Throwback to the Reja Era
By: Neil |
12 Comments
Udinese 3 Napoli 1
It’s ironic that former Napoli mister Edy Reja should be linked with a move back to Serie A (Lazio) the same week in which his old team played a game reminiscent of his time in charge. Basically, there were a lot of major incidents, most of them not going Napoli’s way, but in spite of this Napoli played a really good game and of course have nothing to show for it. That game pattern belongs to Reja and not Mazzarri, who could only comment that the stars were not aligned for Napoli on Sunday.
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Category: Team News
Battle of Two Tired Teams
By: Neil | 58 Comments
If any game from the Serie A calendar this week is going to be a low key affair with little fireworks, expect it to be at the Stadio Friuli in Udine. The hosts recently fielded a full strength team for Thursday’s Coppa Italia semi-final first leg loss to Roma. With Udinese currently in danger of being relegated, the Coppa represents their best chance to reach Europe and they no doubt took the game seriously. While Napoli did not play mid week, they’re coming off a posticipo against Genoa that was as physical as Serie A gets. There’s also the trivial matter of an upcoming home game against Inter on Valentine’s Day, so this game has to be considered somewhat of a recovery week.
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Category: Team NewsMercato Summary and Financial Outlook
By: Neil | 17 Comments
Napoli conducted some important business in the January transfer window. I’m not talking about the signing of Andrea Dossena, which is nonetheless a major acquisition, but the contract extensions given to Lavezzi, Gargano, and Hamsik. Fans who are disappointed that Napoli only made one significant purchase should realize that the club chose to invest financially in the existing talent. Lavezzi, Gargano, and Hamsik all joined the club in the summer of 2007, and by extending their contracts Napoli is announcing that they’ll form the core of the team until 2015.
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Category: Team NewsA Match Full of Protagonists
By: Neil | 9 Comments
Napoli 0 Genoa 0
Players from both sides left it all on the field as the teams fought to a scoreless draw Saturday night. The pace was electrifying for the whole 90 minutes and the physical play never relented. There were so many flying tackles even the ref’s uniform was dirty by halftime. Napoli created more chances, could have had a couple of penalties, and surely deserved all three points. But the rain, the woodwork, and a lot of luck on Genoa’s part kept the game scoreless.
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Category: Team NewsIt’s Not About the Shutout Streak
By: Neil | 30 Comments
Napoli put their 14 game Serie A unbetean streak on the line Saturday night against a strong Genoa side who also have ambitions to play in Europe. Genoa have their own streak of five consecutive wins over Napoli since the two teams were promoted to Serie A back in 2007. Napoli has its own five game streak of Serie A shutouts. Keeper Morgan De Sanctis is 81 minutes away from setting a new club record for not allowing any goals. But in a game like this the numbers just don’t matter. It promises to be a tense affair with both teams going full throttle from the start.
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Category: Team NewsItaly Internationals to the Rescue
By: Neil | 34 Comments
Livorno 0 Napoli 2
Morgan De Sanctis and Christian Maggio gave Napoli a massive boost in a two goal win that was anything but comfortable. Maggio’s stunning 45th minute volley that jolted the netting turned out the be the winning goal, but only because De Sanctis saved a second half penalty and thwarted Livorno again at 87 minutes. It was the extra bit of quality from the two Italy players that gave Napoli all three points, as Cigarini’s injury time free kick was only a late spectacle.
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Category: Team NewsContini’s Last Game for Napoli?
By: Neil | 37 Comments
Sunday’s game at Livorno may turn out to be Matteo Contini’s final contribution in a Napoli uniform. Rumours have Contini agreeing to personal terms with La Liga’s Real Zaragoza. The transfer might have already been completed if it wasn’t for the absences of Santacroce, Rinaudo, and possibly Campagnaro for Sunday’s game. Of course, if Campagnaro is fit there is no point in risking Contini if a transfer is imminent. Either way, Mazzarri has blocked the move for the time being.
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Category: Team NewsEPL Style Game Ends in Stalemate
By: Neil | 30 Comments
Napoli 0 Palermo 0
Fans tuning in to Serie A’s posticipo instead got a game that would not look out of place in the English Premier League. The game was chippy with both teams getting stuck in and battling for every ball, especially in the midfield. The two teams, both tired from midweek games in two consecutive weeks, often played direct balls up to the strikers with little accuracy. In the end the game was there for the taking, but neither side could find the small bit of skill and creativity to win the game. Nobody really deserved all three points, and one point each is a just outcome.
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Category: Team NewsNapoli – Palermo Live Blog
By: Neil | 39 Comments
I’ve been battling a cold the last couple of days and I haven’t been able to do a proper preview as I hoped. But I wouldn’t miss a Napoli Palermo game for anything, so I thought I would put up a post that allows people to comment on the action as it unfolds.
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Category: Team NewsWhen A Loss Doesn’t Feel Like A Loss
By: Neil | 8 Comments
Napoli suffered their first loss in the Mazzarri era, losing 3-0 to Juve in the Coppa Italia, but it was the right time to lose if there ever was one. Winning the Coppa was a long shot, and the team’s best route to Europe is the Serie A table.
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Category: Team News
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