Italian Football: Dismayed Conte could leave Juventus

Antonio Conte: "If I have to expect a welcome like this in Bologna, then I say that it really makes me want to leave Italy and go abroad. It must be a simpler life elsewhere."

Despite leading Juventus to the top of Serie A last season and the Champions League quarter-finals this, Antonio Conte could head abroad in the summer, writes Christian Crowther...

Juventus' outspoken manager Antonio Conte was acknowledged by Jose Mourinho himself as Italy's very own Special One at the beginning of this campaign.

The Real Madrid manager was quoted in Tuttosport in September saying: "The fans call Conte the Italian Special One? I like that. I feel honoured. He is a bit like me... I like Conte a lot as a coach. He knows what he wants and is a real winner. He has a lot of charisma."

This was high praise indeed from his Portuguese counterpart. However, while Mourinho is probably still unmatched in the charisma stakes, Conte's immediate success as manager of the club he won every domestic and European honour with as a player has quite rightly pushed the Italian to prominence.

After delivering the scudetto in an unbeaten debut season in the dugout in 2011/12, Conte has now set Juventus on course for successive titles - currently nine points clear of Napoli and rated at 1.071/14 to finish the job.

In Europe meanwhile, his Juve side have already helped account for the demise of holders Chelsea and now face a last-eight tie against Bayern Munich, where the Italians are available at 2.6613/8 to qualify.

Rather ironically, it looks as if Conte could well be among the forerunners to replace Mourinho at the Bernabeu if, as is widely expected, the Portuguese coach leaves at the end of the season.

Certain events in Italy this season, and subsequent comments from Conte himself, have cast real doubt over whether he will remain in Turin as manager next season, putting both Real Madrid and Chelsea's owners on red alert.

Earlier in the season, he responded to media speculation linking him with a move abroad by issuing comments claiming that it had always been his ambition to one day coach abroad.

There have also been a number of outbursts. Never one to shy away from the issue, Conte attacked Bianconeri fans last month for jeering forward Sebastian Giovinco.

Now, speculation has intensified to a new level after Conte's latest comments made after his team's trip to Bologna on Saturday night.

The Italian tactician was disgruntled at criticism of his enthusiastic celebrations towards the end of the 2-0 victory, believing that Bologna fans throwing sticks and rocks at the team bus prior to entering the stadium was a far graver crime.

Conte, who has already made reference to the war-like situation between rival fans, exclaimed: "If I have to expect a welcome like this in Bologna, then I say that it really makes me want to leave Italy and go abroad. It must be a simpler life elsewhere. We are not at war, here. This is sport. In this situation, you may as well just leave."

Interestingly, despite leapfrogging Tottenham in the Premier League and securing a Europa League quarter-final for Chelsea, Rafa Benitez is still rated at 1.041/25 not to be at Stamford Bridge next season. Could it be Conte replacing him?

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Three Ball Betting: BMW Italian Open

Recommended Bets
2pts Back David Horsey @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Robert Rock @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Bernd Wiesberger @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Kristoffer Broberg @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Matteo Manassero @ 2.68/5

Dan Geraghty makes five first round three ball selections from this week's tournament at Royal Park in Roveri...

First round three balls

Ah, good results last week in America. Hope springs eternal. No tournament over the pond this week so I've had a good look at the European Tour's Italian Open.

David Horsey has had a pretty abysmal season, the results rarely lie. However, the Englishman is adamant that low rounds aren't far away and that his game is in "great" shape. I think we'll see an improvement from Horsey this week at a course he finished second on last year. His opening day partners are Felipe Aguilar, who hasn't played this tournament while at Royal Park golf club, and Tom Lewis, who continues to struggle.

Considering his second half of the season, I wouldn't really fancy backing Robert Rock to beat an egg, unless the circumstances were too good to refuse. Rock has finished in the top 20 both times he's teed it up at the Italian Open at Royal Park and won last year's renewal in fine style. His round one three ball partners are Eduardo Molinari, who is playing his first tournament since having a wrist operation, and Alvaro Quiros, who has also been in terrible form himself and has taken the past month off amid rumours of a coaching change. Rock's price of 2.89/5 appeals in the circumstances. Let's hope he doesn't emerge with egg on his face.

All the shrewdies fancy Bernd Wiesberger to go very well this week, and who am I to argue. The Austrian has been in fine form since last year's 15th place finish at the Italian Open, I think he may have an edge over Anders Hansen, who is also in fine form but has yet to tee it up at Royal Park. Raphael Jaquelin makes up the three-ball.

Following his remarkable performances on the Challenge Tour, there was a lot of attention on young Kristoffer Broberg at the Omega European Masters, a disappointing missed cut ensued, but that was the Swede's fifth week playing in a row and it's perhaps understandable the occasion got to him. Broberg has since had a week off and I suspect we'll see him make the cut and possibly even trouble the upper reaches of the leaderboard here. His playing partners are Johan Edfors and Andrea Pavan.

Finally, I am standing by out-of-form young veteran Matteo Manassero. From recent interviews it's very apparent that all roads lead to the Italian Open for Manassero, he knows the course inside out and I will be shocked if he's out of the top 20. Following a great week last time out, the main danger looks to be Gonzalo Fernandez Castano, whilst troubled Robert Karlsson makes up the trio.

Recommended Bets
2pts Back David Horsey @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Robert Rock @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Bernd Wiesberger @ 2.89/5
2pts Back Kristoffer Broberg @ 2.68/5
2pts Back Matteo Manassero @ 2.68/5

Season Profit/Loss: -2.79pts

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The Punter's Live Golf Blog: The BMW Italian Open and the St Jude Classic

The Punter / Steven Rawlings / 10 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Francesco Molinari at the storm threatened Italian Open

“The market is assuming some very good rounds this afternoon in Italy and it could well be right but I felt Molly was worth getting onside at over [8.0].”

Molinari hits the front in Turin but will he kick on? And in Memphis it's as much a case of whom our man didn't back as who he did...

13.25- June 10, 2011

Although somewhat contradictory to my post this morning, I've just sat and bit by bit got a small bet on Francesco Molinari matched at [8.4]. The market is assuming some very good rounds this afternoon in Italy and it could well be right but I felt Molly was worth getting onside at over [8.0], given he's still tied for the lead, though possibly not for long...

10:30 - June 10, 2011

I appear to be in a state of paralysis at the Italian Open - unable or unwilling to add to my initial wagers. Obviously I regret not getting Francesco Molinari onside, as he's making relentless progress up the leaderboard again this morning - indeed he's now reached the summit. But something stops me from taking the plunge on him now. Perhaps it's the memory of him getting into the thick of things here two years ago before messing up completely?

With the rain-softened greens scoring is very low and anyone making a bogey goes backwards very quickly so I envisage a fast changing leaderboard today and given the threat of delays due to yet more rain forecast, I'm more than happy to bide my time.

Of my three pre-event picks, Alejandro Canizares is currently five behind Molly but he hasn't started his second round yet and Gary Boyd, who was also one of this week's Find Me A 100 Winner picks, is just one back with eight to play this morning. George Coetzee looks out of it.

I may regret not backing Molinari but I'm chuffed to bits with how I've played the St Jude Classic so far. I could very easily have layed out plenty of cash before the off, fancying quite strongly the first four in the market. What I didn't fancy was their prices however and letting them all go un-backed has proved a great tactic. Zach Johnson and David Toms look out of it. Brian Gay is six off the lead and I'm not convinced by Lee Westwood.

Of my two bets before the off, Ben Crane yet again struggled. He's been suffering from various ailments and whether there's still an injury issue or he's just gone off the boil I've no idea. Either way he appears to be out of the reckoning all ready but there's better news with Heath Slocum. After a decent finish to his first round, Heath sits on -2, just three off David Mathis' early lead.

The market is headed by Lee Westwood (on -1) and Robert Karlsson (-4) but I'm not overly tempted by either. Westwood's game didn't look as sharp as it has been last night and Karlsson may be a bit too close to the lead too soon and I fancy he might wobble a bit today. I have added three more picks though...

Y E Yang looked a fair price beforehand at around [80.0] and after a level par start [70.0] is more than fairly priced. I've backed Stephen Ames more times than I care to remember but he's done me more than the odd good turn. He's finally shown a modicum of form and after shooting -1, I felt he was worth a very small investment. And finally, from far leftfield, check out veteran Steve Flesch's scorecard. Woefully out of form, his first nine of four over par was far from a shock but he then shot -4 on the front nine - his second nine. Did something click? I felt it was worth throwing a few quid at him at over [300.0] to find out. He's a multiple winner and he's been known to find form from nowhere before.

Italian Open Pre-event picks:

Alejandro Canizares @ [90.0]
George Coetzee @ [130.0]
Gary Boyd @ an average of [160.0]

In-running play:

Francesco Molinari @ [8.4] - After round two

St Jude Classic pre-event picks:

Ben Crane @ [50.0]
Heath Slocum @ [120.0]

In-running plays:

Y E Yang @ [70.0] - After round one
Stephen Ames @ [140.0] - After round one
Steve Flesch @ an average of [320.0] - After round one

Instinct and the market say one thing, but the stats say another. Do you back YES or NO to an ace at Congressional?...

Steve's been thumbing through the record books and if past results are anything to go on, it's going to be tight......

Loath to back the short-priced runners, it's a quiet start this week for our man but he has picked out a few outsiders to get the ball rolling......

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