I'm not ready to toss out Verratti over one bad play. I think we have to maximize our team's talents, including his. That means we need a warrior in the midfield that can provide coverage when we are exposed on quick counters by teams packing it in. We didn't have that at all yesterday and the Macedonians had free runs at our defense probably about 6-7 times that game. Completely unacceptable. I don't know what it is about Bernardeschi but he strikes me as soft. He does have some talent, but he lacks personality and composure. Contrast him to Sansone who came on right away and tried to get involved in the game and take people on. Part of the problem is that Bern is a winger and Ventura had him out of position last night. Ventura really must have been smoking weed before this game because his lineup made very little sense at all.
If Politano continues his form and Berardi hits the ground running after injury, they have strong cases.
I think it already did. It's a difference of 7 goals with 7 matches to play. The only way the team ends atop the group is to beat Spain on the return game. Seriously doubt Spain will drop any more points; Albania had a slight chance to beat them when they played at home, and still lost. Pretty sure they won't beat Spain in Spain; plus, the Spaniards still have another game left with Liechtenstein, and they will get another 6-7 goals on that one, too. Combine that with the lackadaisical attitude Italy has when playing smaller teams, and the script writes itself for a second place finish; this is assuming Italy doesn't drop any more points.
eh. One game tells very little about the strength of a club. I mean by the same token Spain was ranked 11th and we tied them. It certainly wasn't pretty and they need to improve drastically but they did end up getting the result they needed.
This is why that November game against Liechtenstein is so important. Italy has to smash them like Spain did. If not, we are most likely looking at a 2nd place finish here.
Not a valid comparison. Italy and Spain are pretty close in ranking, so a draw could be expected (or even an "upset"). However, almost losing to a team ranked in the 100s is disappointing. They also lost a chance to make up ground in the goal differential department.
It is an important game but I don't see the team scoring more than 4-5 goals. It is a race to second place with Albania, and can't believe I just typed those words.
No it comes down to a must-win vs Spain... which is hardly something to be fearful of. In fact, it's much easier than chasing 5 goals a match.
What if we draw 2-2 vs Spain? Because of away goals, won't that get us first place? Assuming both us and Spain don't drop anymore points.
That's exactly my point tho. We played a closely ranked team and drew with them. If you look at the Macedonia game and take that as indication we aren't as good as our ranking, then why not take the draw against Spain as indication that maybe we are ranked properly? You can't just look at one game and infer anything really. They played poorly against Macedonia. Anyone can have a bad game.
The problem with Verratti is that he generally needs his nose up a players arse before he can play a ball through to them. That's why (if you look at the Israel game it happened too) he plays most of his good passes when he has pushed well forward. As a regista esp. if you're not going to include any other CMs you need to be disciplined about when you push forward. Case in point when Verratti pushed forward on the second Masso goal (Berna was doing what came natural too him ie dribbling) instead of providing cover. Also a regista b/c they sit deep need to have a wide range of passing, he hits some passes but his completion rate is low and too many are backwards and sidewards. I maybe like him as an inside RCM. FFS if his coaches at PSG who know him best can see that Motta is preferred to him as a regista why can't Ventura see its not his natural position.
For me, Verratti is a 23 year old player who needs caps to hopefully fulfill his potential, but from what I've seen of him on the national team and with PSG during CL, I haven't been incredibly impressed. Right now he's overhyped. Its weird how so many people turned on Bernardeschi (who was playing out of position and actually provided an assist) after the Macedonia game, but barely a negative word on Verratti... even though he played poorer overall. The latter's giveaway was much worse as well...I would definitely start bringing in Jorginho to compete for a spot with him since the other options at this point are either old or injured.
Verratti is one of the many Italian players who suffer from the Curse of Pirlo. Any time there's an Italian player with some passing talent, coaches immediately put them at the base of the midfield, ignoring the fact that Pirlo was an incredibly unique talent who read the game better than anyone else in the history of the sport and that the vast majority of skilled passers are much more effective when placed further up the field. Montolivo didn't have as much talent but suffered from the same basic problem. His best matches were as a trequartista, but you'd never know that from where coaches placed him. If Totti had been born 15 years later, they'd have played him as a regista and we'd be arguing now about why the poor fellow never quite seemed to have lived up to his potential.
Verratti was played out of position against Macedonia. In my view, he is at his best when he able to run at defenders from the MF, alla Iniesta. If Ventura is going to stick with the 3-5-2 (which can work with this side), I would play one hard man, e.g., De Rossi; a holding player in Marchisio; and give Verratti freedom to roam forward and be a creative player behind the strikers. I'd be interested to see: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva, De Rossi, Marchisio, Verratti, De Sciglio; Bellotti, Berardi.
Guys don't worry. As soon as Marchisio gets back, I am pretty sure Verratti will move to his best position.