You’ve heard the old cliche that a football season is like a marathon.  In the Serie A, it’s more akin to the Giro d’Italia. The season takes place in 38 stages, much like the 2nd jewel in cycling’s triple crown.  Also similar to a tour, different clubs find themselves chasing separate goals.  The elite dream of hoisting the cup at the end.  Others are content to garner a place in Europe.  For a few, just finishing well enough to be invited back is a triumph.  At times during the chase, there will be mountains to climb; whether it’s in the form of a congested schedule or string of matches against particularly tough opponents.  Once in a while, there’ll be a breakaway, where a side can quickly make up points on the leaders against some softer sides.  And, as evidenced by last year’s Scudetto, your position in the table can change in a heartbeat.

Like the Giro, the Scudetto is a long race with plenty of twists and turns. No sheep, though.

In preparation for the ‘Giro d’Scudetto,’ there’s been a maelstrom of player and manager movement during the summer.  The departure of one man, however, has changed the landscape more significantly than the rest of the comings and goings combined.  Jose Mourinho’s move to Real Madrid, after capping his stay at Inter with a domestic double and his 2nd Champions League crown, has sparked title hopes at clubs across the country.

With the outcome seemingly less inevitable than it’s been for some time, the race for the 2010-11 Scudetto is a tough one to handicap.  I’m willing to give it a go, however.  So, read on to see how I think the field will shape up in the coming Serie A season.

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The Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey)

How Rafa imagines himself managing Inter.

Jose Mourinho is indeed gone from Internazionale, as is the cancerous Mario Balotelli.  Still, Julio Cesar, Ivan Cordoba, Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stankovic, Lucio, Thiago Motta, Samuel Eto’o, Wesley Sneijder, Sulley Muntari, Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito, Marco Materazzi, Walter Samuel and Goran Pandev all remain.  That’s a formidable squad.

Even Rafa Benitez may need more than a year to screw up this dynasty.  Then again, maybe not.  He’s doing his best to get Javier Mascherano in the squad, although Barca is on the verge of swooping for the unhappy Liverpool man.  I’m not sure how having the captain of the Diego Maradona All Star World Cup squad around would affect the attitudes of Cambiasso and Zanetti but I  can’t imagine it going over very well.   Giving their blessing to a young teammate Milito’s World Cup dream is one thing.  El Pibe’s chosen man on the pitch suddenly showing up to take over in midfield, is another matter entirely.

Trust will be an issue for the players.  Rafa is the polar opposite of  Mourinho.  The Special One bonded with his players and stood between them and the rest of the world.  He was a general.  Benitez is a politico, gravitating to power.

How everyone else sees it.

At Anfield, that power was with the supporters, rather than the absentee owners, or the players.  The Spaniard made every effort to ingratiate himself to the Kopp, often without regard for players, like Xabi Alonso.  Milan’s president, Massimo Moratti, is very much a presence not to be bypassed or usurped but you can bet Rafa will be looking to mark out his patch.

There’s little, if anything, of significance missing from Jose’s treble winners, yet one wrong step from Benitez may be the difference between Inter driving for five or watching Roma come up in the rearview and slip past them to claim the Scudetto.

The Challenger

Last season, Claudio Ranieri assumed command, early in the AS Roma season, replacing an ineffective Luciano Spalletti.  In short order, the former Chelsea boss had the Romans marching in step, steadily up the table, until they’d laid siege to Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan.  Ranieri didn’t have quite enough troops for the siege to break the Nerrazurri but it was a close thing.

Over the summer, they’ve acquired Brazilian star, Adriano, who, if he doesn’t drink too much of the stuff in the Eternal City’s nightclubs, will add some punch to Roma’s attack.  With Taddei and Mirko Vucinic streaking down the wings, the thundering left foot of fullback John Arne Riise and a midfield anchored by deputy captain, Daniele de Rossi, an effective Adriano might just be the final weapon needed to end Inter’s reign.

Ranieri has put the wind in Roma's sails.

Just in case, however, there’s young French international, Jeremy Menez, and the ancient talisman of the club, the tottering Francesco Totti.  The former Azzurri number 10 still holds the captaincy of his club, although Ranieri has gradually weaned him from a starting role to that of a 60th minute sub.  When he is on the field, his lack of pace has the same effect as a baseball pitcher’s knuckleball.  When you’re used to everything coming at you at a dazzling pace, an old man out for a pleasant stroll doesn’t really catch your eye, until it’s too late.

The Pursuit

Outside of Italy, clubs often take on the personality of their manager, influenced by his style. That’s not such a frequent occurrence in the Serie A, where coaches usually aren’t in town long enough to rub off on their charges.  Instead , Italian sides tend to emulate their owners.  Unfortunately for AC Milan, that means transforming into an aging squad with sharply declining abilities.  Much like their owner, the scandal beleaguered Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, they’re clawing to hold onto the shreds of what once was an imposing mantle of power.

The wealth is no longer there for Berlusconi to purchase whomever he fancies and leave it to managing director Adriano Galliani to sort out.  Now, to buy, the Red Devils first must sell; a problem when most of the merchandise on the shelf is either past its sell by date, or not yet ripe.   In the buildup to Match Day 1, rumours have been circulating that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and/or Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt may be Milan bound.  Still, Milan must first generate the funds necessary to acquire either player.

Ronaldhino, you're sporting the physique of a 46 year old man. Namely me. Yours is a much better tan, though, if that's any consolation.

Currently, the only new blood is Ghanian international Kevin-Prince Boateng, on loan from Genoa.  Hopefully, Boateng will provide a direct link to the young Brazilian, Alexandre Pato.  As well, noted hip hop impresario Ronaldhino has committed his professional future to the club.   That may be a boost, if he can trim off some of the pounds acquired at the beach, while the rest of his compatriots were toiling in South Africa.

Even with Jose Mourinho no longer across the hall, Milan will find it tough to mount a challenge for the Scudetto. Under new manager, Massimo Allegri, they’ll be fighting off the likes of Juventus, Napoli and Sampdoria for the final Champions League place.

Juventus’ recovery from the infamous 2005 match fixing scandal has been slow and, to date, incomplete.  Yet , this could be the year they reclaim their Champions league place.  That prediction does come with a bucketful of ifs, however.

€40,000 per tackle? Madre Dios! If I just breathe on someone, it could cost me a day's wages.

If Gianluco Buffon stays healthy.  If Felipe Melo gets over his horrendous World Cup.  If Vicenzo Iaquinta, Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet can draw enough strength from their aging limbs to carry the scoring load for one more season.  If Diego doesn’t bolt at the last minute, for the Bundesliga.  If World Cup sensation Milos Krasic doesn’t turn out to be a flash in the pan.  If Alberto Aquilani, on loan from Liverpool, can rediscover his form and pull the strings in midfield.  And, of course, if Mauro Camoranesi is still willing to make a tackle without first seeking the permission of his attorney.

The Old Lady has enough talent to challenge Milan for a trip to Europe but are carrying enough baggage to get stuck in traffic, along the way.

The young Argentine has the potential to tilt the Serie A on its axis.

Napoli were a surprise in last season’s Scudetto, featuring a trio of dangerous forwards.  Twenty-three goals split between World Cup stars Marek Hamsik, of Slovakia, and Italy’s Fabio Quagliarella, as well as Argentine starlet Ezequiel Lavezzi’s eight strikes, forced opposing defenders to keep their heads on a swivel.  This season, they’ve upped the ante by adding yet another star of South Africa, Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, on loan from Palermo.  Anchoring the line is Cannavaro, not Fabio but his lesser known younger brother, Paolo.

Since film producer Aurelio de Laurentiis brought the club back from the dead, after its 2004 bankruptcy, they’ve doggedly risen up through the Serie A table, all the way to 6th position last year.  One gets the feeling de Laurentiis won’t be happy until they’re once again considered true contenders for honours in Serie A.

Rumours have it that Cassano actually prefers a five iron, as his weapon of choice.

Sampdoria surprised many with their torrid start to the last campaign.  For a time, they stood above even Inter on the table.  Dizzying heights, indeed.  Ultimately, they showed enough staying power to end up 4th, consolidating a place in the Europa league group stages.  Giampaolo Pazzini’s 21 goals certainly had much to do with the good fortune of Genoa’s 2nd club and his performance will again dictate their destiny in the upcoming competition.

The other main factor will be the contribution of Antonio Cassano. the club’s veteran second striker, aka Italy’s Craig Bellamy.  His mercurial reputation saw him left off Marcelo Lippi’s woeful World Cup squad, where his more positive attributes were sorely needed.  If he can hang onto his sanity for another season, Sampdoria may again do some damage, despite their expanded schedule.

The Peleton

Despite a disappointing 11th place finish in the league table, Fiorentina enjoyed a healthy romp through Europe last season, putting paid to Liverpool and only succumbing to eventual Champions League bridesmaids, Bayern, after some very questionable officiating went against them.  The purple clad Tuscans look a strong outfit but there are challenges facing them.

Fiorentina hopes that Prandelli's rise to the Azzurri doesn't signal a decline for them.

Manager Cesare Prandelli has left to assume the reins of a rebuilding national side.  His replacement is Serb Sinisa Mihajlovic, late of Catania and Bologna, where he finished 13th and 17th, respectively.

The addition of Mikael Silvestre, from Arsenal, is just as uninspiring but backline mainstay, Per Kroldrup has signed a 2 year extension to remain in Florence.  Up front, the load again falls on 15 goal man, Alberto Gilardino. As well, vice captain and number 1 keeper, Sebastian Frey, cannot be feeling too comfortable with the arrival, from Celtic, of Artur Boruc.

No longer in Europe, Fiorentina should fare better this year, if Mihajlovic can soothe the nerves of his inherited players and make good use of his own recruits.  Should he not, the Serie A managerial merry-go-round will surely make an early stop in Tuscany.

Rossi is ushering in a new era in Palermo.

While the rest of the world was watching the World Cup, Delio Rossi was enjoying a month long marathon of The Nanny, if the way he’s been cleaning house in Palermo is any indication.  Gone are Simon Kjaer, Edinson Cavani and Mark Bresciano, the latter in the autumn, if not winter, of his career.  Rossi’s spring cleaning has freed up space for Argentine sensation Javier Pastore to blossom and for an influx of younger players to begin cultivating top flight careers.

Spearheading the youth movement are two starlets from Argentine clubs, Rosario Central fullback Santiago Garcia and Boja Juniors central defender Ezequiel Munoz.  As well, Rossi has recruited Matteo Darmian and Kamil Glik for the back line, midfielder Pajtim Kasami, strikers Mauricio Pinilla and Massimo Maccarone, and goalkeeper Giacomo Brichetto.  Maccarone, the only Serie B player to feature for the Azzurri first team, is going to be relied upon to compliment captain Fabrizio Miccoli’s goal scoring prowess.

Di Natale is hoping his squad backs him up this year.

With so many changes and European fixtures adding to the burden, it will be difficult for Palermo to repeat their 5th place finish from ’09-10, much less improve upon it.

Despite the compact nature of last year’s Serie A table, it’s difficult to believe that Udinese finished 15th.  With Antonio di Natale’s 29 strikes, the support of Antonio Floro Flores and young Chilean starlet Alexis Sanchez, there was no dearth of scoring.  As Switzerland’s Gökhan Inler held down the midfield and partnered with Simon Pepe, Ghanian Kwadwo Asamoah and another Chilean, Mauricio Isla, the Little Zebras should have done much better.

Pepe has been loaned out to Juventus, Ghanian John Mensah to Granada and youthful French defender Mohamadou Sissoko to Scotland’s Kilmarnock.  New manager Francesco Guidolin knows he has the guns to shoot it out with almost anyone.  Now he just has to teach his charges to do it from proper cover.

In 15 appearances last season, Valeri Bojinov led Parma with 8 goals.  You might think that ratio would earn him more playing time, this season.  Unfortunately, Hernan Crespo has arrived at the ancient il Tardini, after a short spell in Genoa.

Crespo's flowing locks have been cut off but Parma is hoping the same doesn't hold for the flow of goals.

The 34 year old Argentine is far younger than the venerable stadium he will call home and the club is banking on him still having some spryness in his step.  If Crespo can lead and Bojinov follow, the Crusaders may be making plans to invade the Europa League, a year from now.

The Genoa Cricket and Football Club have long had a revolving door installed in the clubhouse.  They develop exciting young talent, such as Diego Milito and David Suazo, to sell to the big clubs.  Both to influence the youngsters and maintain competitiveness when they depart, the side also regularly takes in aging veterans of note.  Hernan Crespo, on his way from Inter to Parma, stopped off to contribute 5 goals in 16 appearances, last season.  This year’s big brother is former Roma and Bayern star, Luca Toni.

Rocchi is determined not to let anything rain on his century parade.

With players not always in permanent residence, goal by committee is very much the norm.  Rodrigo Palacio’s 7 led the squad in ’09 and he is back for more.  At the opposite end, Portugal number 1, Eduardo, backstops the club.

Last year, il Grifone were a comfortable 9th in the table and will likely finish the new campaign in the same neighbourhood.  After all, they are in the business of buying and selling players, not collecting trophies.

Lazio’s goal-scoring tandem of Sergio Floccari and captain Tommaso Rocchi will be getting some support in midfield, with the addition of Aussie Mark (don’t call me Marco) Bresciano, from Palermo.  The 33 year old Rocchi will be especially motivated,  as he was limited to 6 goals, a year ago, bringing his total for club to 89.  At the outset of ’09, he publicly stated his desire to become the 5th Lazio centurion, intentionally switching to the number 9 that 3 of the other 4 had worn, including the legendary Giorgio Chinaglia.  If Rocchi can enjoy a resurgence, Lazio might move into the top half of the table, after their 12th place finish in ’09-10.

Gillet was a major part of Bari's success in '09.

Bari were a major surprise, last season, finishing in 10th, having just earned promotion to the top flight, after championing the Serie B, in 2008-09.  As per usual, with a selling club, not much investment has been made to fortify their advances.  Five new players have come into the squad, all on loan, but the responsibilities on the pitch lie at either end, with acrobatic keeper and captain, Jean-Francois Gillet and the 14 goal scoring Brazilian, Barreto.  There is a lot of fight in this Adriatic seaside club, so it’s not so likely that they’ll fall victim to the sophomore blues.  Still, they’re not a threat for a European place.

The port city where football was first introduced to Sicilians by British sailors, Catania, has fallen into the habit of importing the game.  Italians make up only half the squad, very unusual for a less than elite Serie A squad.  Fully a dozen of its players are Argentine, a contingent led by striker Maxi Lopez.  He may see more time, this year, with Uruguayan Jorge Martinez now at Juve.  With Guisseppe Mascara also having an eye for goal, Marco Giampaolo’s side should have enough in attack to remain safely in the middle of the standings.

The Stragglers

Pellisier would like to see another gentleman, or two, come to his aid in Verona.

For 9 of the last 10 years, Chievo have led a quiet life in the mid to lower end of the Serie A table. During that time they have endured some tremoulous moments attempting to avoid the drop, especially in the ’08-09 campaign.  Under Domenico di Carlo, having picked up just 9 points in the first 17 matches, they suddenly found their stride, picking up results against Juve, Inter, Roma and Genoa to propel them out of danger.  This season looks to be another stressful one, as they rely heavily upon captain Sergio Pellissier, whose 11 goals were 1/3 of the team’s anemic ’09-10 output.

Last season, the strike partnership between captain Marc di Vaio and Brazilian veteran Adailton helped Bologna to narrowly avoid relegation.  Adailton has moved on to Romania and it will be up to a younger replacement, most likely Uruguayan Henry Gimenez or the Greek Peter Crouch, 6’5″ Vangelis Moras, to supply the necessary ammunition to keep the Rossoblu in the top flight.

At Cagliari, new manager, Pierpaolo Bisoli has moved over from newly promoted Cesena.  He’s acquired the effervescently named Robert Aquafresca, on loan from Genoa,and a pair of young Brazilians, Nene and Jeda, to supplement Alessandro Matri’s finishing.  Daniele Conti, the son of Roma legend Bruno, is the captain and midfield anchor.  Look for pacy young defender Francesco Pisaro to get some more minutes in the back.

Bisoli hopes to take the Sardinians away from the relegation zone, this year.  If their spirit, as evident in a recent unfriendly with Sicilian side, Palermo, is any indication, his charges are ready for the fight.

Leading the newcomers, the Giallorossi have popped in for another quick visit to the top flight.  Pulling a ‘West Brom,’ Lecce have bounced right back into Serie A, after having been ignobly relegated in 2008-09.  Beyond their newly appointed manager, the venerable Luigi di Canio, late of Queens Park Rangers, nothing much has changed for the club.  Nor have they done a lot in the transfer market, to improve their chances of hanging around for a while.  Expect them to continue emulating the Baggies, by not overstaying their welcome in the 1st division.

Brescia will return to the San Siro this season but they won't be bringing their own legend with them, this time.

In their 90 year existence, it’s been rare for Brescia Calcio to spend consecutive seasons in Serie A.  Their last such period was their greatest.  The talismanic ponytail of Roberto Baggio spent its final competitive years with the club, from 2000-01 to 2003-04, and through the skills of the man attached,  they actually accomplished an Intertoto Cup runners-up medal in ’01.  In 2005, however, after his final season, ‘Baggio’s Brescia’ were quickly relegated.

Other famous players have used Brescia as a stepping stone, in their early careers, including Pep Guardiola, Gheorges Hagi, Luca Toni and Andrea Pirlo.  With the retirement of Luigi di Biagio, after their promotion, the current group is left without a Baggio (of any variance) to guide them.  That’s not a good omen, but youngster Andrea Carracciolo will be looking to make his step up to Serie A permanent.  If he impresses, he may achieve that but for his club to also remain, more help than his will be needed.

***In a late development, just hours before this posting, Brescia have reached out for that help, bringing Alessandro Diamante back to Italy.  Having languished on the bench at West Ham,  for the past 12 months, the 27 year old striker, purchased for €2.2M, will likely be thrust into a leadership role with his new club.

Situated about an hour from Bologna, the Bianconera (yes, it’s yet another black and white kit in the Serie A) of Cesena are making their 1st top flight appearance since the ’91 season.

Although Massimo (pictured here with Piacenza) is a manager now, he remains as fit as Ronaldhino.

The new manager in town is Massimo Ficcadenti, whom you may remember as being the prize in the Verona/Reggina tug-of-war, ‘ in 06-07.  After Reggina finally won the right to his services, they promptly sacked him for failing to produce a victory in his first 10 matches.

Ficcadenti will be relying on former Velez Sarsfield and Atalante central defender, Maxi Pellegrino, acquired from the Italian side as partial compensation for Ezequiel Schelotto, to anchor the line.  Veteran Ghanian international Stephen Appiah and Schelotto, remaining with Cesena on loan, will patrol the mid-field.

This season marks their 2nd consecutive promotion, a surprisingly strong surge for the tiny club.  It was masterminded by the departed Pierpaolo Bisoli.  Whether or not his upward move, to Cagliari, suggests his former club has reached or exceeded its capabilities remains to be seen but don’t expect too much from them.

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In 2009-10, Sampdoria was the rabbit that set the early pace, only to be run down in the final sprint by Inter and Roma.  This season, promises to be a tight finish again between the latter two clubs but perhaps with a different result.  The rest of the league was a whirlwind throughout the campaign, with clubs rising and falling throughout.  The mid table standings were so crowded that any little slip could have been devastating, as Juve eventually found out.

There is every indication that this year will be just as competitive.  Catch every match you can,in the race for the Scudetto, but, whatever you do, don’t blink…

...You never know what you might miss!

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