RVP2 wrote:worthing_gooner wrote:RVP2 wrote:What does anyone actually know about them? Does anyone actually watch Serie A?
They're alright They finished 4th in serie A. Di Natale was top goalscorer for Udinese last season and was top goalscorer in Italy.
Having said that, they've now lost Alexis Sanchez, Gokhan Inler and Christian Zapata - three of their best players.
I know we're playing absolutely shockingly lately and there's a general feeling of unease around but truly if we can't beat Udinese over two legs we don't deserve to be in the CL this season.
Cheers mate, have to say it is a little worrying, but you have tot hink that the players we have got will get us through (hopefully). Sad to not be able to make the home game, it better sell out it really is a big game.
I watch Serie A occasionally, and go down to Inter when I can and there's no game on here.
I also follow Udinese a bit as they have two ex-FCZ players in their team ( or did have, Inler has gone, but Almen Abdi is still there ).
Also the swiss press tends to mention Udinese as well, and we see their highlights a lot on the telly here.
I will say that they are a very good team, and play attacking football. OK, without Sanchez they have certainly lost a star, but Di Natale I could almost guarantee will score against us if he plays both games. Their keeper, Handanovic, is also pretty good.
They've lost their three best players this summer, but are well used to this, as it has happened to them a few times in the past few seasons, and appears as if they have replaced their players with a couple of brazilians, and brought back Barretto, another Brazilian, from a long loan.
Brazilian Gooner may know one of their latest signings, Neuton, from Gremio. Maybe also Danilo from Palmeiras. I would be interested as well to know how good they are.
If we play like we did in the last 10 games in the PL - and in pre-season ( and I see no reason why it should suddenly change ) then I can see us maybe getting a narrow win at home, but probably conceeding an away goal, and then really having to battle to go through in the away leg.
We should really still manage it, and it would be a major shock to me if we don't do it, but then we saw what happened to our mentally strong team when we were up against Birmingham with the chance to actually win something, and so I do fear that when it means something we will collapse.
Of course with RvP, Nasri, Cesc ( and Walcott ??? ) all out of the first leg, it might just be the start of an awesome career for Gervinho. A hat-trick in that game ( plus a couple against Liverpool and ManU ) and we've got ourselves another hero, and the belief will be back, and the sky's the limit again.
( thought I'd end it on a positive note. COYG! ).
I watch Serie A and Udinese are not better than us 
