it is great to hear your opinion as always, even when i do not completely agree, but it always makes me reconsider my position.

though i do not fully agree about Gilardino (and i think that his difficulty netting against some not-so-great international teams backs me up at least to some extent), i see your point. part of the problem with Gilardino is actually not Gilardino himself, but the service he is getting from a midfield the likes of DeRossi, Montolivo and Gattuso. i have seen few good crosses and forays into the box over the last 4 or 5 games (though it should be added that the few that i have seen resulted in scuffed efforts by Gila’).

for Gilardino to really work i think he needs a mid field of 4 behind him who can offer creativity, accurate through-passes and crosses, and solid rebound action. De Rossi’s assist on the Toni goal was fantastic, but normally he cannot provide good through balls to the front line and shold not be expected to. Gattuso offers virtually nothing in terms of passing. Motolivo would work well if we had Pirlo and another creative midfielder behind him.

in any case, at this point i think i would actually prefer to see Inzaghi in there. if we are talking about a prima; i cannot think of another better candidate. he is at least as active as Toni and does a better job of finishing.

i think a 4-4-2 (with DeRossi sliding to the back point of a trapezoid) would make a lot of sense. i think it would be interesting to consider pushing DiNatale back and making him part of the midfield – he has the pace and he is already doing that work but just pushed up to the front. his passing and through-balls are pretty good – plus it would be another player on the field who would have the ability to finish.

——-Del Piero——Quagliarella—–

Di Natale——-Pirlo——–Camoranesi
—————DeRossi—————–

Zambrotta–Chiellini–Cannavarro–Grosso

Calderón Criticises Cassano
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1705/real-madrid/2008/11/18/971146/calderon-criticises-cassano

Gasperini Hits Out At Cassano
Cassano? He is strong but if he isn’t playing for Italy then he should ask himself why,” Gasperini told ANSA.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1632/genoa/2008/11/21/975438/gasperini-hits-out-at-cassano

I agree, no more 4-3-3

I agree with this, but subject to the condition that we’re always talking about a 4-3-3. Cassano and Rossi could play together as strikers in a 4-4-2, since the wingers would then take care of a lot of the jobs they’d do in a 4-3-3. That would be a pretty dazzling combination of speed and fantasia.

Then again, if it were a 4-4-2, I’d probably slot in Gilardino alongside Cassano…