On the other hand, what country has as much patience as Italy for late bloomers? In England you are on the trashheap of League 1 or something if you didn't shine by age 21. Anything that they do in England relating to player development, we can be sure is wrong. The reason more Italian 19 year olds dont play in Serie A is because they aren't ready for it. The teams that own their rights don't believe that the player's best value is obtained from some sink or swim gambit.
I've always found the Di Natale hatred to be absolutely comical, and this thread is no exception. The guy has pretty much carried an entire club on his back for half a decade and has been the most prolific striker in Serie A since Calciopoli yet we should leave him at home because he's a "bottler" based on a handful of performances. If we selected players based on that criteria then guys like Totti and Del Piero would've been dropped from the NT well before their time. Only in Italy can fans complain about selecting a player who has been a consistent goal scoring machine over a 5-6 year period. Also, people really need to just get over this whole Miccoli love affair. The guys NT days were done 7 years ago, and he's not coming back. He even publically announced that he was done with the Nazionale so why on earth we're obsessing over players that aren't even an option is beyond me.
You honestly mean to tell me that Palermo has been a "much" weaker team over the last few years? Is this a joke? I also don't see what evidence you're basing your argument on that Miccoli has been a vastly superior to Di Natale at the club level (post calciopoli at least). Since his last call up for the Nazionale, Miccoli has been snubbed by 3 different coaches (Lippi, Donadoni, and PRandelli). If they snubbed him, even in spite of his "brilliant" performances, then there's a specific reason for it.
I don't really understand it either. Also has he really gotten a fair shot with the NT? Euro 2008 he started the first match vs the Dutch but lets face it the play of Matrix and Barzagli brought everyone down that match. He didn't play again until the semis coming on late vs Spain where he set up the potential game winning goal with a splendid cross to Grosso only for Toni to reach out and knock the ball away from Fabio. He then met a cross that brought a good save from Casillas in ET. His penalty was poor and he short legged fearing he would miss the target. WC 2010 He came on late vs Paraguay and in the 2nd half vs NZ. The whole team was flat vs NZ and his anonimity in these matches shouldn't be placed squarely on him. The Slovak game he started and played the whole match, he scored a goal and set up what should've been Quags tying goal late. 10 goals in 36 appearances is decent at the Int'l level especially for Italy who don't drop 10 goals on the minnows like Germany, Portugal and Holland do from time to time. We can't just stick with calling him a bottler. Del Piero was the biggest bottler in Italy for a decade and I can't think of any moments with the NT that he relieved that tag? The goal vs Mexico maybe? The penalty vs France? Fans always look for a scapegoat.
We all know there is a specific reason for it. That doesn't make it just. Others have stated the arguments against Di Natale very cogently. Big fish, small pond syndrome, needs a team built to suit him, bottler, etc. Comparing him to Del Piero or Totti is so obviously laughable no response is needed. Great, great Serie A player, created many joyful moments plundering goals. No doubt about that. Not going to get the job done for the Azzurri though. One of the best things about Serie A is guys like Di Vaio and Toto and such who carry smaller clubs for years, and they all deserve their shot at the national team. Di Natale had his shot. Buh-bye. As for Miccoli, setting aside the comparisons with Di Natale, I also rate him above Giovinco at this moment, even though I like Giovinco. There is no hesitation about which of those guys I would want coming off the bench with, say, a Euro semi on the line. Miccoli every time. It's just a damn shame.
I find this whole bashing quite childish. When given several consecutive games Di Natale shined for Azzurri during the qualification round for Euro 08. To call him a bottler based a handful of games when the team underperformed (or was dominated) is quite simply ridiculous. In truth it doesn't bother me because there is very little separating Di Natale and Miccoli. What is intriguing about this selection is the possibility that Italy might play 5-3-2 some time in the tournament if plan A misfires. 5-3-2: ---------------------------------------------- ----------Buffon-------------------------------------------------- --------------------Maggio --------Barzagli -------Bonucci-----Chiellini------- Criscito-------------- ----------------------------- Marchisio---------- De Rossi ---------------Pirlo -------------------------- -----------------------------------------Balotelli------------------ Giovinco -------------------------------- In Ogbonha and Bocchetti we have versatile CB's who can play both formations. As well as Juve midfield duo who are comfortable in 3-5-2 It will be interesting to see this setup in action because it is uncommon in European football and can catch teams by surprise. If implemented correctly the perennial lack of width can be solved.
3-5-2 would be an excellent Plan B and it could be our formation if we begin to have success with it. We'll need to bring plenty of defenders for depth. The only worry is we can't lose either Maggio or Criscito in this formation. Think how well this worked for Juve and now we replace Lietch, De Ceglie and/or Caceras with Maggio and Criscito which is an upgrade though caceras was strong down the stretch. Replace Vidal with De Rossi slight down grade IMO, and replace Matri, Vucinic, Quags, ADP, Borriello etc... with Balotelli and Cassano or Giovinco, an obvious up grade.
Dont get me wrong, Miccoli shoud have been brought aswell but to leave Toto at home would have been a tragedy
Agreed. One thing I'd also be interested in seeing is playing De Rossi as a defender, along with Barzagli and (a hopefully recuperated) Chiellini. Bonucci does some scary stuff. That would allow a Nocerino or Montolivo to pair up with Pirlo and Marchisio in the MF-could work very well. I agree that the best attacking options Italy has, i.e., Balotelli, Cassano, Giovinco, Di Natale, are better than what we [Juve] had, so this Italy squad team has potential to do very well. We will be solid all over the pitch and we'll have the capability to maintain possession, just as Juve were able to do this season. Prandelli adopted a similar ball possession mentality once he took over. He should be able to do it with the players at his disposition
He did? Really? PLaying him out of position at Euro 08 is your definition of giving him his "shot"? Have we forgotten that he was probably our best player during Euro qualifiers as well? I really don't care about the "big fish, small club" syndrome either. You can use whatever clever term you would like to describe it. Fact remains that the man has produced incredible results for his club on a CONSISTENT basis. This isn't just some flash in the pan that had 1-2 good seasons, only to fade away. DI Natale has proven his quality season after season (which has included scoring titles) and has justifiably EARNED the right to be considered. Also, why is it that he should be singled out in the "big fish, small club" category but not Miccoli? Did Palermo suddenly become a large club? Didn't one of you previously mention that Miccoli was apparently doing more on a "weaker" side? Really way too many conflicting and contradicting arguments around here.
It's VERY childish and rather ignorant. Whats worse is that if you ask people here to nameone player that really stood out in our attack at Euro 08, they'd probably all just look at you with a blank stare, mainly because NO ONE stood out!
They had him in and out of the squad, how was he ever going to find any consistency? The used him when needed and refused to play him so they didnt have to pay the clause. They ********ed him over. He is to good to be passed around like this. There is zero point in him staying at liverpool as they play caveman football
LOL @ a conspiracy. Aquilani is soooo good that Milan chose to bench him just so they don't have to pick him up at the end of the season If he was worth it, they would play and PAY for him. But that's not the case
They signed Monto, he barely made the squad in the last few weeks, of course he didnt play as they didnt want to pay for a player when they got a similar player for free. Its not a conspiracy, theres pretty basic logic behind it
Magica, if Aquilani was worth half a shit Milan would sign him. What is so hard to understand? Or am I getting trolled here?
They dont have the millions they once had to spend, before they would just buy up whoever. They have quite a bit to spend on the squad, defence needs signing and in midfield they need replacements for gattuso and MVB. The money will be spent there first. Why would they spend anything on him when they have a similar player for free. It makes sense to me, he was left out of squads and even on the bench when they clearly needed some creativity in the run in.
Nocerino is just better than De Rossi. There, I said it. Plus, he just slots right in to the role of Vidal in the Juve midfield, very similar players, and Italy is set. Have people forgotten the endless problems of trying to shoehorn De Rossi into a Pirlo midfield in the past? I am intrigued though by the CB in a 3-back role for De Rossi... I would actually trust him more than Bonucci. De Rossi has his own way of imploding but I think being one layer back from the midfield scrum would help with that, and of course he can play the ball very well out of the back like Bonucci tries and occasionally succeeds in doing.
The problem is he's not average. He looks like a worldbeater one game, then for two or three games it's like you're playing a man down. Then he gets hurt. Rinse and repeat.
Oh my God. Finally someone with some sense! I can never understand why DeRossi is automatically in everyone's starting lineup. Nocerino was probably the best midfielder in Italy this year. He did is all. Not starting him would be madness to me. On Bonucci, I disagree with AmericanKaka. Bonucci has probably been the best defender in Italy over the last 7-8 games of the year. Sure, he's made a bonehead play or two in the past, but he's really playing at a high level. Ranocchia, who has all the talent in the world, is the real enigma for me.
Gio is out for 10-14 days with 1st degree knee sprain. 1st Degree Knee Sprain = He overstreached either his MCL or LCL A 2nd degree Knee Sprain (partial tear of MCL or LCL) would have ruled him out for 6 weeks. MCL - inner knee ligament LCL - outer knee ligament .
If you made this statement last year I would've had very few arguments. However, this season was his best in probably 4 years. Nearly all aspects of his game has been consistent starting from pass accuracy, ball recycling, awareness and etc. For me he is a sure starter. I think many are blinded by Nocerino's running and few goals this term and overlook his overall impact on games. In fact, his defensive game is not even on the level of 34 year old Gattuso! Nocerino and Marchisio will fight for the 3rd spot. Marchisio tends to disappear from games completely so I will prefer Nocerino over him.
Nocerino is a fighter/team player and I like him but he will never be on De Rossi's level as a player EVER
How many times did Del Piero play out of position? This is some weak excuse to explain the fact that Di Natale is a choking loser. In games that he has played at tournaments Italy have lost every one except Spain which was officially a tie but it was his missed PK that cost Italy the game. Nobody remembers that De Rossi missed because he blasted his shot and Casillas made a great save but we all knew choke boy was gonna miss because it was on his face just like against Arsenal. He deserves to make the team but I dont expect anything from him and no way should he be accomodated.
The same can be said for Di Natale, who has been forced to play in a wide role for most of his NT career. Your argument is moot.