IBRA VS MESSI & CR7

According to classical mythology, you shouldn't have too much luck in life if not you could attract the envy of the gods, that eventually  punish you. In this case we are talking about a  football god’s envy . Or about the envy of someone who believes to be a god: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. A fantastic player not so lucky to play in the same era of Messi and Rronaldo. The competition between these two champions  has always obscured, as a long shadow, Ibra’s whole career  and his own reputation as a football player worldwide. Infact Ibra has never been a serious candidate to win the most important prize for a footballer: The Golden Ball Award. Winning  this has almost always been an exclusive duel between Messi and CR7 in the recent years. A disappointment too hard to digest for the hubris of Ibra, who would have thought then to take his revenge releasing two incredible statements according to the Portuguese website O ' Jogo. The first target was Cristiano: : "He has always witnessed the Golden Ball Award as a privileged spectator sitting  in  front row, there are at least 10 footballers better than him", was Zlatan's poisoned comment. Not exactly a cuddle for the Portuguese champion". The second target was Messi: "He continues to win Golden Balls, but he can’t  get a chocolate from a machine without climbing a ladder." A really childish joke. It's the same as if someone had asked Messi: “ What do you think about Ibra as a football player?”. And he had answered: "Ibra has a long nose.” Two children could easily have had a more clever discussion. But Messi probably is more mature than the Swedish player. He is not envious like Ibra seems to be. He has no reason to be. Lionel in fact is not a god from Greek mythology. Messi is a  modern god that, thanks to the 4 Golden Balls won, despite his hight, is taller than everybody. He is on the top of Olympus of the gods of football without  ever  having used any ladders climbing up.

BALOTELLI, DROGBA AND THE POLITICAL DESTINY OF ITALY

Can Drogba or Balotelli change the political destiny of Italy? Be calm, I'm not drunk. I’m sober. I know, the question could seem to be absurd. And it would be really absurd If we were not talking about Italy. Specifically about the Italy in love with football. That part of Italy that has always loved to mix the sacred with the profane. Italy that sometimes does not recognize the border between soccer and politic. Between a team and a political party. Between being a citizen and being a fan. Football in the country of pasta and capuccino is important. So important that sometimes it makes someone convinced to be able to move the political balance of the country and to subvert the electoral predictions during last minute of the football transfer- market's session. That someone is Berlusconi, who, despite all scandals, still remain a great communicator. He is able to touch the right feelings to rekindle the enthusiasm of the typical italian citizen. So, the purchase of a top-player in January could rekindle the enthusiasm of more or less 6,000,000,000 rossoneri fans, maybe putting them in a position to write on the paper, on next 24 of febraury, the election day in Italy, the name of Silvio Berlusconi and the name of his party. So to prove to him their gratitude. Fans, is known, are irrational animals and they are also capable of such things. It would not be the first time. In the past, Berlusconi has shown to use ac Milan as a fantastic device of communication such as to satisfy his business and political needs. Since the time of the great Milan of Arrigo Sacchi, until the Berlusconi’s spectacular arrivals to Milanello (Ac Milan headquarter) by helicopter, ac Milan have always contributed to build Berlusconi’simage. In may 1994 when Berlusconi started his political adventures he chose both the name and the hymn of his party that seemed more suitable to a new football team than to a new political party. The Silvio’s message was: I won everything possible with ac Milan so I’ll be successful in leading Italy as well. History has taught us that football and politics are two different things. And the successes he obtained with ac Milan are in contrast with the failure of Italy as a nation under Berlusconi government . But football in italy is a drop that according to Berlusconi's hopes will be big enough to give new life to the his image tarnished by recent scandals. Berlusconi is too sly to not try to surprise Milan’s fans again as when, a few years ago, he stopped the sale of Kakà’ to Manchester City at the last moment so as to receive back the gratitude of rossoneri fans. The election day is so close to the winter session of football transfert market that, I’m sure, Silvio, once again, will pull out the rabbit from the hat. So pay attention to Drogba or Balotelli. Two names that during the election campaign might be more useful than some television appearances. Two important names more determinant in terms of communication than in concrete for ac Milan, that haven’t the weak spot in attack but rather in defense and in midfield. But that's not the point. According the presidential auspices , Balotelli or Drogba, should score in the game on 24 of February, in the polling booth. A game that if Berlusconi wins also thanks to football, thanks to the purchase of a single football player would be a defeat for all Italy in terms of political and civic maturity. I can’t think that there is anyone, in such a difficult time for Italy , that can and will make a choice as important as the political vote depending by their passion for football. Even if in Italy football is more than a passion. And Berlusconi knows it.

ITALIAN FOOTBALL ONCE UPON A TIME

The worst of Italian serie A: the derby of Milan. A game that should have been  the best spot for our national football and instead it’s become  the symbol of the decay of the our national league. A faded and merciless picture of the current situation in Italian football. The golden age (the 80’-90’) has become the tin-age. From Van Basten and Ronaldo to Gargano and De Jong. In other words: from  violins to trombones. Inter won the match against Milan but Italian football lost.  It was sad  to see Bojan, promising talent during his Barcelona period, slipping as a sack of potatoes, a few steps from glory.

Inter’s defensive and dismissive attitude able to spend 90 minutes behind the ball line hoping for some occasional breakaway was an insult to football. 

Is Stramaccioni (Inter’s coach) or isn’t he one of the youngest coach in Europe? Yes, he is. But apparentely his ideas are older than him. He still lives in Trapattoni or Nereo Rocco’s era. This is unacceptable! I miss Ronlado’s dribblings and  I miss Van Basten’s dance with the ball on San siro’s pitch. But I also miss Arrigo Sacchi’s courage. The memories of the Italian football’s golden age are too fresh  to get used to this sad metamorphosis. San Siro isn’t the Scala of football anymore. It has become a provincial theater where untalented but well-publicized  actors perform. The lights of San Siro are turned off, as the verse of an old and famous Italian song says. How to switch on the spotlights again? It’s not true that the only thing we need is money from Russian tycoons like in Premiere League. We  need more programming and foresight as well. The Verratti case,  the brightest talent of Italian football went to play in France, this is the most tangible evidence.

THE KNIGHT AND THE OLD LADY

The knight and the Old Lady. It seems like the title of a medieval novel, but it´s really a modern story. A romantic and emotional story. The story between Alex Del Piero and Juventus. A nineteen year old relationship that started in 1993 when the president of Juventus was Giampiero Boniperti - another emblem of the black and white club' story. In those days Del Piero was shy and skinny but he was already talented. 19 years full of many successes, disgracefules (terrible knee injury and Serie B) like in a true and long marriage. Del Piero has scored 318 goals surpassing every record in Juventus´ story. Del Piero is the fotball player that is most loved by Juventus supporters. More than Platini, more than Zidane, and more than Omar Sivori. Del Piero IS Juventus and Juventus IS Del Piero. 

The knight faithful to the Old Lady also when she did't seem so attractive (when Juve was relagated in Serie B) and many other young pretenders tried to seduce him. And the old lady was faithful to the knight also when he didn't seem so strong anymore because of the terrible knee injury in 1999 that could stop Del Piero´s carreer. An undissolubile union so far at least through 19 years. A romantic story comes to an end. The problem is that the divorce forcasted for next year isn´t consensual. Del Piero in fact still wants to love and to defend the old lady. He feels good and strong enough to prepare the return in Campions League with Juventus despite his almost 38 years. His fantastic performances against Milan and Inter in the last weeks have showed us that Del Piero is right. He can continue his carrer. He´s still able to score significant and decisive goals. The problem is that the old lady aim to renew her image with young football players trying to find the new Del Piero. Juventus´ president, Andrea Agnelli announced some months ago during a reunion of Juventus shareholders that this season  will be Del Piero´s last season in Juventus. A  "urbi et orbi" statement that wounded the tender heart of the the strong knight Del Piero. Juventus isn´t anymore the old lady he met almost 20 years ago. At that time football was more romantic and values still existed. The old lady was a faithful wife with whom you spent the whole life with. 

Now football is business and the club are focused on turnover and profit. No space for feelings anymore. so Juve just think about their future. A future without Del Piero from next year on. In my view this is mistake for two at least two reasons: 1) Del Piero has showed able to sit on the bench without complaints  and he has showed to be ready when Conte puts him in the field - scoring decisive goals. 2) Del Piero presence in the locker room is charismatic and his figure is able to lead the young football players teaching them what playing for Juventus means. Del Piero is a monument that commands respect and mantains order in a team full of new aspiring leaders. These are the reasons why I think it would be right that the knight and the old lady stay toghether also without the passion of a time ago. It´s only another year. 20 years sounds better than 19.

XYRRK77H7FWK

JUVE: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. OF ANDREA LAMBS.

There are many different silences.  Sometimes someone keep silent because he has nothing  to say. There is the silence of the guilty.  That type of silence that’s just waiting to be broken by some noise, as when a seagull suddenly scream in the wind on a sandy beach during winter. There’s the embarrassing silence  between two young lovers without experience. And there’s the silence of the lambs like the title of a famous movie. In Italian football  the silence of the lambs means the silence of Juve.  Because Lambs in Italian is Agnelli - the surname of Juventus’ president Andrea. Agnelli  ordered  all Juventus’ employees to keep silence as a protest against the referees . The silence of the lambs  also means the  Juventus’ silence  because the Italian giant feel innocent and victimized just like poor lambs led to the slaughter house. A sportive slaughter where the dream of glory of 12 million of Juventus supporter is dying . The news blackout decision was in fact a decision taken by Juventus owner after the draw between Genoa and Juventus. A match where Juventus deserved to win  but once again they weren’t able to score goals because of the imprecision of their strikers, but also because of  bad luck. Bad luck disguised also as many referee mistakes. In fact during the match against Genoa referee Rizzoli failed to give a regular goal scored by Pepe (in the pic below) and he didn’t give a penalty for a fault on Matri.

Two enormous mistakes that made Juventus angry. So angry that they remained  without words.  A silence of someone who feels victimized. A silence of protest.  Juventus bemoan the lack of equity of the referee’s judgment. So far in fact Juventus have had just  one useless penalty (against Cesena) despite having an average ball possession of almost 60 % per match. It’s strange. The bad decisions that referees have taken against Juventus so far are more than at least 10.  Some of these mistakes are really evident like the penalties not given to Juve during the matches against Inter , Parma and Siena. Mistakes that in terms of classification mean less points. Points that could be decisive for the challenge to win the Italian title. What Juventus and their supporter think is that the Turin club are still paying for the Italian scandal called Calciopoli in 2006. For that scandal Juventus was relegated to Serie B and lost 2 scudetti. A tough punishment unlike other clubs like Milan, Lazio or inter that was even awarded with a scudetto never won.  Juventus has already paid for their faults (?) and now they don’t want to continue paying for it. Juventus  is in fact convinced that whenever a referee is in doubt he prefers to whistle against Juve. I think what is happening in Serie A is absolutely this. Regardless of which team you support we can’t accept this  type of behavior because those who have already paid for their sins shouldn’t continue to pay indefinitely. I think this is the meaning of  the silence of Juve. The silence of the lambs. The silence Of Andrea Lambs.

AVB: THE AVATAR OF MOU

Porto, Chelsea and Inter: this is Mourinho’ s cv before going to Real Madrid . But it could be AVB’s cv as well, if Inter decide to hire him in the place of coach Ranieri. Jose Mourinho seems to be in the destiny of Andre Villas Boas who appears tied to Josè by a transparent thread.  He’s what Watson is for Sherlock Holmes or what Robin represents for Batman.  He is the vice. It’s his destiny  to live in reflected light. After splitting up from Mou as his vice coach, AVB  is in fact  accustomed to retrace  Mou’s path: Porto, Chelsea and maybe also Inter. Even though sometimes without reaching the same results like his experience at Chelsea taught us. But Moratti, Inter’s  president, doesn’t seem to be interested in this. He wants to repeat again the fantastic moments passed with Mourinho and he’s convinced that the right person to achieve this  difficult target is Andre Villas Boas. The Mourinho Avatar.

Maybe because of the same Portuguese nationality or because  AVB was  the vice of Mou, but anyway Moratti aim to hire the bearded coach. He’s young and good enough looking to sit on Inters bench. And even if Moratti has never forgotten Mourinho  AVB could be a good  surrogate.

At the moment  Moratti  is like a husband unable to forget his wife after splitting up with her. Wounded lovers always look for something similar to the former gf or wife. Blonde like her, extrovert like her, some even choose to stay with their ex gf’s sister. The problem is that  this type of relationship are often temporary and doomed to finish at the first difficulty. Villas boas should be aware of this. Mourinho is another person and he  will always have another story. I think this is one of the main problem for Andre Villas Boas and the main reason of his failure at Chelsea. If AVB will go where Mou was he will always be a spare wheel. He will never be loved like he deserves. In fact Porto, Chelsea or inter could love  him because he smells like Mourinho, seems like Mou and wins almost like him. The comparison with mou is too hard to handle for  Villas Boas and he will never be able to do better than Mou who at Inter wan all he could . If AVB continue to follow in Mou’s footprints he will only be able to win the Oscar as best supporting actor and when he loses he will be defined as the bad copy of Mourinho. So I give him an advice: Please,  stop following Mou. His shadow is too big. 

Andrè, try to be independent. This is the only way to find true love and this is why Inter isn’t a good choice for you.