With Gasperini's Atalanta stubbornly refusing to be a one/two/three/four season wonder I think it is now time to name the Serie A thread after them.
Most striking about this season is the number of clubs starting the new season with the same coach as they finished the last one. In addition to Atalanta we have Milan, Inter, Lazio, Roma, Fiorentina, Verona, Napoli, Bologna, Sassuolo and Sampdoria all opting for continuity over knee jerk changes. In the case of the Milan clubs this was not a foregone conclusion, with Milan flirting with Rangnick since the end of last year and Conte threating to chuck his toys away, well the one called Christian Erickson. I suspect Pioli may well last the longest. Main change of coach, was the end after only one season of the underperforming Sari (never under-estimate the importance of the Coppa) with Zola, sorry Pirlo to replace him. A strange decision to appoint a novice, he does not get his coaching badge until the Autumn, when the squad needs a drastic refresh. Maybe this year we could have a different champion?
Joining Serie A are Benevento, Crotone and for the first time ever Spezia. The promotion of Benevento sees the return of super Pipo Inzaghi who will try to disprove the idea that he is a better coach at Serie B then A. Joining Serie B are Monza now bankrolled by the oldest swinger in town (Silvio Berlusconi) and a welcome return for Reggiana.
Most striking about this season is the number of clubs starting the new season with the same coach as they finished the last one. In addition to Atalanta we have Milan, Inter, Lazio, Roma, Fiorentina, Verona, Napoli, Bologna, Sassuolo and Sampdoria all opting for continuity over knee jerk changes. In the case of the Milan clubs this was not a foregone conclusion, with Milan flirting with Rangnick since the end of last year and Conte threating to chuck his toys away, well the one called Christian Erickson. I suspect Pioli may well last the longest. Main change of coach, was the end after only one season of the underperforming Sari (never under-estimate the importance of the Coppa) with Zola, sorry Pirlo to replace him. A strange decision to appoint a novice, he does not get his coaching badge until the Autumn, when the squad needs a drastic refresh. Maybe this year we could have a different champion?
Joining Serie A are Benevento, Crotone and for the first time ever Spezia. The promotion of Benevento sees the return of super Pipo Inzaghi who will try to disprove the idea that he is a better coach at Serie B then A. Joining Serie B are Monza now bankrolled by the oldest swinger in town (Silvio Berlusconi) and a welcome return for Reggiana.
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