Week 20

Football Academy · Cult Status

Week 20

Steve · Cult Status

Juventus make exciting investment for new season

With many clubs and managers taking a very serious line at the moment with the approach of the end of season and start of next season. Juventus (in association with "BetClic.It") have brought some Dolce Vita to the end of season title and relegation fights.

With most clubs investing in facilities and players Juventus have invested in........cheerleaders!

The clubs sponsor sent a film crew to record their vist to a busy city centre, where they seemed to be a big hit with everyone - except the local polizei who chased them out of town following traffic congestion.

A number of FA managers have already approached FA to find out whether they can copy Juventus and buy cheerleaders with their FA wages (though whether for the club or for themselves is unclear at present!). The Italian government seem very much in favour of the idea - though Sylvio Berlusconi hoped the rules would not prevent younger girls applying!!!!!!!

-- Edited by Steve on Sunday 6th of March 2011 03:13:29 PM

Tezza · Cult Status

SIENA NEWS
With my season all but over I did say I would try different tactics in the remaining matches.
Last week I instructed the forwards to hit anything and everything in an effort to see if I could improve the scoring rate. I was wondering why we hadnt done this weeks ago when Alvarez was looking for a hat trick after only 10 minutes. Livorno havent had the best of seasons but the match was never going to be a push over. True to most end of season battles they fought back and you have to give them credit, they kept the score at 2-0. The match has taught me a lot, but employing those tactics against a higher placed team would have been silly and risky.
The two goals were top quality from Alvarez and we must remember that the lad is only 16 and has a bright future in front of him. He has been a regular first team member this season and will have gained some valuable experience since his loan period started. I was criticised for having the young lad initially, but he is not responsible for failing to make the play-offs. He has done a tremendous job.

I am now looking towards this weeks game and the away match against Atalanta. This is the one to win. I havent managed to overtake my old team as I repeatedly said I would, so the only saving grace is to beat them on their own ground.

Fletch · Cult Status

Napoli Gamble on Player Fitness

Napoli manager Andy Fletcher last night hinted at what lies ahead for his Napoili team in the closing two games of the season.

"We certainly need to get some of our best players back from fitness, Lavezzi has been struggling for a number of weeks and we have missed his goals, I'm sure if he had stayed fit then we might have been challenging for automatic promotion, but thats not the case. We have however a decent strikeforce sat in my squad and they will all play their part in the final games, it may be we give our key players a couple of weeks rest before the play offs but you will have to wait and see. "

"Lavezzi trained today but I still dont think he is 100% and I wont risk him, Craig Gardner came in as a free agent last week to bolster a young midfield, and John Ruddy has done a superb job in goal for us this half of the season, I would like to try and sign him on a permanent basis, the lad has fitted in very well"

-- Edited by Fletch on Wednesday 9th of March 2011 03:39:24 PM

Sinky2707 · Cult Status

Parma just a win away from Serie A

After Parma's crucial 3-2 victory over struggling Cagliari plus the top of the table clash between Messina and Chievo resulting in a draw Parma find themselves knowing that beating Messina tonight would mean promotion back to the promised lands of Serie A

'It's been a good season, we have pplayed well for the majority of it and it'd be nice to know we're up before the final game of the season and it would be nice to get promoted automatically rather than via the play-offs! Messina though have dreams of promotion as well and we can't take them lightly they have a good team but we have already beaten them twice this season and they have their main man Sidney Govou out so I'm more than confident we can go out there and get the 3 points thats everyone wants for this club so badly'

Regarding Juventus' rumoured interest in Pedro Mosquera:

'Well I've heard nothing from the chairmen, Steve (Jenkins) has contacted me either so at the moment I have no idea where they're getting there information from but Pedro is first and fooremost our player and he is very happy here plus we payed a massive £11million for him so he won't be going anywhere cheaply that's for sure'

Tezza · Cult Status

SIENA NEWS
Tonight's game against Atalanta was a game full of end to end attacking football. I don't think many teams have forced a home draw on Atalanta this season. It was, I must admit, a fair result after the effort of both teams to try and get all three points from this game. It was also a game I wanted to win following my move from Atalanta at the beginning of this season.

After only 3 minutes Michael Johnson put the home side in front and we had to wait until the 36th minute before some neat play by Nathan Baker gifted Alvarez with an easy chance for the equaliser. On 80 minutes Costa headed in to give us the lead we deserved and I think we were still celebrating when Cacau scored at the other end to level the match.

All in all, the attacking style I employed worked well and could be something we will work on over the next few weeks.

I have to mention some very poor refereeing this evening with a penalty decision the referee waved away after 11 minutes and a disallowed goal from a perfectly good chip shot from Baker which if you watch the "highlights" this evening you will see clearly crossed the line. We was robbed was the feeling of the fans returning to Siena this evening.

In many respects you could say that I haven't moved a great deal, in football terms, this season, by a draw against the old side at this stage of the season. But I believe Siena will grow next season into a promotion winning side with some very minor adjustments. Atalanta on the other hand will need to invest a little in the squad in order to maintain their current level of play. I do however, wish them well in the play-offs but they have been there twice before. Young Price may be able to give them that little extra this time.

-- Edited by Tezza on Friday 11th of March 2011 12:17:26 AM

Fletch · Cult Status

Catania V Napoli Post Match

Napoli rested several first team players this weekend ahead of the forthcoming play off matches in the hope that some of their struggling players retrun to fitness before the first play off game.

However, the team fielded managed to hold Catania to a goalless draw at Catania and but for the Catania keeper they would have come away with all three points.

Napoli managed 4 chances and 2 shots on goal but were denied, a 96% pass rate also showed that the team have what it takes for a push into Serie A, some fans might say that had Lavezzi played instead of loanee and inexperienced Brito then the club would have won the game.

Andy Fletcher is likely to rest the same players again for the final league match ahead of the season and hope that he has a fitter squad to choose from come the following week, it seems and extended cup run hasn't helped the players when the depth of squad mid season was thin. Something the manager will surely address next season.

-- Edited by Fletch on Friday 11th of March 2011 01:07:35 PM