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

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.

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!!!!

Paolo Cannavaro (born June 26, 1981)
Italy

There were smiles all over Napoli when Pier Paolo Marino brought young Paolo Cannavaro back to Naples. The younger Cannavaro started his professional career with his hometown club back in 98/99 but didn’t play much in his two seasons and moved to Parma where he was briefly reunited with older brother Fabio on the Tardini backline, making his Parma debut replacing Fabio in a match against Lecce. Cannavaro became a regular for Parma at the age of 23. Prior to Aurelio De Laurentis’ third year, he became a prime target for Napoli following their promotion to Serie B. Although Napoli achieved promotion from Serie C1 in a cakewalk, allowing a measley 20 goals in 34 matches, Marino knew the step up in quality against the likes of Bologna, Genoa, Rimini and some Turin club required a quality above the journeymen and young starlets on loan typically found in Italy’s lower divisions. Cannavaro provided an immediate impact scoring an incredible bicycle kick goal in the dying moments of extra time in a Coppa Italia match against the prison-stripers (at about the 1minute mark of the video). Cannavaro has, like the rest of the Napoli side, had an up and down season in his return to Italian top-flight football. He’s started everyone of our matches with the exception of the season opener against Cagliari as he was serving a carry-over suspension from last year. While Canna’s play has rarely been atrocious, he has seemed a step slower in his tackles and has been lucky to only receive three yellows.

Officials at the club have certainly placed their trust in Canna as Reja announced the ‘hot potato’ captain’s armband will rest on young Paolo’s arm. You can’t question Paolo’s commitment. I mean the man has a tattoo of the day Napoli was promoted to Serie A on his right arm (June 10, 2007). Canna loves the city and the squad and his reaction on that glorious day in Genoa spoke volumes about his passion. I just think he needs to couple that passion with some veteran foresight to really take the next step and lead the Azzurri forward.

Maurizio Domizzi (born June 28, 1980)
Italy

One of the most overlooked purchases this summer was Domizzi’s. Marino was able to come to an agreement with Sampdoria and end the co-ownership the sides had in him. Turns out that was an incredibly well spent 5 million euros. Domizzi has an absolutely killer left foot and is one of the few Azzurri players who can cross the ball in from the wings. While he lacks tremendous pace, Domizzi is a sure tackler, has a mean streak a mile wide and fights for every loose ball. In a 4-4-2, Domizzi would be the ideal left back, but here again Reja’s formation tactics don’t allow the talents of his players to shine as they should.

Perhaps the oddest part of Domizzi’s season was the fact that Reja has him taking penalty kicks this year. Despite missing one against Torino, anyone who saw the Roman-born player fake out Gigi Buffon twice on pk’s would be hard pressed to argue with Reja’s choice. There has been talk of a potential swap with Lazio for Gugliemo Stendardo but I just don’t see that
happening. Domizzi is loved by the tifosi and the deal wouldn’t improve either squad tremendously as the players are probably equal in terms of talent. Stendardo has fallen out with Lazio but I don’t see Marino being dumb enough to let Lazio off the hook here.

Andrea Cupi (born January 27, 1976)
Italy

Yes, he looks like a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd and he can’t be counted on to start every week due to an arm’s length of ailments. Yes, I said Napoli would be better off without him as he didn’t play at all last year and no one was quite sure he’d recover from his knee injury.
And yes, he isn’t particularly fast and has never scored a single goal in a 13-year professional career.

All that said, he’s played a hell of season thus far. Cupi has been a rock on the right side of the defense. Often having to cover defensive errors for Gyorgy Garics or Gianluca Grava, Cupi has played with a calmness which seems to settle down his mates. You have to give it up to
Marino for sticking by his guns on Cupi. The only problem is he’ll be 32 by the end of the month and you can’t just can’t pencil his name on the team sheet every Sunday.

Matteo Contini (born April 16, 1980)
Italy

When Marino’s courtship with Salvatore Aronica from Reggina ended badly, he turned to Contini who was scooped up from Parma. The results thus far have been mixed. Contini is never likely to set the world on fire, but judging him from what I’ve seen this season, it’s hard to see how
he was a regular starter for Parma for three straight years. He is prone to rattle into opponents and the reckless challenge. While he provides a bit more muscle for attacking headers in the opponents box, his deficiencies on defense make him a clear second choice behind Cupi. It’s only Cupi’s ailments that have given him so much playing time thus far in the first half. He has not been a total loss and Contini is certainly serviceable enough, however, he is no long term solution and Marino would do well to add to our back line because these
four players are the only viable defenders Reja has in his 3-5-2. Unless you’re feeling really suicidal and then you insert this shmoe into your lineup:

Ruben Maldonado (born
April 25, 1979) Paraguay

Perhaps it was simply the talent in Serie B, but after watching Maldonado last year I didn’t think he was too shabby. He seemed to move pretty well, capably covered his defense assignments and was decent in the air. All that changed when Maldonado made his Serie A
debut in Palermo. The Paraguayan international couldn’t tackle without committing a foul…a horrendous foul, the kind of foul that gets your ass kicked if you’re playing in a rec league. He played so badly after he was substituted in that Reja had to blow another sub just to take his sorry ass out of there. I mean, wow, he was historically bad. Thankfully, he hasn’t played
much and won’t especially if he can’t his visa problems sorted out (he is still in Paraguay and hasn’t joined the squad yet). There have been a fair number of Serie B sides who’ve inquired about Maldonado and Marino would be better off letting him go. The man is not simply cut out for Serie A.

Overall assessment: Our defense has been decent thus far. The main problem is that we only have four bodies to cover a 3-man backline. One serious injury and we’re in trouble. Reinforcements are needed simply for depth purposes.

#1 Genaro Iezzo born June 8, 1973
acquired: beginning of 2005/06 campaign from Serie A side Cagliari
2007 appearances: 14 Serie A (20 goals allowed) 1.43GA/match; 1 Coppa Italia
(0 goals allowed)
Average Gazzetta score: 5.93
Joe’s grade: B-
Iezzo has been a revelation since Direttore Generale Pier Paolo Marino picked up the native Napoletano from Cagliari. Iezzo has been the starting keeper in Napoli’s successive promotion campaigns that saw the club come up from the depths of Serie C1 to Serie A. Iezzo wore the captain’s armband for much of the season last year after Montervino and Sosa played themselves out of a starting role. He saved at least two games last year with PK saves (he’s been 0-for-3 this year) and was generally a mean, tough, Napoletano bad-ass in the net. Iezzo played so out of his skin last year (0.64GA/match), I’d venture he may have been the best Italian keeper…all apologies to Gigi Buffon. Napoli’s defense did a good job closing down open spaces last year but Iezzo was seemingly called upon to make at least one or two remarkable saves permatch. He was always up to the task. I don’t believe there’s any way Napoli would’ve been promoted last year without Iezzo’s monumental contributions.

This year has been a different story for San Genarro. At times he’s played indecisively, particularly with controlling his backline. You just got the sense last year that Iezzo knew exactly what was the opposition was throwing at him and was able to direct his defenders more authoritatively. To be sure, there’s a tremendous gap in talent between Serie B and Serie A. However, Iezzo is not without Serie A experience and Napoli had been counting on his 19 professional seasons to guide the defense. Iezzo has had some nightmarish performances (the five goal trashing in Bergamo against Atalanta for one) mixed in with some fairly decent outings. However, even in his three clean sheets this season, he was only called upon to make 9 saves. Iezzo’s future with Napoli will depend exclusively on how he performs the rest of the season. If he continues to have lapses in concentration and doesn’t perform near to the standard he set with the Azzurri in two previous years, look for Marino to find another option. The most troubling aspect for me concerning Iezzo is that he hasn’t carried this team on his shoulders to a victory yet this season, something we’ve grown accustomed to in his time with the Azzurri.

#22 Matteo Gianello born May 7, 1976
acquired: beginning of 2004/05 campaign from Serie C2 side Cisco Roma
2007 appearances: 3 Serie A (2 goals allowed) 0.67GA/match; 3 Coppa Italia
(4 goals allowed) 1.33GA/match
Average Gazzetta score: 5.67
Joe’s grade: B

Gianello’s assessment must be made within the context of his role as a backup keeper. Barring injury, a 2nd string keeper is likely to only make a handful of starts and play in some cup games. To that extent, the 31-year Gianello has done a great job both this year and last. When Iezzo went down with a calf injury earlier this year, Gianello stepped up and put up consecutive clean sheets against Empoli and Livorno in his first Serie A action (he played with Sampdoria in 94/95 and Siena in 03/04 but never made it onto the pitch). Though neither squad managed much in the way of total shots (5), Gianello never showed any signs of nervousness and kept his backline in control. However, anyone who say Gianello’s performance in the first leg of the Round of 16 matchup against Lazio would question his ability. Gianello kept spilling rebounds and was eventually punished for it in our 2-1 loss.

Path forward: Marino must use the second half of the campaign to figure out if Iezzo is his man.  Unless he makes some tremendous strides forward, Napoli should look to a young star like Marco Amelia from Livorno to guide the partenopei for the future. It isn’t Marino’s style to make such a radical change during the January calciomercato, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t make a big splash during the summer assuming Iezzo doesn’t step up.