Gattuso would be good at slapping some sense into the players, tactically though he's not a good manager.
I feel like I'm in some sort of parallel universe. This is Gli Azzurri we are talking about. 4WCs and 2ECs. There is no way they should be entrusted to an ex-player with very little to no managing credentials. I would not pick a DDR, Cannavaro, etc. We need a manager with a clear vision who can pick the best talent, be flexible enough to pick a formation that fits their best skills, and unite them. I just don't think DDR and Cannavaro are talented enough from the bench to do all that. We know Mancini can, but I get why people are annoyed at him.
It has happened before Enzo Bearzot was not a big club manager he was a former player that went from Serie B to the national team. Then there was Maldini and Zoff even Donadoni to an extent. Spain promoted their under 21 manager of course they are a special case as that is part of their identity but the profile needed to be a good national team manager and a good club manager are very different. It's not a surprise someone like Spalletti would be a disaster in hindsight. Capello struggled with it as well. It's really not the same thing. Of course a De Rossi or especially a Canavaro would be a crap shoot but the players will play for them and it's not so difficult to make selections and field the best 11 we have. The man management and in game substitutions are key. Southgate with England also was promoted from within and while Mancini was a huge asset and I hoped Spalletti would be as well because most national teams don't have sophisticated managers if you have to keep it simple for a time its not unheard of to pick someone like this. I always like that we had the advantage as far managers go on the world stage but having to rely on a personality with a name isn't the worst choice if no top name is available. Ranieri had the perfect profile. Pioli could be great or could be another Spalletti. Palladino is interesting.
They are all employed or about to be by clubs. This is what you get by Gravina not accepting Lucio's resignation last June.
The next CT has to immediately get buy-in and trust. The players have to believe. First things first, he has to: 1. Fix the Defense: 29 goals given up in 24 matches during Spalletti's tenure is terrible. The 3-5-2 only works when you have blistering wingers capable of getting forward with pace and winning 1-on-1s, as well as tracking back. Di Marco is a part-time player. Cambiaso (who I highly rate) isn't that type of player. We have to go back to a back 4. It's also time to really think if Bastoni can be a World Class defender that can consistently shut people down. Too often yesterday (and many times this year) he's lackadaisical like on Moldova's goal that was barely offsides. 2. Incorporate More Speed into the Team: Tonali is fast. So is Orsolini. Both goals yesterday were born from them taking on their man with speed and beating players on the dribble. We need to play with more speed and break down teams. 3. Get rid of the Washed Up Players: Di Lo thank you for your services but you are done. 4. Figure out ways to keep incorporating the young players: I know this isn't popular during an intense WCQ campaign, but playing a 21 yr old like Coppola will eventually pay dividends.
Other than Chiellini none of them really had a lasting impression at Juve but a Palladino compilation as a player at the U21 level. The next Italy CT.
Quaglirella/ Gattuso Yeah, that covid season was something else. No crowd noise and mics picked up almost everything. There is a compilation vid out there of Buffon and his blasphemies, ROTLMAO.
The country of Italy has now become a joke in all aspects. They are putting the death blow on what was once their nations pride…. But let’s be honest Calcio died in 2006.
Second stints rarely work out. Lippi replacing Donadoni to return for 2010 was a shit show. As was written upthread you are rewarding a non-qualifocation and a guy that resigned. Second stints are successful in the big clubs of football because of lack of parity between the clubs. Anybody open for Andrea Pirlo getting it? I thought he was sewered badly by Juve.
Sadly there are no options right now. In a perfect world the role of CT goes to an experienced and accomplished coach. Right now those guys are all involved in club teams ie. Allegri, Conte and I would also put Inzaghi on that list. Ranieri would have been perfect but looks like we were 5-6 years too late. There are good young Italian coaches like Palladino, De Zerbi, Farioli, Italiano that still have mountains to climb. These guys need to continue to grind in the club game. Anyone who takes the job right now is walking into a quagmire. The stakes are too high because if you fail, you risk getting your career burned. This is why entrusting the team to an ex player is lower risk than trying to get the best young Italian coach
If Mou didn’t completely embarrass himself towards the end at Roma (seriously, how many touchline bans did he recieve?), I'd say bring him in.
People can be annoyed at him, he is still one of 5 managers to give Italy a cup. In addition, he played the most dominant and beautiful football Italy has ever seen and went on a record breaking unbeaten streak. Without him, we would not have had a trophy since 2006. He is a good coach.
In normal circumstances, I would say look elsewhere. But in our current situation, no. The reason Lippi failed is because of the same reason Mancini failed last time. It was during a generational transition of the core of this team. The players Mancini will get now, will be almost completely new. It's a new generation and core to build from. Mancini was also at fault for sticking with some washed players of course. But now, it's an entirely different story. Also, I don't believe because something failed in the past, it will fail again. It's possible he is what we need.
Lower risk to the coach, not to the team. Also since when have we sabotaged a team because we are scared to entrust it to a good coach? No matter what, Azzuri deserves the best coach, young or not. We should put more risk on the coach than on the team. It's the other way around. The leadership should take the risk. Otherwise it's not leadership.
Incidentally just to double back on Ancelotti. Recently when asked why he never took the Italy job he said he was never offered it. I'm pretty sure years ago when Albertini was at the FIGC he was emploring Carletto to take it.
Yes, if memory serves this was right after Ventura. Now it could very well be he wasn't offered it after Mancini. But if that is true, if defence of Gravina it's only because he declined once. Boh. I'll try to find the article. I think he means recently.
The rejection from Ranieri was the worst possible situation here. I can't fault the man, at all, but that's sort of what you get putting all your eggs in the basket of a 73 year old with no commitment, I suppose. The FIGC is going to FIGC. Seeing the 06 player group (DDR, Fabio C, Gattuso) are emerging candidates along with Mancini at this point. Does Gravina have it in himself to tuck his tail between his legs and deal with Mancini again?
I still retain it is not the fault of the CT or the FIGC president. The bottom line remains, if we don't have depth or even players, how are we going to form the nucleus of a good national team? Even yesterday against Moldova, ranked 174 in the world, Italy looked extremely average. So will a new or different CT resolve this issue in the next 5 months? I don't think so.