Udinese.
Seriously.
They are the best football team in the whole wide world. The fact that they currently sit top of Europe's toughest domestic league (Yeah, suck on that last 16 line up) seems as good a place to start this argument. Yep, as of last time I checked, Udinese sat atop Serie A, a league with not only the most teams in the Champions League last 16, but one where those teams that have made the last 16 are struggling to break out of the upper mid table, or in Inter's case, struggling to do anything at all. You could probably spin this into a Serie A is shit argument, but as far as I can tell a team that currently sits 16th in Serie A, managed to achieve something that Manchester's big spending high flyers failed to achieve....
Anyway, back on point, Udinese are top of Serie A, and I doubt many remember, but they pushed Arsenal pretty close to the edge of the Champions League cliff. For a while back in September, until penalties started to go awry, Udinese had Arsenal staring down the long drop the the Euopa League group stage. And this is without any Oligarch, or massive shirt sale income. When was the last time you saw an Udinese shirt in the background of the news? Never, that's when.
Yep, Udinese are a fairly small team, from a fairly small place. Udine is about as far east as you can get in Italy, pretty darn close to Slovenia and has a population of about a hundred thousand. So roughly equal to St Helens in population terms. It is not like they can rely on huge gate receipts then is it, especially when the stadium can hold a third of the towns population. And yet through some transfer market genius, so much of Europe's hot young talent has passed through this town.
Somewhat understandably, last season everyone was salivating over Alexis Sanchez. He was at the center of a team that performed miracles all season long, eventually finishing 4th. Perhaps the most miraculous part of a glorious season was a 13 game unbeaten run from January to April, when they boys from Friuli where playing some of the greatest football on the planet last season. Yeah, a thirteen game unbeaten run is great, but when it includes beating thumping champions Inter 3-1, then following that up with a 2-1 beating of Juventus at the Olimpico, leading Milan 4-3 going into the third minute of injury time (it finished 4-4), and putting 7 (seven!) past Palermo in Scilly, you know something special is happening. In those 13 games Udinese scored 34 goals. It was sensational. They possibly were the best team in the world for 3 glorious months.
But Udinese pull this sort of shit regularly. An entirely rebuilt team is doing it right now. Admittedly not with the attacking flair of last season, which was sold on for a tidy 50 million euro, but with a team built on defensive solidarity, and Anotio Di Natale's never ending ability to score loads of goals. Last time the current Best Team In The World yardstick came to Friuli, Udinese held out until the last 5 minutes before going 2 down in heartbreaking fashion. We all remember hearing Mr Richardson talk of Udinese's latest escapades over an ice cream or two. Yes, they are a selling club, but what is the problem with that if you can keep your shit together season after season (I accept there were a few wobbles, but that just adds to it). Indeed, arguably one of Italy's best players of the last 10 years, the aforementioned Mr Di Natale, has stayed heartwarmingly loyal. Why aren't more footballers like that?
But that is the thing, here in Radetto's mountain cave we prefer those who get a bit close to the sun. Yeah, Barcelona may be a really good side, but how much cash has gone into it. Yes they play amazing football at times, but it is kind of expected, especially after they signed the Zebrette's brightest star. When Udinese are pulling of equally mind bending football, it is far more joyous to behold. Late last winter was a sensational time, the plucky underdogs were at it once again. Impossible dreams of Scudetto glory were taking place. In the end it went a bit awry, but a 4th place finish lead them to Europe once again, but it is better to try and fail right? Especially when you try like the Zebrette did for those few glorious months.
I accept, they may not be winning the Champions League any time soon, but if that is your come back, you are missing the point. No one has occasionally but consistently shone like Udinese over the last few seasons. For a team from a city of 100,00 souls, to be, even briefly playing some of the worlds most sensational football, all for the most part of its own back is sensational. You can keep your Barcelona thanks.
Seriously.
They are the best football team in the whole wide world. The fact that they currently sit top of Europe's toughest domestic league (Yeah, suck on that last 16 line up) seems as good a place to start this argument. Yep, as of last time I checked, Udinese sat atop Serie A, a league with not only the most teams in the Champions League last 16, but one where those teams that have made the last 16 are struggling to break out of the upper mid table, or in Inter's case, struggling to do anything at all. You could probably spin this into a Serie A is shit argument, but as far as I can tell a team that currently sits 16th in Serie A, managed to achieve something that Manchester's big spending high flyers failed to achieve....
Anyway, back on point, Udinese are top of Serie A, and I doubt many remember, but they pushed Arsenal pretty close to the edge of the Champions League cliff. For a while back in September, until penalties started to go awry, Udinese had Arsenal staring down the long drop the the Euopa League group stage. And this is without any Oligarch, or massive shirt sale income. When was the last time you saw an Udinese shirt in the background of the news? Never, that's when.
Yep, Udinese are a fairly small team, from a fairly small place. Udine is about as far east as you can get in Italy, pretty darn close to Slovenia and has a population of about a hundred thousand. So roughly equal to St Helens in population terms. It is not like they can rely on huge gate receipts then is it, especially when the stadium can hold a third of the towns population. And yet through some transfer market genius, so much of Europe's hot young talent has passed through this town.
Somewhat understandably, last season everyone was salivating over Alexis Sanchez. He was at the center of a team that performed miracles all season long, eventually finishing 4th. Perhaps the most miraculous part of a glorious season was a 13 game unbeaten run from January to April, when they boys from Friuli where playing some of the greatest football on the planet last season. Yeah, a thirteen game unbeaten run is great, but when it includes beating thumping champions Inter 3-1, then following that up with a 2-1 beating of Juventus at the Olimpico, leading Milan 4-3 going into the third minute of injury time (it finished 4-4), and putting 7 (seven!) past Palermo in Scilly, you know something special is happening. In those 13 games Udinese scored 34 goals. It was sensational. They possibly were the best team in the world for 3 glorious months.
But Udinese pull this sort of shit regularly. An entirely rebuilt team is doing it right now. Admittedly not with the attacking flair of last season, which was sold on for a tidy 50 million euro, but with a team built on defensive solidarity, and Anotio Di Natale's never ending ability to score loads of goals. Last time the current Best Team In The World yardstick came to Friuli, Udinese held out until the last 5 minutes before going 2 down in heartbreaking fashion. We all remember hearing Mr Richardson talk of Udinese's latest escapades over an ice cream or two. Yes, they are a selling club, but what is the problem with that if you can keep your shit together season after season (I accept there were a few wobbles, but that just adds to it). Indeed, arguably one of Italy's best players of the last 10 years, the aforementioned Mr Di Natale, has stayed heartwarmingly loyal. Why aren't more footballers like that?
But that is the thing, here in Radetto's mountain cave we prefer those who get a bit close to the sun. Yeah, Barcelona may be a really good side, but how much cash has gone into it. Yes they play amazing football at times, but it is kind of expected, especially after they signed the Zebrette's brightest star. When Udinese are pulling of equally mind bending football, it is far more joyous to behold. Late last winter was a sensational time, the plucky underdogs were at it once again. Impossible dreams of Scudetto glory were taking place. In the end it went a bit awry, but a 4th place finish lead them to Europe once again, but it is better to try and fail right? Especially when you try like the Zebrette did for those few glorious months.
I accept, they may not be winning the Champions League any time soon, but if that is your come back, you are missing the point. No one has occasionally but consistently shone like Udinese over the last few seasons. For a team from a city of 100,00 souls, to be, even briefly playing some of the worlds most sensational football, all for the most part of its own back is sensational. You can keep your Barcelona thanks.
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