Italian Serie A 2006/2007

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K.I.

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Rochi is an excellent player,one of the best strikers right now,also his hattrick again juventus was legendary.
 

shahz_nerazzurri

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SOmehow I have a feeling, that Palermo will not make it to the CL, and Milan and Lazio/Fiorentina are gonna take the spot away from them. Good brace from Toni, his patnership with Mutu is probably the most dealiest one upfront in SERIEA
 

J zanetti

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This is according to C4 website:

Inter continue to notch up pages in the calcio history books, this time with their 10th consecutive away victory, beating Milan’s run of eight in 1992-93. ;)
 

interista

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In the rest of chamionship we need to get 19 points to guarantee scudetto. We have 11 games left I think
 

lonewolf19

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interista said:
In the rest of chamionship we need to get 19 points to guarantee scudetto. We have 11 games left I think

seems like we got it in the bag :)
 

interista

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thats ofcourse only in case if roma will be wining every game, but they got couple of tough games like milan, lazio, fiorentina
 

Karim

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Why in every home game, there is a Lazio banner in the center saying "Grazie Presidente" "Grazie Lotito"
I thought the fans and Lotito were in dispute
 

interista

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Karim said:
Why in every home game, there is a Lazio banner in the center saying "Grazie Presidente" "Grazie Lotito"
I thought the fans and Lotito were in dispute

Curva nord is in dispute, but not the normal public
 

J zanetti

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Great stuff from our man Mr Richardson ;) His focus this week is solely on our Ibra!
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/03/06/time_to_hail_the_magic_of_ibra.html


Time to hail the magic of IbraCadabra

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of football's supreme Marmite tests, but the doubters are being won over.

James Richardson

March 6, 2007 02:11 PM

He's a black belt in taekwondo. He can spit a wad of gum out of his mouth, juggle it with his feet, and then chip back in again. His nose is so big that if Billy Bragg and Cyrano de Bergerac had a lovechild, it might call him 'Daddy'. He is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, "the most overrated footballer in the world," according to the estimable Martin O'Neill, and he's one of the game's supreme Marmite tests. Those who love him say he's blessed with a skill and daring that's almost unique. Those who hate him say he's arrogant, wasteful and often deeply frustrating. Naturally, both sides are right.

There's no debating that Zlatan had a pig of a 2006. He looked clumsy for much of his second season at Juventus, possibly because of the extra weight-training he'd done under Fabio Capello. He was anonymous at the World Cup - which for Ibrahimovic is probably the most damning criticism possible - and after his summer switch to Inter he took time to remember which way the goal was. Nonetheless, if your jury is still out on the man they call IbraCadabra then here are some scenes of him in action you might like to consider: the infamous goodbye goal for Ajax, the equally infamous goodbye-Italy goal at Euro 2004 and, my personal favourite, the number he did on Sammy Kuffour and Roma in late 2005.
Alternatively, you could just settle down with a cold drink and a pillow for your jaw and watch his performance last weekend against Livorno. Away at the Tuscan port side's Armando Picchi stadium, Zlatan gave a greatest hits summary of the best of his repertoire, dancing through defenders with the ball tied to his feet with a piece of elastic, apparently. With Inter trailing after Cristiano Lucarelli's free-kick he set up the equaliser with a magnificent backheel and then scored the winner with probably his least-interesting kick of the game. In between there were countless flicks and backheels galore, and none of the aimless and over-optimistic spraying of which he's sometimes guilty. As a statement of sheer ability, all it was missing was a Mogwai soundtrack.

"Ibrahimovic won that game on his own. He's not natural," marvelled Lucarelli, joining the usually notoriously grumpy Livorno fans in their post-game applause of the Inter forward. "He is a Martian, in a team that comes from outer space," confirmed Livorno owner Aldo Spinelli. Meanwhile, Inter manager Roberto Mancini suggests: "I'd say he's ready to be a real contender for the Ballon d'Or."

Mancini was, of course, himself a freewheeling, hot-tempered genius with a legendary line in backheels back in the day, and having him as manager goes a long way to explaining why Ibrahimovic is finally enjoying the kind of form we'd expected after his first, great season in Italy. Under Mancio he's been made the fulcrum of Inter's play, and he's responded with some of the most skilful and deadly football seen anywhere this season. Even his long-standing disciplinary problems have quietened of late.
However, if he's serious about the likes of the Ballon d'Or he needs to win over the fans abroad, where he still attracts more naysayers than a Frankie Howard convention. Specifically, he needs a great Champions League performance - which is handy, for so do his club. He's still yet to score for Inter in this tournament, but what price a blistering Zlatan show tonight at the Mestalla to finally end the dude-or-dud debate?

Meantime, back in Serie A, Zlatan's masterclass was far from the only big story this weekend. Palermo's slump continued amid some dismal refereeing, allowing Lazio, Milan, and Fiorentina to continue their charge on the top-four spots. Empoli, Fiorentina's tiny neighbours, still show no signs of running out of steam, winning at Udinese with 10 minutes of fine attacking play and another 80 of dogged defending.

Fourth-placed Lazio are now two points behind Palermo (who've played an extra game), while Empoli are a further two back with Milan breathing down their overachieving necks. Fiorentina are in seventh - eight points off the top four thanks to the 15-point penalty they started the season with - but don't write them off: not only was their 5-1 win over Torino last weekend ample proof of their form and confidence, but between now and the end of the season they'll be taking on all their rivals for the top four positions (with the exception of Empoli - who they took apart two weeks ago).

Fiorentina visit Palermo this weekend but the big fixture of the round will be at the San Siro, where Inter and Milan will be picking up where they left off in the Milan derby. Last time it ended 4-3 to Inter in one of the games of the season. Since then, of course, O Fenomeno Ronaldo has joined the Rossoneri, and his duel with Inter's rising Swedish star should be one of the highlights of this latest encounter. See you back here for the outcome of that and more, in a week.
 

Hammoudi

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Thanks again Ashkan, this guy is just a delight to read.

However, I wish I was British to get those funny lines he throws. But thanks to google, I know how Billy Brag and Cyrano look, and yes, their kid would call Zlatan daddy :D
 

brehme1989

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Hamed said:
Thanks again Ashkan, this guy is just a delight to read.

However, I wish I was British to get those funny lines he throws. But thanks to google, I know how Billy Brag and Cyrano look, and yes, their kid would call Zlatan daddy :D

Careful what you wish for:lol:
 

J zanetti

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Another goodie from Richardson - I think the first line says it all ;) One also got to love the dessert part :lol:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/03/13/inter_fans_whistle_while_ronal.html

Inter fans whistle while Ronaldo works

The Brazilian briefly upstaged the San Siro jeers when Milan faced their city rivals, but fans of his old club ultimately enjoyed the last laugh.

James Richardson


March 13, 2007 12:04 PM


As footballing infidelities go, it's hard to beat Ronaldo. Bought by Inter for a suitably fat figure back in 1997 and patiently nursed through the two-and-a-half subsequent years of colossal knee knack, Ron famously showed his gratitude by promptly doing one to Madrid as soon as his legs were able to carry him, only to return five years later and suit up for Inter's arch enemies Milan.

It was thus the biggest event for many a week when, last Sunday, the Milan derby finally brought the toothy turncoat face to face again with his old employers. Naturally, Inter were ready. Thirty thousand plastic whistles had been distributed to the San Siro crowd by their ultras to make sure Ronaldo got a barrage of whistling every time his portly frame hoved anywhere near the ball. From a group more generally given to dropping flares or flaming scooters on their opposition, this ranks as an encouragingly mild approach. Anyway, throughout a tepid first half, shrill blast after shrill blast greeted the Brazilian until, suddenly, 40 minutes in, it stopped. Ronaldo had his hands to his ears, having just stuck the ball in the back of the Inter net from 35 yards out.

"All goals are the same," he told reporters afterwards, but his grin did seem especially outsized this time, possibly because his ex-girlfriend from his Inter days, the pert and pouting Susana "Ronaldinha" Werner, is now married to Inter goalkeeper Júlio César. Whatever, when eight minutes into the second half, Ron touched on to team-mate Rino Gattuso and the ball flew across the face of César's goal, we seemed set for more smiles from Ron and a miserable reunion for Inter.

However, within a minute everything had changed. Gattuso's shot flew just wide and on the Inter bench, manager Roberto Mancini decided he'd seen enough. Off came the woeful Hernán Crespo, who'd failed to cut the mustard in a very real sense, and on went Julio Cruz. The effect was instantaneous: on the very next play, Zlatan Ibrahimovic romped past Paolo Maldini and crossed to Cruz, who turned in the equaliser with his first touch of the game. Five minutes later the Argentine almost had another when, alone in front of goal, he backheeled over the crossbar. Inter had awakened and Ibrahimovic in particular, his back trouble soothed, as we later discovered, by a half-time massage from Mancini's personal physio. Fifteen minutes from time he nabbed the winner, spinning on to Cruz's assist to fire past his marker and the Milan keeper, Nelson Dida. Up in the stands, Inter's president Massimo Moratti began doing "up yours" gestures left, right and centre, accompanied by his son, who was radiant in a brand new Celtic jersey. Inter had done the double over Milan for the first time since 1982, and worryingly for Milan's dieticians, Ronaldo had got his just desserts.

"It was a masterpiece, considering the injuries we've got," whooped Moratti post-game. "I'm glad Ronaldo scored too. This way, everyone's happy." Big Ron was equally gracious. "Inter deserved the win," he conceded. "They've been amazing all year. As for us, we've just got to believe in that fourth place."

The defeat leaves Milan six points off the top four, while Inter's record now reads 19 wins in their last 20 Serie A matches. For manager Roberto Mancini, the victory marks an important boost after the many criticisms that accompanied his side's Champions League exit against Valencia. "It's been an incredible season overall," he declared. "In 20 years, we'll still be talking about it."

Mind you, for a club that recently went almost 20 years between titles, that's not necessarily saying much. Still, onwards, and in two decades' time one thing that is certain is that Francesco Guidolin will still not be talking to his former colleague Cesare Prandelli. We know this, because Guidolin told us so on Sunday afternoon.

Guidolin is the manager of former title challengers Palermo (currently slumping faster than a man watching Wags Boutique), while Prandelli is master tactician of fast-rising Fiorentina. On Sunday afternoon the two teams met in Palermo, in a crucial game in the race for top four places. The result? Controversy. Thirty-three minutes in, a Palermo pass went astray in midfield when the recipient, Roberto Guana, fell to the ground clutching his hamstring. Fiorentina's Adrian Mutu picked up the loose ball and instead of putting it out, immediately headed for goal. Two jinking dribbles and a finely angled drive later, he'd slotted home the opener and Guidolin couldn't believe it. While his players remonstrated with Mutu, the manager ran on to the field shouting at Fiorentina to let them score an equaliser before unleashing a stream of invective at Prandelli and being shown a timely red card.

"I never want to speak to Prandelli ever again," explained a mildy displeased Guidolin afterwards. "I never want to see him again. It's finished. I don't regret what I said on the field. Some people talk about fair play, but then they do something like this ..."

Technically, Mutu had every right to play on, as two months ago a special meeting of the league and the players union ruled only the referee would be responsible for halting play for injury, but the Palermo boss was having none of it. "If it had been me, I'd have stopped my player or told my team to allow the opposition to score, otherwise I wouldn't be a real man." Unhappily for Guidolin, this isn't the first time this has happened in Serie A this season. On no fewer than three previous occasions, a team has been unsporting enough to play on and score despite an opponent clearly being down injured. On two of those occasions that team was, er, Guidolin's Palermo.

Oh well.

The good news for Palermo is that they equalised - their January signing, Edinson Cavani, unleashing a monstrous volley on his debut to make it 1-1 and spark hopes among the home fans that at last they may have found a worthy replacement for the injured Amauri. The Sicilians currently lie fourth, tied on points with Lazio but having played an extra game. Four points further back lie Empoli, themselves two clear of Milan, with Fiorentina still 10 points off fourth with 11 games left to go.

Next weekend, Lazio will be looking for their sixth straight victory as they host Empoli in Rome. Milan entertain Atalanta, while the game of the round should be Roma's visit to the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence to take on Fiorentina and their Romanian striker, Palermo's erstwhile Mutu friend.
We'll have all the highlights and low deeds here in full in seven days' time.
 

UhUhOleguer

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heheheee

excellent article..

just checked moratti's face expression....forza uncle massimo!!!! you deserve every title with inter!
 

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Technically, Mutu had every right to play on, as two months ago a special meeting of the league and the players union ruled only the referee would be responsible for halting play for injury, but the Palermo boss was having none of it. "If it had been me, I'd have stopped my player or told my team to allow the opposition to score, otherwise I wouldn't be a real man." Unhappily for Guidolin, this isn't the first time this has happened in Serie A this season. On no fewer than three previous occasions, a team has been unsporting enough to play on and score despite an opponent clearly being down injured. On two of those occasions that team was, er, Guidolin's Palermo.

Oh well.

LMAO, this one stunned me! You'd think from the furor that Palermo are some sportsman club!

Anyway, good to see Zamparini in trouble for his words, I found his comments on Mutu and Romanians borderline racist:
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/mar14e.html

BTW, Mutu had to do a great work to score the goal and the Palermo player fell on his own. Not to mention that the rule now makes the referee's job to stop the play. If it wasn't so, I'd have been against Mutu's behaviour.

And oh yeah, it was a farking beautiful goal.
 

Diavolo

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You can't blame Mutu for that. If the Palermo player had before the pass he should've kicked the ball out himself but after the pass Mutu went straight for a goal and you can't see anybody trying to explain him that one man was down.
 

shahz_nerazzurri

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Zamparini and Guidolin should both go and drown themselves. Honestly I dont think we have biggest moaners than them in football anywhere. Every week you hear them cry about stuff. Zamparini with his monthly threats of leaving football. Honestly man, who gives a Fack. Leave football if you want, no one cares. I am happy that Guidolin got a ban, he deserves that and much more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-XwlJ1wuvg


i dont think you can blame mutu, but I would definetely have more respect for him, had he stopped.
 

lonewolf19

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I hope Fiorentina can take the fourth spot, they are a great team and doing quite well recently
 

Dan

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I hope Fiorentina can take the fourth spot, they are a great team and doing quite well recently

Yeah I hope that to. I don’t mind Fiorentina, I like watching them play. Especially Toni, he is immense! I managed to get a game last season against Roma when I was on holiday in Florence, was really enjoyable. The fans at the Stadio Artemio Franchi were really good. Friendly, chanting all the time. :boogy:
 

Fabio

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Well hopefully they can get a nice win over Roma this weekend and we win to make it +19...
 
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