The Sporting Monkeys - a sports blog for Three Monkeys ONline magazine

The Sporting Monkeys is a group blog on Sports, for Three Monkeys Online magazine

Nick Mallet’s Italy lose in friendly against Australia

09

November

by admin

Italy, for the umpteenth time, showed spirit, determination, and an inability to hold on to a lead, as they lost 20-30 to Australia in the first of a series of Autumn friendlies for South African coach Nick Mallet’s team.
A hesitant start by the azzuri wasn’t helped when Australia showed their experience and cynicism as they [...]

Own goal gives Mihaijlovic’s Bologna a draw against Roma

09

November

by Calcio Monkey

They may have snatched a victory from Chelsea during the week, but Luciano Spaletti’s Roma are still very much on the ropes, as they proved last night when they drew 1-1 against Bologna.
Bologna themselves have had a turbulent start to the season, losing the majority of their matches (despite impressive wins against Milan and Lazio), [...]

Udinese lead thanks to goal difference - Serie A roundup

27

October

by Calcio Monkey

Udinese were celebrating on Sunday as they topped the table with 17 points. Inter and Napoli also have 17 points, but Udinese are marginally ahead thanks to the goals scored thus far in the championship (15) - helped hugely by their massive 3-1 victory over Roma.
The team from Udine in the Northern region of Friuli [...]

Juve bounce back in the Champions League - Roundup

23

October

by Calcio Monkey

Juventus were the undoubted winners of all the Italian teams competing in the Champions league this week. On Tuesday night they raced from the start to beat Real Madrid 2-1. An early goal by Alessandro Del Piero set the stage for the team to steal the show, and they did so with a second goal [...]

Beckham moves to Milan

22

October

by Calcio Monkey

AC Milan’s Adriano Galliani confirmed to reporters today that David Beckham will be moving to AC Milan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy from January onwards for a number of months.
The move will give Beckham a chance to be match-fit for the spring World Cup qualifiers for England, should Fabio Capello require him.
Galliani responded to [...]

Calciopoli is over - Napoli hot on the heels of Inter. The weekly roundup

20

October

by Calcio Monkey

For a brief period, before the final match of the weekend on Sunday night between Inter and Roma, Napoli topped the Serie A table thanks to a determined 2-1 win over Juventus. It was the first time in 17 years for the club, and however briefly lived it’s remarkable given that the club has spent [...]

Johnny I hardly knew ye

19

October

by Bill Quigley

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney is interviewed in today’s Sunday Tribune and he ducks responsibility with the skill of a recently departed Mr Ahern of Drumcondra.
Delaney first came to public notice during the famous Saipan incident. As one of the few FAI officials left in the country, he (Honourary Treasurer at the time) was regularly [...]

Inter back in pole position (with Lazio and Udinese) - Day 6 roundup Serie A

06

October

by Calcio Monkey

Inter Milan settled back into the lead in Serie A, albeit a shared one with Lazio and Udinese, after winning comfortably 2-1 against Bologna. Bologna’s coach Daniele Arrigoni had hoped to repeat his team’s magnificent performance at the San Siro, where on the opening day of Serie A they had humiliated AC Milan with a [...]

Inter and Fiorentina booed by fans - Champions League roundup

02

October

by Calcio Monkey

It’s an indication of the weight of expectation surrounding Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan squad that the coach and team recieved its first round of whistles and boos from Inter fans at the San Siro last night, after a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen - a result that doesn’t particularly jeopardise their Champions League hopes. Nothing less than [...]

Lazio back on top after day 5

29

September

by Calcio Monkey

Lazio continued their brilliant start to the season  - albeit including a hammering from Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan along the way - with a 3-1 win over Torino. Goals by Aregntine Mauro Zarate(2) and Goran Pandev helped Lazio back to pole position in Serie A on Day 5. The roman team has scored an impressive 13 goals [...]