Getting in the Azzurri Mood with Pavarotti

Vince- don’t EVEN try to say Ambrosini is better than De Rossi. I feel that De Rossi is better than Gattuso and Ambrosini, but then again, Gattuso is a great, talented player. There’s definitely an argument about whether DDR or Gattuso is better. But dont even bring Ambro into this…

Posted from  United States

Whatever.. whoever starts is going to be quality.. We should be happy that we have 4 quality CMs/DMs. But if Donadoni plays the wrong guy ultimately he will be blamed. So let’s hope he makes the best choice for the game.

Posted from  United States

While I think the arguments you make against DDR are complete nonsense and shows that you really don’t know what you’re capable of. You’re blaming him on his WC sending off and Roma’s worst games of the season. It’s obvious nobody even knows how he played in those games because he was the best Roma player against Man Utd, scored a brilliant goal last year and was the only one trying. If the other 10 matched his effort that game we would’ve left Old Trafford with a win.

I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned one argument.. When he plays for Roma he puts his heart and soul into his performances.. He steps up because he’s playing for the shirt.. I don’t know if he will play with as much intensity in an Italy shirt (similar to Totti). That still remains to be seen. But it’s all speculation right now.

Posted from  United States

Looking at the video I’m reminded of one thing: Sepp Blatter is a classless dickhead for not presenting the trophy.

Posted from  Canada

gattuso vs ddr:

ball-winning capabilities = a wash

technical abilities = ddr landslide

offensive contribution = ddr landslide

general athleticism = ddr

international experience = rino landslide

cureent form = ddr landslide

best starting option = DDR

some of you guys are blindly favoring gattuso over ddr simply on the premise that he has more experience. yes, inzaghi and vieri also have more experience than borrielo and di natale. guess which two made it on the team.

also, have any of you considered the subtlety of tactics and what formation you’d place gattuso in the lineup? if you want a conservative, defensive shell, then by all means, field two dm’s alongside pirlo. you want balance in the lineup that can both absorb opposing pressure with the ability to blindside your opponents with a surging counter-attack, then that is not the type of midfield you want to field imo. ddr epitomises this balance as a player. anyone notice what arsenal did to milan in the cl this year? they clamped down space and time each time pirlo touched the ball over both legs and neutralised any creative offensive foray emanating from the midfield. why? because guys like ambrosini and gattuso do not offer similar options in the midfield. kaka and seedorf were being dragged back to retrieve the ball which then isolated their striker and really hampered their link-up play. the milanese dm’s are very good dm’s but that is it. one dimension. if some of you guys watched ddr play along pizarro this season, you would have noticed how much support pizarro got because he afforded him an option to pass the ball to when pizarro was being stifled with little time on the ball. having extra bodies on pizarro freed up space for ddr and enabled him to do the distribution on pizarro’s behalf and did so quite compitently. this is where ddr has a significant edge over guys like gattuso and ambrosini. any opposing tactician worth their salt would know that putting ball pressure on pirlo will cause him grief and often results in giveaways or bad judgement. having ddr there gives us the alternate offensive outlet from the midfield that is otherwise negated when pirlo is either marked and under pressure. also, let’s not forget that italy often adopt a counter-attack gameplan and having another compitent offensive contributor like ddr in the midfield helps us move the ball a lot quicker forward when transitioning from defensive shell to offensive surge. guys like gattuso or ambrosini are more deficient in that aspect.

Posted from  Canada

De Rossi should be a permanent starter.. FULL STOP!

Gattuso either a starter or comes off the bench, depending what the team needs..

quality post lamagica. ppl tend to get very one sided on things like this and say “oh well you need that extra steel for teams like this, bring in Gattuso or Ambrosini”. In my opinion that is the wrong thing to do. you are basically just going to let the other team have possession and pass around you all day in midfield. Gattuso is at his best shadowing pirlo and freeing up space for him but on the other side of the coin, you basically cannot even pass him the ball. He gives up possession so easily and his passing is of very low completion rate. You wanna put 5 in the midfield, that’s fine – one of them SHOULD be gattuso. A central 3 man midfield is a different animal and you need mobile players who can pass and move, otherwise your wing forwards will be dropping back to help, chase the ball, get tired and be ineffective. it’s basically putting 10 men behind the ball and hoping Pirlo can drop a long pass onto a dime on Luca Toni’s head/chest/foot so he can score a goal. I’m not saying throw De Rossi in there immediately, I actually think Aquilani needs to start (LCM), and depending on who is playing on the wings your choice is between Gattuso and De Rossi. If Camoranesi is on the right forward, feel free to start Rino. If it’s Del Piero I think De Rossi needs to start because he adds that accurate passer you lose with Gattuso, and Del Piero will basically drift in to the center leaving that right side completely vacant.

Posted from  United States

Gianluigi Buffon
Given an intensive workout and looked particularly shattered after his second stint of goalkeeping exercises.

Christian Panucci
Took a knock to the right knee in training and left early as a precaution. Is awaiting scan results.

Fabio Grosso
Very good in training, is a strong contender for the left-back berth ahead of Gianluca Zambrotta.

Giorgio Chiellini
Solid in training, albeit physical again. Gattuso was left reeling after another hard challenge from the Juventus defender.

Alessandro Gamberini
Integrated very well with the side, played well in the practice match.

Andrea Barzagli
Looks certain to start and played with the pink first-team bibs in both halves of the practice match.

Alessandro Del Piero
Has been made captain in the absence of Fabio Cannavaro but may have to settle for a cameo role against the Netherland

Gennaro Gattuso
Usual committed self in training but yet to show his best form.

Luca Toni
Will be a certain starter regardless of the formation. Gave a decent showing in training.

Daniele De Rossi
Yet to shine in the Azzurri camp. Played the second half of the practice match with the first team.

Antonio Di Natale
Lively and bright. Looks likely to start on the current run of things.

Marco Borriello
Scored a fine goal in the practice match and his finishing could find him a substitute’s role if Italy are in trouble in their opening match.

Massimo Ambrosini
Like yesterday, scored another fine goal in the practice match. Could well displace Andrea Pirlo on current form.

Marco Amelia
Played in the practice match. Did little wrong.

Fabio Quagliarella
Not as strong a performance as yesterday but set up several chances for his team-mates in training.

Mauro Camoranesi
Off key at present, looks lethargic in training and may lose his place to Cassano.

Morgan De Sanctis
Was given one-on-one training with his coaches, didn’t play in the practice match.

Antonio Cassano
Played very well and is looking as though he may be winning over Donadoni for a place in a 4-3-3 against the Netherlands.

Gianluca Zambrotta
Battled hard in training but Cassano outshone AC Milan’s new signing. May play if Panucci fails to recover from his knee injury.

Simone Perrotta
Is trying hard but looks likely to miss out on the opening day as he didn’t start with the first team.

Andrea Pirlo
Not playing at his best and was relegated to the second team in the practice match. May lose out to Ambrosini against the Netherlands.

Alberto Aquilani
Playing well enough but not in the first-team reckoning it seems.

Marco Materazzi
Looks as though he has won the race for Cannavaro’s place at centre-back alongside Barzagli

source: euro2008.com

Posted from  Australia

P.S. God help us all if Del Piero starts over Camoranesi on the right hand side.

Posted from  United States

Ambrosini to replace Pirlo in the starting line-up? Who made this commentary, Bert and Ernie?

Posted from  United States

Chris, I can understand starting Gattuso. What I can’t understand is if Ambrosini comes out in place of either Aquilani or De Rossi in the 3 man central midfield. Not only would I pick up my chair and throw it through my window, I wouldn’t even be able to watch the games with all of the constant pressure we are going to have to absorb since we will get little possession.

Posted from  United States

Yeah Chris, he really has broken out that defensive shell for the big games. I’m starting to dread Monday. The more and more I think about it, Ambrosini could very well be given the start. Gross.

Posted from  United States

“And please both of you feel free to insult me again whenever you feel you need more help with your arguments…”
I never insulted you.”

Didn’t you say this:

“wow. Watch some soccer. He DID prove himself in CL.”?

I don’t need you patronizing me. You got a point, then make it. You have that right and the opportunity. Just like I do. You want to act condescending to me than I have a problem. I have watched plenty of soccer, both this season and in my life. Enough to form MY OWN opinions thanks very much. If you don’t like my opinions then I guess you are going to have to deal with it.

“Sometimes you gotta choose for the players who are in shape, on lethal form (for his position)”

Sometimes, sure. The game is fluid. But is Gattuso out of shape or not in form for Euro 2008? I don’t know since he hasn’t played yet. He was off form for the League this season, but the League is over. Gattuso had been playing a crazy schedule nonstop since the World Cup. Maybe he needed a couple weeks rest. Again, I don’t think he should sit on the bench for being a winner in international play over someone who has not been nearly the player in similar circumstances.

And now for the other fellow, who also suggested that I am somehow not worthy to have my own opinion…

“If you want to complain about De Rossi vs. Man Utd all I have to say is the following:”

And here is part of the problem. I am not complaining about him for anything. Would it help if I used all caps? I am just reporting the news. If you don’t like it I suggest you talk to the people in charge of linear causality. He played like shit for four games in an international tournament in the middling rounds. Full stop. End of story.

“De Rossi was the best player on Roma in the 7-1 loss to United…”

Thats great. I happen not to agree with you. I saw the game as I suspect you did. I saw that De Rossi was the first line of defense for his goal. He did a poor job of keeping ManU from running roughshod all over the field. The fact that you think that there was a “best player” in that debacle… well let’s just say many members of my family had a chuckle about that line. The bottom line in all of this is that De Rossi did not elevate his game in any international game I have seen. Gattuso has.

“Where was Gattuso against Milan this year?”

Well, Gattuso plays for Milan not against them. But, assuming this is a typo I am going to say that he hasn’t had a great season in the League this year. But the season is over. He has had a rest and he has proven that he can play big and win in international play.

“You want to point to one game and hold De Rossi accountable for the failings of a whole team but you don’t want to hold Gattusso accountable for his own poor form??”

Gattuso has been playing World Class level competition almost nonstop since Serie A 2006. Heres a peek: Serie A, World Cup, Champions League Qualifying, Serie A, Champions League Final, World Club Cup, Serie A, Champions League. It has finally caught up with him. That’s where he’s been.

And I’ll say it again: I AM NOT HOLDING DE ROSSI ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANYTHING. De Rossi failed to make the most of his opportunities. There are players who do not do well in international play. In my opinion, he has, so far, not played well. It doesn’t mean that he may never, but if given a choice, Gattuso should not be behind him on the bench.

“While I think the arguments you make against DDR are complete nonsense and shows that you really don’t know what you’re capable of.”

Well, I know what I am capable of, but you’re right that I don’t know what De Rossi capable of. You don’t either actually. Not unless you can tell the future. You think, or hope that he is a great player. I don’t know why it’s so important to you, but there you are (actually I have a pretty good idea why). I think that Gattuso playing is best for the team. As I said I am not a Milan fan and I have no special love for him personally either. But he plays well and he succeeds.

“You’re blaming him on his WC sending off and Roma’s worst games of the season.”

Well, who else do I blame for his idiocy? He deserved to get sent off. And unless I am very much mistaken he plays for Roma, therefore any good OR BAD game they play will be in some measure his fault. It certainly will be his fault, if he is great player you think he is, if he doesn’t make a difference, like all great players should.

“When he plays for Roma he puts his heart and soul into his performances. I don’t know if he will play with as much intensity in an Italy shirt (similar to Totti)”

That’s great. Too bad it’s not near enough, for me. I require results. Well, this is probably going to be another can of worms, but comparing him to Totti doesn’t help your argument with me. I don’t think Totti’s that great in international matches either.

hahaha, It actually wouldn’t surprise me at all if Donadoni called up that cartoon Devil that roams around the San Siro to replace Panucci if he can’t go.

Posted from  United States

let’s take a step back a second here:

Whether Daniele De Rossi or Rino Gattuso starts is a pretty great problem to have, isn’t it? Two of the very best in the business!

The last thing this team needs is to be divided in the way its fans are. This kind of sentiment wasn’t around before the world cup, and the unified feeling that the players and fans all shared really contributed to their victory

Posted from  United States

Well I don’t know how accurate those facts are from euro2008.com but what the hell

I disagree though, I don’t think Don will be conservative in this game.

Posted from  Australia

First of all MAD.. my comments were directed toward Sushan.. not you.. I had a few typos in my comments which you misunderstood and went off on useless rants.. Not your problem though..

I mean to say.. “where was Gattuso against Arsenal”, and “you don’t know what De Rossi is capable” of not what you are capable of.. I don’t need a crystal ball to see what De Rossi is capable of now. I’ve seen him play in 33 games this season… I know what he can do.

My point about you guys judging De Rossi on his WC sending off is that he needs to be judged on all his performances not on 1 or 2 of his worst performances. If he has 30 good ones and 3 poor ones he needs to be judged on all 33. Not on the 3. Yes he was an idiot to get sent off two years ago, but he came back and scored a penalty in the final and has just grown in every way.

And my argument comparing De Rossi to Totti is not me defending De Rossi.. I was being objective. Totti has not played well for Italy often and it could be the same for De Rossi.. Who knows..

Posted from  United States

It’s funny.. People want to see Chiellini, Del Piero and Cassano based on current form… But when it comes to Materazzi nobody wants him because of his poor form.

But these things don’t apply to Gattuso apparently.

Posted from  United States

Just for the record.. I think Gatusso is a quality player.. I am not arguing against Gatusso but I am defending De Rossi who none of you seem to rate. And while I feel that DDR should start because his season was much better than Gatusso’s, I wouldn’t be uncomfortable seeing Gatusso in the lineup.

Posted from  United States

De Rossi should start. I like his ability to be able to shut down and use skill.

Sally thanks for the run down.

Italy is a conservative society by nature, so I think Bashar is closer on the mark. Donadoni will probably start prudently and see what the results are and move from there. I guess it all depends how the defense reacts and how it holds up without Canna.

Posted from  Canada