I think this new generation is very exciting. I think we have a bright future. The question is "how soon"?
Would be unfair to Bonera, that's for sure. At 27 he's still relatively young for a defender but at the same time he is also in his prime years and should definitely be playing first team football. Then again, he is the one (much like Gila) who chose to make the jump to a big club like Milan where first team minutes aren't a lock like they are with Parma. Personally I'd love to have a defender of his skill level and versatility on Roma.
I really like Palladino, I don't understand why Juventus let him go, I thought he was a great talent, with great pace, dibbling, and creativity. I hope he does awsome next season, and makes it onto the National Team soon. Good Luck Palladino!
This definitely is the best crop of young stars that we've seen in quite some time. Especially guys from the 1984 age group like CHiellini, Aquilani, Rosina, Palladino, Pazzini. The 1987 group though definitely shows the most promise with guys like Acquafresca, Rossi, Santacroce, Dessena, Giovinco, Lanzafame, Lupoli, and Consigli.
Juve is a club (like the rest of the big clubs in Italy) where the big name veteran talent will usually get priority over the younger stars, regardless of just how talented those younger stars are. Right now the only focus Juve has is once again become a full fledged scudetto contender by next season, hence why they're throwing cash around like crazy on the transfer market this Summer. I for one hope that they one day come to regret letting go of guys like Palladino and Nocerino.
Can you really blame them for letting go of Nocerino? That boy couldn't pass to save his life. I'm sure he'll get better with more experience at Palermo, but once Sissoko proved to be the midfield general everybody was hoping for, then Nocerino became extra baggage in a club full of extra baggage. But he did have a brilliant start to the season, if I remember correctly... I honestly don't know what went wrong there, maybe too much pressure at a (relatively) young age? I sincerely hope he improves at Palermo, because we're going to need a destroyer mid badly once Rino finally hangs up the boots. In fact, he could become better than Gattuso if he improves his passing skills and range.
Why is that? The guy has done some great things for Fiorentina and has firmly established himself as one of the best coaches in Italy over the past few years. He has proven himself to be the kind of coach that isn't afraid to take chances and play some very creative and entertaining football from what I've seen.
Bonera was playing very well at the end of the season (minus the horror tackle against Juventus) so maybe he will be able to contend with Maggio for a spot at RB. I don't know about Zaccardo, of course we all remember his blunder against America, but there was obviously a reason why he was chosen by Lippi... Perhaps he can begin to fill whatever potential Lippi saw in him, but I won't hold my breath. FB is my biggest concern ahead of the 2010 World Cup. For CB, I feel somewhat confident as we already have one for sure starter in Chiellini along with several other players who could step up. At FB, we've got Dossena and Maggio who showed a lot of promise this year, but who knows if they'll be able to keep it up. I'm just concerned that we'll end up with two slow FBs and then we'll be up shit creek. Grosso might still have some pace by then, but I doubt Zambrotta will.
I don't want to take this thread too far off-course but I don't think we have ever played entertaining football since he arrived. In 05/06 we were only getting 2 or 3 quality chances per match with his brand of football (even with some fine, creative players in Jimenez, Fiore, etc...) and Toni was just hitting everything so it disguised our ineptitude. And I'll never forgive him for playing so conservatively away from home for the 06/07 season. We should have qualified for the CL despite the points penalty. The only thing that I like about him is that I think that having continuity at the manager spot is important. I should also point out that I am probably the only Viola fan on the planet that doesn't like him... Still, there it is. My opinions are my own.
Grosso never really had a great deal of pace to begin with lol. So in that regard I'm not particularly worried. I do however see Maggio and Dossena gradually working their way into the squad as potential starters down the line though. Bonera would also be a good consideration at RB as well indeed. Don't forget there is also Di Silvestri who was phenomenal for Lazio this past season and already established himself as a starter on the club at the age of 20 years old. That experience at top flight will surely pay off for big time for his development down the road.
Well, considering the fact that the club has shown obvious progress under him during his tenure there, I don't see much reason for you to be unhappy. He has been bringing the club in the right direction, and now they are finally in Champions League on top of that. The fact that he has a relatively strong relationship with this young squad is also a key thing to consider, and he reminds me a lot of SPalletti in that regard.
You're still in champions league though. I'd consider that to be considerable progress. Also don't forget that Juve were back in Serie A this season whereas in 06/07 they were serving their punishment down in Serie B. Meanwhile there was the return of Napoli to the mix, as well has some contention from resilient Sampdoria and Udine sides. The fact that the Viola managed qualify for CL with Juve and Napoli back in Serie A, meanwhile overtaking a club like Milan for that CL spot isn't something to frown about, regardless if whether or not they've experienced a slight dip in points. But then again, it's your club and you are more than free to be as particular as you wish regarding their progress and performance
We've won enough points to qualify for the CL each of the last 3 seasons while winning less points each of the last two. Coming in 4th is old hat for us and not really progress. Our owner has opened his checkbook a bit and is allowing him more liberty to bring in his guys so we'll see if we progress. I hope we do. Vargas would significantly improve our overall quality, I think.
Regardless, I'm not a Viola fan but I for one am both happy and impressed with how far they've come in comparison to where they were about 4 years ago. Granted, had it not been for calciopoli they would've qualified for the CL 2 years ago, but at the same time I find that they managed to handle it very well considering the fact that they didn't have the buying power of the other clubs that were penalized. Their performance in UEFA last season was also particularly impressive, and they definitely should've progressed to the final ahead of Rangers considering how badly they outplayed them. All I'm saying is that overall you should be pleased with the consistent performances that Fiorentina has put forth over the last 3 seasons in particular. It seems to me that you are expecting them to immediately contend for a scudetto when they aren't at that level YET. They are making considerable steps to try to get to that level at least though, and to go from a Serie B squad in 2004 to a 4th place finish in a very competitive Serie A is truly something impressive. I just think you're expecting too much from them too soon.
There are many things I don't like about Prandelli. The lack of progress is only one of them and not the biggest. I would like some sort of squad rotation policy as I don't think our starting fullbacks should be Massimo Gobbi and Martin Jorgensen for our most important matches of the season. I would like to see our team play more beutifully than it does; I really think that we look pretty inept most days. I would like the occesional result against a big side. I would like a somewhat decent record away from home. Anyway, there are lots of things I don't like about him and I would be over the moon if he were announced as the Azzurri coach this week.
Lippi. Mancini -- no thanks, not enough experience yet. Casiraghi -- no thanks, same as above. Too bad Rehhagel is staying on as Greece coach or I'd choose him. If he could win a Euro with Greece, imagine what he could do with Italy. Or why not bring back Zoff if he's up for it? The only reason he quit is because of Berlusconi's big mouth...otherwise I think he did rather well as coach of the NT.
Think of how we played against Spain, but 10X worse. If we're ever destined to have a foreign miracle worker, I'd rather it be an attack-oriented one like Guus Hiddink. I like Casiraghi very much because he's been managing the Azzurrini damn near flawlessly ever since that U21 Euro fiasco in 2007... they've been looking very impressive under his tenure, particularly in the attacking department. A lot of people were shocked when he started Rossi and Giovinco together regularly, but those two are so in tune with each other that the whole attack becomes extremely fluid and creative when they're on the field together. I consider their chemistry a masterstroke on Casiraghi's part. He's certainly doesn't have enough experience or pedigree to trade up to the Azzurri, but he's someone that I hope will be considered for the post 10 years from now or so.