Dester scored 9 goals in 16 games in the Serie A, not a single one has been a penalty, every single one has been from open play and I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell that he'll get to the Azzurri but if he continues like this he's headed to score around 18-19 goals.
00:50:30
Speaker
He has to be considered. There's no doubt, especially with Caputo having injury problems and being over 30 and struggling a little bit. I think, you know, Bellotti and Imobile are absolutely going. But I think as a backup striker between him and Caputo, you'll have to see at the end of the season who's in better form. I was about to say, look at everyone else beyond those two.
00:50:50
Speaker
I don't think either of them will go. I think Mancini will take Bellotti and Imoble, and I think that's pretty much nailed on, barring an injury. And then if he's going to take a third striker, I think he'll probably take someone like Moisa Kane, someone that can play on the right or the left as well. I don't think he's going to take three
00:51:09
Speaker
central strikers. I can't see that happening. Well, I mean, yeah, I think you're right. But having said that, I do want to blow my own horn and say that I did say that he was going to be the surprise of the season in the beginning in our review, in our preview of the Serie A show, of this, of the Italian football podcast ahead of the Serie A. I did say that he's going to be that because I, you know, he's been at Genoa before. He's happy there. He knows the club.
00:51:38
Speaker
And Genoa are, you know, they play a kind of football that suits him because they attack space and he's the kind of striker who does well for teams that attack the space. And I think he'll score around 15 to 20 goals, but I don't think he'll go to the nationality, even though I am launching.
00:52:06
Speaker
Let's get to the Bajo and Ventura of the Week.
00:52:19
Speaker
Alright, Carlo, you're going to take our bajo of the week. Who is it for you? Yeah, actually, I've got a couple. First of all, I have to go federally cook. He really...
00:52:29
Speaker
Badger of the month, really, I would say, because he scored again. He scored the opening goal for Juventus in their win. Five goals in January. Fantastic month. You know, remember those two goals against Milan. And he's proven to be a really excellent bias as we all to blow all our horns. We've proven to be an excellent bias. We all predicted here at the start where we were in the minority. Everybody was hammering him when Juventus bought him. You know, what a waste of money. They should have got a lot of cleaning. They should have got a lot of cleaning.
00:52:59
Speaker
Yeah, he's Orcelini's better, he's the new Bernadeschi, he can't cross. Fourteen goal contributions this season, eight goals and six assists. Now, for someone who doesn't even start every week, for someone at a new club, I think that's for a young player who only just turned 23, that's really, really impressive.
00:53:18
Speaker
And he's proven to be a really, really important player for Juventus, given him that pace and that energy. And now he's scoring goals. He's making those late runs. He's improving his game intelligence, which no doubt is a weakness of his. So, yeah, well done to him. And just as an honorable mention, I'm going to have to say, Giorgenio, we had Nizar Kinsela, the Chelsea journalist on last week, great podcast, which you can listen on our Patreon page. And he told us that Giorgenio was
00:53:48
Speaker
was going to be the big winner from from Thomas Tuchel replacing Frank Lampard and we've seen that in his first two games. Giorginio has been really really impressive in the midfield and the weekend win, on Sunday especially, against Burnley he was absolutely outstanding, totally run the show, midfield created four chances, had a hand in the first goal. That's really good news as well for La Nacional ahead of the Euros.
00:54:13
Speaker
Alright, Ventura of the Week. Nima, it was the almost WWE display that we were treated to in the Darby. I have to say I loved that Darby because, and I've spoken to journalists, colleagues and who are Milan fans who all agree that that Darby was, this is what we, this is the Milan Darby we grew up with. The only thing missing to make that the perfect Darby was the 82,000 people.
00:54:39
Speaker
making the San Siro feel like a spaceship about to descend into space. That's the only thing missing. But the match itself was absolutely phenomenal. It was a classic Darby. It had everything. It had drama on and off the pitch. It had the referee getting injured and being substituted. I mean, you had everything. But unfortunately, what we saw
00:55:05
Speaker
the Ventura of the week is is this as we said this is taking things out of context and creating this is great this is when you know you I'm only saying this because I can say it because my family in Italy is all like this not a word of English okay not a word I can insult them to their face and they you know they don't know what the hell I'm saying am I you know I might as well be speaking in Martian
00:55:30
Speaker
credit to all of the boomer, my fellow Italian boomers, who do not know a word of English, and misconstrued everything that was said during that exchange between those two. Right, Nima? I mean, some of the translations I was seeing was top level just, oh, wow. Okay. Well, the ironic thing, you know,
00:55:50
Speaker
The ironic thing in all of this is that, I'm not saying your family is this, but I mean, I know people, I saw people on Twitter who I know have been racially abusing Slaton Ibrahimovic and every Balkan player for the last decade using derogatory terms about Romani people to describe them. The same people who wanted to, who a year ago were supportive of the Curvanord
00:56:11
Speaker
who wanted when they put out that disgusting statement explaining trying to explain to Romelu Lukaku how monkey chants he'd suffered against Kalyari were not racist but they were just jokes and he should you know suck it up and have a stiff upper lip about it. You know these same people are now clutching their grandmother's pearls saying that Zlatan Ibrahimovic comment about voodoo
00:56:33
Speaker
about him doing about Lukaku doing his voodoo crap is is racist when in fact it has nothing to do with that it's it's a it's a reference to a story when when Lukaku signed for I think was united and he could have signed for ever Everton and the Everton owner Farhad Moshiri of course every good story has an Iranian in it decided to to put out a really stupid really ridiculous statement saying that he didn't sign for Everton because Lukaku was on a spiritual trip in Africa
00:57:03
Speaker
And a voodoo priest told him not to sign for for Everton Which is ridiculous and that that has That has racial undertones for sure But what Ibrahimovich was referring to was that story? And he was getting under his skin and I got to say I liked that they got in each other's faces I absolutely loved it. I thought it was brilliant because it added a spice to this You know, it's spice man. I love this. I
00:57:31
Speaker
Yeah, me too. I can't believe people were upset by it. Give me a break. I like the fact that they got in each other's faces. There are two alpha males who want to win, and they both are the marquee signings. They used to be teammates. I think probably both of them were embarrassed because they have children the way they reacted, and they forgot about the whole thing without the crowd.
00:57:54
Speaker
Everyone can hear word, verbatim what you're saying. And this thing was just taken out of context. And now the prosecutor of the Italian FA has opened up an investigation into both of them. And I can tell you what will happen. I can tell you what will happen now. Given the fake moral outrage that everyone has created, Lukaku is probably looking at three to five games suspension and Ibrahimovic at 10 games.
00:58:21
Speaker
Congratulations Uwe, you've just won your 10th Scudetto. Well done. It may be Coppa Italia though, won't it? No, it doesn't matter. It might be in Serie A. It will be in Serie A because it was bringing the game into disrepute and it was a domestic competition. I mean, if it's only limited to Coppa Italia, then fine. I don't see that happening because they're already suspended automatically in that competition. My understanding is that it will only be Coppa Italia, man.
00:58:44
Speaker
We'll see. We'll see. I think that be given that this is a that they're trying to try it as a racial attack and also the fact that Lukaku is allegedly has said that he's going to shoot Slaton and his wife in the head. That's a death threat. So said that. Well, that's what's been reported that Lukaku allegedly said that to him of it. So I'm going to shoot you in the head. And and to me, I mean, you know, I wasn't set on the pitch, but
00:59:07
Speaker
Well, no, it was. It was apparently that's what was said on the way to the tunnel when you listen to the audio. That's that's that's allegedly what's been said. And that's that's what's going to be investigated and not going to be investigated now, apparently. And I think the whole thing is just ridiculous. Can I can I just play devil's advocate just for one moment here now with the absence of context, which is everything in any situation, especially when it comes to racism. Right. I still think it was a stupid thing for Zlatan to say because
00:59:37
Speaker
There are negative tropes with Africans or players of African descent with voodoo. I mean, that is a negative trope. So we know, yes, I absolutely agree. It was done with reference to that story. And for that reason, Zlatan's intention, of course, wasn't to be racist. Anybody that knows anything about Zlatan knows that his whole career, he's fought against institutional racism, which you've already described.
01:00:06
Speaker
But at the same time, I think that Zlatan, a player of his age, should have known better, should have known, especially with the way that the world is now, with all these fake moralists and virtue signals who will cry about anything, that this was potentially going to cause problems. So I think on Zlatan's side, he was a little bit silly for saying those things. I think he was stupid. I think he shouldn't have said it.
01:00:30
Speaker
I think they were both silly. I mean, saying that you're going to shoot someone in the head and that you're going to eff his wife and him was hardly the finest moment of either of Lukaku or Ibrahimovic. But the thing is, this is trash talking in sports. For me, I don't have any issue with it. For me, the line goes with actual racism or homophobia or stuff like that.
01:00:55
Speaker
went in 2006 when the whole world collectively had a moral panic and clutched their grandmother's pearls about Materazzi. What did Materazzi say to Zidane for the great angel Zidane to lose his mind and headbutt him? It's so hypocritical. I said it back then, it doesn't matter. Trash talking is part of sports. Zidane lost his mind. Same thing here. They both, you know, Ibrahimovic wanted to destabilize Lukaku. Lukaku was already unstable because if you look at the situation,
01:01:24
Speaker
with Romanioli he's pushing his he's pushing his hand away and then they get in each other's faces so I you know the way I look at it I think they both it was it wasn't there either one of them wasn't their finest hour but it wasn't racism I don't understand it wasn't racism but it was stupid from Zlatan because he clearly planned this he planned it he wanted to clamor Lukaku's skin
01:01:46
Speaker
Yeah, it was a plan and if he and because it was planned he should have thought it through and should have thought you know what saying about voodoo is a negative trope about Africans and it was and you're gonna get but that's the thing look at Carlo we look if you look at Lukaku himself he's not offended because of that he's offended because he's talking he's mentioned his mother right yeah yeah that's what he's offended about and I'm getting a little bit tired of white people being offended on behalf of minorities
01:02:11
Speaker
Well, that's it. Listen, you don't have to, you know, you're preaching, you know, to the converted there, because at the end of the day, all this does is it actually negatively affects the movement for equality, all equality, including against, you know, not even that I saw people having discussions about should we even allow this in sport?
01:02:31
Speaker
Oh, I didn't even play professional sport. Okay. I've been told some of the most, you know, awful things and to think that that doesn't exist or to even advocate for removing that in sport. Give me a break. No, I love hearing. I love hearing that people who say that have never played sports. And that's what we're moving towards. We're moving towards, we're moving towards banning everything, censorship for anything.
01:02:57
Speaker
Now, for me, for me, that's that's part of the game. I I didn't play professionally far from it, but I I was a trash talker and I received some and I love it. It's part of the game. I'm sorry. And if you take it literally, then you have other psychological issues. You still are a trash talker. That may be true. No comment. I'm not denying or confirming. All right. Well, before we ask you to repeat some of the things you said, let's let's go to our user questions very quickly.
Dzeko-Sanchez Transfer Discussion
01:03:27
Speaker
All right. Again, thank you for everybody for submitting your questions. The first one is from pep barone via Instagram. And he asks if the Jekyll Alexi Sanchez transfer had gone through, who would have benefited more ink dead or a Roma for me, I would have just thought everybody loses because it's one of the stupid transfer rumors that I've ever heard. Thank you, Tom. Thank you. I think. Yeah. Nima doesn't even have to answer. Everybody loses. Thank you.
01:03:57
Speaker
Alright, next one is from Chris from Wakefield who asks, Following the transfer of Brian Reynolds to Roma, who could the next American be to move to the Serie A? The attention and performance of young Americans in Italy and Europe is huge in moving the game forward here.
01:04:16
Speaker
So again, I apologize only because I do not watch the US men's national team. I don't watch MLS. So I am not whatsoever even the within the top million people who would have good insight into this as far as who the next young American player to arrive in the city could be.
01:04:35
Speaker
However, if we are basing it off of the extremely small sample size
McKennie's Success at Juventus
01:04:40
Speaker
that we do have at our disposal, I believe, other than McKinney, the only other American to play in the city, I was Michael Bradley, if I'm not mistaken. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong in that regard.
01:04:52
Speaker
McKinney obviously has been one of the most impressive arrivals so far in the city. I think you've did a great operation with him in the deal that they got with Shaka in acquiring him. He hasn't really required much time to adapt so that's obviously been very very positive to see.
01:05:12
Speaker
and then before that I believe the only other name is Michael Bradley and he did get a decent run of matches in the year and a half that he was at the club now 2012-2013 that was probably one of the worst Roma sides over the past decade and maybe even longer very very very bad Grazia Zeman
01:05:34
Speaker
But Bradley did do well at Kievo, very, very well in fact. So I don't know if moving to Roma was necessarily the correct decision on his behalf because he left not long thereafter to go back to America and play his football.
01:05:54
Speaker
It's difficult to judge. The sample size is so, so small. But of course, I'm sure if you are a supporter of the US men's national team, seeing these youngsters moving abroad at a younger age, it certainly has to be a positive thing. And in Reynolds' case, you had Roma, you had Juve, you had Bruges all vying for his signature. So it's very, very positive.
01:06:22
Speaker
I would advise people to listen to the interview with Jimmy Conrad, where we actually asked this very question about the young Americans that are coming through in European football, in world football, because it's definitely a good time. We've seen a lot of young Americans, very talented, playing in big teams and big leagues now. Not just the two, Mckenny and Reynolds, but you know, Puducic, Puducic and Chelsea,
01:06:49
Speaker
Yes, Serginio Desta Barcelona, you know, there's a lot of young Americans more than there's ever been before, really. And I think it's definitely, yeah, definitely, there's definitely a trend there.
01:07:01
Speaker
I like it. I like that the USA and Canada are producing good players now because it's the world's game now, really. And the North America is a big part of the world. So I like it. The more players we have from the more diverse parts of the world and the more parts of the world, the better it is for the game. I love it. Bring it on. For sure.
01:07:20
Speaker
Our patron Aaron LaRusso asks, who is this Manchester City Wonder Kid that Udinese has signed? All of Europe's top clubs wanted him, and he ends up joining Udinese. Very weird. That is a very accurate description. Carlos, shed some light on this.
Udinese's Recruitment Strategy
01:07:40
Speaker
Very weird. When I saw, I was covering the story yesterday, actually, and when I saw it come through, I was like, what the hell is going on here? It's like,
01:07:47
Speaker
it's a loan but Udinese have got the option to sign in for nine million and he's regarded as Manchester City's most promising academy player right now that you know that hasn't played for the first team yet he was their their under 23 player of the season last season they signed him from PSV a couple of years ago and he's regarded like
01:08:10
Speaker
as a huge huge talent he's been labeled the new Jaden Sancho he's actually been asked that question are you the new Jaden Sancho and he's a winger very fast you know that type that type Jaden Sancho, Leroy Sane type of player
01:08:30
Speaker
Very exciting things broke down for him with with Manchester City this season He was unhappy that he wasn't getting he's only 18. He wasn't getting enough chances to play and train with the first team Pep Guardiola actually came out publicly and told him to be patient that that annoyed him even more and Basically, he's pretty much been frozen out for the last few months hasn't played for the under 23 as much at all this season and
01:08:53
Speaker
and he decided around about a month ago that he was going to leave and there was a big interest. Brucie Dortmund wanted to sign in but there's big interest from from a lot of the big European clubs Manchester United, Barcelona, a lot of interest in this guy and Verudanese to get him. Very very strange because you know they're not
01:09:12
Speaker
that and if it was 10 years ago I'd be like absolutely because you know we saw Udinese who were one of the best teams in Europe about a decade ago producing young talent developing young talent a bit like Atalanta, Atalanta Sasuolo are now you know and they had like Alexis Sanchez, Aston Moa, Hamdanovic, Gokan Inla, there's a lot didn't there there's a lot more players that I've probably forgotten about.
01:09:35
Speaker
So, yes, very, very, very strange, very, very strange sign in. But, you know, going to be exciting. I haven't seen anything of him, but people I've spoken to talk about him very, very highly. Dutch, Dutch, Dutch youngster. Looking forward to seeing him. How long before setting foot in Udine? Does he realize what the hell have I done?
01:09:55
Speaker
no come on i mean let's let's let's remember the Pozzo family may be more interested in Watford because there's more money there but let's not forget who runs Udenese and that's Pierpaolo Marino who is probably one of the, y-hold is one of the best directori sport tv who's ever worked in italian football so let's not
01:10:13
Speaker
I'm not so surprised. I'm more impressed that's classic Marino at his best and I'm impressed because and I'm happy to see that because I want to see what Marino can do if he can have another Renaissance because he that man knows how to build the football team for sure.
01:10:29
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And we all agreed that we have really stagnated over recent years. So there's a reason to watch them now, because even today, if you try to stomach one of their matches simply to watch Rodrigo with the power, it's.
01:10:45
Speaker
It requires some medication, is all I can say. Yeah, it requires some outside assistance. I mean, again, they already have one of the best goalkeepers in the Serie A as well. I mean, they do well. They do well. They have a good structure in place.
01:11:03
Speaker
Okay, the next one is for you, Nima. Majin Tenchi. He asks, besides Inted, are there other clubs who did not pay their players for a few months? It's quite a few. I mean, it's not. I mean, Lazio, didn't Luis Alberto got into trouble when he posted on Instagram. He went on Instagram. He said, you look at them, they can't pay our wages, but they buy an airplane. Which I thought was absolutely hilarious. But
01:11:31
Speaker
I mean, in top 10 of bitchy comments, that is definitely up there. But no, this is something that all clubs have, you know, they've either renegotiated the contracts to lower the players' wages, I think Juventus did that, or they've had to ask the players to, you know, not
01:11:50
Speaker
not get paid and allow them to pay their regular staff who don't have millions in the bank and find an agreement there. So it's a liquidity issue for all clubs. It's not just Inter. The issue is that given that Inter has a Chinese owner and given that the Chinese government has imposed restrictions on investment in football generally and especially football abroad being considered a luxury,
01:12:16
Speaker
They soon have to bring in, are looking to sell the club or to bring in a business partner to help raise revenue and to meet this liquidity issue, which we also addressed, I think it was last week or the podcast before that, that, you know, soon make their money from real estate and retail. And these two businesses have been really hit hard by this, the financial effects of the COVID pandemic. So it's, I'm not, I'm not worried at all in all there. And they've already paid the players.
01:12:45
Speaker
for august and july and the next payments i think they're they're kind of agreeing with the they've agreed with the club with the players to to postpone them until the end of the season and and there's no issue there all right last one is for you carlo it's from our patron fahad al-qadi and he says i would love to hear your takes on the european super league and how that would affect cydia if it goes through
01:13:13
Speaker
Well, simple. It would be the death of not only Sadia, but it'd be the death of football. I've been pretty clear about that from day one. I mean, it's disgusting. I think the damage that this will do to the game. I mean, it depends how it will be structured for starters. But my understanding is what they've been trying to push is basically a closed
01:13:39
Speaker
uh or semi-closed european super league whereby Let's say it's an 18 team league 14 or 15 of these teams would basically the founding members would be There'd be no promotional relegation for these teams. They would be In it every single year. So you're talking about, you know, the the super clubs uh, you know from you from italy that would be from my understanding it would be eventus inter in milan and
01:14:07
Speaker
whether or not there's gonna be any possibility for other teams to get into the league. It depends on the structure, but if these teams are not gonna be in a national league, if let's say Juventus, Inter and Milan are gonna be in the European Super League, but they're not gonna be in Serie A anymore, I mean, it completely kills, completely kills Serie A because the money is not gonna be there in Serie A anymore. It's just gonna lead to so many clubs
01:14:37
Speaker
completely folded and especially with everything that's happening with the pandemic as well that they're using that as an excuse. I mean for me it's like the big supermarkets destroying the local shop owners. This puts most of the non-super clubs out of business and it's pure greed. Arsene Wenger said this, it's all about the greed of the super clubs, it's all about the richer owners getting richer and richer and richer at the expense of the poor
01:15:05
Speaker
And it will be the end of football because the beauty of football
01:15:11
Speaker
is, and I know we've got a comment on this after, which John's gonna read out, but the beauty of football is the magic that it's for everyone. It's for the small clubs and the big clubs. No one's more important than in it. And the chance, there's always a chance, you can always dream, however small you are. You're a small club that you could do a Leicester City and win the Premier League, or you could somehow,
01:15:40
Speaker
beat the big giant. That has been disappearing now for step by step for years, especially over the last 10, 15 years. That has been starting to fall away as money has completely dominated the game. But the Super League would be the final nail in the coffin for that. You would just see so many clubs, not just in Serie A, but further down the period.
01:16:04
Speaker
said he achieved these clubs would just completely go out of business and and it would be the end of them so you know we have to anybody that really loves football has to fight against this and stop
European Super League Concerns
01:16:16
Speaker
this from happening
01:16:16
Speaker
With a group of so many knowledgeable and smart individuals, I can't believe this is even being taken under consideration. I can't even believe we're having the conversation. No, look, I think this is leverage from the big clubs towards UEFA and FIFA. They're using this as leverage to use in negotiations.
01:16:39
Speaker
This thing comes around every 10-20 years. I remember Beckenbauer famously in the 90s said that, you know, a super league is inevitable. And, you know, they do this every now and again to use as leverage against the FIFA and UEFA to get into a better bargaining position.
01:17:00
Speaker
And I think the COVID-19 pandemic has the effects of that financially has kind of added to that. But FIFA has been clear. If you play in a non-FIFA approved tournament, they'll expel the players from the World Cup and the Euros. So I think that's the tool they're going to use.
01:17:22
Speaker
um so the clubs won't you know that and that you know who would want to if you can't play in the world cup that's the biggest stage so you know that's still the biggest stage in in world football so i think as long as that's true i think that'll keep the clubs calm but to me the way i read it it's basically leverage they're they're just trying to position themselves andre anelli was you know it was quite clear when he's you know in his speech at the at that forum when he said that look
01:17:48
Speaker
The way he worded it, the way I interpreted it, what he's saying is basically, we want to get paid more. We think you, UEFA, are taking too much of a cut. That's the way I interpreted it. That was his way of saying that we, the clubs who do the work, are not getting paid as much as we should. And I think that's what this is all about.
01:18:07
Speaker
I think that every single time, even if it is just leverage, it is to the detriment of this equality that I just talked about. Because the last time they tried to do this, like you said, when Beckenbauer 20 years ago, at the end of the 90s, it led to this big expanded Champions League. And now we've seen in the last years, I mean, like Italy are getting four spots every single year, and they go straight to the group stage, which was a recent change. Every time they do this, and they use this as leverage, it results in
01:18:36
Speaker
the rich, the super clubs, basically just getting a free pass, and almost getting automatic access to to the Champions League. And it results in not only the smaller clubs, but the smaller leagues, you know, just not having a chance anymore. You know, the teams that were winning Champions League not long ago, like, like Red Star, Belgrade, and style Bucharest, and, and, you know, I
01:19:00
Speaker
Yeah, even even clubs from big leagues, though, actually big clubs like Ajax and historic clubs like Marseille that we mentioned before, you know, that now we're laughing at them for Eric Millik joining them, you know, this is where football is going because of this greed. For sure. You're 100% spot on. In the end, it comes down to one thing, and it is money. And that typically seems to be the case with everything when it comes to football nowadays.
01:19:24
Speaker
Before we go, I have to read a brief message here from one of our patrons, Derek Favretto, who left us a really nice note. And we're not doing this to toot our own horn, I guess you would say, but just to know that we appreciate everyone who has supported us, who has been listening to us.
01:19:39
Speaker
Derek says, hi guys, I just wanted to say that your podcast really helped me get through these times. I'm having a difficult time during this pandemic.
Pandemic Reflections & Gratitude
01:19:47
Speaker
My fiance's family is in Switzerland, and mine is in Italy, and not being able to travel and being locked down once again has been tough. Cultural has been a source of great escape for me. So, gracia, mille. And Derek, thank you, and thank you to everybody else who has been supporting us throughout these last few months.
01:20:07
Speaker
We know that it's been difficult for just about everybody, no matter where you are in the world, you have been somehow affected by this pandemic. So we thank you for listening. We appreciate it so, so much. We thank you for supporting. And if we were able to take you away from the harsh realities of life for
01:20:27
Speaker
40, 50 minutes to an hour. It has been an absolute pleasure on our behalf because we really enjoy doing this. We've had a great time doing it. We're going to continue to do it. And we just hope that you enjoy the content as much as we enjoy making it.
Conclusion & Upcoming Content Note
01:20:43
Speaker
So thank you, Derek. Thank you to everybody else. That is where we're going to leave it. We will be back on Thursday. So we will chat with you in a few days. Until then, bye-bye.