Friendly: Italy - Ivory Coast (August 10th, 2010) [R]

no goals that 1st half but I liked what I saw, much better than the garbage in SA. We controlled the ball, went forward, were creative and dangerous. The back will need some work but we're looking good so far.... in bocca al lupooooooooooooo!

 

Motta and especially Bonucci the weak links so far.

 

Yes! And by the looks of it De Rossi is our deep lying playmaker. Hes making long balls and being a bit more creative than Ive seen.

 

Yeah, I even saw him track back and make a tackle!

 

Players like Motta and Bonucci need to be thrown into games like this if they are ever going to be starters for Italy come 2012 or 2014. Same goes for others; hopefully, guys like Santon, Ranocchia, De Silvestri, etc. can also get some similar experience over the next coming months/years.

 

Curious to see the changes

 

Solid first half, could have been better at the back, and perhaps should have had a goal off one of those close free kicks.. but I liked what I saw for a team playing together for the first time.

 

Obviously lots to be done in the future, but in general it's been promising so far. Motta makes too many mistakes defensively and Molinaro just isn't good enough, but Chiellini seems back to his best, and Bonucci has looked composed playing the ball out of the back. De Rossi attempts too many stupid passes still.

The composition of the front four still needs some work, naturally; defensively there's some trouble, but that's to be expected. However, there are actual ideas when playing on the counter and around the box, good to see. Also good to see Balotelli far elss 'pouty' than he is at Inter, he's tracked back really well on two separate occasions at least.

 

Totally on this with you. Not enough off the ball movement there. I still can't understand the inclusion of Molinaro. Would like to see these changes early in 2nd half - Cassani-> Motta, Antonini-> Molinaro, Borriello-> Amauri, Rossi-> Cassano, Marchisio-> De Rossi, Monto-> Palombo.

 

I really hope Balotelli gets a goal, I think once he does the flood gates will open.

 

DDR, how did Motta cost Roma the scudetto?

 

Let's not get hyperbolic, we could have done away with Sampdoria being 1-0 up and the title would be ours.

 

That statement caught my curiosity as well. I'm hard pressed to figure out how a player that was benched after Ranieri arrived "single-handedly" cost his team the scudetto?

 

Yeah De Rossi needs to show for the ball more and make the simple passes. Overall exactly my sentiments.

 

I'd like to see Lazzari in this game

 

Well, had Inter remembered to play in that 8 game span where they didn't get a win, then there would be know scudetto race to begin with. Your being awfully harsh on Motta.

 

Shiiiiiiiiit.

 

motta off the post! setup by cassano

 

I find it funny that you point to that episode. As your fellow supporter said, what about the Samp game?

 

Nice shot by Motta wow. Nice play between Cassano and Motta.

 

To be fair, I think there's more credence in faulting Motta for being directly responsible for conceding goals, than faulting Roma in that Samp game where they were very unlucky not to score.

 

damn crazy save on pepe there.