SSC Napoli

[taz]

Napoli have confirmed that Goran Pandev has been signed outright from Serie A rivals Inter following his successful loan spell.

The Macedonian international moved south last summer on a temporary basis and did enough to convince the Azzurri of his ability.

Pandev, 28, was not assured of a starting shirt but still ended up with six goals in 30 League appearances for Walter Mazzarri’s team.

The former Lazio player has signed a contract until June 2015, but the deal has an option for a further 12 months.

Pandev has cost Napoli €7.5m.

[RomaShield27]

Good to see they'll hang on to Cavani at least, although it doesn't sound like they're going to buy a whole lot to improve their squad. They don't need too much, mind, just some good defenders (who doesn't need them?), and Insigne will replace Lavezzi.


Cavani is untouchable, say Napoli
Football Italia / Wednesday June 27 2012

Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon has underlined that the club have no plans to sell Edinson Cavani this summer. The Uruguayan is being linked with Italian champions Juventus, but the club insist that the Uruguayan is going nowhere.

“He is not for sale,” Bigon told the Corriere dello Sport. “I’ve said that before and I’ll say that yet again. The President has made it very clear what he thinks about Edi and the player himself has stated what he thinks of Napoli.”

There will be some changes in attack though at the Stadio San Paolo as Ezequiel Lavezzi is joining Paris Saint-Germain, while Lorenzo Insigne will be recalled from Pescara.

“Leave Insigne in peace, leave Lorenzo alone,” Bigon continued. “He is still just 20-years-old and he just needs some serenity.”

Bigon would not be pushed to name names when asked about possible new signings, but he did make it clear that Napoli would be cautious on the market.

“There is no point in buying for the sake of buying,” he added. “Napoli almost knocked out the future winners of the Champions League [Chelsea], we won the Italian Cup and battled for third place until the end.

“We are a great team which is growing and there is no urgency to buy. Our new signings would need to make a serious difference and not take up the space of our younger players.”

[forzaitalia]

They have that Vargas too, that they signed in January. I don't think he made much of an impression last season but if he steps up him and Insigne should be able to do a decent job where Lavezzi used to play.

[RomaShield27]

Yeh, I'd say it could indeed be Vargas they'll look to fill the place left by Lavezzi. They paid big money for him and he's not delivered yet. Insigne may be held in reserve a little but has the potential to be great. And there's also Pandev who they bought outright.

[RomaShield27]

Hamsik expects Napoli movement
Sunday July 8 2012 / Football Italia staff

Marek Hamsik expects Napoli to take significant action in the transfer market this summer to replace Ezequiel Lavezzi. The Partenopei’s €30m sale of their Argentine attacker to Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed last week and Hamsik, who recently signed a new contract with the club, is anticipating corrective action in response.

“I have high expectations for next year, we will try to achieve different objectives - I am also sure that we will reinforce in the market and replace the best player Lavezzi, who has left,” the attacker told Slovakian newspaper Pravda. “I’m ready to start again, Sunday I travel back to Naples and on Tuesday I expect the hard work at the training retreat in Dimano.”

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Hamsik expecting big signings. Rumour has it they're close to signing both Pablo Armero and Juan Cuadrado from Udinese who would be great signings.

Now if only they could get a top-class centre-half...

[RomaShield27]

Good win for Napoli over Bayern Munich. And what an overhead by Cannavaro.

[Bagg10]

What a classless club.

[maro]

I think you may have posted that in the wrong thread, Flagg. The Rubentus one is the one above.

[DCGweez]

Honestly Maro you're just jealous. Once again Juve make the signing of the Summer.

Mazzoleni put in a man of the match performance, a real difference maker. If he can avoid injury and jail time he's got a long, bright future.

[Bagg10]

Did you guys even watch the game? The only questionable call made was the straight red to Pandev for insulting the sideline ref.
Napoli started the game tackling hard and complaining and rushing the ref for every call. Like Marchisio said in his interview, the ref could've calmed the game down by dishing out a couple yellow in the first, but he didn't.

[maro]

Of course I watched the game. Do you seriously think I'd have a strong opinion on something I've not actually seen? Give me some credit. The decisions in Rube's favour were pathetic - the penalty was softer than dino's girlfriend after he's punctured her with his pencil dick and the two yellows on the black guy from the zoo were simply ridiculous. I suppose you've been sucking the Kool-Aid for too long, though. Funnily enough the whole of Italy seems to have been appalled by the ref and rallied on Napoli's side.

[DCGweez]

Actually frankly as a fan of the sport I'm appalled. But the Capitalist in me actually admires Juve. Refs are much cheaper to purchase than players and given the lack of accountability for cheating, max fixing, ref buying, doping and racketeering it's almost a no brainer.

Like Goebels and Stalin before them, they've figured out that fairness and morals are for losers. if you tell a lie long enough it becomes history.

50 years from now no one will remember how this trophy got in the case. Only that it's on the Wikipedia page and legions of young boys will seek out whichever team has the most trophies. It's a really sound business strategy.

[Bagg10]

Actually frankly as a fan of the sport I'm appalled. But the Capitalist in me actually admires Juve. Refs are much cheaper to purchase than players and given the lack of accountability for cheating, max fixing, ref buying, doping and racketeering it's almost a no brainer.

Like Goebels and Stalin before them, they've figured out that fairness and morals are for losers. if you tell a lie long enough it becomes history.

50 years from now no one will remember how this trophy got in the case. Only that it's on the Wikipedia page and legions of young boys will seek out whichever team has the most trophies. It's a really sound business strategy.

What a load of horseshit, coming from a supporter of a club whose president was caught giving rolexes to refs, and whose directors and coach were caught on tape talking to referee designators.

If we should be appalled at anything, it should be the media and all the fans reaction to this game. I think the ref let the game get out of hand by letting things he shouldn't have let go in the first half, then being overly strict in the second. I thought the Vucinic penalty was pretty clear, and I've watched a few replays of it. Maybe not as clear a penalty as the one that should've been given to Marchisio in the first half of the coppa italia final, but it was there. I also havent seen any decent replay of the foul on matri in the box in the first half, that looked suspicious.

But lets say the ref called the whole game in favor of Juve, and the penalty wasn't really a penalty. Why is it the Italian culture/mentality for the fans to go straight into accusing a team of corruption/bribing the ref, rather than settling for the much simpler and rational conclusion that the ref just got it wrong...? It wouldn't be the first time we've seen a poorly officiated match in Serie A, or Coppa match.(hell you could add CL, Europa league, world cup, Euro cup...etc)

And if teams being victims of poor referee decisions bother you guys so much, then why don't I remember you guys making a big fuss when Juve set a record by only receiving one penalty in 38 matches of serie a?

You guys are just as bias as the "synthetic" Juventini you accuse of being brainwashed.

[maro]

Quit while you're behind, flagg. You're just making yourself look ridiculous now.

[Bagg10]

[red]

Meh.

Don't see anything particularly exceptional about those fouls.

Hamsik's on Bonucci was a bit cheeky, but nothing to speak of other than that.

[RomaShield27]

NAPOLI CLUB FOCUS: THE PARTENOPEI SET TO RISE AGAIN
ForzaItalianFootball / Posted on Wednesday, 22nd August 2012 by Ryan Ross

As a dejected side left the pitch in Beijing, having lost to bitter rivals Juventus in the Super Coppa earlier this month, Napoli fans could be forgiven for questioning which direction their season was heading in? A silenzio stampa followed the defeat, with Napoli protesting against poor officiating in the final. This summer’s focus was on the breakup of the ‘Three Tenors,’ following Ezequiel Lavezzi’s departure to cash-rich Paris Saint Germain for reported fee of €30 million. The Argentine’s departure was long expected, but his final destination took many by surprise.

Napoli also had concerns over the future of Edinson Cavani, with European Champions Chelsea, continuously linked with ‘El Matador’. However, following a disappointing Olympic tournament, Cavani has returned prepared to fire the Azzurri to yet more success. At least Marek Hamsik recently pledged his loyalty to the club, stating: “there is no reason for me to leave.” Hamsik’s decision to commit to the club demonstrates the strong bonds which hold this team together. The Slovakian’s presence will be central to any success Napoli hope to enjoy this season.

Aurelio De Laurentiis has operated shrewdly in the transfer market once again, using the funds gained from Lavezzi’s sale to reinvest in the playing staff. Allessandro Gamberini has arrived from Fiorentina and could arguably be the best signing Napoli make this summer. The Italian is vastly experienced, having played in the Champions League and also featured intermittently for the national side. He will link with Paolo Cannavaro to stabilise the defence.

Valon Behrami also moved south from Fiorentina and has quickly become a key component in Napoli’s midfield. Capable of playing as a wing-back, in central midfield, or in an attacking role further up the pitch, Behrami’s versatility is something which will see him star in Napoli’s counter-attacking system. Lorenzo Insigne has returned to Napoli off the back of a stellar season in Serie B with Pescara. There are high hopes that Insigne can fill the void left by Lavezzi in attack and emerge as the ‘Tenor’ in town.

Manager Walter Mazzarri has modified Napoli’s formation during preseason, unleashing a new 3-5-1-1 system, looking to launch swift counter attacks. Preseason fixtures provided evidence of the system at work, with early success over Bayern Munich, followed by victories against Bayer Leverkusen, Bordeaux and Sporting Braga. Even against Juventus in the Super Coppa final, Napoli looked dangerous when going forward.

The new-look formation gives Napoli an extra player in midfield, allowing them to seize control of matches. Often last season, when using the 3-4-1-2, Napoli were by-passed in the centre of the pitch by opposition and suffered as a result. Now, Mazzarri has numerous options, with Gokhan Inler operating as a deep-lying playmaker, with Marek Hamsik and Valon Behrami ready to bomb-forward. The wing-backs Maggio, Dossena and Zuniga will provide width in attack, but they will have to track back to protect a potentially vulnerable defence.

In attack, Edinson Cavani will play as a lone striker, a role he prefers. Goran Pandev and Insigne will provide cover to him. Mazzarri expected to add a further striker to the squad, with Eduardo Vargas departing on loan to gain experience. Napoli suffered last season due to lack of depth in their squad, but with the recent additions this should no longer be of concern. Napoli will fight on three fronts this season, not only in Serie A, but in the Coppa Italia and Europa League.

Walter Mazzarri is expected to improve upon last season’s fifth placed finish. With De Laurentiis already stating: “the Scudetto should be everyone’s goal.” And adding: “We will also be one of the two teams to qualify automatically for the Champions League, and we will do well in the Coppa Italia and Europa League.” So no pressure on the manager.

Prediction: 4th
Player to Watch: Lorenzo Insigne

[DCGweez]

Napoli sign Uvini.

[RomaShield27]

Uvini, he's the defender who we were linked with for ages, right. He's meant to be good (or so the internets tells me), Napoli do need to improve their defence so very good signing for them.

[DCGweez]

Yes, we were linked with him although a few weeks ago as i recall.