It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like A Casualty Ward

September 7th, 2008 | By: Julian | 100 Comments »

In one of the wierder news stories that I’ve heard this week, Gattuso dislocated his hand after falling into a dugout. He was playing a friendly game against a team of unemployed players (which the Azzurri won 11-0), and he’s now out of the upcoming Georgia game. Lippi’s called up Antonio Nocerino, captain of the Azzurrini, to replace him. Make you wonder why Lippi won’t call up anyone to replace Grosso (fractured rib) and Gamberini (dislocated shoulder), but hey, I’m not the coach. Nocerino is basically the perfect replacement for Gattuso, as he plays almost exactly the same role: an aggressive midfielder who gives cover to the more attacking guys (like Pirlo). He’s also younger than Gattuso, and unlike his older counterpart, he actually might play with some grit. Gatt is kinda losing his edge and it might be time to let him go, so this could be the perfect transition to a younger generation.

In other news, not too much is going on in the land of the Azzurri. We kinda have a defender crisis, and again, I’m not sure why no one’s being called up to help out. Out of the guys that were called up before the Cyprus game:

Barzagli (Wolfsburg), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Cassetti (Roma), Dossena (Liverpool), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Olympique Lione), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan)

Only the following are available to play:

Barzagli (Wolfsburg), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Cassetti (Roma), Dossena (Liverpool), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan)

And based on last game’s performances, only the following should play:

Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Dossena (Liverpool), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan)

So yeah, we’re not exactly overflowing with choices. People like Maggio could help ease the pain, but either Lippi can’t call them up (which doesn’t make sense considering he called up Nocer), or he won’t for some reason.

*Note: This post was originally called “Injury Crisis for the Azzurri”, but then I saw a comment by Johonna in the last post suggesting the current title. All props to her, and I found it hilarious.



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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 100 comments.

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Username By MAD | September 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
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Well, I’m off, come back with something better then, “uh huh!” will you?

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
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well, if you actually were totti’s brain, i guess you’d actually have more purpose in life, kj.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
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is that directed at me, mad? if so, it might be your turn to enlighten me.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By Peanut aka Totti's Brain | September 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
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la magica , you’re so darn smart…i’ve always wanted to know how to read and write, can you help me?

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
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baby steps, peanut. ask your inner kj or mad for some initial mentoring.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By gianfranco | September 8th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
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MAD, I cant believe you have to consistently put up with this grief, and somewhat feel responsible this time around. But the fact that this same type of discussion has taken place here, at the Inter blog, and almost everyday at the Roma blog just reinforces my point of the Roman Agenda, heck Johonna even said it as well.

As for you MIMO, the reason I brought that is up is manifest the fact that Roman Agenda extends to all corners of the Serie A blog and we are constantly forced to read the non-biased, intelligent football discussion that is so constanlty churned out. I hope you sense my sarcasm.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Porchetta | September 8th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
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it is incredible to see the ignorance and false perception and blind admiration the Roma fans have for their team/players..iam also a Roman by birth, iam a Totti die hard fan ever since i first set my eyes on him but iam sensible enugh to acknowledge that Rona as a team CANT even make a serious impact in Europe with its present players.man united of all people humilated Roma for 2 seasons!!Milan had virtually embarrasses the same man united when it won the CL in 2006..
well, Milan is under a transition and i must admit that the management again got it all wrong when they signed Sheva, Dinho, Senderos this term , here we r talking about the national team and Nocerino´s selection is definately nonsense, preferring him over Ambrosini is scandalous!!Nocerino cant even defend like Ambro, Nocerino has a very weak header, Ambrosini can rise like a phoenix, unexpetdely and score a goal when least expected..iam certainly disappointed in Lippi for persisting with uselesssssss Barzagli, ignoring Cassano……and for selecting spent force Del Piero..i repeat, Del Piero will go down as a Juve legend but he has never delivered for Azzurri

Posted from Spain Spain

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Username By gianfranco | September 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
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MIMO, my new found friend and blogging advisor, please advise on my posts that you found to be a bit non-Roma friendly, I would like to know which ones they were to try and avoid these things in the future. It would really be helpful. Much Appreciated.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
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that’s right, porchetta, i forgot you’re from FRIS(I)NONE, caput di un’altro mundi.

so roma wasnt able to get past the eventual cl winners last year, huh. how exaclty did milan, inter and lazio do in comparison? i mean roma’s players werent able to do the job but certainly big-spending teams like inter and milan should have, right. hmmm, my records indicate otherwise. i believe roma was busy beating real madrid in both legs while milan and inter were being ravaged by liverpool and arsenal respectively.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By Porchetta | September 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
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Roma cant even defeat a 10 man Napoli the other day!!i mean napoli looked certain to win that day!!i dont think Roma will even mount a serious challenge for Scudetto this season..they must and should strengthen their defence if they have any hopes of being in the elite..BTW, De Rossi is a great player but he succked against Cyprus, it was bewildering to see him afraid of Cypriot midfielders and trying to avoid their tackles..also he missed many passes and atleast twice gave away the ball easily and Buffon saved the day..only with the introduction of Gattusso, things calmed down as Rino yelled and gesticulated at Cyprus players and urgued his own compatriots to regroup

Posted from Spain Spain

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
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sorry, porky, it’s fr(i)sinone you were from. regardless, i’m still having a hard time locating it on the map of italy.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By Porchetta | September 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
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lamagica, u dont even cease to amuse me any more, u r pointing that spell mistake of mine always..as u see, iam not FOREIGNER like u, English is not my first language..u and ur likes r all GLORY hunters, not real Italians for me..well.u may be an Italian fan, i just advise u to keep the decency and decorum of the board

Posted from Spain Spain

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Username By Julian | September 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
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Does anyone else find it kind of crazy that it’s the Roma fans who cause most of the trouble? I don’t know if they’re the ones who can take all the blame, either. I’ve seen a fair amount of Roma hate as well.

I absolutely love Roma, but I’ve said it time and time again-I’m Italian, my passion is the national team, and that what I blog about. Club differences absolutely have to be put aside when talking about national teams. I’m sure Inter fans love Ibra, but when Sweden plays Italy, who do you root for? Let’s not forget that players aren’t always the same for country as they are their clubs. Look at Totti, Del P, all of the English national team…

As far as the Ambro debate, I’m not a fan mostly because I feel like there’s younger guys who can do as good-if not better- of a job than he can. Given an choice between Nocer and Ambro, I’ll take Nocer any day.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Porchetta | September 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
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la magica, u r a joke..one day u claim urself to be a sicilian, now yu r a canadian italian..u r a Plastic

Posted from Spain Spain

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Username By gianfranco | September 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
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I hate Matrix and I dont necessarily like Inter, but the ejection was not proper and certainly not warranted. Even then it took a last gasp effort from Steven Gerrard to seal away Inter’s faith. Milan was not as fortunate but I wouldn’t call it ravaged, ravaged would more like what happen to Roma few years back, but I dont want to bring up bad memories for you. You beat Real Madrid, the same Real who thunders through the CL every year? The same Real that strikes fear in the hearts of clubs across the globe? Dont overinflate your success, it doesnt make you look to good.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
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but de rossi isfair-skinned, blond and blue-eyed while gattuso is olive-skinned, brown-haired dark-eyed product of the mezzogiorno. it goes against everyhting youve been preaching around here…i.e. white is right.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By gianfranco | September 8th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
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Julian, it is funny because I agree with on Nocerino as I said earlier. He deserves his shot, and I think he can really prove his capablilty. Ambro would have been fine as well, but in two years this team cant rely on Ambro…

Posted from United States United States

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
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no, i believe YOU claimed i was sicilian. just because i dont see any harm in being sicilian whatsoever nor feel the need to deny it, doesnt mean i am. in fact, i dont need to tell you fuck all. i will just ridicule your warped sense of the world and continue to laugh.

as for frisinone. you infact attempted to post a map that had that name (erroneous) to prove me wrong. being the brainless idiot you are, you chose to copy that name and insist on it only to shut your pussy flaps when an official map with description was posted for your education.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By Julian | September 8th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
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gianfranco, I agree. I think that we should start rolling out the guys who are probably gonna play in South Africa. So really, guys like Rossi, Giovinco, Nocer, etc. should all start being introduced to the team. There’d be nothing worse than having the first time they play on the full squad be in the actual tourney. They need to get used to the atmosphere and pressure, and the sooner they do, the better.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
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english may not be your first language but “frosinone” is not an english word.

yes, you are a foreigner. you live in spain and last time i checked spain was not part of italy. you may be confused with “hispania” which was indeed a roman province but that was 2000 years back. a lot has happened since then.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
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they couldnt even rely on ambrosini this past euro and world cup 06. obviously italy cant and shouldnt rely on him in two years. he can thank donadoni for his cameo at euro.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
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why should i have the ‘decency’ to agree with you or any other person i dont share the same opinions with? just because you blindly follow exerpts from HOLLYWOOD movies and try to pass them off as ‘the truth’, doesnt mean i should blindly agree with anyone for the sake of agreeing. one day you’ll realise that the most humans would rather use their brain to think critically rather than taking your approach and pounding yours against a keyboard and hoping to make some sense.

as for nocerino, maybe you should consider a couple of things first. nocerino was not a ‘failure’. he is, in fact, the captain of the u21 team. he was used in as trade bait to help land amauri. he was trade bait because juve are already stacked with deep mids with the likes of sissoko, zanetti, marchisio and now poulsen. he was expendable and an attractive option for palermo.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
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i would call it ‘ravaged’. arsenal run milan right off the park in both games.

the inter-pool aggregate was 3-0. the fate was sealed in the first game.

yes, roma beat the spanish league winners. there is no ‘over-inflating’, that is a fact.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By lamagica | September 8th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
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the fact that roma lost to man u doesnt bother me in the least. they are a powerhouse team and went on to win the double. there is no shame in that, considering our team’s means. the issue, however, was how roma compared to the rest and i clearly pointed out that they did better than anyone else representing serie a. hardly a point to debate because it is a fact.

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By lamagica | September 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am
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thanks to you, porchetta, the wart on my ass feels a lot smarter today. what is the relevance of this historical rhetoric? were we or were we not talking about what the italian teams did in the recent cl tourney? did that somehow seep through that collander brain of yours?

again, i dont care if you want to bring up the 7-1 defeat. you want to take a single game and use that to define a team’s 81 year history, then go ahead. as for the ‘most embarrassing moment(s) of italian football’, i would probably place the recent calciopoli situation (and the string of other corrupttion scandals) as the most embarrassing moment(s). remember how proud of italy and italian calcio you felt on the eve of the last world cup? remember the derogatory remarks in the media? remember the humiliation when tv announcers constantly diminished the italian game to nothing more than wwe wrestling? exactly. i wont even comment on how embarrassing that must have been as a juventino or milanista (particularly since the milanista also had the added luxury of participating in the cl thanks to having greased even more palms – after all, the only cheated a little bit).

there is nothing shameful in losing a game through legitimate means. there is a hell of a lot more shame in ‘winning’ through corrupt means. fortunately, roma wasnt ‘capable’ to play with the big boys of serie a when it came to that. you are right, we are certainly underachievers…that is, when it comes to corruption, threats, bullying, collusion, buying off smaller clubs and using corporate conflicts of interest as our game plan to win serie a titles. personally, as a fan of the glorious giallorossi, i can live with that ‘underachieving’ tag quite comfortably. i certainly don’t expect someone of your great intellect and thoughtfulness to agree with this, though. thank god.

Posted from Canada Canada

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