Kicks off tonight, a very interesting season ahead with the upheaval at Juventus likely to have given everyone else renewed hope.
Roma have much more depth in their squad this year but we have lost our best defender and Maicon is a year older and I think a lot of his drive will have gone after the World Cup. Unsure Cole is the best option at this stage of his career but he should be an upgrade on what our weak link last year. Looking forward to seeing the likes of Ucan, Iturbe and Paredes in action this season. I think we’ll win the league this year.
Fiorentina have more or less remained the same, they have been able to keep Cuadrado which is a big bonus to them and have Gomez back fit. Their transfer window has been a little disappointing as they haven’t brought in anyone who will improve the starting XI although they do have a few loanees returning on the back of good loan spell - Babacar, Bernadeschi and Alonso. I see them repeating last year’s feat of a Europa League spot.
Juve have lost Conte which is a big blow, it will be interesting to see how Allegri gets on but I do rate him as a good coach. A change in system is likely, again they have a bit of an understated transfer market - the main purchases being Evra, Morata, Pereyra, Romulo and Coman. None of them will really add anything to the first team though Pereyra and Morata are interesting prospects, Coman also seems to be highly rated. They have done well to move on the likes of Vucinic and Quagliarella and if they could do similar with Giovinco and bring in another good striker or creative force then they could start thinking more positively. I think they’ll finish second.
Inter have had the most successful window for me. I think Mazzarri is a tremendous coach and I expect a big season from them domestically and in the Europa League. They have really shed the deadwood and have really talented young players like Icardi and Kovacic. Vidic should prove to be an inspired signing in midfield and I think Osvaldo will prosper under the style of football Mazzarri will play. If they can get another top class attacker in I think they will take third. I would also expect a good showing in the Europa League from them.
Napoli are in a bad way at the minute for me, their transfer dealings have been really uninspiring this season, while everyone around them have seemed to improve, Napoli actually have seemed to stagnate/regress. Benitez is a decent manager but some of his transfer dealings leave a lot to be desired - in most Italian clubs managers have little to do with the signing of players but Benitez seems to take an active role in the dealings at Napoli or at least a more active role than any other Serie A Manager. There is also reported tension between De Laurentiis and Benitez, Higuain meant to be getting a bit upset and Insigne having nervous breakdowns over stick from the crowd and wanting to leave. I expect Napoli to finish 6th and possibly a parting of ways in management before Christmas. They need to add 2/3 players of first team quality before the window closes.
Milan have had a very good transfer campaign, they have managed to get rid of 90% of the trash in their squad and made a number of shrewd investments like Menez, Armero, Lopez, Albertazzi and Torres with Van Ginkel also looking likely to arrive. If they can get another top class wide attacker (i.e. Cerci) in then I think they will enjoy a much improved season. They have a serious and shrewd young manager in Inzaghi and there is a lot of talented youngsters there like Cristante, Saponara, De Sciglio, El Shaarawy and Mansour so hopefully they will improve their development under him. Keeping their key players injury free will be the most important thing for Milan. I also expect Torres to be one of the signings of the window. Milan will finish 4th.
Lazio have also done some solid work during the window and the other team who have really impressed me are Genoa who could give a good tilt at one of the Europa League places. Really looking forward to seeing Zeman back at Cagliari and I also look forward to watching Sassuolo this season who were very entertaining last year and they also have an almost pan-Italian look about their side. Andrea Stramaccioni takes charge of Udinese so that is yet another point of interest for the coming season.
Predictions:
- Roma
- Juve
- Inter
- Milan
- Fiorentina
- Napoli
Signing of the season: Torres
Player of the year: Pjanic
Top Scorer: Destro
Best Young Player: Andrea Belotti
I expect the gap between the top four to be no more than 10 points and we will have a very exciting title race for a change.
