Champions League First Knockout Round

Sticking with the ‘tried and true’ is fine in some big games. For instance, there is On saturday there was Napoli – wednesday Copa Italia – Saturday Torino (derby) – Tuesday Chelsea. By some accounts we should expect Amauri and Del Piero to be playing each of those games?

“He´s scored plenty. His recent goal drought can be blamed on a lack of service, particularly from the wings. I´m not even going to get into a debate on him v. the mediocre midtable strikers you mentioned.” – Lack of Service? Have you been watching many Juventus games this season? He receives more balls than a cheap hooker. He kind of reminds me of Luca Toni during the European championship – send him the balls. Albeit, I do admit ADP has taken more opportunities as of late. But still many balls are sent to the Brazilian and he has been unable to put them away. He simply is overrated.

The funniest, most ironic thing though about Amauri is this. *THE ITALIAN MEDIA HAS MADE HIM OVERRATED – this guy is a run of the mill striker.

I think Juventus have two superior talents in Iaquinta (give him a chance to show you) and Trezequet. We need to see those two out there to get a clear vision of what the team can produce. Enough games have gone by, to come to the realization that Amauri and ADP together are not producing the numbers they need.

With regards to ADP yelling at players, esp the younger guys look no further than to a couple of weeks ago. When he was taken off in the second half and was in the midst of a tempertantrum. Or what about last year, Palladino ran and took a free kick, and ADP ran up to him screaming and yelling. Hey I love the guy, but he has seriously become a suck in recent years. He needs the sort of spanking Capello gave him in 2004-2006. He must be a treat to deal with in the dressing room.

The sad part of it all is how ambitious and anxious Giovinco was at the start of the season, saying that Juventus is his team, a dream come true and one day he wants to be the future Juventus captain. Fast forward to today where I think the most responsible measure this kid should take would be to abandon his dream, hit a team like Sampdoria and dominate there with the likes of Cassano and Pazzini. (their playing some beautiful soccer together those two)

Ricci, you are absolutely right, they need to rest ADP, Nedved, Amauri. This team is going to be burnt down the stretch (their already showing it). Inter will steamroll into the distance on performances like they have been putting in.

Also, with regards to winning championships look no further than Milan. A couple years ago Milan had the ability to field two teams to get through each competition. The key to winning these championships is having depth, your not going to build that sort of depth by playing the same starting 11 every single game. As a manager Ranieri needs to move players around, get them use to big matches, not put the fear of getting benched for life in their minds. He needs to work with the entire canvas and not with a small little corner. In my opinion the mark of a good coach is utilizing all the tools that are available to you and not being selective. That is why Lippi won the world cup, he used everyone, shifted and shaped a family atmosphere and was rewarded handsomely, that’s the only reason that I still believe Lippi can do it again.

I think Juventus have two superior talents in Iaquinta (give him a chance to show you)

Ha. Iaquinta is a run-of-the-mill sriker, not Amauri. Amauri is not only much better in the air and with the ball at his feet, but he can contribute to the team offensively. Iaquinta is never going to provide assists, neither is Trez. Amauri gives us a different dynamic up front because he can. See Trez´s goal against Palermo, his flick to Del Piero against Real Madrid, and my personal favorite, his absolutely gorgeous no-look backheel to Miccoli while playing for Palermo. You´re never going to see the other strikers do that. Trez is a proven striker and I agree he needs to play more. His record is all Ranieri needs to see. But Iaquinta is going to have to settle to be a reserve striker. He´s been remarkably patient thus far, but I don´t ever seeing him winning a starting shirt. I would not begrudge him a move, as he could probably be starting for any other club in Italy.

With regards to ADP yelling at players, esp the younger guys look no further than to a couple of weeks ago. When he was taken off in the second half and was in the midst of a tempertantrum.

Yeah, he was pìssed off for being subbed. Nothing wrong with that, it shows he still wants to be out there playing all the time. Same with Nedved kicking over the water bottle. Sure, they shouldn´t be playing every game. But it shows they still have hunger and desire, not like the complacency I see in the old Milan players. (are we doing this already?)

Or what about last year, Palladino ran and took a free kick, and ADP ran up to him screaming and yelling.

If you´re referring to the time ADP gave him a little love-headbutt against Palermo, that´s not the case. Del Piero was talking to him because Palladino was complaining Molinaro wasn´t dishing the ball back to him. Y´know, run of the mill captainship.

By some accounts we should expect Amauri and Del Piero to be playing each of those games?

Against Palermo last weekend Ranieri started Iaquinta-Trezeguet. He left Del Piero at home for the Coppa game today, as well.

Posted from  Spain

Oh look another Brazilian wants to play for Italy …
Jeda: “Se Lippi mi chiamasse direi di sì”
http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/index.php?action=read&id=143034

Posted from  United States

No Italian blood = not a chance.

Posted from  United States

Italian blood means nothing to me. I´d rather a Brazilian who´s been living in Italy all his life (or Ghanian, for that matter) play for the Azzurri than a full-blooded Italian-American who´s never been.

Posted from  Spain

What exactly does “Italian blood” look like, and how do you know that you’ve got it?

I’ld worry more about the guy’s head and feet. Does want to throw his lot in with us and can he play…

By alessio | February 28th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

How about Miccoli, kqql?
Posted from Spain
———————————->
He tesified vs. Moggi………….so forget about him.

Lippi’s No Call List:

1) Pancucci
2) Ammbro
3) Miccoli
4) Cassano

Posted from  United States

Buffon
Motta-Cannavaro-Chiellini-Grosso
Brighi-Pirlo-DDR
Cassano
Pazzini-G.Rossi

What do you guys think….

I think that what Alex was trying to say is that if a foreigner (i.e. not born and raised in Italy) wants to play for Italy, he should at least be an oriundo. Which doesn’t seem like such a terrible thing, especially when we’ve got Italians who can do what Jeda does.

P.S. Alessio — a Brazilian… I’m assuming you mean someone born to Brazilian parents… who has been living in Italy his entire life is an Italian even though the government doesn’t think so until he turns 18. We’re not debating domestic players but rather foreign ones.

I think what Michele Stasio picked is wonderful, this should be the new Italy
Buffon
Motta-Cannavaro-Chiellini-Grosso
Brighi-Pirlo-DDR
Cassano
Pazzini-G.Rossi
adding to that list are:
Amelia
Santon-Gambrini-Zambrotta-Dessena
Marchiosi-Aquilani-Camoranesi
Giovinco
Aquafresca-Balloteli
with such talented young players and experience ones Italy will be ready to defend its world cup title.

Buffon
Motta-Cannavaro-Chiellini-Grosso
Brighi-Pirlo-DDR
Cassano
Pazzini-G.Rossi
adding to that list are:
Amelia
Santon-Gambrini-Zambrotta-De Ceglie
Marchiosi-Aquilani-Camoranesi
Giovinco
Aquafresca-Balloteli

May be of interest: http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/article.aspx?id=203

Posted from  France

Motta is a very good player… hope Roma exercise the option to buy him because he deserves to be playing at a bigger club than Udinese.

Does anyone else get the feeling that Santon is a bit underwhelming? He really needs to play on the right to bring anything to the table offensively. He’s proven himself to be a good defender but is otherwise invisible :/

He’s holding up defensively against Milan and ManYoo…that’ll do for now.

Posted from  Spain

“Motta is a very good player… hope Roma exercise the option to buy him because he deserves to be playing at a bigger club than Udinese
Does anyone else get the feeling that Santon is a bit underwhelming? He really needs to play on the right to bring anything to the table offensively. He’s proven himself to be a good defender but is otherwise invisible :/”

That’s more like it. Like I said before, only players for Roma and Juventus can be discussed for inclusion here, as clearly no other team has these so called “good players”.

Actually, I hope that he remains invisible. That way he can stay home and train and not get hurt/tired traveling. If you think he’s so terrible, fine. We’ll be happy to keep him to ourselves.

MAD, don’t think he’s terrible. I just think that billing him as the next Facchetti was premature.

And Motta WAS terrible against Inter, but he had a nice performance against Udinese. I’m not blind to his faults just as I am not ignorant of Santon’s merits.

——————————————————————————–

Azzurri Fwds this weekend

Gila – No Goal / No Assist
Toni – Out Injured
Rossi – On bench – Rested for CL game
Toto – 1 Assist
Quags – Only Played 5 Minutes
Iaquinta – No Goals / No Assist

——
EXTRA

Goal Twins – No Goal / No Assist
ADP – On bench – Rested for CL game
Pippo – Hat Trick
Di Viao – Hat Tick
Rocchi – 2 Goals

———–>

LOL at “Goal Twins”

Azzurri Fwds as of 3/8/09, Stats are from Serie A, Bundesliga and La Liga.
(08/09 Season)

Gila -> 15 Goals + 2 Assists / 23 Games (2078 Minutes) Played
Toto -> 12(3 P.K) Goals + 5 Assists / 20 Games (1321 Minutes) Played
Rossi -> 12(2 P.K) Goals + 4 Assists / 19 Games (1450 Minutes) Played
Toni -> 9 Goals + 3 Assists / 16 Games (1281 Minutes) Played
Quags -> 8 Goals + 3 Assists / 25 Games (1587 Minutes) Played
Iaquinta -> 4(1 P.K) Goals + 2 Assists / 17 Games (719 Mintues) Played
+
Pepe -> 3 Goals + 2 Assists / 25 Games (1799 Minutes) Played

Extra
Di Vaio -> 19(4 P.k) Goals + 0 Asssit / 27 Games (2460 Minutes) Played
Floccari -> 10(1 P.K) Goals + 2 Assists / 25 Games (2332 Minutes) Played
Acquafresca -> 9(2 P.k) Goals + 0 Assist / 26 games (1690 Minutes) Played
ADP -> 7(2 P.K) Goals + 7 Assists / 20 Games (1679 Minutes) Played
Cassano -> 7(1 P.K) + 7 Assists / 26 Games (2377 Minutes) Played
Pazzini -> 6 (1 P.k) Goals + 1 Assist / 20 Games (1122 Minutes) Played
Pazzini* -> 5 Goals + 0 Assist / 8 Games (737 Minutes) Played (*Stats @ Samp)
.

“MAD, don’t think he’s terrible. I just think that billing him as the next Facchetti was premature.”

I agree it is premature, but I think that it’s a great coaching move for a young player, though.

I personally consider him a player worth keeping an eye on as I think he shows a lot of good qualities to build on at such a young age. But I don’t have the job of trying to make sure that he doesn’t feel overwhelmed and scared on the senior squad playing ManU in the CL.

But “underwhelming” isn’t a compliment either. If he’s “underwhelming” then you don’t think he’s good… maybe you don’t think he’s terrible, but I am gathering that you think that he’s overhyped, which I disagree with.

But that’s fine. I understand the politics of this page. I just like to make snide comments about it to amuse myself because I think it’s funny.

grosso? that would be a great disappointment.

Posted from  Spain