Friendlies + San Piero Meet and Greet
(In these tough economic times, the official photographer had to be let go. Luckily, Papa Waigo can do anything.)
Because it's still preseason, Fiorentina are still playing friendlies every 10 minutes, drinking with the locals, and getting hurt. By latest count, there are about 265 guys out with injuries of varying severity (in addition to Jojo's long-term problem, Adem now could miss the first league game with a knee injury, Artur's knee also hurts, Babacar's slightly broken, Vargas is busted and, oh yeah, Santana's still not back), and Sinisa is considering using himself to make up the numbers, should it come to that.
Delighted, as ever, to go meet their public. Based on his shoes, Haris has been told their going boating -- will be most disappointed.
Unlike his players, Sinisa is THRILLED about the event.
(Been pregaming a bit, clearly.)
Jesus. Were they drinking on the bus? No one on the staff seems to be able to walk straight.
Speaking of drinking on the way there.
Aw, look, it's the misery brigade! &hearts Only Santana can make Gila look vaguely happy by comparison.
In case there was any question, it's now official: Papa Waigo is the coolest man on the face of the earth, even when he's bleached his hair.
Granted, if you asked Babacar, he'd no doubt tell you he is the coolest, but we know the truth.
D'Agostino seems to be the only one with a bodyguard, I suppose he gets points for that?
AW. (Felipe, needless to say, is not anywhere near the coolest conversation. He does, however, get points for enthusiasm.)
Agyei, meanwhile, is grimly going about the business of being a professional footballer. You know, typical 18-year-old stuff.
Because he realized his team needed to play someone who wasn't in a lower Italian division, Sinisa took them over to England last week to face Spurs.
In addition to facing stronger opposition, he also wanted to get one of his suits out of storage. Unfortunately, his hair didn't get the memo about smartening up for the occasion.
There aren't may pictures from the match, but it was really typical Fiorentina -- good possession, smoothness in attack, and clod-footed, stupid defending.
Speaking of clod-footed and stupid, after (allegedly) having such a good preseason, Comotto turned around and straight-up assisted on Spurs' first goal. Awesome.
One good thing to come out of the defense in the match (which ended in a 2-3 loss) was the realization that Gulan is probably good enough to be the reserve left back.
Which is no small relief, what with Gobbi gone and Insula not coming -- having to rely on Pasqual to a)play every minute of every match and b)be good in all of them is a little scary.
Now if we can just persuade Gulan to shave ...
I could be mistaken here, because the match was a long time ago, but I have a vague memory that Felipe actually didn't look terrified, and played ok. Did that actually happen?
D'Agostino was full of ideas from the midfield, though not many of them actually came off. He's settling in, though, and has been playing really well since.
Donadel has now captained Fiorentina in Europe! Well, sort of.
Mighty Marco didn't really do that much, from what I can remember, but he did assist on Adem's goal, so +1 for that.
Babacar came on late, and he and Haris very nearly put together a third goal for Fiorentina. How awesome would that have been? I think their combined ages are younger than CZ.
Gila's not a kid anymore, but he actually scores goals for Fiorentina, which Haris and Baba are still working on.
(Notice how Dos Santos is in, like, 2/3 of these pictures? Dude was everywhere.)
Gila opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes, thanks to a perfect ball from Papa Waigo.
Then it was superstar!Adem's turn: He finished off a nice team move after Comotto let Spurs draw level, bringing his preseason total to something like 395 goals in six matches. Ish.
Look at that smug little Marco! Perhaps we'll need to keep an eye on him around the babies.
The next friendly was more typical of Fiorentina's preseason: Against Lucchese, a Liga Pro side, with Sini back in his casual gear. (La Viola won 4-0, highlights are here.)
And another injured player out of commission.
No, wait -- make that two more. (Ok, this is actually from another, more recent friendly, but it still works. Injuries, injuries, injuries.)
Papa, on the other hand, is both fit and very broadly skilled.
God, what a bunch of goons! D'Agostino actually looks concerned someone is going to turn around and punch him -- thank goodness Natali is there to protect him.
The injury numbers may be adding up at alarming speed, but at least LDS is finally back and healthy.
Still hasn't found his razor, unfortunately, but I suppose we ought to be happy he's back at all, even grizzly.
I have absolutely new clue how CZ is playing in preseason, but he looks pretty awesome, at least for him -- despite the receding hairline, longer hair seems to work.
Donadel seem to be getting used to captaining the FOOTBALL IS FUN team.
Plus, he's a true professional who doesn't get distracted even when the opposing team is outfitted in a riot of stripes.
Papa Waigo, though he's not scoring much, is having himself a preseason and a half.
And not just because of his ability to be utterly terrifying.
It helps that people keep getting hurt, but he's played great on the wing recently, and it's suddenly seeming possible that he'll not only stay, but also actually figure in team this season.
Not bad for a guy who, despite his amazing faces, didn't even garner a bid when he went to the envelopes between Genoa and Fiorentina. Damn, that's gotta hurt.
Speaking of people having good preseasons.
With both Jojo and Adem out, D'Agostino has been playing in the hole, and was apparently all kinds of fabulous against Lucchese.
According to the fan sites, that was his original position, back in the day, but at Undine he dropped further back and didn't play the creative role anymore.
And, ok, it was against a Liga Pro team and all, but he was so good as a trequartista that at least one fan site is going all Rui Costa on him.
... Not, clearly, comparing their looks. Man can this team be scary when it wants to be.
Mighty Marco had his eyebrow of doom want to know why he's not getting proper attention here.
He also wants us to know that he's never, ever terrifying, even when he tries -- he was just born too cute to terrify, and it's a cross he has to bear. Also: SAGGY SOCKS.
Alright, enough conversation. To the scorers!
Gila's already looking haggard and driving with his fingers, both of which suggest he's more than ready for the season to start.
And posing, too? Oh yeah. Definitely ready for the season.
You can't stop him, Lucchese, you can only hope to contain him. And even that often doesn't work very well.
As evidence by the fact that he scored the first goal, 10 minutes in, off an unselfish pass from Mighty Marco.
Who got a little hug of thanks in return. (Notice Marco's decided lack of enthusiasm, compared to his congratulations of Adem. We're on to you, mister.)
You know who got the second goal?
Yeah, that's right: The beast hisself.
It was off a corner, and he just went up and doinked it in. You know, like you do when you're taller and badder than everyone else. Gila was only marginally impressed.
The other two goals were scored by this guy. His name, believe it or not, is "Ryder." Ryder Matos. He's 17, and wears a chain as thick as his arm. Has anyone ever heard of him?
He played about 25 minutes and, thanks mostly to Haris and the keeper spilling some saves, scored twice in quick succession.
He was, uh, quite pleased with himself.
Given who they were playing and the circumstances, the celebrations might be considered a bit excessive, though if I was 17 and scoring for the senior team, I guess I'd be sorta excited, too.
Lucky for him, his teammates were there to surround him, and save him from getting his ass kicked by irritated Lucchese players.
Next up is another friendly against an actual, senior team: They'll travel to Spain to play Valencia on the 18th, probably without Bolatti, who the Argie press are reporting will shortly be headed to River Plate.