- Kinda agree about Pisilli. Seems like an over-correction to the criticisms of not integrating youth better compared to others. - Maldini's inclusion, can see where the eyebrow are raised here. But with Brecianini out, who is is competition? Pellegrini, Jack or Kean as a SS, Chiesa injured. - Honestly I'm more concerned that that 4 new players are called. Add Okoli who only has 1 Cap. Might be too much too soon. Even if 1 in those 4 players is De Gregorio who will likely not feature as the 3rd Choice GK.
What makes it worse with Pellegrini is that Spalletti plays him out of position as a false winger up front and he looks so timid out that and ghosts a lot of the game. If you are going to play Pellegrini, play him in the actual center midfield. Chiesa plays that role so much better but unfortunately until he is fully healthy, we prolly will see Pellegrini start up front.
We have Kean, Jack, and Pellegrini as players who can challenge Chiesa for that SS spot up top. I have no doubt in my mind Spalletti will give Chiesa enough opportunities to win that role when he is fully healthy.
me and a Nazionale supporter friend of mine thought early on in 2010 for sure he'd be the one to break Riva's record. I really thought it was a done deal, only a matter of time. Any semblance of a normal career and he would have broken it - I don't think it could be debated any other way.
I'm not sure what Pellegrini's best position is. He's not a seconda punta...not enough pace. He's not a midfielder...not enough aggression and bite. Could he be a trequartista? Maybe, but we'd have to play a 3-4-1-2, and honestly, he's not skilled enough to play that the way Totti or ADP were. Baldanzi on the other hand could be a trequartista for sure. But, again, we'd need the right formation. I know a lot of Roma fans that want Pellegrini benched in favor of Baldanzi.
Just looked at the ages of this latest squad: Only guys over 27 are Pellegrini (28), Vicario (28), and Di Lorenzo (31). I didn't quite realize how much youth is in the squad, and the team seems to be benefitting from the new talent, early into Spalletti's revamp. As a waning stan for Raspadori, I thought "Hey, 7 goals in 32 matches is pretty good." El Sharaawy has the same exact goals to matches ratio. Although, Raspadori has scored in the past 2 years against actual good opponents (England, Hungary, France, and 2 against Turkey), whereas El Sharaawy has only scored three times since 2019: Liechtenstein, Moldova, and North Macedonia. Not all goals are the same. I'd like to see Raspadori finish some more chances (for Italy and Napoli), but he always seems to be positive for Italy. Italy needs more than positive play, though. Forwards need to score. I can see why Pellegrini is in the squad. He's the only midfielder who Spalletti picked who is competent taking set pieces. He's probably (hopefully) not long for the national team, but like Di Lorenzo he has more experience than anyone else in his particular part of the field, and that might be a benefit, right now. I hope Udogie isn't catching the Tottenham bug. He's a big talent, but he needs to develop more defensively, but Postecoglu plays a super aggressive style, and the cracks are starting to show as the team continues to lose confidence and waste results. Looking forward to tomorrow. Belgium isn't in a good place. Italy needs to dominate them.
I am studying Vicario. Right now, he seems to be playing not within himself. He is struggling with close range shots in the box. He is better when he lets loose and anticipates, spreading himself to make the save and closing the angle. This is what he used to do. I noticed in games this season either he or his coaches are forcing him to stay on his line for close range shots thus the angle to score is greater. His attempts to make saves on these close range shots have been borderline cringeworthy. He ends up diving and covering the same spot in which he is positioned, which is always bad for a goalkeeper. Something isn't right with the way he is positioning and setting to save shots in the box from close range. For me, he is not stealing ground and closing the angle, rather staying timid and static with no forward momentum. This has changed from previous seasons when he used to be very good at it.
Does anyone know what happened between Bobo and Cassano? They used to be great friends and partners, but I just heard Antonio talking about how bad he betrayed him and won't ever speak his name again. That sucks.
The real story never came out but many speculated that it was over money. Adani was the main driver of that show. Some weeks Bobo wouldn’t even watch games and had little to add. I’m assuming Lele, Cassano and Ventola wanted a bigger piece of the pie and Vieri said no
I'm talking specifically the six midfielders. Tonali scored a freekick 4-5 years ago. I agree Raspadori is good, but he isn't great. There isn't anyone on this squad who's scaring teams on a direct free-kick, unfortunately. Maybe Bastoni should be taking the direct free kicks. Didn't he drill one from 30+ yards out at the beginning of last season?
If we are talking free kicks, Jack is better in my eyes than Pellegrini. Dimarco on right sided free kicks is decent, but yes we do not have a specialist and that is alright. When Scamacca comes back, he might be taking some too. What I am wondering more about is corner kicks, since we have a much better chance at scoring these. Dimarco is good on the right side but I am tired of Pellegrini wasting them on the left. Give me Tonali there (like when he assisted Retegui vs Malta) but for whatever reason he just never takes them anymore.
expected to field the same lineup that beat France which makes sense and creates continuity and a hierarchy beyond club form. —————————-Gigio —-Spaletti jr——Bastoni———Califiori Cambiaso—-Fratesi—Ricci—Tonali—-Dimarco ————————-Pellegrini —————————Retegui
Yes because playing for Monza and playing for Liverpool with depth in that position, while having a late start to the season, is the exact same thing.