Stopping time, time to take stock. Serie A stops for the second time and we, like managers and coaches, take the opportunity to analyze what is wrong with the big teams. Because no one is perfect and even the best families hide some more or less thorny cases. And then, in strict ranking order, let's start the journey!
JUVENTUS
Apparently, no hiccups. Juve looks at everyone (Naples aside) from the top of their 19 points, six victories in seven games, 17 goals scored (best attack) against only 4 conceded. A battleship like that, which hasn't lost in the championship for 46 races, what problems can it possibly have? And instead, if you look carefully, there is something not right. Let's start with Nicklas Bendtner, hitherto hit the news only for its weight (anything but) shape. His current score reads 13 minutes played (against Chievo), the rest is sadly stuck at 0. Not the best for someone who, in the club's plans, was supposed to play the role of striker. Carrera (we have lost track of Conte) says that the Dane will soon come in handy, but in the meantime these are the numbers. In general, however, the second lines are not performing properly, and in fact the turnover has worked intermittently. Isla, Caceres, Lucio, Matri and Bendtner, Juventus is waiting for you… But at Juve there is another thorn, this one completely unexpected: the relationship with the fans. The Juventus ultras entered into dispute with the club over issues relating to the stadium (ticket prices too high and strict regulations). Result? Against Shakthar less than 30 people and, for the first time, the feeling of having gone back to the days of Delle Alpi. When Juve preferred to play away.
NAPLES
Here, too, all is well, indeed very well. Napoli flies and for the first time in many years gives the impression of being able to fight for the Scudetto. However, if you want to be a bit naughty, you can find something wrong. The squad has improved, but not yet to be able to handle the championship-cup race. And so the glittering Napoli of the championship made up for a resounding fool in that of Eindhoven, also dragging the image of Italian football with it. Mazzarri's justification (“Either you lose points in the cup or you lose them in the championship”) perfectly captures what was said above. But everything else works fine: the attack (14 goals scored, the second from Serie A), enhanced by Cavani (top scorer with 6 goals), the midfield (much improved with the purchase of Behrami) and the defense, the best in the league with only 3 goals conceded. We would have expected something more from Insigne, Vargas and El Kaddouri, but let's not exaggerate. After all, nobody is perfect…
LAZIO
The case has very precise generalities: Mauro Matìas Zarate, born in Buenos Aires on 18 March 1987. Distinguishing marks: not called up. Vladimir Petkovic has decided to exclude him from the last away match in Pescara, a sign that the relationship, which to tell the truth never took off, has already come to fruition. Everything else was ok, starting with the coach, the real surprise in Serie A. Brought to Rome by Lotito amidst general distrust, Petkovic turned out to be an excellent coach, with a particular propensity for managing the locker room. In fact, after the disappointing summer friendlies, the Bosnian had a confrontation with the team, which led to a change of form. From then on came 5 wins and 2 losses, a respectable roster that pushed Lazio up to third place in the standings. Other issues? The rose in this case is very large, especially up front. In addition to Zarate, Floccari, Rocchi and Kozak also see little of the field. In the long run it could weigh…
INTER
Had we written this article a couple of weeks ago, the item "defects" would have been longer than a queue on the "Salerno-Reggio Calabria". However, football has the power to subvert judgments in a short time, and today Inter have more reasons to smile than they have to worry. After a slow start, Stramaccioni has finally found the crux of the matter, namely the 3-4-1-2. The 3-man defence, much criticized in Gasperini's management, also proved to be functional from the parts of Appiano Gentile. Thanks to the coach, good and courageous in changing the face of the team, but also to the players who, unlike in the past, have made themselves available in all respects. Inter thus found a balance and, inevitably, the results also arrived. Because up front the quality is high and sooner or later a goal arrives. The Cassano management, so far perfect, should also be underlined. The Bari native looks like a schoolboy from how well he behaves, and the Nerazzurri have already adopted him as their new darling. So problems gone? Let's not exaggerate! Pibe de Bari must be stirred carefully, otherwise it may explode. Then there is the Sneijder case, so far "hidden" by an injury which put him out of action for some time. When he left the team, Inter started winning again. Just a coincidence? Probably yes, but we will only have certainty when he returns. Because someone like this will never accept the role of supporter, nor a replacement in the interval of a derby like Coutinho. Stramaccioni will do well to think about it, because the Inter bench overheats very easily.
Roma
We arrive at the painful notes of our championship. Let's start with Zeman's Roma, which was supposed to combine entertainment, goals and victories and which is disappointing a lot instead. The case par excellence is that of De Rossi, left on the bench like any Marquinho. Disciplinary choice of the Bohemian coach, who hasn't forgiven him for Turin's statements. In fact, after the beating against Juve, "Captain future" blatantly slammed the club and the coach, who left him out in response. Roma Giallorossi are divided: who is right between the two litigants? Those who believe in respecting the rules stay with the coach, while those who are tired of conceding goals in series support De Rossi. In our opinion, the truth lies somewhere in between. It's true that a player should never allow such statements, especially in a hot square like Rome, but how to catalog those of the Bohemian, who had even mentioned the word "scudetto"? To date, such a goal is not realistic and talking about it is at least inappropriate. As well as certain controversies against Juve and Federcalcio, old and out of fashion. In short, one could almost say that the problem of this Rome is Zeman, except that the Bohemian has accustomed us to wing shots that are as unpredictable as they are effective. The Giallorossi bank of the Tiber awaits anxiously…
MILAN
The Oscar of negativity is taken by Milan. A victory (so to speak...) taken for granted, which surprised no one at all, because in the summer few believed in this team and traces of those have now been lost. The Rossoneri have not yet found a department that works well, starting with the door, always at the mercy of Abbiati's moods. Man of the match in St. Petersburg, worst in the derby: the Rossoneri goalkeeper's ups and downs captures the season of Milan and its coach well. Allegri has not yet deployed the same defense twice in a row, a sign that the accounts do not add up to him either. The midfield neither creates play nor destroys that of the opponents, the wingers don't put in a decent cross even by mistake, the attackers score with a dropper. There is to put your hands in your hair, or to work hard. Milan has chosen the second path, in an attempt to restart from its (few) certainties. Which ones are they? El Shaarawy first of all. Il Faraone is the happiest note of this start of the season, the only one able to turn on the light in the general greyness. The rest, at least for now, doesn't work. Pazzini fails to integrate into Allegri's game and Bojan also showed little of his potential. Then there is the case par excellence, the one relating to Pato. The Brazilian had to take post-Ibra Milan by the hand, but he hasn't played a minute yet (!) This season. He is the fault of muscles as fragile as crystals, which have been tormenting him for a long time now. Infirmary radio reports that the return is expected after the break, when the Rossoneri will necessarily have to reverse course. Otherwise the crisis will become irremediable.
