This game was so bad I hope nobody else was watching. At times it resembled a Serie B game, and it was only saved by 20 year old Andrea Russotto, who came on for the last 10 minutes. I had never seen Russotto play before, but he was so impressive I wonder why Reja favours strikers like Zalayeta and Pia before him. Russotto didn’t do anything particularly great, but his dribbling and passing skills reminded me of a young Francesco Totti.

With Russotto’s burst of energy and creativity Napoli picked up their play, and German Denis’ 87th minute goal gave Napoli a victory they maybe didn’t fully deserve. Reja rested most of our starters for Thursday’s UEFA Cup game against Benfica, and in the end I thought our best players were the substitutes – Denis, Gargano, and Russotto.

What made this game so bad was that Bologna showed next to nothing – it’s almost like they want their coach Daniele Arrigoni to get fired. Some teams that are short on talent and struggling at least play their hearts out and leave it all on the field, but Bologna looked like they were just going through the motions. Here are the highlights:

This could be a huge three points for Napoli at the end of the season, but we really should have walked over that Bologna team even with most of our starters rested. It was the kind of day where even Hamsik, who was touted as a future Ballon D’Or winner earlier in the week

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=884673

looked pretty average. Since I don’t have any more positives to add, I’ll wrap it up and let others offer an alternate perspective.

Man of the Match – Since Russotto only played ten minutes I can’t really pick him, so I’ll go with Bologna’s Mudingayi, who looked really good on a really bad team.

Le Pagelle:

Gianello – 6.0
Santacroce – 6.0
Rinaudo – 5.5
Aronica – 4.5
Montervino – 4.5
Pazienza – 4.5
Blasi – 6.0
Hamsik – 5.5
Mannini – 6.0
Zalayeta – 5.0
Pia – 5.5

Substitues: Denis 6.5, Gargano 6.5, Russotto 6.5

Reja – 5.0

Napoli opened the scoring in the 13th minute as Zalayeta and Maggio combined well down the right wing to set up Hamsik for a tap in. It was the Slovak’s third goal of the season, placing him one goal behind Milito and Zarate for the Serie A lead. Palermo spent the rest of the match trying to generate offence and managed to control the game for large chunks, but could only create half chances that ended up being wasted. Zalayeta’s comical goal, which most Primavera strikers would have scored on the first try, secured the three points for Napoli. The fact that he scored the goal with a flick of his leg while sitting on his ass demonstrates just how entertaining he can be.

Here are the match highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLtfqwpANdw

Concerns for Napoli: the defence held up, but was shaky. On another night a sharper attacking team could have done much more damange. Too often our defenders just cleared the ball right to Palermo’s end, allowing them to start a fresh attack. Those kind of powerful clearances look impressive, but they really play into the other team’s hands by just giving them the ball.

Positives: Pretty much everything else. Iezzo showed why Navarro and Gianello can’t win the starter’s jersey, our midfield was solid as usual, and our strikers competed well. Overall Zalayeta was a bit rusty, but he did some nice work defensively – which is unusual for him – and got some of his confidence back with the well taken important goal.

With each match review I will try to offer up my version of ‘le pagelle’ for Napoli’s players, but the unstable feed made watching the game a bit difficult and I will pass on numerical evaluations. Man of the Match goes to Marek Hamsik. It’s easy to see why every big club in Europe wants him.

If you saw things differently, please leave your comments below. Questions for discussion: Was the Napoli you saw last night good enough to qualify for the Champions League? Do you feel comfortable with both Contini and Aronica starting in a three man defence? I’ll be back on Saturday with a preview of Napoli’s trip to the Dall’Ara.

In the 8th minute, Iezzo was tested by a shot about 30 meters out by Atalanta midfielder Fernando Tissone that required the keeper to dive far to his right to stop a rather well struck and strategically placed ball. No problem!!!

Within the first 10 minutes, it was becoming obvious that Napoli was serious about this game and that the Catania horror show of a week ago was a thing of the past. Reja’s boys had come to play!!! Napoli exuded great ball handling and passing skills and generated most of all the offensive chances in the first half but the Partenopei for as well as they were playing, Atalanta keeper Coppola was up to the challenge. To the Azzurri’s credit, their midfield play was excellent in the first half and their defense had done a great job on minimizing the impact of talented Atalanta striker Sergio Floccari.

Our boys came out even more fired up for the second half as Reja immediately subbed out Blasi for Pazienza, maybe as a means of protecting Manuele from himself. If you haven’t noticed, Manuele has developed this bad habit of racking up yellow cards, usually in the second half possibly to compensate for fatigue. Good move Edoardo!

In the 49th minute, the Azzurri really started to pour it on as Gargano took a nice pass from the backline and fired a powerful and accurate shot about 30 meters out which was stopped by Coppola but the rebound came right back out to Mannini who immediately closed in on the Atalanta goal and attempted a cross for an open Hamsik but Coppola dove head long and knocked the attempted cross out of harm’s way. In the 58th minute, Reja substituted a rather ineffective Calaio with Sosa with the hope of firing up the Argentine chemistry with Lavezzi to get us over the hump!!

In the 61st minute, Gargano found a streaking Lavezzi along the left side, in behind the Atalanta defense but Coppola beat the Argentine on the one on one. One minute later, Sosa took a feed from the midfield in the Atalanta penalty area, flicked the ball to Lavezzi who sent a laser shot Coppola’s way that was miraculously stopped but the rebound came all the way out along the left side and found a streaking Hamsik who buried it into an open cage. Unbelievably, Coppola almost got to this shot as well!!

Napoli put the game away two minutes later as Sosa, outside of the Atalanta penalty area sent a wonderful cross through the box to Lavezzi, who got tangled with Atalanta defenders Bellini and Manfredini and in doing so, the ball was directed towards Coppola by a hand that appeared to be Bellini’s so initially the goal appeared to be an “auto goal” but later was credited to Lavezzi. Napoli 2 Atalanta 0!!!! (After the game Atalanta coach Del Neri was still lamenting this goal as a hand goal likening it to a lay-up in basketball and commented on its crippling impact- a real back breaker).

This appeared to be the best game that our Partenopei have played since the Fiorentina game and probably one of their top three games throughout this season. This team was focused and hungry. Their passes were crisp and they were clicking on all cylinders as it really appeared that Atalanta was not even worthy to be on the same field as them today. Why can they be so good and so bad at the same time? Although a lot of the inconsistency has to do with the immaturity of the team and possibly at the fault of our beloved coach but consider the following list as (major or minor) contributing factors as to what makes the team tick on some days, and not on others:

-They perform differently if they have certain key players on the pitch, namely Blasi and Gargano and possibly Mannini. Hamsik looks awesome playing with Gargano and Blasi whereas Marek seems rather ordinary otherwise.

-When the midfield is kicking ass, like they were today, there is far less reliance on Cannavaro and Domizzi which obviously minimizes their exposure to defensive breakdowns.

-I eat my words when I say that Sosa coming off the bench seems to give his teammates a rather large emotional lift and it is evident that there is chemistry between Lavezzi and Sosa but very little between Lavezzi and Calaio.

-The team was uplifted today by the return of Iezzo despite the fact that no one can argue that Gianello has performed far better this year but San Gennaro was ‘the man’ last year and the number one reason the team was promoted. This has to count for something in the players psyche.

Although I am thrilled with the victory because I would love to finish ahead of Lazio (a 2007 Champions League participant), Palermo (a 2007 UEFA Cup qualifier), Atalanta (2006 Serie B champion) and Genoa (fellow promoted 2007 Serie A cousin), I am a frustrated fan. This team has proven that it can play against anyone, any time but not necessarily anywhere (see the crappy road record). They have sucked eggs against the crappy teams (Cagliari, Catania, Reggina etc) and just when you think they will fold up given a totally brutal performance the week prior, they stun you with a wonderful game, like they did today. What do think they’ll look like against Parma next week. I am saying they will disappoint given their pattern established thus far this year.

Still though, I am relishing this win as I hated Atalanta for the 5-1 Bergamo thrashing. Payback is a bitch, isn’t it??? FORZA NAPOLI!!!!

It is a cruel bit of irony that Napoli supporters outside of Italy can only view their squad on the road. A look at Napoli’s road record would make you think the side was a sure bet for relegation. Sunday’s 3-0 defeat in Catania means the partenopei has only managed 10 points from 16 road matches while getting outscored 32 to 19 . (Tied for 2nd most road goals allowed).

Napoli wore their all whites for the second time this season and I’m going to stop wishing they’d break out their white kits if they’re going to play this badly. Napoli was without Emmanuele Blasi who sought fit to see him suspended for the 83rd time this season. Last I checked Blasi was tied for the league “lead” in yellows and he’s given no indication he wants to give up his crown. Napoli’s midfield play this season has been atrocious without Blasi’s leadership and calmness on the ball. However, at this stage of the season having only one player out (Zalayeta’s injury notwithstanding) is a luxury most teams cannot claim. A Serie A side should not be so dependent upon a single player and depth at the defensive midfielder’s position must be addressed this summer.

Catania had a dream start at home under former New England Revolution/Inter Milan keeper, Walter Zenga. Zenga was one of the first keepers I can remember to wear a baseball hat and somehow I’ve always managed to hold a private grudge against him for doing so. In the 4th minute, Midfielder Giuseppe Colucci took a free kick a few yards from the corner flag and bounced, not drilled, not smacked, not smoked, but bounced twice in the box before getting past Mario Gianello’s near post. Napoli had no one guarding the near post and Maurizio Domizzi either continued his sleepwalking this year as he didn’t pounce on the ball or there was a miscommunication between he and Gianello. Either way, Catania were off or running and Napoli were forced to chase the game on the road. Things weren’t looking good and I hadn’t yet even drained my first cup of espresso.

Napoli would try to push up and started looking dangerous…well, Lavezzi started looking dangerous, when Catania hit on the counter-attack as Mark Edusei floated a great ball into Genarro Sardo that turned Mirko Savini around, not once but twice, and Sardo slotted a ball past a hapless Paolo Cannavaro and onto the path of Gionatha Spinesi who had the easiest of tap-ins to put Catania ahead and kill off the match…in the 16th minute. This match was completely over by the 16th minute and it was time to start making the excuses and looking ahead to Atalanta. At that point, Catania were happy to put 10 men behind the ball and absorb the pressure. The game meant much more to them than to the Azzurri.

There was simply no debating the dreadful play of Napoli for most of this match. Catania should be commended as they played a controlled game and took advantage of their opponents critical errors. While we had the lions share of the statistical advantage (61% possession, 16-7 shot advantage, and double the # of corners), Napoli rarely looked capable of scoring. All too often Ezequiel Lavezzi was often alone trying to take on multiple defenders. Now whether or not this was due to selfishness or lack of faith in his teammates, I can’t tell. Reja tried switching to a 4-3-3 moving Daniele Mannini on the left with Lavezzi on the right and Roberto Sosa in the middle. The attack seemed none too sharper and the few chances (two Sosa headers) in the first half went begging.

Any doubts were eliminated in the 2nd minute of the second half when again Napoli’s defense fell asleep on a set play. Edusei floated a corner which bounced to the far post and, shockingly, no one was within 5 yards of the ball. Rumored Napoli target, defender Juan Vargas, tried to hit the ball on the volley and only managed to graze it. All the while Mirko Savini is thinking about how nice it’ll be next year to play with Ascoli instead of closing down an opponent in his own box. The amount of space afforded Vargas allowed him to follow up his miskick and he drilled the ball past a defenseless Gianello. 3-0 Catania and I was thinking this would be another beating like we took in Bergamo against Atalanta.
While Napoli had some decent opportunities in the second half, the match was hopeless and the only consolation, not a small one at that, was Palermo beating Juventus. The Rubentus loss brings a smile to my face even if it does nothing to improve our position in the table.

This Jekyll and Hyde of a team now return home next Sunday against Atalanta looking to avenge their 5-0 ass-kicking from earlier this season. While the remaining matches will neither vault Napoli to EUFA Cup spot nor land us in Serie B next year, they should be used as an exercise to blood some new players and recruit a dynamic coach for next season. It’s likely neither will happen and Atalanta will kill us again. Seeing as how this season has gone down, nothing should be surprising.

The andata leg of the Reggina tie was primarily remembered for Emmanuele Calaio’s penalty kick miss which cost Napoli the chance to get the victory. Coincidence or not, Calaio really fell off the face of the earth in coach Edy Reja’s world after this miss and once again Calaio played a major role in the ritorno leg…as a ghost. Reja left Calaio on the bench and kept him there, opting to start the Argentine pair of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Roberto Sosa.

I find myself a little indifferent to the result. On the one hand, Napoli once again failed to seal the deal and secure points. You could argue we’ve thrown away seven points this year. Napoli turned a draw into a loss on September 30 against Genoa when Gianello didn’t make a saveable attempt in the 89th. Napoli snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on January 27 when they allowed two goals against bottom-dwellers Cagliari in extra time. That loss galls me more than any single match this season. Last week, against the other Turin club they turned a draw into a loss when Maurizio Domizzi blew an assignment and left Vicenzo Iaquinta alone in the box. Just want to take a moment to hate on Iaquinta. This hack is a poor man’s Pippo Inzaghi. He looks like him. He has his patented “What? Me?” face down pat. He rarely looks to pass and he’s my least favorite Italian this side of Alessandro Del Piero.

On the other hand, we pulled a draw out against Lazio on an extra-time goal by Hamsik and we defeated Livorno way back in September on a late goal that Marco Amelia gifted to us after playing a fantastic match. All in all, the table doesn’t lie and Napoli is mid, mid-bottom team this season. Not good enough for Europe. Not bad enough to be relegated. For our first year in Serie A and what is really, a young organization, the result isn’t too bad. So again, my glass is half full. And hey, did you check out the white unis? We haven’t played with those since 2005? Maybe someone knows for sure.

The game itself was a dull, lifeless affair where Reggina lacked the quality to consistently break down Napoli’s defense and Napoli offered little in the way of creativity or anything resembling an attacking mindset. To be sure the absences of Maurizio Domizzi, Daniele Mannini and Napoli’s tallest midget, Mirko Savini, played a part in Napoli’s lack of…anything. Mannini has shown some ability to distribute the ball and make the cutting pass while Domizzi has fallen off the boil he’s a team leader and has a point to prove if he is looking to jump to a bigger club this summer (I’m not buying that he’ll move, by the way). Back to our best winger. Yes, I’m ready to annoint Savini the award for the best Napoli winger in 2007-08. Sadly, the award doesn’t carry much prestige as the only competition is an Austrian who crosses like a atheist vampire and a Serie B veteran who is so happy to be in the top flight he generously gives up the ball to any opponent who compliments his tattoos. Guh. Erminio Rullo can hardly be considered a player since he only sees the pitch from the stands and when he picks up cones after practice.

Reggina didn’t dominate the match in the way that is obvious to see when you have a team clearly superior in talent. However, outside of a few five minute stretches, Reggina seemed the more determined and aggressive side. Their control was more subtle and really only confirmed when you’ve had a chance to review the statistics. Reggina had 58% possession, more corners, less yellows, less fouls (by extension more free kicks), better passing percentage (69% to 61%), more shots, more crosses and more 50/50 balls won. Yikes. Maybe that is pretty  obvious?

Lineups: Napoli
NAPOLI (3-5-2): 22 Gianello, 13 Santacroce, 28 Cannavaro, 96 Contini, 14 Garics, 8 Blasi, 23 Gargano, 17 Hamsik (5 Pazienza 44 s.t.), 2 Grava,
7 Lavezzi (18 Bogliacino 35 s.t.), 9 Sosa.
In panchina: 30 Navarro, 3 Rullo, 4 Montervino, 24 Dalla Bona, 5 Pazienza, 18 Bogliacino, 11 Calaiò . All.: Reja

Once again, Samuele Dalla Bona, Rullo and Calaio didn’t see the pitch. Ah, the joys of Edy Reja’s lineup. Palermo is up next Sunday and they’ve defined insanity. They’ve now fired their coach for the 4th time (?), rehired the coach who started the season, have lost 3 in a row and, oh yeah, they only field 14 players for the match on Sunday. Maybe we could do the unthinkable and actually defeat a squad when they’re down?

Game highlights

Yesterday’s victory against Inter is a time-capsule moment. Napoli fans will lock this one away and talk about that magical Spring night for the next, oh 20 years, every time this fixture comes back on the calendar. Inter had not lost a Serie A match since last April (31 consecutive matches) and have systematically destroyed any club not named Liverpool, AS Roma or Fenerbache for the better part of two years. The Nerazzurri have simply found a way to take on all comers and have won or drawn in every conceivable manner. Not today, my Argentine friends. Not today.

Both sides came into the match at less than their best. Napoli have been generally atrocious since December going 3-3-6 and getting outscored 25-15 in the process. Humiliating losses against Atalanta, Empoli, Milan, both Genova sides and a miserable ouster in the Coppa Italia against Lazio were all weighing down the promise of a bright season. The injury bug hit all at once, doesn’t it always?, and we can’t seem to stop getting players sent off. Inter have their own concerns as they are in danger of losing out again in the Champions League Round of 16 against Liverpool. If they could only find a keeper, the injury list for the Nerazzurri could give qualify for a Champions League spot all on their own (Cordoba, Samuel, Maxwell, Dacourt, Cambiasso, Cesar, Ibrahimiovic & Cruz) . Heavy is the head that wears the crown, I guess. I wish I had the same concerns.

Despite all the Moratti hand-wringing, Inter must have felt the scudetto was all theirs. Inter had a nine-point lead after getting a late draw against their only Serie A competitors in AS Roma. But it took only 3 minutes at the San Paolo to throw everything into chaos. Ezequiel Lavezzi, recovering from the flu that kept him out of the Genoa match on Wednesday, broke an offsides trap on a long ball from Walter Gargano who skillfully stole the ball in on his own side of the center circle. Inter keeper Julio Cesar rushed off his line and past the 18-yard box to hoof the ball clear but only succeeded in getting the ball to Marcelo Zalayeta. Seeing a wide open net, El Panteron lobbed a ball which seemed to float forever in the night. The flight of the ball should have caused it to sail over the net but somehow it landed in the back of the net and the city erupted in a chorus of screams.

While the goal itself was fluky, Napoli simply outplayed Inter Milan all night long. Marco Materazzi was getting killed by Lavezzi whose pace and skill seemed to have returned after a few sub-par performances. Napoli opened up Inter’s defense a half dozen times
before Inter had their first attempt on goal in the 19th minute. When Zalayeta nutmegged Cristian Chiuvu in the 14th causing Chiuvu to drag him down and get a yellow, you knew the Azzurri were feeling it. Backup keeper Matteo Gianello made a great kick save off a David Suazo bullet who got around Captain Paolo Cannavaro. It would mark one of the Inter opportunities and the only time Cannavaro was beaten on the night. Quite a feat when looking at the competition and Canna’s recent form which left most Napoletanos wanting to flay their hometown boy.

20-year old Marek Hamsik awoke from his recent slumbers to whip in crosses and dangerous free kicks all evening. His golden scoring chance came early in the second when received a beautiful ball from Zalayeta who controlled it skillfully and passed it off to the Slovakian who hit a laser saved by Cesar. He even found Canna at the top of the top of the box in the 29th minute after dribbling past an Inter defender. The header was directly well but parried away by Cesar who will only be remembered for his gaffe. Cesar may have been the man of the match save for that mistake but I guess that’s little consolation to the Argentine National squad Inter. His best save of the net came against Materazzi who in an attempt to clear the ball mishit a shot that was inches from going into the net before Cesar seemingly dived across half the distance of his net to parry the ball away. Someone tell me why Doni or Dida ever play in the net for Brazil? Ever?

The match turned a bit ugly when Matteo Contini smacked Ballotelli with an elbow causing the young striker to sit out for awhile as physios attended to his cut. While the Inter defenders complained (gasp!), the elbow certainly didn’t appear to be malicious.
Guys run. Guys run with their arms pumping. Faces get near men who run with pumping arms. Bleeding ensues. Get a grip. Happened to me last week playing a game too. Move on, boys. Move on.

Roberto Mancini brought on Javier Zanetti in to replace Maniche at the start of the second half. Mancini had to have thought he could rest his captain for a change. I’d be hard pressed to ever leave him out of my starting XI or sub him out. He’s simply one of the best and most versatile players in the world.

What would a game in Italy be without a little controversy? In the 73rd minute, Napoli caught Inter on the counter-attack when Inter pushed up too many players into the attack on a corner. Napoli broke out and Lavezzi took the ball at least 60 yards down
the pitch before leading Gargano a bit too long into the Inter box. Julio Cesar came off his line and got to the ball but Gargano did a “Lavezzi leap” (see his dive against Juve earlier this year) and Napoli was awarded a dubious penalty. Maurizio Domizzi normally takes our pk’s but was suspended (for the second time this year) for the match. Coach Edy Reja choose to have Zalayeta take the pk and it was blocked by Cesar. To be fair, Cesar took a big step forward before the kick to cut down the angle as the pk wasn’t taken too badly. In any case, karma prevailed and the scoreline remained 1-0.

From that point on, every time Inter had the ball I simply awaited the inevitable. I fully expected a repeat of the Cagliari debacle where we dropped 3 points by allowing two late goals in stoppage time. However, this time Napoli did not go into a shell. They kept pressing and beating Inter to every loose ball and going in hard on every challenge. We’d seemingly have to wait forever for Rizzoli to blow his whistle as five minutes of extra time was added. But Inter never got close to goal. This was one for the ages.

I cannot bring myself to criticize Reja today. There’ll be plenty of time for that later. Let’s enjoy this one, shall we?

Match highlights:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAUsG89iCgg

The Azzurri needed the three points badly. More importantly, they needed to play well and play as a cohesive unit for the first time in over a month. Napoli came through on Saturday and squashed any talk of a Udinese getting revenge for the 5-0 drubbing earlier this year by beating the bianconeri 3-1 at the Stadio San Paolo in this weeks anticipo.

Reja trotted out his typical 3-5-2 (he does know different formations are allowed, right?) but Napoli were shorthanded without starting keeper Genarro Iezzo, defenders Maurizio Domizzi and Andrea Cupi as they faced an Udinese side whose table position has fallen and their Champions League position has given way to hanging on for UEFA Cup spot. Nothing like a matchup of desperate sides to get the blood going.

Napoli were dangerous from the first minute. In particular, Marcelo Zalayeta caused the fruilani defense all sorts of problems. El Panteron has effectively taken Emmanuele Calaio’s spot in the lineup and despite his seven goals he’s has had long stretches where he has done nothing to add to Napoli’s attack. Zalayeta had his shot cleared off the line by Columbian defender Cristian Zapata in the first minute and then had a rocket shot drill the crossbar in the 3rd. All that pressure proved fruitful in the 5th when Zapata attempted to clear a low cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi but instead redirected it into the back of his own net.  Things wouldn’t be so easy however as Udinese leveled in the 8th minute when FW Simone Pepe scored his first goal of the campaign. Pepe got on the end of a 40-yard cross and hit a beautiful one timer into the top corner past a helpless Matteo Gianello (filling in for Iezzo).

The Udinese goal seemed to settle Napoli down as they effectively controlled possession and locked down Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale who rarely figured in the attack. Credit for keeping down the native Napoletani pair of attackers goes to the entire squad who limited the pair to two shots (neither on target) but especially Matteo Contini who may have played his best match of the season. The golden chance of the match for the pair came in the 32nd when Quagliarella made a fantastic counterattacking run but he played a poor ball to Di Natale and the chance went begging.

Captain Paolo Cannavaro was sent off in the 36th when Udinese launched a counterattack and Zapata outran the Napoli defense. Cannavaro and Zapata had their legs tangle inside the 18-yard box and Canna was given the red for taking down an attacker as the last man back. There’s little doubt the sending off was harsh but from the refs point of view, you can argue it was justified. In the few years I’ve been closely following Napoli, they have proved to be incredibly tough and resilient when they’re down to 10. This would prove no different. Napoli kept up the pressure despite being a man down and had some decent looks at goal but weren’t able to stick one in the back of the net.

The second half started without any changes for either side (grrrrr….Reja!) and Udinese looked to capitalize on their man advantage. Brazilian defender Felipe came closest to scoring in the 49th when his dangerous header was blocked from going on frame by Quagliarella. Napoli survived the onslaught and the worm turned when Pepe capped an eventful evening by getting a red for diving after a Marek Hamsik challenge. While it was close, it was a dive. Now perhaps Ayroldi (the ref) was trying to even things up as the Cannavaro red was no sure expulsion but a judgment call. Who knows? Who cares! Napoli had their break.

Ezequiel Lavezzi would lead the way as he has so often this year. A minute after Pepe’s red, Lavezzi had a dangerous shot which just missed geting on frame. All hell broke loose in the 74th as Lavezzi drilled a wicked right-footer from well outside the 18-yard box past Samir Handanovic to give Napoli the lead. The tifosi hardly had a chance to stop screaming before Riccardo Colombo inexplicably tapped a ball back into his own box which Lavezzi easily scooped up and chipped over Handanovic to give Napoli the commanding lead.

Udinese were effectively done after the second goal and phoned the rest of the match in. So Napoli won for the first time since the Parma match so very long ago and sit 11th in the table. While the victory was certainly welcome there’s a great deal of work left to do as Napoli will travel to Genova to take a very tough Sampdoria team who have a tremendous home record.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

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Genarro Iezzo will have minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Wednesday and will be out of action for at least a month. Reja better get the young Argentinean in there for at least a few matches before then. We won’t hold onto all three guys next year and Del Guidice from the Primavera squad is a promising keeper so…c’mon Reja get one of the kids in there.

And I apologize for the lack of consistent posts but I’ve been working 80-90 hour weeks since the beginning of the year. Relief will come in late February. FORZA NAPOLI!

Napoli goes into the Christmas break on the back of an exciting but very controversial match against Torino at home. Napoli conceded a penalty that never was and saw one in their favor missed by their gladatorial defender Maurizio Domizzi. To top off the bizarre evening, Emmanuele Caliao, the old fan favorite, clanged the post with a header deep into stoppage time that would have given Napoli their deserved victory.

The game began tense and fast, an exchange between Marcelo Zalayeta and Walter Gargano led to Zalagol’s shot being cleared by the feet of Torino keeper Matteo Sereni. It wasn’t long afterward that Napoli was trailing. Domizzi reached a high cross with his foot that the ref in some manner perceived to be handball. It was completely unfair but Alessandro Rosina stepped up and converted.

In the 43rd minute Napoli got a lifeline when Australian Vincenzo Grella was given a second yellow for a foul on fellow midfield destroyer Manuele Blasi. Torino had ten men and Napoli had the ascendancy.

In the second half the real drama began. Marek Hamsik came in for Mirko Savini. Almost immediately Zalayeta was brought down in the box by Sereni. (The PK was the second crucial mistake for 35-year old arbiter Matteo Trefoloni as replays showed Zalayeta dived and has subsequently been handed a two-match ban). Penalty for Napoli ! Up stepped Domizzi and Sereni saved the attempt (his third save out of five pk attempts). The crowd was at fever pitch now.

Napoli fought on, first Hamsik and then Mariano Bogliacino came close. Roberto Sosa and Calaio came in for Bogliacino and Ezequiel Lavezzi respectively. An inspired sub, as Sosa combined with Hamsik, for the Slovak to beat the keeper with a classy left foot finish. The score was level at one apiece and ended with Calaio nearly becoming the hero but for the post.

So another year is over, Napoli won promotion and is at the business end of the table in Serie A. 2007 will live long in the modern history of Napoli as a great year, after so many years of suffering no team I can think of could deserve it more! So cheers to De Laurentiis, Marino, Reja, the players and the fans on a job well done.

Translation by David D’Antonio

I’ll be back tomorrow with a review of the first half of the season. We’ll take a look at the Napoli team by position: GK, DF, Wingers, MF, Forwards. Buon Natale a tutti!

The cream is rising to the top in Serie A and although Napoli won’t sit at the big table with the likes of Inter, Roma and Fiorentina this year, it’s clear they have the talent to end the campaign with top 10 finish. UEFA Cup? Hmm…we’ll see about that. Napoli will need many more performances like this past Sunday and fewer of the disappointments against Genoa, Cagliari and Reggina if a European spot is to be had.

Sunday was Marcelo Zalayeta’s day. The Uruguayan striker scored a fantastic brace and was dangerous when receiving Ezequiel Lavezzi’s wonderful passes. Do they give awards for “newcomer of the year?” El Pocho would have to be nominated if they did as he has been in top form against every squad Serie A has to offer. The Argentine has an unbelievable engine and makes the most ingenious slashing runs and dangerous through balls. Zalayeta had been looking pretty pedestrian the last few matches and felt relieved to score for the first time since the epic 4-4 draw against AS Roma.

The return of Manuele Blasi and Andrea Cupi proved to be a huge bonus as we maintained more possession and were able to break out quickly from our own defensive third. Keeper Genarro Iezzo looked better than he has in ages and the collective defensive effort kept Catania to only seven total shots (Napoli had 17).

My only problems with the match were items you’d think I’d be used to by now:  Coach Edy Reja’s substitutions and the blackout at San Paolo. 

Immediately after his second brilliant goal, Reja substituted Zalayeta for Roberto Sosa. Whatever rift is between Reja and Emmanuele Calaio, I really wish they’d put it behind them. Sosa was useless out there in the second half. Sosa has the skill to be useful, but he needs to be inserted when his limited skill set can be best used. He has little left in his game other than an ability to nod the ball down and win aerial battles in the box. He is not diverse enough player to be the automatic substitute off the bench.

As Napoli fans outside the Motherland know all too well, Napoli have not sold the rights to matches at the San Paolo. This means RAI International or SerieA.tv don’t have the rights to show Napoli’s home matches or highlights. While I love listening to the matches on RadioMarte, it leaves a little to imagination and there’s no chance to go back and listen to it again. Oh well… next up is a matchup against Atalanta in Bergamo. The Curva’s will be closed for the match as the effects of the Gabrielle Sandi tragedy linger.
Rankings (from CalcioNapoliNews.it) with my mangled translation in italics:
CUPI 7 – Altra scommessa vincente di Marino, francobolla gli avanti etnei con classe e personalità. Another winning bet from Marino. Played with class and flair.
CANNAVARO 6,5 – Si mette alle calcagna di Spinesi limitandone al massimo la pericolosità. Played on Spinesi’s heels all game long and limited his opportunities.
DOMIZZI 6,5 – Annulla completamente il temuto Mascara, con in più efficaci lanci in fase di ripartenza.  Completely nullified the threat of ascara…somethingsomethingsomething.
GRAVA 6 – Prova di grande generosità per l’esterno, anche se non sempre impeccabile. Played a great match on the wings even if he wasn’t infallible. DAL 74’ GARICS s.v. – Sempre pronto quando occorre. Non giudicabile. Always ready when called on…not enough time to judge. The equivalent of “I didn’t even realize he was out there?”
SAVINI 6 – Solita positiva fase difensiva e soliti errori in fase di cross.Played well defensively and his only errors were in his ability to cross. And provide anything meaningful in attack other than bitch to the referee.
GARGANO 7 – Recupera un numero incredibile di palloni grazie alla sua incredibile dinamicità, da autentico gladiatore. Recovered many balls thanks to his pace and workrate…a gladiatorDAL 84’ BOGLIACINO s.v. – In pochi minuti dimostra di essere in un’ottimo stato di forma.In his few minutes, he showed his form.
BLASI 7 – Importantissimo il suo recupero, da autentico mastino morde le caviglie degli avversari producendo un essenziale lavoro in fase di interdizione.His return to the lineup was very important and the horse showed his teeth to his opponents? WTF? He needs to make sure he doesn’t pick up more yellows and get disqualified. Blasi picked up another yellow and is in the team lead. He’s already been suspended for one match due to yellow cards.
HAMSIK 6 – Meno brillante che in altre occasioni, riesce comunque a fornire un supporto più che efficace a centrocampo.Didn’t play as well as he has in the past.
LAVEZZI 6,5 – Viene come al solito torturato dalla difesa avversaria, ma riesce comunque a fornire assist ed a creare scompiglio con le sue accellerazioni.Tortured the defenses and furnished the assist on the goal. Disrupted Catania with his pace.
ZALAYETA 7,5 – Sarà anche poco appariscente ma è bravo a far salire la squadra e soprattutto infila due perle di rara bellezza. I have no freaking idea, other than the man scored our two goals and he deserves better than to get subsituted out right after he scores a tremendous, world-class goal.DAL 66’ SOSA 6 – Reja lo mette in campo nonostante non sia il più indicato nelle ripartenze. Comunque utile alla causa.Reja sticks him because he can’t stand Calaio
REJA 6 – Il risultato è positivo ma i dubbi e le perplessità rimangono. Siamo stati fortunati che il gol ha sbloccato l’inerzia della gara, ma perché insistere con un 3-5-2 (che di fatto è un 5-3-2 visto che i due esterni spingono poco badando principalmente a coprire) anche con squadre come Cagliari, Reggina e Catania, mentre viste le enormi potenzialità sarebbe il caso di osare di più. L’ingresso di Sosa è poi inspiegabile, massimo rispetto per il Pampa ma Calaiò sarebbe andato a nozze negli spazi creati dalla difesa catanese… ma allora vogliamo recuperarlo o no?Lots of bitching about how Reja is married to his 3-5-2 which really becomes a 5-3-2 and he isn’t dynamic enough to realize that formation doesn’t always work against every team. Calaio would’ve had a field day against Catania.

The Azzurri looked set to dominate…and they did. From the opening minutes, Napoli looked the more dangerous side and Marek Hamsik had two golden opportunities in the first half which would’ve changed the complexion of the match and forced Reggina to do more than absorb the pressure. Unfortunately, both his opportunities were hit right into a well positioned Campagnolo who stymied the Azzurri. The chance of the half may have come in the 27th when Gianluca Grava (back after two matches without any action and with the captain’s armband) weaved his way into the box around a defender and hit a low shot…err cross which was right into the oncoming legs of Maurizio Domizzi and Marcelo Zalayeta who both missed a golden chance to put Napoli in the lead with a simple tap-in into an open net. Reggina’s best chance of the half was when Contini and Valdez hugged each other to the ground on a free kick right outside the penalty box that could’ve easily been called a PK but both players were at fault and the ref swallowed his whistle. There’s always a chance of disaster striking when the side that dominates a half goes into the locker room without the precious goal. An entire afternoon can be thrown away by one lapse in concentration.

Reggina seized upon that moment of confusion in the 54th minute when Gargano’s pass hit a Reggina midfielder and sent the side off on a counter-attack. Matteo Contini broke up the attack with an excellent slide tackle but surrendered the corner and this proved to be Reggina’s moment. Somehow Luca Vigiani was left unmarked between Erminio Rullo and Zalayeta at the near post and hit a glancing header past a helpless Genarro Iezzo. An afternoon of domination was seemingly out the door and Napoli were left scrambling for the equalizer that would save the embarrassment of the third home defeat this year after a nearly 2-and-a-half year run of matches at the San Paolo without a loss.

Mariano Bogliacino, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zalayeta rained the pressure on Reggina’s net as they searched for the equalizer. Bogliacino’s header off a Rullo cross was tipped over the bar and coach Edy Reja assessed his options on the bench. Rather than inserting a playmaking midfielder (Roberto De Zerbi), Reja continued using Roberto Sosa as his first option off the bench replacing Matteo Contini. So Napoli slipped into a 4-3-3 with Rullo and Grava dropping back to LB and RB and Hamsik, Walter Gargano and Bogliacino in MF. The problem with this formation is that it puts even more pressure on Napoli’s weakest position (fullbacks/wingers) as the midfield presence of Napoli was reduced. Additionally, Lavezzi would then have to drop even further back to get the ball.

Of course, it was Lavezzi himself who would change this match not once but twice over the last 15 minutes. El Pocho picked up the ball at the halfway stripe and drove right at the Reggina defense in the 75th. He made a beautiful diagonal run into the box where Salvatore Aronica simply lowered his shoulder into the Argentine for a clear cut penalty.

And here’s where the soap opera began.

Domizzi has taken Napoli’s three penalty kicks thus far and has hit each one expertly into either corner. Calaio led Napoli in scoring the last two years but has only one start on the year and has been a 10 minute sub for the majority of the season. The events surrounding the penalty kick are these:  when the ref signalled for the penalty, the tifosi were chanting Domizzi’s name, then Calaio signaled for Domizzi and said “I’ll take it.” Reja could be seen screaming from the touchline for Domizzi to take the spot kick. Gyorgy Garics comes over to Domizzi and asks him why he’s not taking it, but Domizzi signals to Calaio and that’s the end of it. Meanwhile, Reja is still screaming for Domizzi to take the kick. Calaio hits a low shot just to the right of Campagnolo who easily parries the ball away and leaves Napoli now scrambling for the equalizer against a side that hadn’t won all year long. Afterwards, Calaio apologizes and says he wanted to take the kick and is at fault here. Yeah, nice deductive reasoning, Einstein. It sure as hell ain’t my fault. Meanwhile, Reja distanced himself from the controversy and said the players on the pitch decide who takes the kick. Nice going, Edy. I don’t know what I expect him to say, but I sure expect him to kick some ass this week.

So Napoli is left scrambling for the equalizer. Gargano and Lavezzi played a nice combination of passes in the box but Gargano took one touch too many to get it onto his left foot and allowed the Reggina keeper time to slide over and make an easy save. I know it’s easier said than done, but shooting quickly and not allowing the keeper to set his feet are basic facts these guys should know. Just before the fourth official announced the additional extra time Napoli had a free kick from just inside its center circle. A beautiful free kick which was punched up but not out and the resulting scramble in the box found the ball at Lavezzi’s feet who hit the back of the net and showed us all of Lavezzi’s tattoos (including one of a gun he has at his belt line…nice, I didn’t need to know that dude).

So despite outshooting Reggina 14-7 and outcornerning them 9-1, Napoli settles for a single point in a disappointing afternoon.

Box score:
Napoli – Iezzo; Contini (15′ s.t. Sosa), Cannavaro, Domizzi; Grava, Hamsik, Gargano, Bogliacino, Rullo (29′ s.t. Garics); Lavezzi, Zalayeta (21′ s.t. Calaiò)
Reggina – Campagnolo; Lanzaro, Valdez, Aronica; Modesto, Barreto, Cascione, Vigiani (39′ s.t. Alvarez), Hallfredsson; Ceravolo (1′ s.t. Joelson, 43′ s.t. Missiroli), Amoruso

Video highlights:
Long version
Short version

Palermo is next and they’ll be without Amauri & Guana (suspensions) and possibly Miccoli, Bresciano and Migliaccio for injury.