The Official Azzurri thread

[maro]

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

[RomaShield27]

[Bagg10]

dio mio...

[Lombardiamia]

I'd like to see this formation against Romania.

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

-Zambrotta--Panucci---Chiellini---Grosso--

-----Camoranesi--Pirlo--De Rossi--------------

--------------------Perotta---------------------

----------Di Natale-----------Toni--------------

[RobHood]

Good call, Lomba...the team does look much more balanced. Di Natale deserves another shot but I am curious to see how well Cassano would do from the start.

[Messinterista]

I'm not sure if this has been posted before...

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Italy Players Revolt Against Donadoni

Source: http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=731904

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, a number of Italy players were so furious with Roberto Donadoni’s decisions in the defeat against Holland that they sent text messages to those left out of the squad slamming the Azzurri boss.

Donadoni has been absolutely crucified by the Italian press for his own personal performance both before and during the dismal 3-0 defeat to the Dutch in Berne on Monday night.

The Don has been blasted for starting the disaster-prone Marco Materazzi, as well as Massimo Ambrosini, while also for leaving Fabio Grosso and Daniele De Rossi on the bench. He has also been heavily criticised for waiting so late in the second half before introducing tender Alex The Waterboy and Antonio Cassano, both of whom impressed during the few minutes they received.

The Gazzetta says that members of the Italian squad also blame Donadoni for the defeat, and a number sent text messages after the game to players not in the squad, criticising the coach.

"Physically we are fine, but we enter onto the field with fear," one World Champion wrote to another World Champion.

"We only know who plays a few hours before the game. We are treated like children.â€

[maro]

Bagg, clearly that has to be one of the finest posts of all time.

On the 4-3-3 thing, I'm not just talking about with the Azzurri. It's the formation he brought with him from Livorno and from the very beginning he announced that it was the shape he was going to play - before, that is, Totti had officially announced his retirement. It will be very interesting to see if Totti makes himself available for the next WC as some think he might.

Lomba, I think it'd be great were he to go with those players; I'm not quite sure why you wouldn't just shoe-horn them into the 4-3-3 they've been being asked to play for two years, though - with Perrotta alongside or just in front of the other two in the middle, and with Camo and Di Natale down the flanks. It's not that I particularly like the 4-3-3, but if it's the way they've been working on playing together for so long, there's some sense in sticking to it. I also think you really need Di Natale in the team, just for his pace. He's the one guy who poses a threat in behind; perhaps DD thinks Romania will defend deep whatever team he picks, and so the Waterboy and Cassano are a viable pairing; for me, though, you need DN's pace, if nothing else, because in and of itself it buys two or three yards for the playmakers in the middle of the pitch.

[Alfio]

-------------------------------Buffon
------------Zambro------Panucci---Chiellini------Grosso-------
------------Aquilani----------Pirlo------------De Rossi-----------
----------------------------Cassano------------------------------
-----------------Toni-------------------DP--------------------------

[Italiamia]

[Lombardiamia]

[p_maldini_3]

[SuperPippo9]

[marco]

[vtec]

[SuperPippo9]

[aba_bab]