pearl TOP 500

Latina vs Modena 3-1!! Wow...i'm so happy for Prandi, who's a real gentleman as well as a walking Bible of italian volleyball. And i'm happy for Latina: they have been able to do what Roma should have and didn't!! Great match for Sottile!!

Joking aside, "Gladiators" is the officila nickname for Italian Rugby NT!! New Zeland=All Blacks; Australia=Wallabies; South Africa= Springbocks, Argentina=Pumas; Italia=Gladiators!!

@vatreni: i agree. It is the starting line-up i have also imagined ?

@vatreni: I'm curious mate. What will be the Serbia's starting-6 according to you, since we now know that Ivan has withdrawn from NT??

@Kjeldhor: WOW mate, I was thinking exactly the same thing!!! As I already posted in Regoular Season Discussion, I watched Macerata-Padova and Natale played well (better than Travica, for sure!!). And what you have remarked is absolutely true: he's been training with half on our NTfor a whole season now...and he's just 36 or something...so he perfectly fits Berruto's proposal of regenarating our NT with new and young guys (Mastro, Fox, Papi)!!! ROTFL

If rumours about Savani playing in Russia next season are true, Zizzo will take his place. If Sava stays in Lube, I think Ivan will be moved to play as an opposite (or a fake opposite). No-one is so mad to leave one of them on a bench for an entire season, i presume!!

You should write a book on him then!! A sort of "Matteo Martino Unofficial Gossip Biography" LOL

"Ela é fora da série" ...no doubt about it. Don't know if she's the best opposite in the world...but if she's not, she's the player that goes nearest to such definition.

I've seen Macerata's match yesterday...not the whole match honestly 'cause streaming left me at the beginning of the 4th set, but what i saw was interesting. Good news for Berruto: the worst on court was Travica.
Luckly for Macerata, Drago's sub there is Monopoli.
Unluckly for our NT, Drargo's sub there isn't Monopoli.

@Zyta: I know! We already discussed the matter, do you remember? ?

@Zyta: i apologize for my ignorance but where was Butko born exactly? Musersky was born in Ukraine if i'm not wrong.

Martino is better then Parodi in physic and tecnique, but he got a big problem, his mind

I partly agree with you. In terms of physical strenght Martino is definetely stronger than Parodi; but technically imho Simone is superior, more precise, more elegant and even smarter 'cause he can play with the opponents' s blocks better than Matteo can. In a way, they remind me Giani and Bernardi: Andrea was huge and strong when spiking, Lollo was precise and used to play with intelligence. The truth is that two players like Martino and Parodi should play together 'cause since their so different they complete each other as well as the rest of the team. BUT, as Zyta has brilliantly written here below, we won't see Martino in NT anymore. Not for the moment for sure. It's a pity, I agree, 'cause he could be one of our best players ever...he could be a star!!! But since he prefers to look after his muscles and his hair...well, i think we can go on with our NT even without him.

@Zyta: about Sava, i've read/heard it too. It seems he might go to Russia (another one in Russia!! They're all migrating there!!)

http://dal15al25.gazzetta.it/2012/03/26/roma-resta-zaytsev-a-macerata-savani-in-russia/

Daughter? Is he married?

Being married is not a necessary condition for having a child ?

Kjeld: Colaci is not in Berruto's list! btw i also like him better than Bari.

About our second setter: i'm going to say a mad thing i know, but i would like Falaschi to be our second setter. But since i'm perfectly aware that such thing will never happen, i agree with you: Michele is definetely better than Boninfante (stronger in serve and block).

It's Olsztyn, not Olszyn

my dear, you know, for a foreigner Polish is not exactly the easiest language to speak/write...so please be lenient with us!!


@champion and @vatreni: i think (hope) we will see a sort of changeover between Sokolov and Nikolov, with Sokolov gradually taking Vladimir's place.

@HCLT: my choice for the libero position? Giovi at the moment or Rossini (who didn't play bad this season). Also De Pandis is not bad, but he's not in the list!
And I agree with you about the line-up you gave to Camnow, my only doubt is Savani/Parodi.

@Kjeldhor: i think that HCLT is right (OMG i always agree with him..it is quite worrying, isn't it??). I also think that Mauro doesn't want Papi to start as first-string and play a whole match or mamy matches in a row. But Samu can be a valid sub in case of crisis, when one of our spikers doesn't work.

But the big question is: who's gonna be the second setter? Boninfante or Baranowicz??

@Zyta: I've read that interview (I mean Google Translator allowed me to read that interview LOL) 'cause my friend Overlook here sent me the link. That's why i say that imo there must be some kind of problem between Vermiglio and Berruto. I'm happy to see Falaschi in the list again 'cause i like this guy, but i already know that his name will be the first to be screen out from the final list of whatever tournament we will have to play in the following months.
For me, it's a big mistake...and i'm not saying that because Valerio is one of my fav player but 'cause with Mastro he is the only "senator" (we call this way those players with a long career and a lot of experience) that Italy squad really needs; this Russian experience has changed him a lot, he is more humble now and i think he could be willing to be a second-string in NT if necessary.

@HCLT: I agree that Alessandro Paparoni is better than Bari (but my opinion about him is not exactly objective since i prefer other players) and he played pretty well this season. Unfortunately for Alessandro playing in such a weak team as MRoma is won't help him to gain NT once more.
As regards Papi: i've got a nice story to tell about him when he played in A1 with Falconara and he was 17. He often played truant 'cause he only cared about volleyball and his coach at that time (Paolini if i'm not wrong) was forced to bring him to school and he also had to threaten Samu he wolud have left him out of the team if he hadn't focus on studying too. LOL

@oioi: I think there is. Valerio has said many times that he's willing to do whatever is necessary to be in NT once again. Moreover i know that last year there was a sort of deal between him and Berruto: he would have renounced to NT for the World League to let Berruto try new and younger players but then he would have joined the team again for ECH and WC. But if Berruto goes on calling Boninfante (OMG) in lieu of Valerio, evidently, doesn't want him.