Press Box: Experts preview the new Serie A campaign

With the 2021-22 Serie A season getting underway this weekend, we asked a few experts on the Italian game to give their opinions on what is in store...

We asked Italian football writer David Amoyal, Forza Italian Football editor Conor Clancy and CBS Sports analyst and former United States international Jimmy Conrad to give their thoughts on the upcoming campaign.

Here's what they had to say...

Plenty has changed in Serie A over the course of the summer. What storylines have caught your eye most during the off-season?

David Amoyal / @davidamoyal: "What was lacking in player movement, at least on incoming side, was counter balanced by some very exciting managerial appointments. Mourinho and Sarri being both in Rome is fascinating, as is seeing what Spalletti can do with Napoli’s squad, as well as Italiano at Fiorentina.

"I’m very intrigued by what Atalanta did after improving at keeper position and bringing in defenders with huge upside in Demiral and Lovato."

Conor Clancy / @ConJClancy: "The situation at Inter has been rather striking, even if it wasn’t entirely unexpected after Conte walked away within hours of lifting the Scudetto. It’s hard not to feel disappointed with top players such as Achraf Hakimi, Romelu Lukaku and Cristian Romero leaving the league."

Jimmy Conrad / @JimmyConrad: "First off, the fact that there have been 13 managerial changes, including five from the clubs that finished in the top seven last season! That is incredible. And with these managerial changes, we welcome back some Iegends!

"Jose Mourinho, who won the treble the last time he was in Italy, Maurizio Sarri, who won the Scudetto the last time he managed, Luciano Spalletti, who has been Serie A Coach of The Year twice, and Max Allegri, who is the only manager to have won five straight scudettos! So it is setting up to be a magical year in Italy. Also, Inter decided to sell the league's best player last season to Chelsea. What were they thinking?!"

Inter Milan come into the campaign as champions but have also gone through a lot of changes this summer. Do you see them as favourites – and if not, who are?

Amoyal: "I don’t think Inter are the favorites, but I also think they are a factor in the Scudetto race and look poised to make at least top four - they gave up least amount of goals last season and are bringing back same backline. Inzaghi was as good a realistic replacement for Conte, and Dumfries has potential to be same for Hakimi.

"I think Juve, with additions of Locatelli and especially Allegri, are the clear favorites for the Scudetto."

Clancy: "I don’t. I think it’s hard to see anyone other than Juventus as favourites for this season, unfortunately. I think it’s going to take a pretty low points total to win the title this term, because almost everybody at the top - Juventus aside - is a little weaker than last season. With Massimiliano Allegri returning, too, I can’t look beyond them."

Conrad: "I do see them as one of the favorites because despite losing their manager (Antonio Conte), the league's best player (Romelu Lukaku), and the only defender in the league to score 7+ goals and notch 7+ assists (Achraf Hakimi) last season, they still have a very strong core of players intact, including one of my favorite young players in the world, Nico Barella, and they made some significant signings to replace those other guys in Edin Dzeko and Denzel Dumfries, who are very good at what they do.

"With all of this said, though, with Maxi Allegri back in charge of Juve, it's hard to bet against the Bianconeri."

Among the newly-promoted teams and those that finished in the bottom half of the table last season, do you think there is one that could spring a surprise or two this term?

Amoyal: "Preferably with Vlahovic staying, I think Fiorentina are going to be significantly better because of upgrade at the manager position - but even without Vlahovic they will be more of a factor. Genoa had an intriguing window by adding Sirigu, Vanheudsen and maybe even Lammers - they have a big advantage compared to this time last season since they have Ballardini as manager to start the season."

Clancy: "I think Empoli would have had a chance had they not lost Alessio Dionisi to Sassuolo. It’s going to be a big struggle for all three, but I’d have Empoli and Salernitana as stronger than Venezia, with the Tuscans more likely than the other two to survive. Simy’s signing at Salernitana could be huge though, and you can’t rule out another 15-20 goal season from him."

Conrad: "As an American, I have to go with Venezia! With their signings of Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann, I'm really, really pulling for them to stay up in the top flight. But, putting my American bias aside, I expect new manager, Ivan Juric, to help Torino get back to respectability after they nearly got relegated last season and the same with Vincenzo Italiano at Fiorentina. After the masterful job he did to get Spezia to Serie A two seasons ago for the first time in their history and then to keep them up last season, I think he'll do well to get La Viola back into the top half of the table where they belong."

Which one player, from any club, are you excited to watch this season?

Amoyal: "I’m thrilled that Zaniolo has looked so good this summer, I think no Serie A club has made a more significant addition when you consider he didn’t play at all last season. Outside of Roma, I would pick Osimhen on Napoli and Miranchuck at Atalanta."

Clancy: "This one’s really tough, but I’m really intrigued to see how Giacomo Raspadori’s progression continues. He was important under Roberto De Zerbi at Sassuolo last season and was a shock inclusion at Euro 2020, but a lot more focus will be paid to him this term and I hope he’ll be able to push on and continue his development."

Conrad: "Well, if he stays, then Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina! He was tremendous last season. Scoring 21 goals, only three behind Romelu Lukaku, and he was only 20 years old! But, unfortunately, it looks as though Atletico Madrid or Manchester City might come calling for his services and I think they're going to offer up a number that might be too big for Fiorentina owner, Rocco Commisso, to turn down.

"So if he's gone, I'll be keeping my eyes on Nico Barella, all of the Americans (McKennie, Reynolds, Busio, and Tessmann), Zaniolo, especially after missing all of last season with an injury, Locatelli as he makes his move to Juve, and Kessie at AC Milan. I'm a big fan."

How surprised were you when Roma announced the hiring of Jose Mourinho, and how do you expect him to change things at the club?

Amoyal: "Like many, I was shocked by the Mourinho appointment but I’m very excited to have his personality and charisma back in Serie A. I think there is the potential of an impact like the one Capello had at start of this millennium, but also a chance it could go south - regardless of outcome, I think it will be super entertaining to watch."

Clancy: "I was shocked and excited in equal measure. Having Mourinho in Serie A again is brilliant, as he’ll give us a lot to talk about one way or another. I’ve always been something of a ‘Mourinho defender’, and I think he could spring a surprise this season. Like I said, I reckon the points needed to win the title will be a little lower this season and it’ll be a fight between a few teams, so I won’t rule Roma out yet."

Conrad: "On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being incredibly surprised, I'll say 11! The Special One had just gotten fired from Tottenham weeks before, Roma were still playing in the Europa League, it was just crazy timing, and it all happened so fast. But I love it because he seems to love being in Italy, a place where he's had a lot of success, so, as a Roma fan, I hope he can replicate some of the magic that he had before with Inter!"

Which Roma summer signing are you most intrigued to watch this season?

Amoyal: "Tammy Abraham - been a fan of his for awhile and I think he fits this squad and Mourinho’s style well- there is a good chance he makes the same impact for Roma’s attack that Tomori had on Milan’s defence."

Clancy: "Eldor Shomurodov is a player that stood out whenever I watched him at Genoa, and I’m very interested in seeing what he does at a bigger club this season. I think he could be superb. Tammy Abraham will be another one to watch."

Conrad: "Easy. Tammy Abraham. The former Chelsea striker wasn't getting the minutes he probably thought he deserved so I fully expect him to play hungry and with a chip on his shoulder, which is exactly how Mourinho manages so I'm hopeful it will be a great partnership between the two!"

What is your prediction for the top four in Serie A this season?

Amoyal: "Juventus, Napoli, Inter, Atalanta."

Clancy: "I know I said that I can’t rule Roma out of a title challenge, but we made our predictions at Forza Italian Football too so I’ll have to stick with what I said there - Juventus, Atalanta, Milan, Napoli."

Conrad: "Taking the Allegri factor into consideration and, assuming he stays, with Cristiano Ronaldo in the last year of his deal and definitely wanting to end it on a high note, I think Juve wins it. Then, if Duvan Zapata stays, I really like Atalanta, who are getting more and more comfortable competing at a high level in multiple competitions, to finish in second. Without Lukaku, Conte, and Hakimi, I think Inter drops to third and AC Milan follow them in fourth - but it'll be close like last season, when two points separated 2nd through 5th."

What are your predictions for the following: Top goalscorer, MVP and best young player in Serie A this season?

Amoyal: "Ronaldo, Chiesa and Damsgaard."

Clancy: "Ciro Immobile for the Capocannoniere - sorry! MVP I’m going for Paulo Dybala as he’s back with Allegri, and then for best young player I’ll go with Raspadori."

Conrad: "Cristiano to be top scorer. It's what he does. And if Juve win the league, he'll get MVP, too. And, as a Roma fan, I'm hoping the best young player is Nico Zaniolo again."

And finally, give us one other bold prediction for the season ahead!

Amoyal: "Di Francesco doesn’t make it to Christmas at Verona."

Clancy: "Forget everything I’ve already said, Atalanta are winning the title and Luis Muriel will be top goalscorer."

Conrad: "Maurizio Sarri will smoke more cigarettes than anyone else in Serie A this season!"

All the opinions expressed in this piece are those of the journalists themselves, and do not necessarily reflect the stance or opinion of the club.