Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo

[Carlo Romano]

I really hope Palermo rise to the occasion and beat la Samp! I have faith in their ability to represent Italia in Europe next season.

In any case, whom else could I root for here on not one but two counts?

[Messinterista]

Siciliano?

[red]

[Carlo Romano]

Andrew, it's easy done here but even a man of your height would think twice about poking fun at those guys in their own city!

MI, not quite getting your meaning...

[RomaShield27]

[RomaShield27]

Palermo land Brazilian
Teenage starlet makes big-money move to Serie A

www.skysports.com – Last updated: 1st September 2010

Palermo have confirmed the signing of highly-rated Brazilian teenager Joao Pedro from Atletico Mineiro. Reports in the Italian press suggest that Palermo have paid around €6million (£5million) to sign the 18-year-old, whose full name is Joao Pedro Geraldino dos Santos Galvao.

"I don't remember his name, I only know that he cost me a lot of money, yes I've signed him," joked Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini.
Pedro caught the eye of Palermo after progressing quickly through the youth ranks with homeland club Mineiro.

He began to establish himself as a regular starter for Mineiro earlier this year, while he has previously represented Brazil at Under 17 level.

----------------

Palermo spent €6m on this kid? Quite a lot for an 18-year-old. He must be good.

[San Paolo]

Palermo striker Fabrizio Miccoli believes qualifying for the UEFA Champions League is a realistic target this season.

The Sicilian club only just missed out on a place in the latest edition of Europe's premier club competition, having finished fifth in Serie A last term.

Some critics have suggested they might not be able to replicate that success over the coming 12 months, but Miccoli is staying confident.

The diminutive frontman, linked with a move to Birmingham over the summer, insists Palermo can build on their achievements of 2009/10 and push for a place in the top four.

"Is the Champions League an objective? Everything is possible as we have a great squad," he told Rai.
Trophy

"We have to try and repeat the great season we had and see if we can improve on it.

"Can we win a trophy? That would be fantastic, the nicest thing. I will put in a great effort, so will the team."

Miccoli missed Palermo's 0-0 draw with Cagliari on the opening weekend of the season as he is still recovering from a knee operation.

"I should be back within a month," he said.

[Messinterista]

[Carlo Romano]

I just noticed your post now, MI...

My family is from the south of Italy and therefore, after Roma, I have a natural affection for teams like Palermo and Napoli. I don't support them as such but except for when they play Roma, I want them to win!

-------------------------------------------

I missed the first 20 or so mins of the Juventus-Palermo match and so had to make do with seeing the opening goal in the half time highlights. I enjoyed the game though I'd have liked to see Palermo be a bit more adventurous...that's easy said though and it's worth remembering that last season they conceded an average of two goals per away match by being more attack minded. So it would seem they got it right tonight.

Although The Waterboy didn't get and should have been given a penalty when Cassani clearly kicked his shin, Juve can't say they didn't have the chances to win this and I'm not at all being biased in saying Palermo deserved the points. Put simply, for the most part they made their opportunities count!

Sirigu at club level is a fine goalie. Perhaps he was nervous when playing for la nazionale recently, or maybe he is just one of those players who can't translate his club form into international form. He certainly made some fine saves this evening. I haven't seen much of Palermo this sesh and looking at talent like Pastore, Pinilla, and Balzaretti, I'm thinking that despite struggling so far, they ought to overcome their poor start.

Zamparini is what he is and Rossi is an ex Lazialo bastardo. Perhaps their players will pull themselves back up the table in spite of having these two comedians run things rather than because of them!

[RomaShield27]

Palermo are playing some good football these days and are an exciting enough to watch (despite their dickhead of a manager, as you pointed out, Carlo). Against Inter I felt Rossi got his tactics wrong in playing the pacy Hernandez alone upfront against a wall of an Inter back-line, but against Juve they looked a lot more comfortable with Pinilla up there with support from Pastore and Illicic. If Rossi can find the right balance upfront and the right prima-punta to compliment their quality attacking-midfielders they could do damage.

Pastore is something else, I have to say. He is still a bit raw but that is to be expected from a 21-year-old, but he such great vision and awareness which comes so naturally to him. With the recent rumours of certain foreign-owned english clubs expressing an interest in him I hope he stays in Italy – whether at Palermo or another Italian club (like Roma) – for many years to come.

[Messinterista]

Ah ok Carlo. My Father is Messinese and my Mother is Calabrese so I am torn between Messina and Reggina (but you can see who I side with ) In regards to other clubs in Sicily like Palermo and Catania I would like to see them fail as I can't see my beloved Messina take them on

...But they are flying the Sicilian flag so I can't hate them that much...

[Carlo Romano]

MI, tonight I have the choice of watching i Rosaneri at home to Lausanne, or if I wish, Napoli away to Steaua Bucharest.

Given that my lupi face le portoghese of Napoli on Sunday, I guess I should really pay them most attention but I will give my preference to Palermo as I think they stand a better chance of getting a win. They certainly need one after losing their opener. Napoli too need to shake it up but I don't have a good feeling about their chances against those zingari rumeni!

[Carlo Romano]

Ten attempts on goal and only one scored. Not good enough!

Miccoli started up front with Maccarone. Damn, but now that Miccoli is getting older and heavier, he looks more like he belongs in a Punch 'N' Judy Show! That excuse for a Mohawk hairstyle doesn't help any! But he hasn't lost his talent even if it is a bit ring rusty. As we know, he was only just back from a near four month injury layoff.

Unfortunately he had to go off with a muscle problem in his left calf just before half time. In truth, replacing him with Pinilla who looked much sharper was the wiser move on the night.

I did not like the way Palermo allowed Lausanne to push them back for the first ten minutes as they did and it took Palermo some time to get their act together. Once they had, they began to control the match in terms of possession but it must be said, Lausanne had three really great chances to score in this match, the first in particular by Roux on 16 mins when he missed an absolute sitter!

With Cavani gone, this lack of goals must be in part down to that. It's not that Pinilla, Pastore, Maccarone, and Miccoli don't know where the goal is, but when they all choose the same night to have an "off night," then that's just asking for trouble. Granted, in the EL Group Stage a one goal win is all a team needs, but between having to suffer Rossi, Zampa, and missed opportunities, Palermo are not going to find life easy this sesh...which hurts even more when you see them play as well as they did against la Juve last week end!

The players have enough talent... but as I already described them, those two comedians who run the show in la favorita are not the ones to bring the best out in a team. I expect and want more from the Rosaneri!

[RomaShield27]

Palermo unveil Slovene duo
– Tuesday 4 January, 2011

Palermo have formally unveiled new signings Sinisa Andelkovic and Jasmin Kurtic who boost the budding Slovenian contingent in Sicily. The Rosanero have strengthened their ties in Slovenia after the success of Josip Ilicic and Armin Bacinovic during their first six months at the Renzo Barbera.

“Ilicic and Bacinovic have certainly opened the road for Slovenian players in the Italian League,” Kurtic said. “Personally I am very happy to be here in Palermo.

“My wish is that of being able to follow in the footsteps of Josip and Armin, focusing also on getting a place in our national team.”

His compatriot Andelkovic added: “I was aware of Palermo's interest since the end of November.

“Ilicic and Bacinovic exploded immediately. I didn't have any doubts. I hope to put myself in the spotlight as soon as possible and give my contribution to this shirt.

“Delio Rossi has told us that to win a place in the first team we have to work, work, work.”

[Messinterista]

Palermo 1 - 0 Brescia
Bovo 86 (P)
Stadio Barbera

Palermo should by rights have won by six clear goals, but had to rely on a late Cesare Bovo free kick to get the better of Brescia.

The Furious Sicilians wanted to get back on track after blaming the referee for last week's 3-1 defeat at Cagliari. Fabrizio Miccoli returned from a spell out with flu to boost their attacking options, though Abel Hernandez, Mauricio Pinilla and Dorin Goian were still sidelined. Brescia had Alessandro Diamanti and Francesco Bega suspended, plus Eder, Matteo Sereni, Adam Vass, Davide Zoboli and Daprela' unavailable, so Davide Lanzafame got his first start.

In the opening minutes, Arcari had his palms stung by a Javier Pastore screamer from distance. The substitute goalkeeper had to perform a fingertip save as Pastore's header from the corner flag flashed across the face of goal.

Miccoli took advantage of a Jonathan Zebina stumble to burst into the box, but Arcari was again ready to beat away the rising angled drive at the near post.

Pastore had penalty appeals when he tried to dribble between two defenders, but the referee was close by and waved play on. Replays suggest there may well have been a foul, but the Rosanero have not received a single spot-kick this season.

Arcari again denied a powerful Miccoli free kick at the near post, as Brescia were pinned back into their own half. Zebina's deflection risked an own goal from Antonio Nocerino's strike.

On the stroke of half-time, Antonio Filippini rushed back in time to stop Miccoli's through ball reaching Giulio Migliaccio. From the resulting corner the Ezequiel Munoz header cracked against the crossbar. The move continued and Arcari palmed a Miccoli rocket round the base of the near post.

Lanzafame finally had a chance after the restart, but his chip was too weak to beat Salvatore Sirigu.

Moments later Andrea Caracciolo went incredibly close to giving Brescia the shock lead. He found space on the outside corner of the penalty area and curled with his right foot to stun Sirigu and crack against the crossbar!

Arcari was unstoppable this afternoon, flying to palm Migliaccio's header from a Miccoli free kick off the line from close range.

Palermo could not break through, as Mattia Cassani dribbled to the by-line and flashed his cross-shot across the face of goal with nobody able to tap in.

To show their dominance over this game, Palermo had 16 corner kicks after 70 minutes to none from Brescia. On the 15th, Munoz got his head to it and forced Nicolas Cordova into a goalline clearance.

It was a siege. Nocerino went on a mazy run down the left and his angled drive went past two Palermo teammates to scrape the far upright. The chances kept coming, Cesare Bovo's effort smothered and Josip Ilicic tapping wide at the back post.

The deadlock was finally broken with four minutes left on the clock! Cesare Bovo got the goal with a free kick curled into the far top corner, catching Arcari completely wrong-footed.

Palermo: Sirigu; Cassani, Munoz, Bovo, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Bacinovic, Nocerino; Pastore, Ilicic; Miccoli

Brescia: Arcari; Berardi, Zebina, Martinez (Zambelli 50), Mareco; Konè, Cordova, Filippini (Taddei 89); Possanzini (Hetemaj 65), Caracciolo, Lanzafame

Ref: Gervasoni

Source: http://football-italia.net/sa1011/pal-bre.html

[RomaShield27]

– February 28, 2011 – By ESPNsoccernet staff

Palermo have appointed former Livorno and Brescia coach Serse Cosmi as their new coach following the sacking of Delio Rossi on Monday. Rossi was dismissed less than 24 hours after Palermo's 7-0 home thrashing by Udinese on Sunday, a result that led Rosanero president Maurizio Zamparini to reveal that his coach's job was hanging by a thread.

"Rossi has a 1% chance of staying with the Rosanero if you want to try and bet," Zamparini told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Rossi has destroyed this team. I told the coach to fix the defence and he did not."

"I must take a decision for my Palermo," Zamparini told Radio Anch'io lo Sport. "I will see three trainers between today and tomorrow, Serse Cosmi is one of them.

"I am looking for a strong man who can give a spark to the club. The team needs a spark. Rossi is a great coach, but Rossi's defence is the worst in the League. It means that the tactical structuring of the team is insufficient."

And Zamparini has moved quickly to appoint Rossi's successor, with Palermo naming Cosmi, renowned as one of the biggest characters in Italian football, as their new coach.

"Palermo announces the appointment of Serse Cosmi as coach of the first team,'' a club statement said. "The Perugia-born coach will train the team tomorrow in Rome and will be unveiled later that day.''

Sunday's shocking defeat was Palermo's third straight loss and dropped the Sicilians to eighth in the Serie A standings, with 40 points from 27 games. Palermo have conceded 43 goals in 27 games, 12 of which have come in their last three games.

They have the second worst defence in the league behind Lecce, who have allowed 48 goals. The heavy loss was the last straw for Zamparini, who had been outspoken in his criticism of Rossi's tactics for some time. Cosmi, who left Livorno last year, was Zamparini's first choice.

"Cosmi has a strong character and I'm looking for a man that sparks the team into life,'' Zamparini said.

Cosmi has plenty of experience having coached Perugia, Genoa, Udinese and Brescia in Serie A. He will take charge of his first game in Sunday's match at Lazio.

As for Rossi, he made no apologies after Sunday's hammering and insisted that he would not step down. The coach that led Udinese to the big victory against his former club, Francesco Guidolin, spoke up for Rossi.

"The respect I have for Delio Rossi, for Palermo and this city goes well beyond the final result,'' he said. "It was a nasty thrashing for them, but it will pass. I believe it is only a bump in the road for Palermo.''

[cassano7]

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[Messinterista]

Palermo 1 - 0 Milan
Goian 9 (P)
Stadio Barbera

Milan badly missed Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their shock 1-0 defeat at Palermo, blowing the Scudetto race wide open.

They have lost their last four consecutive visits to the Stadio Barbera and haven't won here since 2006. The Rossoneri had lost only once on their travels this season, 2-0 at Cesena in Week 2.

Both sides made big changes for this Saturday night clash. The Serie A leaders were forced to do without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who started his three-match ban, so Antonio Cassano, Alexandre Pato and Clarence Seedorf made their first start as a trio. Palermo had lost five on the trot and surprisingly dropped captain Fabrizio Miccoli in favour of Josip Ilicic in a new advanced role. Dorin Goian returned from a two-month lay-off in defence, as Mattia Cassani was injured and Cesare Bovo suspended.

Palermo took the lead with their first real opportunity. A corner kick was whipped in and not cleared effectively, so as the Rossoneri defenders stood around appealing for offside, Goian was allowed to fire into the roof of the net from six yards.

Straight away at the other end, Mathieu Flamini's strike was deflected wide and from the corner it rolled along an empty goal as Alessandro Nesta just failed to get the final touch at the back post.

Marek Jankulovski picked up a serious-looking knee injury early on and was carried off in favour of Luca Antonini.

Pato curled a free kick over the bar, but for all their possession, Milan risked going 2-0 down when Javier Pastore flashed a shot across the face of goal.

Seedorf's free kick was charged down by the defensive wall, while Christian Abbiati smothered another long-range effort from Mauricio Pinilla following Pastore's backheel flick.

Cassano burst down the right flank only to blast his finish wide of the near post, then Flamini couldn't quite get the final touch to his cross. Thiago Silva intercepted a dangerous Pastore pull-back for Pinilla in the box.

Salvatore Sirigu's first real intervention was at the 45th minute, coming off his line to smother at Pato's feet from a Seedorf through ball.

The Rossoneri tried to push forward more after the break, but it just left huge gaps for the counter, where Pinilla and Ilicic tested Abbiati.

Cassano's angled drive was charged down in the area by Esequiel Munoz and Kevin-Prince Boateng was introduced for Mark Van Bommel.

Palermo went so close to a second on the counter, as Federico Balzaretti sent Pastore through to roll across for Milan-owned Matteo Darmian to fire wide at the back post.

A long-range Pinilla snapshot was well held and Pato's rising angled drive stung Sirigu's palms, although he was offside. The Brazilian picked up a knock during that move and limped off for Robinho.

Milan had a great chance on 65 minutes when Boateng pulled back for Flamini's half-volley, forcing a flying save out of Sirigu.

The goalkeeper also got hold of a Robinho effort at the end of a well-worked move. The former Manchester City striker aimed a cross-shot at the near post, where Sirigu beat it away.

Cosmi made a surprising change, replacing Pastore with Miccoli. Seedorf blasted wide and Gennaro Gattuso almost scored a spectacular equaliser, his diving header forcing a great reaction save from Sirigu.

Abbiati spilled a Miccoli solo effort, but managed to scramble control of the loose ball, but the final 15 minutes were all Milan laying siege on the Sicilians.

In stoppages Abel Hernandez and Miccoli went two against one on the counter, but the Uruguayan hit a weak finish wide. Giulio Migliaccio timed his tackle perfectly to stop Robinho in the box.

Palermo: Sirigu; Munoz, Goian, Migliaccio; Darmian, Bacinovic (Acquah 69), Nocerino, Balzaretti; Pastore (Miccoli 73); Pinilla (Hernandez 88), Ilicic

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Jankulovski (Antonini 16); Gattuso, Van Bommel (Boateng 53), Flamini; Seedorf; Pato (Robinho 63), Cassano

Ref: Tagliavento

Source: http://football-italia.net/sa1011/pal-mil.html

[RomaShield27]

Hopefully this crazy fuck won't be stubborn and look to sell Pastore abroad just for the sake of it. I doubt he'd get €60m for him, but I love for him to stay in Italy if he does leave Palermo. Roma's potential new owners were reported to be interested. (ha).


– March 24, 2011

The future of Argentine star Javier Pastore looks to be decided this summer after Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini claimed he was already looking for a replacement for the attacking midfielder. Palermo have placed a £60 million price tag on the 21-year-old and are willing to listen to offers, having already rejected one in January that 'didn't meet his valuation'.

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all believed to be interested in securing his services, with Manchester United also linked with a move in the Argentine press and a transfer in the summer now looking increasing likely.

"Until the end of season he will play for Palermo,'' Zamparini admitted. ''Despite my interest for the club and player, I am already looking for his replacement.

"I feel it will be difficult for an Italian club to buy him. His price is already high at £60 million - he will move abroad." Pastore joined Palermo for £6 million in 2009 and has made a name for himself as one of the best players in Serie A this season.

[Messinterista]

Cosmi: 'Palermo my dream job'

Serse Cosmi still can’t believe his luck after inheriting the Palermo bench. “I could not have dreamed of a better job.”
The tactician was drafted in after Delio Rossi was sacked and, following two consecutive defeats at the helm, got his first victory over Milan.

“I could not have dreamed of a better job,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “During my career I always considered every opportunity to be the best at that moment.”

There are some crucial games coming up for the Rosanero, who face local rivals Catania next weekend and then the Coppa Italia semi-final against Milan.

“Which would I rather win? Out of respect for the fans, I won’t say that I’d prefer to lose the derby and get into the Coppa Final.

“This is my third semi-final in the Coppa Italia and I really do hope I can reach the next stage.”

The team is constantly surrounded by transfer gossip around star player Javier Pastore, with President Maurizio Zamparini claiming he turned down an offer from Barcelona.

“I think that if he did stay for another year with the right motivation, it wouldn’t be at all bad,” smiled Cosmi.

Source: http://football-italia.net/mar26a.html