Viola... In English!

Prandelli Content

Prandelli: Pleased for the victory and the fine play

These are the words of Viola coach Cesare Prandelli in the post-match press conference.  "The boys gave all they had.   We encountered a squad that could put us in great difficulty, even in the attacking phase.  We did well in our build up and to overcome the effects of fatigue."

"Even after we took the lead we continued to look for our second goal.  There were some stretches in the second half where we lacked clarity but it was a very well-played match by Fiorentina.  We did very nice work in switching our play from one flank to another and, in the second half, did very well to control and slow down the tempo."

"Vieri played very well and Pazzini played a fine match after coming on.  They are all important to our cause and we are working on a squad turnover in view of the upcoming matches.  Frey was brave when he needed to be as the ball was slippery.  Sebastien is one of the best around and is always consistent.  He his still has room to improve even if he always makes the important saves."

My take -- The match ended 1-0 with Vieri netting the goal. 

Hable Interview: Translated from Czech

Thanks again to Pavel who provides another nice interview on our other Czech starlet....  Midfield playmaker, Jan Hable.


Let's start with your summer transfer. When did Fiorentina contact you for the first time?
To be honest I don't know. At first they contacted my club after that match in Barcelona. (in Barcelona Hable led a European youth selection as their captain and gave a  very good performance.)

How long did it take you to decide to transfer?  And why was your former club - Hradec Kralove - willing to let their huge talent go?
I just quickly discussed it with my parents and decided to go. The clubs agreed after short negotiations, and it was too important of an offer for my former club to refuse it.

Who did you negotiate with?
I didn't do anything at all.  My agent, Zika, led the negotiations.  Every time there was something new he would call me.

And were there also other clubs interested in signing you?  Or was Fiorentina the one and only interested club?
To be honest I don't know, there were probably other clubs interested, however the only serious contender was Fiorentina. My agent did everything he could to protect me from the pressure of transfer rumors.

Are you content in your club now?
I still have to settle in, learn the language, etc...  Everything is fantastic, however. Much better than I had hoped and imagined!

Can you describe it better?
I can't. I don't know how to explain it exactly. Trainings are much different here, much harder and longer than I was used to.

Do you train with the first team or the Primavera?
I started the pre-season with the first team, but since the Primavera league season began I have been training with them.

What is coach Prandelli like?
He's a very interesting person, to be sure. It's clear that every one of his decisions is wise and acknowledged. And the players adore him.

How would you compare Hradec (Czech 2nd division) matches, with the Primavera ones?
It's hard to compare.  In the Primavera everyone is the same age as me, it's clear that everyone is still improving and needs to learn, but everyone lacks experience and maturity.

And how is the quality of Primavera league? Can you compare it to Czech football?
As I said, it's hard to compare.  It's probably similar in level to our 3rd division, however.

Where is the difference between Czech and Italian football?
Probably tactically. Matches are always very tactically hard, and we also spend huge amounts of time in tactical trainings.

And what about the other Czechs, Ujfalusi and Mazuch? Do you spend time together?
Yes, we go out often, for dinner and such. And I live with Ondrej Mazuch.

And what about the girls?  What are they like there?
Very interesting.  They are a bit darker skinned, and very nice.  However, nowhere else are they as beautiful as the girls at home!

Are you still learning Italian? Can you understand it?
I always attend lessons, together with Mazuch.  We have improved a lot, but it takes a lot of time and hard work.

And your understanding of Italian?
We have basic knowledge.  It's hard, however, to understand the coaches.  During trainings it's a problem.

What is your goal for this season? Enter the first team?
Above all to settle in here. Settle, and learn the language. Without that it's impossible to go on here.  When I manage to do that, I can aim higher.

And other goals for the future?
I don't like to reveal my goals, however the Primavera is an important competition, so I hope to do well there.  There is also the European U-19 Championship.

My take -- Good work again, Pavel.  He needs to get physically stronger before Prandelli gives him a chance.  How popular would you say Fiorentina is in the Czech Republic?

Potenza To Start

Fiorentina: Potenza in Ujfalusi's stead

Ujfalusi will miss the match.   The Czech has not recovered from the injury that he re-aggravated against Genoa and will almost certainly miss the Lazio match, as well.  Prandelli has announced that Potenza will play in his place.  It looks like Montolivo and Semioli will retain their spots despite looking fatigued Sunday evening.

In attack, Mutu looks likely to start over Osvaldo.  His breather seems to have been put off until some time after Wednesday evening.   

Wolf In Zebra's Clothing?

Fiorentina: Udinese move for Lupoli

Rumors are spreading in Firenze that Udinese is interested in Viola starlet Arturo Lupoli, currently left out of the first team.  It seems that they have made an official offer.  Prandelli is stoic.  "If he wants to leave then he can go."

My take -- We want Zapata.

Ok. New Plan.

Howdy folks.  So it turns out that I have too much going on right now to make ViolaIE what I want it to be...  Yet. 

So, I have decided to just do several (4-7) short translated articles a day until that changes.  I am looking at around mid-December to mid-January when I will be able to quit my job (free at last) and live off of the several other projects I currently have in place.  So, no more long match reports or anything like that in awhile but I will put several short snippets on. 

Nicky

Ufo Out Against Napoli

Prandelli: "Ufo out against Napoli. You'll see a much brighter Montolivo."

"I'm still not sure what changes I will make from the side that played Sunday's match because I still need to evaluate the players' conditions following the final training session.  Ujfalusi will definitely not play."  This is what Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli had to say on the eve of the match with Napoli. 

Prandelli continued.  "It will be a wide open match against a fine squad even if we will want to impose our will.  Regarding Zalayeta, even I was on the side of the Napoli delegation as he was clearly trying to avoid Buffon.  Montolivo will be much more impressive than he was against Genoa.  Last week, as he was not going to play in the UEFA Cup, he worked very hard and this hurt his conditioning."

Genoa - Fiorentina --- Match Preview

Going into this afternoon's match both sides know that they have much to gain by earning all three points.  Fiorentina, still unbeaten in all competitions this season, could go all alone into second with the win and gain two points on first place Inter Milan who dropped points in their draw away to Palermo.  Genoa looks to continue their impressive season in front of their passionate home fans.  They have earned a very creditable 12 of a possible 21 points since the opening round drubbing that AC Milan gave them.

Genoa looks set to go with a 3-4-3.  Despite only playing with three at the back, they have surrendered just 5 league goals since the aforementioned AC Milan match.  Prandelli must find a way to exploit their defensive liabilities while still coping with Genoa's attack.  That attack is led by Marco Borriello who has re-found himself since leaving AC Milan.

Fiorentina's only two players out injured look to be Santana and Gobbi.  Jorgensen and Kuzmanovic do have fitness problems and look set to start on the bench.

Our projected starting 11...

Talking Points

• Fiorentina has only managed 12 wins in 42 matches away to Genoa.  Genoa has won 16 and there have been 14 draws.
• Fiorentina's last win away to Genoa finished 0-3 in the 82/83 season.  Since then Fiorentina have lost 5 and drawn 4 times at the Luigi Ferraris.
• Last season Genoa knocked us out of the Coppa Italia 1-0 in Genova.
• Fiorentina has scored in each of its last 14 official matches.  The Viola have tallied a total of 27 goals during that stretch.  Their last time scoreless was May 6 away to AC Milan.
• Fiorentina has not conceded an away goal in Serie A in its last 243 minutes.  The last one came in the Viola's first away match of the season at AC Milan.
• Genoa has lost only one of its last 19 official matches at home, that being this season's opening match at home to AC Milan.
• Fiorentina has lost only one of its last 26 Serie A matches, that being last season's 0-2 loss at Parma April 18.
• The match will be refereed by Emidio Morganti.
• The high in Genova today is 69°F (21°C) and the low is 57°F (14°C) with a 20% chance of rain.

Youth Sector Recognition

Internationals: De Vitis, Angelica, Carraro and Iemmello with the U-16

Four Fiorentina youth players have been called up by coach Antonio Rocca's Italian U-16 side.  Alessandro De Vitis (Midfielder), Sebastiano Angelica (Midfielder), Federico Carraro (Midfielder) and Pitro Iemmello (Attacker) will take part in the 8th Annual Val de Marne Tournament which is taking place October 28 though November 4.

My take -- All 4 of these players ply their trade with our Allievi Nazionali side.  There were so many called up that this weekend's Allievi match versus Pisa has been postponed to November 7.