Livorno vs a Team from Torino that isn’t Torino

By: Marco | January 25th, 2008

* Maybe you’ve seen this image 420 times now, but i kind of like it, I’m sure Roberto LOVES it!

Rubentus, i mean Juventus is coming to town! The northern Zebras are coming to the Picchi on Sunday, for once they’ll feel right at home playing in a stadium filled with about 10,000 fans. On their part, Livorno finally gets a little national/international exposure and a chance to avenge that humiliating game 1 loss in Turin.

Fernando Orsi’s short lived stint as Livorno gaffer started with that 5-1 loss to Juventus on the 1st matchday of the season. That game is a prime example of how bloody woeful Livorno looked at the beginning of the season; disorganised, unfit, poorly defending set pieces, giving up stupid penalties, all around Serie B-esque.

On the positive side of things, it also clearly demonstrates how far the Tuscan squad has come under the helm of Giancarlo Camolese. They looked headed straight to Serie B at the beginning of the season, but since Giancarlo Camolese’s appointment, Cagliari has taken over Livorno’s place.

Tavano now has 9 goals and Livorno is on a 9 game unbeaten streak. The Labronici have been completely rebooted and are looking to continue climbing the table. Juventus is the only ”big” team Livorno hasn’t drawn this season (it helps that we haven’t played AC Milan yet)

Livorno DS Elio Signorelli (yes, it’s shocking but Livorno has a DS, Livorno isn’t an Aldo Spinelli one man band) talked about the upcoming league game against Juventus, on the Radio;

“Everyone is talking about this game, We shall honour the enormous value of Claudio Ranieri’s squad.”

This is what happened last time they met;

Is it legitimate to think Livorno can take some points from their second Juventus game of the season? Aldo Spinelli sure thinks so. The Livorno President was blabbing on the Radio, as well, this week saying how ; “Against Juventus we shall make ourselves respected and we shall play our game ” “We are finally seeing some light again, The Camolese cure is the right one because the coach manages to use the strength of 26 players.” confirmed Spinelli

Inter and Roma tasted the mighty strength that is The Tavano/Tristan attack, both taking away only 1 Serie A miles from their stay at the Armando Picchi Bed and Breakfast (Michelin Rating - 3 stars!) Livorno might want to continue their unbeaten streak to 10 seeing how it’s a nice 2 digit number and all. Let’s see what Claudio Ranieri and Juventus bring on for this game.

La Squadra Labronica has managed to yield 21 points so far, which good enough for 13th place in Serie A. Livorno can boast more points than Lazio, Torino and Parma. Salvation looks like a better bet than 4 months ago

Squads:

Livorno,The Labronici, The Amaranto Squad a.k.a the Burgundy Liberation Army

The Livorno midfield is still decimated by injuries, At least, GC Camolese gets E. Fillipini a.k.a. the Good twin, back from suspension so he (and WE) won’t need to witness Massimo Loviso’s awful midfield displays. Jose Vidigal has been solid so far, since his return and he’ll likely fill out the Centre of midfield with Daniele De Vezze.

Juventus will be without usual suspects Zebina, Chiellini, Camoranesi and Andrade but they still can count on Gigi Buffon so you can’t really consider them to be ”decimated” by injuries. This just IN; Gigi is OUT!

The player that scares me the most on this Juve squad, apart from Argie/Frenchy Trezegol, is Marco Marchionni. The former Parma wing man is underrated à la Enzo Maresca, but this guy is dangerous. The little winger is quick on the wing and can whip in some wicked crosses from the flank. Giovanni Pasquale will have his hands full, trying to mark Marchionni out of the game. But he probably won’t play. (* Actually he’s out, remind me not to take to much advance previewing games)

GIGI BUFFON will also be missing the clash. The Inter-Juve, Coppa Italia game was too intense for Gigi and he’ll be missing the Livorno game, Thank You Soccer gods. Marco Amelia will have the joy of playing Juventus and still being the best goalkeeper on the field. It’s probably a first!

Juventus don’t have what you call, dangerous defensive backs. Birindelli is getting old and Cristian Molinaro, albeit talented, ain’t no Gianluca Zambrotta. Let’s hope that the Amaranto midfield (basically Daniele De Vezze ) will be able to exploit the right side of the field to send some decent balls to Diego Tristan and Ciccio Tavano.

I’m hoping Juventus will have their minds on next weeks Coppa game vs Inter or the Boumsong saga or the fact that Tiago sucks and they have 6 days left to place him in England or Sissoko or even Gianni Agnelli’s memory…. One thing is for sure; Juventus will probably underestimate Livorno or have their heads somewhere else.

Squads:

Juventus:
4-4-2

Belardi
Birindelli, Legrottaglie, Grygera, Molinaro;
Salihamdzic, Nocerino, C. Zanetti, Nedved;
Del Piero, Trezeguet

Bench : Vanstrattan, Ariaudo, Boumsong, Castiglia, Tiago, Palladino, Iaquinta

Livorno

Good old 3-5-2 a.k.a 5-3-2

Marco Amelia;
Alè Grandoni, Dario Knezevic , Fabio Galante;
Davide Balleri, Jose Vidigal, Daniele ”DDV” De Vezze, Nico Pulzetti, G. Pasquale;
Diego Tristan and Francesco Tavano

Bench: De Lucia, Pavan, Rezaei, A. and E. Filippini, Diamanti, Bogdani.
Prediction:

Seeing how i’m now 2 for 2 in my predictions this year, millions, maybe more, of people are picking their bets based on my diagnosis. My system is extremely complex (it takes into account such factors as wind,stats,temperature, player body heat and Aldo Spinelli’s recent bowel movements, it has to be considered scientific, so diagnosis is a correct word )

Unfortunately for Livorno, Juventus are looking to end their non-winning streak and i think it’s going to happen in Livorno. Taking three points from the Tinkerman’s squad will be hard,GC Camolese is with me on this one, altough he said durissima, a more intense, more feminin, version of hard.

The -Fuck Juve-Go Livorno- part of my brain is saying hell we can surprise Juventus and their NHL referee shirt wearing asses, unfortunately the -eat your vegetables and exercise- part of my brain is saying don’t bet on Livorno.

2-1 loss seeing how the defence is tighter and more compact now, and i get the feeling that Diego Tristan likes shining against the big boys so he’ll get the go ahead goal before the Zebras figure out the way to get past the 9 man Livorno wall twice by going over it.

Forza Ragazzi!