View Full Version : Serie A predictions 2008/9
Milano84
18-07-2008, 17:27
Predictions for serie A 2008/9
1. milan
2. inter
3. roma
4. napoli
5. Juve
6. Fiorentina
7. Sampdoria
8. udinese
9 and on.... doesnt matter
-I think inter and milan will race down to the wire, and although i have a hard time going against mourinho winning a league.... i cant pick inter
-I think roma will be 3rd with a sizeable gap between inter and them.
-I think napoli will sneak in. Good coach, LOTS of good young talent. HAmsik will explode and be chelsea, real madrids orgasm to sign for next offseason
-I think juve will be unlucky. Nedved is 36, camorenesi 32 w/ injury problems. Del Piero 34. And beside cheillini he defense is awful. WAYY too much depending on older players.... reminds me of milan this season....
-Fiorentina wil struggle to balance CL and league early, make up points later but not be enough to get back in.
-Cassano will do big things at sampdoria again... probabl move to juve after.
nestaran_kaka
18-07-2008, 18:58
In my opinion, sure this club afford win Serie A league title and also UEFA cup with deep footballer is already up inside the team this. Is not impossible if I forecast this club afford win stated two titles . Apologize jose :gun: :5inter::, this your first season here. Safe fare Carlo Anceloti and also team your guidance.
Forza milano!!!:3band::1ole:
with no kaka we wont win a single title
Giancarlo
19-07-2008, 11:29
with no kaka we wont win a single title
What's wrong with you? Stop believing the british media... they said that Ronaldinho would sign with Man City 100%... look what happened!
Last season i opened a similar topic and i wrote few really long posts.
I have to check my predictions from back then. :)
Edit: I found it
http://www.milanmania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23216
That was one interesting topic and great discussion with Dev and Zlatanov.
I was close with my predictions (only Milan was a big mistake. I expected 2nd place but i did point out that the squad depth, or the lack of it, will cost Milan a lot...... remember, Dev :D )
For this year i'll wait until August with my predictions. For now i expect Inter to win it and Roma to have a disappointing season. Napoli will be the dark horses of this championship but i don't give them more than 5% for a top4 finish.
Milano84
19-07-2008, 19:57
ah i was hoping tony would refute my point on juve..... Napoli is definately on the rise. I'd agree w/ you there r probabl more than a season away from challenging top 4. But u never know. I like lavezzi, I LOVe santacroce and hamsik. Maggio and Denis r underrated signings (Although they did overpay for maggio) and if nothing else, reja really impressed me as manager as he tactically beat ancelotti in a must win game for us in end of season.
cmon more people post predictions! :-D
pece4ever
21-07-2008, 08:04
This is all OK, but we forget Lazio, i think they will be tougher this year. And if i try to find 5 place team, that for sure will be Lazio, not Napoli or Samp, i think Lazio is better squad.
My prediction:
1. Milan
2. Inter
3. Roma
4. Juve
5. Lazio
6. Fiorentina
7. Napoli
8. etc.
kastriot
21-07-2008, 12:03
Do not Discard Fiorentina that quickly....prandeli know what his doing, last year was not just a lucky season...And they added some top quality players,so they have squad depth also
Re Kaka'
21-07-2008, 17:38
1-Milan (of course)
2-Juve
3-Inter
4-Fiorentina
5-Roma
6-Sampadoria
7-Lazio
8-Napoli
9-Udinese
10-Genoa
etc.
I have a feeling Inter will play for the Champions since their known to choke in the championship, so they'll fall to third this year, and yes, they will still choke in champions league:)
Milano84
21-07-2008, 18:23
mourinho has never finished lower than 2nd in a league....
mourinho has never finished lower than 2nd in a league....
It has more to do with the quality at his disposal than with Mourinho himself, though. Give him Sampdoria to coach and you won't get a top 2 finish.
But yeah, in this case it will be close to a miracle if he won't make a top2 finish. Very good team and a very good coach, in a league where there aren't 4 super strong teams like in England.......top 2 should be the minimum.
There is always first time for everything though, so we can hope this will be it :D
Milano84
22-07-2008, 13:37
It has more to do with the quality at his disposal than with Mourinho himself, though. Give him Sampdoria to coach and you won't get a top 2 finish.
But yeah, in this case it will be close to a miracle if he won't make a top2 finish. Very good team and a very good coach, in a league where there aren't 4 super strong teams like in England.......top 2 should be the minimum.
There is always first time for everything though, so we can hope this will be it :D
yes but how many of those players did he turn into world class players and how many were before him? At porto he had deco, paolo ferrera, carvahlo, maniche.... only deco has reached high levels w/o mourinho. Ferraro and carvahlo have been mediocre at chelsea since he left. WE all saw maniche at inter....
More so at chelsea. people have argued with me he had an all star team, but i will argue stepping into inter he has a better situation. When he went to chelsea in 2004, the weren't established. sure he had a good squad... but surely not the same squad as henry's arsenal or manchester united. Lampard and Terry were not considered world class then. I'm not knocking them by any means... but the notion of lampard playing in italy or spain in 2004 would have been laughed at. Terry was a good cb, but by 2004 he still wasnt an established national team player (it wast till after this season he really dethroned sol cambell). Wingers were damien duff and a young young joe cole. Again, duff was solid, cole was a promising young talent, but surely not ryan giggs at manchester united or ljunberg/pires at arsenal. Didier drogba was brought in from france at age of 26/27. Sure he had talent but unproven in epl. He wasnt the striker, we name him today. I'd liken it to juve signing amuari.... talented but it not like they signed a guy universally seen as WC. Surely no1 would have compared him to henry. he also was hampered w/ injuries his first 2 seasons at chelsea. On top of that, he had gudjohnson and tiago.... again nice players.... but not scholes or roy keane. The most established names mourinho had WHEN HE ARRIVED at chelsea were makelele (world class), gallas (class) and the 2 porto defenders he brought with him (carvalho + ferrara).
History shows us all these players turned out to be pretty good, but its not fair to say he walked into an allstar team.... because no one at beginning of 2004 would have had majority of thee players on there all-epl team. Majority of them were known as players of potential, good players, bot not world beaters... no1 would have put lampard in same class as scholes and gerrard which he eventually established himself as, AFTER working w/ mourinho. No one expected cole to all england winger, and terry to become captain, or sore to hieghts he did (and i'd like to add become PFA PLAYER OF YEAR)
Perhaps the best i can liken it to is arsenal last year, or maybe even roma. with majority of players establishing there names after the season, as opposed to before. Te only difference is he won with them, and made them all big names.
Another thing to be noted. there was no squad fighting when he was manager at chelsea, we all saw what happened with grant. But 1 can argue the had easiest road to champions league finals (olympiakos, fenerbace, liverpool isnt exactly the hardest path)
my long winded point is, if u look at chelsea in 2004, and inter is 2008. mournho is walking into a BETTER squad. Cambiasso, zlatan, adriano, zanetti, maicon, cordoba... all better than any player chelsea had going into the season. He's a great tactician and has a knack of getting what he wants out of his squads.
I'm personally so excited for the season because mourinho+ronaldinho will bring attention to serie A. I also expect 1 of the strongest campaigns in serie A. And although i do think milan w/o champions league has upperhand and will win, Ill be first to say its not inconcieveable for inter to win league, and i dont expect milan to win without a good long fight. Forza Milan!
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 14:03
I simply don't think this Inter team is better than the Chelsea team (if it was it would have gotten further in the CL and beaten Liverpool) and it's my opinion Mourinho is a tad overrated. Either way, I'm all for more attention on the Serie A. It's important. It'll mean more people switching on to watch games and demanding more games to be shown on television in other countries. Milan will win the league I think because we have the team to do it now... we also don't have the CL to distract us from our prime object.
My biggest complaint about Mourinho is he is erratic and switches things around way too often... even during matches when things appear to be going well. His substitutions have often been controversial...
Milano84
22-07-2008, 14:14
completely missed my point. i said based on players mourinho has walkedi nto a better squad with inter in 2008 than chelsea in 2004
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 14:37
I don't know. We will see.
yes but how many of those players did he turn into world class players and how many were before him? At porto he had deco, paolo ferrera, carvahlo, maniche.... only deco has reached high levels w/o mourinho. Ferraro and carvahlo have been mediocre at chelsea since he left. WE all saw maniche at inter....
More so at chelsea. people have argued with me he had an all star team, but i will argue stepping into inter he has a better situation. When he went to chelsea in 2004, the weren't established. sure he had a good squad... but surely not the same squad as henry's arsenal or manchester united. Lampard and Terry were not considered world class then. I'm not knocking them by any means... but the notion of lampard playing in italy or spain in 2004 would have been laughed at. Terry was a good cb, but by 2004 he still wasnt an established national team player (it wast till after this season he really dethroned sol cambell). Wingers were damien duff and a young young joe cole. Again, duff was solid, cole was a promising young talent, but surely not ryan giggs at manchester united or ljunberg/pires at arsenal. Didier drogba was brought in from france at age of 26/27. Sure he had talent but unproven in epl. He wasnt the striker, we name him today. I'd liken it to juve signing amuari.... talented but it not like they signed a guy universally seen as WC. Surely no1 would have compared him to henry. he also was hampered w/ injuries his first 2 seasons at chelsea. On top of that, he had gudjohnson and tiago.... again nice players.... but not scholes or roy keane. The most established names mourinho had WHEN HE ARRIVED at chelsea were makelele (world class), gallas (class) and the 2 porto defenders he brought with him (carvalho + ferrara).
History shows us all these players turned out to be pretty good, but its not fair to say he walked into an allstar team.... because no one at beginning of 2004 would have had majority of thee players on there all-epl team. Majority of them were known as players of potential, good players, bot not world beaters... no1 would have put lampard in same class as scholes and gerrard which he eventually established himself as, AFTER working w/ mourinho. No one expected cole to all england winger, and terry to become captain, or sore to hieghts he did (and i'd like to add become PFA PLAYER OF YEAR)
Perhaps the best i can liken it to is arsenal last year, or maybe even roma. with majority of players establishing there names after the season, as opposed to before. Te only difference is he won with them, and made them all big names.
Another thing to be noted. there was no squad fighting when he was manager at chelsea, we all saw what happened with grant. But 1 can argue the had easiest road to champions league finals (olympiakos, fenerbace, liverpool isnt exactly the hardest path)
my long winded point is, if u look at chelsea in 2004, and inter is 2008. mournho is walking into a BETTER squad. Cambiasso, zlatan, adriano, zanetti, maicon, cordoba... all better than any player chelsea had going into the season. He's a great tactician and has a knack of getting what he wants out of his squads.
I'm personally so excited for the season because mourinho+ronaldinho will bring attention to serie A. I also expect 1 of the strongest campaigns in serie A. And although i do think milan w/o champions league has upperhand and will win, Ill be first to say its not inconcieveable for inter to win league, and i dont expect milan to win without a good long fight. Forza Milan!
Good post. Well backed up.
Let me add that Drogba had a bad first season while Robben & Bridge were injured all season.
But I think mourinho has a different challenge with Inter. He has too many players and way too many Strikers. It will be interesting to see how hes going to keep them all happy.
Their are a few big heads like Materazzi, Figo, Ibrahimovic and Viera who all expect to play.
On top of that Mourinho thinks he can teach Calcio something( BIG WORDS).
Milano84
22-07-2008, 15:56
definitely, and i personally love the controversy he brings. i think it makes it more interesting. I'd add mourinho to as big a factor of the epl's popularity as any player.
I really wonder how we'll work w/ the players too. THe thing is, he carries a much bigger name than mancini, so they r more inclined to listen. I expect adriano to flourish, and ibrahimovic to struggle in the 4-3-3. What i like about him, is hes not afraid to do things his way, and to bench players with names. I wonder why noone has been sold yet.
eitherway i expect a VERY exciting season.
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 16:01
A side note question, isn't inter operating at a huge loss every season? I hear its roughly 180 million. I would think they would be forced to sell some players... six strikers?
Milano84
22-07-2008, 16:54
moratti is rich.... should he sell them, another REALLY rich guy will buy them. thats y debt is pointless at a big club. short of getting relegated, milan, inter, real madrid, manutd etc can run a debt....infact juve got relegated, and r back on track (and i hope they do reach top competitivenes.... because that makes it more fun to beat them :-D)
Chelsea did have a very strong team, though.
They ended 2nd in EPL and made it to the CL semifinal the season before Mourinho took over.
And Chelsea would have probably won the league if Arsenal didn't have an once in a lifetime season when they finished without a defeat, or if they had a slightly better coach than Ranieri.
Crespo, Mutu, Hasselbaink were in attack. Veron, Duff, Makelele were big stars in midfield while Lampard, who was 26, had a great season and scored 15 goals.
Desailly, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro....the defense was excellent.
Mourinho did make the team better, but who wouldn't with +100m BP available for transfers every summer.
Without taking anything away from Mourinho, but he did have a great squad already when he joined Chelsea.
Milano84
22-07-2008, 18:08
babayaro who got cut from la galaxy?
babayaro who got cut from la galaxy?
I think so. The guy was great in Chelsea. Dunno what happened to him later.
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 19:23
moratti is rich.... should he sell them, another REALLY rich guy will buy them. thats y debt is pointless at a big club. short of getting relegated, milan, inter, real madrid, manutd etc can run a debt....infact juve got relegated, and r back on track (and i hope they do reach top competitivenes.... because that makes it more fun to beat them :-D)
Well it's not exactly debt, but an operating loss... which should be of some concern... all it could mean is either they have too many players and/or not enough fans to buy tickets etc. I kinda hope the later... I'd love to see Inter lose fans :)
Juve fans are up in arms about their less than impressive transfer season. They made the CL, thus funds were available because of that... yet, they only acquired sub-par and average players. A washed up Aston villa defender is not world class... so that's why I think Juve fans are so angry... and I can understand why.
A washed up Aston villa defender
He's younger than all your defenders apart from Bonera and he was a free agent who signed the deal with Juve in 2007.
And stop talking in the name of Juve fans. I'm a Juve fan and i'm satisfied with the way the team is strenghtened.
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 19:47
He's younger than all your defenders apart from Bonera and he was a free agent who signed the deal with Juve in 2007.
And stop talking in the name of Juve fans. I'm a Juve fan and i'm satisfied with the way the team is strenghtened.
To the first statement, he's still washed up no matter his age. Take Zambrotta and Mellberg... I'd pick Zambrotta. Paolo Maldini is 40 makes defenders 15 years younger than him look bad. Mellberg is average. There are far many better defenders a prestigious team like Juve could get... and frankly if I could pick either Milan or Juves transfer season, I'd pick Milans...
To the second, I apologize and I won't do it anymore.
To the first statement, he's still washed up no matter his age. Take Zambrotta and Mellberg... I'd pick Zambrotta. Paolo Maldini is 40 makes defenders 15 years younger than him look bad. Mellberg is average. There are far many better defenders a prestigious team like Juve could get.
Listen, the guy was a free agent. Juve got him for no money and they're paying him low wages.
You'll be right if you say that Juve should have bought a great CB to partner Chiellini, but getting an experienced (and yet "only" 30 years old, with at least 4 years of football ahead of him) defender with proven quality for free is something no team should miss. You're underrating Mellberg only because he went to Juve. If Milan got him you'd be prasing him now, we all know that.
For God's sake, you even said Ferrari is a good defender only because he's rumored to join Milan.
And Mellberg >>>>>>>>Ferrari.
And FYI , Juve lost around 250 mil when they went to serie B. Juve didn't play CL for 2 years and they still didn't recieve any money from UEFA because they are yet to qualify for this year's CL. This might explain why they aren't spending hundreds of millions. ( That, and the money going for the new stadium).
You know Giancarlo, i'm really sorry you weren't here last summer. I'd die for the oportunity to read what you had to say last year about Milan and Juve (or Inter).
Something tells me that it was similar to what you're predicting this year.
Don't take this too personally. One of the beauties of football are the jokes between football fans. Milan beat Juve, you make jokes about that. Juve beat Milan, i make jokes about that.
It's all cool, but lets leave it for September when the season starts. You're jumping very high in July already. It hurts a lot more when you fall from high.
First jump and then say 'hop'.
I had the identical discussion in this forum with another member (now a good msn friend).
He was convinced that Milan will win the scudetto while Juve will fight for the 7th place to go to UEFA Cup.
I think i still didn't remind him about that little argument we had...... i'll do it now.
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 20:28
Listen, the guy was a free agent. Juve got him for no money and they're paying him low wages.
You'll be right if you say that Juve should have bought a great CB to partner Chiellini, but getting an experienced (and yet "only" 30 years old, with at least 4 years of football ahead of him) defender with proven quality for free is something no team should miss. You're underrating Mellberg only because he went to Juve. If Milan got him you'd be prasing him now, we all know that.
For God's sake, you even said Ferrari is a good defender only because he's rumored to join Milan.
And Mellberg >>>>>>>>Ferrari.
I think Ferrari is a good defender nonetheless, but I've also described him as a utility player. We have plenty of great defenders in our squad, we only need to have a few utility player.s Juve needs a defender that is a lot better than Mellberg. As far as Mellberg being better than Ferrari that's a matter of opinion.
Actually, I was very critical when Milan got Emerson... I don't defend them everytime and I think they do make mistakes sometimes.
Like I'll recognize the fact that Juve was very smart in bringing back Giovinco... smartest move of the summer I think. :)
It's all cool, but lets leave it for September when the season starts. You're jumping very high in July already. It hurts a lot more when you fall from high.
First jump and then say 'hop'.
That's totally cool and I'm looking forward to this season.
He was convinced that Milan will win the scudetto while Juve will fight for the 7th place to go to UEFA Cup.
I think i still didn't remind him about that little argument we had...... i'll do it now.
Oh no, I wouldn't predict that Juve would be in that position. In fact here is my prediction for the top 6 next season...
1) Milan
2) Roma
3) Inter
4) Juve
5) Fiorentina
6) Napoli
Oh no, I wouldn't predict that Juve would be in that position. In fact here is my prediction for the top 6 next season...
1) Milan
2) Roma
3) Inter
4) Juve
5) Fiorentina
6) Napoli
Oh, sorry then. Few weeks ago you said Juve will be 7th or 8th so i got confused.
Giancarlo
22-07-2008, 20:48
Oh, sorry then. Few weeks ago you said Juve will be 7th or 8th so i got confused.
I did?
Well I'll correct myself...
Chelsea did have a very strong team, though.
They ended 2nd in EPL and made it to the CL semifinal the season before Mourinho took over.
And Chelsea would have probably won the league if Arsenal didn't have an once in a lifetime season when they finished without a defeat, or if they had a slightly better coach than Ranieri.
Crespo, Mutu, Hasselbaink were in attack. Veron, Duff, Makelele were big stars in midfield while Lampard, who was 26, had a great season and scored 15 goals.
Desailly, Gallas, Terry, Babayaro....the defense was excellent.
Mourinho did make the team better, but who wouldn't with +100m BP available for transfers every summer.
Without taking anything away from Mourinho, but he did have a great squad already when he joined Chelsea.
Chelsea were strong before Mouinrho but half 5 of those names didnt work under mourinho.
Crespo and veron were flops at chelsea under ranieri so were loaned out; Veron was loaned to Inter and Crespo to Milan
Mutu was suspended for substance use
hassailbank joined Middelsboro.
Desailly's contract also ended when Mourinho came.
The farward line was completely rejuvenated when he came.
Milano84
22-07-2008, 22:39
personally tony,
for juve i'd worry they'll be like us last year. With a couple key injuries they could struggle for top 4. however healthy, they have just as much chance at scudetto as anyone. Its hard to imagine del piero having as good a year as he had.... then again its hard for me to manage del piero being anything other than world class.
Any major injuries to camorenesi could cost them though, as i really dislike salihamovic.... even though he did beat milan (a testament to how awesome favalli/janku are on the left)....
only time will tell, but if we're discussing this....
if i was juve i'd sign perhaps 1 extra winger for cover. Definitely a quality CB if 1 comes up (gallas, cannavaro, hell... pannucci would work).
Anyway i'm no juve expert, but whats your opinion Tony
If there is one thing Juve need more then anything its a couple of quality fullbacks as Zebina and Molinaro were not at all impressive. Salihamovic was even forced to play on the right back position a few times. Melberg is underrated and was highly regarded by Eriksson and his previous coach. It was actually Erikson who reccomended Melberg to Raineri who was always a fan of melberg.
Alot of ppl critisized Juve for not signing a creative midfielder, but they in truth they never needed one as they always played with wingers and have added Giovinco to that group. Poulson is also an underrated player outside of spain and was in truth a solid signing.
If there is one thing Juve need more then anything its a couple of quality fullbacks as Zebina and Molinaro were not at all impressive. Salihamovic was even forced to play on the right back position a few times. Melberg is underrated and was highly regarded by Eriksson and his previous coach. It was actually Erikson who reccomended Melberg to Raineri who was always a fan of melberg.
Alot of ppl critisized Juve for not signing a creative midfielder, but they in truth they never needed one as they always played with wingers and have added Giovinco to that group. Poulson is also an underrated player outside of spain and was in truth a solid signing.
All true, except that Zebina had his best season with Juve last year. He was good. His sub Grygera wasn't impressive, but he was also ok. The right side fullbacks were ok, the problem was on the left side with Molinaro. Hopefully De Ceglie will live up to the expectations and replace him successfuly. De Ceglie is impressive with the u21 and the Olympic team but i doubt he'll immediately win his place in Juve's starting XI.
@ Milano84, here you have 2 nice posts from Juve forums (the quoted one and the reply). My thoughts exactly.
http://www.juventuz.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1700999&postcount=91
Milano84
23-07-2008, 18:22
so should mutu leave roma.... 1 i rate them MUCH higher..... 2, who is going to play up with gila? I figured w/ mutu gila was looking at 20 goal season.....
not totally sure if mutu and Gila can get a lot of goals, but Gila alone? Unlikely...
or wait is that Mutu thing just complete rumor?
Milano84
23-07-2008, 19:12
palermo signed tulio de melo. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Túlio_de_Melo). I saw him in a leMans match a couple times and seems like a very good CF prospect..... granted i cant make a full opinion, plus it was french league. But there is potential. Anyway interestign quote if favorite 2 players are luca toni and trezeguet and describes himself as more a trezeguet than anything else.
Anyway i'm VERY interested to see him + lanzafame.
kastriot
23-07-2008, 19:17
not totally sure if mutu and Gila can get a lot of goals, but Gila alone? Unlikely...
Jeff, Gila-Mutu partnership is smth that people should be terrified, seriously....they played individually perfectly under Prandelli, and I remeber Mutu- Adriano was great(Adriano is much more selfsih than Gila), so dont discard them so easily.
Milano84
23-07-2008, 19:23
i agree with you kastriot. i personally think gila will be towards top of serie A. Fiorentina isnt milan. He'll have support uptop and alot less pressure. I actually would have rated mutu player of year in serie A last year. him staying or leaving fiorentina coud be difference betwe 3rd and 8th in my opinion
Bresciano
11-08-2008, 20:05
It really depends on the next days, maybe there are some more transfers, but i don't think Inter or Juve do anything else, MAYBE Milan and most probably Roma, since they did sell Mancini and didn't get any player, they almost signed Baptista but it's not official.
Unfortunately i see both Milan and Juve in CL and Fiorentina out.
What i know, and it's not because i'am an Inter fan, is that Mourinho can't lose, he will win the league for sure, and maybe CL. I don't want to sound arrogant because i'am not,
1st Inter
2nd Milan
3rd Juventus
4th Roma
Hmm i Think...
1. AC Milan
2. Internazionale
3. Juventus
4. Roma
5. Fiorentina
6. Udinese
7. Palermo
8. Lazio
9. Sampdoria
10. Lecce Or Maybe Chievo
Milano84
26-08-2008, 04:18
anyone else think inter is really thin in CM for a 4-3-3? muntari, cambiasso r high quality no doubt. and i bet zanetti will do just fine. but viera is old, dacourt sux... and i dunno who else can really play it. chivu>?
if mourinho doesnt change tactics... they could be in for it. and i lie it when theyre in for it :-D
Hmm i Think...
1. Inter - AC Milan 50 -50
2. AC Milan - Inter 50 -50
3. Roma
4. Juventus
5. Fiorentina
6. Udinese
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