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Jdizzle’s Serie A Transfer Grades So Far: Part One

July 26th, 2009 | By: Julian | 16 Comments »

I know you guys are all off busy on vacation or hanging out with “friends” or doing whatever it is you do during the summer, but in an effort to keep this blog more active, I’m going to rate transfer activity. Yes, the “Jdizzle” mentioned in the title above- the one that had you scratching your head, probably wondering if I added another co-blogger- it’s just me. And today, I’d like to start out with clubs that I probably don’t give enough props to on this site. If for no other reason but to prove to the haters that I care more about Roma and Juve.

Yes, I read your comments and see your hate.

Anyway, moving on. Here’s a few clubs that I’ll do today, and with each post I’ll add another 3 or 4. Full mercato list here.

Napoli. Hugely, hugely impressed. Let’s start with the basics: I think Donadoni is a great fit for Napoli. He sucked for us, don’t get me wrong, but as a club coach he can be quite good. Napoli’s past season almost mirrors Donadoni’s coaching. Napoli started off very well- like the Don did when he was at the club level, and in Euro qualifying- but finished horribly. Much like the Don did in the Euros.

But in terms of actual players, they’ve nabbed guys like Quags (who I have an enormous man crush on, in a very non-homosexual way), Cigarini, and De Sanctis. Scoring goals was a problem last season but they seem to have quite a nice midfield and frontline now, with Lavezzi and Hamsik factored in. Overall, they’ve done a great job of doing not high-profile signings, but strengthening the overall aspect of the team. Watch them but let’s hope they don’t tail off again.

Atalanta. Mixed. They’ve brought in some great guys like Acquafresca, but have also lost Cigarini and Floccari. The latter especially will be a huge loss for them. The thing about Atalanta, much like Napoli, seems to be that they are too inconsistent. Last year we saw them whoop top teams like Inter but also have less than stellar results against clubs in the relegation battle. If they can start playing with some consistency they should be able to at least fight for a Europa Cup spot.

Milan. This has been discussed to death, but they lost their three biggest icons this summer: Carlo, Maldini, and Kaka. Leonardo has quite a tough job on his hands, but Milan have done some strengthening. In particular, Abate could be huge for them on the wing if he’s given a chance to play. Oddo and Onyewu have come in to shore up the defense, but the biggest defensive “signing” for them is without a doubt the return of Nesta. If they can get a world class defender to partner him, and another striker then they might not feel the loss of Kaka too badly. But as the team stands right now, I’m with Gattuso on this- it lacks something.

Finally, a quick sidenote. Rosina, one of the most beloved and skilled Italian players to play on a team that most wouldn’t consider top notch, has moved from Torino to Zenit. Rosinaldo is an immense talent, and I’m pretty shocked that no Italian teams considered a move for him. He was only 6 million Euros, which is pretty cheap in today’s transfer season. And hell, he could’ve been a replacement for Kaka in Milan or a creative force for Roma who need to shore up their team, too. Sadly, he left the peninsula entirely, but at least he’ll be playing in Europe.

Tags: Atalanta, Group E, mercato, Milan, Napoli, Rosina

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Comments

By Armando | July 26th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

Yea, Napoli is gonna get a Europa League spot next year in my opinion for sure. Maybe even beat out Fiorentina for a CL spot if Napoli can stay consistent. I mean, this is a GREAT squad, definitely Champions League worthy in my opinion:

————-De Sanctis
Vitale–Santacroce–Cannavaro–Zuniga
Maggio—-Cigarini—-Blasi—-Hamsik
———Lavezzi—Quagliarella

That’s a hell of a lineup right there. Plus they’d still have Gargano, Amodio, Denis, Datolo, Zalayeta, Montervino, etc, all quality players, all ready on the bench. Also, a 4-2-3-1 would also be possible with these players.

Either way, Napoli has been one of the most impressive italian teams in the transfer market this offseason, along with Juve. Inter hasnt done bad either.

And Milan i dont think is actually in that much trouble. I think Inzaghi still has another season left in him where he’ll be scoring goals like a maniac, enough time for Pato to get some more experience for sure. Maldini retired but Nesta is back, and Kaka left but in my opinion Ronaldinho is gonna step it up a notch and fill in greatly for Kaka. They can still field a great 4-3-1-2, like this:

————-Abbiati
Zambrotta–Nesta–Onyewu–Jankulovski
—-Ambrosini–Gattuso–Pirlo
————Ronaldinho
———–Pato–Inzaghi

Overall, i think Milan needs to worry more about the 10/11 season then the 09/10 one, when in 2010/11, Nesta, Inzaghi, Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Zambrotta, etc are all gonna be getting really old.

By alessio | July 26th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Milan’s in trouble, man. No Kaka, no Maldini…Onyweu will not be starting and he’s only a straight swap for Senderos. Their backline has gotten thinner and one year older, with Oddo, Favalli, and Zambrotta still likely to play a frequent role, and let’s not forget Kaladze and Janks are hardly world-class themselves. I don’t see Dinho carrying the team or Inzaghi able to start every game. If they incorporate Borriello, might work.

That’s a hell of a lineup right there. Plus they’d still have Gargano, Amodio, Denis, Datolo, Zalayeta, Montervino, etc, all quality players, all ready on the bench.

Denis and Zalayeta are crap, and Montervino, a quality player? He is awful, Serie B material that’s been kept along for the ride because of his role in the team. Their bench is meh, but their starting XI is quality.

For me, Inter takes the transfer market cake right now. Milito, Motta, Eto’o, three world-class transfers. If they use that Ibra-cash to sign Cassano, they will be scary as hell.

By Julian | July 26th, 2009 at 6:51 pm

Alessio- what’s even scarier about Inter is they now have a forward who can score in the Champions League

By Vincent | July 26th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

Alessio is right- Denis the menace and Z-Donkey are NOT quality players- in fact they suck hind tit.

And the whole Rosina things bugs me. You have lazio and Roma wanting an over the hill Argentine with a huge wage demand{Cruz{, but can’t spend 6 mill on Rosina?

How about Palermo? I am sick of this buying overated overpriced stanieri bullsh!t!

By Armando | July 26th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

I’m not saying Milan has improved, but i think if Nesta and Gattuso can regain their form pre-injuries, and Dinho can get back to his best, then they wont have that much to worry about, and can still hold onto third place most likely. I mean, either Onyewu or Kaladze should be starting next to Nesta. Yea, Janks, Zambro, Pirlo, Rino, etc are all getting old and certainly past their primes, but they can still get the job done good enough.

And okay, i agree that Zalayeta, Denis, etc are crap. But they still have Gargano and Amodio, who, Gargano especially, are without a doubt quality. And Napoli’s starting XI for next season is ridiculously good.

Just curious, how do you figure Inter’s done better than Juve in the transfer market? Inter’s bought more players, but theyve also lost much more (even though just for the record i consider the Ibra-Eto’o deal good for both sides, but better for Inter probably). Look at it this way:

INTER:
Lost: Ibrahimovic, Maxwell, Adriano, Crespo, Cruz, Figo.
Got: Milito, Motta, Eto’o.

JUVE:
Lost: Knezevic, Marchionni, Mellberg, Nedved.
Got: Diego, Melo, Cannavaro.

By Sam | July 27th, 2009 at 3:40 am

Is Helb in that Ibra deal?

By Calisi | July 27th, 2009 at 6:02 am

Yeah on loan I believe.

Posted from United States

By Rob(ben :D) | July 27th, 2009 at 8:42 am

I think he’s part of the Maxwell deal.

As for Napoli, Julian forgot to mention the aquisition of Zuniga, who has impressed in pre-season so far.

By Steven | July 27th, 2009 at 9:53 am

Vincent, how is Palermo buying overpriced, overrated stranieri?

Posted from United States

By Vincent | July 27th, 2009 at 10:17 am

I guess I shouldn’t have said overpaid and overated, because they bring in younger and less experienced stranieri. But if they are young and foreign, they have potential and get PT, if they are young and Italian, they get loaned out or sat on the bench due to inexperience. Not trying to pick on any one particular club, just it seems a trand in serie A

By Steven | July 27th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

That’s why teams loan out their Primavera-players once they have proven themselves there: to gain experience.

Posted from Belgium

By Stefan | July 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

“m not saying Milan has improved, but i think if Nesta and Gattuso can regain their form pre-injuries, and Dinho can get back to his best, then they wont have that much to worry about,”

That’s some huge IFs right there!

By KJ | July 28th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

WHeres Palermo dude?

PALERMO >>>>>>>> Roma

Posted from United States

By MAD | July 29th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

“If for no other reason but to prove to the haters that I care more about Roma and Juve.

Yes, I read your comments and see your hate.”

As do I. I still remember your first post – and several subsequent – where you went out of your way to slag Inter and piss us off. Hope it was worth it.

“Just curious, how do you figure Inter’s done better than Juve in the transfer market?

INTER:
Lost: Ibrahimovic, Maxwell, Adriano, Crespo, Cruz, Figo.
Got: Milito, Motta, Eto’o”

Between “Headcase” Adriano, Crespo and Cruz this past season we got about 12 goals. 3 forwards and we got about 12 goals from them. How is Milito – and his 19.5 goal average for each of the last 5 seasons – not a huge upgrade, again?

We already had replacements for Maxwell. We call them Chivu, Zanetti and Santon. All three are National teamers.

Motta, if he keeps his form from last season is as good as Melo – and he was way cheaper.

And you forgot Lucio, who would start on any Serie A team.

By ilcapitano | July 31st, 2009 at 10:22 am

Even fuckin Parma have had a better Mercato than Roma, they got Panucci and Bojinov today.

Posted from United States

By gio | August 2nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Adriano, Cruz and Figo were dead weigh while Ibra was steadily cranking out illegitemate goals and Crespo sat there unused. i would say Inter did well, but Maxwell was a loss.

for all the things i say about Alessio on the Roma page, i think he is right, here, except if they loose Pirlo they can also keep Gatuso off and use Abate and Flamini and streamline their mid; and Boriello was useless in the Milan-Inter game and i think he will not be so effective this year.

Posted from United States

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