The Official Azzurri thread

[RomaShield27]

If not an experienced old campaigner like Ancelotti or Lippi, what the Azzurri need to do now is get in a fresh new manager to bleed in a new era of players and rebuild the side. A lot of the players in the current squad are coming to an end – Ambrosini, Materazzi, Panucci, The Waterboy, while a lot of 'first teamers' need to step back and allow others they're chance – Toni, Gattuso, Di Natale, Camoranesi.

New blood is needed, and it is there. Players like Chiellini, Aquilani, Cassano, Dossena[s], Montolivo, Palladino, Rosina, Giovinco, Rossi, Motta, Pazzini are the future.

[Zoff82]

Reason why Lippi's team was so great because they was an injection of veteran players and youth.

[RomaShield27]

Matarrese expects Don dismissal
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... un22o.html – Sunday 22 June, 2008

Lega Calcio President Antonio Matarrese has hinted Roberto Donadoni’s days are numbered. “Penalties have brought us luck in the past and this time it brought luck for Spain. This is football,â€

[oily]

Anyone that has seen Toni for Palermo, Fiorentina and Bayern will know that he is a much, much better striker than you've seen in this tournament...

His poor showing is as much to do with bad luck in this tourny, as it is with donadonis dreadful brand of football...

att Palermo, Fiorentina and Bayern he's lead the attack in teams that actually play football, and that's why he does well and has scored bags of goals. Hoof-ball merchants like the donadoni's iItalia would make most strikers in world football look woeful.

[aba_bab]

Look.. we've alrdy established that the coach might as well have been you, and it would have been an improvement... but regardles... he got a lot of chances and didnt put them away. His movements were great at times, and he got himself into positions... but you need to finish. Hell... we may as well not give Vieri slack either.. or Del Boy for the euro 2000 final.. since we all know they can score goals to. Oh wait.. lets shit on Totti and blame him for the showings during these euro's.

[Zoff82]

What!?!?! His movements??? Don't come up in here with that hanky panky aba. Toni couldn't get the service and when he did it just wasn't good enough. He didn't get any decent opportunities to bury. The whole team played like shit. When Gross was open on the wing and Cassano was double-teamed he didn't drop the ball off to Grosso, instead he went to take on the 2 players. Disgusting, just disgusting.

[aba_bab]

Yes his movements were good.. he's gotten into plenty of good positions to score in these euro's.. and he's bothced them. Against France.. he could have had 4 goals, if he was wearing the same shoes as he did for Bayern. Yes the whole team botched up.. thats no reason not to critisize toni for not doing what he's supposed to do. I'm sorry.. but when someone gets 4 unconditional starts.. he'd better have done something to deserve them

[maro]

Dino, just in case you're having trouble with diddib's irony, the two of you are in agreement not disagreement on Toni. dibdib is pissed with those of us who have consistently defended Luca in fear of getting a visit from one of the Avvocato's other cousins. I hope that helps.

[maro]

Perhaps Luca's movements were good. I was more interested in his efforts on the pitch rather than in the bowl.

[Zoff82]

Lippi would've replaced his ass in a heartbeat for someone on the bench. Can't complain about Ambrosini this time around, he had no choice. Perhaps it was a bad idea dropping Montolivo, no?? You just can't have that type of player on the field. Slow, lanky, easily falls on the floor. For a guy who weighs 88kg he's pretty easy to knock around. Italy have never played this target man crap. In 2006 he was more of a diversion than an actual target man. In 2008, he was the "go to" guy. Well, farewell to the old timers. It is a shame neither of them had the last hoorah. Spain simply dominated Italy in possession and kept them off the ball. All in all, Italy didn't deserve to be semi-finalists with that type of play. Pirlo should've kept his cool instead of getting carded vs France. Very bad move. He should know better but Don probably didn't put that idea of don't get a yellow card in Andrea's head.

[aba_bab]

no.. not many complaints about ambrosini in the second half onwards... y'know.. he thought he was david beckham in the first half. I'm sorry... i just hate him

[Alfio]

Lackluster Italy i could say alot right now. But ill leave you with the thought, whats the point of putting a player on at the 110th min.

[Zoff82]

At least we can all celebrate the end of Donadoni. We won't have to see his face for a long time. I doubt any team would hire him as a coach. The NT is usually the last stop anyway.

[Alfio]

Remember Italian federation had the nerve to give him the job in the first place i wouldnt put anything past them they are a wierd bunch.

[Bagg10]

I think my sig sums it all up...

[p_maldini_3]

lets not forget that we are still the champions of the world.

[Messinterista]

so who will take donadummi's place? like, he did sign a contract till the wc before the euro started

[Bagg10]

Berlusconi is going to be the next coach.

[Alfio]

How about we just bring in Hiddink.

[Messinterista]

sweet