Napoli: Much Ado About Nothing
We could just skip it and go home now...
Napoli's coach Roberto Donadoni told the press ahead of the game that his job was not under threat, but speculation will doubtless increase after the team failed to impress in a scoreless draw at home against Udinese.The absence of Aronica (suspended) and Campagnaro (suspended and injured) gave Fabiano Santacroce his first chance of the season. Santacroce, who had previously not even appeared as a sub for Napoli in their first 3 games, made the most of the opportunity to showcase his skills and highlight why he deserves a regular place in the lineup. Unfortunately, there weren't many bright spots in this one. Napoli had the greater share of possession, yet failed to make anything of it. Quagliarella as usual was desperate to score, but only managed to bobble several chances. Napoli need to take a deep breath and get their heads in the season- games like Udinese and Palermo are games they need to win if their ambitions to return to European play are serious.
Napoli 0 - 0 Udinese
Home Team: De Sanctis; Santacroce (Hoffer 73), Rinaudo (Cannavaro 51), Contini; Zuniga, Gargano, Cigarini, Hamsik, Datolo (Grava 84); Quagliarella, Lavezzi
Away Team: Handanovic; Zapata (Lodi 65), Coda, Domizzi, Lukovic; Isla, D'Agostino, Inler; Pepe (Sanchez 73), Floro Flores (Corradi 77), Di Natale
Ref: Saccani
Match Stats
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Before the game, there was a minute of silence for the six Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. (I believe that's also why all players were wearing black armbands.)
Di Natale and Donadoni saying hi.
Let the ballet game begin!
You put your right foot in...
It was good to see Santacroce playing. (It was better to see he seems to have grown out of stupid tackles.)
Nice to meet you, my name's Lavezzi. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other.
That's good, let's see more of that!
E for effort.
You know, one of the Napoli fansites actually had an interview with Hamsik's hairdresser a week or two back.
Martial arts practice or football moves? You decide.
It's a bird, it's a plane...
What the heck were you guys thinking?
Does anyone know what Udinese's #27 is doing here?
I think I can, I think I can.
Datolo explains to the ref what happened.
Donadoni explains to someone off camera what was supposed to happen.
Sorry, laughing too hard to caption.
Would you guys quit playing around and score?
I was somehow unaware until this moment that our shorts had a stripe across the ass. I don't know how I missed that, really.
Knees up Mother Brown, knees up Mother Brown...
I'll stop now.
Obligatory sock shot for Ruby!
One of these things is not like the other.
Strategy discussion.
I'm not sure what's going on here, but it looks a bit scary.
OMG, the face the Udinese guy's making!
Another fine save.
Grava got some playing time in the second half. It may have been as much of a surprise to him as it was to everyone else.
(Donadoni's substitutions are...interesting.)
Pocho tried again and again...
...but had nothing to show for it but an increasing number of fouls committed on him.
And that's the game.
Would someone like to give the poor boy a hug?
He really needs one!
Donadoni: It's ok, you played well. Not your fault.
Lavezzi: Whatever.
WHY?
If you don't need me for anything, coach, I'll just be drowning myself in the shower.
Napoli travel to the San Siro to face Inter Wednesday night. Tickets are only on sale to residents of Lombardy, so there shouldn't be many azzurri supporters. Napoli will be without Campagnaro, who is not expected to return from a thigh strain before October, and Rinaudo, who is also a doubt for the weekend match against Siena after picking up an injury during Saturday's game.