There is no way I wouldn't include Berardi for the playoffs. He should go 100%. I'm just saying that if I had to choose between him and Zaniolo, I would take Zaniolo. I think Chiesa is a must also if he's physically capable and fit.
I think I'm done with the 'young Italian player trope" Fiorentina with multiple young Italians who have featured on recent under 21 teams (Fabbian, Comuzzo,Fazzinni, Ndour) plus one guy on the national team (Kean) two guys who we all think could be on the team (Fagioli, Mandro) cant even manage to put one past Parma with all of their foriegn players Meanwhile foreign heavy Lecce beats Italian heavy Cremionese and in the process they are probably headed for survival over Cremonese, Pisa, and Fiorentina...all3 teams who play young Italian players. It's to the point where you should just bet on the teams that play the most foreigners and it wont get any better next year. 2 of Pisa, Fiorentina, Cremo are headed down. the team leading Serie B, Venezia, starts about 9 foreigners a match
These are my forwards. I debated between Zaniolo and Orsolini. Zaniolo is maybe more useful if we are playing a 352 as he's physically able to play in a front 2. I wouldn't be upset since Orsolini's form has dipped but Orsolini is more talented. Neither are super reliable. Pio Retegui Kean Scamacca Berardi Chiesa Orsolini
Having a block is important. the Inter block has been very successful even if theyr'e not perfect. If Milan were able to hang onto Tonali and Donnarumma they would be in a better position. Likewise when Milan and Juventus have a block it makes the national team selection and identity very simple. Look at 2012 we were not the most talented but you had the Juve block plus Cassano De Rossi Balotelli and it was nearly enough.
Bastoni injured adds to the long list of guys out at the worst time: Leoni Di Lorenzo Maldini Rovella Gabbia Udogie Raspadori Zaccagni Kean Scalvini Calafiori Bastoni
Who would've thought Inter not winning another big game lol. 1-7-7 against Milan, Napoli, and Juve in their last 15, with their only win in the most controversial game of the season which ruined Bastoni's reputation. I'm an Inter fan but this is such a bad look for Italy. And people are saying the title race is alive, no it isn't. This to me has been the worst season in a long time for Italian teams. Now we have the big qualifiers in a few weeks with so many injuries and lack of unity. It will be a miracle that we make the World Cup.
This was one of the worst derbies I can remember. What a terrible advert for Serie A. This game was like a microcosm of everything wrong with Serie A and the Italian game. Two teams locked in these rigid 3-5-2’s who many experts now attribute to ruining an entire generation of players. Milan with 0 Italians, guided by a mad man who instructs the team to lock the bus as soon as they go up one. 11 men behind the ball waiting to counter and then they wonder why Italian teams have no tempo and can’t play at a high rhythm in Europe. This is why. We have an entire country of Allegri’s who are training kids to play this way. And then we wonder why we can’t produce players of quality anymore. If Dimarco isn’t feeling it, Inter can’t score. Chivu needs to break out of this 3-5-2 mold and start imposing original ideas.
Well said. It was one thing in the 2010s when team were moving towards the 352 because of Conte but 15 years later it has to die. When you have two teams set up with the same shape so often we just get stalemates and offensive players are ruined. I have no doubt that someone like Orsolini would have had a lot more success in La Liga as one example. It only works to subvert a 433 but when everyone begins to play it everything dies.
This is terrible. Which players have a chance to overcome thir injuries in time? I know Leoni is out for sure until the end of the season.
Successful dribbles in the Premier League this season:41 - Michael Kayode 🕺38 - Pedro Neto 37 - Hugo Ekitiké37 - Matheus Cunha 36 - Rayan Cherki 34 - Florian Wirtz 33 - Amad Diallo 32 - Morgan Rogers pic.twitter.com/aNDryj4Sry— WhoScored (@WhoScored) March 6, 2026
If Verratti hasn't played since January, there's no reason why he should be called up. Unless he is called up, trains, but then is then sent to the press box on match day. After the November window, all of us were lambasting Di Lorenzo and Bastoni. If Bastoni can't get fit in time, we kind of have our wish to see them off the team. I refuse to believe this team cannot dig deep and fail to qualify yet again.
Fiorentina really messed up here. Considering how solid he is defensively being that good on the dribble plus his log throws make him a serious weapon. Meanwhile they are trying to defend n a back 4 with Dodo and Gosens two wingbacks. I see no reason why Kayode is not called it would be a crime considering how light we are on right footed defenders not to call him. Having him and Palestra emerge in the same season really is a massive boost. That could be our right side for the next 10 years.
Agreed with all of this, and it would would really be a shot in the arm for this stale team, but to give these guys their first Caps for 2 unbelievably important games is not ideal, but I see the argument to make it happen. At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time this is why the November window should have been used properly to integrate at least both of these guys into the setup. They would have had 10 days with the team and played two matches. But Gattuso and the 3 dumbasses in his ears (Zaza, Buggon, Bonucci), insisted on the status quo and the possibility of making up 10 goals on a tiebreaker, lol.