I think he should get in the squad in October....and get a start as well. Go 3-5-2 with him and Chiesa, or 4-3-3 with him, Chiesa on the left, and Berardi on the right. Anyone who thinks Berardi should be left off the team for Politano or Zaccagni is crazy.
Zaccagni has been playing great and he’s a left winger. Politano is a sub at best. Berardi might be Italy’s best option at RW but with him it’s the Immobile effect. We’ve never seen THAT Berardi for Italy. He should have moved to a big club when he had the chance
Watching Lazio Monza. I usually like Ciurria but he make a criminal foul in the 18 that led to the PK. I’m watching El flaco Colpani very closely. Good to see that Sarri has realized that Guendouzi is a better player than Kamada. He needs to discover Rovella in the same way.
About Casadei. It really is about finding the right club to take the next step. U20 WC MVP and he can't even get Minutes at a EFL Team. Meanwhile, Luca Koleosho, younger, was nothing more than a bit player for the U19 Team and Vincent Kompany has him starting every match for Burnley in the PL.
I mentioned Zaccagni primarily if Spaletti ever decided to commit to a 3-5-2. I think even in that formation Berardi can thrive. Obviously if Spaletti chooses to stick with a 4 3 3 then we would need to bring more wingers, but I would still start Chiesa on the left first and foremost.
TBH, I thought that was a dive by Zaccagni. Better written, if there was contact it was because Zaccagni dragged his leg to make sure he was run over. immobile converts his PK and hits the post. Something tells me he'll be there in October.
More Italians currently ongoing in the North London Derby than a Bologna v Udinese match could offer. Or by Cagliari for that matter. - Jorginho came on to replace an injured player, Declan Rice, and... really don't know what was going through his mind, but he coughed up the ball and Spurs go down the other way to score. Ridiculous how fast his level has dropped. There are turnovers at Midfield that eventually lead to a goal, but rarely one like this one where the last defending player back attempts to sidestep a pressing opposing player. - Destiny, nothing noteworthy. Maybe his Booking. - Vicaro. OG beat him on the first one. 2nd Goal was PK. I honestly don't know what the handballl rule is anymore. Vicario dove to his right, Saka down the middle. Go figure. Elsewhere, Zaniolo played 75 Minutes in a Win by Aston Villa.
I guess to make up for this, Zaniolo, Tonali, Udogie, Vicario, Kolesho,Emerson all start on their respective clubs.
Those Italians in the PL are just off-set by the English players that are in A. These numbers are too high. Little wonder why the NT suffers.
lackluster Sunday for Italians so far. Only thing is Di Marco, mistake vs Ukraine or not, must start every game for Italia. Gnonto ankle surgery and out for at least a month.
October Window: Confirmed missing are Scamacca and Willy. I watch a bit of the PL and try to look at Results across Europe if I can. MOTM performance today by James Maddison in the NLD. (not to be confused by the former US President). This on the back of being the leagues Player of the Month in August. Hat Trick for Kane yesterday. Strong Saka performance today. They definitely have a few players in a rich vein of form. Rodri got himself a straight Red Card so City likely will see playing time for Kalvin Phillips. St Jude's doing excellent for Madrid. John Stones out for them. I think Declan Rice hobbling. Where we have Ciro Immobile who is wanted out, their version is Harry Maguire so that evens out. Honestly shouldn't be concerned about Malta but sometimes you never know. The match in England shouldn't be a must Win but I would like to match or better what Ukraine earned against them (1 Point of a possible 6). Good part is they really don't need this match so it will only be natural if they aren't up for it and be content with a Draw. And bubblewrap Chiesa. Best Italian player these days.
Don't know him well, but from the first half V Roma, Buongiorno has been a beast. He has essentially castrated Lukaku the first 45
Bologna finished the match with 3 Italians, surprisingly. Ex-Italy player Lorenzo Di Silvestri, Calafiori, Orsolini. Was listening to Antonio Cassano bemoan modern football. Speficially about how influential Agents are on who plays where and how often. His example was Jorge Mendes. Which made me think of Wolverhampton in England. How on earth is it possible they have more Portuguese players than English players is an utter disgrace. They don't even try to hide it. Goes on to comment how another Jorge Mendes client, Renato Sanches, despite being injured all the time, always finds himself on the Books of top clubs. Italy's solution for more Italians in their own league: an Italian super agent that caters strictly to Italian players.
This weeks "Made in Italia Goals of the Week - Giornata 5A" 1. Federico Di Marco vs Empoli https://x.com/musagete10/status/1705921828772847647?s=20 2. Mimmo Berardi vs Juventus: Sweet one time curling strike from the top of the box 3. Giacomo Bonaventura vs Udinese: Well placed strike from just outside the box... i also gave him some "bonus" ranking for the beautiful assist earlier in the match.
What in the world do we do with Jack. He's 34 and galloping up and down the field like a prime midfielder. Do we keep the door closed? He would be 36 by the time WC qualifying starts. He doesn't make matters easy by playing like prime Dino Baggio every week.
Kudos to Jack but I think it's wise not to recycle players that have been out of the setup for a few years. Of the Convocati from September add Scammacca, Pinamonti, if you want Berardi (even though he's had many chances). Drop Immobile. Don't care about Darmian. Probably Yes. This should be the team that WILL Qualify despite the haters wishes. Then all out for 2026 Qualifiers. Off topic and different position but telling you now to keep an eye out for Matteo Ruggieri to battle Cambiaso and Destiny to be backup to Dimarco for 2026 Qualifiers. 2024 will be too soon. I like what I see! No shortage of Minutes by Gasperini. League and European matches. He's getting the Minutes that Cambiaso isn't at Juve.
I said plenty of times that we really need to play Berardi as a false 9 up top with Chiesa! Might not be the most ideal option, but he’s better than any striker we have currently, and he’s at least proven and we know he’s a really good player. This is my starting lineup for now: -Berardi-Chiesa- -Di Marco-Frattessi-Locatelli-Barella-Cambiaso- -Bastoni-Acerbi-Di Lorenzo- -Donnarumma- Darmian, Tonali, and Raspadori as super subs.
People forget that it was Sarri who turned Zaccagni into a left winger. At Verona he played centrally behind the striker in a 3-4-3. I don't see where Berardi plays in 3-5-2. I agree that Chiesa is the ideal left winger and Berardi might be the best right winger we have right now. But as I've said in the past, he's a different Berardi in the blue shirt
What's happening at Napoli right now should be encouraging to Azzurri fans. Players who thrived under him have returned to looking average. The strength of Napoli was the team game and now it's lost.