SSC Napoli

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Hammer blow on cards as Napoli look for former hero Zola's return
– By Jason Burt – Wednesday October 07 2009

NAPOLI have asked West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola and two other senior officials to quit and join the Italian club. Napoli yesterday confirmed that they had sacked coach Roberto Donadoni, and they are hoping to exploit the growing tension between West Ham's owners, CB Holdings, and the management trio of Zola, technical director Gianluca Nani and chief executive Scott Duxbury.

Zola, Nani and Duxbury are close to each other and have formed a strong triumvirate at West Ham, but they have grown frustrated at the lack of backing they feel they have received from CB Holdings, a company set up by the Icelandic bank Straumur and other creditors to take control of the club after the collapse of the business empire of previous owner, Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

Napoli yesterday appointed Walter Mazzarri as Donadoni's replacement, but it is understood that the Serie A club's ambitious owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, an Italian film producer, is prepared to make another change next summer -- or even before then, should Zola decide to leave.

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Toni says no to Zola: 'Italy is my first choice, if Napoli call...'

The new Napoli of Mazzarri dreams of the trio Lavezzi-Quagliarella-Toni. He's got the first two already, but for Toni there are only rumors for a possible transfer in January. The Italian forward is not finding space at Van Gaal's Bayern, and can't wait to return to Italy, an important step to have some chance to play the World Cup in South Africa next year.

"Napoli is an important club - said Luca Toni to Kiss Kiss - with fantastic supporters. The president, De Laurentiis, is doing great things. Let's see what is going to happen, it is too early now. Quagliarella and Lavezzi are two great attackers and I am sure we could form a great trio".

"It's not a very good moment at Bayern - added Toni - we'll see what to do in these months. If this is what the coach wants, there is no problem for me to play in the substitutes team. What is important is to return in good shape. My experience in Germany has been positive overall, I scored 60 goals in two years. But it'll be good to return to Italy now, this is my first choice. Last year I couldn't perform as I wanted, but now I am well and I want my chances for a cap in the national team. It will be my last world cup, I won one already, and I want to try again".

Source: http://www.calciomercato.com/index.php?c=46&a=146235

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What formation will Mazzari deploy at Napoli, do we think?

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Napoli party like it’s 1988
– Written by JAMES HORNCASTLE – 2/11/09

The last time Napoli won at the Olimpico in Turin against Juventus was on a cold November day in 1988. Diego Maradona and Ciro Ferrara were wearing Azzurro, as Napoli romped their way to a famous 5-3 victory that is still spoken about today in the unofficial capital of southern Italy.

Fabio Cannavaro, another of Napoli’s favourite sons, wasn’t yet old enough to play for the first team then. He was still serving out his apprenticeship as a ball boy at the San Paolo. However, that game certainly did leave a lasting impression on him, as it did on all the Partenopei faithful.

It wasn’t good enough to win Napoli a second Scudetto. That would come the following year. Because the 1988-89 season belonged to Giovanni Trapattoni’s Inter dei record, a team inspired by two Germans who wrote a new page in calcio’s history books, making the Nerazzurri the highest points scoring team in the era of two points for a win.

Flash forward just over 20 years and it’s a bit like Groundhog Day. Napoli came back from 2-0 down to beat Juventus 3-2 at the Olimpico – this time with Ferrara and Cannavaro on the opposite touchline – and Inter stretched their lead at the top, making them clear favourites to equal arguably the most hallowed record in Italian football; that of Il Grande Torino, the team that won five straight Scudetti before the tragic air disaster at Superga in 1949.

However, let’s leave Inter aside, for as November begins, it’s perhaps only right that Napoli are crowned kings of October. The Partenopei have won three and drawn one of their last four games, which, as La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out on Sunday, is the form of a Scudetto winning side.

The man behind their resurgence is Walter Mazzarri, the Tuscan tactician, who proved he could turn any team around when he kept little Reggina in Serie A despite a 15-point penalty – later reduced to 11 – that was imposed on the humble Calabrian outfit after the Calciopoli scandal in 2006.

When the 48-year-old replaced Roberto Donadoni on October 6, he took over a team in turmoil. Despite spending €49.7m on six new players in the summer, Napoli won just two of their opening seven games in Serie A. Pierpaolo Marino, the club’s long-time director of sport, was sacked live on TV by Aurelio De Laurentiis after the Partenopei beat Siena 2-1 on September 27.

The dead man walking that was Donadoni then blamed Marino for buying players that didn’t suit his system, implying that he had to stick with the underperforming and some would say outdated 3-5-2 system he inherited from his predecessor Edy Reja.

That excuse simply didn’t wash with the movie mogul and increasingly diva-like De Laurentiis who had by now resumed his old habit of appearing in the dressing room before, during and after games; remember De Laurentiis is the man who once came down from the stands at the San Paolo to tell Reja that he would have “laid his handsâ€

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Maggio ‘deserved’ Azzurri nod
Monday 9 November, 2009
Christian Maggio was rightly named in the Italy squad for November’s brace of friendlies, the Napoli player’s agent has stated.

Maggio has been included in the squad for the games against Holland and Sweden after a return to form.

“The call-up was very satisfying for Christian and he deserved it,â€

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Napoli not in the market for strikers

Napoli director of sport Riccardo Bigon has caused something of a shock by saying the club will not sign any strikers in the January transfer window.

Fabio Quagliarella has struggled to settle up front since joining from Udinese in the summer, while Erwin Hoffer has also rarely featured.

Napoli have been linked with the likes of Luca Toni and speculation that they would make a bid for the Bayern Munich striker reached fever pitch late last week.

Toni reacted badly to being substituted by Bayern at the weekend and instead of returning to the bench, he got in his car and left the Allianz Arena.

He has since been fined.

Speaking to Marte Sport Live, Bigon said: “The attack will be the only area in which we won't intervene, because it's where we have numbers and quality.”

Finally Bigon was asked about reports linking Napoli with a move for Liverfekkin'wankscum full-back Andrea Dossena.

“It would be hypocritical of me to say that he isn't a good player, but I am not the only one who says so, his career speaks volumes as well,” Bigon concluded.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/nov10m.html

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Napoli join race for Candreva
Tuesday 17 November, 2009
Napoli look set to battle Juventus and Inter for Italy international midfielder Antonio Candreva, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

The 22-year-old midfielder made his full international debut against Holland on Saturday and is currently the flavour of the month in Serie A.

Candreva has been on loan at Livorno since last season, although his ownership is a matter of some debate with parent club Udinese.

However, it appears likely that he will leave for one of Italy's big clubs in the summer and Napoli feel they can compete with the traditional top three.

Yesterday Livorno President Aldo Spinelli told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli: “Today Juve, Inter and Napoli are the only clubs that can buy Candreva.

“He's an exceptional lad both on and off the pitch. It's our intention to sign him from Udinese, but whoever wants him will evidently have to speak with Giampaolo Pozzo.â€

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Inler hasn't had contact with Napoli
Monday 16 November, 2009
The agent of Udinese midfielder Gokhan Inler insists he hasn't had any contact with Napoli about a transfer in January.

The Partenopei are on the lookout for an anchor man and Inler is one of the best in Serie A.

Speaking to Radio Gol, Dino Lamberti said: “Taking him to Napoli would be beautiful. I am Neapolitan and I promised myself in the past that, if I were to help a player sign for Napoli, I would retire. Sure, at just 40 years of age, it would be a bit premature of me.

“I haven't had any contact with Napoli. The player has a contract with Udinese and, honestly, I would not like to do anything that could be considered disrespectful towards a serious club like Udinese, even if I have Napoli in my heart.

“Inler is also highly regarded in Udine. There is even a fan club in his honour that boasts 450 members. The important thing is that he is well and that he plays with a team that lives with him like a 'married couple'.

“If many teams like Inler, then there is a reason why. He is a serious lad who isn't into excesses. He doesn't drink Coca Cola only still mineral water. It's a significant side of his character,â€

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Serie A Week 16 - 12/12/09 (17.00 UK)

Cagliari - Napoli
Stadio Sant'Elia


It will be a mid-table clash at the Stadio Sant’Elia between two sides who can be both very unpredictable. The Rossoblu though hold the upper hand in Sardinia and it won’t be easy for the Azzurri.

Cagliari are once again defying the odds and enjoying a really good season. Massimiliano Allegri has been working his magic and it is only a matter of time before he lands at a bigger club. The Rossoblu have collected nine points in the last five games, but were defeated by Palermo on Sunday.

“I thought against the Rosanero we deserved more,â€

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