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:

And the highlights:

On to Catania.



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Comments  

  • bobi MACEDONIA |  October 30th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    cornercorner

    salvatore i’m gonna agree everything with you the whole post is perfect i agree about zarate and i mean i love him but thats not how u become a leader,trident as everybody says perfect,the midfield because of the wierd foromation they did not play so good in the first half but in second after puting balboa in everything was good so i hope it’s stay that way with catania and siena so last thing to say
    FORZA LAZIO
    p.s. if you intrasted this is a link from youtube there is a macedonian rap song about pandev and lazio if you undestand the words it’s actualy it’s good song but even if you don’t there is a good beat here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O9-VyGt3Po

    Posted from United States

    cornercorner
  • salvatore |  October 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    cornercorner

    Thanks Bobi, I’ve seen this video, and I think it’s really great. I understand some of it, just wish I could figure out the rest…

    Posted from Canada Canada

    cornercorner
  • Omar Mohamed |  October 31st, 2008 at 3:26 am

    cornercorner

    I was wondering: I didn’t see Rocchi take the captain’s armband off Ledesma two matches ago against Bologna when he came on. Did he do it on wednesday night?

    I don’t mind if he doesn’t take it off him, because to me Ledesma maybe more suited as a captain. Not that Rocchi can’t do it, but Ledesma is usually everywhere on a pitch.

    Come on the ladz.

    Posted from Spain Spain

    cornercorner

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