Friendly: Portugal - Italy [06-02-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

don seems in very happy mood.it was great game, great win, but i hope we dont get too carried away though as the real test has just begun.

love the new kit n ordered it

[Oliver_Kahn]

I don't like those doted numbers and letters, looks a bit odd

[sinoy1]

--------------Buffon---------
Oddo--Canna---Matrix---Zambrotta
--Gattuso---Pirlo----De Rossi
----Quag-----------------Di Natale
---------------Toni

Thats my ideal formation.Cassano if he continues his form for Quag.Palladino really impressed me though.Although his final pass was a bit off his attacking and finding the openings were very smart and neat.

About De Rossi.I thought he had a good game baby sitting the defence.He normally is more imposing but just like how Pirlo has been on bad for (or was on bad form ) for Milan I can see the same for De Rossi.He did 1 bad pass but generally did well covering for Pirlo.If we're thinking about the future then he's really the one to be playing.Ambrosini is a good positional player but if you want a monster shot outside the box and just as good on the air battles then De Rossi is definately your man.

I would love to see Rosina slide into the right wing and cut to his left like he usually does.But if Don wants to go with the older players then by all means carry on.

Aquilani is a good viable option for the midfield.Perrotta has done nothing to deserve a cap.He's been utter crap to say the least.As he demonstrated on the Nani assist....really ticked me off there.You give the opposing player the outside not the inside .

Don knows what he's doing I suppose.Im really looking forward to the spain match.

[dukeofdavinci]

we got another match???when???

[D-Kin]

Next month I believe.

[Jager]

Originally Posted by sinoy1

--------------Buffon---------
Oddo--Canna---Matrix---Zambrotta
--Gattuso---Pirlo----De Rossi
----Quag-----------------Di Natale
---------------Toni

Thats my ideal formation.Cassano if he continues his form for Quag.Palladino really impressed me though.Although his final pass was a bit off his attacking and finding the openings were very smart and neat.

About De Rossi.I thought he had a good game baby sitting the defence.He normally is more imposing but just like how Pirlo has been on bad for (or was on bad form ) for Milan I can see the same for De Rossi.He did 1 bad pass but generally did well covering for Pirlo.If we're thinking about the future then he's really the one to be playing.Ambrosini is a good positional player but if you want a monster shot outside the box and just as good on the air battles then De Rossi is definately your man.

I would love to see Rosina slide into the right wing and cut to his left like he usually does.But if Don wants to go with the older players then by all means carry on.

Aquilani is a good viable option for the midfield.Perrotta has done nothing to deserve a cap.He's been utter crap to say the least.As he demonstrated on the Nani assist....really ticked me off there.You give the opposing player the outside not the inside .

Don knows what he's doing I suppose.Im really looking forward to the spain match.

When Gattuso comes back, that will be his job to babysit the defense. We need a player who can run up and join with the strikers or go to wing.

De Rossi is not suited for this in my opinion.

That leaves very few options.

Camoranesi
Perrotta
Rosina
Aquilani


Now you say that Ambrosini is not suited either, and I tend to agree. However Ambrosini plays with the Milan duo and knows them. Not too mention his experience and such.

This is a good problem to have to be honest.

[jec1]

What a line-up!

[Jager]

A few years in the making to be honest. But its all mentality, and working hard. I can't stress this. It doesn't matter who you are or who you have, if you don't work hard you accomplish nothing. Italy is built on work ethic in football.

Germany and France are the same I feel......

[dukeofdavinci]

yep, forget about the names, fame skill and all.if there is no grit to work hard there would not be any of the others that i mentioned.


hard work first then comes the experience the the rest will just fall in place by it self.

[jec1]

Interesting stuff....

TalkSoccer Media Player

[Jager]

Cool video.

I also like that version of the seven nation army mix nice....

That guy who they focused in on, he's a DJ?? And he mad the mix?

Or I missed something?

Behind the scenes before the game video?

Not sure what I was seeing..but really cool though.

[sinoy1]

Originally Posted by Jager

When Gattuso comes back, that will be his job to babysit the defense. We need a player who can run up and join with the strikers or go to wing.

De Rossi is not suited for this in my opinion.

That leaves very few options.

Camoranesi
Perrotta
Rosina
Aquilani


Now you say that Ambrosini is not suited either, and I tend to agree. However Ambrosini plays with the Milan duo and knows them. Not too mention his experience and such.

This is a good problem to have to be honest.

Disagree...Infact most Roma fans disagree.We've been wondering if Aquilani had been playing for most of the season would we be seeing the same De Rossi attacking the box and having Aquilani and DDR rotating in baby sitting the defence?With Pizarro DDR is limited to basically a DM.With Aquilani he's more of a CM with Aquilani being a CM as well.If you watch them both playing at the same time.They take turns attacking.Generally though since De Rossi is use to defending now he stays back.

He was known for his box to box skills though.During the Olympics and the year after.Now though he's basically a destroyer.And I disagree again.I think he can play there to be honest.Pirlo needs 2 hard working players next to him.Gattuso and Ambrosini in Milan.I seriously think Gattuso Pirlo and De Rossi can work.You've got to give them time to gel together.

This is a good problem like you said.I really cant wait for the Spain match.Also an inform Cassano and Rosina would work wonders IMO.

[dukeofdavinci]

i dont quite get on that babysitting stuffcoz im a bit confused as wch way it was going...but then again de rossi imo is a natural engine room man.he can command just as good rino does and can be as hard to

if comparing ddr to aquilani, i say ddr is the long range, cover the mid helping both the defenders and the front line while aquilani is more of a supply line receiver and creating the openings for the forwards, i.e the creative bit of the whole link.

I seriously think Gattuso Pirlo and De Rossi can work.You've got to give them time to gel together.

now i like that idea sinoy, while pirlo goes in the creative things of the game, going forward and adding the threat, rino and ddr can cover our flanks and center.one gets back the ball and the other excels in long range(ddr)can swing the momentum of the game back to attacking immediately.

[D-Kin]

Amelia hails Don effect Thursday 7 February, 2008

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Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia believes that Roberto Donadoni deserves credit for instilling a winning mentality into the Italy side.

The Azzurri comfortably beat Portugal 3-1 in Zurich last night with Amelia deputising in goal for the injured Gigi Buffon.

“I think we showed that we are an excellent group,” he declared on Radio Radio TV.

“We take on friendlies and qualification games with the same mentality and the same desire to get a result.

“The mental factor counts for a lot and I think that the Coach is responsible for getting us motivated.

“We couldn’t have played that game in that way after our Euro 2008 qualification campaign otherwise.”

Amelia concluded by analysing his own performance, which won praise from the peninsula’s journalists.

“The head is also very important in a goalkeeper’s performance, as you need to stay calm to allow your teammates to be relaxed,” he said. “I think that I demonstrated that on the pitch.”

channel4.com - Football Italia