Senior Team Discussion

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by Vieri's Left Foot, Dec 3, 2023.

  1. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
     
  2. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
     
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  3. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    New Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso reveals he has already spoken on the phone with 35 players, including Federico Chiesa, while the first request for Gabriele Gravina and Gigi Buffon was: ‘Those coming to Coverciano must stay, even if they have a minor injury.’
     
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  4. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    Good.


    35 Players... So he's cast a wide enough net. Can have it's drawbacks but seems like he's giving everyone a chance.
     
  5. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    for me this is the problem with our mentality in Serie A if foreign players had the numbers that Ricci and Orsolini do there would be no question about them. Statistically they are among the top 5 to 10 in their positions in all of the top 5 leagues. Same goes for Kean.

    Don't get me wrong dosen't mean you can't argue for others to play in their place that you prefer.
     
  6. WPG_Azzurri

    WPG_Azzurri Member

    Italy
    Mar 25, 2025
    Gabriele Gravina CONFIRMS:

    • For the NEW youth development project implemented Cesare Prandelli WILL be accompanied by the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta & Simone Perotta

    • Meanwhile Gennaro Gattuso WILL have Leonardo Bonucci & Andrea Barzagli part of his technical staff
     
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  7. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    music to my ears.

    I have been harsh with you on Chiesa. Now is the time we embrace him as our star. He is a priority. I want him to feel free of burden and be able to express himself on the pitch when he comes up.
     
  8. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    That said the time has come for Chiesa to find his inner Roby Bologna and Brescia home. We all just want you to play.
     
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  9. WPG_Azzurri

    WPG_Azzurri Member

    Italy
    Mar 25, 2025


    I'm a big Chiesa fan, too, and I finally feel like things are trending in the right way for a return home.

    This set-up doesn't have enough talent to exclude him from the mix. That said, Rino has drawn a line in the sand and let it be known on what he wants, so the ball is in Fede's court to get games under his belt to return to the NT.

    Obviously it's an introductory presser, but I'm very pleased with a lot of the discourse from Rino today. He was spot on with a lot of the topics he discussed, IMO.
     
  10. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Chiesa failing at Liverpool was very disappointing but we desperately need to recuperate him. Right now a transfer to Napoli would be ideal. I’m sure Conte can get the most out of him
     
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  11. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    By far the best video essay I’ve seen on the Spalletti firing post mortem:

     
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  12. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    Look, I'm not expecting miracles from Gattuso, but against Norway and (in the Euros) ci e' mancato sia il gioco che la voglia. You can't play poorly and give little effort on top of that. I need to see more effort as the start of this turnaround. No more of this BS...I have a boo boo and have to leave Coverciano. Fck that. We need people willing to bleed for L'Azzurro.
     
  13. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    Gazzetta saysbthese are two possible lineups/formations that Gatusso could use and it makes sense. I could see some different personal but I think 343 and 4231 are the way to go. Also we should remember these will be more counter attacking than possession based like Spalletti was.

    3-4-3: Donnarumma; Coppola (Leoni), Buongiorno, Bastoni (Calafiori); Di Lorenzo, Barella, Tonali, Cambiaso; Politano (Orsolini), Kean, Zaccagni

    4-2-3-1: Donnarumma; Cambiaso, Buongiorno, Bastoni, Calafiori; Barella, Tonali; Politano, Raspadori, Zaccagni (Chiesa); Kean (Retegui).


    I think we could use Orsolini and Chiesa together with Chiesa on the left so he is on his right foot and I could also see the likes of Esposito played inverted as a LF or Fazzini as the 10 in a 4231. We will see where all the chips land come September form and fitness will play a factor.
     
  14. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    Any lineup featuring Di Lorenzo is going to leak goals at this point. We need to shore that up.

    Also, if we are going to play more of a counterattacking style, then you need more than one player with speed capable of beating guys one on one.

    I'm really praying we do well at the U21s because that's the only time clubs ever seem to get a little excited about Italian signings (and even then it is a stretch).

    BTW, word out of the Inter camp is that Pio Esposito is now fit. If so, that's disappointing. It would have meant he was available for the quarters and beyond.
     
  15. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    #9190 TorontoCalabria, Jun 20, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2025
    I don't think they will use Di Lorenzo in a back 3 these prediction lineups are usually about shape and not selection. We should remember though that Conte had the best defence in Serie A with Di Lorenzo in a back 4 at RB so again I believe Spalletti's high line possession back 3 was the issue not so much the personal. When it comes to the top wingers in the world? Yes Di Lorenzo can struggle one on one even in a back 4 but we are not asking these questions we simply need to beat the teams in front of us in the group and the playoffs none of which have these kinds of wingers.

    I agree about the under 21's I hope Fazzini Gnonto Kolesho Prati are all snatched up. It's being said Fiorentina are close to Fazzini. That seems like a perfect fit for him. Most of the under 21 team are already part of a decent set up. We just need Casadei Baldanzi Fazzini and some of the forwards to take that next step and fast.





    -----------------------------Kean
    -------------Chiesa--------------------Orsolini
    Cambiaso---------Tonali------Barella----------Belanova
    --------------Calafiori----Buongiorno-----Leoni
    -------------------------------Gigio


    ---------------------------------Kean
    -------Chiesa----------------Fazzini-------------Orsolini
    ------------------------Tonali------------Ricci
    Calafiori-----------Bastoni---------Coppola-------Cambiaso
    ----------------------------------Gigio

    I would try something like this but we will see how things look in September a lot can change.
     
  16. 'Uaglio

    'Uaglio Member+

    Jun 8, 2004
    NYC
    I do like that bottom lineup. I just can't get the constant images out of my mind of some of Bastoni's loose marking lately. I miss defenders that are glued on to you and erase you out of games. That's not him and I've seen too many leaky goals his way the last few months.
     
  17. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    #9192 TorontoCalabria, Jun 20, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2025
    Buongiorno may be a better pick than Bastoni in a back 4 with Calafiori at LB there is a world where Di Marco Barella and Bastoni are all on the bench and we are better. I hope Napoli buy some more Italians and Conte can create a bit of a block for us. If Napoli bought someone like Leoni then a Buongiorno Leoni pairing would be a no brainer for years to come.

    ---------------------------------Kean
    -------Chiesa----------------Fazzini-------------Orsolini
    ------------------------Tonali------------Ricci
    Spinazzola----------Buongiorno---------Leoni-------Di Lorenzo
    ----------------------------------Gigio

    If we can imagine Napoli buy Leoni you could have a back 4 of Conte players. Too bad they did not go for Coppola that was a no brainer at 12m. Maybe Chiesa and Fratessi go to Napoli as well we will see.
     
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  18. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Those of you who wanted Mourinho, you now know who blocked it. Hope our own pride doesn’t cost us dearly. Still, forza Rino.
     
  19. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Reading transfer news, Como are the lowest of lows of Serie A. They need to be destroyed as soon as possible.
     
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  20. secretariat89

    secretariat89 Member

    Jun 10, 2009
    Portsmouth, NH
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    They bought Empoli's Luca Marianucci.

    We need our injured players like Buongiorno and Scalvini to come back and play consistently next year.
     
  21. indestructible

    indestructible Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Jan 14, 2007
    Mercato Professor
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Buffon has taken over the FIGC at least from the technical and sporting side of things.
     
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  22. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    I don't want to live in a world where we don't qualify with Mourinho as our manager. He also slagged us before Euro 2024 saying we aren't very talented. He did this with Roma as well putting down the players to make it seem like he was working miracles finishing 7th every year.

    Italy is not a nation that needs foreign managers. No foreign manager has ever won a tournament.
    It's not a good match to go that route unless you have no option as a nation. I would promote the Under 21 manager before I brought in Mourinho.
     
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  23. AGomes

    AGomes Member+

    Juventus
    Brazil
    Aug 29, 2023
    Blocked what?

    Chiesa to Roma?
     
  24. TorontoCalabria

    TorontoCalabria Member+

    Fiorentina
    Italy
    Sep 12, 2018
    Mourinho as the coach of Italy mind you the report was that they would have had to pay a transfer to Ferenebache as well so I don't think it was seriously going to happen but perhaps it was discussed and Buffon shot it down. Blocked sounds like it's being editorialized.
     
  25. Azzurrifan87

    Azzurrifan87 Member+

    Club: Frosinone
    Mar 29, 2015
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    reports are claiming first hurdle of transfer fee Adidas was willing to cover, second hurdle was Buffon’s blessing.

    Im happy we ended up with Rino (Ranieri was my first) but part of me would have been interested in Mou as well
     
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