Things We Learned & Hope To Learn From Serie A

By: chris | February 25th, 2008

Things We Learned last Weekend In Serie A

Cesare Prandelli is sexified.

Look at that outfit. Purple on purple. Who the hell can pull that off besides Cesare? Nobody. That’s who.

Now, if only he could bestow some of that superior fashion knowledge on Papa Waigo and his mankini we’d be all set.

(I stole Marco’s pic.)

David Pizarro and Per Kroldrup are in L-O-V-E.

I simply cannot muster up any words to describe this photo other than “thank you”.

Emanuele Calaio needs more playing time.

I don’t care why he was there, how bad the D was or what color panties Marco Amelia was wearing on Sunday: Calaio needs some more PT. If only to boost his pricetag for the summer.

If Torino should be down 19-0 in second half injury time, they’re gonna draw.

No matter what, they’re gonna draw. 4-1 down after 43 minutes and they were playing with one whole striker. FF 45 minutes later and they’ve got a point despite a 1 goal per game average for the season. That’s 14 draws in 24 games. Last year only one team had more than 14 draws in the entire season (Reggina). They’re now on pace for 23 draws this season.

Don’t head the ball over your keeper’s head.

Most of us know that. Thomas Manfredini didn’t, though he surely does now. (0:45)

Things We Hope To Learn From Wednesday’s Fixtures

The Serie A season is still on.

I love relegation battles as much as the next guy, but the scudetto race is where it’s at, and if Roma loses to Inter the season is unofficially officially over. A Giallorossi win at least makes things interesting. Regardless of who you root for, nobody wants the season to be over in February. That’d be wicked uncool. (And yes, I’d say the same if Roma and Inter were to swap places.)

Cagliari is one step closer to safety.

Speaking of relegation battles, The Little Team That Could, But Probably Won’t is taking on fellow battles Siena in your ever so accurate “six pointer”. I find it incredibly hard to dislike most of Cagliari’s players and almost feel sorry for them, having to play Serie A with a Serie B roster.

Roberto Donadoni will be picking a striker from Genoa for Euro 2008…..

The question is: which one? Borriello’s debut in House of Savoy azzurro was less than stunning, but his domestic form has been scintillating. Antonio Cassano has brought back the glory days (I can’t believe he’s only 25 and yet we can still call them “glory days”), but we all know about his 5 year old brain. Another performance from either really has to seal the deal that one will be going, right?

Parma and Udinese channel all that disappointment and aggression into another thriller.

The two teams who had the most disappointing defensive results this weekend will be going toe to toe at the Tardini. Parma dropped a 3 goal lead to offensively challenged Torino while Udinese gave up a 5 spot to Genoa at home. I say 6 goals apiece will do just fine.

The refereeing in Serie A has improved a little bit.

Because, quite frankly, it sucks ass.