We are almost there. The start of the championship is only a week away, therefore, with the transfer market over, it's time to focus on the candidates for the next championship. After having voted for the roses, this time let's try to understand what the surprises of our big names might be. New signings, emerging youngsters and why not, new coaches. Strengths of the contenders for the championship, which may no longer be the best in the world, but is certainly still the hardest fought.
MILAN
The Rossoneri team is the one that has changed the least, perhaps also for this reason they are the big favorites for the next Scudetto. The strength of Milan is represented by continuity, found last year (with difficulty) by Massimiliano Allegri. In 12 months, the coach from Livorno has gone from being a good bet to a certainty. A few purchases have arrived, but the true strengths of the Rossoneri remain the usual suspects. The surprise, paradoxically, could be Pato, so far very discontinuous both from a technical and physical point of view. With the various injury problems resolved (or at least that's what Milanello hopes for), the "Papero" could finally explode, becoming that striker with 30 goals this season who would damn well come in handy for Milan, both in Italy and in Europe. Another bet is certainly Cassano, who remained on the market until last August 10, the day in which he enchanted Europe by "slaying" world champion Spain. Because the Pibe di Bari is like this, indolent and burdened one day, acrobatic and spectacular the next. Transforming him into a decisive player is Milan's mission, which in attack can boast another great promise, that Stephan El Shaarawy of whom all the insiders speak very well. The defense is the same as last year, with more Mexes and Taiwo, while the big news comes from the midfield, where Pirlo has given way to Aquilani. The former Juventus player will have to give Allegri that dribble that was sometimes lacking (especially in the Champions League) last year. Aquilani will have to demonstrate continuity, also because the eternal Clarence Seedorf will be watching him from the bench, someone who brings out the best in his repertoire when he gets poked. Which, as everyone knows, isn't exactly limited.
INTER
Definitely more bets at the Nerazzurri. The first is represented by Gasperini, an excellent coach who has worked very well with the young players and with Genoa, but who is at his first experience on the bench of a big club. His 3 – 4 – 3 is unknown, but whoever says that it's a module that doesn't bring victories is lying. Watching last week's Barcelona – Villarreal is believing. For the uninitiated it ended 5 to 0 for the blaugrana, who may well be from another planet, but who by applying themselves have shown how the same quality can be maintained while using a different game system. Tactics aside, it will be interesting to see the Brazilian Jonathan at work (taken on as an alternative to Maicon) and above all the Argentine Alvarez, for whom Inter paid 12 million. Then it will be fun to understand if Zarate, in addition to dribbling opponents like pins, will also learn to pass the ball (in this sense, the bonuses – assists that Branca has put on his contract could help). If he succeeds, then we could discover a great player. Forlan, although inferior to Eto'o, represents instead a certainty, like all the Nerazzurri senators. We'll have to wait for next year to find out Kucka, while there is curiosity to see Andrea Poli at work, great protagonist in Sampdoria's 2010 Champions ride, disastrous in the year of relegation to Serie B. This Nerazzurri experience represents for him the graduation exam.
NAPLES
Napoli have bought a lot, but the strength, a bit like for Milan, seems to be represented by continuity. Mazzarri remained, and with him Hamsik, Lavezzi, Cavani and company. All people who have already shown that they can make a difference, and who will now simply have to (so to speak) raise the bar, and repeat the same things on the Champions League stage. To the three tenors must be added the new acquisitions, which are many and of quality. Above all, we choose Inler and Pandev. The first comes from an incredible season with Udinese, dragged into the Champions League by Di Natale's goals, Sanchez's magic but also by the Swiss's geometry. De Laurentiis snatched him away with millions from Juventus, and expects a lot from him, indeed a lot. The same goes for Goran Pandev, even if the Macedonian didn't cost anything, given the kind homage of Massimo Moratti. The former Nerazzurri wants to return to being considered a great striker, like two years ago, when he won the Champions League under Josè Mourinho's orders. Napoli is ready to savor its hunger for goals, which could undermine the Milanese until the end.
JUVENTUS
There are many unknowns here, all of them, at least on paper, potential surprises. But the difficult thing is to choose, so let's give it a try. Juve's strengths could be Mirko Vucinic and Emanuele Giaccarini. In reality, there would be an uproar about the first if he were to fail, but the Montenegrin is coming from a very difficult season in Rome. Therefore, although quality is not in question, it will be important to understand if Mirko will finally be able to lead a team to win something, or at least to achieve a goal. Because Vucinic in the capital was famous for scoring impossible goals and making easy mistakes, in short, not exactly for being a monster of continuity. The other name that we indicate as a possible surprise will surely make the eyes of the Juventus fans widen, who perhaps expected Vidal or Elia. Assuming that they too could help Juve make the leap in quality, Giaccarini teases precisely because he is little considered. However, the former Cesena is a very specific choice by Antonio Conte, who strongly wanted him in black and white. Jackets represents the perfect winger for the 4 – 2 – 4 formation: he runs a lot, aims at the man (and often skips him) and above all goes back to helping his teammates. In short, he exhausts himself well, exactly what the Juventus coach is asking for (and which Krasic doesn't do instead). We'll see if Giac turns out to be a Juve player or not, and with him many members of the squad.
Roma
Same speech made for Juventus. Roma have taken many players, should they all go well, they could really undermine the Milanese for the Scudetto. We could indicate numerous surprises, from the talent of Miralem Pjanic to the desire for redemption of Fernando Gago, passing through the test of maturity of Kjaer and the goals of Osvaldo. However, let's choose the youth and class of Erik Lamela and Bojan Krkic, the two talents par excellence acquired by Roma. The first is very young, and at the moment has a rather indefinite role. Some say he is an attacking midfielder, others indicate him as a second striker. In order not to displease anyone, Luis Enrique seems oriented towards making him a winger. Same role as Bojan, who compared to Lamela is a few years older, and above all experience at high levels. The former Barcelona (precisely), while never finding a starting position, has long been in contact with the Blaugrana extraterrestrials, and despite his young age he could give Roma a bit of a winning mentality. Sure, the leadership of the locker room doesn't concern him at the moment, but you know, in football, you earn your stripes on the pitch. And Bojan really has everything to become Roma's new idol.
LAZIO
Claudio Lotito has certainly built the best Lazio since he became its president. The potential, especially in attack, is remarkable, which is why he can expect a lot from Klose and Cissè. There's no doubt about the first one, the penalty area has belonged to him since he began to tread the playing fields. Goals in clusters, with Bayern and with Germany, who, despite him not being very young anymore, continue to consider him a fixed point. Lazio fans therefore expect many goals, even if Klose's goals will only come thanks to a quality choral maneuver. That's why in our opinion, Lazio's fortunes will depend above all on Hernanes rather than on Cissè. The Brazilian shouldn't surprise anyone, it will simply be enough for him to confirm himself at last season's levels. Cissè, on the other hand, could do very well, but he will have to adapt to Reja's schemes. Who now seems oriented not to ask him to cover on the wing, but who could also change his mind at the first difficulties (Zarate knows something about it). If the Frenchman proves willing to help his teammates, Lazio could really fly again.
