Will Our Defense Have Problems With Pace?

Balza and Cassani from Palermo are gems, look into them a bit…and regarding our back line Canna’s done, Zambro can’t do shit anymore he’s wayyyyyy too fucking slow for todays game, Grosso’s getting out-dated…the only one that should stay is GC…My backline is Criscito, Balza, Cassani and GC

Our back 4 should be… Motta, Cannavaro, Cheillini, Santon

nah u guys r all wrong, defence is about experience and leadership. Cannavaro, zambrotta, grosso have been playin together since world cup ‘06. Chiellini is a beast in the backk. sure they might be gettin older but theyve been playin so long together they understand each other. plus canna, chiellini, grosso, and buffon have a whole season to play together and gel even further. I rather have them makin mistakes now, like against teams like napoli, then against any team in the world cup come june, pluss sumtimes ur off ur gameee, but lets hope they can play well togther for a month in south africaa. they r def the best defence we have now and they will only gain more experience as time wears on. Sure they could lack pace at sum points, but u can make up for that with better positioning, awareness, and passion. Just look at cannavaro in 06′

Yes, rewatch Juve-Napoli

Motta? Santon? Maybe if they start playing for their respective clubs. Santon is at least putting in some decent performances when he gets a chance, Motta, not so much.

Every team is going to fuck up occasionally, and yesterday was Juve’s day. Just like our crushing of Sampdoria (and locking up Cassano) didn’t mean we were the best team in the world, neither does yesterday’s defeat mean they are rubbish. Grosso, Chiellini, and Cannavaro have all had very good games with the Nazionale and with Juve in the last 6 months, I can’t say the same for Zambrotta who looks more tired than the previous 3. Yesterday, the problem was not the defense (though it was underwhelming) but the lack of a midfield retaining possession meant every attack Napoli had, it bypassed straight through the midfield and went to attacking our defense.

Do they have problems with pace? Chiellini and Grosso I don’t think so, Cannavaro yes, but he’s never been a pacey defender. Italy just has to play their game at the WC, slow, and build-up play. Not long-ball to the strikers and a non-existant midfield.

Cassani, Balzaretti, and Criscito all deserve call-ups and a shot to prove themselves, they have in Serie A. But if they do, everyone will probably bitch and moan about Lippi preferring ex-Juve players, no matter how ridiculous a claim it is.

Cassano is back ! Also made the front page of Gazzetta

“Maybe somebody has become a little too accustomed to eating the finest chocolate and occasionally has to nibble on some ****.

http://www.football-italia.net/nov1k.html

I agree with Alessio about Juve’s defence yesterday. Slightly off their game, and the whole team seemed to hit snooze in the second half. Plus, Juve’s midfield was completely overrun. They really miss Marchisio and Sissoko in that game. I am glad they decided to sit back a bit and let Napoli come back though! LOL

I think Chiellini,Cannavaro, and Grosso will be alright. Zambrotta is done however. Really need to find a younger right back. Maybe Motta will start picking it up at Roma.

At CB, I was really hoping Nesta would stay healthy and give it one last go at the WC, even as a reserve if need be. He has showed he still has pretty good speed and would be a big addition for the trip. Don’t think it’s going to happen though.

I would really hope Lippi gives Ranocchia a serious look, the dude has some serious game.

Bari hasn’t conceded a single goal in the first 45minutes of play this season, the only Uefa 1st-division team to do so. Gillet/Ranocchia/Bonucci is a brilliant defense.

wikipedia says ranocchia is 6 ft 5! if thats truee then he’s like a way more skilled, less stupid marco materazzi. and 15 years younger too! I can see this guy becoming a defensive stalwart for the azzurri as soon as cannavaro retiress. He would be good on set pieces and cornerss.

my 2 cents. this defense is too slow & old. not a good sign.

I hear Lippi is watching Parma and Palermo and he is impressed with some of the players. Motta, Criscito, Cheillini, Santon are the futue of Azzurri along with Santacroce and others I cannot name right now.

Zambro is the weak link. And if Chiellini or Canna gets hurt, we don’t have a decent replacement. I think defense is going to kill us next year.

Hopefully De Silvestri can keep up the good perfromances for Fiorentina

I partially agree with Alessio about Juve’s midfield … i think Chiellini looked particularly winded because he was having to rush back often where the midfield should have been tracking back more, but ultimately, it does come down to the defenders to defend.

it is certainly more critical that the wingers have pace and i have to agree with ED about Santon and Motta … and i don’t know how many Roma games Alessio has seen, but Motta has been great except for when his cramp has started acting up. While Cannavarro’s lack of pace is compensated for by his experience level, i really think Zambrotta’s level of experience does not always balance out his loss of pace in the back.

ya de silvestri is doin well, he’s a beastt. I dunt kno wat u guys r talkin bout, zambrotta is doin pretty well at milan considerin he’s playin game in and game out, he gets up well and also has great experience in defence and it showss. i think he is stil one of the best fullbacks today even if he is lackin a lil in pace

Let’s not worry too much about what will and won’t happen. The Azzurri has a long standing history of performing well on the world stage. Our performances for the last 25 years have been remarkable only being eliminated by penalties aside from that blemish against the freakin Korean’s in 2002. We have lots of talented young players and they need to step up now. I’m looking at you Gianvinco, Santon, Rossi, Aquilani, etc…. Of course we need the core of talent that will guide us to victory without a doubt. I’m looking at Del Piero (nevermind Totti), Cameronesi, Cannavaro, Grosso, Buffon, Zambrotta, De Rossi, Pirlo, etc… Del Piero to me is an essential ingredient to the overall well being of the Azzurri. No player has ever carried sooo much class and talent onto the field the way he has. He gives the Azzurri and all Italians a good name and makes us proud of what we really are and strive to be: champions of the world!!!

From an experience point of view Cannavaro is enough. If Zambrotta and Grosso weren’t in the last world cup they would never be considered for this team. Gross wasn’t good enough to start for Inter but he’s somehow a starter for the national team. Italy has the oldest team and I think it is based on a cultural extreme respect for seniority. We see this in the family and in many other aspects of the society. Although someone like Ballotelli has attitude problems it is pretty remarkable that he is deemed capable enough to start for Inter but not even worthy to be on the national team. I saw “la domenica sportiva” last night and no-one was even mentioning Giuseppe Rossi as a front-runner for a substitute forward. Although it could be because they don’t consider him Italian, he runs rings around Gilardino. Another example is Federico Macheda who plays for Manchester United but not good enough for Italy.