Objects in your mirror are closer than they appear

Inter’s 0-0 draw at Napoli was their second draw in as many matches.  That coupled with AS Roma’s 4-1 result over Palermo means i Lupi are within seven points of the league leader.  The match also extends Roma’s win streak to six matches; their last draw was at Cagliari on January 6 and their last loss was October 28 at Udinese.  Roma is hot at the right time, and with the Totti/Toni tandem they have the talent to make a run at first.

Don’t you forget about Milan

The stars shined for AC Milan on Saturday in their 3-2 victory over Udinese.  Big-name signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted two goals and Ronaldinho assisted on all three goals.  The attention this week will be focused on their Champions League match with Manchester United (which may be why Beckham was rested for this match?) but if this match is an indicator, they are beginning to harness their considerable talent at a good time.  If their superstars can contribute consistently, then they certainly can overtake Roma, as well as make a long-shot chance at first.

Welcome back Juventus

Congratulations to Alberto Zaccheroni for his first victory as manager of Juventus.  Instead of their usual late lead blown, the Old Lady scored the go-ahead goal on an Alessandro Del Piero penalty to notch their first win since December 5 over Inter Milan.  Genoa fans would point out that the penalty was rather suspect, as Del Piero may have been victim to clumsy feet rather than a trip.  Regardless, Juve for the first time in over a month are on the correct side of the ledger and only one point back of the final Champions League spot.

Welcome back also to Sampdoria

Four wins in a row have vaunted the Blucerchiati into a tie for the final Champions League spot.  This weekend they vanquished a struggling Fiorentina club 2-0 with one of the goals scored by rising star and former Viola Giampaolo Pazzini.  Currently Sampdoria are tied with Napoli but behind in goal differential.  Next week’s match versus Inter will be one not to miss.

Lazio looks to have righted the ship

Zaccheroni was not the only manager to get his first win this weekend; congratulations to Edy Reja on winning his first match as manager of Lazio.  They beat mid-table Parma 2-0 for their first win since January 6.  Currently they are two points clear of relegation, so Reja has a job ahead of him to achieve his goal of keeping Lazio in Serie A.

PHOTO / Giuseppe Cacace

We have reached the halfway point of the season, and it seems like the race for the scudetto is over (whether it is or not you can debate).  The big story from this past weekend was Milan’s thumping of Juventus but of course there are numerous subplots and stories that have come out of the weekend:

Where is the line in the sand for Ciro Ferrara?

The story on ESPN today is that Ferrara has said a loss in this week’s Italian Cup could be his last match as Juventus manager.  It seems to this soccer fan that a win in the Italian Cup is a poor goal for this Juventus club.  As we have seen in pictures every week the fans are restless about Juventus; lighting seats on fire is not a positive sign.  Granted, the club is injured, but this scudetto race, while not wide open, is at least attainable with an Inter club that has seemed mortal.  But they have been surpassed by AC Milan with Napoli and Roma nipping at their heels.  What does Ferrara need to do to lose his job?

The Inter match was a sign of Inter’s strength

At first glance, Inter’s almost loss to last-place Siena would seem to show Inter’s vulnerability this season.  I think it is quite the opposite – good teams from time to time face overmatched opponents who catch lightning in a bottle and play like they champions.  Siena brought their A+ game, and Inter Milan’s comeback showed guts, a key element to any championship run.  So while the final line was ugly, the result should be encouraging for Inter fans.

Napoli is a legitimate threat for a top 2 finish

We won’t see them play until March 21, but is Napoli positioning themselves to challenge Milan for a top 2 run?  They sit four points behind Beckham’s boys and are tied with Juventus for third.  This could be a moot point however if they are unable to put away Palermo next week, who sits only 3 points behind.

Gillet/Frey is the best keeper matchup in Serie A

This weekend’s 2-1 Fiorentina victory over Bari showcased the two best keepers in Serie A.  While Sebastien Frey’s Viola got the victory, both he and Jean Francois Gillet showed their incredible skills in making some fantastic saves.  The match was odd as it was obvious that Fiorentina was the better club on the pitch, but Bari had better chances and (arguably) should have won the match if they could have converted some of their excellent chances.

The transfer period has been boring

The big transfers have been Beckham to AC Milan, Viera out of Inter Milan, and Toni to Roma.  Other than that….not much.  I would like to see some of the contenders make a few bold moves to shore up their clubs.  I suspect any of the top 11 could, in a smart transfer or signing, seal their trip to the CHampions League.

Like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, Italian soccer has returned to our airwaves, and this week’s matches saw the return of David Beckham, the goal of the year, and some good calcio as well.  As reports roll in of players leaving Italy in transfers, the question is what moves will the contenders make in the next few weeks to boost their run at the scudetto or a European competition.

Marco Borriello Scored the Goal of the Season

Please debate in the comments section below, but you cannot argue that the Italian national’s goal was not a thing of beauty.  Luca Antonini’s pass across the goal to an open Borriello who bicycle kicks it into the net was fabulous.  Even more fabulous for Milan fans was the 5-2 thrashing given to Genoa and the successful return of David Beckham.

Napoli is the New Surprise Team in the Fourth Slot

A 2-0 win over a pathetic Atalanta squad moved Napoli into sole possession of fourth in the standings, and extended their unbeaten streak to 11 matches.  Their next three matches are against top 10 clubs, however, and they will be a good test of if they are legit.  The loss sent Atalanta manager Antonio Conte into retirement again and the only drama related to their season right now is if they will finish last, or in the 19th spot.

Cassano Now the Key to Sampdoria Success

Sampdoria’s slide from top of the table to out of a European spot was aided Wednesday with a 1-1 draw at Palermo.  With the news that Marius Stankevicius is being loaned to Seville, it is up to super-scorer Antonio Cassano to help right the club and spark them to victory.  Four of their next five matches are against bottom half clubs, so a good time to rally their season would be the next few weeks.

Bari Faces Critical Ten Days

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Bari supporter.  However, everyone should be impressed with their recent form.  After ending the 2009 calendar year with a 3-1 victory over Juventus and not playing for almost a month (their final game of the year was “snowed out”) the club quickly took care of a slumping Udinese squad that was missing its leading scorer.  From Serie B last year to 3 points off a Champions League spot this year, the Galletti are flying high.  But the next two weeks should be telling – they play at Fiorentina and host Inter, plus could lose Leonardo Bonucci and/or Andrea Ranocchia to transfer.

Racism Stories Continue to Haunt Serie A

Super Mario Balotelli is immensely talented and a benefit to any club.  Normally, Inter would be crazy to loan or sell him elsewhere.  But controversy continues to follow the young man; this week after the Chievo victory he was fined for provoking the opposition fans because of what he perceived to be racial insults.  The same day Inter was fined for the racial taunts of its own fans.  I suspect this will not be the last time we hear of fines for racism, but this soccer fan is sick of continually reading about it.

A Halloween weekend for the 11^th matchday saw tricks and treats for various clubs, players and managers.  In honor of the holiday, we will take a look at those who got their candy this weekend and those who got toilet papered.

Treat: Inter Milan on Top

An expected win by Inter over Lavorno coupled with a Juventus loss to Napoli and Sampdoria tie with Bari has left the Nerazzurri seven points up on the top of the table.  And with their next two matches against an inconsistent Roma squad and relegation-possibility Bologna, they have a chance to add to their points before facing Fiorentina and Juventus.

Trick: Lazio Manager Davide Ballardini Could Be Fired Next

Lazio gained only a point against last place Siena, running their winless streak to over two months.  After a goal by Mauri in the 8^th minute, Lazio only had one more shot on goal.  Sitting at 15^th in the table, their next two matches against streaking Milan and top 6 Napoli do not look like chances to end their slump.  Their two following matches against Bologna and Roma could be more critical than they had thought at the beginning of the season.

Treat: Milan Will Have Timely Reinforcements

Despite their third match in six days, Milan continued their hot streak with a 2-0 win over Parma.  Leonardo succeeded in keeping his squad healthy ahead of their rematch against Real Madrid on Tuesday.  But Milan also had good news on the transfer front this weekend – Gareth gave the update on the Beckham signing plus they completed a deal to acquire Dominic Adiyiah from the Norwegian league.

Trick: Bari Settles for Controversial Tie

Bari once again settled for a tie against a top-flight club, this weekend Sampdoria, but they Galletti faithful have to be left asking what could have been.  Scoreless in extra time, Leonardo Bonucci seemingly scored the winning goal in the sixth extra minute, only to see the offside flag go up.

Trick: Palermo Manager Says Scudetto Race Wide Open

It’s not very often a manager proclaims that his team can win a championship after a scoreless draw at home, but that is exactly what Palermo coach Walter Zenga said to Sky after Sunday’s draw with Genoa.  While he’s right that this early on points can be made up, the 5-3 loss to Inter last week should have helped him realize that his squad has a long climb to the top.

A week or so ago the news broke that David Beckham would probably be returning to the San Siro in the new year for a loan stint.

AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has now revealed it is certain the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man will rejoin Leonardo’s men in January.

He said: “It’s 100 per cent certain, the only thing that is missing is the signatures but the agreement is complete.”

It has been reported the move will be exactly the same agreement that saw Beckham join the Rossoneri at the tail end of last season.

Galliani also revealed Beckham will be the only player he expects to arrive in the Italian capital in January, adding: “External forwards? We have (Alexandre) Pato, Ronaldinho and then we have a young player called Simone Verdi, then (Ignazio) Abate, (Davide) Di Gennaro, (Clarence) Seedorf. This is the absolute reality,”

When asked whether the misfiring Klaas-Jan Huntelaar would be departing he rejected the rumours: “Huntelaar? He will remain. He isn’t on the market.”

Personally I reckon Huntlaar should be given more time to adjust to Serie A and establish himself in Italy.  He had a great record for Ajax in Holland and although that league is below the standard of the Serie A he should not be dismissed so quickly.  A striker’s game is based a lot around confidence, especially in terms of scoring goals, and he endured a tough time in Madrid where he was hardly given a chance by Real.  I’m fairly confident that once he does find the target he will score on a regular basis and be a great addition to the Milan side.

The fantastic result at the Bernabeu seems to have picked Milan up somewhat.  They came back from a goal down to sink Chievo 2-1 with late strikes in Verona in what was a decent result for Leonardo’s charges.  They then disappointed by throwing a two goal lead away in Napoli as they returned to the San Siro with a single point but things are certainly looking up for the Milan side.

They have now joined the chasing pack at the top of the table and it seems they may indeed make a title challenge, though a lot will depend on their results against the teams around and above them.  It was always going to take time to get used to life without Carlo Ancelotti after his eight years at the club and Leonardo was never going to have an easy task but it seems, finally, they are starting to get their act together.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting tips and picks for Betfair.

For AC Milan in Saturday’s fabled Derby della Madonnina, Gennaro Gattuso’s nightmare came true. If not for Inter’s new-look, new-effect attack, poor Captain Rino would be carrying all responsibility for the unbalanced result (AC Milan 0:4 Inter).

Inter earned three (and perhaps all four) of their strikes, yet more could not have gone wrong in one half of play for the feisty AC Milan defensive midfielder as he returns from long-term injury to snatch back his position from the interloping Galaxy star, a certain D Beckham.

You can understand Gattuso’s frustration as it progressed through its stages to the final red mist which early took the rossoneri down to ten men. Inter went up one-nil around the half hour on a pristine Barça-esque piece of triangulation capped by a Thiago Motta finish (he’s a fresh, suitable & welcome transfer from Genoa).

Gattuso, having required an ankle-strapping on the sideline beneath the the half-hour, would soon find himself the only one in red & black stripes to chase Inter’s Samuel Eto’o the 50 yards into the box to haul the Cameroonian international down with an ever-so-slight tug on the neck as Eto’o cleverly crossed in front to shield the ball at full pace. This, upon a pin-point 50-yard ball from Inter’s Brazilian right back, Douglas Maicon, who alertly air-mailed the rossoneri’s quixotic press.

Diego Milito (another welcome transfer to Inter from Genoa) would place the ensuing spot kick firmly center of the roof of the net. Storari had nothing to do.

The opera commences at minute-37, AC Milan in the hole two-nil. Rino calls it quits, hobbling off and asking for a substitution. [I'm touched to see Zanetti with sincere concern ask Gattuso "what's the matter?" to which he replies "mi caviglia (my ankle)."] But Gattuso must wait. Leonardo is slow to effectuate the swap. Seedorf laconically pulls up his socks & warms up on the sideline in his yellow pinney. Rino finds himself back in the fray and makes an overweening (if only just late) tackle on Inter’s new trequartista, Wesley Sneijder, at the center circle.

You can see where Gattuso’s head is: he holds the Captains armband in his left hand as he makes the lunge. ‘Get me OFF the f@#%ing pitch. Now!’ He is — for all practical purposes — already soaping up his goatee in the San Siro showers.

Meltdown. Second yellow, a Red Card. In fact, Rino should have gotten the straight Red as last man when he bundled Eto’o; but Mr Rizzoli’s mercy and his capacity for nuance on the big day are not to be underestimated. Within minutes, Gattuso has enabled the referee to make up for his initial mistake — which was merely one of achromatopsia.

Gattuso’s expletives as he leaves the pitch are directed at Leonardo.

Dejan Stankovic would cap the scoring late with a lovely inside-out swerving dagger into the upper side netting from distance, leaving Storari to flap. We’ve seen this kind of thing from Wesley Sneider, himself, in his Ajax days; and you can see how Inter’s new signings have both direct and indirect influence on Inter’s new multifaceted attack which, before, could look singularly monochrome as spearheaded by the efficient Swede who’s moped off to Barça. You could say Inter have added with canny insight and this would not be the half of it.

An embarrassed Mr Berlusconi left Mr Galliani at half time to stew in both of their juices [I eyed that choice vacant seat at the San Siro with some relish from my distant position in Messi-chusetts]. This left Leonardo holding his chin & looking pensive while a lacrimose Berlusconi was surely throwing San Pellegrino fizziwaters against the bullet-proof retainer in the back seat of his Bentley.

Huntelaar, the new Dutch signing, came on and achieved little with little support. Ronaldinho touched the ball seldom. Seedorf gave the ball away cheaply. I was hoping Super-Pippo would come on and get a tumbling out-of-control glancing deflection in the 5-yard box, but I knew the truth: AC Milan is moribund. Gattuso’s bad day issued from his passion and over-compensation for his side’s pedestrian effort on the biggest day of the season in Milan. With Kaka’s Iberian migration, the rossoneri need to refresh closer to the extent Moratti & Mourinho have done together across town.

If Inter’s performance is any indication — with Wesley Sneijder having just barely got off his aeroplane — they will pull further away in Serie A and make their presence felt in the Champions League over the next few seasons.

With the papers already printing stories on lawyer’s attempts to prolong his stay in Italy, David Beckham publicly stated after the friendly Wednesday evening at the Ibrox, for the first time since joining the Rossoneri, his real desire to stay at AC Milan.

double click image for video interview


“At the moment my lawyers are not talking to the Galaxy,” Beckham said continuing, “But I have expressed my desire to stay at A.C. Milan now, and it’s just down to Milan and Galaxy to come to an agreement. I have enjoyed my time here. I knew I would enjoy it but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I have and do as well as I have.”

Final Score At The Ibrox
Rangers 2 – 2 AC Milan

This video is popping up over the net and you can find several high quality versions including one at the Gazzetta dello Sport website.  Simply click on the Gazzetta TV icon or view the Youtube version embedded below. 

Official Introduction 

AC Milan 5 – 1 Udinese, what a welcome at the San Siro for David Beckham. Watching a brused, battered and make-shift lineup, no Gattuso, Borriello or Nesta (yet star-studded anyway with the likes of Kaka, Ronaldiho, Pirlo) the Rossoneri performed brilliantly in front of the newcomer, besting visitors Udinese all over the pitch, in all statistics.

Young Alexander Pato scored two while elder Brazlian and mentor Kaka also scored twice and finally the Dutchman Clarence Seedorf scoring the last of five for Milan off a beauty free kick from Andrea Pirlo just outside the box. The shot on goal was initially blocked by Udinese keeper Handanovic only to be redirect into the path of a charging Seedorf after hitting the post on the punch out.

Quote of the Day
Skysports – “I have always said that I would always miss playing at the highest level. I’m not saying that in America they won’t get to the highest level – it will take time and it will happen – but with five months off during the season I personally can’t do that.” David Beckham

hmmmm sounds like a move is coming…

Match Day Results
Saturday, December 20th
Lazio 1 – 0 Palermo
Siena 1 – 2 Inter Milan

Sunday, December 21th

Atalanta 1 – 3 Juventus
Cagliari 1 – 1 Reggina
Catania 3 – 2 AS Roma
Chievo 0 – 1 Genoa
Lecce 0 – 0 Bologna
Sampdoria 0 – 1 Fiorentina
Torino 1 – 0 Napoli
AC Milan 5 – 1 Udinese

 Today David Beckham was unveiled at the AC Milan San Siro stadium marking the official loan which will bring the Englishman to Serie A for the very first time. The 33-year old, whom has previously played in strong European leagues like Spain and England, now hopes to get minutes at Serie A giants AC Milan. 

Although Beckham’s loan formally begins December 29th the marketing folks at the club and kit sponsor Adidas obviously wanted the release of Becks in his new kit early as a pre-Christmas campaign.

for additional images see: Beckham In His AC Milan Kit

Beckham is expected to travel with the Milan team to Dubai for a post Christmas training camp that includes one friendly game. The LA Galaxy player will be available for around ten Serie A matches and two rounds of the UEFA Cup before returning to the USA in time for the start of the Major League soccer season.

The Englishman’s first appearance on pitch is being billed as the first official match in 2009 when AC Milan play away to AS Roma on January 11th. 

(all images courtesy of Adidas and AC Milan press conference)