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| Serie A; 2009/2010 Season | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 19 2009, 03:27 PM (8,082 Views) | |
| Ricky | Aug 19 2009, 03:27 PM Post #1 |
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Ambition
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The idea put forward from sections of the media goes that Italian football is sluggish and dominated by defensively-minded tactics but the reality is very different, indeed, a Serie A has twice in the last three seasons outscored the Premier League, the division widely considered to be the most exciting in the world. What was that about boredom? Recap on Last Season Mourinho arrives & Inter make it 4 consecutive titles. (twice legally, once when every team started off on the same footing) Juve & Milan were 10 points off pace. Roma struggled, Genoa excelled while Torino, Reginna & Lecce all were relegated to Serie B. Title contenders Inter will again be favourites to claim the Scudetto, despite losing his best player, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Jose Mourinho has strengthened the squad by bringing in Samuel Eto’o, Lucio, Diego Milito and Thiago Motta all shrewd signings, and looks set to mount yet another strong challenge for the Serie A title with one of Europe’s potentially strongest squads at his disposal. Juventus, last season’s runners-up, should also be in the hunt for the title. Despite experimenting with an untested manager Ciro Ferrera, the Old Lady have recruited Werder Bremen’s Diego and Fiorentina’s Felipe Melo to give the side an added quality. The Turin outfit look set to embark upon the 2009/10 campaign in the best shape they have been in for years and will push Inter all the way. AC Milan also have their sights set on the title and, like Juventus, have employed an ex-player as manager for the forthcoming season. Leonardo, who is well capable of deposing Mourinho’s as the king of dugout chic, has been installed in his first managerial post and will be hoping to improve on his team’s disappointing 3rd place finish last time around. The consistency of key players like Andrea Pirlo, Alexandre Pato and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will be central to determining the Rossoneri’s fortunes this season. European hopefuls Where the Premiership has it’s top four, Serie A has a distinct top three (Inter, Juve, Milan) who are usually pursued by a large group of clubs all hopeful of securing the fourth Champions League spot or a place in the Europa League. Last season it was Fiorentina who finished fourth, and they will again be in the mix for European qualification, but this season the race for European football is as much of a lottery as it has ever been. After struggling to a disappointing 6th place last season, Roma will be keen to re-assert themselves as a Champions League force by climbing back into the top four, something of which they have so often been a part in recent years. Genoa, last season’s most improved side will also be looking to build on their 5th place finish and make the step up to the highest level of European football, as will Palermo and, particularly, Lazio, who struggled in the league last year despite winning the Coppa Italia. Outside bet Udinese are one of Serie A’s most improved teams of recent seasons and are always seemingly on the cusp of great things. A 7th place finish last season didn’t quite do justice to the level of football played and they’ll be looking to improve on that in the coming campaign. Relegation candidates Bari, Parma and Livorno were all promoted from Serie B last season and all look set to struggle, Livorno perhaps being the most likely of the three to be sent straight back from whence they came. Bologna struggled last season and were only saved thanks to the superhuman efforts of Marco Di Vaio. Chievo and Catania also floundered in 2008/09 and will need to significantly improve if they’re to steer clear of another relegation scrap this season. --------------------------------------------------------- My Predictions: Serie A: Juventus CL: Inter, Fiorentina, Napoli Europa League: AC MIlan, Palermo, Sampdoria ---------------------------------------------------------- Week 1 fixtures: Bolognav Fiorentina (Sat 5pm) Siena v Milan (Sat 7.45pm) Live on ESPN 2.30pm Sunday Catania v Sampdoria Genoa v Roma Juventus v Chievo Lazio v Atalanta Livorno v Cagliari Palermo v Napoli Udinese v Parma Inter v Bari (5pm) Live on ESPN Edited by Ricky, Aug 19 2009, 03:27 PM.
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| flak | Aug 19 2009, 04:14 PM Post #2 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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You're predicting Milan to be crud? Is that just because they bought Huntelaar? ![]() Inter again for the title i'm afraid...some great signings there this Summer. |
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| The Derry Pele | Aug 20 2009, 12:31 AM Post #3 |
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Free Suarez
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Cumon Catania
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F**k Damien Duff
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| Ricky | Aug 24 2009, 11:24 AM Post #4 |
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Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina Catania 1-2 Sampdoria Genoa 3-2 Roma Inter 1-1 Bari Juventus 1-0 Chievo Lazio 1-0 Atalanta Livorno 0-0 Cagliari Palermo 2-1 Napoli Siena 1-2 Milan Udinese 2-2 Parma Edited by Ricky, Aug 24 2009, 11:24 AM.
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| flak | Aug 24 2009, 11:35 AM Post #5 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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They'll have the last laugh Ricky.
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| Ricky | Aug 24 2009, 11:38 AM Post #6 |
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Ambition
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They won't, saw the game last night, Eto'o will be a joke in Serie A, much too physical for him. Barca actually will end up with the best deal with Ibra. |
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| flak | Aug 24 2009, 11:47 AM Post #7 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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If he can score against United's defence, he can score against any.
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| Ricky | Aug 24 2009, 11:54 AM Post #8 |
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Ambition
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| Ricky | Aug 26 2009, 11:46 AM Post #9 |
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Ambition
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Matchday 2. Saturday Bari v Bologna (5pm) Milan v Inter (7.45pm) Live on ESPN Sunday Roma v Juventus (5pm) Live on ESPN 7.45pm kick-off's Atalanta v Genoa Cagliari v Siena Chievo v Lazio Fiorentina v Palermo Napoli v Livorno Parma v Catania Sampdoria v Udinese Edited by Ricky, Aug 26 2009, 11:46 AM.
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| flak | Aug 26 2009, 04:28 PM Post #10 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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The big Milan derby on only the second week eh. Payback time for Inter after you laughed at them on the first week.
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| Ricky | Aug 27 2009, 11:50 AM Post #11 |
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Ambition
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Ya really worried about Eto'o
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| flak | Aug 27 2009, 03:49 PM Post #12 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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You should be....he'll be Serie A top scorer.
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| Ricky | Aug 28 2009, 12:27 PM Post #13 |
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Ambition
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He won't even be Inter's top scorer |
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| flak | Aug 28 2009, 04:12 PM Post #14 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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Hat-trick Saturday night because pimpin' aint easy.
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| flak | Aug 29 2009, 08:48 PM Post #15 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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3-0 at half time.
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Is that just because they bought Huntelaar? 



3-0 at half time.
7:50 AM Jul 13