Everyones favourite league returns! The season kicked off with the Super cup which was played in Bejing. In a suprise result Lazio beat Inter 2-1 but there was a debut goal for Samuel Eto'o. The season itself dosen't kick off until the 23rd. Here is my prediction for the season ahead: 1.Inter 2.Juve 3.Roma 4.Fiorentina 5.Milan 6.Palermo 7.Genoa 8.Napoli 9.Lazio 10.Udinese 11.Sampdoria 12.Atalanta 13.Parma 14.Cagliari 15.Siena 16.Bologna 17.Livorno 18.Chievo 19.Catania 20.Bari Very difficult to choose between teams 6-11 I think any of them could be dark horse for 4th spot. I think i'll tip Diego Millito to be top scorer.
I'll pretty much disagree with everything you've said starting with your first sentence. Serie A is pretty much nobodies favourite league, especially with all the stars leaving it. Roma won't finish higher than Milan. Milito won't be top scorer, Huntelaar will.
Good win for Lazio always like to see the blue and black scum lose. Many people love Serie A and there are still a number of stars playing there. With Milan's current team i cant see Huntelaar finishing top scorer but we live in hope. Inter will most likely win the league again but hopefully Juve may be able to snatch it. Milan are far from a championship winning side at the moment. At least its on ESPN for those who want to watch it.
When refering to Serie A as everyones favourite league I was employing a concept known as sarcasm. The only stars to have left are Kaka and Ibra, Eto'o has replaced Ibra and Diego could go on to replace Kaka. Roma's starting 11 is just as good as Milan's and Milan are in dissary with an unproven manager. Millito is proven scorer in both Spain and Itlay Huntelaar isn't. Just out of interest do you watch serie a?
I doubt Roma will finish 3rd, just my opinion of course but this is a side which finished 6th last year and let in how many goals? They have a right back who cant defend, Cicinho and they still rely too much on Totti imo, another striker/attacking midfielder was an urgent requirment. Still they have a chance of finishing ahead of Milan who need a new back line asap. My Dark Horses, watch out for Genoa imo, they could easily finish 3rd, they have replaced their sales well in the summer. Crespo is a good signing, Palacio is an interesting one could flop or do well. Surprised Inter let go of Francisco Bolzoni, i think he could be a steal for Genoa too, only 20/21 and will improve significantly. Juventus will be closer this year, no doubt about that, they still need another defender though, someone who can cover across the defense. Sampdoria are in trouble this year imo, hardly any signings, and the squad from last year has been picked apart big time, Cassano could still go and if he does then i would be very worried indeed. The owner needs to get his arm into his pocket and buy a few midfielders otherwise the midfield will get outrun. Del Neri was an interesting choice as coach too, before he went to Notts County im surprised the board didnt turn to Sven, proven record etc. Del Neri strikes me as lower mid table material at best.
They should go for David Silva asap, he would be perfect. Wouldnt surprise me if they made a bid for Cassano.
They'll score for fun anyway. I like Juventus to push Inter all the way. Their signings look pretty good and Giovinco is a quality young player. Milan should be better than they're showing in preseason but their defence remains questionable.
The article by Paddy Agnew in World Soccer sums up accurately my feelings on Italian football atm and the challenges it faces. There is a reference to Pierluigi Casiraghi saying young Italians would be better off moving abroad in order to get game time as there is too much pressure on managers in Italy to give younger players an opportunity. The fact that older players are continuously having there contracts renewed and at the same time clubs are not designating enough time towards their younger players. Sampdoria have a similar problem, Vincenzo Fiorillo is one of Italy's most promising young keepers and yet there is talk of him again being 3rd choice this coming season despite the second choice goalkeeper leaving the club. Surely loaning him out or having him on the bench and using him in the Coppa Italia games would be better for his development given that he is nearly 20 years old now
I think Roma can be dark horses providing they stay injury free. When Mexes and Juan play together which wasn't that often last season the defence can be quite good. Plus Marco Motta will play at right back. As always there is an over-dependence on Totti but thats just Roma. It seems he might at last be fully fit and the 7-1 win over Genk was a great start to the season. Baptista and Vucinic can be world beaters on their day(which isn't very often in Baptista's case!) and Menez and Guberti have promise. I don't think they can win the title but they have the team to mount a challange and hopefully bring home the Europa League.
Damn i always forget about Marco Motta, he is a good player no doubt, or will be in a few years. Imo Roma need another defender and another striker if they are to get anywhere near the title, i still stand by my belief that they cant just rely on Totti, though Vucinic evey now and again is capable of a good display.
You can't read to much into pre season but 8 losses and a draw from 9 matches does not look good for Milan.
I think Juventus will push Inter all the way, if Roma have no injuries they will be up there too, I Cant wait for it to start, Thank god for ESPN!!!
i have a feeling ac milan will win serie a next year ........ pre season does not mean anything......... i predict ronaldinho will shine next year .....
Just will not happen. Inter, Juve and then Milan if we are very very lucky. Our first 11 can compete but when injuries set in we will be in real trouble. We have too many players who are past it Dida, Zambrotta, Oddo, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ronaldinho etc.
It's a make or break season for Ronaldinho Milan are depending on him big time now. Perhaps the fact he is no longer an automatic pick for Brazil will force him to pull his socks up to make sure he goes to the world cup. Mourinho and Lippi have started feuding after Lippi tipped Juve to win the Scuddeto.
