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[joe5]

ITALIAN LEAGUE PREVIEW:
Juventus has mix of old and new for return to Serie A
The Associated Press

Published: August 16, 2007


TURIN, Italy: Juventus is back in the Serie A.

Whether it will be the same power as before the match-fixing scandal, only time will tell.

The club kept five core players during its season of exile in Serie B: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, midfielders Pavel Nedved and Mauro Camoranesi, and forwards Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet. The rest of the team is almost entirely new.

Juventus could feature as many as seven new players in its starting lineup: defenders Jorge Andrade (from Deportivo La Coruna), Zdenek Grygera (Ajax) and Domenico Criscito (Genoa); midfielders Tiago Mendes (Lyon), Sergio Almiron (Empoli) and Hasan Salihamidzic (Bayern Munich); and forward Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese).

Juventus started its shopping spree once Buffon extended his contract in June through 2012, giving the impetus for Nedved and Camoranesi to stay as well.

"The market campaign confirmed I made the right choice," Buffon said. "Juventus was the club that made the best and most moves. That doesn't automatically bring wins but it means being competitive."

With Camoranesi and Nedved supporting Del Piero, Trezeguet and Iaquinta — who was on Italy's World Cup team — the attack is solid.

Tiago brings a big club pedigree into midfield — his last three teams were Benfica, Chelsea and Lyon — and Almiron has performed well for Udinese, Verona and Empoli.

Another new midfielder, Antonio Nocerino of Italy's under-21 team, is also gaining attention.

"Of the new players, I've taken note of the ease with which Almiron kicks the ball, how Tiago distributes the ball, and Nocerino's skill and character," Buffon said.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has labeled Nocerino "an Italian Nedved."

"He can also play on the wing. He gives us another option," Ranieri said.

While Buffon is considered the best in the league, Juve's all new defense could lead to problems. Jonathan Zebina at right back is the lone holdover. Andrade and Grygera are set to pair in central defense, with Criscito at left back.

"Soccer is a universal language and we've acquired defenders with international experience plus quality," Buffon said. "They'll get to know each other in a hurry."

As the new players settle in, the old guard will have to set the pace.

"You want to know what Juve's best acquisitions were? I'll list them: Buffon, Del Piero, Nedved and Camoranesi," former Juventus and Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "If these four old guys have a great season then the new arrivals will also become important players."


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/16/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Juventus-Preview.php

 

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[joe5]

BA Honours


Monday 20 August, 2007

Juventus fans have certainly been accustomed to seeing their side fight for the Serie A title in recent times. However, as Antonio Labbate of Calcio Italia magazine explains, history will be against them in 2007-08
If Juventus are going to be crowned champions of Italy this season, they are not only going to have to punch above their present weight – they must also re-write history. Although La Vecchia Signora have won more Scudetti than any other side in the peninsula, they will also start the new campaign in the knowledge that no outfit in the calcio archives has ever won promotion to Serie A and immediately gone on to win the title. Should that happen, it would arguably be their greatest ever triumph in their success-filled existence.

Although ‘competitive’ has been the buzzword in the corridors of Juve HQ this summer, Gigi Buffon is failing to rule out instant success. Having been convinced to sign a new contract by the club’s plans post-Calciopoli, the goalkeeper insists that he and his teammates – as well as the fans – have the right to dream.

“I’m ambitious and I wouldn’t accept a top four finish if that was offered to me right now,” noted the Italian. “Even finishing second would be horrible because usually, apart from last season, there are hardly any points between the winners and the runners-up.

“Winning the Scudetto in 2008 would be a fairytale, the greatest joy imaginable. We’ll just have to play with gritted teeth and have the mentality of a provincial club, something we already had when we were a great side, so I don’t see why we should lose that during a time when we will particularly need it.”

The last time a newcomer made a serious assault at the Italian championship was back in 1977-78. Vicenza had won promotion alongside Pescara and Atalanta to win their place amongst the big boys. Inspired by Paolo Rossi, who won the Capocannoniere crown with 24 goals, the Giovanni Battista Fabbri bossed minnows sensationally ended the term in second place just five points behind Juve.

Vicenza’s success story came only a handful of years after Lazio won promotion to the top flight in 1972 and ended their first campaign back amongst the elite by finishing third, mirroring the achievements of Napoli in 1965-66. The Biancocelesti actually spent the early part of the season at the top of the standings, but had to settle for a spot behind Milan and Juventus – even if the latter only lifted the crown by one point from the Rossoneri and two clear of the capital boys.

Their 1972-73 exploits were put to good use in the following campaign. Boss Tommaso Maestrelli kept faith with the majority of his squad over the summer and, with the help of a few tactical adjustments, won himself legendary status with Lazio forever. Although training ground bust-ups between players was a regular occurrence, they became a solid and compact group on a Sunday. Giorgio Chinaglia ended the 1973-74 term as top scorer with 24 goals as the club lifted its first Scudetto by beating Juventus to the line.

While winning the League as a promoted club at the first attempt remains a taboo in Italy and Spain, the Old Lady can take heart from the fact that the feat has been achieved elsewhere on the continent. England has five such cases in the shape of Liverpool in 1906, rivals Everton in ’32, Tottenham Hotspur in ’51 and Ipswich in ’62 before the Brian Clough inspired Nottingham Forest in 1978. The then mighty Reds followed that triumph with two European Cups.

There are seven more examples in the bigger European Leagues of Holland, France and Germany. Ajax did it in the Netherlands in 1918, as did SVV in ’49 and DWS in ‘64. Turning to Ligue 1, Bordeaux became instant champs in 1950, St Etienne in ’64 and Monaco in 1978.

The most recent victors though came in the 1997-98 Bundesliga race. Kaiserslautern returned to the top tier in Juve-style after just one season in the Second Division. Equipped with Inter flop Ciriaco Sforza, the inspirational Michael Ballack and bossed by miracle man Otto Rehhagel – who won Euro 2004 with Greece – they completed a unique accomplishment for German football. The Bianconeri will now be looking to do the same for the Italian game…


http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug20p2.html

 

[joe5]

Italian Season Preivew
By Carino

Monday 20th August 2007

Carino looks ahead to the Serie A action.

As an uneventful Italian football summer, free from the self-flagellation and unjust points deductions of its predecessor draws to a close, we can look forward with some anticipation to the imminent new season which promises to be the most interesting in years.


There were minor mutterings over the close season of plusvalenze (inflating player values) to comply with Italy's strict rules on the financial viability of clubs but they have, as yet, proved to be spurious. Fortunately regulations in UK are less onerous or the season would never get underway!

After a summer free of international competition all players (especially the big stars) are rested and at 1700 CET on Saturday 25 August Lazio will face Torino at Rome's Stadio Olimpico in a tasty opening fixture.

Last season the honours were evenly distributed with Inter taking the Scudetto by some distance followed by Roma, Lazio and Milan. Roma took the infinitely less prestigious (unless you win it) Coppa Italia while Milan had to make do with the Champions League trophy.

So who will prevail this time round?

Promotion sees Juventus, Genoa and Napoli back in Serie A ( Juventus should never have been gone but that is another story) and with them come the derbies in Turin and Genoa but that I fear will be their most meaningful contribution to the season ahead.

Juventus have not fared well in pre-season activities nor have they splashed enough in the transfer market to be genuine contenders. Manager Didier Deschamps departed after seeing them safely to promotion but the club failed to achieve their stated aim of recruiting world cup winner Marcello Lippi as a replacement, hiring instead the hapless Caludio Ranieri who will be fortunate to last the season.

The ageing Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero are still around and will be joined by world cup winner Vicenzo Iaquinta but that will not suffice. The Old Lady will return to former glories but not quite yet - the best Juventus can hope for is fifth or sixth place and a UEFA Cup slot.

Remaining in Serie A after promotion is a difficult task and the other promoted clubs, Genoa and Napoli, will do well to avoid an immediate return to Serie B. Both have shuffled the pack and recruited some new blood but Genoa's recruits - Paro from Juventus, Bovo from Palermo and Borriello from Milan - are not names that propel teams to great heights.

Likewise Napoli, who have recruited Hamsik from Brescia, Gargano from Danubio and Lavezzi from San Lorenzo, will be low mid-table at best.

Lazio who took third place in Serie A and thus a Champions League qualifying slot last season may well repeat that performance. Goalkeeper Peruzzi has hung up his boots and Jimenez has departed to Inter but they have adequate replacements in the form of Ballotta and Del Nero. Expect Lazio to secure a Champions League slot again but this time from from fourth place.

Last season Fiorentina did well from a fifteen point handicap and eventually secured sixth place and a repeat of that is just about feasible. Luca Toni has gone and Cristian Vieri will not prove an adequate replacement for the prolific world cup star - he may not even finish the season with the Viola as the USA beckons for the once great striker. But Mutu is still there, Vanden Borre from Anderlecht will prove to be a valuable defensive acquisition and like all Serie A sides they concede few goals. Expect them to compete with Atalanta and others for a UEFA Cup slot.

Sampdoria may well be one of the others. They have recruited the unpredictable Antonio Cassano from Real Madrid and although he may be troublesome he will strengthen their squad. Cassano will join Volpi and Sala who with new signings Carracciolo from Palermo and Montella Fulham shouls compensate to a degree for the loss of Quagliarella to Udinese. Sampdoria are potential candidates for a UEFA slot.

Palermo did well last season but foundered late in the campaign and will struggle to repeat the performance. Carracciolo, Bovo and DeMichele have gone and replacements Rinaudo, Jankovic and ex-Juventus forward Miccoli are unlikely to prove adequate for the campaign ahead. Manager Colantuono will do well to achieve UEFA Cup status.

One of the others likely to contest a UEFA slot are last season's upstarts Empoli. Surprisingly they secured seventh place last time round and with the notable exception of Almiron who departed for Juventus have kept their squad relatively intact. To that squad they have added interesting acquisitions Marchisio, and Giovinco from Juventus and manager Cagni may just propel them to fifth or sixth place.

The top four slots will eventually be contested by (in alphabetical order) Inter, Lazio, Milan and Roma.

Lazio, as already suggested, will secure fourth place.

Roma with last season's top scorer and all round world class talent Francesco Totti who has quit international football will be formidable opponents in the season ahead. They have lost Christian Chivu to Inter but have recruited Juan and Kuffour who will join Mexes, Panucci, Taddei, Mancini, DeRossi and Perrotta in a formidable squad. Brilliantly managed by Spaletti Roma look good for third place.

Current Champions League holders Milan have surprised many by restricting their serious transfer activities to the pursuit and purchase of the seventeen year old Brazilian super prospect Alexandre Pato but he is unlikely to impact on Milan this season - he can play in friendly games now but will not be available for Serie A business till January 2008.

His arrival was however a great piece of business by the success machine that is Adriano Galliani, Carlo Ancelotti headed up by Silvio Berlusconi.

The Champions League winning squad is therefore intact although one year older - and they were not young last time out!

Like Totti Alessandro Nesta has quit international football and Milan will not suffer this time round by a series of debilitating early season injuries.

Nesta did not play until March last season, Kaladze till December, Ambrosini till November, Maldini till March, Serginho till April and Clarence Seedorf missed several early season games. All of this left Gattuso, Pirlo and other world cup winners with a heavy early season workload.

Neither was the situation helped by Milan having to play a qualifying Champions League tie only three weeks or so after the end of the world cup.

This year they are rested and with a formidable starting line up of Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Kaka, Seedorf; Inzaghi, Ronaldo will be difficult to overcome.

That team backed up by Cafu, Bonera, Serginho, Gilardino, Ambrosini, Brocchi, Simic and Gourcouff are potential Serie A and Champions League winners.

The major obstacle in the way of a Milan success will be Roberto Mancini's star studded Inter. Funded by Massimo Moratti they have strengthened last year's Scudetto winning squad with the addition of Chivu from Roma, Suavo from Cagliari and Jimenez from Lazio.

They have not offloaded any of last year's squad and we can anticipate a starting line up of Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Chivu; Vieira, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Stankovic; Crespo, Ibrahimovic. Backed up by Burdisso, Coco, Samuel, Dacourt, Solari, Cruz and Adriano they will start the season as favourites to retain the Scudetto.

Inter will prevail but only after a close run contest with Milan - I do hope I am wrong.

There we have it - Inter to win the Scudetto followed very closely by Milan with Roma and Lazio making up the top four.

Relegation is a sad topic and amongst those battling against it will be Siena, Cagliari, Torino, Reggina and the newly promoted Genoa and Napoli.

Hard to predict the eventual losers but if pushed one would have to concede Siena, Cagliari and Genoa are likely to be the unfortunate three.

Serie A will be back to its glorious best - a feast of individual player skills, wonderful close passing, possession football and a chess like battle of wits between twenty of the best managers in the world.

It is a league of well drilled defenders and quality strikers which has regularly provided European and world champions and where a visit by the top teams to the stadiums of those in the lower echelons is seldom a foregone conclusion.

Every Serie A game is live on TV in Italy and in UK the best games can be viewed on satellite and cable via Setanta while Five has a terrestrial offering.

Better still make a trip to the best arena on the planet in which to watch football. San Siro for a derby or for an attractive Champions League game in November is as close to perfection as is possible in football.

It is however viewing for the connoisseur and the purist, and is thus not recommended for those attracted by gung ho cavalry charges and the circus acts provided by other well intentioned but lesser leagues to which some are so inexplicably attracted.

CARINO

http://www.rangers-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=349129

 

[Chxta]

The guy who wrote that is on class A drugs!

 

[David01]

A grudge as an incentive

May 26th, Juventus gains promotion to serieA but don't think for a second this is cause for celebration. This simply means the end of dark period in which Juve was demoted to serieB for the first time in their 109 year history.
The fanatic tifosi still can't accept that their team was hit the hardest by the scandal. Theories of a conspiracy still linger the streets of the city.
The past year Juve endured a rollercoaster of emotions, the unmasking of Luciano Moggi as the centerpiece of a network sparked the beginning of a turmoil that rocked the club on its foundation. Moggi, Giraudo and Bettega soon resigned. Gianluca Pessotto couldn't deal with the stress anymore and jumped out of the window of the headquarters of the club.
The trials were dealt with in order to start the next season as swiftly as possible. The inquiries against individuals are still ongoing. The day Juventus started training again to prepare for the upcomming season, Moggi launched another appeal in court.
The system of Moggi to benefit Juventus has become an institution in Italy. The circle around the director consisted of referees, assistant-referees, federation officials, secretaries and other officials.
It would have been too suspicious to openly give Juve an advantage. The construction that was used was far more complex. Rival clubplayers were for instance given red or yellow when they were to play Juve the next week.
Moggi also contacted journalists to silence any obvious errors by the referees. For their cooperation they received financial compensation , watches or even promotions.
The Italian federation spoke afterwards of maffiosi
Moggi is still searching for a way out and tries to take people down with him in his inevitable fall. Moggi and Juventus for that matter still reject the fact Berlusconi and his Milan got off so easy.
For now lawyers try to stall the procedures so they can escape prosecution.
Juventus fought hard but realised that the club needed to be purified. The family of the Agnelli's stayed loyal and with the new president Cobolli they are slowly rebuilding the team.
While the president and his board reorganised the club, former player Didier Deschamps was responsible on the pitch.
Once promotion was achieved it became clear there were tensions growing behind the scenes. Deschamps quit before the end of the season.
Financially the consequences of the demotion were evident, salaries had to be reduced and players sold. Cannavaro, Emerson, Thuram and Zambrotta left for Spain while Viera and Ibrahimovic joined rivals Inter. Coach Capello started the exodus when he left even before the verdict was official. This act will always make him a villain despite that he was succesfull.
5 players stayed loyal in serie B; Camoranesi and Trezeguet had to stay more or less even though they had received offers. Buffon, Del Piero and Nedved declared their loyalty from the start. These five star players have all sacrificed a year of their career to Juventus and will have been at least two without the bright lights of Champions League.
Pavel Nedved will probably end his career with Juve and Del Piero has been an icon at the club ever since his debut 14 seasons ago.
He is the living proof that some things at Juventus will never change. The quest for new glory can commence.






I found this article in a Belgian magazine, it wasn't in English so I had to translate it myself. I didn't get it all because it is really long. It took me a while but I did my best. you gotta give me credit for that

source: sport Voetbalmagazine Rancune als drijfveer