The Fiorentina game is a symbol of our bad luck this season, a string of bad luck that started with the Bari game. We had a goal dissalowed for no obvious reason but a flaky ref against Bari, TV showed the situation a million times and there was nothing good about that call. Against Parma we where not given a couple of penalties and the same against Reggina and Cagliari.
We have had trouble with refs, media, supporters and even fighting within the sqaud ( something I never thought could happen with Eriksson as a coach ) and I can still smile. Not because it has been a peaceful season - it hasn´t but because Lazio is showing signs that it is finally a club ready for the thoughest of competitions.
This season we have been the best italian team and this despite all the trouble with our squad. Nesta has been injured twice this season and has skipped almost 10 games, Almeyda was injured for bigger parts of the season and injuries to Simone inzaghi and boksic forced us to search for a replacement attacker - Ravanelli.
If we won´t win any titles this year it´s because we haven´t had a solid lineup all season - the basic problem has been the attack. Our midfield which is without doubt the best in italy ( sorry glen but we have a better midfield then Juve it´s just a fact ) has been forced to push high up in the field to compensate for the absence of a solid attacker. Sure Salas is a great player but 11 goals in a club like Lazio is just not enough, not with such a offensiv midfield - Salas has not created many of those goals on his own.
I´m smiling because next season will be our season. Look at our team the only thing missing is a good center or attacker and we know that is coming next season. All the other players are in their prime or getting there - Nedved is the oldest player on our midfield and he is 28. Veron just turned 25, Conceciao is 26, Stankovic is 21, Almeyda is 27. In attack: Salas is 25 turning 26, Simone turned 24 2 weeks ago, Boksic will be sold and probably Ravanelli too. In defense Negro is 27 turning 28 , Nesta is 24, Miha just turned 30 and Pancaro is also 28.
Inject us with a goalie, a new midfielder if we sell Simeone and someone to cover for Nedved ( Kily or Jorgensen ), and sell Salas buy Vieri and buy Lopez and we´re off
Basiclly our team stays the same - no changes to the midfield or defense but with a healthier attack.
Parma needs a new playmaker and that takes time to incorporate into a system and they also need a new left wing because Vanoli isn´t up to it and I don´t know about Fuser for next season.
Roma looks good for next season but they have problems with Montella not liking Capello ( he´s been subbed more then any other roma player ), Totti trouble and Emerson needs to find space in a new system.
Juve - I just think that they will lack creativity for next season but still they have to be considered in very good shape. Ferrari needs to be replaced and Del Piero needs to find the goal but other then that they have a good age mix as well. Conte is doubtful as a starter and Zambrotta should have his role next season with DP as Cpt.
Inter - Needs a playmaker and not only that. No team has more players coming in and going out then Inter and although they are great on paper I just think that they have a long road to walk before they can be considered a team. Ronaldo needs to be replaced, Seedorf isn´t a playmaker so they need one, Jugovic is old, Georgatos wants home, Blanc is 34 so he´s not getting younger and what will they do with their youth players ?? Frey will want to guard the goal but Peruzzi is still better at that level - what will they do with Frey then ?? Recoba needs guarantees that he will start and it´s not a given that Inter wants him to start. BamBam is 33 years old and that´s pretty much for a forward and Cauet/Moriero are also on their final run.
Milan - More problems then any other team, Albertini, Maldini, Costacurta, Boban, Bierhoff are all players that are key players but they are also over 31. Bierhoff has been the player that Milan can count of for goals - although not liked by Gazzetta he is extremely important to Milan and without him they would not have been anywhere near lo scudetto last season. Helveg needs to go and he is replaced well by Gattuso - the player is strong and hungry but his skills ?? Not the best.
Who will replace the genious Boban ?? I can´t find a player that will easily replace Boban can Zac ?? Maybe Totti will be heading for Milano next season. On the left side Serghino is fast but is he any good ?? I have to say that if there was a running contest I would pick Serghino, if I needed a good left wing I would look elsewhere. In attack Sheva is untouchable even if he´s not the hottest striker in Serie A anymore ( that goes to Bati ) he is a man for the future. Jose Mari then ?? I don´t know to be honest, I have seen him play in A Madrid and he has potential to become a great striker but is he first choice in the Milan 11 ?? Don´t think so and he surely can´t replace Bierhoff when it comes to goal tally.
Sala is also a big ?? and De Ascentis is only going to spend his days as a sub.
New for Milan then: 1 attacker 2 defenders 1 playmaker and 1 left wing. This is if we use 4 - 4 - 2.
Intuition tells me that if Juve will win Lo Scudetto then Zidane will move away and then Juve will need a playmaker extraordinare and that guy isn´t Fabian O´neil nor is it Olly. Maybe Del Piero will step down and work infront of a 4 man midfield and Juve can play 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 with Del Piero as the creative force and O´neill together with Davids will handle the midfield.
Exciting times but Lazio has a future with the very best of clubs for a long long time to come.
Forza Lazio !!
We have had trouble with refs, media, supporters and even fighting within the sqaud ( something I never thought could happen with Eriksson as a coach ) and I can still smile. Not because it has been a peaceful season - it hasn´t but because Lazio is showing signs that it is finally a club ready for the thoughest of competitions.
This season we have been the best italian team and this despite all the trouble with our squad. Nesta has been injured twice this season and has skipped almost 10 games, Almeyda was injured for bigger parts of the season and injuries to Simone inzaghi and boksic forced us to search for a replacement attacker - Ravanelli.
If we won´t win any titles this year it´s because we haven´t had a solid lineup all season - the basic problem has been the attack. Our midfield which is without doubt the best in italy ( sorry glen but we have a better midfield then Juve it´s just a fact ) has been forced to push high up in the field to compensate for the absence of a solid attacker. Sure Salas is a great player but 11 goals in a club like Lazio is just not enough, not with such a offensiv midfield - Salas has not created many of those goals on his own.
I´m smiling because next season will be our season. Look at our team the only thing missing is a good center or attacker and we know that is coming next season. All the other players are in their prime or getting there - Nedved is the oldest player on our midfield and he is 28. Veron just turned 25, Conceciao is 26, Stankovic is 21, Almeyda is 27. In attack: Salas is 25 turning 26, Simone turned 24 2 weeks ago, Boksic will be sold and probably Ravanelli too. In defense Negro is 27 turning 28 , Nesta is 24, Miha just turned 30 and Pancaro is also 28.
Inject us with a goalie, a new midfielder if we sell Simeone and someone to cover for Nedved ( Kily or Jorgensen ), and sell Salas buy Vieri and buy Lopez and we´re off
Basiclly our team stays the same - no changes to the midfield or defense but with a healthier attack.
Parma needs a new playmaker and that takes time to incorporate into a system and they also need a new left wing because Vanoli isn´t up to it and I don´t know about Fuser for next season.
Roma looks good for next season but they have problems with Montella not liking Capello ( he´s been subbed more then any other roma player ), Totti trouble and Emerson needs to find space in a new system.
Juve - I just think that they will lack creativity for next season but still they have to be considered in very good shape. Ferrari needs to be replaced and Del Piero needs to find the goal but other then that they have a good age mix as well. Conte is doubtful as a starter and Zambrotta should have his role next season with DP as Cpt.
Inter - Needs a playmaker and not only that. No team has more players coming in and going out then Inter and although they are great on paper I just think that they have a long road to walk before they can be considered a team. Ronaldo needs to be replaced, Seedorf isn´t a playmaker so they need one, Jugovic is old, Georgatos wants home, Blanc is 34 so he´s not getting younger and what will they do with their youth players ?? Frey will want to guard the goal but Peruzzi is still better at that level - what will they do with Frey then ?? Recoba needs guarantees that he will start and it´s not a given that Inter wants him to start. BamBam is 33 years old and that´s pretty much for a forward and Cauet/Moriero are also on their final run.
Milan - More problems then any other team, Albertini, Maldini, Costacurta, Boban, Bierhoff are all players that are key players but they are also over 31. Bierhoff has been the player that Milan can count of for goals - although not liked by Gazzetta he is extremely important to Milan and without him they would not have been anywhere near lo scudetto last season. Helveg needs to go and he is replaced well by Gattuso - the player is strong and hungry but his skills ?? Not the best.
Who will replace the genious Boban ?? I can´t find a player that will easily replace Boban can Zac ?? Maybe Totti will be heading for Milano next season. On the left side Serghino is fast but is he any good ?? I have to say that if there was a running contest I would pick Serghino, if I needed a good left wing I would look elsewhere. In attack Sheva is untouchable even if he´s not the hottest striker in Serie A anymore ( that goes to Bati ) he is a man for the future. Jose Mari then ?? I don´t know to be honest, I have seen him play in A Madrid and he has potential to become a great striker but is he first choice in the Milan 11 ?? Don´t think so and he surely can´t replace Bierhoff when it comes to goal tally.
Sala is also a big ?? and De Ascentis is only going to spend his days as a sub.
New for Milan then: 1 attacker 2 defenders 1 playmaker and 1 left wing. This is if we use 4 - 4 - 2.
Intuition tells me that if Juve will win Lo Scudetto then Zidane will move away and then Juve will need a playmaker extraordinare and that guy isn´t Fabian O´neil nor is it Olly. Maybe Del Piero will step down and work infront of a 4 man midfield and Juve can play 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 with Del Piero as the creative force and O´neill together with Davids will handle the midfield.
Exciting times but Lazio has a future with the very best of clubs for a long long time to come.
Forza Lazio !!
