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Italy-Georgia Impressions

September 11th, 2008 | By: Julian | 23 Comments »

Couple quick things:

Yesterday we won 2-0 against Georgia. We still weren’t all that convincing, but it was a sound win, thanks to a DDR double. For a more in-depth look at the game, click here for Francesco’s great writeup. I didn’t get to watch the whole game, since I had calc right as the first half started. But I did see the last 20 minutes and a couple of highlight videos, so here’re things that stuck out to me:

Legro is reborn. It might be too early to say that considering he’s really only played 1 game for the Azzurri recently, but he was pretty damn solid out there. Some people think he did better than Canna at the CB role, and that might not be too far off the mark. He also had a great quote after the game, saying that we have to pick people based on present form because we have to win now, not later. And he’s right. So based on present form, Barzagli should gone and Legro should called up. Everyone happy with that?
Pirlo is dead tired, and he has been since Germany 06. I love the guy but what the hell? Let him rest. He looks like a shadow of himself, and he’s not at the level he was at during that magical summer. Lippi even subbed him out, which should show you how far he’s fallen. The biggest problem is that no one can really replace him. The two guys most often quipped to take over for him are Aqui and Monto, but Monto is injured and Aqui doesn’t even start regularly on Roma. Pirlo is getting up there in age (I think he’s 29), but I don’t think his loss of form is permanent or due to him getting older. Nothing a couple weeks/months of resting can’t cure. But will Milan rest him?
DDR just keeps growing in stature. A hero for Roma, and he’s now becoming quite a symbol for the Azzurri. He’s had his ups (That PK against France) and downs (The whole McBride Elbow Fiasco of 06, and he’s not the most reliable penalty taker), but he’s really starting to come into his own. Definitely one of the top midfielders in Serie A, and probably one of the best in the world. He’s an integral part of the team now.
As for our forwards… why Luca Toni is still out there is beyond me. Del P showed that class is permanent with a great pass to DDR for the second goal. And Toto continues to surprise me. He had a pretty damn good game. What’s kinda shocking is that our only forward whose scored in a competitive match since June (Including the Euros) is Di Natale. We desparately need some new faces here.
But the most impressive player out there was Camo. He’s a bag of tricks. Without Cassano on the team, he’s probably the only real creative spark we have (considering Pirlo’s form). He had a superb game.
Finally, I just read that Lippi wants to call up Amauri, and I’m kinda pissed. He’s a good player, but he hasn’t really proven himself at a top club yet (No offense to Palermo fans), and worst of all, he said he would take Brazil over Italy. Why call him up when he think we’re a second choice? I know we need strikers, but Rossi has been doing great for both the Azzurrini and Villareal. Call him up first.

Overall, we did ok. I would’ve liked to see more possession, but I did see some rare flashes of joga bonito, which got me all excited. Most importantly, we scored without conceding, and took the 3 points, giving us a maximum of 6 from the first 2 games. Remember that when we were qualifying for the Euros, we only had a single point from the first two. So this is marked improvement, but I’d love to see more possession and a few new faces next time (especially Cassano).

Next up- Bulgaria on October 11th.

Here’s what our qualifying group looks like now, thanks to FIFA.com:

Most amount of goals scored, least conceded, and most points? Hell, I’ll take that.

Group 8
Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Italy	2	2	0	0	4	1	6
Ireland Republic	2	1	1	0	2	1	4
Montenegro	2	0	2	0	2	2	2
Bulgaria	1	0	1	0	2	2	1
Cyprus	1	0	0	1	1	2	0
Georgia	2	0	0	2	1	4	0

Tags: Georgia, Italy, World Cup 2010

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Comments

By lamagica | September 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm

“equal”? of course not. why would anyone want to equate themselves to a deranged fuckwad like yourself, porky?

Posted from Canada

By asem | September 11th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

So what if I’m Muslim?
Seriously, I think suicide should be on your to-do list.

By shane | September 11th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

I saw the whole game and was not impressed with Italy at all. The game should’ve been level in the first half but a Georgian player missed an absolute tap in goal. If it weren’t for DDR’s miracle first half goal who knows what would’ve happened. Georgia never looked like winning but Italy at home should’ve been more convincing.
Why Toni is still playing is beyond comprehension. When is the last time he scored? Everytime he gets touched in the box he goes down hoping for a pk. Probably because he knows he wouldn’t have to take it.

By Johonna | September 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

I thought we were done with this porkyness, Julian.

Overall, my impression of the team was much more positive this game than the Cypress game. After everyone gets a few league games under their belts, I think performance will only improve. October should see the team much more in tune with each other and the game.

Posted from United States

By lamagica | September 11th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

porky, do you have a loaded gun nearby? if so, could you place it in your mouth and pull the trigger? much appreciated.

Posted from Canada

By 9 champion leagues | September 11th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Come on…we can all coexist, just because porko belongs to the an old italian generation in which its family members conspicuously resemble unibrowed peasants and of course are all uncircumsized, yet he believes he possesses more class and elegance to our surprised indulgence, doesnt mean we can’t understand and respect his outdated thoughts. So why fight? we all were tadpoles once upon a time. Don’t get mad pork, just because some people here are new italians and probably mixed only makes them more interesting and better looking human beings, after all, most of us here do not sleep with our siblings unlike your family tradition.

Porco…how’s your milan this year? i have to say they definitely look intimidating and impressive and are at the verge of taking another CL title.

Posted from Spain

By Julian | September 11th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Guys me and Daryl are working on banning him. For the time being, please make my job a little easier and ignore the comments. I’ll delete them as they come up. Thanks

Posted from United States

By asem | September 11th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Why delete my post I thought I made a stunning argument in the normal world’s favor???

By Julian | September 11th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Because I want all the racist and Porchetta crap gone, now. The only reason he’s still posting is cause people are giving him attention. If everyone ignores him and his comments, he’ll go away

Posted from United States

By asem | September 11th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

Can we give #10 back to DDR please?

By tito | September 11th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

A #10 should be creative and as excellent and solid a player as DDR is, I don’t think too many objective observers would tag him a creative playmaker.

My biggest impressions of the game were that it was an improvement over the prior game in which we appeared scared and ineffectual. This game we were just ineffectual, but at least we were saved by a couple nice plays by DDR and an absolute gift the young Georgian failed to put away. An improvement, but we were still pretty pathetic.

I was happy to see that Lippi had the sense to remove Pirlo but horrified by the state Pirlo has been reduced to. In my view, he was the key to both World Champion Italy’s and World Club Champion Milan’s attacks (as he *is* a creative playmaker) and his apparent demise is not good in light of a lack of reasonable alternatives. (Anyone have a theory on what the heck happened to him?? He’s not that old…) Why Lippi doesn’t bench Toni as well is another mystery to me. Canna had a few real bloopers; his days are numbered, I’d say as they seemed to be more errors of judgment than fitness. Aquilani had a few bright moments (one incredible pass in particular), but isn’t fully there yet.

That Lippi is even considering Amauri is terrible and disappointing news to me. He’s Brazilian. Let him play for Brazil and play one of our many excellent young attackers in his stead. Balotelli comes to mind first, but Rossi, Osvaldo and possibly a few others could make an impression.

I hope Johonna (btw, I loved your penguin/mint comment!) is right and October sees a team with a sharper edge to it…

Posted from United States

By Marco | September 12th, 2008 at 9:21 am

TONI HAS TO GO!!! He is a lug and useless up front. He falls down, he dives, he commits fouls, and best of all HE CANT SCORE! He is talentless, old and looks tired everytime. Send him out to pastures already.

Gila, looked a heck of a lot better when toni was subbed. I can’t believe Lippi is still on this guy’s side.

I say NO to Amauri – Call up Cassano a real blue blooded italian.

Del Piero as a sub is fine – don’t let him start. In reality when was the last time he scored for the azzurri.

has no one seen Zambrotta in these games? He has been awful. His side whether left or right has been the most easily penetrated. I really think he is finished with this Azzurri team. Yet he is constantly picked and recieves favorable but mixed reviews. Guys let’s smarten up when it comes to this guy, he’s been great, but now that he is up there in years he looks awful – there is a reason Barca benched him.

Finally. We need to start calling up Montolivo and Rossi. Let’s leave Giovinco home for a bit due to the fact that with Juventus this poor kid is going to get no playing time. But Monto and Rossi are now in prime ages where they can begin working slowly with this national team and building their skill and report for the 2010 world cup.

I will be bloody damned if Toni, Del piero, di natale, zambrotta, cannavaro, gattuso, camo, etc start that 2010 world cup. Even if half these players are on the national team I will be utterly shocked. Listen, they won us a world cup great for them. But now they have passed their prime. Don’t forget 82. They won us a cup too – then embarrased us in Euro qualifying. In Soccer/football/calcio AGE MATTERS! You want experience – but we are the SLOWEST team in europe – spain, denmark, romania, cyprus, have all showed us this fact – our legs are NO WHERE near what they use to be. The only two people with any flair on our team are Di Natale and Grosso, everyone else needs to be left at home!

By gio | September 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am

Tito (and Marco)

i agree with most all of what you have to say, but just a couple of significant footnotes:

1. no Toni. no Gilardino. no Amauri. -all these guys need to prove their worth before stepping on the pitch in blue, and Amauri needs to commit to Italy over Brazil, otherwise let Dunga pick him.

2. we cannot forget that with all the injuries, many players (DeRossi, Aquilani) are playing out of ideal position and this affects other players (Pirlo, Camoranesi), not to mention all the missing starters in the back

3. Pirlo is fantastic but he is tired and (i keep saying this) Lippi is not fielding him in a position where he can work his magic.

3. like all our players, Zambrotta and Cannavarro have just started their season and are behind many others in Europe. i think we need to give them time to get fit. already Georgia was a slight improvement over Cyprus. if things do not get better one Series A gets going, then we need to consider alternatives. i am not sure what the replacement for Zambrotta would be.

yes to Cassano, Quagliarella, and Balotelli (though i do think the latter is not psychologically ready to jump in to the b lue shirt so soon).

Rossi, Giovinco and Montolivo need to be incorporated, but slowly. they lack club and international experience.

it seems Lippi is starting to realise all this more and more. let us hope he acts on it.

By gio | September 12th, 2008 at 11:37 am

i must have missed something big.

was it Porchetta who said something bad?
usually he/she(?) is pretty ok. whatever was said though, especially if it was racist, should not be tolerated, especially against Asem – that he is Muslim should matter to no one.

Asem, i stand by you brother.

By Sofia | September 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

calling up Amauri i think would be unfair as he isnt even technically italian. a passport is nothing. players like camo are italian by blood so its ok. Amauri has NO italian in him. give players like Rossi a shot before Amauri. Also i hate Amauri

Posted from Canada

By Marco | September 12th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Gio I agree with you on your issues. But with regards to Zambrotta, it has been a good year that he hasnt been up to snuff. Dossena could be a viable alternative to zambrotta – at least for now. There is also the possibility of Zaccardo.

Pirlo definantly needs to go on vacation, he should be on the team for 2010. Also pirlo is most effective on the left flank.

For Amauri, here are my thoughts: He’d rather play for Brazil, and he hasnt dont anything except talk. so what use is he really? Lets forget about him and promote some real italian spirit.

Now lets start weening our team off older talent and bring in some of the bright young players of the future. Montolivo I am scared about. If we don’t start putting him on this team and starting him I am afraid his prime will pass right by us. Lets give pirlo the break he needs if montolivo is fit enough in october.

By 9 champion leagues | September 13th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

italy needs to work on the new generation, i agree with many of you here that toni is absolutely a tool, italy needs talented fowards, not simple poachers. Regarding Cannavaro and Zambrotta, they’ll give a pinch but the national squad will definitely need to seek new takers for south africa 2010. France is pretty much doing the same at the moment, granted they are suffering but a team needs to go through this phase in order to recover competitiveness.

Posted from Spain

By 9 champion leagues | September 15th, 2008 at 6:46 am

lamagica, you are no better than porky, in fact all of you greaseballs are the same..i happened to post my pic in the ESPN forums and porky called me a black!!Is it a crime to be born a dark ??infact 95%of spanish people from andalusia like me are darker and could be mistaken for asian pakis but we are proud of our ancestory and history that we are the descendents of Moors

Posted from Spain

By 9 champion leagues | September 15th, 2008 at 8:46 am

now porky just because your milan is the biggest joke of the old continent doesnt mean you have to go blowing fuses wherever you go lol there is life aside from football, try picking olives or fishing….btw you never came back to ESPN….i take it you dont have much to say about your team nowadays, and im fine with the fact that you dont like my pic, most ladies do so i rest my case. Why dont you ever bloom us all with a picture of yourself, i mean, even redheads can be attractive…in a freaky manner i guess.

Posted from Spain

By lamagica | September 15th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

“greaseballs”, eh, porky / 9 cl? nice try. ever thought of retiring some of your personalities?…i mean bringing them down to at least a managable 20 or so of your multiple personalities should make your psychiatrist’s job a little easier.

Posted from Canada

By 9 champion leagues | September 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Lamagica, you antipasti eating brian damaged dude, Real Madrid is miles ahead of Milan or as a matter of fact any Italian team. Our history and aura speaks for itself.Also, i remind the lowly porky to stop being brave behind keyboards. As i said, most white ladies prefer blacks and darkies like me now a days. Anyways, due to the Andalusian sun, i might be mistaken for a Sri lankan or a paki but in fact, iam a proud Spaniard and iam proud of my Morroccon roots. Atleast, my Moorish ancestors mixed with Andalusian genes and produced dark beauties and handsome males.
Did you ever hear the often repeated proverb ¨¨Black is beautiful??¨¨
Iam proud to be called as a moreno ( Dark Hispañol)..

Posted from Spain

By lamagica | September 15th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

actually, porky, your roots are in an insane asylum, not morrocco.

Posted from Canada

By 9 champion leagues | September 16th, 2008 at 11:09 am

porco…you got love it…he’ll go as far as even applauding Real Madrid when he direly despises them just to confuse the rest of the bloggers lol good one porky. You can use my name but it will always remind you porky where us madridistas stand as opposed to your titanic team. But you can always hang out with your arian tifosi milanistas (lol) now that is confusing but hey, if it makes you happy, be my guest. hasta la vista pelirrojo lleno de piojos

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