Italian Serie A - 2021-2022

[Pintu]

Any chance SMS wants to leave this summer? And how much would he go for?

Think so too. We could certainly use him.
Transfermarkt says he had a contract until june 2024. Would probably cost 70-90 mill euros.

That's too much. Vlahovic, who is 5 years younger went for that much. He should be fairly lower.

2 years left on his current deal, it shouldn't cost more than €50M. But I'd be surprised to see him chose England. If the top clubs in Italy can't afford him, he's probably off to Spain or to Paris.

 

[Dolf]

2 years left on his current deal, it shouldn't cost more than €50M. But I'd be surprised to see him chose England. If the top clubs in Italy can't afford him, he's probably off to Spain or to Paris.

Is it a mentality thing? Or he just doesn’t like English football?

 

[CraftySoAndSo]

De Gea says "Hola!".

My aversion was more towards Calhanoglu but yeah Donnaruma is basically just a young De Gea, excellent shot stopper but terrible distribution.

 

[Pintu]

Is it a mentality thing? Or he just doesn’t like English football?

I am not sure what it is about. Both Serie A and the PL are full of foreign players, but some nationalities seem to be much more represented in one or the other. There are currently 16 Serbian players in Serie A and only 2 in the PL (Matic and that guy playing for Palace).

We were talking about it when Vlahovic chose Juventus and never really considered Arsenal.

Spoiler

Work permits shouldn't be an issue for international players, and certainly not for EU citizens from Croatia before Brexit. I just looked at the statistics. Both the PL (330 non-English players) and Serie A (340) have a very high percentage of foreigners.

While most countries are similarly represented in both leagues with France and Brazil in first and second, and then relatively similar numbers from Netherland (13), Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal (6/7 in both leagues), the numbers vary strongly when it comes to Irish/British and Balkan players.

Scandinavian countries have almost the exact numbers across BL, PL, and Serie A. Denmark is more present in Germany than in the other 2 and England has more than Itlay thanks to Brentford.

There are about 10 British players in Italy (7 from England) versus almost 45 from Ireland and the rest of the UK playing in the PL. And on the other hand, Serie A has 44 players from Balkan countries versus 5 in the PL. Germany has more balkan players than the PL, about 12 I think. While there are 15 in Spain, but that number is relatively high if you consider that la Liga has by far the lowest total of foreign players, only 222 compared to Italy's 340 and England's 330.

 

[Wolf1992]

Is it a mentality thing? Or he just doesn’t like English football?

Balkanic players have always prioritized Serie A and La Liga.

Seems like this hasn't changed, even after the ascendence of PL.

 

[autte]

https://juststream.live/QuirkierFumbleEmulator

 

[R'hllor]

For Serbian players there is a good reason why there are more in Serie A vs PL, first barrier of entry isnt the same, PL work permit makes big difference. Red Star and Partizan selling their kids, thats how they generate money. Those players hardly can get work permit for PL club, examples like Ljajic, SMS`s brother (GK), probably player that City bought from Partizan, guess thats why he is on load in Holland and so on.

 

[Pintu]

Balkanic players have always prioritized Serie A and La Liga.

Seems like this hasn't changed, even after the ascendence of PL.

Exactly. I’d expect players that have proved themselves at the likes of Lazio to be eager to move to England where you are certain to earn more money and often play at a more competitive level. But it simply isn’t the case.

 

[Bepi]

Exactly. I’d expect players that have proved themselves at the likes of Lazio to be eager to move to England where you are certain to earn more money and often play at a more competitive level. But it simply isn’t the case.

Why go there and play for other than City, Liverpool and maybe Chelsea? No silverware hope, much less hype, marginally more money for a lower quality of life and a subdued career. Out of the PL bubble, little people care.

Adding that football is a fast environment, next game is always just a few days away… good and very good players, even a number of world beaters, just prefer sure bets and comfy accommodation… Juve beat utter dire minnows Salernitana 2-0 thanks to Dybala and Vlahovic early goals and the fans, the players and even Allegri are happy again.

 

[FootballHQ]

There were loads of Croats in prem not so long ago...most of Croatia 98 squad turned up in prem although for likes of Boksic and Suker it was more topping up their pensions. Bilic and Igor Stimac played for mid table teams.

Then in last decade obviously Modric, Corluka and Mladen Petric was at Fulham for a season or two.

Mitrovic will be back in prem next season to fly the Serbian flag.

Think with Vlahovic the pull of Juventus after establishing himself in Serie A was just too big to ignore. No different to Piatek moving from Sampdoria to AC Milan two years ago.

Think SMS would do very well in prem but up to him.

 

[JuveGER]

Atalanta beat Bologna 1-0. The winner was scored by 18-year-old substitute Cissé on his debut.

Now, this is a brilliant story. Apparently, until a few weeks ago Cissé was playing for a refugee team in the 8th(!) tier of Italian football. He signed for Atalanta‘s youth team on 22 February, scored three goals in as many games and now on his senior debut.

 

[Pintu]

 

[Pintu]

There were loads of Croats in prem not so long ago...most of Croatia 98 squad turned up in prem although for likes of Boksic and Suker it was more topping up their pensions. Bilic and Igor Stimac played for mid table teams.

Then in last decade obviously Modric, Corluka and Mladen Petric was at Fulham for a season or two.

True that, but it didn't break the ice totally. Loveren was the only PL player among the Croatia squad that went to the WC final in 2018. They had some great players in 2018, including 5 in Italy, 4 in Spain, and 4 in Germany. Most of these players definitely had the level for better paying, and similar level, clubs in England. Kovacic moved to Chelsea after that WC and he was the only PL player on their Euro squad, that again had 5 in Serie A.

Why go there and play for other than City, Liverpool and maybe Chelsea? No silverware hope, much less hype, marginally more money for a lower quality of life and a subdued career. Out of the PL bubble, little people care.

There was close to 0 silverware hope at Roma, Milan, and Inter during the 2013-17 period and we still had some very good Balkan players wasting some of their very best years over there. Since 2019 though I agree with you there is a silverware argument for the Milan clubs, they are back in the game now.

Speaking of the PL bubble, you are right. Tottenham new stadium was apparently a strong argument to stay at a declining club rather than join Conte's ambitious project in 2019/20.

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[FootballHQ]

Gedson Fernandes....that's one for the forgotten players thread if that still exists on here.

 

[FootyGirl88]

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[Pintu]

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Sportbible are frauds. We talked about this a few days ago.

Spoiler

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Apparently they saved 20M/year by rejecting Donnaruma and Calhanoglu’s demands.

It would be an incredible achievement to win the league with this. The league’s fifth wage bill. And less than half that of Juventus.

 

[CraftySoAndSo]

Milan airing a new 4th kit (don't think it's april fools). I'm torn on it being either completely hideous or kinda cool.

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[Bepi]

One of the most uninspiring Juventus - Inter in recent times will go on tomorrow evening in a 100% packed stadium after two full years, again at last, in Turin. Both teams are licking their wounds, and a much probable uninspiring draw will put their Serie A ambition to rest for good. Inter is better and they still have reason to believe… but their legs?

 

[Lay]

Big win for Napoli against Atalanta.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

All Juventus at the moment.

 

[Buchan]

What a brilliant game thus far.

Juve look really good and very up for this.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Martinez on a yellow and follows through on Chiellini.

 

[Buchan]

Martinez extremely lucky there…

If that’s at Anfield, he’s off!

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Martinez extremely lucky there…

If that’s at Anfield, he’s off!

True. Klopp would have been putting pressure on.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Locatelli going off injured. He has been knocked about a bit.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Ref going to look at screen to see if penalty for Inter.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He's given a penalty, not too sure about that.

 

[2 man midfield]

Bit soft

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Bit soft

Definitely.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Penalty saved, then Inter got it in net, then ref gives freekick against Inter. Actually Juve put it in the net.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Now another VAR check.

 

[Buchan]

Inter win an Anfield penalty but justice done in the end.

 

[Amar__]

Juve's players started running earlier than they should have.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Penalty retake for encroachment.

 

[Amar__]

Well done VAR, they saw it too.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

These derbies are still spicy, the ones over here have been so sanitised.

 

[2 man midfield]

Probably a fair decision to retake but what a shit show

 

[Nickosaur]

God damn this is great

Seeing as the PL has gone to shit, I might start watching more Serie A

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Scores it this time. 0-1 Inter.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Allegri losing it completely.