Italian Serie A 2017/18

[Infordin]

Milan have had a huge window and have bought Bonucci, Biglia, Kessie, Andre Silva, Rodriguez, Conti, Musacchio and Hakan. They are still rumored to go after Renato Sanches and Morata. At this rate they will have replaced almost the entire team in one window.

Juventus have lost Bonucci, which is a big blow. Dani Alves has also left. They've brought in Douglas Costa. They are also after Bernardeschi, a DM (N'Zonzi?), and a right back. It's rumored that they will buy De Sciglio for 12m from Milan.

Roma has brought in Monchi and decided to sell a bunch of players (Salah, Paredes, Rudiger). They probably would have sold Manolas as well if he decided to show up to his medical. However, they have brought in Moreno, Pellegrini and Karsdorp.

Napoli have retained the core of their team. They have a very strong spine to their team, and some serious quality and depth especially in midfield.

No idea what Inter are doing, other than trying to get $50m out of United for Perisic.

 

[Infordin]

Which teams Italians hate the most (from reddit)

Interesting how Milan and Inter fans don't hate each other as much as they hate Juventus. I would have never guessed.

 

[giorno]

You can thank luciano moggi for that

 

[kouroux]

Hopefully the league campaign will be more interesting now. Serie A needs a strong AC Milan.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Which teams Italians hate the most (from reddit)

Interesting how Milan and Inter fans don't hate each other as much as they hate Juventus. I would have never guessed.

You forgot to add Fiorentina to this graphic. They do really hate Juventus, maybe more than Inter fans.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Milan have had a huge window and have bought Bonucci, Biglia, Kessie, Andre Silva, Rodriguez, Conti, Musacchio and Hakan. They are still rumored to go after Renato Sanches and Morata. At this rate they will have replaced almost the entire team in one window.

Juventus have lost Bonucci, which is a big blow. Dani Alves has also left. They've brought in Douglas Costa. They are also after Bernardeschi, a DM (N'Zonzi?), and a right back. It's rumored that they will buy De Sciglio for 12m from Milan.

Roma has brought in Monchi and decided to sell a bunch of players (Salah, Paredes, Rudiger). They probably would have sold Manolas as well if he decided to show up to his medical. However, they have brought in Moreno, Pellegrini and Karsdorp.

Napoli have retained the core of their team. They have a very strong spine to their team, and some serious quality and depth especially in midfield.

No idea what Inter are doing, other than trying to get $50m out of United for Perisic.

As it stands, i would say:

1) Napoli
2) Juventus
3) Milan
4) Roma

 

[giorno]

You forgot to add Fiorentina to this graphic. They do really hate Juventus, maybe more than Inter fans.

Well, we divide into two categories: people who root for juventus, and people who wish to see juventus go bankrupt and disappear. The former tend to be crazy people btw

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Well, we divide into two categories: people who root for juventus, and people who wish to see juventus go bankrupt and disappear. The former tend to be crazy people btw

Yeah, but i think Juventus are a matter of life and death for a Fiorentina fan. Do you remember what happened with Baggio?

 

[crossy1686]

Which teams Italians hate the most (from reddit)

Interesting how Milan and Inter fans don't hate each other as much as they hate Juventus. I would have never guessed.

Just looks like everyone hates Juventus...

 

[giorno]

Yeah, but i think Juventus are a matter of life and death for a Fiorentina fan. Do you remember what happened with Baggio?

I don't remember 'cause i was too young, but i know, yeah

 

[giorno]

Just looks like everyone hates Juventus...

Because everyone rightfully hates juventus

 

[crossy1686]

Because everyone rightfully hates juventus

I liked them during the Del Piero days, back in the 90's. I also liked Barcelona back then too, Rivaldo was amazing. Can't say I'm fond of either team now though.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

I don't remember 'cause i was too young, but i know, yeah

Fiorentina fans tore Florence apart

 

[giorno]

I liked them during the Del Piero days, back in the 90's. I also liked Barcelona back then too, Rivaldo was amazing. Can't say I'm fond of either team now though.

You're not italian mate

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Cassano has retired from football and back in just 3 hours. Read it on the italian newspapers

 

[giorno]

Cassano has retired from football and back in just 3 hours. Read it on the italian newspapers

Only Fantantonio

 

[Bepi]

Nutters National Team for real believers

Perin
Conti Bonucci Ogbonna Regini
Soriano De Rossi
Cassano Diamanti Insigne
Balotelli

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Only Fantantonio

He is such a bellend!

 

[giorno]

He is such a bellend!

Ah, but he's an entertaining bellend. I'd still watch Verona games just for him

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Ah, but he's an entertaining bellend. I'd still watch Verona games just for him

Him and Pazzini are back together. Should be interesting.

 

[G-manc]

Which teams Italians hate the most (from reddit)

Interesting how Milan and Inter fans don't hate each other as much as they hate Juventus. I would have never guessed.

Interesting although i find it hard to believe there isn't and arrow between Roma and Napoli.

 

[giorno]

Interesting although i find it hard to believe there isn't and arrow between Roma and Napoli.

Oh yeah, that IS strange. Though the hatred is mostly targeted at the fans rather than the clubs themselves. And it's real hatred, too, violent and dangerous

 

[G-manc]

Oh yeah, that IS strange. Though the hatred is mostly targeted at the fans rather than the clubs themselves. And it's real hatred, too, violent and dangerous

I think you're right - it is more of a hatred amongst the fans. It's weird how a once tight bond deteriorated into such a hatred between them.

 

[Primitive]

I actually think the Milanese teams will need a couple of years before they catch up to us, buying players is never enough to build a solid team, requires a philosophy, a winning mentality which takes time to instill. Rarely in history there was a case when everything clicked together in a season. As far as Napoli and Roma are concerned, they always seem like a threat, but can't keep up over the course of a whole season. So my money would be on a 7th straight Scudetto, but this season will be interesting for sure.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Heart problems for him. Hope it is nothing serious.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/socc...t-sampdoria-as-move-to-juventus-falls-through

 

[Tosicsleftpeg]

Hoping Roma can have another good campaign and push Juve up at the top. Think juve may have a tougher season now without Bonnuci. Napoli should be good if they keep hold of their key players and bring milik back fully fit.

 

[Shady]

Not impressed at all with Roma thus far. I think they are substantially weakened.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Roma have already sold too many important players to be competitive.

 

[giorno]

Roma have already sold too many important players to be competitive.

How so? They sold rudiger, salah and a backup. Paredes they already replaced, Rudiger and Salah can be replaced just fine. They also got Deffrel and Florenzi will be back. If they sign Mahrez, can you really say they got weaker?

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

How so? They sold rudiger, salah and a backup. Paredes they already replaced, Rudiger and Salah can be replaced just fine. They also got Deffrel and Florenzi will be back. If they sign Mahrez, can you really say they got weaker?

I meant atm. For example, Strootman posted a very critical message some days ago. He said that hopefully Rudiger would have been the last player to get sold.

 

[SambaBoy]

Think Milan will have a decent enough season but won't really challenge for the title. I think the Chinese may lose interest and they will start selling players to Russia and China. It will take them a few years to get back to the very top at least.

If Napoli can bring in 1-2 good players and keep their squad, which looks likely then they will definitely run Juventus close IMO.

 

[van der star]

Antonio Cassano's eventful career has come to an eventful conclusion.

The former Roma and Real Madrid forward caused raised eyebrows earlier this month when he announced he was retiring just eight days after signing for Serie A side Hellas Verona.

But within hours he had a change of heart and said he would stay, adding he wanted to "rise to the challenge" and have a "crazy season".

Six days later, and after playing in two pre-season friendlies for his new side, the 35-year-old has again said he is retiring.

Cassano, who won 39 caps for Italy, has not played a league game since May 2016 and was released by Sampdoria in January.

On Monday, his wife Carolina Marcialis said he would leave Verona but still hoped to find another club. Cassano later clarified that he had retired.

"As opposed to what appeared on my wife's official social profiles, I would like to clarify my future," he said in a statement.

"Carolina got it wrong. After thinking and reflecting in the end I decided - Antonio Cassano will not be playing football any more.

"I apologise to the city of Verona, to all the fans, to president Maurizio Setti, to sports director Filippo Fusco, to coach Fabio Pecchia, to my team-mates and to the medical and technical staff.

"For a 35-year-old man it's the motivation that guides my life, and at this moment I feel that my priority is that I'll be staying close to my children and my wife."

Cassano and his family live in Genoa, which is about 300km (186 miles) away from Verona.

Having called a news conference last week to announce his retirement, Cassano told the reporters who attended that he had been homesick but regretted saying he would quit.

"I had a moment of weakness," he said at the time. "I had a meeting with Fabio Pecchia and the others to say that I wanted to stop.

"I was yearning for my family but the club's management has asked them to come and they gave me the strength to carry on. I want to rise to the challenge and have a crazy season."

Cassano started his career at his hometown club Bari before rising to prominence at Roma, where he scored 39 goals in 118 games.

He then had an unsuccessful season at Real Madrid before spells at Sampdoria, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Parma.

Cassano, who scored 10 times for Italy, was diagnosed with a defect in his heart and had surgery in November 2011.

He was fined by Uefa after saying he hoped there were no homosexuals in the Italy squad for Euro 2012.

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

@giorno, Cassano

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

1st round up:

Atalanta-Roma
Bologna-Torino
Crotone-Milan
Hellas Verona -Napoli
Inter-Fiorentina
Juventus-Cagliari
Lazio-Spal
Sampdoria-Benevento
Sassuolo-Genoa
Udinese-Chievo

2n round up:
Benevento-Bologna
Chievo-Lazio
Crotone-Verona
Fiorentina-Sampdoria
Genoa-Juventus
Milan-Cagliari
Napoli-Atalanta
Roma-Inter
Spal-Udinese
Torino-Sassuolo

Tricky start for Inter.

 

[van der star]

[Irrelevant point] on Fiorentina -

"I do not know how so many players left Florence. Borja Valero will give much to Inter, he is a natural leader and will be comfortable with Spalletti. "

Bernardeschi had said he would never go to Juventus, to go from Florence to Juventus is always a great mess. What would I have done? Hard choices, now anyway I'm happy at Chelsea. "

 

[van der star]

Fun fact - Hamsik has scored 113 goals for Napoli, so far, He needs 3 more goals to become the club's all time leading goalscorer, surpassing none other than the legend that is Diego Maradona, who finished his Napoli fairy tale with 115 goals.

 

[van der star]

Andrea Pirlo on Milan's recent dealings -

" Bonucci to Milan will give great charisma, personality and international experience, but I do not think the Rossoneri can fight for the scudetto . When you leave from zero and take ten new players, as good as you want , it's hard to win right away - you have to play them together, put them in the field, Montella will have a challenging and difficult job - the goal will be to get in the Champions League . "

On why he left Milan -

, I left Milan because I was at the end of the contract and wanted a new adventure. I did not switch for the sake of it. Could have stayed at Milan too, but I felt I had finished a cycle. "

On the likely winners of the league -

I'm happy to play in the US ("I do not miss the Serie A. I needed another experience"), but I follow our football. Every year it is said that it will be the good chance for Rome, Naples and others. Then we know how it goes ... "

 

[Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87]

Pirlo left even because he didn't get along with Allegri anymore. Everyone knew it.

 

[giorno]

Pirlo left even because he didn't get along with Allegri anymore. Everyone knew it.

Meh, Pirlo looked done the last 2 seasons at milan. He clearly had no motivation anymore there