Italian Football Thread

[ved_]

I've really lost interest in Serie A, there are some good matches but at times it gets plain.

 

[Haarithan]

Goodness gracious me, Erik Lamela. Another man of the match performance yesterday - his fourth in 9 appearances for Roma this season! 7 goals and an assist so far..

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

The problem is Milan's finances are a bit of a mess, hence they jumped at the opportunity to offload Silva and Ibra for big bucks this summer.

well, apparently man city have been linked so maybe I was speaking too soon, they definitely could cough up the money.

still would take a lot, he cost 20m to bring to milan after the part ownership stuff was sorted out and has undoubtedly increased in value since arriving with plenty of time to improve. don't think he'd really be worth what milan would consider fair compensation, they could be asking around the 40m mark.

 

[Haarithan]

De Rossi dropped from Italy squad after punch - ESPN FC

Italy squad to face France on Wednesday, November 14:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), Emiliano Viviano (Fiorentina)

Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Roma), Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (all Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Davide Santon (Newcastle)

Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini, Claudio Marchisio (both Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Mattia Destro (Roma), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Daniel Osvaldo (Roma)

Happy for Davide Santon, about time he got called up really. Not so on Gilardino missing out with Osvaldo and Destro both undeservedly making the cut. And Giaccherini is a joke, not sure how he gets called up time and again.

Shame on DDR missing out following yesterday's madness in the Rome derby, but Cesare's a tough man to impress and you just don't breach his 'Code of Ethics'.

Anyway this'd be my preferred XI:


---------------------------Buffon--------------------

------------Bonucci-----Barzagli--------Chiellini-----

Maggio-----Montolivo------Pirlo------Marchisio-----Santon

-----------Balotelli---------------------El Shaarawy-------------


Would love to see Candreva, Verratti, Criscito and Florenzi all getting a go at some point of time in the game as well.

 

[War]

Is Abate injured?. And has Cassano breached some code of ethics as well, since i haven't see him in a azzuri squad since euro 2012.

 

[Haarithan]

Yep Abate was injured against Malaga, didn't feature yesterday for Milan either. Cassano I think's suffering a fate similar to Toto Di Natale, where Cesare Prandelli isn't really willing to commit himself into offering 30+ aged strikers much chances, with the 2014 WC in mind. Can't see any other reason in the case of Cassano.

 

[War]

Hmm interesting that if true. I can see why he would want to do that with Di Natale although he is still playing well, given he he is 35.

But surely Cassano should be in the plans for world cup 2014, when he will be just 31/32 then.

 

[Haarithan]

Old but gold. Classic screenshot of how Zeman lines up his Roma side during kick-off:

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

El Shaarawy is ridiculous.

best striker in the world this season so far imo.

 

[Auwais]

Not a chance. Falcao has 20 goals in 21 starts for club and country this season.

 

[thedon5]

Can't believe they were considering loaning him in the summer!

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

I don't agree falcao's been better. 5 of his 11 la liga goals are penalties (he hasn't scored from open play since october), plus la liga on the whole is a bit softer than italy in defense.

all 12 of el shaarawy's have been from open play, plus he's played in the CL and been creating, and has been consistently scoring seeing as none of his tally is from scoring a hattrick in a goal glut.

 

[War]

El Shaarawy's has been nice everytime i've seen him this season for sure. But surely the best strikers this season as it has been for the majority of 2012 are still messi, ronaldo, falcao, van persie & ibra.

 

[Auwais]

I don't agree falcao's been better. 5 of his 11 la liga goals are penalties (he hasn't scored from open play since october), plus la liga on the whole is a bit softer than italy in defense.

all 12 of el shaarawy's have been from open play, plus he's played in the CL and been creating, and has been consistently scoring seeing as none of his tally is from scoring a hattrick in a goal glut.

Would you even call him a striker though? He's been played mostly on the left side of a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 so he's as much a striker as Ronaldo.

If he can keep this form up for at least 18-20 months like previous world class forwards before him, then he'll be up there but at the moment it's a bit early.

If you're talking about current in-form forwards, then he'd be up there at the moment.

 

[Haarithan]

Anyone who watched Roma v Fiorentina yesterday just need to realize how good Totti still is, even at 36. Fiorentina would be delighted they lost only 4-2... this Roma side is pure quality, barring their defence.