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Calcio Debate: Italian Football's 10 Absolute Musts For 2010
As the new year kicks off in Serie A, Kris Voakes outlines the most important issues which lie ahead over the next 12 months in Italy.
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Jan 6, 2010 1:00:23 PM
1. INTER MUST NOT RUN AWAY WITH THE TITLE…
Let’s start with the obvious one. It’s been far too long since we’ve had a true title race in Serie A and the Italian league will not be taken seriously until we do. Inter’s last day triumph in 2008 couldn’t even really be classed as a title race, more a stumbling finale from the Nerazzurri which teased Roma supporters before breaking their hearts. And Inter themselves will only be taken seriously as champions once they’ve been truly forced to earn the crown.
2…BUT IF THEY DO, THEY MUST REACH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
If we’re all still chomping on our Easter chocolate when the Nerazzurri clinch the title, then it’s important that they’re still in the running for the European crown as well. Another last 16 failure just won’t cut it with international observers. Such failure, coupled to further success at home, would only increase the number of claims that the Italian game’s day has gone. The Beneamata must finally collect something more tangible to show for their domestic dominance.
3. ITALY MUST TOPPLE A TOP DOG AT THE WORLD CUP
Given their draw, the Azzurri should reach the quarter-finals at the very least in South Africa this summer, but that shouldn’t be seen as a satisfactory result in itself. For unless, by some quirk of fate, they’ve had to negotiate Germany in the last 16, they will not have tackled anyone notable. A quarter-final rematch with Euro 2008 conquerors Spain is a distinct possibility, and it’s a game Italy must win if their campaign is to be deemed a success. Anything thereafter is a bonus.
4. A ‘MINNOW’ MUST QUALIFY FOR NEXT SEASON’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Whilst the English football’s ‘Top Four’ (TM) have bossed much of the Champions League in the past four years, this has been much to the detriment of the rest of the Premier League. The recent re-emergence of Fiorentina in the latter stages has been great news for calcio, but it mustn’t stop there. One of Juventus, Milan, Inter and Roma/Fiorentina must be pipped each year if Italian football is to continue progressing. Step forward Parma, or Palermo, or even…
5. NAPOLI MUST QUALIFY FOR AT LEAST THE EUROPA LEAGUE
It’s the Azzurri’s best chance in years to trouble the top table in Europe once more. A summer of clever spending (though they still need to do something about their porous defence) and the replacement of Roberto Donadoni with Walter Mazzarri in the dugout have left the Vesuviani well placed at the turn of the year. A good run in Europe – unlike 2008-09’s truncated effort – would reignite worldwide romance with lapsed followers of one of the peninsula’s best supported clubs.
6. CLUBS MUST NOT RUSH INTO THE QUEUE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT
For every Roman Abramovich, there’s an Ali Al-Faraj. Italian clubs must learn from previous lessons (see Fiorentina, Napoli, Parma, Lazio et al), as well as from the difficulties striking some clubs in the richer Premier League, when considering promised injections of cash. Roma president Rosella Sensi has been castigated by supporters for rejecting bids to buy the heavily-indebted club, but if her reasons for doing so are based on the aforementioned lessons, then one can only hope that her’s is an example which is followed by others.
7. THE PLANNED BREAKAWAY MUST HAVE REAL SUBSTANCE
In August, we should see the beginning of a brand new Serie A, standing alone from the rest of the current Lega Calcio. It’s a move brought about by the Serie A clubs’ resentment of €80m a year payments fed down to Serie B clubs. But the breakaway must be about more than just money. It needs to have its real roots in ideas on how to market the game better and ways of improving the matchday experience for fans all over the country. Otherwise, we’ll be entering 2020 with Calcio’s administration 20 years behind the times instead of the current 10.
8. THE PLANNED STADIUM PROJECTS MUST GO AHEAD (AND MULTIPLY)
Roma, Fiorentina and Juventus are the notable names to have developed plans for new stadia as Italian clubs look to emulate one of the real positives in the development of European (most notably English) football in the past 20 years. Whilst the atmospheres generated at Italian grounds should not be diluted, it is vital that the matchday experience and hospitality become less like Bergamo and more like Bayern.
9. ITALY MUST GAIN THE STAGING RIGHTS FOR EURO 2016
This would make No. 8 more likely, and would also give the Italian authorities a second chance to make good on promises, after the debacle that was the long term legacy of Italia ’90. Of the 11 stadia touted for staging rights, only two (San Siro and Rome’s Olimpico) would remain untouched, as new grounds and renovations become the order of the day. To add to the stadia, Italian football also needs the opportunity to show that it can run the tournament on a general organisational level. But if they get the nod in May's ballot, they MUST NOT screw it up.
10. JOSE MOURINHO MUST LEAVE INTER
The ‘Special One’ has yet to deliver the European form for which he was brought to Italy by Massimo Moratti, but, beyond that he’s managed to make Inter as disliked on the peninsula as Juventus. The Portuguese clearly isn’t having fun in the San Siro dugout, and has made enemies amongst peers, and amongst the press, with his sometimes childish responses to challenging questions. His days seem numbered whatever Inter do and don’t win in May, with Liverpool and Manchester City amongst possible destinations, and the sooner the experiment is ended at Via Durini, the better for all concerned.
Kris Voakes, Goal.com
Let’s start with the obvious one. It’s been far too long since we’ve had a true title race in Serie A and the Italian league will not be taken seriously until we do. Inter’s last day triumph in 2008 couldn’t even really be classed as a title race, more a stumbling finale from the Nerazzurri which teased Roma supporters before breaking their hearts. And Inter themselves will only be taken seriously as champions once they’ve been truly forced to earn the crown.
2…BUT IF THEY DO, THEY MUST REACH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
If we’re all still chomping on our Easter chocolate when the Nerazzurri clinch the title, then it’s important that they’re still in the running for the European crown as well. Another last 16 failure just won’t cut it with international observers. Such failure, coupled to further success at home, would only increase the number of claims that the Italian game’s day has gone. The Beneamata must finally collect something more tangible to show for their domestic dominance.
3. ITALY MUST TOPPLE A TOP DOG AT THE WORLD CUP
Given their draw, the Azzurri should reach the quarter-finals at the very least in South Africa this summer, but that shouldn’t be seen as a satisfactory result in itself. For unless, by some quirk of fate, they’ve had to negotiate Germany in the last 16, they will not have tackled anyone notable. A quarter-final rematch with Euro 2008 conquerors Spain is a distinct possibility, and it’s a game Italy must win if their campaign is to be deemed a success. Anything thereafter is a bonus.
4. A ‘MINNOW’ MUST QUALIFY FOR NEXT SEASON’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Whilst the English football’s ‘Top Four’ (TM) have bossed much of the Champions League in the past four years, this has been much to the detriment of the rest of the Premier League. The recent re-emergence of Fiorentina in the latter stages has been great news for calcio, but it mustn’t stop there. One of Juventus, Milan, Inter and Roma/Fiorentina must be pipped each year if Italian football is to continue progressing. Step forward Parma, or Palermo, or even…
5. NAPOLI MUST QUALIFY FOR AT LEAST THE EUROPA LEAGUE
It’s the Azzurri’s best chance in years to trouble the top table in Europe once more. A summer of clever spending (though they still need to do something about their porous defence) and the replacement of Roberto Donadoni with Walter Mazzarri in the dugout have left the Vesuviani well placed at the turn of the year. A good run in Europe – unlike 2008-09’s truncated effort – would reignite worldwide romance with lapsed followers of one of the peninsula’s best supported clubs.
6. CLUBS MUST NOT RUSH INTO THE QUEUE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT
For every Roman Abramovich, there’s an Ali Al-Faraj. Italian clubs must learn from previous lessons (see Fiorentina, Napoli, Parma, Lazio et al), as well as from the difficulties striking some clubs in the richer Premier League, when considering promised injections of cash. Roma president Rosella Sensi has been castigated by supporters for rejecting bids to buy the heavily-indebted club, but if her reasons for doing so are based on the aforementioned lessons, then one can only hope that her’s is an example which is followed by others.
7. THE PLANNED BREAKAWAY MUST HAVE REAL SUBSTANCE
In August, we should see the beginning of a brand new Serie A, standing alone from the rest of the current Lega Calcio. It’s a move brought about by the Serie A clubs’ resentment of €80m a year payments fed down to Serie B clubs. But the breakaway must be about more than just money. It needs to have its real roots in ideas on how to market the game better and ways of improving the matchday experience for fans all over the country. Otherwise, we’ll be entering 2020 with Calcio’s administration 20 years behind the times instead of the current 10.
8. THE PLANNED STADIUM PROJECTS MUST GO AHEAD (AND MULTIPLY)
Roma, Fiorentina and Juventus are the notable names to have developed plans for new stadia as Italian clubs look to emulate one of the real positives in the development of European (most notably English) football in the past 20 years. Whilst the atmospheres generated at Italian grounds should not be diluted, it is vital that the matchday experience and hospitality become less like Bergamo and more like Bayern.
9. ITALY MUST GAIN THE STAGING RIGHTS FOR EURO 2016
This would make No. 8 more likely, and would also give the Italian authorities a second chance to make good on promises, after the debacle that was the long term legacy of Italia ’90. Of the 11 stadia touted for staging rights, only two (San Siro and Rome’s Olimpico) would remain untouched, as new grounds and renovations become the order of the day. To add to the stadia, Italian football also needs the opportunity to show that it can run the tournament on a general organisational level. But if they get the nod in May's ballot, they MUST NOT screw it up.
10. JOSE MOURINHO MUST LEAVE INTER
The ‘Special One’ has yet to deliver the European form for which he was brought to Italy by Massimo Moratti, but, beyond that he’s managed to make Inter as disliked on the peninsula as Juventus. The Portuguese clearly isn’t having fun in the San Siro dugout, and has made enemies amongst peers, and amongst the press, with his sometimes childish responses to challenging questions. His days seem numbered whatever Inter do and don’t win in May, with Liverpool and Manchester City amongst possible destinations, and the sooner the experiment is ended at Via Durini, the better for all concerned.
Kris Voakes, Goal.com
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