Week 13

Football Academy · Cult Status

Week 13

Fletch · Cult Status

Sitting quietly in the Serie B play off places, sleeping giant Napoli have rebuilt their squad and developed there stadium heavily over the last two seasons.

A sustainable and refreshing approach from Chairman Stuart Price has ensured the Napoli are ready for life in Serie A sometime soon.

The average age of the outfield playing squad is now 23.5 and new talent, overseen by Jimmy Lumsden, has been emerging every year. Some of that new talent has been getting valuable playing experience at other clubs but there is no doubt that their future remains at Napoli.

Napoli signalled their continued development plans this week with the signing of 23 year old Centre Back, Fabiano Santacroce from Brescia, the fact that Santa will go straight into the starting line up shows how comfortable the club and manager are with their youth policy, Fletcher will rarely look at a player over 27 but if quality comes along that will help then he surely will have to when they eventually reach their goal of top flight football.

Ezequiel Lavezzi has again been banging in goals this season with 13 goals in as many games, Fletcher thinks he's capable of more and is getting better every week.

"For an academy player to play from day 1 in the first team when he came through and sustain the pressure he has is amazing, so much so I will rest him at the pivotol point in the season just to give him a breather, he lives and breathes football and I'm telling him to relax a bit."

-- Edited by Fletch on Tuesday 11th of January 2011 04:00:55 PM

-- Edited by Fletch on Tuesday 11th of January 2011 04:01:13 PM

Cult Status

Star striker Sergio Aguero could find himself on the bench this week when second plays first in the premiership. Aguero has scored 35 goals in 15 games this season but Arsenal TV has reported a deal has been agreed to sell him to a rival premiership team.
"A deal has been agreed for 30M for Aguero at the end of this week. The team face Chelsea in the league but we were asked by Sergios new team if he could be rested this week to keep him fresh for them. Playing Chelsea is a big occassion made bigger when it is a first versus second match but the deal is important to how this team runs. The request was made and the manager has accepted he has to sell his star striker and the rest is history.
Maybe it will work out for the best in the long run giving some of the other stars a rest with Sergio this week so that we can finish off the teams below us with fresh players when we play them. Maybe reserve players playing in the Chelsea versus Arsenal game on both sides will not be what the neutral fan wants but if it is best for both managers why not. Maybe losing to Chelsea with two weak teams on show will be forgotten if it means we can beat third and hang on to our current position.
We all hope the fans can accept that some losses are acceptable for the future well being of this club."

Tezza · Cult Status

Siena News

Siena Manager Terry Manifold was clearly disappointed with the outcome of the trip to Napoli.

PRESS.

What happened there then Terry?

TM.

What a match. To be two in front after 6 minutes and lose, I really dont know what we have to do.

PRESS.

You were a little restricted in your team selection I think?

TM.

Yes that was true, Costa and Ruiz were on suspension and it did leave me with an automatic defence line up of two. What about Riccis début? The lads only 19 and to score in 2 minutes was a dream. Cave Brown came through and made it two on 6 minutes and I thought the match was over. Napoli just stuck at it and exploited the gaps at the back. This game can be so cruel.

Poli had the best game for us since his loan period started and all in all I couldnt grumble about the commitment. It is just the outcome.

The addition of the two wingers has given us a few more options and I am not too unhappy with the outcome.

PRESS.

What about next week?

TM.

Next week we entertain Catania at home and I will be looking to build on the performance today and move the whole thing forward. I think you will see the start of the big push back to where we belong.
At this moment I have a very young side just starting to play together, and so many more options to what I had a few weeks ago. The future is bright.