Pre-Champions League News Roundup
By: Martha | November 7th, 2007
•Pippo Inzaghi’s two goals yesterday moved him into a tie with Gerd Muller’s record of 62 goals in UEFA matches, though it’s taken him more matches than it took Muller. High five for Super Pippo. (I have this idea that Muller and Inzaghi are kindred spirits in the awkwardness of their footballing, albeit in totally opposite body types and styles.)
•Not at all defensive about this whole Broken Figo thing, Pavel Nedved wrote a long letter to La Gazzetta today, explaining exactly what a clean player he is, and how many kids love him. Really, it’s touching. In the Inter camp, even though even Javier “The Calmest Man in the World” Zanetti is pissed about Nedved’s tackle, Roberto Mancini has come to the Czech’s defense.
•And, finally, here comes the Viola Scudetto talk. The club are being praised by big names like Marcello Lippi, Carlo Ancelotti and Arrigo Sacchi, and even Sebastian Frey has allowed himself to talk about the possibility, albeit in a very cautious and rather elegant way: “The club is working in a fantastic manner and the Della Valle family has built the foundations for a magnificent skyscraper.” (All of this optimism, of course, means Fiorentina will fall apart utterly and lose their next four matches.)
•Another travel ban for Napoli supporters: Not allowed in Palermo this weekend, but thanks for asking. From what I can tell, the away section of the ground will actually be closed, and no tickets will be sold outside of Palermo; presumably there will also be restrictions on the number sold to each individual, which was mostly effective in keeping Napoli fans out of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza during the team’s trip to Inter. Alright, I’m with Joe and Lisa — this is getting absurd. And all about a few yogurt cups? Really?
•Juve’s Giorgio Chiellini is frightfully pleased with himself these days.
•Despite what Livorno president Aldo Spinelli says, Cristiano Lucarelli claims he’s unlikely to leave Shakhtar Donetsk for a January return to the Club of His Heart. Of course, that doesn’t mean Lucarelli isn’t pissed about unspecified broken promises, or that he doesn’t miss Italy. So, yeah — this particular denial does nothing but intensify the rumors that he’ll soon be home.
Category: Napoli, Rumors & News, Figo, Livorno, Juventus, Fiorentina, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Champions League, Serie A
Tags: Serie A, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Champions League, Fiorentina, Nedved, Inzaghi, Muller, Frey, Lucarelli, Chiellini, Juventus, Napoli, Rumors - News, Figo, Livorno, Tag IndexSubscribe
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Comments
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chiellinin deserves to be proud of himself, he had one hell of a game! he denied ibra that goal and beatifully i might add:D Forza la Juve!
Posted from
Canada
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The fact that the Viola are now getting credit from those big names is certainly deserved. And I am glad to see that some of them are pointing out that this is the 3rd year that they have been near the top of the Serie A. However, I still maintain that the goal should be securing a top 4 finish.
Right now, Fiorentina have no victories against the “big” teams they have played, having drawn with Villareal and Milan away, and Roma and Juve at home. These are obviously good results, but it would be nice to see some victories against these top teams.
But I am glad to see Frey’s comments. He’s backed it up many times over with his stellar play this year, and it shows his commitment to the cause, which is great based on all of the transfer rumors that have popped up in recent weeks. And I’ll end by saying thanks Martha for not mentioning the ridiculously hopeful Montolivo to Juve rumor in that rag Tuttospot today.
Posted from
United States -
Ok, I’m lost, what did we do at the Reggina game?
Posted from
Italy -
I don’t think there was anything new, Lisa, that’s what’s so odd — only Juve and Lazio supporters are being investigated after last weekend.
tmc, I try to ignore Tuttosport when they’re talking about moves within Italy, I’m just not strong enough to resist those weekly articles about Frank Lampard joining Juve. And I know you’re right about the top four being the proper goal for this season, but it’s awfully tempting to dream, isn’t it? The Inter match will be fascinating, and either amp up the Viola excitement a ton or bring everyone back to earth.
Posted from
United States -
So wait, we’re being punished for something that apparently happened at the Reggina match but Juve are a-ok despite reports that the late kickoff with Inter was due to the Inter team bus being delayed and pelted with eggs by Juve supporters?
(Oh, and Zampa’s not happy about the ban either.)Posted from
Italy -
Unless you can find a link, I don’t think anything happened during the Reggina match. My guess is that it’s a “high risk” match, and so they’re keeping Napoli away. Maybe?
(And Juve fans are being investigated, though there’s been no decision yet.)
Posted from
United States -
Yeah, Martha, it would be great to have the Scudetto, of course. But, considering the financial problems of the late 90s/early 00s, my primary concern is CL qualification so that things continue to move in the right direction for Fiorentina.
The club needs that European money to keep all of the key players and strengthen the side. I’m focused on that first and then I’ll start to dream about winning the 3rd Scudetto. Granted it could happen, it would just be 1 or 2 years before the plan. I believe 2010 is the goal for Corvino/Della Valle/Prandelli.
Posted from
United States -
They’re not claiming it’s a high risk match. They’re claiming the ban is due to the demonstrated “propensity to illegality” of the Napoli supporters, as demonstrated at the Juventus and Reggina matches, and travelling to Florence.
Posted from
Italy -
I got NO idea what happened at the Reggina match — like I said, there’s no investigation going on by the league or anything. I don’t know what papers/websites cover the Naples area, so I don’t even know where to look — have you seen anything in your neck of the woods?
Posted from
United States -
Zanetti should look at some of Materazzi’s fouls before complaining about Nedved
Posted from
Netherlands -
Oh hai, though, Figo’s back for the Milan derby, according to goal.com? Lord may it be true. (And may he suck to high heavens just for one night.)
Posted from
India -
Roswitha, I don’t believe that until the club says something — doesn’t it seem impossibly soon for an old man with a busted leg to be back? Plus, he’s got to still perfectly still for the next week, apparently, so it’ll only be six weeks of rehab/training time by then. Is that even possible?
(Even if he’s back, I doubt he’d do more than sit on the bench. Definitely would NOT suck to high heaven, however. Perish the thought.)
Posted from
United States -
Lisa, here’s an article which points to the past behavior of Napoli supporters (there’s even a list of offenses!) combined with the risk level of the match as the reason for the ban.
Posted from
United States -
Here’s the official ruling, which indicates that the punishment is due to the incidents from the last 3 games. If I’m reading right, they’re treating it as high risk because of the past incidents, not because it’s actually high risk.
Hopefully this time Napoli supporters will know better than to travel anyway and buy tickets in Palermo. Otherwise, we’ll be banned for Catania too.
Posted from
Italy -
To rebound on Nedved’s letter of apology, for anyone doubting he really did send that letter here it is on the Juventus.com site. Surely even that should warm your heart a little bit Martha…
Ok maybe not.
Posted from
United States
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