The 2016/2017 Calcio Saga

Yeah basically the only reason. It seems the team doesn't know what to do without a 9.

They always control the game but miss chances for long enough so the opposition ends up scoring.

They'll play inter next, it could be a pivotal game for these 2 teams.

Should be a great derby. Form never matters here, but there haven't been many derbies in recent memory that have seen both Roma and Lazio playing reasonably well. I personally give the slight edge to Lazio as they have fewexpectations on them this season, but we also always rise to the occasion in this fixture so there's that.

Beyond that the numbers aren't much help, we've scored more (33) and they've conceded less (14) so a good story line will be how Dzeko and Immobile do against each backline. I give Immobile the edge there are our backline is an absolute joke, but with that said very few defenders have been able to stop Dzeko this season as he's scored when he wants so here's hoping he keeps taking those chances when they pop up. The issues in our midfield make this pretty even. Paredes is going to end up being a big miss for us while Nainggolan need to be played deeper. Up top, Salah and Perotti should do well against their markers, but Felipe Anderson will undoubtedly have his chances as well. The images I have of him flying down the flank against Emerson or Juan Jesus are nightmare-inducing.

There is also the factor that we have 2 Romans (Totti and De Rossi) in this derby that take it a whole lot more seriously than anyone else. Lazio have 2 Romans (Cataldi and Murgia) in their squad, but neither are first choice players currently, but then again, this is a fixture where players like that often get their best chances. I hope that happens.

Warrior wrote:Time for Inter to play italian style now. They are too aggressive when attacking... leaves a lot of space for counter-attacks. Especially when the only solid defender (Miranda) is already booked.

Nah , not even him . He's done.

Atalanta are apparently WWDWWWWWWW in their last 10 games in Serie A and Copa.

Wtf. Who do they even have on their team except Kessie?

Papu Gomez is over an Atalanta level imo.  I rate him for a club as Fiorentina..
For the rest they 've 5/6 Serie A rookies as starters, incredible result so far but Gasperini is perfect for these realities, he leads the small teams  beyond their real level.

Don't call me James wrote:Atalanta are apparently WWDWWWWWWW in their last 10 games in Serie A and Copa.

Wtf. Who do they even have on their team except Kessie?

You've been missing the fapfest over Atalanta lately. Papu Gomez leading 6 kids to CL spots

The only player I have eyes for from Atalanta is Rafael Toloi. We had him, barely used, then lost him. He was great against us a couple of weeks ago as well.

Sure could use him now.

Derby Updates:

- Mo Salah is a doubt now. Picked up an ankle injury in practice. Huge blow for us.

- Roma Ultras will continue to boycott the barriers that have been put up. Lazio Ultras, however, are expected to suspend their boycott and attend the game.

- FIGC Head Tavecchio has confirmed that the barriers will stay up so with the above, expect a half-empty stadium.

Very depressing sight to see on a derby day. That said, I agree with the decision to keep the barriers in place. No one should be getting hurt at a football match, no matter the fixture.

Some previews for what should be an excellent weekend in Serie A

Friday
Napoli-Inter

Very important game for both teams. Napoli have to find consistency if they want to resume their CL charge (the scudettos seems like a dream at this point). Meanwhile, Pioli has started brightly with 4 very difficult points against Milan and Fiore. A point against Napoli would be all Inter will need to claim that their season is back on track. For Napoli on the other hand, a draw would be disappointing.

Mertens is suspended. The defense has a couple of knocks and could see changes. The midfield kids could start over Allan and Jorginho. For Inter, Medel is of course injured, the rest is pretty normal.

Napoli: Reina; Ghoulam, Koulibaly, Albiol, Hysaj; Hamsik, Diawara, Zielinski; Insigne, Gabbiadini, Callejon

Inter: Handanovic; Ansaldi, Murillo, Miranda, D'Ambrosio; Brozovic, Mario, Kondogbia; Perisic, Icardi, Candreva

My prediction 2-2 Draw

Then the big boys play

Saturday
Juventus-Atalanta

The strongest team vs the most in form team. A game that no one would have thought would matter at the start of the season, but now could be crucial in the title race.

Juve sit with a 4 point gap up top, but are in bad form mostly brought on by a swarm of injuries that haven't let us repeat starting 11 once. On the flip side, Gasperini was a match or 2 away from the sack when he decided to *bleep* it and changed the whole team to go on a run of 8 wins and 2 draws!!. Most impressively, Atalanta are doing so with with a team of mostly rookies + Papu Gomez. In this run they've beat Inter, Roma, Napoli, Genoa and Sassuolo, ridiculous.

Juve has Barzagli, Dani Alves, Mandragora, Dybala, Lemina?, Pjaca injured. Benatia is a doubt since he just came back. Higuain is back. Atalanta is lucky with injuries and should be able to field their first choice 11 except for Gagliardini who is suspended (and I really wanted to scout ).

Juve: Buffon; Chiellini, Benatia, Rugani; Sandro, Pjanic, Marchisio, Khedira, Litchsteiner; Mandzukic, Higuain

Atalanta: Sportiello; Caldara, Toloi, Masiello; Spinazzola, Kessie, Freuler, Conti; Kurtic; Petagna, Gomez

Really, really hard to call this. Every time Juve loses they turn and smash the next team. After our last 2 losses the team scored 4 goals in each game. But this is an Atalanta that has risen to every challenge. In an extremely impressive game, they came back from behind to beat Roma 2-1. If Roma had such a hard time opening them up, even when they were ahead, then Juve will suffer.

My prediction 2-1 Juve

Salah out for a month

Napoli (4-3-3): Reina; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Zielinski, Diawara, Hamsik; Callejon, Gabbiadini, Insigne.

Love it that Napoli became clinical just the moment they play Inter

2 very quick goals slicing through the defense and precise finishes from Zielinski and Hamsik.

Pioli out

Insigne 3-0 with a really cool goal. Napoli are showing their best level tonight.

Despite having the best squad in Serie A, Inter sure are having a moderately underwhelming season.

This is Napoli from last season, Hamsik should have made it 4-0 a while back.

Giaccherini and Maggio on

Reina saves a Candreva goal

I realize this is funny coming from a Man U fan but Inter have spent unreal money last few windows and can't even be competitive in a 1 team league

ridiculous

Terrible management decisions.

Should have hired LVG

https://media.giphy.com/media/MhFpZj9gV08HC/giphy.gif

Firenze wrote:I realize this is funny coming from a Man U fan but Inter have spent unreal money last few windows and can't even be competitive in a 1 team league

ridiculous

Far from a one team league. Serie A has the closest point spread of any other league for the top seven places (possible European places). I have a strange suspicion that Atalanta will pull an upset and it will even be a closer between the top seven.

Inter

On paper Inter has the best starting XI. This cannot be denied...

Talent FC