you have 5 defenders in there,

i like Santacroce too, but he has a lot of growing up to do

DeRossi, Pirlo and Aquilani all play central mid, so they would all be overlapping (when Roma plays DeRos and Aqui at the same time, DeRos is always back in front of the rear 4 while Aqui place centrally in front of him (aside from the injury shuffles)) … i am sure that is why Lippi was trying to play a 4-2-3-1 with DeRos paired with Palumbo in the centre of the back mid and Pirlo pushed up in the middle between the two wingers (though i am not yet convinced it is working, but it is a t least beginning to move away from the 4-3-3)

and Pazzini has shown some good stuff, but i am not sure it is early enough to begin starting him.

the players Lippi chooses will dictate the formation.

personally i think we might be better with a 4-1-3-2, but i am not sure that we have 2 quality, assist-producing wingers that could flank a central Pirlo. we need midfielders who can run all day and can pass well. Perrotta and Camoranesei are the only two that come to mind.

jump off the band wagon and actually watch him play. i am not saying he has no ability, i am saying he is off his game now and until he gets back some form, he is the wrong guy … not to mention he is lazy as all hell and only tracks back when someone throws a hamburger on the field. in this day and age you can’t afford to field lazy players on the international stage.

i reiterate that the problem is not with many of the players (except Pepe and Palumbo should be on the bench), but with the formation. the players on the field do not fit into a 4-3-3.

The midfield 3 played pretty well though; I thought De Rossi was immense. Pepe played well – at least the best I’ve seen him play in an Azzurri shirt. And of course it was great to see Pazzini score on his debut.

A solid, but unspectacular performance. Could have all been different had Cannavaro been (rightfully) sent off, though…

P.S. Quagliarella shouldn’t (ever) be played out wide; he’s a CF and a CF only.