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Buongiorno Ragazzi

June 10th, 2009 | By: Paul | 49 Comments »

Thanks for the great introduction Julian. As he said, I am the new co-writer of the blog. I am definately excited to be a part of the team here, and I look forward to (hopefully) writing some entertaining stuff for you all to read.

Who the Hell is This Guy?

Good question. I’m pretty crazy, almost as much as Antonio over there. Here’s a little BS thing about me, if you even care. It’ll hopefully give you some background on where I’m coming from in my posts.

Name: Paul

What do I do?: Graduating high school in 11 days, attending University of Miami next year

Italian??: Yup. 3/4. Grandfather is from Ripi (Frosinone), Grandmother from Reggio Calabria

Play soccer?: I actually don’t, I run Cross-Country and Track

Are you another fuckin Romanista?: Yeah, I am. But my love for the Azzurri is much stronger.

Ever comment on the blog?: Yes, I was formerly “ilcapitano”

Favorite player?: Francesco Totti. He was the first player I knew, and forever my hero. Fabio Grosso is my favorite for la nazionale

Soo, what is your favorite Azzurri moment then?: Without a doubt:

Quite a different angle ehh? I still get chills watching that goal.
Back to the questions:

You pro-cassano being called up?: 100%. The kid has undeniable talent, and he would shine if given the chance

What about the youth/old guys issue?: I tend to like standing by the old guard a bit. I like Gilardino, Pirlo, Camo, and Grosso still being called up. I’m indifferent to Gattuso, and even Toni a bit. I believe guys like Giovinco aren’t ready. It’s not their faut, it’s their club’s fault for not playing them more. Hence why Santon got a call up and not Gio or others.

Who’s your x-factor for the team?: Without a doubt Giuseppe Rossi. My fellow New Jersey native is a great talent, and if he starts, he can make a huge impact.

So, what does that make your formation?:
Buffon
Zambrotta Cannavaro Chiellini Grosso
Pirlo/Foggia De Rossi Brighi/Pirlo
Cassano (Rossi)
Gilardino Iaquinta

If you have any other questions, no matter how stupid, i’ll make an attempt to answer them. I wanna be more than just the guy whose posts you read…..

Well, maybe not THAT much more, but hopefully you get my drift.

Coming soon will be a wrap-up about today’s friendly and a preview for the Confederations Cup (the tournament itself, followed by a team-preview)

Tags: Azzurri, Group E, Italy, Paul

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 49 comments.

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By Pepe | June 11th, 2009 at 11:19 am

I must say, unless Rocchi either moves to a new club or somehow breaks into the attack at Lazio he’s not worth a call-up because he’s the type, being solid as you say, that is only good if he plays week in week out.

Foggia didn’t play enough this season (he has 33 appearances but loads were as sub), I think you’ll see him get a starting berth every week next season at Lazio, which I think is the only reason Lippi is going with Pepe instead, who is a half decent player, works very hard, not as skillful as other options though.
I won’t deny I’m biased about him.

By gian | June 11th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

It shouldn’t be a big deal Julian, but I think three riomanistas writing Italy stuff is a bit much, especially since everything written about Lazio prior to the Coppa Italia win had a negative slant (when on a supposedly neutral “national” page there shouldn’t be any).

Anyway, whatever.

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

There’s only 2 bloggers on this site

Posted from United States

By Staso | June 11th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

Rocchi?? as in Thomas Rocchi for the national squad? what are you guys talking about? I thought lippi was starting to get nuts with pepe.

By Paul | June 11th, 2009 at 2:21 pm

I told ya, I’m 110% an Azzurri fan. Whatever makes the team better, I am for. I don’t care if 20 Lazio or Inter players are called up. As long as they can perform well, that’s fine. The best players deserve spots.
I would rather see Foggia getting a call-up than Aquilani. Aqui’s always hurt, and doesn’t live up to the hype. Him and Montolivo don’t deserve spots until they can prove to be better players.

Posted from United States

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Despite both Julian and Paul’s call for non biased writing, Paul did point to his HATE for Inter on a numerous number of occasions. I just feel that this page needs a little flavour from another club. It is quite fair to say, the players, attitudes, and forms of soccer you support are tied into the club team you support. Hence, them being your favorite team.

Whatever though. Forza Azzuri.

P.S. This page has turned into a joke with another like-minded delusional ‘we are a top Serie A team’ Roma fan. A fucking laughing stock here I say….

Posted from United States

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

Inter4Life, I’d love if you could point out 5 occasions where I was Roma-biased.

We all have our favorite teams. I try to keep my bias out of this blog- hell, I’ve said the only Roma player worth a call up right now is DDR, maybe Brighi- but no matter who blogs, there will be some form of bias. Sorry but that’s the way it goes

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: our love for the Azzurri has to be bigger than our preferences for our clubs. For me, it is. I’d rather see Italy win the next world cup than Roma win 2 scudettos.

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

“Despite both Julian and Paul’s call for non biased writing, Paul did point to his HATE for Inter on a numerous number of occasions”.

If you read my comment carefully, you can clearly see I was pointing to Paul’s biased (his hate of Inter), not yours.

I just think it was a bad move on your part to have another Roma man write. As I said, it would be nice to read some different thoughts and views. And as long as there are two supporters from the same club writing, this will never happen. NO MATTER HOW UN BIASED YOU SAY YOU WILL BE. Because, as you said yourself, “but no matter who blogs, there will be some form of bias. Sorry but that’s the way it goes”.

So why not have biased opinions from another view to change things up? Makes sense to me.

Posted from United States

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Because believe it or not, I believe in what I say. I told you this blog is bigger than club teams, and I meant it. I did not know what club Paul supported when I chose him because it’s irrelevant. As long as he loves the Azzurri- and believe me, he does- that’s all that counts.

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

Once again, you’re negelceting the fact (that you also supported) that no matter how much love one has for their country, there will always be some biased based on which club team you support.

I will say it again. I feel you should have a fan from another club write with you to provide alternating view points and probably even cancel out eachothers eventual unavoidable bias. You both support the same club. So, that eventual, unavoidable bias is just doubled. It’s ridiculous.

Posted from United States

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

This is all smoke before fire. You guys are saying we’re biased- really? Where is it? Show me the places where we’ve been biased. I’d love to see a quote where one of us has been blatantly pro-Roma, other than where we’ve said that we like the club.

You’re making assumptions that are in no way fair. If we do act biased, call us out on it. But so far, no one has given any proof of bias. You saw that he said he liked Roma and ran away with it.

By gian | June 11th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Julian, the third writer I was referring to is Francesco, who writes the Serie A page, and as you know, is another Riomanista.

Posted from Canada

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Do believe this post above was edited, which is not a big deal. However, when I first read it, Paul did share, a few times, his hate for Inter.

This is, if I am not mistaken, a terrific example of what will lead to biased writing.

Posted from United States

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

And if the biased writing actually does occur, feel free to point it out and let us know.

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

As for Francesco, I can’t comment on what he does on the Serie A page on TheOffside. This blog is the only one I’m responsible for, so the fact that other blogs are run by guys who like Roma has nothing to do with me.

What I can say is that I’ve had this blog for just about a year now. How many times have I been biased towards Roma in my writing, to the point of detriment towards other teams?

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Very difficult to get through a thivk skull.

What I am trying to say that the way you write about the team (i.e. the players, formation, coaching style, etc.) is a direct link to the team you support. In this case we have two supporters from the same team writing. Therefore, the viewpoints will be similar. Not something I would want to read.

I would much rather read alternating view points from people who support different clubs.

Posted from United States

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 4:05 pm

Then go to a different website. Problem solved eh?

Your assumption is that because we both love Roma, we can’t be impartial to clubs. I think I’ve done a good enough job over the last year to prove that that isn’t true.

Could we get a bigger perspective? Sure. I could recruit 20 co-bloggers, one each a supporter of a different club in Serie A. Or we could use the two we have now, and hope that we know the difference between club and country.

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 4:12 pm

Who said anything about 20 bloggers? And who said you haven’t done a good job? Persoanlly, I feel as if this page is run well.

All I’m saying is that it would be nice to have ONE (not twenty) bloggers who can provide a different perspective.

Really not too much to ask for.

Posted from United States

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Listen, I see where you’re coming from. Maybe this will help you understand where I’m coming from.

This is part of the email I sent to everyone who wanted to co-blog:

“First and foremost, I had to get approval for a co-blogger from Daryl. Daryl is the head of all things TheOffside/WorldCupBlog, and this is what he told me:
“Just make sure it’s the right person, someone who’s strengthening the blog rather than diluting it.”

Those are your instructions. I’m looking for someone who can write clearly, coherently, with punctuation, grammar (the whole nine yards). Most of all, the writing should be interesting. And of course, it has to be about Italy.”

That was the criteria. I don’t care about clubs, skin color, religion. As long as they loved Italy and were good writers, they were in consideration. Paul met all the requirements with flying colors, and I’m really glad to have him aboard. Would you rather the requirements have been based on club loyalties?

I see what you mean, and maybe that would work. But the mere fact that me and Paul are two different people means we both have different perspectives. I think you can see that based on the fact that he likes the old guard and I’m more of a campaigner for youth than Arsene Wenger. The fact that we both like Roma is a tiny part of what we’re trying to do here.

By Inter4Life | June 11th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

We shall see.

If the trend continues of Roma fans on this site. Their club patch (and mouths) are usually much bigger and more pronounced than anything else in their football lives.

Posted from United States

By Paul | June 11th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

Inter4Life;

What weed are you smoking bud? Point out 5 places I either insulted Inter or made very pro-Roma remarks. I NEVER edited this post, maybe once for grammar, but why would I, on my first post, pull some bullshit Houdini act and write some anti-Inter stuff then delete it? Daryl would throw me off the blog right away! Also, LOOK, there are only 2 Roma players in my ideal starting 11. No Pro-Roma Aquilani or Totti bullshit there.

I’ll say it once again, Azzurri > Roma for me. 10000%. I’d rather Italy win another World Cup than Roma win 4 straight scudettos (Yeah, I’m serious) I have 1 Roma jersey at home, 6 National Team jerseys (And none of them are Roma players)

If you guys want to read something different, move along. I’m not gonna ban you or what not, Julian and I will just prove you wrong with our widely appreciated posts. Thanks.

Posted from United States

By Tony | June 11th, 2009 at 10:18 pm

I think we can all probably agree that our love for the azzurri is stronger than it is for a club team whichever it may be.

What’s a little concerning for me is having 2 relatively young bloggers, and try not to take this in a bad way, but i’ve read this blog since before julian started and its always the same thing, when we lose we’re the shittest team in the world and when we win its like berlin all over again, you guys remind me of the media the way you hype things up so often.
I, myself have been watching the world cups since ‘86 so to get something to turn my head takes quite a bit. And while its cool to see someone passionate about the sport we all love it is possible to go overboard.

Point #2 is the Cassano talk has to stop, it just has to. Its like watching old re-runs again, after all there’s informercials on t.v. that say some of the same stuff you guys like to repeat over and over.
Its fine to suggest players to be called up (convocati) but lets get real, lippi won a world cup and many trophies before that, so for any of you to try to pull rank on him is beyond ludicrous.

That being said, keep it up and lets try to keep it moving in a positive direction.

By Julian | June 11th, 2009 at 10:34 pm

We are rather young and impressionable, and I do tend to overreact (hey it’s the Italian blood in me). But I’m trying to learn to keep things in check- see my last post on the importance of the recent friendly.

By Weston | June 12th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

why would inter fans care anyway? They only have 3 Italians on their team.

Posted from United States

By aristeia | June 13th, 2009 at 8:39 am

*ignores the needless arguments*

Benvenuto Paul! I just de-lurked to say good luck.