And by bitch I mean bite a donkey in the ass…

After an woeful season, Livorno are already relegated to Serie B. If you ask me, this was meant to happen ever since Alessandro Diamanti was sold to West Ham in August, let alone Antonio Candreva in January or the firing(s) of Serse Cosmi.

Livorno is mathematically in Serie B. Using a lazio fans logic they should just send out the Primavera squad and try out some stuff.

No need to win right ? Wrong ! A Labronico is a far different animal than a lazio fan Donkey.

I’m all for a few years of Serie B\C with a side of youth development before coming back with a vengeance but Livorno have the chance to leave Serie A in style while trying to drag lazio down with them.

Of course, Aldo Spinelli, the one to blame, had something to say :

“On Sunday, it will be our aim to defeat lazio, for the good of the game in Italy,” the outgoing owner told the media.

“I saw the match, and I refer to it as a ‘non-match’. “It was an ugly thing to see, and very ugly for the game of football,”

In all due respect ; Fuck You Aldo ! Spinelli is in no position to talk. His actions have caused Livorno’s whole season to look like lazio’s performance against Inter.

Aldo has no business talking about ethics, ”non matches” or the good of football. He’s a dirty handed douche (Remember him helping out Moggi with that Mutu transfer?)

The only things we agree about is the aim to defeat lazio and him wanting to get rid of the Club.

The political leanings of Livorno’s fan base, let alone the entire city, always give a match with lazio that Derby feel.

Why ? Livorno is the birthplace of the Italian Communist Party AND Cristiano Lucarelli.

Add to that the fact that Livorno and lazio fans don’t seem to realise Antonio Gramsci and Benito Mussolini are dead. They are like the Japanese man in the forest that doesn’t know the war is over. I, for one, am also in denial but only about Antonio Gramsci.

Also, I’m a proud Romanista (You know how some fans love a small club and a big one ? Well Livorno just happened to jolt from Serie C to UEFA Cup in 17 years) Even though a visit to The Italian Offside’s comment sections makes this hard for me to say it out loud on this blog. (The street isn’t a problem) and would wish nothing more than to see Lucarelli score a hat trick against Lazio this weekend.

Benito Mussolini’s favourite club will always mention that they’re the first club of Rome. They never fail to remind the world of how much of a pure, non bastard club that is not ”gemellatta con dei Napoletani” they represent.

However as of May 2nd 2010 Lazio is forever known as a : ”gemellatta con dei Milanese del Nord” (and of course bestiality, that stain will never go away)

I just wish Serse Cosmi, a hard working, proud Italian man who tried to inject some pride would be the one leading Livorno on to the pitch this Sunday. Cap, sunglasses and all around bad assness.

Forza Labronici !

Livorno need more than just Divine intervention…

They need Chuck Norris !

 FORZA LABRONICI !

Forza Labronici

Bari

Inter

“Some football players pay a billion for a Ferrari or a yacht; with that money I bought myself Livorno’s shirt. That’s all.”

Say what you want about the past, Cristiano is more than just a poster child of Livorno Calcio, Lucarelli IS Livorno Calcio. He’s what the Amaranto colour is all about ; grinta, attegiamento e passione : Non si molla mai ! Not many players have the crest of their team tattooed on their arm.

At the end of the day, would it be in Spain or in the middle of mining town, Ukraine, Lucarelli is and will always be Livorno’s son. This is why he’s allowed to go backpacking through Europe if he wants to find out whatever he needs, especially that his backpacking paid part of Livorno’s bills.

Ask any old school Labronici, Cristiano is part of a very small club of Livorno Legends. The best known is probably Igor Protti, his partner in crime during the historical Serie A promotion years. The second being Armando Picchi, the man who’s name is on the stadium in Livorno. Picchi played for Livorno from 1954 to 1959 also managing the Amaranto in 1970-71. However, Picchi is best known for being the Libero extraordinaire of Helenio Herrera’s Grande Inter of the 60’s.

There’s Mario Magnozzi and Alfredo Pitto, part of the great Livorno squads of the 30’s and 40’s who battled it out with Torino and Inter for the big prize. Livorno almost won the scudetto in 1942-43, finishing 2nd. Both of them were Azzurri and played when the ball was brown and still had stitches.

Then Miguel Vitulano, born in Puglia but grew up in Argentina, the silky midfielder was a legend during the dark Serie C years of the 70’s, namely for scoring ” a goal for the ages” against Pisa in 1979. All passed on except for Protti, only Lucarelli still lives on.

The big tuscan still has time to forge his name deeper in the minds of the Livorno faithful. Good thing Livorno and Lucarelli have motivator extraordinaire, Serse Cosmi to inject some more passion. Lucarelli needs to continue pulling Livorno to salvezza, leading the way with enthusiasm, experience and goals ; like a true legend.

When the going gets tought the Lucarelli gets going. Cosmi warned his players before the game : ”In time of doubt, follow our Captain’s lead”

Highlights after the jump :

Lucarelli’s tripletta was enough to get a well deserved point on a day were Lazio, Siena and Atalanta do not move up in the standings.

Firza Ragazzi ! Salviamoci ancora !

Thank god Roma usually brings the best out of us

Hey Serse what you sayin’ ?

“I can’t fault my men for their recent performances. We are missing that little bit of luck”

Serse, Roma are all but Mathematically out of the Scudetto race and their fans would like nothing more than to see Lazio in Serie B so why not run out the Primavera side ?

“I could even ask for one, but I doubt Roma will be doing us any favours next week. The Lupi have their own position in the standings to worry about as do we.

With 11 games left there is still a lot to play for. We mustn’t lose hope given the number of head-to-heads that we will host at the Armando Picchi.”

Forza Labronici !

The Bologna game is not a ”Must Win” but it’s definetely a ”Better not Motherfucjing Lose”.

Fortunately for Livorno, not since Roberto Donadoni, have Livorno fans had so much faith in their Coach. The Labronici are clearly riding the enthusiasm wave Cosmi has brought to Livorno. Ironically, his 2 day long resignation demonstrated just how Cosmi is commited to Livorno and serious about his Serie A coaching career.

Obviously, Cosmi’s cut throat, never say die seriousness has rubbed off on Livorno ; Tifosi and players. Even Spinelli has traded in the luck yellow raincoat, flipping the bird to superstition and saying hello to hardwork.

The Amaranto (it’s invariable god damn it) are coming off two draws with Juve and Milan, even unlucky at not winning at least one. But the upcoming games against Bologna, Atalanta and Catania will be more important to the arduous road to Serie A 2010\11

Livorno might be in 17th place only, but with one of the thinest payroll rosters in Serie A, this enthusiasm is justified.

Forza Labronici !

Milan and Juventus, back to back draws, not to shabby. Antonio Filippini scores on a header in between Nicola – I Love Jesus in an innapropriate way – Legrotaglie, Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini ! Legrotaglie’s goal was offside, , Mirko Pieri and De Lucia haven't played recently, Luigi Vitale has crazy pace and accurate crosses, Diniz is semi decent, Rubinho seemed solid, Spinelli is a crazy old man and Serse Cosmi is wearing funkier outfits every week. You gotta love these commies ;

” The recent results show the solidity of this team,” Cosmi declared shortly after the game.

“A result against Milan at the San Siro and the Juve performance demonstrate we also have a decent technical ability to be able to compete with the big boys.

“We are finally getting to the levels which I have been looking for and now we must try to continue from here in order to start notching up a few more points.

“There was a period of ten minutes when Juventus looked extremely tired and I was a little angry with the fact we didn’t believe in ourselves enough to find the killer blow.

“Nevertheless, given the manner in which the visitors levelled the scoring from an offside position I can take nothing away from my men this evening for their attitude and display against a Juventus side in desperate need of a victory.

The coach then weighed in on debutant Rubinho, who made his debut for Livorno sticks following his switch from Palermo.

“Rubinho played a good game, even if I never doubted his ability to integrate into this side given his experience,”

Which is Serse speak for Alfonso De Lucia is an unstable individual. De Lucia is ok, but Rubinho is better and it took everybody 12 minutes to notice it.

Long road ahead but it’s hard not to get a little enthused about are survival hopes…How great it is to be looking down at Lazio