Brian Sanders navigates the multitude of Serie A results before jumping in and examining the upcoming European adventures and weekend fixtures
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Nov 052013
Sep 102013
Brian Sanders, Adam Uthe, and Sean Maslin review the Champions League Group stage draw picking out the winners and losers
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Sep 062013
Brian Sanders and Vincent La Rosa look at the Italian game after two weeks of Serie A, the Azzurri’s two World Cup Qualifiers, the close of the transfer window, and the groups for Italian teams in the Champions League and Europa League
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Aug 222013
Brian Sanders(@KCNFFC), Luis Palmitesta(@lep17), and Vincent La Rosa(@vincelikesstuff) go team by team in previewing the 2013-14 Serie A season complete with expected scudetto winners and relegation losers.
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Jul 122013
Calcio is well known for producing top quality mangers, with the generation including the likes of Sacchi, Lippi, Capello, and Ancelloti passing the torch to the current crop of elite managers in Serie A. Conte at Juventus, Mazzarri at Napoli and now Inter, Montella at Fiorentina, and to a lesser extent Allegri at Milan, all have received accolades for the jobs they have done over the last season, and not without good reason.
However, a manager closer in age to the previous generation, Francesco Guidolin, does not always get the credit he deserves for the incredible job he has done at Udinese. Yes, his name is usually mentioned in the conversation regarding manager of the year, but if you compare what he has achieved relative to the resources at his disposal, it becomes obvious how underrated he still is as a manager.
Guidolin has led Udinese to 4th, 3rd, and 5th place finishes in the last three seasons, after the club finished 15th the year prior to his arrival. The team has consistently been in the top five despite losing players such as Sanchez, Inler, Zapata, Asamoah, and Handanovíc during this time.
Udinese’s wage bill at the beginning of this season according to Gazzeta dello Sport was just over 21 million euros, the joint 6th lowest in the division and far behind the figures spent by Milan (120), Juventus (115), Inter (100), and even Roma (95). Likewise, a study done by Cantennacio.nl from 2001 to 2011shows that Udinese have had the greatest positive net transfer balance while Juventus, Napoli, and Fiorentia made up the top three in the opposite category.
While Conte has been instrumental turning Juventus back into one of Europe’s top clubs, he has also had the most talented and well balanced squad in Serie A to work with. Likewise, though Napoli’s squad is not as complete as Juve’s, it is full of experience and Mazzarri has been able to rely on the league’s best goal scorer, Edison Cavani.
Montella’s situation is slightly different in that Fiorentina experienced a huge turnover in the players in the offseason and the manager deserves much praise for creating an attractive, attacking side. However, he was not exactly starting from scratch. While Borja Valero may have been unproven in Serie A, he was clearly a quality player having already been capped by Spain. Similarly, David Pizzaro, who started his career at Udinese under another often overlooked manager in Luciano Spalleti, was an additional proven player at Montella’s disposal.
Apart from the evergreen Di Natale, Guidolin has had to build his squad each year from a relatively unproven group of players. While credit must also go to Udinese’s excellent scouting network in South America, the speed at which Guidolin has been able to develop potential into real ability is extraordinary. This, coupled with his ability to set his side up to absorb pressure and play effective on the counter attack, has turned Udinese into a very difficult team to beat, home or away.
In time when Serie A’s profile globally is waning and even the top clubs struggle to compete economically with Europe’s other big spenders, it is important for Italian football to recognize and continue to develop managers like Guidolin who are not only adept at the tactical side of the game, but are also able to coach and develop younger players.
Jun 272013
As always, these deals have been confirmed by multiple outlets…
Carlos Tevez
The controversial Argentine striker has completed a three year move from Manchester City to Juventus. Much to the chagrin of some, he will wear the No.10 starting next season.
Isco
The Spanish U-21 international midfielder has sealed a five year move from cash-strapped Malaga to Real Madrid. Madrid are battling speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo could depart while Malaga have been hit with a European competition ban for their financial woes.
Andrei Arshavin
The Russian winger has completed a two year move from Arsenal to his hometown club of Zenit Saint Petersburg after a tumultuous spell in London.
Andre Schurrle
And speaking of London, Chelsea have signed German winger Andre Schurrle to a five year deal from Bayer Leverkusen of the Bundesliga.
Andy Carroll
The English international forward departs Liverpool after a big money move from Newcastle and joins West Ham United for a new six year deal. Carroll spent the entire 2012-13 season on loan with the Hammers.
Iago Aspas
Liverpool have made several moves this week, starting with the signing of Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas for a reported £7.7 million ($11.75 million) transfer fee.
Luis Alberto
The Reds also purchased Sevilla forward Luis Alberto, who is capable of playing anywhere across the front three of Brendan Rodgers’ preferred 4-3-3. Alberto, who spent last season on loan with Barcelona’s B team, cost Liverpool a reported £6 million ($9.1 million) transfer fee.
Simon Mignolet
Liverpool’s third and final signing this week came in the form of Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. He arrives at Anfield from Sunderland amid speculation as to whether or not current Liverpool No.1 Pepe Reina is departing England this summer.
Dries Mertens
Speaking of Belgium, Dries Mertens has completed a move from PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands to Napoli in Italy’s Serie A where he signs a five year deal.
Giulio Donati
The Inter Milan right back has sealed a move to Bayer Leverkusen and signed a four year deal with the German club.
Royston Drenthe
The 26 year old Dutch winger, who spent this past season on loan with Everton, has seen his contract expire and will join recently relegated Reading on a free move. He signs a two year deal.
Leonardo Bittencourt
The 19 year old midfielder departs Borussia Dortmund after just one season and will join Hannover 96.
Sead Kolasinac
The German U-21 international and Schalke youth product will remain with Schalke after signing a four year deal with the senior team.
Jun 262013
It would seem that current Italian champions Juventus have got their Argentine as Carlos Tevez moves from Manchester City where he has been since the 2009-2010 season.
The price tag is 12 million euros with add-ons. Tevez has been on massive wages ever since his controversial move to Manchester City from rival Manchester United.
Tevez has had a career that has taken him from Argentine giants Boca Juniors, Brazilian giants Corinthians, to England first with West Ham United, then Manchester United, and finally and most recently Manchester City. Winning a title wherever he plays. He has made 62 appearances for Argentina scoring 13 goals.
May 302013
Brian Sanders (@kcnffc) and Vincent La Rosa (@vincelikesstuff) review the season in the Serie A, welcome Sassuolo and Hellas Verona to the big time, and celebrate Lazio’s win over Roma in the Coppa Italia
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Apr 222013
Brian Sanders flies alone as he looks at all the results in Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Serie B race for promotion
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Apr 222013
I have no “Luis Suarez bit Branislav Ivanovic” jokes. The Internet burnt through them in about an hour.
Now that the aftermath of what happened has (somewhat) settled, Liverpool have a decision to make about what to do with Luis Suarez this summer.
Before Sunday’s incident, I made it pretty clear that I was worried about a seemingly destined move to Bayern Munich over the summer for the controversial Uruguayan. Juventus have played down rumors of Suarez heading to Turin, but it would be a good move for all parties involved if it came to fruition.
Now it’s hard to tell if teams will be willing to pay top dollar for the baggage that comes with such a brilliant striker.
Let’s say for the sake of argument, that nobody is willing to purchase Suarez’s services this summer. Should Liverpool want him back? I made a pros/cons list for Andy Carroll several weeks ago and I’d say now is as good a time as any for Suarez.
I will warn you though: the list is quite short. There is really only one pro and one con in this discussion.
Pro: He’s quite possibly the third best footballer in the world
Steven Gerrard has said as much and even the most passionate Liverpool haters would have to at least respect such a strong opinion.
If it weren’t for all his antics, more people might be inclined to make such a bold statement. When he’s on his game, Luis Suarez is an incredibly dangerous goal scoring threat. He makes brilliant runs. When the ball is at his feet, it stays there. He is always in control and always seems to be one step ahead of his opposing defenders. He can score from almost any angle and he can do it with any part of his body.
Liverpool need a player of this caliber. If Suarez were to depart, this team would be fighting for its lives in a relegation battle. He is the first Liverpool player to score 30 goals in a season since Fernando Torres. Only Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, and Robbie Fowler have accomplished such a feat during their time at Anfield. Like it or not, he is in historic territory with one of the most prestigious clubs in the world.
He’s also the perfect fit for what Brendan Rodgers wants to accomplish. Suarez does not relinquish possession easily and he knows how to find his teammates while being double and triple teamed by opponents. He is, quite frankly, the only true goal scoring threat on Brendan Rodgers’ squad as it is currently constructed.
It speaks volumes about Suarez’s ability that a club as proud as Liverpool are even considering holding onto him through the summer after what he has done.
Con: He’s bat $h!# crazy!
This is actually the SECOND time that Suarez has bitten an opponent during a match. He managed to grab the attention of Mike Tyson via Twitter.
Then there’s the matter of his blatant disrespect for the game in South Africa in 2010.
And let’s not forget his incident with Patrice Evra last season that resulted in an eight game suspension.
Which is why bringing Suarez back could be detrimental to Liverpool’s 2013-14 campaign next season. The FA are already talking as if three games is not enough this time around. Suppose Suarez gets another eight game suspension: now he misses several games to start the following season as well. I can understand wanting to put up with Suarez for his brilliant play, but he cannot help the team if he is constantly being banned for whatever reason. At this rate you could pretty much put money on the man missing at least 10% of next season’s league schedule, if not more.
Then there’s the matter of appearances. The club’s already dinged up reputation will take a bigger hit if they bring him back now. Sponsors will only tolerate so much before they say “No thank you” to a lucrative deal. Even Liverpool’s most loyal supporters are being tested right now.
To bring back Luis Suarez next season would almost certainly seal the club’s fate as a red-headed stepchild that no player, sponsor, manager, or fan wants to be a part of going forward.
At this point there’s nothing left to do but wait. There’s really no point in speculating further at this time.
No one, not even Suarez himself, knows where he will be come August of 2013.
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