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I’m Baaaack

May 11th, 2009 | By: Julian | 22 Comments »

Whew, it’s been a long while. I’ve missed you guys and blogging like crazy. Since I’ve been gone for so long, I feel like I owe you guys. As repayment for my absence, this post is gonna be pretty big. I’ll start it off with an explanation of my hiatus.

In a word: finals. I finished up my frosh year at BC (LOVED it btw) but the last 2 weeks have been constant tests and studying. I finally got home Saturday at 11 after finishing my last final at 2 o’clock, and now have the entire summer to blog. And oh, what a summer it shall be. We’ve got quite a bit to look forward to, with the cherry on the top of the pie being the Confederations’ Cup (Interesting tidbit on the Cup that you might want to chew on: no team that has won the Cup the year before the WC has gone on to win the WC).

But back to basics: current footy. In these two weeks or so quite a lot has happened, but nothing as big as the Champions League. Yes, no Italian teams are in it, but no, I don’t care. I’ve become a huge Barca fan this year after watching them play. In my opinion, they represent what footy should be like; smooth passing, intelligent play, and a constant hunger. When Iniesta scored the goal that knocked Chelsea out, I celebrated like Totti had scored it (If the fact that I’m a Roma fan is foreign to any of you, perhaps I’ve been gone longer than I thought). I fully thought Barca were the better team over the two legs and that they were screwed over more by the ref; Abidal’s challenge was no red as far as I could see. Barca- Man U is the deserved final, the two best teams over the year playing in the pinnacle of club football. It’ll be a great game for a neutral no matter what nationality you are, and I for one can’t wait to see it.

And no, I don’t think there’s any conspiracy at UEFA. If there was, why wasn’t Henry given the PK in the first leg? Why send Abidal off if your orders are to let Barca win? But this has been discussed ad naseum and I digress.

Let’s turn our attention to calcio. From what I’ve been following, the two biggest stories have been Spalletti and Rainieri. Or to be more precise, the stories are about how the fans have basically turned against the coaches and how they won’t be there next year. I never thought the Rain Man was right for the Juve job, and when Mourinho called him a loser… well his CV doesn’t really disprove that accusation. As for Spalletti, I think he did a great job with Roma for years. He was able to compensate for the lack of a striker by playing a formation where no true striker is needed. He’s great at tactics but Roma have a loser mentality (as much as it pains me to say that). Roma needs a great motivator, not a great tactician right now. I don’t think Spalletti is the right man for the job anymore. Both clubs need a change as far as I can see, but I’m doubtful Roma will make it; Juve have a better chance of changing coaches.

Pirlo’s new haircut… he just isn’t the same player without the mane.

Another return has happened, other than mine: Adriano has returned to the football world once again, but now he’s plying his trade in Brazil instead of at Inter. He cited less pressure as one reason for signing with Flamengo, which brings up a very interesting point:Italy might be the toughest continent to play soccer on. I mean, look at Ibra. He’s been Inter’s leader this season; he’s leading the team in goals and a competitor for the Golden Boot, and yet the still has to shush his fans this past weekend. We have intense expectations for our clubs, maybe even too much. Is that why so many players tend to crumble in Serie A? Look at Ronaldinho, Baptista, Flamini… you could argue the first two have been past thier prime for a while, and I can’t deny Flamini has been really good for Milan recently, but do we expect too much from our players?

So maybe not much has changed over these two weeks. Milan and Juve are still coached by guys most people now view as boneheads, the Champions League final is what we all thought it would be in January, and calcio is still calcio.

Good thing there’s still hope for progress in some areas.

Tags: Adriano, Barca, Cassano, Group E, Ibra, Inter, Italy, Juve, Lippi, Man U, Marcello Lippi, Milan, Pirlo, Roma, Spalletti, The Return

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Comments

By RobGoBlue | May 11th, 2009 at 10:58 am

Any idea where the Confederations Cup will be carried on TV in the United States?

Posted from United States

By 9 champs leagues | May 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

WB Julian..atleast u post sensible and great stuff about football unlike many glory hunting foreigners like kkql and others
regards

Posted from Spain

By kqql | May 11th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

By 9 champs leagues | May 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

WB Julian..atleast u post sensible and great stuff about football unlike many glory hunting foreigners like kkql and others
regards
Posted from Spain

You are going to RANT every where about me ….WHAT A Jerk,

Only thing you do here is come and Rant about Lippi and how lucky Lippi was to win the world Cup.

what is so Italian about me that is more than ur filthy like??IAM BORN IN ITALIA..MY PARENTS, ANCESTORS DID NOT RUN AWAY TO USA OR ANY ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRY, MY WHOLE FAMILY LIVES IN ITALIA..I HAVE A RESTAURANT IN SPAIN…STRANIERI CRAPP LIKE U R DIME A DOZEN.. ur moment of glory is when u visit Little Italia in new york or Boston glory hunting my country when there is a major tournament thats all..i repeat, u r not an equal to us true blue blooded Italians..And it is Football, not Soccer4 u crazy deranged foreign thrash

Wow I am Impressesd, you are nothing but a RACIST/Class less Moron. And you who lives and earns his money in Spain is trashing all Italian Americans.

I am Italian American YOU JERK, and hey Jerk stop making fun of Italians Americans whose parents or grand parents came to USA.

We are as Italian as you ever will be……..YOU MORON….The Blood Line is thicker than were one was born.

You ARE A RACIST PIG !

By kqql | May 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

By 9 champs leagues | May 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
WB Julian..atleast u post sensible and great stuff about football unlike many glory hunting foreigners like kkql and others
regards
Posted from Spain

You are going to RANT every where about me ….WHAT A Jerk,
Only thing you do here is come and Rant about Lippi and how lucky Lippi was to win the world Cup.

By 9 champs leagues

Wow I am Impressesd, you are nothing but a RACIST/Class less Moron. And you who lives and earns his money in Spain is trashing all Italian Americans.
I am Italian American YOU JERK, and hey Jerk stop making fun of Italians Americans whose parents or grand parents came to USA.
We are as Italian as you ever will be……..YOU MORON….The Blood Line is thicker than were one was born.

You ARE A RACIST PIG !

By 9 champs leagues | May 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

kkql, iam thrugh responding to clowns like u..i again and again and again reaffirm my claims that U R NOT AN ITALIAN…ur affinity i with USA, u r an american, U AND UR CLAN WILL NEVER EVER BE A TRUE ITALIAN LIKE ME..FACT..PERIOD..U OR UR ANCESTORS WERE BORN THERE.U R NOT AN ITALIAN..GO AND CLEAR UR DOUBTS FROM RELIABLE SOURCES..

Posted from Spain

By Julian | May 11th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Robgoblue- not the faintest. ESPN might have it but knowing how our sport is treating in the good ol’ Red White and Blue, we’re probably going to have to watch it via internet streams

By alessio | May 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

Might at least be able to see Italy-USA, if they play each other.

Posted from Spain

By Jackie | May 11th, 2009 at 3:11 pm

9 champs leagues

Your hateful comments are repulsive

By kqql | May 11th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

YOUR ARE FASCIST, who hates American-Italians and Americans because they freed Italy from Fascism.

Stop prentending to be Italian, You are from Spain……..

Also, I am sorry to see that World Cup Blog/the offisde has no Standards when Racist and insults are allowed to be posted by By 9 champs leagues = AKA Mr. Spain

By 9 champs leagues
what is so Italian about me that is more than ur filthy like??IAM BORN IN ITALIA..MY PARENTS, ANCESTORS DID NOT RUN AWAY TO USA OR ANY ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRY, MY WHOLE FAMILY LIVES IN ITALIA..I HAVE A RESTAURANT IN SPAIN…STRANIERI CRAPP LIKE U R DIME A DOZEN.. ur moment of glory is when u visit Little Italia in new york or Boston glory hunting my country when there is a major tournament thats all..i repeat, u r not an equal to us true blue blooded Italians..And it is Football, not Soccer4 u crazy deranged foreign thrash

P.S It’s thanks to loser posters like you that thread has no traffic

By Tony | May 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Alessio, they will play eachother on june 15th in the group stage, as italy, brazil, usa and egypt are in the same group.
Miraculously, tln are going to show it in canada, but you guys are right, when in doubt stream it over the net.

Posted from Canada

By alessio | May 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

It’d be a sick irony if Italy-USA is on TLN, but not American tv.

Posted from Spain

By Armando | May 11th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Cant wait for the Confederations Cup. And to be honest, i honestly wouldnt put it past Spain to win the Confederations Cup AND World Cup. They seem like they just cant be stopped, and to be honest, who can stop them? They have the 2 best pure strikers in the world with Torres and Villa plus others such as Guiza and Llorente who are also great, as well as some of the best midfielders in the world, and more than enough of them, such as Xavi, Silva, Iniesta, Senna, Fabregas, Alonso, Riera, etc. I think the top 5 teams are: Spain, Argentina, Germany, Brazil, and Italy. Germany also has a shot as well as Argentina, and Brazil and Italy can never be counted out.

By Armando | May 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

Oh, and that Flamengo jersey is really nice. And Del Piero looks Giovinco-size in that picture.

By kqql | May 11th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

For Fans in the USA ……… Here u go…

Sunday, June 14 – 9:55 am ET – South Africa – Iraq on ESPN2
Sunday, June 14 – 2:25 pm ET – New Zealand – Spain on ESPN2

Monday, June 15 – 9:55 am ET – Brazil- Egypt – on ESPN2.
Monday, June 15 – 2:25 pm ET – United States – Italy on ESPN.

Wednesday, June 17 – 9:55 am ET – Spain – Iraq on ESPN2.
Wednesday, June 17 – 2:25 pm ET – New Zealand – South Africa on ESPN2.

Thursday, June 18 – 9:55 am ET – United States – Brazil on ESPN2.
Thursday, June 18 – 2:25 pm ET – Egypt at Italy on ESPN2.

Saturday, June 20 – 2:25 pm ET – Spain – South Africa on ESPN2.
Sunday, June 21 – 1:00 am ET – Iraq – New Zealand on ESPN2.

By kqql | May 11th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

and

Sunday, June 21 – 2:25 pm ET – Egypt – USA on ESPN2
Sunday, June 21 – 2:25 pm ET – Italy – Brazil on ESPN

Wednesday, June 24 – 2:25 pm ET – Semifinal on ESPN
Thursday, June 24 – 2:25 pm ET – Semifinal on ESPN

Sunday, June 28 – 8:55 am ET – Third Place Game on ESPN2
Sunday, June 28 – 2:25 pm ET – Championship Game on ESPN2

By MAD | May 11th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

“Italy might be the toughest continent to play soccer on.”

Or, you know, not really that tough a continent, more like a country…

By Armando | May 11th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

First off, i thought the Confederations Cup had more teams, was more like a World Cup to a slightly smaller degree, guess not. Now i realize there’s only 8 teams. Got it.

Wow, no offense to South Africa, Iraq, and New Zealand, but Spain is gonna cruise through that group (South Africa is my bet to get 2nd place in that group though). Brazil, Egypt, US, and Italy though is gonna be some great group stage matches. The final is either gonna be Italy vs Spain or Brazil vs Spain. Either way, i think Spain has the best shot.

By Mostafa | May 11th, 2009 at 11:20 pm

Will they play in egypt?
I really want to go see that match if it was here in egypt. PLease someone answer….

By Jessica | May 11th, 2009 at 11:56 pm

Go Eagles! Congrats on being done Julian!

TLN have been showing more adverts lately for the Confed. Cup – I am happy they are able to carry it. I watched the Chelsea – Barca game in Spanish on TLN, it really adds to the excitement.

I also forgot there are ‘only’ 8 teams. I think it will be a great way to observe the climate and “feel” the country. Should be interesting.

By Julian | May 12th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

MAD- minor details . I think I’m allowed a slip considering I used all my brain juice on finals.