I have never liked Ulivieri, he is one of those people who believe to hold a monopoly on the truth. I don't know whether he is defending Tavecchio the way people like Ulivieri always defend the weak parties, no matter whether the weaker is right or wrong, or for another reason.
I was told yesterday that there is a rumor that Ventura did not research our opponents so, for example, did not know anything about the Albania or Israel players we faced!
Incredible, yes, but in the circumstances, I find it perfectly possible.
Maybe this is why he ignored the players' advice last Sunday, his arrogance prevented him from taking advice when he badly needed it?
I was told yesterday that there is a rumor that Ventura did not research our opponents so, for example, did not know anything about the Albania or Israel players we faced!
Incredible, yes, but in the circumstances, I find it perfectly possible.
Maybe this is why he ignored the players' advice last Sunday, his arrogance prevented him from taking advice when he badly needed it?
No surprise here, really. I'm pretty sure he ignored Isco when we faced Spain for example or he would have never used that absurd 4-2-4*. The problem is that he probably didn't know the Italian players so well either and this is the reason he relied badly on Darmian, a player he had trained before at Torino, or tried to field Immobile and Belotti together whenever it was possible, no matter whether it was clear they didn't make a good partnership.
*Not that adopting 4-2-4 vs Spain makes any sense with or without Isco. Really, I can't believe Ventura fielded 2 forwards+Candreva+Insigne vs Spain and then fielded 2 forwards+Candreva and no Insigne vs Sweden. This guy really chose the lineups...
Moggi said yesterday that in July 2016 after Bielsa eventually did not arrive to coach Lazio, Lotito was about to appoint Ventura, then changed his mind and decided to appoint Inzaghi instead, and he then made Ventura Italian NT coach. He went on to say that, while he is an able executive, he did incalculable damage to Italian football by installing Ventura as Azzurri coach.
I know some dismiss everything Moggi says, but I believe him, particularly because Lotito is the biggest supporter of Tavecchio.
Well done. Tavecchio couldn't really stay and finally realized he had to leave. The next chairman of FIGC will hopefully be a man of football and not the usual politician loaned to football.
Football is hardly rocket science but it's insulting the fact that a guy can be chairman of water-skiing Italian federation then FIGC. In Italy we have this kind of managers who managed anything in their life. With the results you would expect! Whenever Italy won something in football it happened thanks to the passion of million people who play football daily in Italy (sometimes in Argentina! ) and hardly thanks to the chairmen. Now that the passion of the people isn't enough, we need a real chairman of FOOTBALL.
Only in Italy will someone like him be elected in the first place. I remember his statement on foreign players when he called African players "opti pobas" and said "they were eating bananas just recently and now playing for Lazio "!
Well done. Tavecchio couldn't really stay and finally realized he had to leave. The next chairman of FIGC will hopefully be a man of football and not the usual politician loaned to football.
Football is hardly rocket science but it's insulting the fact that a guy can be chairman of water-skiing Italian federation then FIGC. In Italy we have this kind of managers who managed anything in their life. With the results you would expect! Whenever Italy won something in football it happened thanks to the passion of million people who play football daily in Italy (sometimes in Argentina! ) and hardly thanks to the chairmen. Now that the passion of the people isn't enough, we need a real chairman of FOOTBALL.
I listened to Tavecchio's press conference and I think he made several good points, including the reform of the youth sector and the new rules which started last season forcing Serie A clubs to have a minimum number of club and league trained players in their squads. Judging by Serie A last season and particularly this one we are starting to see the benefits of these reforms (also Italy won the silver medal at the 2016 UEFA Youth and bronze at the 2017 FIFA Youth).
What he didn't explain - and it is the most important question - is why Ventura's contract was renewed in August, because it was that renewal which effectively prevented a change of coach before the playoff and doomed our qualification.
Lippi said he only suggested Ventura - along with some other namers - to Tavecchio and Malago (Italian Olympic Committee president) in 2016, he didn't choose or recommend that they hire Ventura.
Nevertheless, I think Lippi is implicated in the elimination and Tavecchio's role is somewhat mitigated; although the question of the renewal remains unanswered.
This is important because in future, in addition to avoiding asking Lippi for advice, the appointment (and renewal) of the Azzurri coach needs to be handled differently in order to avoid having another mediocre coach in charge.
Only in Italy will someone like him be elected in the first place. I remember his statement on foreign players when he called African players "opti pobas" and said "they were eating bananas just recently and now playing for Lazio "!
I would not overrate the effect of Tavecchio's reforms on the results of the youth NTs. The silver medal in the under 19 euro tournament was quite lucky, while the bronze medal in the under 20 world cup has "Orsolini" written on it and Orsolini was a guy who had been ignored completely until it was no more possible to ignore him.