Macedonia vs Italy (2018 World Cup Qualifier)

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by Italy-Azzurri-Fan, Oct 7, 2016.

  1. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Hey All,
    So I think we all know what happened with Spain last night. Our defense was good, midfield terrible, and attack was so so, well better after we brought on the better players. We were OK but we must be A LOT better. So anyway in three days we will go to Macedonia for another qualifying game.

    News:
    • Montolivo injured. Benassi replaces him.
    • Pelle kicked out for disrespecting Coach Ventura and the Team.

    Both of these are good news to be honest. Montolivo is rubbish and as slow as a rock. He was awful last night. Benassi looks very promising in the future and I am really looking forward to seeing him play for us. I actually even have more confidence in Benassi than Jorginho although both look to be great future players for us. Pelle was good in the days when he played for Southampton and played well in Euro 2016, but its time for him to go now. Playing in China seriously? We use someone playing in a league as rubbish as the chinese on our national team? Thats just nonsense. He is too old and we have much better players now.

    So anyway I am kind of pro this starting Squad in Macedonia:


    -------------------Belotti-----Immobile----------------
    --De Sciglio---------------------------------Florenzi---
    ------------Benassi----De Rossi----Verratti------------
    --------Chiellini-------Bonucci--------Barzagli--------
    -------------------------Buffon--------------------------

    I also want to say that Bonaventura should be dropped, and its time for Eder to go as well. Eder is getting older and not having a great season, so I really think he has no business here. Bonaventura is not a good player at all. We really need Giacherinni back.
     
  2. Nek Sanalet

    Nek Sanalet Member+

    AC Milan
    Italy
    Dec 30, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    AC Milan
    #2 Nek Sanalet, Oct 7, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2016
    Ventura will probably stick with 3 5 2, but I would roll the dice now and go 3 4 3...

    -----------Sansone-------------Belotti------------Candreva------
    ----De Sciglio------Benassi------Verratti------Bernardeschi----
    ----------Romagnoli---------Bonucci------------Barzagli---------
    ---------------------------------Buffon-------------------------------

    Chiellini might be hurt. I would sit him anyway and give Romagnoli another start.
     
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  3. Parcae

    Parcae Member

    Nov 3, 2013
    If Chiellini is healthy, I would play him ahead of Barzagli just because it's two matches in 4 days and Barzagli ain't young.

    Benassi is a CM; I like him but I don't see him playing on the wing in a 343. Maybe put him in the middle in place of DDR.

    I do like the formation though.
     
  4. Nek Sanalet

    Nek Sanalet Member+

    AC Milan
    Italy
    Dec 30, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Your right about Benassi. I was positioning him like it was a 4 3 3, where he plays on the left of a three man center midfield. I edited my lineup accordingly with the assumption both Candreva and Verratti are healthy and will play. And good point about Barzagli.
     
  5. krado33

    krado33 Member+

    May 23, 2014
    Club:
    AS Roma
    I'd like to see Sansone partner Belotti and maybe Criscito on the left. I know De Sciglio's done a good job but I think a natural left footer would be good to see.

    Benassi could make that position his own. Marchisio (with his injury history) might just stick to CDM in the future.
     
  6. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Yeah. I am not sure if Criscito is that good though. Sansone I really don't know what to expect. I kind of want to see Belotti and Immobile together and see what happens because they seem to partner well with each other.
     
  7. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    If Chiellini is hurt, start Romagnoli. He was man of the match for me against Spain.
     
    Rosay repped this.
  8. Falc

    Falc Member+

    Jul 29, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    I hate getting into this fantasy lineup shit but maybe going with a 4-back system, Bonucci and Romagnoli in the center with Criscito and Darmian (he is on the roster, right) on the flanks. Time to start changing the system.
     
  9. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    if chiellini is healthy its BBC back line for sure.

    besides.. i dont think we would see Barzagli taken out for a left footed CB on the right side if hes healthy
     
  10. Baggionero

    Baggionero Member+

    Apr 23, 2015
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    I like this line up.
     
  11. sempreITALIA

    sempreITALIA Member

    Feb 9, 2012
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Chiellini KO for Macedonia. Looks to be Romagnoli again on the left of the 3-5-2. Verratti should start, and with Benassi now called into the team, he may get the nod to start straight away. De Rossi played the full 90 against Spain, and as I have pointed out in previous posts, he is running on one leg nowadays. Likely will get the rest against a sub-par team like Macedonia. Verratti gets inserted into the regista role and Benassi will likely flank him in a usual role that he plays at club level at Torino.

    Probable 11:

    Buffon

    Barzagli -- Bonucci -- Romagnoli

    Benassi -- Verratti -- Bonaventura
    Candreva ------------------------------------------- Criscito

    Belotti -- Immobile
     
  12. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    Immobile has a lot of fire but he's out of control so often. He's like a bull in a China shop. I certainly love his effort, but his skill is quite lacking at times. I'd rather partner Belotti with a really creative type that can serve him well.

    I think Marco Benassi is a gem of a player. How many players captain their teams at 22? He's a great all around mid-fielder with a great combo of grit and skill. Reminds me a lot of a young Tardelli. As much as I'd love to see him start, it is hard to imagine Ventura giving him the nod when he hasn't practiced all week with the team. My guess is we will get more Parolo.

    I know it won't happen, but I would love to see Gabbiadini paired with Belotti.
     
  13. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Why not? There have been tons of rumors that Ventura likes Gabbiadini. Maybe he will get subbed on for Immobile later in the game.
     
  14. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I really hope we don't see Bonaventura but we probably will. I was hoping Bernardeschi or someone could replace him.
     
  15. Rosay

    Rosay Member+

    May 7, 2014
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Ya I really want to see Bernardeschi play. I love that guy
     
    Nek Sanalet repped this.
  16. totti fan

    totti fan Red Card

    Jun 24, 2010
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    DDR must play in the regista role. Verratti is not good enough.
     
  17. totti fan

    totti fan Red Card

    Jun 24, 2010
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    7 changes to the starting line-up! Ridiculous!!

    Here is a more likely choice:

    Buffon

    Barzagli -- Bonucci -- Romagnoli

    Verratti -- DDR -- Parolo
    Candreva ------------------------------------------- De Sciglio

    Belotti -- Eder​
     
  18. Nek Sanalet

    Nek Sanalet Member+

    AC Milan
    Italy
    Dec 30, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Almost every report is saying Immobile is playing over Eder. Ciro himself hinted that he's starting the game with his comments. Eder has scored one goal in 10 months for Inter. His days as a starter are almost certainly numbered for the national team. At 29 years old, there is no point in selecting him anymore. He's never going to help take Italy to the next level, and his ceiling has long been reached. He's a second rate forward for a second rate provincial side. Inter will be throwing him off the team soon enough. I think the rest of your lineup is probably accurate though. Maybe Bonaventura gets in from the start over an aging De Rossi who probably can't go a full 90 on three days rest.

    I hope he gets in the game as a sub. The same goes for Gabbs and Benassi. I want those three to get a cap tomorrow.
     
  19. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    DDR isn't playing tomorrow. Ventura said he thinks Verratti and DDR aren't compatible...and he said Verratti is playing for sure. I think it will be this:

    Buffon;
    Barzagli, Bonucci, Romagnoli;
    Candreva, Parolo, Verratti, Bonaventura, De Sciglio;
    Belotti, Immobile.

    I like this lineup a lot better than the Spain one. He might use Eder in place of Immobile which wouldn't kill me.
     
  20. totti fan

    totti fan Red Card

    Jun 24, 2010
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Immobile for Eder is a mistake. Verratti for DDR will be a disaster if Israel is anything to go by.
     
  21. krado33

    krado33 Member+

    May 23, 2014
    Club:
    AS Roma
    That sounds ridiculous tbh. Verratti's been playing next to a CDM for years now.

    Also Immobile seems to get unlimited opportunities... while players like Insigne, Gabbiadini get scraps. And now Sansone (who's been in great form) doesn't even get a start.
     
  22. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    Benassi is 10 times the midfielder Parolo is. Too bad he only just got called up.

    As for DDR, Ventura pretty much said he can't play with Verratti but never say never. It sounded for sure like this game would be Verratti on his own.
     
  23. totti fan

    totti fan Red Card

    Jun 24, 2010
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    “I am very satisfied with Daniele De Rossi’s performance with Spain and I don’t regret picking him. Could they play together? They are very different figures, but never say never."

    Clear as mud more like it.
     
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  24. krado33

    krado33 Member+

    May 23, 2014
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Ventura's been all over the place with his comments on MV.
    1st Game v France: Ventura made some comment on how he doesn't like to play high up the pitch prior to the game. Brought Verratti on 2nd half, played his normal position (kind of free role with DM behind him) and helped us take control of the game.
    2nd Game v Israel: He played as regista (did well but that's because it's Israel) Then Ventura made a comment that it proved Verratti could play closer to goal:eek:. Is he going senile already.

    Just play the guy in his natural free-role. We already have top players like De Rossi, Marchisio, Jorghino for DM.
    Verratti--CDM--2 way Hustler​
     
  25. totti fan

    totti fan Red Card

    Jun 24, 2010
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I wonder if Ventura talks up Verratti for his confidence.

    The number of times Verratti has been coincidentally injured for important games is ridiculous.
     

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