Preview: Palermo II - Palermo

By: Steven | November 6th, 2008

Saturday, November 8th, 2008 18.00
Stadio Olimpico, Torino

Palermo Boys, we are here. We beat your women and drink their beer, Palermo Boys, we are here.

Preview

Aah, games against relegation battlers. Don’t you just hate them? See, that’s when you know you’re not one of the big boys yet: when you shit your pants every time the schedule deals you with a wounded animal. And why do we shit our pants? Two reasons: 1) losing points against these teams is a disaster, both for our street cred and for the standings, and b) we know we suck against wounded animals.

Still, we managed to blow away Chievo last week, so maybe that’s a good sign. I hope it’s a good sign, because two weeks after Torino, we get Bologna. That means two of the worst teams of the moment in two weeks time. But whereas Bologna might be revived by the arrival of Sinisa, Torino is just like Chievo last week: sad, crappy, uninspired and only one loss away from a new coach. We already took Iachini’s scalp, maybe we can get Di Biasi’s as well.

The squad may have found their fighting spirit back after last weeks win, but Balla still wasn’t completely happy. He still thinks we’re giving away too much in the back, and that we should take advantage from our shooting chances in stead of pissing them all over the goal.

Squad Status

Palermo

Alright, let’s see what we ‘ave ‘ere then. Let me start with a little quote:

“”Le mie condizioni fisiche sono buone. Sono in grado di giocare contro il Toro.”

That’s right, Bovo is ready for the game. Let the cheering begin. As Raggi has injured himself while shoving a cucumber up his shitter without using Vaseline and Moris is suspended, it’s not hard guessing that Kjaer will have another start in defense. Guana and Capuano are also still out, while Marco Amelia is trying to get the final residue of butter from his hands. Liverani has ended his suspension, and Balla will be forced by Blowjobarini to play The Arab.

Probable Lineup:
Fontana; Cassani, Kjaer, Bovo, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Liverani, Nocerino; Simplicio; Miccoli, Cavani

Torino

Ha, what can we say about Torino? The Granata. Toro. More nicknames than talented players. And yet again, as the Torino-blog is as dead as Roma’s title aspirations, it’s me who’ll do the honours. Good, let’s see. No Matteo Sereni in goal. Can I have a ‘hell yeah’? This means that Alex Calderoni will take his place between the posts. Not a bad keeper, but he ain’t not Jimmy. Matteo Rubin is suspended, and Natali, Abate and Il Capitano are injured. Corini’s absence is a shame. The role of Rosina in this game is still doubtful, as he has finally gotten in the big fight with Cairo everybody expected.

Probable Lineup:
Calderoni; Diana, Pratali, Di Loreto, Pisano; Colombo, P.Zanetti, Barone, Rosina; R.Bianchi, Amoruso

Categorical Match up

Clean Sheet Fontana vs. Back-up: Palermo. I think this is an easy call, no?

Wonderkid and SuperBeef vs. Lookin’ familiar: Palermo. Kjaer could take his chance to become the Captain of the defense, and he’s yet again partnered to a big, nasty motherfucker. On the other side, there’s Diana and Depeche Mode Tattooman. Remember?

The 3 Musketeers, with Pita vs. Nothing Special: Palermo. If anyone saw the game against Juve: this is one of the most uncreative midfields in all of football.

Goleador vs. Overpriced: Palermo. Cavani and Micco are going to humiliate Bianchi.

Final Analysis

Well well, four out of four in the match-up. This can’t go wrong, can it? Yes, it can. The feared Palermitan saturdaynight lazyness could come into action, or the midfield could get fucked up because of Sadam retaking his place in the line-up…lots of things could go wrong. But if karma is in the Olimpico on Saturday, the bull is gonna get assraped by the eagle. Torino lost 5 of their last six games, let’s make it six and seven.

Form Guide

Palermo
W L L D W

Torino
L L L W L

Past Encounters

10/02/2008 Torino - Palermo 3-1 Serie A
16/09/2007 Palermo - Torino 1-1 Serie A
01/04/2007 Torino - Palermo 0-0 Serie A
12/11/2006 Palermo - Torino 3-0 Serie A
29/02/2004 Palermo - Torino 2-1 Serie B

Prediction

0-2. Micco, Nocerino.

MOTM

Kjaer.

Remembering the good times