SSC Napoli

[RomaShield27]

NAPOLI CAUSE LOOKING UP
www.sportinglife.com

Napoli boss Roberto Donadoni believes his team are on the road to recovery as he goes in search of his first win since taking charge. The former Italy manager has guided the team to three straight draws since replacing Edoardo Reja last month, while the team themselves are without a victory since early January. The Azzurri welcome another mid-table side, Atalanta, to the Stadio San Paolo tomorrow with seemingly little left to play for this season. They lie 11th in the Serie A standings, 11 points off the European places and 14 above the drop zone, with Atalanta two points and one place above them.

Donadoni, though, insists his side are improving and are now building for the future. "(The aim for the final eight games of the season) is to show on the field what we have worked on throughout the week. This must be the objective," he said. "If we have this mentality, we will make a great step forward. We must not set ourselves targets which are too distant, I am first looking at what we do from day to day. "We have to play with intensity and everything that happens will be in preparation for the future."

Up until the turn of the year Champions League qualification looked like it might be achievable for Napoli, as they won eight of their first nine home games. Their current winless run has all but ended any hopes of a European place, but Donadoni feels his side can rediscover the form they showed in the first half of the campaign.

He added: "There are improvements, but there is still much to do. I have found a group with great moral and professional qualities. "Every day we are giving more than the day before as we look to rediscover our conviction. I would say that in this regard we are on the right road."

Napoli may be without a win in 12 league games, but Atalanta are in equally poor health. They have lost four of their last six matches and have won just twice on the road this term, losing nine times. Donadoni, though, feels the Bergamaschi will still pose a threat, adding: "They are a team with qualities and organisation. Furthermore, the table is clear. "We must show personality and conviction. We must not wait for our opponents when we take the field. We must show this is a turning point.

The visitors are boosted by the return of Thomas Manfredini, Luca Cigarini and Tiberio Guarante from suspension. Cigarini is the last man to score a winning goal for Atalanta away from home in a 1-0 success over Cagliari. The young midfielder, signed from Parma last year, has been linked with a move away from Bergamo, but insists he wants to be at the club next season.

He told L'Eco di Bergamo newspaper: "I repeat again what I have said several times already. From the first day in Bergamo I felt at home. Here I have found a fantastic squad. I do not ask for anything, I just hope to stay and continue playing for Atalanta next season."

Napoli welcome back Ezequiel Lavezzi from injury after the Argentina striker recovered from a muscle problem. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed the proceeds from the match will go to the families of the victims of the L'Aquila earthquake.

[RomaShield27]

Napoli bid for Van der Vaart
Saturday 25 April, 2009 – http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... pr25l.html

Surprising transfer rumours are swirling around that Napoli have made an audacious bid for Real Madrid star Rafael Van der Vaart. The Dutch international was snapped up by Madrid last season, but since the 13m Euro move from Hamburg he has struggled to make an impact.

While Bayern Munich have been suggested as his future destination, new reports claim that Napoli are staging a swoop.

It is claimed that his management company are in negotiations with President Aurelio De Laurentiis over a deal worth between 9m and 12m Euros.

The only problem at this stage is represented by Van der Vaart’s wages, as he earns 2m Euros per month at Real Madrid.

[ricky2882]

[RomaShield27]

DONADONI WANTS NAPOLI TO SHINE
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Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni has called for his side to finish off a disappointing season with two wins. The Partenopei travel to Sicily to meet Catania on Sunday afternoon having mustered just one triumph in their last 18 league games. Donadoni's side are coming off a 2-1 defeat against Torino that saw the team drop to 13th in the standings. It was one of Napoli's worst performances of the year and the home fans were so disenchanted that many booed the team at the end of the game.

"I can understand the fans' frustration," said Donadoni, who replaced Edy Reja at the helm in March. "I expect my players to give high-level performances and play better in our next games against Catania and Chievo, something they have not done for some time."

Napoli finished eighth last term to qualify for the Intertoto Cup but at no time have they shown the same type of quality to contend for a place in Europe next season. They did manage to beat champions Inter Milan on April 26 but most of the Napoli displays have been below par.

"There is a lot to build on from this year and there are the means to do it," admitted Donadoni. "Our recent performances have made me realise many things and now we must try to see what is out there and what we can afford.

"It's clear to me and to everyone else that we need to bring in reinforcements. "I am optimistic that we can have a strong team next season because I speak to the club executives every day. "There is a lot of competition for top players and we have to know where our limit is and know that you don't always get what you want."

Rivals Catania go into the match also looking to return to winning ways. Walter Zenga's side have been criticised for losing their motivation this season in which their chief goal was to avoid immediate relegation back to Serie B.

Four consecutive defeats, including last weekend's 4-2 loss at Roma, have left the Sicilians stuck on 40 points, 10 short of the target Zenga set his side a month ago.

But the coach has denied suggestions his team is already thinking about the holidays.

He said: "It's true the team appears to have been in a relaxed mode since securing our Serie A status.

"But perhaps that is due to the fact that we have in recent weeks paid a price for a hard season. "No-one could have predicted that Catania would have the luxury of securing its top flight status two months prior to the end of the season because that has never happened before.
We will now look to end the campaign on a high note."

Napoli welcome back their top scorer Ezequiel Lavezzi for Sunday's clash following a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury. The hosts will be without suspended defender Cristian Silvestri.

[tonykart]

Napoli need to get Giuseppe Rossi. It is my dream to see him play for that team. I would be looking at Rossi and Nocerino at this point, and maybe even making a move for Molinaro to help out a poor LB position... yes, Molinaro for Napoli.

[tonykart]

Report: Napoli net Quaglia, Cigarini

There are strong reports Napoli have secured the services of both Fabio Quagliarella and Luca Cigarini for next season.

The Partenopei had been linked with both players and, according to Sky Sport Italia, the negotiations were completed this evening.

Udinese are said to have agreed to hand over Italian international striker Quagliarella for around £14m plus the other half of co-ownership share Maurizio Domizzi’s contract.

It would be a return to the San Paolo for Quagliagol, who is a native of Naples and admitted it was his dream to wear their jersey.

It’s believed he will put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the aim of taking Napoli back into Europe.

He isn’t the only big summer buy, as Sky Italia also suggests a deal has been struck for Atalanta midfielder and Under-21 international Cigarini.

The youngster is currently shared between Atalanta and Parma, but Napoli would buy out the Orobici’s half for £4m.

In addition, they would hand the second half of Gyorgy Garics’ contract to Atalanta, as he is also on a co-ownership deal between the Bergamo side and Napoli.
-------------------------------------------

Great Signings for Napoli!

[tonykart]

--------------------- NAVARRO

MAGGIO - SANTACROCE - CANNAVARO - TAIWO

----------- NOCERINO ------ CIGARINI
---------------------- HAMSIK

------ ROSSI ----------------------- LAVEZZI
------------------ QUAGLIARELLA

I LIKE!

[ricky2882]

[tonykart]

Lavezzi angry with Napoli

Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi has delivered an angry letter to the club before heading home to Argentina.

El Pocho left the controversial letter behind before heading back to his homeland for a vacation, according to Sky Italia. It suggests a major falling out between the player – wanted by Liverfekkin'wankscum – and the Azzurri.

“I am writing this letter to the supporters who have always been close to me and proved their affection last Sunday,â€

[tonykart]

[tonykart]

Napoli offer De Sanctis return

Napoli are apparently ready to give Sevilla goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis the chance to return to Italy this summer.

The 32-year-old Italy international left Udinese for Spain in 2007, but never found continuity there.

He has been on loan at Galatasaray this season and made an impressive 31 appearances in the Turkcell Süper Lig.

Napoli director of sport Pierpaolo Marino knows De Sanctis well, having signed him for Udinese in 1999.

The Partenopei have been very busy in the transfer market this summer, sealing deals for Luca Cigarini and Fabio Quagliarella.

[tonykart]

Napoli Boss Roberto Donadoni Wants Inter Striker Victor Obinna

Obinna would likely find more playing time with the Partenopei than he did with the Nerazzurri in the 2008-09 season...

Victor Obinna was hardly used by Inter coach Jose Mourinho this season, often finding himself in the stands or on the substitutes' bench.

The 22-year-old rejected another loan or transfer away from the San Siro last summer, but was unable to prove his worth and looks likely to be leaving in the next few weeks.

After failing to secure the services of Udinese star Antonio Di Natale, Napoli boss Roberto Donadoni has asked the club to turn their attention to the Nigerian, according to tuttomercatoweb.

The former Italy boss considers his speed on the flank an asset and would like to use the player in a three man attack.

Obinna's most successful spell has been with Chievo Verona, between 2005 and 2008, where he contributed to the Flying Donkey's return to the top flight in Italy.

Napoli will have to deal with competition from Sevilla, Sampdoria, and Tottenham for the striker's signature.

[tonykart]

Napoli: 'We'll ruin Lavezzi's career'

Napoli step up the battle with Liverfekkin'wankscum target Ezequiel Lavezzi, warning “he can spend two years on the sidelines and ruin his career.â€

[RomaShield27]

[tonykart]

[RomaShield27]

I’m Not Leaving Napoli - Ezequiel Lavezzi
'El Pocho' has expressed his desire to stay with the Azzurri...

[url]http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/07/31/1413824/im-not-leaving-napoli-ezequiel-lavezzi]Goal.com[/url] – 31 Jul 2009 07:35:43

With a press silence prohibiting him from speaking on the peninsula, Ezequiel Lavezzi has spoken out from his native Argentina in a recent interview with radio Del Plata. Despite the widespread speculation that ‘El Pocho’ is still unclear of his Napoli future, it seems the Argentine is only focused on a future with the club.

“I am happy in Naples and I want to continue playing there,â€

[Amedio]

Blog: Simple truth.

Fed up of writing cheques for this player and that, Aurelio De Laurentiis has taken a stand. Dave Taylor backs the Napoli owner.



[quote]Italian football club owners are invariably megalomaniacs and many have a penchant for firmly believing what they say is right, regardless of the reality. Witness the latest drivel from Milan’s Silvio Berlusconi and past examples from the likes of fiery Palermo chief Maurizio Zamparini. In many cases I would normally shy away from supporting them and their ilk but down in Naples, Aurelio De Laurentiis is a different kettle of fish.

The Hollywood big shot has backed Napoli to the hilt over the summer, buying six top class players and has struck a chord I can agree with for once. Following the 0-0 draw with Espanyol, he launched a ferocious attack on Coach Roberto Donadoni over claims that a left-winger is needed.

“He can buy one himself,â€

[juventino_italiano]

Napoli look like a much improved squad, any of the top teams should fear them, and treat them with respect.
They definitely should not be taken lightly

[RomaShield27]

I agree J_I, but the question is can Donadoni manage and control them? As that article alludes too he still has his problems and with a few egos in the squad he could struggle to control them.

[RomaShield27]

Donadoni done for
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... li-serie-a

I had originally expected to lead on Roberto Donadoni's sacking at Napoli, with the only problem being that at the time of writing the former Italy coach still hasn't lost his job. A 2-1 defeat to Roma yesterday had appeared to be the final nail in his coffin, with Napoli's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis describing the coach as "a man of great substance", "very educated" and, best of all, "adorable", but hinting all the same that his time was up.

But De Laurentiis had already stated after the win over Siena that he would decide what to do about the coaching situation by 6 October and seems determined to use every minute of the time he has given himself. In the meantime, though, he has already set about restructuring the rest of the club, lining up the Juventus board member Gian Paolo Montali to be the club's new general director and Andrea Chiavelli, who already works for De Laurentiis's media company Filmauro, to be the chief administrator.

A new director of sport will also be sought with Pasquale Sensibile – currently serving in that role for Novara, and previously chief of scouting at Juventus – his top target. In the past Pierpaolo Marino, sacked last week, effectively filled all of those roles, but De Laurentiis now believes it was a mistake to let one man have so much control. Or at least to let one man not called Aurelio De Laurentiis to have so much control over the club.

De Laurentiis has taken a back seat at Napoli for five years now – allowing Marino to steer the club up from Serie C1 to the top flight and even for a time into the European places, but now he's back with a vengeance. At half-time during the Siena game he marched into the changing rooms, interrupted Donadoni and gave his own team-talk, ordering, among other things, a stunned Luca Cigarini to spread the balls out to the wings more. He has also told the press more than once in recent days that he wants his team to start playing 4-4-2.

Marino signed 77 players for Napoli, and only one of those – György Garics, now of Atalanta – has since been sold outright (as opposed to the many others who have been released, loaned, sold in a co-ownership deal, or whose wages are still paid, in part, by Napoli despite their having moved on). De Laurentiis is not being unreasonable if he thinks the money he has spent could have gone a little further, but that does not necessarily mean he is the best man to make footballing decisions.

After all, it was De Laurentiis who appointed Donadoni.