(09-23-2021, 07:04 PM)Bennacer Wrote: [ -> ]Wtf is happening with Napoli? They are looking like world beaters! 4-0 against Udinese at the weekend, now 4-0 away to Samp. Spalletti is really working out som magic over there. We are used to Napoli bailing at som point, but this is really impressive stuff!
I watched the first half (flipped to Toro - Lazio for the 2nd) and Ospina was the best player on the pitch, some great saves to keep Napoli in front.
I think Sampdoria is a much better team than their results suggest, they are just let down by their finishing.
Having said that, Napoli managed to win it 0-4, once again impressive. Insigne and Osimen really dangerous.
Toro gave away a terrible penalty in the last minutes and missed the chance to go sixth. Classic Torino. Still not impressed by this Lazio side so far.
Here's is my prediction from what we've seen so far. I thonk the top is close to each other...but also, far more quality compared to the bottom. It's usually the case, but I think that gap has grown over the last couple years
Top tier - definitely battle for CL, but depending on form/injuries, all could be there for the Scudetto to the late rounds:
Milan, Inter, Napoli, Atalanta, Roma, Juventus. Juve are not showing it at the moment, but it's hard to imagine they won't be in the mix. Refs will help too.
Good quality - no chance for the CL, but can be in the mix for top 7 and European football:
Lazio and Fiorentina. Depending on form/injuries/etc, they could stay up with the other 6 or fall off closer to mid table by January.
Mid-table - safe from relegation in early spring, but not a (realistic) chance of European football:
Sassuolo and Sampdoria
Lower mid-table - will flirt with relegation with 5-6 rounds to go, but eventually will finish off the season with nothing to play for:
Torino, Udinese, Bologna and Verona.
Relegation battle to the last couple of rounds:
Spezia, Venezia, Empoli, Genoa, Cagliari and Salerntana.
Genoa - almost relegated 3-4 rounds till end and than magically surviving. Like last 6 years.
(09-23-2021, 11:37 PM)nefremo Wrote: [ -> ]Here's is my prediction from what we've seen so far. I thonk the top is close to each other...but also, far more quality compared to the bottom. It's usually the case, but I think that gap has grown over the last couple years
Top tier - definitely battle for CL, but depending on form/injuries, all could be there for the Scudetto to the late rounds:
Milan, Inter, Napoli, Atalanta, Roma, Juventus. Juve are not showing it at the moment, but it's hard to imagine they won't be in the mix. Refs will help too.
Good quality - no chance for the CL, but can be in the mix for top 7 and European football:
Lazio and Fiorentina. Depending on form/injuries/etc, they could stay up with the other 6 or fall off closer to mid table by January.
Mid-table - safe from relegation in early spring, but not a (realistic) chance of European football:
Sassuolo and Sampdoria
Lower mid-table - will flirt with relegation with 5-6 rounds to go, but eventually will finish off the season with nothing to play for:
Torino, Udinese, Bologna and Verona.
Relegation battle to the last couple of rounds:
Spezia, Venezia, Empoli, Genoa, Cagliari and Salerntana.
Agreed. Though maybe I'd put Torino to the mid-table zone.
They were really unlucky so far. Far better than last year.
But yeah, we're still in September so I'm just guessing from what I've seen so far.
And a wild guess: If Berardi doesn't leave Sassuolo in January, I say they make a decent run for European Football.
I think Dionisi knows what he's doing.
(09-24-2021, 11:40 AM)Sampinjon Wrote: [ -> ]Genoa - almost relegated 3-4 rounds till end and than magically surviving. Like last 6 years.
a Serie A standard classic.
Leaders!
Oh no I was too early to celebrate, napoli still misses a game
Napoli ubnderachieved the last couple years with Carlo and Gattuso. It just wasn't a good fit. Spaletti I think suits them well. He is very much like Sarri. Not in terms of style of play. But more so in philosophy. He's a rigid kind of coach. Doesn't need superstars. As a matter of fact, those will probably be his demise. He needs players that will follow his system. Very much like Sarri.
So Napoli has finally found the right coach for the squad they have and really, a true successor (in terms of philosophy) to Sarri.
Took them a while. But now they are playing up to potential. And their potential is definitely CL level.
What an ending for the other 2 games. DiMarco missed a PK for Merda then Piccoli gets his winner ruled out by VAR.
Genoa vs Verona has 4 of 6 goals scored in last 15 minute's.
Barrella had an amasing game yesterday. He was all over the place. A true box to box midfilder. Benna and Tonnali are not there yet.
(09-26-2021, 06:28 AM)Kastriot Wrote: [ -> ]Barrella had an amasing game yesterday. He was all over the place. A true box to box midfilder. Benna and Tonnali are not there yet.
I must say Barella is my favourite player from Inter so I agree that he is really a good player but I have to disagree with your assessment on Bennacer. When Bennacer is fit like the first half of last season, he is at least equal to Barella IMO. Tonali is not there yet but this guy is only 21, Barella wasn't this good at 21.
Napoli has been collecting all the points from those relation candidates with ease. I know they haven't played any big teams other than Juve but collecting these points from small teams make them scudetto candidate. I think this season will be a 3 way fight between Napoli, Inter and us for the big prize. Somehow I feel that Serie A is becoming like premier league, the gap between the top and bottom are huge nowadays.