Following up on my Pafundi post from a couple of days ago. Mancini called him today in his list of 53 youngsters for a three day trial prior to call ups for the Argentina and Nations League matches.
Vicario from Empoli is the second best Italian goaltender and needs to be in the national team setup ASAP. Ideally a top 8 Italian club would be all over him for next season because he is the real deal. I watched him making save after save the last month and he is unreal on penalties as well. I dare say his form is better than Donnarumas right now. No idea how he plays with his feet but that's not exactly Donna's strength as well. Speaking of Empoli, really exciting watching them employ young Italian talent on a weekly basis. Luperto, Viti, Parisi, Cutrone, Pinamonti, and Baldanzi made his debut today and i suspect him to be on the first team next year.
Out of the list of names for the try outs, Casale and Vicario have been playing good enough to be on the first team. If I see Sirigu and Acerbi on the roster I will laugh very hard
Yes but mainly due to our lack of world class CB talent. Bonucci will be the starter at least until the next Euros.
You may be right. They will probably stay with Bonucci at least through qualifying and if Italy makes the Euro tournament.
Atalanta have reached the end of their cycle. Everyone in their org understands this. They have some tough choices to make this summer in regards to Gasperini and transfers. But they are set up to bounce back
Yup, there will be some sales but their primavera is stocked and they will pull off some undervalued signings that will keep them moving. Hopefully Scalvini takes a starting role next year because that guy oozes class potential. A Bastoni Scalvini partnership could be an azzurri staple for a decade
Bad news for Italian football as Salernitana a team that fields like 4 Italians stays in Serie A despite being blasted by Udinese and Caligari a team that has always played lots of Italians (young ones at that) gets demoted to Serie B. Next year we are probably looking at a Serie A with like 30% Italian players.
Not so sure. La Dea finishing 3rd and 4th in 4 out of the last 6 seasons and qualifying for Europe for 5 straight years is or was for them anyway, a feat beyond all expectations and pretty dominating.
Goal: No surprises obviously. Meret's form is in the toilet and both Cragno and Sirigu were starting keepers in teams that just got relegated. I don't understand why Vicario who is on fire has to go do a trial. In defense, most of if not all of you will disagree with me but I really don't want to see Chiellini there even for a send off. Knowing Mancini he'll even ask him to play the nations leagues games too. Chiellini's time is over. Every game he's there is robbing experience from a younger player. Robbing also any potential chemistry that young player may form with his teammates. And again with this ********ing Luiz Felipe who isn't even Italian and now he's even leaving Serie A. I would have taken Casale, even Giorgio Altare at this point. The only thing that I'm content with is the return of Spinazzola and Calabria. Looks like Mancini got over wtv beef he had with Calabria. If he didn't take him for this round, he would have looked really silly. And I would have dropped Emerson too and already started including Udogie whose quality is really showing now. In Midfield, no real complaints besides Pessina who I don't even see what he brings now. I'm happy for the inclusion of Frattesi. In attack, no surprises
Insigne didn’t really need to be included. Not sure the point. Abundance of options in those wide positions and he is coming off one of his worst seasons in terms of individual performance. Arrivederci e grazie—off to Toronto and good bye.
Looking over the list again, and it dawned on me that Pobega was not included. Mancini should definitely give him a look when the “new” cycle actually begins.
Do not understand this at all. Meret is trash imo. Cragno was 3rd string a few yeas back but has taken a step back in my eyes. I would take Audero over him as well. I'm cool with Chiellini giving it one more go in this game but time to hang it up after Argentina which is what i think he will do. Agreed on Felipe, why is he even in the mix? if he plays over Roma's Mancini I will lose it. Udogie will have his time...maybe he will be in the under 19's in a few weeks? He is age eligible for them and they are currently in the Championships in June. Cannot understand Pessina either. He had a subpar year imo. MANY midfielders ahead of him imo but glad Frattessi is in the mix.
I agree that he didn’t need to be included and I would have dropped him already. But I don’t see big options left at home
I question what impact Insigne will have at Toronto FC. They are currently second to last in the eastern division and 3rd to last in the overall table. I doubt his presence will improve things. In all the years of following both Serie A and MLS, I’ve yet seen many superstars dominate the North American league. Henry and Ibra scored goals but never won nothing. Higuain is ok but not really doing anything. There are so many others who have come over and failed. Giovinco did well but he was never really a starter with Juventus. Other than him, I can’t name too many others who lit the league on fire.