Match Day 3 is done, and we don't have a thread for Serie A this season yet. This is already shaping up to be a fun season. Lots of improvement at the top. By my count, seven teams should have the goal of finishing in the top four (and my math tells me that some won't make it). We have an American at Juventus. There was an "only in Italy" moment with Napoli refusing to go to Turin due to Covid concerns, Juve still taking the field, and now the league is trying to figure out what to do. As of right now, it looks like a Napoli forfeit.
So who do you have this year to take home the Scudetto? Juve or the field? For the first time in a long time, I am going with the field...
The Champs
Juventus- Their goal is to win the Champions League, preferably a treble. No big deal. They have a new coach (as in, first ever coaching gig) in Andrea Pirlo. He wants his team to play a flowing, beautiful style, but can they pull it off? They are loaded with talent. I do like their depth and diversity of players in midfield. Pirlo can mix and match based on who is playing well, who matches up with opponents well, and so on. Nonetheless, this is a big ask for a new manager.
The Challengers
Inter- The popular pick to unseat the champs. Last season it felt like they lacked the depth to truly compete in multiple competitions. This season is different. Lots of talent and depth. I like Antonio Conte to figure out how to maximize this group. The two forwards really complement each other well in Lauro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku.
Atalanta- Everyone's second favorite team. After setting all sorts of scoring records last season, they decided to focus entirely on defense. Or not. Three games in, 13 goals scored. It seemed like they could have put in double digit goals this weekend against Cagliari. They continue to be the team that plays most like a video game. Oh, and Josep Ilicic hasn't played yet this season.
Lazio- Everyone's second least favorite team. They would be likeable with any other history, but their Ultras make them easy to root against (to be fair, every team has their fair share of disreputable supporters, but Lazio is on another level). Attack minded team with some really fun players to watch. I feel like they overperformed their talent last season and are due for a regression this season.
Roma- A few savvy moves to add to their depth. Pedro and Mikhitaryan in for free. I feel like they have made the concerted effort to bring in lots of established players to complement their young core, and the end result as that they are just tough to beat. The big news was NOT losing Dzeko who looked to be all but gone a few weeks ago.
Milan- Perpetually trying to get back to the Champions League, and perpetually falling short. I think they are on the right path now, but still will finish outside the top four. Everyone else around them has improved a lot too. Three wins to start the season and they have yet to allow a goal, so at the very least they have started well. Plus Zlatan!
Napoli- They started off well in the first two weeks. Eight goals for and no goals against. Who knows how this week's circus will change things? As it stands they have a lot of quality. I think the question is their depth. Every transfer window, I feel like someone will come and nab Koulibaly. And every time he stays. It's nice to have that anchor in defense.
Other random thoughts-
Want to root for a team that nobody else knows about but is actually really fun to watch? Sassuolo is your team.
Want to hate a team because of the behavior of their fans (whenever they can get back in) but are getting tired of hating Lazio? Cagliari has had some ugly incidents the last few seasons.
Having trouble sleeping? Put on an Udinese game.
So who do you have this year to take home the Scudetto? Juve or the field? For the first time in a long time, I am going with the field...
The Champs
Juventus- Their goal is to win the Champions League, preferably a treble. No big deal. They have a new coach (as in, first ever coaching gig) in Andrea Pirlo. He wants his team to play a flowing, beautiful style, but can they pull it off? They are loaded with talent. I do like their depth and diversity of players in midfield. Pirlo can mix and match based on who is playing well, who matches up with opponents well, and so on. Nonetheless, this is a big ask for a new manager.
The Challengers
Inter- The popular pick to unseat the champs. Last season it felt like they lacked the depth to truly compete in multiple competitions. This season is different. Lots of talent and depth. I like Antonio Conte to figure out how to maximize this group. The two forwards really complement each other well in Lauro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku.
Atalanta- Everyone's second favorite team. After setting all sorts of scoring records last season, they decided to focus entirely on defense. Or not. Three games in, 13 goals scored. It seemed like they could have put in double digit goals this weekend against Cagliari. They continue to be the team that plays most like a video game. Oh, and Josep Ilicic hasn't played yet this season.
Lazio- Everyone's second least favorite team. They would be likeable with any other history, but their Ultras make them easy to root against (to be fair, every team has their fair share of disreputable supporters, but Lazio is on another level). Attack minded team with some really fun players to watch. I feel like they overperformed their talent last season and are due for a regression this season.
Roma- A few savvy moves to add to their depth. Pedro and Mikhitaryan in for free. I feel like they have made the concerted effort to bring in lots of established players to complement their young core, and the end result as that they are just tough to beat. The big news was NOT losing Dzeko who looked to be all but gone a few weeks ago.
Milan- Perpetually trying to get back to the Champions League, and perpetually falling short. I think they are on the right path now, but still will finish outside the top four. Everyone else around them has improved a lot too. Three wins to start the season and they have yet to allow a goal, so at the very least they have started well. Plus Zlatan!
Napoli- They started off well in the first two weeks. Eight goals for and no goals against. Who knows how this week's circus will change things? As it stands they have a lot of quality. I think the question is their depth. Every transfer window, I feel like someone will come and nab Koulibaly. And every time he stays. It's nice to have that anchor in defense.
Other random thoughts-
Want to root for a team that nobody else knows about but is actually really fun to watch? Sassuolo is your team.
Want to hate a team because of the behavior of their fans (whenever they can get back in) but are getting tired of hating Lazio? Cagliari has had some ugly incidents the last few seasons.
Having trouble sleeping? Put on an Udinese game.