Everythings Not Lost

By: Jeremy | May 4th, 2009

Sometimes you just need to take your hat off to your opponent and salute them for their fine play. We can analyze things all day long, but when you get beat 5-1, there is not much to say other then props to Palermo. Their play on Sunday shows why they are one of the more entertaining teams to watch in Serie A. They showed a little bit of everything from a great free kick to a tricky finish, to even a little bit of garbage/scramble type scoring. When a team can incorporate all of these things into a game, they are likely to win. Congrats to Palermo and they now have to be considered the favorite for the sixt spot.

While Cagliari missed a couple of early chances, the free kick that made it 2-0 was the difference. That kind of goal just takes your heart out. While Jeda pulled one back to make it 2-1, showing Cagliari still wont quite, the third goal could have been prevented, but once it was put in, asking to come back was a bit too much. This was one of those days where the other team was just a step or two better in pretty much all aspects of the game. We can get upset, but it might be a reminder that as good as we have been, we just arent ready to finish in a european spot.

While we can get down about such a humbling defeat, lets look at the brightside. We are still only four points out of europe after Romas lackidaisical draw at home to Chievo. They dont want to solidify anything and they are going to give teams like Cagliari reason to think this year is not over yet. We get them at home next weekend and a win will get us back in the conversation. While Palermo seems strong, they are still a team prone to gaffes so dont assume they will win out despite the easy schedule the rest of the way.

While Allegri was no doubt disappointed, he still seems to be one with a positive upbeat attitude who does not think it is wrong to pursue european dreams even if the odds are slim. What does not help is Cellino opening his mouth at the wrong time and stating that he never believed the team had the talent to make europe. Just when you think he is calm and in his hole with his mouth shut, he rears his ugly head with demoralizing comments. Its fine to think what he said, but dont say it after a bad loss. A win in that game probably has him saying the opposite which are what makes his comments so bad. If he is not careful, he will lose his coach to a big club, contract or not.

While the team will spend the week getting up to play Roma, fans will know we can get a win in this game. While Roma, like Palermo, has the talent to lay the hammer down and dominate, if they lose to us, we can still have things to discuss the rest of the year, even with difficult games remaining against a suddently motivated Reggina and Udinese, and the top team in Serie A in Inter, who may just send out a B lineup now that the Scudetto is theirs.

While I am frustrated by the loss, it is not heartbreaking like other games have been. We can learn from it and our season is still not over. Lets see Allegri work his magic and get the team in the right frame of mind for what is a winnable game against Roma.