Serie A Season Preview

Buffon : Firmly established as the best goalkeeper in the World. World Class.

Cordoba : A fouling machine, one of the best man markers in the game. World Class.

Nesta and Maldini : The best central defensive partnership in World football, both are obviously
World Class

Thuram : Not particularly outstanding but gets in due to a lack of competition at right back.
World Class

Nedved : With three Serie A championships to his name and a sensational performance against
Real Madrid in the Champions League still fresh in the memory, Nedved is one of the early
candidates to win the European footballer of the year award. World Class

Pizzaro : The pint sized playmaker helped Udinese to 6th place. Despite being linked with Lazio
and Juventus in the summer he remains in Udine, for another season at least.

Appiah : The 22 year old, incredibly now starting his 7th year in Serie A, fulfilled his latent potential
at Brescia in the second half of last season. Juventus think so highly of him he has forced Davids
out of the starting line-up.

Stankovic : This versatile attacking midfielder is on the verge of greatness.

Lopez : Under Mancini Lopez rediscovered the form that made him such a force at Valencia and
has learned to finish. Like watching Nedved only Lopez scores more goals.

Mutu : Developed an outstanding partnership with Adriano. Lit up Serie A with his explosive free
kicks and long range shooting. The best player in Italy last season.

2003-2004 Season Preview

ANCONA

Ancona have pinned their survival hopes on thirty something strikers Ganz and 'The Boss'
Dario Hubner.

Key Players : Hubner, Ganz
Prospects : Relegation

BOLOGNA

The team's best player, Julio Cruz, has joined Inter, Pagliuca is showing his age and inspirational
coach Guidloin has left. Can Mazzone's anti football and Signori keep Bologna in Serie A for another
season?

Key Players : Signori, Locatelli, Meghni
Prospects : Survival/Mid Table

BRESCIA

Despite the loss of Appiah the club have begged and borrowed several midfield reinforcements.
Baggio claims this will be his last season in football, it could be Brescia's last season in Serie A.

Key Players : Baggio, Schopp
Prospects : Mid Table/Relegation

CHIEVO

The transfer recession was kind to Chievo, the losses of Corini and Legrottaglie Chievo have been
compensated by the arrival of Sculli and hot prospect Paro from Juventus. If Sculli and Pellisier
click, Chievo could grab a UEFA Cup place.

Key Players : Franceschini, Pellisier, Sculli
Prospects : UEFA Cup/Mid Table

EMPOLI

The Di Natale and Rocchi double act kept Empoli in Serie A last season. The club are going to regret
not adding to the squad over the summer.

Key Players : Di Natale, Rocchi
Prospects : Relegation/Survival

INTER

Inter have actually spent well over the summer though the club really should have focused on signing
a World Class defensive midfielder instead of wingers. Fans are furious with Moratti following the
sale of Crespo and Vieri has already criticised the club for being too reliant on him, which will do
wonders for morale, that coupled with the fact Cuper is still coach is reason enough to write off
the teams chances of winning the Championship.

Key Players : Materazzi, van der Meyde, Vieri
Prospects : Champions League

JUVENTUS

The champions have made two exceptional signings over the summer, bringing in Appiah (the
new Davids) and Legrottaglie to finally shore up an ancient defence. Zambrotta is developing into a
World Class midfielder and with Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet and now Miccoli in attack Juve are
clear favourites to win a hat-trick of scudettos.

Key Players : Legrottaglie, Nedved, Trezeguet
Prospects : Champions/Champions League

LAZIO

Against all odds Lazio have managed to hold onto their most prized assets - Stam and
Claudio Lopez and added some desperately needed depth to a thin squad. The teams major
problems are in defence, the team lack a quality centre back. Should push the eventual champions
all the way.

Key Players : Stam, Lopez, Muzzi
Prospects : Champions League/Champions

LECCE

The brilliance of Giacomazzi and Chevanton couldn't keep Lecce in Serie A last time and there's
no reason to suggest things will be any different this season. With Konan and Championship
Manager 4 legend Bojinov also in attack Lecce should be fun to watch.

Key Players : Giacomazzi, Chevanton
Prospects : Survival/Relegation

MILAN

A frustrating summer for the European Champions. Rivaldo and Rui Costa remain, against
the club's wishes and Lazio refused to sell Stam, a long term target. Milan's only notable arrivals
were Brazilians Cafu and Kaka. Ancelotti is banking on the youngster to provide a goalscoring
threat for midfield. Despite the fact they still struggle to play together, the early season form of
Milan's World Class strikers (Inzaghi and Shevchenko) is very encouraging.

Key Players : Nesta, Kaka, Shevchenko
Prospects : Champions/Champions League

MODENA

The loss of Sculli is a huge blow and even with the outrageously gifted Kamara it's hard to see
Modena scoring enough goals to survive the drop.

Key Players : Milanetto, Vignaroli, Kamara
Prospects : Relegation

PARMA

The lack of movement in the transfer market, following the sale of Mutu, will cost the club dearly.
Not only have Parma failed to sign a replacement for the gifted Romanian they have also neglected
to strengthen a porous defence. Adriano is good but not good enough to carry the team beyond a
UEFA Cup spot.

Key Players : Nakata, Gilardinho, Adriano
Prospects : UEFA Cup

PERUGIA

As with Chievo the transfer recession has enabled Perugia to keep most of their key players. Cosmi
may have unearthed another gem in the form of Arsenal reject Jay Bothroyd and 19 year old Nigerian
midfielder Obodo is a big prospect and packs one hell of a shot.

Key Players : Nakata, Gilardinho, Adriano
Prospects : Mid Table

REGGINA

Reggina survived Serie A by the skin of their team. Dead ball specialist Nakamura is almost certainly
playing his last season at the club having attracted the attention of Real Madrid. His partnership
with Bonazzoli is crucial to the teams survival.

Key Players : Nakamura, Bonazzoli
Prospects : Survival/Relegation

ROMA

An embarrassing summer for paupers Roma but they did finally manage to secure the services of
Chivu, albeit on loan, and Valencia striker Carew. Roma have some of the best young talent in
the league in the form of D'Agostino and of course the splendidly gifted Cassano. Roma definitely
have a team capable of challenging for the Championship but must refrain from the endless pissing
contests with their rivals.

Key Players : Samuel, Cassano, Totti
Prospects : Champions League

SAMPDORIA

Back in Serie A after a four year absence. Doni and Donati are very good midfielders, the defence and
attack look suspect.

Key Players : Doni, Donati
Prospects : Survival/Relegation

SIENA

Siena have been smart in the transfer market, signing vastly experienced, seasoned Serie A
campaigners. The brittle Flo, Ventola and Chiesa should get enough games and goals between them
to ensure survival.

Key Players : Flo, Ventola, Chiesa
Prospects : Survival

UDINESE

Jorgensen and Pizzaro were itching for moves over the summer but remain despite strong interest
from both Lazio and Juventus. Udinese's midfield is a match for any in Serie A especially now
'The new Nedved' Jankulovski means the club can cope with the absence of the eternally injured
Jorgensen. Excellent home form should ensure the club once again push for a top six spot. Two
players short of challenging for the Championship.

Key Players : Pizzaro, Jorgensen, Jankulovski
Prospects : UEFA Cup/Champions League

Nedved	Pizzaro	Appiah	Stankovic
(Lazio)	(Udinese)	(Brescia)	(Lazio)


Cordoba	Nesta	Maldini	Thuram
(Inter)	(Milan)	(Milan)	(Juventus)