Has A Victory Ever Felt Like This?

I agree that a win is a win so i am happy with that. I also agree that the problem is the offense. We are playing teams that we should beat 5-0, and in the past I have watched Germany and the Dutch destroy teams like these in qualifying and then go to the WC and do no better or worse than us, so i appreciate that the scoring doesnt carry over… but… We need a goal scorer. We can’t expect 29 different guys to each score once like last WC, especially when Zambo is 4 years slower, Grosso will have to spend more time in midfield, and Matterazzi isn’t there on set plays.

We have to start figuring out an attacking trident and give them a few games to get comfortable with each other. I dont want to go to the WC and know that our front 3 could be any 3 of 6 guys and that, if we dont score the first game, the next game could have 3 totally different guys. Its a ridiculous system. We have to start ruling out guys that simply don’t contribute. For me, that starts with Gilardino and Iaquinta. They don’t show up for big games, once they struggle early they rebound poorly, and I end up watching more camera shots of their frustrations, falls, and dives than I do of them doing anything productive (i think all of us have their “OH! i was so close!! faces memorized). Both can make obvious or open passes look sleak, but neither can create for other people consistently. Both need to be out of consideration for good. For me, Rossi is in, and Quag needs more consistent starts to get his fair shot. I say give him Bulgaria for 60 minutes and see what happens.

Posted from  United States

Here is what it looked like for 2006 WC

2006 World Cup – Road to Germany
Group 5 fixtures

4/9/04 Italy 2-1 Norway
8/9/04 Moldova 0-1 Italy
9/10/04 Slovenia 1-0 Italy
13/10/04 Italy 4-3 Belarus
26/3/05 Italy 2-0 Scotland
4/6/05 Norway 0-0 Italy
3/9/05 Scotland 1-1 Italy
7/9/05 Belarus 1-4 Italy
8/10/05 Italy 1-0 Slovenia
12/10/05 Italy 2-1 Moldova
http://www.football-italia.net/italy/geo-ita.html

As I said Earlier…….Team needs creativity…….u can put ADP Amauri….Grandma etc .. up front …………..I think it wouldn’t make much difference at thi spoint …..
unless a play maker is added to the team. e.g Cassano or Totti, or even Gio or foggia

T

Rossi/Quags————Pazzini/Amauri
—– Cassano/Totti/Gio
De Rossi – D’ Ago – ?

Our defense isn’t that bad?
Look at the competition we’re facing…
When we face real teams we will get blown out of the water AKA Brazil in Confed Cup?

Posted from  United States

one of the worst italy displays i’ve seen in a while in the first half. Clumsy, awkward football, with most of the shots coming from fruitless, long range efforts. However, i was impressed with Quags, D’agostino and santon when they came on. A real difference there.
Iaquinta has to go. he just can’t score.
Santon needs to start and we desperately need a playmaker and a goal scorer in the team…Hey, we all know this right? unfortunately the only person who doesn’t is Lippi.

Posted from  Australia

player ratings from goal.com:

Italy

Buffon- 6.5: It wasn’t one of the most testing nights for the Italy no.1. However, when the Juve stopper was called into action he duly responded with some exciting saves.

Zambrotta- 5: The Milan man managed to get forward but he has certainly lost the legs for his tireless up and down game. It remains to be seen how long Zambrotta will continue to occupy a starting position with Santon breathing down his neck.

Cannavaro- 6: The Azzurri captain looked a little ragged at time but taking into account the slipper surface he dealt well with the Georgian forwards.

Chiellini- 6: The Juve man didn’t have much trouble at the back but made some well timed sliding interventions during the first half. He is beginning to form a strong partnership with the Azzurri captain.

Criscito- 7: The young Genoa full-back was one of the most proactive players in the Azzurri side tonight. Given it was only his second cap for La Nazionale; he certainly has a promising future ahead of him.

Marchionni- 5: The Fiorentina midfielder didn’t create many openings and was justly substituted for Quagliarella. It remains to be seen whether he has a future in the Italian starting eleven.

Pirlo- 6.5: The Milan man is still a great composer of the game and looked much more influential in the second period when he was given the chance to push further forward.

Palombo- 6.5: The Doria midfielder does his job but does not offer the flair which Italy are clearly missing in the middle of the park. He deserves some credit for the opening goal, following his hit and hope from 30 yards.

Camoranesi 7: ‘Camo’ showed some moments of intelligence going forward and was the only player in the midfield department who took the initiative to carry the ball into the Georgian third.

Iaquinta- 6: Not one of his most memorable performances for La Nazionale, but he put in an honest shift as he continued to make the runs behind the Georgian defense.

Rossi- 4.5: The Villarreal man was far more disappointing than on previous occasions and was undoubtedly restricted by the lack of service from the midfield.

Substitutes

D’Agostino-7: Udinese’s midfield dynamo demonstrated some great ball work despite only featuring as a second half substitute. Given Italy’s problems in midfield he will be pushing for a starting place in the build up to South Africa 2010.

Quagliarella- 7: The Napoli forward was one of Italy’s biggest threats despite only featuring for the last 35 minutes. Given his current form for the Partenopei, it is anyone’s guess why he didn’t get the chance to start from the off.

Santon- N/A: The Inter full-back managed to push forward without fear and he clearly deserves his chance at a starting place.

Posted from  Australia

I’m not sure I really agree with those ratings at all.

Those ratings are interesting. Camro – 7? Was he even at the game? I didn’t notice him through the entire second half.

Also, Zambrotta and Cannavaro got burned a number of times. I’m not sure if many of you are realizing this but aside from Brazil – which penetrated us every which way – most teams have taken to our right side for penetrating our defensive third. We are incredibly weak on that end of the field. Although I do agree with Chiellini and Cannavaro playing better together, Cannavaro looks to me like he is going to give a penalty any game now – and Zambrotta just looks confused and lost (you can tell by his facial expression). To say our defense held up against a noname team like Georgia (sorry) doesn’t tell any story. For our second successive world cup we will be playing Brazil, Argentina, Spain, not Georgia, Bugaria, Cyprus. These minnows all look like their on the cusp of breaking through us and that’s the dangerous part. If the leaks aren’t fixed there could soon be a flood.

I agree with other sentiments that the team should be built around D’Agostini, I think Pirlo should be resigned to the bench.

Well Marco, u know Lippi will not call Cassano (unless a mircale happens – I don’t understand the real reason)
but anyways……………….here is asort of solution to the creativity needed.

Push Pirlo to be AM in a diamond 4-4-2………and that maybe the only way to extend Pilro role on the team…………….(like he did when he brought in D’Ago vs Gerogia)

D’Ago plays the deep mid-field role much better than Pirlo now..

Should give Motta or Santon a try on RB…Zambro may need to go back to becoming RM again (or Bench), because he brings nothing on the attack anymore when playing a fullback.

————————————–
Diamond 4-4-2
Quags/ Rossi————Pazzini/Amauri
De Rossi /Marchisio – Pirlo – Camo/Foggia/?
——————–D’ Ago
Criscito/Grosso – Chiellini – Canna (he will be there)- Motta/Santon
—————————Buffon

I believe these rating are bit more on the reality side

=============================================

Gianluigi Buffon 7 – Chiamato in causa due volte (e in entrambe le occasioni era comunque fuorigioco) risponde da fuoriclasse quale è. Sicurezza, anche quando non serve.

http://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/06092009/45/qualificazioni-mondiali-2010-europa-pagelle-dell-italia-si-salva-buffon.html

Italia (4-4-2):
Buffon 7;
Zambrotta 5,5, Cannavaro 6, Chiellini 6,5, Criscito 6;
Marchionni 5,5 (12′ st D’Agostino 6,5),Pirlo 6, alombo 6,Camoranesi 6 (27′ st Santon sv);
Iaquinta 5,5, G. Rossi 5 (12′ st Quagliarella 7).
A disposizione: Marchetti, Legrottaglie, Pepe, Gilardino.
All.: Lippi
-sportmediaset
http://www.sportmediaset.it

“It remains to be seen how long Zambrotta will continue to occupy a starting position…”

I think as long as Lippi is there.

Sack Lippi bring in Spaletti, let it be known to him that he must bring in Cassano and Pazzini (Whom can be considered the next Del Piero’s or better)… Let us see his team against Ireland(Give lippi one more shot to improve the squad WHICH will probably NEVER happen)…If Spaletti flounders then we should look to Cappelo in ENGLAND for more offensive football

Posted from  United States

do you really think that ooooooold Del Piero can help italy now?
HE IS 35 YO,WTF

Posted from  Armenia

Pazzini the new Del Piero? He doesn’t even play close to his position, Pazzini is a prima punta and ADP a seconda punta.

Nnahoj, don’t be too sure. I think it’s just a lack of right-backs in Italy right now, Lippi isn’t as stupid as most people think. I remember when everyone groaned last month when Toni was given a 20-30minute run out, and I said that was Lippi giving him one last chance to prove himself. He didn’t, and Toni is dropped. I think Lippi sees Zambrotta’s ineffectiveness..maybe he’s just not sure who to play there instead.

Posted from  United States

we need totti and cassano in a 4-3-2-1

buffon
santon-canna-cheillino-grosso
d’agastino/camro-pirlo-derossi/aqualini
totti-cassano[roma days magica]
pazzini(rossi)

Posted from  Canada

Lippi’s comments:“It was not an issue of fear in Georgia, but quite simply we lacked the necessary confidence in pushing forward and accompanying the attacking moves.” He is contradicting himself when he says accompanying the attacking moves, but of course how can it happen and the team lacks a creative player to push the ball forward in style and accompany the attackers with precise balls so the strikers score. Italy needs cassano so badly, with such performances the world is asking is Italy really a world champ?!!

ASR CHEE VASEH? i never said bring del piero in, i said pazzini could (if given enough exposure)become close to Del Piero’s level…and totti’s 32, he’ll be 33 by the WC, and as good of a player Totti was/is/will be, the fact of the matter is that he only scored NINE goals in FIFTY-EIGHT caps. Pazzini has played 3 and has score 1…Lippi also has to explain himslef to the Italian fans as to why he stubbbornly refuses to call up Cassano…And on Giuseppe Rossi, he’s still only a kid at 22 and needs to be exposed and given the opputuntities to gain experience

Posted from  United States

By Pino | September 6th, 2009 at 11:54 am

I am sure if Donadoni had brought Cassano @ Euro 08….he still be the coach………………..ops he did……………..lol

kqql, yeaaa youre right butt DONADONI SUCKS…Even still, with Napoli he’s not impressing me

Posted from  United States