Review: Donkeys Raped By Karma

By: Steven | November 3rd, 2008

Could the curse be over? Could it be that, after years of poor performances against sure-to-be-relegated teams, we finally know how to beat the crappy squads? I don’t know, we’ll see next week when we battle Torino. But for now, all I can say is that we played a great first half against Chievo. 3-0 at the half, who would’ve thought? We all knew the Asses were Serie A’s worst team, but Palermo has a history of fucking up those games.

At last, it all seemed to click. Liverani, Guana and Raggi were left out of the starting eleven, and we did great from the start. I liked the 4-5-1, with Nocerino (who’s starting to look like me more every week) and Simplicio as defensive midfielders. But the best Ballardini-move was starting Kjaer. I agree with Il Mister that we shouldn’t burn him, but you and I have both seen the impressive work he did in the last 3 games.

The last thing we need to do know, is start flying again. We need to keep both our feet on the ground, and do what we did yesterday again against Torino. After that, we have Inter en Bologna, and we can look at where we are. But for now, I’m just happy were back in the first half of the table, ahead of Catania and not too far away from the top six.

What I Liked:

Kjaer is without a doubt already the discovery of the season. He looks like he could be the lead playbacker of the new boyband-sensation ‘Ricci and The Red Capris’, but he’s a beast in the defense.

Jimmy plays his first game at La Favorità, and he keeps his nets clean. How can you not love the Big Man?

Cavani finally seems to have figured it out: no goals, no future. Two in a row for the Uruguayan, and only one goal less than Amauri over the entire season.

Ballardini’s starting XI. It took him nine games to finally figure it out: no Guana, no Liverani, no Raggi and two defensive mids who know what they’re doing.

What I Didn’t Like:

Bresciano’s stupid tackles. Dude, we finally (kinda) forgave you, and then you go and (almost) spoil it all by doing that? Uncalled for.

The number of goalline clearances. Nothing happened, but it’s not good for my ticker.

Pagelle:

FONTANA 7: First clean sheet of the season, he’s my rock AND my island.
CASSANI 6.5 : Another good game, took 45 minutes off in the second half when the game was already ours.
KJAER 8: Fantastic performance, won us the game. Won a penalty and scored. Should get a little better in the air.
CARROZZIERI 6.5: When Kjaer doesn’t get his head to it, Moris does. -.5 for picking up another yellow.
BALZARETTI 6.5: Same as Cassani.
MIGLIACCIO 6: Did well, but expected a little more leadership. Needs to show Balla he’s the one for Liverani’s place.
NOCERINO 6.5. Great play on the 3-0, but has the same flaws as Miggy. Should lose the temper.
BRESCIANO 4: Least good player in the first half, and a stupid red card.
SIMPLICIO 6 : Did well, but not as good as the previous games.
CAVANI 6.5 : Good game, but has to stop missing all those sitters. Could’ve already scored 10 if he just focused a little more.
MICCOLI 8 : Two assists AND the final pass before Kjaer was fouled in the box AND a goal. What else can you say?
DELLAFIORE, BUDAN, TEDESCO sv

BALLARDINI 6.5: Great starting eleven, but when you’re up 3-0 you should bring the subs a little earlier. And for fuck’s sake, stop playing Nonno. Dress him up as an aquile and let him run around the field, if you’re so desperate to see him on the field.

Facts:

Palermo 3 - 0 Chievo
Miccoli pen 23 (P), Kjaer 37 (P), Cavani 45 (P)

Palermo: Fontana; Cassani, Kjaer, Carrozzieri (Dellafiore 78), Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Nocerino, Bresciano; Simplicio (Tedesco 90); Miccoli (Budan 81), Cavani

Chievo: Sorrentino; Frey, Mandelli, Yepes, Scardina; Luciano (Esposito 74), Patrascu (iunco 55), Bentivoglio; Marcolini (Pinzi 63); Pellissier, Bogdani

Ref: Mazzoleni
Sent off: Bresciano 48 (P)
Giornata 10’s Androberto Guarraciolo Award: