One thing is certain: Napoli and Luciano Moggi stole the scudetto in 1990 with results decided by the desk (tavolino, the 31th round was given to Napoli behind the table) and many bizarre red cards for their rival clubs near the end. That is more certain than whatever happened in 1988, where Milan had the advantage in the table anyway. Both faced a tough set of opponents near the end of the campaign, and an easy set of opponents in the middle. Milan won both their matches against Napoli, the first game ended 4-1.
There is no question that shady activities always occurred in Italian football. About the specifics surrounding that 87/88 season, it was always strange how Napoli pummeled down the stretch after coasting for 25 rounds or so with a 5 point lead. Even more suspicious is how they let in 12 goals over the last 5 matches when they had only let in 15 in the previous 25 games. Furthermore, the team started to perform poorly down the stretch and the press spoke about how only Maradona was ‘carrying’ the team. Many key members had bizarrely declined in their performances. They went from “MA-Gi-Ca” to Maradona alone and strangely Diego missed the last 2 league games... https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/s...-player-ratings.2085771/page-53#post-38165449 Francesco Romano years later said that in that encounter vs AC Milan at home in round 28, they (AC Milan) kept running while Napoli had stopped running. Some players allegedly implicated in the ‘tanking’ were then sold or transferred away after the season was over. Goalkeeper Garella, Giordano and Salvatore Bagni being the main targeted. We have to also look into the past of these players, like Giordano, suspended for 2 years (1980-82) for illegal betting in the scandals of Italian football. Not surprisingly, Bagni to this day continues to deny any involvement, knowing that his house was ransacked and that his dead child was illegally removed from the cemetery. It’s said that key Napoli players (Maradona at the helm) were partying with Mobsters down the stretch of the championship, knowing deep down inside that they were the real champs. Implications of a Ferlaino-Berlusconi pact was mentioned too. One thing is certain: Napoli players had ties with the Camorra. Many key players started to perform poorly down the stretch. Napoli had been coasting with a 5 point lead. A margin that was very respectable in that era. Maradona suspiciously missed the last two games. Napoli players vs AC Milan stopped running, according to Romano. Maradona’s car was smashed; Bagni’s house burglarized. Giordano’s dark past history. Various players implicated were then shipped out. Something just didn’t feel right and the Napoli people sensed a betrayal. But to this day a proper investigation has never been conducted.
Carlo F. Chiesa’s top and worst of the weekend (in green and with ratings of 7 and above were the best; the worst in red with grades of 5 and below). GS round 9
With top class performances in round 9 from Baggio and Van Basten, inevitably these two were now being compared.
Carlo F. Chiesa’s top and worst of the weekend (in green and with ratings of 7 and above were the best; the worst in red with grades of 5 and below). GS round 10
Coming up next, Tuttosport’s all-time Serie A team and Gazzetta dello Sport’s best ever foreigner from 1980-1992. Guerin Sportivo provided a review of what Tuttosport and Gazzetta dello Sport published. Now since I don’t have the direct sources of those votes, I’ll use Guerin Sportivo and their source to highlight the winners considering that GS gave their opinion about the controversial lists. Stay tuned.
It's not so strange if you look at which teams they faced near the end of the league. What looks 'tanking' for you, might as well just be being bettered by the better opponents of the league. Both Napoli and Milan faced the toughest opponents near the very end, and Milan had Van Basten returning as major help/decoy for these hardest matches. They had easier opponents in the middle (in which Milan dropped points, because of a Gullit suspension which might or might not have been fair). But we've already done this discussion before. The 1989-90 scudetto is a lot weirder imho, with results decided by the table and multiple ultra-rare red cards assigned to Napoli/Moggi's nearest rivals. There were no strange red cards or table results in 1988, it was just a case of Napoli losing against the best opponents. Milan beat Napoli both times in 1987-88, and had the advantage in the table after their second win (before Maradona didn't play the last two matches). Maybe they did tank and throw matches against their nearest rivals; Napoli was after all also sole table leader, clear from the rest, in 1989-90 after Maradona missed a handful matches in the opening rounds.
Tuttosport’s all-time Serie A team from 1898 to 1992. I’ll start off with the goalkeeper spot. Dino Zoff
Just to clarify that in the list of the all time best ideal squad of Serie A, it’s uncertain the point total since the source I’m using is secondary.
As in all lists, things are debatable. For Guerin Sportivo, the observation of journalist Giorgio Tosatti, made it clear that some names could have been switched around. For example, Valentino Mazzola was one big omission in the ideal team. The position of Maroso, Julinho and Van Basten were the most contested. In place of Maroso, the author felt that Facchetti, Cabrini or the young Paolo Maldini were not inferior. In the position of Julinho, Bruno Conti was viewed as superior to the “discontinuous” Julinho. In the position of Van Basten, Gunnar Nordahl was not inferior. Those were the most objectionable choices, while the correct and unquestioned options were Rijkaard and Maradona. The top voted player of all-time was Diego Maradona, beating out Mazzola, Riva, Platini, Sivori, Schiaffino and Van Basten, in that order. Coming up Gazzetta dello Sport best foreign player from 1980-92
Here an early 1993 piece of Guerin Sportivo: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/best-football-players-of-all-time.2011432/page-35#post-35676767 (Page 34 and 35 of that thread)
So here was the article in 1992 of journalist Giorgio Tosatti reviewing the Tuttosport’s ideal team and Gazzetta dello Sport top player from 1980-92. For Gazzetta dello Sport the top voted player was Diego Maradona narrowly beating Platini, but it drew criticism from the author. He felt the gap between the first two had to be wider, and it was absurd that several voters had not included the Argentinian in the top five. But he clarified it had not been conducted by a jury of experts. I wonder if the original source was a people’s voting...