Cagliari-Siena

By: Jeremy | January 27th, 2009

As the confidence of players and fans continues to increase, we are doing the unthought of and wondering what must be done to grab a European place rather then just surviving. Its a good feeling all the way around and no one can deny that Cagliari is on a serious run of form and that in recent weeks, we have played some of the most attractive football in Serie A.

That being said, we have a midweek game against a Siena club who is basically Cagliari redux in so many ways. Siena is the club you expect to beat and are really pissed when you lose to them, even on the road. They win like Cagliari has the past few years…ugly, barely, infrequently, but just enough to survive. When I think of this team, I understand why fans of other teams get pissed when they drop points to Cagliari. With our recent performance, despite the closely mirrored history with this club, maybe we can expect to spank them on Wednesday, especially in the fortress that is the Sant Elia. That being said we need to be careful as I can very easily see a repeat of the Reggina game a few weeks ago. If we drop points, I wil be pissed like an Inter fan would be if they lost to Chievo.

Siena has Cagliari retread Marco Giampaolo as their coach, who admittedly has done a fine job with so little. Ive always liked his clam demeanor and he is a good coach for a small club. He seems to be pointing them to survival again. They also have former Cagliari dman Del Grosso who just couldnt quite emerge in Sardinia. Beyond that the only guy I know on their team is Maccarrone who they rely heavily on to get their occasional goal.

Siena beat us in week 2 in a boring 1-0 game. Typical Siena. They take points at home where the should, lose on the road, and steal just enough points unexpectedly to survive. They cant score at all on the road and they should be easy fodder for us.

Cagliari is going to be without team MVP Marchetti in goal because of suspension. This will be the first game without him and Fiorentina reject Lupatelli will see his first action assuming he can get the splinters out of his ass before game time. Does he emerge or make bad decisions making us wish Marco Fortin was still around. Either way, Marchettis absence is worth one half to one full goal for Siena.

With Jeda and Acquafresca in great form and the return of attacking midfielder Cossu, we should be able to get a couple of goals at home. Matheu is going to get a more serious look at the back and everyone else should be ready to go. Allegri continues to make the right choices when he is short a full team.

If I am going to spout off about how we can make Europe, to lose this game would really make me feel like an idiot who drinks too much Sardinian Kool-Aid. We cannot lose this game. We cannot draw this game. However, I get Reggina on my mind when I think of this game and not because I am vacationing to the homeland any time soon.

The players need to be focused and not too arrogant while using the home field to their advantage which includes the attacking football they showed against Lazio. I do not want a tight game with a rusty goalie on the field where his one mistake costs us points. Allegri knows this and the boys will come out attacking early.

If my posts are going to continue to show objectivity yet confidence, I cant predict anything other then a win even if it might be very ugly. Lets keep moving up.

Prediction

Cagliari 2-1 Siena