Guarantee everyone we'll be penalized in fifa rankings for drawing with Belgium. Meanwhile England will stay static losing at home to Greece.
One of the biggest disappointments for me this season is Colpani. Position wise, he would have thrived in this set-up. But ever since he moved to Fiorentina, he has looked so average. He would have been an ideal replacement here if his form wasn’t in the toilet
Agreed, I thought he would thrive at Fiore also. It has not turned out like this so far..I have really tried to watch him a few times and unless I'm truly crazy, he seems disinterested for some reason.
I was at the Milan match this past weekend and he was frustrating to watch it was almost his decision making that let him down he is hesitant. His ability on the ball is fantastic but he also lacks the physique and tenacity for the modern game ... not to compare him to Pirlo but maybe like a Hakan he can be converted into a regista as he maybe lacks the bite required to be a modern attacking mid. If you could put Zaniolo's physique with Colpani's skill they could make a great footballer maybe they would still lack the IQ to truly be a creative player but physically and technically they would have all the tools. Zaniolo for me is just a poor finisher and limited with the ball he can run or he could pre injury and he is strong on the ball but his technique was always a little overstated. I think Baldazni and Brescianini have something extra over these two but they are all relatively young and the spot behind the striker will remain up for grabs until someone really hits that level. It's something we have not had since Cassano in 2012 maybe Insigne if we are generous. Perhaps there is a world where Barrella plays in an advanced role. Fratessi can make those runs but he is not a link up man. I think Barrella has the technique to play a De Bruyne like role and with the depth at the centre midfield positions it could be a way to field the strongest 11 tho it may look more like a 361 than a 3511. It could also make room for Locatelli to play on the left and push Tonali to the right if Fratessi is on the bench. Another way to interpret the formation would be with Di Marco and Cambiaso pushing as high as they do essentially as wingers if you have Barella as the 10 it becomes a 343 Cruyff like Barca diamond. -----------------------------------Retegui ------------------------------------Barella ^DiMarco-------Tonali-------------------------Fratessi-----Cambiaso ^ --------------------------------------Ricci
Everyone is slamming Pellegrini and rightfully so, but before that red card he was actually having a good game. One thing he is good at is holding the ball and drawing fouls. Honestly, I wish Spalletti would just use him as a sub more. Pafundi would be an excellent choice to try here, he had a great game yesterday for the U20s against a really good England side.
Pellegrini is a talented player he was one of the best players in Serie A in 2020-2022 I think under Mourinho he lost his way and has somewhat been played out of position ever since. There is no doubt he would have been a big part on Euro 2020 if healthy at that time but we can only blame positioning and management so much for his poor form and inconsistency. Brescianini is interesting Zaniolo and Chiesa are very questionable. In terms of pure ability it seems Baldanzi Pafundi Liberarli Zeroli Casadei are a cut above anyone in the 24-30 age bracket but aside from Baldazni they are all still looking for experience at the top level. I keep checking in on Pafundi but it seems he has not made any appearances in the Swiss league this year as of yet not sure if that was due to not being fit or the manager not selecting him curious if anyone knows.
He actually just started playing with them coming back from injury. He has a great burst of speed (something Liberali doesn't have), close ball control, and amazing vision. He would be the perfect second punta for us, but who knows when he will be selected esp. playing in that league. Baldanzi is another nice option here for the future. It will be exciting to see who eventually wins this role, but for now I can't wait for Chiesa to return. Barella I want to keep in the midfield, he works his ass off there and also is amazing starting play in our half. For me, he is like another Tonali who is much needed in the midifeld. Maybe they try him or Tonali in a 3-4-2-1 tho.
If science advances to the point where we can transfer brains and body parts, no way we're wasting a procedure only to get a player who still needs some IQ points.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I still believe in Zaniolo (at only 25). Maybe he will throw his career in the toilet like plenty of other talented Italian footballers, but I'm still hoping he figures it all out and becomes a late bloomer phenom. Like Scamacca, he has some unbelievable raw talent. Historically, we have plenty of guys that needed time to finally put it all together...I'm sure Spaletti and Gasp are banking on this and feel they can unlock the puzzle.
Normally you want to see 8-10 great performances out of someone to merit Gli Azzurri. In Zaniolo's case, I'm still waiting for 1 great performance w/ Atalanta (or anyone else for that matter). He had an injury bug earlier this Fall and he still doesn't look like he's in amazing fitness levels. When I see a kid that 100% dedicates himself to calcio and the sport, then I might believe again. Right now, he's just perso per strada.
What’s the matter now between Inzaghi-Inter and Spaletti? It can only harm the azzurri seeing we depend heavily on Inter’s block! For God’s sake…
@indestructible, Berardi has become a man. Berardi: "Io, la Champions, il Sassuolo, il mercato e..." | Gazzetta.it
Really don't understand the Zaniolo callup. A hobbling Chiesa with few Minutes under his belt this season is a better call. Zaccagni is the obvious pick given form, Minutes played for Club so far, etc. I'm not overly confident about the Israel match. There were stretches last month when Israel played well and it's not often a team in the UNL go without a Point. That Red Card derailed a lot of good.
Interesting way to look at it. Never thought I would see someone hoping for Zaniolo to become a late bloomer considering he was a teenage phenomenon but I understand what you mean. He has been a shadow since the injury and i dont think he gets anything close to that back. Personally, I said this from the first injury, his best hope may have been then converting into a midfielder like a Strootman. He cant beat 4 players anymore. He still wants to be that player but he needs to let it go. Accepting he needs to adapt his game he could turn into a steady midfielder in a trio. People say he cant play simple but I go back to his debut when he was the best player on the pitch for 60+ mis away to Real Madrid. He played in the 10 position but given it was his first game he just kept everything simple and moved the ball on when needed and played give and goes. Very clean technique and simple football. It was once he got his confidence up and started to realise he could rag doll experienced pros, that he then started to ball hog. Of course to great effect but holding onto the ball for too long due sheer physical ease and also a lack of vision, in many ways cost him ultimately. I still remember that Juve tackle. The ball was screaming to be passed on for about 5 seconds before the challenge but he held and held it. Still it was that talent that allowed a midfielder to carry the ball through the centre of the pitch like he was a senior playing youth football. In a way he found football so easy, it ended up costing him and Italy was denied a generational talent. To play as a midfielder it would take more psychological training to get him to accept the old Zaniolo is finished and to use his skills in a different way. He is strong, has the touch and enough composure to play it. He just needs reminding he must play it simple. I think he still cant let it go but Zaniolo should be made aware he is lucky to be on the pitch. 20 years ago he was done by 20.
This! Noticed it as well. I believe I even wrote it before on here. Maintains possession longer than required and this is part of why he gets injured as often as he does. I don't think he's inviting this contact on purpose to win a Foul, just doesn't think quick enough. Or it's to your point he still believes he can bully his way past opponents. I've wanted to move on from him but it seems Spalletti needs more proof. At best he is a complimentary piece. But with this formation he isn't even that. Second Striker will be the weak point of the Lineup on Monday given the injury crisis and Zaccagni omission. If Zaniolo does play he surely won't go the full 90. If he and Maldini can muster up 45 Minutes each it will go a long way. This is the easiest match on paper -- Israel at Home. Anything less than 3 Points should be an embarrassment.
I truly hope I'm wrong but I have this sinking feeling that the Israel game will end up in a tie, too
Gasperini worked wonders with Scamacca last season and helped him become an excellent striker especially during the 2nd half of the season. CDK is the RW starter for them but hopefully Zaniolo can replace him in the future. It'll be tough with Samardžić fighting for a spot as well.
I'm pretty sure Jack will start which would be nice to see to help him build some chemistry with Retegui.
The before and after ACL injury Zaniolo’s are two different players but Zaniolo still thinks he is “that guy”. I agree that Zaniolo has to become a new type of player, but he won’t. Everything Gasperini has said about Zaniolo now hasn’t been positive. I suspect this is to light a fire under his ass. So far not good
sadly the same can be said about Chiesa as far as not accepting that they have to become new players. Del Piero is an example where pre 98 injury he was looking like the Italian Maradona perhaps even superior to Baggio and Totti and post injury he adapted his game to become more of a pure creative player that used his class as his pace was all but nerfed.