Loss of Nesta, Loss of Title Hopes?

With Inter just losing to a fantastic Catania footballing display, the following thought is: How does this affect the title race? Glances go to the team in second, Milan, by three points. However, I am more than willing to say their chances rely directly on whether or not Nesta requires surgery. Even if he doesn't, such is the state of the modern top flight calcio defense, that his 45 day absence will be enough to end their hopes. As Italians let's not speak too much of what happened in the second leg against United... However, one topic must be resurrected: what happens when Nesta isn't one of your two center backs; Result: Goals...Lots of them. It's clear Nesta's form (alright, Ronaldinho deserves some props for giving up the nighttime escapades for some ol' Brazilian magic) played a massive part in Milan's surge up the table from the early season slump, as well as the assimilation of Rookie T. Silva and his own admirable form. This is not too mention Nesta's offensive contributions. Now before you laugh off this statement, let's do some math- divide the young Dutchman Huntelaar's goal contributions by two, add an assist, and Voila! You get the 33 year old Nesta...A rock at the back, and threat on the set piece.


Many reporters (especially of the www.goal.com nature) like to point to Leonardo as the source of Milan's problems- the 'Naivety' of the present group of Italian coaches as they say. It's clear the problem is higher up, in terms of available players at least. Look at Daniele Bonera's positioning on Wayne Rooney's first goal of their CL debacle- it's worthy of Serie B to say the least. Now, even Bonera is out, and Ambrosini from the ancien regime is in for a makeshift center back, while the speedy offensive guru Abete fills in beside him...Not to mention the problems up front (why not say in the midfield as well?) are blossoming as Huntelaars inadequacies become more clear game after game. Now, the Chievo game on the weekend will be the test to see how the makeshift defense, the absence of Pato and anyone who can make use of 'Dinho's delicious balls into the box, and Milan's crushed ego, will respond.

When Amauri...

Promises to score on you, he probably is going to do it. Badass is this guys very essence, and works his tail off to earn the title. As Nocerino's recent loan move from Juve to Bari has shown us, you need to have the right mentality and work ethic to make the transition from the small stage to a big club, and Amauri has both. In this case it is part one of what is going to be an awesome weekend of Serie A football: Roma vs. Juventus. And then, the Derby della Madonnina at the San Siro! The big dogs all going at it at once. In this case, Amauri will be lining up with the epic Juventus captain Del Piero, against a Roma defense that has looked anything but fully in tact as they are missing key players. Even Burdisso, new CB signed from Inter, was only added a day before Serie A began. Bad news all around for Roma, because Amauri looked brilliant against Chievo, nearly scoring multiple times, and looks even more inspired with Brazilian compatriot Diego behind him feeding him majestic through balls. Despite the Brazilian on field connection, Amauri is fully focused on Italy, especially this season, as it looks like his Italian passport is ready to be issued to him in the near future. Although he is criticized from fans from both Italy and Brazil for not being fully dedicated to either one, there is no doubt that this guy is a great player, and a potentially great character for Lippi's team. "Italy embraced me and I want to return the hug. My children were born here and my third, hopefully, will also come soon.” He'll be looking for a call-up for the Azzurri nazionale, a team that craves a striker of his class to at the very least, be available on the bench. “It’s harder to get a passport than score a goal!” Amauri joked.

Bari Glory, Livorno Trouble

Two newly promoted teams trying to make their stay at the top flight last more than a season. Before last week it appeared that Bari would be at least one of the three to suffer relegation, while with players like Diamanti, Livorno seemed destined to make the cut. Now Diamanti got his move to the Hammers for a measly 5.5 million, a sum used to retrieve former out of form Inter defender Nelson Rivas. Although Livorno club president Spinelli argues Tavano and Lucarelli will be enough firepower to last the season, he can't deny that the man who used to play just behind them with clever assists, a deadly left foot, and a specialist of the dead ball will not be missed. Diamanti's move to England still perplexes me. A late bloomer, picked up from the third division, has developed into a premier talent, and no doubt would have been scooped up by a bigger club after a decent season with Livorno. Maybe he realized Lippi would not have called him up to the National side regardless of how he performed. Now the question remains can Rivas revamp his career and Livorno's hopes? Meanwhile Bari have held defending champions Inter to a draw at the San Siro. The teenage sensation U-21 Italy international Andrea Ranocchia was in great form, and formed a formidable pairing with fellow teenage center back Leonardo Bonucci. Together they held Inter to one goal from a penalty, and allowed Bari to be patient on the counter attack, by which they nearly took the three points away. They are not showing great signs of weakness after the loss of Conti as coach, and superb winger Guberti to Roma.

Premier League Big Four...Smaller

Nearing the end of the first two weeks of the Premier League makes me excited for the Champions League. 'Why?' you ask? Well, because the EPL usual suspects are off to an unusually slow start, which will level the playing grounds more. In other words, we will not be seeing all four EPL teams in the quarter finals like last year. 'It's too early to tell' you say? Lets take a quick glance at the beginning of the season, because serious tell tale signs are lurking.

Week 1:

Showed us that Manchester United could only win 1 nill against newly promoted Birmingham FC. Yes, this is a blunt statement considering the domination on the pitch by Manchester, but the facts are facts and not finishing will be less and less of an excuse when the big games roll around later on. This goes especially for Michael Owen, who has shown that Manchester's thrifty buying spree over the summer has not exactly displayed the genius of Ferguson as he may have innately hoped. He could have three goals on his record for his new club and a better place in the heart of England manager Fabio Capello, who showed up to the latest game (more on that later). However he missed, and missed poorly on multiple occasions.
Meanwhile Chelsea skim past Hull City with a very late moment of complete class by Didier Drogba in the 90th minute. A chip shot at an angle I feel uncomfortable even describing, from a good distance, dropped perfectly over the Hull keeper's grasp. However, new coach Carlo Ancelotti is still working with his new team and thus cannot be judged harshly. Quite to the contrary, with Chelsea's depth they look poised for a great season.
In Anfield, we saw what happens when a complete midfielder of Xabi Alonso's class is not on the team. They lose 2-1 to Tottenham, their only goal being a penalty. The passing was piss poor. Yes Aquilani is part of the 'long term plan,' but Benitez can't keep talking of 'the plan' forever without delivering, and as of the moment, there seems to be no short term plan. While great players feature in the starting 11, you just feel that if Gerrard, Torres, or Carragher happen to succumb to injury, there is no one to hold the team erect in the wake of Alonso's absence.
Arsenal thrashed Everton 6-1. However, their latest Champions League qualifying match on Tuesday against Celtic showed that they can be very frustrated offensively, as they never were allowed more than a couple decisive moments near net, but luck saw them put in two goals- one off of Gallas' back, and another off of a Celtic defenders attempted clearance. But Vermaelan looks to have been a great signing to cover for Toure who left for Manchester City, and if Fabregas and Gallas can stay healthy there's no reason they can't become serious title challengers at least.


Week 2 (part way through):

Liverpool have improved with a 4 nill thrashing of Stoke City. But again, only when Gerrard is an absolutely dominating force. Similar to Totti's influence on Roma, Liverpool live and die by their captain. Great performance, but what if Gerrard is injured, or what if he is man marked by Michael Essien as he was in the last Champions League Quarter Final? They lose, because, well, that's what happened.
Chelsea improved their flow with a 3-1 win over Sunderland. Chelsea look very strong this season and will win the Premier League. They have a great coach in Ancelotti who is already putting together great line ups. Just watching the preseason friendlies, Chelsea's second team of mostly subs looked just as strong and together as their first. Ancelotti even seems to have Schevchenko's confidence up, which is always a bad thing for opponents, because yes he doesn't have the same legs he used to, but his know how is still there.
For the defending Champions Manchester United, we saw a regression from the previous week losing 1 nill to newly promoted Burnley FC, and no Burnley's stadium locker rooms from the 70's are no excuse. Michael Owen's confidence is anything but growing, and Cristiano Ronaldo is anything but forgotten. Owen had to be subbed out in the 63rd minute for being terrible, and in general, the Red Devils were frustrated and defeated by the newly promoted Burnley FC. Yes, the goal by Burnley's Robbie Blake was nothing short of jaw dropping, but to be fair, United hardly looked threatening. Ronaldo's 60+ goals over his three seasons with United were crucial to their success. Not just the goals, but his ability to run at defenders, making it happen late in the game when no one else can - that was the comfort level that Ronaldo provided for United supporters. In this case, there was none of the above happening, no clutch player to count on. Time will only tell how this loss effects their mentality come the tough league matches and Champions League.

This will surely be an interesting season in all of football.

Inter Trouble

The coming days will be telling for the defending Serie A champs. Estaban Cambiasso will be going under the knife after a tear in his lateral meniscus from the TIM cup match against Juventus. As if the departure of Inter's most influential player during their last couple campaigns Ibrahimovic was not enough to question their ability to win another consecutive Scudetto, the loss of their second most influential player, Cambiasso, will certainly put their season into perspective. If Cambiasso's surgery requires a lengthy recovery, Inter fans will not enjoy entrusting his role to French veteran Patrick Viera who is well past his best. While Patrick Viera struggled to maintain consistency as a one dimensional defensive midfielder last campaign, Cambiasso acted as a substitute center back, a great play maker and ball distributor, and first and foremost, a wall of steal in front of an already potent back line. Not to mention he managed four goals and three assists as a predominantly defensive player. If Inter's biggest problem late in the mercato was attaining a solid attacking mid to replace Figo, now it is finding a way to compensate for Cambiasso's possible absence.