(01-11-2021, 10:20 AM)bop Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe Udinese's owners think they could make more money from Watford?
Re Parma. I was surprised when they hired Liverani. I guess the results so far this season can't lie. I wonder if the new owners would make another change soon? They're in danger of going down.
I've loved how De Zerbi's Sassuolo play. Though, I think he's still somewhat defensively naive a bit at times. But, he's one coach to watch. If he could get his team more solid defensively why retaining their attractive style of play ... would be a fantastic coach.
Any Italian coach who's exciting other than De Zerbi?
Vincenzo Italiano of Spezia.
+1
Also D'Aversa. He made Parma interesting, now he is back he probably will save them from relegation.
(01-11-2021, 10:20 AM)bop Wrote: [ -> ]Any Italian coach who's exciting other than De Zerbi?
Pioli
I agree on De Zerbi though. He's showing to be great. The biggest issue is taking that to a big club, with big players. This is where Sarri failed for example. It's just that much harder to get star names to follow the plan and simply listen and fall in line. It's easy to tell a nobody young kid to play 1-2 touch, quick, simple, etc. It's another thing to get a star name to do that as he'll always try ti do something extra. Will take an extra touch more often then not, or try to "solve" the game, etc, etc.
This is just as an example, but imo, this is probably the most challenging thing for coaches like De Zerbi and Sarri.
(01-11-2021, 10:46 AM)Sleeping Giant Wrote: [ -> ]Vincenzo Italiano of Spezia.
Frankly I wasn't too impressed with Spezia back when we played them earlier this season. But, recent results have shown much better form I guess. And Pobega has been involved quite heavily in the past 2-3 matches. I think I'll watch a few of their matches in the future.
(01-13-2021, 09:12 AM)bop Wrote: [ -> ]Frankly I wasn't too impressed with Spezia back when we played them earlier this season. But, recent results have shown much better form I guess. And Pobega has been involved quite heavily in the past 2-3 matches. I think I'll watch a few of their matches in the future.
I agree. Spezia and Benevento (the latter more so) are such fresh breath of air this season.
(01-13-2021, 04:48 PM)ACM2021 Wrote: [ -> ]I agree. Spezia and Benevento (the latter more so) are such fresh breath of air this season.
I beg to differ on this, Benevento is utter atrocious team and full of old and finished players, they have done better basically because Pippo have set up defense quite well tbh other than that they are team that should be deservedly be 20th.
I like Spezia, they are youthful and are really interested in youth development, Piccoli, Pobega, Agoume, Chabot are good loanees they have bought in from Serie A clubs, beside that they too own some pretty interesting players like Nzola, Gyasi, Matteo Ricci, Simeone Bastoni, Erlic, Ismaijli who might have good career ahead in Serie A. I hope they stays up, would defintely be good place for our young players.
I know you always lean on the side of youth. I don't disagree with you. But it's all a strategic decision. Just because Benevento went away from signing youth, it doesn't make them an "atrocious" team. Quite the contrary, they've proven to be the most solid of the promoted clubs. Still a long way to go, and more then that, we'll see how they hang on next year (assuming they stay up)...but as of now, their model is proving to be the correct one (for them). Their goal was to achieve safety, and they are well on their way to do that. So can't quite argue with their decisions at the moment.
@sleeping giant (sorry it took me too long to type, and nefremo already beat me to it
)
I see what you are trying to say, and I don't disagree. So, let me clarify what I meant in my post.
The competition in Italian Serie A is gruesome, and is known to be unfriendly to newly promoted sides. Many pundits already counted out Benevento well before the season started, despite their marvelous finish in Serie B last season, probably because as you said, they are full of "old and finished" players and weren't expected to do well in Serie A.
I am very impressed with them so far. They are disciplined and compact. They have a well-functioning midfield and all they lack is a lethal attacker that can find the net. They also are pragmatic, and pursue the most "efficient" results. If they had a good goalscorer even someone like Kevin Lasagna, they would have had even better standings than now. I don't know if they can continue this and for how long, but based on what I saw of them so far (albeit not much), I like that team, but I certainly respect your opinions on them.
