World Cup Qualifiers: Italy vs Macedonia and Albania

Historically we have a winning record vs all 4 teams. Unfortunately this is the worst Italy team that I can remember so history means shit.
I would honestly Bring Giovinco back to the team. At least he can take guys on and it would be nice to have a free kick specialist on the team as well.

 

On paper I think the team was better. The way Italy played vs England in the 1st game was better than anything this team has done in qualifying. They had potential but did not show up when it mattered.

 

yall talked shit and then out you guys in retirement lol

 

Prandelli got us to the euro final. I bet Ventura can’t even spell final.

 

Oh Montolivo, Montolivo. Wherefore art thou Montolivo?

 

Ventura reminds me of one of these characters from the penny arcade.

 

Generally speaking, Sweden was all about Zlatan before he retired ... in the Euro-16 play-off's against Denmark he scored 3 of Swedens 4 goals and made all the difference .. if not for him Sweden would not have qualified for Euro-16.

But true ... now that the Swedish team do not need to hang their hat on Zlatan, Sweden work better as a team ...

 

Dang, looks like the U.S will be partying with Italy next summer if things continue like this.

 

all you ********s who think Italy won't make the world cup can eat a dick when we do qualify

 

On paper, assuming all are fit, we can field a team that looks as follows: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Zappacosta, Verratti, Marchisio, De Rossi, Darmian; Belotti, Insigne. I know that many of these guys are aging, past their best or aren't on the best of form. That said, there is quality on this side, certainly enough to get to the World Cup and be competitive. We cannot use lack of quality as an excuse. With a lesser squad, Conte put together some good results. The issue is the manager, plain and simple. We will go nowhere with this idiot, Ventura, in charge. The only hope we have is if he gets sacked after the playoffs, assuming we qualify.

 

Half of those players are way past their prime and need to go. I just don't understand this obsession with keeping these dinosaurs around, makes zero freaking sense.

 

Because those dinosaurs are still playing key roles for important clubs. You don't win with plugging in scrubs from mid-level clubs. Until someone shows they are better than Buffon, Barzagli, De Rossi, etc., you keep playing them.

 

Right that's the thing. It's that the dinosaurs are still better than the others. We have no one to replace them currently.

 

You need a good balance but if gli Azzurri are going to make anything of it, the senators will have to be the difference. If we get past the playoff, the WC is not the time to experiment with young blood. On the other hand, if the unmentionable happens, then it is time to go with the youth movement.

 

It will be inevitable at that point because we know guys like Buffon and Barzagli are in the twilight of their career, and De Rossi isn't the player he used to be. However, it makes me laugh when people suggest we are better off putting in some nobody over guys that have been world class players for years.

 

Luckily, we have players so I feel will cover Buffon, Barzagli, Marchisio and De Rossi. In my opinion, Donnarruma, Rugani, Benassi and Baselli are the 4 players who will cover them in the future. Torino and Fiorentina are good sides but for them to make the step up they're going to need to move to the clubs like Juventus, Milan, Inter, Napoli or Roma or of course move to a big club outside of Italy but I'd rather them remain here.

The reason I say for them to move to these clubs is because with big clubs come big expectations and they can be more prepared for the big stage.

 

We need young, hungry players. We still have players from WC 06 starting for crying out loud, come on man. Get players like Rugani, Romagnoli, Conti, Palmieri, Gagliardini, Cristante, Chiesa, SES some heavy rotation, get Balotelli back in the mix, whether you like it or not he's a lethal striker. Cutrone is still young but he's been playing well. Look at other successful countries and see how many players in their 30's are on their squad, not many at all. Why can't we move on? It's idiotic to rely on these has-beens.

 

you put in way to much effort.

 

It seems like there is an element of pride that is stopping Ventura from reverting back to the 3-5-2 that was so successful under Conte.

If we switch to a 3-5-2 formation, Jorginho must be called. A midfield three of Verratti -- Jorginho -- Marchisio is strong. They all are all tactically astute, comfortable on the ball, and able to run. Unfortunately, De Rossi's years have caught up with him. Although he is a senator of the team and an important leader, half of the time, it looks like he has dead legs chasing down opponents. He cannot last 90 minutes at an international tournament at this point, but I do think he still has a role to play as a presence late-on to close out games. His experience is still valuable for Italy, but players like Jorginho in midfield need to be called. Separately, Gagliardini is a joke and no wonder Jorginho has taken offense to him being called up and STARTING over him.

However, if Ventura insists with this 4-2-4, it doesn't matter who he calls or doesn't call. The team will go nowhere against strong sides with that formation.

 

more effort than you put in bed buddy. Sal's mom told me

 

I like this idea