Unfortunate for Simeone having that one called back, but it was a solid win. Frankfurt are having a good season. They're in the mix for the fourth CL spot in Germany, but not really in top form right at the moment. They're playing Werder Bremen tomorrow, so they'll be on even less rest than Napoli.
Both of the goals show a lot of quality. Osi scoring from a tight angle, and more than that, for even had he not scored, nobody would have had the right to complain, as there were hardly any other options than to shoot. Kvara just showed his tenacity, velocity, football wit, and precision. And again, the whole team played like stars. I really love what I have been watching, the way we fight for every ball all the time. I feel like these players live for football, love it, and currently can't find anything to deter them from that attitude. And even though I bet the vast majority of the fans cares not one bit about the Coppa exit, or at least very little, the players sure knowing that, Lobotka cried after that penalty miss. My opinion on that? Yes, it can be tough when you are the only one who did not score, but honestly, penalties have always been, and will be, missed, by the best and the worst alike. It could have been anyone else there. Maybe we should have played better even with that lineup, maybe we should have played other players earlier, but we took the risk and I do not blame anyone for that. We do have a Coppa, but this chance has to take preference.
IMO we would have won over Cremonese if the woman ref allowed us to play. Every challenge was called and Cremonese took full advantage. There were twice as many fouls in the Coppa game than in our recent league win over them.
So many people hated Aurelio De Laurentiis in years past. When he bought the club though after Napoli went bankrupt in 2004 and were relegated to the third division or the Serie C1, brought them back up to the Serie B playing against Juventus in 2006–07 and then were quickly promoted back to the Serie A in 2007-2008. If ADL can pull off a scudetto this year, he will have been hailed a Neapolitan hero along with Diego Maradona and San Gennaro.
I was not exactly right. I have never said he is perfect. All I did was stating the obvious, that the man loves football and Napoli, and that he is balanced, which means that maybe he will not spend as much as others, but at the same time he tries to get the best possible players with the budget in mind. And, of course, that no owner is perfect, and considering all the pros, we are actually pretty well managed.
I'm not sure what goes on in ADL's head, but my feeling at the start of the season was he was more or less done with Napoli. He claimed he didn't want to sell, but I didn't believe that then and I don't believe that now. If a big enough offer is made, he will sell the club and focus his energy on Bari.
Just recently came out saying he thinks Kvara and Osimhen will stay for many years but to never say never in the event a crazy offer were to arrive. If Kvara and Osimhen are worth 120mil, don't expect that to be the price ADL would be willing to accept. Maybe Victor as his contract expires in 2 years but Kvara's contract doesn't expire until 2027. I hope Osimhen resigns for another 3 years. He also said he hopes Lozano will stay for many years, maybe an indication a contract extension may be offered his way.
Osi kissing the crest yesterday after his goal gave me some hope that he might want to stay. Money can get in the way of feelings of course. Next up is away at Empoli. The ref will be Giovanni Ayroldi, we last saw him before the world cup break when Napoli beat Udinese 3:2 without Kvara. For a solidly midtable team, Empoli has reasonably good recent record, three draws against other middling teams, a loss to Roma and at narrow win at Inter. We beat Empoli in the fall but lost both of last year's matches. Historically these games have a tendency to be on the high scoring side. Overall I'd say this game has a good chance to be a trap.
Momblano reported yesterday that ADL is privately in negotiations to sell Napoli for around 800 million. Momblano is a Juve insider but he has had more misses than hits as far as his scoops. He was the first to break CR to Juve, but has had duds ever since
Empoli are a tricky team. Hot keeper and the front 3 are starting to catch fire. We are scouting Baldanzi btw
Hard to say. He may also bring investors. But if you were him would you not stay a few more years and have fun?
If Bari get promoted, he has to sell one of them. Bari are currently 3rd in Serie B. If ADL is about maximizing profit, he sells Napoli on a high note and puts all his eggs in the Bari basket. He gets to do it all over again