FIORENTINA FANZONE
So, a new dawn for the club, back in the top flight of Europe where they belong. Much pre-season transfer activity had been completed, and the club set up to compete with the very best. So how has it panned out so far? Not too bad, the club are away from the relegation zone, and only lost once in the league so far. They did however get knocked out of the cup early on, but are doing well so far in Europe. All in all, a satisfactory start to the season, now that a couple of wins are on the board.
Diaz has been the star man, there is no doubt, racking up 8 goals already, and uprating to 24 skill. There is still the question of a lack of depth, but this was slightly improved on by the sale of Militao to Spurs for Szoboszlai, Sule and a upgrade in attack with Boadu coming in for Podence. This has meant Suso has had to make do with a place on the bench, but at least he is valuable in both midfield and attack.
So, let’s see how the season has gone so far –
Week 1
Fiorentina 2-2 Rangers
And so, the season begins at last. Fiorentina off to an ok start, but not a great start.
One game unbeaten I guess, though only Real Madrid away next!
This was a game I felt we could win, but Rangers played cautiously and had the tactical advantage at the start, and a draw was a fair result based on the stats and how the game swung back and forth.
It was nice to see debutants Diaz and Coutinho get on the score sheet, but the downside was Suso getting sent off for two yellows.
Week 2
Real Madrid 1-1 Fiorentina
Delighted to come away with anything here. We set up cautiously to avoid a big score, and to our surprise got the early goal through Diaz, who has scored in each game now. I didn't intend to defend for pretty much the whole game, but that's how it turned out, and the back line and Marmardvili managed to hold out after Madrid got the equaliser in the first half.
Week 3
Fiorentina 3-3 AC Milan
These are the games that Fiorentina fans have been looking forward to in EF1, and what a cracker it was.
Fiorentina started with the tactical advantage, but that went out the window as we gave away an early penalty and changed things up.
Diaz was the star yet again for Fiorentina, with 2 goals in the game, but even he was fallible, missing a penalty.
Each time Fiorentina pulled back, AC Milan went ahead again, and it looked all over when Messi scored from a second penalty for Milan late on, and the visitors changed to defensive, however super sub Lasme stepped up and got a third equaliser.
Stats wise is was fairly even
Positives - Diaz scores two more, fantastic comebacks, unbeaten in the league
Negatives - 3 weeks injury to Coutinho, conceding 3 goals, not won in the league!
Week 4
Feyenoord 0-0 Fiorentina
This was a game I'd guess both managers thought they might be able to win, but both will be a little disappointed they didn't.
The 2 promoted teams both set up with a passing tactic, but it didn't really lead to an open or that entertaining a game, as most shots went wide of the goal, and the keepers were up to anything that came their way.
The stats were fairly even.
Positives - Still unbeaten, clean sheet at last, Diaz up to 24 rated, injury turned out to be minor
Negatives - Still no win, another injury, not great performance
With the injury to Coutinho, the manager has decided to bite the bullet and part with Militao, to bring in a 2 for 1 to help bolster the paper thin squad.
Week 5
Fiorentina 0-1 Roma
I guess it's an indication of how far we've come that I'm disappointed to lose to Roma
We started with TA and created some decent chances in the first half, but couldn't score. They then had a man sent off just before half time, and I thought we might snatch it, however Pellegrini had other ideas and netted for the visitors.
We had plenty of chances, including 9 v 4 shots on target, but couldn't get past the inspired Courtois.
I'm starting to wonder if we might need to make further changes, and things aren't quite clicking.
Week 6
Celtic 0-0 Fiorentina
Another draw! shouldn't really complain as we are not losing I guess..
We tried changing things up a little with a 532N, and it was a fairly even game where the keepers were the top performers.
We created some chances, but looking at the stats Celtic shaded the game, so I'm happy to come away with a point.
Unfortunately drawing doesn't get you many points, so we are starting to slip down the table, hopefully a win will come soon!
Week 7
Fiorentina 4-2 Inter Milan
Finally! a win. Despite Inter's good start to the season, I thought it might be game we could get something from, and started with a little more adventurous P, working out against their N initially. However, they scored first, and it was up to two defenders, Sule and Telles to put us in front before half time. Diaz then got his shooting boots back on, and scored twice the second half, with Inter getting one in between.
Stats wise it was a close game, but with both keepers having a poor game, the difference was their keeper was even worse! getting injured from getting the ball out of the net so often. Ul dude.
It was nice to see young Zeze come on and have a good game too.
Hopefully now we have finally won, we can kick on, particularly in Europe in midweek.
EFL CUP
PSV 4-3 Fiorentina (after extra time)
Very disappointing result, particularly after being two goals up against my old side.
We had the tactical advantage and looked to playing well, but the defence was surprisingly leaky
Maybe the balance isn't quite right, but it's too early to make rash changes, we were missing Suso but that's no excuse for a poor result, as a good cup run would have been nice.
Only positives were more goals for Diaz and Coutinho, and Suso will be back from suspension.
DBC CUP
Sevilla 0-0 Fiorentina
Another day, another draw! and still no win.
Sevilla, or Mr random perhaps, set up with a D, which proved too hard to break down, even when they had a man sent off.
I'd have fancied our chances against their usual L, but at the end of the day we didn't do enough.
Diaz hasn't scored since he turned 24, can he go down again please?!
At least it's an unbeaten start to the DBC, and Coutinho is now fit again, a win please!
Watford 1-2 Fiorentina
Match day 2 brought another away game, this time a trip to Premiership side Watford.
Both sides started with a passing game, and Fiorentina looked the dominant side, and deservedly took away the 3 points.
It was the Liverpool connection old and new combining for the first goal with Szoboszlai setting up Coutinho, and shortly afterwards Luiz Diaz netted the second. It looked like it could have been more, with Diaz getting man of the match for his display, and it was a bit of a surprise when Watford got a consolation goal in the 91st minute. good game dude.
After not finding a win for ages, it is now two on the bounce for Fiorentina, can they take that form into the league game against Barcelona on Friday?
Words so far 1301 - plus article posted in June 532 = 1833
So, a new dawn for the club, back in the top flight of Europe where they belong. Much pre-season transfer activity had been completed, and the club set up to compete with the very best. So how has it panned out so far? Not too bad, the club are away from the relegation zone, and only lost once in the league so far. They did however get knocked out of the cup early on, but are doing well so far in Europe. All in all, a satisfactory start to the season, now that a couple of wins are on the board.
Diaz has been the star man, there is no doubt, racking up 8 goals already, and uprating to 24 skill. There is still the question of a lack of depth, but this was slightly improved on by the sale of Militao to Spurs for Szoboszlai, Sule and a upgrade in attack with Boadu coming in for Podence. This has meant Suso has had to make do with a place on the bench, but at least he is valuable in both midfield and attack.
So, let’s see how the season has gone so far –
Week 1
Fiorentina 2-2 Rangers
And so, the season begins at last. Fiorentina off to an ok start, but not a great start.
One game unbeaten I guess, though only Real Madrid away next!
This was a game I felt we could win, but Rangers played cautiously and had the tactical advantage at the start, and a draw was a fair result based on the stats and how the game swung back and forth.
It was nice to see debutants Diaz and Coutinho get on the score sheet, but the downside was Suso getting sent off for two yellows.
Week 2
Real Madrid 1-1 Fiorentina
Delighted to come away with anything here. We set up cautiously to avoid a big score, and to our surprise got the early goal through Diaz, who has scored in each game now. I didn't intend to defend for pretty much the whole game, but that's how it turned out, and the back line and Marmardvili managed to hold out after Madrid got the equaliser in the first half.
Week 3
Fiorentina 3-3 AC Milan
These are the games that Fiorentina fans have been looking forward to in EF1, and what a cracker it was.
Fiorentina started with the tactical advantage, but that went out the window as we gave away an early penalty and changed things up.
Diaz was the star yet again for Fiorentina, with 2 goals in the game, but even he was fallible, missing a penalty.
Each time Fiorentina pulled back, AC Milan went ahead again, and it looked all over when Messi scored from a second penalty for Milan late on, and the visitors changed to defensive, however super sub Lasme stepped up and got a third equaliser.
Stats wise is was fairly even
Positives - Diaz scores two more, fantastic comebacks, unbeaten in the league
Negatives - 3 weeks injury to Coutinho, conceding 3 goals, not won in the league!
Week 4
Feyenoord 0-0 Fiorentina
This was a game I'd guess both managers thought they might be able to win, but both will be a little disappointed they didn't.
The 2 promoted teams both set up with a passing tactic, but it didn't really lead to an open or that entertaining a game, as most shots went wide of the goal, and the keepers were up to anything that came their way.
The stats were fairly even.
Positives - Still unbeaten, clean sheet at last, Diaz up to 24 rated, injury turned out to be minor
Negatives - Still no win, another injury, not great performance
With the injury to Coutinho, the manager has decided to bite the bullet and part with Militao, to bring in a 2 for 1 to help bolster the paper thin squad.
Week 5
Fiorentina 0-1 Roma
I guess it's an indication of how far we've come that I'm disappointed to lose to Roma
We started with TA and created some decent chances in the first half, but couldn't score. They then had a man sent off just before half time, and I thought we might snatch it, however Pellegrini had other ideas and netted for the visitors.
We had plenty of chances, including 9 v 4 shots on target, but couldn't get past the inspired Courtois.
I'm starting to wonder if we might need to make further changes, and things aren't quite clicking.
Week 6
Celtic 0-0 Fiorentina
Another draw! shouldn't really complain as we are not losing I guess..
We tried changing things up a little with a 532N, and it was a fairly even game where the keepers were the top performers.
We created some chances, but looking at the stats Celtic shaded the game, so I'm happy to come away with a point.
Unfortunately drawing doesn't get you many points, so we are starting to slip down the table, hopefully a win will come soon!
Week 7
Fiorentina 4-2 Inter Milan
Finally! a win. Despite Inter's good start to the season, I thought it might be game we could get something from, and started with a little more adventurous P, working out against their N initially. However, they scored first, and it was up to two defenders, Sule and Telles to put us in front before half time. Diaz then got his shooting boots back on, and scored twice the second half, with Inter getting one in between.
Stats wise it was a close game, but with both keepers having a poor game, the difference was their keeper was even worse! getting injured from getting the ball out of the net so often. Ul dude.
It was nice to see young Zeze come on and have a good game too.
Hopefully now we have finally won, we can kick on, particularly in Europe in midweek.
EFL CUP
PSV 4-3 Fiorentina (after extra time)
Very disappointing result, particularly after being two goals up against my old side.
We had the tactical advantage and looked to playing well, but the defence was surprisingly leaky
Maybe the balance isn't quite right, but it's too early to make rash changes, we were missing Suso but that's no excuse for a poor result, as a good cup run would have been nice.
Only positives were more goals for Diaz and Coutinho, and Suso will be back from suspension.
DBC CUP
Sevilla 0-0 Fiorentina
Another day, another draw! and still no win.
Sevilla, or Mr random perhaps, set up with a D, which proved too hard to break down, even when they had a man sent off.
I'd have fancied our chances against their usual L, but at the end of the day we didn't do enough.
Diaz hasn't scored since he turned 24, can he go down again please?!
At least it's an unbeaten start to the DBC, and Coutinho is now fit again, a win please!
Watford 1-2 Fiorentina
Match day 2 brought another away game, this time a trip to Premiership side Watford.
Both sides started with a passing game, and Fiorentina looked the dominant side, and deservedly took away the 3 points.
It was the Liverpool connection old and new combining for the first goal with Szoboszlai setting up Coutinho, and shortly afterwards Luiz Diaz netted the second. It looked like it could have been more, with Diaz getting man of the match for his display, and it was a bit of a surprise when Watford got a consolation goal in the 91st minute. good game dude.
After not finding a win for ages, it is now two on the bounce for Fiorentina, can they take that form into the league game against Barcelona on Friday?
Words so far 1301 - plus article posted in June 532 = 1833
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