Some things from the weekend ~ 01-10-12

After two rounds in which a total of 31 goals were scored in 19 games played, this weekend saw 32 goals in Serie A. Bologna, Juventus and Palermo all scored 4, but the most astonishing result was Torino's 5-1 win over Atalanta in Bergamo. The score is already right out of the ordinary, but how it came about even more so. 62 minutes in it was 1-1 and the score flattered Torino. 13 minutes later it was 1-5 as they ran riot (or Atalanta collapsed woefully - take your pick). I don't think Atalanta have ever conceded 4 goals in so short a space of time in their 105-year history. Sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say 'I was there when history was made'.

The goal of the day, and of the season so far, was Fabio Miccoli's 40-yard Maradonesque effort in Palermo's 4-1 first of the season win over struggling Chievo, who have now lost five in a row. See it on Youtube if you can.

Cagliari played their first game with fans in their new stadium and lost 2-1 to Pescara, leaving them rooted at the foot of the table with 2 points from 6 games. Both their coach Massimo Ficcadenti and Domenico di Carlo of Chievo could be out of a job within days. Zdenek Zeman is probably safe for a while, but he has some explaining to do to Roma's American owner after the abject 4-1 away defeat to Juventus, who were 3-0 up in the first 20 minutes.

I was appalled at Kevin Blackwell's cheap comments last week ridiculing a team I support, Bognor Regis Town. Quite obvious he's been out of the country for the last two years, during which time Bognor finished runners up with a league record of W29 D9 L4 and then won their playoff final last season in front of a crowd not far below what they get at Gigg Lane (2,011). A cheap jibe considering Blackwell played for three non-League teams and has no memory of having to do a full week's work and fit in training, match days and other labours of love at the same time. I've sent a strongly worded email to Bury's media department. Let's see if they or Blackwell are man enough to make some form of apology.

Were there really 8 yellow cards given against West Ham this evening? Is that some kinda record? With two and a red for QPR, is that the most in a Premiership game...unbelieveable if there was a game with more! And not just this weekend! Ever!

Update - received a next-day reply from Bury FC saying no disrespect was meant by Mr. Blackwell. Fair play, he / they actually bothered to reply, and the next day at that.

Thanks, Geoff; I don't know why but for a moment I thought you were going to write that the match between Atalanta and Torino had been fixed.....

Just for the sake of precision, Miccoli's name is Fabrizio and not Fabio as you mentioned. Fabio is not the short version of Fabrizio; they are just two different names. Sorry for being pedantic!

Welcome to WSC/OTF. Being pedantic is what we do; it's who we are...

@ howlin wolf

Atalanta v Torino. Let's hope not, and I really don't think so, but it would be a lie to say that the thought has not crossed my mind. How could it not do so?

Miccoli - my mistake, and you are quite right to correct me. Of course I knew, I just wasn't thinking at the time.

But it was still a hell of a goal, whatever his first name is!

Stevenage v Bury, jeez that would've been a dire game to watch!

As hinted above, Cagliari and Chievo have parted company with coaches Massimo Ficcadenti and Domenico Di Carlo. Cagliari's new coach is Ivo Pulga, a name that means nothing to me and, I suspect, most other fans in Italy. Meanwhile Chievo have appointed ex-player - and he was a big favourite - Eugenio Corini. They have been harsh on Di Carlo when you consider that three of the five defeats they have suffered were against Inter, Juventus and Lazio.

We are six games into the season and already three coaches have gone. The concept of a coach, like Owen Coyle at Bolton, keeping his job even after a relegation is totally foreign to Italian football. Often a few defeats are enough to seal your fate, even when your only aim is to stay up and you are more or less in line with that objective.

Napoli matched West Ham's eight bookings in their 3-0 Europa League defeat at PSV tonight. At least West Ham won!