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Ranieri's Return, Azzurri Update & Serie A Match Week #13 Preview (Episode #33)
50 Plays5 months ago
In this episode of Calcio Culture, Vos and Logs bring you a packed discussion covering the latest drama in Serie A and international action.
They kick things off by addressing some quick updates, including Inter’s Primavera squad joining Serie C and the transfer market heating up. Could Bonny be on his way to Napoli, and what’s the latest on Joshua Zirkzee? The hosts also dive into rumors of familiar faces returning to Serie A, including Chiesa and Dragusin as well as a look at potential moves for newly minted Italy international Danny Maldini. Meanwhile in Florence, Fiorentina are busy at work on making Yacine Adli’s move permanent and working on both De Gea and Kean new contracts.
A shake-up at Genoa also takes center stage, as the club sacks Gilardino and brings in Patrick Vieira, infamous for his feud with Mario Balotelli. Vos and Logs discuss the bizarre timing of the decision. Over in Rome, Claudio Ranieri’s appointment as Roma’s new manager sparks plenty of debate. With Ranieri return, the hosts analyze the potential strategy behind the move and what both he and the club hope to achieve.
Attention then shifts to the Azzurri and their recent Nations League performances. Italy managed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium, thanks to Tonali’s brilliance, but fell 3-1 to France at the San Siro in a match where Adrien Rabiot netted a brace and Lucas Digne delivered a stunning performance. Logs and Vos highlight key players like Tonali, Dimarco, Di Lorenzo, Retegui, and Cambiasso as they analyze the team’s current trajectory.
Looking ahead, the hosts preview the action-packed Match Week 13. With Juventus traveling to Milan, they debate which side has more to prove, especially with Vlahovic out of action. Roma faces a tough test against Napoli under Ranieri’s new leadership, while other intriguing fixtures include Inter visiting Verona, Atalanta heading to Parma, Fiorentina clashing with Como, and more.
Finally, the hosts share their Culpi di Luna betting picks for the week. Join Vos and Logs as they break down all the latest from Serie A and beyond. Follow the conversation on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @calcioculturefc for even more insights and banter!
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Updates
00:00:06
Speaker
Ciao Paisanos. Welcome back to Calcho Culture. We're back here. We're going one pot a week. You got Vos and Logues on the horn today. No moths. He's actually busy. It's his busy season right now. It might be. I just realized, Joe, I have no idea. That's a full-on guess. You might not be. But anyway, me and Logues are here. Logues, it's been a while for you. know Been a while, Paisans, good to be back. i ah I've recently been promoted to European football. I'm now playing two games a week when we get that cat back going. Monson Vos decided that this one-game-a-week gig was pretty enticing, so ah so we we're starting to do that. I'm not mad about it, ah but we're going to have an action-packed episode here for you, and happy to get back into it.
00:00:50
Speaker
Yeah, we do have a lot to talk about in the last week, the international rig. I don't know, a lot's gone on.
Coaching Changes and Italian Football Developments
00:00:57
Speaker
We got a lot of news. We have a new coach in Roma. We have a new coach in Genoa. We're going to be breaking that down today. We're also going to be talking about what happened this last week on the Italian national teams, a couple of nations, league games, and then we're going to round it out as always, which are match week 13 preview.
00:01:13
Speaker
and everybody's say favorite segment for match week number 13. But before we get into that, we got everybody's second favorite segment. Logs is back. He's got to kick it off. It's actually a weak one for him, but what do we got here, Logs? Everybody's second favorite segment. We've got a weak quick shouts here today, PlayZones. However, let them speak for themselves. I'm not sure that people are loving their number one favorite segment these days, but people are for sure loving quick shouts.
00:01:39
Speaker
So with that being said, jumping right into it, we are staying pretty central in Italy these days. A quick shout out to Natny, the PJ, this time, but in any case, to start us off, very quick hit, Inter, establishing a primavera squad that's going to be playing Siri Chi. Now, the only reason I bring that up is because I actually learned something this week that any team, AC Moderna is one, Juve has one, I believe Atlanta also has one.
00:02:07
Speaker
that they have primavera teams playing in the actual leagues, the highest that they can go because they can get promoted is one below the mother team. So this inter-squad trying to get to Serie B, ah they can be promoted. AC Milan's primavera I think has been promoted in the past, but in any case, I do like to see this.
00:02:28
Speaker
I just think that it's a really good investment and from a Serie A perspective in our young talent and it gives them a way to actually play some competitive ball while now playing for the first team. So happy to see that. Yeah, it just makes sense. At this point, you need one. Here's my question. If you did your research on this, what happens if one team finishes in the promotion spot? Does it just go to like a team that doesn't have a parent club in the yellow?
00:02:53
Speaker
they They go to the fourth. like a row If there's only three feet teams being promoted, they go to the fourth team. And you win nothing. You get stuck there. You're stuck there. And they just call them to the mother team, I guess. You do. You do. People who are not getting stuck, though. Let me tell you, lads, the transfer season is almost upon us and it is idiom.
00:03:18
Speaker
We are getting so close to the fire. I love it. I live for transfer news. You can tell me the fakest transfer news of all time. You can tell me the realest transfer news. I don't care. I eat it all up and I'd spit it all out. So here we go with that. First one, a up and coming name from one of Vos' favorite teams. Vos, who is in Napoli's ear these days?
00:03:39
Speaker
Yeah, we don't have this, so we shouldn't have had this organized by most likely to least likely, or there's no rhyme or reason. I'm just realizing right now. The first one we want to talk about is Boney from Parma, who's Parma Striker, Tonopoli, and it seems like this is very likely at this point.
00:03:57
Speaker
And it seems like Napoli won a push for January. I don't think Parma should do that because they really need him. He's lagging big minutes for Parma. He's been very, very good all year. And I understand why Kante would want him. He's kind of similar to Lukaku, but he has a much more delicate touch. And it's probably a little bit more athletic than Lukaku is these days in terms of like being able to...
00:04:20
Speaker
run quickly, fast. east fast the rightance He's faster than Lukaku. I think he's a little bit less of a ruthless finisher than we're seeing from Lukaku now. But I think he just offers something that's a little bit different and we've talked about it a bunch with Napoli.
00:04:37
Speaker
when you drop Lukaku, there is a black hole in that number nine spot, and they don't really know who to put there. It's been Raspedori, it's been Gio Simeone, and both of them don't really work. So if they can get this one done in January,
00:04:53
Speaker
That's scary. That's really scary. I mean, this is a guy that's been absolutely cook in the league from a team that just got promoted. And you put him in a Conte system,
Player Transfers and Market Speculations
00:05:01
Speaker
when now he's not playing with Dennis Mann and Mihaela, he's playing with Polotano and Covert Skelia.
00:05:08
Speaker
Yeah, I think, I mean, I haven't, I haven't done a full scouting report on bony. I've obviously been a little bit more distracted by the other two days that you mentioned there. Also just haven't been watching karma because I still think they they that they're a bit fake news. But from that scouting report that you just could have outlined for us. It seems like a perfect fit for what at least what I've been trying to preach that Napoli needs because again, like you just said.
00:05:30
Speaker
This GEO backup nine network in Raspidori can't find his way. Somebody somebody to come in and and just be another Lukaku, that'd be perfect. Not sure how much money they'd be willing to spend on him at this point, especially the AI window, but and another nine is certainly needed. So if they can get a guy like this, they might, but they might have to drop, you know, drop in their budget and go a little bit lower caliber.
00:05:52
Speaker
Yeah, and I just I just switched up the the the schedule here on us really quickly because this this is kind of transition to my next point. I think I've been saying it all year. I still think they need another winger. I do think they still need a number nine. I'm not sure they even need a guy that's as good as bony, although I would like to see it. I definitely think they need a winger. And on that point, where's the money going to come from? Is dealer interest going to dish out the cash? The new rumor is that.
00:06:22
Speaker
man you is floating out zerk say in cash for victor ozzie men which is interesting not to see that because the only the only one that i had really seen was Xerxes to you Vey, which I think Xerxes wants to do and he should do if they can get that done. person percent I just don't really, I think for me, this is going to cool off now with Amorim being there or Manchester United as a new manager. Whereas Xerxes has like a clear way back into the team or at least they're going to know very quickly. like if
00:06:54
Speaker
if Amorim wants to play it with a guy like this, I don't think he does, based off of, keyor what's his name? Georges at Lisbon? Georges. Yeah, Georges, who's like a more traditional number nine. It's gonna be interesting. I would like to see Xerces come back to league. Everybody knew, man, you was the wrong move, but I mean, if you went back to Napoli, this would be very interesting, because he would probably be playing off the right, which is where he started his career. And then you you have Xerces, Lukak, and Kuvera, the Skellia, which is very scary.
00:07:24
Speaker
If that does happen, yes, super, super scary. I didn't know that that was being floated with Xerce cash for Victor, but that makes a ton of sense in my mind. yeah Like you said, I think Yubei is probably his number one spot because it's the least amount of transition that he has to do. My whole thing with the Xerce shakeup is I don't understand what Tenhaag's problem was with him. One, he didn't give him a fair chance. It's not like he played the tone for the Netherlands over the summer, so it wasn't like his legs were tired. And typically, Tenhaag loves his Dutch guys. So this that didn't make a lot of sense that he was out of favor with them. um But from my standpoint, Napoli do need to get somebody up front. It's unfortunate that we're even talking that they need another winner because they just spent 25 mil on David Nares, who I still don't think is a great buy, although he's just coming off the bench, so be it.
00:08:10
Speaker
But deserve say back to Syria is something that I think everyone would love to see. Yeah, the other thing I just thought about on this, if you get Zurgse, you don't even need to get boning. because i mean he could just be i I don't think he he would struggle to play as like a pure nine in the system. like I think he would be fine doing that. He just hasn't had to do that really. like He's really good at playing as a false nine, but i I don't think it would be an issue. The other thing that's interesting about this, and we're going to talk about it, is there's a ton of uncertainty about Dusan Vilhavitch right now, because he just got hurt with Serbia.
00:08:42
Speaker
and basically Juventus do not ever strike her anymore. Milik is out, Dusan is out, Nico Gonzalez is out. And you're probably back to yield. He's up there or way a kind of, and I don't think. Yeah. And none of those guys are really going to do it or get it done. So it would be the right time to bring Xerxes back in. I think Chicago Malta would be ecstatic if they got it. Right. For, you know, Mozart, who's the, what have I said? If Mozart said the other day, there's Xerxes joins Juventus. He will be his favorite player in the world.
00:09:19
Speaker
Yeah, but Matz's track record with saying transfers would be his favorite player have not gone well, a.k.a. Calciori, a.k.a. Tadebo. Cool Miners he's on. Cool Miners he finally got, although it hasn't panned out much for Cool Miners, but I think he's just, he's got to revert to the meet, but in any case, a couple other fellas coming back to Serie A, though, in the news, in the news, another you they feller, Federico Chiesa. On the outs from Liverpool, this man can't find a team.
00:09:49
Speaker
Except AC Milan is in the shallows waiting for Kiese to come back to Syria and I'm absolutely loving the prospect of getting that guy and the Russinari.
00:10:02
Speaker
Yeah, this one was is weird for me because I was thinking Roma made sense with the new hiring, which we're you're going to talk about. I don't think it makes sense anymore. Inter have already said they don't want him. Juventus are not going to go in for him. I don't think Napoli will go in for him. And you kind of get to the point now where I don't even think Milan should go in for him. It's like who? I think Lazio would be decent. I think Fiorentino would be very interesting.
00:10:32
Speaker
if you went TAC off the left with Keene and Koulpani. I think that could be an interesting one. I just i disagree with Napoli's show. I mean, I feel like that's currently in the price range that they be they'd be navigating. And I think that that would be a perfect fit off the other side of the Vero. So I think that that's an interesting one, especially considering, you know, we think that they need a winner. He doesn't sell their back up nine per se, but I think that case is definitely worth a shout free top of the table. Make it a run of the scudet though. You need a cut, you need some more depth up there. That's definitely a shout. A great shout. I think that that one's perfect. What do you say about Natalie?
00:11:10
Speaker
Yeah, my problem with the Napoli one is I'm not sure he's going to be able to play for Antonio Conte because of his, I don't know if he has the legs to do that kind of pressing right now, which is my concern versus like getting somebody like David Narrow as Joshua was there to tell you were like these young guns don't have any leg
Roma's Season and Coaching Strategy
00:11:27
Speaker
issues.
00:11:28
Speaker
Latio, I'd like to. I think Fiorentina would be the best one, like the return to Florence, full circle. That'd be so cool. That'd be so sick, especially with the road they're making right now. ah and Especially going with the theme that this whole Fiorentina team is just chip on their shoulder. Kisa has the biggest chip on his shoulder, if anybody that I know even in remotely connected to Syria. So I think that would be an absolutely splendid buy for them.
00:11:51
Speaker
Yeah, but will we it'll be interesting. We'll monitor that one. The other thing with this one is it's a loan. Like, it wouldn't be like money thrown, so really anybody could get it done. It's just a matter of who wants to take that. It's not even really a risk. Not a risk, but I think that's, again, that's why I think Napoli is a perfect spot, because they just, there's no down side and they just get another, they just get another body in there that's proven in Syria. Yeah, but Fiorecino would be so sad.
00:12:17
Speaker
It would be sweet, it would be sweet. But one one more guy kind of kind of ready to come back to Syria, made a trip to the prem that has not panned out as much as he'd like, Droguson. Untotnam came from Genoa, was a ah Defender of the Year candidate at the time when he left Syria, was on fire, had a great Euros run actually with ah is Romania.
00:12:42
Speaker
Yeah, Romania. With Romania, he was phenomenal ah until the last game. I think he he screwed up. He had a couple of ah pizzas there, but in any case, wants to come back to Serie A. And honestly, who says no? For the right price, who says no to Dragosun at this point? Because it's not that he's playing bad. It's just that he's not playing at all. Yeah, this one, I think, would also be a loan. It might be a lot like they might be willing to part with him. But what I've seen is definite loan.
00:13:08
Speaker
And to be honest, there are a ton of teams that make sense. I think Atalanta makes sense. Why is you late in the school weekend of my life? The other team that could really use him is Lazio. You go Romagnoli and Dragos and that's a a much better defensive pairing than you've had.
00:13:25
Speaker
I think that the thing with Lazio is, though, that their back four has been the same back four for 18 months. Yeah, but it's also been the worst part of their team, like, very clearly. I don't know, Roman always had a fuck in the season. that hate to sell ah He's had a season.
00:13:41
Speaker
But i'm I'm just saying, if I'm Juve, I'm fucking banging on the spurs' door, saying, I um i want this fucking match. Yeah, but, you know, Dragison's on the one in the Milan right now. one that's we're We're an absolute fucking dumpster fired. No one wants to come to Milan. Juve looks good. Juve needed a replacement for Bremmer, and Cabal just got hurt. And I think Dragison really fits in well with the Bremmer bill. That's why I'm saying. I heard that. For sure. In particular.
00:14:09
Speaker
So and that's but this is one if of out of all of these guys, all the links, this makes the most sense. Like, I don't know who it's going to be, but he should absolutely. You call your back to Syria. Like he's going to find his form again. Like guys like this don't just become bad defenders. Like he's going to be fine. Like he was on Genoa and was a standout there. And that's like pretty hard to do when you're on like being a standout center back.
00:14:35
Speaker
on lower level teams is very difficult like to show like oh my god you're this good right this guy's we're also we're also talking about the other day i mean shout out packy spurs and an abalie fan
00:14:48
Speaker
Dragison has been paired with Christian Romero the entire time that he's been on Spurs, and that's not an easy assignment to be a two-back with Cristo Romero. And I say that because that guy is an absolute madman. I mean, there he has an entire five-minute highlight tape of just crazy tackles at the midfield line for no fucking the reason.
00:15:07
Speaker
So for Dragison, who's not a ball dominant back, but a physical brute presence, kind of needs a little bit more of a softer pairing, someone that can that can kind of even him out. And Christian Romero, this he is not that guy. So I think it's just been a it's been a tough situation. Post-Eglue just hasn't taken a liking to him as of yet. So I think coming back, proving that he's still good, they do a whole lot of good for this guy.
00:15:32
Speaker
but I would love it. I would love it. Another one that got floated around. A guy, another Italian, getting a lot of steam right now. Danny Maldini. Hot commodity right now to the disdain of loads, although you have started to come around on it. and little I mean, ever since the AC moans a game, I actually have taken Danny Maldini out of my sights. I think that he has some potential. He's definitely looked a lot better than he did for AC, so I'll give him that.
00:16:01
Speaker
I don't know if Adelanta need him. I agree. I don't fully agree with this. I'm not sure that Adelanta need this guy. and I mean, the price tag might be whatever it is. I don't really think it could be more than 20 million still at this point. Oh, before he'd rather hide. Before he won't. He's heavily linked to Adelanta. That's why Logan said this. That's like the big link right now is Danny Maldini to Adelanta.
00:16:23
Speaker
i got a hand I got ahead of myself there. I thought Vos already brought that out, but I was too busy trying to try of make amends with Danny here. um But in any case, they they don't need him. I think they have ah enough, not even just written talent, but young talent at that spot where he operates, whether it's Luchman off the left, it's CDK off the right, Brescia and Nini through the middle. Pasalic has been playing well. He's not young, but he's still in there. Even Simardsage can kind of play there. Simardsage can get a forward there. so i really and on And at some point, you have um Skamok are coming back. So like, right. rights on their rotation Yeah, your your front line is totally fine and Danny Moldini is not any type of defender. So from my perspective, is it a depth fine? Maybe, but not not needed. I also think that Danny needs one more stepping stone than to go to the top four team. I don't think he's top four caliber yet.
00:17:16
Speaker
I don't know. It's interesting. At Atlanta, I think the Atalanta move would be very cool because I think Aspirini could probably work wonders with him because why hasn't he? And he could play as the rotator in the number 10 spot or as like the the second striker. So I think it would work. But with what's happened, I don't know why Juve don't just get him.
00:17:39
Speaker
Like, this is the kind of striker that Thiago Mato wants. He's Italian. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hold on. I have to stop you. why We're not talking Danny as a 9 now, are we? There we are. Danny's not a 9? I think that's where he would play. um that's like a left He's like a left-wing dude. Yeah, a 9. He's like a second striker. That's really what Danny Maldani has at his core.
00:18:03
Speaker
Right? That's why I put him with Raspidori in terms of how they play as the nine. Like, they're a second striker. And you don't like Raspidori? Yeah, because I think Danny Mountini's a lot better. And that's why I think he would probably work at Juve. Because Joshua Zirksay, before he got to Bologna, was a a right winger. And then Tiago Mato put him in the middle middle of the field and made him like that false nine. Why is it Danny in the conversation for Napoli then? That's not what Antonio Conte wants out of his striker.
00:18:32
Speaker
Fair enough. Fair enough. But I think with Diogo Mata, this is a budget buy with a relatively high floor in terms of if it doesn't work out, he's your backup striker. And he's he's he's good enough to do that in Syria. Like, he's shown that already this year. Yeah. In the best case, you probably save, I don't know, 30, 40 million and you have a starting striker.
00:18:56
Speaker
That's the case where it fucking hit the jackpot, I don't know. But we'll we'll give Danny his flowers, because he's had a good season, he had his first call-up for Italy, he's played well. i I like what I was seeing at Bani Maldini. Where I think Bani Maldini could also go...
00:19:13
Speaker
I don't think they want them. But Fiorentina is looking to make moves in this window. And it's because they're fucking top three in Syria, baby. The Gomar is top three. The Viola, Fiorentina, home of coucho. People forget. The real coucho is born in Florence. Don't forget. But they're looking to make some moves here. What are they looking to do?
Serie A Standings and European Competition
00:19:38
Speaker
Yeah, so Fiorentina is capitalizing on their form here. They're also looking like fucking geniuses. Yassine Adley, the buyout, they've basically come out and said, we're going to trigger the buyout clause. Milan looks like idiots because Adley should absolutely be in the running for the top 11. Yeah, I need to take a second.
00:20:00
Speaker
Vos and Erry have been on the Yasi and Adley train since the day he came over from, what was that team that just literally just got- Bordeaux, Bordeaux. Bordeaux. We had been on the Yasi and Adley train since Bordeaux and no one would give him the chance. This man loved AC, the barbecues. I mean, I don't know what else I can say. Goes with Fiore and Tina, the guy's balling, I'm loving his sear.
00:20:24
Speaker
Well, I mean, what what I really think happened here is Pioli very quickly was like, this isn't a guy that I want to use. He also is very much not a fun second guy. Like he's more of like a um drift around the fields, be a creative force, but you need to be ball dominant or else he's an effective kind of thing. Cause he's not really a counterattacking player.
00:20:45
Speaker
But he's he's he's anti-press though. I mean you can't press the press resistance. Yeah, he's very precious But he's I would kind of compare him a little bit and I'm not saying he's nearly this good This good is he's kind of like ode a guard in a lot of ways. I think that was just a ozone ozone Yeah, he's similar. Oh, so I think also was a better ball carrier than him Sure. I mean, again, not nearly as good as Odegard or Ozil, but in that same realm, yeah I think that's that's definitely his player profile, which is kind of, it's, I mean, Odegard, not so much, more so Ozil is more of like, ah what's the word? What's the name of it? He's a luxury player. Yeah. And though this play style is a luxury player, but it's crazy that Fiorentina is even able to have a luxury player in this lineup at this point, I would say. But it's great to see.
00:21:31
Speaker
Yeah, and then a couple of other new ads here that they're now working on new contracts for. David De Gea, I mean, man, you look really fucking stupid. on vegetable breath leaves will Easily would be the best goalie on the menu right now. And then Moisé Keane, they're working on a new contract from him. I'm assuming they're probably going to do something with the buyout clause in that, too, possibly raise it because it's 50 right now.
00:21:56
Speaker
But I'm happy with this. I hope they get both of these done. Moise King should stay. I don't want him to leave because I'm scared that it would all fall apart. I mean, I think Moise should stay. Obviously, this has been his best, his best scenario he's had in years and years and years. And then number two, if you and Tina are able to keep up this forum, which do I think it's going to happen? No. Do I see it be a possibility? Yes. If they make Champions League next year,
00:22:23
Speaker
The influx of cash and they use it the right way? I mean, this this could be a full squad coming 2025, September 2025. Yeah, the one that I haven't seen that I would like them to figure out is Bove. Because Bove is still on loan from Roma, but he's been good enough where I think it justifies keeping him. And I don't think it would cost you that much money. In number two, from a rollout perspective,
00:22:50
Speaker
There is no longer a spot for Beauvais in the team because of the players you brought in. Manouconet, Enzo Lefebvre, and now even Pizzilli kind of plays in the same kind of way, similar role. So I think that's a deal that can get done and all parties would be happy if it did get done.
00:23:08
Speaker
It's also just a guy that has been in Syria for so long. You love to keep talent within the league, because I think that you it's been seen over and over again that the best players are ones that have just had a couple of years under their belt in Syria. So I think it makes a ton of sense. He's battle-worn, especially from his years at Roma. And that, again, like you just said, the Roma and midfield is so saturated at this point that it's in the best interest, I think, of everyone if Boba were to stay if he weren't, you know, for the right price.
00:23:34
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. I love the Argentina right now. My two favorite teams in the league right now. Best teams to watch for the Argentina at Atlanta, and i I don't think it's very close. It's not particularly close. It's been certainly not injured these days, and I can tell you what, it's not the rough scenario.
00:23:47
Speaker
or thirty them That wraps up our little transfer window update here. Again, I'm loving what I'm seeing. I think it's going to be a great January window. You don't typically see a ton of action, but with the injuries that have been around the league, I don't think we're going to go quietly through the first month of 2025. So looking forward to that. And there's a lot of European money in Italy right now because of that body european bonus spot last year is meaningful. A hundred percent. A hundred percent. But that being said, both.
00:24:17
Speaker
We have some interactions to answer. Yeah, we do have some questions. We do. This was kind of, this isn't even really quick shots. This is just a couple of different segments. It's a literature update. And then we did have a question that we thought was interesting from one of the Paisanos. And their question was, who of the major clubs is going to fall out of the top 10? And this was from a Roma fan. So the but listen' it Roma from the top 10.
00:24:41
Speaker
And there was a little bit difficult of a question when it's, which big club is going to fall out of the top 10. And like, there's only usually one. It's Roma. So we have this a little bit. Minus Roma. Who do we think isn't going to make a European spot?
00:25:00
Speaker
And again, we're this these are the classic cop top I think we're really willing to talk in here. Napoli, Atalanta, Inter, Lazio, UVA, AC, I think is really the market we're working with. And Fiorentina accounts. I wouldn't put Fiorentina as a top. I mean, I guess they're... They're remaining completely in Europe. Yeah, I guess they're... Okay, so Fiorentina is also in there. So those are your so the top seven teams at the table as of right now. Who's not making that European spot?
00:25:31
Speaker
For me, I think it's it's not even close. and The answer is so clear. It's it's AC. I agree. i am shot I did not think you were going to say that. And I 100% agree. It's so clear. I mean, not only are they six points back at UVA in the next spot, which i don't I think that'll change, obviously, as the season goes on. Game in hand. Really important. They do have a game in hand, which is incredibly important, which is funny, though, because the other team that has the game, it is below the end of their tide. In any case,
00:26:02
Speaker
This AC team has just doesn't have it. It's not consistent enough. They show that they can be good, not even great. They can be good on certain game days and certain match days, so but it's not consistent enough to be making European football for next year. I just don't don't have any belief in the way that this team plays over a month's span. They have spurts and they have games here and there, where I'm like, damn, that's fucking sick to be an AC fan. We just went to the birdabout and blew fucking reality out of their shoes.
00:26:31
Speaker
But then we go back home and Fonseca is blowing some smoke up everyone's ass, saying Caliuri is better than fucking Ram Madrid. Get the fuck out of my goddamn face. Fuck me. a you So like that's that just doesn't instill a ton of confidence for me to be like, yeah, I'll see you in Europe next year. I agree. And there are a couple of reasons for me. What I've been saying all season is that they're like a counter-attacking team. and My, what kicks them out of this for me, compared to like Yuvei, who I think are in a similar situation is, Milan don't control games.
00:27:06
Speaker
So they're going to, I think they're going to win less games and lose more games where with U of A, they still haven't lost the game in a league. They're going to get points consistently. And there is like an a very clear objective to where they're trying to go with Milan. That's the only team, honestly, in the top 10 that you can watch and be like, this isn't really a team yet. Like there is no cohesion. There's no group identity. It's a group of individuals just trying to make things happen. And.
00:27:36
Speaker
I think what's scary about this is that was kind of our concern with Pioli, but with Pioli, it was a little bit like, well, here's your position at least. And like every like, here's kind of what you're supposed to do. And with Fonseca, Fofana has a role, but that's like kind of it.
00:27:56
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, the one thing I'll say, again, it get it i mean it wake be and makes me feel bad for Pioli. At least they liked each other. Yeah, 100%. Pioli had chemistry for the team. Fonsec has got nothing. He doesn't have you't know positioning, he doesn't have tactics, he doesn't have the rotary. It's a really tough spot.
00:28:16
Speaker
He's finally got layout going again, which I think is incredibly massive for the team. I didn't realize, I mean, I obviously shouldn't realize this from the fucking beginning, but didn't realize how much his performance was going to bring the rest of the team around him. But still doesn't that tail on the right page? Our defense is still in absolute debacle. And I think we have a lot of work to do in the January window where I don't think the deal ownership's going to do a lot of work.
00:28:43
Speaker
From that being said though, there's glimmers of hope for the Tarot level to continue to rise. I still don't think that the play style is ever going to be there. We'll talk about it a little bit with with the premium for this weekend. I think that we have a chance to show that there's some sort of of identity, but that is really the biggest difference between Milan and the other top six teams is that they do have an identity. There is some kind of tactic. They have a common goal. Milan just don't know how to get the ball from one net to the other, and it ends up being ours for the most part anyways. Yeah, I mean, I think belonging is better. Milan, probably not making European football. That's our prediction. We'll have to ask Mazzo, do you think? You'll probably agree, actually.
00:29:30
Speaker
Well, I might as well agree to a heartbeat, too. This guy hates AC. That wasn't really as sure as he does. Let us know who you think is not gonna make European competitions in terms of the really, like... Don't say... Houdinessen or Bologna. That is weath. That's a weak guess. Say a real guess. Let us know in the comments. Reach out to us and whatever. I don't give a shit. Just let us know. It's interesting for us to talk about. This is why we love questions from other people. I'll talk about it all day. Gets us going.
00:29:59
Speaker
We're keeping it rolling. We had some managerial news. gentle wounder you'll lose Genoa. Genoa. I think yesterday. Right. Or Sunday. Yesterday.
Genoa's New Management and Challenges
00:30:10
Speaker
Yesterday. Really weird timing. Last night. yeah In the last couple of days. We're recording Tuesday, November 19th.
00:30:19
Speaker
I don't know why they didn't sack him at the beginning of the internet fiction over. You're halfway, you missed it. Two weeks of fully training. You didn't halfway through the week. Like you missed a week of training without a new manager. That's a really good point. This is Scream's Dumpsterfire. And then number two, the guy that they hired, who I actually think is a pretty good character, Patrick Vieira.
00:30:43
Speaker
liist baist legend Literally has massive, massive issues with Mario Balotelli. They had over laughed at one point and they were both like, I don't want to work with this guy ever again. And they both lent the club like, what is going on? Like it's terrible.
00:31:01
Speaker
Yeah, this one blows my mind. I didn't even think about the fact that they just they waited until the end of a two-week international break, but the fact that after the era in Balotelli being the worst teammates of all time, both at City and at Inter, and then being paired up again at Nice,
00:31:21
Speaker
Balotelli coming out at some point prior to this saying the the reason he left Nice was because of the era and then hiring this guy after you just signed Balotelli It makes no sense This is why people look in Syria are like these guys are fucking dumbasses because this just doesn't make any goddamn sense But Genoa being two points off, relegation, I think they needed to do something. Genoa kind of sucks. Two of them kind of suck. Yeah, no, Genoa were kind of bad. So I actually really liked the appointment. I think Vieira is a very good coach. I don't think he is quite at the caliber of taking on like a massive club yet, but he was very effective. It was Crystal Palace, right?
00:32:03
Speaker
He was ah he was very effective up until the end. Yeah, so talent we had some talent there as well. would Yeah, we but he had talent. Yes. But a lot of those guys like we know now because of what they did under the era, which I think will make sense for Janawa. I think he'll be able to elevate the couple of guys that do have skill there because they're all there are some players. And I think he will be able to get something out of them. What I do feel bad about is Jill or Daniel is a very detergent.
00:32:30
Speaker
Genoa needed to change, though, and I think they will get a manager bump from this and I think they'll get out of the scary zone. Not immediately. I think it's going to take some time, but I think they're going to get more results. They're going to be they're going to be better. I would like to see Gillard Dino join somebody's staff and for the time being.
00:32:48
Speaker
I think he's definitely going to have a job in the next year or two. And I would be very sad if we, this is the last we see of him because he is very clearly a good coach. So I don't think this is the end, but I'm excited for general. I think this is a good hire. I hate the timing. Very scary time. They might cancel balance. Hell, he's contract. They might just be like, all right. They might have. you
00:33:10
Speaker
hip so fuck you yeah well just Just to go back for a second, if you're not familiar with the type of talent that Viera is known for bringing up, just to name a couple of people from Crystal Palace, Mark Gahey, who's border learned an $80 million dollar defender, he's got the English tax on him, but a very good player has now come as and did a starter for the national team. You will get Eze Eberrefi Eze, who also got called up to the England national team as of late, a great 10, beautiful in the ball.
00:33:40
Speaker
And then my personal favorite, who I i ah reached to Jerry Cartonale in January 2021 to buy this man for $25 million at the time. Michael Elise went to buy her in this past window for $60 million. The guy's an absolute dog. Came up again under patch of the era. So the talent, the talent, the movement from the era is exactly in line with what I think genuine be. So you're 100% correct in that.
00:34:06
Speaker
yeah That'll be interesting. it isn It is a tough, not the best squad, but they do have a couple of moves. But the the good thing is they do go, they go Cagliari and he would not say to re-know their next three games, which for a new manager, that's not the worst you could ask for. So we'll see. Good luck to Patrick. Yeah, good luck to Patrick. I would like to see it go well for him. But moving on, the bigger news, really couldn't it be bigger news? The biggest news maybe.
00:34:33
Speaker
Maybe the biggest news that many ever. Roma are on their third coach of the season, 12 games in, and who passed? I saw Allegri passed. There was a couple of guys they couldn't get it done with. Manchini didn't really get the manchini. Manchini didn't really want it at the end of the day. I thought Allegri would be good, but they went a very different direction from that.
00:34:58
Speaker
and may have brought in none other than the legend Claudio Ranieri for his third stint with the club. And my understanding of the contract is he is going to be the manager through the end of the season, and then he is going to be in the the management of the club, basically back or front office kind of thing. I don't think he's the director of football, but he's in a similar position. What's your initial reaction on this one? Because I've i've kind of been mulling this over for a really long time. And just to give you guys an idea, sorry, I should mention this.
00:35:29
Speaker
Claudio Ranieri's last job was calorie. Um, he was there for, I don't know, half a season, maybe a few years, something like that. Yeah. Not, not overly long. And he retired after that. And that was allegedly supposed to be the end of it. So that's a little bit of the background. If you don't know who's Claudia Ranieri is, he's the guy that managed lesser city when they won the familiar league. That's probably his most famous. That's Oh my God is most famous feet. Yeah, for sure.
00:35:57
Speaker
If it's now back to you, what's your initial reaction here? I actually really kind of like this one. You know, from from all the other options that they had, say, either no or not agreeing to the timeline that it was given or just not giving an answer in general, this was certainly the best option. And I also just don't think that this is a bad option in in in the grand scheme of things.
00:36:20
Speaker
He's coming in. He knows what his job is. He's being a savior for the rest of the season and then moving into management. The guy clearly loves Roma, which is something that they didn't get and in Juric, which is something that i we talked about a lot, was that Juric came in.
00:36:37
Speaker
to a team that he had no connection to, none of the players were his, and he'd really his heart wasn't in it. You could kind of just tell from from the the interviews, from his actions on the field, it just wasn't there. but was off the next she did That's a really good point, because the whole time it did feel like he was an outsider. That's kind of like the vibe I got.
00:37:01
Speaker
He was. He was an outsider. He was also apathetic. it just what Again, it just was a bad fit. 53 days was too long for Yurich. And I think that having Renieri come in, who loves the badge, he came out and said that the only two teams that would ever get him out of retirement was Caliari and Roma. And Roma just came calling him at the right time. So he clearly just knows that his heart's in this one. Whether he does good, bad, indifferent, he's going to give it his all, which I love.
00:37:30
Speaker
forget the tactics even. i'm just I'm happy that they finally have somebody who loves Roma, who's going to get in for the badge. And I think the players are actually going to rally around him quite well. Good points. For me, my my initial reaction was was negative towards this. And the more I've thought about it, the more I think it makes sense. And I think this is a very sensible, the most sensible thing the the ownership has done in quite a while. Well, why I didn't initially like it is My reaction was, this isn't a guy that's like a long-term manager. And then when I realized, you know what, that isn't what they want, that's which is why I got one year, it makes more and more sense. For me, the what i my guess is what the management were thinking here was, nobody's going to turn on this guy.
00:38:18
Speaker
it's the it can't The situation can't get worse. If he doesn't make it better, the ultras are at least gonna still support him. And there isn't anything to lose here by appointing him. Like, he's not gonna do anything revolutionary. You know he's gonna play like a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 kind of thing. They're probably gonna get better because there's somebody at the club who cares now.
00:38:45
Speaker
and there's really nothing to lose at this point. The vibes will improve. I think the the ownership is probably thinking this will get some of the fans back on our side, and it should be okay. I still don't think they're gonna make Europe, but the vibes will be better going into next season, I think is is the good thing.
00:39:07
Speaker
He's not going to do a ton to develop the young talent that they have. He's not going to do a ton to get them back into the European competition conversation. From my standpoint, it could be totally wrong. He could pull Lester. But he's going to play a very chrome-packed system. He's not going to lose the games that they're not supposed to lose. They're going to play with all their heart in the big games and at home where it matters.
00:39:33
Speaker
and Again, at the end of the day, like you just said, I think that was the best way to play it. No one's going to blame him for any bad performances. No one's going to blame him for this bad season. Everything has been completely taken aback from Ranieri here. He has full reign. This is his club. He's going to be able to do what he needs to do. kity And that was another thing that he came out and said, which I really loved.
00:39:56
Speaker
There's some clause in Diabolo's contract that if he plays a certain amount of games or a certain amount of minutes, that they automatically have to renew him for X amount of time, at for X amount of money. And the management has been very anti-play Diabolo.
00:40:12
Speaker
Radio Ricky Mountain said, I don't give a fuck. I'm playing, I'm playing, I want to fucking play. that They don't, they they don't like that, that they can, they can walk me out the door, but he's going to do what he wants to do, which I loved. That's what they need in there. I'm, I'm excited to see what Ro was able to do with this. Again, I don't have high hopes, but I have much better hopes than I did when, when they, after they sacked Duropsy.
00:40:31
Speaker
Yeah, and he is, I would be very surprised if he doesn't write the ship a little bit. that yeah i I'm very confident it will be better. He is a good coach. I don't think he's a great coach.
00:40:45
Speaker
But this is a good situation for him. As things stand, Roma are still only four points off of relegation right now. So I think he will get them out of that. But I i don't really see that. like This is going to be a season to forget, regardless of where they finish. I don't think it really matters at this point. because I don't think they're going to make up that 11 points.
00:41:04
Speaker
and break into a European spot. So it's really, let's just save off relegation, maybe bring our new players through, get the other new players acclimated to the league. And I think he's going to do a good job of that more. The team he he put together at Leicester, obviously those great recruitment around him, but he also got the most out of a lot of players that people would have otherwise never known. I mean, Riad Mares was his creation. N'Golo Kante was his creation. Jamie Vardy was his creation. Even guys like the Greek wadamei, Mark Albrighton, who is now just like, has been in the league, played a lot of different teams, really, as board player, as Morgan the Legend.
00:41:47
Speaker
um So I think it will be good. My question for you is, what do you think his objective is and what do you think the club's objective is by hiring him? I'll start with the club.
00:42:02
Speaker
All right. No, let's start with Brady. He's just bored. He's bored. And he's no, I'm serious. I mean, the guy, the guy wins retirement. And when you look when, whether you're a player or manager of any sport, and you go from such a high octave lifestyle and high stress in just being the day to day and being so deep into something that when you do step away for even just a moment, you like you just go stir crazy.
00:42:26
Speaker
And I think that's literally what happened to you. I'm not even kidding. So I think Roma came calling. That's one of his favorite clubs. Obviously he said it. He was like, I'm, I'm taking this job. I, he probably hated sitting on the fucking couch, watching Roma play like dog shit. He's yelling at his fucking wife in the kitchen and say, fuck this Roma team. He had an opportunity to fix it. That's, and that's what, that's what he got from a club perspective. And I think that the, you can see this by the contract negotiation or putting him in the front office this after his one year is that they wanted to fix the culture.
00:42:57
Speaker
I think that they were on the right track with Dorossi, obviously President Dorossi, terrible fucking ah relationship. But they want this new, the new management, the new ownership that's here, not new ownership, but the new front office, clearly wants that bromo culture back. And that to do that, you need to bring someone who's who been there before.
00:43:18
Speaker
And so Radieri's perfect for that, especially keeping him on in the front office, going into next season. He's going to be able to keep some continuity in that culture building, help with the next managerial hire. And I think players are going to really enjoy that, the fact that he stays on thereafter, like a father figure. Yeah, those are good points.
00:43:38
Speaker
me i don't I like that. My last thing that I did when I forgot to mention this when I when i said i why I didn't like this appointment, what I am worried about is he's kind of like this feel-good, positive guy. And I'm not sure guys like Mancini, Cristante, Pellegrini need that like nurturing piece to get with them back into shape. Which is, I mean, when we look at it, all these guys were their best under Mourinho, who's the fucking opposite of that. And it just whips everybody around, whips people in the shade. So it could go either way. I mean, these guys could just be like lethargic for the rest of the season, or they could be more positive. I see those guys all getting worse after this, honestly. Because I think they're going to feel like pressure's off of us, like we suck, doesn't really matter, like more more of what we've seen.
00:44:31
Speaker
which is a little bit worrying. I mean, Cristante's never been a lead mid, Chini's on the list, and Pellegrini might be over the hoop. So if if that's really the three guys that end up you know being shit throughout the season, so be it. They still can' they can't just give up on Dov big. Rainier said that Sulei's a great player who and he loves to see the though talent level out of him. They have a lot of other guys that they can still develop and put a lot of time into. So ah again, you know if these three bags are, they're not that they're not even that old, but if these three guys are really the you know the so the biggest losers of this season, they were already there. um Radiary green here is not the reason that they're the biggest losers. They were already there. So if their talent level doesn't come back up, I'm not going to put that on Claudia. Fair enough. We'll see what happens with Romoff.
00:45:17
Speaker
I think it's probably going to be less headlines for them for the rest of the season because at this point, like surely, good results, fine, bad results, more of the same, like right? like it doesn't I think it's more of who's playing matters and who's getting better more than the team does. It's going to be a lot of individual performances, and I think it's going to be who who's playing them is really the measure you stick for the other team. I don't think that's a good point. is yeah They've been dominating our podcast.
00:45:42
Speaker
just because of everything that's gone on this year. So I think that kind of cool off though, which which I think what Roma wants, like god that is the point of this. They are like moise quien. Maybe they don't want to be the spotlight. They need to take a step back. They need to lose spit. Cultural culture is fucking destroyed.
00:45:59
Speaker
yeah it railed on culture Uh, yeah, that, that's, that's one guy. So that wraps up the manager news. We're not even close to Matt. Let's give you a long episode. Run one game a week. So we got to get through everything. The other thing that happened this week at Zuri back in action, played Belgium one, one to nothing for an Ali. I think first, first goal, the not only first as a regal that is confirmed.
00:46:26
Speaker
And not another stand of the day, Belgium, even though they've been ranked higher than Italy in the UEFA Ravens for, I don't know how long now, it's been five years. They have never beaten the Italian national team since like 1982. I don't know how that makes any sense, but Belgium apparently better than Italy. Not true. UEFA doesn't know what they're talking about, but so be it.
00:46:51
Speaker
The other notable thing from this game is, uh, Nicola Ravela did start, which I was very happy about. Um, he's a guy that I had highlighted that I really wanted to see play. And the other thing that's interesting is I think we're getting closer and closer to what the ideal, obviously where we're, we're a couple of years away.
00:47:09
Speaker
But this is closer to what the a the number one World Cup team is going to be, I think. Donnie rooms in goal. G.O.D. Lorenzo is the right center back. That's the one, I think, something that'll change. Yeah, I don't know who it is. I don't think anybody's commanding that spot yet, really. So I think it's up for grabs.
00:47:32
Speaker
And then Bonchorno and Bestoni were playing. Obviously, Califiori is most likely going to be the guy, but he is out hurt. And then crossed the back three to wingbacks DiMarco, Cambiazzo. I would be shocked to see anything different from that come World Cup time. And then for the first time in a while, we saw Tonali and Barela playing.
00:47:51
Speaker
And for Tezi, who Spelletti clearly likes, and I think for Tezi is going to continue as well. And then Ritetti. Ritetti is on that role. And it's really, we've been talking about it, who is going to be the last midfielder. In this game, it was Ravella. In the other game that happened this week, it was Locatelli. At other times, we've seen Ferjoli. At other times, we've seen Ricci, who's hurt right now. So they're really testing people out in that spot, I think. I don't think Spelletti knows. As they should know. Yeah.
Italy's National Team and Midfield Analysis
00:48:20
Speaker
as they should be. i mean that this is didn't There are way worse things to be fucking around with than trying to figure out who out of the guys that you just named should be the third midfielder.
00:48:32
Speaker
It always had way bigger problems before. This is simply not one of the ones that that I would be upset about. And there's a bunch of great options, but I do agree. It's a giant question mark because I just don't, I have not a clue. I don't know. I mean, in your opinion, do you really know what Splendy wants to do with that third midfielder? Does he want to be more defensive? Does he want to go more offensive? I, in my opinion, it needs to be defensive, but I don't know.
00:48:56
Speaker
It's tough because the way I'm, who i yeah, it's super tough. I think right now the two players that are best for that role are Ricci and Frigioli.
00:49:12
Speaker
Because under bru with Tonali and Varela, you got two guys that cover ground contribute offensively, but do don't excel at dropping in and pacing the game. I know you like what Tonali does when he joins the back line off the left or off the right, whatever it may be. But Spelletti wants like a Georgina and neither of them are that. Ricci and Frigioli are more that. And I think Ravella is a little bit of that. Locatelli, I don't think,
00:49:42
Speaker
fits into this team, which is unfortunate because he somehow worked his way back in, way back in here. And we thought he was kind of out of it, but I, he's not gonna, he doesn't really do any things that Tonali do or Barela does. And he plays as that pace or worse than the other guys. And he's not a better attacking Redfielder than Fratesi or Pellegrini, who we're not even seeing here. So I think he's the loser of all this.
00:50:11
Speaker
And it's, I think right now, Spelletti doesn't know. Who do you want it to be? No, it's just said to clear the air. We're assuming the guys that are going to play, I'm going to say Vertezzi is going to play, but he's more of like a attacker kind of thing. So it's Barella Tonali in a third midfielder is essentially what we're trying to figure out who the third midfielder is, right? Cause it's Vertezzi, but we come over here.
00:50:40
Speaker
Are we confident that he doesn't go two nines? No, Skamaka's bad. I would say Vertezzi is in that attacker conversation, though. So it's still... I don't i don't consider him in the... He's not in contention to play with Tonali and Barella in my mind. He's taking somebody else out in the team. Is my thought.
00:50:57
Speaker
um no i mean I would put, I would take out a second mortgage on the home that I don't own, that I won't even own for a couple of years, right now, to say that Barello and Tenali will be starting for Italy in the 2026 World Cup. but i could My point is, where i I remove Fertesi from, he's the third midfielder in this conversation. because I think I agree with that. yeah i think and So it's really like right now, Locatelli, like we just said, Locatelli, Beans,
00:51:25
Speaker
Ravella Ricci. Who's your guide that you want right now? First, I'm going to cross out Ravella because I put it more in the Locatelli. capability range. I still think he's a good player. He's been great for lots here this season, but I put him in the Locatelli, like, doesn't excel at anything in particular. And you're right, this position certainly needs to be a a direct complement to do absolute workhorses. We're not always going to be in a guaranteed spot on the field.
00:51:57
Speaker
I mean, Barella, you see him all the time. He might, he might as well be playing the wing for it. sir And Tonali loves to just pick out the right spot in the field, wherever that might be, but it's not always going to be the same place. So you do need a little bit of continuity from a midfielder in there. And I think that, that I would, I would put Ricci, a healthy Ricci over beings at this point.
00:52:19
Speaker
because I haven't seen consistent enough performance out of beans. But it that might be because he has so much competition from a U of A midfielder perspective that I think Ricci's just been playing better. But that's also just right now. I mean, we never talked about Ricci for, I mean, Ricci before this, but when you look at it from the performances we've seen this year from Torino,
00:52:42
Speaker
I think it would be a travesty if they didn't have Ritchie starting in that. And again, we have a year and a half, two years until we had to make the decision, but a lot of time for these guys to develop into something like that. I'm always big on the fact that I don't think you should pigeonhole guys if they have a certain they are even remotely showing that they have a skill set that could change their tactic position. so Reachy right now. Could it be beans? Yes, I don't see beef look at telly because I don't think you can teach an old dog new tricks Revela could certainly be moving in there. But the only things that I know is that cannoli and burrell are certainly gonna be there
00:53:18
Speaker
Yeah, for me, I think it's reaching right now, too. I agree. I think Ravella should make, as of right now, I would have Ravella on the team, because I think he's actually closer to Barella and Tonali than Locatelli is. But for Tezi's more ahead of him, I think. I love Ravella. I'm also just super high on him. You were hot on Ravella. But I also did forget to mention, they played another game at at the San Siro in Milan.
00:53:43
Speaker
They lost to France three to one. Interesting enough, when they played France earlier, they won three to one, and that was in France. And this was they, Adrienne Rabiot, slab moths in the face game. Two goals. Luca Dean scored a fucking greamer of a free kick. Also had two assists. For me, these things kind of happen when you're like, you beat France three to one and you lost France three to one. like I don't read too much into this Nations League thing. They had already done their business in the Nations League. You would like to see them keep them- This was a big game though. This was actually, they needed to lose by one less because they actually came in second in the group by gold difference. So they'd lost two to one, they would've been top of the group, so all they had to do was lose by one. So it was a tough result for them.
00:54:33
Speaker
but They were just running so hot. This Italy team was running incredibly hot, and I think it comes down to a scenario like Napoli. As of late, they just needed to get knocked down a peg, and it was just bound to happen. And to do it to mean to lose to France is like, everyone fucking loses to France. Yeah, I mean, in all the goals they considered were off of set pieces, which is a bigger issue that's been going on in the nation's league. They've been conceiving a lot on set pieces, which you wouldn't really expect from this team.
00:55:01
Speaker
But what I put into that is that is more fixable, if that's the right word, than other issues that had been going on. Like this is kind of like lack of concentration, lack of clear instruction to some degree because there's so much rotation in the team, even like who's marking who, who's doing what. And partially it's mentality like, sure, go attack the ball on defense. And they're not really doing that right now. So I'm not going to say too much on it. The one question we did want to talk about though, is with how good they've been, what is the biggest difference between what we saw in the euros and to now? I say this completely unbiasedly. I really, I'm truly really hard to be so unbiased here.
00:55:44
Speaker
Who is the one guy that is playing significant minutes now that wasn't playing significant minutes in the Europe? Two guys. Two guys. One guy very much in particular. tala I mean, finale is everywhere. there's no yeah This guy's got his fingerprints all over the goddamn pitch, every single game that they played in this nation league. And it's completely apparent that There was something completely missing from that midfield three during the Euros that Tenali has now filled that spot. He's not, it's hitch his to lose. I would say Tenali is playing better than Barella right now. Tenali being, in it's crazy to say, Tenali being Italy's best midfielder right now.
00:56:26
Speaker
obviously Borrello on average over the years obviously the best one but to not always play out of his goddamn mind both for club and for and for Italy so I think it's very hard to point anywhere else besides to not only and I'll give it to your guy Bertegi who had some, he had some time in the Euros behind Skamaka, but you know, i I don't think that, right, he's putting goals on the net, but I don't think it's been as much of a ah the difference playing Rotegi as much as playing Tenali. Yeah, I mean.
00:56:59
Speaker
It's looking like the World Cup is going to be Tonali's announcement to the world of how good he is. Because I think the issue is that when he was at Milan, we knew how good he was. And I think people that watch a lot of Milan were like, oh my god, this guy is so fucking good.
00:57:19
Speaker
And not a lot of people watch Newcastle still, and they ah they don't make enough noise anywhere where you get a ton of anyone suspended for a year. um you been entire eve that you don't Oh, So you don't really see him all that much. But the people that knew, knew even Motz, Motz watched a hit load of Serie A and just didn't realize how good Tenali was. And it granted, like the year off made a big difference.
00:57:45
Speaker
But it's looking like that's gonna be his platform to be like, I'm just as good as anybody. And he is making a difference. For me, he's really good. The biggest difference from Yuro Sano is number one, Spoletti has decided 100% essentially what the formation is. And then number two is players are just performing. Demarco isn't playing like shit. Di Lorenzo isn't playing like shit.
00:58:12
Speaker
Kambiaso is really fucking good and is now playing regularly. Like, this team is starting to look really, really scary. Like, that Tonali Varela pairing, it's so duck hunting, like, unfasty. Like, they're both good enough to play for anyone in the world.
00:58:34
Speaker
I think you you have to put—I don't even think it matters who the third midfielder is. You put but Italy and midfield three up against any midfield three in the world, and I think you're talking about them in the same conversations as England and France. England, do you have Jude, Declan, maybe James Madison is that good by then, or it's Colt Palmer, but he has a 10.
00:58:55
Speaker
you go to france and it's it's Reason probably won't be in the Midshield Firm, him but, you know, Kermabinga, Chwimete, Fofano. Maybe he's... Yeah, Pedri. The other one's like, Pedri, Rojri. Like, they're in that conversation, definitely. But it doesn't... i But I'm not mad that Italy's in a conversation with Pedri, Rojri, and whoever it may be. Fabian Rui. There's so many guys. Fabian Rui was what I'm thinking of, but, I mean, that's... That is elite status. That's what that's what Italy needs. That's the Italy of old. That's the Marchesio Pure Low Days. DeRosa. Yeah, a lot of good guys. i
00:59:31
Speaker
By 2026, Italy could be back to that status, which would be phenomenal. Just absolutely fucking phenomenal. But I do want to say DeMarco, shots to DeMarco, finally playing out of his mind for Italy. And that has made a huge difference, too. Noted to be seen for a win back, but ending it's it's it's officially insane how well he's been playing. He's setting up the entire offense from that left side, and it's crazy to watch. He's doing it for Inter, too. He's just absolutely flying right now. He's so goddamn good.
01:00:01
Speaker
But yeah, no, no, we have no Missouri until March. Which is i said that's a good break, though. I kind of like that. Oh, it was. That's a lot. That's a lot of time to simmer on the momentum that they've got going. And it's a heat check for all the new guys, like the Ravelas, the Ricci's, maybe that other guy who we don't really know anything about. What's his name? harry Lester? Yes, Akoli. Akoli. What was he what he's doing? um I always forget the guy's name on Chelsea. He's starting to play a little bit more.
01:00:34
Speaker
in Chelsea. Oh, the strike has Casa die. He's starting to play a little bit more. um So yeah, I think we'll, it it's just time for Spellett to just sit back and watch and pick that, pick the next guy. So it's going to be interesting. Well, that wraps up the Zora discussion and we are back to Serie A. International
Juventus vs. Milan Game Preview
01:00:54
Speaker
break is terrible. I hate it. People are back. We've got Matt Shriek, the team, the Scudetto battle is back on. And we have two games, ton of headlines about these two games. We're pulling these out. Our games to watch. First one.
01:01:10
Speaker
The Caucho culture, Derby, we got Mots against Blokes because I've removed myself from the situation. but Um, Bianco Neri at Rosso Neri, Juventus at Miwan battle of seventh and sixth place. Two teams that really have not hit their stride yet. New managers, new signings, teams that are very much in a transition phase and it's going very differently for both of them. Big game. Huge.
01:01:41
Speaker
This is actually, no, because Napoli had interplayed. This is the second biggest game of the season. Stan, it's the second biggest game of the season thus far. This is a big game. This is a big game. These two guys are a lot closer than you would think for the way that these two teams started. I didn't realize that UVA still hasn't lost, but they have six draws. Yeah, no, that's been their issue. That's not good. That's certainly not good. I'm excited for this game for one reason and It's going to be a tall tale sign of how well Fonseca didn't manage this team. UVA is it clearly the ball dominant team, and they're going to do that. I know they're going to do that. They're going to play possession, which actually puts AC in the best spot that we've been in consistently over the season. That's going to allow us to actually counterattack as our main threat. As of the last couple of games,
01:02:38
Speaker
It's been weird where we're actually ball heavy, ball dominant. And then the only time that we're dangerous is that if the team gets in transition and we actually where we stopped in mid attack and just have a four and three layout finishes are cool as such customer defense. That's how we scored goals.
01:02:57
Speaker
That's our only opportunities that we're ever going to have this game. We're not going to be on the ball at all. So I think it'll be interesting because I think that that plays into our strengths. I think a lot of players for AC will be uncomfortable because we've been so bowled down as of late. But I really do think that that puts us at the biggest advantage. And then at the other side of it, no do some.
01:03:17
Speaker
No Dusan to fuck around with Pavovich, with Char, with Tamori. You guys gonna have to play somebody out of position, yield these, maybe he's playing a false larychos and Sal has been playing really well, maybe you give him a shout. So, I mean, Vos, what do you think, but I... i I really do think that this is a best case scenario for EC. Well, um I agree because as good of a defensive coach as Tiago Mata is, in games where Juve have not been on the ball, they haven't been particularly great. Their defending has been with the ball more than without the ball. And I talked about the kind of the game I pick out for that, which
01:03:56
Speaker
Granted, could have been an anomaly, is the Stoop Dark game where they literally got their teeth kicked in and they were defending and trying to counterattack. So I don't really see that happening as much. I think the storyline in this game is Quanta Balls out.
01:04:11
Speaker
And then it's it's going to be wing play, right? Because it's layout against probably Savona. And then Pulisic against Kambiaso. And then on the flip side of things, Emerson against Yieldy's. And Waya probably against Teo Hernandez. And I could see Jim Waya exploiting the space behind Teo Hernandez very well. And obviously Yieldy's Emerson Royalty is an interesting matchup to say the least.
01:04:40
Speaker
The other storyline of this game is midfield war. These are so doing a war. Toram, Fofana, Reinders, Koop miners, and then probably Locatelli. Somebody like that, Locatelli and probably, I don't know, Wafteschi, maybe. Who knows who the third man fielder is at this point. I don't really know who it's going to be.
01:05:01
Speaker
That's a war. That's an absolute war in there. And then a couple other storylines for me also are, who is Uwe Striker? like This is a big moment for somebody to knock Dusan out of the team, maybe. And who knows? Maybe he does play Yildiz through the middle. Mbangula comes back into the team. he has a plan He then has a chance to solidify his place in the team. Maybe Kambiasso plays for the pitch. I don't know.
01:05:26
Speaker
and maybe we see so like a new lineup that we haven't seen at all from Mata and it might be it might be that might be Culturesire, Yildi's, Vangula as kind of like our front three we'll call it which we're forcing to play a little bit differently it might be better I don't know if it will be and then the other storyline is Kalulu is gonna be starting this game return to Milan he like who kind of sent him packing for a bag of fucking chips, looked like a bunch of idiots, and now he's coming in and would literally be Milan's best defender if he was on the team.
01:05:59
Speaker
Even more of Mike Fry, when he likes, if he starts and lines up against Khalil, there's literally be tears from the guy's eyes. But, I mean, you just all these storylines are incredible. Incredible for this guy, and this is a this is one of the highest caliber games you're going to see. It's at the Sun's Sierra, the history there, Yuve, AC Milan, Titans, War in the Midfield.
01:06:21
Speaker
wing play out the yin-yang. I mean, this is going to be goalie war, Mignon versus D'Gorgorio. Yeah, two of the best goalies in the league. D'Gorgorio. I mean, they did it's going to be a phenomenal show. I actually do think it's going to be very exciting. I don't think either of these teams are going to... Oh, I am going 0-0 Rock Slide. This is what this score is.
01:06:45
Speaker
But, all right, so I was going to say one, one, but even from that standpoint, it's going to be exciting stuff. I think high XG low goals. That's my, that's my three. Yeah. I mean, last time you they were at the Sun's zero, it was a four four game and Yoldi's cooked. So who knows? Maybe they're going to come in feeling good. A couple of questions we had in this one. I'm going to start with you because I'm not going to answer my own question first, even though that it was you who wrote this down. Who is it? It's a so bigger game for me. One or you?
01:07:15
Speaker
I asked this question but I didn't even think about answering it. I have an answer. I have an answer if you want me to go first. No, no. I don't want to answer you. This is a bigger game for AC. This is a bigger game for AC. They're at home coming off of some crazy results, Ray Al, Caliari.
01:07:35
Speaker
against a team that plays into how AC seemingly wanted to play or play their best at. This is a bigger game for AC. This is their game in hand to get to get back into that top six or the top six conversation. I really do think that that this rests on Fonseca's shoulders to to show that he has had three weeks, two weeks to prepare for this game and actually did something. So I'll go with AC.
01:08:03
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. It's a big game for FunSucker for sure. And being at home and being behind uve you, Vey, you're very fine with the draw. If they take two points from the San Siro, they are thrilled with that. They've played Inter, played Milan in like three weeks, played both of them. If you take two points from that, you're fucking happy with it. You're six points clear in Milan. Like at this point, we're just going to defend where we are in the table and then move on.
01:08:31
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, Milan gotta get wins. I mean, I think that just answers, though. Milan, is Milan happy with the draw? No. Does Milan need the win? Yes. Is he happy with the draw? Yes. What was the bigger game for? AC. I think that's... Yeah, I agree. It was two angles forward. And moving on to the other question that I had. What do you want to see from both teams in this game? Because I have a very clear picture of what I want to see from Milan, and I want to talk about this first.
01:08:58
Speaker
Be that counter-attacking team that you want it to be. Yes. I am sick of Fonseca not creating an identity for this team and like playing around with the fact that he wants to be a counter-attacking team, but not really doing it. Be that. Be good at defense and counter. Like if that is what you want, this is the time to do it. Don't fuck around. Give them the ball and go from there.
01:09:27
Speaker
um I could, though you took the words out of my mouth. I'm not even gonna say anything more on that. What about you, Vay, for you? What do you want to see from them? What I want to see from you, Vay, is... from From my perspective, aside from Lialand Savona, Teo, I don't care who they put out there if Teo plays good defense. I think everywhere else on the pitch, you may have a pretty decent argument to say that they are one for one better than the AC Milan players. I want them to exploit those those deficiencies. I want to see Yieldy's pick Emerson apart. I want to see Coug miners get a goal here. I want to see their midfield absolutely tear us apart.
01:10:07
Speaker
You, they have incredible to position by position. And I don't think that they know it. I don't think that they've, they've, they've come to the full confidence level that they can. And the way that this ACE team has shown itself to me, they can be very fee fetal, feeble, feeble, feeble, feeble is the word.
01:10:30
Speaker
And I think that Juve need to take advantage of that lack of confidence from the AC Milan side. So one-on-one situations, team play in the midfield, defensive solidity, aside from Savona, they're probably at the double. Kalulu is probably just going to play over there and and he knows layout, so that that might actually work out really well for Juve. I want to see Juve just play like they know they're good. I think that's what I want to see.
01:10:54
Speaker
yeah i i interesting i was thinking all these action things they they they've been ball dominant but blunt they it's surprising because it's it's melon like this shouldn't be a game where it's like let's sharpen our our knives in this game but i think they should be looking at this like their defense fucking sucks We have a bunch of really good players. Let's take all this possession and turn it into goals. And somehow I'm looking at this game as here's your chance to do it. And this kind of relates back to both teams. And this is a, this is a game for the big players to get things done. Like coop miners get it done this game. Like.
01:11:35
Speaker
And now it's your, you are UVA, you are UVA's best player. You're supposed to be one of the best players in the league. We haven't really seen it that yet. All that much this year. Yieldy, same thing. He's your number 10. He did it against Inter. you You can't just do it one time. You got to do it against other teams. For Milan, the question we had around Pulisic, can he get it done in big games? He has. You can't just do that once or twice. You have to do it all season long. And it's the same thing with layout.
01:12:00
Speaker
So it that's the the big storyline. This is a game for the big game, the big players to get things done. he and i But I think at the end of the day, that's what's going to decide the game is who's who's best players play better. That's it. Yeah. I do think the midfield is going to be a stalemate. Everything's going to be through the wing. Everything. Yeah, it should begin. I think you're right. I don't think it's going to be a rock fight. ah But that that's you, Ray, and me, Juan.
Roma vs. Napoli Game Preview
01:12:25
Speaker
The other really interesting game is Roma Napoli. And this one's in Naples at the Maradona. Pretty much the hardest game you possibly have as a manager for your first game.
01:12:38
Speaker
How do you see this going manage about mention? Well, people forget that we weren't gonna talk about Roma after the sighting, but here we are. But, I simply heard your bump? I think I really do. I think Napoli's gonna come off of a very sleepy international break. They're kind of sitting on their high horse. They're feeling good. And Roma might steal a point or two here. I mean, it's not... The banjo bump is a thing, so let's just not dance around that fact. It's a real thing.
01:13:11
Speaker
The double manager bump from a guy who just loves your club, it has nothing to lose. Cannot be, cannot be understated. Do I think that Roman matches up well with Napoli at all? Not particularly. Do I think that Roman's in form at the moment? Not particularly. But do I think the manager bump is a real thing? i did So, no so go with that. I mean, Napoli at home is not something you ever ask out for your first game in any situation.
01:13:36
Speaker
I don't think it's going to be fun for Roma, but I do think that there's there's a chance here that, you know, Hart and Mike can can show through. And I think Mapley in some games, especially against Adelanta, they didn't have that Hart, they didn't have that might. It went away very quickly. So if Roma can get a quick one, I think a quick one really changes the game.
01:13:57
Speaker
Yeah. My heart says Rella has a chance. My mind says Antonio Conte, mentality at home. They're going to fuck him. I don't know if it's going to happen.
01:14:12
Speaker
I think the Lukaku matchup in this game is going to be tough for Manchini and Kuvarid Skellia on that side. And the problem is we don't really know now what the lineup's going to be. This is a tough game to get your ideas across to the team, and going against Napoli. What kind of works in your favor is Antonio o Conte doesn't have something to game plan for necessarily, because he's kind of guessing.
01:14:38
Speaker
from From an apply perspective, it's they are terrible. They've been terrible all year. Let's get it done. From Roma, it's Fresh Start. There's hope. We can get it done. In like a little piece of me, it feels like they're not going to win. There's no way they win. I think a piece of me thinks they get a draw and a draw would actually be phenomena phenomenal for them, which is exactly why the he win I broke out the big horn. This is for Roma. This is for Claudio Ranieri. For those of you listening and not watching, I broke out my second big Italian horn here and I'm, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm holding it over Roma.
01:15:17
Speaker
over Claudio Ranieri. I'm not even hoping for a draw. I'm just hoping for not a bloodbath and that there's something in the positive direction. I think I'm only gonna break this out in dire situations. And this is dire. So it's out. This is dire. I mean, i I really do, from a a tactical perspective, I deal a bit of confidence in the fact that the one thing that Radiary is going to game plan for this is the compact.
01:15:41
Speaker
I really don't think they're going to let up stupid goals. If they let up goals, it'll be pure brilliance, but they're not going to be just by ball watching or having someone dribble through the midfield like Scott McCombs. It's optimistic. It's optimistic, but I think that that's what Ranieri is going to be talking about this entire week. I know. I know. And that's the only thing that can save them then is just sulee brilliance or diabala brilliance, you know, dull back on the cross. They get one early and then they put Napoli on the backflow, which is what Adelanta did. It seemed to work for them. I just think that that's the only thing.
01:16:18
Speaker
I'm not saying that that's going to happen. I just think that's the only thing that you can do. I'm just so worried about this defense and the mentality that they have because so many goals Roma conceded this year were just lack of focus and lack of desire from whoever it may be, Mancini and Degas, who I think has actually been very good. He's gotten worse than last week, last, I don't know, two, three match weeks.
01:16:44
Speaker
And against Napoli, you cannot do that. They are going to score on you and score a lot. To stop you there though, well I- Lack of focus and lack of desire, I think are two things that that's what you're bringing ready in you for. Maybe it's not for skill level, but this is like this is why it' for focus. But this was my or desire. That's why I was in my head. I was like, they need to bring in like an allegory, like somebody that's no bullshit, not like wipe your ass for you kind of guy.
01:17:16
Speaker
And it could work, but I could very, very much saying it. We have nothing to lose now. Let's continue to suck. of I don't, I mean, I would hope that from a professional player, that their mentality is we have nothing to lose. Let's just keep. got also i I think it will be it'll be, it'll be interested. Yeah, this is going to be a good game because it's Ranieri's first game in charge and Napoli bounced back because they went lost draw.
01:17:47
Speaker
And they're tough running games here for them. This is probably their easiest game and it's tough
Match Predictions and Team Performance
01:17:52
Speaker
run. Like they got to win. Like you, you're at a home. You gotta got to win this one. And this is good content game where he, I think you'll be thinking, let's go win it. So I don't think this one will be boring. They they're going to be some chances. that That is the one thing that really is going against Roma here is that Napoli.
01:18:11
Speaker
No, they need to win. Yeah. Like, it's not like you may go to San Siro and be like, I'm cool okay with the draw. This is Napoli at home. We just came off draw loss, lost draw, whatever. Need to win. Yeah, definitely. Until Saturday. We do have other games for you to watch. It's not just these two. If there's other games you want to watch, we're going to be talking about them right now. Inter Milan going to Hellas Barona. This is a game that Inter have struggled with this year. These little shitty teams that aren't playing great.
01:18:42
Speaker
away from home. This is gonna be like a 3-2 interwin, and they're gonna pull it out somehow late. Like, that's the kind of thing I could see happening here. Because inter- You talk about lack of... You talk about lack of form, you're gonna say? No, you talk about lack of focus. Like, inter's lack of focus comes out, gigantically, in games like this, as of this season. So, I think you're right. I think Verona has a chance. I think Verona gives them a little bit of a heart attack. Yeah, but Verona could also just lay an egg and suck.
01:19:11
Speaker
Very easily. Who this be? Moving and on, Adelanta going to Parma. I actually think this is a tough match chef for Adelanta because of the space that Parma want to attack and how they want to play. it's kind of like This is a game where Adelanta are going to create a lot opera a lot of opportunities, yes, but I think they're going to concede a couple or at least give up chances.
01:19:39
Speaker
so But Atalanta are really good, and they're gonna win, and I- I think roll, and they roll. You're probably right. I just think Parma's gonna be dangerous, and I think that's what I'm thankful for. But we've learned anything about Parma this season, it's that they're fake fucking noobs. So I'm ah i'm not gonna feed into it. They're in 13th. Fake news.
01:20:04
Speaker
Calliree, going to new manager Genoa. I cooked. They're cooked. Who? Calliree? Calliree was cooked. Patrick Vier, new manager Bump War. No way. I think this is Calliree Winter Chai. A hundred percent. Don't you wonder where your mouth is? Yeah, I don't know. You'll read the next one. I'm checking the the the money on that one. No, next one. Actually, it's funny that you say the next one because this one's my favorite of the bottom tier games this week. Far from heated or into the lake.
01:20:34
Speaker
Fiorentina play at Como. I think Fiorentina keep there seek their foreigner, which is unfortunate because I actually do find this to be a really important game for Como. They finally gonna draw after a string of three losses in their last game before the break. You would have hoped that they had a bit of an easier matchup coming out of the international break to get some steam going before the end of the year, end of the calendar year that is. And I don't think Fiorentina is gonna let up at all.
01:21:00
Speaker
I think that Fiorentina need, it's not that they can, it's that they need to keep the form that they're in, to keep the momentum and to drop points at a game like this against a 15th place Como, I think would put them, would take a pretty big step back. Yeah. Como, you have to take seriously, but like. You do. I think we look at them as being better than they are because they're kind of one of the better of the rest kind of thing, because that's the right way of saying it. You know what I mean? like But they, I mean, they haven't been great for a little bit of time here. Five games, last five, three losses, two draws. If your team is significantly better than them. Significantly better. This to me is like a three nothing, two nothing game. Como have like 1.2 XG. Yeah, I'm actually changing my Colby tick right now.
01:21:50
Speaker
like and time i admit It's a first. that's a Yeah, first that was a first. but yeah For Como, this is a scary game. You're at home though. This is one of those games that these are the games that I'm worried about with Fabregas. Do not try to win this game. Get the draw. They are better than you and I i don't think he's going to do that.
01:22:14
Speaker
which is my concern for Koma, where, like, if they lose this game, they are back in the relegation zone, potentially, depending on other results. Like, they're they're one point clear right now. And this is a game where other teams are going to just try to get that one point. And that's who you are competing with right now. So you have to be aware of that. And for Fiorentina, it's five in a row. We are better. Like, keep it going.
01:22:43
Speaker
I saw an interesting thing today and that I would like to see this for your team again. And I think it was a Buffon quote talking about Allegri and versus Conte. And he said with Conte, it was like insane preparation, like crazy guy to play for. And with Allegri, Allegri was like a saint compared to him. And he said that he didn't name the team, but before a team, like before a match,
01:23:05
Speaker
they went into locker room we're getting ready to like hear all the tactics and Allegri breaks out the board and just writes like a huge number three on the board and they're all like What's going on? And Allegra goes, you're three times better than them? Just go out and wait. That's what I would like to see from Falagino in this game. Like, just get on the fire. Everybody's feeling great. Like, it's kind of weird. Cause like, it's like, you should be Como, but it's also a good result to beat them, especially at the lake, which, which is kind of paradoxical, but it is interesting.
01:23:38
Speaker
and Big game for both sides. I agree with your take on combo. Just get the draw. Fewer until you roll here, though. And that brings us to another Northern matchup. We've got Monza going to Turin, playing Turino. I could see Monza taking some points here. I can too. I have been very disappointed with Turino as of late, although Tony Sinabrio scored a banger. But I think...
01:24:07
Speaker
Lanza can get points here. I think they should get points here. Tureno have been disappointing. I'm not sure Richi is going to be healthier for this game. Doubt it. So I think Tureno are going to struggle to create. They've been solid defensively.
01:24:25
Speaker
But Monza, again, it's it's it's risky because do you say, let's just try to get a point here or do we try to beat them? And it's a slippery slope because Shay Adams and Tony Sinabria can hurt you very quickly if you're not compact and you're not and you're kind of giving them the area to run into. Is Shay Adams not hurt still? Is he? I didn't think he was. I could be wrong. he might be He might be injured. So I do think that that's a really bad sign for Torino. Really bad sign.
01:24:55
Speaker
That would be very bad. I think... I... I seem... No, they're at Torino. It's a draw. It's gonna be a draw. It's gonna be a draw. I see a draw. I think he has her. I think you're right. I think it is a draw. I think you're right. But I think... I think Shanna was a serve. But in any case, not a game to watch, but a game to just monitor. Will it answer? Not watch. A game to watch potentially, though. You like these two teas, though. Yeah, Bologna going around to play Lazio. Interesting chess match here.
01:25:26
Speaker
Because Bologna have a lot to lots of gain out of this game. And Bologna have been playing good. I mean, important to remember, three wins out of their last three. They've been playing good and are looking more dangerous. For Lotzio in this game, it's got to be more of, can we get the ball at to go score? Because I think Lotzio are miles better than Bologna right now. But Bologna are just so good at just not giving away opportunities.
01:25:51
Speaker
that Lazio are going to be pushed a little bit deeper than I think they're comfortable with. We've seen them play deep and play very well. But it's going to be interesting. I just don't know how many opportunities they're going to create. And I think Nuno Tavares is continuing, going to continue to be a very, very big piece to this team, especially in this game. From a belonging side of things, Simone Castro is playing very well. I was kind of out on him and I've kind of come around to realize it's really hard to play for an Italiano and you get very little service.
01:26:24
Speaker
He's going against two center backs that can get got and like, get your team rolling. ah gang it yeah They can get got and Italiano should be saying that you can go get them. This is a game for you to like, stamp down. I think Dan and Doi is out, which is a massive, massive, massive loss. But Lewis Ferguson, I'm not sure he's able to start yet, but he is going to be available. But that really is tough. Now Dan and Doi is very scary.
01:26:52
Speaker
but The Orcelini has been playing much better. Yeah, that's true. That's a good point. of Which is huge. which is huge i I think this Bologna team can really show where the cracks can be found in Lazio, which I don't think other teams have been able to consistently or were at at least intentionally show. Lazio are at home. They played phenomenally well at home at study Olympic go.
01:27:16
Speaker
so Do I see another draw here? Maybe. This was my when this was my my former. cole pi was your That was your Colby fake. But I don't... now that we're... I mean, obviously we've been hot on Lazio for the past couple weeks now, but now that we're looking at this, I don't... I'm not so confident that Lazio has a walk in the park against this team. No, certainly not. I think this is a very difficult game, and this is a little bit of Heat Trick kind of thing. I would say Heat Trick is perfect for Lazio.
01:27:49
Speaker
It's games like this that will set you apart from that you can show up and if you beat like Napoli you beat enter like great result, right? But the measuring stick is kind of like against these teams that are tricky Can you continue to play well against them which is where like teams like Milan have struggled in the past? I just I also think that the The amount that Bologna can gain from winning this game is a lot more than what they can lose from losing this game. So I think they'll be on the front foot, and I think Latzio needs to be ready for that. So, we'll see. but yeah the we Big game for Luku, me too, if he' if he's playing. They're gonna need him to play it with me. Yeah, ah yeah keep on rolling in Empoli. Udenazze going to Empoli. Battle of the Maid. I think Empoli are gonna win this one.
01:28:38
Speaker
Yeah, I don't think Gudunese even touched the ball. Gudunese have been cooling off since their start for the season. you will People forget they were top of the table. And Emily have kind of been transitioning to a more expansive team. Like, very good defensively, yes.
01:28:56
Speaker
But we've seen bits and pieces of them attacking really well. So I'm interested in this one. I ah you just don't see it unless I'm creating that many chances against them, though. know I don't think they get the ball at all in the in the attacking third. Yeah, and Emily are good at home. I i think Emily wins. I think there's a game that can actually go and win, and I would like to see it get done. I think they need to. I think they need to win this game.
01:29:22
Speaker
Who does he say war will form to? Horrible. Lost borders. Terrible. But then, the rock fight of the weekend, baby. We love a good rock fight. Leche is going to the Netzia. Do not, under any circumstances, I don't care what the hell is going on. I don't care if you see your grandmother's ish. You are not watching Leche at the Netzia. Please do not.
01:29:53
Speaker
I think Venezia are going to win this game. I think it's going to be kind of entertaining. We won nothing. This is a big game. This is a really big game. Leche 18th, Venezia in 20th, Leche on nine points, Venezia on eight. We talk about some of the other results going on. A win for either of these teams gets you out of that bottom three most likely.
01:30:16
Speaker
So they're both going to be going for this. Like, Leche are not going for a draw on Venezia. They have to go for the win. If Venezia are good at home and and have been good at home, Venezia got a win.
01:30:29
Speaker
This is how you know Vos is just simply a Syria fan because he just got so excited over a battle of 18th and 20th, more so than he was excited over Bologna versus Lotzi. I am excited for this man. I might even change my clothes again to Venezia to win. This man lives for Syria. You can just see it on his face if you're watching. You can hear it in his voice if you're listening. This man is... cannot wait to watch Leche Venezia. He's gonna watch it for the entire planet because no one else is gonna watch it, or those will be tuned in. Plus he couldn't give a fuck about this game except for that one team just can't score. Venezia is better than where they are. And we talked about this actually when they got relegated last time. They were actually good when they got relegated. We did see that. And I don't know why,
01:31:23
Speaker
They can beat teams, and they can draw games, and this is one for them to win. Checking the odds here, they're plus 120 to win, and I do like that one. No, you need to keep your- I'm sticking to the one I did, because the one I did was- I like your current pick. Yeah, my current pick is a great pick. Phenomenal pick, so what's it? Yeah, phenomenal pick, so yeah. But that's all the games, so now it's time for everybody's favorite segment.
01:31:49
Speaker
cor pluna Colby is back. I hate weeks without Colby. But we're back. Matz has given us a remote pick. Logs is here. to I think this is the first time Logs has ever given a pick live.
Betting Picks and Strategies
01:32:03
Speaker
That's actually fairly true. It's been one game a week, and it's been Mondays, and Colpys are big Wednesday days. But today is Tuesday, so we get to do Colby today. But I'll take Matz's pick for him right now. Yeah. We got Colby. Matz, did he win last week?
01:32:21
Speaker
I think MOTS hit last week. MOTS maybe hit last Colby. In any case, this weekend, MOTS is going over two and a half goals. That means three goals need to be scored. Minus 194, so it might as well be a lot. You didn't say the game. I know. I know I didn't say the game, but people are thinking. They're thinking, what game is for sure three goals? What game am I looking at? Am I looking into Verona? Can't be Monza Torino.
01:32:51
Speaker
Roman Napoli, Napoli roll, three nil. No. At Atlanta at Parma, high octane fight here. We got over two and a half goals as the first leg of the Colby locking in, minus 194. That has moved, actually. We're now at minus 198, so that is a flump buster from Mott's, some are calling it. That is a slump buster. That's a depressing loss if that happens. That's Mott, sir.
01:33:18
Speaker
But 198, the people who love that pick, you can tell 198 on the board. My pick, to a game I'm not going to watch, nor should anybody. Lecce at Venezia, both teams to score. The answer being no, plus 102. Even money for one of those teams not to put the ball in the back of the net seems like a lot. That's why we're taking it. That's why it's in the Colby. That's why you bet it.
01:33:45
Speaker
Take it. Both teams not to score. Let's shave it and see it. That's a good one. And I think you're coming off of a good result here recently, right? I think I'm going to run a two game run. Thank you. Yeah, because I'm checking the scoreboard run. I started keeping a scoreboard prize on, and I didn't update it. It's last week. I'm checking for it right now.
01:34:05
Speaker
Good shit. Good shit. And then I didn't hit, because I had Adalanta minus one and a half, I didn't have Zay. And then I think Matz hit over two and a half. I think Matz did hit. You did let us hit. Verona had Fiorentina, he had. What happened in that one? Four rolls. So he hit that one. Matz, I guess I'm the only one. Matz hadn't hit a leg for, I looked, it was very low. So that was not on the board. Which brings me to my pick.
01:34:29
Speaker
I've tossed around a lot of things. I changed my pick mid episode, beginning of the episode. Crazy. I had Lazio minus 120, Moneyline against Bologna. Realized mid episode, there was some value elsewhere. I tossed around Venezia, Moneyline against Leche at home, five minutes ago. ah Plus 120. But where we fell, Fiorentina at Como, Fiorentina Moneyline plus 130,
01:35:00
Speaker
Insane value. That's too much value. I don't know where this is coming from. Kobo is in 15. The book is sleeping on Fiorentino. I don't think they've realized what's going on there yet. I've got Fiorentino plus 130. That brings the whole Colby to plus 599.
01:35:25
Speaker
Not too bad. And I actually like a lot of these picks. Usually there's one pick where I'm like, don't. That's a bad pick. Usually it's Mott's. The history has shown. And I like all of these. I really like Mott's pick. Over two and a half in the Adelanta game is a really good one because they're going to score a bunch of those. Always. Always a good pick.
01:35:46
Speaker
But Paisans, you know the deal. You bet the Colby. You bet all the three legs singularly of the Colby. You bet the whole Colby. You put a hundred bucks down on the Colby in the week, you're pulling back in $700, my friends. That's what you do. We make you money, we get you happy, and we get you through the weekend. Just don't watch Leche at Financia. I'll give you the Sunday on Monday. There you go. that's what That's what Vos is here for, and to tell you about all the fucking Shittygate.
01:36:15
Speaker
That's it. people start talking to us more because we're loving the the the ah the comments, the questions we're getting.
Community Interaction and Conclusion
01:36:24
Speaker
Paisones, we're loving their reactions, but simply not enough. I can't talk to myself for this long. It's hard. I'm not a voice. I can't do a whole episode by myself. You can find us everywhere. You can find us everywhere. You You You Bose. He got no matz this week, baby. Take us away. Yeah, funny enough, because we got no matz this week, and it's a Colpy episode. I have two two pieces I have to say for you guys. My name's Matz, and I'm putting $100 on the UVA this week. Let's go with it, Tom. So you guys start to do that, too. So the real thing that we need to say is, Paisanos, do not be a god-goose in Forza cultural culture.