European football

Klaus

Di Natale was tearing it up for Udinese today in Serie A. He scored three goals and had one assist in an all around incredible performance as they beat Lecce 4-0 at home.

I've got a feeling that Milan might win the derby tonight, by the way. They've had some heavy losses lately. Inzaghi's season is already over and Pato just got confirmed that he's out for at least two months. They're looking for a positive reaction and this might be it. I think Ibrahimovic and Ronaldinho will step up.

Klaus

I knew I should have put some money on it. AC Milan won 1-0 after Zlatan scored from the penalty spot and consequently went top of the Serie A table. Zlatan in particular had a magnificent performance tonight. Inter looked terrible though, despite playing with a man more for almost 30 minutes. Benitez has already managed to affect them with his philosophy, or so it seems.

James

Inter looked so toothless. Sneijder looks a shadow of the player he was pre world cup.

Klaus

Yeah. I didn't rate Mourinho's work with Inter that much because a monkey could win the league with the kind of players and subsequent funds he inherited, but you have to admit that at least he performed what you expected from him when he took over. I just don't get how Benitez has managed to screw them up this badly in little more than four months. I can only assume that it's a deliberate tactic from his side to crowd the midfield on their own half and at the same time position the fullbacks abnormally high up the field. There's so much distance between the team parts that it's unreal. He's so lucky that Eto'o has played some of the best football of his career lately because the rest of the team just isn't up to scratch.

Pepe LeFrits

Wasn't Sneijder recently diagnosed with anaemia? Hardly seems the ideal condition for a professional sportsman...

ExiledInNewcastle

Pepe LeFrits wrote:
Wasn't Sneijder recently diagnosed with anaemia? Hardly seems the ideal condition for a professional sportsman...

Could be wrong but though I read somewhere it was actually thalassemia (which is often only found after a repeat diagnosis of anemia. If it is thalassemia then it wouldn't cause any problems other than having to be slightly careful about eating things like wholewheat and brown rice but certainly doesn't effect physical ability.

USArsenal

well, he passed out at half time of their previous game, so I would say it affected him physically a LITTLE bit.. and i thought he was diagnosed just with anemia (havent seen thalassemia anywhere)

that said, Sneijder wasnt their worst performer of the night.. and as good as Zlatan played in the first half (he was certainly up for it), i thought he was a bit lazy in the second half at times..

Klaus - my wife said the same thing about Mourinho.. she hates him with a passion (as many do), but she finally said that she accepts that he is a good coach now..

ExiledInNewcastle

USA - as I said I could be wrong, and certainly haven't had any luck googling the story. There was certainly a footballer diagnosed with it recently as it stuck in my head because there's a lot of beta-thalassemia in my family. That said my comments about it were about beta and i know alpha is different in it's presentation and effects.

Armor

USArsenal wrote:
and as good as Zlatan played in the first half (he was certainly up for it), i thought he was a bit lazy in the second half at times..

This was pretty much his best moment of the second half. Incredibly lazy at times.

USArsenal

dont like Ibra, but absolutely hate Materazzi.. i actually thought it was funny as hell.. (he did actually move his foot at the last minute)

USArsenal

EIN - i think Zidane actually has thalassemia. (as does Pete Sampras)

Klaus

Watching the best performance I've seen for a very long time. Udinese are slaughtering Palermo on their own ground. It's insane. Palermo is by far the best home team in Serie A. Udinese are 6-0 up in the 52nd minute. Di Natale has scored a brace and Alexis Sanchez has grabbed four goals.

Klaus

7-0 to Udinese! Di Natale completes his hattrick. Palermo gets another sending off in the process too. This is going to end in double figures.

Ricky1985

Holy shit.

Klaus

Shot off the inside of the post from Di Natale.

I don't know where to begin to explain how much respect I've got for that man. Such a class act in every aspect, both as a person and as a player.