Remember when we had no strikers? Now we have Retegui, Kean, and Pio. If only we could sort out the midfield and D.
Fear not. Cristante coming on. Better had Gattuso not been lurking here. Spina also on. Cristante for Loca makes sense, but how to explain Spina for Mancini? Unless Calafiori shifts over.
one thing Ive taken form this game vs the last game vs Israel is I feel much more comfortable with Calafiori at the back than Bastoni. Mancini next to Bastoni was a different player. Calafiori settles things and Mancini looks useful.
I like the midfield Locatelli Barella Tonali works once we get the defence sorted out we will be solid.
MANCINOOOO the new Materazzi lol DiMarco gets an assist in every game he plays ... we have to figure out a solution to get Di Lorenzo off the field because Di Marco has to play
Much better in the second half. Pio definitely helped control the midfield by giving elite hold-up play as he always does. We have to figure out the wingers and D though. Di Lo is a massive liability but so is Di Marco. It's too risky against good opponents. I've told you guys before that Bastoni is soft on D. Mancini is usually good for boneheaded plays but he isn't soft. I think we can do better than both Mancini and Bastoni though.
So it really is up to Estonia to do italy a solid next month. If they do nick a Point from Norway, Im sure Italy will beat Norway on the last matchday.
Yes to Pio. For me, this is also why Kean is important. very good at bodying and hold up. I would like to have both Kean and Pio healthy and happy
Pio helped change the game up top today and opened up play. Wish he potted that easy chance, but what can you do. I don't know what it is with Giac but he just always puts up stinkers in his starts. Doesn't link up play, lacks pace to threaten, and it just hurts things progressing in the final third. We are still vulnerable in transition with DiMarco and Di Lo, but I am not going to sound like a ********ing broken record any longer. It is what it is. What else can you say about our strike force? Retegui busted his ass today and fought for every ball. I was glad to see him get rewarded with that pen, followed by being in a good spot and hustling to make a great tackle to end the game with that beautiful shot. The difference we have going into the playoffs this time around is that we have killers up top. Kean-Retegui only need one chance to really change the game instead of the plentiful chances squandered in both those nightmare scenarios of the past. Let's keep building and gain momentum to get ourselves back to the dance.
I think if Cheisa continues to find form and the likes of Cancileri Orsolini Cambiaghi continue to play well that Gatusso will want to use a 433. We are caught between a 352/433/422 and you can tell that the players are not 100% sure what shape we are in and focused on. It is very fluid at times Cambiaso was the RW at times Di Marco was the LW at times it was a back 5. This is not a bad thing because we can set up with a 352 with Calafiori Bastoni Scalvini and then bring on a Chiesa or Orsolini and switch to a 433 if chasing. It is hard to go away from two CF when we have scored 3 goals per game for the first time in our history in this many consecutive games. ----------------------------Kean------Retegui Di Marco----Tonali---------Locatelli------Barella---Cambiaso -----------------Bastoni--------Calafiori--------Scalvini --------------------------------------Gigio ---------------------Chiesa------Retegui-----Orsolini -------------------Tonali---------Locatelli------Barella--- ----------Calafiori-------Bastoni----------Scalvini---Cambiaso --------------------------------------Gigio
funny thing about Di Lorenzo is he played well outside his weird errors ... this is why you know its mental he remembers the Euro 2024 criticism still but he has quality Gatusso match rating from football-italia "Fourth consecutive win with 16 goals scored, more than any other Italy coach in the same period."
This is a tough one imo. Given current form I want to see Spina and Chiesa on, but I am not ready to say Spina should replace Calafiori or force Cala to play in the middle of a back four so? Spina and Chiesa bring a dynamism that we don't have out wide with other players. Yes, our striker drought is over (Deo gratias), but a lot of the scoring is being offset by goals conceded. We have looked so unprofessional/unitalian for years now.
its a catch 22 and when the two man forward line is working it is hard to switch to a pure 433 with two wingers. I am glad we kept a clean sheet today hopefully it is the start of a trend in the right direction. we will see. so much really depends on how well Chiesa and the other wingers do otherwise Kean Retegui Pio works and Chiesa can even be thrown on as a second striker in a front two.
Chiesa and Spina are exactly what we need as options on the bench right now. They have experience and can add some much needed speed to the line-up when we end up late in the game with tired legs. I like the idea of tossing Chiesa in as a second striker. He has been productive through the middle with Liverpool and can do damage when the game gets stretched. I still feel we will be rolling with the back three long term when we get healthy. That's still the way forward especially with the Kean-Retegui partnership that has blossomed over these last windows and the personnel available.
I am happy about the goals, but even more happy about the clean sheet. Step in the right direction. Forza Azzuri!
Look, we are all happy with the goals. But, we were WAY too loose in our marking and positioning. The 3-0 scoreline was flattering. We can't let results dictate our analysis. That was not a compact group out there coming forward in numbers and defending in numbers. That calcio won't win you a World Cup and it will risk you qualifying for a WC. Gigio had to make some really nice saves. My biggest problem with our defending right now is that we look to lack foot speed in challenging dynamic players like Solomon or in tracking back to be in position. Israel missed some easy goals and Gigio came up big. That is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. IMO, Di Lo, Di Marco, and Mancini should all be replaced. I don't mind the midfield of Barella, Tonali and Locatelli; however, Locatelli is a step below in the quality I ideally want in a regista. So, that could be upgraded too. Rino has a lot of work to do, and I hope he's listening to his assistants because I don't know if he has the tactical expertise to think clearly on this.