[Serie A] Livorno - Juventus (34 Viewers)
- Thread starter Juve_Kosova
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++ [ originally posted by Caesar ] ++
what is that mirc stadium thingy??
what is that mirc stadium thingy??
++ [ originally posted by archaon ] ++
looks like all the dp bashers have remained silent after his good game against milan brother
looks like all the dp bashers have remained silent after his good game against milan brother
Juventus comes to Livorno with a very simple objective: win at all costs, to conquer the 28th tricolour of its history one matchday in advance. The three points would in fact guarantee the Bianconeri to win the championship mathematically. This turn’s opponent, Livorno, already won its own championship, gaining safety from relegation with great merit.
If, in this season, it would be difficult to identify a so called ‘revelation team’, since there is plenty of them performing above expectations, Livorno may be the most amazing team, from the very first leg, when the maroon jerseys went to San Siro, challenging A.C. Milan fearlessly. Since then Donadoni’s squad confirmed its qualities finding Cristiano Lucarelli, championship’s top goalmaker together with Gilardino, as its leader. If attack is the most worrying unit of the amaranth team, defence is going through a negative time instead, conceding a remarkable 13 goals in the last three games, corresponding to equal defeats.
Tuscans, though, would want to take the leave from their supporters with a great performance against the most titled opponent: Juventus, that comes back to the ‘Armando Picchi’ after a good 56 years. The Bianconeri visited Livorno only 12 times, winning on six occasions. Statistics that, considering the stake, it’s well worth a revision.
If, in this season, it would be difficult to identify a so called ‘revelation team’, since there is plenty of them performing above expectations, Livorno may be the most amazing team, from the very first leg, when the maroon jerseys went to San Siro, challenging A.C. Milan fearlessly. Since then Donadoni’s squad confirmed its qualities finding Cristiano Lucarelli, championship’s top goalmaker together with Gilardino, as its leader. If attack is the most worrying unit of the amaranth team, defence is going through a negative time instead, conceding a remarkable 13 goals in the last three games, corresponding to equal defeats.
Tuscans, though, would want to take the leave from their supporters with a great performance against the most titled opponent: Juventus, that comes back to the ‘Armando Picchi’ after a good 56 years. The Bianconeri visited Livorno only 12 times, winning on six occasions. Statistics that, considering the stake, it’s well worth a revision.
Money can't buy Lucarelli
Friday, 13 May 2005
By Paolo Menicucci
Livorno have defied expectations to thrive in Serie A
It sounds more like a tennis score than anything to do with football: 6-4, 6-3. However, those were the results of AS Livorno Calcio's defeats in their last two games against Parma FC and AC Siena, in which striker Cristiano Lucarelli scored six times - four against Parma and two against Siena - to become Serie A's top scorer with 22 goals for the season.
Totemic figure
Lucarelli, however, is not only a goal-scorer. He is the captain, the biggest fan, the symbol of Livorno, and as a result, his recent goalscoring feats have given him little comfort. "I feel very bad despite my goals," he told uefa.com. "It's like I did not score at all. Above all, I'm a huge fan of Livorno and a fan cannot be happy when his favourite team lose."
Livorno sacrifice
Last season, while on loan from Torino Calcio, the 29-year-old scored 29 goals in 41 Serie B games to secure Livorno's return to Serie A for the first time in 55 years. Last summer he abandoned a €500,000 contract with Torino to get back to his beloved team on a permanent basis for a much lower salary.
Major gamble
"The goals I have scored so far are clear evidence that I took the right decision last summer," explained the former Atalanta BC, Valencia CF and US Lecce striker. "I risked a lot in order to play for Livorno and if I had failed this season, I would have reached a point of no return in my career.
Destiny calling
"Since I was a child I felt I had to play for Livorno one day and now the satisfaction for my good season is doubled," he added. "I felt inside that it was right to stay at Livorno last summer. I knew that it was only here that I could play at my absolute best."
Italy interest
With his 22 goals, Lucarelli has already demolished his previous record in Serie A - 15 goals for Lecce in 1999/00. Italy coach Marcello Lippi is reportedly monitoring his performances. Lucarelli, however, was not getting overexcited. "My national team is Livorno," he said. "I heard that Lippi is following my performances but it won't be dramatic for me if he never calls me. Just knowing that my name is linked with the national team is a great satisfaction."
Transfer talk
Rumours have also suggested that some bigger Serie A sides are interested in the striker, but Lucarelli dismissed any talk of a transfer. "It would be a trauma, almost like divorcing my wife," he said. "I would only leave if the club asked me to and only if my departure helped to strengthen the team."
Community work
Then again, the atmosphere at one of Italy's wealthy elite clubs would hardly suit the resolutely socialist Lucarelli. Last weekend he went to visit a group of factory workers whose jobs are under threat, while this week he gave a lesson on the problem of racism in football stadiums at a school in Livorno.
Higher value
"I have never been scared of expressing my opinions," he said. "I don't like the stereotype of football players only thinking about expensive cars and watches. Everybody is free to do what they want, but I'm not like that at all. I think the most important thing is to be comfortable with yourself and with your own decisions.
Personal values
"The value of a person is not decided by the goals he can score," he added. The supporters on the terraces at Livorno would doubtless agree.
Friday, 13 May 2005
By Paolo Menicucci
Livorno have defied expectations to thrive in Serie A
It sounds more like a tennis score than anything to do with football: 6-4, 6-3. However, those were the results of AS Livorno Calcio's defeats in their last two games against Parma FC and AC Siena, in which striker Cristiano Lucarelli scored six times - four against Parma and two against Siena - to become Serie A's top scorer with 22 goals for the season.
Totemic figure
Lucarelli, however, is not only a goal-scorer. He is the captain, the biggest fan, the symbol of Livorno, and as a result, his recent goalscoring feats have given him little comfort. "I feel very bad despite my goals," he told uefa.com. "It's like I did not score at all. Above all, I'm a huge fan of Livorno and a fan cannot be happy when his favourite team lose."
Livorno sacrifice
Last season, while on loan from Torino Calcio, the 29-year-old scored 29 goals in 41 Serie B games to secure Livorno's return to Serie A for the first time in 55 years. Last summer he abandoned a €500,000 contract with Torino to get back to his beloved team on a permanent basis for a much lower salary.
Major gamble
"The goals I have scored so far are clear evidence that I took the right decision last summer," explained the former Atalanta BC, Valencia CF and US Lecce striker. "I risked a lot in order to play for Livorno and if I had failed this season, I would have reached a point of no return in my career.
Destiny calling
"Since I was a child I felt I had to play for Livorno one day and now the satisfaction for my good season is doubled," he added. "I felt inside that it was right to stay at Livorno last summer. I knew that it was only here that I could play at my absolute best."
Italy interest
With his 22 goals, Lucarelli has already demolished his previous record in Serie A - 15 goals for Lecce in 1999/00. Italy coach Marcello Lippi is reportedly monitoring his performances. Lucarelli, however, was not getting overexcited. "My national team is Livorno," he said. "I heard that Lippi is following my performances but it won't be dramatic for me if he never calls me. Just knowing that my name is linked with the national team is a great satisfaction."
Transfer talk
Rumours have also suggested that some bigger Serie A sides are interested in the striker, but Lucarelli dismissed any talk of a transfer. "It would be a trauma, almost like divorcing my wife," he said. "I would only leave if the club asked me to and only if my departure helped to strengthen the team."
Community work
Then again, the atmosphere at one of Italy's wealthy elite clubs would hardly suit the resolutely socialist Lucarelli. Last weekend he went to visit a group of factory workers whose jobs are under threat, while this week he gave a lesson on the problem of racism in football stadiums at a school in Livorno.
Higher value
"I have never been scared of expressing my opinions," he said. "I don't like the stereotype of football players only thinking about expensive cars and watches. Everybody is free to do what they want, but I'm not like that at all. I think the most important thing is to be comfortable with yourself and with your own decisions.
Personal values
"The value of a person is not decided by the goals he can score," he added. The supporters on the terraces at Livorno would doubtless agree.
True that theres not many of them but I doubt Lucarelli is.
Juventus comes to Livorno with a very simple objective: win at all costs, to conquer the 28th tricolour of its history one matchday in advance. The three points would in fact guarantee the Bianconeri to win the championship mathematically. This turn’s opponent, Livorno, already won its own championship, gaining safety from relegation with great merit.
If, in this season, it would be difficult to identify a so called ‘revelation team’, since there is plenty of them performing above expectations, Livorno may be the most amazing team, from the very first leg, when the maroon jerseys went to San Siro, challenging A.C. Milan fearlessly. Since then Donadoni’s squad confirmed its qualities finding Cristiano Lucarelli, championship’s top goalmaker together with Gilardino, as its leader. If attack is the most worrying unit of the amaranth team, defence is going through a negative time instead, conceding a remarkable 13 goals in the last three games, corresponding to equal defeats.
Tuscans, though, would want to take the leave from their supporters with a great performance against the most titled opponent: Juventus, that comes back to the ‘Armando Picchi’ after a good 56 years. The Bianconeri visited Livorno only 12 times, winning on six occasions. Statistics that, considering the stake, it’s well worth a revision.
[www.juventus.com]
THATS the spirit Juve!!
Juventus comes to Livorno with a very simple objective: win at all costs, to conquer the 28th tricolour of its history one matchday in advance. The three points would in fact guarantee the Bianconeri to win the championship mathematically. This turn’s opponent, Livorno, already won its own championship, gaining safety from relegation with great merit.
If, in this season, it would be difficult to identify a so called ‘revelation team’, since there is plenty of them performing above expectations, Livorno may be the most amazing team, from the very first leg, when the maroon jerseys went to San Siro, challenging A.C. Milan fearlessly. Since then Donadoni’s squad confirmed its qualities finding Cristiano Lucarelli, championship’s top goalmaker together with Gilardino, as its leader. If attack is the most worrying unit of the amaranth team, defence is going through a negative time instead, conceding a remarkable 13 goals in the last three games, corresponding to equal defeats.
Tuscans, though, would want to take the leave from their supporters with a great performance against the most titled opponent: Juventus, that comes back to the ‘Armando Picchi’ after a good 56 years. The Bianconeri visited Livorno only 12 times, winning on six occasions. Statistics that, considering the stake, it’s well worth a revision.
[www.juventus.com]
THATS the spirit Juve!!