Fiorentina v. Newcastle United: Preview
By: Ted | January 23rd, 2009
On Saturday Fiorentina will take on Newcastle United in a match that could tell us, with some finality, whether the Viola are going to be the real deal this year or not. Coming off two disheartening losses and the sale or loan of (seemingly) most of the forwards on the team, Fiorentina needs at least a draw to get their season back on track. A win is not out of the question, of course. Last season, I missed the live broadcast of this same match because I was at birthing classes with my wife, preparing for the arrival of my now-eight-month-old son. I rushed home and turned the DVR on to find that Fiorentina had stirringly defeated Newcastle on their own ground (for some reason played in Turin instead of the English northeast) in a match that I likened to the Allies defeating the Axis powers and the Rebel Alliance defeating the Galactic Empire in my euphoric, subsequent blog post. So it could definitely happen again, even if we have loaned Papa Waigo.
There are things to be worried about however. No, I’m not talking about Mutu and Frey’s continuing injury concerns or our problems at the back. I’m talking about our club going broke. There have been some concerns that there has been a bit of financial worries at the club since they started selling every player they controlled who has two legs. Fine. I’m not worried. We can still beat anyone as long as we have Frey and My Precious. But what concerns me is that this financial mess has gotten to the point that the Great Man has promised HE WILL TAKE THE TEAM OUT FOR PIZZA IF THEY BEAT NEWCASTLE! Pizza?!? Is this all the team has left? Pizza? Christ, I could buy the team a couple of pizzas! If they promise to come and play a friendly vs. Samp in my backyard, I will buy them all the pizzas they want. I’ll even let Gamberini get one with anchovies.
Aside from the fact that Prandelli is using the same motivational tactics that I would use if I were coaching an Under-8 girls team, there are other worries as well. Mutu will not play, and while reports on Frey are positive it will still be a game-time decision. We are down to slim and none up front, and I’m guessing Jovetic will start with Gila (who damn well better show up this weekend) but we shall see.
Meanwhile, who will start for Newcastle? Hells if I know. Del Piero? Mike Owen? Zidane? Alan Shearer? John Charles? Ray Charles? Charlie Brown? Who Cares?
Starting Line-Ups (AKA The Blind Guess Department)
Newcastle: Buffon, Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, De Ceglie, Marchionni, Marchisio, Zanetti, Nedved, Del Piero, Amauri.
Fiorentina: Frey, Zauri, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Vargas, Kuzmanovic, Felipe Melo, Montolivo, Santana, Gilardino, Jovetic.
Recent Form
Newcastle
Jan 18: Lazio 1-1 Newcastle (Serie A)
Jan 11: Newcastle 1-0 Siena (Serie A)
Dec 21: Atalanta 1-3 Newcastle (Serie A)
Dec 14: Newcastle 4-2 Milan (Serie A)
Dec 7: Lecce 1-2 Newcastle (Serie A)
Fiorentina
Jan 17: Milan 1-0 Fiorentina (Serie A)
Jan 11: Fiorentina 1-2 Lecce (Serie A)
Dec 21: Sampdoria 0-1 Fiorentina (Serie A)
Dec 14: Fiorentina 2-1 Catania (Serie A)
Dec 7: Torino 1-4 Fiorentina (Serie A)
The Viola and Newcastle drew in the opening match of the season in beautiful Florence. Fiorentina defeated the evil empire on their own turf when they played them last season.
Prediction
Fiorentina will defeat Newcastle United 3-0.
TV Situation
The game will be shown at 2:30PM live here in the states on FSC and RAI. Bless.
One Final Note
When the hell did Newcastle join Series A? Does anyone else think it’s odd that an old English team would move to Italy and be allowed to join the league? And what the hell is up with those ass-ugly kits?
Forza Viola, everybody!
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Comments
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classy as always:
Fiorentina have been given a frosty reception in Turin tonight, but it wasn’t the drizzle of snow which caused the problems. A number of Juventus ultras pelted the Viola’s team bus as it arrived at the stadium.Firenzeviola.it claims Oranges and various objects including bottles, cans of drink and food were hurled by thirty or so Juve fans as stunned Fiorentina players and staff looked on from the team bus.
Posted from
United States
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WE NEED WINGS…AND CROSSING…AND A CENTRAL!!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted from
United States -
Here’s an old classic of Juventus’ referee bribery:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2921/stories/20060527015504300.htm
Posted from
United States -
AND WILL SOMEONE PLEASE FIND JORGENSEN???
Posted from
United States -
Time to break out the fernet…
Posted from
Canada -
“AND WILL SOMEONE PLEASE FIND JORGENSEN???”
It’s so strange…I keep hearing about him getting a contract renewal but I never see the man.
Posted from
Canada -
STOOOOP losing for CHIRST SAKES! Thats three in a row, I’m getting so FRUSTRATED! At half time I put on my Mutu jersey I really though they would fight back! Complaining about the refs will NOT help, just go out there and WIN! I swear, without Mutu this team shows no maturity. I can’t wait until Mutu comes back! Only he can save this season and get us 4th place, cuz at this rate we’ll end up mid table! I’m usually not this bitchy, but I’m sooo fed up you have NO IDEA!
Posted from
United States -
and BY THE WAY, where is GILARDINO? Is he even on the field? Without Mutu feeding him balls he is USELESS! I appreciate all he has done for Fiorentina, but lately he is doing a good job at being Invisible for long periods of time!
Posted from
United States -
There’s a positive: Viola’s keeper is really reliable.
Posted from
Poland -
I always have faith in Frey, he single handedly kept us in this game! We need to start taking shot on net, too many long balls to Gila who falls down on the ground like a girl. I will post later the positives from this game, but right now I am in no moood. I feel like punching SOMEBODY in the HEAD!
Posted from
United States -
Sebastian don’t forget…Gila scored today…and yes the goal was valid
Posted from
United States -
If the goal was valid, why is there a BIG 0 beside’s Fiorentina and a big 1 beside Juventus? It doesn’t matter if the ref doesn’t allow it. But yes, Gila scored but you have to admit he is playing badly lately. Jovetic is playing well, I see a real future in him. And to my surpize the new player Bonazzoli created some danger. Melo is always reliable, and what was up with Santana? I like him usually, but he is so inconsistent. He was a disaster today, did you see that brilliant corner kick? hahahaa I couldn’t take a corner like that if I tried! I’m starting to feel better now, at least I’m makeing jokes. BUT none the less, still angry! I have so much work to do today but I’m such a bad mood I can’t focus.
Posted from
United States -
I agree – Gila was only good as a target today. He was AWOL otherwise. Jovetic played well – he was the only guy creating anything out there. I thought he was brought down in the box. I saw contact. It was a physical game though. I like the kid (even though he looks a bit like Rocky Dennis).
Other than Precious making the occasional run or seeking ball, the attack consisted of desperate, low percentage long balls over the top all day. Melo was lofting some great balls before the break, but in the second half Newcastle had no problems with any of them. Without Mutu, we our offense grinds to a halt.
Our back line DOES suck, not just defending, but no one has any skills to come forward to create another dimension to the attack. I realize that attacking backs are kind of expensive, but since we’re bitching…
Santana blew chunks. Montolivo did not show well either.
Del Piero’s through ball was lovely. Buffon was real good too.
Posted from
United States -
roma 1-0
this is probably the weekend they pass us byPosted from
United States -
this league is bullshit.
bologna barely breathes on kaka and he gets penalties and free kicks.
Posted from
United States -
and then they put them down to ten men
i give up.it’s basketball season
Posted from
United States -
Gila needs good service to score…. starting to question whether montolivo and kuzmanovic are good enough for a top 4 side as melo is the only one who looks decent in midfield.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
If Montolivo and Kuzmanovic aren’t good enough for a top-four side, then we’re not going to be a top-four side. They’re two of the most fundamental players to the team, and talking about getting rid of them means talking about getting rid of most of the team. Who do you think we are, Inter?
Posted from
United States -
Howay the lads. Nice win. The best thing the Toon Army ever did was move from a relegation battle in the Premiership to Italy and top of the league in Serie A
Posted from
United States -
Did anyone see Pasqual last night????? He was absolute class, I think he should be our starting left back over Vargas.
Posted from
United States -
In terms of the loss…todays results could have been alot worse
Genoa tied, and Napoli and Lazio lost, we got lucky
Posted from
United States -
Angharad, who said anything about getting rid of kuzmanovic or montolivo? Point was they have the talent to play for a top 4 side but are not showing it enough, thats one of the reasons why we’re not in top 4 yet, or even challenging for the scudetto. Others are talking about deficiencies in attack or defence (i agree), I thought i’d bring up the midfield as it should also be involved in both of those areas and no-one seems to have brought up that point yet. I think only melo has been consistent for me so far this season in that department, and he only arrived in the summer. Time for kuz and monto (especially) to up their performances if we want champions league football next season.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Yep, good point irfan.
Posted from
United States -
You really can’t blame any one or two players for what went wrong, everyone besides Frey needs to step up their game if Fiorentina wants to be a top 4 club. Kuz, Monty and Santana need to find some consistency, if the three of them are on their game at once we will be virtually unplayable. Jovetic deserves a little slack because of his age but without Pazzini and Osvaldo he needs to show us what he’s made of by the end of the season, the talent is clearly there but yesterday he was very inconsistent, at times invisible or even more wasteful than Santana.
Defense wise Melo is playing well but needs to watch himself because refs are going to pick on us and we can’t afford to ask for trouble. The fullbacks had an excellent game but Gamberini needs a better partner to cover for their runs. I’m definitely liking Pasqual, he defended much better than Vargas and his runs were a lot more efficent, as he actually is able to cross the ball. Zauri was surprisingly good too for most of the game.
Posted from
Canada -
i hear your after ivanovic from chelsea? he would be a quality purchase ive heard great thing about him
Posted from
United States
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