Small Talk Monday
Amon Tobin - Slowly by thefourthofficial
Gearing up for a European mid week,
the Fourth Official offers you a look at one of his favorite current forwards:
Antonio Di Natale. Small, pacey, technical and cold-blooded, “Totò” is Udinese’s captain courage. Scoring an average of 22 goals per
season since 2004, the 34 year old has become the emblem of a team always
capable of playing attractive attacking soccer. He also managed to be Serie A’s
top scorer in two consecutive seasons, 09/10 and 10/11, a remarkable feat in
Europe’s most defensive league. Yet, with all the greatness his numerous goals
entail, Di Natale has consistently refused bigger offers to remain in a club
that has obviously attained a big part in his heart. A real provincial hero
(who else still gets sponsored by Asics?), the striker embodies at best the
spirit of a club that never lies to itself about its aspirations. This season,
Di Natale is at it again, leading the scorers’ classification with seven goals
in nine games. Udinese, is currently second of the Serie A, after having held
the lead for one week. In the fight for the title, there a few chances the
Friuli bianconeri will be able to keep the pace of clubs such as Milan,
Juventus, Lazio or Napoli, but they seemed promised to at least a European spot
by the end of the season.
Last week Di Natale scored Udinese’s
only goal in the club’s win against Palermo. This is a video (starting at 0:26)
of Di Natale’s great backheel pass. Note this is at the 75th minute
at a time when most of the other players keep play simple.
If the Napolitan-born striker might remain in
the world’s memory only as part of the Italian squad that failed miserably at
the 2010 World Cup, his name is forever engraved in the mind of Udinese’s
supporters. And the Fourth Official likes it better that way; making Di Natale
a sort of secret pleasure only few know of, as a special luxurious treat.
Here are Di
Natale’s 29 goals from the 2009/2010 season.
And here
are his 28 from 2010/2011. Enjoy!
TFO
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