https://www.football-italia.net/110048/pellegri-dream-come-true

Watch out for this kid.

Better than Jakub Jankto?

flobaba wrote:

Better than Jakub Jankto?

they play different positions flob! 

Pellegri might be the Donnarumma for this year. 

Mertens' goal yesterday :drool: goal of the season contender already

What a fucking goal. Seems like last season wasn't an anomaly, this guy went from a decent run off the mill midget winger to legit one of the best strikers in Europe at the young age of 30 ffs

Came in here to post that as well. Fucking hell how did he even think of that. Outrageous.

Mertens has been one of the top 5 strikers in the world for me over the last two seasons. Absolutely delightful player. I used to think he was a complete waste of space too; it's downright shocking how good he is.

Has he gotten better or was he just played out of position all these years?

goon wrote:

Has he gotten better or was he just played out of position all these years?

Both. The Napoli coach Sarri should also be given credit for improving him. 

He was really a no mark winger at PSV in the past. Hardly got into a Belgium team and wouldn't look out of place at West Ham.

Now he has become one of the best strikers in the world.
54 games
41 goals
?️ 18 assists

Bryant wrote:

goon wrote:

Has he gotten better or was he just played out of position all these years?

Both. The Napoli coach Sarri should also be given credit for improving him. 

Perhaps the improvement is down to the change in position too? 

Makes you wonder how many careers are being or have been wasted due to someone getting their best position wrong all those years ago. 

It's not like he scores a bunch of tap-ins either, or improves his tally with a lot of penalties.

Shots from outside the box, curlers into the top corner, intelligent runs in behind that leave the defence looking thoroughly embarrassed, freekicks with both feet, dribbles inside the box... the most surprising thing for me is that his first touch is actually world class. The ball never slows down when he touches it.

He reminds me a bit of Henrik Larsson, and I can't think of much higher praise than that.

goon wrote:

Bryant wrote:

Both. The Napoli coach Sarri should also be given credit for improving him. 

Perhaps the improvement is down to the change in position too? 

Makes you wonder how many careers are being or have been wasted due to someone getting their best position wrong all those years ago. 

Kolo Toure comes to mind. Imagine if he is still playing at CM.

Klaus wrote:

the most surprising thing for me is that his first touch is actually world class. The ball never slows down when he touches it.

So, he's a bit like Walcott then?

Arsenal suddenly being linked with Mertens hahaha. Proof that the daily rags read OMITT for their arsenal transfer rumors.

Wenger would move him back to the wing

Klaus wrote:

It's not like he scores a bunch of tap-ins either, or improves his tally with a lot of penalties.

Shots from outside the box, curlers into the top corner, intelligent runs in behind that leave the defence looking thoroughly embarrassed, freekicks with both feet, dribbles inside the box... the most surprising thing for me is that his first touch is actually world class. The ball never slows down when he touches it.

He reminds me a bit of Henrik Larsson, and I can't think of much higher praise than that.

I know right. Who knew little Dries would ever be this good? I still remember him as a decent "talent" at FC Utrecht. 

It's funny we are being linked with him. Why on earth would he move though? He's in one of the most beautiful places in the world and they adore him like a god. I would give my left nut to live and play football in Naples.

No one would take it.

If you were talking about giving your right nut tho'...

Anyone catch the Serie A games this weekend? Great entertainment with Lazio-Juve, Roma-Napoli, and then the Milan derby. Looks like this season will be competitive.

Big surprise of the season so far: Ciro Immobile.

Immobile's last 8 club games: 16 goals and assists, Goal/Assist every 38 min.

He's taking the piss now ffs, you'd expect this shit from Messi or Neymar maybe. Scored a beautiful free kick and was 90% responsible for Napoli's third as well

Another goal today. 37 goals in 44 Serie A games after moving up front, at the age of 29. Unreal player.

What a start by Milan under Gattuso they gave Benevento their first points in Serie A!

That quote

Speaking of goals, Higuain's winner in the 1-0 game between Juventus and Napoli yesterday was his 43rd goal since signing for Juve 16 months ago.

Klaus wrote:

That quote

Speaking of goals, Higuain's winner in the 1-0 game between Juventus and Napoli yesterday was his 43rd goal since signing for Juve 16 months ago.

There's definitely been records w/ scoring in Serie A this year. I saw you guys talking about Icardi in the wish list thread and he now has 16 goals in his last 15 games. Someone is going to activate that 100m euro release clause in Icardi's current contract, but he's stated that he wants to stay. Inter will probably have to give him a new contract to get rid of that clause or increase it dramatically.

Perisic played out of his mind today as well, got a hat trick. 7 goals and 7 assists in his last 15 games. 

Perisic would do well in England. United were very heavily linked , wonder if they will go back in for him

GooneriC wrote:

Perisic would do well in England. United were very heavily linked , wonder if they will go back in for him

I think those days are over with Martial living up to some of his potential this season. 

The player that everyone seems to want now is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (SMS). He's been wishlisted by a couple of posters here and I believe that Man City, Utd, and Liverpool are after him as well. He had a great game yesterday, made a great turn and pass:  and scored the game winning goal. SMS has a lot of talent, but Loltito is demanding 100m euros for him. 

Lazio has also revived some players. Luis Alberto, the Liverpool flop, has been great for them this season. 

Milan just lost 0-3 to 19th placed Verona. The other week they drew 2-2 with Benevento too - the only point Benevento has picked up in Serie A the entire season. Gattuso isn't exactly off to a great start as Milan manager.

Why would anyone even hire Gattuso in the first place is beyond me. His managerial record is disastrous

To be fair to him he's absolutely turned it around. Actually got Calhanoglu to perform also helps to have Suso playing out of his skin for months

In other news Napoli really look like they're going to win the league this season. Were thoroughly dominated in the first half but turned it around to beat a strong Lazio side 4-1. Their last goal was beautiful

I was gonna post that one yesterday but I fell asleep instead. Awesome, awesome goal.

What a beautiful footballer Dries Mertens has turned into. He's one of the best success stories of the decade. Napoli have had the likes of Cavani and Higuain dominate the scoring charts and win the golden boot, but it's a tiny ex-winger with no pace and the physique of a skinny teenager who's going to lead them to their first scudetto since the days of Maradona. He's been the best player in Italy by a country mile over the last two years.

What has impressed me almost more than his goal scoring is the level of his performances even when he doesn't get on the sheet. Plays some delightful passes over any distance and probably should have had some 10 or so assists more if it weren't for poor finishing from Callejon or Insigne

That's the hallmark of a player that's not just on a prolonged purple patch. That's his new level, even when he was in a drought for a couple of weeks he still looked world class whenever he stepped on the pitch. Shame on Belgium and Martinez that they're still playing him on the wing to accommodate that donkey Lukaku. He's their best player ffs.

This guy is getting better and better. Monchi has possibly pulled out another good signing.

Reminds me of Arshavin with his shooting technique.

Who?

Cengiz Under, 20 y/o Turkish winger. They bought him to replace Salah.

Arshavin is a good call, reminds me of him in a couple of ways.

Haven't seen enough to see the comparison. The short backlift is reminiscent I guess.

That juventus netflix series is decent. Allegri struck me as an impressive figure, very demanding and specific

Milan beat Roma away.

We are getting knocked the fuck out of the europa League. Gattuso could be the new Simone.