AZZURI D'ITALIA

bluenine wrote:

abundance wrote:

Kimbo wrote:The difference between the 2 teams was finishing, Italy looked just as vulnerable as England defensively and could easily have lost the match. All this talk of them "always finding a way" is annoying me.

It was more cleverness and inspiration in build-up. With a tad more of it on transitions, you wouldn't have needed any finishing effort to bomb a couple more past us,  like you did on the equalizer.

It's depressing because I really like the way we play this year but I'm scared shitless by our defence rooster.
We'll spend our whole world cup just one injury or suspension away from fielding a Serie B level backline.

Prandelli is infuriating, I really like his ideas and playstyle in general but man he just makes dumb mistakes in selection.
He can't pick, he can't field, he can't sub. Scary.

Even tho, to give credit where is due, with Candreva and Darmian at least he's being proven right so far.

Yup, fair play to him. I would have had Candreva on the bench, and left Darmian back home in Italy if it were up to me.

That said, it is annoying to see Italy have no back up for De Sciglio which is criminal considering he is just a kid. What does Aquilani add to the squad, really? A complete waste of a spot.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

bluenine wrote:

abundance wrote:

Kimbo wrote:The difference between the 2 teams was finishing, Italy looked just as vulnerable as England defensively and could easily have lost the match. All this talk of them "always finding a way" is annoying me.

It was more cleverness and inspiration in build-up. With a tad more of it on transitions, you wouldn't have needed any finishing effort to bomb a couple more past us,  like you did on the equalizer.

It's depressing because I really like the way we play this year but I'm scared shitless by our defence rooster.
We'll spend our whole world cup just one injury or suspension away from fielding a Serie B level backline.

Prandelli is infuriating, I really like his ideas and playstyle in general but man he just makes dumb mistakes in selection.
He can't pick, he can't field, he can't sub. Scary.

Even tho, to give credit where is due, with Candreva and Darmian at least he's being proven right so far.

Yup, fair play to him. I would have had Candreva on the bench, and left Darmian back home in Italy if it were up to me.

That said, it is annoying to see Italy have no back up for De Sciglio which is criminal considering he is just a kid. What does Aquilani add to the squad, really? A complete waste of a spot.

You would have left Candreva on the bench? Interesting.  He would always start for me.

Darmian, I agree.  That is to Prandelli's credit.

bluenine wrote:

abundance wrote:

Kimbo wrote:The difference between the 2 teams was finishing, Italy looked just as vulnerable as England defensively and could easily have lost the match. All this talk of them "always finding a way" is annoying me.

It was more cleverness and inspiration in build-up. With a tad more of it on transitions, you wouldn't have needed any finishing effort to bomb a couple more past us,  like you did on the equalizer.

It's depressing because I really like the way we play this year but I'm scared shitless by our defence rooster.
We'll spend our whole world cup just one injury or suspension away from fielding a Serie B level backline.

Prandelli is infuriating, I really like his ideas and playstyle in general but man he just makes dumb mistakes in selection.
He can't pick, he can't field, he can't sub. Scary.

Even tho, to give credit where is due, with Candreva and Darmian at least he's being proven right so far.

Yup, fair play to him. I would have had Candreva on the bench, and left Darmian back home in Italy if it were up to me.

That said, it is annoying to see Italy have no back up for De Sciglio which is criminal considering he is just a kid. What does Aquilani add to the squad, really? A complete waste of a spot.

I had given Prandelli the benefit of doubt in selecting Paletta over Ranocchia, but that one backfired spectacularly. The frog may be inconsistent, but Paletta was woeful.

abundance wrote:

It's depressing because I really like the way we play this year but I'm scared shitless by our defence rooster.
We'll spend our whole world cup just one injury or suspension away from fielding a Serie B level backline.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

bluenine wrote:

abundance wrote:

Kimbo wrote:The difference between the 2 teams was finishing, Italy looked just as vulnerable as England defensively and could easily have lost the match. All this talk of them "always finding a way" is annoying me.

It was more cleverness and inspiration in build-up. With a tad more of it on transitions, you wouldn't have needed any finishing effort to bomb a couple more past us,  like you did on the equalizer.

It's depressing because I really like the way we play this year but I'm scared shitless by our defence rooster.
We'll spend our whole world cup just one injury or suspension away from fielding a Serie B level backline.

Prandelli is infuriating, I really like his ideas and playstyle in general but man he just makes dumb mistakes in selection.
He can't pick, he can't field, he can't sub. Scary.

Even tho, to give credit where is due, with Candreva and Darmian at least he's being proven right so far.

Yup, fair play to him. I would have had Candreva on the bench, and left Darmian back home in Italy if it were up to me.

That said, it is annoying to see Italy have no back up for De Sciglio which is criminal considering he is just a kid. What does Aquilani add to the squad, really? A complete waste of a spot.

You would have left Candreva on the bench? Interesting.  He would always start for me.

Darmian, I agree.  That is to Prandelli's credit.

I would have left Candreva on the bench too, and gone for a flair player like Cerci or Insigne. Whilst Candreva is not creative, his movement was smart and created alot of space for Darmian, plus he provided defensive cover for Darmian.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

But who knows, we always used to be scared that Cannavaro or Nesta would get injured, because it would mean Materazzi would replace them.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

bluenine wrote:

abundance wrote:

Kimbo wrote:The difference between the 2 teams was finishing, Italy looked just as vulnerable as England defensively and could easily have lost the match. All this talk of them "always finding a way" is annoying me.

It was more cleverness and inspiration in build-up. With a tad more of it on transitions, you wouldn't have needed any finishing effort to bomb a couple more past us,  like you did on the equalizer.

It's depressing because I really like the way we play this year but I'm scared shitless by our defence rooster.
We'll spend our whole world cup just one injury or suspension away from fielding a Serie B level backline.

Prandelli is infuriating, I really like his ideas and playstyle in general but man he just makes dumb mistakes in selection.
He can't pick, he can't field, he can't sub. Scary.

Even tho, to give credit where is due, with Candreva and Darmian at least he's being proven right so far.

Yup, fair play to him. I would have had Candreva on the bench, and left Darmian back home in Italy if it were up to me.

That said, it is annoying to see Italy have no back up for De Sciglio which is criminal considering he is just a kid. What does Aquilani add to the squad, really? A complete waste of a spot.

You would have left Candreva on the bench? Interesting.  He would always start for me.

Darmian, I agree.  That is to Prandelli's credit.

I would have left Candreva on the bench too, and gone for a flair player like Cerci or Insigne. Whilst Candreva is not creative, his movement was smart and created alot of space for Darmian, plus he provided defensive cover for Darmian.

Agree...tactically, not technically, Candreva is great.

Super Progress wrote:Makes sense against 2 strikers of Uruguay.

Balo-Immobile I'm less sure of because Uruguay's defence can handle crosses and Balo would have to be the more roaming of those two which he can do but these days he just seems lazy and not up for doing much. Would prefer Insigne or Cassano to help double up on the left flank and create chances by cutting in and finding the fullback, combos with Balo/Pirlo/Veratti /Marchiso or shooting.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Makes sense against 2 strikers of Uruguay.

Balo-Immobile I'm less sure of because Uruguay's defence can handle crosses and Balo would have to be the more roaming of those two which he can do but these days he just seems lazy and not up for doing much. Would prefer Insigne or Cassano to help double up on the left flank and create chances by cutting in and finding the fullback, combos with Balo/Pirlo/Veratti /Marchiso or shooting.

Yeh would rather see Cassano as one of the 2 upfront, cutting in from the left and slipping in through balls. Prandelli got his position wrong against CR (he's not an attacking midfielder).

Immobile over Balotelli please. The former is more clinical and has better movement. Balotelli has been out of form all year.

Murray wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Makes sense against 2 strikers of Uruguay.

Balo-Immobile I'm less sure of because Uruguay's defence can handle crosses and Balo would have to be the more roaming of those two which he can do but these days he just seems lazy and not up for doing much. Would prefer Insigne or Cassano to help double up on the left flank and create chances by cutting in and finding the fullback, combos with Balo/Pirlo/Veratti /Marchiso or shooting.

Yeh would rather see Cassano as one of the 2 upfront, cutting in from the left and slipping in through balls. Prandelli got his position wrong against CR (he's not an attacking midfielder).

Immobile over Balotelli please. The former is more clinical and has better movement. Balotelli has been out of form all year.

Cassano was terrible against Costa Rica. Prandelli really should have taken Rossi, he could easily risk 1 player out of 23.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Super Progress wrote:Makes sense against 2 strikers of Uruguay.

Balo-Immobile I'm less sure of because Uruguay's defence can handle crosses and Balo would have to be the more roaming of those two which he can do but these days he just seems lazy and not up for doing much. Would prefer Insigne or Cassano to help double up on the left flank and create chances by cutting in and finding the fullback, combos with Balo/Pirlo/Veratti /Marchiso or shooting.

Yeh would rather see Cassano as one of the 2 upfront, cutting in from the left and slipping in through balls. Prandelli got his position wrong against CR (he's not an attacking midfielder).

Immobile over Balotelli please. The former is more clinical and has better movement. Balotelli has been out of form all year.

christmasborocooper wrote:Who is the people's choice?

christmasborocooper wrote:Who is the people's choice?

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Mazzarri would mean Aronica and Paolo Cannavaro in defence. Great!

Buffon: Conte to Italy seems 'dubious'

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon called Antonio Conte's departure from Juventus "a serious loss" but said he remains "dubious" that his former manager is ready to accept the vacant Italy job.

Conte stepped away from the Bianconeri because of a lack of investment in new players this summer, according to La Gazzetta.

Buffon had no explanation for the coach's move but suggested the departure will not greatly affect the squad's performance.

"We've lost a great coach but great players and a smart club remain in place,'' Buffon said. "Now we need to stay together even more and show what we're worth, disregarding Conte.''

The Italian national team's top job became available when Cesare Prandelli resigned following a poor World Cup in which the Azzurri failed to progress past the group stage.

But Buffon said he is not convinved the Conte, who won three successive Serie A titles with Juventus, is ready to take up a new challenge quite yet.

"Conte is a coach who would be well suited to any locker room in the world. People love him for his passion, his professionalism, his desire to win and his determination," Buffon told Sky Sport Italia.

"However, I heard his interview and when asked precisely about the Italy job, he seemed dubious. He appeared to be someone who wanted time for himself after such a decision."

Capello: Put rubbish youth coaches in jail

The current Russia boss has hit out at trainers who focus heavily on teaching tactics to young players, rather than nurturing existing skill and talent

Former Real Madrid and Juventus boss Fabio Capello has suggested that rubbish youth coaches should be thrown in prison for their crimes against football.

The coach recently embarked on a poor World Cup campaign with Russia but held on to his job despite a group stage exit, which mirrored that of his Italian compatriots who were knocked out after defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay.

Capello is furious that younger players in his homeland are being taught tactics, rather than nurturing talent, and suggested that the lack of substantial financial reward for youth coaches is hindering Italian youngsters.

"Youth teams should be a great breeding ground for players and to do this you have to teach more technical than tactical," he told gazzettaregionale.it.

"Because the speed at which the game is played today it requires impeccable technique. This was clearly shown at the World Cup.

"Sometimes I see coaches in children of 10 or 11 years old being taught tactics. I think these coaches should be put in jail, because you have to teach the children to improve their technique.

"But since it is much easier teach tactics... That's the real problem of the youth. I would say that it is essential to focus on youth coaches who have passion and pay the good ones well for what they produce.

"If they are not paid in the right way then they will seek other avenues, because in this sector usually do not pay much. I speak from personal experience, because I did six years of coaching the youth at Milan.

"Too many times we prefer the physical side of the game, not the technical one, we look for the speed and technical intelligence (aka tactics). Obviously these choices have not been successful."

Murray wrote:Capello ha ruined his reputation in the last few years. Before he became England manager, he was one of the top managers in the world, now everybody thinks he is a numpty.

Mario Balotelli lives in place ‘far from reality’, says Cesare Prandelli

• Former Italy coach hopes striker learns from World Cup
• Cesare Prandelli: ‘Balotelli is fundamentally a good guy’

Cesare Prandelli has said he did not fall out with Mario Balotelli during the World Cup but has admitted that the Italy striker lives in a place that is “far from reality”.

Italy went out of the World Cup at the group stage despite beating England in their opening game and Prandelli resigned on the spot after their final group game, a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay.

The 56-year-old has since taken charge at Galatasaray but told Corriere della Sera that he will miss Italy and that the Milan forward will hopefully learn from the World Cup experience and become a better player.

“Balotelli is fundamentally a good guy. He is not a bad person,” Prandelli said. “But he lives in a place that is far away from reality. [In the end] That doesn’t mean anything. He is only 24 and has the possibility to build on this experience.”

Prandelli also said that he did not want to be seen as a victim after the criticism he received following Italy’s exit. “In the days since the tournament I have thought a lot,” he said. “And I kept returning to one thing. In a professional life there will always be highs and lows but these are highs and lows of a privilege. I was crudely attacked. Fair enough but I don’t want to be seen as a victim. I don’t have that right.”

debaser wrote:

Murray wrote:Capello ha ruined his reputation in the last few years. Before he became England manager, he was one of the top managers in the world, now everybody thinks he is a numpty.

doesn't really matter. maybe he'll struggle to get another cushty international job, but when he retires he'll be remembered as a successful club coach and these international failings will just be a footnote.