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M
Mikey
Guest
Oh, Rimshot!
M
Mikey
Guest
Palermo President Busts A Nut
The clock is ticking for Francesco Guidolin after Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini announced he’ll fire the tactician this summer.
“At the end of the season I’m sending him home,” slammed the fiery patron. “We are just not in sync at all and he is not the Coach to lead this club into the future.”
Zamparini’s ire was stoked by last night’s 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat to Milan’s second string side, but it was the manner of the setback that most irritated him.
“How can you field five midfielders plus a full-back disguised as a winger? It’s just crazy and I cannot stand it anymore. All we had to do was play the line-up we had in the final ten minutes, but instead we were playing for the draw. In June I’m making big changes - I guarantee it.”
With these statements made so very publicly, it’s unlikely Guidolin will want to stay in Sicily for another six months if there is no faith in his abilities.
It’s certainly not a new strategy for Zamparini, who sacked Silvio Baldini in January when Palermo were in the promotion places.
Guidolin was brought in to give them more experience, but the President has repeatedly criticised his defensive approach and the likely replacement will be Alberto Zaccheroni.
"Guidolin was the one who wanted us to sell the Filippini twins this summer because he said they were trouble," continued Zamparini. "I can also reveal Gigi Del Neri would do anything to have Mario Alberto Santana at Roma and we'll hand him over in January. Ernesto Farias and Mariano Gonzalez will probably also be sold,"
===========================
Why the attack on Gonzalez at the end, that wasnt neccesary. I do agree they should buy a forward instead of putting all the pressure on Toni, and the Santana comment was weird as well.
The clock is ticking for Francesco Guidolin after Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini announced he’ll fire the tactician this summer.
“At the end of the season I’m sending him home,” slammed the fiery patron. “We are just not in sync at all and he is not the Coach to lead this club into the future.”
Zamparini’s ire was stoked by last night’s 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat to Milan’s second string side, but it was the manner of the setback that most irritated him.
“How can you field five midfielders plus a full-back disguised as a winger? It’s just crazy and I cannot stand it anymore. All we had to do was play the line-up we had in the final ten minutes, but instead we were playing for the draw. In June I’m making big changes - I guarantee it.”
With these statements made so very publicly, it’s unlikely Guidolin will want to stay in Sicily for another six months if there is no faith in his abilities.
It’s certainly not a new strategy for Zamparini, who sacked Silvio Baldini in January when Palermo were in the promotion places.
Guidolin was brought in to give them more experience, but the President has repeatedly criticised his defensive approach and the likely replacement will be Alberto Zaccheroni.
"Guidolin was the one who wanted us to sell the Filippini twins this summer because he said they were trouble," continued Zamparini. "I can also reveal Gigi Del Neri would do anything to have Mario Alberto Santana at Roma and we'll hand him over in January. Ernesto Farias and Mariano Gonzalez will probably also be sold,"
===========================
Why the attack on Gonzalez at the end, that wasnt neccesary. I do agree they should buy a forward instead of putting all the pressure on Toni, and the Santana comment was weird as well.
claupastore
Fan Favourite
you saw the game right?
ok
if it wasnt because of the pitch. we could have scored 3 or 4 goals.
kapo had two, and thanks to the pitch, he lost the ball.
camo had one, and thanks to the pitch, he lost the ball.
now i dont remember if lecce had some cleeeear opportunities. but im sure that they could´ve been a bigger thread if it wasnt because of the pitch.
in all, im not talking out of my ass. first because thats impossible. and second, because i saw the game and all the other italian media (and espn) said the same thing (that it would´ve been a great game)
claupastore
Fan Favourite
serie A had a break because of the NT game and to give Coppa Italia a chance to be played.
I dont agree with Zamparini, Zamparini talking trash about mariano gonzalez Farias and Santana.I think hes just mad of the lose to milan, so am I but theres always a return leg. Also i dont agree with him firing guidolin in June.But if he wanted to he could of fired guidolin right now and get another manager i think its more of a wake up call for Guidolin, But i do agree with Zamparini on playing an extra Striker Luca Toni and Farias. 4-4-2 not 4-4-1-1 (Palermo's Current Tactic) thats what Guidolin should play with if Farias doesnt fit in, januray is just around the corner we can sign Cruz from inter on a loan deal or try and sign Di Michele if udinese would sell.
FORZA PALERMO
FORZA ROSANERO
SIAMO NOI LA VERA SICILIA
CHE NON SALTA E CANTANESE
FORZA PALERMO
FORZA ROSANERO
SIAMO NOI LA VERA SICILIA
CHE NON SALTA E CANTANESE
claupastore
Fan Favourite
i once farted and it sounded like a voice 
the voice inside of me...
the voice inside of me...
claupastore
Fan Favourite
lol
ok back to serie A now
...
...
...
...
...
it rules
ok back to serie A now
...
...
...
...
...
it rules
claupastore
Fan Favourite
ok 
...mommy
...mommy
An old article but a very interesting read
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del piero & cassano
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
============================== ===========
sundayherald [13 June 2004]
Saint & Sinner
Euro 2004: Alessandro Del Piero was supposed to be the new Baggio – skillful, unpredictable, exciting – but now there is a new kid on the block. Has Antonio Cassano’s time finally come? asks Gabriele Marcotti
When Alessandro Del Piero first began making waves at Juventus some nine years ago, he was usurping the place of a Serie A icon: Roberto Baggio.
Gianni Agnelli, the late legendary Juventus owner, viewed it in artistic terms. He compared Baggio to Raphael, the greatest of all Italian masters, while stressing that the young upstart Del Piero was, for now, Pinturicchio, a relatively minor artist who made his name as an apprentice.
A decade later Del Piero has failed to shed the Pinturicchio label. What’s more he now must come to terms with another upstart challenging for his spot in the Italy side: Antonio Cassano. And if Baggio and Del Piero at least belonged to the same artistic school, the Renaissance, in our footballing metaphor Cassano is a different animal entirely, a self-destructive genius like Carlos*son Pollock.
Tomorrow evening, when Italy square off against Denmark, it’s likely that Del Piero will retain his place on the left flank of Giovanni Trapattoni’s 4-2-3-1 formation, but he will do so knowing full well that most public opinion, and perhaps the Italian coaching staff itself, would rather see Cassano’s electric talents in that role.
On the surface, the pair have little in common, other than strong maternal figures. The difference is that Del Piero’s mum watches day-time soaps with him and accompanies him to Madonna concerts, whereas Cassano’s mother raised her son on her own (his father resurfaced a few years ago but soon backed away after the Roma striker said he would “kill him” if he ever crossed his path) in one of the most infamous ghettos in Europe: Bari Vecchia, which boasts the highest crime rate in Italy. Last year, she awoke one morning to find a bullet-riddled body on her doorstep.
Both grew up coddled, albeit in different ways. Del Piero joined Juventus as an 18 year old and was quickly fast-tracked to success, shielded from the media and launched on a rigorous training programme which included plenty of tactical and physical work. In many ways he is a testament to the “scientific” approach of Marcello Lippi’s first spell at Juve. His once slight frame filled out, resulting in a stocky powerhouse, with the pace of a sprinter and the stamina of a middle distance runner. He became the epitome of tactical nous, executing instructions perfectly, placing the team first, always and everywhere.
Cassano, still just 21, enjoyed protection too, except his came from gangsters. When his Porsche was stolen from outside his mother’s house two years ago, one of his neighbours reported it on local radio and the car was returned within 24 hours with a bouquet of flowers and a note of apology. His father, who has a history of drug abuse, was beaten by neighbours when he tried to make contact with his son after some 20 years of neglect.When under-21 boss Claudio Gentile, who dropped Cassano after the player criticised him in public, was spotted in a Bari restaurant a crowd of 40 people assembled within minutes to jeer him to the point where the police had to be called in to escort him out.
Yet in many ways the pair nicely summarise the two souls of Giovanni Trapattoni’s Italy squad, stuck in a philosophical shift between the cate naccio counterattacking ways of the past and a newer, more creative, offensive approach. Del Piero represents the former, with all the baggage that it brings. He is the typical Italian professional of the 1990s: ultra-professional, highly trained, tactically sound and, frankly, totally devoid of spontaneity. Coaches love him because he does exactly what he is told to do.
“Del Piero is the ultimate coach’s player,” says Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who worked with him for two seasons at Juventus. “He listens, never complains, executes your instructions precisely.”
The problem is that, in doing so, he tends to lose both his creative spark and his unpredictability. While his technique is probably as good as any striker’s in Europe, he rarely delivers the unexpected, probably because he is mentally shackled after 10 seasons in Juve’s football laboratory. Watching him on the pitch brings to mind Eastern European gymnasts of yesteryear: technically brilliant but unsmiling and, frankly, more than a little depressing.
That’s why a large chunk of the Italian public wants to forget all about Del Piero. To them he represents the worst excesses of the azzurri’s ultra-tactical obsession, a man who sacrificed his own talent on the altar of physical fitness and tactical acumen. To them, he’s also the man who never lived up to his potential in an Italy jersey. Not at the 1998 World Cup, when he forced Baggio to make way for him upon his return from injury and promptly flopped on the pitch. Not in 2000 when he was a marginal figure in Italy’s run to the Euro final. And not at the 2002 World Cup, when, relegated to the flank, he failed to turn the tide against South Korea.
“It feels like we’ve spent most of the past decade waiting for Del Piero to deliver,” wrote Rome’s Corriere dello Sport daily recently. “How much longer will we wait? Will Cassano have to rot on the bench until Del Piero graciously retires?”
It’s a sentiment many share as Italy slowly begins to awaken from its footballing slumber. Defending is still a priority of course, but now attacking prowess is valued too, and not just as a way of holding the ball up . Cassano is the exciting new kid on the block, the man who could symbolise a break with the past.
The trouble is that, as brilliantly gifted as he is, Cassano is also deeply flawed, and not in an amiable “troubled genius/George Best” sort of way either. He is impulsive, pig-headed and incredibly immature. He walked out of Roma’s training sessions three times this season and one gets the sense that it would have happened even more often if Roma’s manager weren’t Fabio Capello, the disciplinarian. He did not show up for scheduled interviews at Italy’s training camp last week and the rumours about what he puts in his teammates coffee would put anyone off their espresso.
“The guy is 21 years old and is coming to terms with the fact that he could be the most talented player in the world,” says Roma chairman Franco Sensi. “Add to that his upbringing, not having a father, seeing his childhood friends on drugs or in prison and, if you ask me, he’s coping rather well.”
It’s a charitable assessment of course, but it’s his football which really matters and in that department he has few equals, boasting a combination of speed, ball control and flair which most Italians haven’t seen since ... well, since they saw a very, very young Del Piero, before he was inserted in the Juventus machine .
Ever the pragmatist, Trapattoni knows that he is choosing between the recent past, unspectacular but reassuring, and the immediate future, stimulating, but filled with peril.
“I can’t really go wrong, can I?” he says. “I’ve got two great players, these are the kinds of problems most managers would love to have...”
He’s wrong and he knows it. Italians demand a decision, they want – at least, they say they want – a break with the old ways. Like the middle manager in mid-life crisis, they want to ditch the sensible Ford Mondeo which is Del Piero for the Cassano Harley Davidson. Whether it’s the choice to bring Italy closer to their second European title remains to be seen.
-----------------------------------------------------
del piero & cassano
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
============================== ===========
sundayherald [13 June 2004]
Saint & Sinner
Euro 2004: Alessandro Del Piero was supposed to be the new Baggio – skillful, unpredictable, exciting – but now there is a new kid on the block. Has Antonio Cassano’s time finally come? asks Gabriele Marcotti
When Alessandro Del Piero first began making waves at Juventus some nine years ago, he was usurping the place of a Serie A icon: Roberto Baggio.
Gianni Agnelli, the late legendary Juventus owner, viewed it in artistic terms. He compared Baggio to Raphael, the greatest of all Italian masters, while stressing that the young upstart Del Piero was, for now, Pinturicchio, a relatively minor artist who made his name as an apprentice.
A decade later Del Piero has failed to shed the Pinturicchio label. What’s more he now must come to terms with another upstart challenging for his spot in the Italy side: Antonio Cassano. And if Baggio and Del Piero at least belonged to the same artistic school, the Renaissance, in our footballing metaphor Cassano is a different animal entirely, a self-destructive genius like Carlos*son Pollock.
Tomorrow evening, when Italy square off against Denmark, it’s likely that Del Piero will retain his place on the left flank of Giovanni Trapattoni’s 4-2-3-1 formation, but he will do so knowing full well that most public opinion, and perhaps the Italian coaching staff itself, would rather see Cassano’s electric talents in that role.
On the surface, the pair have little in common, other than strong maternal figures. The difference is that Del Piero’s mum watches day-time soaps with him and accompanies him to Madonna concerts, whereas Cassano’s mother raised her son on her own (his father resurfaced a few years ago but soon backed away after the Roma striker said he would “kill him” if he ever crossed his path) in one of the most infamous ghettos in Europe: Bari Vecchia, which boasts the highest crime rate in Italy. Last year, she awoke one morning to find a bullet-riddled body on her doorstep.
Both grew up coddled, albeit in different ways. Del Piero joined Juventus as an 18 year old and was quickly fast-tracked to success, shielded from the media and launched on a rigorous training programme which included plenty of tactical and physical work. In many ways he is a testament to the “scientific” approach of Marcello Lippi’s first spell at Juve. His once slight frame filled out, resulting in a stocky powerhouse, with the pace of a sprinter and the stamina of a middle distance runner. He became the epitome of tactical nous, executing instructions perfectly, placing the team first, always and everywhere.
Cassano, still just 21, enjoyed protection too, except his came from gangsters. When his Porsche was stolen from outside his mother’s house two years ago, one of his neighbours reported it on local radio and the car was returned within 24 hours with a bouquet of flowers and a note of apology. His father, who has a history of drug abuse, was beaten by neighbours when he tried to make contact with his son after some 20 years of neglect.When under-21 boss Claudio Gentile, who dropped Cassano after the player criticised him in public, was spotted in a Bari restaurant a crowd of 40 people assembled within minutes to jeer him to the point where the police had to be called in to escort him out.
Yet in many ways the pair nicely summarise the two souls of Giovanni Trapattoni’s Italy squad, stuck in a philosophical shift between the cate naccio counterattacking ways of the past and a newer, more creative, offensive approach. Del Piero represents the former, with all the baggage that it brings. He is the typical Italian professional of the 1990s: ultra-professional, highly trained, tactically sound and, frankly, totally devoid of spontaneity. Coaches love him because he does exactly what he is told to do.
“Del Piero is the ultimate coach’s player,” says Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who worked with him for two seasons at Juventus. “He listens, never complains, executes your instructions precisely.”
The problem is that, in doing so, he tends to lose both his creative spark and his unpredictability. While his technique is probably as good as any striker’s in Europe, he rarely delivers the unexpected, probably because he is mentally shackled after 10 seasons in Juve’s football laboratory. Watching him on the pitch brings to mind Eastern European gymnasts of yesteryear: technically brilliant but unsmiling and, frankly, more than a little depressing.
That’s why a large chunk of the Italian public wants to forget all about Del Piero. To them he represents the worst excesses of the azzurri’s ultra-tactical obsession, a man who sacrificed his own talent on the altar of physical fitness and tactical acumen. To them, he’s also the man who never lived up to his potential in an Italy jersey. Not at the 1998 World Cup, when he forced Baggio to make way for him upon his return from injury and promptly flopped on the pitch. Not in 2000 when he was a marginal figure in Italy’s run to the Euro final. And not at the 2002 World Cup, when, relegated to the flank, he failed to turn the tide against South Korea.
“It feels like we’ve spent most of the past decade waiting for Del Piero to deliver,” wrote Rome’s Corriere dello Sport daily recently. “How much longer will we wait? Will Cassano have to rot on the bench until Del Piero graciously retires?”
It’s a sentiment many share as Italy slowly begins to awaken from its footballing slumber. Defending is still a priority of course, but now attacking prowess is valued too, and not just as a way of holding the ball up . Cassano is the exciting new kid on the block, the man who could symbolise a break with the past.
The trouble is that, as brilliantly gifted as he is, Cassano is also deeply flawed, and not in an amiable “troubled genius/George Best” sort of way either. He is impulsive, pig-headed and incredibly immature. He walked out of Roma’s training sessions three times this season and one gets the sense that it would have happened even more often if Roma’s manager weren’t Fabio Capello, the disciplinarian. He did not show up for scheduled interviews at Italy’s training camp last week and the rumours about what he puts in his teammates coffee would put anyone off their espresso.
“The guy is 21 years old and is coming to terms with the fact that he could be the most talented player in the world,” says Roma chairman Franco Sensi. “Add to that his upbringing, not having a father, seeing his childhood friends on drugs or in prison and, if you ask me, he’s coping rather well.”
It’s a charitable assessment of course, but it’s his football which really matters and in that department he has few equals, boasting a combination of speed, ball control and flair which most Italians haven’t seen since ... well, since they saw a very, very young Del Piero, before he was inserted in the Juventus machine .
Ever the pragmatist, Trapattoni knows that he is choosing between the recent past, unspectacular but reassuring, and the immediate future, stimulating, but filled with peril.
“I can’t really go wrong, can I?” he says. “I’ve got two great players, these are the kinds of problems most managers would love to have...”
He’s wrong and he knows it. Italians demand a decision, they want – at least, they say they want – a break with the old ways. Like the middle manager in mid-life crisis, they want to ditch the sensible Ford Mondeo which is Del Piero for the Cassano Harley Davidson. Whether it’s the choice to bring Italy closer to their second European title remains to be seen.
M
Mikey
Guest
Some of you may disagree, but i think Cassano should go to .......................
Manchester United.
I hate for great Italian players to leave Serie A, but he needs a disciplined coach like Ferguson. i dont think he respects Del Neri too much. If he goes to Inter itll be a disaster cause Mancini is supposedly easy going. If not UTD, than Juve would do even though him and Capello didnt get on too well either. I think Cassano needs a wife, than he'll calm down.
Manchester United.
I hate for great Italian players to leave Serie A, but he needs a disciplined coach like Ferguson. i dont think he respects Del Neri too much. If he goes to Inter itll be a disaster cause Mancini is supposedly easy going. If not UTD, than Juve would do even though him and Capello didnt get on too well either. I think Cassano needs a wife, than he'll calm down.
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