Napoli oh Napoli...when will your talented side finally win the Serie A?
With Juventus losing both Dani Alves, and their defensive stalwart, Bonucci; is this now Napoli's title to lose? Are they now the best team in the Italian league?
Not quite.
Juventus may be weakened, but to bet against them would be idiotic. They are too experienced and too greedy to let go off the scudetto, and have every intention of winning it again, and again, and again.
With Napoli, this come down to a case of winning when it matters. Because Sarri's side already have the consistency sorted out. It's why they have always been seen as a more closer challenger to Juventus than Roma.
It's about the two games they have against Juventus each season, and those other matches that can either reduce the gap or extend their lead at the top.
It's winning those games that can make them winners.
That's where players like Hamsik and Mertens come in, as they are the real game-changers for the side and have to be looked to for the crucial goal in those tight important games.
Hamsik is getting into that underrated territory, as even at age 30, he is still improving. His all-round game is awesome, from his ability to win the ball, spray the ball around confidently and score fine goals.
The perfect leader.
Then we have another player whose improvement has been even more extreme than Hamsik. And that is the Belgian Dries Mertens.
When I first saw him at Napoli, he came across as an okay player. Someone who could do the job on the wing in your team, but not really a star player.
Now, if you ask most Napoli fans; they may publicly say Inisigne is their best attacker, but in private; they'll admit it's all about Mertens.
He has evolved from just a winger, to someone who can play the false nine position and just fire in goals.
His 28 goals and 9 assists just shows his incredible evolution, and if he can match that or even add to it, that's an asset that Juventus must be fearful of.
But it goes back to my original point. Winning a league title are about two things; consistency, and winning when it matters.
Napoli can do the former, but have to work on the latter. If they can show up when the pressure is on, in a game that is pivotal with regards to the title race, that is what can help lead them to glory.
They have to beat Juventus in Naples, and must look to get at least a draw when they go to Turin. They know Juventus are the pace-setters and are the ones everyone is chasing.
As long as they take care of business in the other games, the two huge games that all of Italy will be tuned into will decide who this season's Serie A champions will be.
And maybe it will finally be the time for this team to emulate the achievement of their hero; Armando. HH
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