Three big points…

By: salvatore | October 30th, 2008

It’s hard to recap a game you couldn’t watch (finding streams was once again ridiculously hard), but by all accounts, Wednesday’s massive win in Verona was both deserved, and also a bit unconvincing. How’s that possible? Well, by stuttering and disappointing in the first, and then picking things up in the second half.

If there’s anyone who epitomizes this uneven performance, it’s the Zarate Kid. Kept off the score sheet again, he was nevertheless on great form yesterday, setting up the first goal with another burst of talent, a mazy slalom through defenders that ended with a dish off to Pandev for the tap-in. So, all told, another staggering display that shows he’s the real deal. What’s the bad? He was substituted in the second half, and supposedly, our little Argie genius reacted angrily.

Granted, he was substituted for Makinwa, which would piss off even the most patient of men, but Mauro has to learn how to stay calm. If there’s been any complaints about him so far, it’s that he sometimes plays selfishly, holding on to the ball more than he should. Acting like a baby when he’s subbed off isn’t going to help those criticisms. I love the intensity, but he needs to be more mature if he wants to be a Lazio leader.

Speaking of leaders, the introduction of Tommaso Rocchi is being held up as the reason the team looked sharper in the second half, which bodes well for the Za-Pa-Ro trident, and Balboa was truly unlucky not to pot two goals. His timing might be a bit off, but if he can get into form, this “trio of dreams” might really be something special. For the time being, it’s just nice seeing him on the field again. I was starting to miss our captain…

Ledesma, Kolarov and Lichsteiner are also both getting props for their play, which is fitting, since I wrote half a post the other day about how I felt Ledesma wasn’t the right guy for us anymore. Thanks for making me look like an idiot Cristian. But hey, if slagging you pushes performances like these out, I’ll be more than happy to be negative with every post. As for Lichsteiner, has there been a more unheralded transfer this season than his? Strong defensively, confident on the ball and great going forward, he’s been so good that De Silvestri, the one everyone thought would own that position, only got his second start of the season yesterday. Picking up the Swiss international was some shrewd business then, especially when you consider how much of an upgrade he is over Valon Behrami.

Forza Lazio.

Some pics from the match: