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Full Episode - Serie A Season Preview (Ep. 52)
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Structure
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast with John Solano, Carlo Garganese and Nima Tuvali.
00:00:24
Speaker
Hello, everyone. We are here. It is the very first show of the Italian football podcast. We are so, so excited to be coming to you today for the very first time. We are going to be doing this on a biweekly basis. We'll be doing this twice per week. We will have.
00:00:41
Speaker
a review show like we've done in the past on the city show and then the thing we're going to be changing up and that we're super excited to be bringing to you is on Thursdays we will be having an interview show we will be having somebody from the world of football players former managers current managers family members someone who is connected to the football world in any way shape or form we will be doing various interviews with them
00:01:05
Speaker
and bringing you different content than what you've seen from us in the past. So very, very, very excited to get started
Meet the Team: Nima and Carlo
00:01:12
Speaker
with that. And the ones who will be joining alongside me every single time are a familiar face, Nima Tavali. Nima, this is new for us. How are you?
00:01:22
Speaker
Yeah, it is new for us. I'm really excited. We, you know, we've been working on this for quite some time in the background and, you know, behind the curtains. And I'm really excited to be rolling to roll this out now with all the hard work becoming, you know, it's materializing. I'm really excited. And you've been teasing who are new, who the third musketeer is going to be.
00:01:43
Speaker
After some small changes, so since you've, well, for anybody who hasn't seen it on social media, go ahead, Nima, introduce him. Well, he is my, I call him my favorite gobo in the world. And he is. He's also an absolutely brilliant Italian football expert and broadcaster who has over 15 years of experience building, working with some of the biggest outlets in the world. Mr. Carlo Garganese. Carlo, welcome.
00:02:11
Speaker
Oh, it's great to be with you. Thanks for that glowing introduction. Oh, yeah. So we were told because, you know, we were told Interfan Roma supporter, Roma rider, Inter rider, you guys have to get a Uventino on here. Obviously, the most popular club in Italy. What the hell are you guys thinking? And well, finally, we've got one.
00:02:33
Speaker
Yeah, we got one. We got the one. Nima did a great job tapping me up and he's shown himself to be a fantastic transfer director. A bit like Insta's transfer director, I think. I think that's mean. I think I did better than Arturo Vidal in 2020. I'd say I've got, I'd say I actually concluded the Sandro Tonali deal. That's where I would go with that.
00:02:57
Speaker
Oh, come on, you've got Kalusevsky. We're going to get to this. You see, we can't wait. We're so excited. We're already talking football before we even said we'll be talking football. So everyone bear with us because this is new even to us.
Podcast Content and Community Building
00:03:10
Speaker
This is going to be very, very different. So like I said, after on Mondays, after the matches are played, you're going to hear from us review
00:03:18
Speaker
we'll talk transfers results all that good stuff and then on thursdays as i said this is going to be much different what we were doing previously we were we were sort of you know it was very hectic for us because you had matches midweek and then we're doing reviews on mondays and thursdays now we're just making this very very simple mondays we'll do reviews from the matches within the previous seven days and then thursdays
00:03:41
Speaker
We'll be doing interviews with, we've already done, I should say two interviews already, both of which were absolutely fantastic. So I can't wait to get them published. And then again, we'll be bringing you interviews with people from all over the football world. Not just players, not just managers can be presidents. It can be sporting directors, family members of footballers, just even if they're slightly connected to the football world.
00:04:03
Speaker
We are going to bring them to you and that is something we are very excited to do because again It could get a little dry right guys talking the same transfer stuff twice per week so I think we wanted to differentiate ourselves a little bit and That's what we're aiming to do
00:04:18
Speaker
So, the episodes for the month of September for everybody are going to be free. You'll be getting our normal review episode and you'll be getting our normal interview episode. After that, starting in October, you can go to Patreon.com slash T-I-F-P. Again, Patreon.com slash T-I-F-P.
00:04:40
Speaker
and you can gain access to all of the episodes for $2.99 per month. Now we will be making one episode per month free to everybody and you'll be able to find that on all the platforms as you've been finding us in the past, Apple, Google, Spotify, all of the normal ones where you've been able to find us previously.
00:04:59
Speaker
But also, when you sign up with us on Patreon, you're not just getting all the episodes of the podcast. I think one thing that I was looking to do with this is, Nima, you and I discuss this, especially sort of at length. You have a website dedicated to Inted. I have a website dedicated to Roma.
00:05:17
Speaker
But you and I have contacts, and Carlo does as well, we have contacts and we can get stories that don't just relate to the clubs we primarily write about. For me, and I told Nima this about a week and a half, two weeks ago, I mean, I am sitting on probably about a dozen transfer stories that I'm dying to get out there, but I have nowhere to publish them.
00:05:39
Speaker
you know, it would be easy for me to go to, you know, these other million transfer websites, but they publish 30 of them per day. So what I'm bringing and what you would be, you know, what Nima would be writing, what Carla would be writing would easily get lost in the shuffle. So this way,
00:05:56
Speaker
you're finding our content from us. It could be exclusive stuff, you know, interviews with an agent that we're doing about a player who could be moving. You'll be finding that all on Patreon. So again, this is sort of a new endeavor for all of us just because now it's we have a place to store all of our content that we have and we're not having to rely on an outside website for that. And
00:06:21
Speaker
Again, Nima, you know, you've written stories on Swedish players who are being linked to like Bologna. You know, of course you're not going to put that on Sempre Inter.
00:06:30
Speaker
No, it's not it's not relevant. I mean, I've done interviews with US former US men's national team players and, you know, all sorts of, you know, former Swedish players who played in Italy or, you know, if I get to do a transfer story, like you said, about a Bologna player, then then obviously I'm not going to put that on Semperinte because it's not content relevant. So we're going to put that we're basically building a community about Italian football that the three of us can just you know, that we're going to do.
00:06:56
Speaker
focus entirely on Italian football and continue doing what we do otherwise with raw mining and all that other stuff.
00:07:04
Speaker
Yeah, and again, I think for me, just from my own, I guess, selfish points of view, I was starting to get frustrated because I would come across stories. For instance, one of the first things I will be putting on our Patreon is this situation involving Verona defender, Cumbula, who's been linked to a lot of clubs. I've gotten in with some people in his entourage, and I've gotten some really good information on this story, but the thing is, I have nowhere to put it.
00:07:33
Speaker
Again, you and I Nima, we could go to a billion different websites. However, that's just not something that interests me. It doesn't interest you. Carlo, that doesn't interest him too. So this way we all have a place to put the things that we want to discuss that day. If we come across a great interview, something exclusive about a player who's moving, whether it's in Italy or abroad, now we have a place to put it. So again, you're not just getting podcasts. You're also getting a lot of the exclusive writing and information
00:08:02
Speaker
that we will be writing especially just for our patreon so again patreon.com slash T I F P you will get the podcast you will get writing from us and you will also be able to participate with us in the show by asking questions you'll be able to come on and ask questions for our guests who will be interviewing on the Thursday show so it's not just again it's not just podcasts you're getting a lot more than that so
00:08:26
Speaker
Having said that guys, let's start out with the first segment.
Serie A Preview: Juventus Focus
00:08:30
Speaker
Let's get to the football stuff now. So let's start now with our season preview for the upcoming 2020-2021 Serie A season.
00:08:43
Speaker
Okay, so here's what we're going to do, guys. We are going to preview the upcoming season. We're going to go by all of the bigger teams. We're going to discuss who we think qualifies for the Champions League, Europa League. We will also discuss best transfer, worst transfer. So let's get started. We've got a lot to get to. Let's start out at the top. The reigning champions, Carlo. What are you expecting this season from Juve?
00:09:09
Speaker
Well, it's going to be a fascinating season for Juventus, mainly because their new coach, Andrea Pirlo, we just don't know what to expect from him. He's somebody who has never coached before. I think he's only just about getting his coaching badges.
00:09:27
Speaker
He's only had one game with Juventus, a friendly on Sunday, which was a 5-0 win against Novara. So we don't really know what to expect from Pirlo. It's a big, big gamble from Juventus.
00:09:42
Speaker
We saw them last season, even though they won a ninth Scudetto in a row, we saw that they were an aging team, a declining team, a team who, in my opinion, really were there for the taking, for other teams in Serie A, and they just about got over the line.
00:10:01
Speaker
So I think it's going to be a very competitive Serie A. I think it's going to be the most competitive Serie A at the top for over a decade. And when I look at Juventus specifically, they've managed to, I think, improve their midfield, which has been a real problem area for them for the last three to four years. They've brought in Arthur from Barcelona. They brought in Weston McKenney from Schalke. He was actually man of the match in the friendly against Navarro. It was very, very good.
00:10:30
Speaker
and obviously the big exciting sign in his Dejan Kulesevsky from Atalanta, big things expected from him. They managed to get rid of some of the older players Higuain, Matuidi, Pjanic,
00:10:46
Speaker
So I think they have slightly improved Juve. They're trying to sign a number nine. Luis Suarez should arrive at the club. I think if he does I would still make Juventus favourites for the Scudetto this season because I think if you look at their front line Ronaldo, Di Bala,
00:11:03
Speaker
Luis Suarez, there's a lot of goals there and those goals will be enough to make them the team to beat again in the Serie A title race. But with regards to the Champions League, I think they may struggle again because I look at their, again, look at their front line and there's no pace there, there's no real threat in behind, there's no pressing. And I think that's what's important in the Champions League. We saw that with buying, winning the Champions League.
00:11:29
Speaker
So yeah, I think Juventus favourites for the Scudetto, but may struggle again in the Champions League. Okay, now hold on. I have to troll him a bit because you just said they got rid of all the older players, yet Pirlo is pushing to acquire one of either Jekyll or Luis Suarez, who are 33 and 34 respectively.
00:11:49
Speaker
Now, the thing that, from a UAV perspective, the thing that makes me a bit apprehensive about them, is I think they are just like Roma, I think they're just like Napoli, I think they have to offload so many players this summer, and given how odd the market is, I think it's nearly impossible.
00:12:11
Speaker
However, this thing with Jekyll, and I could just tell you because I spoke to someone in his entourage literally yesterday about this, this thing is actually heating up and I think we'll see something hopefully this week. Listen, I like Jekyll, hugely important player for Roma, one of the most important in their entire history.
00:12:32
Speaker
Does he really move the needle though for Juve in your opinion? Now I know, obviously with Ncidia, highly respected. If you bring Jeko though to Juve, is he the thing though that really puts them over the edge for the champions? Like obviously again, Ncidia, I think, I still think they're the favorites and I think Nima you would probably agree with that too.
00:12:53
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, Juva, Juva are without a shadow of a doubt the favorites. I think with the midfield, I mean, they've gotten rid of Higuain and, and, um, Matoidi and, and Kidiras on his way out as well. I mean, I, I don't, I don't see an issue here. I think if you look at Juva's central midfield, Rabio, Ramsey, Bentanko, Artur, Koulousevski can play there because he can play everywhere. He doesn't have a position. He's, he's so damn.
00:13:17
Speaker
versatile, that we really don't know if the wing is his best. He personally prefers to play as a tréquartista, as he said so many times. So, no, and then you've got Douglas Costa. Now, Juve are, without a shadow of a doubt, the favorites to win this codetto. Now, as far as the Champions League concerns, I mean, the Jekyll thing I've been thinking about quite a bit, because Inter have been linked to that as well. And to me, that I'm not as...
00:13:46
Speaker
I think that Jeko is a better fit than Higuaines because Higuaines doesn't give you what, you know, if you're playing these games, you need someone with the presence of Edin Jeko up front, similar to what Lewandowski did for Bayern Munich.
00:14:03
Speaker
His work rate is incredible. His work rate is incredible. He would bring a level, just something that they just do not possess. Incredible work rate. In a way, he's like Manjukic, isn't he? Like in the way that he never stops running and he's the leader on and off the pitch. And that's a little bit what you've ever been lacking. And I think that, no, I honestly got to say, even if they don't get Luis Suarez, if they get it in Jeko, I still think they're going to win the Serie A. I still think they're going to go far in the Champions League because
00:14:32
Speaker
You know, Jeko, Jeko or Suarez, together with Dibala and Cristiano Ronaldo will rip this league apart nine times a week. Like it is no discussion about that. So, so I, I, you know, again, I just, I have no doubts. I really have no doubts about you, but for me, they are the clear favorite. I think Jeko would be a better sign in for Cristiano Ronaldo. Definitely. I think Jeko is better at Suarez with his back to goal, bringing others into play.
00:15:01
Speaker
be in the wall for Ronaldo, be in the sacrificial lamb for Ronaldo that Karim Benzema played so well at Real Madrid. I think Jekka would be a better sign in, but ultimately, whether Jekka arrives or whether Suarez arrives, it's not going to be enough for the Champions League. I think we've seen in Europe
00:15:22
Speaker
Certainly last season, the teams that do the best are those that have got players with lots of intensity, lots of pace and movement in attack. And Juventus just don't have that up front. And we saw what Bayern did to a Barcelona front line with no pace at all. So I don't think Juventus have enough in that respect to really challenge in the Champions League. OK, Nima.
Inter Milan's Strategy and Transfers
00:15:48
Speaker
go ahead no we have to we have to we have to we have to no if we have if we have to listen to content you have to speak about it so go well i mean it's it's been it's been weird it's been very weird um and i um i gotta say i this this this whole thing the way the way it kind of panned out after the season with the
00:16:15
Speaker
with a meeting in that villa that is a historic place for Inter. I don't know, I haven't seen confirmed reports if it's Massimo Morati's villa, but it's a villa that Massimo Morati used a lot when he was in charge of Inter making his decisions. And they all met there. Marotta, the two CEOs, Antonello and Marotta,
00:16:36
Speaker
with Piero Ozilio, Antonio Conte and Steven Zhang, and it's clear that during that meeting, based on what everything that's come out since and what they've said and done, it's very clear that during that meeting, Suning made it absolutely clear that we've already spent 70 million euros, they're going to buy Stefano, they redeemed Stefano Sensi, they bought Ashraf Hakeem for 40 million, and there were payments left to Juan Barrella.
00:16:57
Speaker
And in a Corona COVID year with the finances taking the hits that they have for all clubs, you can't expect Inter to spend more money without selling first. All of that is okay. But there's also another aspect of this, and that is that it's very clear that the strategy has changed. The strategy since Zooning came in was very, very clear in the sense that we're going to buy young, we're going to buy Italian, we're building for the future, and it's homegrown.
00:17:25
Speaker
That's been the messaging all along. All of a sudden after that, after Antonio Conte throws a hissy fit, it's a completely 180. Now it's Arturo Vidal, Aleksandr Kolorov, and Matija Dalmian. He must have a great football manager, say, from like 2015, because he's stuck in that year. This is a dream team FIFA, say, from 2013. And Ed and Jeko and Olivier Giroud just add more to that.
00:17:53
Speaker
He, you know, this is where this is where he wants to be. But the thing that I'm really critical about is a couple of things. First of all, the inters media strategy is a disaster here, because if you want to if you want to change your strategy, that's OK. If it's because of money, it's OK. You can even say that you can communicate and say we've already spent this much money because of covid. We can't spend much more without selling. That's fine.
00:18:17
Speaker
it's also okay to say that we had a meeting and we decided that given the the the build-up of the squad we have so many young players that we feel we need a little bit more experience to get that perfect blend between experienced players that have already won and know what it takes and young and hungry players who who aren't there quite yet that's also fine but what they did is they came out and said
00:18:39
Speaker
that, you know, with regards to the tonali thing, they came out and said that no, Conte wanted tonali, but we were the ones who said you can't have tonali because we can't afford tonali. Now, Sandro Tonali costs between 5-10 million euros and a loan with an option to buy. If a club of interest nature can't afford that, they're basically insolvent.
00:19:01
Speaker
that's the messaging you're going with that you're broke that you're that you're basically insolvent i mean that i mean it's insane and at the same time he the way that they deny it the way that auzilio a couple of weeks ago went on that that whole song and dance baghdad bob routine impression he did where he's saying that well you know um we're you know we can't afford a cante are you kidding me in your dreams fedrico quieza come on get out of here basically you
00:19:25
Speaker
You know, making that whole song and dance thing about we're so broke that, you know, I had to I had to lease this suit. I had to borrow. We can't even afford toilet paper in the in the headquarters. I mean, it was so ridiculous. And that's the messaging you're going with in Italy, where the media is already kind of hostile against you.
00:19:44
Speaker
for whatever reason that's just a fact you have to adapt the facts as they are not the way you wish they were that's how it is and you have a foreign owner and your media strategy is let's go out and say that we're so broke so that
00:19:57
Speaker
When we negotiate with clubs, they don't overcharge. You think Marina Granovska gives a rat's ass about what you tell SkySport Italia when you come knocking for Engolo Kante with nothing but a banana and a beans to pay for it? What are you talking about? She's going to say go stick it. And she will because she's right. She doesn't care. If you want Kante, pay me 50, 60 million euros. That's what it costs.
00:20:20
Speaker
I mean, there's no coherent strategy here. And I guess it's outdated as well. I mean, you can argue that it's coherent, but it was, you know, it was outdated back in the day when the biggest rock band from Sweden was Europe and their song Final Countdown was topping the charts worldwide. That's how old of a media strategy is.
00:20:41
Speaker
Oh, okay. No, it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. But having said that, they're bringing me on, they're bringing Colorado, they're
00:20:52
Speaker
They've already brought in Kakimi. You know, this is the second thing that annoys me. The pressure cooker that Inter is, is one thing normally. Now when you bring these players in, there's no excuse. He can't hide. He has to win this year. There is no excuse.
AC Milan's New Era
00:21:07
Speaker
Inter have the challenge for the scurrito, and the first four games are Fiorentina, Lazio, Mila, and Benevento. Anything less than 10 points out of 12, and Inter are in crisis already. He doesn't know what pressure means,
00:21:11
Speaker
bringing
00:21:21
Speaker
And he doesn't need, I mean, the guy's the most thin-skinned human being. Okay, before you bust your aorta, okay? Calm down. We can't have you die on the first episode, all right? So take two seconds.
00:21:39
Speaker
Let's talk about Mila now, because I know, I know, I would say most of us probably have a much different feeling about Mila. For me personally, loved, loved what they have done so far this summer. They have a project. They do. I do like how they brought in Rebić. Tonali really, really changes the complexion, at least in my opinion.
00:22:03
Speaker
Now, for me, I've said it on previous episodes and I will say it again, Pioli, come on, you have to do better. Although we've heard the same thing all summer. I understand wholeheartedly why they would keep this guy in favor of bringing in a Ranjic. I think it absolutely makes sense. You saw continuity towards the end of the season. So I don't think anybody's really going to criticize him for that. But but my thing is,
00:22:33
Speaker
Guys, I mean, is Pioli going to transform with AC Milan? Come on. No, this is a guy... No, I mean, we have a track record here, don't we? We have a track record of Fioretina, Bologna, Lazio. Everything is there. There is nothing... This old dog does not learn new tricks, this guy.
00:22:52
Speaker
Well, I mean, it's the Pioli high that we always talked about on the Serie A show. It's short and sweet. But I think that this is different because Milan have built a coherent project. There is one person in charge in that dressing room, and his name is Lata Niebrahimovic, and he's surrounded by everyone else who follow his lead. You have everyone's moving in the same direction. There's no there are not many question marks there. And the ones that the areas of the pitch where they have question marks in, they're kind of already working on it.
00:23:20
Speaker
Kumbula, Milenkovic from Fiorentina, and also, above all, Federico Chiesa. Rebic, Ibra, and Chiesa, together in front of a midfield of Tonali, Benacer, and Kesier, and Chalanoglu, you can fit in there as well. That's damn good.
00:23:37
Speaker
Carlo, you liked what they did this summer too then? I do. I think if you look at the spine of the Milan team, and especially if you look at the youngsters, I mean, I've said it a number of times now, Milan have Teo Hernandez at left back, they have Benacer and Tonali at
00:23:57
Speaker
at sentiment field and they have Donna Ruma in goal. That's four youngsters aged 22 and younger who all have the potential. It doesn't mean they'll become, but they all have the potential to become world-class players. And then when you add Zlatan Ibrahimovic, you're still playing at an incredibly high level.
00:24:15
Speaker
You look at Rebic, who I think was in the top three or five goal scorers in all of Europe in 2020, and who's exploded since Latin came. You've got Roman Joly, who's one of the better centre-backs in Europe. All of a sudden, you're seeing a Milan team that's definitely constructing a really strong team. And I think definitely they're in with a shout for Champions League place this season, which I wouldn't have said for
00:24:42
Speaker
for, well, I can't remember the last time. So, they're definitely moving in the right direction. Yeah, I completely agree. I think the mix too. Now, they did take a lot of stick for the wages that they handed out to Zlatan. And, you know, whatever, you know, if it's not your money, short term contract for me, not that big of a deal, really not that big of a deal. But I love, as you just alluded to, Carlo,
00:25:07
Speaker
love the mix of older players that they have with these younger champions. And these younger guys, I think this is a part that gets overlooked too. We are talking about guys who already have, despite their age, they have vast experience already in the city. And I think that's something that gets underlooked.
00:25:25
Speaker
I mean, it's not like they're bringing in unproven, you know, these unproven quantities within the league. These are guys who have been playing in the city for quite some time. They have a lot of appearances in the city. And I love the mix that they have. I love, love, love the mix that they have. And yeah, as you said, I wouldn't be surprised if they're in the mix for the Champions League. All right, let's go to Roma. Roma Lazio, Roma new ownership.
AS Roma's Transfer Market Moves
00:25:50
Speaker
Come on, boring market. They brought in Pedro. This was a deal that was already agreed to before Palata left. They bring him in. A 2 plus 1 contract. Pretty big wages for a guy that you would imagine does not have a very big role, although with the recent injury as Añolo, I don't know. It's difficult to know what they're going to do.
00:26:13
Speaker
Market-wise, Smalling, he's going to come. This thing is just dragging on forever. That'll happen when you have four different intermediaries enter into the mix in a negotiation. And then, within the last 48 hours, they have been once again by the also generous Mino Raiola. They have been offered Torino's Itso, who is a guy that I'm convinced you hate when you are against him, but you tend to like him.
00:26:39
Speaker
if he's on your team. I know we have thousands of Torino supporters who are listening to us so they they must love this Itso guy but he's never one to shy away from a booking so in a place like Roma I kind of don't know how much of a good fit that would be.
00:26:57
Speaker
I want to thank Roma, I want to thank you, I want to thank you officially and Roma via this now for taking Armando Itso and not letting Antonio Conte have another meltdown and drag him to Inter because he's not good enough at Inter and it would be a disaster and so I think given that we took Kola Rov and took one for the team there
00:27:19
Speaker
You can take Armando Itso and take home for the team then. Now Itso, it has to be said, because this is another one that I've been in pretty deep with. So Itso, he was with his agent Paolo Palermo for a very long time, number of years. And then a few weeks ago, had a meeting with Torino. He said, I want to go to a big club.
00:27:42
Speaker
Basically, Cairo, he wasn't really open to it, so he says, okay, fires his agent, appoints Raiola, and now Raiola is offering Itzot just about anybody with a pulse who is in the top half of the Syriac table. And so far, only Roman, Fiore and Tina have bitten, and Roma are the ones who are really making any sort of advanced strides for him.
00:28:02
Speaker
this is the guy admittedly I do not like really at all especially if Roma even for one match if they plan on playing four at the back not a guy like if you know if there's a central defender at Torino that you're going to purchase it has to be in Kulu and that's it
00:28:20
Speaker
Maybe you could interest me in Lianco, at least I was interested in Lianco last summer, spoke with his agent a ton, drew interest from Portugal, this guy. But I think he's ultimately going to stay, he's had some other interest in the city as well. But yeah, I don't, you know, one of those guys that, you know, once he gets called up to the Italian national team, all of a sudden he becomes good just by way of that. But then I'm like, oh,
00:28:45
Speaker
But I you know, is he any better than mancini because I mean they play the same position No, no, that that's the thing I I really really don't think so And then we have to get to this thing with jekyll and mealy because this story is going to kill me um If we don't get to a second episode if you don't hear my voice it is because I have become deceased by this this non-stop
00:29:09
Speaker
this domino transfer I guess we would call it because again I spoke to somebody in Jeko's entourage yesterday he basically said Jeko his entire future depends on what happens between Roma and Napoli for Milik now Milik he has one year left on his contract with Napoli he's already been told you're not going to play so you either stay with us and you know go to the stands or you can find an agreement with somebody else and we'll sell you
00:29:39
Speaker
I find that interesting because De Laurentiis, his initial asking price was 40 million euros, which is just insane. Ridiculous. Ridiculous is the perfect word. You can't expect clubs, Aurelio, to pay for your managerial mistakes.
00:29:56
Speaker
You know, it's not Roma's fault that you allowed Mirek to go all the way down to one year left on his contract. Yeah, that's your fault. And the problem is, too, Roma are really the only ones in for this guy at the moment. If Juve can't get Jekyll, if they can't get Suarez, then maybe they go back in for Mirek. But it doesn't have the money. Juve don't have the money unless they offload players and
00:30:23
Speaker
As I've said many a time, Paratici, he couldn't sell a lifejack jacket on his Titanic, so that doesn't look very likely. Well, it is interesting because Jeko is under Roma's books for just under 2.4 million euros. So if you've paid 10 to 12 million euros for this guy, that's a big plus-valenza for Roma who need to earn 100 million euros and plus-valenza.
00:30:45
Speaker
um before the the close of this business year uh but that's not gonna happen well no well no it can happen it can happen there's only five to seven candidates on who it can happen to vet it to jekyll a couple other guys under as well um but yeah jekyll's future uh as his uh as his representative said is entirely contingent upon milik arriving at roma milik arrives
00:31:10
Speaker
Jekyll goes you can't have both of them. Please stop asking that please stop I've gotten that question a million times you have Jekyll you're in seven and a half million euros You have me that cool earns or will earn it Roma four and a half right around five million with bonus
00:31:25
Speaker
Just your opinions very quickly before we move on to the Atsuyo guys. Milik, he seems like one of those divisive guys where you either really like him or you really dislike him as a player. There really seems to be no middle ground on him. For me, admittedly, I like him. I just don't like the fact that he has no original ACL in his knee. When you combine that with Nico Lozagnolo, we're looking at no healthy ACLs.
00:31:54
Speaker
Technically though, what is it? 16 ACLs in five years. Come on. We're not talking about that. Um, Milik though, let's do our table for two. Yeah. Milik though, um, is a much different player than Jekyll. Now people will say statistically they're quite similar, but that doesn't, that doesn't matter. Two different games, Milik, much more technically gifted, nowhere near the work rate of Jekyll hold up plays and anywhere close to what Jekyll is.
00:32:18
Speaker
But I do think he brings a different dynamic. Just your opinion, again, before we go on to Lazio, let's just say this does happen. You have Jekko go to Juve, you have Milik arrive at Roma. Does that move the needle for Roma one way or the other? Does that make them worse? Does that make them better?
00:32:36
Speaker
It means you've got Kalinich, an upgraded version of Kalinich starting every game. That's the way I look at it. And if that's what Roma want to do, then good luck with that. Because I don't see how this improves Roma in any way. He's better than Kalinich, but he's not better than Jeko. And for me, Milik is a player that he doesn't belong in any of the top four teams in the Serie A. Oh, see? OK, so you don't like him, Carlo? What do you think? No, it's not that I don't like him. I think he's just not good enough to be at that level.
00:33:04
Speaker
I think he's a downgrade for the coming season, but I think Roma do have to try and plan a little bit for the future as well. Jeko is going to be 35 during the course of this season. Roma are going to have to replace him. As Juventus are finding in their search for number nine,
00:33:21
Speaker
There's not many good number nines around anymore. I've said it a number of times. It's becoming a crisis position now, the number nine, the natural number nine. There's no one out there. There's no youngsters coming through. And in that respect, I think Milik is one of the better options available. I don't think he's an upgrade on Jeko right now, but the Jeko that we maybe would see in two seasons time, he probably will be an upgrade on.
00:33:50
Speaker
Yeah, I think this is a unique opportunity for Roma to get a very top level attacker to replace Jekko at a cut rate price. And these opportunities don't come around often. Okay, Lazio, very, very curious to hear what you guys think about them because this is a team, man, up until the break.
00:34:11
Speaker
step for step stride for stride they are matching you they were much better than you in the head to heads right and God post lockdown I am still struggling to find the words as to what happened to them because that was
00:34:30
Speaker
Inexplainable. And we can blame it on a bunch of things. Lack of depth. For me, that just seems like too easy of an answer and of an excuse. So, new season. Inzaki remains.
00:34:44
Speaker
Most of the, not most, all of the good players remain right there. Menin Kovic Savage still, Immobile still there. You have Luis Alberto. So all of the key figures from the previous season are still there. But guys, are we expecting them to repeat what they did last season or do we expect quite a dramatic drop off?
Lazio and Napoli Season Expectations
00:35:06
Speaker
No, I don't see them as scudetto challenges. The biggest issue they had after lockdown, I believe, was the lack of depth and the sudden injuries that they had before the lockdown. They really were, in many ways, they were lucky, although you could say that their medical team did well, in that they basically had no injuries. None of their key players were injured at all. They missed no games until the lockdown. Then all of a sudden, after the lockdown,
00:35:33
Speaker
They started to get players out injured and they couldn't cope playing every three days. Now that they're in the Champions League, they're really going to face that same situation again. So they are trying to bring some players in on the transfer market and they have managed to bring in Mariki from Fenabachi, who comes very highly rated.
00:35:54
Speaker
I think they probably still need a few more bodies in order to be able to cope playing twice a week. But I think they missed a golden opportunity last season. Nima, you expect to drop off too?
00:36:06
Speaker
Yeah, mainly because of the Champions League. I don't think they can compete on all fronts. I don't think they've got a squad good enough for that. I think they really needed to strengthen their left side on the wing because the players they're playing there are not good enough. They need someone to match Lazari, who I think was phenomenal last season.
00:36:27
Speaker
And I think David Silva was a missed opportunity. I really do. I think the way they got screwed there was really really sad for them. Although, albeit, you know me John and you too Carlo, I absolutely love when Italian football
00:36:44
Speaker
presidents and directors go full on mean girls and stop using the club's official feed to to attack people calling them that not men and i don't know talking about garbage cans being being clean and stuff like that i i love the meltdown i do i think no one has a meltdown like siri uh football directors and presidents
00:37:03
Speaker
in terms of entertainment. But they were right, to be fair this time. Yes, they were right to be upset, but I don't know if putting out a statement on the club's official homepage, saying David Silva is not a real man, which was the way to go. Yeah, listen, every club has their embarrassing gaffes a week ago, when it comes to the market. Except for Milan and Juba, that's the thing.
00:37:26
Speaker
because, you know, Juva's gaffe was about the alleged rape shards against Juventus, talking about what a champion he was, but that's fine. But garbage cans like with Napoli and how the garbage cans were clean, and then you have this situation with Ilitarre,
00:37:45
Speaker
going full, you know, going absolutely mental on David Silva. Sure, it was an ugly thing to do. It wasn't a nice thing to do. But I mean, sometimes you just got to dust yourself off and move on and not look so petty. But anyway, no, I think, I mean, look, I mean, they've got caesero, immobile,
00:38:05
Speaker
Mariki, Luis Alberto, the attack is great. They have Archerbi, who was arguably one of the best central defenders in the Serie A last season, albeit there's been a little bit of rumbling between him and Lazio because of the contract, but it seems that they've resolved that issue and he's going to sign a new contract and everyone's happy. I still just think they need a left wing back.
00:38:27
Speaker
Napoli, Carlo. This is a side we were very critical of on the previous show. But Gattuso, he arrives, he brings again, not this very high tactical acumen, but you get a change in attitude. Pretty much it's almost like you bring in the anti Ancelotti, right? You bring a guy who's probably a bit more laid back.
00:38:50
Speaker
But you bring in Gattuso who is hard-nosed. He tells you how it is Chuckie Lozano this poor guy gets kicked out of training within the first within the first few weeks since he arrives and it really seems like now that Napoli finally you know has like an adult on the pitch and
00:39:12
Speaker
It's interesting because, again, at some point you would think maybe Gattuso shortcomings can haunt them at some point. But, man, it really is hard to dislike what they've done for the last nine months. You can't do anything except praise them, no?
00:39:32
Speaker
Yeah, Gattuso has done an incredible job. The only criticism I had of him during those nine months, more during the first half, was he played very defensive football. It was all borderline cat-and-at-show. Yeah, very basic. Very basic. But it was effective in fairness. Yeah. It was effective, but there was a reason behind it, which we saw later. And that was he was working on the foundations. He wanted to sort out the defense, which was a disaster in the first half of the season under Ancelotti.
00:40:01
Speaker
He wanted to get them organized, he wanted the work rate to increase, he wanted there to be intensity. He improved all that, and once he had that sorted, then he started expanding. We saw that after the lockdown that Napoli started to attack more. It probably counted against them, to be fair, in the Champions League game against Barca.
00:40:22
Speaker
But we saw more of them, and I think that going into the new season, if you look at Napoli's squad, there's so much quality there, there's so much attacking ability, so much creativity. You know, you've got Insinia, you've got Mertens, who's still playing at a very high level. You've got Fabian Ruiz, who's an artist, he's such a lovely player to watch. I think ultimately, just how well Napoli can do, it comes down to two things.
00:40:48
Speaker
First of all, their big record signing, club record signing, Victor Oseman from Ligueur, if he can become the new kind of Higuain or Cavani and score 25-30 goals, then when you add those other attacking players I've just mentioned, you're looking at a team that could even potentially be a dark horse for the Scudetto. Secondly,
00:41:09
Speaker
Secondly, it depends on the future of Kooli Bali. Because we know that Manchester City have been trying to sign him for many weeks now. That still hasn't been done. Now, if he stays, they've obviously got themselves their well-class defender that's still there, rock at the back. If he goes, then he's a huge loss. The defense is a bit shaky. But, and this is the big but,
00:41:36
Speaker
they make say 75-80 million euros on Kooli Bali. If they spend that well and it's a big if,
00:41:44
Speaker
you know, they could bring in two or three top players and even become a stronger team, you know, but it depends how they spend it, you know, if they spend it like, this is the example everyone always uses, Juventus, when they famously sold Sudan for a world record fee, and they use that money to buy Jan Luigi Buffon, Pavel Nedved, and Lillian Turan, you know, they got three world-class players for the price of one. See, if Napoli can spend that money well, then they might even become a stronger team, but
00:42:10
Speaker
You know, it all depends on how they spend it. But Nima, I agree with you though, from the sense. Champions League, sure. Scudetto. That might be a bit much of a stretch for them, no?
00:42:24
Speaker
For me, I got to say right now as things stand today on the 14th of September as we're recording this, I think Napoli are the team that are closest to Juventus right now, without a doubt. I really do. I think even if Koulibaly leaves because they've got central defenders that, you know, with Maximovic, Manolas and Rahmani, I think that the issue with Koulibaly and Manolas was that they're not too compatible. No, not at all. I mean, come on, Maximovic was better than Manolas last season.
00:42:53
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, they weren't compatible. But I do think that Manolas is a good player. And I do think that Manolas is a player that can lead them. And I think that he's a player that is going to, they're going to build in and don't. And this Rahmani, who together with Cumbula were a revelation in Hellas Verona's three-man defense last season.
00:43:09
Speaker
Don't I, you know, I, for me, selling Cully Bali is now or never if he stays, it's obviously going to be good. But I look at the rest of it. I look at everything from the left back options to the right back options. I look at that midfield with Ruiz Demme. I look at it with Zielinski, Elmas.
00:43:25
Speaker
And then I look at the wingers and then I look at the strikers. This is a team that's good enough to challenge for the Scudetto. I don't think we should. They're not going to win it, but they definitely should be in the top two, top three. No doubt about that. And I think this is it for Gattuso. He was treated unfairly by Milan. He landed on his feet. He got Napoli. He really turned things around on Napoli.
00:43:48
Speaker
And I think with Milik out with, you know, let's not forget, they got Petanya in as well as a backup to Osiman. You know, you've got, you've got, you know, they have Politano as well on the wing. They have options. They have, they have a team. They've built the team to compete on several fronts. So I expect Napoli to do well in Europe and I expect them to do well in the Serie A and finish comfortably in the top four and maybe even Mount the Serie A title challenge.
00:44:15
Speaker
Okay. Now very quickly to Atalanta Fiorentina and then the rest of the, just a couple of words, Carlo, on Atalanta, sort of like Lazio.
Atalanta, Parma, and Verona Predictions
00:44:22
Speaker
Are we, are we expecting a big drop off? Yes or no? Well, it's going to be very difficult for them. Um, but you know, they've, they've kept all their first team players so far. The only, the only significant loss is, um, Castagna to, to Leicester city. Um, but he wasn't even a regular anyway. He was more of a rotation player. So, you know, if they can keep those famed fitness levels up.
00:44:45
Speaker
then why not? Why can't they challenge again? Again, like Napoli, so much attacking firepower. One thing that's guaranteed with Atalanta, they'll score a lot of goals. As for Fiorentina, the question is will they explode after that somewhat disappointing first season under the...
00:45:02
Speaker
the Camuso regime. But again, lots of quality in their team, especially in the center of midfield. They brought in Amrabbat, who was my best central midfielder in Serie A last season. Him and Castravilli in center midfield, that's a fantastic partnership. And then you've got Ribery, you've got Kiesa, you've got Milinkovic,
00:45:19
Speaker
You've got Bonaventura who's come. So there's lots of talent there and I think this sums up the Serie A this season. You've got Sasuolo as well who are an incredible team, attacking team to watch. There's a lot of quality in Serie A. It's going to be a very competitive Serie A this season. Real quick, before we get to who we think our Scudetto and Europa League Champions League finishers are there and all that good stuff,
00:45:43
Speaker
Give me one team who is going to have a dramatic drop-off this season. Give me one team brief explanation I'll go first, Parma, changing sporting director, changing manager. I do like Livarani I just cannot believe that they would after finishing comfortably above the relegation zone I don't know why they felt the need to press the reset button. Carlo, who is it for you?
00:46:06
Speaker
I was going to say Parma, but as you chose them, I'm going to go for Verona because they've lost Amrabbat, who was pretty much half their team, and they might lose Kumbula as well. So I think it's going to be difficult for them to match what they did. Nima? No, those were my two as well. But I'm not as convinced by this Sasualo thing that everyone's praising, because I think if they lose Jeremy Boga and Locatelli,
00:46:30
Speaker
they're going to drop off severely. It depends if they can keep those two. And I think speaking and tying that together with Jeremy Boga going to Atalanta, Atalanta will score 130 goals this season. I mean, can you just imagine Boga to that as well? I mean, they already have an incredible... No, I expect Fiorentina is the team I have that is going to be the most improved. I expect Atalanta to be in the top four, together with Napoli, Juve as well.
00:46:57
Speaker
Okay. So yeah, no, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not going to, I'm not going to underestimate it. I'm not making that mistake. Not making that mistake again. Fair enough. Cause that's all we did last year.
Serie A Title and Top Players Predictions
00:47:09
Speaker
All right. Yeah. Let's just go around. We're going to go one by one. No need for explanation. Let's start out with the thing that everybody can come back and make fun of us for in 10 months. Uh, and troll us for on Twitter, Scudetto winner. Let's start out with that. Carlo, who's your Scudetto winner? One word you've answers. Nima.
00:47:27
Speaker
Juve, okay Champions League qualifiers 2-3-4 who joins Juve in the Champions League, Nima Napoli Atalanta, Inter Thought he's gonna leave Inter out. I'm gonna go into second Napoli third and It's gonna be Titanic battle between Milan and Atalanta for fourth, but you know what to be different. I'm gonna go Milan
00:47:49
Speaker
Fair enough. I am going Inter second. I am going Milan third and then I will go Napoli fourth. Then Europa League qualifiers. I didn't even know we cared about that, but I'll go Atalata Roma. Nima?
00:48:10
Speaker
Milan, Milan Lazio. Atelante Sassuolo. Oh my gosh, you hipster. Okay. All right, now each of us, we're going to pick the best transfer so far this summer. Just one name, best transfer so far this summer. For me, Koulousefsky to Juve, even though that technical video wasn't this summer, I just think this guy brings such a different dynamic to the team. Carlo, what about you?
00:48:35
Speaker
I think I said it already, Amrabbat to Fiorentina. I was going to go with that. For me, it's between Amrabbat to Fiorentina and Ashraf Akimi to Inta. I didn't choose Koloszewski because it's a winter transfer, but I agree with you on everything you said. Come on, he's joining me now. I agree with you. All right, worst transfer. And I'm only doing this just because it's very head scratching. The thing with Kolodov, Nima, I don't mean to make you cry in the fetal position, but the Kolodov thing,
00:49:02
Speaker
Just puzzles me because this guy is A, old. B, he can't play wingback. C, he can't play left-sided central defender. So D, what is the point? I don't get it. But you see, this is where you're wrong because you're sane and Antonio Conte is insane. If Roberto Galliardini can bench Christian Ericsson, Aleksandr Kolorov can play in any position in the world. And that's why, so he can play as a wingback if Conte can decide and they've decided to give the reins to him.
00:49:29
Speaker
You know, they let, you know, they let Kante take the wheels. Kante take the wheels. And that's fine. But no, for me, it's the only thing that could make that worse is if they sign Matteo Darmián to a four year contract. That is the worst. If they honestly give him four years at the age of 30 in 2020, that's the worst transfer of this window.
00:49:52
Speaker
Okay. Give us your worst transfer now. I just said it. Mattio Darmia contract. If they give it to him, it's either if it's color of or Mattio Darmia. Okay. Um, and Carlo.
00:50:06
Speaker
I'm going to go Pedro Taroma because having watched quite a lot of him at Chelsea, he's definitely a player that's declining and having spoken to people within inside Chelsea, I know that his levels, his fitness levels and his speed and all the tests that they do on the training ground, he's been in decline for the last year, year and a half. So, yeah, Pedro Taroma.
00:50:35
Speaker
Capo Canieri predictions Cristiano Cristiano Ronaldo. He's going to do it. He's obsessed with that. I think is that Carlo is that yours too? Yeah. Yeah. Full House. Okay. Full House. That was very easy. All right. Easy enough. So that wraps up our season preview for the city. Again, you control us with all of our answers in about 10 months. So
00:50:57
Speaker
That is that. All right.
Interview Preview: Sven-Göran Eriksson
00:50:59
Speaker
So what we're going to do now is just play a very brief clip from the upcoming interview episode. And this is the interview we conducted with a former, former manager Sven Gorn Erickson, obviously very renowned for his time in Italy. So here's just a brief clip again on Thursday, you can hear the full clip. And again, if you want to get all of the episodes, including the interview episodes, patreon.com slash T I F P. So here's the brief clip from Sven now.
00:51:31
Speaker
Do you feel you were treated a little bit unfairly by the British press? And to follow up on that, how would you compare the British press to the Italian press? Because they're very, very different. Of course, I was not fairly treated by the English press, but also by the English FA. Because I was sacked because the fake shake in what they said at the end. I was not sacked because football reasons.
00:52:02
Speaker
the making up of all that story was news of the world. That was before World Cup 2006. So they did it on purpose, of course, because they didn't care about England and the World Cup. They wanted to sell and they wanted to scandal. And they knew that they wrote bad things and not true things. And later on, a year after I won,
00:52:28
Speaker
in the tribunal against them and I got right and I got wrong but that was too late. But my big disappointment was that I was sacked by the FA and I told the people in the FA, so you are the same as News of the World. You let News of the World run the country and you
00:52:53
Speaker
You allow them to run the FA as well, because you know it's not true. Well, it was a chance to sack me. I would have accepted to be sacked after last game in Germany against Portugal, because we didn't reach semi-final or final. That would have been better.
00:53:10
Speaker
Okay, so there was the clip from Sven again. If you want to listen to the full interview, you will be getting that on Thursday when we publish it. So now just a little bit of a transfer
Transfer Market Rumors and Updates
00:53:21
Speaker
update. We're going to be discussing some of the latest transfer topics going on right now in the city. We're just going to go over a few of them. We're obviously not going to go and discuss every single one of them. So let's start out with Luis Suarez.
00:53:37
Speaker
Carlo, just very briefly, Luis Suarez to Juve, is it a good purchase? Yes or no?
00:53:45
Speaker
I think considering that Juventus don't have much, if any, money at all, considering the crisis in the No. 9 position that there is around the world right now, I don't think Juventus can do much better than Suarez. I would say only Edin Gekko. He'll guarantee goals in Serie A.
00:54:08
Speaker
And in Europe, as I said before, I don't think he will help Juventus progress too much, but I think he will definitely help them win another Scudetto.
00:54:27
Speaker
Well, they're entirely hinging on inter-selling players for big money, which, if Paratici seems incapable of selling life jackets on the Titanic, I don't really know what to describe what Marotta and Alcillo are doing, because they're not being helped either by
00:54:43
Speaker
by the pandemic, even Perisic want to treble by Munich and they failed to get that deal over the line. So if you can't sell Perisic, then you know, Brozovic has to be sold. One thing has to give and none of these offers are coming in. So I'd say very slim, very slim.
00:55:09
Speaker
Okay, and then the next one is this music Jekyll stuff. I already touched on it a little bit but spoke to somebody in Jekyll's entourage yesterday and he said that they are waiting to see what happens between Roma Napoli Roma they already have a deal in place with me like they've agreed to personal terms now. It is all on data identities and
00:55:29
Speaker
Roma's offer currently sits at right about 24-25 million euros. That is including bonuses. Again, De Laurenti originally wanted 40 million euros for Milic, whose contract expires next summer. He can agree to go to a new club as early as January, so just a few months here.
00:55:50
Speaker
So he was never going to get that. I think within the next couple of days, though, maybe by the time our next episode comes out, we will see some sort of update because Roma, they face Juve on the second match day and not knowing which team Ed and Jekyll will be on for that match makes things a little awkward. So, yeah, I definitely think this week we see some sort of movement.
00:56:11
Speaker
Carlo, Coolybally, is he actually going to leave Napoli for Manchester City? Well, the situation is this. Manchester City wants to buy Coolybally. Napoli and specifically the president, De Laurentiis, wants to sell him because De Laurentiis knows this is his last chance at the age of 29 to get a big fee for him. Coolybally is happy either staying at Napoli or joining City. He's not going to kick up a fuss either way.
00:56:40
Speaker
Right now, there's a gap between City's offer and Napoli's valuation. Napoli, again, asking for a lot of money, just like they were originally with Milik. They're asking for around 75, 80 million euros. City are short of that right now. But the big issue is that the negotiations between the clubs have really been made very, very difficult by the fact that
00:57:06
Speaker
The negotiations have been done by an intermediary, by intermediaries, because the relationship between the two clubs is terrible. I think everyone will remember that a couple of years ago Napoli sold Giorgenio to Chelsea after originally agreeing to sell him to Manchester City, and there was a huge falling out and the directors don't talk to each other.
00:57:30
Speaker
It's crazy that you're trying to put together a 75, 80 million euro transfer and the clubs are not even talking to each other to try and put it together. So yeah, it's a complicated situation and time is obviously running out for City to do a deal.
00:57:46
Speaker
Yeah, it is a very bizarre situation. Alright, last one. Nima, what is the latest on Leeds' move for Udinese? Midfielder slash attacker. I don't know. He really doesn't have a role. We just call him a jolly. Rodrigo de Paul.
00:58:01
Speaker
Well, DePaul, you know, he's been pretty much very open about how he wants to take the next step. He wants to leave, you know, when Inter were tracking him, he was very sympathetic to those rumors and now with Juventus. But the problem is that, you know, Juve can't afford him. Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds really wants him to come to the Premier League, but Odinec have turned down their first offer. And so that's a little bit where we are. I think in Italy, they say it's
00:58:31
Speaker
Gong Gong Perry Perry Gong del Mercado I think it's one of those going down to the Deadline day and to the to the to the final minutes hours. I think this one is one to watch out for them. Yeah, I completely agree Alright, so those are the transfer updates that that we discussed for this week so now we will be moving on to our user questions segment and
00:59:02
Speaker
All right, so for every episode, we ask you guys to send us questions and topics for us to discuss. So let's get to the very first one. And this is for you, Carlo. So at Chris Wakefield underscore asks on Twitter, who's the one player that isn't widely known now that will be by the end of the season?
00:59:21
Speaker
I'm going to go for Manuel Locatelli. He's starting to become known in Italy, but outside of Italy, he's still very unknown. He's a very underrated player. He plays for a fantastic Sasualo side, who are so sweet on the eye. They play such great football, attacking football.
00:59:41
Speaker
And, you know, Locatelli, he came through at Milan as a young teenager and with a lot of promise. And then, you know, suddenly he was out of the team and there's a lot of people that are eating their words now because he was written off by a lot of people and he's really, really developing into a top player. He's not the quickest of players. And that's something that I was always a little bit concerned about with him.
01:00:07
Speaker
but he's so good on the ball, he never gives it away, he's so strong, he uses his body to protect himself. A bit like Francesco Totti used to do, where Totti used to stick his arse out and no one could get anywhere near him. He's a bit the same and he just had an amazing debut for the Italy national team against the Netherlands last week. A Netherlands team who have a very good midfield themselves, Frankie Dion, Wijnaldum,
01:00:32
Speaker
Derone from Atalanta and Locatelli ran the show so I think this season he will really really explode whether it's at Sasuolo or whether it's at a bigger club and we know that Juventus are very big admirers of him. Yeah that's a great shot great shot. Nima for you Adrian Gato asks via email what has happened to the great Jose Mourinho that we saw at Inter?
Is Mourinho Still Relevant?
01:00:56
Speaker
Is he finished?
01:00:59
Speaker
No, I think that's a really interesting question because a lot of people have been pontificating about this whether or not someone's finished. Is Carlo Ancelotti finished? Is he finished? People are finished before they even...
01:01:10
Speaker
you know before they even have a chance to have a career nowadays because everyone wants to have a narrative to push I don't think Jose Mourinho is finished as such but I do think that his golden age is way behind him and I don't think that he will ever become the trophy hall manager that he you know the guy that won five six trophies every you know two three trophies every year those days are passed
01:01:35
Speaker
But I don't think he's finished. I think he does have major trophies in him. I just don't think they will come as often as they did before. A lot of this started when he was at Real Madrid and people said that he failed at Real Madrid. Now, I don't understand how you can say what he did at Real Madrid was a failure.
01:01:52
Speaker
because he laid the foundation for a team that won four Champions League. But above all, he dethroned probably the best Barcelona team that we've ever seen and probably the best club team that we've ever seen in Barcelona, domestically from every single title, beating records, 100 points, etc., etc., that he was the first to do with the Barcelona that were magical.
01:02:18
Speaker
and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring more than he's ever done in his career during that period. So for me, no, I don't think he's finished. I think his best days are behind him, but it doesn't mean that he doesn't have big titles still in him. I think he will win.
01:02:33
Speaker
I disagree. I disagree with Nima. I think that he's, well, maybe it's unfair on Nima, but I think he's definitely finished at the top level, which is maybe what Nima's saying. But I think he's outdated. I think he's playing the same football now and has been for the last five years that he was playing in his golden age in 2005 or in 2010 when he won the treble with Inter. You look at his football, his teams are rigid, they still sit deep.
01:03:03
Speaker
They're not progressive at all. They just counter-attack. They're so predictable. There's no life about them. Football's moved on now. We see teams playing hybrid formations that they change between attacking and defensive moves. We've seen coaches like Gasparini who leave themselves one-on-one at the back and create overloads. We see so many new inventions in tactics.
01:03:31
Speaker
Yeah, you know, Marina is playing the same football that he was playing, you know, 15 years ago, and I don't see him changing because he's an ideologue and he will never change. Sandshow77 on Twitter asks, why is Chris Smalling's move to Roma still not done and to add to that?
01:03:52
Speaker
What is it about these new reports about Itso from Torino? It's Chris Smolig's move is not done because there have been like half a dozen intermediaries involved in this negotiation. A, B, Roma don't have a sporting director and they have appointed two agents, Juffreda and Paolo Busardo to handle all of the negotiations for their transfer market. Why they haven't appointed a new sporting director yet, I think is insane.
01:04:20
Speaker
And their CEO is basically overseeing everything at the moment. So it's a very chaotic situation with the new ownership group. So that really has the bulk of the reason I should say that is the bulk of the reason why their their market has been just
01:04:38
Speaker
Very awkward very quiet and other than chic in a couple of other minor minor sales like color off to ink dead They really haven't gotten much done. That's because they don't have a sporting director, but for smalling I think that'll get them within the next The next three to five days because it's it's it's very very very advanced as I said earlier in the show eat so from Torino Minoraola is offering this guy to anybody who is breathing and
01:05:05
Speaker
A club that is willing to take him on Torino. They wanted 25 million euros. No chance they're going to get that He wants to stay in the Serie A because he wants to be a part of euro the euro next summer I would say his chances are pretty slim even if he did get moved to a big club and he did perform well But we'll have to see but I think Izzo is very difficult smalling I think 90% will arrive at Roma within the next week
01:05:31
Speaker
Carlo this last one is for you pep the Baron asks on email. Oh I know you're gonna love this one. What do you make of all of these Virgil van Dyck versus Paolo Paolo how do you need debates? I think it's crazy. Hey, ironically, I think it's crazy too because if you look at what Maldini won at his age versus what van Dyck has won at his age, it's kind of like
01:05:55
Speaker
an insult to anyone with, you know, with a brain, anybody who is even capable of speaking. So, you know, technically, my one and a half year old son would fall under this as well. So I know that you're eager to give us your thoughts on this one, because you are an outspoken advocate on this subject.
01:06:16
Speaker
You know what the worst thing on Twitter is? Every single time I log on, I see some idiot come out with, Van Dyke is better than Maldini, or Van Dyke is better than Berezi. I mean, it just drives me crazy. I mean... It has to be people born after the year 2000, right? That is the only explanation.
01:06:35
Speaker
Yeah, well, it's, I mean, I'm lost for words, as you can see. But the thing is, if you look at it this way, right, Van Dyke, he joined Liverpool two and a half years ago, right? And he's been world class for those two and a half years. There's no doubt that he is an absolutely fantastic player. And he's been the best defender in the world for the last two years.
01:06:59
Speaker
But if you look at Maldini's career, Maldini was world-class from, I would argue, 1988, when he won his first Scudetto with Milan and he was the best left-back at the 1988 European Championships with Italy, right until
01:07:15
Speaker
I would say 2006 when Marcello Lippi tried to take him to the World Cup that Italy won and he was turned down. I mean, even the year after that, Maldini won a Champions League captain Milan to a Champions League at the age of 39 and was defender of the year that season, although I think probably in truth he was definitely starting to decline a bit then.
01:07:38
Speaker
But, you know, you're looking at 18 years where Maldini was a world-class defender and during which many of those years he was the best defender in the world. You know, all the trophies that he won, five Champions Leagues, you know, however many Serie A titles. I mean, Van Dijk has been a world-class defender for two and a half years. So, for Van Dijk to even be in the same debate as Maldini
01:08:03
Speaker
he would have to play at a world-class level for the next 15 years, at which time, I mean what, Van Dyck is 29 years old now, so Van Dyck would be 44 years old. So I think we can safely say that that's not going to happen. So yeah, it's a crazy, it's a crazy, crazy debate and I think it pretty much sums up the worst.
01:08:25
Speaker
the West part of modern football. Yes, I think that is probably just the easiest way to put that and end this user question segment. So again, if you would like to be involved, ask us questions, you can message us on Twitter via email and we would be absolutely happy to answer your questions.
01:08:46
Speaker
Okay everybody so that is where we are going to leave it for this episode for the season preview for the CDI we hope you enjoy that again if you want to get access to all of our writing that will be coming out all of the episodes again month of September will be free and then October $2.99 per month
01:09:07
Speaker
And again, that's all of our writing, all of the episodes, our review episode, our interview episode, you get everything by going to patreon.com slash T I F P. So we will be back again on Thursday. We will have a full interview episode with Sven Gorn Erickson. So we will talk to you in a few days. As always, thank you for joining and thank you for listening. We appreciate your support and we will talk to you in just a few days. So until then, bye bye.
01:09:39
Speaker
you