It has never been a pleassure to watch the italian national team because of their style but at least they played this ugly football very very good and perfect and everyone had to fear these organized team but now they are even too old for this type of football.

2nd half
Buffon
Zambro-Canna-Chiellini-Dossena
——De Rossi – Pirlo –
Pepe—–Rossi——Camo
——Toni/Gila

I’ve criticized Lippi’s non-call of Cassano, and there’s several other players who should be on the team. I think his biggest mistake is sticking with Donadoni’s 4-3-3, and not immediately switching back to a traditional 4-3-1-2 or 4-4-2. But I think he’s doing a decent job and the team will be different when we’re playing in a serious tournament and players are changed. His reputation as a coach isn’t a fluke, like Big Phil.

Let’s look at his record already. He’s already dumped a few players from WC06, as well as Euro2008. I think that list will grow. I groaned when he subbed in Toni, but that very well likely could have been Luca’s last chance to impress. Did we all not notice he didn’t start until the game against Brazil? Or that Gattuso got hooked after 55minutes everytime for Montolivo? Or that he surprisingly started Dossena instead of Grosso in the last game. He was experimenting and seeing which players are fundamental to the team.

i have been asking myself, is he maybe trying to slowly bring new, younger players in while some of the older players are still around so that they can hand down their wisdom before some “final changing of the guards”?

is he maybe trying to loose now to bigger teams so that later they will expect less of us if we meet them in the later stages of the tournament (WC, that is)?

is he trying to convince Josep Blatter that he doesn’t have to pay off refs in the WC in order to eliminate a Zambrotta-Gattuso-Toni-Gilardino-Pepe-Italy (which, of course, was done in 2002 (and worked) AND 2006 (but didn’t work), and then sucker punch everyone with a Motta-Brighi-Foggia-Pazzini-Pellisier-Italy?

he is not a stupid man, but there are few people having seen the last 10 games or so who would not be able to tell he is really going in the wrong direction.

any ideas? WTF?

i agree with every thing you said, very articulate and to the point.

i have to say #1, Iaquinta is fantastic. if you actually look at how much time he has played and not how many games (he is often put in for the last 15 to 20 minutes of many games), he has scored 12 goals in about 1600 hours of play: that is about one goal every 130 hours or the equivalent of one in every 1.4 games. in the very limited amount of time he has appeared in the Azzurri shirt (equivalent of about 6-7 full games this year) he has scored against Ireland and 2 against New Zealand. again, that is pretty good.

#2, Dossena plays in for Grosso, not Zambrotta, so it should be Motta or Santon who would stand in for Zambro. i used to really like Zambrotta, but i think it is time for him to be superceeded.

Rossi does not have and, sadly, will likely never have the required tenant for the position that he is playing fro Italy. Only four players in the recent history has that kind of talent to play that role: Baggio, Totti, Cassano, and Giovinco. Luckily, three of them are still playing. Italy needs at least two of them on the team (Not that all of them should play at the same time). Giovinco should be in the National team.

Italy must play 442, period. The reason is not Italy can’t play 443 attack. It’s they are not the best at defense in a 433.

Of the 2 in 422, the “1” should be Vieri/Inzaghi caliber and the “2” Baggio/Totti level.

For the “1”, Toni needs to go! Gilas can stay. But bring in more depth in this position who is at least 182cm unless he can score as efficiently as P. Rossi or Inzaghi. If Inzaghi is as fit as last season at the end of the next season, I’d say bring him to S.A.

Italy’s back line is getting old. Yong players should be given more chances as early as possible. Or else it’s going to be too late for WC 2008. That said, Italy miss/need Nesta!

I am for bringing new young faces but for Nesta, Totti and Inzaghi, I’d say bring them if they are in shape and condition. And willing.

Finaly, Give Cassano a chance!