Soccer Starts Again – Serie A 2012-2013
BySoccer Starts Again – Serie A 2012-2013
August 27, 2012
Expert analysis by John Leahy (World’s Foremost Soccer Authority)
Serie A begins and Milan loses first game. What do you expect after losing Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Cassano? Replacements Montolivo, Zapata and Pazzini are good players, but the team as a whole seems to have slid down a notch. Since Serie A is so competitive, this could mean sliding out of Europe altogether.
Roma tied and was criticized by new coach Zemen for pointless horizontal passing that slowed up approach and allowed D to set up. Also said Totti stayed too wide and didn’t go where he told him. Will Zemen clash with Totti? Never a good sign for a Roma coach. Roma has a slew of talented young players and are bolstered defensively with hard working (although bald) Michael Bradley, recovered from long term injury Burdisso, and newly acquired Balzaretti. Under Zemen and his emphasis on physical conditioning, Bradley should flourish, especially with the protection of De Rossi behind him. Together with the offensive skills of Lamela, Pjanic, Krkic and the sledgehammer striking of Oswaldo, Roma should be an exciting and successful club in 2012.
Inter cruised. So did post Lavezzi Napoli and defending champs Juve.
Inter looked strong against minnow Pescara and the attacking combination of Wesley Schneider, Diego Milito and Antonio Cassano looks potent. Inter have good attacking options in recently acquired Rodrigo Palacio and Coutinho and defensive grit in midfield with Cambiasso and Walter Gargano, acquired from Napoli. Zanetti – aka Superman – is back again at the young age of 39 and still setting the pace for the youngsters at defense and midfield. The flip side however, is that last year Inter ranked 15th in team defense and does not appear to have addressed this problem with their summer signings.
Napoli: No Lavezzi, no problem! Lavezzi has gone to oil sheik rich Paris St Germain, but the Napoli squad otherwise remains fairly intact from the team that finished 5th in Serie A in the last campaign. Napoli has a strong and cohesive defensive unit lead at the back by captain Paolo Cannavaro, Salvatore Aronica, and Christian Maggio and a deep midfield centered around Gokhsn Inler supporting the attack of Edison Cavani, Marek Hamsik and promising young star Lorenzo Insigne.
Juventus
La Vecchia Signora has not changed significantly from the squad that remained undefeated and won the Scudetto last year. Juve won its first game this season and remains the team to be in Serie A.
Lazio
Lazio gave a strong performance last year and finished 4th in Serie A and appears little changed this season. Miroslav Klose has returned for another year and Hernanes provides offensive cohesion. Floccari, Zarate, Ledesma and Mauri all contribute to a powerful attack. Lazio is solid at all areas of the pitch and will once again compete for the European spots in the table.
Udinese
Last season’s third place finisher had a goal differential of 17 and was 3rd in the league with least goals given up. On offense, Udinese is heavily dependent on Antonio Di Natale who was tied for 3rd in goals scored in Serie A last season behind Ibrahimovic and Diego Milito.
Surprise team of the year? Could it be Fiorentina? Stevan Jovetic scored 2 goals in their first game a win over Udinese. Over the summer break, La Viola brought in a group of strong midfielders including Alberto Aquilani, Matias Fernandez, David Pizarro, and Borja Valero.
Leahy Institute Prediction
- Juventus
- Napoli
- Roma
- Inter
- Udinese
- Lazio
- AC Milan
- Fiorentina
- Sampdoria
- Torino
- Atalanta
- Parma
- Catania
- Bologna
- Cagliari
- Palermo
- Chievo Verona
- Genoa
- Siena
- Pescara