Bring on the pink

By: Joe | November 8th, 2007

Napoli travel to Sicily to take on last year’s first half Serie A darling on Saturday night. The rosanero have drawn five straight matches since defeating Milan at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. New coach Stefano Colantuono has come under fire from Palermo’s resident nutjob Maurizio Zamparini. Ironically enough the criticisms leveled at Colantuono (playing for draws, taking a defensive approach) are eerily similar to the tactics that got Francesco Guidolin fired last year. The Sicilians I’ve met are not exactly “safety first” folk; it makes you wonder just what is behind this talented but troubled squad.

Palermo come into the match with a rash of injuries and a couple key suspensions. The wonderbrow Fabrizio Miccoli is still out injured as is MF Mark Bresciano. The Rosanero really got screwed by Aumari’s yellow against Genoa (for what I still can’t fathom) as it means he is out suspended for the match as is MF Roberto Guana. There is a chance MF Giulio Migliaccio may come back for the match as he trained with the squad earlier today. Either way, the rosanero are hurting and Napoli needs to seize this opportunity. We’re not likely to find a side more wounded than the rosanero and a full three points going into a FIFA break can help get the taste of a sloppy draw against Reggina out of our minds.

Palermo played one of the most exciting matches of the year last week when they pulled out a late equalizer on the road against Genoa. Palermo were outshot 18-5 and allowed 13 Genoa corners to Palermo’s two. 13-2? Wow, just wow. Still, they were not completely dominated despite the shot advantage although Alberto Fontana made some incredible saves, particularly the ones against Marco Borriello which were textbook perfect demonstrations of positioning and reflexes. Amazing that Fontana is 40 years old and is that nimble. Palermo have ~~done~~ ~~well~~ to done better to keep the ball out of the back of their net (last week’s target practice notwithstanding). They held Inter scoreless, and only gave up single goals to Udinese, Parma and Reggina. I know it’s not exactly awe-inspiring but this squad leaked in goals by the truckload last year. Given that Napoli haven’t held a clean sheet since the win against Livorno in Giornata 5, I’m a little jealous. Colantuano has seemed to settle in with Ciro Capuano at RB alongside mainstays Cristian Zaccardo at LB and Andrea Barzagli at CB. Zaccardo has to be tracked slowly as he finds his way into the 18-yard box and unmarked he has a fairly accurate aerial game and left foot.

The midfield is where Napoli should look to establish its foothold and keep Palermo back on their heels. If Migliaccio is healthy it’ll really provide a boost for Palermo. Without his presence in the midfield, Fabio Simplicio may just have too much to do in shouldering the load. Look for a fit Napoli to grind these boys down in the Sicilian night. Colantuano will be likely forced to play young Serbian Bosko Jankovic, Fabio Caserta and Giovanni Tedesco if Migliaccio can’t cut it. Marek Hamsik, Walter Gargano and Ezequiel Lavezzi ought to run rings around Caserta and Tedesco by the second half. The early season numbers in terms of goals scored and surrenderred per half really bear this out (see below).

Once again, our tifosi will be unable to travel to the match because of fan behavior. Someone threw a rock at a Sky Sport announcer (no word on if they were hit and really, who hasn’t wanted to pitch a rock at a commentator?) and offensive banners and blah-dee-blah-dee-freaking-blah. So Lazio fans stab and kick other team’s fans but we can’t hold up a “Juve merda” banner? Whatever, I’m so exhausted by the hypocrisy of the Italian poo-bahs and the boorish behavior of these ultras.

On a “let’s all be friends” note, apparently Napoli President Aurelio DeLaurentis and Zamparini have struck up a bit of a friendship and the two had really nice things to say about each other. Of the decision, Zamparini had this to say: “When incompetent politicians take chage it can only do damage.” Gotta love those Sicilians.

Stats
Napoli (L-D-W-L-D) 9-9
Palermo (D-D-D-D-D) 6-6
1st half goals (surrendered): Palermo 9 (4) / Napoli 4 (5)
2nd half goals: Palermo 6 (11) / Napoli 14 (8)

Edit: The game will be shown live on RAI International and delayed on Fox Soccer Channel & Fox Sports World (Canada). FORZA NAPOLI!