Some things from the weekend ~ 17-09-12

Emile Heskey also scored on his Villa debut

As in Serie B, it took just three games for Serie A to record its first sacking. Giuseppe Sannino is replaced as coach of Palermo by Gianpiero Gasperini, who himself lasted only a very short time at Inter last season. This was Maurizio Zamparini's 48th change of coach in 26 years at Venezia and Palermo, where he has been president for 10 years. One can't help wondering whether he ever questions his own judgement. As for Sannino, defeats by Napoli and Lazio (both still with 100% records) and a home draw with Cagliari, coupled with the fact that he was given a drastically weakened team to coach, suggest that he can feel hard done by.

It is surprising that anyone agrees to work for Zamparini unless they see as a way to do a few weeks work followed by a long and very well paid sabbatical.

In losing 1-0 at home to Atalanta, Milan recorded defeats in their first two home games of the season for the first time since 1930-31. Coach Massimiliano Allegri is far from safe, and desperately needs a good result at home to Anderlecht tomorrow.

Milan and Inter have now played six times on the Giuseppe Meazza stadium's newly laid pitch, recording five defeats and just one draw.

"He was exceptional, considering he's been away with the national team. The travelling Australia have to do is ridiculous"

Er, is Lambert aware of a) how far away Australia is and b) that Lebanon & Jordan (where they played last week) are less than third of the distance away?

Are things changing in Italy in relation to TV evidence? Pablo Gonzalez of Novara, who was sent off against Juve Stabia, has not been suspended. The TV evidence was reviewed and it was decided that the referee had made a mistake. This could be an epochal moment. Or just a one-off and the exception that proves the rule. The next few months should tell us which.