The Italian First Division kicks off its new season this weekend, with a full slate of matches and a familiar champion looking to defend its crown.
Inter Milan enters the season as the favorite to win its fourth straight Scudetto (fifth counting the title forfeited by Juventus in 2005), but it won't come easy. Juventus, Genoa, AC Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina are among the teams that will look to push Jose Mourinho's men.
Who do I see winning the league? It's very tough to pick against Inter Milan, but this summer has seen Juventus add some serious firepower to its squad, including Fabio Cannavaro, Diego and Felipe Melo. Look for Juve to edge out Inter (though I will add the disclaimer that if Inter succeed in landing Wesley Sneijder then The Special One will add another trophy to his collection).
Here is how I see the Serie A Top Eight shaking out:
1. Juventus, 2. Inter Milan, 3. Napoli., 4. AC Milan, 5. Genoa, 6. Fiorentina, 7. Roma, 8. Palermo.
Now it's your turn to cast your vote. Which team do you see lifting the Scudetto as league champions this season?
Who did you pick to win the league? Which team is your pick to surprise (We say Napoli)? Which favorite do you see falling flat (we say AC Milan)? Has Oguchi Onyewu's arrival made you an AC Milan fan?
Share your thoughts below.
Inter will win. Best strikers, best attacking full backs, deepest midfield, best coach. Best coach by some distance. Juve and Milan pick now to go with novices? I thank them in advance.
Justin – your post was knee slapping good stuff. Talking about last year as though it is in some way relevant. Inter went to get Milito, Eto’o, and Motta (and possibly Sneidjer) so they would not be so one-dimensional. They will not be knocking it to up to Ibra to see what he can do. He’s gone. You may have noticed. And I love the idea that players like Santon, Balotelli, Cambiasso, Zanetti, and Lucio are “quite overrated”. How may clubs would not be more than happy to have these players?
Inter will have said ci vediamo dopo to pursuing sides with games to spare.
Inter will win. Best strikers, best attacking full backs, deepest midfield, best coach. Best coach by some distance. Juve and Milan pick now to go with novices? I thank them in advance.
Justin – your post was knee slapping good stuff. Talking about last year as though it is in some way relevant. Inter went to get Milito, Eto’o, and Motta (and possibly Sneidjer) so they would not be so one-dimensional. They will not be knocking it to up to Ibra to see what he can do. He’s gone. You may have noticed. And I love the idea that players like Santon, Balotelli, Cambiasso, Zanetti, and Lucio are “quite overrated”. How may clubs would not be more than happy to have these players?
Inter will have said ci vediamo dopo to pursuing sides with games to spare.
Whichever club pays the highest bribe.
OK that might be only partly true but in that league you never know
Honestly as much as I love soccer I cannot stand Serie A and could care less who becomes the champion of the league of whiners, divers and boring soccer.
Forza Celtic!
Especially is Sneijder does end up at Inter, Inter is walking away with it. Even with Diego at Juve I think Inter has enough to win it.
Agreed. FORZA ROMA (Let’s Go Roma)!
Hope Roma has some success this year, but I think Juve will win it… FORZA LUPI!
Special1
and then he takes over a La Liga team… then he comes to USA a la Beckham
All I have to say is Go Donkeys!
Suck it, Jeff!!! Hahaha!
FORZA ROMA!!!
FORZA LAZIO
Agree Roma. I am a Milan fan, but am extremely realistic about what to expect this season. I like the fact that we seem to be moving towards younger players than we have in the past, but yes, the list of if’s is worrisome. From what I have seen of Nesta so far in the friendlies, he looks alright, but who really knows with back issues. When Pirlo is on his game, he is still world class, but the number of games he is playing well seems to be ever diminishing. If Ronaldinho can even find 75% of his top form, we will have an effective link up to the strikers, but much is going to rely on Pato staying healthy up top. I don’t see any effective striker combinations between Borriello, Pippo and Huntelaar, and that is even assuming Borriello and Inzaghi are healthy. When healthy though, Inzaghi still has it.
The fullback situation is another situation entirely. Zambrotta was solid last season until he just got completely worn down late. 2/3 of the way through the season he was our most played field player by far. Oddo was key in our Champions League run in 07, but he doesn’t have much left any more. Jankulovski is not a defender. I would rather see Antonini or even try out Abate at RB, and Zambrotta at LB than let Jankulovski or Oddo see much time on the pitch. The only bit of positive info there is that we have been linked with De Silvestri in a move that would send Oddo back, that would help straighten things out a little were it to actually happen.
Agree with you overall analysis though, if all goes well, we could challenge for the scudetto, but if things go terribly wrong, we could be out of European play next season altogether.
1. Inter
2. Juve
3. Milan
4. Napoli
Also, re: Milan, they have to many “ifs.” If the defense holds up – if Nesta can play 30 games or so, if Onyewu provides reliable cover, and if fullbacks like Zambrotta, Jankulovski and Oddo actually have something left in the tank, they may be able to keep teams from scoring and get some crosses in. The problem is that I don’t see that happening, and while the midfield is getting old, it can still hold up play and distribute north and south, with Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, and Flamini all more than adequate. The problem is distribution in from the flanks to the strikers – KJH can’t go and get it, though perhaps Pato can. If they can get good service, and if Ronaldinho can play like it’s 2006 again, Milan will surprise everyone and finish in the Top 2. If not, I think they are going for a free fall – with 5-7 or so not out of the question . . .
Justin, I couldn’t agree more. I remember several games last year where Ibra scored in the last ten minutes against the lower teams, and once or twice after *dubious* free kicks were given. Though, it should be noted that the squad does know how to grind out results.
The Diego and Felipe Melo signings by Juve were perfect. Diego, in my opinion, was the perfect purchase for those who think Serie A doesn’t attract the big names – it’s hard to remember that Diego is of the class of 1985 – he isn’t yet 25 years old. This signing will have the same effect for those pigs in black and white as Zidane did almost 15 years ago.
I think Roma is flying under the radar because they are going to rely on youth players – but remember, many of these youth players were loaned out to get 1st team experience, and I believe won a Viareggio or other youth tournament in the not-too-distant past. I wouldn’t put anything past the Shaven Headed One.
This Guy, Lazio are dirt, plain and simple. They have a bloated squad, turmoil, and nobody other than Zarate that can change a game. 10th-12th place.
Forza Roma!!!
mmm cannavaro’s not that good.
If anybody has seen Inter play against the bottom tier Serie A sides the past few years, you will likely know just how important Ibra was to them. Their game plan against those teams who would put 9 men in behind the ball was to just send it up to Ibrahimovic and see what he could do. The majority of the rest of that team (aside from Julio Cesar and Maicon) are quite overrated in my opinion. Some of their signings may help them find other ways to score vs. the dregs of Serie A, but there may be a bit of a learning curve.
I think there is a chance that that Eto’o makes them more dangerous in the Champions League, but I think the loss of Ibra will hurt enough in Serie A, especially early in the season, to give it to Juventus, though I agree with Adam that the Cannavaro signing is not all that great.
1. Juventus
2. Inter
3. Genoa
4. Napoli
5. Milan
6. Palermo
7. Fiorentina
8. Roma
Udinese and Lazio will also cause problems for the Top 8. It should be an exciting year! I’m looking forward to seeing Genoa, Napoli, and Palermo play, as well as Diego to play along with Del Piero!
Forza Roma!
Unfortunately the wolves don’t have enough, and most likely won’t be healthy enough to win it all. Here’s to hoping the capture a Champions League spot again.
1- Juve
2- Inter
3- Fiorentina
4- Roma
5- AC Milan
6- Napoli
7- Lazio
8- Genoa
Forza Roma!!!
Coley, Eto’o had as good a reason to sulk as Barca did to fire the coach that treated him like dirt.
In 2004-5, Eto’o scores 24 goals in 37 league appearances, finishing second in the Pichichi.
In 2005-6, Eto’o scores 26 goals in 35 league appearances, winning the Pichichi.
In 2006 he tears up his right knee, but still scores 11 in 17 games, and then scores 16 in 18 games the following year after recovering from a re-injury.
How does Rijkaard treat him? Not by welcoming him back into the side, but by talking smack, saying that Eto’o doesn’t want to play, that Eto’o is a problem to the team, etc. Then team cans Rijkaard, not Eto’o.
And look at Eto’o last season, under Guardiola: 30 goals in 34 appearances, and he shows passion and drive.
In my opinion, Eto’o wants to win and wants to be appreciated. I don’t have a problem with either attribute.
I’m a huge Milan fan, but i can’t believe they received so many votes. Fiorentina looks better than them, unless Leonardo proves to be a genius coach, there is no way Milan is winning this year. it sucks, but i’m just being honest.
I sure as hell am going to root for them this season, but I doubt they will be able to defeat Juve & Inter in the long run.
Unfortunately I agree with caasi. If part of Milan’s system is to allow the likes of Zambrotta and Jankulovski to play Houdini and not get back to defend it leaves too much space for Onyewu to cover. If that’s the case Onyewu’s anticipation and positioning must improve.
Where is Udinese!! Ha probably not in top 8 after the off season but they might surprise as always.
I only see Juve as a legit challenger to Inter but I think Inter takes it despite my best wishes otherwise. The only reason I would say Juve can take them is I don’t expect Eto’o’s game to translate as well to Italian soccer as Ibra’s did. Ibra fit the more nuanced style of the league I think Eto’o is more predictable and the defenses will have an easier time keeping him in check. I don’t like the Cannavaro signing for Juve, he is on the downside of his career.
Either way I hope Roma can crash the party, best coach and best player in the league but injuries and lack of depth always haunt them.
No Lazio?
They’ve made some solid, under the radar moves. I see Lazio in the Top 4.
1. Juve
2. Inter
3. Milan
4. Lazio
5. Roma
6. Genoa
7. Purple Saints
8. Palermo
Completely off topic, but every time I see the Lega Calcio logo, I can’t help but think the someone used clip-art in MS Word to design it.
All I know is that Onyewu is going to get torched unless he gets better at defending without running people over.
goooooch
I wish I could say Fiorentina, or at least anyone other than Juve, but I can’t. Diego will wreak havoc in Serie A- its a perfect fit for his style.
1. Juve
2. Inter
3. Roma
4. Fiorentina
5. Milan
6. Napoli
7. Genoa
8. Palermo
this is if totti stays healthy. If he doesnt Roma moves to 6th and everyone else slides up. Here is hoping a great year for the Giallorossi
1. Roma (Forza Roma)
2. – 20. Irrelevant.
OK, for real:
1. Juventus
2. Inter
3. Roma
4. Palermo
5. Fiorentina
6. Milan
7. Napoli
8. Genoa
Uh, Scot in Htown, Do you not know Samuel Eto’o? You get tired of Zlatan’s sulking? Zlatan=Eto’o when it comes to selfishness, arrogance and sulking.
Samuel Eto’o makes Inter the favorite for first place. I enjoy watching Ibrahimovic, whose size and ball-skill creates a unique challenge for a defender, but I get tired of his sulking. What Inter lost in theatrics they’ve more than made up for in pace, aggression, and ambition.
I would love to see the Old Lady win this one. Diego has been one of my favorite Bundesliga players to watch the past few seasons so it will be fun to see him in Serie A.
55? For Genoa Ives? Harsh!
1. Inter
2. Juventus
3. Milan
4. Napoli
5. Roma
6. Genoa
7. Fiorentina
well, i heard inter will probably get Wesley Sneijder from Madrid. if thats the case, i would bet they’ll win the scudetto again.
(SBI-I would agree with that one. Sneider’s an animal, but it will still be a great race.)
Shut up Sven.