The Great Man Gets a Birthday Present, and Mutu gets Hurt
By: Ted | August 19th, 2008
Today in Italy Fiorentina played a charity/exhibition match vs. Amici del Forte, winning 6-2 with braces from Pazzini, Osvaldo and Kuzmanovic. Apparently Prandelli played his usual 4-3-3, but still experimented with the line-up, which included, among other oddities, Marco Donadel as one of his center-backs. The full match report can be found here.
Although a good time was apparently had by all, (well, except for maybe Amici del Forte) the match was overshadowed by two events, one happy and one not. The good news was that the great man celebrated his 51st birthday today, leading to what the match report called a “party-like atmosphere” in the stadium before the game. Happy Birthday, Mister!
More problematic, however, was the news that forward Adrian Mutu suffered a serious injury blow while training with the Romanian nation team. According to various news reports, Mutu injured (some reports say he dislocated) his elbow during practice. This will apparently rule him out of the second leg of the Slavia tie and also the first round match of the league against Juventus. That later piece of news blows extra hard, since virtually everyone in purple was looking forward to a fully fit Viola facing off against their old rivals.
Apparently Monto and Gamberini also have owies (Ricky’s got a bum thigh picked up in China) and that is what led to the heavy experimentation during the friendly today. We may see a front three of Pazzini, Gila, and Osvaldo next week (three center-forwards. Huh.) with who-knows-what filling out the back line. This all makes me very nervous, but again, this is why the Great Man and the front office staff put together a big, deep team this year: injuries will be picked up, and we will just have to fight through them. I was just hoping we wouldn’t have to start so soon.
Take care, everyone. Be back soon.
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Comments
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stupid friendlies
Posted from
United States
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Well, an absent Mutu didn’t prevent Fiorentina from winning at the Stadio Olimpico in Torino this spring …
Honestly, I’m more worried about Gamberini not being fit for the Juve match. Osvaldo could easily deputize for Mutu for a couple of games. And for the second leg of the CL qualifier, I think a 2-0 lead should suffice. I can’t see Slavia pulling it off – they are really up against it.
Posted from
United States -
i just hope that viola will put pressure on slavia.playing defensivelly equals suicide,and it doesnt suit us anyway.an away goal should seal our qualification to cl.
Posted from
United States -
mutu thinks he’ll be back for juve.
The Romanian international dislocated his elbow during a training session with his national side. However, the Viola hit-man didn’t stop for treatment; he continued training, unaware of what had happened.“I hurt myself without even noticing and I carried on training as if nothing had happened,” Mutu told Sport.Ro.
“Afterwards, the pain started to get much worse and I had to stop.
“I will be out for two weeks, but things like this happen in football.
“I injured my elbow and the doctors have bandaged me up.”
Mutu is likely to miss the Viola’s second leg Champions League preliminary against Slavia Prague next week. Fiorentina take a 2-0 lead with them to the Czech Republic and are clear favourites to progress.
The Romanian should be back for the start of the season clash against Juventus on August 31. The Artemio Franchi-based club have big ambitions this term and Mutu is a key ingredient in Cesare Prandelli’s cocktail of talented players as the side hunt for silverware.
Posted from
United States -
actually, for the record, mutu didnt say he’d be back for juve, the reporter did.
Posted from
United States -
Slakas, we’ll tak ewhat we can get.
Posted from
United States -
Arguably Fiorentina’s three best players out? (Mutu, Montolivo, Gamberini) …
No problem. This team still needs more depth in the back, though …
Posted from
United States -
Both Mutu and Ricky should be back before Juve at least, probably before that, but anyone know what’s up with Gamberini? If there is anything I don’t feel comfortable about it’s the back.
Posted from
United States -
In lighter news, Mutu is now selling his own wine.
Excuse me while I fall off my chair with laughter.
Posted from
United States -
lol
He’s got to make that money for chelsea somehow.Posted from
United States -
bonehead award to yahoo for this headline…
Inter keeper Frey tells Domenech to count him out
Posted from
United States -
hold on there:
Mutu To Be Ready For Champions League
Fiorentina will most likely have their star striker Adrian Mutu back for the second leg Champions League preliminary match against Slavia Prague. The Romanian’s elbow injury is not as bad as first feared.
Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us galleria zoom Fiorentina fans can breathe a sigh of relief: Adrian Mutu’s elbow injury isn’t as bad as first feared. The prolific striker sustained the injury during training with the Romanian national team on Tuesday.Initially it was thought the player would be forced to stay out of action for at least a month and miss the Viola’s opening match against Juventus. But scans revealed that no serious damage was done to the bone in Mutu’s elbow and that he could even be ready to play in Fiorentina’s second-leg Champions League tie against Slavia Prague.
The club’s medical team have established a special therapy program to allow the elbow to heal quickly, and they will check on the player again next Tuesday, a day before the match.
Meanwhile, midfield talent Riccardo Montolivo looks likely to make it as well. The Azzurri star has almost shaken off a thigh injury he sustained during the Olympic team’s last match against Belgium.
The Viola will defend a 2-0 lead from the first leg on their trip to Prague. Mutu and Alberto Gilardino scored the goals for Fiorentina in the first match.
Posted from
United States -
Uh, not to be a cynic here, Slakas, but what’s the source of that scoop? My reaction will depend on it. Is it a legit news outlet or the absinthe-inspired, sensational rantings of an attention-seeking blogger? Not you, Ted, your stuff is tight, dog.
Posted from
United States -
originally it was goal.com which is questionable, but i saw it cross the AP wire or espn soccernet, although I can’t find it now. hmm i’ll keep looking
Posted from
United States -
ok the only one that has it is goal.com. make your own decision. http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=828919
Posted from
United States -
It’s pure speculation. He is expected to be ready for Juve (which is more than we can say for the ticket situation, which is caos), but the Viola are going to wait for a futher medical evaluation on Monday before making any decisions about Slavia.
http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Fiorentina/Notiziario/2008/08/21/21fiorentina.shtml
Personally, I’d leave him at home rather than run the risk of aggravating the injury.
Posted from
Italy
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