Parma

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 19-05-2018, 10:48 by WBA-Josh.)

Did any of your guys ever watch Football Italia in the 90’s? Well if you did you might remember the club Parma. They were known around Europe as the little club that could and they won the hearts of lots of British fans in those days, mine included and I was only in my young years.

Well last night they were promoted back to Serie A. What makes this special is that 3 years ago they were declared bankrupt when they were relegated from Serie A and they were demoted down to Serie D. 3 straight promotions and they are back in the big time.

I am really looking forward to what they can do next season.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/1...-promotion

If you don’t remember Parma then maybe this picture will refresh your memory:

[Image: river?version=2178095&width=1340]

[Image: river?version=2178095&width=1340]

Dingle-Dingle · (This post was last modified: 19-05-2018, 18:53 by Dingle-Dingle.)

They do a nice Ham.... DD Whistle

Alouion · 19-05-2018, 19:32

Josh - I notice that you like Italian football. If you have not already read it, try "A Season with Hellas Verona" by Tim Parks. Tim is a Manc who actually lived close enough to Old Trafford to be able to say United are his local team. After marrying an Italian he moved to Italy and fell in love with his local team there. Hellas have some points in common with us. They too are a yo yo club and are actually providing a place for Parma in Serie A this year.
The book gives a real flavour of Italian football and Italy itself.
I could also recommend the "Inspector Montalbano" detective series which is quite addictive once you get into it and is very evocative of Southern Italy,

**themaclad** · 19-05-2018, 20:05

Inspector Montalbano is back on BBC 4 tonight for it's fifth series as for Parma always loved that kit

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 20-05-2018, 07:57 by WBA-Josh.)

(19-05-2018, 19:32)Alouion Wrote: Josh - I notice that you like Italian football. If you have not already read it, try "A Season with Hellas Verona" by Tim Parks. Tim is a Manc who actually lived close enough to Old Trafford to be able to say United are his local team. After marrying an Italian he moved to Italy and fell in love with his local team there. Hellas have some points in common with us. They too are a yo yo club and are actually providing a place for Parma in Serie A this year.
The book gives a real flavour of Italian football and Italy itself.
I could also recommend the "Inspector Montalbano" detective series which is quite addictive once you get into it and is very evocative of Southern Italy,

I will give those a look Alouion.

I grew up watching Football Italia every Saturday morning and Sunday morning and it was really the only football I would watch up until the early 2000’s when my Dad took me to my first West Brom match in the early 2000’s.

I actually had the pleasure of seeing Hellas Verona live 2 years ago when I visited the city. It was at the time when Hellas were battling and failing to stay up so the atmosphere was very toxic. They were 3-0 down to Sampdoria within 15-20 minutes and the fans turned and stayed turned. In hindsight I would have been better off seeing Chievo instead but I’ve always preferred Hellas to Chievo because they are the original Verona club. I’m the same with Lazio over Roma in Rome.

Alouion · 20-05-2018, 19:11

Josh. I used to watch Football Italia and always thought James Richardson should have got the top job at BBC presenting football. He was witty and articulate and so much better than the likes of Lineker who I find wooden by comparison.

Because the Baggies has been a hard watch this season I have taken solace in Serie A and the Bundesliga this season. I spent 8 years of my life working in different locations in Europe and developed an affection for both Lyon and Hertha Berlin whilst there.

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 20-05-2018, 22:32 by WBA-Josh.)

Alouion, if you have access to BT Sport you should watch the Football Italia Documetary on there. It’s 1 hour and 15 minutes and it goes through the show from beginning to end with interviews and funny clips. It’s a genuinely funny and interesting documentary.

If you are ever back in Berlin, you should try an Union Berlin match. Much smaller than Hertha in the district of Köpenick. 22,000 stadium attendance with 18,000 of that standing places. My experience there was very good, atmosphere was superb and the fans were very pleasant.

I’ve also always had a soft spot for Lyon dating back to the days of Juninho, Essien, Diarra and Cris. That team in the mid 2000’s was so good to watch especially in the Champions League. It’s good that they’re now getting back to where they should be.

Yesterday was the end of an era. My favourite goalkeeper of all time, Gianluigi Buffon played his last match for Juventus and could be retiring. He’ll be missed.

drewks · 20-05-2018, 21:50

Awh Josh, I seem to agree with you on most things but Buffon? Decent keeper but actually IS a buffoon! Doh

WBA-Josh · (This post was last modified: 20-05-2018, 22:38 by WBA-Josh.)

(20-05-2018, 21:50)drewks Wrote: Awh Josh, I seem to agree with you on most things but Buffon? Decent keeper but actually IS a buffoon!

Well it’s about time we found something to disagree on drewks. Tongue

I’ve always loved Buffon. Never really took notice of his personal problems/ticks apart from the number 88 controversy but as a player I’ve always admired him and his ability and leadership.

Nesta, Maldini, Buffon and Totti were my favourite Italian players when I was younger and now they have all retired. I now feel as old as bomberbrown1968. Whistle

TheFunkyJoker · (This post was last modified: 20-05-2018, 23:57 by TheFunkyJoker.)

(20-05-2018, 22:17)WBA-Josh Wrote: Nesta, Maldini, Buffon and Totti were my favourite Italian players when I was younger and now they have all retired. I now feel as old as bomberbrown1968.

I'd say throw the likes of Del Piero, Pirlo, Cannavaro, etc... But at some point we'd just be listing the 2006 World Cup winners Laugh