Leaving Maradona Behind

[tratto da www.goal.com]


Forgetting Maradona Life at Napoli hasn’t been easy since the marvellous Diego left. They went through bad patches, dotted with every kind of trouble inside and outside the pitch. The Azzurri nadir came a couple of seasons ago, when due to financial problems they were sent to Serie C.

Now they’ve got a new president and a renovated spirit. Millions of supporters all around the world just want to see their beloved Azzurri back were they belong: Serie A. They shouldn’t wait for too long, as things are looking good for Maradona former club.

When you’ve had possibly the best player that ever plays playing for your team it must be difficult to forget the magic moments you lived.

Especially if your team starts an inevitable decline, good players have to be sold, money is tight and presidents just want to get rid of the club.

Napoli fans grudgingly got used to Serie B football before as the Azzurri were marooned in the lower division from 1998 to 2000.

Their return to Serie A was short lived, as they got relegated again in 2001. Since then the club has gone through a rollercoaster, as several businessmen got interested in the club, but none of them managed to tidy up its accounts.

In 2004 the club went bust, amidst Neapolitans’ anger and resignation. In a movie at this point of the story normally a hero just pops up to fix things.

That’s what happened with Napoli, and, talking about movies, who else than Aurelio De Laurentiis, a film producer, could be the saviour?

De Laurentiis pumped quite a lot of money into the new company established to grant Napoli a future. They had to start playing in the hell of Serie C, but at least were quite confident about an early revival.

Last year Napoli managed to get a step back to Serie A, reaching Serie B limbo. Neapolitans, usually very passionate fans, finally raised their heads.

Hopes were high after last summer transfer window as De Laurentiis signed several good players - quite a difference compared to the past, when Napoli had to rely quite heavily on loaned players.

The new president didn’t want to waste any time competing in Serie B. His goal would be Serie A football and possibly Europe in a few years time.

The beginning of the current season was a bit contradictory. Napoli coach was accused to have a very defensive approach, something which didn’t suit the ability of his players.

To be honest the team was not performing at its best standard, nonetheless the Azzurri didn’t lose ground in the table.

In fact they were always very close to the top. Once they settled down they started playing very decent football as well, for the delight of fans and very demanding local press.

Future looks quite bright, as Napoli has got a very strong team spirit and the best Serie B defence after Juve.

The squad is very solid, as it can rely on a consistent goalkeeper as Iezzo, on striker Bucchi, Serie B top scorer last season, who after a false start began to score more regularly, and on the fantasy and skills of De Zerbi.

But Reja was very much instrumental in achieving good results. He knows very well how to manage substitutes to extract maximum value.

Sosa, who has scored some decisive goals coming from the bench, is a good example of his ability – and had the brilliant idea to employ Gatti, former Perugia young prospect, as playmaker, a very smart move so far.

Obviously Neapolitans who had a chance to watch Maradona live are still a bit nostalgic, but who wouldn’t be?

At least they can think at a classy player as Calaiò, very talented and physical build, who can score great goals and has got a magic left foot touch.

Well, we are not making stupid comparisons with ‘Dios’, just expressing our own opinions about a good player, who many see playing for Italy in the future.

Actually Calaiò is a bit of a hothead, or maybe referees targeted him as he’s already got three red cards in the current season (one while he was sitting on the bench!).

Poor disciplinary record and a bit of “misunderstanding” with referees are some of the problems of Napoli 2006-2007 campaign, another one being the stadium.

City Council and the club didn’t bother too much about fulfilling rules set by Decreto Pisanu, so after Catania tragedy Napoli was forced to play a couple of games behind closed doors.

Now it looks like at least season ticket holders can have access to the arena, so things are looking up for Napoli.

It’s too early to affirm without doubt that Napoli will regain Serie A status next season. In the city of Vesuvius everybody hopes to see a happy ending – just like in a movie…

## Ma il tipo con la maglia arancione in basso a destra nel video e' o non e' il buon Ercole Ercolano? :p #