Fiorentina and Great Derbies
By: Ted | July 22nd, 2008
The English-language magazine World Soccer is a staple for many football fans here in the States and in the U.K. It combines solid reporting with a few thoughtful columnists, but most importantly it is essentially the only magazine that tries to cover the whole world game. It often bites off more than it can chew, but I appreciate the effort.
In the latest issue available here in the States (the July 2008 issue) the magazine has a cover story on the “50 Greatest Derbies in World Football.” Obviously it is the off-season for most leagues, and so the magazine needed a bit of a puff-piece/filler piece to take up some pages until the real football begins again. However, it is a pretty fun article.
I was surprised and happy to see the Fiorentina-Juventus rivalry listed as the 12th best in the world. I didn’t think the rivalry would get that kind of love from an English-language magazine, but it almost broke into the top ten and is ranked higher than Arsenal v. Spurs, Genoa v. Samp, Man United v. Liverpool, Benifica v. Porto, and even the Milan derby. The games listed as “better” than the Viola/Juve match up are some of the true world classics, and include Betis v. Sevilla, the Rome Derby, the Old Firm, Boca v. River and Real v. Barca. So let me ask you, the readers, two questions.
1). First, do you think the rating is about right? Do you think it is a better derby than the Milan derby, but not as good as, say, the Belgrade derby (which is legendarily vicious)?
2). Secondly, do any of the readers out there have any first-hand experience with the Viola-Juve rivalry? Sadly, I have never been to a Juve-Fiorentina match in person. (Although I enjoyed the shit out of the Viola beating Juve on the road last year, a column one can find here.) Please share your own personal experience with the rivalry.
I hope everyone is doing well.
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Comments
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I saw this too. My thoughts on this one, and it does pain me to say this as a viola fan, is that this game means more in Firenze than in Torino. I think this would be the one game on the calendar that Fiorentina want to win, but the match versus Inter probably is the most important to the Juve Tifosi.
And Alessio – Prandelli might step up to the Azzurri job once he gets the 2010 scudetto in Firenze. He’s not going to go to coach in Torino. And I apologize that we have a better coach!
Posted from
United States
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It is a derby but to classify it better than Gunners-Spurs, Milan derby and Benfica-Porto is a bit exagerated.
Half of the credit for being a derby goes to Baggio, as the Florence nutcases went bananas when he fled.
All in all, it is great to see Florence getting a deserved recognition in the football community.
I love to follow your team and wish you success in the upcoming season.Posted from
Bulgaria -
“Io alla guida della Juventus? Per ora vedo viola, sentire tanta stima però è bello”.
tmc, at least he never ruled it out.
Posted from
United States -
You know what I think is telling? The Roma people are going nuts over Mutu, and you folks here could care less. Am I getting it right that you guys aren’t all that sad to see Mutu go?
Posted from
Indonesia -
Sorry for taking the thread a little off topic, but a few people are asking about the Mutu/Roma story. I for one, am very worried that Mutu will leave! He’s what made the attack go last year. With the addition of Gila, the dynamic may change this year, but I still want him playing for La Viola.
Posted from
United States -
I would/will be sad to see him go (especially since it’s his number on my jersey!). I’m also angry that it’s still an issue this close to the champ league tie.
if he really intended/intends to leave, he should’ve done it long ago. very bad timing
Posted from
United States -
Mutu should definitely stay at Fiorentina! In Florence, he can make a huge contribution to the team. At Roma, he will just replace Giuly and we all know how much play time he got (ie, not enough to stay). Going to Roma will kill his momentum and possibly his career – Sort of like Gila going to AC.
Posted from
United States -
Ha.
MAD, looks like you got your response.
It probably doesn’t help seeing this written either:
Posted from
United States -
Intanto da Firenze arriva la notizia di diversi striscioni prima affissi e poi rimossi dai vigili urbani sulle cancellate dello stadio Franchi. A Mutu avrebbero scritto “Traditore. Mercenario. Venduto”.
And Johonna are you kidding me?
Mutu will be our starter on the RW, or Centrocampista.
Come again?
Posted from
United States -
Mutu = Giuly… HA!
Posted from
United States -
traditore – that is funny. taking this into even another tangent, does anyone know when the serie a schedule will be released?
Posted from
United States -
Sure, Mutu will start until Totti gets tired of all the attention he is getting then he will banned to the bench.
Posted from
United States -
Sorry, if I have taken this thread off track, but how do you guys see Mutu replaced, assuming that he is in fact gone.
Can any of the players on roster take his place or do you think that you need to make another purchase?
Posted from
Indonesia -
Hi Everyone,
Just a note to let you know I am obviously following the Mutu storyline and will have a major post on it soon, which will also give you all a more appropriate forum to discuss what is happening. I just wanted to see how things shook out first, before posting the topic.
Posted from
United States -
Viola’s front page: MUTU IS UNTOUCHABLE.
That’s a bigger media-style “fuck off” than getting him to sign his contract.
Posted from
United States -
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Totti himself was the one who wanted Mutu to join in the first place. Mutu will play on the right or behind Totti. And in Rome, there is no way Mutu will get more attention than Totti.
Posted from
United States -
Anyway.. this whole argument is moot until something changes with regards to the whole thing. This last statement has put the brakes on this, while Conti says that they will keep trying.
Posted from
United States -
Lovely how 2 Interisti need to shed light on this, and venture into Totti attention land and “well there’s now ay he is coming to Roma” land.
Just because the DV’s says he is a Viola doesn’t mean he will STAY one.
This thing is far from over.
Posted from
Indonesia -
I would just like to apologize here.
I was curious about the seemingly lack of reaction I saw here in light of the impending Roma bid for Mutu. It wasn’t my intention to hijack the thread or give the Roma infestation a chance to come on here and ruin your blog by giving them something to get defensive and insecure over.
So, in short, I’m sorry I ruined a blog on what is one of my favorite places to lurk.
Posted from
Indonesia -
The only way you ruined it is by showing up here yourself. You are no better than us and we are no better than you. You talk about us like we’re hooligans or cockroaches. You go around badmouthing about Roma on the Inter board, the Roma board, the Fiorentina board, the Italy board and God knows where else looking for trouble. You know we go around reading other articles and you use that to provoke us in every single way.
I come here to see the Fiorentina fans’ opinions but I end up reading more of your useless blather. I’ve noticed some problems between Roma fans and Napoli, Lazio, Juve, Milan, Inter and Palermo.. Most are understandable because of the rivalries. But I for one (correct me if I’m wrong Viola fans) have not seen any issues with Fiorentina fans. I think Ted’s posts are great and ursus is fantastic and incredibly informative when he passes by our board.
Posted from
United States -
Bashar, I would LOVE for you to show me where I bad mouthed Roma on the Fiorentina boards. No surprise that you are also inaccurate here.
Let me repost my original question:
“You know what I think is telling? The Roma people are going nuts over Mutu, and you folks here could care less. Am I getting it right that you guys aren’t all that sad to see Mutu go?”
You know what just for giggles, let me post my other question:
“Sorry, if I have taken this thread off track, but how do you guys see Mutu replaced, assuming that he is in fact gone. Can any of the players on roster take his place or do you think that you need to make another purchase?”
I saw a lack of reaction here to news that I thought would have been exciting one way or the other. It wasn’t. The Roma boards jumped 200 posts in half a day over it. Just to be sure that my original feeling was the right one (it wasnt) I double checked and asked the second question.
How any of that HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH ROMA— I WAS ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT FIORENTINA– ON A FIORENTINA BOARD, NO LESS– SO WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, ASS?
And I apologize again, to the fiorentina folks that this was done here.
Posted from
Indonesia -
“…the Roma infestation a…”
How is that not an attack? Infestations refer to rodents, insects and possibly reptiles. Not humans!
Posted from
United States -
This is from Dictionary.com:
To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious.
Now read the posts above. Thanks.
Posted from
Indonesia -
Little insight on why this game is so important for “fiorentini”. The Tuscan region has always been a fortress for Juve supporters, in fact it hosts one of the largest number of Juve supporters clubs!!! Up to late ’80’s when playing in Florence more then 1/3 of the stadium was Juve fans arriving from the tuscan countryside NOT Turin!!! For many Juve players (i.e. Del Piero among others) the game against the viola is the most anticipated of the year
Posted from
Indonesia
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