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Serie A Weekend Roundup

September 21st, 2008 | By: Julian | 25 Comments »

Serie A is back in business, and it’s in full swing. There were some great games over the weekend. For a full list of results, click me.

But of course, this is an Azzurri blog so I tend to look at everything from the perspective of our national team. That being said:

Who the hell expected Zarate to be leading the Capconnaire charts? Yes it’s very early in the season but 4 goals in 3 games- including a great one against AC Milan on a classic couterattack- speaks for itself. Last year’s big gun Trezeguet probably won’t reach as many, considering he’s out till the new year after decided to nudergo knee surgery.
Bad news- Pirlo is out for 2-3 months. That sucks for Milan but it’s potentially a bigger blow for the Azzurri. We really have no one who can fill his role as of right now, so one of the things has to happen. One, Monto suddenly become the be-all end-all midfielder that he’s supposed to. Two, the midfield as a whole steps it up a notch and Pirlo’s old duties get split between DDR, Aqui, Monto, and Camo.
Juve have a great signing in Amauri, who saved them twice now, but when is Giovinco going to get his chance to play? Given the huge string of injuries over at Juve- including Trez, ADP, and Buffon- now is as good a time as any to start him.
And yes, Buffon is injured. No one knows for how long, but he claims that he isn’t worried, so neither am I. I hope he’s back in time for our next qualifiers, and there’s no reason to think that he won’t be back by then. ‘Cause Buffon is the Robert Downey Jr. to our team’s Iron Man- without him, a huge piece of the experience is missing.
Maggio has been inspiring for Napoli. Lippi can’t ignore him forever.
Speaking of Lippi, he recently said that both Nesta and Totti would be welcomed back to the Azzurri. I couldn’t be more opposed. I know I’ve said in the past that I wish Nesta didn’t retire, but if everyone is healthy, there’s no reason he should be in the squad over GC, Canna, and Legro at the least. And as for Totti, neither him nor Nesta can seem to stay fit for months at a time, and given thier ages, returning to the Azzurri might just screw over both club and country.

Props to Milan and Roma who finally got onto winning ways this weekend. Both did so resoundingly, with a 3-0 and 4-1 win respectively. Considering how many Azzurri players are on those two teams alone, I’m glad to see the winning mentality back. Now they’ve got to keep it up.

Tags: Buffon, Capoconnaire, giovinco, Group E, Iron Man, Italy, Maggio, Milan, Nesta, Pirlo, Roma, Totti, World Cup 2010, Zarate

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Comments

By asem | September 21st, 2008 at 5:21 pm

TOTTIIIIIIIIIIIIII IS BACKKKKKKKKKKKKK
actually, i’d rather not see him go back to italia, bc he could accomplish more for the club that way…

By Jeff | September 21st, 2008 at 7:43 pm

I agree that Totti could do more now for Roma than he would be able to do for the azzuri. If he was younger i might think differently but he is more injury prone now then when he was younger, and the fact that he is can screw over both Roma and the azzuri

Posted from United States

By asem | September 21st, 2008 at 8:01 pm

Remember when Totti told Donadoni that he only wanted to play in the most important games (i.e. vs. France and not vs. Faroe Islands). Would you guys be so opposed to that? Just wanted to know y’all’s opinion, not saying that it’s necessarily mine. But if Del P can be on the team, then why not Totti? Totti is a more talented and younger player, albeit by a few years, so can’t the logic work both ways?

Alessio please don’t jump on my balls for that previous statement.

By KJ | September 21st, 2008 at 8:05 pm

totti only wants to play certain games? Who is he, the coach? I say a a big, fat HELL NO to that…We are better off without him..He can go limp around the sidelines in Roma…And this goes for Nesta, too

By John Silver | September 21st, 2008 at 8:35 pm

The question is whether Totti and Nesta would be helpful in making us win. We seem to have plenty of good players in both their positions, so what’s their use? And at the moment they wouldn’t just be superfluous, they would be noxious, because they seriously risk destabilising the changing room.

At the same time, I think matters of “honour” and stuff like that are silly in this context. I think the question of whether someone can make us win is more important than whether we like their behaviour or not. And I’m sure we can agree that having Totti and Nesta as extra options would be a huge asset if they can be brought to fit into the team’s moral equilibrium – even just as benchers (what happens if Chiellini gets injured again?).

I say let’s keep doors open for six months – as Lippi is doing. If it’s not resolved by then, fuck them both – too risky to bring them in after that. But if not, let’s let Lippi work and see if he can get them to gel back into the group or not.

Posted from United Kingdom

By John Silver | September 21st, 2008 at 8:37 pm

To put it more succinctly, what I want from both players as a condition for their playing (and which is also what was lacking during Donadoni’s time) is CLARITY.

You wanna play, you say it, you play unconditionally whenever the coach chooses to use you. You don’t, you say it right now. No half-measures. It’s as simple as that.

Posted from United Kingdom

By alessio | September 21st, 2008 at 9:36 pm

I don’t like the idea of selectively playing for the Azzurri. If you’re injured or tired, fine. The coaches understand that. But to refuse because it’s not a “big game”, that’s ridiculous. Coaches already use reserve XI’s against weak teams.

And no John, I disagree. There’s more to wearing the sacred blue shirt than just winning. I think Amauri would be phenomenal for the Azzurri, he would certainly help us win. As Roberto said over at the Offside, “Luca Toni looks one dimensional next to Amauri.” After watching his dribbling, his ability to maintain possession, his sheer aerial ability, and of course his goals, I’d agree. But I don’t want to see him in the Nazionale.

Posted from United States

By Julian | September 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pm

alessio- I agree with everything you said. Amauri is a fantastic player but he’s not Italian. The way I see it, he just doesnt deserve to play/belong on the Azzurri

Posted from United States

By asem | September 21st, 2008 at 10:02 pm

NO AMAURI!!!
Stick with Gila he will eventually come up big in my opinion. He just needs to stop gettin hated on for a little bit from every direction. I know it’s not plausible, but I love Totti too much to say for him to never come play for Italia.

By Remi | September 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 am

Serie A has enjoyed a break from the week to week tussles following the recent World Cup Qualifiers but Claudio Ranieri will ensure his side get back down to business as they attempt to pick up their first win of the season. The coach was furious after the week one draw with Fiorentina. Pavel Nedved’s goal in the first half seemed to have done the trick until Alberto Gilardino popped up to steal a point for his team.

Posted from India

By asem | September 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 am

???

By John Silver | September 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am

Whoa, I agree on the Amauri thing, but that’s a bit of a different question. I was arguing against using personal resentments for a player’s past behaviours or questions of “he misbehaved / he’s a whiny bastard / his hairstyle is stupid, so he deserves not to be called up” as criteria for being employed in the national side. But of course I agree that being Italian is the sine qua non for playing in the Italian national side.

Posted from United Kingdom

By 9 Champions League | September 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 am

Totti sux , so does Roma…Roma was humiliated in home by an unknown team..The Roman based Italian players r over hyped..Aquilani is useless..Totti doesnt play well in International matches or in Europe…De Rossi is the only decent player in Roma..

By Bashar | September 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 am

But I’m still not convinced that Totti said he only wants to play in big matches.. He acknowledges that he is injury prone and said that he will play in the matches where Italy need him. It’s not that the other matches aren’t important enough.. but that if he’s not needed against the Faroe Islands, why risk injuring himself rendering him useless for both club and country??

That said, his time with Italy is done. There are plenty of forwards in the Italy lineup who deserve a shot and could make a much bigger contribution that Totti who is injured over half the year anyway.

Posted from United States

By alessio | September 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 am

but that if he’s not needed against the Faroe Islands, why risk injuring himself rendering him useless for both club and country??

Look at the squad we fielded against the Faroe Islands. It was a reserve squad. And I’m sure if Totti had called up Donadoni and said “hey, I’m not recuperated enough” he wouldn’t have played him.

Posted from United States

By Stasio | September 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am

Totti to replace Pirlo for a couple months…that would be nice if it were true

By Giro | September 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm

How is Rosina (Torino) and Doni (Atalanta) no on the National team for atleast the qualifiers. Doni is probably one of the most under-rated mid-fielders in Serie A as well as Rosina. I dont think players should be judge by what team they play for.

Posted from United States

By alessio | September 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Cause Rosina has been shitty lately and Doni is freaking 35.

Posted from United States

By Julian | September 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 pm

Rosina needs to step it up and either drag Torino to the top of the table or go on a bigger club. Either way he has to prove himself first

Posted from United States

By asem | September 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Totti and Pirlo are totally different roles. No way that will happen. @ 9 champions league = you suck. Totti is one of the best who has ever lived, Aquilani will show his worth if he sees more of the ball (I think he played well against Georgia), and DDR will be the next leader of Italy to the World Cup. Mark my words.

By alessio | September 24th, 2008 at 12:30 am

Totti is one of the best who has ever lived
Haha, good stuff.

Julian, I 100% agree with you. With Bianchi and Amoruso up front, he may get the opportunity to prove himself this season, those guys can bang them in with good service.

Posted from United States

By Giro | September 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

yea doni is 35 but he is better then Ambrosini. He cant be any worse then ADP on the national team. Gattuso is def. not the player he once was and Pirlo is out bring some new blood in. All this talent and we keep bring the same old shitty players who havent proven themselves on the international level (Totti, ADP) or cant hack it any more.

Posted from United States

By 9 champion leagues | September 25th, 2008 at 12:42 am

by the way…porco is using my name which must be frustrating for him since he’s a italian hooligan. I do think Totti, aquilani..rossi are all first class talents.

Posted from Spain

By Torino Fan | September 25th, 2008 at 7:28 am

It was hilarious to see Roma lose again and then their coach complains for a disallowed goal!1Forget about winning the Scudetto, Roma will not even qualify for UEFA this season, They should really drop finished goods like Totti and ageing Pannucci and start showing some faith in Andreolli and other young guns. De Rossi again showed his dark side yesterday with a needless challenge to gift the match. Roma wont evem qualify for the next stage in Champions. It seems that buying Baptista and that French talent was a waste..No impact whatsoever..With useless , over rated players like perrotta and Aquilani, well….better Roma sell Aquilani to Juve and invest in a bright, no nonsense talent like Montolivo or Cigarini…

By Filippo | September 26th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

Forza Italia

Posted from United States

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