I’m not saying we necessarily have to build the whole team around him. But considering that we don’t have a C Ronaldo or a Figo that can play down the wing and get the ball to our guys, we need to focus more on channeling it down the center. And if you’re going to do that, you need someone talented enough to get past the midfield and confuse defenses. Cassano can do it and I’m convinced Giovinco will be able to in due time

Then tell him to move, already. Toro Merda is a dead-end for any player right now.

I love Iaquinta, but Amauri is a billion times more talented. Better shot, better in the air, better dribbling……but still no to him on the Azzurri. Johonna, I was anti-Camoranesi for the Azzurri, but I guess no ones talking about it because it’s been 4-5 years now and it’s kind of a moot point.

At least Giovinco, Rossi, Montolivo, Chiellini, Aquilani and possibly De Rossi played together for the youth teams. I think Italy is stacked with full backs though.. I love the crop of fullbacks they are coming out with.. absolute quality. If one can be converted to a CB (a la Panucci)…

Rosina.. I don’t know.. I’ve been on the pro-Rosina bandwagon but he has done nothing of note (as far as I know) last season and very little this year. Maybe he’s just pouty and unhappy at Torino. But until he moves to another club where he will be happier (and probably play better), he won’t be called up. Giovinco definitely deserves a spot ahead of Rosina right now and that’s because he’s proved himself at Empoli, for the U-21s and now proving himself in the CL.

Equally troubling is the idea of a De Rossi – Pirlo – Montolivo midfield. With no wings bidding for passes, the last two cancel each other out. The third midfielder should then be someone who runs like a bitch and provides dynamism – the role that in 2006 was filled by Perrotta and/or Camoranesi, two players who are both likely to be too old/unreliable come 2010. There’s some candidates to fill those shoes (the aforementioned Rosina), but they’re far from ready and there’s no indication yet that Lippi is planning on grooming them.

The real puzzle with the current Italian formation, as I see it, is the midfield. We’ve got a pick of absolutely gorgeous central midfielders but no wings whatsoever to speak of. In theory this dictates that we should play with three central mids, but then that unbalances the attack and asks for a 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2 with very awkward offensive dispositions. Alessio suggested a 4-4-2 earlier, and I’d be inclined to agree because it would make the most of our gigantic resources in the field of prima and seconda punta while not wasting the talents of our central mids. It would also be an extremely adaptable team, not relying on any individual talent but capable of reaching full strength even with some key pieces missing. However, we’ve got such a drought of people playing on the sides that Alessio himself suggested putting Gattuso on the wing! What??

I actually wanted to ask Alessio (and anyone else who can bother to reply) how would you solve the wing problem. The solution is either to change to a formation which doesn’t require them, and that’s what Julian suggests with the 4-3-1-2, or to bastardise some of our players and adapt them to play on the wing (for instance, teach Rosina, Giovinco or even Balotelli to play over there and let’s see what happens). What do you guys think?

Nah, but I think there would be no harm in putting Totti on the bench over Del Piero.