Update on Icardi: He scored his first goal of the season as a starting player for the first time in the first team in the Genoan derby between his Sampdoria side at home versus the visiting Genoa. Had one shot of his blocked but ended up causing a Genoan player to score en contra. I really hope this kid turns out to be the bomb-diggity.
Watched Dybala last night as he was playing against our sister club Udinese. Have to say he is pretty nippy and can find a pass but is outmuscled pretty easily. That said some of the service to him was very poor. Easy balls for any central defender to clear. Munoz was also impressive. Commits plenty of subtle fouls and is very dominant in the air almost scoring for Palermo but his positional play at times in a freely transitioning game was awkward.
Dybala is one to watch, no doubt. Has that it factor, and I think he will do well. Muñoz I like, I hope Sabella is keeping an eye on him. It does appear he likes Garay and Flaco(Fede) right now. I do wonder if he will go to a back 3 again when we qualify and try it out and move around the back. Lets wait and see.
A little insight into Il Capitano Zanetti and his progression from Dock Sud and an Independiente fan to being the great player he is now (scandalously overlooked in 2006 and 2010). http://forzainterforums.com/showthread.php?8918-Javier-Zanetti-s-quot-Captain-and-Gentleman-quot
Federico Fernandez who has not played for Napoli this season has grown fed up of the situation and has bought himself out to play for Getafe CF on loan for the rest of the season. This I like. Sensible move rather than rot on the bench and not develop into the very good centreback he can be.
I also neglected to mention Udinese are looking to sign Alan Ruiz from San Lorenzo and then farm him out either to us or Granada.
Not a fan then Pipiolo ? I think he has real ability just needs to up his concentration. He passes the ball well from the back and is very good aerially. At least with him and Garay the attacks do start from the back and aerially we have looked more dominant than for a few years. Needless to say both would be even better with a little more pace and both can still improve. Garay wasted 2 whole seasons of development and sensibly Federico is not going to do the same.
I like Fernandez, has potential to be very good akin to a Samuel or Heinze, I was just being facetious at his situation. So which defenders at Napoli kept him on the bench?
Ah. Strangely enough Campagnaro is also to blame.... Along with Juan Zuniga. Incredible as it may seem and also Paolo Cannavaro. Ignacio Fideleff the former Newell's player has also had to leave on loan but he has stayed in Italy moving to be alongside Gabriel Paletta at Parma.
Napoli failed with €12m Icardi bid Napoli have revealed that they failed in a transfer deadline day attempt to sign Mauro Icardi from Sampdoria. The 19-year-old is being linked with a host of top clubs after a stunning 2013 to date which has included a brace at Juventus and four goals in the 6-0 win over Pescara. “Icardi is a favourite of mine,” President Aurelio De Laurentiis is quoted as saying in the Gazzetta dello Sport. “He was already intriguing me a lot before Christmas. “Talks with Samp became complicated, but he is of interest to us for the future – but we are also looking at other players too.” The Gazzetta claims that Napoli initially offered €12m for the Argentine youngster who is also of interest to Milan, Inter and Juventus. They then offered Sampdoria €5m for a half share in him and the promise that the player could end the season at Doria. Napoli may make a new bid at the end of the campaign
Juve and I believe Inter are after him as well. I wouldn't mind him playing for for Juve.. But the last great Argentinos that played for Juve were Camoranesi,Sívori,Monti,Orsi and Cesarini(I believe he was born in Italy though) and what do they all have in common? But I believe Maurito has said he is a fan o Inter, so... Inter probably will make a bid for him.
I'm not as worried about missing out on Icardi; he's already played in the U-20 for us, and its not as if we have a ton players that can play striker with his size. I think that if he shows that he can play and continues to score, he will get a call up. However, I am worried about him being overhyped. I've seen flashes of brilliance in him, but let's wait until the end of this year to make the final call. Besides, its not as if Italy can make the argument that if he plays for them he will start right away; Mario Balotelli, Stephan El Shaarawy, DiNatale, Matia Destro and Osvaldo would all be ahead of him in the pecking order. And, Giuseppe Rossi might be healthy.
Oh, I am not worried either I am just pointing out all those are players that played for Juve represent them. As for him being overhyped, true lets see how he continues the season. He had a month, lets just hope he continues it.
I think having seen Icardi play as a junior and now that it would be extremely foolish to let him go. All the signs are he will play for us and wants to but Sabella should call him and Lamela to the next qualifiers against Venuzuela and Bolivia, a good a time as any to blood young players from the substitutes bench. Bad news is Diego Milito suffered a serious ACL injury which rules him out for the season and as always with such injuries can be career ending. Rodrigo Palacio though chipped in with 2 goals in the EL tie againt CFR Cluj:
March 3, 2013. Sapmdoria wins 1-0. Icardi with a header from the center of the box. . . damn, the kid now has 8 goals in Seria A (remember, he didn't even play in the start of the season, let alone get a start) and leads the team in goals.
Is there a reason Lamela doesn't really seem part of the Argentina set up? Obviously I don't expect him to start, or even become a regular sub. with the amount of attacking depth Argentina have. But I'm surprised he isn't called up at all at least to train with the NT. He has been doing fairly well with Roma, and already has 13 goals this season.
Too much of anything is bad, you do not want to have too many options, you may over think certain aspects of the game. My assumption is that he would replace Di Maria but their games are a bit similar even though Coco plays more as a forward for you guys, right? Looks like Montillo is going to take that spot, a different player. I don't think in the attacking sense Sabella wants players that are mirror copies of each other(the DF and and DMF is different). But I believe Coco has been called up for a couple friendlies but has never really played. In a way I believe he will get called up soon but him making the team for the WC, I don't know...
Mauro Icardi to join Internazionale.... http://www1.skysports.com/football/...auro-Icardi-will-join-Inter-Milan-this-summer Udinese are said to be looking at Cirigliano and Rescaldani. Scouts in BA at present.
Once he gets fit, and being at a traditional great like Juventus, I expect Carlitos to get called up to the NT
Monzon has joined Catania from Lyon. Alejandro Gomez has gone from Catania to Fiorentina. Probably Jovetic's replacment. Napoli are now looking to sign Higuain to replace Cavani.
Hope not Pipiolo because he causes rifts in the dressing room which outweigh what he brings footballing wise.