Rafa Watch

[Shaggy]

And £30m on Willian.

Forgot him

Must be nigh-on £100m

[Fredo]

Incredible that. Remember in pre season how so many people were disappointed that we couldn't sign these players?

[Pablo]

Seems written in the stars that we'll play them at some point in the Champions League next year.

[destinydude]

Assessing Benitez's impact

The jury remains out assessing Rafael Benitez's success as Napoli coach, even if he will have won over a few more of his critics on Sunday night.

Quick out of the blocks with six wins and a draw from their opening seven matches, the most successful era in the club's history since Diego Maradona -- that penned by Walter Mazzarri -- was already being forgotten.

A slight dip with a 3-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin and elimination from the Champions League saw the emergence of the first detractors, but with seven games of the season to go, the Spaniard seems to have fulfilled the job that was asked of him when he arrived last summer, namely to ensure the Azzurri qualify for the Champions League once again.

Given their 2-0 win over Juventus at the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday night, though, the question will inevitably be asked whether or not more could have been achieved.

One of Mazzarri's parting shots was that he had not been granted the same almost blank cheque book Benitez received last summer. The Spaniard did not use even half of the 125-million-euro war chest promised to him by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, but he spent all of the proceeds from the sale of Edinson Cavani wisely. Very wisely.

Gonzalo Higuain, Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens, Pepe Reina and Raul Albiol have become the first five names on the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager's teamsheet this season. Winter recruit Jorginho has placed his name on that list too. For one Cavani, the Spaniard signed six pillars. Assimilating them all overnight was always going to be a big ask, however.

There is no doubting that the potential is there, though, and Callejon's and Mertens' 12 and seven goals respectively in support roles this season vouch for that.

So while Benitez still may not deliver second spot like his predecessor, the impression is Napoli may just be taking one step backwards to take two forwards. With less radical changes needed in the summer, and a more settled side to start next season with, wins like Sunday night's could be more common, and success may be looming on the horizon for Benitez's Napoli.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/thematch/id/2431?cc=4716

There's a bit more about the rivalry b/w Juve and Napoli and some other stuff if you guys want to give it a read.

[destinydude]

Really want them to win Copa Italia now.

[Liverpool]

Seems written in the stars that we'll play them at some point in the Champions League next year.

Don't think we can get them in the group

[Pablo]

Don't think we can get them in the group

Hopefully it will be the final then

[Cormack74]

http://www.football-italia.net/47424/benitez-napoli-can-get-second

Rafa Benitez is impressed by Parma, building for Napoli’s future and insists they can catch Roma in second place.

It kicks off at the Stadio Tardini on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.

The momentum is building behind the Partenopei, who beat Roma and Juventus in recent outings.

“Can we get second place? All the Coaches say until it is mathematically impossible, then we all continue to believe,” said Benitez in his Press conference.

“It depends on Roma and also on us. Our objective remains second place. We have an idea of what we need in future, though it also depends on our budget. We want to build a strong squad to win silverware.

“Parma play good football and have particularly dangerous wingers. I know how to control them, but the tactical key will always be imposing our style on the game.”

Napoli and Juventus traded barbs after the 2-0 result at the San Paolo, with Beppe Marotta claiming they “looked like a provincial team with excessive euphoria” and Luigi De Laurentiis replying that the Bianconeri director was “ignorant.”

“We did what we had to do,” insisted Benitez. “We had saluted our fans at the end of many games and it was a spectacular match against the Serie A leaders. We must begin again from what we did on that night, so I am not interested in controversy.”

Despite being in third place, Napoli are still on track to set a new club record for points in a single Serie A season.

“Talking about records is normal, but they key to reaching these results will be hitting the level we were at against Roma and Juve. We need to maintain that level of attitude in every game.

“I compliment Juve and Roma, but our problem is that we always have the feeling we could’ve done better. It’s not easy for a side to change players, Coach and philosophy of football in one go. It takes time to adapt.

“We need to analyse the situation and acknowledge it has been a very positive season, yet we can do better.

“A pledge if we manage to get second place? How about we cut the hair of all the journalists present at this conference?” joked Benitez.

The Coach reiterated his claim that Juventus are favourites because of their far larger revenue compared to the other Serie A clubs.

“Revenue isn’t just important in terms of individual players, but the overall strength in depth of the squad. We follow the rules of Financial Fair Play and are working to complete the squad. I did it with Valencia, then Liverpool and it can be done at Napoli.

“All those who want Napoli to win must help us by seeing things in a positive light. When Liverpool got 82 points, after a few years we rose to 86. However, Manchester United got 90 points and for me it was already a good result to improve ourselves. It takes time and investment.

“I feel the victory over Juventus is a base to build on, as I saw my team with clear ideas and a reference point for the future.

“The most important thing is to win playing great football. The key is in the performance on the field.

“I also want to publicly thank director Riccardo Bigon, as to operate on the transfer market the way we did after losing Edinson Cavani was difficult. In January we signed another three and they are all helping well, so that’s down to Bigon. Napoli are in great shape.”

[Cormack74]

If this link had appeared when Rafa was our manager I imagine meltdown would have ensued:

http://www.football-italia.net/47420/napoli-poach-swan-williams

Napoli were reportedly so impressed by Ashley Williams that they’re preparing an offer for the Swansea defender.

Although the Partenopei won the Europa League clash, the Swans gave them a run for their money.

According to Il Mattino newspaper, Napoli directors and Coach Rafa Benitez were won over by the performance of Williams at centre-back.

The 29-year-old Wales international has a contract until June 2015, so could be available for relatively cheap.

Williams would be seen as the partner to Raul Albiol next season.

[Cormack74]

Beaten 1-0 at Parma. Looked fairly average from the bits I saw.

[danperkins]

Napoli are fairly average alright.

[Vermilion]

[baitman]

he has got little teeth, hasnt he... not nearly as good as brendans.

if you were about to pull a fit bird and you noticed she had little teeth you'd defo have to bin her. its just so obvious now.

[Bender]

deleted

[Vermilion]

he has got little teeth, hasnt he... not nearly as good as brendans.

if you were about to pull a fit bird and you noticed she had little teeth you'd defo have to bin her. its just so obvious now.

Oh yeah course you would, i mean beauty, experience, stunning figure and personality count for nothing where little teeth are concerned..