[Deano]

Since we won the World Cup I havent really cared that much about 'the future' as I was just happy to witness us winning the WC in my lifetime. Now I am hungry for more p So the question is, where are the players coming from? It is 100% arguable to ask where the next under 21 talents like Totti, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Nesta, Buffon are? It is most probable to say we dont have any, but then we cant be sure until the future.

GK

We suck. Not one goalkeeper of any true potential. Viviano could be decent, but thats all. Amelia is a very good GK, but cant say he is world class until he moves to a bigger club. Amelia is the youngest (at 25?) good goalie we actually have. Anyone younger than him either sucks or is totally unproven. Luckily Buffon has about 8 years left.

Full-back

De Silvestri will be top class, mark my words. The next Zambrotta... strong offensively and defensively. Maybe less skill, but also more powerful and intelligent in the defensive game. Aside from him I am unsure of our talents. Modesto is still youngish, but nothing special for me. Probably the era of veyr good attacking FBs will be gone after Zambrotta, Grosso and Oddo get a bit older.

Centre-Back

Maybe no Nesta's around, but Gamberini has a good 8-10 years of top class football in him... I really like him and Chiellini is turning into a world class defender either at CB or LB. We will see Barzagli once he transfers to a big club probably this summer. Younger than these its hard to tell.. i think Criscito can be a better LB, while Santacroce looks quite special too.

Central Midfield

We are in decent hands here I believe. Montolivo and Aquilani look like becoming top players. De Rossi already is a top player. Cigarini can become a vice-Pirlo, maybe not to his level though... I also believe in Marchisio. The 2 Inter youths I like aswell... Puccio and Bolzoni.

Wide Midfield/fantasista

Nowadays its hard for me to define a wide midfielder and a wide striker/fantasista... as Italy in general now more or less plays fantasista's in a widish role... As an out and out wide mid... well Rosina is still young, lets not forget... and also Marco Mancuso of Cagliari could become something. I believe we have many talents at fantasista... Giovinco, Forestieri, G. Rossi, Di Gennaro, Cerci, Russotto... surely 1 or 2 must become something. Cassano is just 25/26?!? aswell. Oh, there are also 2 youths at Juve I am impressed with... Esposito and Pasquato.

Striker

Borriello is just 25... I think he will be our next Toni... well I said this for a long time. Pazzini is still young too... maybe wont be the classic poacher I had hoped for though. Depsite him sucking for 2 years now, Gila is also young enough to come back again, I hope. From the younger generation I am impressed with Acquafresca... Osvaldo is decent and finally Paloschi and Balotelli

 

[marlo85]

I think our future will be fine and I expect our line-up to be something like this for the WC 2010


----------------------Buffon
De Silvestri----Gamberini----Barzagli----Chiellini
----------------------De Rossi
-------------Aquilani-----------Montolivo
----------------------Giovinco
-----------------Borriello----Cassano

I know Chiellini is better at CB but if no one comes through at LB then we should/might see him playing there. As for midfield, maybe it is a bit too attacking but I can see something like that working as long as Aquilani and Montolivo work hard. In attack, Giovinco, enough said Maybe Toni will be around, if not, Borriello or Balotelli if he becomes as good as he can become.................

 

[Morierinho]

Gila would score more than Pazzo if he teamed up with Mutu under Prandelli again

Agree with your assesments overall.

We won't see a new Buffon for decades. I truly believe he's the Maradona of goalkeepers. Amelia isn't too bad, though.

 

[Osman]

If Di Silvestri deserves to be bigged up, so does De Ceglie as LB p But nah, seriously, seen Di Silvestri very little, has nice physical attributes, but not seen him start for Lazio often.


Only position I think Italy is bit off on is backup GKs which it isnt needed really (even if its awkward to not have any considering the history for it), and Top D talents. Chiellini is set on CB for life, and another big CB talent is needed, because Barza is nothing special.

Midfield is extremely promising IMO. The attacking/fantatisti especially (no DMs in sight? or if you want to call Marchisio a DM), the obvious Montolivo and Aquilani. Most importantly Giovinco who will own ALL And the likes of Rossi, Forestieri and such will be very nice gems. If Gila changes club and comes back well, he should be the future together with Cassano and Borriello (lets hope he isnt one hit wonder) in short term speaking. Behind them should Acquafresca if his career continues on like the second half of this season shows, though probably just a good player maybe (though he is still very young). I dont rate Pazzini much at all, might aswell mention Palladino if he is mentionned.

Balotelli is an obvious mention even if still too young as Paloschi, but he is one promising rough diamond with heaps of X factor so to speak. Only one who can be for sure can be a worldwide dominating striker from what we have seen (Paloschi can be a promising goalscorer, but not seen much to say he is the kind of talent Balotelli is).

This all speculative, considering there allways may be some talents that come out from nowhere and impress, that never was considered for U21-footie etc.

 

[M.G.]

Who knows anything about Castiglia? He played like 10 minutes in the game that Juve beat Palermo 5-0, but that's it. He looked like a CM from the little I saw. He should be pretty decent if he was trusted enough to play and still gets some time on our bench.

 

[jani]

Paloschi-Balotelli supported by Giovinco, Aquilani and Montolivo will be the future attack, thats for sure.

 

[M.G.]

Sounds sweet, except maybe Rossi instead of Paloschi.

 

[pirri]

what are u talking about?..del piero is PWN giovinco at juve and be a starter for at least the next 10 years for juve and italy tut..the nerve

 

[jani]

Sounds sweet, except maybe Rossi instead of Paloschi.

Ahh, yeah. Totally forgot about that Milanista-at-heart He should definitely be an Azzurri starter.

Paloschi is only 18 though.

Who knows what he can show in a few years time.

 

[Overclass]

del piero will be play with fanboys

 

[Deano]

I think our future will be fine and I expect our line-up to be something like this for the WC 2010


----------------------Buffon
De Silvestri----Gamberini----Barzagli----Chiellini
----------------------De Rossi
-------------Aquilani-----------Montolivo
----------------------Giovinco
-----------------Borriello----Cassano

I know Chiellini is better at CB but if no one comes through at LB then we should/might see him playing there. As for midfield, maybe it is a bit too attacking but I can see something like that working as long as Aquilani and Montolivo work hard. In attack, Giovinco, enough said Maybe Toni will be around, if not, Borriello or Balotelli if he becomes as good as he can become.................

Cannavaro and Pirlo will be at 2010... so probably will be Gattuso, Toni, Zambrotta and so on... these guys are still either just under 30 or just over and can play until they are 33/34 as usual with Italy. Well Cannavaro will be 36 by the WC but I wouldnt doubt him being there already.

 

[marlo85]

Cannavaro and Pirlo will be at 2010... so probably will be Gattuso, Toni, Zambrotta and so on... these guys are still either just under 30 or just over and can play until they are 33/34 as usual with Italy. Well Cannavaro will be 36 by the WC but I wouldnt doubt him being there already.

Yeah I wasnt really thinking when I wrote 2010......I dont understand how I forgot about Pirlo, he will definitely be there and you can put him instead of Montolivo in my line up. I dont think Cannavaro will be there though and I have a feeling Zambrotta will retire after the Euro's (hope not) and Gattuso wont retire but I really doubt he will start and will probably be on the bench. Toni better be there

 

[Deano]

I dont think guys like Zambrotta and Cannavaro will ever retire for us... they will just stop playing when they arent good enough anymore... unless we do win Euro 2008... but I think them players fancy going to another WC and trying to win it.

 

[Osman]

I dont think Zambro will retire, nor should he 2 years from now, isnt that old. Only if he has some nagging injuries. But Cannavaro should most likely retire. Even if he can hold the fort a bit when he is that old, he would still be quite old.

 

[Deano]

Cannavaro can also get Maldini record... thats another reason for him to carry on. Besides, wouldnt you want to be the captain of 2 World Cup winning teams? Thats what he will aim for. I think Cannavaro has enough left to be playing at 36, because he still looks fit, he rarely got bad injuries in his career aswell.

 

[Harry Potter]

GK

We suck. Not one goalkeeper of any true potential. Viviano could be decent, but thats all. Amelia is a very good GK, but cant say he is world class until he moves to a bigger club. Amelia is the youngest (at 25?) good goalie we actually have. Anyone younger than him either sucks or is totally unproven. Luckily Buffon has about 8 years left.

Livorno will probably go down so a class gk like Amelia will move toa better club for sure.

also there is Agliardi from Palermo who I think will be a class one day

 

[Harry Potter]

Wide Midfield/fantasista

Nowadays its hard for me to define a wide midfielder and a wide striker/fantasista... as Italy in general now more or less plays fantasista's in a widish role... As an out and out wide mid... well Rosina is still young, lets not forget... and also Marco Mancuso of Cagliari could become something. I believe we have many talents at fantasista... Giovinco, Forestieri, G. Rossi, Di Gennaro, Cerci, Russotto... surely 1 or 2 must become something. Cassano is just 25/26?!? aswell. Oh, there are also 2 youths at Juve I am impressed with... Esposito and Pasquato.

I think none mentioned Pasquale Foggia so I would like to add him in the list of future calcio stars.

for the other positions I would also like to add Gaetano D'Agostino and Giandomenico Mesto. I believe they have the quality

 

[pirri]

no

 

[pirri]

and btw..our 2010 team will be the same team...we dont evolve..we literaly have to wait until a player retires from international football on his own will before we dont call up the same old shit..


attack in 2010..del piero inzaghi toni

midefield pirlo gattuso ambrosini camoranesi de rossi

defence: zamrbotta,cannavaro materazzi panucci

we are probably gonna use this team till round 2011...

we have had these threads time and time again after every tournoment..fact is..this team is old enough to have all played in wc 98.

 

[pirri]

except for de rossi..our prodigy.cough...