Benvenuti a Cristian Maggio. Napoli will pay an €8m transfer fee and a pay the ex Sampdoria defender €800,000 per season in a deal spanning five years. Maggio had a superb 2007/08 season for Samp, and was one of the best right full backs in Serie A. Maggio is coming off of a killer Serie A season where his trademark runs down the flank were a key factor in Samp’s qualification for the UEFA Cup and as a defender he tallied nine goals in 29 games. The season was so good that there was some outrage when Donadoni stiffed him for the Euro torunament. The Partenopei beat out Aston Villa and AC Milan for Maggio’s services.

His background, taken from the CBC website reads as folows:
Maggio is an attacking right hand sided full back or wing back. Italian born and capped at u21 level. He began his carrer in 2000 at Vicenza and played there until 2003 when he was transferred to Fiorentina. Still only 24, Maggio didn’t really find a way to become a regular at Fiorentina and made 52 appearances in the 2and a half seasons he spent in Florence. The transfer window in 2005 was a chance to reestablish himself as a first team player and Maggio moved on loan to Sampdoria. Still to fulfill his youth international promise Maggio is a much talked about player who has the ability to become even better.

My reaction? This is a big signing….Maurizio who? Good bye. The 26 year old Maggio is quite simply, nearly world class (if he isn’t already) and a current backline consisting of guys like Santacroce-Maggio-Cannavaro-Rinaudo warms the cockles of my heart. My Palermitano friends (particularly my fellow terrone Lorenzo RosaNero) advises that Rinuado is a hell of a ballplayer and that we will fall in love with him. The future is looking very brig my friends and this Maggio deal appears to be the signing of the summer thus far.

As reported here a week ago, from what I am reading, it is just waiting the official stamp but the Tank, German Denis will pair with Ezequiel Lavezzi this coming season as the main strikers in our lineup. The Argentine hitman, nicknamed ‘The Tank’ has been in prolific form since joining Independiente from Colon in 2006, scoring 44 goals in just 65 games. The 26-year-old, who is renowned for his power, has won two caps for Argentina. Napoli will pay around €11m for Denis.

My reaction? Truthfully, I haven’t seen him play very much outside of watching some videos on You Tube. I do remember that a few years ago he played with Cesena and was somewhat of a bust. The numbers on this guy are impressive but my only concern is, how long will it take Denis to adapt to the Serie A game and are his best years behind him?
Sorry to sound skeptical, but the Argentinean league results are different than Serie A results. Sorry but that’s the truth. Maybe I need to see him a little more or hear it from someone who follows the Argentina soccer league that this guy is all he is cracked up to be.

Lastly, it appears that the aforementioned Maurizio Domizzi will soon sign with Lazio. I wish him well. He was a good player for us and I respected his passion, grit and hustle over the last two years. He was stalwart for us and I know he will serve the Laziali very well.

That’s it for now. Thumbs up to Marino, particularly for the Maggio signing!!!!

Maybe the reason for targeting a grand bomber like Denis is the fact that there may have never been any truth at all to Napoli targeting Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi. In the early part of the week this story was all over the transfer rumor web pages that Napoli had set their sights squarely on the 26 year old, 6’3” German Kuranyi. Just yesterday, Kuranyi’s agent advised all that there was no truth at all to any of the rumors and that the whole thing was a media fantasy. The agent went on to say that if his client is on the market, his guess would be he’d move to England. Earlier in the week, rumors had it that Napoli had offered in upwards of 12 million euros for Kuranyi, a tall and talented striker with quite and imposing look about him.

Napoli DG Pierpaolo Marino was interviewed recently and he advised that there was never any truth to rumored offers being made to him about either Domizzi or Iezzo, as both players had been linked to a Roma transfer. Marino stated that Iezzo has another two years on his contract and as of now is still considered Napoli’s starting keeper. As fo Iezzo himself, San Gennaro states that he wants to remain in azzurri colours and truly doesn’t believe he will play anywhere other than Napoli next season. This I don’t believe. I believe both Iezzo and Domizzi, have played their last games for us.
Marino also denied any serious interest in Roma striker Mauro Esposito or in Sampdoria’s Christian Maggio (whose agent went on record stating that Maggio would be honored to play for Napoli). Lastly Marino wouldn’t comment on the supposed 28 million euros recently turned down by Marino by an undisclosed club interested in acquiring Marek Hamsik but he did state, yet again, that Marek isn’t going anywhere.

That’s it for now. Enjoy the Euro tournament.

On to better news, here are the latest tidbits in Napoli’s summer transfer activities:

1. It appears all but official that Palermo defender Leando Rinaudo is a partenopeo. From all accounts my Palermo friends have advised me that the 25 year old is quite the talent and they are rather disappointed to see him leave since many were banking on him replacing the recently departed Andrea Barzagli (who signed with VLF Wolfsburg). Rinuado’s signing likely makes it official that Maurizio Domizzi is a goner. Rinaudo is a native Palermitano and the slender defender tallied 2 goals in 22 games!!

2. I’m not that this tidbit is accurate but nonetheless Goal.com has reported that in early May, Napoli had signed 23 year old Argentinean midfielder Tomas Costa who played with the Rosario Central team this past season. In 16 games, the 6’1” player scored 1 goal. Other Internet sites state that Costa had signed with Porto of the Portuguese league for a transfer fee of 3.2 million euros. Whose right?

3. Rumor has it that Roma and Napoli are very interested in swapping assets in Gennaro Iezzo to the giallorossi in exchange for the seldom used, native Napoletano Mauro Esposito. The 29 year old striker would give us some serious depth in the position but it has been a while since he was a starter and his best years were enjoyed with Cagliari where he spent 6 years as a regular. As for San Gennaro, Roma has made no secrets that they want to beef up the keeper position for the CL run and current keeper Doni does show flaws from time to time that may be related to fatigue and over use. Personally if I were Marino I would do the swap in a heartbeat.
4. There were rumors that Napoli was interested in Atalanta striker Sergio Floccari but he appears destined to sign with Palermo. I think he’s overrated so I can’t say that I am disappointed.
5. Cagliari striker Robert Acquafresca does not appear destined to be wearing the Azzurri colours next year. All repots indicate that Marino has pulled out of the running (if he was ever really in them to begin with).
6. Amidst the rumours of his arrival to his native Napoli, Toto DiNatale in a recent interview stated that although he loves the thought of arriving at the San Paolo playing for the Azzurri, but he doesn’t realistically see the move happening since he loves Udinese and he doesn’t see Marino acquiring him in light of the youth movement currently in place in Napoli. Stay tuned friends as stranger things have happened. Keep the faith!
7. Another rumored swap is between Livorno and Napoli where the Azzurri would give up seldom used defender Erminio Rullo in exchange for 26 year old defender Giovanni Pasquale. Pasquale was a starter for Livorno last season playing in 35 games with no goals (actually he has never tallied at all in his career) but he is more recognized as a solid defender. My take is ah, this is a no brainer!! I am still trying to remember the last time Rullo saw the pitch- I think it was in Serie B sometime after his arrival in January 2007 so to trade up a reserve for a veteran starter in Serie A makes it a sweet deal. I can’t see why Livorno would do it though.
8. I have also done some reading that Napoli have thrown their hat in the ring to acquire Vincenzo Iaquinta since his days at Juventus are numbered now that the bianconeri are close to signing Amauri. I’m not sure how I feel about going after Iaquinta. Maybe I just can’t get DiNatale out of my head.

That’s it for now folks. More rumors to come soon.

First of all I am jealous that Fiorentina went out and inked Alberto Gilardino and that Marco Borriello appears to have been bought back completely by Milan to replace Gila since Napoli so desperately needs another proven striker. Much to my hope and wish sources state that that Udinese striker Antonio DiNatale isn’t going to Roma as rumoured but actually back to his native Napoli. Man alive…can you imagine Lavezzi and DiNatale in the same starting lineup? Toto scored 17 goals in 35 games this past season and just imagine him in Azzurri blue at the San Paolo? I can dream can’t I?

Napoli appears to be checking out Porto left back Marek Cech. I have one of my Portuguese sources doing a background on Cech but from all accounts, he is quite talented and was on the team that won the Portuguese title this past year. It appears that Cech is interested in playing in Napoli as a result of fellow Slovakian Marek Hamsik’s influence. With Domizzi as good as gone, Cech may be the utilimate replacement. More to come.

It appears that keeper Gennaro Iezzo is only willing to leave Napoli if he is guaranteed no chance of starting next year and will only accept a move to Juve or Roma to back up Buffon or Doni respectively. I still don’t see him staying and can see him moving to Juve so as to keep Buffon rested from Italian league play in order to keep him sharp for Champions League play.

Rumour also has it that Napoli will strengthen their midfield by acquiring current Empoli midfielder Luca Antonini, who is also co-owned by AC Milan. The 25 year old was a rock for the Tuscan club during in the 2006/2007 season but struggled with the rest of his teammates this past season as Empoli suffered the torture of relegation. Antonini was goal less in 32 matches.

Oh by the way, my whipping boy Mirko Savini is close to signing with a Dutch club (see ya) and Dalla Bona’s agent stated that his client has likely played his last game with the club….big surpise.

More to come……

MATTEO GIANELLO: 7 Gianello far surpassed my expectations along with everyone else’s when he stepped in for the injured Gennaro Iezzo between January and April, with no previous career Serie A experience to draw from prior to August 2007. Unfortunately for him he happened to be in the lineup when the team were in their funk from mid January to mid March suffering crushing losses at Cagliari, and at home against Empoli but throughout even the rough spots, I don’t remember him surrendering any goal that was solely his fault. I dare say that if Iezzo was not Iezzo, Gianello may have kept his starting job. Truthfully he is no Buffon nor did he single handedly steal any games for us but in my mind, Gianello was our unsung hero and didn’t really receive the credit he deserved from either the fans or media but Marino has by inking him until the 2011 season. I believe Gianello will be the guy to backup Navarro next season.

GENNARO IEZZO: 5.5 Either San Gennaro has lost his quickness and mobility due to war torn 35 year old body or he has never had enough of it to consistently shine at the Serie A level. In short, Iezzo was a disappointment this season. It was obvious to me by November that he was either overmatched for the Serie A game or his best years were behind him. At this point in his career Gennaro will never be a starting keeper in Serie A as he showed minimal mobility and his positioning was just plain awful at times. I do have a sense of loyalty to him for his outstanding 2006/2007 season in Serie B and how can you not love him, he’s a native Napoletano? Unfortunately, I believe the April 27, 2008 game at the San Paolo against Siena was his last with us. Thanks for the memories and we’ll always remember his contributions to our climb to A!

NICOLAS NAVARRO: 6.5 He’s 23 and he’s inexperienced but I give Reja credit in that he didn’t throw him to the wolves when first signed in January but rather had the stones to play Gianello when Iezzo went down. Navarro is proven winner in Argentina as witnessed by the fact that he was part of the Argentina Under-20 squad that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship title. He looked quite good in his three games but again, three games certainly don’t make a career. I really liked his game against Milan but there were moments when he looked a little overmatched. More to come as it is quite evident that he is the future.

DEFENDERS

PAOLO CANNAVARO: 7 Canna is an easy scapegoat for some of the subpar defending we witnessed this season. I have done it myself but he is so important to us; so much so that we he isn’t clicking our defence looks vulnerable. I would not describe him as spectacular (he is not Fabio), but he is our centre back rock. When he is out or just plain out of it, the team just doesn’t look or feel the same and the results show it. He led the team in minutes played and got himself invited to the National team for a friendly late last year for his efforts. He is still only 27 and I believe he is here to stay for many years.Thank God because I don’t know if there is any other player that we rely on more than Canna at this point.

MATTEO CONTINI: 6 Matteo became a rather important part of our backline as the season wore on, particularly with the injury to Cupi. The 28 year old came over from Parma where he was a regular but he started the season rather slowly and eventually worked himself down the depth chart rather than up it. Consistency was likely his biggest problem. I like his size and his agressiveness but he is known for the odd bone head move as well. It appears that the very things that make him effective sometimes lead to his defensive blunders particularly as it relates to positioning. I believe that he will serve a purpose to us next year but really as a depth player rather than a regular. Iwe have to depend on him too much, I will be worried.

ANDREA CUPI: 7 Prior to his injury and the arrival of Fabiano Santacroce, Cupi was at times our most dependable member of our backline during the first half of the season. I’m not really sure what the future holds for Cupi but he is a good character guy to keep on the team, I just question if his rather fragile frame can handle another year of the rigours of Serie A.

MAURIZIO DOMIZZI: 8 If Canna is our most important player, then Domizzi is just behind. He has done it all for us and he plays with some serious heart. He mixes it up, tackles well and gets in the opponents face (including the refs when it’s needed). He also became our main penalty kicker and had the results to prove it as he buried 8 goals on the season. He is versatile with a powerful left foot and also showed his versatility and talent when Reja started him as a left half back in a handful of games, when some of our midfielders ran into suspension problems. His “stones of steel” are the weapons needed if you are a young team on the verge of greatness. I want him back but from all accounts he won’t return and if so, Marino has big shoes to fill. If Domizzi leaves, his spot cannot be filled by an aged and rickety Cupi or an inconsistent Contini. If Domizzi leaves, only a player like a Vargas can replace him!

FABIANO SANTACROCE: 8.5 Acquiring the 22 year old Santacroce was likely Marino’s smartest move this season as the Brazilian-Italian played impeccably in the right back position. The Italian soccer experts have labelled him as the next Alessandro Nesta and it is matter of time before the National team calls. When Canna was in his mid season slump, Santacroce showed his worth and really made Canna look bad. He was an absolute monster at the Olimpico against Juventus as he the player of the match despite the loss (thanks Iaquinta). The future is bright as Santacroce brings a package of great physical tools but his biggest asset may be his incredible ability to read the game. Marino beat out both Juve and Inter to sign Santacroce from Bescia in January and rumour had it that a deciding factor for Fabiano was his wish to reunite with Marek Hamsik.

ERMINIO RULLO: Unratable. My God, he played four games and I barely remember anything good or bad about him. All I can confidently say is that he is a Serie B player and even then, he hardly played.

MIDFIELDERS

MANUELE BLASI: 7 We all know Blasi was a yellow card machine this past season (17 yellows and 1 red in total) but there is no doubt the midfield was a completely different unit with, versus without him. If I was Marino, I would make arrangements to get complete ownership of his services since he is currently Juventino property, on loan to Napoli. The midfield needs his vast Serie A and international experience and the slaughter suffered in Milan against the rossoneri proved just how much we need him as our team was manhandled in the midfield ball control/defensive game. It was apparent that Savini, Hamsik and Gargano needed Blasi’s experience as they were no match for Ambrosini, Seedorf and Kaka (remember the 5-2 massacre). Manuele does nothing spectacular but he knows the game and in watching him, the key to his success is, he needs to play regularly. He doesn’t have the mental make up to be a sub and as such Blasi can start in my midfield anytime, anywhere.

MAREK HAMSIK: 8 The 21 year old is without a doubt our Pavel Nedved (his idol growing up) or possibly our sub striker (like a DiNatale) and he proved to be worth every single penny of the 5.5 million euro transfer fee DeLa paid to get him out of Brescia. All season long, EPL rumours were rampant that Liverpool and recently Chelsea and Man U were after him and willing to pay whatever price it took (rumours even had Marek going to Juve at one point). He led Napoli with 9 goals this year and I’m guessing if he played in the EPL that would translate into 15 or 16. Not to worry Napoli fans, he isn’t going anywhere as he is signed until 2012 and Marino has promised us, there is no way anyone’s getting this guy. This guy is just pure talent and his potential is down right scary- both offensively and defensively! I love his fiestiness and how can anyone forget that great scream he gave in the 4-4 Roma game in protest to the ref? He showed us his talent right away in his first game against Cesena but he blew me away with his September San Paolo goal against Sampdoria. He is definetly a corner stone of our future!

WALTER GARGANO: 7 The 24 year old Uruguyan proved to be worth the entire 2 million euro transfer fee paid by DeLa to Danubio FC. He only scored two goals but who could forget the goal against Roma at the Olimpico? The diminutive centre was a joy to watch as I don’t believe he is the most talented player on the team (and I am not saying he has the potential to be the next Pirlo or DeRossi) but he is a savvy and an “in your face” type player. Who could forget the scraps in Parma where Gargano was front and centre? Walter is definelty a part of our future and both he and Hamsik will be a part of our midfield for the next 5– 10 years. You can’t go wrong having guys with Gargano’s character on your side. Gracias Walter!

MIRKO SAVINI: 4.5 Savini is not a Serie A player, plain and simple. He had some experience with Fiorentina in the top flight league in previous seasons, but the left side of the Napoli midfield was exposed in too many games to count with Savini on guard. God love Mirko, he tries but he just doesn’t have the tools to keep up with other Serie A midfielders. Remember that Savini is a natural defender used as a midfielder by Reja, in a 3-5-2 formation that sometimes looks like a 5-3-2. Maybe that’s why Reja loves him so much. Well I don’t. He is slow footed , clumsy and turns the ball over far too much. It was painful to watch Mirko this past year. Enough, please! If we’re serious about a guaranteed UEFA Cup spot next season, the left half back position area needs drastic upgrading.

GYORGY GARICS: 5.5 Garics is slightly easier to watch than Savini but he is also a natural defender used a midfielder in Reja’s farce of a 3-5-2. The Hungarian does some things well but he just can’t hack it against the Serie A midfielders. I was amazed how much playing time Savini and Garics still received even after Marino went out and got the talented Mannini and Pazienza. Garics is a good, solid Serie B player. Plain and simple.

MARIANO BOGLIACINO: 6.5 The Uruguyan showed his versatility by starting a handul of games at the striker position and even scored the winning goal at Parma in that role (that’s why he got the extra 0.5). He is a solid midfielder and good team guy to keep as depth and surprisingly showed me that can certainly play with the big boys in Serie A.

MICHELE PAZIENZA: 5.5 Marino acquired Pazienza for the hefty 4.8 million euro transfer fee and signed him to a three year contract. Truthfully he needs to show us a little more, to justify the investment. He has some proven Serie A experience to draw from (Udinese and Fiorentina) but I suspect he failed to live up to his potential in those places as well and that’s why he was let go. I am interested in seeing him over an entire season and from all accounts he is a gifted passer who reads the play well and at 26, time is still on his side.

DANIELE MANNINI: 6 Mannini showed me some flashes of brilliance and he quite possibly delivered the best pass of the season to Lavezzi in the 2-0 win over Fiorentina. He is rather composed with great offensive skills but his defensive game needs a little more polishing. He is young at 25 and if I was running the team I would grant him a starting spot next season as I believe playing along side of Blasi at the right half back position will find his game continuing to develop.

GIANLUCA GRAVA: 4.5 Gianluca is a solid Serie B player. Simple, end of story!

FRANCESCO MONTERVINO: 5 Maybe this grade is too high but he is our ex captain and he was one of our heart and soul guys that allowed us to rise from the depths of C1, so I’ve got a soft spot for him. Maybe that’s why Reja played him in 9 games this season since he likely feels indebt to the 30 year old since he has been a loyal servant since the beginning of this resurgence. Despite that he doesn’t have the talent to regularly compete in Serie A, his heart and tenacity is to be admired. I would love to keep him around for another year. He is a good heart and soul guy, a good teammate and every team needs a couple of these.

SAMUELE DALLA BONA: How can I give him a rating? He played in two games in the first part of the year and played in the three Coppa Italia games. In my mind his ball control and passing talents are wasted along with his 750,000 euro salary and I could never quite understand why he didn’t play when the likes of Savini and Garics were proven midfield liabilities. Dalla Bona has proven Serie A experience with Lecce, Sampdoria and Milan plus EPL experience with Chelsea plus has Champions League experience. Why he is in Reja’s doghouse escapes me but he was the highest paid player on the team. Money and talent down the pisser!!

MARCO CAPPARELLA: No rating. Truthfully, I don’t even remember him playing in any games and the last time I saw him play was in 2006. Stats say he played in 2 games. Which ones?

FORWARDS:

EMMANUELE CALAIO: 5 To describe Calaio’s season, I draw the analogy to the chicken and the egg question. Did Calaio under perform this season because Reja had no faith in him, or did Reja have no faith in him because he underperformed? When Napoli acquired El Panteron in July, everyone knew that Calaio’s time would be diminished but no one could have suspected by just how much. Soon Calaio became a regular sub usually in the 75th minute on and soon it became apparent that Calaio and Napoli were not long for one another. Much to everyone’s surprise, Calaio remained with the team through the January transfers and it looked like his season was about to turn around with the road win at Livorno. Then when Zalayeta was injured one would’ve thought that the Arciere we grew to love would be back. Unfortunately he wasn’t. Simply, Emanuele didn’t capitalize and he had his chances. Sure he had some bad luck along the way, but by the end of the year Bogliacino and Sosa were starting instead of him and really it appeared as if his confidence was permanently shaken, as he ended the season with 2 tallies in 26 games (both in the same game). With Reja inked for another year, I think we have seen the last of the Palermitano in our lineup as this strained relationship and Calaio’s shattered spirit cannot handle another year at the San Paolo.

ROBERTO CARLOS SOSA: 6 Pampa did what was asked of him and despite his age he scored some timely goals for us, none bigger than the winner against Livorno in September. The 33 year old finished up the season with 6 goals in 30 games and truthfully, he exhibited way more chemistry playing alongside of Lavezzi than Calaio did particularly during Zalayeta’s absence. He was not the most skilled or talented player but he used his size, aggression and had a knack for being at the right place at the right time. Back when he came to us in 2004, it was the first big signing of the new era and he was really a cornerstone of our team for two solid years from the Serie C1 to Serie B days. Ciao Pampa and thanks for the memories!

EZEQUIEL IVAN LAVEZZI: 8.5 Dubbed, unfairly as the new Maradona prior to his arrival in the summer transfer, this guy proved he was as good as all the hype and is just destined to get better. We all got a taste of what was to come when he scored three in the Coppa Italia match against Pisa in the 3-1 win. He made us believe it was for real with the goal against Udinese on a blistering kick and soon after people began proclaiming that “Napoli’s new star was born”. Rather diminutive in size at 5’8” but he is all energy and plays all out. The hi-light reel is too long to describe in words so check out the video clip. I would’ve given him a 9 but he did take a little time to adjust. He is 23 and is destined for great things ut let’s stop the comparison to Diego Armando; there can only ever be one of those. Lavezzi is signed until 2013 and there is no chance of him going anywhere before then.

MARCELO ZALAYETA: 6 The 30 year old Zelayeta set a personal best this past season with 8 goals in 22 matches but despite the tallies, the tall Uruguayan really had stretches throughout the season where he appeared invisible. He would score in bunches and when the team really needed a goal he was usually no where to be found. I do believe his most memorable moments were the goal that beat Inter , the performance against Catania (my favourite call of the season- morpheus) and who could forget the big goal against Roma in the 4-4 draw. Zalayeta will be back but it is hoped that not as a starter and his 6’2” frame can be better utilized off the bench as Juventus used to. Despite the starting job, he proved to be consistently inconsistent. Part of me wanted to give him a lower score but he was tied for our top scorer despite missing 15 matches so a 6 may in fact be too low. I guess I just never really fell in love with his game at all despite the 8 goals.

That’s my take and you all know my feelings on Reja. I would give him between a 5.5 and a 6. I love both Marino and DeLa and love what they are doing for us and restoring the hope and faith. Next season I fully expect to have Napoli in the fifth or sixth spot and guaranteed a UEFA Cup spot.

Feel free to add or question or disagree with anything in my analysis.

With really nothing to play for, the game was a fairly dry affair as was evidenced by an empty Stadio Olimpico in Roma. The announced attendance was 23,000 in a stadium that fits exactly 82,307 so more than 70% of the stadium was empty. The only evidenced cheers were for Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s two goals which dashed bitter rivals Roma’s Scudetto hopes.

The game took a while to get going as a rather dull and disinterested Napoli team took the field (apparently not too interested in the UEFA Intertoto guranteed spot). The first real opportunity of the match resulted in the opening goal when Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi beat the offside trap to put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute. Rocchi latched onto teammate Stefano Mauri’s great pass and, with the entire Napoli team howling for offside, slotted a low shot into the bottom left corner past a somewhat surprised Napoli keeper Nicolas Navarro. For Rocchi it marked his 14th goal of the season.

Lazio’s Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami almost doubled Lazio’s lead in the 26th minute but his low drive just brushed past the right upright from 30 yards out. Soon after, Behrami had another great opportunity but his shot blazed over the bar.

Most of the first half belonged to Lazio and in the 35th minute Rocchi passed to striker Igli Tare and the Albania star picked out Mauri with a perfect ball, but his low drive from the edge of the area was well saved by Navarro with what was likely the keeper’s best save of the match.

Napoli should have equalised immediately after but Lazio’s Uruguayan keeper Nestor Muslera reacted quickly to keep out Lavezzi’s 25-yard strike.

Our boys came out a little more inspired in the second half as they almost leveled the score shortly after the restart but first Roberto Sosa headed a great cross from Michele Pazienza narrowly wide of the right upright and then Muslera easily saved Lavezzi’s 30-yard effort. Midfielder Mirko Savini had a glorious opportunity in the 63rd minute but misfired from 35 yards.

Eventually Napoli paid for their missed opportunities as Lazio extended their lead in the 71st minute as Lazio midfielder Fabio Firmani curled in a 25-yard free-kick through the legs of Navarro.

Napoli did continue to press and could’ve grabbed one back 10 minutes later as Pazienza missed an easy header from close range after a good cross from Sosa.
But they did net a consolation goal two minutes later as Napoli defender Maurizio Domizzi fired a low 25-yard shot into the back of the net.

With rumors flying rampant that Domizzi will join Genoa in the summer transfer market, this may have been Maurizio’s final game with the partenopei. If it is, we will miss his heart, soul, temperament and his great ability to take penalty kicks for us. For the record, Domizzi tied with Lavezzi and Zalayeta with 8 goals, just one behind leading scorer Marek Hamsik’s 9 tallies.

Thanks to Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Genoa, Napoli clinched eighth spot in the classification and guaranteed a spot in the final UEFA Intertoto Cup tournament. Napoli is guaranteed a spot in the third round of the Intertoto tournament scheduled over the weekends of July 19 and July 26 against the winner of either Panionios FC (Greek team) or the 4th place finisher in the Serbian Super Liga.

Napoli finished the season with 50 points, 7 points back of Udinese in quite a triumphant return to the Serie A rank.

However, today’s match result was rather fitting as Napoli continued the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine finishing the campaign with a rather brutal road record of 3 wins, 4 ties and 12 defeats (yuk). Compare that to their home record of 11 wins, 4 ties and 4 losses with huge home defeats of Serie A powerhouses like Inter, Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Udinese. Overall 14 wins, 8 ties and 16 defeats…quite an accomplishment considering 24 months ago we were celebrating a Serie C1, Group B title and a promotion to Serie B and we were all dreaming that one day, we could return to Serie A and just survive relegation and be able to play with the big boys once again. Well we did it and I think our team has impressed a lot of people throughout the soccer world.

Where to next? What do we do now? Does Reja stay or do we move in a different direction? Is Catania talented defender Vargas coming to take Domizzi’s vacated spot? Everyone believes that another striker is coming. Is it Saviola? Are Serie B stalwarts Iezzo and Calaio returning? Will we boost our midfield play and get further depth and talent to play alongside of Gargano and Hamsik? These are all questions that Napoli fans will be getting an answer to over the summer and I can’t wait.

I am a little saddened that the season has ended as I love my Sunday morning routine as my colleague Joe so wonderfully covered in his last post. I love to make my frittata, my espresso and watch the Serie A preview show at 8:30 am that airs here in Canada. I normally flip between this preview show and RAI’s La Giostra Dei Gol (yes, I love both Francesca Calligaro and Simona Cantoni so much so that I don’t know who I would take if I had the choice. Beggars can’t be choosers). Salute and augri a Napoli!!

With the season ended I will also take a break from regular posting but I will keep my eye on transfer market news and will post from time to time. I am excited about the Intertoto in July but right now I am pumped up for the Euro Cup starting June 7 and you can rest assured that I will be cheering our Azzurri on. I enjoyed posting and found it quite enjoyable. I hope you enjoyed reading what I wrote half as much as I enjoyed doing it.

One last thing. To all the Napuletani out there, who have been reading us and following us throughout the season, this one is for you:

One last hurrah before the complaining about going to church begins on Saturday afternoon and lasts through the Eucharist (if we’re lucky). Once more into the breach my Napoletano brethren!

Napoli head north to the eternal city to take on Lazio in the final step on the roller coaster that is our triumphant return to Serie A. The biancoceleste were not able to follow through on their amazing campaign from last season. They were almost eliminated from the Champions League during the pre-season qualification stage and then had the misfortune of ending up in a group with Werder Bremen, Olympiakos and Real Madrid. Guh. Although they were able to get some decent results in the CL they wound up dead last in the group and their European aspirations were over by Thanksgiving.

Now Lazio are just a hot mess. Coach Delio Rossi, at the helm of the good-ship lollipop that is S.S. Lazio for three years, looks like he may have finally had enough. Rossi’s been linked a few Italian sides including Napoli because of issues with Lazio grand poobah Claudio Lotito. Although he’s recently backed off on those sentiments, things are tense. The Lazio tifosi, whose shenanigans could make the San Paolo faithful blush, are threatening to boycott Sunday’s match to protest Lotito’s actions, inaction, policies… oh give’s a rat’s ass why their protesting. They’re Italian. They’re Roman. They don’t even need a reason.

Napoli’s hopes of sneaking into next year’s UEFA Cup went by the wayside this week. Udinese received the required licenses (read: kiss the ring of Sepp Blatter and Michele Platini) to host UEFA Cup matches. Which means what exactly? Seems security was ever so tight on UEFA’s second most important Cup competition final. If the authorities in Manchester, England and UEFA allow over 100,000 fans to descend into a city why even bother with trivialties such as licenses and rules anyway? Remember when Scottish fans were getting
all sorts of love in the press as being an upstanding, passionate but civilized country of football fans? Hard to justify that comment when you hear them referred to as a “pack of baying wolves,” isn’t it? I was always a Celtic guy anyway. But I digress.

Napoli can still get into next year’s UEFA Cup via the Intertoto if they can maintain their 8th place standing. A draw against Lazio will secure the position and after much back and forth from President Aurelio De Laurentis, word came out this week that Napoli will pursue the Intertoto if they can qualify.

From Serie C1 to UEFA Cup in a little over 24 months? I watched it all happen and still don’t really believe it happened.  I can promise you one thing, our tifosi won’t be getting virtual bouquets of flowers thrown at them for their behavior should we make it to Europe next year. Fair or unfair our reputation preceeds us.

Half of Lazio’s side is either injured, disqualified or… they just plain suck. Of course this means it’ll be a 1-1 scoreline going into the 90th minute. Lazio haven’t played particularly well in Rome going 8-4-6 with only a +4 goal differential. Contrast that craptastic record with Napoli’s utter despicable 3-4-11 and -14 goal differential, the makings of pretty dire match are in the works. Woof.

Lazio will be without Mourad Meghni, Sebastiano Siviglia, Cribari, Gaby Mudingayi, Goran Pandev and Lorenzo De Silvestri. Wow, so they’ll have what Stefano Mauri, Tommaso Rocchi, Rolando Bianchi, and old man Marco Ballota in nets and who else? Looks like there might be a spot for my buddy Mauro who’s a lifelong Laziale from the old country. On the Azzurri side, we’ll be without the wonderkid Marek Hamsik who’s had quite an inagural season in Serie A this year. The success of Napoli’s renaissance will be determined by our young starlets Ezequiel Lavezzi, Walter Gargano, Nicolas Navarro, Fabiano Santacroce and, of course, the aforementioned Hamsik. The 20-year old Slovakian may actually wind up being the best of the bunch as he hasn’t even begun to scratch his potential or run out of skin to get more tattoos.

So savor this last match, Napoli fans. We have an opponent that is weakend, demoralized and playing in front of their own hostile fan base. European football is at stake for next year. I don’t know about you but after playing the likes of
Cesena, Ancona and Arezzo, I’m not too proud to host the 4th place side from Greece or a 3d place team from Romania in the Intertoto. Talk to me in three
years if we’re still trying to claw into UEFA via a ‘fair-play’ invitiation or via the Intertoto. For now, I’ll take it.

Probables: (N): Navarro; Santacroce, Cannavaro, Domizzi; Mannini, Bogliacino, Gargano, Blasi, Savini; Calaio, Lavezzi
(L): Ballotta; Zauri, Rozenhal, Radu, Kolarov; Behrami, Ledesma, Mutarelli; Mauri; Bianchi, Rocchi
Injured/Suspended: (N): Zalayeta, Rullo / Hamsik (L): Everyone and their brother

FORZA NAPOLI!

With the victory, Napoli moved ahead of Genoa into sole possession of eighth place with 50 points, sitting 7 back of Udinese (the final UEFA Cup spot). Milan’s loss was doubly difficult given Fiorentina’s comeback win against Parma and as such allowed the Viola to leapfrog over Milan into sole possession of fourth place with 63 points, while Milan remained at 61 points. Milan now must win next week versus Parma and while getting serious help from Torino (who are officially safe from relegation) to either tie or beat Fiorentina to qualify for the Champions League.

The game was played in front of 65,000 fans and from all accounts the Stadio San Paolo was filled with crazed lunatic fans making the backdrop a little intimidating for their opponents. The fans were pumped given the final game but also to see Pampa one last time.

Napoli came out and made a statement from the get go. They were out to win this as an aggressive and confident team emerged from the dressing room, controlling the play and it appeared to me that even within the first ten minutes or so, had Milan on its heels with their attacking style and overall confidence.

The first real good opportunity occurred in the 11th minute when Pippo Inzaghi took a nice pass from the backline but his left footed shot was nicely handled by Navarro. In a great play, Navarro got up and kicked a ball beyond midfield that reached a streaking Lavezzi who fought off Alessandro Nesta for a quality chance against Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac but Nesta and Kalac both played the angle well forcing Lavezzi to shoot wide.

In the 15th minute, a Lavezzi shot rebounded off of a Milan defender right into the path of Sosa, whose left footed shot went wide.

Hamsik opened the scoring eight minutes before half-time with a great rush, using a streaking Lavezzi to his left and a chugging Sosa to his right as a decoys, firing a beautiful shot past Kalac. Kalac appeared as if he and his defenders were expecting a pass but instead got a shot. This goal is reminiscent of Hamsik’s goal against Sampdoria in September. Great goal, great play. Napoli up 1-0.

Milan created a few chances before the half but Navarro had the answers to all attacks (particularly off of shots by Reno Gattuso and Ricky Kaka).

In the second half, Milan came out firing, particularly Kaka, who missed a wonderful opportunity to tie the match in the 7th minute when Ricky took a nice touch pass from Inzaghi and streaked in on Navarro but his right footed shot was shot far wide of the top-right corner of the net.

Milan would pay for this missed opportunity in the 22nd minute when Lavezzi was taken down in the penalty area by Nesta and Domizzi buried the penalty and Napoli was up 2-0. What a shot by Domizzi!! No one would’ve been able to stop this shot.

Milan continued to press and in the 36th minute striker Alexandre Pato missed a glorious opportunity off of a wonderful touch pass from Kaka, but his shot was way high and way wide.

Napoli also had their missed opportunities after both Bogliacino and Hamsik hit posts in stoppage time before Garics - having only entered the fray in the 79th minute - heaped further humiliation on Milan with a cool finish.

Milan’s Clarence Seedorf put the visitors on the scoresheet at least with a last-gasp free-kick, but by then their Champions League hopes were already fading fast.

Milan held the ball possession stats 60.6% and in territorial advantage 54.7% but I felt that Navarro looked better than Kalac and Napoli made better on their opportunities. Napoli did have more shots towards the goal (14 to 10) and more corners (6 to 5).

This was great performance by our boys in really a nothing game, but you can bet that they may have very well disqualified Milan from a CL spot. The rossoneri will be seeking revenge the next time we play but it does feel good as a tifoso napoletano to beat the reigning UEFA European Champions with the 5-2 thrashing we took in January at the San Siro foremost in mind.

The Partenopei finish off the schedule next Sunday with a game at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio.
One last thing, given that we have had to watch highlights from that horrible 5-2 game from January time and time again, since it was Pato’s debut, here is another fond memory of mine from the Fall 1988. I believe Milan did end up winning the Scudetto that year but anyways, this is a sweet memory. Do you see any similarities with today’s game?