Wednesday 27 August, 2008
Blog: Back in old Napoli
Napoli have ticked all the boxes in pre-season and Dave Taylor feels that the Azzurri are ready to shine again
There is a highly charged atmosphere of optimism around Napoli at the moment with fans experiencing a form of football fever that has rarely been seen since the days of Diego. Comfortable pre-season victories, the scintillating early form of new striker German Denis and Marek Hamsik, as well as the Olympic performances of Ezequiel Lavezzi, have all served to wet their appetites.
Factor in the arrivals of Leandro Rinaudo, Christian Maggio, as well as starlet Andrea Russotto and the reason why 65,000 excited tifosi turned up on the club’s first European night for 14 years becomes even more apparent.
One negative aspect are the reports that President Aurelio Di Laurentiis is not truly behind Coach Edy Reja. And that’s despite 11 home wins last year, including stunning defeats of Milan, Inter and Juventus, finishing eighth in Serie A and eventually qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Not bad for a newly promoted team.
However, that was then and this is now. There is no doubt that the new boys, plus the loss of deadwood like Roberto Sosa and Emanuele Calaio, have strengthened the team. Yet even so, can a leaner and meaner Azzurri break into a top five of Inter, Roma, Juventus, Fiorentina and Milan?
We will soon find out as their first two games are against the Giallorossi and Fiorentina and although Napoli pulled off an admirable 4-4 draw away to Roma, they did lose 2-0 at the San Paolo last season.
Regarding the Viola, they have also added well, but I believe that Napoli can at least consider themselves their equals. As for Udinese and Sampdoria, the other teams that finished above them, if the Partenopei cannot grab at least four points each there, they might as well drop back into Serie C1 and be done with it.
They certainly look capable of going far in the UEFA Cup and pushing for a top six place. Although to almost demand a Champions League place, as the President has done, is simply too much pressure for the time being.
The problem is that since the Maradona era Napoli fans have been let down on too many occasions. Yet this time I feel if Reja is allowed to lose a few games and Di Laurentiis backs him completely, then I believe that the optimism can at last be fulfilled.