Non-NUFC games you've attended / are attending

[ponsaelius]

1 minute ago, Nucasol said:

Definitely sounds like Man Utd but without the work-based attachment (more the post-Munich national sympathy as the club rebuilding from adversity).

 

Yeah it is definitely the most similar equivalence in terms of English clubs, and Real Madrid in Spain too, but still don't think it's an exact equivalence. Both those clubs still retain a very clear local identity despite their wider support base.

 

Juventus is a particular oddity given that Italian football is otherwise reflective of the country being a patchwork of parochial city states with very tribalistic rivalries. I suppose it probably explains their success to cut through that entirely and embrace a more national identity.

[Yorkie]

Next Valentines Day I'm just gonna ask the mrs to hold the poems and instead print out a bunch of sewellys posts on Italian football and shove them in the card instead. 

[Cookie1892]

i regularly attended Charlton games when i lived in that there london

 

also Aberdeen when spending time up there

[ponsaelius]

Never got round to posting these at the time, but last Italy trip was a quick one in September. Flew to Milan Bergamo from NCL on the Friday night and used Milan as a base for three nights, coming back Monday morning to Manchester. Thought I'd do a little write up with pictures. I've limited the pictures to footy related rather than the other sights of the cities etc.
 

Spoiler

Como 2-2 Bologna (3:00 Saturday)

 

Took the early train from Milan to Como on the Saturday morning. Takes about 40 mins on the fast train but took the slightly slower regional one as it goes right into the centre of the city close to the lake. Had a good 4-5 hours to explore, taking the funicular up to the top for a cracking view of the ground ground and bought a scarf in the club shop (usually get a souvenir if I only have an e-ticket for the game).

 

This was Como's first home game back in Serie A since 2003 as they had to make changes to upgrade the ground, playing first lot of games away from home. Setting is spectacular but ramshackle reflecting the years in the doldrums, with 'temporary' stands doing a lot of heavy lifting. Indonesian owners have recently announced some pretty ambitious plans for a rebuild designed by Populous. Would be great to see the existing site redeveloped with a modern stadium, but enclosing it will inevitably take away some of the amazing feel of the setting. On one hand Como are a bit of a breath of fresh air into a league with so many clubs in stasis, but equally feels slightly hollow that they're a relatively small club being pushed due to the location and tourist cache that comes with it - particularly when so many clubs with bigger support could do with similar investment.

 

Como were much the better team but managed to throw away a two goal lead and draw 2-2 late on. Home curva was pretty solid if not outstanding given the circumstances. First look at Nico Paz, attacking midfielder who looked very silky, and will possibly be going back to Madrid in the summer. Since then Como invested pretty heavily again in January, and should be safe this year to push on again.

 

 

Milan 4-0 Venezia (8:45 Saturday)
 

Fast train back to Milan, plenty of time for some dinner, and then the Metro to San Siro. Not a lot to talk about with this one as it is a re-visit for me and was a bit of a non event of a fixture. Only went along as it fit nicely into the schedule and tickets were cheap enough.

Venezia looked a side destined to go back down, as seems to be how things have played out since. Not sure what their American owners are doing long term. Bought for similar reasons as Como but not sure it's possible to re-develop their existing ground so any move would be to the mainland - which removes much of the allure in the first place. Their small band of support were excellent despite being 4-0 down after 29 minutes.

Torino 0-0 Lecce (3:00 Sunday)
 

Very early 6am Frecciarossa train to Turin, taking just over an hour, hardly anybody on it. First port of call was to take the funicular up to the Basilica di Superga and see the Gran Torino air disaster memorial. Decent amount of other football pilgrims up there, including some Lecce fans.

 

Managed to have a good walk around the city and also go along to the racetrack on the former FIAT factory roof (as seen in Italian Job). It's now a shopping centre with art gallery and the track has been turned into a rooftop park. Nice cafe and small museum about FIAT. Well worth a visit for a few euros.

 

Olimpico suffers with the distance from the pitch being a multi purpose ground, but not as badly as some others given the relatively small 30k capacity. Distinctive Marathon Tower of fascist era architecture. Game was absolutely terrible, with Che Adams stinking the place out despite the Saltires on show from some home fans. Highlight was the Lecce fans who were absolutely outstanding throughout, and travelled in very good numbers given 1,150km distance between the two cities. 

 

 

Monza 1-1 Inter (8:45 Sunday)

Quick dash on an e-bike back to Torino Porta Nuova station and then train to one of Milan's secondary stations, for a quick switch onto the regional line to Monza. Managed to watch most of our late away turnaround against Wolves on the phone. Long walk at the other end to Monza's ground which is right out in the suburbs and terribly served by public transport.

 

Still managed to get there about an hour before kick off so plenty of time to get some food from the stalls and watch the Monza ultras march into the ground. Ground relatively interesting with the distinctive main stand.

Monza are a weird team since while a historic city in its own right it has long been subsumed by Milan's urban sprawl, and therefore many will have historically supported Milan and Inter, perhaps even alongside lower league Monza. Given the location and the fact they don't usually sell out there were unsurprisingly a lot of Inter fans in the home end. Stand I was in was perhaps a 50/50 split - although the club had sensibly restricted any sales in the main ultra end behind the goal. Monza managed to frustrate the interlopers for most of the game, and took a surprise lead with about 10 minutes left. Was fun to celebrate this in the mixed area. Unfortunately Inter managed to scramble a late equaliser to spoil things.

 

As Berlusconi (now family) and Galliani's pet project post-Milan Monza had settled relatively well in Serie A up until this season, but turnover of players and injuries seems to have scuppered them this year and they will almost certainly be heading down with Venezia (and one other).

 

 

Going to Naples next weekend for potentially Napoli - Inter depending on kick off time (and cost through resellers) and some local lower league action in Campania, so will do a run through of that as well if people enjoy these little write ups.

[JLC]

Fantastic write up and pictures. Absolutely brilliant. Bravo 👍

[Fak]

Quality. Well jealous.