Contenders for the Scudetto – 2004/2005

[Pravesh]

Contenders for the Scudetto – 2004/2005

Milan
Inter
Juventus
Roma
Lazio


I don’t think at all that Lazio would make it, but still.

Lets discuss how our enemies are doing and how they are getting prepared



Milan –

They haven’t changed their team that much, which is very bad for us. Indeed, their starting – 11 is almost the same one like last season. The only difference being Stam’s inclusion in the 11. Maldini has said that he won’t move to left back, but that is the only way I can imagine Stam in the line up, unless Milan plays with back 3, which I very doubt so. If they play with back 3, it won’t help them at all; as they have got good quality midfielders and why should they change their tactic for just one player.

Cafu ---- Stam ---- Nesta ---- Maldini
For me, that is a great back line. I don’t think age would matter that much at least for this season, looking at what Cafu (34) and Maldini (36) have been doing for their respective clubs.

There could have been few doubts on Seedorf’s position. But it seems, that has already been solved long time back after they got Lyon’s Dhorasoo.
And they also have all but got Crespo. And that makes Milan’s striker force a very good one.

Ofcourse, Crespo won’t be a sure starter, but that’s a luxury for them, as their president said. He can play with Shevchenko, or can replace Shevchenko incase such a time arrives.

Milan’s line up might be something like this :

------------dida--------------

cafu—stam-----nesta—maldini

--gatusso—pirlo—seedorf---

------------kaka--------------

-----shev---------inza/cre----


And that is a very good line up, which makes them favorite for the title yet again, as there’s hardly any change in that line up.




Juventus –

Well then, they also had a coach change, like us. And not just only coach change, but few changes in line up as well. Capello has said that Thuram will be used in the center back, which indeed is the right decision. I have seen Thuram in the center back position, and have to admit that he does very well there. Then, Thuram’s RB position should be taken by their expected new arrival – Oddo (Or would Moggi surprise again by getting Bonera instead?)

Thuram’s partner? I guess it will be none other than Cannavaro. Don’t get surprised, but I see this happening, unless Mancini sees no problem in playing two short centre backs:
Cordoba – Cannavaro

Anyway, Juve’s line up also can’t be predicted just like in our case.
Will it be a back 3 or back 4 ??

For me, Inter and Juve are same, when it comes to starting the season, unlike Milan. Juventus and Inter both will have changes, indeed both the teams’ changes seem to be good ones.

Emerson (if he joins) will be a very good buy for Juve. And they are also after Jankulovski (who can play as full back), Oddo (as I mentioned earlier), …

----------------buffon-----------------

oddo----thuram----canna----zambro

---mares/?---emerson----janku-----

----------------nedved----------------

-------trezeguet-----delpiero--------

If it happens something like that or if they play with different tactic like with back 3, then it’s almost like our situation, coz of the changes. Not to forget that Maresca’s future is not confirmed yet (?)




Roma

They have lost (will lose) two very good players from their side : Emerson and Samuel. Samuel’s replacement is almost there : Ferrari/Mexes and they are good. But will they get a replacement for Emerson ??

Prandelli has stated that he will star the season with the same formation he used in Parma (which is 4-3-2-1) and he will think about changing that only later on, if needed, according to the situation. And for that, it’s very important for them to get Gilardino, even though they have got Montella.
Prandelli has also stated that his back 4 will be:

Panucci-----Mexes-----Ferrari-----Chivu

Wow !! 3 talented young defenders, but that could well be their weak point as well coz of lack of experience. But if we look it differently, then Ferrari was the defence leader for Parma, Chivu used to be for Ajax (and he had a good season with Roma last seaosn) and same goes for Mexes (along with the other one who moved to Rangers!!)


-------------------pelli------------------

panucci----mexes----ferrari-----chivu

---mancini----pero/blasi---rossi/dac---

----------totti-------------cassano-------

---------------gilard/montel-------------




Lazio

They have lost Corradi, Fiore. May be Cesar, Mihajlovic (his contract's already expired). Couto is rumoured to join Benfica. amazing

I don't think they have chance for the title.


I don't think Lazio, Parma will come as Greece in Serie

:star:

 

[Pani]

Inter,Milan and Juventus will fight for the title.

Lazio will fight to avoid relegation!

 

[SB9Dragon]

I think the number 1 contender for the title is AC Milan. First off they won it last year and unlike Roma who have lost players AC Milan have added even more players to a squad that was already strong.

Next off I think we are. Mancini is at the helm, and we have a strong squad with tons of stars.

Then I think Juve is. Capello is at the helm and he has a good squad and is looking for new signings. If they add Emerson to their mid then they are really well off.

Then Roma who I think can contend if they manage to add Ferrari and Mexes to their defence, and Perrotta to their mid.

So these are the main 4 that I think can contend.

AC Milan
Inter
Juve
Roma

 

[Marco The Butcher]

Juve are building a new side, with a new coach. They are similar to us, and therefore i think milan is more stable even though i think the transfers of Stam and Crespo will harm the team.

 

[Jesse]

Yes, Milan are very strong, but shouldn't there be an area of play in which they are weak and they can be exploited?

 

[BFC82]

Yes, Milan are very strong, but shouldn't there be an area of play in which they are weak and they can be exploited?

I think their achilles heel lies in their aging backline. As the season wears on, they are not going to keep up and hopefully lose some points because of it. Someone like Martins can exploit that tremendously to his advantage. Also, their bench is not as deep as ours, on the other hand their players are not that injury prone. Still, its going to be one hell of a battle between us and them this season.

 

[Handoyo]

Their backline may not be the fastest. But, they'll read the game as if we're reading some kindergarden textbook.


Handyo

 

[Jesse]

Ah, so they will rely on their tactical advantage in defense to compensate for the technical decline that comes with ageing. Looks like we need to exploit that with pure technique...

 

[Mikkel]

Yes Milan :fero: will defently be the team to beat this season...
Then comes Inter and Juve :fero:

Roma will be outsiders

 

[Pravesh]

Yes Milan :fero: will defently be the team to beat this season...
Then comes Inter and Juve :fero:

Roma will be outsiders

Milan will be the favourites, coz they are the defending Scudetto champs and haven't changed their squad that much, but in the other hand : Inter, Juventus and Roma had good amount of changes.

Inter
Zach <----> Mancini
Not big name departures <----> Veron, Davids, Ze Maria, Burdisso, Cesar/Janku, .....


Juventus
Lippi <----> Capello
Not big name departures here as well (Maresca) <----> Emerson, Zebina, Cesar/Janku, Oddo/Bonera, defender (?), .....


Roma
Capello <----> Prandelli
Samuel, Emerson, Zebina <----> Ferrari, Mexes, Perrotta, Gilardino (?), .....


So, Inter - Juventus - Roma : Anything can be expected from these three teams, though I have a feeling that it's only gonna be a 3 horse race:

# Milan
# Inter
# Juventus

 

[Tommi]

I wouldn´t count Roma out of the Scudetto race. They´ll continue doing the great job they have done so far, even without Emerson and Samuel.

They have bought Ferrari and Perrotta (Mexes will probably join to Roma, Gazzetta says it´s done already). They will probably buy Gilardino as well. If they do that, then they have even better team than at last season. Think about how much havoc thse three will create:

Totti - Cassano

---Gilardino :scared:

They have plenty of good players in their team: Pelizzoli in goal; Ferrari, Mexes, Chivu, Candela, Panucci in defence; Perrotta, Dacourt, D´Agostino, De Rossi, Mancini in midfield; Totti, Cassano, Montella (one of my favourites), Delvecchio aren´t completely crap and they may buy Gilardino too. Their teams looks scary.

Next season we will face teams like Milan, Inter, Roma, Juventus, Palermo, Fiorentina, Parma, Udinese, Lazio, Sampdoria etc etc. I believe this coming season will be one of the toughest Scudetto´s to win. So many good teams, so many tough opponents...

 

[Pravesh]

I wouldn´t count Roma out of the Scudetto race. They´ll continue doing the great job they have done so far, even without Emerson and Samuel.

May be you are right.

Next season we will face teams like Milan, Inter, Roma, Juventus, Palermo, Fiorentina, Parma, Udinese, Lazio, Sampdoria etc etc. I believe this coming season will be one of the toughest Scudetto´s to win. So many good teams, so many tough opponents...

Yup. Fiorentina, Palermo and Sampdoria all are back together in Serie A now, which are not the teams like Torino, Empoli and co. Lets hope Inter does well.

 

[CafeCordoba]

So Juve got Mutu then. I wasn't so scared about them but now I am. Mutu was excellent in Parma and I believe he will be a real danger as bianconeri too. Treze, Del Piero, Miccoli, Mutu. Scary stuff.

 

[Jimmy]

I don´t want to talk about Inter since I have a feeling I will do it come when the season starts. However, I will speak about whom I found to be the contenders:

• Roma
  
  Roma has lost some great players but also gained some great players. They are still lacking that typical goalscorer, but if they can get Gilardino from last season, then they are a very complete side.
  
  The losses of Emerson and Samuel will be noticable though. Samuel is a defender whom is one of the greatest in the world, and although Roma has signed Ferrari and Mexes neither of them two are really of the class of Samuel. But with Ferrari they have come as close as it gets.
  
  Emerson is a player they have replaced with Perrotta. These two can´t even be compared with eachother when it comes to class. Emerson is a fantastic midfielder that has meant a lot for Roma. Having a midfield pair of Dacourt and Perrotta doesn´t sound very convincing whatsoever. It´s very similar to what we had in Almeyda and Cristiano.
  
  What speaks against Roma is that they are on a new path with a new coach. They shouldn´t be able to win anything the first season.
  
  Keyplayers: Francescto Totti and Antonio Cassano of course. The thing with Totti which is very similar to what we have in Vieri, is that they are made for the normal matches. But as soon as a big match arrives, they choke. Totti has to start delivering against the big teams in Serie A if Roma are going to stand a chance.
  Cassano is different. He can shine in any match. It just has to be his day.
  
  Negative points: Chivu´s injury problems will be troublesome for Roma. They have no natural replacement for him, whether they use a four-men defence or a three-men. It seems they will use a four-men defence which makes their geme on the bench Dellas to be useless like he has been in Serie A.
  They lack pace in defence, although Chivu ain´t slow exactly.
  
  Serie A contenders? : Nope
  
  
• Juventus
  
  Are also starting on a new path with a new coach and some new faces. They have recently aqcuired Mutu and I fail to see the point with that. Find me one more player similar to Del Piero, and you´ll have Mutu. What Juventus should have done is to sign a center-striker instead of relying on that Trezeguet.
  
  Capello is a fantastic coach, but similar with Roma, he needs at least one season to establish his team. After that season, anything can happen. This year, they look weaker than ever before, especially in defence. They are supposedly going to sign a right back (Oddo) which will make their defence a little stronger. They will still have Legrottaglie who is a weak link in the Juventus lineup.
  
  They have signed Emerson, which is a great asset to any team. I am however puzzled if Capello is actually planning on using Emerson with Tacchinardi. Tac should be benched from now on.
  
  They screwed up big time by selling half of Maresca, whom is the player we can resemble with Emre. Maresca was supposed to maybe be a starter this season, but was instead shipped off.
  
  Negative points: Like I´ve already said, their defence looks shambolic. Zambrotta and perhaps Thuram are the only ones who can make their defence decent.
  
  Their striking duo based on form don´t look scarying either. Signing Mutu makes no difference, since I doubt they´ll start all three of Mutu - Del Piero - Trezeguet.
  
  Serie A contenders? : Yes, but you can NEVER count Juve out. They have a tremendous coach and the mentality within this club is remarkable.
  
  
• Milan
  
  They look scary as hell! They´ve barely made any signings, and they haven´t changed any coach nor tactics. If Milan fail to win this season, they are selfdestructing as hell.
  
  They have added Stam in the defence, which I found weird, since I don´t see any place for him. They´ve also added Crespo in the squad, which could become a fantastic signing. With Inzaghi injured, they have a great replacement.
  
  I have severe difficulities seeing Milan failing to win their second consecutive Scudetto.
  
  Negative points: Clarence Seedorf is and has always been to me an average player. He´s their weak link and the opponents has to start exposing this more.
  
  They are not used of playing against teams who has the ball-possession. This should be used.
  
  Serie A contenders? : Yeah, as hell.

 

[Pravesh]

Negative points: Chivu´s injury problems will be troublesome for Roma. They have no natural replacement for him, whether they use a four-men defence or a three-men. It seems they will use a four-men defence which makes their geme on the bench Dellas to be useless like he has been in Serie A.
They lack pace in defence, although Chivu ain´t slow exactly.

Prandelli had stated sometime back that he would start with back 4, with Mexes--Ferrari in the centre and Chivu in the LB position. If that is the case, Candela is there to be Chivu's back up.