How can the 4-3-3 never work when it already has? We have won at least one World Cup (1982) using that formation and we used it at times in 2006 in Germany where we were also successful.

The answer is that it’s not the formation, it’s the player combination that Lippi is searching for. He trying to see who can work together well in the future and at the same time field a team that will qualify.

We aren’t going to win the 2010 World Cup in October of 2008 (history says that won’t be until the World Cup is back on European soil). All the ranting and raving now isn’t going to change that fact.

By the way, how upset can some one get at when we are at the top of our group? Especially since historically we don’t ever look good, if we are going to, until after the group stage of the Tournament itself!

Some of these players aren’t even going to be on the team in 2 years. He’s just using the time now to try some promising players out.

Which I think he should do.

amen Mad..i dont see the likes of Perrotta, Toni, Canna ..in the squad in 2010…the idea is very clear..Lippi is trying to integrate and form Chiellini-santacroce partnership..by the next round of qualifiers next year, Giovinco , De Ceglie and others will get a call up definately…it will be a fine blend of youth and experience..I see Zambrotta in 2010 because he looks awesome..Today, he was one of the best on the pitch

Posted from  Spain

2-1 us? that would have been a wonder score.

Posted from  United States

Biggest problem today? Lack of penetration. Bulgaria were pressuring our midfielders very well, so I don’t particularly blame De Rossi (great on set-pieces and long-range shots) and Montolivo (lackluster performance though). I expected a bit more from Di Natale and Pepe however: Di Natale was useless today, getting dispossessed of the ball the only time he tried to take a defender one-on-one, and Pepe showed some interesting things, but he’s no Cassano.

The good news? The Cannavaro-Chiellini pair looks just as solid as Cannavaro-Nesta in the good old days. When Buffon gets back, they ain’t scoring on us anytime soon.

Oh, and Giuseppe Rossi got his first cap today. It’s officially over for USA…

italy should of play 4-2-3-1
Zambrotta-Chiellini-Cannavaro
—–De Rossi-=-Gattuso—–
Pepe—-Montolivo—-DiNatale
——–Gilardino———-

so joe red is the 2nd-3rd american to play for italy?

Posted from  United States

we can’t pass anymore by the looks of it…we defended brilliantly, got hold of possession then lobbed it nowhere. We need to hold onto the ball, work our way forward, we don’t have the height for high balls. Cassano can pass, Giovinco can pass, Rossi can pass. Get these guys in the team.
Bulgaria were not a threat to us the whole game, so why didn’t we take this one?? We all know it isn’t working…why doesn’t Lippi? Since he’s come back we’ve seen a dull Italia. Someone needs to have the balls to take this team into the future.

Think Aqui should get a try over Montolivo next game…
Just to give him a try.

I like your formation Michel.
But you realize that’s a 3-2-3-1 right? haha
You forgot Dossena.
I also don’t like having both DDR and Gattuso alongside each other … like plenty of you have said, there’s not enough creativity in the deep lying position … Pirlo’s absence hurts.

i have been saying this on this site ever since Lippi took over…
TONI AND GILARDINO WILL NOT SCORE. the biggest problem was NO FINISHING. these two guys have not been able to score and they will continue to have difficulty scoring. when will Lippi give up on them.

DiNatale did not have an effective game but he was playing well - Bulgaria just crowded their own box and there was no one to get good balls to him. this is why we really need someone like Pirlo or Totti who could play accurate balls into the box. Montolivo was decent, but not a replacement for Pirlo.

We need finishing strikres. Cassano would be better than Toni but he is really a slot in for Di Natale except Cassano is slow and lazy compared with Di Natale and his passing is not nearly as good.

Rossi looked good, but now it is time to consider Balotelli. bring on Quagliarella and Iaquinta.

NO TONI … NO GILARDINO.

i do not want to have to say this yet another time after the next game.

@ Michel-Olivier - I don’t remember any American-born player ever representing Italy. I’m pretty sure Rossi is the first…

Montolivo was never going to be the new Pirlo. Aquilani is closer, but frankly, I’d love to see Luca Cigarini trotted out for La Nazionale soon.

Montolivo has ability and a feel you cannot teach, but no fire, personality or character. An Italian midfield that includes Montolivo over Aquilani deserves nothing. More of a goal threat, more pace, stronger, better defensively, and has more personality in his pinky than Monto will ever show.

Posted from  United States

Aquilani should get a chance only when he earns it. its not his divine birthright to start for italy.

Posted from  Canada

wow, I don’t know what game some of you were watching? No offence but Italy was awful from the midfield up.

Defensively, Zambrotta, first off, come on. He has looked horrendous as of late and is a huge liability. I do admit that he looked better than he has in awhile, but did he even touch the ball, aside from lobbying it way out over the net two times? Listen, I loved Zambrotta, being a Juventino, I thought he should have been put on everything including Toast. But let’s call a spade a spade, he will not be playing in 2010, he is older now, and does look off. I think our problem is we don’t have a RB that can take up that mantle.

Our midfield, has one or two bright spots, but desperatly lacks creativity, speed and ability. De Rossi is exceptional, and an exception to my Roma rule, which states “Totti makes Roma better” In the case of Aquilani that is still very applicable. Montolivo, one could argue is still finding his legs, he’ll get there, he had a long summer. But let’s face it, as someone alluded to earlier, Lobbying the ball, and these crosses are TOO PREDICTABLE! we lack the totti’esque’ player that runs the ball down the center. Our middle is very weak and unoriginal - except in defense.

I can’t also go as far as blaming Gilardino for anything today - he seemed like the only striker working today. Pepe seemed every eager, but was playing as some link between mid and striker, he also seemed to be getting into his teamates way much of the time. Over all he is good, and should get a shot next game. For me Di Natale, showed why he shouldn’t be there. His give aways and crosses to nowhere were very unconvincing. IMO he just peaked early in form - and it shows.

Get Cassano on this team. I would love to see, Gilardino, Cassano, Iaquinta up front. that would be a powerful force to be reckoned with. Lippi has to stop making dumb decisions ie: Calling up Quags for Wednesday’s game.

Any formation with Gila up top alone will not work.
Does no one remember him at milan last season?
Ancelotti played his stupid xmas tree formation with gila up top and we got shit. There won’t be any difference with him up top now. BUT, if partnered I think he’ll do well.

Posted from  United States

mele, it didnt work based on the fact no one really passed to Gila. That’s what my problem with Milan last year was. But play Iaquinta up with Gila, you will get results. Cassano in the middle as the link between mid and striker!

Aquilani should get a chance only when he earns it. its not his divine birthright to start for italy.

Who said it was?
I’m just saying, since we tried out Montolivo against Bulgaria, we could try out Aqui in a similar position against Montenegro. I mean, the reason Lippi called up these different guys was to see how different combinations would play together, so for experiment’s sake, try Aqui on for size.

well, the latest is that De Rossi is almost certain to miss the encounter with Montenegro on wednesday.His thigh strain is affecting him very much and that is a big blow to us when we are missing creativity already(Pirlo)..Gattusso is also a doubt which could be very crucial..But on the positive side, Lippi has stated that we are ahead in all aspects for 2010 , i mean we are ahead and in a more better/settled stage than we were while qualifying for 2006 and that is a great news..Rossi was very good and i see him playing the whole match on wednesday and expect something brilliant..from him..So it looks very likely that Lippi will feild a 4-3-3 with the same defense( which was brillian tand rock solid after a long time) with the midfield being Rossi, maggio(if De Rossi misses out) and Aquilani/Montolivo/Perrotta( if gattusso misses out)..The strikers should be Pepe, Gilardino and DiNatale with Quagliarella coming AS A second hlf replacement..we must must win to make ity easy for us later

Posted from  Spain

and oh yea, Aquilani will start on wednesday, i mean Montolivo was not very effective..he was lost in the begining and got better as the match progressed..Aquilani can make a difference against Montenegro..

Posted from  Spain

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct12n.html

Marcello Lippi praised Giuseppe Rossi as “a born player” and noted this Italy side is at a more advanced level than the World Cup winners

Posted from  Spain

Provenzano are you being sarcastic about Aqui?

You can’t evaluate Gilardino by his time at Milan, it just shows Ancelotti did a piss-poor job of integrating him into the squad.

Posted from  United States

well, atleast Lippi for me should have brought in an experienced player knowing that we are without Pirlo and Camo..Now we are almost sure of missing De Rossi and Gattusso who r leaders in the park..Atleast against Montenegro, in a match which we cannot afford to lose, Lippi must have gone for experienced playmaker with flair and should have roped in Del Piero who would have made a great impact in plays while dealing with the talented but inexperienced Montenegro…quagliarella ,,well..iam not sure ..well..if he is played from start, he would make an impact but it is likely that gilardino will be played as a central striker with Dinatale and Pepe flanking him…and asem, Aquilani definately deserves a place in the midfield considering that Montenegro are not a physical teaM AND would allow him space to play…well..3 points in this encounter is a must…..no excuses for dropped points..iam sure we wont lose, but we musttttt win this encounter to cement our place in the top

Posted from  Spain

well guys, cant help but make this observation..as we all know, Pirlo, our gem has been ordinary since that goddamed club world cup in japon and also Ancellotti made him play all the matches and that contributed to his physical/mental deterioration…Still, even a 60% Pirlo can do wonders, remember the Euro match against France, Pirlo was just magnificent that day putting balls at will for Toni , only for the big fella to hit the posts 3 times and fluff up atleast 3 more occassions..Toni could have scored 5 that day…We missed Pirlo against Spain in the next match, boy oh boy..did we??According to the latest, PPirlo will be able to play from the first week of November, i pray that Ancellotti doesnt play him in stressing situations, i mean give him some rest so that he will be there to lead us to glory in 2010 after which he can retire from la Nazionale and concentrate on Milan ..That deep playmaking role, just ahead of the defenders, shielded by Gattusso and De Rossi, starting our moves and making those pin point crosses is such a delight to watch!!
Also, on the positive note, against Bulgaria, our defence which was creaky for the previous few matches was rock solid..Chiellini and Canna were magnificent and Dossena integrating to the squad very well and Zambrotta , after a few horrendous games again playing well …When Buffon gets back, i reckon, not many teams can score over us

Posted from  Spain

I really like Dossena…
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when Grosso comes back.
Also, any news on DDR’s thigh?
And why is Rino out?

- - - - - - - - - -AMELIA- - - - - - - - - -
- ZAMBRO - - CANNA - G. CHIELLINI - - DOSS -
- - - - - - -*DDR*- - -AQUI- - - - - - - - -
- -CHRISTMAS- - - - - - - - - - - - -PEPE- -
- - - - - - -ROSSI- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - GILA - - - - - - - -

That’s what I’d like (*hope*) to see in the next game.
If not DDR, then Maggio.

I don;t like the 433 at all. Play 442 with Gila and Rossi upfront. Give Rossi freedom to roam. There ya go

Marco, thats exactly what I was saying, if it was him up top partnered with someone, Iaquinta for example, they’d excel for sure

Posted from  United States