So here we are, once again, at the dawn of a new season. Serie A is already underway with Genoa grabbing the three points in Udine and relegation favourites, Rioma sharing the spoils with Scudetto wannabes, Cesena. Yes, you could say there is something amiss about that sentence but there are no easy games in Serie A anymore, especially not on the opening weekend and we can certainly take nothing for granted when we tackle Sampdoria tomorrow evening.

TEAM NEWS
All signs point to an incredibly attack-minded approach from Edy Reja although I say that with caution as the 3-4-2-1 he looks set to implement could so very easily revert into a 5-2-3. Personally, I am worried. First things first, this is an away game and in away games, I would like to see Brocchi on the field with the sole task of winning the ball back off the opposition. Instead, we are likely to see Ledesma, Matuzalem, Zarate and Hernanes all working together in a confined space, all of whom are creative players who like to push forward. This is a narrow system if ever I saw one, if it gets any more compact in there, the FIGC will be introducing on-field congestion charges. I cannot for the life of me understand how it could even be considered as a feasible formation. With this philosophy, Cristiano’s tip that Floccari could find himself being the capocannoniere come the end of the season is a sturdy bet. However, it would most certainly come at a cost.

Let’s try and restore some optimism by running through the probable teamsheet. Muslera, as always, will be the safe pair of hands between the sticks. Nowadays, Radu doesn’t need to be informed that he starts and he should be joined by Dias and surely to the dismay of many, Biava. Stendardo will make the bench at best it seems. The centre of the midfield has already been discussed and flanking those boys will be the ever reliable Lichtsteiner and the never reliable (in terms of fitness and I would stress in terms of fitness) Del Nero. Floccari is preferred to Rocchi in attack. Keep one eye on that situation over the coming days; Sergio is the main man, rumour has it Tommaso has requested to play the vast majority of our games this season or he will quit the club, Maurito is linked with Tottenham who are incidentally prepared to spend in excess of 20 million euro on a new striker and Santa Cruz is inbound. In a word, problematic.

Lazio (3-4-1-2): Muslera, Radu, Dias, Biava, Del Nero, Ledesma, Matuzalem, Lichtsteiner, Zarate, Hernanes, Floccari.

THE OPPOSITION
Gigi Delneri built a team on simple values. Samp played 4-4-2, when going through the middle, they looked for the underpants (Cassano) and they would regularly spread the ball out wide and whip crosses into Pazzini. It was predictable but it was effective, it stopped them from losing any home games last season and it won them a spot in the Champions League qualifying rounds. Under Di Carlo, most pundits will tell you they will lose some of their formidability. Cristiano agrees and as it happens, so do I. That is not to say we should expect anything from the game tomorrow because frankly, we shouldn’t. However, over the course of the season, I do believe they will struggle and after a disappointing and tiring exit from Europe’s main competition, they have wounds for us to deepen. In saying that, with our formation, we look like we could also be carved open with ease.

Samp are expected to come out with a 4-3-1-2 with Guberti in a trequartista role. I am slightly surprised as I would have expected them to prepare to use width against us. They may still do but it does appear as though Mimmo is running scared to a degree and wants to counteract our creativity. That can be done when you have a player like Palombo in your team. My point earlier was that Reja thinks differently to most Italian coaches and by not having Brocchi in the team when playing against a side who has Palombo at their disposal, you are conceding defeat in particular battles before you even begin. Whether that is brave or stupid remains to be seen. What I would be keen to reiterate is that this is, give or take, the same squad that nabbed the Blucerchiati 4th place last season. You don’t suddenly become a bad team in a few months. I expect a stubborn defense, a controlled midfield and need I say any more on their forward line?

Sampdoria (4-3-1-2): Curci, Ziegler, Lucchini, Gastaldello, Zauri, Dessena, Palombo, Semiolo, Guberti, Cassano, Pazzini.

THE VERDICT
For me, this game goes one of two ways. Either the opposition come out of the blocks slow and sluggishly and we take advantage of any rustiness they possess from their midweek fixture or we find ourselves on the end of a lethal backlash to stare at a two or three goal deficit within long. That is pessimistic, yes, but it is also realistic. They will have two of the best forwards in world football looming large in the penalty area all day and if they take the initiative, it will quickly become a case of damage limitation. An early goal would settle our nerves and put us firmly in the driving seat but that is easier said than done against this defense. I cannot even begin to call this one but I can hope for the best. Forza Lazio!

As the anticipation grows for the season kick-off, Cathal and I preview the upcoming campaign. In Part I, Cathal analysed the off pitch matters, while in Part II, I looked at the players. Now, in the third and final part, we’ll look at the rest of Serie A and the 19 teams which stand in our path as we look to re-establish ourselves among the elite of Italian football.

BARI

I galletti enjoyed a fairytale of sorts return to Serie A. They comfortably secured their top flight status well before the end of the season and kept many of the big sides honest with strong performances. This season they will undoubtedly find the going a whole lot tougher. Their most notable losses are Bonucci and Ranocchia, their pair of maverick central defenders. Coach ‘Ace’ Ventura also has a poor track record when it comes to second season syndrome. Nobody will be surprised any more by the efficiency of their counter attack. I think the pugliesi will still survive, but it won’t be as comfortable as last season.

BOLOGNA

The felsinei were very poor last season and they will have a huge battle on their hands to remain in A. Much will again rest on the shoulders of Marco Di Vaio. Even the self confessed Lazio man admits he is very concerned about the lack of preparation ahead of the campaign. Bologna will again be one of the favourites to go down and this season it is very questionable as to whether they have what it takes to stave off relegation.

BRESCIA

Not since the days of Baggio have Brescia fans had reason to smile. Despite looking good for promotion in almost all of their Serie B campaigns, it wasn’t until June that they finally celebrated a return to the top tier, after a playoff win. The rondinelle have added to their arsenal by signing the best player of Serie B, Brazilian forward Eder, as well as Alessandro Diamanti from West Ham. La Leonessa will fancy her chances of securing her Serie A status and they will boast some of the best provincial fans in Italy.

CAGLIARI

The Sardinian outfit continue to defy the experts with very strong campaigns and, with a host of players that have the azzurro on their minds, I expect more of the same. A solid midfield with creative abilities and impeccable finishing from the likes of Matri, make Cagliari a side capable of competing against the best of the best. With supremely talented youngsters such as Daniele Ragatzu, the rossoblu could be one of the teams to watch once again. However, it remains to be seen whether new coach Pierpaolo Bisoli can live up to the high standards set by his predecessor Max Allegri.

CATANIA

Coming off the back of their best campaign in A, Catania will be looking to break their own record once again. They will be relying on a band of Argentines to do so; the elefanti are the most Argentine side outside of Argentina itself. Marco Giampaolo replaces Sinisa Mihajlovic on the bench and he has past success in leading unfancied sides through great seasons. Maxi Lopez was hugely successful when he arrived in January, and he will again be turned to for goals. Mirko Antenucci is coming off a massive 24-goal haul at Ascoli and if he can step up in Serie A, there will be no shortage of goals for the rossazzurri. They should survive, and finish somewhere in the midst of the lower half of the table.

CESENA

After almost two decades out in the cold, the seahorses have returned to Serie A. At first glance, it appears that they possess a thing squad that is set for an instant return to the cadetti. They do, however, boast some talented players that could be difference makers. One is Ezequiel Schelotto, the Italo-Argentine starlet that many are talking up to take Serie A by storm. French striker Dominique Malonga and Japanese international Yuto Nagatomo might surprise a few as well. A group of honest and experienced Serie A campaigners will also help the cause, however any reliance on Erjon Bogdani for goals won’t. The romagnoli will surely have a fight on their hands to stay up, but pushovers they will not be.

CHIEVO

Every season, Chievo are one of the tips to drop and every year, they manage to defy the odds to survive. They aren’t associated with beautiful football, but there can be no arguing about their ability to get the job done. Sergio Pellissier will be back once again and the Flying Donkeys will turn to his experienced boots for goals. Coach Stefano Pioli replaces Mimmo Di Carlo, who has chased the bright lights of European nights with Samp. It remains to be seen whether he has what it takes to yet again galvanise Chievo into a side which can travel to face the likes of Juve and win. I suspect that this season will see the gialloblu flirting much closer with relegation than the past campaign.

FIORENTINA

La viola have one advantage this season as they look to challenge for a Champions League place yet again: no European commitments. The Florence outfit were not equipped to challenge for 4th in Serie A, while fighting on through the business end of the Champions League. Boss Cesare Prandelli has switched his purple jacket for a blue one, and so one of the rising stars of the coaching scene, Sinisa Mihajlovic, takes charge at the Franchi. The long term loss of Jovetic will hurt them and they may find a Champions League place a step too far for them this season. Fiorentina will, however, be well in the mix for a Europa League place and no one will relish playing them.

GENOA

Gian Piero Gasperini will continue his reign as coach of Genoa for yet another year, and it should be yet another year of eclectic and eye catching football. Famous for their cavalier approach to the game, Genoa matches usually feature goals galore. Another busy mercato for the Ligurian outfit sees journeyman Luca Toni and defender Andrea Ranocchia arrive at the club. Their inclusions should bolster a side which was already a contender for Europe. As with Fiorentina, the lack of European matches clouding their calendar will work to their advantage.

INTER

The champions of Italy and Europe will this season seek to also conquer the world. However, Rafa Benitez will be best not to make the Club World Cup a focal point of the season. The nerazzurri are again the team to beat in Serie A and everyone has them in their crosshairs. Balotelli is gone, but Sneijder, Milito and Maicon all remain. This is a side already engineered for success and they know exactly how to win. The major loss for Inter is Mourinho, and the Spanish waiter has immensely high standards to live up to. In my opinion, his position is not enviable. If he wins, he is just guiding the team of champions that Jose built. If he fails, he is leading an all-conquering side to a failed campaign. I think come summer of 2011, Inter will be celebrating the championship again, but it will be close and they will have strong competitors for the crown.

JUVENTUS

One of Inter’s competitors will surely be la Juve. Due to poor management, the bianconeri have struggled somewhat to mount a serious tilt at the league title since their return to Serie A. Diego was not afforded any chances and is gone, but a long list of players have made their way to Vinovo. Krasic, Pepe, Martinez, Bonucci and Quagliarella will all add quality to a Juventus side which, last season, was simply not good enough. Gigi Delneri has a challenge on his hands, as he is not accustomed to the pressure and expectation that comes with managing a side like Juventus. Anything less than a legitimate scudetto challenge will be a failure for this Juve team.

LECCE

Returning to Serie A after a year’s absence, the salentini will look to emulate their Pugliese rivals Bari and confirm their presence in the top flight. They won Serie B at a canter, however will find the going much tougher in the top division. The southern club has pulled off something of a coup by sealing the return to salento of Javier Chevanton, the Uruguayan striker who became a club legend as a youngster between 2001 and 2004. Now 30, it is questionable whether the club’s all-time top scorer can make much of an impact, but he could be an ace up the sleeve of Gigi De Canio. Experienced campaigners such as club captain, Guillermo Giacomazzi, another Uruguayan, will be needed to add grit to a side which will struggle to avoid the drop.

MILAN

The Rossoneri are still an old side, and there are serious doubts as to whether they have either the depth or the quality needed to push Inter all the way in the scudetto race. However, new coach Massimiliano Allegri will bring a breath of fresh air to the club and he will likely be able to count on some serious attacking potency. If Milan can bring in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which appears to be a deal on the cards, they will possess one of the best forward lines in world football. My doubts about Milan lie in the full back areas, and even at centre back. Traditionally, a Milan defence has been world class, however this diavolo side has a leaky rearguard and much will depend on the fitness of Alessandro Nesta, and his partner Thiago Silva. If Nesta goes down, then Milan’s chances of success go down with him.

NAPOLI

A Champions League place will be a target for Napoli, however their commitments in the Europa League may prove to be a hindrance as they seek fourth place. Edinson Cavani is a serious signing and he replaces the Juve-bound Fabio Quagliarella. The Uruguayan bomber will link up with wild Argentine Lavezzi as the main goal threats. As usual, most of the partenopei’s play will go through Slovak sensation Marek Hamsik, fresh off captaining his country to their maiden World Cup. I don’t think Napoli have the depth to finish in a high European place while negotiating the Europa League, but they are a dangerous side and, should they exit Europe early, we may see them go a long way.

PALERMO

The rosanero probably deserved a Champions League berth last season and will again have their sights set on a place in Europe’s premier club competition. Some key players, Kjaer and Cavani, are gone but the siciliani will hope that their low key signings are more than adequate replacements. Palermo have put together a strong squad with serious depth. The likes of Migliaccio are horribly underrated and give Palermo a strength in depth many other sides lack. Their biggest concern will be a possible overreliance on the veteran regista Fabio Liverani, but with the presence of Javier Pastore, who is borderline world class, this shouldn’t be the case. In Abel Hernandez, Palermo have a future world beater to look to for goals. Delio Rossi has a strong side which should go close to reaching their Champions League dream.

PARMA

A solid mid table finish is what many, including myself, expect of Parma this season. Much will be talked about the arrival of Sebastian Giovinco however, for me, the former Juve man is largely overrated. The gialloblu will miss Daniele Galloppa, who is a long term injury casualty. Parma’s backline is fairly solid and they do have more in terms of depth when compared to similarly placed clubs. Survival shouldn’t be a problem for this Parma team, but Europe is not a realistic aim either.

ROMA

Coming off a hugely successful, and yet ultimately disappointing campaign will give Roma cause for optimism and further motivation ahead of this season. Ownership concerns and a lacklustre mercato will hinder them, yet the fact that they have a side which was so close to the title last season cannot be overlooked. The major smoky across the capital lies in the form of the Champions League. How this side will cope with playing in that competition remains to be seen and certainly, a major injury crisis (which Roma are traditionally prone to) could see their hopes and dreams disappear in a puff of smoke.

SAMPDORIA

The blucerchiati’s fourth place finish in 2010 was a dream realised for their die-hard fans. Participation in the CL proper didn’t end up becoming a reality, however Samp will set their sights on a second chance. Europa League commitments will hurt them, and depth will again be a big test. Beyond their bona fide superstars in Cassano and Pazzini, and their tough as teak skipper Angelo Palombo, the quality of Sampdoria’s list is up for debate. Questions have been raised particularly about their defensive record and whether or not they can hold out against well organised counter attacking sides. I think Samp will be the sliders this season, and won’t be able to satisfy their supporters with a European place of any sort.

UDINESE

Last season’s flirt with the drop was an aberration that no Udinese fan wants to see repeated. Whispers that talisman Toto Di Natale could be on his way out of the club saw them rise up in protest. Francesco Guidolin will be well aware of the task that awaits him and if results don’t go the friuliani’s way early on, he could find himself walking out the door. The zebrette will be targeting a Europa League place but I think after last season, comfortable survival should leave residents of Udine content.

Today, we feature Lazio Indonesia; a group of people that almost defy belief. What many calcio lovers do not realise is that the Italian game is simply massive in Asia and is continuing to grow. When our boys headed for Beijing to take on Inter in the Italian Supercup last summer, for sure, it was to expand the growth of the game in the region but it was also a blatant attempt to exploit a pre-existing market. I like to keep abreast of these matters and I happen to know that the vast majority of visitors to english-speaking calcio sites are Asian and more specifically, Indonesian. With that in mind, I had to get our representatives to share their experiences with a larger audience.

LAZIO INDONESIA MEMBERSHIP CARD (tessera del tifoso, eat your heart out).

Thus, I will begin this feature by giving you the words of Felix Wijaya, founder of Lazio Indonesia and a man whose enthusiasm evidently extends into the group he has helped create:

“Lazio Indonesia is the friendliest and coolest community there is. Whether we are aware of it or not, we have become one, big, happy family. We all love Lazio and would support them forever, no matter if they win, lose, draw or end up in Serie C.”

“I hope Lazio Indonesia will become even more tight-knit and that we become more connected with one another and also grow cooler and trendier. In the future, we hope that we can be the official group for Lazio in Indonesia and that we can all go to the Olimpico in Rome and watch Lazio together.”

One of the things that instantaneously struck me with these guys is that they really are a band of brothers. I mean, just from linking up with them on Facebook, I have been blown away by how much everyone at Lazio Indonesia co-operates outside of game time on a Sunday. In order to get the full picture, I spoke with Adrian, Lazio Indonesia’s regional officer and head moderator of their FB group (when I say spoke, I have actually interrogated Adrian for months and I cannot thank him enough for his help). I asked Adrian to fill me in on absolutely everything since I am incredibly jealous of their event schedule and have thought about booking flights over on more than one occasion.

LAZIO INDONESIA

What type of work does Lazio Indonesia do? What are your ambitions as a community?

“There are many activities undertaken by Lazio Indonesia such as futsal competitions, nobar, charitable events etc. As the admin/creator of the LI facebook group, I hope LI members will increase daily in number and we will gain a strong base in Indonesia. I also hope that LI can go official, and become known by laziale around the world. Therefore, I am very grateful to you because with your help this means we are already achieving something similar by promoting LI throughout the world.”

Nobar and Futsal are terms that may be unfamiliar to some. Can you explain what these events entail and perhaps comment briefly on Lazio Indonesia’s charity work?

“Nobar is an abbreviation for Nonton Bareng. This translates into english as watching live Lazio games on a big screen, usually in a cafe or a food court. So, each week we do the nobar, not only in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, but also in Bandung City, Jogja City, Surabaya City, and other cities across Indonesia.”

“As for charity work, we have helped raise funds for earthquake and flood victims and have aided with blood donorship for the Indonesian Red Cross.”

What are you most proud of as being part of Lazio Indonesia? What is your fondest memory?

“In Indonesia, there are many other club communities aside from Lazio Indonesia. We have Milanisti Indonesia, Interisti Indonesia , Juventini Indonesia, etc. and they all have a very strong base compared with Lazio Indonesia. However, we have pride in that we are not a glory hunting fans. We love this club just the way it is and we are not necessarily expecting this club to add to our achievements. We are proud to be laziali in Indonesia although we don’t have the strongest base in terms of numbers.”

“My best memory in Lazio Indonesia was when we watched a Lazio – Roma derby last year with Indonesian romanisti. Lazio won 4-2 and there were many Indonesian romanisti who felt embarrassed at that time. You know, it was such a great satisfaction to see them cry over us…”

I believe there is something exciting in the pipeline around derby time? Can you tell me more about it?

“Yes, there is a National Gathering; an annual event for our community where more than a hundred laziali will attend from all over Indonesia. This year, it will be held in Yogyakarta, Beach Parangkusumo on 6-7 November 2010. At National Gathering, we will hold a meeting for Lazio Indonesia staff to elect for 2010/2011. This includes the electing of the president to the regional staff. That aside, we will also gather to support Lazio in the derby by watching them on television.”

LAZIO INDONESIA FUTSAL TEAM

To brush up on the more technical aspects, I got in touch with Dion Barus who is responsible for the Lazio Indonesia forum and asked him to, basically, outline the past, the present and where possible, the future of the forum.

LAZIO INDONESIA – THE 4-2 DERBY

“I have been working on the forum since March 2009 because there were various message boards and unofficial forums in different sites and to make a single integrated forum for Indonesian Laziali was advantageous for us. We aim to be the medium for Indonesian laziali to share their thoughts, ideas and passion for la Lazio. That medium is LI official forum (recognisable to many laziali). I’ve almost forgotten but setting the forum was relatively easy and only took around five hours. At present, we have c50 regular members who visit on a daily basis. Since Lazio is not a particularly well supported club in Indonesia, I think that’s a pretty adequate figure for us. We discuss many topics on the forum, mostly about Lotito and Rioma, admittedly.”

“Since Lazio Indonesia is developing a new site, I’m still discussing with all moderators and admin in LI site about integrating the forum to the new site. Facebook has developed a huge market in Indonesia recently, so finding the most fruitful way forward is a time consuming process, especially with regard to the current and future use of the forum.”

LAZIO INDONESIA – THE COPPA ITALIA FINAL 2009

To conclude this feature, I had to track down our Indonesian counterpart in Idray; the blogger who brings all the news direct to the Lazio Indonesia community in their own native langauge:

“I started blogging in November 2008. The release date of my first post is 29th November 2008. I blog anything about Lazio; latest news, previews, calcio mercato and I also give my own personal opinion on Lazio. Certain aspects of blogging is easy, finding the results of games and reporting on them is fine but then, you have things such as Lazio’s annual presentation where the entire squad gathers together for photographs and tracking down the information can be almost impossible. Romanisti have visited the blog in the past, although, I was debating with them in their group. My highlight as a blogger was surely the 4-2 derby victory. It was a beautiful victory and my first time to join directly in the nobar. I was so happy because at last, I could see in person how the Romanisti in Indonesia react to the defeat of their team and enjoy the full embarrassment of it.”

LAZIO INDONESIA – SPYING ON THE RIOMANISTI

Hopefully you can now see for yourselves that in Indonesia, we have real laziali. What kills me inside is that many of these boys, purely due to the mother of all drawbacks in geography, will never set foot in the Olimpico. They deserve better for their efforts and the dedication they give to our club. All I can promise them is that I will drop by somewhere close to derby time and see how they are all getting on. For now, I hope their story inspires you in the same way I am continually motivated by their progress.

Forza Lazio. Forza Lazio Indonesia.

Following on from Part I of the season preview, written by Cathal, I now take a closer look at those who will undoubtedly have the greatest impact upon our season, the players.

GOALKEEPERS

We’ll begin with those who stand between the sticks and I have to say that we are quite well covered in this area. Fernando Muslera is on the verge of renewing his contract until 2015 and is coming off his maiden World Cup. We all know what Fernando is capable of, and we all know that he is still improving. Even though we have a safe pair of hands in castorino, we also have some serious backup for him. Tommaso Berni is a more than capable goalkeeper and one that would almost certainly be a starter at a smaller club, or in Serie B. Likewise, Albano Bizzarri is still here despite being surplus to requirements and, at Catania two seasons ago, he has already established himself as one of the premier ‘keepers in Serie A. If that infallible trio somehow falls down, we have the promising Primavera man Alessandro Berardi to call upon. I think it’s fair to say that goalkeeping is no longer our weak spot.

CENTRE BACKS

Currently we have six central defenders, the same number that Reja marked as the ideal for a side which makes use of a back three. In an ideal world, the out-of-favour Cribari would be replaced by a better option, but this is one mercato deal we don’t seem to be able to get done. Stefan Radu is the first name on the team sheet these days. He has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Italy and will surely, before too long, be subjected to the catcalls of the big clubs. I wish to stress that Radu is NOT a left back and should never be used on the left side, unless every other left-sided option is unavailable.

Andre Dias will also be a regular fixture in the backline. Reja is a huge fan of him and so am I. He is versatile, he can tackle, he can play the ball out of the back and, just for good measure, he can get forward and score goals too. The last member of the trio will either be Guglielmo Stendardo or Giuseppe Biava. I prefer Willy, but I suspect it’ll be a question of who is the opposition and they will be rotated accordingly. I even prefer Diakite’ to Biava, but don’t expect to see much of the Frenchman. He is unlikely to ever be a regular under Edy.

FULL BACKS

On the right side, the presence of Lichtsteiner is a no-brainer. Forrest Gump was a low-profile signing who has become a pin up for this side and he is set to embark on his third season of marauding up the right. Young Angolan-born, Belgian talent Luis Pedro Cavanda and the veteran Argentine Scaloni will serve as backup.

On the left, Javier Garrido has arrived from Manchester City to replace Kolarov. He will fight for a place alongside the criminally underrated Simone Del Nero. The latter has an advantage with Garrido being behind the pace in terms of physical conditioning and he will probably start the first game of the season.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD

The importance of having a well-oiled engine was underlined last season when our complete lack of quality in the centre almost sent us down to Serie B. This season will be a very different story, however. Gone is Baronio and we welcome Hernanes, the Brazilian maestro who will form one of the better central pairings in Serie A with Argentine regista Cristian Ledesma. With his future sorted out contract-wise, we can expect Ledesma to provide the solid and reliable service we were accustomed to before his fallout with the club. Often mistaken for being lazy, Ledesma recovered the ball more times than any other midfielder two seasons ago, and was always charged with turning defence into attack. This time around, though, he has Hernanes to help him. Having each other there should make things easier for both players and we can expect huge improvements in both performances and results. It could be what we need to score buckets of goals like the good old days!

The rest of our midfield is not to be sneezed at either. Matuzalem has his fitness issues, but when available he is one of the most naturally gifted players in our side. Stefano Mauri and Mark Bresciano will keep each other on their toes and provide both assists and goals from behind the forwards. Alvaro Gonzalez is shaping up as a really solid backup option for the right side of the midfield. We don’t lack defensive steel or fight either, as Cristian Brocchi is back for another season of giving 110% for the cause. Fabio Firmani too is still here and, when fit, he too is capable of some performances that belie his reputation.

FORWARDS

The attack will enjoy the luxury that is quality service this season. It is something we lacked last season and was a big part of the reason we almost fell down into Serie B. Sergio Floccari will again lead the line, and he could be a real candidate for the capocannoniere title. He is also a potential option for Prandelli, so I expect a huge year from il Boia.

With the arrival of Hernanes, I think the spotlight has dimmed a little on Mauro Zarate. He will enjoy both this, as well as the exceptional service the Brazilian provides, and hopefully show us all who the real Maurito is. I’ve already expressed my thoughts on what to expect from Zarate this season. Tommaso Rocchi and Pasquale Foggia will also be very valuable options to have. Tommy only needs seven more goals to become just the 5th player in 110 years to score 100 goals in biancoceleste. Both he and Paccuale can provide goals and assists.

At the time of writing, we have submitted a formal offer to City to loan Paraguayan hitman Roque Santa Cruz. It will be a continuation of the long tradition of Latin Americans at la Lazio. I see his signing as the fourth striker as absolutely necessary as we don’t have a backup for Floccari in the squad. Should he go down, we will be reliant on Libor Kozak who simply isn’t ready to shine at this level. Suggestions of Di Mario and Barreto are even more ludicrous. Showing faith in youth is an important thing, relying on them to help get you into Europe is not wise though.

***

I think we have real cause for optimism. Stay tuned for Part III where I will gaze over the rest of the Serie A clubs and look at who our main competitors are and who will end up where in 2011.

Apologies for the corniest opening imaginable but I cannot think of a better way to kick off this season preview. Frankly, it has been a mixed bag of a summer where emotions ran high and low and to be honest, if it wasn’t for the distraction that was World Cup, I think I could have been deemed criminally insane by now. However, I am here, we are here and our boys are raring to go. So, Cristiano and myself are going to run through all the key contributors to the 2010/11 season and try and hazard a guess as to what may or may not occur.

We’ll start with the man everybody loves to hate (and in rare cases, hates to love).

PRESIDENT LOTITO

The big bad wolf? If my market research was too intricate for the light-hearted haters among you (of which there are undoubtedly many) then that is perfectly understandable and I would like to take this opportunity to sum up the man in a paragraph.

We are talking about a businessman. Business has kept us out of debt, business has ensured credible attendances, business has secured satisfactory mercati, business has made us one of the most profitable clubs in Serie A. That’s what business can do. But business can also drive fans away from the stadium, business can make you protested against to the point where you feel you can exercise power like the world’s most famous Silvio, business can make you believe that a squad of forty plus is feasible as long as your pockets jangle. Business can do a lot of things.

Nevertheless, what we may see now for the first time in a long time is a president who trusts his coach with the footballing side of the business. He has provided the players Reja has requested, or so we are lead to believe and that is a massive step forward.

Of course, should we beat Samp on Sunday, we can expect the usual “we can win the Scudetto” line but it is good he has a sense of humour, right?

COACH REJA

I think the jury is still out on Edy. Some described our escape from the clutches of Serie B as being remarkable, others preferred to call it living up to our potential. The man divides opinion and I fully expect him to continue that trend. The major concern for most of us is the 3-5-2 system; unconventional in the modern game and particularly unorthodox when you consider we have a roster wholly absent of natural wingers but we will come back to that later.

At Napoli, Reja guided his boys to the Intertoto Cup. Hardly prestigious, I agree, but with a squad comparable in terms of quality, it comes as no surprise to find himself setting a similar target; making the Top 8. This is now his squad and I would assume that he will be relieved of his duties should he fail to meet his own expectations.

He will instil the necessary desire to grace the higher echelons of the Serie A table but his skills as a tactician are questionable to say the least. He has the talent to put in place the attacking philosophy he has demonstrated throughout his career but only time will tell if this tendency is suicidal or not. For what its worth, I suspect it might be but I do believe it is the only approach to begin with.

THE FANS

Tessera del tifoso is mammoth. Serie B is up and running and Atalanta’s Ultras have landed themselves in hot water already. Our Ultras have adopted a similar stance, hence, there is cause for concern. Now, I would like to think our tifosi could handle the situation in such a way that we don’t fuel the controversy but honestly, I wouldn’t bank on it. After all the protests of last season, whether they were conducted correctly or not, what is apparent and incontestable is that our home form was dire and support is always a factor. I’m not saying the Curva Nord cost us points but they did make the playing environment that fraction more hostile. I expect more of the same this season, if not more than the same. The only difference is that the dissatisfaction may ring out from a stand other than the Curva Nord.

I dream that the Stadio Olimpico can be turned into a fortress this year but I am not holding my breath.

Part II later. Forza Lazio!

Why the embarrassment? Why the evaluation? Rumour has it that the Citizen has been cast aside in favour of a late swoop for David Trezeguet. A potential problem in the deal is Edy Reja who seems far from keen on the Frenchman. Hence, the Paraguayan has been left on standby to sweat it out. I suppose he can always nibble on a carrot or two before having a nice glass of milk and some cookies (I bet he got this abuse in Manchester).

It’s Wednesday and thus poll time and you’ve guessed it; I want to know who do you prefer, Santa Cruz or Trezeguet. Vote as soon as possible because a deal for either could be concluded within days and one of the two should link up with Maurito Zarate who 72% of you believe will be recapturing the form of his debut season in the very near future. Forza Lazio!

Santa Cruz Or Trezeguet?online surveys

One of the longest soap operas in Italian football has come to an end. After almost two years of infighting and disputes, Argentine regista Cristian Ledesma agreed a deal which will keep him at Lazio until 2015.

It is quite remarkable, it has to be said, that Ledesma has signed another contract with Lazio. Once he had been frozen out and taken the dispute to the courts, I never would’ve suspected that this marriage had a future, but Cristian sat down today with Lotito at the president’s mountain lodge in Cortina and signed a five-year deal. He will earn up to 1.6 million euro a season with bonuses. It is a huge improvement over his previous 450k per year contract which was inappropriate for a player of his status. Ledesma’s importance to the team has never been in doubt, and now he will be paid accordingly.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that Ledesma will remain in biancoceleste for another five seasons. He may well get the big move to one of Europe’s powerhouse clubs, but at least now both Lazio and Ledesma can move forward knowing that both parties will win, should such a situation arise. Given his age, I suspect Ledesma will remain with us for quite some time, but time will tell.

It is in the present that we should be thinking and Ledesma’s signature provides us with yet another reason to be excited about the upcoming campaign. How we managed to snare Hernanes ahead of the giants of world football remains a mystery, but all signs point to him being the real deal. A Ledesma-Hernanes pairing in the centre of the park is, without doubt, one of the most formidable in Serie A. If we then throw in the likes of Matuzalem, an on song Mauri or Bresciano, and the fighting qualities of Brocchi, we have cause for optimism.

We are in good shape ahead of the season opener vs Sampdoria, and perhaps the final days of the mercato may yield us even more pleasant surprises. Could we be set to see Kozak head off for another loan spell to be replaced by Roque Santa Cruz? It appears to be a case of when, rather than if. Watch this space.

Last night at the Olimpico, the Roman football scene may have just welcomed its new royalty. Hernanes was treated to an official presentation and promptly stole the show as we dispatched Galician side Deportivo La Coruna 3-1.

If you weren’t excited about the signing of the Brazilian maestro before, you probably will be now. Despite the fact that he’s only been in Rome for a few days, Hernanes demonstrated his ability to orchestrate a game of football from the centre of the park. He showed that he can be the creative force in the middle that we have been craving for a long time. The prophet also gave us a glimpse of his craftiness, winning the spot kick and putting it away with aplomb. Our penalty woes may have also just been solved.

I think we now have real reason to think positively. Matuzalem and Stefano Mauri also put in excellent shifts and they, along with Hernanes, could provide us with some devastating creativity. Mauro Zarate and Sergio Floccari would be the real beneficiaries of this. The Argentine could be set for a return to his finest football, while Super Sergio could be a good bet for the capocannoniere title, if last year was any indication. Even Pasquale Foggia looks as if he may actually be of use this season. Reja seems keen to find a role for him to play.

Defensively there are still some question marks. We look very prone to getting hit on the counter and individual errors are still occurring far too often. Come the start of the campionato, we’ll need some serious improvement. Javier Garrido seems to be having trouble adapting to his new role. Then again, he is well behind in his conditioning and is recovering from an injury. He’ll need time.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bring on the campionato. Bring on Sampdoria.