Napoli - Livorno match preview

By: Joe | September 24th, 2007

Rookie Livorno coach Fernardo Orsi brings his squad into San Paolo on Wednesday for the fifth match of the season. The mid week encounter will test both sides but especially be hard on Livorno who have just played Inter last Sunday and then will have to play an in-form Fiorentina after the Napoli encounter. Orsi served as an assistant for four years under Roberto Mancini first at Lazio and then traveling with Mancio to Inter Milan before striking out on his own. Livorno gave Orsi a shot last year after firing Daniele Arrigoni twice (a common occurrence last year in Serie A). The results have been less than stunning.

Orsi did manage to keep Livorno up last year as they were four points from the drop in a very tight and anxious relegation battle that went on until the season’s last day. The squad has stayed in the top flight for its fourth year now and they’ll be aiming to get a result at the San Paolo before they get too buried down in the table and struggle for survival. Livorno currently sit dead last in the table due to their -6 goal differential. They opened the campaign with successive blowout losses against Juventus and Palermo (not that there’s much shame in that) but rebounded to draw Genoa and last week drew with Inter Milan at the Stadio Armando Picchi. Despite their place in the table, Livorno has some quality (they played in last year’s UEFA Cup) and are capable of playing to the level of their competition.

Despite an active transfer market where Livorno picked up former Empoli hit man Francesco Tavano, forward Diego Tristan and Giuliano Giannichedda, they are struggling to replace their enigmatic captain and leader Cristiano Lucarelli. Who’s around to pay homage to Che Guevara and to provide a good old fashioned dual clenched fist goal celebration?

The side is not to be taken lightly and they are certainly capable of locking things tight in the back with their backline of Fabio Galante, Alessandro Grandoni, Dario Knezevic and Giovanni Pasquale along with Azzurri keeper Marco Amelia who is now playing again after getting his hand slapped by Livorno chairman Aldo Spinesi. Apparently, there were words exchanged regarding Amelia’s contract and interest from other clubs in Italy as well as English sides looking to purchase the Roman netminder. Livorno and Napoli played late last month in a 3rd round Coppa Italia thriller that went to penalty kicks after 2 full hours of play. The match was one when Livorno’s last two penalty kick takers missed the net completely on their attempts. Livorno has picked up 14 yellows in the season’s first four matches (Napoli has seven) so you know the squad isn’t afraid, or doesn’t know any better, than to fly in and take men out when they want to.

Meanwhile, there are injury and suspension concerns for the squadra partenopei. Napoli will again be without ‘San Genarro’ Iezzo who is nursing an injury. The Napoletano keeper may return for Sunday’s match against Genoa but Napoli will once again need to buckle down and maintain their excellent defensive form (2 goals allowed are tied with Roma for tops in Serie A) if they are to grab the full share of the points. Ezequiel Lavezzi is nursing a leg injury and was removed early from the Empoli match on Sunday. He didn’t train with the club but got some rest and massage on his sore wheel. Manuele Blasi becomes the first
suspension candidate for Napoli this year as he has earned a yellow in three consecutive matches. Doesn’t he know the resident red-ass of our squad is Maurizio Domizzi? In all fairness, Blasi has been a tremendous pickup as he’s teamed up well with Hamsik and Gargano in the midfield. The suspension could open the door for Mariano Bogliacino who has had little playing time this season after being so instrumental in last year’s Serie B promotion battle.

Napoli are undefeated in their last six Wednesday matches dating back to 1980. Plus it’s Prince spaghetti day. How can we lose?

Festivities kick off at 8:30pm local time. There were rumblings that Radio Marte may not stream the audio broadcasts any longer though I’ve been unable to find anything official on the topic. Fans abroad may have content themselves with sitting in a chat room or message board and hitting the “refresh” key every 30 seconds during the match. A fan’s work is never done.

Forza Napoli!

Update: Reja just announced his callups. Gianello, Del Giudice, Contini, Garics, Maldonado, Rullo, Domizzi, Cannavaro, Savini, Blasi, Bogliacino, Hamsik, Gargano, Montervino, Calaio, De Zerbi, Sosa & Zalayeta.

So a few things to take from this:

1) Since Blasi is on the squad it means my sources were wrong and Karl was right (sorry I doubted you, mate) and a player is not suspended after three yellows as Napoli2000.com reported.

2) Gianluca Grava being out means someone else will wear the captain’s armband. Also Andrea Cupi is not on the roster which means either Maldonado or Contini (most likely Contini) will form the 3-man backline.

3) Ezequiel Lavezzi is not on the squad so either Reja is erring on the cautious side or his injury is worse than anticipated. I’ll go with the former since I don’t want to think of the other possibility.

4) If Samuele Dalla Bona, Fabio Gatti and Marco Capparella are not even going to get called up why didn’t we loan them out? There was definitely interest in Sam and in Gatti.