Coppa Italia, FIORENTINA-LAZIO, Wed, 20-01-10

Lega Calcio says it's on the 20th
http://www.lega-calcio.it//it/Tim-Cup/Calendario-e-risultati.page

Only one leg?

20th of January, 21:00, one leg, in Firenze.

We are having games a bit too often for this squad. I will expect the worse, but hope for the best...

we are going to get our asses kicked so badly :) FORZA LAZIO!

I really couldn't care for coppa right now.

Iam glad its a one legged match, its more of a luck then results these days, if somehow we win, it gonna be cause of luck,and foirentina wont do anythin about it next leg :X

Jofo wrote:

I really couldn't care for coppa right now.

²

I don´t want them to loose a game, but at this time I have to say: loose this - we are out of the coppa and can concentrate on Serie A. We don´t have the squad to survive in both.

Um...the pessimism around here astounds me...

Fiorentina just lost at home to Bologna...we probably consider our home draw against Bologna as one of our worst performances of the season. We can't win because?

Step away from your monitors, fetch a glass of water, have a quick cig if you need to and come back to me saying:

NON MOLLARE MAI!!!

No other words necessary...

I´m not saying that we can´t win against Fiorentina.

I´m only saying that we don´t have the squad for 2 competitions. I don´t think that it´s good for our team to play in both.

I don't care if we finish 9th or 16th in the league, it's all the same. However, this is our only chance to win something besides the Supercup this season.
Most of the teams still play in European Cups, so I would guess Coppa Italia is secondary to them.

also i dont care if we are 10 or 14(just to stay in serie-a this year)
but why to dont winn the coppa,everyone had the chance,inter(if winn against juve)and milan will be more concetrate in the league so this could be our good chance-if we winn against fiorentina

any injuries for this game,matuzalem-foggia played ?

Matuzalem will be out for another 20 days. Wonderful really.
Foggia out injured.
Floccari not certain, Firmani should rest because of the head injury.

So guess what? Mauri again from the start... At least we will probably see Brocchi and Diakite back on the pitch, some fight will be there.

Forza Lazio

We have to go for the Coppa this year as well. There are not so many games left in this competition, and once again it seems as if it the only way to actually do something positive with this season. Saying that, I really hope the guys can pull this through, but also manage to concentrate on Serie A. We are playing a bit too often for this squad, and that is a sad comment to make when taking into consideration the fact that we had a place in UEFA-cup and blew it badly.
However, does it really matter if we make it to Europe or not? We are never investing to build a squad better and more prepared during the summers; so what is there really for us to gain by aiming at winning the Coppa...?


A strange and paradoxal post by me. I feel like Lazio...

More good news

Floccari will certainly miss Fiorentina match, maybe even Chievo. And we are still waiting to hear about Baronio's condition, maybe he will be unavailable as well tomorrow.

So we can not count on: Floccari, Firmani, Matuzalem, Foggia, and now Baronio is also doubtful. This does not look good, and if we don't go back to 4-4-2 we are going to get our asses kicked.

I am not sure about the 4-4-2, before the atalanta game it seemed that we were on the way of sorting out our defensive problems. To me it always seemed that we our current defenders the pair of central defenders becomes to exposed when we are playing with 4 at the back. The obvious lack of speed is one of the main problems. In Ballardini's current system the 3 defenders become when the opponent has the ball, basically 5 defenders.

Its been all doom and gloom. The Floccari signing deflected the negative atmosphere and he has started so well, but this injury has f**ked everything right up.

Mark wrote:

I am not sure about the 4-4-2, before the atalanta game it seemed that we were on the way of sorting out our defensive problems. To me it always seemed that we our current defenders the pair of central defenders becomes to exposed when we are playing with 4 at the back. The obvious lack of speed is one of the main problems. In Ballardini's current system the 3 defenders become when the opponent has the ball, basically 5 defenders.

Yes, but at the detriment to our attacking play. We have scored a very, very low number of goals this season. A lot of matches we do not create much real scoring opportunities either. Our defence may have shipped in less goals then seasons past and then it is no wonder we have had so many 0-0 this season. Our strength is the attack. We should try to employ it not negate it just to stop goals. Our play is dull.

Sile wrote:

Matuzalem will be out for another 20 days. Wonderful really.

This is why we shouldn't have bothered paying for him, he is never consistently fit and seems to be one of those players who is a magnet to niggling injuries (when not out long term)...

It is going to be a tough ask, away from home we have struggled even more this season. However, sometime soon Zarate will amaze us again with some individual goals, I am sure of that at least - why not tomorrow? Midfield will be screwed up but it has been all season, Kolarov and Lichti could play wide midfield with Radu as LB, Stendardo and Diakite and then whoever at RB? Brocchi may as well play and Dabo, no creativity from midfield but at least it keeps Mauri from falling on the pitch and nobody else offers anything anyway. I don't want to see Siviglia play either, we may as well give Diakite a solid run now, regardless of the supposed "experience" we would lack (it has hardly helped us in the past).

Bad bad news about Floccari, a month out with a hamstring tweak. Balls....
Come on Lazio.

Ed wrote:

Sile wrote:

Matuzalem will be out for another 20 days. Wonderful really.

This is why we shouldn't have bothered paying for him, he is never consistently fit and seems to be one of those players who is a magnet to niggling injuries (when not out long term)...

It is going to be a tough ask, away from home we have struggled even more this season. However, sometime soon Zarate will amaze us again with some individual goals, I am sure of that at least - why not tomorrow? Midfield will be screwed up but it has been all season, Kolarov and Lichti could play wide midfield with Radu as LB, Stendardo and Diakite and then whoever at RB? Brocchi may as well play and Dabo, no creativity from midfield but at least it keeps Mauri from falling on the pitch and nobody else offers anything anyway. I don't want to see Siviglia play either, we may as well give Diakite a solid run now, regardless of the supposed "experience" we would lack (it has hardly helped us in the past).
Come on Lazio.

Makinwa!

He could provide much needed pace from the back. I think it could work since his record at the other end is hardly prolific and your favourite player could earn some minutes.

That might just be a masterstroke of genius... hmmm... not sure about his tackling ability, I would guess he would be a good man to hack someone down in the box...

This is the squad called up (in no particular order!)- Muslera, Mauri, Diakitè, Kolarov, Inzaghi, Foggia, Scaloni, Berni, Stendardo, Brocchi, Dabo, Radu, Zarate, Rocchi, Firmani, Del Nero, Siviglia, Lichtsteiner, Makinwa.

Maybe a possible saviour has returned...

Taib wrote:

Mark wrote:

I am not sure about the 4-4-2, before the atalanta game it seemed that we were on the way of sorting out our defensive problems. To me it always seemed that we our current defenders the pair of central defenders becomes to exposed when we are playing with 4 at the back. The obvious lack of speed is one of the main problems. In Ballardini's current system the 3 defenders become when the opponent has the ball, basically 5 defenders.

Yes, but at the detriment to our attacking play. We have scored a very, very low number of goals this season. A lot of matches we do not create much real scoring opportunities either. Our defence may have shipped in less goals then seasons past and then it is no wonder we have had so many 0-0 this season. Our strength is the attack. We should try to employ it not negate it just to stop goals. Our play is dull.

true. We need something of a balance between those opposite ends.

Ed wrote:

That might just be a masterstroke of genius... hmmm... not sure about his tackling ability, I would guess he would be a good man to hack someone down in the box...

Well, Fiorentina mostly play the 4231 with Gilardino on his own and Diakite and Radu can handle him and the defensively minded midfield the other three behind. That leaves Stephen to absolutely reek havoc!!! As for tackling ability, one word: Siviglia. He does not have a tackling abiltity. The only ability he has got is the abilty to mess up.

I think this new role will give Makinwa a new lease of life at Lazio. One that showcases all his fantastic attritbutes.

Mark wrote:

Taib wrote:

Mark wrote:

I am not sure about the 4-4-2, before the atalanta game it seemed that we were on the way of sorting out our defensive problems. To me it always seemed that we our current defenders the pair of central defenders becomes to exposed when we are playing with 4 at the back. The obvious lack of speed is one of the main problems. In Ballardini's current system the 3 defenders become when the opponent has the ball, basically 5 defenders.

Yes, but at the detriment to our attacking play. We have scored a very, very low number of goals this season. A lot of matches we do not create much real scoring opportunities either. Our defence may have shipped in less goals then seasons past and then it is no wonder we have had so many 0-0 this season. Our strength is the attack. We should try to employ it not negate it just to stop goals. Our play is dull.

true. We need something of a balance between those opposite ends.

Yep, competent midfielders. Ones that can actually break up play and pass the ball to our players and score some goals. When you have midfielders such as Dabo, Mauri, Baranio, Firmani and so forth things get pear shaped. Another centrel defender would be good since Cribari has done the sensible thing and left and a a good left winger would be great addition too.