Can't remember who made that wishlist claim, but I watched Napoli's 5-0 thrashing of Lazio and Allan was superb.

Would love to have him here. Proper midfielder.

Just found a vine of this goal from Thursday night. Felipe Anderson proving that he's not a one-season wonder:

Great goal that. He seems quite flaky as a player still though. Certainly a big talent though, and the sort of player we should look to pick up while we still can do so at a reasonable price.

Agreed on Felipe.

I feel like Juventus are being taught a lesson in general management right now. Watched them get taken out by Hamsik, Higuain and co yesterday. Pogba has been ranging between brilliant and meh this season. It's clear that he's missing the workrate of Vidal and the way that Pirlo spread the play for them and gave him the ball in dangerous advanced positions. He needs to do the work of all three a bit now.
Reminds me of the Chicago Bulls when they lost Jordan for the first time, talking about 'organisations (and not players) win championships'. the losses of Vidal and Pirlo have weakened Pogba, and Tevez is sorely missed up front. Feels a bit like when Arsene wengered our team between 2006 and 2008.

Coman was the one to get. He's been great for Bayern. What a steal for less than 10m.

Those are the talents we should be signing, and yes I would gamble on Felipe Anderson.

Isn't Coman at Bayern on loan?

Claudius wrote:

Reminds me of the Chicago Bulls when they lost Jordan for the first time, talking about 'organisations (and not players) win championships'. the losses of Vidal and Pirlo have weakened Pogba, and Tevez is sorely missed up front.

The injury to Marchisio has probably been even worse for them. He was their best midfielder last season and the only ne who was a natural replacement for Pirlo. They did sign Hernanes to make up for it and he's an excellent player, but it's just too much turmoil.

I expect them to sort this out though. They have too much quality not to. They'll be back up top around Christmas.

Clrnc wrote:

Coman was the one to get. He's been great for Bayern. What a steal for less than 10m.

Those are the talents we should be signing, and yes I would gamble on Felipe Anderson.

He's going to cost them 28m total if they sign him (which is likely now).

I think I was the one who kept wishlisting Allan...He was an absolute steal at 10m euros plus some players on loan 🙁 .

@ Rex: I think the price on Felipe would cost upwards to 50-60m euros. Even at that price, I still think he's worth the risk...there were times last year where he looked like CR7.

Ah so it was you. Great shout mate.

League leaders Inter collapse entirely in the first half. 3-0 down at home to Fiorentina with Miranda sent off. Guarin should have seen red too.

7 days later

Allan again. 1-0 Napoli already.

14 days later

Anyone watching Inter vs Juve? Zaza looks 😆.

That Jeison Murillo for Inter has been great though.

Just watched the highlights from Napoli vs Fiorentina, seems to have been the best Serie A match in years. Two teams in great form with great managers, ended 2-1 to Napoli but all three goals have been top class. England needs to get its shit together in Europe, can see Italy overtake them soon like this.

Pogba went missing again.

jones wrote:

Just watched the highlights from Napoli vs Fiorentina, seems to have been the best Serie A match in years. Two teams in great form with great managers, ended 2-1 to Napoli but all three goals have been top class. England needs to get its shit together in Europe, can see Italy overtake them soon like this.

Napoli has some players in great form. For all the laughs on Higuain, he's been in great form this year (along w/ Allan). However, Insigne has been on a tear and is probably their most important player.

I never laughed at Higuain, always thought he was a great striker who just had a horrible 12-18 months, Allan and Insigne are in terrific form as well as you said. Sarri for Napoli I've praised a few times already but Paulo Sousa is doing a great job at Fiorentina, despite the loss today it has to be said. I'd love to have a manager at Arsenal who's this versatile when it comes to formations.

Agreed, it's amazing what Pablo Sousa has done. I really think Viola need a better CB than Rodriguez to challenge though.

Damn, I missed the Napoli - Fiorentina game. I had a feeling Insigne would continue his hot streak.

I notice that Gabbiadini stayed on the bench the whole game, by the way. Sarri put on El Kaddouri instead when Mertens went off. Arsenal don't really seem to scout Italy for whatever reason, but there could be an opportunity for us here in January.

Yeah, powerhouse player. He's had a terrific season so far.

7 days later

Berardi scored a neat freekick against Milan today, his 8th goal against them in 4 or 5 games. The Milan fans cheered when he went off towards the end because it meant no more goals.

Salah with a wonderful goal for Roma to put them in front.

Then Gervinho scores with a superb counter attack. Tearing Serie A apart again.

Gabbiadini being left on the bench again. Sarri is an idiot.

Harsh, he's got Napoli playing their best football probably since the days of Maradona. The competition for the front three/four is very strong to be fair to him.

Think that's quite an exaggeration personally. He's got a long way to go before he matches Mazzarri's side a few years back.

To be fair to him, though, Gabbiadini was probably rested today after playing midweek. Mertens was on the bench too.

Are Napoli winning. I've got a good payday coming my way if they win tonight

They won.

Klaus, sure it's too early to say he's built a better side than Mazzarri a few years back but I think this team is much more entertaining to watch, plus it has a lot more game changers than the teams which outside of Cavani and Hamsik relied on the likes of Pandev and Dzemaili.

They had Lavezzi too who was pretty awesome for a few seasons. But yeah, this version is more entertaining. I can't see it do any real damage in Champions League though, while Mazzarri's Napoli definitely could.

Lavezzi was quality but they were overall a weaker side when he was playing for them. Should have had a bigger career in my opinion, his goal vs Milan was top class:

Yeah, Lavezzi should have had a much bigger career. I think talent-wise he's just beneath the top tier, but his ego is world class. He's a bit like Antonio Cassano in that sense maybe, with the same unfortunate outcome.

Cassano is an uncanny comparison actually, both talent and personality wise. Both tend to pop up with big performances in big games too, Lavezzi was probably the best player on the pitch in the WC final 2014 and I thought back then Argentina could have nabbed it if he hadn't gone off at HT.

6 days later

Pogba just scored a sensational goal against Torino.

Video of the goal:

I wouldn't term that sensational.

It's an incredible goal. A few more angles here:

He just flicks it up and socks it in. The keeper doesn't even move.

Juventus are enjoying their worst start to a league season in 46 years, it's 1-1 in the 85th minute at home against Torino... and Allegri takes off a striker and puts on another defender.

Marchisio with an insane header in the bar now. Juventus best player. Meanwhile, Padelli in the Torino goal is taking everything they throw at him, either by skill or luck. He's even overshadowing Buffon tonight.