Serie A - The 2008-09 season thread

blutgraetsche wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool! SAMPDORIA!!!!

This is going to be one hell of a finish. Still think Milan will edge it and qualify, but it would be good to have them in the UEFA Cup next season.

Two BIG BIG games coming up next weekend, and I think the CL spots and the scudetto will get decided:

Milan vs Inter

Sampdoria vs Roma
Wow, and the derby is live on five!

bluenine wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool! SAMPDORIA!!!!

This is going to be one hell of a finish. Still think Milan will edge it and qualify, but it would be good to have them in the UEFA Cup next season.

Two BIG BIG games coming up next weekend, and I think the CL spots and the scudetto will get decided:

Milan vs Inter

Sampdoria vs Roma
Wow, and the derby is live on five!

Super weekend. will defo watch those games. will they be on at the same time?

Some great matches indeed. Will try to watch the Milan derby for sure.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

bluenine wrote:Game over, Inter win!! Great run by zanetti in the end, took off all the pressure.

How long do you think Zanetti can last? atm he shows no signs of slowing down, if anything he seems to be getting better every season! You reckon he could make it to WC 2010? there doesn't seem to be much challenge for his place.

I am not really sure... there have been defenders who have managed to play at the highest level in their late 30s... the best example is Maldini... but all of them were no where as good as they used to be in their 20s. Even Maldini, who still is good enough for top flight, but has lost a lot of pace/strength compared to what he was in the 90s.

Zanetti is exactly the same now as he has been in the last 13 years I have seen him at Inter... he still plays more games and minutes than any other Inter player (EVERY YEAR) and he still has the highest miles covered per game average for any Inter player... and he continues to be our most consistent and best performer over the season... This season, he again has been our best player. If he can play like this at 34-35, why can't he continue for another 3-4 years... I see no reason, he is amazingly fit.

Zanetti = Legend!

Supermadrid wrote:

bluenine wrote:

blutgraetsche wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool! SAMPDORIA!!!!

This is going to be one hell of a finish. Still think Milan will edge it and qualify, but it would be good to have them in the UEFA Cup next season.

Two BIG BIG games coming up next weekend, and I think the CL spots and the scudetto will get decided:

Milan vs Inter

Samdoria vs Roma
Wow, and the derby is live on five!

Super weekend. will defo watch those games. will they be on at the same time?

Yes, I think they all will be at the same time like today. Can't wait!

8 goals in 4 games for Pippo!!

How many offside?

Just saw Del Piero's goal, holy $h!t!

Il Bimbo D'oro wrote:Just saw Del Piero's goal, holy $h!t!

Can you post me a link?

bluenine wrote:

Il Bimbo D'oro wrote:Just saw Del Piero's goal, holy $h!t!

Can you post me a link?

I saw it on TV, I'll look for a link.

Sorry Bluey, can't find a link. If you have Rai International (where I watched the highlights) you can watch all the highlights of all today's matches.

Basically he cut through a couple of Lazio defenders, cut back to his left and rocketed an unstoppable shot past Ballotta with his left foot, the net nearly burst.

I reckon we could be seeing both Pippo and ADP in the squad for Euro 2008 at the expense of Borriello and Cassano.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:I reckon we could be seeing both Pippo and ADP in the squad for Euro 2008 at the expense of Borriello and Cassano.

yeah that is what i have been worried about the last couple of weeks when they have scored goals. not to worried about Borriello but more Cassano who i think could really add something. He has the creativty that Italy lack. while Pippo has done well i not sure how well he would fit as a lone striker which is what Donadoni in a way plays with. he looked useless in it against France. i have been surprised by Del Pieros form but i still dont trust him against the big boys in europe.

I think it is just a story that the press is cooking up & I am sure the Juventus management is not thinking about this at all. And Gigli was not quoted in the article at all

bluenine wrote:

™ wrote:According to reports in Italy, Juventus could be set to snub the legality of Calciopoli by sewing a third star on their shirts when they win their next Scudetto.

It would be exceeding stupid of them if they did it - they will break a century old tradition. Next what, Zamparini would make Palermo put on 5 stars just for the heck of it??

I am afraid this would only bring all the cheating highlight back on Juve. Gigli & Co need to realise that the best thing is to get over it, and move on... They were the guilty party, not the victim. You cannot apologise for the crime and ask for people to forget about it, and then go on and do this - Gigli will only make himself look like a fool if he does this.

Absolutely. He is up there among the best any day

bluenine wrote:
Zanetti = Legend!

this is the link to the highlights of the game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuK1DWzi__0

Il Bimbo D'oro wrote:Sorry Bluey, can't find a link. If you have Rai International (where I watched the highlights) you can watch all the highlights of all today's matches.

Basically he cut through a couple of Lazio defenders, cut back to his left and rocketed an unstoppable shot past Ballotta with his left foot, the net nearly burst.

TarunDang wrote:this is the link to the highlights of the game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuK1DWzi__0

Il Bimbo D'oro wrote:Sorry Bluey, can't find a link. If you have Rai International (where I watched the highlights) you can watch all the highlights of all today's matches.

Basically he cut through a couple of Lazio defenders, cut back to his left and rocketed an unstoppable shot past Ballotta with his left foot, the net nearly burst.

Awesome Curl, less power than I remembered.

Unlucky Bluey...looks like our result kept the CL race open still .

We have it tough, but it's far from over...

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:8 goals in 4 games for Pippo!!

Pippo has been brilliant.

Supermadrid wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:I reckon we could be seeing both Pippo and ADP in the squad for Euro 2008 at the expense of Borriello and Cassano.

yeah that is what i have been worried about the last couple of weeks when they have scored goals. not to worried about Borriello but more Cassano who i think could really add something. He has the creativty that Italy lack. while Pippo has done well i not sure how well he would fit as a lone striker which is what Donadoni in a way plays with. he looked useless in it against France. i have been surprised by Del Pieros form but i still dont trust him against the big boys in europe.

If they did get called up, our squad would look worryingly old!

I totally agree on Cassano though. ATM our ownly genuine creativity comes from Pirlo, but he plays too deep so we have noone in the final third who can make that telling pass to unlock defences (Camoranesi and Di Natale simply don't have the vision of a Totti or Cassano). Cassano would be ideal for this. He got another assist today for Samp's first goal btw. As for Del Piero, he works well in Juve's system where everything goes around him and he plays off Trezeguet, but for the NT he would have to play wide left and he doesn't play well there.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Supermadrid wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:I reckon we could be seeing both Pippo and ADP in the squad for Euro 2008 at the expense of Borriello and Cassano.

yeah that is what i have been worried about the last couple of weeks when they have scored goals. not to worried about Borriello but more Cassano who i think could really add something. He has the creativty that Italy lack. while Pippo has done well i not sure how well he would fit as a lone striker which is what Donadoni in a way plays with. he looked useless in it against France. i have been surprised by Del Pieros form but i still dont trust him against the big boys in europe.

If they did get called up, our squad would look worryingly old!

I totally agree on Cassano though. ATM our ownly genuine creativity comes from Pirlo, but he plays too deep so we have noone in the final third who can make that telling pass to unlock defences (Camoranesi and Di Natale simply don't have the vision of a Totti or Cassano). Cassano would be ideal for this. He got another assist today for Samp's first goal btw. As for Del Piero, he works well in Juve's system where everything goes around him and he plays off Trezeguet, but for the NT he would have to play wide left and he doesn't play well there.

I am no DP fan, for club or country, but I have to admit that I would prefer him for Azzurri this summer than Cassano... if that is the choice and there isn't space for both of them, then Donadoni should pick Del Piero.

Both are in great form, but in Donadoni's system, DP is better suited... DP will provide an excellent back up for Di Natale, and a good supersub if things are not going well. Cassano can fulfill the latter role as well too, but he can hardly replace Di Natale without a huge change in the tactical system and formation.

Inzaghi, I hope he does not travel... inspite of his great form, he is just too old and Italy cannot take too many old players. And Inzaghi is hardly a like to like replacement for Toni.... problem is that Italy does not have one, coz neither is Boreillo. The best replacement for Toni is Amauri, but from the looks of it, Donadoni will not call him. Ideally, my choice of the 6 strikers would be:

Di Natale + Del Piero
Toni + Amauri
Quagliarella + Iaquinta

Iaquina is $h!t.

Cassano>Iaquinta

Calidad wrote:Iaquina is $h!t.

Cassano>Iaquinta

As a right winger in a 3 man attack? No, I disagree... for one, Iaquinta has much more pace which is vital in the wing, but more improtantly, Cassano has never played in that position in his life.

Italy has a lot of great strikers, its not about selecting the best 6... its about selecting the best players for each role in Donadoni's formation. I would love to see Cassano selected, but I am afraid that DP's form has taken that last vacant spot... so unless Donadoni decides to not take a Toni back up, I think its unlikely that Cassano will travel.

The only hope for Cassano now is that Iaquinta is selected as a backup for both Toni and Quagliarella, and Cassano is selected as a plan B in case the formation is not working.

bluenine wrote:

Calidad wrote:Iaquina is $h!t.

Cassano>Iaquinta

As a right winger in a 3 man attack? No, I disagree... for one, Iaquinta has much more pace which is vital in the wing, but more improtantly, Cassano has never played in that position in his life.

Italy has a lot of great strikers, its not about selecting the best 6... its about selecting the best players for each role in Donadoni's formation. I would love to see Cassano selected, but I am afraid that DP's form has taken that last vacant spot... so unless Donadoni decides to not take a Toni back up, I think its unlikely that Cassano will travel.

The only hope for Cassano now is that Iaquinta is selected as a backup for both Toni and Quagliarella, and Cassano is selected as a plan B in case the formation is not working.

Are Italy definitely going to play a 4-3-3? Besides I think Cassano could play as one of the widemen, Di Natale & Quagliarella aren't THAT fast are they? If Italy ever needed to attack he'd be good in front of two DM's as well.

Iaquinta and Amauri both offer the back-up to Toni in a pure physical presence sense of the role.

In terms of effectiveness, Amauri could play a lone role at the head of a trident attack or isolated, whereas Iaquinta has a nautral tendency to pull out wide and make space for central players.

Iaquinta is perfect on the wing of a trident attack and is exactly the sort of player Milan have been missing. Only Juventus' tactical system has stopped him excelling and playing regularly there, unsurprisingly his best performances has been when he has been brought on late in matches when Ranieri switches to a 4-3-3.

Amauri is probably a closer type of player in style to Toni but for their physical presence and options they bring to a system, they are both very useful players to have.

bluenine wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Supermadrid wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:I reckon we could be seeing both Pippo and ADP in the squad for Euro 2008 at the expense of Borriello and Cassano.

yeah that is what i have been worried about the last couple of weeks when they have scored goals. not to worried about Borriello but more Cassano who i think could really add something. He has the creativty that Italy lack. while Pippo has done well i not sure how well he would fit as a lone striker which is what Donadoni in a way plays with. he looked useless in it against France. i have been surprised by Del Pieros form but i still dont trust him against the big boys in europe.

If they did get called up, our squad would look worryingly old!

I totally agree on Cassano though. ATM our ownly genuine creativity comes from Pirlo, but he plays too deep so we have noone in the final third who can make that telling pass to unlock defences (Camoranesi and Di Natale simply don't have the vision of a Totti or Cassano). Cassano would be ideal for this. He got another assist today for Samp's first goal btw. As for Del Piero, he works well in Juve's system where everything goes around him and he plays off Trezeguet, but for the NT he would have to play wide left and he doesn't play well there.

I am no DP fan, for club or country, but I have to admit that I would prefer him for Azzurri this summer than Cassano... if that is the choice and there isn't space for both of them, then Donadoni should pick Del Piero.

Both are in great form, but in Donadoni's system, DP is better suited... DP will provide an excellent back up for Di Natale, and a good supersub if things are not going well. Cassano can fulfill the latter role as well too, but he can hardly replace Di Natale without a huge change in the tactical system and formation.

Inzaghi, I hope he does not travel... inspite of his great form, he is just too old and Italy cannot take too many old players. And Inzaghi is hardly a like to like replacement for Toni.... problem is that Italy does not have one, coz neither is Boreillo. The best replacement for Toni is Amauri, but from the looks of it, Donadoni will not call him. Ideally, my choice of the 6 strikers would be:

Di Natale + Del Piero
Toni + Amauri
Quagliarella + Iaquinta

I have to disagree BN. I think Cassano is much better suited to play the left sided role than Del Piero. We've seen DP play that position time and time again for the NT and it doesn't suit him, especially now that his pace has gone. Cassano plays a very similar role for Sampdoria where he is the left sided forward of a front 3. I have no doubts he could play the left sided role for the NT. He can be a supersub and a perfect backup for Di Natale.

As for Inzaghi, i agree he is not like for like, but then who else is there we can take? Amauri will only be called up till after the Euro's. Vieri is also old and hasn't received a single call up under Donadoni. Borriello is hugely inexperienced at this level. I think it will come down to Borriello and Inzaghi, and it looks like its in Inzaghi's favour because he is proven at this level and contributed during the qualifying campaign.

I think he will only take 5 strikers because he will be playing Camoranesi in a more advanced position.

Di Natale + either Del Piero or Cassano.
Camoranesi + Quagliarella.
Toni + either Borriello or Inzaghi.

Calidad wrote:

bluenine wrote:

Calidad wrote:Iaquina is $h!t.

Cassano>Iaquinta

As a right winger in a 3 man attack? No, I disagree... for one, Iaquinta has much more pace which is vital in the wing, but more improtantly, Cassano has never played in that position in his life.

Italy has a lot of great strikers, its not about selecting the best 6... its about selecting the best players for each role in Donadoni's formation. I would love to see Cassano selected, but I am afraid that DP's form has taken that last vacant spot... so unless Donadoni decides to not take a Toni back up, I think its unlikely that Cassano will travel.

The only hope for Cassano now is that Iaquinta is selected as a backup for both Toni and Quagliarella, and Cassano is selected as a plan B in case the formation is not working.

Are Italy definitely going to play a 4-3-3? Besides I think Cassano could play as one of the widemen, Di Natale & Quagliarella aren't THAT fast are they? If Italy ever needed to attack he'd be good in front of two DM's as well.

It's not set in stone yet. Donadoni has played 4-2-3-1 in the past and Italy often changes formations during a tournament.

As much as I hate to admit it, Cassano is only second to Toni in terms of talent. Hell maybe even ahead of Toni. He'd be Italy's BEST wide player. How could you compare him to that horse Iaquinta Bluenine?

Il Bimbo D'oro wrote:As much as I hate to admit it, Cassano is only second to Toni in terms of talent. Hell maybe even ahead of Toni. He'd be Italy's BEST wide player. How could you compare him to that horse Iaquinta Bluenine?

You get me wrong... talent wise, there is no comparison. But on the right side of attack and as a lone striker upfront, Iaquinta is better suited than Cassano.

Cassano's ideal role is between the hole of 2 strikers (which is a system italy does not play), or as a support striker (again, Italy rarely play that), or as a left side winger.

On the left side of the attack, Cassano competes with Di Natale and Del Piero for a spot... who would you prefer??

I would take Cassano, purely based on talent and the fact that he adds that flexibility to change the strategy if it is not working.... but I can also understand it Donadoni leaves him out now that Del Piero is on fire...

Iaquinta and Amauri both offer the back-up to Toni in a pure physical presence sense of the role.

In terms of effectiveness, Amauri could play a lone role at the head of a trident attack or isolated, whereas Iaquinta has a nautral tendency to pull out wide and make space for central players.

Iaquinta is perfect on the wing of a trident attack and is exactly the sort of player Milan have been missing. Only Juventus' tactical system has stopped him excelling and playing regularly there, unsurprisingly his best performances has been when he has been brought on late in matches when Ranieri switches to a 4-3-3.

Amauri is probably a closer type of player in style to Toni but for their physical presence and options they bring to a system, they are both very useful players to have.