Serie A - The 2008-09 season thread

Oh man im getting nostalgia remembering the days when 7 teams used to fight for the Scudetto. Good times.

Well, with the end of the season, this year's Capocannnoiere deserves a mention as well. And what better way to silence his critics. I thought it's the right time to pull out a very old post -

bluenine wrote:Superstar of Serie B!

TarunDang wrote:He is a true legend

Alex historic Capocannoniere Sunday 18 May, 2008

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Alessandro Del Piero is only the second player ever to win back-to-back Capocannoniere titles in Serie A and B.


The Juventus captain topped the scorers’ charts last season on their way to promotion with 20 goals and has improved upon it with his 21 in Serie A.


The brace in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Sampdoria took him up to 21, beating teammate David Trezeguet on 20.


The Capocannoniere for most of the campaign, Marco Borriello, finishes third with 19 for Genoa.


Del Piero makes history, as the only other player to ever achieve this feat was Paolo Rossi in 1977 and 1978.


The 1982 World Cup winner managed the double with the Vicenza shirt, scoring 21 in Serie B and 24 in the top flight a year later.


This has also been Del Piero’s most prolific ever campaign, matching the personal best of 21 in 32 appearances in 1997-98.


Undoubtedly the record will help boost calls for Del Piero’s inclusion in Italy’s Euro 2008 squad.

Del Piero is a credit to the game

forza_rossi wrote:Oh man im getting nostalgia remembering the days when 7 teams used to fight for the Scudetto. Good times.

Yeah, great times!

Next season, there will at least be 5 sides who will compete. Whether there will be a sixth (from Sampdoria, Napoli, Lazio, or Udinese) remains to be seen. Maybe in a coupla years there will be seven contenders in Serie A again!

If we keep our best players this time Bluey...and add some more decent ones (Go for players like Tavano, Chevanton, Cigarini, Bresciano, Marzoratti etc...we'll have an outisde challenge, and will challenge the top 4 again. Last time we did it and finished 5th...we sold Diana, Tonetto, Pisano etc...

West Ham e Sampdoria wrote:If we keep our best players this time Bluey...and add some more decent ones (Go for players like Tavano, Chevanton, Cigarini, Bresciano, Marzoratti

I really dont get why Italian player bother with La Liga e.g. Tavano. He had such a waste of time in Valencia. BTW are Milan taking Borriello back after his exploits this season?

I have seen people calling Dossena world class same as Evra ,one Udinese fan was really going at it , excuse me but it isnt this his first good season and it was a good season not a great season and he was average before this anytime I have seen.

Enlighten me please.

Where did you read that?

Not here ,I was arguing with a Udinese fan.

I see, I thought it was written in an article or something. I think he's a good player, obviously not world class or as good as Evra but many fans have a tendency to overrate players of their team. It happens everywhere in my opinion.

But Italy themselves got better fullbacks LB ie Chellini (though played at CB for Juve and his future would be there) etc right ?

Congrats ADP

This was on Goal.com...so let's start the debate

Calcio Debate: Serie A Team Of The Season
With the league calendar in Italy now completed, Carlo Garganese offers his Serie A Team of the Season...
1) Sebastien Frey (Fiorentina) – It was a straight fight out of Frey and Julio Cesar for the goalkeeper’s jersey but the Frenchman just shades it following a sensational season in Florence. The 28-year-old was heroic in a whole host of games, and his performance in the UEFA Cup last 16 second leg at Everton was of miraculous proportions. Without Frey, would Fiorentina have qualified for the Champions League?

2) Maicon (Inter) – Legend has it that Douglas Maicon was meant to be named after the American actor Michael Douglas, only for the register officer to bodge up his birth certificate. Whether this hilarious story is true or not I do not know. What is certain though is that the Brazilian is the best right back in Serie A, and quite probably the whole world. His defending still needs a little polishing, but going forward he is immense.

3) Juan Manuel Vargas (Catania) – There are two things to fear in life. One is death, and the other is being hit by one of Vargas' long-range missiles (which in itself may cause death). Nicknamed “Catania's Roberto Carlos” by club fans, the 24-year-old has more of a passing resemblance to the former Real Madrid hero. His rampaging runs down the wing have become something of a trademark, and his lethal left foot has chipped in with an impressive five goals in Serie A, not to forget a wonder strike against Milan in the Coppa Italia as the Sicilians made it all the way to the semi-final. Vargas will deservedly earn a move to a big club this summer.

4) Ivan Cordoba (Inter) – Cordoba only played 20 games in Serie A before injury ruled him out for the rest of the season in late February. However in the first six months of the season, there wasn’t a centre back in Serie A who got even remotely close to matching the quality of the Colombian jack-in-the-box. When Cordoba was in the team, Inter rarely looked like conceding. After his injury they kept just one clean sheet in their next eight games and almost threw away the Scudetto having been 11 points clear at one point. Statistics such as these sum up why Cordoba deserves to be in the team.

5) Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) – Alessandro Gamberini will feel he deserves to be in with a shout, but he is pipped to the post by Chiellini. The 23-year-old has been a revelation since switching into the centre of defence from left back. His heart, determination, and fighting spirit has symbolized what the Bianconeri have always been about over the years. This season the 30-plus old guard from the pre-Calciopoli years have largely carried the Bianconeri. Chiellini has been one of the few exceptions to this premise. His victorious battles with Zlatan Ibrahimovic were particularly memorable.

6) Daniele De Rossi (Roma) – For the first time in a while, Roma’s player of the season was someone other than Francesco Totti. De Rossi has really emerged as a true leader for the Giallorossi, and he has finally matured from boy to man. The 24-year-old has won many midfield battles this season, and Euro 2008 could be the tournament when he really stamps his class on the international game. In a few years time it is scary to think how good De Rossi could become. The future of Roma, and possibly the Azzurri too.

7) Javier Zanetti (Inter) – It is difficult to talk about Zanetti without repeating the same things you have been saying for 13 years now. At the age of nearly 35, there still isn’t a more consistent player around than the Argentine, who just seems to never have a bad game. The Nerazzurri may not be the most popular team around at the moment, but I am sure that every football fan in the world will find it is impossible not to love Il Trattore. A champion both on-and-off the field, he oozes class in everything he does. Quite simply a legend.

Marek Hamsik (Napoli) – Hamsik’s incredible solo goal against Milan in week 37 was the signature on what has been a breathtaking season. The 20-year-old is a guaranteed world class star of the future, and indeed every team in Europe already want him. Hamsik’s box-to-box thrusts have been key in Napoli’s resurrection towards the Serie A elite. He scored nine goals in the league to finish top-scorer of his side, and although he is Slovakian, he really is justifying his tag as the “new Pavel Nedved”. Juve are one of the teams who want him, but they missed their chance to bag him last summer, opting for Tiago and Sergio Almiron instead.

9) Antonio Di Natale (Udinese) – The Neapolitan forward partnership of Di Natale and Quagliarella is one of the most exciting in Serie A, and this season the duo hit 29 goals between them. Di Natale scored 17 of these to finish fourth in the race for the Capocannoniere crown, while he also offered numerous assists for his team-mates as the Zebrette earned a place in the UEFA Cup. The 30-year-old is also now first choice in the Italian national team, and he could play an important role at Euro 2008.

10) David Trezeguet (Juventus) – Statistics say it all for this natural born goal machine after yet another prolific season. The 30-year-old rippled the net 20 times from just 36 games in the eighth season of his astounding forward partnership with Alex Del Piero. Trezegol missed just two matches all term, and started all but three in Serie A, thus making more appearances than any of his team-mates. Despite all of this the former Monaco man failed to even make France coach Raymond Domenech’s 30-man preliminary squad for Euro 2008, with the great Djibril Cisse and Sidney Govou preferred instead.

11) Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) – If there is one man, other than Pippo Inzaghi, who just continues to prove the critics wrong then it is Del Piero. Despite being written off at the beginning of the season, and being torn to shreds by the media after a poor game for Italy against France in a Euro 2008 qualifier in September, the Golden Boy has gone on to have his best season since 1997/98. The 33-year-old racked up 21 goals in Serie A from just 32 starts to win the Capocannoniere crown, one ahead of Trezeguet. He has also become only the second person in history to win the top-scorer award in Serie A and Serie B in successive seasons. The other was 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi.

Formation: 4-3-3

Frey

Maicon Cordoba Chiellini Vargas

Zanetti De Rossi Hamsik

Di Natale Trezeguet Del Piero


Honourable Mentions

Julio Cesar (Inter)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Christian Maggio (Sampdoria)
Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina)
Max Tonetto (Roma)
Esteban Cambiasso (Inter)
Gokhan Inler (Udinese)
Massimo Ambrosini (Milan)
Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus)
Cristiano Doni (Atalanta)
Mirko Vucinic (Roma)
Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina)
Marco Borriello (Genoa)
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)

DS wrote:But Italy themselves got better fullbacks LB ie Chellini (though played at CB for Juve and his future would be there) etc right ?

Thats why Dossena is not in Donadoni's squad, inspite of 3 other LB's making it (Zambrotta, Chiellini, & Grosso). But if he keeps playing like this, he has the talent to break into the squad in the future. Italy has a tendency to pick players with international experience for the big cups, and Donadoni is no exception.

You are right tho re Chiellini, he is more of a back up for the CB role. One of my few predictions that actually came true - the first time I saw Chiellini playing for Juve as LB, I had said that he reminds me so much of Matrix and can easily be Italys answer to the lack of CB talent problem. Between Barzagli, Chiellini, Gamberini and hopefully Santacroce, looks like Italys tardition of strong CB's will continue.

There were only 3 players in Serie A this season who played all 38 games... no points for guessing one of those names - he has done a few times before

Javier "Il Capitano" Zanetti!!! At age 35 = legend! Even the legendary Maldini at that age could not play so many games.

The other two are Atalanta's goalkeeper Coppola and winger Ferreira Pinto.

bluenine wrote:There were only 3 players in Serie A this season who played all 38 games... no points for guessing one of those names - he has done a few times before

Javier "Il Capitano" Zanetti!!! At age 35 = legend! Even the legendary Maldini at that age could not play so many games.

The other two are Atalanta's goalkeeper Coppola and winger Ferreira Pinto.

Zanetti goes up another notch in my book now

Don't listen to anyone who supports Udinese...their fans are honestly deluded!

On De Rossi saying what he said about Inter: 100% correct to say what he said, and I find it downright laughable anyone, especially Inter fans, whose team is being coached by the most classless man in calcio with some players equally devoid of class, would say otherwise. This has nothing to do with class or grace or anything of the type. Actually, scratch that. It does. I don’t want anyone with class or grace in defeat anywhere near my team. It’s all a bunch of bullshit.

bluenine wrote:

DS wrote:But Italy themselves got better fullbacks LB ie Chellini (though played at CB for Juve and his future would be there) etc right ?

Thats why Dossena is not in Donadoni's squad, inspite of 3 other LB's making it (Zambrotta, Chiellini, & Grosso). But if he keeps playing like this, he has the talent to break into the squad in the future. Italy has a tendency to pick players with international experience for the big cups, and Donadoni is no exception.

You are right tho re Chiellini, he is more of a back up for the CB role. One of my few predictions that actually came true - the first time I saw Chiellini playing for Juve as LB, I had said that he reminds me so much of Matrix and can easily be Italys answer to the lack of CB talent problem. Between Barzagli, Chiellini, Gamberini and hopefully Santacroce, looks like Italys tardition of strong CB's will continue.

Thanks mate didnt realised you have answered.

Was missing the Serie A season thread, so jus changed the season header on this thread.... lets continue this thread into the next season!!

So who do you think will win the Scudetto??

Which clubs will make the CL spots and UEFA Cup Spots???

My guess (based on transfers so far):

1. Inter
2. Milan
3. Juve
4. Fiorentina
5. Roma
6. Palermo
7-8. Sampdoria/Napoli
9-11. Udinese/Genoa/Lazio

It is so difficult to predict this time... anything can happen!

Fiorentina ahead of Roma? Yeah...it could all happen. I think Milan would be a handful for Inter for the top spot.

If Milan had gotten a good CB and a GK, I would have been quite confident. I think our midfield is quite strong and assuming that Borriello doesn't flop big time, our attack is okay too, since by the look of things we'll only play with one striker.

Abbiati is a bit better than Dida and Kalac but still I'd feel much safer with a good GK around. We also have too many injury-prone players in defence and that's the biggest area of my concern.

Red n' Black wrote:If Milan had gotten a good CB and a GK, I would have been quite confident. I think our midfield is quite strong and assuming that Borriello doesn't flop big time, our attack is okay too, since by the look of things we'll only play with one striker.

Abbiati is a bit better than Dida and Kalac but still I'd feel much safer with a good GK around. We also have too many injury-prone players in defence and that's the biggest area of my concern.

sorry but I don't really rate the milan strikers either (pato is just potential at the moment), so I think you'll struggle there, and I think getting dinho and kaka to work i the same team is no easy task

At least you don't have the CL distraction and it is much easier to play in the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina being in the CL will not maintain their position in the league (unless they drop out of it early), so the top 4 will be Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma

110% wrote:

Red n' Black wrote:If Milan had gotten a good CB and a GK, I would have been quite confident. I think our midfield is quite strong and assuming that Borriello doesn't flop big time, our attack is okay too, since by the look of things we'll only play with one striker.

Abbiati is a bit better than Dida and Kalac but still I'd feel much safer with a good GK around. We also have too many injury-prone players in defence and that's the biggest area of my concern.

sorry but I don't really rate the milan strikers either (pato is just potential at the moment), so I think you'll struggle there, and I think getting dinho and kaka to work i the same team is no easy task

At least you don't have the CL distraction and it is much easier to play in the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina being in the CL will not maintain their position in the league (unless they drop out of it early), so the top 4 will be Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma

They played well for Brazil before the 2006 WC.

Gone wrote:

110% wrote:

Red n' Black wrote:If Milan had gotten a good CB and a GK, I would have been quite confident. I think our midfield is quite strong and assuming that Borriello doesn't flop big time, our attack is okay too, since by the look of things we'll only play with one striker.

Abbiati is a bit better than Dida and Kalac but still I'd feel much safer with a good GK around. We also have too many injury-prone players in defence and that's the biggest area of my concern.

sorry but I don't really rate the milan strikers either (pato is just potential at the moment), so I think you'll struggle there, and I think getting dinho and kaka to work i the same team is no easy task

At least you don't have the CL distraction and it is much easier to play in the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina being in the CL will not maintain their position in the league (unless they drop out of it early), so the top 4 will be Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma

They played well for Brazil before the 2006 WC.

can you specifically name matches where they both played well together?

110% wrote:

sorry but I don't really rate the milan strikers either (pato is just potential at the moment), so I think you'll struggle there, and I think getting dinho and kaka to work i the same team is no easy task

TBH I'm actually counting more on Borriello rather than Pato, maybe he'll be a total disaster but you never know. I'd start him as a lone striker though.

I too have my doubts about Ronaldinho-Kaka, but I trust Ancelotti to figure something out. Also being part of the same club will help them develop a greater understanding.

110% wrote:

At least you don't have the CL distraction and it is much easier to play in the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina being in the CL will not maintain their position in the league (unless they drop out of it early), so the top 4 will be Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma

Fiorentina have strengthened this summer, and now have teh depth to compete on all fronts. They still lack some cover for RB/CB, but I know that they are still trying for Burdisso (which hopefully won't happen) - which means that they will buy at least 1 more player this summer.

At the moment, Fiorentina >> Roma. Maybe even better than Juve, if some of their young talents live upto their potential.

bluenine wrote:

110% wrote:

At least you don't have the CL distraction and it is much easier to play in the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina being in the CL will not maintain their position in the league (unless they drop out of it early), so the top 4 will be Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma

Fiorentina have strengthened this summer, and now have teh depth to compete on all fronts. They still lack some cover for RB/CB, but I know that they are still trying for Burdisso (which hopefully won't happen) - which means that they will buy at least 1 more player this summer.

At the moment, Fiorentina >> Roma. Maybe even better than Juve, if some of their young talents live upto their potential.

Personally I think Fiorentina are only in the top 4 because Milan had a shocking start to the season. Roma was far ahead of them both, and the only club who came anywhere near to challenging Inter last season. I expect them to be the same this season, just behind Inter. The only question is whether juve and milan have improved enough, and maybe Milan can get the 2nd spot. Although I haven't followed fiorentina's transfer activities closely, they haven't really bought anyone that to me says somehow they are now better than roma (and they bought gilardino ). And this season they will also have to compete in the CL, rather than cruise through the UEFA cup.

The beauty of football is that you never know what can happen, but Fiorentina are being overrated because they finished in the top 4 for one season when Milan were $h!t (and still pushed them for 4th spot), and the season before they finished 5th even though Juve were not even there, so would ahve been 6th.