Stop Staring at the Viola, Voyeur! Hands Off our Winger, Wenger!
By: Ted | March 26th, 2008
With the world’s attention focused squarely on today’s internationals, it is surprising there has been so much news to report about Fiorentina.
The top story of the day (first brought to my attention by former Italy Offside bigwig and the future Mrs. Christian Vieri, Martha) is that Fiorentina will be playing a friendly against Barcelona this summer at the Artemio Franchi. Artemio Franchi himself (the namesake of the stadium, of course) was a Fiorentina executive as well as president (at different times) of the Italian Football Federation, UEFA, and an executive committee member of FIFA. He passed away twenty five years ago this summer, and the game will be played in his honor and memory. Details of the match can be found here.
I’m not a big Barca fan, but it is always an exciting moment when a mega-club comes to play your favorite team. I wish I could be there for the match, but by that time I should have a one-month old (or so) newborn to look after; perhaps it will be televised?
Also, I hope Fiorentina fans don’t get TOO star-struck by the news. It’s entirely possible that we will play Barca THREE times next season, if you count the friendly, and possibly two group games in the Champions League. We could even meet them again in the final….
In other news, rumors are going around that London giant Arsenal and their head honcho Arsene Wenger are interested in Viola winger Zdravko Kuzmanovic, who has been very impressive during his brief spell with the club. Some rumors have the youngster’s price as high as €7.5 million. Kuzmanovic’s agent is denying the whole thing, which is making me worried. Hands off our Winger, Wenger!
Finally, (in news actually related to this weekend’s match) Udinese gaffer Pasquale Marino recognizes how critical this next match vs. the Viola will be. Sunday’s game will prove a boost to the winner as they look to advance to the Champions League, while a loss would almost certainly relegate Udinese to the UEFA cup. I will have a preview of that match coming soon. Take care, everybody.
Category: Team News
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Comments
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No way in hell that fiorentina sell Kuzmanovic. especially if they make Champions. I’m kind of worried about the match this weekend against Udinese, I think Mutu and Liverani won’t be playing due to yellow cards. We desperately need 3 points…Forza Viola!!!!!!!
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United States
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Ted - I’m not a fan of calling Wenger a “Voyeur” - and let’s be honest, the management team of Della Valle / Corvino / Prandelli are following a very similar model to the one that has been used at Arsenal, albeit with more domestic players than Arsenal uses (buy young players, develop them, give them a chance to play in the first team at a young age, avoid spending too much money for players in their prime or just past it, etc.). Though maybe I’m being a bit sensitive because I’m a Gooner - full disclosure of soccer teams I follow - (1) USA (2) DCU (3) Fiorentina (4) Arsenal - though I don’t follow Arsenal nearly as closely as Fiorentina or DCU.
As far as whether the Gunners would be interested in Kuzmanovic - I wouldn’t be surprised. They seem to like buying cetnral midfield players and then converting them into wingers (the fragile Rosicky, Hleb, Diaby, I could go on). Plus they have a real void at that position right now. I’m not sure Kuz would work well in a strictly flank role, but he’s a damn good prospect and a guy who is rugged enough not to be thrown off of his game in the Premier League.
“Hands off our winger, Wenger” on the other hand = tremendous line.
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United States -
Please: the “voyeur” thing is just a joke. I just liked the alliterational affect of Viola and voyeur. I couldn’t decide between that and the winger/Wenger line so I left them both in.
Plus, I think Jose Mourniho is a comedic genius. Perhaps we’re both just misunderstood
Posted from
United States -
yes wenger should get lost
its funny … becaue i feel as though fiorentina and arsenal are very similar .. both play good football .. and both have many young good players
Posted from
Australia -
Like I said Ted - I was probably being over sensitive. It is just repeatedly chanted at Arsenal by fans at away games.
And, hopefully you’ve searched the youtubes for the Setanta Sports clips of the Jose Mourinho “I’m on Setanta Sports” bits. They are phenomenal.
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United States
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