Dear Delio,
I am sure you are training the boys as good as it always happen before a game, and especially before a match against the big 3. Lot of tactics, lot of DVD’s watching, lot of “they are stronger but we can do” Obama’s style. And as always when we face one of those big 3 (and more then ever against this Juventus, who looks as solid as ever), my impression is that it’s going to be an uneven fight between a collie and a Rottweiler, or a woodpecker trying to break in chunks a piece of marble.
So, that’s why I dare give you a few humble pieces of advise, just to avoid that the usual ways of training the boys before a big game ends in the usual way. Aye, since you are in charge on the Eagles’ bench, we have never been able to beat (in serie a) any of the big northern teams. Not that many have achieved that result, but anyway some clubs have managed to do (this season Palermo and Bologna, for example), and they are not extraordinary teams as the results can lead to think.
I am writing this under the effects of antibiotics and with a 38°C fever, so that’s just why I am going to give you those pieces of advise, because in normal conditions I would never do that and moreover a good result would help more than couple of aspirin pills…
1) Scrap that bloody off side tactic away, please, please, please! Haven’t you got fed up enough of all the goals we conceded because of it? We have one of the youngest defenses in Serie A, and to play that tactic successfully you need to have players who have played together for a good deal of time, at least enough to make it work decently, if not like a Swiss clockwork. One step too backwards, and lot of times you are done. De Silvestri – Diakité – Siviglia (if available, otherwise Rozehnal) – Kolarov in a defensive wall with the the lateral backs blocked.
2) Our midfield needs (to try, at least) to stop the Juventus midfield tanks. So, field 4 midfielders who can run as much as their opponents and who can have more or less their same strength. Brocchi – Dabo – Ledesma – Lichtsteiner. No creativity here, but against Juventus that virtue is as useful as oregano in the preparation of a good sauce for pasta, it might be good, but not strictly necessary.
3) Attack: Goran and Tommaso to start and doing the dirty work up front, then, Zàrate for Brocchi.
All right, Delio, back to take some medicines now. I’m sure you will field the best possible line up.