THE FERRAGOSTO PAGELONE
Mid-August, time to take stock. There are about ten days left before the start of the championship and about two weeks before the end of the transfer market. The teams are taking shape, but the real blows could only come in the last stages. In the meantime, the coaches have to deal with friendlies and tournaments that have not always given the desired results, forcing the managers to frantic recoveries on the market to fill the gaps that have emerged in the first outings. Because, even if they are friendly, the result always counts.
JUVENTUS VOTE 7
Premise: Juventus moved first and did it very well. Ready, go and here come three hits from the front page: Llorente, Tevez and Ogbonna. A trio that knocked out the competition, or so it seemed. Because in this pre-season Juventus have never won, even finishing last in the American tour, after losing against Everton (on penalties), Los Angeles Galaxy (1-3 with an annexed embarrassment that infuriated Conte) and Inter (of again on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 90'). Tevez and Llorente have never scored, but if the former has nevertheless been appreciated for his great work, the latter still seemed like a foreign body, to the point that for the Italian Super Cup Conte should prefer Vucinic over him. Furthermore, the coach has been clamoring for a winger since the start of the market, and the push and pull with Zuniga could lead to nothing, to the point that an offer of 10-12 million is ready for Manchester City for Kolarov. The outgoing market should also be evaluated, with the sales of Matri (to Naples) and Quagliarella (in England, West Ham favored) which should bring fresh money.
NAPLES VOTE 6,5
Let's face it right away: with the 63 million euros collected for Cavani and the 124,5 million that De Laurentiis boasted of having available, something more was expected, at least until now. The vote is largely dictated by the arrival of “Pipita” Higuain, one who alone could make San Paolo tremble with enthusiasm. For the rest, two promises arrived (Callejon and Mertens) and a good goalkeeper (Reina, plus her deputy Rafael), all without forgetting what could perhaps be the real, great signing: Rafa Benitez. He is entrusted with the task of not making Cavani and Mazzarri regret, in the hope of enhancing the young players and making a good impression in the league and, above all, in the Champions League. Bigon, on the other hand, has the task of not letting Zuniga be taken away from Juventus and perhaps of strengthening a defense that doesn't seem impervious with the Britos-Albiol duo. Maybe with Skrtel from Liverpool, which Napoli has been courting without success for a month. If Matri also arrives (12 million ready for Juventus, the player's yes is missing) then the Neapolitan team would deserve half a point more.
FIORENTINA VOTE 6,5
Up until a month ago, the vote in the Fiorentina market would have been at least 7 and a half. But then came the pitch, a severe judge even in summer football. So, after the first few games in the mountains, the time has come for the most demanding tests: Villarreal-Fiorentina 2-0, Sporting Lisbon-Fiorentina 3-0. And on the way there is Grasshopper in the Europa League playoff, an uncomfortable and insidious customer. The names of Pepito Rossi and Mario Gomez have inflamed the Fiesole curve, Joaquin from Malaga is a good bet, Ambrosini from Milan guarantees experience and Ilicic from Palermo is an excellent addition. And then there's Montella, a guarantee. Too bad that to win you have to score one more goal than your opponent, which means conceding fewer. Here's the problem: the goalkeeper. Neto was disastrous at times, the deputy Munua does not seem ready for Serie A, and if a few days before the playoffs and the start of the championship, Pradè is desperately looking for a goalkeeper (in contention are Sorrentino, Julio Cesar and Agazzi) the situation it gets worrying.
ROME VOTE 6,5
Same vote as Fiorentina, but a reverse market. Slow, almost worrying at first, then the spring came and Garcia's arrival on the bench (score 4 for the cloying all-coach who for a month involved Allegri, Mazzarri, Blanc, Bielsa, Mancini and Rijkaard ) things have changed. Benatia's addition to the center of defense was excellent, the choice to bring Maicon back to Italy to entrust him with the right lane to be evaluated, it was right to bet on the expert De Sanctis (despite a not very brilliant season in Naples) in goal after the sufferings of the last years. In midfield, the great blow was that of the 23-year-old Dutchman Strootman, a talent already in the national team and a beacon of Psv Eindhoven. Many teams were looking for him, Roma was the only one able to pick him up. A few more doubts about Gervinho, recently arrived from Arsenal (where he scored only 7 goals in 26 total appearances last season), but Totti is always up front and, both Garcia and the fans hope, Lamela. Because ds Sabatini flew to London with dg Baldissoni to speak with Tottenham, who are strongly interested in the Argentine. Roma's valuation is at least 35 million euros. Coach Villas Boas, evidently resigned to losing Bale, considers him the ideal striker for his 4-3-3. But Lamela is not the only negotiable name: in fact, there are also those of Osvaldo (also associated with other English clubs) and Pjanic, for whom Tottenham had already come forward.
MILAN RATING 5,5
If the scholastic expression "postponed to September" still existed, it would be perfect for Milan, because the Rossoneri market can only be evaluated after the Champions playoffs have been played and, obviously, passed. Because only in that case could Galliani make the famous "gift" to Allegri. Nothing sensational, for heaven's sake, but at that point the 3 million for Honda or the 10 for Ljajic would no longer be a problem, having in his pocket the UEFA prize for participation in the group stage and the money that would derive from it. At the moment, however, Allegri can only smile for the arrival of Poli, the only one of the new signings who can hope for a starting shirt. Saponara, in fact, due to pubalgia was not even included in the Champions League list for the match against PSV, Vergara is too young and inexperienced, Silvestre was hired to make up for Bonera's absence. The young Petagna did well (three goals in the pre-season) as Pazzini's assistant, but he's a player who comes from Milan's Primavera side and doesn't count as a "hit" on the market.
INTER VOTE 5,5
The arrival of Mazzarri, the coach who brought Napoli back to the top, alone deserves a full 7, because the coach from San Vincenzo seems like the right man to entrust with a project. The problem, and it's not a trivial matter, is that a project is done with a competitive team, and at the moment Inter isn't. Icardi and Belfodil aren't names that shift the balance, Campagnaro was a good coup because he got on a free transfer, Andreolli is an alternative, the newcomer Wallace (19 years old, on loan from Chelsea) is an unknown factor, but the real problems are in midfield where, awaiting the return of Zanetti (39 years), Cambiasso is the only true centre-back in his role, with Guarin who hasn't found his place yet and Kovacic slowed down by a muscle problem at the start of retirement. It is from him that Mazzarri would like to start again because he is a young man with legs, ideas and imagination, but he should be joined by weight grafts, one above all Nainggolan. Isla and Taider remain the first objectives, provided that in the summer of the epochal transition from the Moratti era to the Thohir era, the incumbent president does not decide to give one last, great gift to the fans: Samuel Eto'o. Difficult, almost impossible. Almost…
LAZIO VOTE 5
It is not enough to be called "El Principito" to make your team deserve the sufficiency. It's not Lucas Biglia's fault, but in fact he is the only signing of a certain weight in a very disappointing transfer market. Apart from the addition of the Argentine midfielder taken from Anderlecht, the team is the same as last season. Miro Klose has stood out as always in the matches played so far, deciding the friendlies against Nice and Crystal Palace (both won 1-0). In attack, both Lulic (who will soon become a stylist with the "Senad Lulic 71" brand, the minute of the decisive goal in the Italian cup final against Roma on 26 May) and Candreva are very confirmed. Petkovic knows he has a good group, but the most important test will be Sunday evening in the league super cup against Juventus.
