Comments on: odds and ends…

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:10:53 +0000

Pia was loaned out to Serie B side Treviso because the assumption was that he couldn’t cut the physical nature of Serie A.

I can’t say I really disagree with the move, Kshitiz. He played a lot in the beginning of last year and played himself out of the lineup. He got some games in at the end and did OK but nothing to make you think he was Serie A capable. In hindsight, they should’ve sold him in January when they would’ve undoubtedly received more from him. There were offers from Atalanta and Udinese which De Laurentis blocked. Pia even opened the door for Napoli making a “play me or let me go” plea when he first got benched. I thought that would be enough to get him gone but I guess not.

By: Kshitiz

Kshitiz — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:30:08 +0000

Off topic here, but Why was Pia sent to Serie B??

By: Karl

Karl — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:02:44 +0000

nothing wrong with 3-5-2 in itself in my opinion. we just don’t have the right players for it so we push players out of natural position. we don’t have any real wing-back except Garics. (against Inter I think it was actually a 5-3-2 … kind of sad really!) As for Lavezzi it’s surprising how isolated he seems at times. He moves far more than anybody else and is exhausted by the 60′. I agree on trying him behind 2 strikers, at least in home matches.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:57:27 +0000

Lavezzi is a pure trequartista in my opinion. If you watch him, he pretty much roams wherever the hell he wants. I like that Reja has given him that freedom at least.

I can’t even begin to explain my frustration with Grava and Savini. I had my doubts about a guy like Cupi but he proved me wrong and I’m comfortable with him on the back line (Contini played in his place against Inter). But Grava and Savini? I mean Grava was directly responsible for the first goal. He gives up the ball and then has a chance to prevent the pass from Ibra but is caught ball watching.
Reja did the same last year with Montervino…he has a veteran he takes a liking too and sticks with him for far too long. The rumblings in Napoli are that Marino is going to shop for a winger in January. I’d like to see us go with a 4-1-2-1-2
Defense: Domizzi, Cannavaro, Contini/Cupi/Maldonado, Garics across the back
D-Midfield: Gargano sitting in front of the backline and Gatti or Montervino as the backups
Central Mid: Hamsik and Blasi (with Dalla Bona, Bogliacino, Rullo as the backups)
Trequartista: Lavezzi with DeZerbi as the backup
Strikers: Calaio and Zalayeta with Sosa as the backup

If Reja continues with a 3-5-2 we need at least another winger and we need another striker regardless of what formation we use.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:44:24 +0000

That’s the first time I’ve watched Napoli play a full 90 mins… now I can see why there’s so much controversy over tactics. Lavezzi might be better as a trequartista rather than a striker. Also, if you want to play with wing backs you need players with different styles than Grava and Savini. As much as I love Reja he is trying to impose a system which may not make the best use of available talent. Using the glass half full approach, I’m sure Napoli will do better at the Olimpico next week.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:53:44 +0000

I read something about it, Karl, but wasn’t able to translate the article enough to mention it here. I know the Camorra were tied into the events at last years Frosinone match which led to a home match ban for supporters.
I don’t know if it’s the Collina effect, the shame from last year’s calciopoli scandal or what, but there does seem to be a shift toward actually rectifying the problems with fan behavior. Of course, if Inter isn’t dealt with similarly to the punishments given to Napoli then we’ll know some things are punishments are ‘fairer’ than others. Lega Calcio is supposed to make a ruling tomorrow on the matter.

Worse than the banners that were unfurled welcoming Napoli to Italy and calling Napoli a disease were the chants they give to Zalayeta…supposedly monkey chants to him everytime he touched the ball. Napoli supporters are no angels and they’ve probably done the same to other players but the whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.

By: Karl

Karl — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:51:13 +0000

Joe, you might have heard that today five ‘head-supporters’ have been arrested from the Digos (italian secret service). Accuses range from extortion, material damage etc.. against the napoli football club for event dating from way back to last years’ match against Frosinone. Looks like something is finally moving on this front.
Also, it’s been great to see the grassroot Napoli supporters (the real ones) organising a strong media campaign against what happened in San Siro during Inter Napoli.