When Italy had strong U21 teams they did. They brought Pirlo as one of their overage players in Athens 2004 and won Bronze. Neymar was brought by Brazil in 2016. A Gold Medal Match that went to PK's versus Germany. Need to get the U21 program back up to standard.
And look what happened two years later! We all know Pirlo was the best midfielder at Germany 2006,despite what everyone tries to spin about Zidane. Agreed,U21 is where we start to see the drop off these days, and again being the broken record its because those players sometime ago were no longer allowed to play meaningful serie a football.
I think it goes back to the olympic committee seeing Great Britain as one country whereas FIFA requires teams to enter tournaments independently, and even though it's the olympics FIFA still has a say. Whatever the case, the whole reasoning is as stupid as England's trophy cabinet
I was testing you and your virtual AI assistant passed Scherzo. Yes. They made an exception in 2012 when they hosted
Wasn't able to catch the match today but noticed some commentary on Ahanor. Why was he playing on the right? Did see the Pio goal. Just a guy who is feeling it and knows he can take his chances. He is really delivering the goods and it will be so valuable if he can continue to grow into his size, produce, and be a true talisman when we need him in the future. So funny all that belly aching from Greece to lose to Italy U21 and not even register a shot on goal --- all while playing a man up from 68' on.
From the U17s proving they are better than everyone else, to our U21s proving they can win while being a man down (unlike our senior team), today was a great day.
Ya he played RB and I don't recall him ever playing that, it's just we had a crisis situation on the right which is why him and Koleosho started there. He was replaced by Mane at half (who is not a RB either), and once Reggiani got red carded, Mane took his spot and they put in Favasuli who is a very good RB. What makes me laugh even more is Greece were mad we were fielding our U21s, as they said they wanted a real test. BTW, Koleosho is one of my favorite players on this team, and I have no problem how much he played. He is a pitbull.
A vote on reddit on who we want as our next coach and Baldini is leading the pack ahead of Pep and Mancini.
It's a shame guys like Grifo is on the wrong side of 30, because based on the numbers this season, he absolutely dwarfs what Koleosho did. But given that he's a decade older, it's only right to look past him. For me, he's he's gonna be a what could have been. I wonder how many Caps he would have earned if he made himself available for Germany. If Italy are to start playing with wingers again, it's pretty safe to say that Koleosho will be in September's team based simply out of need. Zaccagni, Politano out due to aage. Grifo was given a chance under Mancini but he won't be called. Orsolini had a much superior season than Koleosho but he was never in Mancio's good graces to begin with so his 10 goals really mean nothing. Chiesa should never return. I'm probably in the minority here, but I would bring Zaniolo for these 2 years. I understand go for a 4 year cycle, but one player won't hurt. I think you can give him a chance.
Koleosho's work rate impressed me. (In fact, the whole team's pace and work rate impressed me. Look what happens when you play younger players. They get less tired and have more energy. Who knew?) What Koleosho brings is twofold. He brings a threat of pace and one v one dribbling that we haven't had in a while. That puts pressure on a D. But, also importantly is Koleosho's defensive coverage. He was busting his tail a ton to get back. I have a hard time recalling a winger in our setup that has worked that hard to get back. If Luca wants to take it to the next level though he's got to be more "freddo" on goal and finish.
https://football-italia.net/mancini-new-leading-candidate-for-italy-job/ looks like Mancini is a lock which makes sense when we consider he will be working closely with Baldini to move players through.
Yes physically the U21s are bigger faster stronger. And thats why you play a winger. People forget that Nico Williams and Neto among others do not score a ton of goals. A winger does not have to be Salah/Ronaldo they can just provide workmate some dribbling and service into the box. Gordon is a good example of a modern hard working winger. It's nice to have an Insigne but there are tradeoffs. Pio can score the goals but tactically having wingers opens up the game. Bartesaghi is also a physical tank.
I think Mancini always wanted to use Zaniolo. He can be in the mix. His issue is whether or not he can play as a winger any longer. He has developed more into a 10 in a 352/3421. Does he still have the legs to play wide? We will also see what happens with his career. Does he sacrifice salary to stay at Udinese or does he go back to Turkey and the merry go round of transfers for salary.
I hope there isn't an overcorrection We all know italy must play faster, move the ball quicker, aggressiveness, speed. Everything that we haven't had it with these clowns in the last couple years but I hope there isn't an overcorrection where we just go for bigger players that can run all day. Ideally, a guy like Pisilli becomes the norm -- fast, but he's not really a speed demon but it's more his work rate and his tenacity. What ADP has been saying a lot recently. Skill players must trump all.
Yes there is a danger there. Hopefully Inacio and even someone like Liberali can play their part. Then of course there is Camarda. Cisse is another that is very technical. I do worry that we are not seeing very technical midfielders. We have midfielders that can pass the ball fine enough but even a Tonali is not as technical as people maybe imagined. Comotto looks promising in that regard but I don't see another Verratti coming through at the moment. Lipani Dagasso again good ball playing midfielders but where is the regista? Fagioli is still the most technical midfielder we have. It will be interesting to see if Mancini favours him for his midfield three. Fagioli Tonali Barella Pissili is logical for day one in September. Then again there is also Ricci who seems like a Mancini player if he can break into Milan this season.
Alessandro Nesta insists the Azzurri have lost their identity as we ‘started copying others’ and clubs ‘lost interest in young players.’ “After us, there was a void, no success apart from the Euros,” Nesta told Gazzetta. “We were part of an incredible generation, and we also won. Today, there are no longer iconic players like those in our group, and obviously, results influence judgment.” “Several factors contributed. We lost our Italian identity and started copying others, and at the same time, clubs lost interest in young players,” Nesta replied. “It must also be said that clubs aren’t protected: they might invest in youngsters for years only to see them taken away. If we truly want to focus on youth academies, new protective laws are also needed. And alongside this, players must be given the freedom to express themselves. “Today there are too many tactics; even at 12-13 years old, they talk about systems and formations when they should be developing flair and dribbling,” Nesta continued. “Today, if you’ll excuse the term, we’re raising battery chickens, all the same, good at passing but without creativity.”
Yes! I was going to ask you about your ideal MF 3. Truthfully I think it's one of Pisilli/ Barella, not both. Could have, Left to Right: Ricci/ Locatelli - Tonali - Pisilli (with Barella as his backup).
Posted about this scenario a few pages back but I am happy with a senior/U21 duo of Mancini/Baldini as the most realistic option today. Pep is a pipe dream. Conte I did not want, but seemingly has priced himself in the clouds anyway, which we know the FIGC won't play ball with. There is youth at his disposal and it is going to be interesting to see who Mancini launches in the immediate future here. Sure, he wants to fix his mistake of leaving the way he did according to many reports, but he is not coming back without being interested with the state of the youth in the player pool. More than all, criticize Mancini for past or present, it will feel good to watch a team with direction and a tactical plan. Gattuso terrorist ball with our WC hopes hanging in the balance made me want to claw my eyes out and collectively probably took years off our lives. Form a framework through the youth ranks of playing 433 (how Mancini did prior), push the talents through Baldini and up to the senior side when ready, and I think we will start to see positives and much more appetizing calcio.
It was a great day for our future. I caught parts of both games. For the U17s at least while I was watching Belgium looked like the better team but I thought Italy were comfortable defending and we were dangerous when we had our chances. Classic Italian performance. Happy for the U21s. I don’t have much to say about the individual performances but I think it was a great result considering we beat a senior squad. I saw that some of the reactions in Italy were mixed, but I refuse to see the glass half empty right now.
If we get mancini i will be relieved and delighted. Get straight on the phone to tresoldi, call up doumbia and kayode in september, integrate the youth players, work closely with baldini. Malago needs to do whats needed and i pray the future is brighter.
Yes I meant Barella Pisilli Tonali Fagioli as 4 that will be called for Mancini's 3 man midfield. LCM B2B Tonali Ndour Casadei RCM Mezzala Barella Pisilli Doumbia Mirretti CDM/Regista Fagioli Lipani Locatelli Ricci Dagasso Prati In the midfield we lack depth but again players like Ricci/Fagioli are only 24/25 Jorginho did not hit a high level until he was around 26/27. Then there is also the possibility of using a 3421 or even a 4231where you only play two central midfielders with an attacking midfielder and a winger behind a striker. In that case you can include Zaniolo Cisse Liberali Pisilli Venturino Inacio as potential attacking midfield options.