Italian Football Thread III

[Zgontronoman]

yup

I like your posts you seem like a normal dude that just wants to talk about football and are not blinded by fanboyism. Sometimes I lurk around FIF usually when the transfers are on and sometimes in the Italian league thread and some people on that forum are just nuts...that JJM dude can't be normal i don't think we have anyone as crazy as that here...or we had but they were banned.

 

[necromancer]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. I guess there will always be a few people here who don't like it, I usually just ignore their posts.



LOL. I don't defend Milan at FIF, I just try to keep it real. Same with Napoli, Roma, Lazio, etc. At FIF there is a tendency to hype up Inter, just like here some people hype up Milan. Which is understandable I guess.

Inter may look like a slightly better squad than Milan on paper, but the diff isn't as material as some people at FIF imagine. IMO the main diff between Inter and Milan this season is the coach. Spalletti is a seasoned coach, and even though he isn't world class at least we know what to expect. Gattuso is a rookie as a coach who did extremely well last season, but we don't know whether he can continue that trajectory or get found out this season. Milan's season pretty much depends no how well Gattuso does.

Which is why I am not a big fan of inexperienced coaches at big clubs, specially when the club is investing big money. That was Fassone & Mirabelli's biggest mistake last summer (more of Fassone's mistake, since Mirabelli was pushing for Conte or Mancini). When you are investing big money and need CL qualification, get a quality experienced coach (even if a world class coach isn't available). At least this way the performance is more predictable, and you can set realistic, achievable targets. With a rookie coach, its a bit like gambling and that is not wise when you are investing big money.

This will be a very interesting season. Juve probably have the Scudetto nailed down already, but the race for the remaining CL spots will be the toughest in recent memory with 5 clubs in it. Exciting times.

Gattuso is a very 'predictable' coach.. he gets the team to a certain point and then it's down to the talent in the team. That's actually a quality found in the more experienced Serie A coaches. He's more of a guarantee than Spalletti in my mind. Spalletti is quite a risky manager. He has a very volatile end product.

 

[bluenine]

Gattuso is a very 'predictable' coach.. he gets the team to a certain point and then it's down to the talent in the team. That's actually a quality found in the more experienced Serie A coaches. He's more of a guarantee than Spalletti in my mind. Spalletti is quite a risky manager. He has a very volatile end product.

We disagree on that. Gattuso's unpredictability comes from his lack of track record in Serie A. Your assessment (while accurate) is based on 6 months, thats not a track record. Hence I put Gattuso more as a "question mark" at this stage, and his volatile temperament does not help his predictability either. Maybe what we saw in the last 6 months is exactly what you will get, but the point is, we don't know.

 

[General]

Napoli will win the Scudetto.

Very unlikely

 

[Massaro94]

Napoli will win the Scudetto.

The final nail into the coffin of all those who doubt Don Carlo

 

[Fusiproe12]

Pasalic with Gasperini = world class MF

 

[Hugh Janus]

Papu Gomez 2 goals and 2 assists

 

[Ronin]

Pasalic with Gasperini = world class MF

He was pretty decent with us. Has some potential

 

[Fusiproe12]

He was pretty decent with us. Has some potential

 

[necromancer]

We disagree on that. Gattuso's unpredictability comes from his lack of track record in Serie A. Your assessment (while accurate) is based on 6 months, thats not a track record. Hence I put Gattuso more as a "question mark" at this stage, and his volatile temperament does not help his predictability either. Maybe what we saw in the last 6 months is exactly what you will get, but the point is, we don't know.

Sure, you could question the length of assessment for Gattuso, but you can't do the same for Spalletti. Throughout his career, Spalletti has imploded spectacularly in certain stages of the season. He's more a Mourinho than an Allegri. His returns have a strong swing.

 

[Ash]

I like your posts you seem like a normal dude that just wants to talk about football and are not blinded by fanboyism. Sometimes I lurk around FIF usually when the transfers are on and sometimes in the Italian league thread and some people on that forum are just nuts...that JJM dude can't be normal i don't think we have anyone as crazy as that here...or we had but they were banned.

Umm..sesheva?

Vulture?

Massaro?

 

[Az.]

The final nail into the coffin of all those who doubt Don Carlo

 

[Youth]

We disagree on that. Gattuso's unpredictability comes from his lack of track record in Serie A. Your assessment (while accurate) is based on 6 months, thats not a track record. Hence I put Gattuso more as a "question mark" at this stage, and his volatile temperament does not help his predictability either. Maybe what we saw in the last 6 months is exactly what you will get, but the point is, we don't know.

I find it peculiar that you adress the bold part. Gattuso's temprament as coach and player is pretty different. His anger now is just like Carlo or other coach, nothing exceeding the limit.

 

[Sage]

I would love it if carlo won the scudetto, but it's unfair to him for anyone to expect that since ADL didn't strengthen his team 1 bit.

they sold a regista in jorginho and replaced him with an attacking CM like ruiz, I doubt carlo will depend on diawara in big games.

 

[necromancer]

I would love it if carlo won the scudetto, but it's unfair to him for anyone to expect that since ADL didn't strengthen his team 1 bit.

they sold a regista in jorginho and replaced him with an attacking CM like ruiz, I doubt carlo will depend on diawara in big games.

They had said clearly that the idea is to convert Hamsik to the deep-lying role. From the Lazio match, that seemed to be working pretty well.

I don't think they'll get anywhere near the scudetto, but not because of the regista position.

 

[Jasper]

#BenvenutoKlavan

 

[Sage]

I don't think they'll get anywhere near the scudetto, but not because of the regista position.

yeh, because they didn't strengthen while everyone did.

ADL has no ambition.

 

[milanpalermo23]

best serie a xi vs best bpl xi

Cristiano---Higuain---Dybala

M.Savic---Pjanic---Nainggolan

Alex Sandro---Koulibaly---Bonucci---Hysaj

Donnarumma


Hazard---Kane---Salah

De Bruyne--Pogba--Kante

Alonso--Otamedi--Stones--Walker

De Gea

 

[Massaro94]

best serie a xi vs best bpl xi


Hazard---Kane---Salah

De Bruyne--Pogba--Kante

Alonso--Otamedi--Stones--Walker

De Gea

 

[vidarth]

best serie a xi vs best bpl xi

Cristiano---Higuain---Dybala

M.Savic---Pjanic---Nainggolan

Alex Sandro---Koulibaly---Bonucci---Hysaj

Donnarumma


Hazard---Kane---Salah

De Bruyne--Pogba--Kante

Alonso--Otamedi--Stones--Walker

De Gea

-romagnoli-chiellini- is probably the best CB pair

Dolla isn't even better than reina.

 

[AndreiX]

would pick hamsik or allan over radja

bonucci definitely not best xi material after his 17/18 performance

donnarumma was serie a's best GK when in form, but he has been mediocre in the past half year. handanovic is probably the best GK

 

[necromancer]

Koulibaly is obviously the best CB in Serie A. Bonucci is definitely not. Koulibaly-Chiellini is probably the best pairing. Best GK is whoever the Roma GK is, considering their stellar goalkeeping coach.

 

[Sage]

best serie a xi vs best bpl xi

Cristiano---Higuain---Dybala

M.Savic---Pjanic---Nainggolan

Alex Sandro---Koulibaly---Bonucci---Hysaj

Donnarumma


Hazard---Kane---Salah

De Bruyne--Pogba--Kante

Alonso--Otamedi--Stones--Walker

De Gea

this kinda tells me that you barely watch the PL


best PL 11(based on 17/18) would be

De Gea

Walker Otamendi Vertonghen Robertson

Sterling De Bruyne D.Silva Son

Salah Kane

------------------

best PL starting XI (in general)

De Gea

Walker Van Dijk Alderweireld Mendy

De Bruyne N.Keita D.Silva

Salah Kane Sterling

 

[necromancer]

He doesnt watch Serie A either.. based on last season, no way Bonucci or Hysaj or Alex Sandro or Nainggolan or Dybala or even Higuain makes a Serie A XI.

 

[Sage]

Best serie A XI from 17/18

Alisson

Florenzi Benatia Koulibaly Kolarov

Pjanic Torreira Sergej

Luis Alberto

Immobile Icardi

 

[necromancer]

Best serie A XI from 17/18

Alisson

Florenzi Benatia Koulibaly Kolarov

Pjanic Torreira Sergej

Luis Alberto

Immobile Icardi

Controversial pick at right-back because I didn't like any conventional right-back last season.

-------------------Alisson---------

--Verdi----Koulibaly--Chiellini---Kolarov---

-------Jorginho--Pjanic---Milinkovic-Savic

-----------------Luis Alberto----

--------------Icardi---Immobile--

In 2018/19, Cristiano Ronaldo needs to prove that he can break into this XI. I don't think it'll be easy.

 

[The Philosopher]

this kinda tells me that you barely watch the PL


best PL 11(based on 17/18) would be

De Gea

Walker Otamendi Vertonghen Robertson

Sterling De Bruyne D.Silva Son

Salah Kane

------------------

best PL starting XI (in general)

De Gea

Walker Van Dijk Alderweireld Mendy

De Bruyne N.Keita D.Silva

Salah Kane Sterling

Though I think hazard is better than sterling in general

 

[Jasper]

Klavan: 'Always wanted Serie A'
By Football Italia staff

Ragnar Klavan confessed he had “always wanted to play in Serie A” and the ex-Liverpool defender idolises Paolo Maldini.

The Estonia international defender signed on transfer deadline day and met with Coach Rolando Maran today.

“Cagliari was the best possible choice, despite the many other offers on the table,” he said in a presentation Press conference.

“I spoke to some of my teammates who played in Italy and they definitely recommended it. I was also in contact with (fellow new Cagliari signing Darijo) Srna through Dejan Lovren.

“I always wanted to play in Serie A, one of the best Leagues in the world. I was fortunate to play at the top level and this is another great challenge for me.

“The negotiations happened very quickly, it went from first contact to signing in two days. I believe in the Cagliari project and was won over by the city and the island of Sardinia.”

Klavan is a big fan of Italian football and one player in particular.

“I grew up idolising Paolo Maldini, who was always so calm with the ball at his feet. I think that is an important part of my game too. I see myself as a complete defender, I like to play the ball.

“Clearly, my experience with Liverpool was extraordinary, but Cagliari remind me of when I went to Augsburg. When I arrived, we were a lower-mid-table team, but in the third season we qualified for the Europa League and came fifth in the Bundesliga. Everything is possible.”

 

[Mario]

Best 11 based on 17/18

Alisson; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Skriniar, Kolarov; Pjanic, Jorginho, SMS, Luis Alberto; Icardi, Immobile

In general

Handanovic; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Chielini, A. Sandro; Pjanic, SMS, Radja; Dybala, GONZALO, ronnie

Radja over Hamsik just because Hamsik hasn't had that good of a season.

 

[bluenine]

Best 11 based on 17/18

Alisson; Cancelo, Koulibaly, Skriniar, Kolarov; Pjanic, Jorginho, SMS, Luis Alberto; Icardi, Immobile

In general

Handanovic; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Chielini, A. Sandro; Pjanic, SMS, Radja; Dybala, GONZALO, ronnie

Radja over Hamsik just because Hamsik hasn't had that good of a season.

Can't fault either of those XIs, pretty much what I would say too maybe with the exception of Higuain in the 2nd one. I obviously prefer Icardi over Higuain, but in this case I would include neither - instead put Insigne or Costa in the wing with CR7 as a CF.

Insigne - CR7 - Dybala
SMS - Pjanic - Nainggolan
Sandro - Chiellini - Koulibaly - Hysaj
Handanovic​