England Out!!

[Insidious Von]

Cap...you've Anglicized him already.lol

The architecht of Azzurri success isn't Marcelo Lippi, all he did was follow the tactics that Dino Zoff introduced at Euro2000. Again Sven comes into the picture; as manager of Lazio, Zoff built a team capable of challanging the Northern Giants. He left for the Azzurri before his work was done and Sven reaped the rewards. Sven then attepted to bring the Zoff system to England but he was betrayed by his choice of captain.

Maybe "Cap" can succeed where Sven failed; Italy needed an offensive approach and Zoff gave them one, England needs defensive structure and Don Fabio can give them that. And, let's not forget that it was Cap who directed Milan to the 4-0 defeat of Barcelona at the 1994 CL Final.

Still if he cant find a stout goalie he'll be toast; would England have lost to Croatia if they had Shilton in net. I don't think so.

 

[jazzpig]

I agree with you that Zoff brought innovation to Lazio and then to the Azzurri, but I don't feel that Italy did anything impressive in the least in Euro 2000 until the final against France. My memory of the tournament is sketchy at best, but I distinctly recall my feeling at the time that Italy played way beyond anything they had shown prior to that final game. I remember thinking why they hadn't played with the same assertiveness and bravado until those finals.

After Zoff's resignation, Italy took a step backwards hiring Trapattoni, who I think was a complete disaster.

What I credit Lippi with, above all, is not just his tactical approach to each game, but the absolute confidence, poise and iron will that he infused into that team. Italy certainly had a talented team but I am still convinced that Lippi was ultimately responsible for leading them to the cup. Unlike, Euro 2000,
Italy impressed me in every game except for the one against the U.S.

Cannavaro, who was an absolute beast, definitely caught the Lippi bug. The other players that excelled beyond expectation were Pirlo ( a great player, but rose to another level) Grosso, and Materazzi. I know Mats is disliked outside of Italy, but he was an absolute monster in every aspect of the game at this tournement. I believe that Lippi was responsible for Materazzi, who is reknown for his volatility, keeping his emotions in check and playing at the next level.

As far as Capello goes, he IS a great coach but he's also had really talented teams. Personally, I've never enjoyed watching his teams. Juve had great success under Capello but I found them lacking in imagination and creativity.
I really am curious as to how England will respond to his approach. I do hope the best for Capello and the team. At the very least, I do think he will be a positive influence in that he will be able to stave off the voracious English media and give his boys some badly needed breathing room.

By the way IV, I do enjoy your analysis of the game!

 

[Esco!]

Becks dropped: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article747145.ece

 

[teassoc]

This is the squad named today:

England squad to play Switzerland:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Liverpool on loan at Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan)


Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (West Brom on loan at Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)


Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers)


Forwards: Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)


It excludes some under 21's like Walcott and Lennon who are lined up for an important game on Tuesday who otherwise might have been included.

I like the emphasis on youth.

As far as the final selection is concerned, I'd play Heskey and Owen up front with Rooney on the bench, as possible super sub if that combination doesn't fire.

 

[Esco!]

I like the emphasis on youth.

Me too

I'd play Heskey and Owen up front with Rooney on the bench

You wanna bench Rooney??????????

 

[teassoc]

Me too

You wanna bench Rooney??????????

Yes, much discussed over here (in England). Heskey's injury ruled it out in that last game against Croatia.

 

[Insidious Von]

I have no use for David Beckham. He's cared more about his image than about the teams he's played for. Why should Don Fabio give him an opportunity to throw him under a bus like "Becks" did at Real. And if the English press abuse him, like they did to Sven, he'll always be welcomed in Italy.

On a brighter note, 17 year old phenom Mario Barouwah Balotelli made his debut for Inter, scoring two goals against Juventus in the Copa Italia. Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, he has rejected Ghana's attempts to get him to play for the national team. He intends to follow Giuseppe Rossi's footsteps and play for the Azzurri - unlike the former Roma prospect, Inter will make damn sure he doesn't leave Serie A. The Azzurri have had players of colour in the past but none could make the impact that "SuperMario" has the potential to make.

 

[David Beckham 23]

Yes, much discussed over here (in England). Heskey's injury ruled it out in that last game against Croatia.

Heskey and Owen have played together for England without the best results. I would like to see Heskey and Rooney play together.

I like the fact that Cappelo is changing the line up. So let's see how Stevie G plays without Lampard (finally). Maybe with Owan or Carrick?

 

[Esco!]

Yes, much discussed over here (in England)

Can I ask why England want one of their best players benched????

And please dont use the underperforming excuse, cause then you'd have to bench the entire team

 

[David Beckham 23]

On a brighter note, 17 year old phenom Mario Barouwah Balotelli made his debut for Inter, scoring two goals against Juventus in the Copa Italia. Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, he has rejected Ghana's attempts to get him to play for the national team. He intends to follow Giuseppe Rossi's footsteps and play for the Azzurri - unlike the former Roma prospect, Inter will make damn sure he doesn't leave Serie A. The Azzurri have had players of colour in the past but none could make the impact that "SuperMario" has the potential to make.

Mario Barwuah Balotelli seems to be the real deal and has a great upside. It will be interesting to see how his future pans out for Italy.

 

[David Beckham 23]

Can I ask why England want one of their best players benched????

And please dont use the underperforming excuse, cause then you'd have to bench the entire team

Good point!

And what the hell has Owen done to start?

 

[teassoc]

Good point!

And what the hell has Owen done to start?

The argument (not mine) is that Heskey is good at holding the ball up for positions that Owen can take advantage of. Rooney has disappointed so many times for England that I've lost faith in him.

Maybe you are right about Owen. He certainly doesn't look that good right now.

 

[topcat]

The argument (not mine) is that Heskey is good at holding the ball up for positions that Owen can take advantage of. Rooney has disappointed so many times for England that I've lost faith in him.

Maybe you are right about Owen. He certainly doesn't look that good right now.

Owen has what like 2 goals? Often injured, I can,t remember the last time
he played a full season Fit. I don,t know wat Copello is thinkin here, surley
there is other options? As far as Rooney, he,s still young and explosive,
remember he was England,s best player at the last Euro. He can,t
be riding the Pines..

 

[Esco!]

England had 3 major problems before Capello

1) Goaltending
2) Striker(s)
3) A quality coach

Number 3 has been taken care of with Capello, so that leaves 1 and 2 left to be solved.

I'm thrilled with Capello, I think he'll be successfull

 

[Chimpanzeethat]

Leaving Beckham out is a good sign. I like Beckham, want him to get his hundred caps...but the team comes first.

 

[David Beckham 23]

Just in case you all forgot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz5A8oGlgDQ

 

[Insidious Von]

I haven't forgotten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIznHrYmrIg&feature=related

 

[Insidious Von]

Are Juventus jumping the shark?

Supposedly a deal is in the works wherein Juventus swaps Raffa Palladino to Arsenal for Gilberto Silva. My response to this is:

ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY!!!!

Raffa was brilliant against Portugal, but his progress at Juve has been hampered by Ranieri's pandering to Del Pierro. Why would they be so willing to give up on someone who plays like Roberto Baggio and is the same age as Fabregas, for a has-been that's a decade older? The new management team at Juve has made nothing but mistakes since taking over from Luciano Moggi. If this happens it will be their Tom Kurvers moment.

Fabio Capello has an advantage the his predecessors didn't - time. He is beginning to stamp his brand of discipline upon England, it remains to be seen how the English players will adapt to it. He wants Steven Gerrand to play like a trequartista (like Kaka) and he hopes to develop David Bentley ( I dont know anything about this player) into an English Pirlo. But can England accept the concept of positional football?

 

[teassoc]

Regarding England under Capello there was some interesting analysis in today's English papers. Joe Cole was popularly regarded as the best player in the game vs Switzerland (despite Gerrard being the so called man of the match). Gareth Batty has taken some criticism for his poor passing. Some are writing that Owen won't get on the field without someone like Heskie or Crouch to protect him. Also putting Rooney up front by himself was not the original plan. Next time up he might play just behind the front two (whoever they are).

Did any of you see the under 21 team vs Ireland? Bit scrappy most of the time but Lennon and Woolcott impressed.

 

[Big Michael]

Are Juventus jumping the shark?

Supposedly a deal is in the works wherein Juventus swaps Raffa Palladino to Arsenal for Gilberto Silva. My response to this is:

ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY!!!!

Raffa was brilliant against Portugal, but his progress at Juve has been hampered by Ranieri's pandering to Del Pierro. Why would they be so willing to give up on someone who plays like Roberto Baggio and is the same age as Fabregas, for a has-been that's a decade older? The new management team at Juve has made nothing but mistakes since taking over from Luciano Moggi. If this happens it will be their Tom Kurvers moment.

Fabio Capello has an advantage the his predecessors didn't - time. He is beginning to stamp his brand of discipline upon England, it remains to be seen how the English players will adapt to it. He wants Steven Gerrand to play like a trequartista (like Kaka) and he hopes to develop David Bentley ( I dont know anything about this player) into an English Pirlo. But can England accept the concept of positional football?

Dude relax, it's just paper talk. I believe Gilberto is available for free or he may have one year left on his contract as of July. The most, if any Arsenal will get for him is the cost of one year of contract amount. Besides Juventus got Sissoko from 'Pool so they don't really need Gilberto.

Bentley is a former Arsenal player who at 18 couldn't understand why he wasn't playing instead of Bergkamp or Ljunberg He wanted first team action so Arsene sold him to Blackburn. Good potential but has an attitude and a long way to go before he is a Pirlo.

There a few teams in the Prem that play a good positional (passing) however most of the palyers on those teams are not English.