I sat in the dark and watched the last groups of fans filter out of the Olimpico from President Lotito's private box as I revelled in our win against Milan. We played fantastically tonight and as I finished my team debriefing in the changing room after the game, Claudio Lotito himself entered to address the players for the first time in my tenure. He congratulated the team on the victory and for the success against Juventus the previous week. Then he whispered in my ear to meet him in his private box.

The stadium was empty of fans now as the stewards and clean-up team slowly began their duties of refreshing the stands for the next matchday. The door clicked behind me and the Mr Lotito walked in and flicked the light switch...

Lotito: Sat in the dark reflecting, Matt?

Me: You could say that... Just taking it all in.

Lotito: And so you should, tonight was fantastic. The win last week and our victory today has finally got people talking. Have you seen tomorrows headlines?

I shook my head as the president tossed a tabloid news sheet onto the desk next to me. The headline read:


Lotito: The world of football is taking notice Matt, teams in the Premier League have taken note of a successful English manager abroad and the struggling Italian giants like your style and your Italian ethics. I want us to negotiate the contract extension. Right now.

I nodded and stood from my chair. Lotito beamed and held the door open for me and we walked across the sweeping hall to the president's office.

I took a seat as Lotito pulled a document from his desk drawer.

Lotito: The contract is for 2 extra years and a £3000 pay upgrade. It also includes a 35% pay downgrade should the club get relegated, just as security.

Me: I appreciate the offer Signor Lotito. But I want a £5000 per week upgrade and just a one year extension. If you think its to steep then you can make the relegation clause a 50% downgrade. It could be 100%, I wouldn't care as it won't even be necessary.

Lotito: I understand the request on a cash increase, but only a one year extension?

Me: I haven't proven anything, we don't have any silverware in the trophy case yet. So technically its a safety for you too. If I take this club to the top this year and take a cup or the Scudetto then we can negotiate a long term contract.

I could see the cogs in the the presidents brain working as he weighed up the situation.

Lotito: I understand, but what if you do succeed and a big team wants you as their manager. Who is to stop you not renewing your deal and leaving us for nothing?

Me: Should the two of us maintain a good relationship and I continue to take this project forward, then I don't see any reason why I would be tempted to leave Rome.

Lotito shook a finger at me and grinned. He went to speak, but stopped himself and his smile grew. He clicked his pen and filled in the blank spots on the contract and signed his initials next to each section. He browsed his work and signed his name on the final line, then slid the contract across to me.

'Matt Cox... £31,000 per week... expires 30th June 2015...'

I scribbled my signature on the dotted line, placed the pen down and shook Claudio Lotito's hand...

Lazio 2 AC Milan 1
Ince (8)
Balotelli (9)
Klose (34, pen)

As the previous news article stated; we played a good solid game to build on our victory over Champions Juventus. It was a great start to the month that put us 6 points clear at the top of Serie A and meant that I was offered a new contract by the club.


Sassuolo 2 Lazio 1
Floccari (22)
Biondini (63)
Candreva (66)

Of course it was the usual curse... sign a new contract due to success and lose your next game. We fell to our first defeat of the Serie A season which also meant our 16 game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end.

Despite our total dominance of the game and hitting 16 shots on target, we hit the post or bar an incredible 5 times and Sassuolo took their chances well. A slight blip but we still hold a 3 point advantage in our race for the title.

Veteran striker Floccari took his chance well and executed a composed finish to slide the ball past Marchetti when through one on one. Davide Biondini then made matters worse scoring a scrappy goal in a goalmouth scramble from a corner. We responded well 3 minutes later with Tom Ince playing in Candreva whose shot nearly took the next off and with 25 minutes to go I was extremely confident we'd find another.

However it wasn't to be and the main issue now is that we respond to losing our first game in Serie A this season.


FC Basel 2 Lazio 1
Streller (39)
Keita (61)
El Neny (69)

After losing in the previous game we were struck down again in our final Europa League group game in Switzerland. We had already secured top of the group so the result had little meaning to me. I gave the fringe players a chance and played some U18 prospects so the result is not to bad as some youngsters played well. 18 year old Balde Keita scored a 25 yard screamer so he gave me food for thought in regards to who will be my starting striker next season.

Despite the Swiss Champions only having two shots on target, both of them were goals. I was however pleased with the performance of the young players who showed maturity and a willing to fight back when going a goal down.


Lazio 2 Parma 0
Cole (5)
Candreva (32)

We managed to get back on track with a 2-0 win over struggling Parma with Englishmen Tom Ince and Ashley Cole combining for the first goal. A couple of clever one-twos opened up the space and Ince was able to set the ex-Chelsea man through on goal. Cole went for power and sent a rasping shot into the far corner with 5 minutes on the clock.

Candreva struck what would be the killing blow with a 35 yard piledriver on half an hour for his 10th of the Serie A campaign. The Azzurri winger took aim and hammered a shot which didn't dip or swerve as it torpedoed into Antonio Mirante's net.

Napoli also won to maintain ground on us and stay 3 points behind us in the race for Serie A. Also after the game the news broke that AC Milan manager Fillipo Inzaghi has been sacked as the Rossoneri find themselves in 9th place after 16 games. Rossoneri president Silivio Berlusconi has announced that he will be going for experience rather than potential for his next head coach with former Lazio manager Edy Reja being lined up for the job.


Cagliari 1 Lazio 4
Candreva (2, 42, 73)
Ince (50)
Nene (74)

Antonio Candreva was in blistering form as he has been all month. It was fantastic to see after he dropped off a little last month and the Italian winger took the Cagliari game by the scruff of the neck and hit a hat-trick with all goals being rifles from 25 yards or further.

Ince was dangerous as always and chipped in with a goal as we kept the gap at 3 points over Napoli who won again. Cagliari had no answer to the attacking flanks of the Biancocelesti as they were carved open easily by the Roman club again and again. The win means that Lazio will be top of the table at Christmas and will start the New Year as leaders.


The win over AC Milan was a fantastic achievement especially after our bigger win over Juventus in the previous week. Our slip up came against Sassuolo, but it was guaranteed to come at some point as we started the season so well. The reaction to losing was key and we showed our championship credentials by bouncing back in emphatic fashion against Parma and Cagliari.

In terms of the Europa League, we will play Portuguese outfit Vit. Guimaraes who I know will be a tough challenge but over two legs I believe my boys will qualify for the next round. There were more dangerous teams we could have drawn, like Real Madrid who finished 3rd in their Champions League group so overall I am satisfied.

The transfer window is set to open on January 2nd and I have a budget of 6.8 million to spend. I will not spend if it is unnecessary which could potentially mean no new signings through the Olimpico doors this month. However should the right signing emerge that benefits the club then I will work towards that end.




Antonio was on fire this month despite a poor game against AC Milan. His 5 goals in 4 games ensured that we would be top of Serie A in the New Year. Candreva has been the main driving force for us so far this season and has been a key player in us being 1st place. Candreva is currently the Serie A top scorer with 13 goals, the Serie A top assister with 8 and the league's top rated with an average rating of 7.6.

There has been rumours that Real Madrid, PSG, Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to start a bidding war during the January transfer window and if an agreement cannot be made then they will retry in the Summer. I do not intend to let Candreva go without a fight but all players do have their price.

Storming the league!

Doing well with Lazio bud keep it up. I normally have a Lazio game each fm myself dating back to fm08 so might join you soon.

Lazio 4 Atalanta 1
Ince (27, 54)
Klose (48)
Bonaventura (49)
Candreva (75)

We obviously didn't fill up to much on Christmas dinner and the hangover from New Years wasn't to severe as we continued our form into 2014.

It took a good 20 minutes before we got into our rhythm as Motta and Candreva tested the waters with a few long range strikes, but on 27 minutes Tom Ince went on a mazy dribble and opened the scoring with a simple finish after he did all the hard work.

Straight after half time, Klose opened his 2014 account with a tap in at the back post after good work from Antonio Candreva, but Atalanta replied instantly as Giacomo Bonaventura; who has had a standout season so far with the Dea and is rumoured to have caught Italy's big clubs attention, pulled one back with a bullet from outside of the area.

The one goal cushion was increased when Tom Ince grabbed his second goal of the day, Matteo Darmian played an inviting ball into the box as the Englishman arrived late to stroke the ball past another Atalanta standout, Andrea Consigli.

Candreva put a little more gloss on the result with the 4th goal via a header from a corner from captain Mauri.


Lazio 3 Parma 1
Radu (6)
Cavanda (30
Biabiany (45)
Lulic (90)

We made a solid start to the Italian Cup campaign with a win over Parma at the Olimpico. The Italian Cup is a competition I really feel is winnable and was originally my prime aim at the start of the season before our current success in the league.

It was a day for the defenders as Romanian Stefan Radu opened the scoring with a bullet header from a Candreva corner. I made a few changes with Cavanda, Padoin, Lulic and Bendtner coming in for starts so that some key players were rested for the Udinese away game in 3 days. This paid off when Belgian wing back Luis Pedro Cavanda galloped forward and took advantage of an opening in the Parma backline to strike a shot into the bottom corner.

Former Internazionale winger Jonathan Biabiany hit back with a tidy cut in and finish just before half time to tighten things up as we headed in for the break.

We were dominant in the second half but failed to hit the target consistently, eventually our pressure paid off as Bosnian winger Senad Lulic received a tap in after unselfish build up play by Nicklas Bendtner.

We play Serie B side Livorno, away in two weeks time in the Quarter Finals of the Cup, where I will look to catch up with my good friend and Livorno icon, Cristian Lucarelli.


Udinese 0 Lazio 4
Brkic, OG (29)
Klose (38, pen)
Candreva (45+2)
Bendtner (83)

Udinese were looking to get their season back on track as they sat in 15th place in Serie A before kick off. However Lazio had other ideas as the Roman club battered the Bianconeri to put Francesco Guidolin's job under severe pressure.

Lazio came straight out of the blocks and played keepball for the first third of the game. With 25 minutes on the clock, the possession read 86% in Lazio's favour. In the 29th minute Serbian Zeljko Brkic was left flabbergasted as he turned the ball into his own net to hand Lazio the lead. Candreva probed the defence and slipped a through ball that was beyond Miroslav Klose. As Brkic went to clear the ball, he fluffed his lines and scuffed the clearance into the back of his own goal.

10 minutes later Brkic had the chance to redeem himself after Naldo felled Klose in the box. The referee awarded a penalty but despite the goalkeeper getting a hand on Klose's spot kick, the shots momentum pushed it past the flailing 'keeper. Candreva made sure of the result 2 minutes into added time in the first half with a 25 yard free kick.

Udinese looked more solid in the second half but the Udinese defence could not stop Nicklas Bendtner scoring his first goal for Lazio with a tap in from Candreva's cross with 7 minutes to go.


Lazio 1 Chievo 0
Klose(10)

We were dominant throughout the 90 minutes against Chievo as we managed 21 shots while Chievo mustered 5, but we could not hit the target and take our chances in a game that could have been much more comfortable.

Luckily German machine, Miroslav Klose managed to score in the 10th minute to give us the 3 points we needed to stay clear of Napoli who were clinging on to their 5 point deficit behind us. Ince had time to pick out a delicious bending cross that Klose nodded in at point blank range in front of two Chievo defenders. Ince, Candreva and Klose had a hatful of chances to make the score 6 or 7-0 but did not bring their scoring boots.


Livorno 0 Lazio 2
Candreva (38)
Ince (48)

Lazio manager Matt Cox exchanged an embrace with close friend and Livorno favourite Cristiano Lucarelli before the match at Armando Picchi, and the English manager will be the happier man as he watched his team brush past Domenico Di Carlo's men to book a place in the Italian Cup Semi Finals against Atalanta.

Serie B Livorno had no answer to the Serie A leaders as Antonio Candreva looked like he was on a personal mission to get to the semi finals as he registered a goal and an assist.

After complete domination, Candreva hit the gas and rocketed passed Valentini and Piccini before sliding a finish through the legs of on Italian wonderkid Francesco Bardi. 3 minutes after half time, Candreva again used a clever turn of pace and left Djamel Mesbah for dead to pick out Tom Ince who beat the onrushing Bardi.

The Inter Milan loanee Bardi gained a lot of plaudits from the game as he stopped Klose, Candreva and Ince on multiple occasions. Bardi has been touted as a replacement for Gigi Buffon one day.

Lazio will play Atalanta in the Italian Cup Semi Finals, whilst Udinese will play Serie A Champions Juventus.


Sampdoria 1 Lazio 1
Eder (8, pen)
Darmian (29)

Matt Cox could not rally his Lazio team to continue their perfect form as they slumped to a draw against mid-table Sampdoria.

Things started badly as usually reliable fullback Matteo Darmian clumsily fouled striker Eder in the box to give away a penalty kick which the Brazilian dispatched with ease. Lazio battled back against a stubborn Blucerchiati backline but struggled to find an opening. Eventually after good hold up play by Miroslav Klose, the German unleashed Darmian who made amends for his mistake by arrowing a shot into the near post that Da Costa could only watch sail passed his dive.

The draw allows Napoli back into the title race as they sit 3 points behind the Biancocelesti as Rafa Benetiz's side beat Atalanta 1-0.


Lazio 3 Torino 0
Candreva (9, 19)
Klose (52)

Torino have looked out of sorts since letting go of Ciro Immobile to Dortmund and Matteo Darmian to todays opponents, Lazio. The Turin club sit 11th in Serie A and only mustered one shot all game against the league leaders.

Antonio Candreva commenced the battering with a long range strike that sailed passed the defence and goalkeeper into the bottom corner. The Azzurri winger who has been the standout performer in Italy so far this year doubled his tally with another piledriver inside the box into the roof of the net.

Torino had no reply to the Biancocelesti's power and aggression and after half time, the Roman club put the game beyond doubt. Candreva (again) went on a mazy dribble down the right wing and cut inside and looked to shoot, only to fake and find Miroslav Klose unmarked who placed a shot passed the sprawling Alberto Frison.

The win puts Lazio 3 points clear in 1st with 22 games played.


7 games played in a busy January, 6 wins and a draw means we have started 2014 in brilliant form. We have a big month ahead of us with an away game at 4th placed Inter Milan, the Italian Cup Semi Finals 1st & 2nd legs against Atalanta, and a must win away game against our close title rivals Napoli in a match that could have a good say in tipping the scales of which team the league could go to. Also we have the 1st knockout round of the Europa League against Vit. Guimaraes so we must carry on our great form and ruthless performances into February.

In terms of the transfer window we have currently made no moves, in or out. But there are 3 days left so watch this space as I will look at options and what I can do to benefit the club.


Antonio, again was on fire this month and is really staking his claim to be Serie A Player of the Year and has made a brilliant start to potentially be named World Player of the Year. His 5 goals in 7 games ensured that we won the majority of our games comfortably and that we maintain our position at the top of the league in the busiest and most important period of the year. Antonio now has 17 Serie A goals and 21 goals in all competitions so far this season.

There haven't been any bids for Candreva yet but Laurent Blanc and Manuel Pellegrini have been at some of my games to watch the Italian winger. However with 3 days of the window left, I am bracing myself for a deadline day bid. We have however had a £850k bid from Juventus and AC Milan for Belgian fullback Luis Pedro Cavanda, which I have laughed off. A bid of that amount is insulting and the big clubs feel a small bid will unsettle the player. Luis has made it clear he wants to stay and is not intimidated by Juve or Milan as we sit top of the division.

Amazing results, and great, detailed updates man! Keep this up!

Abate leaves AC Milan for Lazio

31st January 2014


Matt Cox made a last minute swoop on Transfer Deadline Day to bring in AC Milan wing back Ignazio Abate for £7m.

Abate was a regular starter under former Milan managers Massimo Allegri and Clarence Seedorf but was deemed surplus to requirements by recent boss Fillipo Inzaghi as youngster Mattia De Sciglio was preferred in the right back position. Following the Italian's sacking, new manager Edy Reja was happy to cash in on the Azzurri defender and sell Abate to the new head coach's former club Lazio for a fee believed to be £7m. Abate was available for £8.5m initially but Cox has negotiated a package in which £5m has been paid up front and a further £2m will be payed in instalments over the next 4 years.

The 21 time capped Italian international was delighted to join the Serie A leaders: "I am so happy and honoured to be part of the project at Lazio and to be able to work under a great up and coming manager in Matt Cox." The former Empoli and Torino wing back also went on to talk about the situation at Milan: "I knew Milan did not want me anymore and with the World Cup coming up this year I knew I needed to be playing. Lazio is a team who have done very well this year and have the chance of winning three trophies. I want to help make that happen and will do my best to be a favourite for this great and historic club."

Cox was very pleased with the signing when addressing the media: "Ignazio is a very talented player and one I did not believe would be available. He is tactically aware and is very quick across the ground. We wanted him at the start at the month but Milan quoted us to much so I am extremely happy that we could negotiate a deal that works for all parties."

It is believed that Abate will wear number 7 for Lazio, the number he wears for the Italian national team.

The Lazio players were quick to welcome their new teammate on Twitter:

@TheRealAC3: "Welcome to this great club @IgnazioAbate20, looking forward to working with you!" (Ashley Cole)

@Stefano_Mauri: "Ciao @IgnazioAbate20! Together with you we will win many things. Welcome!" (Stefano Mauri)

@BendtnerB52: "Great news that we have signed Abate. A talented player who deserves to play at the top! @IgnazioAbate20" (Nicklas Bendtner)

Lazio's only moves in the transfer window before the last minute signing of Abate were players leaving the club; with Mexican centre back Diego Novaretti moving to Parma for £1.1m and French full back Abdoulay Konko leaving for Atalanta for a fee of £1m. The Roman club were also busy in the loan market as 20 year old Brazilian playmaker Felipe Anderson moved to his homeland with Internacional until the end of the season whilst Brayan Perea moved to Serie B club Siena for the same amount of time.

Matt Cox has also confirmed that Canadian international Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault will train with the club to maintain his fitness whilst he searches for a new club. Bourgault who heralds from Montreal, Canada is close friends with Cox as the two met during the Lazio manager's time coaching in Canada and the US.

Great transfer! Abate it's a very good player!

nice signing, Abate is quality.

Inter Milan 2 Lazio 3
Ince (8, 85)
Campagnaro (14)
Kovacic (24)
Klose (66, pen)

We fought hard to get a win at the Giuseppe Meazza to keep our lead at the top of Serie A. Tom Ince opened the scoring with a venomous first time volley from a Candreva cross. It was the goal of a man truly confident and enjoying his football in Rome.

Inter captain Hugo Campagnaro hit back 8 minutes later with a thumping header from a corner before the Nerazzurri took the lead as Mateo Kovacic found the space in front of him open up, allowing the Croatian playmaker to curl a fine shot into the corner of Federico Marchetti's net.

After half time we battled back and couldn't find a way through the Internazionale back line. Eventually, Ince broke free of the defence and was manhandled by Juan Jesus who brought down the Englishman for a clear penalty. Klose stepped up and dispatched the spot kick on his usual, composed fashion.

Ince insured a win for us with 5 minutes to play as he jinked his way through a sea of blue and black shirts to get a sight on goal. Paul Ince was in the crowd as he watched his son tear apart his former club with his second goal of the game, placing the ball beyond a despairing Handanovic following his mazy dribble.


Atalanta 1 Lazio 0
De Luca (16)

Atalanta gave a real 'smash and grab' performance in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi final as Lazio fans got to see new signing Ignazio Abate in action as he made his debut in the match up at Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. The previous day, Udinese gained a 2-0 win over Juventus in the other semi final first leg and I would much rather meet them in the Final rather than the Serie A Champions.

We started well with Tom Ince finding a lot of space on the left wing but Klose and Candreva were unable to turn his crosses into real chances. Mauri and Motta were controlling the centre of the park comfortably but in the 16th minute, left back Cristiano Del Grosso played a long ball forward that cleared the entire Lazio backline. Ashley Cole was playing Giuseppe De Luca onside and the 22 year old Italian striker took his chance well to finish passed Marchetti.

We continued to grind out chances in the second half but we could not find a way passed Andrea Consigli who is tipped to be battling with Marchetti and Sirigu of PSG to be on the plane to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.


Lazio 1 Latina 1
Paolucci (13)
Klose (53, pen)
Mauri (59)

Lazio avoided embarrassment against 19th placed Latina at the Stadio Olimpico as a debatable Miroslav Klose penalty spared their blushes in a frustrating game where the Biancocelesti failed to find the net more than once, despite having 16 shots on target.

Lazio started in top gear as Klose, Candreva and Ince all tested Latina 'keeper Lauro with shots in the opening 10 minutes. But it was on a Sky Blue attack that centre back Andrea Esposito hoofed the ball back into the home team's half and caused a mix-up between Stefan Radu and Matteo Darmian. Michele Paolucci capitalized on the error and scooped the ball into his path to send him one on one with Federico Marchetti. Paolucci cooly finished passed the Italian stopper to send the relegation threatened clubs' fans into raptures.

Lazio continued to attack with new signing Ignazio Abate looking dangerous on the right wing and combining well with Candreva but couldn't find a goal before half time. The Biancocelesti started the period how the started the previous one, probing for a goal and testing Lauro in the Latina net. Abate hit a stinging drive from 40 yards that shaved left post on its way out, what a way that would have been to establish himself with the Roman club faithfuls. But the pressure was eventually to much as Parma loanee Stefan Ristovski looked to handle the ball in the box. On another day it may not have been a penalty but Lazio were not complaining and Klose scooped the ball up and fired in the equalizer.

5 minutes after the goal and with the momentum and belief that they could find a second goal, Lazio captain earned his 2nd yellow card of the game for a reckless foul on Paolucci. Not a great way for the skipper to inspire his team. Following the dismissal, Lazio again looked blunt up top and could not force a winner.

Luckily Napoli drew against Verona meaning the Naples club are still only 3 points behind Lazio.


Lazio 2 Atalanta 0 (After Extra Time)
Cavanda (45+1)
Motta (112)

Juventus had come back from losing 2-0 in the first leg, to winning 3-0 in the second to earn a place in the Italian Cup Final. Luckily, we also managed to turn around the deficit but it took extra time to do it.

The game was all us as we desperately searched for an 'equalizing' goal. Klose picked up a knock early on and had to be replaced by Nicklas Bendtner but luckily it was nothing serious and only a precaution.

After 45 minutes of probing and wasteful shooting, Luis Pedro Cavanda; who regained his place in the starting XI from Abate, scored with a thumping header from an Ince corner to tie up the Semi Final on aggregate. Atalanta has no answer to our attacking aggression and Tom Ince nearly scored on 60 minutes when he hit a rasping volley from 25 yards that hit the crossbar before bouncing back into play, however Bendtner was unable to put the ball away from 8 yards.

Ince again nearly gave us the lead as he cut in from the left and curled a shot into the far post. With Consigli beat the ball thumped the base of goal-frame and rebounded back into play. Unfortunately none of our boys were on hand to tuck it away.

The game went in to extra time as we failed to find the goal despite complete dominance for what must be the 10th time this season. Ince again hit the bar as his snapshot from 12 yards out hit fullback Del Grosso and cannoned onto the frame of the goal. When all seemed lost and with our luck not with us, Thiago Motta picked the ball up 25 yards out. The former PSG man drove at goal and unleashed a strike that flew passed Consigli into the centre of the net.

The goal that was 8 minutes from forcing penalties means that we face Juventus in the Italian Cup Final at the end of the season.


Vit. Guimaraes 1 Lazio 1
Maazou (12)
Cavanda (36)

We put in what I believe was is our worst performance so far this season against Portuguese side Vit. Guimaraes. Moussa Maazou bulldozered into our box and buried a shot to put the Liga Sagres team into the lead on 12 minutes before Luis Pedro Cavanda replied with a mazy dribble and clever finish to tie the game 1-1.

We edged the game as the better team but Guimaraes' physicality was something we had not been up against yet this season and the boys struggled to adapt.


Lazio 0 Empoli 0

It was a very sloppy game and another draw against a mediocre team at home. We were poor at home against Latina and poor again here as once again we were unable to find the net. Miroslav Klose has looked very tired and out of form lately and I only have youngster Balde Keita and misfit Nicklas Bendtner to replace him. Being a smaller club means strength in depth is something we lack and it may harm us in our bid to win the scudetto. However Napoli once again dropped points as they tied also meaning now they remain 3 points behind us and a rejuvenated Juventus team lie another 3 points behind them.


Lazio 2 Vit. Guimaraes 3
Bellusci (1)
Addy (43)
Bonera (56)
Kleber (57)
Amorim (85)

I said the previous game against Guimaraes was our poorest performance of the season, I take that back... this was.

Things started off well as Giuseppe Bellusci headed us in front with 53 seconds on the clock. We looked to increase that lead but were hit on the counter 2 minutes before half time as David Addy scored to tie things up with the Portuguese sides first shot on target.

Daniele Bonera rallied the team and headed home from another Ince corner to give us a 2-1 lead on 56 minutes. But straight from the kick off, Guimaraes won a free kick 48 yards from goal. Brazilian striker Kleber on loan from FC Porto had quick thinking to spot Marchetti off his line and lobbed the Italian 'keeper with a sublimely accurate chip to score what was an astonishing equalizer.

We needed a goal because as it stood, we were heading out on the Europa League on away goals. It didn't matter as with Guimaraes THIRD shot on target, they scored their THIRD goal. Substitute Joao Amorim keeping his composure to put the tie beyond doubt and send the Liga Sagres team into the next round to play Red Bull Salzburg.

I am not happy as I felt this was a competition we could really win, but it does mean we can now concentrate on the league with 13 games to go.


It has been an indifferent month full of mixed emotions. We have made the final of the Italian Cup and kept Napoli at arms length in the league. However Juventus have closed the gap on the two of us and we were eliminated in frustrating style from the Europa League.

It is not the end of the month just yet as we do have one more game in February. This will be an away game against Napoli, meaning a win could potentially put us 6 points clear with 12 games to play so this will be a huge tie.


Having just splashed out £7m on Ignazio Abate, Cavanda really stepped up in an attempt to show Abate he will not walk into the team. I am also a big believer that if you play well and stay on form, then you deserve to play in the team. Big names don't matter to me.

Luis has scored some impressive and vital goals this month and has been consistently good when he has come into the team so deserves hi chance and has a fantastic chance of making the Belgium squad for the World Cup.

Abate it's a good transfer !
I do not think that was what the best month of yours!
Good luck !

ASR-PSV: Thank you mate i'm glad you're enjoying it, it means a lot!

AAN & Fzemdegs: Thanks boys, he's going to fit in really nicely!

Bebero: I agree it was my worst month but we are still top so hopefully we can get back to good form!

Lazio Brush Napoli Aside To Go 6 Points Clear

Napoli 0 Lazio 3
Candreva (11)
Radu (19)
Ince (90+2)

Lazio went 6 points clear at the top of Serie A as they beat 2nd place Napoli 3-0.

As the season rolls towards its conclusion with 12 games left to play, it is still no clearer who will win Serie A, but today 1st placed Lazio took another big step to winning their first title since 2000 as they brushed aside Rafa Benitez's Napoli.

The game was delicately balanced as the top two faced each other after a patch of bad form that has allowed current Champions Juventus back into the race, but it was English manager Matt Cox who set his team up to attack away in Naples and the tactical decision paid off valiantly. The Biancocelesti started off brightly as they looked to unlock the Partenopei back-line as this year's stand out performer Antonio Candreva caused problems early on with only smart defending from Raul Albiol stopping the winger from getting a clean shot on goal.

However 11 minutes in Lazio's aggression paid off as captain Stefano Mauri zipped a through ball between the Napoli centre backs that Candreva smartly ran on too and with two simple touches, rolled the ball passed Rafael into the back of net.

It only took another 8 minutes for Lazio to double their lead. Candreva the creator this time, picked out Romanian powerhouse Stefan Radu with a straightforward corner routine as the centre back smashed a header in to make it 2-0 to the league leaders.

The game reached half time with Napoli not registering a shot on target. Only Gonzalo Higauin having an effort that was wildly hit wide by the Argentinian. After half time Lazio kept up the pressure as only a smart save from Rafael down to his left stopped Belgian wing back Luis Pedro Cavanda from putting the game beyond Napoli's reach. Five minutes later, Tom Ince linked up with countryman Ashley Cole and played the ex-England fullback in on goal. Cole could only hit his shot straight at Rafael who was alert to make another good save.

Benitez's men finally woke up and threatened a goal as Lorenzo Insigne forced Marchetti into a good save from a free kick before Marek Hamsik tested the 'keeper with a long range shot that the Italian held well.

The game was all but over as Tom Ince who has excelled under Matt Cox's tutelage and life in Italy, caught the Napoli defence napping as he waltzed around two tackles and faked the goalkeeper to roll the ball into an empty net and add a gloss to the result.

Lazio who recently reached the Italian Cup Final where they will play Juventus, now have 12 games left to secure the Scudetto for the first time for 14 years.

Napoli: Rafael, Coentrao, Henrique, Albiol, Reveillere, Behrami, Jorginho, Mertens, Hamsik (C), Insigne, Higuain.
Lazio: Marchetti, Cole, Darmian, Radu, Bonera, Cavanda, Motta, Mauri (C), Ince, Candreva, Klose.

Fantastic result against Napoli! 6 points clear is something to be proud of, hopefully to can move even further up

Great result, good way to cement your lead!