A Week To Forget

By: chris | March 24th, 2008

If you see a Granata fan walking around – those of them that aren’t in the corner of their basement in the fetal position right now – give them a hug, they need it. 3 games, 3 losses and Gianluca Comotto was lost for the season just nine minutes into the game against Udinese on Wednesday. To top it off Rosinaldo will probably be sold by Tuesday morning and the bull will be replaced by one of those whiny cows from the cheese commercials. Or the entire cast of The View, who are even whinier cows.

Alright, aside from the unfathomable spanking from Cagliari, Torino was never the favorite to pick up any more than two points total from Udinese and Milan. Taking zero isn’t exactly horrible given the quality of opposition, but that whole relegation fight is back in the works, as they’re only four points clear from the zone right now. A little look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from this past week:

The Good

One of these days the calcio gods are going to see it fit to put Torino and Roma at different times so that I can watch both games and be a happy little dual-supporter. Unfortunately, the highlights from both Udinese & Milan had to suffice.

i. The good news from Udinese was that Simone Pepe’s goal was a ball from the fuckin’ heavens and about three keepers in the world were getting to that ball…..and Matteo Sereni ain’t one of ‘em.

ii. After watching the Milan highlights, it looked like Torino had a real chance to win or tie the game but Milan’s class defense stifled them at just the right times. Plenty of chances, and Stellone looked nice and dangerous, but they couldn’t put any into the back of the net. Something to build on, at least, as it’s all about the small victories these days.

iii. After getting thrashed by Cagliari, they held Udinese & Milan to a goal apiece. Two squads which can, if necessary, put up goals galore. Baby steps.

iv. Alessandro Rosina still plays for Torino. Every day is a good day.

The Bad

i. As said above, no goals. Three games, including two with defenses giving up a goal per game minimum and ZERO goals. Some of that “talent” up front needs to translate to “production” and fast, because there are only 8 games left and the relegation zone is creeping up fast.

ii. The relegation zone is creeping up fast. (Sound familiar?) That’s 8 games and a necessary 9 points to hit the supposed safe number of 40. They can definitely do it, but they’ll need to start bagging some goals.

iii. Walter Novellino’s plan of throwing on striker after striker after striker when down a goal is nice and all, but it’s not exactly working well, is it? Maybe it’s time for some alternative tactics? Not every game is going to be Parma.

iv. Aimo Diana is playing right back. He can do it for sure, but having him there is by no means “ideal”.

The Ugly

i. Comotto is gone for the year with a knee injury, and he may have seen his last game in the jersey. Could finally head to Firenze after the season to join up Prandelli’s Purple People Eaters and leave a hole in the back. I’m a huge fan of Marco Motta, but the status of his deal, as far as I know, is just a loan, and I can’t imagine Pasquale Marino will want to sell a young phenom who could thrive in his system. So that’s like two bad things in one. Damn.

ii. They lost to Cagliari 3-0. Have I mentioned that already?

iii. The remaining schedule:

@ Catania
Empoli
@ Genoa
Inter
@ Roma
Napoli
@ Livorno
Fiorentina

Oof.

Roma and Inter are pretty much lost causes, though they could perhaps maybe kinda sorta scratch out a draw at home with the South American all stars if the free fall in Milan continues. The last time they went to Rome they got annihilated, so there’s your confidence going in. Fiorentina is another probable dropped three points, especially if they have that almighty 4th CL spot to play for in the final weekend. They could take all three points from Catania, Empoli and Livorno; though four or five is more likely. Genoa and Napoli could show a point or even a surprise three. Would seven be enough to get it done? Maybe. But some of the bottom feeders are playing shockingly well at the moment.

What it all comes down to is this: they really needed those points in Sardinia. Time for the geezers to gear up, it’s going to be a fight ’til the finish.