Good evening. I'm checking in from snowy Washington DC, where we are getting ready for a serious to historic blizzard tomorrow. I've been to the grocery store, and I'm holed up on the couch sipping bourbon while my fiance watches the sex and the city movie. Apparently it also snowed recently in beautiful Florence. I'm fired up that the Viola match will be on the teevee tomorrow afternoon, since I'm not sure that I'm going to be particularly mobile for a little while.
So, things aren't looking good for the Viola on the domestic front, as inconsistent play has seen them slip to 9th in the table. This is somewhat deceptive, as the Viola are only 1 point off of 5th and 4 points behind surprise 4th place side Parma. At any rate, tomorrow's match against second place AC David Beckham will be a big one, and 3 points would go a long way towards an enjoyable holiday break for the players and Cesare Prandelli.
The Viola are still in the midst of their injury problems, with key figures Zanetti, Gamberini, and Marchionni out tomorrow. There's a chance that Mutu will be fit enough for the bench, and Jo-Jo will likely join him there at the start. However, the GIla Monster will be excited to play against his former side, the boys will have the home crowd behind them and will have had a whole week to lick their wounds and get ready to bring it tomorrow.
Of course, the visitors have some key players. Fat Ronaldinho has been able to play some key passes at times this year, but the relentless pressuring from Donadel and the athleticism of De Silvestri should hopefully prevent him from doing this because he simply isn't fit enough to stand up to that. So, that takes care of one threat, theoretically. But, of course, there's Pato to worry about. He always seems to find the back of the net against Fiorentina, and with Gamberini out, its going to take a heroic effort from Kroldrup and Dainelli to keep him in check.
I think that Vargas should be able to get some space down the left flank against the aging Milan back line, and hopefully Gila will be able to finish off one or two of the chances he gets. RickyMonty needs to continue his play in the middle of the park, and a big collective effort will be enough to get the job done.
Lineups, aka Blind Guess Dept.
Fiorentina: 4-2-3-1: Bassy; LDS, Kroldrup, Dainelli, Gobbi; Donadel, RickyMonty; Old Man Jorgensen, Santana, Vargas; Gila Monster.
AC David Beckham: 4-3-3: Butterfingers; Zambrotta, Nesta, Kaladeze, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Pato, Boriello, Ronaldinho.
TeeVee?
2:30 pm on FSC and RAI.
Prediction Time
I'm an optimist, and I think the boys will come through tomorrow. 2-1 to the good guys. Gila Monster and RickyMonty for the good guys, and Pato for the bad guys.
Forza Viola!