We All Saw It Coming
By: Neil | January 23rd, 2012
Siena 1-1 Napoli
Napoli’s 2nd straight 1-1 draw against a team in the bottom 1/3 of Serie A should not have come as a surprise. The same tactics were used as in previous matches, and the same result was obtained. Just like Cesena and Bolgona, Napoli fell behind a goal and fought back dramatically to avoid embarrassment. Special mention goes out to Napoli fan Gnaples who made an incredibly accurate prediction. Not only did Gnaples get the score correct, he almost got both goalscorers and the times of the goals spot on. Check after the jump to see the details of this amazing prediction.
One day before the match, in the blog titled ‘Looking Ahead’, Gnaples commented:
Napoli Atalata 1-1
Napoli Novara 1-1
Napoli Bologna 1-1
My prediction
Napoli Siena 1-1
Destro 62′; Pandev 89′
Actual Match Result
Siena Napoli 1-1
Calaio 67′; Pandev 86′
That might just be the best prediction I’ve ever seen. When Siena scored Mattia Destro hadn’t come off the bench yet, and if Gnaples had known Siena’s starting lineup I’m sure he would have picked Calaio to score instead. That is truly unbelievable Gnaples.
Here are the highlights in case you missed the action.
Bonus Mazzarri interview for those who understand Italian.
There was lots of good discussion in the comments section of the live blog so I don’t have too much more to add. I really don’t think Mazzarri’s job is in jeopardy, although I don’t think he’s the saviour that DeLa sometimes makes him out to be. Last season Napoli took advantage of a weak Serie A and got some good fortune in quite a few games to finish 3rd. This season the big clubs are a bit smarter and Napoli’s good fortune has evened out. Napoli’s Serie A campaign is still directionless – it could get better, stay the same, or somehow get worse.
Cavani’s missed penalty was also concerning. Hamsik has missed twice this season and Cavani has missed a few over the last couple of seasons as well. There have also been a couple of Coppa Italia eliminations via shootout – Juventus and Inter – and I have to conclude that penalties is not Napoli’s strong point. Outside of Cavani and Hamsik there aren’t too many obvious candidates to take penalties. Pandev takes penalties for Macedonia but he’s likely gone after his loan spell. Maybe Inler?
Napoli’s hero was once again Goran Pandev who is the only player scoring consistently right now. Pandev almost hit a last second winner, but after pulling a brilliant turn in the box he didn’t have much left for the shot and it was hit almost straight at Pegolo. Last season that shot would have gone in and Napoli would have scalped a miracle win, but not this year.
Not much more to add. Napoli is in 7th, five points ahead of Palermo, Genoa, and Chievo but also four points behind 5th place Lazio. Still a long ways to go and Napoli’s form could get hot again.
Check back Wednesday for a preview of Napoli’s Coppa Italia quarter final against Inter. Match is at the San Paolo and I’m wondering how Napoli got two straight home games in the coppa.
Some Related Napoli Posts:
Category: Team News
Comments | Add your comment
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I’ve always felt that Hamsik is the best penalty taker on the team.
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A great Blog by Anto with napoli second in the table (I’ll take that in June) and against top teams excellent with the best percentage so may be it’s just as well we lose against the “poor” teams and beat the top teams as they are invariably six pointers. Hopefully a tad good news in a couple of bad weeks http://www.football-italia.net/node/14967
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If we were to play the eventual scudetto winners in the final of the Coppa would that mean we would get the Europa spot? I seem to remember that happening the year Inter won the treble.
As both a Napoli fan and NY Giants fan, feb 5th is going to be awesome! Napoli Milan in the afternoon and NY NE in the Super Bowl in the evening!
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Rumours of Mou leaving Real in June. Would you guys welcome him to the S. Paolo?
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i would instantly stop supporting napoli if mourinho joined the man is a poison simple as that. i dont care what hes won hes a classless piece of shit
same for balotelli hes just absolutely mental!
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Didnt see the match but nice cross from Dossena to Pandev.
What has happened to Campangnaro? He used to be such a defensive stud.
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Looks like Manolo Gabbiadini from Atalanta is coming in
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Napoli by the numbers so far:
http://footballitaliano.co.uk/p6_66_6867_mazzarri-struggling-to-find-a-plan-b-at-napoli.html
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gabbadiani seems to be scoring in the under 21s for italy but not getting game time for atalanta….could be a good pick up could be a dud
piece i read a while ago. thing is its already been decided insigne will go out on loan yet again next season, only in italy are quality homegrown talent treated like this
i honestly dont know when this anti italian policy came into serie a but calcio has seriously suffered.
italy was the envy of the world with baggio, totti, del piero, vieri, maldini, nesta, cannavaro now the lack of trust and proper handling of youngsters plus the influx of average stranieri has spoiled the league for me
we have one of the most exciting youngsters in italy and guess what we sign a 22 year old from chile who hasnt even played in europe…
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It doesn’t look like Dossena is playing. I am sure we will miss his (sometimes) very dangerous crosses. Mazzarri is going with Zuniga. This tells me that he is afraid. My only hope is that Gargano and Dzemaili will play an outstanding game (it looks like Inler is sitting on the bench) so that Lavezzi can have the freedom to make is fast run in the box.
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