LIVE: Serie A Round 2 Reaction - One big loser as major showdowns loom
Serie A Round 2 is in the books, with Napoli the only major club to suffer defeat. Milan, Juventus and Inter all picked up wins, while Roma face Lecce later today. Join Lorenzo Bettoni, Richard Hall and Giancarlo Rinaldi on the Football Italia LIVE Show as they review all the weekend’s action — from Milan’s 2-0 win and Gonçalo Ramos’ first goal to Juventus’ victory, Como’s stunning triumph at Napoli and Inter’s win over Cagliari. Tune in, and send us your comments during the live show!
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Welcome guys, new episode of the Football Italia live show. Today I'm joined by Richard Hall and Giancarlo Rinaldi. Thank you guys for joining me. >> No, thanks to you. Good to be here. >> A pleasure, a pleasure. >> I'm Lorenzo Bettoni, editor of Football Italia. We're ready to discuss all things round two Serie A. Our headline is one big loser. Uh which sounds a bit tough, but Napoli were the only team to drop points among the top sides. Napoli obviously. Their coach Massimiliano Allegri lost 2-1 against Como. This is something we're going to discuss during today's show, but I want to start with the most recent game, Inter beating Cagliari 1-0. It could have been much more, guys. >> Yeah, don't mind me starting with this one. Yeah, it could have been much more. Caprile, ex-Bari goalkeeper, was fantastic. We discussed that I think last week against Parma. He was brilliant and >> Yeah. >> Yeah, he was he was phenomenal for me in that game. I mean, look, you know, Inter to dissect it really, I suppose the criticism is you've got to put those chances away. You know, that's certainly a criticism I think that they were um a bit lapse in that. We saw that that game against Monza for about 15-minute period. They were a bit not at the races, but I thought here they were pretty consistent in the sense of, you know, the shots on target, for what they managed to do. Um you know, it was good to see it. You've got a headline up there. >> Good to see a little turn out there from Curtis Jones who looked good. Obviously Jon Stead looks impressive when he comes on. But realistically, I thought we saw the best of Barella there for that we'd not seen in a while. I thought that was really good. Hakan on on form again. Um so Inter there's not a lot you can pick holes in, but they Caprile was a fantastic, but they're going to come up against good goalkeepers all the way through the season. So the criticism probably for me is um you know, you've got to hit the back of the net, but look, at the end of the day it's two wins out of two. Um you know, going away to Cagliari there is obviously still quite a warm day there. Um inside there you know is that the sun came down and it yeah, it was for me from an Inter perspective it's it it's a good three points. Um but again, just converting those chances as Kivy mentioned here as well they is really important because against the bigger teams uh not with the greatest respect to Cagliari, they will punish you. >> Kivy's quotes here from last night's press conference actual um post-match interview with Sky Sport Italia. These are your classic games where if you don't kill them off, you can run into trouble. We got a bit chaotic and stretched out in the second half. We panicked by ourselves. We created a lot so if there's any regret, is that we didn't convert more of the many scoring opportunities. Um I did some defensive substitutions as well towards the end of the game. He introduced uh Yann Bisseck and uh his block uh was absolutely brilliant. There was also a very good save from Joseph Martinez. But Inter shouldn't have gone all that way to win the game probably. As as you mentioned uh Richard, Caprile was was excellent for Cagliari. Um where where where do we go from here for Inter, Junk? Do you think it's is the glass half empty or half full for Inter? >> Oh, I I think half full definitely. I think it just that game was uh it felt like a one in a million that they didn't score more goals really. I mean, I think nine games out of 10, they were out of sight before, you know, Cagliari came into it. From from Cagliari's point of view, I think um you know, I noticed on TNT Sports last night the commentators were saying they bet they wished they'd stopped it the game the way they finished it because they did create a few chances. They did have opportunities. I mean, and that is it's always a regret if you don't um um if you don't take your chances, there is always the chance that the game will will come up and and spoil it for you. But, I think they, you know, looking beyond the goals, the performance was was very solid. Um, you know, Salernitana is not the easiest place to go to to to get points. They came away fairly comfortably. And it's they did have to sweat the last 20 minutes, but, you know, I think the introduction of their new players as well, I think that Luke they slotted in pretty well. Both both Jones and Stones, who conveniently rhyme with one another, um, both slotted in pretty well. So, you know, I I would be um, happy if I was a an Interista that, you know, that they're carrying on the work that Juve did last season. They've, you know, the squad looks deep. They've got good attacking options. Everything was was pretty good other than sticking the ball in the net, which which is important, to be fair. But, you know, I think I would be definitely feeling pretty optimistic on on what I've seen so far. >> You mentioned Stones, uh, and Jones. Jones made his absolute Serie A debut, uh, last night coming off as a substitute coming on as a substitute in the second half. Jones Stones was also introduced. I'm going to mix up Stones and Jones quite a lot of times this season. I'm I'm pretty sure about it. Um, he was he had already been introduced. He had already played and made his Serie A debut, uh, last week against Monza. What Givu said about the English pair, "They have quality and experience coming from Manchester City and Liverpool playing with a certain type of pressure. It's their bread and butter. They need to rediscover their fitness levels. John a little more courage to adapt to our style of football, but I have no complaints about their attitude. They put their soul and enthusiasm into it. So, we're pleased to have them with us. Um I agree. I mean, 100% it's glass half full for Inter because at the end of the day they go I think I read something like 30 31 total shots. So, they didn't convert them, but um I mean, it's it's it's very rare that you you create all those goal-scoring chances and then you don't convert at least two or three. So, I think the starting point is but now comes a few big tests for Inter cuz they go Napoli at home next Saturday and then next week they make their debut in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu against Mourinho in their first Champions League game. A few reunions there, Dumfries and Inter obviously, but I need to to double-check again. Probably the last time Inter and Mourinho met at the Bernabeu was uh on a fairly big night >> [laughter] >> at the at 10 in 2010 with Chievo as well playing for playing for Inter. I need to double-check that again, but I don't think it happened that Mourinho and Inter met at the Bernabeu. Uh I mean, in the last in the last 15 or 16 years. I can't remember, but I I need to double-check. What do you expect, guys, from the upcoming Inter games? >> Yeah, the the Napoli game I mean, we're going to get onto Napoli Como. I'm not too concerned at the moment with the games that are coming up into it. You know, when you look at last season managed domestically extremely well. So, the game against Napoli will they'll go in with confidence. You know, that's why it's important whatever happened to get the result over the line against Cagliari. Uh gets momentum there. You know, like you said, no problems with Jones adapting to the system. You know, if he was in the Premier League right now at Manchester City, you know, uh Giancarlo will know from watching some English football as well, you know, the everything's changing. There's a lot of winning teams that are having actually less possession and you know, a countering a lot. Chelsea the other day was ridiculous. It was only like 24, 25% possession. So, you know, he would have had to learn a new system then he would have adapted to it in England and he'll adapt to this here, no problems. He's got the capability. And I think with this you guys have said the strength and depth that Inter have, they can they can rotate. We've seen Esposito start twice, you know, two of them still to to to make a mark yet properly. So, the game against Napoli I think is isn't important one of course because I think we need to benefit and profit off Napoli's current situation after the result against Como. That in turn will then lead into the game against Madrid uh to against Real because realistically Inter are wanting to play at this highest level. That's the next step now. This season has seen, you know, Acerbi has proved himself. He's done that very well domestically, very and quicker than Inter expected him to do that as well. And that's really key in in in saying that he's you know, Inter's expectations and the way they look at Acerbi is is really um he's outshone where he should be. But the next step is playing on the the highest stage. So, to to go to Madrid, yeah, okay, you've got the reunions with with Dumfries and and with Mourinho, but that's also a really a side note. Looking at Madrid and the way they're playing at the moment though, I mean Bellingham's absolutely running the show with the two uh four goals in both of the last two games. They look destructive. Um so, Inter are going to have It's going to be a real test. I think the Madrid game will be an absolute um real real test. I think it could be an excellent game as well. Um so, I think we're in for a bit of a treat there as well for the usual perhaps. >> [laughter] >> But yeah, my my heart rate will be somewhere else. So, yeah, I'm I'm looking forward to it in that sense of Inter and Madrid testing themselves against each other early on. Napoli game again, that's something that uh for me is a real another real test of course it always is playing Napoli, but I think that Inter can be confident going into that with the form they're in. Like you say, they're getting the shots on target, and this is now they'll have It's quite good in a way they've had that Cagliari game to know that they can't miss those chances cuz they won't be able to do that against Napoli or L. >> Let's dive into you mentioned the Napoli game obviously coming up for for Inter. So, let's start talking a little bit about Napoli as well cuz they lost their game against Como yesterday. I have to say the approach that Napoli had wasn't entirely surprising because they basically refused to press for over 50 55 minutes. Then they started to push a bit higher, but they didn't really create anything dangerous for for Como. And is again the big losers, let's say, or the losers, the only big losers in in Serie A round two because they are actually the first top Serie A side to to drop points. What do we make of this Napoli performance and result? Then we'll be talking about Como as well, John. >> Yeah, I mean it's a worrying performance, I would say. I think we know the Allegri style, so it didn't come as a huge surprise in a way. I think interesting It'll be interesting to see in a way Inter will know that they can't afford to waste as many chances against Napoli cuz they probably will sit in and wait for Inter to make the to make the game, but the trouble is, of course, if you play that way, you've got to get the result, and they didn't get the result. There were times especially sort of tail end of the first half where I think the crowd was getting very frustrated at the kind of remissive approach that they had. They were content to watch Como pass it around in front of them and not do anything. And I don't think that, you know, that's not very pleasing to the to the Maradona. They don't like that kind of football. So, you know, that was a worry. Also, a bit of a worry, I think, is how he juggles his midfield as well because, you know, he's got a lot of good midfield players, but I don't know if he knows quite how to fit them all in and get the best out of them. We certainly didn't see the best of Scott McTominay. Um you know, and De Bruyne didn't even start. So, you know, there's questions there definitely to be asked. I mean, flipping that round, Como, it's no surprise to anyone they are a new reality of Italian football. They're a very well-organized side. They've got a clear game plan. Doesn't always work, but they've got a clear game plan. They play it very well, and, you know, they've added well, one one Italian international and pending incoming another Italian international. You know, it's it's amazing to think that, you know, they needed Italian players. What did he do? Go out and buy two players that have got caps for their country. It's not, you know, Como's not going out and buying in the in the bargain bucket. They're absolutely going to the to the best of the best of kits. So, you know, in a way, surprise, not surprise that result. But I worry for I worry for Napoli definitely. Early signs not great that the kind of the the transition to the new to the new coach is going so well. It was a nice, you know, nice goal from Hoyland, but as you see, I do think I don't feel they did enough for a team that, you know, should be um giving Como more to think about than they did. Um there are a few worries and a few worries about maybe players kind of coming to the end of their natural shelf life as well. You know, I think there are some players there that have been great servants to Napoli, but maybe even the time has come to turn to a new chapter and that's going to be that's going to be tricky as well. >> Yeah, some quotes from Allegri yesterday. All right, go on. Go on. Go on. >> I just going to I just going to just going to back that up I seen a frustration that for for Napoli which Giancarlo mentioned correctly really because I think that you know, they're looking to that control that possession and the point about the midfield is 100% correct because they really I mean yeah, they struggle to convert chances as well like into you know, Vitesse is obviously playing well again like he always does. But but I just feel like with Como and Fabregas in himself who by the way his dress sense was amazing and he'd just have a catwalk in in the at home for him because it's just he was ridiculous. Sorry, but no, their attack I mean you had Pagliuca Bettenia and Divi Cass and they just literally ran through Napoli at times and it is a quick tempo. I'm just I'm just starting to think and now I'm not saying that Allegri is dated and that's not something I want to get pelters for on here. But I'm just wondering that shift as I mentioned before to see it's almost the anti-possession starting to seep in a little bit and there's a lot of fast pace now, a lot of countering, a lot of teams are winning less possession. I just wonder if they're we're seeing a bit of a tactical shift that maybe doesn't suit Allegri and that Napoli team and he's going to have to do some quick thinking about it, but I just back up what Giancarlo said it was a bit worrying for Napoli. >> We got a few message from Sam before this message. He also asked about Romano and Tersoldi potentially playing for Italy. We might discuss this later today or in the coming video Sam, but talking about Napoli, Vergara scores and assists the week before and Allegri doesn't start him or even bring him off the bench. Fabio and Vergara should be starting. To be fair, yesterday the Napoli defense looked terrible. I think at least three quarters of the Napoli defense. I know Giovanni Di Lorenzo doesn't doesn't please many of the Italy fans, some of the Napoli fans as well, but I think among all the four defenders, it was the at least most decent one. Rahman he made that mistake even even though you know the the Como goal, the second one was I think mostly due to Anguissa rashy back pass which left Rahman in trouble, but then Olivera as well was quite weak on the on the pass that led to the Diarra and then Baturina's goal. There were there are a lot of things to be reviewed in the Napoli defense, but I think this is something that we could expect as well because Alessandro Buongiorno will stay out for I think until January and he was arguably the the best defender is arguably the the best center back. Badia Shile coming from Chelsea, Allegri said he's still a little bit behind. It was clear that Napoli needed probably a stronger center back because Matuidi also got a long term injury. Berisha is not fully fit, he's on and off the field. So I would expect those type of um of sluggish defensive performances from Napoli. What it is that quite expect um perhaps wrongly was Anguissa still being so sloppy, Anguissa still being so slow with the ball at his feet and I think given what we saw yesterday, Kevin De Bruyne has to be a starter 100% for Napoli because when he was subbed on, that was when Napoli were able to press a little bit higher and provide a few through balls Uh, the strikers. I understand he's still not fully fit, but I think if there's a doubt on Anguissa and De Bruyne right now, it has to be De Bruyne 100%. What do you think, Jack? >> No, no doubt. I mean, with the greatest respect to Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne is at his peak, one of the one of Europe's best midfielders, you know, so I think maybe, you know, if he's not 100% fit, then that's a different That's a different discussion, but, you know, the the De Bruyne, I mean, remember when he signed the excitement that there was. He's a big name in football, and I think you should be doing everything you can to get him into your team cuz he's a he's a match winner. He's a match influencer on his own, you know, so I think definitely, I mean, obviously, when results go badly, when you make a mistake, it's easy to say, "Yeah, yeah, he should start over him." But, I do think that, you know, their their career history speaks for itself, and that, you know, that's a big investment that Napoli's made there to have sitting kicking his heels on the on the sideline. I think they need to find a way to get him in a and a way to get the best out of him as well, which, you know, was something they struggled with a bit last season as well. Um, this sort of coexistence with McTominay has not proved straightforward, but, you know, that's what coaches get paid big money for. What it is coming up with an idea, a way of getting the best out of the players that they've got. So, you know, that's that's absolutely vital, I think, from uh, from from from Napoli's point of view. And I I see I see somebody making the point. Yeah, I mean, it's a sad point that there were only two Italians on the pitch, both over both over 30. I think that I I mean, globally, I think you could look at one game, we know Como don't have a big Italian contingent. There are teams that don't. I think globally Serie A, there are some quite exciting young Italian players coming in now and we saw them in other games. But yeah, it's still a worry and it's still a worry for as you see an issue to be discussed more fully in another another chat, but you know, it's it's it's a worry for as Sandy Martinez said, it's a worry for Italy, it's a worry for Mancini if these boys are are not playing much. I don't think I don't necessarily agree that Liberale, Ricci and Kean won't get much game time for for Como. I think they're certainly, you know, Ricci didn't get much game time previously. So he can probably only only increase his game time. Um Liberale and Kean are different arguments, but I would expect Kean to get a decent showing. So, you know, that that I don't buy so much, but yeah, if it was going back to the original point, Kevin De Bruyne, I think has got to be, you know, there has to be a really strong reason not to start Kevin De Bruyne in in games, I would suggest. >> Yeah, and I was going to say as well, if you don't mind me adding to that, I think it's a really good point. The worry with Kevin De Bruyne is is I agree with you massively that the investment on him, he has to start. If he's fit, he starts. My worry is when we've talked about the season and we talked about we talked about it before in the squad depth. You look