2013

[Doormatt]

as for some good news, pjanic has extended his contract which means he wont be going anywhere anytime soon. very nice to see that happen.

[magik9113]

slightly ironic that osvlado scores a last gasp goal against us. i felt we were clearly the better side for most of the match, but alas this was not romas year. regardless was a great season, very much looking forward to next season, should be the first time roma are relevant since 2007 on the world stage.

I was almost, but not quite surprised at how much Osvaldo celebrated. He was like, you a-holes sold me to SOUTHAMPTON?!??!!!?

How about that Di Natale goal.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2Vrx84CxJo[/youtube]

[Doormatt]

when i turn like that i usually either miss the ball completely or volley it into the next field.

[magik9113]

Italy's 30man preliminary WC roster:

Darmian and Romulo: surprise inclusions. Diamanti, Giaccherini, Criscito: surprising snubs

[DD12]

Look at those forwards. The best in the tournament for sure.

[Doormatt]

Criscito is by far the biggest snub, he deserves to be a starter too.

[Doormatt]

Look at those forwards. The best in the tournament for sure.

In theory. Practically, Argentinas forwards are far far better. Italy is sending some very talented forwards for once, I've been disappointed by Italian forwards for the past decade nearly, so I'll hold my judgement. Hopefully this year is when Italy produces dominant forwards again.

[Doormatt]

Columbia has some pretty terrifying forwards too with Falcao, Cuadrado, Martinez and Muriel. Who knows maybe this is where Muriel finally breaks out

[magik9113]

Italy's forwards were superb in '06. in 2010 we needed Rossi and Quags rather than Iaquinta and Di Natale.
In Euro 2012 Cassano and Balotelli were great.

This year I agree that only Argentina definitely have better attackers than the Azzurri.

I'm sure that one of those 7 will get cut. I think, unfortunately, it will be Destro or Cassano. what a tough decision to make

[Doormatt]

I wouldn't call them superb, they were okay but underwhelming compared to what they did for their clubs. When I think of that Azzuri team I think of Buffon+defense+pirlo, not the forwards

[magik9113]

I wouldn't call them superb, they were okay but underwhelming compared to what they did for their clubs. When I think of that Azzuri team I think of Buffon+defense+pirlo, not the forwards

We had 10 different scorers if I remember correctly...which included every single forward on the roster: Toni, Gila, Del Piero, Iquinta, Totti, Inzaghi. It was the perfect team effort and they did what Lippi asked of them

for old times sake the other scorers were the legends Pirlo, Zambrotta, Materazzi, and GROSSO

But I wouldn't argue that Buffon/Cannavaro/Pirlo were absolutely the stars of the tournament for them

[Doormatt]

that gross goal is GOAT, definitely my favorite Italian goal of all time.

anyways i have high hopes for this team, the buildup definitely reminds me of 06, where no one is really picking us and we have some players people dont really know because Serie A isnt followed as the other major leagues. not underrated, but under the radar.

[magik9113]

my brother was talking to me yesterday about the ESPN analyst in '06 who said that there's no way Gilardino and Luca Toni can be starters in the World Cup for Italy...he proceeded to claim our hope lies in the hands of Del Piero and Totti alone lol

[magik9113]

hattrick today from another of Italy's ageless wonders, Antonio Di Natale.
3-3 draw Udinese v. Samp
I'm really disappointed with Gabbiadini's apparent lack of productivity over the 2nd half of this season.

[magik9113]

Verona have officially bought Juan Manuel Iturbe from Porto for €15m and can now accept much larger offers.
Great deal for Verona as this price was set before the season.

[Doormatt]

Means he probably will sell for ~25.

[TheAdmiral]

AC Milan are set to replace coach Clarence Seedorf with the Dutchman's former team-mate Filippo Inzaghi, Goal has learned.

The former Netherlands international took over at San Siro in January following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri and delivered the club to an eighth-placed finish in Serie A.

However, he has not done enough to keep his job after the relationship between coach and board deteriorated during his five-month spell.

Milan have been searching for a replacement, but have been put off their pusuit of Sevilla coach Unai Emery due to the high costs involved.

Club management figures, including owner Silvio Berlusconi and CEO Adriano Galliani, met on Monday afternoon and have decided that Inzaghi is the only viable candidate to train the team next season.

The 40-year-old enjoyed a glittering 11-year spell at the Giuseppe Meazza, winning Serie A and the Champions League twice apiece.

Since his retirement in 2012, he has been in charge of the club's Primavera side and has long been seen as a future coach for the full team.

Berlusconi and Galliani are expected to inform the former Italy of their decision to promote him imminently.

Link

[Doormatt]

Milan are such a mess, why fire Seedorf for another short term replacement? at least give the man a full season, havent they ever heard of continuity over there? Is Pippo really ready to be promoted after 2 years? doesnt make sense

[cgf]

Both Milan clubs seemed to be adhere to the Isiah philosophy of "it's so crazy it just might...be an absolute guarantee to blow up horribly in all of our faces!"

[magik9113]

They can't afford a coach who isn't a newbie

They might as well just sell Balotelli. Roma and Napoli have taken the places of the Milan clubs.