The Italian Football Thread

Funniest sports story I've seen in a while.


As if an unknown 42-year-old would be able to cut it against some of the best youth footballers in the world. :laugh:

Empoli secured promotion last night and will join Palermo in Serie A next season while Latina, Cesena, Modena, Crotone, Bari and Spezia will go to play-off for the last promotion spot.

Really pulling for Bari to make it, their city has really rallied around the team following the news about their potential bankruptcy and they've been pulling some massive crowds during their push for the play-off spot, the game last night was attended by almost 49,000 spectators.

It is indeed, don't know what they expected from Seedorf in just a few months after the mess he inherited. And as much as I love Super Pippo, I could sort of understand replacing Seedorf with an experienced winner, not someone with the same amount of managerial experience as him (zero).

HYYPIA TO BRIGHTON!

Wrong thread?

Wrong thread I think! Interesting appointment though.

I'm just very excited about Hyypia. Love Hyypia.

The 58,270 capacity San Nicola stadium in Bari is reportedly sold out for the first time today for the play-off semi-final between Bari and Latina, 24 years after it was built.

Neither the 3rd place match of the 1990 World Cup nor the 1991 European Cup final managed that feat.

Seedorf has been sacked as Milan manager, Filippo Inzaghi takes charge.

I'm hoping this means Seedorf is coming out of retirement to play again after last night's performance.

I feel really sorry for him, seems he managed to upset pretty much all of the movers and shakers at Milanello and a few of the Italians in the squad weren't happy with his management style either. It was a hell of a job inheriting the shambles of a squad Allegri left.

A lot of the blame has to lie with Galliani though, the squad's a mess and the potential signings of Alex and Menez show their still looking to either revive older guys or give trouble makers a second chance. The stuff about them thinking of selling Cristante to fund a move for Rami says it all really. Inzaghi's always been a personal favourite of Berlusconi so he might be given a bit more time.


Slightly better news of the Lazio transfer front, a €15m deal for Dusan Basta and the other 50% of Candreva is almost done and we're meant to be in negotiations for the like of Parolo, Astori, Paletta and Feyenoord's De Vrij. The only cloud is Allegri being among the names being linked with our managerial position, the others are Donadoni, our youth coach Simone Inzaghi and Reja himself.

Brilliant from Totti.

I don't get it?

Hes mocking the Ashley Cole picture above it where he stood away from the team photo

The king.

Yeah can see it clearer now, was on me mobile earlier.

Thoughts on Ricardo Alvarez?

Apparently Sunderland are trying to get him on a season long loan with a view to a permanent move if they don't get relegated. He seems to be one of those players that has ability but never really reaches the heights expected of him. He is also very slow and despite his lack of movement, he seems to tire out very quickly. Risky for Sunderland if the links to him are true.

Vidic gave away a penalty and later was then sent off for sarcastically applauding the ref.

Not a bad debut.

Good start for Roma last night, 2-0 at home to Fiorentina. Empoli away next and then it's Champions League time.

Happy for Pippo Inzaghi, good start beating Lazio 3-1 at home.

Yes! 95th minute winner for Napoli.

Watched the Roma game. Looked in complete control and Fiorentina were poor really. Ashley Cole had a solid debut and Gervinho again was impressive but had an erratic end product.

Hoping Roma have a serious challenge this year to make it more competitive and Juve don't just win the league easily.

I think if they can cope with the loss of Benatia Roma are the title favourites. Juventus have a better squad on paper but I think Garcia is a better manager and in a much more favourable position than Allegri.

Mbiwa will be a good defender with a manager who is capable of man managing technical players.

Unsure if he'll be as good as Benatia as I rarely watch Serie A but I'm confident he'll be a success.

Game and a half tonight, Parma 4-5 Milan. Including an excellent Jeremy Menez backheel goal. Always did really like him at Roma.

There was only 10 shots on target as well.

Also, Inter won 7-0 vs Sassuolo and Napoli lost at home against Chievo.

Napoli aren't looking too good. The two performances (if you can call them that) v Bilbao and then yesterday don't make good reading for Benitez and he could be coming under pressure soon.

That's the Benitez touch. They've got some quality players but they need a manager that will take them to that next step, Benitez isn't that man. He's kinda like Ranieri, get's your close without really going on with it.

Last season was a disaster with the failed title challenge and early exit from the CL. That put Benitez under pressure before a ball had been kicked this season. But this season is already as bad as last with what you said happening to them. Napoli are the only team other than Spurs that I follow, but at the moment its like i'm following 2 identical teams. Both spending lots, targeting CL football, underachieving with a decent squad and doing lots of transfers with Swansea. I feel that only a trophy or a serious title challenge will save Benitez this season, that is if he can keep his job for that long.

Zdenek Zeman's Cagliari leading 4-1 against Inter at San Siro at half time. Hat-trick from Albin Ekdal of all people! They have even had a penalty saved, which was caused by Vidic, and Nagatomo's been sent off.

Zeman loves playing Inter away! That was a rare good day for him whilst still in charge at Roma a couple of years ago.

Vidic has had a nightmare so far this season yeah.