I am once again returning to write after a long long period of going dark.

Just after we started to win some matches after that misarable form, during which we lost 5 matches and equalized 1 (thus dropping even behind roma in the standings) and just when we were facing the weakest team in the league (Chievo), this Lazio team strikes again: they line up 3 more defeats, each more shocking than the other, showing a total lack of spirit and fight for the team.

A home defeat to Chievo Verona, and then 2 away ones at the hands of Catania first, and then Siena, made me feel sick and totally devestated. That was a period when this team should have pushed harder than ever, because we were approaching the CL threshhold so quickly. Then these three defeats ruined everything.

I have been receiving emails inquiring what happened to this blog and why are you not writing any more. But what was there to write about ? The team performances were disgusting. All Lazio forums I visit regularly went silent. Were remained speechless.

Now, despite the 3 recents wins, each more important pscycholigically than the other (first derby and Genoa away – WOW – and Juve for Coppa Italia), I am still confused as to what should I feel about this season. I mean this team has potential, but just when you think they are ready for the bigger step, they totally fail! Now, I am afraid of these team screwing up against Atalalta this Sunday, because it appears as soon as they start playing well, they suffer from too much self-belief. I hope I am wrong though and we win again. Forza LAZIO.

Lazio crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Chievo on Sunday with defender Emilson Cribari taking the defeat particularly badly.
The 29-year –old Brazilian defender was substituted with 8 minutes to go and was booed off the park by his own fans.
This resulted in Cribari breaking down in tears after the match.

Following the game, Cribari said: “I will leave Lazio at the end of the championship, I have decided that I will speak with the President. If Lotito wants he can even keep the last three or four months of my wages, it’s honestly not a problem with me.”
Cribari added: “I will do my bit if I come to be selected from now until the end of the season. But when the campaign comes to a close I will ask to leave. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. I no longer feel wanted here.”

Cribari has been a Lazio player since the 05/06 season when they bought him from Udinese. His contract with the club runs until the summer of 2012 but with the player keen to move then a bid of around 2.5 million Euros should be enough to get the defender.

By Sandy

No comment. Just watch the highlights. A total embarrassment, with hardly one chance created by Foggia.

It has been a quite week for us, Lazio fans, as the focus had shifted to some interesting Champions League matches.

There was little to write I think, perhaps until today, when some interesting news appeared about Lazio.

The first is regarding a deal that apparently Lotito signed with an italian firm INDESIT a commercial agreement, valid for next 6 years, estimated at 48 mil euros (8 euros per season).

The other news regards Matuzalem. There are reports that Lotito met his agent who expressed the willingness of his client to stay with Lazio for many years. Now Lazio has to find a final buying price for brasilian. The situation is not easy because Zaragosa already has a pending situation with Shaktar Donetks (Ukrainin team where Matuzalem played before moving to Zaragoza). The former team  took the spanish one to the court, claiming that the player had no right to use the Bosman clause. However, we can remain optimistic about this case.

The other case has to deal with Zarate. His brother arrived to Rome to meet Lazio officials regarding his permanent move from the Arab club. Just like Matuzalem, Zarate is likewise keen on remaining with Lazio and we can expect this deal to go through maximum by mid-April.

So much for the day, hope to post another one tomorrow, as a preview for Lazio – Chievo match.

Just a quick note, with regards to some issues floating around my thoughts, when I think of our situations recently.

I think JP Carrizo should be worried. The current form of Muslera, which is growing match after match, is reallyt impressive.

His saves against Napoli yesterday, were one of the best seen this season in Serie A. If he continues this run of form, there is no need to bring back Carrizo, which will result in the latter demanding a transfer.

The so long awaited win at Napoli finally arrived.

Tomassi Rocchi ented in the second half for Zarate and stroke twice in 8 minute to bring valuable points to Lazio, in our quest for a UEFA Cup place.

The first half was an average football match, with both teams having some chances, but failed to turn them into goals. Lavezzi was very close to score, but a stunning Muslera saved our net. Delio Rossi started with Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem and Foggia in the middle and Pandev and Zarate up front. Rocchi, Mauri and De Silvestri entered for Zarate, Foggia and Matuzalem in the second half.

In the second half, Napoli entered more agressively, but it cost them the points, as they made some mistakes in defense, which were smartly used by Tommaso Rocchi.

I should mention that this one was Muslera`s best performance this season, as he made some incredible saves – 1 in the first half, and 3 in ths second. He is the real hero for our team this match. Now with these three points (and with Fiorentinas defeat at home), we are only 4 points from Genoa and roma, and 5 from a CL spot, Fiorentina. We have a favorable draw in the next few matches starting with Chievo at hom. Keep up the good work ragazzi. Photos and goals to follow.

Once again we play at the most hated and disliked hour for me. Saturday at 6 PM. We once again open the Serie A week.

When we lost to Bologna in the first leg, that was one fo the most unexpected defeats for me, especially with such a large margin. Let me remind you that we were 3-0 down before half an hour had past. Also, Bologna were bottom of the table and we served as a team to bouce back.

Today, we meet Bologna after our last week win against Lecce and that gives me a dose of optimism. Bologna has so many ex-Lazio players and they will be eager to show to our management and us fans that we were wrong to offload them.

With regards to our team that will face Bologna today, it will be the same as the team that beat Lecce last week. There were writing in the papers that Delio Rossi finally found the right balance in attack when he fielded Foggia – Zarate and Pandev. Also, the come back of Matuzalem and his partnership with Ledesma gives some optimism. At the end, I really hope we continue with another win.

Probables

Lazio (4-4-2): Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Siviglia, Cribari, Kolarov ; Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem, Foggia ; Zarate, Pandev. Carrizo, Rozehnal, Radu, De Silvestri, Dabo, Mauri, Rocchi.A disposizione: Coach: Rossi

Bologna (4-5-1): Antonioli; Belleri, Britos, Terzi, Lanna ; Valiani , Mingazzini, Volpi, Mudingayi, Bombardini; Di Vaio. A disposizione: Colombo, Zenoni, Mutarelli, Coelho, Amoroso, Bernacci, Marazzina.
Coach: Mihajlovic

I did not manage to watch the match, like the majority of Lazio fans. However, I am glad to do that as long as we win. There was a funny live stream by a guy at Justin.tv. At one point, he even showed his arse (hhahahaha).

Never mind, since I did not watch the match and I can not comment, I will post the match comment from Channel 4, in hope that I will be able to watch Lazio – Bologna and write my own thoughts. Let me just say that Delio Rossi started with the following line up: Muslera, Lichsteiner, Cribari, Siviglia, Kolarov; Brocchi, Ledesma, Matuzalem; Foggia, Zarate, Pandev.

Lecce hit the woodwork three times, but Lazio emerged with the points thanks to Pasquale Foggia and an Aleksandr Kolarov blockbuster.

Delio Rossi returned to face his former club and both were under pressure to get points. Lecce had lost two on the trot and were in 17th place, while Lazio plummeted down the standings after one point from five. Simone Del Nero, Mourad Meghni and Stefano Mauri were missing for the visitors, while Ndiaye Papa Waigo and Javier Castillo made up Lecce’s injury list.

The Aquile’s last win at the Via del Mare was in 2003-04 and they faced former Lazio defender Guglielmo Stendardo.

After just 18 seconds Lecce hit the post! Fabio Caserta threaded a through ball in for Daniele Cacia, whose angled drive thumped the base of the upright.

Lazio responded seven minutes later with Mauro Zarate smacking a drive from the edge of the box on to the crossbar with Francesco Benussi beaten.

The goal was in the air and Pasquale Foggia broke the deadlock with a bit of luck. The cross came in from the right and his volley from the edge of the box was impressive, but ultimately beat the goalkeeper thanks to a deflection off ex-Lazio defender Stendardo.

Goran Pandev put the ball in the back of the net from Cristian Brocchi’s cross as the ball ricocheted around the box, but it was disallowed for an offside position. However, replays show Pandev was behind the line of the ball and therefore the goal should have been valid.

Simone Tiribocchi managed to spin between three defenders just inside the area, but his angled drive clipped the base of the upright, as Lecce hit the woodwork for the second time,

Zarate’s first touch let him down, allowing Benussi to smother, while the Argentine also cut back from the byline to flash across the face of goal.

Nestor Muslera punched away Luca Ariatti’s left-foot effort, but Lazio doubled their lead straight after the restart.

Aleksandr Kolarov did it all by himself, cutting in from the left and smashing a fantastic strike across the face of goal into the far top corner from a tight angle.

Lecce were still in it, though, as Cacia got in front of Sebastiano Siviglia to nod on to the side-netting and Ariatti’s strike was charged down.

Both goalkeepers impressed late on, as Muslera anticipated Stendardo from point-blank range and Benussi parried Foggia’s counter-attack.

The Salentini were very unlucky, as late on Ariatti’s thunderbolt from 20 metres cracked against the frame of the goal for the third time.

Like I mentioned in my  last post, I no longer know what to expect from this Lazio team.

In this new year 2009, everything seems to go wrong. We can no longer create nor score. Like the majority of you, dear Lazio fans, I am totally devestated. We expected much more this season, in comparison to the last one which was a flop.

I really hope we manage somehow to grab a win against Lecce, though it will be quite difficult.

With regards to the line ups, it appears as Ledesma will make it and I am eager to see him alongside a healthy Matuzalem in the middle of the park.

I will post another one tomorrow with the latest regarding probable line ups. Until then, be safe and try to remain optimistic.

I have received messages requesting from me not to write about yesterday`s match we lost to Cagliari. And I am ready to comply with such a request, because there is little one can say about that awkward match.

First and foremost, I want the entire defense that started yesterday to sit on the bench for the next few games. Especially Carrizo, who appears to be over-confident, while his capabilities are certainly not Buffon`s or other goalies who play in the elite. While we were excited to see Diakite develop (and me supporting him publicaly via this blog), I am afraid I have to say that he is not what I was thinkg he might become. This guy is average defender at best. We were ready to forgive his fatal mistake against Inter and than against Reggina, but yesterday, it became clear that he is unable to defend low balls and guard smaller forwards. With regards to Rozenhal, he has also proven that he is not as consistent as one central defender needs to be. He either prefers to team with Cribari or Siviglia or something must be wrong with him. We need him to be more confident and stable. About Kolarov, he is the most brainles player to ever play for us. It is a pitty to see such a powerfull left foot and overall amazing body defend so poorly and generaly read the game so weak. I said it from the beginning that he is no Lazio material. If he was good, he would have played for Partizan Belgrade or Stella Rosa (like all Serbia footballers do) before making an international move to Serie A. About Lichsteiner, he has lost the initial pace and focus he had, which impressed all of us. He also needs more defensive lessons. When Delio Rossi decides to field a formation with 3 forwards + Mauri, than De Silvestri should play I think. He is better defensively.

Based on all that I`ve said, it became obvious I guess that we need to sign an authoritative central defender these days. Just bring in Ayala and team him up with Siviglia and oponents will get scared away.