NFL Week 13 Picks

Arizona at Philadelphia  (-3.0)

After Bruce Arian's Cardinals pulled off a shock 40-11 win over the Colts last week suddenly you look at the 7-4 Cards and think maybe they can do some damage. If they weren't unfortunate to be in the same division as the Seahawks and the 49ers then they wouldn't still give the impression they're probably going to be on the outside looking in come January. But, anything is possible and San Fran don't look as good as their own 7-4 record suggests.

The Eagles are 3 point favorites and on a three game winning streak but taking a look through their schedule suggests they're just taking advantage of bad defenses. Their last three wins came against Oakland, Washington and Green Bay who have the 21st, 23rd and 31st ranked defense in terms of points allowed. Arizona's defense is ranked 8th and coming off that Indy win will give the Cards a lot of 'no-one believed in us look what we can do' sort of confidence.

Result Prediction: Arizona to Win

Spread: Arizona to beat

Chicago at Minnesota(-1.0)

The Bears 32nd ranked run defense(the worst in the country, by the way) rolls into Minnesota to face the reigning MVP and best RB in the NFL, Adrian Peterson. Don't be at all surprised if AP rips off a 70 yard touchdown run on the first play. AP also gets more yards against the Bears than any other team in his career, and that was before Chicago had a run defense that would probably be embarrassed in College Football.
The Bears are the better side and McCown is doing a sterling job in Jay Cutler's stead but if that defense is giving up 5 yards a carry against terrible rushing attacks(Ray Rice having the best day of his season despite averaging under three yards a carry for the season) then I just don't feel good backing them at all. Take the Vikes here, and maybe consider a prop bet on AP to get 200 yards as well.

Result Prediction: Minnesota

Spread: Minnesota to cover

Jacksonville at Cleveland(-7.0)

When was the last time the Browns were 7 point favorites over anyone? Or anything? If the Browns were playing my high school team(who don't have an NFL team as I'm English and that's not what we do here, so they'd be playing my school rugby team who had to learn how to play the American Football in a short space of time) I'd still be like 'yeah the Browns are favorites, but 10 points feels a little steep. I really like that defense against Weeden/Campbell/Whoever'. That's kinda how I'd feel today if they weren't facing the Jags, a team so committed to being bad that Jacksonville's GM could give seminars on self abuse and suffering to haughty teenagers. 'It's like an art form man, it's being so bad for something that could be so good.' Well, after all this I hope it's worth it! I would expect the Browns to win but I don't think it's going to be by more than seven. I also don't think there's going to be anything good to watch in this game at all.

Result Prediction: Cleveland

Spread: Jacksonville to beat

Miami at NY Jets(-1.5)

This is a tough one between two sides that can't decide whether to be good or mediocre, and keep flitting between the two. They're both similar sides: blitzing defense, question marks hanging over a young quarterback and they both need this to have a shot at a playoff berth in the AFC. The Jets are favorites at home but I'd take Miami here against a side that has struggled to beat the offensively stunted Ravens and the Bills(self explanatory) in the last two weeks. Tannehill > Geno.

Result Prediction: Miami

Spread: Miami to beat

New England (-7.5) at Houston

The Texans are done. They're sinking, Schaub is getting booed, there's no real QB answer and so many NFL analysts are picking the Texans to take Johnny Manziel ridiculously early in the draft it's not even funny. Remember when we said this team would be competitive? What happened to that? Meanwhile, Tom Brady's Patriots will keep rolling on their way to another divisional title. The Texans will just be another(particularly ugly) speed bump.

Result: New England

Spread: New England to cover

Denver(-5.0) at Kansas

The battle of the invincibles has turned to a battle of two sides that have now suddenly lost their Superbowl sheen. Can Peyto get the Broncos to the promised land if Brady is waiting for him? If Phillip Rivers can do that to the Chiefs defense then who else can? Both teams will be looking to restore some pride after reputation damaging losses and I don't think Denver are going to win by more than 6, away from home against what is still as suffocating a defense Manning will play all year. This'll be a close one.

Result: Denver

Spread: KC to beat

Tampa at Carolina(-8.0)

The Bucs are on a three game winning streak?! How the hell did that happen? After looking like they would lose every game, their coach and the guarantee that anyone who said "I quite like the Bucs" this summer definitely won't be saying it ever again. But has that 3 game streak given at least a little bit of justification? If Josh Freeman wasn't a tire fire with arms then could this team have been a read threat? Maybe. But after beating the Lions in the most Lions-like game of all time(Detroit blowing it in a way that only they can), beating Atlanta (who are now even more committed to being terrible), the only real credible win is the OT victory over Miami. Carolina look great, and Mike Glennon is not going to have a fun day with the Panthers defensive line.

Result: Carolina

Spread: Carolina to cover

Cincinnati at San Diego(-1.5)

The Chargers are so difficult to predict. They look good in one week, they win the next. They look terrible, then they win in a big game where Rivers looks like an MVP candidate. It's similar with the Bengals. Cincy have a golden opportunity to win a division that no-one seems to want to win and be a top seed in a conference that has teams with losing records that still have a chance to be relevant. Like the Chargers, funnily enough. A win here, 8-4 will almost definitely put Cincy in the drivers seat but after losing twice in OT to the Dolphins and the Ravens can you be sure about it? I like what Vegas have done here. I'd take San Diego too.

Result: San Diego

Spread: San Diego to cover

Atlanta at Buffalo (-3.0) 

The Falcons, away from home, who have given up on the season(lets take a moment for Tony Gonzalez's career) and gunning for Jadeveon Clowney in the draft against a Buffalo side who just don't know when to quit. That 23 point win over the Jets makes me thing this team maybe could break even before the end of the season. The Bills over .500 for the season? Who knew? Their next two games after this Atlanta clash are Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. 3-0? I wouldn't be surprised.

Result: Buffalo

Spread: Buffalo to cover

Tennessee at Indianapolis (-4.0) 

Time to find out whether Colts owner Jim Irsay's Twitter rant after his teams loss to the Cards will have any effect in motivating the team to beat the Titans. Irsay once again raises questions about owners involvement in the game, let the football people do the work blah blah but bottom line, the guy pays the bills. What happened vs the Cardinals? How did you lose that badly against the Rams? They're all pertinent questions but the Colts will still win their division because they're the only team in it with a quarterback whose name doesn't follow with an immediate query. I expect that to ring true in the tie against the Titans.

Result: Indy

Spread: Indy

NY Giants(-1.0) at Washington

The Redskins fall from critical darling's of the 2012 to 3-8 in the 2013 season and behind a Giants team who started 0-6 has been quite astonishing. The loss against the Cowboys takes the Giants out of the playoff race but that Redskins defense isn't stopping a nosebleed this season, ranked 31st in points conceded, 29th in points differential and with RG3 completing under 60% of his passes with a TD-INT ratio of 14-11 it's hard to see Washington rescuing some pride here.

Result: NY

Spread: NY to cover

New Orleans at Seattle(-5.5)

The battle between the two most exciting teams in the NFC is set to get underway as we see Brees vs Wilson, Graham vs Seattle's suspended secondary and Percy Harvin against Rob Ryan's NO defense. Most football games come down to personal battles but I can see this being a shoot out that home advantage rescues it for Seattle. I think the Hawks will do it, but not by much.

Result: Seattle

Spread: New Orleans to beat

Odds courtesy of SkyBet.com

Zdenek Zeman to AC Milan: Why the hell not?

Things are pretty dark at Via Turati. The once great AC Milan sit 10th on 13 points from 12 games, 15 away from Napoli sitting in the last Champions League spot Serie A can offer yet just four points from the relegation zone. AC Milan!

Milan haven't won in Serie A for over a month, the last coming in a dreadful 1-0 win over Udinese and Massimiliano Allegri's side have scored more than one goal in a game only once in the last five, a 3-2 loss to Parma. They've only scored more than once and won against Celtic in the Champions League. They haven't done it at all in Serie A. At all. AC Milan haven't beaten a Serie A rival by more than one goal all season. 

None of this is startling if you watch them play. Milan, formerly so classy and clinical in possession are now sloppy, sluggish and unimaginative. There is no pace, no intensity, no pressure (as well as the inability to deal with pressure from any other team) and it's a sporting train wreck defensively.

While writing a piece for Forza Italian Football I found out that while Milan lead the league in possession(Allegri's side average 59.5% a game) they sit joint 7th in goals scored. So what are they doing with the ball? There is literally swathes of possession being wasted as the likes of Kevin Constant, Sulley Muntari and Alessandro Matri struggle to make concise passes. When he plays, Balotelli is often isolated and unaided up front while Valter Birsa tends to spend at least 20-30 minutes every game completely uninvolved. Only Andrea Poli and returning star Riccardo Kaka' seem willing(or able) to play cohesive, attractive football this season while the rest of Milan's team play like guys who have already written the season off.

Which is why hiring Zdenek Zeman until the end of the season makes a lot of sense. (Or not, whatever, just hear me out.)

The former Foggia, Pescara and two-time Roma boss is famed throughout Italian football for a few things: his chain smoking, his conspiracy theories (notably about Juventus) and his attack first, don't do anything else second brand of football.

Zeman has employed a 4-3-3 his entire coaching career and he relies on fitness, intensity and hard running for 90 minutes as he aims to overpower teams with pace and sheer persistence. His teams score a lot of goals, concede a lot of goals and play a 'blink and you've missed it' sort of style.


Milan have a lot of attacking talent that is currently not being used to it's full potential that could be harnessed by Zeman; Balotelli, Stephan El Shaarawy, Kaka', M'baye Niang, Riccardo Saponara and the January arrival of Keisuke Honda is more than enough for the Czech tactician to work his magic. With the players I've just listed, you can guarantee Zeman's rossoneri wouldn't sit 7th in scoring with that amount of possession.

In midfield, Riccardo Montolivo, Nigel De Jong, Andrea Poli and the possibility of playing Kaka in a deep role once again gives Zeman enough creativity to work with and his unflappable attitude toward playing youth would benefit the likes of Bryan Cristante and Riccardo Saponara - both of whom have not seen a lot of minutes under Allegri so far this season. Additionally, imagine what he could do with El Shaarawy, Balotelli and Honda/Kaka? He turned Francesco Totti into a star playing as left winger in his first stint at Roma in the 1990's and El Shaarawy is also gifted with the work ethic and pace that Zeman loves in attackers. On paper, they're perfect for each other.

AC Milan are not strong defensively at all, but the firepower up front could genuinely be used by Zeman to create a side that will cause more problems to sides than the currently anemic offense under Allegri has been.

Before you call me a nutcase - hear me out. This isn't the answer. Long term, absolutely not. Zeman's stint at Roma two seasons ago proved that as far as managing a team hoping to compete for a title goes, he's not your guy. But Milan don't need him to be that guy.


It appears all signs in Milan are pointing toward a 2014 blow up and rebuild, with Allegri walking to be replaced by any one of Cesare Prandelli, Roberto Donadoni or a guy coming from Milan's history books(a favorite method of Silvio Berlusconi). There will probably be a new vice president and COO if Silvio's daughter Barbara gets her way along with a summer spent trying to get a lot of Adriano Galliani's, ah, less successful signings off the Milan books. So if Milan are just killing time until 2014, then why not go out in style? Bring in Zeman and his footballing insanity to bring a little bit of adrenalin until May, let him go back to whatever he's been doing in his time off at the end of the year and rebuild like you're planning on doing anyway.

The thing is, after last season's heroic comeback to force Milan into a Champions League spot last season, there is probably still hope that a productive January, a few players coming back from injury and a decent run of results could re-propel Milan back into prominence. Unfortunately, that's very rapidly approaching impossible, especially when you consider that every side bar Milan have got noticeably stronger over the summer. It's not that easy this time.

So once the inevitability of not appearing in the top three come May dawns on the remaining optimists in the rossoneri camp (and believe me, it's coming), then the whole season will just feel even worse. If there's no hope, why does it still have to be dull? Can't we just have a little fun? If we're going to be pressing the reset button in June, why not just go down swinging? I bet Zeman has some really good stories about Juventus he'd love to tell.

Zdnek Zeman to Milan. Why not?

Adriano Galliani, this is your life: AC Milan's notable transfer activity since 2010/11

If you've been re-directed here from the forzaitalianfootball.com website, thanks for clicking. Here is the entire list of notable transfers AC Milan have made since the start of the 2010/11 season with a bracketed section detailing how their career has panned out since.

2010/11:

Mario Yepes: Centre-back, free (38 appearances and one goal, left club for Atalanta after contract expired).

Marco Amelia: Goalkeeper, 12 month loan (bought next summer for €3.5m, 24 appearances, still at Milan).

Sokratis Papastathopoulos: Centre back, €4.5m plus 50% of the rights of Gianmarco Zigoni (valued at €3.75m) Nnamdi Oduamadi (valued at €3.5m) and Rodney Strasser (€2.5m). Five appearances, no goals (A year later Milan sold Sokratis back to Genoa for €13m but bought out all the contracts of the co-owned players, meaning a 12 month loan cost them €1m. He was loaned 12 months to Werder Bremen who bought him in 2012 for €5m. They then sold him to Borussia Dortmund a year later for €9.5m. He has made 66 appearances in German football since leaving Milan. *inhales deeply*)

Kevin Prince Boateng: Midfielder, loan with the option to buy for around €7m (100 appearances, 17 goals, sold to Schalke 04 for €15m).

Robinho: Forward, €18m (130 appearances, 30 goals, couldn't be sold to hometown club Santos who didn't think he was worth €10m)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Striker, loan with option to buy for around €24m (85 appearances, 56 goals, sold to PSG for €20m)

Antonio Cassano: Forward, €3.3m (40 appearances, eight goals, 16 assists, used with €7m to buy 

Giampaolo Pazzini from Inter, joined Parma 12 months later)

Urby Emmanuelson: Midfielder, €2.5m (57 appearances, three goals, loaned to Fulham for half of 2012-13 season, still at Milan.)

Mark Van Bommel: Midfielder, free (50 appearances, no goals, extended six month deal by one year before leaving for free to PSV in 2012)

Didac Vila: Left-back, undisclosed fee (one appearance, no goals. Loaned out to Espanyol and Real Betis in the last two seasons.)

Nicola Legrottaglie: Centre back, free (One appearance, no goals. Moved to Catania at the end of the same season, played 66 games and scored eight goals.)

Note: Cassano was the replacement for the outgoing Ronaldhinho, who was then replaced with Giampaolo Pazzini, who's replacement while injured has been Alessandro Matri. So Ronaldinho > Cassano > Pazzini > Matri. Cool. 

2011/12: 

Philipe Mexes: Centre back, free (65 appearances, three goals)

Taye Taiwo: Left back, free (eight appearances, no goals, loaned to QPR, Dynamo Kyiv and now plays for Bursaspor)

Stephan El Shaarawy: Forward, loan/co-ownership deal (entire contract bought out for around €20m in the next year, €10m paid for each half of the contract, still at Milan)

Antonio Nocerino: Midfielder, €500,000 (77 appearances, 13 goals, still at Milan)

Alberto Aquilani: Midfielder, loan with option to buy (23 appearances, one goal. Rerturned to Liverpool after one season to be eventually bought by Fiorentina)

Sulley Muntari: Midfielder, loan with option to buy (Signed for free after his contract expired that season, 47 appearances, nine goals)

Djamel Mesbah: Left back, undisclosed fee (14 appearances, one goal, used to swap with Parma for Christian Zaccardo)

Note: This was the summer/January that followed letting Andrea Pirlo walk to Juventus for free because they had Van Bommel in front of the defense. Van Bommel is now retired, Andrea Pirlo is, well, Andrea Pirlo. 

2012/13: 

Bakaye Traore: Midfielder, Free (nine appearances, no goals, loaned to Kayseri Erciyesspor).

Riccardo Montolivo: Midfielder, free (46 appearances, four goals. Still at Milan, now captain).

Gabriel: Goalkeeper, €500,000 (four appearances, no goals, still at Milan).

Francesco Acerbi: Centre back, €4m for 50% co-ownership (six appearances, no goals, 50% given to Genoa for remaining 50% of Kevin Constant at the end of the 2012/13 season).

Giampaolo Pazzini: Striker, €7m plus Antonio Cassano (37 games, 16 goals, still at Milan).

Christian Zapata: Centre back. loan with option to buy (bought out the following year for €5m, 35 appearances, no goals. Still at Milan).

M'baye Niang: Forward, undisclosed fee: (32 games, one goal. Still at Milan). 

Nigel De Jong: Midfielder, €5m: (26 appearances, one goal, still at Milan). 

Riccardo Saponara: 50% co-ownership bought for €4m. (Two appearances, no goals. Still at Milan.)

Christian Zaccardo: Straight swap with Djamel Mesbah (five appearances, no goals, still at Milan).

Mario Balotelli: €21.5m (27 appearances, 16 goals). 

Note: This was the seasonal transfer activity that followed the exits/sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Nesta, Clarence Seedorf, Pippo Inzaghi and Gennaro Gattuso. Alexandre Pato also left in January. Puts it into context, doesn't it?

2013/14: 

Jherson Vergara: Centre back, €2m (no official appearances for Milan yet)

Andrea Poli: Midfielder, €3m for 50% of contract (eight appearances, two goals)

Matias Silvestre: Centre back, €1m loan with option to buy for €4m (two appearances, one goal)

Valter Birsa: Midfielder, swapped for Luca Antonini (seven appearances, two goals)

Kaka: Midfielder, free (six appearances, one goal)

Alessandro Matri: €12m. (Eight appearances, one goal). 

Note: The arrivals of Adil Rami from Valencia and Keisuke Honda from CSKA Moscow are expected in January. 

NFL Week 9 Picks

Hey sports fans!
(Kind of always wanted to write that line, given I'd be much too embarrassed to say it)
I had an idea for a blog that keep me typing away regularly on here without having to think of topic I don't already cover for other sites, and it got me thinking about a betting column. Because what do people love more than sports? Making money from sports!

So I figured that I'd try my hand giving a few betting tips based on the sleep-depriving volume of sports I watch before the weekend, to give my 4am binges staring at NFL Gamepass, Twitter, Grantland, WhoScored some sort of depth and nobility(Because nothing quite says honor like groggily remonstrating at a laptop covered in Doritos and shame).

Anyway, I decided that eight weeks into a season before deciding to give my evenings purpose would be a good thing to do. Hope you like the column, and I hope my picks make you some money.

Odds courtesy of SkyBet.com

NFL Week 9: 

Atlanta Falcons (+7.5) at Carolina Panthers (-7.5). 

The 2-5 Falcons travel to the surprisingly 4-3 Panthers it what last year would've been an easy win for Atlanta and their high powered offense. How a year changes things, right? Key injuries to Julio Jones and Roddy White have rendered this offense pretty stale. Without Matt Ryan's two favorite wide receivers and the fact that shipped 14 points to THE ARIZONA CARDINALS last week(24th rated offense in the NFL) then I would say Cam Newton is probably going to enjoy himself. I would take the Panthers to cover the spread here.

Kansas City Chiefs (-4.5) at Buffalo Bills

Jamaal Charles's is 'probable' for the game and that's probably a large part of the figures here, but how are the 8-0 Chiefs less than 5 point favorites over the 3-5 Bills? Even without their RB(who isn't ruled out, and will likely play) expect the KC pass rush to score enough on it's own to take this one. Just can't see the 18th ranked Bills offense being enough of an issue. Additionally, that defense may actually not even play Thad Lewis, who is listed as 'doubtful'. A 3rd or 4th choice QB vs the #1 D in America? Take the Chiefs and run before Vegas changes it.

New Orleans Saints (-6.0) at New York Jets

Despite actually looking close to average rather than the awful many predicted during the summer and beating the Patriots(which might say more about the injury ravaged Patriots than anything else) AND being in New York, I can't see Geno Smith beating this New Orleans defense. He'll throw a pick along the way, Drew Brees probably won't. The Saints also have the 4th best defense in the NFL, a better ranking than the Brees-Graham love in on offense. I'd pick the Saints to beat the spread in New York.

Tennessee Titans(-3.0) at St Louis Rams

Despite losing the last three, the Titans lost those games against the 49ers, Seahawks and the Chiefs. Nothing wrong with that, and now they travel to a St Louis team that seem to be stopping itself win football games right at the last second. The Titans defense is top 10, and there's no way I like Sam Bradford in any circumstance. Take the Titans here.

San Diego (-1.0) at the Washington Redskins

It's so close between these two, I'm essentially just picking a winner. Even if RG3's knee is feeling better week-by-week(and the Skins offense looked fluid making the Broncos do some late-game heroics to come out the victor last week) I don't like the defense against a Phillip Rivers who has remembered how to throw a ball. And the Charger's defense won't be as porous. San Diego gets my vote.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers(+14.5) at Seattle Seahawks

If this was in Tampa, I'd be really tempted to take the Bucs here. After Seattle squeaked past the very bad St Louis Rams I wasn't entirely sure I can really buy into that offense until I see Percy Harvin in it. But they're at home, and Seattle are notoriously ridiculous at home. Feels like one of those games that the 12th man gets a few TD's for the 'Hawks. Also think that maybe the 0-7 Bucs will be hoping that a blowout will see off unpopular coach Greg Schiano. Take the Hawks.

Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) at Cleveland Browns

I'm taking the Browns here, because I think the stingy Cleveland D will hold the profligate Ravens offense to a quiet game. Very quiet. The Ravens have the 21st best offense in the country and will travel to the Browns who have are unlucky to be 3-5, while the Ravens have been fortunate to have lost as many close ones as they have. I'd pick the Browns, despite how dirty I feel typing that.

Pittsburgh Steelers(+6.0) at New England Patriots

The Patriots have only won by more than a touch down twice in six wins, and that was against the irrecoverably bad Buccaneers in Week 3 and the Dolphins last week, who have the 19th ranked defense in the NFL. Just think they'll probably win because they're at home, but it'll be one of those dragging, 30% 3rd down conversion sort of games. The Steelers lost by three in the last two weeks, I expect something similar against Brady's 17th(!!!) ranked offense. I'd take the Steelers.

Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) at Houston Texans

I don't know how the Colts(5-2), who beat Peyton Manning's Broncos are under 3 point favorites to beat the Houston Texans(2-5), who have the 3rd worst offense, the 6th worst defense and the second-worst points differential in the entire league. Not to mention the revolving door/pick-six-waiting-to-happen under center. Take Indy.

Bears (+10.5) at Green Bay Packers

The Bears have no Lance Briggs, Jay Cutler and D.J Williams. Charles Tillman is doubtful. That's two of your three starting linebackers, your quarterback and a cornerback. The Bears had the 4th worst defense WITH those guys in, and travel to Lambeu Field and Aaron Rodgers. Despite the 2nd best offense in the NFL for points, losing their passer to a groin injury will probably have a bigger impact than coach Marc Trestman is telling the media. Take Green Bay.

All aboard the Roma bandwagon!

After watching the once-again Francesco Totti-inspired Roma swarm over Inter at the San Siro to win 3-0 in classy display of precision and flair, I'm happy to announce I've finally bought a ticket and I'm currently sitting on the Roma 2013/14 bandwagon. It's pretty comfortable.

There have been a few Roma bandwagons over the years that I've tentatively avoided and then sighed with relief as they've later derailed and drove over a cliff.

There was the Claudio Ranieri 2009/10 bandwagon, that won 15 of the last 19 matches in Serie A but a loss to Sampdoria in late April gave Inter a 2 point window that they took advantage of and won the league in the last game of the season.

There was the (very brief) Luis Enrique bandwagon that put four past Inter at the Stadio Olimpico in February and filled social networks with Romanisti saying "See? He just needed time to get his ideas across to his team!" A 1-0 loss to Siena, a 4-1 shock loss to  newly-promoted Atalanta and a derby defeat to Lazio pretty much killed those hopes stone dead and Luis Enrique left the wagon totaled at the side of the road.

There was the 2012/13 return of Zdnek Zeman bandwagon that drove really fast at the start of the of the season before derailing in late February. After winning all their pre-season games, fans flocked to the usually empty Stadio Olimpico to see the return of "Zemanlandia"(not to be confused with Disneyland), the ultra-attacking, high-intense 4-3-3 that lit up Serie B last year when Zeman coached a Pescara side with Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile. For American readers, think about Zeman's offence in the same way that folks talk about Chip Kelly's famous Oregon Duck's team and his now high octane Philadelphia Eagles.

Anyway, Zeman's side went and out-played Inter at the San Siro, winning 3-1 thanks a superlative performance from (guess who) Totti and now-Southampton forward Pablo Osvaldo, leading many to crown the new-but-not-so-new Zeman Roma as a really fun outside bet to back for the Scudetto. After the Inter game Roma won just 4 of their next 12 in Serie A and Zeman was ousted after a 4-2 loss to Cagliari.

Notice a pattern? Roma tend to look good at the start of seasons, pile up the bandwagon after beating Inter or overtaking them in the table and then implode sometime around spring, taking a few thousand casual Serie A fans with them into a 3 month crevice of disappointment.

So why is this year different? Well, while Roma have surrounded themselves in hype before, there's always been more than reasonable doubt - because when you look closer, they were patchy to begin with.

Apart from Ranieri's wagon, which did look genuinely great until Jose Mourinho's "Zeru Tituli" jibe proved ultimately true, the Roma's of 2011/12 and 2012/13 don't quite look as sleek and shiny as this one.

Luis Enrique's win against Inter was only their 9th win in 22 games, and the next weeks loss against Siena seemed to confirm that this was a bi-polar team, rather than the beginning of something to look forward to. Zeman's Roma opened their campaign by having to come back from 2-0 down to draw with Catania, and after the visit to the San Siro they lost 3-2 to Bologna, a forefeited and therefore gifted 3-0 win over Cagliari due to the Sardinians stadium issues, a draw with Sampdoria and a 4-1 loss to Juventus in Week 6. In all honesty, they never really got started.


This time however, they've won their first 7. 100 %. 21 from 21. 20 goals scored, 1 conceded. I'm sitting in the Roma bandwagon, and it's comfier than it's ever been. Coach Rudi Garcia has got Roma playing fluid, clinical football once again led by the ageless wonder Francesco Totti, who has three goals, six assists and a chance at an Azzurri call-up for next summer's World Cup. He's 37. New additions Mehdi Benatia, Kevin Strootman and Adem Ljajic have slotted in perfectly and the losses of Marquinhos and Erik Lamela haven't been felt at all. 'Who needs Lamela, we have Gervinho' is a legitimate comment right now. It's almost as entertaining as it is gratifying.

Without Europe to worry about, Roma are in the perfect storm that Juventus were in in 2011/12. They can prepare for one game a week, rotate because of will rather than necessity and forget all other distractions. Juventus went unbeaten, Roma are 7 from 7. Why can't it happen again? The talent is there.

Come join me on the Roma bandwagon. It's really warm and cosy in here.

Welcome back Calcio, we missed you: Serie A is in it's best shape since 2006

I never thought I'd be able to write this post.

Since 2006 and the game-changing effects of the Calciopoli trial that sent Italy's most successful club into footballing purgatory for a year, the collateral damage for the rest of Italy was equally debilitating.

Serie A turned into a one-horse race for four years as AC Milan struggled to inject its ageing side with youth while Juventus began a long journey back to prominence that was filled with poor signings and consecutive 7th place finishes. Calcio lost stars almost annually from 2009 - from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kaka' to latterly Alexis Sanchez and Thiago Silva. All this while Premier League clubs were monopolising the transfer market and the latter stages of the Champions League - whispers around the rest of Europe were that Serie A was closer to the selling clubs from the Eredivise than the dominating clubs from England and Spain.

Ligue 1 and PSG began to strip Serie A for parts, taking Jeremy Menez, Equeziel Lavezzi, Marco Verratti, Javier Pastore and the aforementioned Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic(again) while Italian clubs looked to balance their finances - no longer able to fund the superstars that were so often associated with the once glamorous and envied Serie A.

But this summer, the tides have begun to turn back.

Instead of the book-balancing sales that have been forced on Italian clubs in recent years (Silvio Berlusconi famously saying rejecting a €42m bid for Thiago Silva would have been "irresponsible" in 2012) teams have been clever when the money waving clubs from England and France came knocking.

They have sold sparingly, sold big and immediately reinvested. No other club epitomizes this business strategy better than Napoli this summer; who after years of being asked about Edinson Cavani from Manchester City to Real Madrid to Juventus, it was PSG who finally came in and forced De Laurentiis to part with his star forward, but not before meeting the €64m buy-out clause his President had set for the Uruguayan that took Manchester City and Juventus out of the race to sign him.

De Laurentiis then used the money to immediately reinvest in his side - bringing in Gonzalo Higuain right from under Arsenal's nose, PSV's promising winger Dries Mertens and Madrid duo Raul Albiol and Jose Callejon. and it might not end there. Napoli lost their star player and got better as a team.

Fiorentina did the same when striker Stevan Jovetic left for Manchester City for the €30m price tag that they were resolutely standing by despite continuous advances from Juventus that included a motley crue of player plus cash deals but Andrea Della Valle and his board members stuck to their price and have continued to build this summer - adding Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez to a team brimming with talent and promise. Gomez is set to partner the returning Giuseppe Rossi up front in what could be one of the best front-pairings in the league.

Juventus have proven once again that good players are available at good prices, adding Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente to a team with an frightening depth of ability already. Roma sold promising young defender Marquinhos for an astonishing €35m bid to PSG and added Kevin Strootman, Mehdi Benatia and former Inter hero Maicon and still registered a profit of around €4m or so.

While the Premier League's big clubs have scrabbled around for talent and squandered most of the time they have making unsuccessful bids for players, Italian sides have done their business quietly, quickly and relatively cheaply.

Manchester United have been ambling from club to club looking for that young, talented midfielder while Roma got Kevin Strootman for €17m, around €18m less than the bid that Barcelona rejected for Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal need a striker, and after Napoli took advantage of their caution to sign Higuain they bid £40m on Luis Suarez, who is now set to sign an extension at Anfield. Weeks earlier, Fiorentina secured a €16.5m deal for 27-year old, Champions League winning striker Mario Gomez, who is now at a club that don't play in the Champions League who spent around half of what Manchester City gave them for Jovetic and nearly a third of what Arsenal were prepared to spend on Suarez. Makes you think, doesn't it?

No league has got better on the whole as much as Serie A, who have arguably turned the title race into a five-horse race (Juve, Milan, Napoli, Fiorentina, Roma) and added a much larger collection of talent to Italy than the one that has left it behind.

Additionally, the recent years of austerity has meant that Serie A has become a breeding ground for Italian youth - more and more top clubs in Italy are giving starts and prominent roles to younger players, a trend that is a silver lining to the cloud that has often hung over the Italian game. From Napoli's Lorezo Insigne, Milan's Balotelli-El Shaarawy-De Sciglio youth triumvate to Alessandro Florenzi at Roma, Serie A has gotten much younger across the board and has finally thrown the ageing stereotype off its back.

After years of clinging on to the famous faces of yesterday, Serie A has hit the reset button over the last 24 months or so and is finally making some headway. There is a long way to go yet before attendance figures and Champions League places return to their pre-Calciopoli heyday but things are closer than they've been for nearly a decade.

Welcome back, Serie A. We missed you.

Transfers that make so much sense they probably won't happen: Samuel Eto'o to Arsenal

In 2011, Samuel Eto'o shocked the footballing world by becoming the highest paid footballer in the world when he agreed a jaw-dropping £350,000 per week deal to leave Inter for the Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. At the time, it seemed like that was all she wrote for Eto'o's time in the big leagues, and the Cameroonian would amass enough money to retire for three lifetimes by the time he and Azhi called it quits.

However, the 32-year-old appears to be back on the market as his club are going through what they called "a change in operation" but what the rest of the world call "running out of money" - Anzhi on the verge of a fire sale with the Russian's seemingly desperate to get the strikers gargantuan wages off their books.

It all seems a little bit too inevitable to be funny, but it does mean that a three time Champions League winner with probably 2-3 years of top class football left in the tank is available for cheap and this writer had a brilliant notion at 3am this morning that is so fantastic, so logical and makes so much sense I can GUARAN-DAMN-TEE that it won't happen.

But Samuel Eto'o should sign for Arsenal.

Think about it. Arsenal are in the market for a striker, a guy who can guarantee 20-30 goals a season and bring some solidity, reliability and leadership to a side that has lost it's footballing go-to-guys almost annually to their rivals. Being handed the captains armband is akin to a formal notice of eviction at the Emirates, and the Gunners really need someone to lead from the front who will stick around long enough to phase in a new generation of players, instead of being left high and dry by the absence of veteran stars.

Eto'o is a winner, a hard worker and a very talented footballer. Qualms about his age are actually irrelevant - his experience is actually a factor in why this move makes so much sense. Reports are swirling that he is willing to accept around £5m a year to bring his services back into mainland Europe and Anzhi will accept a cut-price deal for the player just to get him away from their finances.

Arsenal have a real opportunity to bring a winning, experienced player with big-game experience for relatively cheap player who won't be at the club long enough to be a hindrance. He isn't an "investment" for the future that Arsenal fans don't have to worry if Manchester City are going to steal him away every 6 months. He's here to win now, and that's what Arsenal need.

For Eto'o, he gets guaranteed starts in the most marketable league in the world, a fan-base that will adore him the moment he walks through the door and the prospect of spending any remaining rubles he kept from his lucrative Russian contract to spend on the London high-streets. Being in a league that has a more open attitude toward black players as well would be a welcome relief for Eto'o after his struggles in Russia(as well as numerous episodes during his time in Spain and Italy before that) who joins a club that always had a strong African contingent under Arsene Wenger.

Samuel Eto'o to Arsenal. It makes so much sense, it probably won't  happen.

All-time Serie A XI

 Over the years Serie A, affectionately known as “Calcio” by its fans and followers, has played host to some of the world’s greatest names, its most dominating teams and astute managers. Picking an XI that encompasses the entire history of a league from a country that has won the World Cup four times and the Champions League/European Cup 12 times is an astonishingly difficult feat, and there were some difficult omissions.

However, I’ve tried to be as all-encompassing as possible – the temptation to dip into the Serie A glory days of my own personal memories were great, but there were more worthy names from earlier generations that could not be ignored.

Anyway, without further ado – here is the line-up. Remember, this is completely subjective and just my opinion – so feel free to discuss and debate with me on Twitter @SamCalcio.

Pre-note: Despite its relatively modern arrival into the world of tactics, I went with the 4-2-3-1. I did this for two reasons: 1) I needed a back four, as a Serie A XI without at least four defensive players is wrong on several levels and 2) It allowed me to put five attacking players on it, including four vintage #10’s. It just made sense.

Goalkeeper:  Gianluigi Buffon

Parma: 1995-2001, Juventus: 2001 – Present

Italian football historians will claim fellow Juventus legend Dino Zoff is the deserved candidate for the #1 jersey for his longevity and clean sheet record, but the fact remains that Gianluigi Buffon is the most complete goalkeeper in Italian football history and arguably the greatest of all time.

Making his Parma debut at the age of just 17(an achievement in itself in the notoriously veteran-dependant Serie A), Buffon was named Serie A’s Goalkeeper of the Year before he turned 23 as a stalwart in Carlo Ancelotti’s exciting Parma side, featuring fellow future Juventus stars Fabio Cannavaro and Lillian Thuram.

A move to Juventus in 2001 for a still record fee(for a goalkeeper) of £32.1m was immediately justified as Buffon won consecutive league titles in his first two years. A World Cup win followed while  only conceding two goals(not including penalty shoot-outs) along the way, and only one from open play (which wasn’t even scored by the opposition, Christian Zaccardo’s own goal against the USA responsible for that). The other goal? A chipped penalty from Zinedine Zidane in the final.

Buffon affirmed his legendary status in the hearts of Juventus fans when he opted to stay with his ailed club during their spell in Serie B after the Calciopoli scandal, and fought back from a back injury in 2010 to win his 9^th Serie A GKOTY award in 13 years in 2012.

Buffon’s agility, athleticism put him over the less mobile Zoff, and dons the #1 jersey in this XI.

Honourable Mentions: Dino Zoff, Walter Zenga.

Right-Back: Paolo Maldini

AC Milan: 1985 – 2009

I know what you’re thinking. Paolo Maldini, world’s greatest left-back, at right back? Well, yes. It seems a strange decision on the face of it until you find out that the Rossoneri stalwart was naturally right-footed, and played as a right winger up until breaking into the Milan first team at just 17. While it’s not ideal, because of the guy I’ve got at LB, this became a necessity.

Selected by then Milan manager Nils Liedholm after a second half injury to Sergio Battistini in 1985, young Paolo impressed the Swede with his composure and was given a starting berth the following season. Since then, Maldini was never taken out of Milan’s team, forming a key part of arguably football’s greatest ever modern club side when Arrigo Sacchi took over in 1987.

The victories came quickly and never really stopped, winning his first Scudetto of seven in 1988, and his first European Cup of five in 1989.

Blessed with composure, intelligence and technique that contradicted his position in defence, Maldini’s skill allowed him to have an almost inhumanly long career at the highest level, retiring from football in 2009 after nearly 24 years and 25 major trophies.

AC Milan retired the famous #3 until such time that Paolo’s children break into Milan’s first XI(note: they’re in the youth teams), and if they’re half as good as their father (or even their European Cup winning Grandfather Cesare) then Milan have much more to look forward to from the Maldini family.

Honourable Mentions: Mauro Tassotti, Cafu.

Centre-Back: Franco Baresi

AC Milan: 1977-1997

Another Rossoneri legend whose number has been kept back by his club, only this time there is no chance that anyone will wear the #6 again, and appropriately so. In a league dominated by great defenders, Franco Baresi was the probably the easiest choice in this entire team.

Despite Franco’s less than imposing physical stature (his 5’9 frame leading to fans calling Baresi “Piscinin”, Milanese for “little one”) Baresi neutralised attacking threats by playing as the last man of the defence, solely responsible for the offside trap and utilising positional awareness and timing to catch out strikers.

Baresi won 10 league titles and three European Cups throughout a 20 year career as arguably the best player on a team that contained Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Paolo Maldini, famously captaining Italy to the World Cup final in 1994, playing 120 minutes in the sweltering Pasadena heat at the age of 34 with a knee injury he sustained earlier in the competition. Probably the most intelligent defender to have ever played.

Honourable Mentions: Fabio Cannavaro, Armando Picchi. 

Centre-Back: Gaetano Scirea

Atalanta: 192-1974, Juventus: 1974-1988

The quiet leader of the Juventus defence that was more famous for partner Claudio Gentile’s notorious antics, Scirea was the key cog in a Bianconeri backline that set the example for the rest of Serie A during the entirety of his Juventus career.

The Italian answer to Franz Beckenbauer, Sciera was famous for taking the ball out of defence, forming an extra part to the midfield and even joining in up front – scoring 24 goals in the process for Juve during a 14 year spell with the Old Lady.

Like his defensive accomplices, Scirea was a serial winner – seven league titles in 14 seasons and a World Cup for Italy in 1982 emphasises the totality of his success.

A quiet individual whose unique sportsmanship set him apart from his rivals for this spot in the line-up, his red-cardless career emphasise Scirea’s placidity and sportsmanship in an footballing era that was often famous for little of either.

Honourable Mentions: Claudio Gentile, Alessandro Nesta.

Left-Back: Giacinto Facchetti

Inter: 1960-1978

The first attacking full back of the game, a man whose revolutionary style of playing changed the way wide-defenders played the game and defined Inter’s greatest ever team. Facchetti began his career at Inter in 1960, instantly impressing charismatic tactician Helenio Herrera who placed the then striker as full back, inviting him to push forward despite his field position.

The plan worked to perfection, as Facchetti was one of the main reasons why Herrera’s catenaccio style was so effective. His stamina allowed him to patrol the by-line with pace and strength while his forward strides made for an effective counter-attacking weapon. The complete defender, Giacinto managed to also score 59 goals in Nerazzurri blue from his left back position, including 12 in the 1965-66 season.

Facchetti was the captain of Herrera’s Grande Inter side that won and retained the European Cup in the mid-60’s before losing to Jock Stein’s Celtic side in 1967.

Almost a shoe-in because of his impact on the evolution of the game, Facchetti also proved he was a superb player and leader too – captaining Italy 70 times out of 94 caps and winning the country’s only European Championship to date in 1968. 

Honourable Mentions: Antonio Cabrini, Gianluca Zambrotta.

Central Midfield: Javier Zanetti

Inter: 1995 - Present

Javier Zanetti is probably the most astonishing example of human stamina in football’s entire history. Signed as a 21-year-old in 1995 from Argentinian side Banfield, “Pupi” has been a constant during a near 20 year stretch, his ability to play anywhere in defence or midfield as impressive as his consistency.

Zanetti played mostly as a right back for Inter until the Nerazzurri signed Maicon in 2006, where he became a defensive midfielder. The Argentinian doesn’t pass as well as Falcao, tackle as well as Edgar Davids or strike a ball as well as Marco Tardelli but the veteran’s ability to do all of those things well for nearly two decades at the heart of an Inter side wracked with change during the same period is the reason why his selection is justified.

At 39, Javier Zanetti is just as vital for Inter as he was when the Nerazzurri named him captain in 1999 – “Il Tractore(The Tractor)” the driving force of Inter season in, season out.

 A five-time Serie A Champion including the treble winning season of 2010, Javier Zanetti has won 16 major trophies in 18 years at Inter for 18 different coaches. He is set to break Paolo Maldini’s appearance record while under a contract that will see him at Inter until he is 40, and he will be the first name on the team sheet for whoever is in charge until he decides to hang his boots up – if that ever happens, of course.

Honourable Mentions: Falcao, Marco Tardelli, Edgar Davids, Nils Liedholm. 

Central Midfield: Michel Platini

Juventus: 1982 – 1987

Compared to the earlier entries on this list, Michel Platini’s 5 year spell in Turin is dwarfed by his contemporaries in terms of longevity, but that the Frenchman nailed a spot on this list despite being in Italy for a relatively short period of time is emphatic of his magic.

Arguably the greatest player of a country blessed with Zinedine Zidane, and arguably the greatest #10 for a club blessed with Roberto Baggio and Alex Del Piero, Michel Platini was both ahead of his time and a throwback to a less frantic age of football - if only because of how simple he made the sport look.

To contextualise with a modern parallel, Platini had the passing range of Andrea Pirlo, the first touch of Zinedine Zidane, the awareness of Andres Iniesta and the charisma of James Dean. He was the silky touch on the pitch, and the quotable icon off it.

Platini joined Serie A and Juventus in 1982, replacing Irish hero Liam Brady (whose last kick won the Bianconeri the league the season before) but originally struggled to adapt to Italian football, nearly leaving just months after his arrival.

However, a more accommodating set of tactics freed the Frenchman who went on to lead Juventus to two league titles in 1984 and 1986 and a European Cup in 1985, Juventus’s first continental triumph. 

Despite his position in midfield, Platini led Serie A in scoring three seasons in a row and also won an unprecedented hat-trick of Balon D’or trophies, a feat only bettered by Lionel Messi in 2012.

Platini’s ability to drop deep to spread the play before pushing forward to join the attack made Michel the perfect midfielder in any formation, meaning he can adopt a roaming role as the orchestrator in my 4-2-3-1, thanks to Javier Zanetti next to him doing the defensive duties of two (or three) men.

Honourable Mentions: Andrea Pirlo, Lothar Matthaus, Giovanni Trappatoni, Frank Rijkaard. 

Right-Winger: Valentino Mazzola

Venezia: 1939 – 1942, Torino: 1942-1949.

Mazzola may seem like a surprise inclusion for some who are unaware of the history of the Grande Torino side of the 1940’s, but a quick look through the history books reveal Mazzola’s inclusion is more than warranted.

Played as an attacking midfielder in Torino’s 4-2-4 formation, Mazzola was the best player on a side that dominated Serie A more than any side before or since.

Torino own all-time records for consecutive Scudetti, unbeaten home records(four consecutive between 1945 and 1949), the biggest ever Serie A home win(10-0 vs Alessandria in 1947-48), the biggest ever away win( 7-0 vs Roma in 1945-46) as well as single season records for goals scored, conceded, points amassed before the 3 point win was invented and a goal per game average of 3.125.

It’s an incredible run of success from a team that in a cruel irony was beaten by tragic circumstance rather than a sporting rival – the 1949 Superga aeroplane crash robbing Italian football of a legendary team that could have  - and probably would have – continued to dominate for years to come.

Mazzola scored 118 goals in just 204 matches for Torino before he died at just 30.

His son Sandro went on to become more famous as one of Inter’s greatest ever players in the 1960’s and 70’s, but no Serie A XI is complete without a player from Italy’s most endearing, successful and heartbreaking sides. 

Honourable Mentions: Gianni Rivera, Jose Altafini. 

Centre Attacking Midfield/Centre Forward: Diego Maradona

Napoli: 1984-1991

I had to fit him in here somewhere, didn’t I? Arguably the greatest player the world has ever seen left Barcelona in 1984 as a 24-year-old and entered himself into the hearts of Neopolitans everywhere, lifting them to their only Scudetti in 1987 and 1990.

Maradona became more than a footballer in Naples, embodying the Southern Italian attitude as his own, beating the Northern giants of Milan and Turin on the only medium they could compete – the football pitch. Diego became a social phenomenon, and a saviour. Even today, years after his exploits, murals of the Argentinian can be found in pristine condition throughout the Italian city.

Maradona’s effect and hero status during his time in Serie A was such that fans and management ignored Diego’s drug problems, partying and lateness. In fact, by 1990, Maradona barely trained, choosing instead to simply turn up to matches on his own minutes before kick-off.

During his peak, Maradona was simply untouchable. His talent was such that Napoli were instantly able to compete with Michel Platini’s Juventus (beating them to a title in 1987), and Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan(beating them to a title in 1990) during a time when Serie A was the undisputed king of world football. His departure began a trophy drought that was only been ended last season, Napoli winning the Coppa Italia after years in the Calcio abyss(that included a spell in Serie C), perhaps doing more than anything else to highlight how much of a difference ‘El Diego’ made to Napoli, and Serie A.

Rarely ever has there been a more influential player in a team sport.

Honourable Mentions: Zinedine Zidane, Kaka’, Ruud Gullit.

Left-Winger: Roberto Baggio.

Vincenza: 1982-1985, Fiorentina: 1985-1990, Juventus: 1990-1995, AC Milan: 1995-1997, Bologna: 1997-1998, Brescia: 2000-2004.

This was a difficult decision. I was very, very close to placing Francesco Totti in this spot, and I’m sure I’ve offended many by his exclusion from this XI. Trust me, I tried. Totti-supporters will point to his World Cup triumph, his longevity at Roma and his superior goal-tally to Baggio as for reasons why he should’ve been included instead, and they’re all fair reasons. However, the reasons I went Baggio over Totti was:

1) Baggio achieved despite being hampered by coaching disagreements and injury for a large part of his career.

 2) Baggio won the Balon D’or in 1993, while Totti was never indisputably the world’s best player.

3) Despite Totti’s superior goals tally – Francesco has 227 goals in 535 games, while Baggio has 205 in 452, giving Il Divino Codino a goals per game advantage of 0.15 (Totti: 1 goal per 2.35 games while Baggio: 1 goal per 2.2 games). Give Baggio Totti’s games and club support, and I’m convinced he’d have scored more.

4) Baggio scored for poorer teams while Totti has been the centrepiece of all of Roma’s activity for 20 years.

Baggio, for me, is simply more impressive.

There isn’t a player in Italian history more universally loved, respected and admired than Roberto Baggio, who spent a career battling injury and restrictive tactics to score 204 goals in Serie A, and 291 in all competitions.

Baggio’s career is probably best remembered by his missed penalty against Brazil in the 1994 final, robbing him of a World Cup his talent richly deserved. But, like that wayward strike in Pasadena in the unforgiving summer heat, Baggio’s career was not built on trophies. It was built on moments.

From his 1989 entrance into the Serie A spotlight with his stunning solo effort against Diego Maradona’s Napoli, no less, to his one touch-and-finish goal for Brescia against Juventus in 2004 at the twilight of his career, Baggio entertained Italian football fans the world over with flashes of skill and goals that lived in the memory forever.

Perhaps best remembered for his time at Juventus – winning the Balon D’or in 1993 and Serie A in 1995, it was for provincial sides that Baggio often displayed his best work, relishing the freedom given him by the likes of Brescia and Bologna rather than the tactical restrictions from Milan and Inter, two teams unwilling to shape their teams around the mercurial striker.

A successful year at Bologna saw Baggio re-join Italy for the 1998 World Cup after an Azzurri exile, and the veteran won a penalty in the opening game against Chile. It was the first he would take for Italy since the famous miss in 1994. Roberto bent over, staring at the ground for several seconds before picking up the ball, laying it on the spot and scoring. It was an exorcism for Baggio, and a reminder to his doubters.

Baggio was often dropped later in his international career in favour of younger, or more physical talent; Alex Del Piero, Gianfranco Zola and Christian Vieri all saw starts ahead of Baggio while Marcelo Lippi’s continued benching of the forward meant that he missed out on Euro 2000. Italy lost the final to France after Del Piero, favoured over Baggio, missed several gilt-edged chances to win the game.

Baggio continued to be adored by the Italian public, finishing his career with a four year spell at Brescia. His retirement saw an entirely universal response of praise from all corners of Italy, highlighting Baggio’s unique appeal and status among the notoriously territorial Italian football fan.

Honourable Mentions: Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero, Sandro Mazzola

Striker: Giuseppe Meazza

Inter: 1927-1940, Milan: 1940-1942, Juventus: 1942-1943, Varese: 1944, Atalanta: 1944-1946, Inter: 1946-1947.

The man whose name was lent to the stadium that both Inter and Milan play is a pretty good reason on its own, but Giuseppe Meazza also happens to be a two-time World Cup winning striker who was probably the most dominating in his position in Italian football history.

Silvio Piola may have scored more, boasting a formidable 274 Serie A goals to his name, but Meazza could do more than score. An incredible technician, blessed with supreme dribbling and passing ability, Meazza was the complete striker before multi-faceted footballers was a modern trend.

Meazza was the first player with personal sponsors, a real bona fide celebrity before the term was commonly coined for sportsmen and anecdotes about Meazza’s career reveal what was a charming, entertaining and very talented rebel.

Giuseppe scored bicycle kicks, Maradona style dribbles through the heart of a team and dominated scoring charts in an unforgiving footballing climate, Meazza often having to dodge fouls from players who were keen to avoid humiliation. 

He could drop deep, he could challenge for headers and famous Italian journalist Gianni Brera even saw Meazza as “the perfect midfielder” due to the completeness of his ability.

Joining Milan in 1940 after an injury saw him cry after scoring a goal against beloved Inter in the Milan derby, perhaps becoming the only player in Milanese history to avoid abuse for crossing the footballing divide by virtue of being who he was.

Meazza returned to Inter after a six year absence, ending his career in the Nerazzurri colours, finishing with 314 goals in 511 games in all competitions.

A case can be made for Marco Van Basten, Andriy Shevchenko, Gigi Riva, Gabriel Batistuta and several other forwards, but none did for as long, as well or as emphatically as Giuseppe Meazza.

Honourable Mentions:

Marco Van Basten, Andriy Shevchenko, Gabriel Batistuta, Ronaldo, Silvio Piola, Gigi Riva

Final XI (4-2-3-1):

Buffon; Maldini, Baresi, Scirea, Facchetti; Zanetti, Platini; V.Mazzola, Maradona, Baggio; Meazza.