Livorno host Naples, Not the One in Florida

By: Marco | February 23rd, 2008

Livorno - Napoli

* I just love this picture, it looks like GC Camolese has just been made

Napoli aren’t getting the results they expected after splashing more than 15M$ in the January Market. On top of that, Coach Reja has received the godforsaken vote of confidence :

“Reja’s position has never come into question. He has been a protagonist here for a few years. Maybe sometimes we enjoy ourselves and then put our foot on the accelerator a little too much.

The coach needs to become a psychologist and presidents must help them become just that. We need everyone united to construct and not destroy, to create and not criticise.
I told the team that no-one is to think they have failed. It is much too early to criticise. We will see at the end of the season.”

What De Laurentiiiis meant by the; ” The coach needs to become a psychologist’’ is ” if you lose against Livorno, MANNAGGIA A TE!.’’ Watch out Edy!

Unfortunately for Reja, losing is a real possibility. Livorno needs to obtain 3 points at home, and they have to do so semi-regularly until the season is over. Francesco Tavano is out for this game but Fausto Rossini’s injured as well!!! It evens things out and gives ex-Prato stud Diamanti a chance to polish his skills.

I have a good feeling about this game because Napoli doesn’t have a lethal aerial attack. Livorno will need to be attentive on set pieces once again but if they manage to clear out the loose balls in the Box, picking up all 3 points is a real possibility

What does GC Camolese have to say about this ?

`Siamo sempre usciti a testa alta e abbiamo anche pareggiato con il Milan. Peccato non aver avuto sette giorni per preparare la gara con l´Inter`.

We can hold our head up high. We’ve drawn Milan at home , unfortunately we didn’t not have a week to prepare the Inter clash

`In attacco abbiamo molte alternative. Dovro` fare a meno di Rossini e Volpe per infortunio, ma ci sono Bogdani, Tristan e Diamanti. Inoltre in questi giorni ho provato anche Alvarez piu` avanzato`.
True; Rossini, Volpe and Tavano are injured. But I can still count on the likes of Bogdani, Tristan and Diamanti. I even tried playing Alvarez higher up the pitch this week.

E` una squadra che viene da due stagioni vincenti, ha una buona struttura e un tecnico molto bravo. Inoltre hanno voglia di riscatto dopo il ko di sette giorni fa con l`Empoli. Dovremo fare particolare attenzione a Lavezzi e agli inserimenti di Hamsik`.

Napoli has been winning for 2 years now, they’re well organised and are well coached. Plus the fact they’ll want to get a positive result after their recently poor displays. We need to watch out for Lavezzi and the incursions of Hamsik

This is what happened back in 2007 :

Squads:

Livorno won’t be able to count on Francesco Tavano this time either I’d love to see a Tristan - Diamanti partnership. Diamanti managed to hit the post against Inter and looked dangerous in his little picth time against AC Milan 3 days before. The 2 attackers have the same style of flashy play and would be a joy to watch run together on the counter. But we’ll probably see Bogdani partnering Diamanti again. Non-Summer Signing Sidny will surely sit on the bench for the 1st time this year

Camolese is set to use the good old 3-5-2 formation. Good old close down the opposition with 9 men and then hope to strike a couple past Napoli on the break. The absence of Martin Bergvold means Nico Pulzetti is now officially an attacking midfielder and will start from the first minute. A great pick up by Signorelli via Verona.

LIVORNO (3-5-2):

1 Amelia,
77 Grandoni, 15 Knezevic, 6 Galante,
69 Balleri, 7 Pulzetti, 8 Vidigal, 3 Filippini A., 17 Alvarez,
23 Diamanti, 81 Bogdani.

In panchina: 14 De Lucia, 4 Filippini E., 32 Pavan, 33 Sidny, 11 De Vezze, 26 Pasquale, 22 Diego Tristan.

Allenatore: Camolese.

Napoli will be without flying sensation Zalay(j)eta who’s suspended or something and charismatic Maurizio Domizzi for the Livorno clash.

Matteo Contini will prolly be partnering the non Ballon d’Or winning brother of the Cannavaro family. LAvezzi and Calaio should be ‘’duetting’’ up front

NAPOLI (3-5-2):

30 Navarro,
13 Santacroce, 28 Cannavaro, 96 Contini,
77 Mannini, 8 Blasi, 23 Gargano, 17 Hamsik, 19 Savini, 7
Lavezzi, 11 Calaiò.

In panchina: 22 Gianello, 2 Grava, 4 Montervino, 5 Pazienza, 18 Bogliacino, 24 Dalla Bona, 9 Sosa

Allenatore: Reja.

Prediction : 2-1 Livorno !

Diamanti, Tristan and P. Cannavaro
As long as I don’t need to write something like this on Monday morning : Lunedi Leftovers : Livorno Lose in Leghorn. Don’t give me the opportunity to think of stupid alliterated headlines like that

Forza Labronici ! Dateci la goia della vittoria!