The Forza Napoli Podcast

By Joe FischettiSports Soccer

The Forza Napoli Podcast episodes

May 02 S7-024 - Not So Fab Four
Daniel Russo joins Joe Fischetti to discuss the very dramatic month of April for Napoli and Serie A, on and off the pitch, including:
Part 1 - Conte’s struggles getting the Fab Four of Lobotka, Anguissa, McTominay and De Bruyne to all play well at the same time; Alisson needs to start; Which of the Fab Four is mostly likely to leave Napoli in the summer; Who was Napoli’s biggest injury loss of the season? And the importance of finishing in 2nd place (~3:01)
Part 2 - Antonio Conte’s future at Napoli following Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup; Some early concerns with the upcoming summer transfer market; and the latest Serie A scandals (~29:20)

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58 min
March 31 S7-023 - Scudetto Contenders?
Tri-State Napoli Club VP, Peter Scala, joins Joe Fischetti to review Napoli’s recent run of form and whether the Partenopei are back in the running for the Scudetto, including:
Part 1 - Consecutive victories against Hellas Verona, Torino, Lecce and Cagliari; With Inter dropping points in three consecutive matches, Napoli reduce the gap to seven points; With Inter hosting Roma and Napoli hosting Milan, the Azzurri’s fate could be decided in the next round; and Interisti becoming insecure after dropping points, while Lautaro watches from the sidelines (~2:06)
Part 2 - The latest on the Romelu Lukaku drama in Belgium and a quick look ahead to Napoli’s crucial MD31 game against Milan (~22:24)

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1 hr 2 min
February 28 S7-022 - Clear & Obvious Error
Host of Napoli Nation TV, Daniel Bowen, joins Joe Fischetti to discuss the latest controversial decisions against Napoli and a certain ex-Napoli player that has been ruffling some feathers, including:
Part 1 - Penalty decision in favour of Napoli overturned; Napoli’s second goal disallowed for an alleged foul by Hojlund and Hien; How these decisions could hinder Napoli from qualifying for the Champions League; Giovanni Manna attends the post-match press conference on behalf of Antonio Conte and calls out the officials; potential rule changes, including VAR reviews of second yellow and coaches challenges; Is Inter the new Juve?; and some positives heading into the home stretch of the season (~2:11)
Part 2 - Victor Osimhen’s interview pre- and post-Juventus in the Champions League and the potential for the Nigerian to reunite with Luciano Spalletti at Juventus (~50:43)

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1 hr 22 min
February 05S7-021 - Vergara Rises Amid Champions League Exit
Vincenzo Bertillo joins Joe Fischetti to review Napoli’s ongoing roller-coaster ride of a season, including:
Napoli’s exit from the Champions League after a draw to Copenhagen and a defeat to Chelsea and, counterintuitively, why that might have been the best case for Napoli (~2:26)

Di Lorenzo joins the infirmary with what initially appeared to be a career-ending injury. Fortunately, players are returning to the squad (~10:13)

Though devastating, the injury crisis has given Napoli “starlet” Antonio Vergara the opportunity to shine the former Primavera player has seized the opportunity (~32:14)

Napoli’s January transfer market - Lang, Lucca, Marianucci and Ambrosino loaned out; Giovane, Alisson and young Milton Pereyra recruited (~51:48)

With the Champions League exit, Supercoppa secured and an unprecedented number of injuries, what does a success season look like for Conte’s Napoli (~1:03:53)

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1 hr 19 min
January 15S7-020 - Napoli Drop 6 Points in 3 Matches
Host of the Napoli Rant, Raffa Rispo, joins Joe Fischetti to review the controversial decisions in Napoli’s recent matches and look ahead to the second half of the season, including:
Scott McTominay’s fourth goal in three matches disallowed by the semi-automated offside technology because Pasquale Mazzocchi’s should blade was offside (~4:22)

Possible handball by Alessandro Circatti in the Parma area, an outstanding performance from young Parma goalkeeper Filippo Rinaldi and a great show of character despite the poor results (~21:37)

Inter’s penalty kick, inconsistent officiating and Antonio Conte’s reaction (~29:42)

Rasmus Højlund’s phantom handball against Hellas Verona (~43:11)

Scott McTominay back to his scoring ways, showing that he’s at least as good, if not better, than he was last season (~52:42)

A quick look ahead to the second half of the season and whether Napoli can still win the Scudetto (against all odds and against the officials)(~1:12:34)

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1 hr 39 min
January 10S7-019 - Marchetti and Marini Hold Napoli to a Draw
In this mini-pod, Joe Fischetti reviews Napoli’s controversial, midweek draw against Hellas Verona, including:
Penalty kick awarded to Verona when Buongiorno appeared to have been followed

Napoli rattled after conceding the opening goal, with many players at fault

Napoli’s equalizer chalked off for a “handball” by Højlund

Elmas choked out

How Conte can use this result to motivate is team ahead of the big showdown against Inter

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28 min
January 06 S7-018 - Napoli’s Romans Break Lazio Curse
Ashley Pearce joins Joe Fischetti to review Napoli’s first victory over Lazio in six matches - a key away victory for Napoli to stay within touching distance of league leaders Inter, including:
Part 1 - a tactical battle at the start: compact Lazio versus Neres between the lines; Politano and Neres owning Pellegrini on the right wing; Neres’ ankle injury; Lobotka key to Napoli playing through the press; a fourth consecutive clean sheet; and whether Noslin deserved a second yellow (~1:14)
Part 2 - Spinazzola scored against his former club; Rrahmani scores from a controversial free kick; Napoli could have scored more, especially Elmas; and some transfer talk, including a potential departure of Noa Lang (~28:52)

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56 min
January 02 S7-017 - Successful 2025 in the Books, on to 2026!
Evan and Olivia join Joe Fischetti to discuss Napoli’s recent run of form, look back on a very successful 2025 and explain why Napoli must have a “zero balance” January transfer market, including:
Part 1 - Napoli’s return to form since switching to a 3-4-2-1, including: improved production from Napoli forwards; the Neres-Højlund connection; who should start at striker when Lukaku returns; Di Lorenzo at centre back; Juan Jesus displacing Buongiorno; and more (~1:20)
Part 2 - A look back at 2025, including best player, most improved player, best signing of 2025, and the obvious favourite moment of 2025; and a detailed explanation of why Napoli must maintain a “zero balance” in the January transfer market. In particular, Napoli have signed a lot of players in the last two seasons, front-loaded amortization and a record-high wage bill (~20:38)

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51 min
December 11, 2025S7-016 - Napoli Resurgence - 5 Wins on the Bounce
Gateano Sollazzo and Daniel Russo join Joe Fischetti to discuss Napoli’s 2-1 victory over Juventus, following wins against Atalanta,Qarabag, Roma and Calgiari, including:
Part 1
How the additions of David Neres and Noa Lang have injected much needed pace and creativity into the Partenopei’s against, allowing Rasmus Højlund to get back onto the score sheet

How the 3-4-3 has improved the Napoli defence, giving more coverage to the wing backs and allowing the centre back to be more aggressive, sometimes even joining the attack

Suffocating opposition attacking with an intense high press, then dropping into a very organized and structured defence after taking the lead
Part 2
An important new role for Eljif Elmas, who did a fantastic job deputizing for Stanislav Lobotka and Billy Gilmour in the number 6 position

Other standout performances, including Mathias Olivera and Scott McTominay, who continues to be a critical part of the team, even when he’s not scoring goals

Spalletti’s uninspiring return to Napoli - perhaps he’s the latest double agent after Cristiano Giuntoli

Quick look ahead to the Benfica match

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1 hr 9 min
November 25, 2025S7-015 - From Bologna Collapse to Atalanta Redemption
Alesandro joins Joe Fischetti to discuss Napoli’s very important response to the recent controversy with an impressive 3-1 victory over Atalanta, including:
A successful switch to the 3-4- formation

Neres and Lang combine to score three goals after scoring no goals through the first 11 matches of the season

Sam Beukema returns to the starting XI and outshines his centre back teammates

The importance of Lukaku’s presence, in or out of the lineup

Di Lorenzo’s best match of the season

Some negatives, including Atalanta’s dominant second half, Hojlund’s struggles in attack and Vanja’s poor long balls

A quick look ahead to the next two matches and whether Conte rolls with Neres and Lang against Qarabag or saves them for Roma

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54 min