I seriously wonder about Gnonto. He hasn’t played much but I’m liking what I’m seeing so far and feel that he’s a hard worker. We could really try him as a striker!
Di Lorenzo’s only hope now is that Conte kicks his ass and makes him a decent defender again. His days as a right back are over IMO. He will likely be converted to a right sided CB in the 3 because I really doubt he can play as a wingback. As for fishing for talent in Serie B, let’s be realistic. The top Italians in Serie B need to move their way to squads in Serie A. These initiatives are great, but until they’re imposed on Serie A clubs it doesn’t matter
I'm not sure we are that far away from fielding B players imo. Up until 30 years ago, the Azzurri squads were almost exclusively from the "7 sisters" and the starters primarily Juve, Inter, and Milan. After 2000 you'd get players having exceptional seasons at mid table clubs or guys at bigger clubs who didn't routinely feature. We are at the point now if you are Italian and young and starting you're on the national team... There's zero incentive for Serie A teams to play italians. The fans don't demand it and the ownership is increasingly foreign. Serie A couldn't even enforce a mandate if they wanted to. They can offer incetives though
Great. Employ another player out of position. Seeing what Spalletti has done, wouldn't be surprised. He has embarrassed himself with his conduct (ie; 14 years) and when you read how the opposing Manager predicted a win based on his tactical and personnel switches, then something is wrong. More, he said after the Spain match that they were tired and he had no idea why because they were training in accordance to what the sports science dictated. To me, they checked out on him.
This is what I am afraid of. Conte will whip him up to some semblance of a footballer and he is a part of the next cycle. For the love of all things holy, move on from this guy.
I read WC qualifying starts next March in 2025 but aren't a few of the group games initially played in September after the season starts?
Written a few times already. UEFA Nations League is September, October, November. World Cup Qualifiers for UEFA begin in March.
UEFA Nations League ..... I fail to see the reason or point of playing this Nations League. I mean I'm glad they are playing more menaingful games as opposed to friendlies but the important games are the WCQ.
Considering it's been around for 3 editions and you are a football fan, how have you not understood? Especially given that you referred to it as meaningful.
I know they play these matches but they mean nothing and have no purpose. The only important games are the World Cup and Euro qualifying matches. Therefore , in my opinion , they are just a waste of time. Those Nation League games wont help anything.
You'll probably forget tomorrow but here goes anyways, they offer a backdoor entrance to the World Cup or European Championships. For example, take Georgia. They finished 4th in their Qualifying Group but by virtue of their performance in the UNL they were able to go to a Playoff against Greece to qualify to this current European Championships.
Also, They give fans of smaller teams something to look forward to. A fan of say Lithuania would have no fun if their FA scheduled a Friendly versus Spain and they knew a 5-0 beating was on the cards. Instead they are in a group with teams at the same level which makes for competitive matches and the goal is Promotion to a higher league.
I spoke to my cousins and friends in Italy this afternoon. Some are Juventini, Romanisti , Laziali and Milanisti. They all say the same thing that they care nothing about the national team and all they want to see is who will emerge from the calciomercato and can't wait until the season begins. Italian tifosi will never change.
LOL They are bragging about outdoing each other for how many Ugandans and Balkans they can get for 37 vecchie Lire.
They've changed the format. For those teams that do well in the UNL, their WC Qualifiers may not start until September 2025. Wanna see how this plays out. Unlike previous editions that had a SF and Final, this next edition will have a QF Stage. Was aware but didn't read the finer points. Same as the Champions League.
That is over a year and many players away. For as long as I remember , I don’t think I’ve ever seen the same group of players during qualifiers and final tournaments. So many players will come and go between now and September 2025. Then again, maybe newer and better blood may emerge.. The waiting could end up being a good thing.
Stop with the Scamacca stuff. Have you guys not seen enough to realize he's worthless when it counts? He might dazzle a few games, but he will eventually mentally shut down. The sooner we move on, the better for our scoring. We have to pray Camarda matures quickly, but frankly, I'd rather have a Pinamonti starting for our team up front than Scamacca. Retegui has no feet, but at least he brought energy and could hold the ball.
I told you guys our conazionali in Italy don't give a crap. They whine for 24 hours, nothing changes, Spalletti stays, calciomercato for cheap foreigners begins, rinse and repeat.
Nations league The UEFA Nations League has been expanded with a new knockout round to be played in March 2025, thereby creating continuity between the group phase ending in November and the finals played in June. The League A group winners and runners-up will participate in home-and-away quarter-finals, with the winners of these ties qualifying for the Final Four. The fourth-placed teams in Leagues A and B are automatically relegated to League B and C respectively. The two lowest-ranked fourth-placed teams in League C, meanwhile, are relegated to League D. The four group winners in Leagues B and C, as well as the two group winners in League D, are automatically promoted to Leagues A, B and C respectively. The third-ranked teams of League A and the runners-up of League B, as well as the third-ranked teams of League B and the runners-up of League C, will play a home-and-away promotion/relegation play-off. There will also be play-offs between the two best-ranked fourth-placed teams from League C and the two runners-up from League D. The expansion of the UEFA Nations League into the International Match Calendar window of March will only concern a selected number of teams and the remaining teams will already be available to start the European Qualifiers.
So the only way we start our qualifying games in March 2025 is to be 4th placed (last) in our group? Also, which teams gains a World cup playoff spot through Nations League? The 1st in each group or the winner between the 1st and runner up (quarter finals of Nations League)?
Why all the blame on Scamacca like the whole team except for Gigi wasn't complete shit. Some of you are hilarious. What did Retegui do when he came on? Absolutely nothing, move on from the Scamacca hate it's childish.
IMO, need to try to win the UNL Group. Which would mean our WCQ's won't start until September 2025 and we are placed in a Group of 4 for WCQ's. Downside to that is less WCQ's so any slip up is magnified.