vs.   

We face Catania this Sunday in much improved psychological state after that win in mid-week away against Chievo Verona. With Foggia and Mauri back after both serving 1 match ban, I doubt Delio Rossi will surprise is as he did against Chievo with that asntonishing line up with Lichtsteiner and Kolarov in midfield.

This is the match I finally expect Tommaso Rocchi to start. It is clear that his condition has improved and I think he can play 60 minutes without problems. Siviglia is a doubt after picking a slight injury while Ledesma is not feeling well either, but nevertheless he is expected to revover in time against Catania.

Elsewhere in the field, I expect on of Mauri and Foggia to start as they are fresher than the others who played against Catania. I would also bench Pandev who played too much recently and rest him for at least a half. I would go for a midfield with something like: Foggia-Ledesma-Dabo-Mauri and Zarate-Rocchi in attack but I doubt this has any chance of happening.

We usualy play better at home and I really think that anything except for 3 points would be a huge surprise, notwithstanding Catania`s great form this season, as they have the same number of points as we do.

What else there is to say, I really hope we score early and than concentrate on counter attacks, rather than suffering too much for an opening goal, thus allowing oponents to hin us on the break (like agains Lecce and Napoli).

By adding 3 points to the current 16, we would achieve a couple of things: we would leave a direct rival behind (Catania) and eventually reach Napoli and Milan who have a direct encounter this week.

Avanti ragazzi and don`t dissapoint.

Like the majority of you, Lazio fans who live abroad, I was unable to watch this match. Live streaming for some reasons did not work and I had to settle for match comments from an italian site. Nevertheless, it is much better that we did not watch the match and we win than the oposite, if we had watched the match and we had drawn or lost. Hehehe.

Delio Rossi strikes again I though when I saw the line up. Image, De Silvestri, Radu, Lichtsteiner and Kolarov all in the starting 11. What on earth is going on I though, did we come to Chievo to fight for  a draw or grab a win. Who would create chances with such a line up without Foggia and Mauri to say the least.

Based on what I read thus far, it appears that the first half was somewhat even in terms of possession and play, while in the second half, after Rocchi entered for Kolarov and the tridente started to work, we had the upper hand missing (as usual) some extraordinary chances.

Goals: Pellissier 11 (C), Pandev 14 (L), Mantovani og 82 (L

In case you want to read a full match report, you can do it here from Channel4, who do that as usual.

Below you can view the highlights from the match, though in a poor quality must admit.

VS. 

Only three days after that defeat at home against Napoli, we return on the pitch against always a hard to beat team like Chievo Verona is. For some reasons, we always strugled against them, whoever played and whoever coached them. Nevertheless, since the nucleus of the old team has gone by now and we have also almost totally different players, I really hope the time has come to overturn that black month of October that hunts Delio Rossi and return to winnin ways.

Suspensions of Mauri and Foggia for 2 games (which was reduced to one last night after an immediate appeal by lawyer Gentile) then injuries to Meghni, Matuzalem, Firmani leave our coach with few option in the midfield. However, the last news indicate that Tommaso Rocchi may eventually start and finally form a trio together with Zarate and Pandev. In such a case, I expect Ledesma, Brocchi and Dabo to play in the middle while at the back I don`t know who will start as all defensive players are fighting to play. So, I expect the following team more or less:

Lazio (4-3-3): 1 Carrizo, 29 De Silvestri, 13 Siviglia, 22 Rozehnal, 32 Radu, 6 Dabo, 24 Ledesma, 5 Brocchi, 19 Pandev, 18 Rocchi, 10 Zarate. (86 Muslera, 87 Diakité, 3 Kolarov, 2 Lichtsteiner, 49 Cinelli, 21 S. Inzaghi, 26 Makinwa)

After the defeat against Napoli, I received a comment on the last post where I previewed Lazio – Napoli clash. The comment asked from me not to post/write anything about that match as 2 consecutive defeats are difficult to swallow. I really liked that comment, because it only convinced me not to post as I was speechless. I mean, what am I to write after another defeat !?? I was so down I could not find words.

That is why this blog has been in the silence mood for the last 2 days.

I will get back to you tomorrow as we face Chievo away.

Keep up the good spirit – if you can.

VS.    

We face a hi-flying Napoli this Sunday at Olimpico, in what should be, in my view, a thrilling match as both teams play attacking football and are currently ( with Catania and Udinese) the pleasant surprises of this new Serie A season.

Less then one week after fully recovering, Tommaso Rocchi has sustained a horrible kick yesterdat while Lazio was playing a usual friendly against a Aprillia. He was forced to abandon the match and he is at risk to miss the match against Napoli. It would be a huge loss as a matter of a fact. Other players missing this enounter will be Meghni, Del Nero, Firmani and Manfredini. Contrary to Rocchi, they are not so desperately missed. Rocchi was trying a 4-3-3 with Pandev and Zarate just behind Rocchi while when he was taken off, he inserted Dabo and switched to 4-4-2 with the latter and Ledesma in the middle and Brocchi and Mauri on the flanks. Also, we expect some changes in defense, namely the inclusion of Rozenhal and Radu for Cribai and Kolarov.

All in all, this promises to be an interesting match. I think the key to beating this Napoli is to stop their best player and team engine Marek Hamsik. He is such a damn good midfielder and team relies on him too much. Brocchi and Dabo should keep close eye on him.

After that unexpected defeat against Bologna we need to bounce back and prove that the good results so far have not been a conicidence.

Our friend aquila from Lazio forum at Xtratime has dome a great job regarding player statistics picked up at paper editions of la Gazzetta delo Sport. I am therefore sharing it with you. Comments appearing beside player ratings are his and not those of GdS. He only presented players who have played most of the games, so no Matuzalem or Inzaghi. You may, or may not agree with these marks.

Carrizo 5,79 (matches played 7): at Lazio has still to show why he is Argentina number 1 goalkeeper.

Kolarov 5,9 (5): Defensively he has not played better than Cribari or Rozehnal, but sometimes Lazio only weapons came from his shoots.

Foggia 6,29 (7): Pasqualinho has showed that he could really be the extra gear of this season’s Lazio, if he keeps up playing this way. Perhaps even Lippi could realize that… Nah, let’s not exaggerate now.

Ledesma 6,36 (7): I really hope he says “**** off” to his agent and signs the extension. If not, after losing a certain Nesta (Veròn, Simeone, and almost the entire Coppa Italia winning team in 2004), it’s not that I would do hara kiri. Important player, anyway.

Zàrate 6,64 (7): Lazio cover man in this beginning of season and still Serie A top scorer. I only hope Rossi will not costrain his pure talent with some weird tactical decision. Maurito must be left free.

What I considered unthinkable just happened. We were thrashed by Bologna 3-1 in a match we should forget ASAP. We were 3-0 after only 26 minutes and never managed to get back into the match. The team that was causing hvoc to oponents so far in Serie A was unrecognazible this afternoon to say the least.

Our defense was shaky while midfield lacked the dynamism to assist both, defenders in defense and forwards in the attacking phase of the game. This was one of the few matches when one cannot single out at least one player for good performance (save for Tommy Rocchi of course he scored after 5 minutes he got in for Zarate).

However, I cannot only put the blame on our team: I must give credit to Bologna and their coach Arrigoni for doing their homework. He was right when he concluded during the week that Lazio`s game is based on a lot of movements. And that`s exactly what he did: he limited our team`s movements by applying strong pressure on Ledesma in particular and Pandev/Foggia.

As usual, I have my remarks for coach Rossi too: 1. Why he did not give a match off to Lichtsteiner as he played twice for his NT ?; 2. Why not play Rozenhal when one can easily notice that he is in much better shape/form than Siviglia-Cribari ? 3. Why take off Zarate after 45 minutes and not Pandev, who also played twice for his NT ? 4. Why is Radu constantly on the bench when he is much better defender than Kolarov – the primary duty of a defender is too defend rather than attack right ?

So much for tonight. I even wrote more than I previosly though I would, considering the mood I am right now. Next week we face Napoli at home and I want a bloody win.

Finally the break is over and we return to normal Seria A matches.

This week, more precisely on Sunday at 15;00 CET we face Bologna away. The host team has won only the openning match of the campaign against AC Milan and are struggling ever since result-wise. Actually, they do not play bad, but somehow lose their match in narrow margins. They have a decent squad unworthy of being so low in the standings. It would be interesting to see Gabi Mudingayi play against us as he left unwillingly in the summer.

As far as our team is concerned, we expect Tommaso Rocchi to make his first appearance this season after his injury sustained with the Italian Olympic team in Bejing. Also, we will have available another precious piece of the team in the shape of Ausmane Dabo. He may well start on the left and compose a midfield together with great Ledesma and Brocchi.

Carrizo, Lichtsteiner, Pandev, Rozenhall are back from their international duties and are expected to start.

Yesterday at Formello we played a team called Formia and beat them 14-0.  Goals were scored by:Foggia (2), Rocchi (3), Zàrate, S.Inzaghi (5), Makinwa (3).

So, avanti ragazzi and make sure to come back with 3 points and continue to lead the standings.

This is the question that has been bothering me for the last couple of days. The return of captain Tommaso Rocchi against Bologna may see Delio Rossi use the so long awaited tridente: which in practice means to play at the same time Rochi, Zarate and Padev. Playing the three of them at the same time will require some sacrifices from Zarate and Pandev who will have to return back to assist other midfielders. Take that for a fact. Then the question arises: can they be as productive in creating chances/scoring once they will have extra work to do ? That will require physical activity in defending, rather than concentrating in creating and scoring. I honestly don`t know.

What I know for sure however is that Pasquale Foggia, in such a case would have to transfer to the bench. Because Ledesma and Brocchi are starters for sure and at this point coach Rossi is using Mauri as a substitute for the injured Matuzalem.

In other news, it seems Mourad Meghni can`t get a rest from injuries. He got injured again and will for sure miss for some weeks at least.

…that our beloved team is currently lying 1st on the Serie A table with 13 points. [:happy and excited + smiley]

Also, due to club inactivities because of International qualifications, there is very little to write these days regarding clubs.

As a result, this blog will be updated very little (or nothing at all) until a week from now when the team will get to prepare for out next oponent Bologna.

Forza LAZIO.