Funicoli, Finicola news

By: Joe | July 7th, 2008

What’s this? Consecutive posts? Timely news? The truth is I’ve ignored this blog for far too long due to family/work/sleep. I forgot how cool it was to actually read and write about my team.

* Our jersey officially be officially presented tomorrow. Here’s a sneak peak at the design of our primary jersey. The main difference is the collar, which is an improvement over last year’s design that looked like a baby’s bib. The main problem remains the insistence (by Lete?) on the big red square for the sponsor. I don’t get it and from what I’ve heard from tifosi in Napoli, everyone seems to think the design is a disaster. The other two jerseys will be red and dark blue instead of red and white as has been the case the last few years.

* God, I love our President. Aurelio De Laurentis is said to have offered his players a 600,000 euro bonus if they advance to the group stage of the EUFA Cup (Napoli will have to play a pair of two-legged ties to advance to the “proper” EUFA Cup). Nicely done, De La!

* The search for a left-winger continues. Direttore Generale, Pier Paulo Marino was rumored to be hot after Fiorentina winger Manuel Pasqual. Marino was reportedly offering 5 million euro for the 26-year old Reggina youth product. Pasqual has been a mainstay for the Viola appearing in 98 matches over the last three years. Gastone Rizzato, Pasqual’s agent, yesterday told Radio Goal that when he was in Rome he heard nothing from Fiorentina regarding any potential offer. Despite that the Viola have signed young Peruvian starlet Juan Vargas, who also plays a similar role, Rizzato thinks Pasqual will stay in Florence. I wouldn’t bet on it, but I’m not convinced he’s coming south to Naples, either.

*Left back Maurizio Domizzi may not be on the move after all. After having been linked with almost every club in Italy, Domizzi has been unable to get a deal done for his services. As a result, the Roman defender will join the club in Austria on Wednesday. There’s still a chance Domizzi will move on, but for the time being it’ll be good to have him back with the squad. These pre-season times are when the club can gel and if Domizzi has any future with the club, he needs to be training with the squad. Honestly, it’s bad enough Ezequiel Lavezzi and Nicolas Navarro won’t be with the club at all prior to the Serie A season. So welcome back you big red-assed Roman. Let’s try to actually play some defense this year, eh?

* Our first friendly is tomorrow against some park district club from the Jennersdorf. They have park districts in Austria, right?