The Calcio Blog

Tag: roma

Three Games to Follow on Matchday 2

The games come thick and fast at the start of the season, the last matchday was complete on Monday at 11pm and today at 5:30pm Matchday 2 gets underway. An international break follows this weekend so all the teams will be looking to go into the gap with points on the board. All twenty teams play before Monday and while there’s a lot going on, we’ve picked out three matches to keep an eye on…

Cremonese v Sassuolo – Friday 17:30 BST

After Bonazzoli’s spectacular winner at the San Siro last week, Cremonese are rightly buzzing right now. I don’t think anyone tipped them to stay up, despite the presence of survival expert and Italian Big Sam, Davide Nicola. However, they potentially can be sitting on 6 points from 6 by the time you tuck into your pasta tonight. Considering that from 2022 onwards, 31-36 points keeps you up, they’d have taken a big stride towards safety going into the international break.

Sassuolo on the other hand were the pick of the pundits (including myself) to stay up from the promoted sides. They were poor against Napoli, barely laying a glove on the Champions. Now, granted, Napoli were good – but they weren’t spectacular, barely getting out of second gear. Sassuolo will feel disappointed they couldn’t do more with home advantage in that game and suddenly the pressure is on this match. They don’t want to hit that break on zero points and an away match against a fellow promoted team might seem ideal on the face of it, but Cremonese will be pumped here.

You never can tell with Serie A, this one could end up a tense, nervy 0-0 – or it could be an all out punching match and finish 2-2. Either way, I’m predicting a fascinating, if not overwhelmingly brilliant affair.

Fancy a bet? I like both teams to score here at 4/5, I think there’s good value in that given Sassuolo have a strong attack but holes at the back.

Parma v Atalanta – Saturday 17:30 BST

This may seem like an odd choice on the face of it, but I’m still fascinated to see how these two new manager get on as the season goes on. Carlos Cuesta joined Parma this summer after spending some time as Mikel Arteta’s assistant at Arsenal. However, he didn’t demonstrate that controlled attacking game in Parma’s first outing. Ok, they were away at Juve but they were so negative it prompted Juve boss Igor Tudor to say, “Parma were quite old-fashioned in their tactics, almost Catenaccio defending”.

You’d expect them to be more open at home, especially against a side not considered as strong as Juventus. It’s going to be fascinating to see how they cope having lost Giovanni Leoni to Liverpool, Ange-Yoan Bonny to Inter, Dennis Man to PSV and Simon Sohm to Fiorentina.

Atalanta on the other hand, were dominant in their game against Pisa last week, attacking almost from the first whistle to the last, but ultimately failed to win thanks to an avoidable own goal and a combination of the woodwork and Pisa’s goalkeeper. They themselves lost big attacking talent this summer with last season’s Capocannoniere Mateo Retegui heading to Saudi Arabia and Ademola Lookman still on strike somewhere after trying to force a move to Inter.

They’ll be pleased, then, that Gianluca Scamacca (once of West Ham) is back fit and scoring. He took his goal well Sunday and was unlucky not to add more, Atalanta certainly suffered when he was withdrawn. Their own new man in the dugout Ivan Juric will be judged quickly after his last two jobs at Roma and Southampton were disasters, but he has proved himself previously with Verona and Torino.

If we see a winner in this game, that coach will be going into the break fairly content with the other already fearing the worst. A draw helps neither team.

Fancy a bet? I like Atalanta to win at evens, think they should have enough to overcome Parma.

@thecalcioblog
Three matches to keep your eye on this weekend in @Lega Serie A! We’ve picked out the matches we’ll be following along with on Matchday 2. All are available on @DAZNFootball #calcio #cremonese #parmacalcio #pisa
♬ original sound – The Calcio Blog

Pisa SC v AS Roma – Saturday 19:45 BST

Serie A football is back at Pisa after a short 34 year absence. The Garibaldi will be buzzing on Saturday night and if Pisa score it might just bring that tower down. Their fans need to make home matches a problem for any visiting teams if they’re to stand any chance of being in Serie A next season.

They were lucky to get away from Atalanta on Sunday with a point, although they worked hard and did have moments on the break. They’ll need to be significantly more clinical in future matches, including this one where they’ll come under sustained pressure from Roma.

Roma were fairly dominant last week in their opening day win over Bologna. Evan Ferguson impressed on his debut that some fans on X were suggesting they’d uncovered a Batistuta like forward. Perhaps a bit early for that, but he was a handful and would feel he should’ve score at least once with the chances he created. Leon Bailey is still injured, but with Dovbyk, Dybala, Soule and Kone all available they should have enough to see off a stubborn Pisa on Saturday night.

Watch this game for the atmosphere Pisa will create, it might just inspire the team to do something unpredictable, but it’s hard to see past a Roma win.

Fancy a bet? I fancy Evan Ferguson to get his first in Serie A and at 6/4 anytime scorer he has a bit of value too.

29th Aug 2025
Matchday One: What did we learn?

Matchday one is over, and frankly I’m exhausted. Around 11pm last night Torino were put out of their misery by the referee and Inter went top of Serie A thanks to their 5-0 win. The first games back on Saturday night feel like a million years ago already. So, what have we learned so far?

Don’t sleep on the promoted teams

As Milan learned to their cost on Saturday evening, you can’t just rock up and expect to beat the newly promoted sides. Baschirotto scored a lovely header and despite the Milan equaliser, goal of the weekend went to Cremonese’s Bonazzoli with that athletic finish. Cremonese beating Milan 2-1 at the San Siro was definitely story of the weekend, but another promoted side caused problems for their opponents too.

Pisa took a shock lead in Bergamo and although Atalanta were well on top in the second half, they couldn’t get the job done. Scamacca scored their equaliser in the 51st minute and it seemed as if they’d go on to win comfortably, but it wasn’t to be. Pisa dug in and held on for a valuable point.

Sassuolo offered up the least resistance out of the new boys. Ok, they were up against a very good Napoli, but there wasn’t the same level of stubborn determinism that Pisa and Cremonese showed.

Inter are BACK

One swallow doesn’t make a summer but this was a statement win from Inter. There didn’t seem to be any Champions League hangover for them, Chivu kept the 3-5-2 but implemented a much more aggressive pressing style in there. The amount of times Inter won the ball back high up to create chances was madness, Lautaro scored from pressing the keeper and Bonny’s debut goal came from Torino messing about too much with the ball.

ThuLa are back with a bang

Torino were poor but Inter were very good. Sucic had a game to remember, dominating the midfield and creating as many chances as he prevented Torino from having.

Inter need to reduce the average age still, especially in defence, if this aggressive pressing style is to work, but it was a great start. Only downside, the late subs saw them change the shape to this 4-3-2-1 and it allowed Torino to get a foothold on this game, Inter seemed a bit confused by their roles in it. If Chivu eventually wants to switch to this, it should be done gradually and carefully.

Roma have the new Batistuta

Or at least that’s what the Roma Argentina fan club declared about Evan Ferguson. Gazzetta picked it up and sensationally ran with the comparison. However, Ferguson didn’t even score on his Serie A debut.

It was a confident performance, providing both chances and good link and hold up play, but he didn’t score. And he probably should have in at least one scenario.

I think he’ll work out and I’ve said as much before, it was a confident debut, but maybe we all need to calm down a bit… Wesley got the goal that would beat Bologna, on his debut and Roma started with a fairly comfortable win.

Ferguson celebrates, but not his goal

Ominous Como

Nico Paz will probably be back at Real Madrid next year and based on his performance Sunday alone it’ll be well deserved. A truly magnificent free kick goal put the gloss on a comfortable win over Lazio after he had already provided the assist for Tavos Douvikas.

Lazio’s one bright moment was a goal disallowed for offside that didn’t really require the VAR intervention it got.

Jonathan David dream debut

Strikers at Juve over recent years haven’t always had it their own way so the Canadian will have been pleased to start with a goal. Dusan Vlahovic went from maligned sideline player to important addition as he completed the scoring.

Both goals were assisted by probably future Real Madrid star Kenan Yildiz. Sorry for putting that out into the universe Juve fans, but they always come knocking for any remotely creative player. Yildiz was once again magnificent, a bright spark in what might be a potential glum season for Juventus fans. Parma offered very little resistance here so the big tests are still to come for Juve.

The only downside was a late red card for Cambiaso.

And breathe…

So there we have it, week one done and sewn up. Three days to go until it begins again when Cremonese take on Sassuolo Friday evening.

26th Aug 2025
The Three Serie A Matches You Should Watch This Weekend and Why…

Serie A returns this weekend and for a full preview of all the games going ahead, you should probably just get a Gazzetta subscription or head over to Football Italia. However, on this blog we’re going to zoom in on three standout fixtures on the opening weekend and why we think you should be watching these games…

Game 1: Roma v Bologna

When: Saturday 23rd August – 20:45 (IT), 19:45 (UK), 14:45 (NYC)

Gasperini is the new man in charge at a Roma side that finished last season under Claudio Ranieri losing just once in the last 25 matches. An extraordinary run that if they can repeat will see them as Scudetto outsiders.

Roma have done some smart business over the summer, bolstering their defence with Italian prospect Daniele Gilhardi and Brazilian Wesley from Flamengo after an impressive Club World Cup. Up top they’ve added Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson – initially on loan – and he’s hit the ground running in pre-season. Gasperini’s tactics are not quite “Gung-Ho” but they are positively reckless in a league famed for defensive stability.

They open their campaign against Coppa Italia champions Bologna, who defeated Milan 1-0 in last years Rome showpiece. A strong post-Christmas run was negated by a stumbling over the finish line at the end of the Serie A season, but they did have a cup final on their minds then.

Bologna’s summer business has been a little tamer than Roma’s, but they have brought Bernardeschi and Immobile back to Italy. However, it’s in defence where they’ve made the biggest moves splashing €11m on 22 year old Martin Vitik from Sparta Prague as well as two other centre backs – Torbjorn Heggem from West Brom and Nicolo Casale from Lazio.

The match sees renewed defensive pragmatism going up against Roma’s revamped forward line. It looks like Leon Bailey has also been added at Roma from Aston Villa although this game might come too early for him. I would expect to see goals in this match which is why on Saturday night after I’ve finished my dinner, I’ll be finding a bar in Bergamo to tune into this.

Fancy a Bet? – Roma to win and both teams to score is currently at 16/5 with Coral in the UK.

Game 2: Milan v Cremonese

This should present a fairly straightforward start to the season for Max Allegri in his second spell at Milan. I’ve already tipped Milan to surprise a few people this season and the additions of Ricci and Modric to their midfield as well as Brighton’s Pervis Estupinian going forward are the main reasons why.

Milan have done smart business and while the changes haven’t quite been wholesale, there should be enough change to wipe away the memories of a mess of a season in Serie A last time out. Milan finished 8th to miss out on European football and lost the Coppa Italia final, going through two underwhelming Portuguese coaches on the way.

They actually outscored the champions but conceded far too many and this is where they’ll hope to tighten up, keeping hold of Maignan despite Chelsea’s advances will go a long way to making them happy in this respect.

Cremonese on the other hand, finished 4th in Serie B – 15 points off automatic promotion – and were promoted by beating Spezia 3-2 in the play off final. This despite being 3-0 up with ten minutes to play. Their preparation for life in Serie A was to add 12 new players this window with none of those players costing as much as €3.5m.

Most notable is Romano Mussolini on loan from Lazio. The right sided player (of course) is actually fairly highly rated but unfortunately is more well known for his family history at this moment. That shirt sales of his name have spiked is an indictment of the World we’re living in. But this isn’t a political blog, it’s a football one…

So why should you watch this game? One reason, goals. While Milan will be fairly pragmatic under Allegri, he’ll want a good start in his first competitive game and smashing a promoted side will go a long way to doing that. I fancy Cremonese to make a fair battle of staying up under Davide Nicola, but opening day won’t be where they lay down their marker. Tune in for goals, goals and more goals.

Fancy a Bet? – Milan to win and over 3.5 goals in the game is 2/1 with Coral

Game 3: Inter v Torino

A fairly fascinating affair as far as I’m concerned. History isn’t on my side with this, but hear me out (Inter have won 29/45 against Torino).

Inter are a wounded animal, their season ended disastrously losing 3-0 in the Coppa Italia semi final to Milan, losing the Scudetto at their own cost with silly mistakes against Lazio and then getting truly embarrassed in the Champions League final. They had a chance to make amends fairly quickly though in the Club World Cup – which they exited in the Round of 16 against Fluminense sparking an internal soap opera between Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu.

Calha stayed and everything was swept under the rug, but since then the Mercato has been a nightmare. Public pursuits of Leoni, Lookman and Kone have all so far ended in failure and despite the early additions of Sucic and Bonny looking like smart business they’ve done nothing to raise hopes in Milan. The obvious need to strengthen in defence has been largely ignored and for a third season you can easily predict their starting line up…

Torino finished 11th last season, losing 4 of their last 5 matches. Their answer? 8 new signings. Giovanni Simeone from Napoli up front looks a smart addition, as does Zakaria Aboukhlal on the wing. The Moroccan scored 7 and set up 4 in 26 Ligue 1 appearances for Toulouse last time out.

Premier League fans will be intrigued to see Cesare Casadei lining up having joined Torino from Chelsea this summer – proving he does exist and is a real player. A fairly underwhelming season last year can’t be entirely pinned on his shoulders, his loan to Leicester couldn’t have come at a worst time, since they were beyond awful.

So why watch this one? Call it professional curiosity. Chivu’s Inter didn’t overwhelm at the Club World Cup, but he’d only been in the job 9 days. He’s had a full pre-season to stamp his mark on a team who are another year older without any solid reinforcements added. Torino have refreshed a side that threatened Europe briefly before absolutely tanking last time out. I still fancy Inter to just about get through this one with three points, but it could easily be the upset of the weekend…

Fancy a Bet? – Torino or Draw Double Chance is 9/5 with Coral

20th Aug 2025
The best Goalkeepers that Serie A has ever seen?

Goalkeeper is probably, arguably the most important position on the pitch. And I know I’m biased in saying that, as it was my position when I still had hair and could get up off the floor after making a save. But in reality, if you don’t have a good goalkeeper you aren’t winning anything. Goalkeepers are often called mad, and you have to be to throw yourself at the feet of someone baring down on goal. For me, the annoying thing was that everyone on the pitch thought they were a keeper, they all had advice for you, despite never playing there themselves.

Before this turns into a rant though, let’s get back on track. Italy has produced some truly magnificent goalkeepers, and Serie A has played host to some of the greatest of all time from around the World. So, who was the best? I’ve selected a few of my favourites, without ranking who was best out of them. In no particular order, here are my favourites…

Gianluigi Buffon

“Buffon is the best goalkeeper I’ve ever seen, the only one who was never afraid of anything.” – Fabio Capello

Gianluigi Buffon has the most clean sheets in Serie A history

Gianluigi Buffon was just 12 years old when he decided that he didn’t want to play in midfield anymore and became a goalkeeper. Five years later he was making his Parma debut against Milan and keeping a clean sheet.

During his career Buffon would hold the World Record for most expensive goalkeeper (€52m) until recently, win 10 Serie A titles, 5 Coppa Italia, a World Cup and would be 3 times UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year. Comfortable in the air, with elite reflexes and great positional awareness, Buffon still holds the Serie A record for most clean sheets in Serie A with 296 and was once unbeaten in the goal for 974 consecutive minutes.

Was there anyone better?

Dino Zoff

“If you ask me who was the greatest, I say Zoff. He was not flashy, but you knew the goal was safe with him.” – Gianni Rivera

Dino Zoff made over 600 appearances in Serie A

Staying on the Juve theme with one of the other great Italian goalkeepers. Zoff actually made over 300 appearances for Udinese, Mantova and Napoli before joining and defining Juve. He would win 6 Scudetti and 2 Coppa Italia along with the World Cup (the oldest player to do so), before going into management where he would lead Juventus to the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia titles in 1990.

He still holds the record for the longest consecutive run in Azzurri history without conceding, lasting 1,142 minutes in the early seventies. Zoff is the archetype of the classic Italian goalkeeper: composed, understated, and unbelievably reliable. Known for his leadership and calmness, he commanded his defence with supreme authority.

Walter Zenga

“Walter was a phenomenon – he could change the mood of a stadium with one save.” – Giuseppe Bergomi

Zenga conceded just twice in seven matches at Italia 90

Walter Zenga was nicknamed Spiderman because of his agility and spectacular reflex saves. For three consecutive years, he was IFFHS World Goalkeeper of the Year. He played 328 times in Serie A and was a UEFA Cup winner with Inter and represented the Azzurri 58 times.

Zenga combined flamboyance with athleticism. He was known for his dramatic saves and passion on the pitch. He was also renowned for his passion off the pitch, fathering 5 children over three marriages including two marriages to TV personalities. He has gone on to have a rather nomadic managerial career while still being a showbiz personality in Italy. Despite the off-field shenanigans, Zenga is remembered as an all time great of the game by Inter, Sampdoria and Azzurri fans alike.

Angelo Peruzzi

“He wasn’t just a wall — he was a mountain.” – Marcello Lippi

Peruzzi won the Champions League while at Juventus

In 478 appearances in Serie A, Peruzzi represented some of the biggest teams and most bitter rivals. He played for Roma and Lazio as well as both Juventus and Inter. To pull this off you need to be good, and Peruzzi was VERY good. He was short for a goalkeeper, under 6 foot, but that low centre of gravity gave him great reflexes and shot stopping skills.

Peruzzi would win 3 Serie A titles, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup during his career as well as 31 caps for Italy. He would also add a World Cup winners medal in 2006, despite never taking to the field. Peruzzi would retire from football in 2007.

Sebastiano Rossi

“He was always part of that Milan machine – ruthless, efficient, unbeatable.” – Arrigo Sacchi

Sebastiano Rossi was part of the “Dream Team” of Milan in the 1990s

Rossi joined his home town club Cesena at the age of 15 and was their first choice goalkeeper by the age of 22 after several loan spells. After his first season in Italy’s top flight, the giants of AC Milan came calling and after initially battling with Francesco Antonioli for the starting spot, he made it his own and would play over 340 games in Serie A, winning 5 Scudetti, the 1994 Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.

He held the clean sheet record for 24 years until eventually losing it to Gianluigi Buffon. Rossi wasn’t considered the most stylish goalkeeper but was immensely effective in an all conquering side behind the legendary defence of Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta and Tassotti. Despite all this he was consistently overlooked by the Azzurri and never played for Italy.

Gianluca Pagliuca

“Pagliuca wasn’t afraid of anyone. He stared you down like he already knew you’d miss.” – Roberto Mancini

Gianluca Pagliuca played nearly 600 times in Serie A

One of the most consistent and agile Italian keepers of the 1990s, known for his intensity and acrobatics. Pagliuca played for the Sampdoria side that won the 1991 Scudetto and was playing in their narrow Champions League final defeat to Barcelona a year later.

After seven years and 198 games for Sampdoria, Inter paid a World Record fee for a goalkeeper of just €7m to bring the Italian to their club. Rather remarkably, during his time at Inter he only won the UEFA Cup and nothing else. He was a beaten finalist in the 1994 World Cup as Italy lost on penalties to Brazil. Ironically, he held the record for some years of most penalties saved in Serie A with 24, until that was broken by Samir Handanovic.

An Azzurri and Serie A legend, Pagliuca moved on from Inter to Bologna where he would spend seven seasons and play a massive 248 games before finishing his career with a season in Ascoli, retiring in 2007.

Summary

From the cat-like reflexes of Zenga to the steely composure of Zoff, and the longevity of Buffon to the penalty-saving prowess of Handanović, Serie A has long been a proving ground for the world’s greatest goalkeepers. These legends didn’t just stop shots—they shaped eras, lifted trophies, and became the last line of defence for some of Calcio’s most iconic sides. In a league famed for tactical discipline and defensive mastery, it’s no wonder that so many of the game’s finest stoppers have called Serie A home. As new stars emerge between the posts, their legacy serves as a benchmark—and an inspiration—for generations to come.

Let me know your favourites on X @EnglishCalcio

25th Jul 2025
The best (and worst) Serie A kits this season!

So most of the teams, apart from like two of them, have given us their home kits for next season. However, all 20 have provided at least one kit and I’ve been through them all and assessed them for your pleasure. Now, be warned, I’m not listing all 20 teams, I’ve picked the best and the worst ones. These are, of course, only my opinions – yours will differ so don’t come at me unless you agree.

The Best

Napoli (Both)

Napoli have the best midfield and best kits for 2025/26

My word. Not only are they champions, not only do they have De Bruyne and McTominay together but these kits are works of art. The home is nice and clean, classic, it’s hard to get it wrong when you go simple. But it can be equally hard to get something beautiful – AND YET LOOK AT THAT AWAY KIT. Chef’s kiss. Well done Napoli, early trophy to you lot as best dressed this season.

Roma (Third)

They’ve killed it with this

This third kit launched just after I wrote this initial blog and it couldn’t be more welcome! It pained me having to put the Roma home kit in the bad section. Then someone at the club read it and did something about it. Probably. It is pure sex. Should come with a health warning it’s that naughty. Give me more!

Como (Home)

Yes Please

Yeah, everything about this works. The main chest of the shirt looks like the lake with some moonlight or something on it. And yet, despite that motif, it’s still pretty clean and basic. The colour consistency, the uncomplicatedness of everything else that isn’t the background. It’s gorgeous, 10/10 for Como.

Sassuolo (Home)

Is it this years shirt or a 90s classic?

Promoted for their footballing merit, they could’ve gone up for this shirt alone. Everything about it I’m in love with. The design of it is simple, yet nods back to the 90s – everyone’s favourite nostalgic period currently. Love that collar on the shirt too, a good collar seems like a lost art. Little touches like anything else on the shirt only being in white is really smart too. I don’t normally buy “other clubs” shirts but I might this one… 15/10

Parma (Third)

Parma’s third kit this year is a really nice effort

Is it an early 90s Leeds kit? Is it the current Parma Third Shirt? Who knows but I want more of it. Parma should’ve used this as their home shirt for me. It’s clean, simple, slight throwback. It works. Well done.

Milan (Home)

Clean, Simple, Milan.

Ok, so I am typing this with gritted teeth as an Interista, but this kit is nice. They’ve done no messing about here, like Inter did with their stripes. This is a really nice effort, the two tone badge is cool and the little pattern on the stripes is a nice touch. Hope this is all they get right this season. Well done Milan.

The Worst

Inter (Home)

Hmmm…

Rumour has it they took over 3 millions photos of Lautaro in this shirt and he refused to smile in this kit. I think when teams try something a bit different it can work, it refreshes their style and it can be a nice departure. None of that is true here. Inter have some of the best kits of all time and they’re all just SIMPLE BASIC BLUE AND BLACK STRIPES! What they’ve been up to the last couple of seasons I can’t tell you, but it isn’t cool. Go back to what you do best.

Juventus (Home)

Nope. No thanks.

Stop messing about with stripes. All teams. Now. If you have stripes, look at Milan and Atalanta and do that in your colours. Hate the haphazard stripes here, hate the two sponsors and although I know Juventus used to wear pink when they were founded, I hate the pink accents. Please god, just get together with Inter and bang your heads together.

Cremonese (Home)

Not for me

Goalkeepers wear grey kits. There’s not a lot else to say. It’s a weird colour for an outfield shirt and I’m not on board. Pass.

Lazio (Home)

Home? No. Away? Yes, just.

Guess what guys? Lazio have a plain sky blue shirt. They’ve made zero effort here and I’m not making any effort to talk about it. Wear the away kit, it’s a much sharper look.

Inter (Away)

As an Interista… No

Two things here. 1) Was this designed by a competition winner? 2) How did they win the competition with this design? Honestly, after the embarrassment we Interisti suffered at the end of last season, these kits feel like Nike rubbing it in a bit. Pass.

Juventus (Away)

Monstrosity

This looks like the hooky shirt you see hanging from a souvenir stand in a main piazza in Turin. Why this colour? Why the yellow Adidas stripes? Why are there two sponsors on the home shirt and none here? None of this adds up, I’m sure there’s a conspiracy here but I don’t know why, or what. Just wear that gorgeous third strip all season please.

Roma (Home)

Mixed feelings

Ok so hear me out here, because maybe there’s nothing actually wrong with this, maybe there is. I just feel like Roma normally turn out in such beautiful kits that this feels a little… generic? Again, it looks like a copy of a real Roma kit. Maybe the PES version of a Roma shirt. It’s not awful, it’s not horrible, it’s just not very Roma for me.

So there you have it, I’m sure some of you are upset by my choices, it goes without saying! But as you can see I’m not biased, an Interista choosing Milan’s shirt as nice and condemning the Inter efforts! Anyway, I’m off to Sassuolo to buy a shirt. Let me know your favourites…

22nd Jul 2025
Evan Ferguson to Roma: The perfect move for both?

When a striker has a difficult spell in England at West Ham, you could be forgiven for thinking that the game is up. Destined to become a journeyman bagging a few here and there at different spells in lower/mid table clubs. That’s what Gianluca Scamacca must have thought anyway, until he came to work with Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta.

Fast forward a season and the Italian’s career was resurrected, he was back in the national team and he owed it all to Gasperini. At least that’s what I read into his words, “If I’m here so much it’s thanks to him, this year he helped me and managed to strike the right chords to make me click, I owe a lot to him.”

Now, Gasperini looks all set to hook up with Irish striker Evan Ferguson. The 20 year old is far from a washed up journeyman, but his career has drifted somewhat since a breakthrough season at Brighton when he score 10 goals in 25 matches as an 18 year old prodigy. Ferguson started the next season on fire and scored a memorable hat trick against Newcastle, but would only score 3 more goals that season as injuries hampered his progress.

Last season he managed only 1 goal in 13 matches before being loaned to West Ham in a spell which can only be described as disastrous. That’s not entirely down to him of course, West Ham’s second half of last season was only mildly better than their start and they were woefully inadequate as a team. It probably wasn’t the best environment for confidence building.

And confidence building will be key for a player who was once touted at €120m and now looking at significantly less. Injuries affected his confidence on the pitch, but also in himself, with the player seeming reluctant to fly into tackles or stretch himself physically.

Ferguson is physically strong, he has a bit of the Alan Shearer about him. A big lad, strong, physical, two footed finisher who has a strong header on him too. In fact Shearer himself described him as a striker with, “no obvious weakness”.

Physicality will serve him well in a Gasperini system, he’ll need to be ready to engage the defensive line early and he’ll need to be willing to run. As Scamacca himself said, “The coach hammered me day after day, told me how to move on the pitch, but also I started to get into good physical shape and so could give him what he wanted.”

Scamacca isn’t the only striker Gasperini has moulded either, one standout example from Atalanta shows how the relationship with Gasp can create a monster that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Rasmus Hojlund had the eye of a lot of European clubs after his breakout season at Atalanta, Gasperini sharpened what was raw talent and got the best out of the young Dane. Manchester United have struggled to replicate this.

There’s no doubt at all that if Evan Ferguson can gain consistent minutes in a Roma shirt that his confidence will improve. Gasperini has a tried and trusted system that nurtures young attacking talent, while demanding a lot from them. Ferguson already aligns with some of Gasperini’s trademarks, he’s a strong and physical lad which will aid him in the press, something Brighton did effectively with him too.

Further to that, he provides an aerial headache for defences, he can provide that target man focus when required. Not only this, but he’s more than capable of drifting wide and linking with Wing Backs.

So where does he need to improve? First and foremost it’s with his fitness. It might be harsh to judge a player on their injuries, but if he can stay in shape and stay fit, that’s the first hurdle jumped.

Serie A’s defenders are significantly tougher and more physical than Premier League defences, who tend to focus more on their possession play than out of possession discipline. This will take some adapting in Italy.

For me, his best chance of success will come in a dual striker system, the 3-4-1-2, rather than the 3-4-2-1. Partnering Ferguson with the likes of Dovbyk will complement aerial strength with sharp finishing.

Personally, I like Evan Ferguson, if you hadn’t been able to puzzle that out yet. This was a kid once valued very highly by Brighton and was attracting interest from all over Europe. Roma have the chance to land an absolute bargain. Moving to Italy has proven to be a breath of fresh air for so many stagnating in the Premier League, just look at the form of Scott McTominay.

I would say Ferguson has the potential to be significantly better than the Scot and if he can progress with Roma, you may just have them as an outside bet this season…

18th Jul 2025
Legends of Calcio: Francesco Totti

Any football fan with an algorithm worth anything will have come across the video on Instagram or TikTok before. An emotional Francesco Totti bidding an emotional farewell to an even more emotional Stadio Olimpico. I’m not a Roma fan, but I am a human being so I always stop and watch the video.

Football fans far and wide – except maybe Laziali – almost all stop and watch the video and get a lump in their throat. Totti spanned club rivalries, a one club man who stayed true to his hometown in the face of enormous offers from elsewhere. He lived out everyone’s childhood dream, captaining their local team, lifting a title for them and becoming their all time great.

I read somewhere that he said he hasn’t been able to walk around the city he loves so much in 20 years because he’s mobbed everywhere he goes. It seems bittersweet for a man who turned down Real Madrid to stay in Rome.

But how did he get here? Plenty of players come through their hometown youth system and don’t end up a legend across the entire country – look at Trent Alexander Arnold…

On March 28th 1993, Vujadin Boskov probably had no idea what he was unleashing on the world when he handed a 16 year old Francesco Totti his debut. Boskov had recognised his talent in training, specifically his technical ability, and called him up to the first team.

Il Bambino makes his debut for Roma, aged 16

He was so young, the other players called him “il bambino” (the kid) and he kept his school books in his locker at the training ground. Early the next season, on September 4th 1994 a 17 year old Totti opened the scoring against Foggia with a powerful, well placed effort.

It was the first of many goals, 307 in total during 786 appearances. He also contributed 180 assists and at the time of his retirement was second in the list of all time Serie A appearance holders. The numbers speak for themselves, but numbers is a modern curse that we judge footballers on – thanks Pep. What made Totti a great was the way he effortlessly did incredible things on the pitch, his inventiveness and his ingenuity.

Thierry Henry described Totti as having “magic in his boots” and Pele said he was “one of the most intelligent players” he’d ever seen. It wasn’t always plain sailing for Totti however, in the mid-2000s he would suffer with recurring ankle and knee problems.

Not only this, but in the closing months of the 2005-06 season, he would break his leg in a match against Empoli. With the 2006 World Cup coming fast, Totti didn’t play a game from February until the end of the season.

The career threatening injury, as it turned out, couldn’t even threaten Totti’s World Cup. He would play in all seven games for Italy as they lifted the famous trophy following a shoot out win over France in the Final.

During the tournament, Totti would provide 4 assists and a crucial goal in the 95th minute of the Round of 16 against Australia, winning the game for Italy from the penalty spot and preventing extra time. After the tournament, manager Marcelo Lippi was moved by Totti’s commitment and ability, commenting, “Only Totti could’ve played like that with half a leg”.

Francesco Totti, with half a leg and the World Cup trophy

His resolve to Roma was tested a few times, mainly by Real Madrid, who offered him a mega money deal in the early 2000s and pretty much guaranteed him a Ballon D’Or. On turning them down (several times), Totti said, “If I had gone to Madrid, I might have won more, but I would have betrayed myself”.

It was, therefore, fitting that Totti would provide the crucial goal to provide Roma’s first Scudetto since 1983. In the game against Parma on 17th June 2001, Totti scored the decisive goal that sealed a 3-1 victory and would see him parade around the pitch with a gladiator’s cape on. All over the city, the celebrations went on for days, and there’s still graffiti across Rome to this day saying “Grazie Capitano”.

What the Scudetto means to Francesco Totti

There were many more iconic moments for Totti throughout his career. Some that come to mind are his ridiculous 40 yard lob against Inter at the San Siro in 2005. Spotting Julio Cesar off his line, he went for it and secured himself goal of the season, prompting commentary cries of “Non ci credo!!!” That’s “I don’t believe it” to you and I.

He also had a signature penalty move, crowned in Euro 2000 against the Netherlands when he chipped the ball down the middle in the shoot out under enormous pressure. His now iconic “cucchiaio” penalty was preceded by him turning to his team mates and saying, “Now I’ll do the spoon”.

Totti was the true inventor of the selfie celebration too, after scoring twice in the Rome Derby, he grabbed a phone from coach Guido Nanni and took a selfie with the Curva Sud. His second goal in that game equalled the record for goals scored in the Derby della Capitale with 11 – alongside Dino Da Costa.

It was this sort of cavalier performance for Rome, after turning down the big money and personal honours that led to team mates like Daniele De Rossi to say of him, “He is football for Rome. He’s the banner, the heart, and the king of this city.” His long term coach Luciano Spalletti said of him, “Totti is Roma, and Roma is Totti. He’s a symbol of a city, not just a club.”

When the time came to call time on his career, it was no wonder he was going to get the send off we all watch on Instagram and TikTok every time. Totti once said, “Winning one title at Roma to me is worth winning 10 at Juventus or Real Madrid.” It was that kind of refreshing loyalty that endeared him to so many across Rome and Italy.

A tearful Francesco Totti says goodbye

When he stood on the pitch at the end of the game against Genoa at Stadio Olimpico, Totti – overcome with emotion – bid farewell to Roma with some typically passionate words, “Now I’m afraid. I need you and the love you’ve always shown me.”

So many footballers say they struggle after retirement and this openness with his public was typical of a man who once said, “I was born a Roman, and I’ll die a Roman”.

And perhaps that’s the best way to remember one of the true Legends of Calcio…

3rd Jul 2025
Calcio Week: Seven things to look out for this week

It’s a new week, Monday comes and brings with it more from the soap opera that is Calcio. Football in Italy isn’t even being played at the moment but it’s still all going on…

1. Club World Cup Kicks Off in America

Ok so it actually kicked off yesterday, but this week is the turn of the Italians. Inter kick off against CF Monterrey on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning depending on where you’re reading this. Juventus get going on Wednesday night/Thursday morning against Al-Ain.

Inter will be hoping for a little better than their last outing, that Champions League humiliation. Juventus happy to be there without a European final since 2017. So far interest is very low, FIFA will be hoping it increases as time goes on. I’ll be out in Seattle at the end of the Group Stage so look out for some content on that!

2. Will there be anyone left at Milan?

Mike Maignan’s move to Chelsea may have broken down but that doesn’t mean he isn’t looking to move on. Chelsea will come back when the CWC slows down for them and with one year left he looks set to be sold this summer.

Theo Hernandez and Rafa Leao are also rumoured to be on the way out, with Bayern Munich a possible destination for both. That or Saudi Arabia anyway.

Luka Jovic is going at the end of his contract next month, looking likely to join Torino. That other Turin club, Juventus, are sniffing around Pierre Kalulu and Yunus Musah is in discussion with Napoli.

Calabria will also leave when his contract expires and the club confirmed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is surplus to requirements. Along with fellow Englishmen Tammy Abraham and Kyle Walker departing at the end of their loan spells.

Can the last person to leave Milan turn off the lights?

3. The tug of war for Giovanni Leoni

The highly rated 18 year old is in high demand and it’ll be a miracle if the centre-back starts next season at Parma. Juventus are interested, as are Milan, Napoli, Torino and Inter. A move to Inter would probably appeal most, the shift in focus from Oaktree to younger players and his former manager Christian Chivu being in place will be a big pull.

Giovanni Leoni is a target for most of Serie A

But a bigger pull may be the Premier League. Thomas Frank might not be the newest face at Tottenham Hotspur for long, and the option for Parma to loan him back might sway them to accept this offer. Maybe he prefers the French Riviera? Monaco are also interested, and the chance to live a life of luxury in the millionaires playground has been a big pull in the past for players.

Watch this space, this race could go on a while, but needless to say it’ll develop significantly this week…

4. Sometimes maybe good, Sometimes maybe shit

Had to jump on and edit this part of the post this morning. The FIGC were telling us all that they had aaaaages to make this decision as there were no internationals until September.

Then out of nowhere they appointed Gennaro Gattuso. The former Milan player left his job at Hajduk Split earlier this summer and won the World Cup as a player with the Azzurri in 2006. He’s fiery, he divides opinion and he’s a strict disciplinarian. This will be one to watch through the World Cup qualifiers!

5. Josh Doig to Juventus?

Sassuolo’s 23 year old Scottish Full Back Josh Doig could soon be making a move to Juventus according to rumours. The Scottish Sun are reporting that around €13m would secure his signature for the Bianconeri. The Scottish revolution in Italy is certainly getting out of hand now, has no one watched any Scotland matches???

Italy has fallen in love with Scotland, and Juventus have eyes on Josh Doig

6. Chivu starts life with Inter

Ok, so we alluded to the FIFA Club World Cup earlier in the blog, but with the tournament kicking off, so too is Christian Chivu’s Inter Milan career 2.0.

The young coach, fresh from a spell with their youth team and then rescuing Parma was a very public second choice, but he’s a popular figure at the San Siro so he’ll get a chance to prove himself.

Will he stick with Inzaghi’s 3-5-2? Will he freshen up the side with some younger players? Just how many Parma players is he trying to sign? All of these answers will be a bit clearer by this time next week…

7. Edin Dzeko to get one last Calcio outing?

Rumours were starting late last week that potentially we will see Edin Dzeko in Italy one more time… The former Roma and Inter striker has just left Fenerbahce and the 39 year old is now linked with a move to Florence.

Edin Dzeko scoring for Roma twenty years ago probably…

Yes, that’s right, Fiorentina are apparently lining up a move for the veteran striker. He does guarantee goals, but at 39 does he guarantee games? A deal until 2027 is rumoured to have been offered which would see him play at the top level of Italian football until he’s 41. I’m sceptical, but Calcio constantly surprises you.

16th Jun 2025
The Calcio Managerial Merry Go Round: Who, When and Why

We’re only a month on from the end of the 2024/25 season in Italy and already there’s more talking points that throughout most of the actual season. And the main one seems to be, who on Earth is going to be managing in Serie A next season?

Axes have been wielded, resignations have been handed in and managers have been caught flirting with rival clubs. So what’s going on? And what’s still to come? Hopefully I’ve made sense of it below for you…

Fiorentina

After being appointed in June last year to replace Vincenzo Italiano, Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino has left the club “by mutual consent”. There’s no replacement as yet, although Stefan Pioli is being heavily linked with the role according to Viola Nation. Seen by some as a stabilising influence, he’ll need to use all his experience to turn around a gradual decline in Firenze.

Atalanta

After 9 very successful years at the club, Gian Piero Gasperini has left Atalanta. During his time in Bergamo, Gasperini led Atalanta into the Champions League five times and his tenure was characterised by swashbuckling attacking play. He famously led the team to the 2024 Europa League title.

His replacement at Atalanta? It’s a baffling one… Ivan Juric has been handed the reigns in Northern Italy. That’s the same Ivan Juric that oversaw a disastrous spell in Rome last season before heading to England to somehow make Southampton worse than they already were – avoiding being the worst team in Premier League history by 1 point.

Roma

Gasperini comes through the door at Roma replacing firm fan favourite Claudio Ranieri. His move “upstairs” may be put on hold, however, with the news that Spalletti is leaving the national team job. Ranieri is the favourite to take the Azzurri through the rest of the World Cup qualifying campaign. Watch this space!

Lazio

Across the city and Roma’s great rivals Lazio have also had a change in the dugout after a rather underwhelming end to the season. A comeback draw at the San Siro to hand Napoli the Scudetto was a brief highlight in an otherwise forgettable season under Marco Baroni. He was dismissed and Maurizio Sarri is back after a 15 month hiatus. Sarri was announced in spectacular fashion by the media team at Lazio and the former banker will be chain smoking his way through next season with the hopes he can restore the Lazio empire.

AC Milan

In Italy’s second city, change is also afoot. For the second time in a season Milan sacked their manager after Fonseca didn’t see in 2025, Conceicao is now also gone. An underwhelming season all round, Conceicao paid the price for an 8th place finish and no European football next season after a Coppa Italia final defeat. However, brief respite was offered in the shape of a 3-2 defeat of city rivals Inter in the Supercoppa final.

Allegri returns to Milan for next season after a break from the game following a trophy-laden spell at Juventus. In his first spell at Milan, he won the Serie A title and Supercoppa, Milan certainly hope he can repeat that next season.

Inter Milan

So near, yet so far to a treble. Dumped out of the Coppa Italia in the semi finals by Milan, beaten in the Supercoppa final, trounced in the Champions League final and second to Napoli by a point. Inter’s season could broadly be viewed as fairly successful until April. Simone Inzaghi was in demand from Al-Hilal and the news breaking in the run up to the final didn’t help their preparation.

A mutual parting followed a 5-0 defeat from PSG. Inter acted swiftly to woo Cesc Fabregas who promptly turned them down in a rather embarrassing episode. Christian Chivu is the man to take them forward. Their former centre back was manager of the Under 19 team who won the Primavera before being installed at Parma to secure Serie A survival. It’s a gamble, but Inter weren’t left with much choice with the Club World Cup on the horizon.

Torino

Further down the table, Torino parted company with Paolo Vanoli and replaced him almost immediately with Marco Baroni following his sacking by Lazio.

Parma

Parma only confirmed today that Christian Chivu had left the club after only a few short months. He replaced Fabio Pecchia in February and had the brief to save the club from an immediate return to Serie B. He did it, and then left for Inter. Rumours about a replacement are few and far between, but they’ll need to act fast to avoid losing out in the summer transfer window.

Italy National Team

In true bizarre fashion, national team manager Luciano Spalletti announced his own sacking in a press conference after a 3-0 defeat in Norway. But he’s not going anywhere yet… He’s managing the team tonight against Moldova before finally leaving. Clear? Thought not. Ranieri is the favourite to replace him since Calcio has some clear agenda on letting the poor guy retire in peace.

And there you have it. It’s been a matter of weeks since Serie A finished and the soap opera continues. Honourable mention to Juventus who look set to appoint Igor Tudor permanently after he finished off the season Thiago Motta started. Who do you think is the best appointment? Who’s undersold themselves and Who just got it plain wrong?

9th Jun 2025
Seven things to look out for in Calcio this week.
1. The Azzurri Coach Saga: Spalletti’s Swansong

In a dramatic turn, Luciano Spalletti has been sacked after Italy’s embarrassing 3–0 defeat to Norway and a poor start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. He’ll still lead the team one more time, though—against Moldova on Monday—before stepping down.

2. Pioli or Ranieri? FIGC’s Next Head Coach Dilemma

Who steps into the Azzurri hot seat next? The Italian FA (FIGC) is torn between Claudio Ranieri—fresh off a Roma renaissance and desperate enough to postpone retirement—and Stefano Pioli, still basking in his Milan fame.

3. Chelsea Tries Club World Cup Heist on Maignan

AC Milan’s top-class keeper Mike Maignan is being eyed by Chelsea—who’ve made an emergency bid in hopes of registering him in time for the Club World Cup next week. Milan are lining up Roma’s Mile Svilar as a replacement. Classic mercato drama: massive tournament, ticking deadline, and goalkeeping musical chairs.

4. Italian Representation at Club World Cup

Speaking of the competition, Inter Milan have confirmed their participation, with a tough group including Monterrey, Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate. And Inter will debut a new coach—with Cristian Chivu taking the reins. Meanwhile Juventus’ run will hinge on whether interim boss Igor Tudor impresses enough to earn the gig permanently. Expect some epic comebacks… or meltdowns.

5. Transfer Talk: Chalobah to Napoli, Svilar to Milan

Napoli are prioritizing Chelsea’s English defender Trevoh Chalobah to bolster Antonio Conte’s defence. At the same time, AC Milan are edging closer to bringing in Luka Modric, expect movement when the international duty ends. Napoli are also closely linked to Alejandro Garnacho and Jack Grealish – watch these closely over the next weeks.

6. Managerial Chairs Spinning Across Serie A

Atalanta have officially announced Ivan Juric as Gasperini’s successor after the legendary coach moved to Roma. Roma, in turn, confirm Gasperini on a three-year deal . Inter confirmed Chivu from Parma and Lazio have also re-hired Maurizio Sarri, one year after his departure, just in time to plan their summer transfer binge. It’s raining gaffer changes in Italy… umbrellas optional.

7. Season Wrap & Azzurri Warm-Up

We’re still raw from Napoli’s Scudetto triumph and Inter’s crushing Champions League final loss, capped by Simone Inzaghi’s departure. Now, the Azzurri need a lift ahead of the Moldova game—ideal for one last rally (or epic meltdown) before sweeping the coach saga under the rug. Let’s just hope they’ve practiced their goal celebrations.

Why It Matters

This week is pure Italian football theatre:
- National team in turmoil = big story.
- Transfers and coaching swaps will set next season’s tone.
- Club World Cup puts Italian clubs on global display.
- All against the backdrop of season-end fatigue and summer sizzle.
Brace yourself for press-room drama, comedic transfer photos, and hopefully some actual… you know… goals.

What are you most excited about? The national team drama, the managerial musical chairs, or who ends up playing keeper for Milan?
9th Jun 2025