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Oct. 11th, 2003 12:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
diemmeI had an unusual dream last night. Nesta and Maldini were doing Kaladze's hair before a match and Kaladze was being a pissy diva about it all. I wonder when he'll be fit again.
I just love this site, too hilarious.
Italy goes goal crazy
Jimbo, the thinking fan's pundit, makes his tip for the title. And then another. And then another...
James Richardson
Tuesday September 30, 2003
What's the difference between Serie A and a flasher in the park? In Serie A, they keep putting it away. Over 100 goals have been scored in the first four rounds, meaning the Italians, past masters of sitting on defence, now have the highest goals-per-game average in Europe. Who do they think they are, Spanish?
Yup, like the dyslexic confectioner of lore, the Italians have got new tactics. It's no coincidence that, whereas a few years back wingers were a dying breed in Italy, it's now the medianos - grim, determined midfield ball-winners - who risk extinction. Why, even Rino Gattuso, patron saint of midfield thuggery, has learnt how to nutmeg.
That's worth remembering when you read of Rivaldo's problems at AC Milan. If the world champion has been unable to find room, it's only because Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti is already fielding three natural no10s, and the others are frankly more effective. And given that Ancelotti once rid Parma of those deadbeats Zola and Baggio (that's Roberto Baggio - Dino Baggio he held onto), the sight of him now putting together Rui Costa, Kakà, Pirlo, Shevchenko and on Sunday, Jon Dahl Tomasson is the finest example of the sea-change in Serie A. Not that that helps Rivaldo much.
Onto the weekend's results. Roma, Juve and Milan had big wins, Lazio and Inter were held to draws by Empoli and the Referee respectively. Elsewhere Siena (the new Chievo) scared Parma, the old Chievo stuffed Jay Bothroyd's Perugia, Sampdoria got win number one, and Brescia lost Baggio once again, to yet another knocked knee.
Roma first. Francesco Totti turned 27 on Saturday and Roma's game with Ancona would have been easier if they hadn't (a) spent the first half trying to make him score, and (b) started John Carew. For lo, no less than three minutes after replacing the Norwegian, Vincenzo Montella spun onto Alessandro Mancini's cross to open the scoring, after which Totti got his and Marco Delvecchio made it three.
With new finds like Mancini and Daniele De Rossi in the midfield, and with Totti, Montella and Antonio Cassano on form up front, Roma are the thinking pundit's tip for the title - especially as they're spared the rigours of the Champions League this season. As for Ancona, boss Leonardo Menichini is hot favourite to be the season's first sacking.
Up at Juventus, the star names have been dropping like Robbie Williams' flies, but as usual Serie A's most professional outfit is getting the job done nonetheless. Saturday evening saw Juve travel to Reggina without (deep breath) Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Nicola Legrottaglie and Lilian Thuram - and still return with a tasty 2-0 scoreline. Marco Di Vaio opened the scoring after a Pavel Nedved strike sowed comical confusion amongst the Reggina rearguard. Naturally Nedved himself doubled up shortly after halftime. Del Piero won't return til November, but with our Pavel taking care of business, Juve are still the thinking pundit's other tip for the title.
As are Milan! Sunday afternoon saw the San Siro give Rivaldo an emotional pre-game send-off. "Rivaldo with us forever!" the fans chanted prior to kick-off, and while vice-president Adriano Galliani began backtracking over the Brazilian's departure, the team quickly proved that they at least have moved on. Three-nil the scoreline over Lecce, with another fine performance from the 21-year-old star Kakà and two more goals from Andriy Shevchenko. Football's answer to Justin Timberlake is now tied atop the scoring charts with Parma's relentless Adriano.
Lazio nearly went down to the previously toothless Empoli, conceding two goals in three minutes to throw away a 1-0 lead; a late strike from Stefano Fiore saved a point. Inter meanwhile visited Udinese for a 0-0 draw that saw two brawls, one missed penalty by Udinese, a shot rattled of the post by Javier Zanetti, and (luckily for Inter manager Hector Cuper) the worst refereeing your correspondent has ever witnessed in Serie A.
Luckily, because in all the fuss over an inexplicable red card for Inter wingman Luciano early on, Cuper's own errors have gone almost unmentioned: playing in a ground where Inter had lost four and drawn one of their last five visits, the manager brilliantly broke up the side that had put them top of the table, and rested Martins, his most in-form player.
Next weekend Inter face Milan. Short of Byron Moreno doing the officiating, that should mean trouble for Inter. Still, you can never tell with derbies...
Vieri's hair is still stuck in the 80s, Totters looks like he's trying to relive the 70s...I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming that the facial hair is due to a temporary break from shaving and not an attempt at a goatee. He could be going for the Messiah look. Heaven knows Trap keeps feeding his ego so much it's a miracle Totti's head still fits through doors. Trap has stated that Totters deserves the Golden Ball. Enough already Trap! Must you make it obvious that you're seeing sides of Totti that the general public isn't? Totti is a quality player...we all know that...but he had a spotty, inconsistent season last year. Nesta would give it to Maldini...the Golden Ball that is...grins a little. My choices...not that they amount to much...are Maldini, Nesta, Nedved or del P in that order.
I just love this site, too hilarious.
Italy goes goal crazy
Jimbo, the thinking fan's pundit, makes his tip for the title. And then another. And then another...
James Richardson
Tuesday September 30, 2003
What's the difference between Serie A and a flasher in the park? In Serie A, they keep putting it away. Over 100 goals have been scored in the first four rounds, meaning the Italians, past masters of sitting on defence, now have the highest goals-per-game average in Europe. Who do they think they are, Spanish?
Yup, like the dyslexic confectioner of lore, the Italians have got new tactics. It's no coincidence that, whereas a few years back wingers were a dying breed in Italy, it's now the medianos - grim, determined midfield ball-winners - who risk extinction. Why, even Rino Gattuso, patron saint of midfield thuggery, has learnt how to nutmeg.
That's worth remembering when you read of Rivaldo's problems at AC Milan. If the world champion has been unable to find room, it's only because Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti is already fielding three natural no10s, and the others are frankly more effective. And given that Ancelotti once rid Parma of those deadbeats Zola and Baggio (that's Roberto Baggio - Dino Baggio he held onto), the sight of him now putting together Rui Costa, Kakà, Pirlo, Shevchenko and on Sunday, Jon Dahl Tomasson is the finest example of the sea-change in Serie A. Not that that helps Rivaldo much.
Onto the weekend's results. Roma, Juve and Milan had big wins, Lazio and Inter were held to draws by Empoli and the Referee respectively. Elsewhere Siena (the new Chievo) scared Parma, the old Chievo stuffed Jay Bothroyd's Perugia, Sampdoria got win number one, and Brescia lost Baggio once again, to yet another knocked knee.
Roma first. Francesco Totti turned 27 on Saturday and Roma's game with Ancona would have been easier if they hadn't (a) spent the first half trying to make him score, and (b) started John Carew. For lo, no less than three minutes after replacing the Norwegian, Vincenzo Montella spun onto Alessandro Mancini's cross to open the scoring, after which Totti got his and Marco Delvecchio made it three.
With new finds like Mancini and Daniele De Rossi in the midfield, and with Totti, Montella and Antonio Cassano on form up front, Roma are the thinking pundit's tip for the title - especially as they're spared the rigours of the Champions League this season. As for Ancona, boss Leonardo Menichini is hot favourite to be the season's first sacking.
Up at Juventus, the star names have been dropping like Robbie Williams' flies, but as usual Serie A's most professional outfit is getting the job done nonetheless. Saturday evening saw Juve travel to Reggina without (deep breath) Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Nicola Legrottaglie and Lilian Thuram - and still return with a tasty 2-0 scoreline. Marco Di Vaio opened the scoring after a Pavel Nedved strike sowed comical confusion amongst the Reggina rearguard. Naturally Nedved himself doubled up shortly after halftime. Del Piero won't return til November, but with our Pavel taking care of business, Juve are still the thinking pundit's other tip for the title.
As are Milan! Sunday afternoon saw the San Siro give Rivaldo an emotional pre-game send-off. "Rivaldo with us forever!" the fans chanted prior to kick-off, and while vice-president Adriano Galliani began backtracking over the Brazilian's departure, the team quickly proved that they at least have moved on. Three-nil the scoreline over Lecce, with another fine performance from the 21-year-old star Kakà and two more goals from Andriy Shevchenko. Football's answer to Justin Timberlake is now tied atop the scoring charts with Parma's relentless Adriano.
Lazio nearly went down to the previously toothless Empoli, conceding two goals in three minutes to throw away a 1-0 lead; a late strike from Stefano Fiore saved a point. Inter meanwhile visited Udinese for a 0-0 draw that saw two brawls, one missed penalty by Udinese, a shot rattled of the post by Javier Zanetti, and (luckily for Inter manager Hector Cuper) the worst refereeing your correspondent has ever witnessed in Serie A.
Luckily, because in all the fuss over an inexplicable red card for Inter wingman Luciano early on, Cuper's own errors have gone almost unmentioned: playing in a ground where Inter had lost four and drawn one of their last five visits, the manager brilliantly broke up the side that had put them top of the table, and rested Martins, his most in-form player.
Next weekend Inter face Milan. Short of Byron Moreno doing the officiating, that should mean trouble for Inter. Still, you can never tell with derbies...
Vieri's hair is still stuck in the 80s, Totters looks like he's trying to relive the 70s...I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming that the facial hair is due to a temporary break from shaving and not an attempt at a goatee. He could be going for the Messiah look. Heaven knows Trap keeps feeding his ego so much it's a miracle Totti's head still fits through doors. Trap has stated that Totters deserves the Golden Ball. Enough already Trap! Must you make it obvious that you're seeing sides of Totti that the general public isn't? Totti is a quality player...we all know that...but he had a spotty, inconsistent season last year. Nesta would give it to Maldini...the Golden Ball that is...grins a little. My choices...not that they amount to much...are Maldini, Nesta, Nedved or del P in that order. 
no subject
Date: 2003-10-10 11:56 pm (UTC)bwaha @ those pictures. totti needs to get whatever that is supposed to be off his face asap. jeez. and vieri just looks...wrong. the two of them make pippo look oh so very cute. ;)
*crosses fingers for tomorrow* aaaaaaaah, i'm so nervous.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-11 12:47 am (UTC)You dream about soccer players. That's cute. I wish I dream about Kaka everyday but I'm in no control of my dreams. :)
no subject
Date: 2003-10-11 01:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-11 01:16 am (UTC)The footie dream I have most often is about occupying Maldini's body...that one often gets weird though.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-10-12 06:47 pm (UTC)I've gotten used to Pippo's hair too but I think it doesn't suit his nose. I live in hope that he'll drag HSCV to a salon someday...or shave his head in the night.