DISQUS

You are probably correct, Kartik. There aren't many recent examples of players coming from Serie A and having too much success in England (the reverse is even more prevalent). I saw the Ukraine-Italy match a few times and I can tell you Sheva still has it. He was never a "pacy" player and probably lacks the quickness to be an effective frontman for Chelsea. It does sadden me because he's just been absolutely grilled up one side and down the other and really needs to just leave England at this point. He has so many factors going against him at the moment that I don't see it ever getting better.


The moral here is don't let your wife dictate your professional decisions. He'll never get these 2 years back.

It's a postcard. I tried putting in photos I took from my most recent trip to Napoli but they didn't seem to come out too well so I chose that one. I'd put up a picture of my ugly mug, but you know, I don't need to give people any more reasons to dismiss what I say.

All three of you think Napoli will be relegated? Are you kidding me? Ahead of the Socialist Republic of Livorno & Siena? Ok, we'll see how that works out. I mean I get not picking Napoli for a Champions League spot (ah, I kill myself) but relegation?


My relegation candidates are the two above and either Parma or Catania though I'd hate to see either go down, really.



I dare not say it's nice to see Juve back but at least Serie A seems to have some semblance of continuity with the three Serie B promoted squads.



I don't see how Bobo can be a flop this year. Prandelli will use him smartly and Vieri seems to have really kept things in check. I mean last year with Atalanta you didn't hear a peep from him while he was rehabilitating. I mean how often can you accuse Bobo of being quiet and 'sticking to his training?' Prandelli is a great coach for him and I don't think he can do anything but help the Viola. This team is going to be Pazzini's and Montelivo's soon enough as it is. I'd say Pazzini might be one of the top 10 strikers right now in Italy.



Keep up the good work, Mando. Nice interview with Sheridan. I can't wait to hear your next episode.

Stonehenge!

Hey, Mando, well done on the latest podcast with SerieA.tv. I have to say that I wasn't all that impressed with the first week but I expected some problems. They have a good "live chat" support and they are responsive. I've been able to watch some matches on demand in my own time and that's been awesome...frees up space on the DVR for my wife's General Hospital and Rescue Me episodes. Overall, a very nice interview. I would have liked to heard more about when Napoli home matches will start to be broadcast and why they haven't secured Napoli's rights outside of Italy. We're all speculating on BigSoccer that it's because he wants to be paid like Inter, Milan and Juve but who really knows.

Zero on one aspect of Serie A... the tremendous sea change that will occur with the influx of all the young Italian talent would be one angle. Hell, your Viola seem to have the market on the Azzurrini so that might be a cool thing to focus on. Many aren't aware of the young talent except perhaps a guy like Giuseppe Rossi who received so much pub and people know of him because of the Man Utd ties.


You could go the other way and talk about the young International talent that's currently in Serie A. Whatever you do, I'd like to read something about the league in general versus a specific team...because we know it'll come down to seeing the same old same old (no offense to your Roma squad, Mando).



I'd really love to see more emphasis paid to the Coppa Italia. It's almost as if the tournament doesn't exist. Either the "smaller" sides don't give it much thought because they need to focus on avoiding relegation, or the "bigger" sides don't give it any emphasis because they've got their eyes on the scudetto or Champions League or EUFA Cup. I don't know, I think it could be really huge but the decision makers of the world don't seem to think so.



Forza Napoli!

It is time, has to be time, for Freddy Adu to get it done. He has the skill set to pick this team up by the scruff of the neck, but he hasn't shown the determination to do it at all. C'mon Freddie.

I believe we are really, really missing Chris Rolfe or even Kenny Cooper up top. Taylor Twellman, for all his running and his tight shirts, is just absolutely rubbish as a striker.

the whole issue of international stars drawing fans en masse to MLS won't happen. there are very, very few int'l players who would do this... beckham is one. others? zidane, totti (maybe), shevchenko... there aren't many.


fans will be drawn to MLS stadiums when they find the product compelling. either because of the quality of play, the fan experience, opposition (especially playing friendlies against euro teams). NYRB did what was best for their squad. if they wanted to draw fans, they needed to grab zidane.

Gaffer, you're the best. Love your approach.


I have thought the same thing myself about live scouting for games. More important than just 'seeing the game live' though, I think, is getting a chance to talk to different players/coaches/contacts in the area.



Do professional teams employ much in the way of advance scouting like american baseball and football teams do?

Euro 2008 qualifiers would be my biggest question...that and their proposed Serie A games but I realize this is an EPL blog.