And here we are at the long-awaited year-end report. Not yet definitive, mind you, but still indicative. Because the season started almost 5 months ago, plus the halfway point is approaching. So let's vote for the big names in our football, trying to evaluate the second half of their 2013.
ROME 8
The real surprise of the season, without ifs and buts. Rudi Garcia's Roma are, together with Guardiola's Bayern, the only European team that has not yet lost a league game. Yet it is in second place, less than five from leaders Juve. Despite this, however, we put her in front of the Lady, first of all because she hasn't had any European slips to tarnish her curriculum, and then because the expectations at the beginning of the season were decidedly different. Who would have expected a Roma capable of fighting for the title? Nobody, perhaps not even Rudi Garcia, who in fact prefers to keep a low profile. On the pitch, however, his Roma flies, and he deserves the prize of the best Italian.
Juventus 7
From 10 in the league, from 4 in Europe. The average therefore makes a nice 7, a grade that can be viewed with a mix of satisfaction and regret. Because the Lady dresses up on the Serie A weekends, but she still hasn't found the right dress for the Champions League Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The steamroller of the championship is impressive, so much so that Roma's splendid progress is faded: 46 points in 17 days, the result of 15 wins, 1 draw and only 1 defeat. And just the slide in Florence seems to have given the right shock, given that since then Juve have never missed a game, collecting successes after successes (now there are 9 in a row). In the Champions League, however, things went differently: of the six games played, the Lady only won one. Too little to pass a tricky but not prohibitive group, regardless of the snow in Istanbul. The good vote remains, as well as the European regrets.
NAPOLI 6,5
The opposite of Juventus. Well in the Champions League (where, however, an elimination arrived), so-so in the league. Mind you, third place is a good result, but the fans expected something more. Finding yourself less than 10 from Juve and less than 5 from Rome saddens the Neapolitan people, still hopeful of being able to compete for the Scudetto. Time is there, but the pace must change. First of all in the direct clashes, given that the Azzurri lost to the black and whites and the yellow and reds (but they will play them at the San Paolo in the return leg), but also in the intermediate stages. The home defeat against Parma and the draws with Sassuolo, Udinese and Cagliari demonstrate that Napoli still needs to grow a lot. The budget is still fully sufficient, but something more is needed to advance in level.
INTER 6
Sufficiency also for Mazzarri's Inter, albeit narrower. The Nerazzurri have so far played a good championship, but without ever making the leap in quality. Inter are in the ford, which means that they can still take flight, but also sink into the abyss of the center table. Mazzarri knows this well, as he has in fact asked for reinforcements and clarity from the club. Stramaccioni's example (who was three points ahead a year ago in the 17th round) is too recent to be forgotten, also because the squad is almost the same. Of course, the coach from San Vincenzo has much more experience, so much so that he has revitalized players who seemed rather inadequate. For this he deserves applause, but now it's time to change gears. Third place is still within reach and success in the derby could act as a springboard. Conversely, we risk an anonymous season, not the best for a prestigious club like Inter.
MILAN 5
Mathematical average also for the bottom side of our ranking: 6 for the European journey, 4 for the one in the championship. The result is a full 5, an insufficiency that makes noise. Being the only team to have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League is not enough, also because the group was anything but prohibitive. Milan's season has so far been rather disappointing, and only the market could reverse a course that is at least worrying. The 19 points in the league are red dot: at this rate, the Rossoneri would fight for salvation. Unacceptable for those who have people like Kakà and Balotelli in their squad, but also Montolivo, De Sciglio, De Jong, Robinho and El Shaarawy. All national, all with important engagements. Yet the Milan standings cry, and with it their fans too. Who are now hoping in the market, the last hope before decreeing the failure of a season.
