Welcome back to my “Team of the Month” series.  This week we are back in Italy and the team is made up of the best players from the 5 game weeks between Tuesday 24th September and Sunday 27th October.

Three players have retained their place in the team from last month so let’s meet the team.

GK – Morgan De Sanctis (Roma) 36 years old
There wasn’t much thought put into this one.  De Sanctis played 5 games this month and kept 5 clean sheets as Roma continued their perfect start to the season.  Roma have been sublime and when you have a goalkeeper in this sort of form you have a great chance of winning trophies.

RB – Giandomenico Mesto (Napoli) 31 years old
The pacey full-back has been in decent form for Napoli this month.  Napoli have switched from a back three to a back four under Rafa Benitez and although it hasn’t been perfect they’ll be quite happy with the transition so far.

LB – Senad Lulic (Lazio) 27 years old
Lulic only played in 3 games this month but he played well in all 3.  He has played more games in advanced positions this year but he played left back in 2 of his 3 games this month.  He had a goal and an assist and looks to be in fine form.

CB – Alessandro Lucarelli (Parma) 36 years old
The veteran defender has retained his place in the team after another month of stand out performances for Parma.  Parma have been one of the most entertaining teams in Serie A with goals going in at both ends but Lucarelli has been in good form and despite being 36 he is still performing at a high level.

CB – Mehdi Benatia (Roma) 26 years old
Benatia is another player who retains his place from last month’s team and he has been the star of an excellent Roma defence.  As well as helping towards 5 clean sheets this month he has also proved his worth at the other end with 2 goals.

CM – Miralem Pjanic (Roma) 23 years old
Pjanic has been excellent for Roma this month and has played a vital role in the clubs excellent start to the campaign.  He had 2 goals and an assist this month and the stand out performance was against Napoli when he scored twice in an excellent 2-0 win.

CM – Daniele De Rossi (Roma) 30 years old
De Rossi is the third and final player to have retained his place from last month’s team.  He has been in excellent form  and he has been vital to Roma’s perfect start.  I have always been a huge fan of De Rossi and will look with interest as he attempts to win his first Scudetto.

CM – Luca Cigarini (Atalanta) 27 years old
Cigarini has been in fantastic form for Atalanta this month and if he can keep this form up he should find himself in contention for a place in Italy’s World Cup squad.  He ended the month with a goal and 3 assists and was one of the best players in Serie A.

RF – Juan Iturbe (Verona) 20 years old
This kid looks like quite a talent.  He is on loan at Verona from Porto and has been in fine form this month.  He had 2 goals and an assist in 4 games.  It looks like he has decided to represent Argentina at international level instead of Paraguay and I suspect a senior cap isn’t too far off.

LF – Gervinho (Roma) 26 years old
I never really fancied Gervinho when he was at Arsenal but he has been doing well since moving to Roma.  He got 3 goals and an assist this month and he is the fifth player from Roma to make it into this month’s team.

CF – Antonio Cassano (Parma) 31 years old
Cassano has had a colourful career to date where he has moved around a lot and struggled with illness and off the field problems but he seems to have settled in well at Parma after his summer move from Inter.  This month he got 3 goals and 3 assists and if he keeps that form up he could be going to Brazil next summer with the Italian World Cup squad.

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About the author
Gerry Johnston
Cover Spanish and Italian football for VAVEL UK.